Dietary use and conservation concern of edible wetland plants at indo-burma hotspot: a case study from northeast India

Background

The wetlands of the North East India fall among the global hotspots of biodiversity. However, they have received very little attention with relation to their intrinsic values to human kind; therefore their conservation is hardly addressed. These wetlands are critical for the sustenance of the tribal communities.

Methods

Field research was conducted during 2003 to 2006 in seven major wetlands of four districts of Manipur state, Northeast India (viz. Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur). A total of 224 wetland-plant-collectors were interviewed for the use and economics of species using semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Imphal, Bishenpur and Thoubal markets were investigated in detail for influx and consumption pattern of these plants. The collectors were also inquired for medicinal use of wetland species. Nutritive values of 21 species were analyzed in laboratory. The vouchers were collected for all the species and deposited in the CSIR-NEIST (Formerly Regional Research Laboratory), Substation, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.

Results

We recorded 51 edible wetland species used by indigenous people for food and medicinal purposes. Thirty eight species had high medicinal values and used in the traditional system to treat over 22 diseases. At least 27 species were traded in three markets studied (i.e. Imphal, Thoubal and Bishenpur), involving an annual turnover of 113 tons of wetland edible plants and a gross revenue of Rs. 907, 770/- (US$1 = Rs. 45/-). The Imphal market alone supplies 60% of the total business. Eighty per cent of the above mentioned species are very often used by the community. The community has a general opinion that the availability of 45% species has depleted in recent times, 15 species need consideration for conservation while another 7 species deserved immediate protection measures. The nutrient analysis showed that these species contribute to the dietary balance of tribal communities.

Conclusions

Considering the importance of wild wetland plants in local sustenance, it is suggested to protect their habitats, develop domestication protocols of selected species, and build programs for the long-term management of wetland areas by involving local people. Some medicinal plants may also be used to develop into modern medicines.

     

Comparison of differentially expressed genes in the salivary glands of male ticks,Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor andersoni

Genes expressed differentially in the salivary glands of unfed and fed male ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), were identified, cloned and sequenced, and some were compared with those expressed in the salivary glands of Dermacentor andersoni. Total protein and RNA increased sixfold in the salivary glands of fed male A. americanum, while in fed male D. andersoni salivary glands, RNA increased approximately 3.5 times. Feeding D. andersoni in the presence of females increased total RNA by 25% over those fed in the absence of females. Complementary DNAs were synthesized from RNA obtained from unfed and fed ticks and amplified using RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) with three different primers in separate reactions. Differential display showed clear banding differences between the fed and the unfed ticks in A. americanum and D. andersoni. Sixty-one cDNA fragments that appeared to be from differentially expressed genes in A. americanum were isolated, cloned and sequenced. Hybridization reactions with labeled cDNA probes confirmed the differential expression of many of the genes in unfed and fed ticks' salivary glands; however, many of the bands contained more than one fragment and some of the fragments isolated from apparently differential bands were not specific. Sequences for 28 of the cDNA fragments (150-600 nucleotides in length) demonstrated similarity to genes in the databases, but nine of these were similar to sequences of unknown function. Some of the gene fragments identified may be important to tick feeding or tick salivary gland physiology, including a histamine-binding protein, an organic ion transporter, an apoptosis inhibitor, a cathepsin-B-like cysteine protease, proteins involved in gene regulation and several proteins involved in protein synthesis. Cross-hybridization of identified cDNAs from A. americanum with cDNA probes synthesized from D. andersoni total RNA did not show significant similarity between the two species.     

Neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (enkephalinase). Biosynthesis and localization in human fibroblasts.

Hexose phosphate uptake in Escherichia coli is stimulated by salts. KCl and MgCl2 stimulate to about the same extent, but Mg2+ is effective at a tenth the concentration of K+. At higher concentrations, both salts inhibit. The stimulation by a series of salts correlates strongly with the hydrated radius of the cation, with small ions more effective than large. There are effects by the anion, but they do not correlate with any simple property. Cells accumulate glucose 6-phosphate to a higher concentration in the presence of KCl than in its absence. The maximum velocity of glucose 6-phosphate uptake is stimulated by KCl, as is the ratio V/Km.     

Inferring the number of evolutionary events from DNA coding sequence differences

The estimation of the amount of evolutionary divergence that has taken place between two DNA coding sequences depends strongly on the degree of constraint on amino acid replacements. If amino acid replacements are relatively unconstrained, the individual nucleotide is the appropriate unit of analysis and the method of Tajima and Nei can be used. If amino acid replacements are constrained, however, this method is shown to be inapplicable. For sequences with strong amino acid constraints, a method is outlined analogous to the Tajima and Nei method using codons as the unit of analysis. Only synonymous substitutions are used. Codon usage data can be employed to estimate the necessary parameters of the calculation, or a priori models of substitution may be employed. Sequences with significant but intermediate constraints on amino acid replacements are, in principle, unanalyzable.      

Mitogenic activity of pituitary hormones on cell cultures of normal and carcinogen-induced tumor epithelium from rat mammary glands

Cell suspension containing normal or tumor epithelium were readily obtained by enzymatically digesting rat mammary glands from perphenazine-treated (prolactin-hypersecreting) cycling, female virgin animals or hormone- responsive mammary tumors from animal treated with dimethylbenzanthracene. Cell suspensions were fractioned into predominantly epithelial and predominantly stromal cells by their differential rates of attachment to culture dishes. Both normal mammary and tumor epithelial cells were characterized by the presence of specific cell-junctional complexes, desmosome-like structures, surface microvilli, and their ability to synthesize casein. Serum-dependent protease activity was greater in cultures derived from tumors, and cells from such cultures grew in agarose whereas those from the non-neoplastic gland did not. The addition of prolactin to the culture medium stimulated DNA synthesis in primary or secondary epithelial cultures from tumors, whereas additional insulin and hydrocortisone with prolactin were required for similar levels of DNA synthesis in cultures from non-neoplastic glands. The fraction of cells synthesizing DNA was, however, smaller than that with 10 percent serum measured in the same time period. Both growth hormone and epidermal growth factor stimulated DNA synthesis but to a lesser extent than did prolactin. Prolactin with hydrocortisone and insulin were relatively inactive in promoting DNA synthesis of the nonepithelial cells whereas pituitary fibroblast growth factor was more active. These mitogenic effects were obtained when the hormones were added to the medium at near physiological concentrations, and paralleled the known activities of the hormones in control of mammary gland growth and development in the rat.     

Energy coupling in the uptake of hexose phosphates by Escherichia coli.

Several methods were used to study the source of energy in the uptake of hexose phosphates by Escherichia coli K12. The uptake was sensitive to inhibition by agents that affect electron transport, such as lack of oxygen, cyanide, and heptylhydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, and by agents that affect ATP utilization, such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and arsenate. It was also sensitive to uncouplers in the presence of absence of oxygen. The strain of E. coli used extruded protons during respiration. Uncer anaerobic conditions, the uptake of approximately 1 eg to H+ per glucose 6-phosphate. These observations are consistent with a chemiosmotic mechanism of genergized glucose 6-phosphate uptake. The rate of glucose 6-phosphate uptake was maximal in KC1, but was also stimulated by MgC12 or CaC12. Inhibition by A217, a nigericin-like antibiotic, was prevented by K+ whereas valinomycin and gramicidin inhibited in the presence or absence of K+.     

Clones of cauliflower mosaic virus identified by molecular hybridization in turnip leaves

Mechanical inoculation of turnip leaves with cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) results after one to two weeks in the appearance on these leaves of local lesions. Local lesions were detected by hybridization of radioactive CaMV DNA with nucleic acid immobilized in leaf skeletons by solvent extraction, proteinase digestion, and alkali treatment. The pattern of lesions detected as dark circles on autoradiographs of the washed leaf skeletons was the same as that detected by staining of solvent-extracted leaves for starch. Starch lesions appeared as white areas against a dark purple back-ground. These lesions were first detected between 5 and 8 days after inoculation and grew in size until 10 days after inoculation. Lesions were also detected by staining solvent-extracted and proteinase digested leaves with ethidium bromide. The lesions appeared as dark areas in a bright fluorescent background, and were found in the same positions as the starch lesions.     

A Pseudomonas aeruginosa TIR effector mediates immune evasion by targeting UBAP1 and TLR adaptors

Bacterial pathogens often subvert the innate immune system to establish a successful infection. The direct inhibition of downstream components of innate immune pathways is particularly well documented but how bacteria interfere with receptor proximal events is far less well understood. Here, we describe a Toll/interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain‐containing protein (PumA) of the multi‐drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA7 strain. We found that PumA is essential for virulence and inhibits NF‐κB, a property transferable to non‐PumA strain PA14, suggesting no additional factors are needed for PumA function. The TIR domain is able to interact with the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) adaptors TIRAP and MyD88, as well as the ubiquitin‐associated protein 1 (UBAP1), a component of the endosomal‐sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT‐I). These interactions are not spatially exclusive as we show UBAP1 can associate with MyD88, enhancing its plasma membrane localization. Combined targeting of UBAP1 and TLR adaptors by PumA impedes both cytokine and TLR receptor signalling, highlighting a novel strategy for innate immune evasion.     

Fertilization effects with P on accumulated leaf area duration,biomass and yield of three cultivars of maize in Toluca,Mexico

The effect of six phosphorus levels (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg/ha) on the duration of cumulative leaf area, biomass and agronomic yield was determined in the maize cultivars: Amarillo Almoloya, Cacahuacintle and Condor in 2010 and 2011. Such cultivars were sown in the Cerrillo Piedras Blancas Mexico. A completely randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement was utilized. High phosphorus levels (120, 160 and 200 kg/ha) positively affected the duration of cumulative leaf area; greatest values were obtained in Cacahuacintle. A greater duration of accumulated leaf area contributes to determine high values of biomass accumulation and grain yield in this cultivar. Leaf area duration appeared to be a useful tool for evaluating different genotypes in a given environment.