A New Helical Crossed-Fibre Structure of β-Keratin in Flight Feathers and Its Biomechanical Implications

The feather aerofoil is unequalled in nature. It is comprised of a central rachis, serial paired branches or barbs, from which arise further branches, the barbules. Barbs and barbules arise from the significantly thinner lateral walls (the epicortex) of the rachis and barbs respectively, as opposed to the thicker dorsal and ventral walls (the cortex). We hypothesized a microstructural design of the epicortex that would resist the vertical or shearing stresses. The microstructures of the cortex and epicortex of the rachis and barbs were investigated in several bird species by microbe-assisted selective disassembly and conventional methods via scanning electron microscopy. We report, preeminent of the finds, a novel system of crossed fibres (ranging from ∼100–800 nm in diameter), oppositely oriented in alternate layers of the epicortex in the rachis and barbs. It represents the first cross-fibre microstructure, not only for the feather but in keratin per se. The cortex of the barbs is comprised of syncitial barbule cells, definitive structural units shown in the rachidial cortex in a related study. The structural connection between the cortex of the rachis and barbs appears uninterrupted. A new model on feather microstructure incorporating the findings here and in the related study is presented. The helical fibre system found in the integument of a diverse range of invertebrates and vertebrates has been implicated in profound functional strategies, perhaps none more so potentially than in the aerofoil microstructure of the feather here, which is central to one of the marvels of nature, bird flight.     

Temporally-Patterned Magnetic Fields Induce Complete Fragmentation in Planaria

A tandem sequence composed of weak temporally-patterned magnetic fields was discovered that produced 100% dissolution of planarian in their home environment. After five consecutive days of 6.5 hr exposure to a frequency-modulated magnetic field (0.1 to 2 µT), immediately followed by an additional 6.5 hr exposure on the fifth day, to another complex field (0.5 to 5 µT) with exponentially increasing spectral power 100% of planarian dissolved within 24 hr. Reversal of the sequence of the fields or presentation of only one pattern for the same duration did not produce this effect. Direct video evidence showed expansion (by visual estimation ∼twice normal volume) of the planarian following the first field pattern followed by size reduction (estimated ∼1/2 of normal volume) and death upon activation of the second pattern. The contortions displayed by the planarian during the last field exposure suggest effects on contractile proteins and alterations in the cell membrane’s permeability to water.     

Evaluation of the cocktail recombinant antigens,LipL32 and LipL41 for serodiagnosis of canine leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is one of the diseases with economic impact, so its diagnosis and serosurveillance are very important for any control program. Many tests have been used in the field as screening tests of leptospirosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined recombinant antigens (rLipL41 + rLipL32) for serodiagnosis of canine leptospirosis and to compare the efficacy of IgG Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Latex agglutination test with standard MAT. A total of 533 canine serum samples were subjected to IgG-ELISA and LAT using recombinant LipL41 and LipL32 antigens in a single and in a combinations which were compared with standard MAT. The potential diagnostic cocktails of combined recombinant antigens (rLipL31 + rLipL41) developed in this study showed higher sensitivity and specificity in IgG ELISA and LAT (94.84, 88.50%; 98.21, 97.7%) when compared to the use of single recombinant antigen in this study. Results indicated that the both assays can be easily performed, and avoids the risk of infection in laboratory workers, and it seems to be a practical and suitable tool for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis.     

Study of the in vitro development of the parthenogenetic egg of daphnia carinata king (Cladocera: Daphnidae)

The embryonic development of Daphnia carinata King was studied under laboratory conditions. Detailed observations were made at frequent intervals and conspicuous morphological changes were recorded. The results were compared with those of other allied tropical and temperate forms. While the basic pattern of development is similar to that of other daphnids, the duration of the total period of development as well as of the individual stages in this species differed from those of other tropical and temperate forms.     

Arsenic(V) Reduction in Relation to Iron(III) Transformation and Molecular Characterization of the Structural and Functional Microbial Community in Sediments of a Basin-Fill Aquifer in Northern Utah

Basin-fill aquifers of the Southwestern United States are associated with elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) in groundwater. Many private domestic wells in the Cache Valley Basin, UT, have As concentrations in excess of the U.S. EPA drinking water limit. Thirteen sediment cores were collected from the center of the valley at the depth of the shallow groundwater and were sectioned into layers based on redoxmorphic features. Three of the layers, two from redox transition zones and one from a depletion zone, were used to establish microcosms. Microcosms were treated with groundwater (GW) or groundwater plus glucose (GW+G) to investigate the extent of As reduction in relation to iron (Fe) transformation and characterize the microbial community structure and function by sequencing 16S rRNA and arsenate dissimilatory reductase (arrA) genes. Under the carbon-limited conditions of the GW treatment, As reduction was independent of Fe reduction, despite the abundance of sequences related to Geobacter and Shewanella, genera that include a variety of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria. The addition of glucose, an electron donor and carbon source, caused substantial shifts toward domination of the bacterial community by Clostridium-related organisms, and As reduction was correlated with Fe reduction for the sediments from the redox transition zone. The arrA gene sequencing from microcosms at day 54 of incubation showed the presence of 14 unique phylotypes, none of which were related to any previously described arrA gene sequence, suggesting a unique community of dissimilatory arsenate-respiring bacteria in the Cache Valley Basin.     

Stabilization of type I collagen against collagenases (type I) and thermal degradation using iron complex

The widespread application of collagen as a biomaterial warrants research in understanding the stabilization of the same. In this study, interaction of iron-tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium (THP) complex with type I collagen has been investigated. DSC and hydrothermal measurement studies reveal that the shrinkage temperature of iron-THP treated rat tail tendon (RTT) collagen is 33 degrees C higher than that of native RTT collagen. Fe-THP complex also brings about high degree of enzymatic stability to type I collagen. The effect of Fe-THP on the conformation of collagen was studied using circular dichroism and it was found that no major alterations in the triple helical structure of collagen occur on treatment with Fe-THP. It is observed from viscosity experiment results that though Fe-THP complex is able to bring about long range ordering of collagen, as evident from the thermal and enzymatic stability imparted to collagen, this ordering does not lead to any aggregation of collagen. Since THPS is reducing in nature, it is expected to keep iron in the +2 state and if THP chelates to Fe(II), the hydrolytic behavior of iron can also be controlled.     

Influence of selected Indian immunostimulant herbs against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon with reference to haematological, biochemical and immunological changes

Immunostimulants are the substances, which enhance the non-specific defence mechanism and provide resistance against the invading pathogenic micro-organism. In order to increase the immunity of shrimps against the WSSV, the methanolic extracts of five different herbal medicinal plants like Cyanodon dactylon, Aegle marmelos, Tinospora cordifolia, Picrorhiza kurooa and Eclipta alba were selected and mixed thoroughly in equal proportion. The mixed extract was supplemented with various concentrations viz. 100 (A), 200 (B), 400 (C), and 800 (D) mgkg(-1) through artificial diets individually. The prepared diets (A-D) were fed individually to WSSV free healthy shrimp Penaeus monodon with an average weight of 8.0+/-0.5g for 25 days. Control diet (E), devoid of herbal extract was also fed to shrimps simultaneously. After 25 days of feeding experiment, the shrimps were challenged with WSSV, which were isolated and propagated from the infected crustaceans. The shrimps succumbed to death within 7 days when fed on no herbal immunostimulant diet (E). Among the different concentrations of herbal immunostimulant supplemented diets, the shrimps fed on diet D (800mgkg(-1)) significantly (P<0.0001) had more survival (74%) and reduction in the viral load. Also the better performance of haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters was found in the immunostimulant incorporated diets fed shrimps. The present work revealed that the application of herbal immunostimulants will be effective against shrimp viral pathogenesis and they can be recommended for shrimp culture.     

3β-Hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid dimethyl ester,a novel natural product from Plumbago zeylanica inhibits the proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells

Plumbago zeylanica, a traditional Indian herb is being used for the therapy of rheumatism and has been approved for anti-tumor activity. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the biological action are not very well understood. In this study, the anti-invasive activities of P. zeylanica methanolic extract (PME) and pure compound 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid (PZP) isolated from it are investigated in vitro. PME and PZP were noted to have the ability to induce apoptosis as assessed by flow cytometry. Further, the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by PME and PZP was found by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential with the down regulation of Bcl-2, increased expression of Bad, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP leading to DNA fragmentation. Importantly, both PME and PZP were observed to suppress MDA-MB-231 cells adhesion to the fibronectin-coated substrate and also inhibited the wound healing migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells through the reconstituted extracellular matrix. Gelatin zymography revealed that PME and PZP decreased the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9). Interestingly both PME and PZP exerted an inhibitory effect on the protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF and HIF-1α that are consistent with the observed anti-metastatic effect. Collectively, these data provide the molecular basis of the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of PME and PZP.