INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

141-150

Authors: Sami Bahlas MD, Ibtisam M Jali, Laila Abdullah Damiati M. Sc, Nadia Dandachi MBBS, Hesham Sait MBBS and Peter Natesan Pushparaj PhD

In this study, we decipher the association of celiac disease (CD) and other comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using key clinical risk factors and systems medicine approaches for the differential diagnosis and personalized treatment. In the systems medicine approach, we have used the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis knowledgebase (IPA, Qiagen, USA) to decipher the upstream regulators of the disease, canonical pathways, molecular networks and disease specific pathways commonly shared in RA and CD. Besides, eighty-two RA patients who have satisfied “American College of Rheumatology (ACR)” classification criteria for RA and 20 healthy volunteers were participated. RA patients with CD were identified based on serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA). Besides, clinical parameters such as fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) were measured to assess the diabetic state. Clinical parameters such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), mean cell volume (MCV), mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV), white blood count (WBC), albumin, calcium (Ca2+) and vitamin D3 (VitD3) were analyzed in healthy volunteers, RA, and RA with CD cohorts respectively. Systems medicine analyses showed that both RA and CD strongly associated with diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, clinical analyses indicate that FBS, HbA1C, Anti-MCV, RF, CRP and tTG-IgA concentrations were significantly increased in both RA and RA with CD cohorts than healthy controls. tTG-IgA levels were significantly elevated in RA with CD cohorts compared with RA. On the other hand, anti-MCV levels were significantly increased in RA compared to RA with CD group. Besides, both RA and RA with CD cohorts have significantly reduced levels of VitD3 and Albumin in the serum compared with healthy controls. In conclusion, the RA and RA with CD cohorts have poor glycemic rheostat compared to healthy controls. Higher serum tTG-IgA levels in these cohorts indicate the susceptibility of RA patients to develop CD. The reduction in serum VitD3 levels in both RA and RA with CD cohorts further worsens disease prognosis. The systems medicine and clinical analyses, therefore, showed the potential association of diabetes mellitus (DM) and CD in RA patients.

161-179

Authors: Ashenafi Mulatu Yeshi, Thangavel Selvaraj, Alemu Lencho and Bekele Kassa

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary is one of the most significant constraints to potato production in Ethiopia. Fungicides and host plant resistance are among the most efficient control options available to growers. Field trials were conducted during the year 2015-2016 in Holleta Agricultural Research Center, Holleta, Ethiopia, to evaluate the effectiveness of four fungicides viz. Ridomil MZ 68 WG, Victory 72 WP (Mancozeb with Metalaxyl), Horizon 680 WG and Mancozeb application in weekly intervals on three potato cultivars Gudene (CIP-386423.13; Relatively Resistant), Gera (KP-90134.2; Moderate Relatively Resistant) and Jalene (CIP-384321.19, Susceptible cultivar). Late blight infection was prevalent in the experimental year and significant amount of disease incidence and severity were detected. Application of fungicide treatments considerably reduced late blight disease progress, with a corresponding decrease in disease index and increase in their tuber yields. The disease incidence reached the maximum of 91.5 % on the unsprayed control susceptible variety, Jalene and 55 and 38.5 % was recorded on moderate resistant varieties, Gudene and Gera, respectively. The percent final disease severity was recorded significant difference in sprayed and unsprayed plots. The highest severity (78%) reduction was recorded in all fungicide treated Gera variety. The highest severity was recorded in varieties of Jalene (83.5%) and Gudene (30%) with untreated control. In this study, Victory 72 WP retarded late blight development consistently when combined with all varieties and the highest yields were obtained from plots treated with Victory 72 WP. Higher tuber yield was recorded on the variety Gera (48.47 tons/ha) followed by Gudene and Jalene and the lowest tuber yield was recorded in the control treatments (no sprays). Based on late blight disease occurrence, application of Victory 72 WP and Ridomil MZ 68 WG fungicides reduced disease development and increased tuber yield significantly in all the cultivars as compared to the other two fungicides. Economic analysis revealed that the highest net benefit was obtained from Gera when sprayed at weekly intervals followed by Gudene and the least was obtained from Jalene unsprayed plot. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the application of fungicides, Victory 72 WP and Ridomil MZ 68 WG in weekly intervals were more economical and feasible for the management of late blights of potato and increases tuber yields markedly. Further, cost effective and feasible integrated management options need to be developed for potato late blight in the country.

189-197

Authors: Tesfay Gebrekirstos, Getaneh Woldeab, Thangavel Selvaraj and Arvind Chavhan

This study was carried out to determine the virulence of P. triticina and evaluate the reaction of wheat cultivars to virulent races. Race analysis was carried out by inoculating isolates on to the 16 differential hosts. A total of 22 races were identified of which; PHTT, PHRT, THTT and FHRT were predominant races with frequencies of 20, 15, 10 and 10% respectively. The remaining 18 races were confined to specific locations with a frequency of 2.5% each. The broadest virulence spectrum was recorded from TKTT race, making 15 Lr genes ineffective. About 81% of Lr genes were ineffective to 55% of P. triticina isolates. Races TKTT, THTT and PHTT were used to evaluate the resistance of ten wheat cultivars in greenhouse. Bread wheat cultivars, Mekelle-3, Mekelle-4, Picaflor, Dashin and Local cultivar showed susceptible reaction to TKTT, THTT and PHTT races. Unlike bread wheat varieties, durum varieties, Ude and Dembi were resistant to these races. The result of this study showed most bread wheat varieties did not have adequate resistance for leaf rust. Hence, gene pyramiding of Lr9, Lr24 and Lr2a has paramount importance as the additive effects of several genes offer the variety a wider base for leaf rust resistance.

203-210

Authors: Turkel Ayesha and Bhajbhuje MN

Aeromycoflora from Library is known to be significant in respect to allergies and also involve in deterioration of cellulosic and non-cellulosic library materials. Airborne fungal flora of the Central library of R.T.M. Nagpur University Campus, Nagpur have been isolated at regular intervals for a month employing gravity plate exposure technique. Altogether 1595 colonies categorized under 23 genera and 39 species were isolated. Deuteromycota exhibited greater count of isolates with higher incidence followed by Ascomycota. Member of Basidiomycota did not persist. Cladosporium dominated the air of library exhibiting significant incidence. Aspergillus was recorded with greater count of species whereas Botrytis, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Cunninghamella, Drechslera, Nigrospora, Phoma, Phytophthora, Pyricularia, Pythium, Rhizopus, Torula, Trichoderma and Trichothecium were encountered on agar jelly with individual species.

219-226

Authors: Joshi Nitesh, Mule Prachiti and Joshi Ambika

Inventory of the arboreal cover occurring along a primary road in Palghar was prepared for understanding the diversity of the trees. During the survey 17 kilometres road was monitored which had two main types of land uses viz. Forest and urbanised area. Both the areas showed presence of different types of trees. A total of 97 tree species belonging to 33 different families with a count of 2052 were observed during the survey. Frequently distributed trees in forest area were Terminalia crenulata Roth., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub., Bombax ceiba Burm.f., Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss., Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. while urbanised showed presence of Streblus asper Lour., Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp., Dalbergia lanceolaria L.f., Pithecellobium saman (Jacq.) Benth., Cassia siamea Lam., Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf., Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K., Moringa oleifera Lam., Borassus flabellifer L., Mangifera indica L., Annona reticulata L., Annona squamosa L.

233-240

Authors: Sharma Preeti and Nanoty Vijay

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) were prepared by chemical reduction method. Zinc nitrate was taken as the metal precursor and sodium hydroxide as a reducing agent. The formation of the ZnO nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) was monitored using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of nano-ZnO by exhibiting the typical surface plasmon absorption maxima at 360-380 nm. The average particle size of ZnO nanoparticles was analysed to be 48nm. We have used XRD, TEM, SEM and UV–Vis spectroscopy to characterize the nanoparticles obtained. The average size and morphology of nano-ZnO were determined by TEM. TEM photographs indicate that the nanopowders consist of well dispersed agglomerates of grains with a narrow size distribution (22.3 to72.8 nm). The synthesized nanoparticles have been structurally characterized by XRD. The peaks in the XRD pattern are in good agreement and no peaks of other impurity crystalline phases were detected. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the ZnO nanoparticles dispersion was measured by Kirby-Bauer method. The nanoparticles were found to be completely cytotoxic to most prevailing microorganisms in bacterial cutaneous infection like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella. The ZnO nanoparticles were found to exhibit antibacterial effects at low concentrations. These nanomaterials were shown to be an effective bactericide & may be suitable for the formulation of new types of bactericidal materials.

254-258

Authors: Jatinderpal Singh

The didelphic female reproductive system in Haemonchus contortus possesses telogonic ovaries, each divisible into a germinal zone and a growth zone and are enveloped by a thin layer of squamous epithelium. Many cytoplasmic strands congregate in the formation of rachis in the germinative zone. The rachis acts as a supporting structure only and keeps the young gametocytes in position till these are mature for fertilization. In the growth zone, the ovaries are tightly coiled around the intestine suggesting the trans-membrane flow of nutrients from the later to the former.

264-268

Authors: Chavan Dhanpal

Biodiesel is a green fuel and can be used as a blend with diesel or alone. It is a biodegradable and contains less CO2 and NOx. Biodiesel can be produced from many renewable resources like vegetable oil, fatty acids and algae oils. Oils can be used as feed stock for biodiesel production. Biodiesel can be produced through a transesterification reaction. Transesterification can be carried out using alkali based catalyst or enzymes based catalyst. Enzymes based catalyst has more advantages’ than alkali based catalyst. In the present investigation was undertaken to transesterified crude algae oil with novel bacterial enzyme under optimized condition, The molar ratio of methanol to crude oil was 3:1 proportion and the reaction temperature was maintained at 400c and 150 rpm for 5hr reaction time.Product of reaction were analyzed using FTIR and GCMS, biodiesel were identified, and physicochemical properties of biodiesel were compared with standard, this study revealed that microalgae oil can be source of potential biofuel production.

277-282

Authors: Shilpa Lokhande and Pethe AS

The present investigation was undertaken to isolate and Screen the Cellulase Producing bacteria. Microbial cultures were isolated from the soil sample collected from different villages of saline belt of Akola and Buldhana District, Maharashtra India. A Total of 146 isolates were isolated and identified based on Morphology and Biochemical characterization. Among all isolated organisms 37 bacterial species were isolated, the one cellulolytic bacterial isolate shows maximum enzyme activity, and identified as Bacillus thuringiensis. The best conditions like pH, carbon source, temperature and incubation period were also observed for cellulase producing organisms. Carboxy methyl cellulose [1.0% (w/v)] were found to be the best carbon source for the production of cellulase and Optimum temperature and pH of the medium for the cellulase were 40°C and 7, whereas it shows maximum enzyme activity after third day of incubation period.

286-289

Authors: Totawar DV and Tamlurkar HL

Three fish culture ponds (P1, P2 and P3) in Nanded district of M.S. under different management practices were selected for study over a period of two years. In the pond P1, culture of Indian major carps was carried without any fertilization or supplementary feeding while in pond P2 fertilization was done without any supplementary feeding. In pond P3, culture was carried out both with fertilization and supplementary feeding. The physic-chemical parameters of water, primary production, growth and fish production varied significantly among the three ponds which could be attributed to the different levels of inputs used in the fish culture. The results of present study indicate that high stocking density, supplementary feeding, regular liming, intermittent fertilization and manuring contributed to considerably high fish production. The average production of fish was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the pond P3 in comparison to ponds P2 and P1 The length-weight relationship of the cultures species in the experimental ponds was calculated by linear regression equation and exponential equation.