Assessment of growth characteristics,the survival rate and body composition of Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) under different feeding rates in closed aquaculture system

One of the essential factors to be addressed in the development of aquaculture is the feeding regime. This study was investigated to assess the effects of feeding rate on growth performance, feed utilization, chemical body composition survival rate, cannibalism and morphological indices of Asian Seabass, Lates calcarifer. Intended for the trial, one hundred forty sea bass individuals with an average weight 5.47 ± 0.11 g were randomly distributed in 4 concrete tanks (914 cm × 183 cm 122 cm) each; length × width × depth) and volume 18,399 L, for total 68 days. The fishes were fed with a pelleted diet containing 46% crude protein for different feeding groups designated as (T1, T2, T3 and T4). The feed was supplied with a rate of (T1) 3%, (T2) 4%, (T3) 6%, and (T4) 9% of fish biomass per day and feeding frequency were maintained three times per day to all the groups. At the end of the trial water physicochemical parameters was in acceptable range for Asian sea bass growth. The average daily weight gain (g), weight gain (g) and specific growth rate (%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T3 and T4 as compared to T1 and T2 group. The poorest feed conversion ratio was recorded in T1 group with 3% biomass per day. The cannibalism rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in T1 (3%) compared to T3 and T4 treatment. The morphological indices, condition factors (CF), viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly higher in T4 group as compared to other treatments. The protein, moisture and ash contents of the whole biomass of the Asian sea bass were not significantly influenced by feeding rate. The fat levels in the fish bodies increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing feeding ratio. The phenomenal regression indicates that 6.5% feeding rate per day is optimum for best growth performance, survival and minimum cannibalism rate for Asian sea bass in captivity. The outcome of the finding will help in promotion for not only the coastal aquaculture in Pakistan abut also elsewhere.     

Involvement of sulphur nutrition in modulating iron deficiency responses in photosynthetic organelles of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

The aim of this study was to characterize the roles of sulphur (S) nutrition in modulating the responses to iron (Fe) deficiency in the photosynthetic organelles of oilseed rape. Eight-week-old plants grown hydroponically were fed with S-sufficient or S-deprived solution with or without Fe^III–EDTA. Responses to four S and Fe combined treatments were analysed after 5 and 10 days. Leaf chlorosis was generated by either S- or Fe-deprivation, with a decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid content. These negative effects were more severe in the absence of S. The expression of Fe²⁺ transporter (IRT1) and Fe(III) chelate reductase (FRO1) gene was induced for the first 5 days and decreased after 10 days in the S-deprived roots, but largely improved by S supply even in the absence of Fe. Lack of ferric chelate reducing activity in the Fe-deprived roots in the absence of S was largely improved by S supply. The activity of photosynthesis, RuBisCO and sucrose synthase was closely related to S status in leaves. Electron microscopic observation showed that the Fe-deficiency in the absence of S greatly resulted in a severe disorganisation of thylakoid lamellae with loss of grana. However, these impacts of Fe-deficiency were largely restored in the presence of S. The present results indicate that S nutrition has significant role in ameliorating the damages in photosynthetic apparatus caused by Fe-deficiency.     

The WD repeat-containing protein IFTA-1 is required for retrograde intraflagellar transport

The assembly and maintenance of cilia require intraflagellar transport (IFT), a microtubule-dependent bidirectional motility of multisubunit protein complexes along ciliary axonemes. Defects in IFT and the functions of motile or sensory cilia are associated with numerous human ailments, including polycystic kidney disease and Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Here, we identify a novel Caenorhabditis elegans IFT gene, IFT-associated gene 1 (ifta-1), which encodes a WD repeat-containing protein with strong homology to a mammalian protein of unknown function. Both the C. elegans and human IFTA-1 proteins localize to the base of cilia, and in C. elegans, IFTA-1 can be observed to undergo IFT. IFTA-1 is required for the function and assembly of cilia, because a C. elegans ifta-1 mutant displays chemosensory abnormalities and shortened cilia with prominent ciliary accumulations of core IFT machinery components that are indicative of retrograde transport defects. Analyses of C. elegans IFTA-1 localization/motility along bbs mutant cilia, where anterograde IFT assemblies are destabilized, and in a che-11 IFT gene mutant, demonstrate that IFTA-1 is closely associated with the IFT particle A subcomplex, which is implicated in retrograde IFT. Together, our data indicate that IFTA-1 is a novel IFT protein that is required for retrograde transport along ciliary axonemes.     

Type 2 MI induced by a single high dose of isoproterenol in C57BL/6J mice triggers a persistent adaptive immune response against the heart

Heart failure is the common final pathway of several cardiovascular conditions and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aberrant activation of the adaptive immune system in response to myocardial necrosis has recently been implicated in the development of heart failure. The ß-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol hydrochloride is used for its cardiac effects in a variety of different dosing regimens with high doses causing acute cardiomyocyte necrosis. To assess whether isoproterenol-induced cardiomyocyte necrosis triggers an adaptive immune response against the heart, we treated C57BL/6J mice with a single intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol. We confirmed tissue damage reminiscent of human type 2 myocardial infarction. This is followed by an adaptive immune response targeting the heart as demonstrated by the activation of T cells, the presence of anti-heart auto-antibodies in the serum as late as 12 weeks after initial challenge and IgG deposition in the myocardium. All of these are hallmark signs of an established autoimmune response. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from isoproterenol-treated mice induces left ventricular dilation and impairs cardiac function in healthy recipients. In summary, a single administration of a high dose of isoproterenol is a suitable high-throughput model for future studies of the pathological mechanisms of anti-heart autoimmunity and to test potential immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches.     

Bioefficacy of cadmium and lead on cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

The sensitivity of Spodoptera littoralis second and fourth instar larvae to the heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) was investigated under laboratory conditions. Both Cd and Pb, even, at very low concentrations, had relatively high toxic effects on S. littoralis larvae. Cd was more toxic to S. littoralis larvae than Pb. In addition, the mean percentage feeding deterrence (FDI%) of Cd and Pb was concentration-dependent. The nutritional indices (consumption index, growth rate, efficiency of converted ingested and digested food, and approximate digestibility) of S. littoralis second and fourth instar larvae were more affected in Cd-treatments compared with those of Pb-treatments. Therefore, the presence of such heavy metals in the environment would exert an adverse impact on S. littoralis larvae and their development.     

Effects of LSD on human chromosomes

A number of positive and negative studies have been reported with regard to the damaging effects of LSD on human chromosomes. The present report describes a comparative study of cytogenetic analyses of 200 metaphases of lymphocytes from each of 6 subjects (3 males, 3 females) at varying concentrations of LSD, along with a positive control with mitomycin C and a negative control with sterile water. Results of a small pilot study on the effects of LSD on growth, macromolecular synthesis, mutation, and recombination in bacteria, λ phage and mammalian cells are also included. The data failed to show any significant differences between chromosome aberrations and LSD. Significant changes in somatic cells and in chromosomes occurred only at high doses of LSD.