Seasonal variations in the blood constituents of an air-breathing fish, Channa punctatus Bloch

A year long study based on monthly observations on the haematology of female Channa punctatus with respect to haemoglobin, haematocrit values, total erythrocyte and leucocyte numbers together with a differential enumeration of various leucocytes viz. thrombocytes small and large lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils is recorded. The study showed that the total erythrocytic number, haemoglobin and haematocrit values decrease during the breeding time i.e. July to September. The thrombocyte number significantly increased while the neutrophilic number showed a decrease. The physiological significance of these changes is discussed with reference to the available literature.     

Experimental pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys.

The study describes an easy and reproducible technique of producing pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys, yielding consistent morbidity and mortality results. Introduction of the fungal suspension into the lower canaliculus, with or without debridement of the canalicular epithelium, produced fatal pneumonitis in 1-2 weeks. Specificity of the lesions was determined by demonstration of Nocardia in tissue sections and in culture.     

Connectin: a homophilic cell adhesion molecule expressed on a subset of muscles and the motoneurons that innervate them in Drosophila.

Each abdominal hemisegment in the Drosophila embryo contains a stereotyped array of 30 muscles, each specifically innervated by one or a few motoneurons. We screened 11,000 enhancer trap lines, isolated several expressing beta-galactosidase in small subsets of muscle fibers prior to innervation, and identified two of these as inserts in connectin and Toll, members of the leucine-rich repeat gene family. Connectin contains a signal sequence, ten leucine-rich repeats, and a putative phosphatidylinositol membrane linkage; in S2 cells, connectin can mediate homophilic cell adhesion. Connectin is expressed on the surface of eight muscles, the motoneurons that innervate them, and several glial cells along the pathways leading to them. During synapse formation, the protein localizes to synaptic sites; afterward, it largely disappears. Thus, connectin is a novel cell adhesion molecule whose expression suggests a role in target recognition.     

Bioprocess optimization of laccase production through solid substrate fermentation using Perenniporia tephropora-L168 and its application in bioremediation of triaryl-methane dye

Laccases are multi copper oxidases that can oxidize both phenolic and nonphenolic lignin related compounds. Consequently, there has been continuous demand for laccases for the oxidative degradation of phenolic dyes in effluents. In view of this, the present work was focused on laccase production by solid substrate fermentation using a newly isolated fungus Perenniporia tephropora-L168. To intensify the laccase production, the process parameters pH, nitrogen, inducer, and substrate: water ratio were optimized by using statistical model. A set of optimal conditions noted were pH 3, nitrogen 0.001 g/L; inducer 0.5% and substrate: water ratio (1:10), which yielded laccase 1,160 U/g. The crude laccase exhibited noteworthy potential to degrade a triaryl-methane dye especially Malachite green. Also, during bioremediation studies, the statistical process optimization could achieve 81% decolourization within 180 min. The laccase treatment brought chemical transformation in malachite green as evident from UV–Visible spectra, FTIR, HPLC while toxicity against bacteria and fungi was also reduced. During phytotoxicity study, effect of treated and untreated dye on germination of seed was analyzed. Interestingly, the germination index for Vigna aconitifolia and Vigna radiata was increased by two and fourfold, respectively. Overall, this work demonstrates optimized production of laccase using Perenniporia tephropora-L168 and its efficient bioremediation potential for triaryl-methane dye.     

A novel and cost effective methodology for qualitative screening of alkalo-thermophilic cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms using agricultural wastes

Qualitative screening of alkalo-thermophilic cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms was done on agricultural residues. Since xylan is an expensive substrate for the isolation of xylanase producing microorganisms, the possibility of using wheat bran for screening of these microorganisms was investigated. Screening was carried out on wheat bran for the selection of xylanolytic microorganisms, on waste paper for the evaluation of cellulase free xylanolytic microorganisms, and on citrus peel for screening of pectinolytic microorganisms. Qualitative analysis of xylanase, pectinase and cellulase activities depicted that the zones obtained on nutrient agar medium containing agricultural residues were apparent and comparable with the zones obtained on nutrient agar medium containing commercial substrates. A strategy of using cost effective wheat-bran, wastepaper and citrus-peel for the isolation of cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms is a novel and promising method and will ultimately bring down the cost of screening of these enzyme producing microorganisms.