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Background illumination and its intensity are crucial factors in visual interaction among organisms. In the present study, we used tadpoles of eight sympatric anuran species (Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Microhyla ornata, Uperodon globulosus, Kaloula taprobanica, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, Fejervarya orissaensis, Polypedates maculatus, and Polypedates teraiensis) to examine species-specific responses towards background illumination (shade and light), combined with four treatments [without food and predator (F−P−), with food and without predator (F+P−), without food and with predator (F−P+), and with food and with predator (F+P+)], with four coloured backgrounds (green, red, brown, and black) during different hours of a day (early morning, late morning, noon, and afternoon). Anuran tadpoles choose shaded sides over lighter sides, as such microhabitats are used as an effective means of camouflage, but most of the M. ornata tadpoles preferred the opposite. The observations were similar for red, green, and brown backgrounds simulating different natural conditions. The developmental stage and co-occurrence of tadpoles of multiple species do not affect their behavioural responses. These results draw attention to the importance of low illuminated/shaded backgrounds for behavioural responses of anuran tadpoles to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals with an aliphatic fluorinated carbon chain. Due to their durability, bioaccumulation potential, and negative impacts on living organisms, these compounds have drawn lots of attention across the world. The negative impacts of PFASs on aquatic ecosystems are becoming a major concern due to their widespread use in increasing concentrations and constant leakage into the aquatic environment. Furthermore, by acting as agonists or antagonists, PFASs may alter the bioaccumulation and toxicity of certain substances. In many species, particularly aquatic organisms, PFASs can stay in the body and induce a variety of negative consequences, such as reproductive toxicity, oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, immunological toxicity, developmental toxicity, cellular damage and necrosis. PFAS bioaccumulation plays a significant role and has an impact on the composition of the intestinal microbiota, which is influenced by the kind of diet and is directly related to the host's well-being. PFASs also act as endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) which can change the endocrine system and result in dysbiosis of gut microbes and other health repercussions. In silico investigation and analysis also shows that PFASs are incorporated into the maturing oocytes during vitellogenesis and are bound to vitellogenin and other yolk proteins. The present review reveals that aquatic species, especially fishes, are negatively affected by exposure to emerging PFASs. Additionally, the effects of PFAS pollution on aquatic ecosystems were investigated by evaluating a number of characteristics, including extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and chlorophyll content as well as the diversity of the microorganisms in the biofilms. Therefore, this review will provide crucial information on the possible adverse effects of PFASs on fish growth, reproduction, gut microbial dysbiosis, and its potential endocrine disruption. This information aims to help the researchers and academicians work and come up with possible remedial measures to protect aquatic ecosystems as future works need to be focus on techno-economic assessment, life cycle assessment, and multi criteria decision analysis systems that screen PFAS-containing samples. New innovative methods requires further development to reach detection at the permissible regulatory limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helminths, with an estimated 1.5 billion annual global infections, are one of the major health challenges worldwide. The current strategy of the World Health Organization to prevent helminth infection includes increasing hygienic awareness, providing better sanitation and preventative anthelmintic drug therapy in vulnerable populations. Nowadays, anthelmintic drugs are used heavily in livestock, both in case of infection and as a preventative measure. However, this has led to the development of resistance against several of the most common drugs, such as levamisole, ivermectin and thiabendazole. As many as 70% of the livestock in developed countries now has helminths that are drug resistant, and multiple resistance is common. Because of this, novel anthelmintics are urgently needed to help combat large-scale production losses. Prior to this review, no comprehensive review of the anthelmintic effects of essential oils and their components existed. Multiple review articles have been published on the uses of a single plant and its extracts that only briefly touch upon their anthelmintic activity. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of essential oils and their components as anthelmintic treatment against a wider variety of helminths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral morphological features and the diet of the tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus were described in this study. The tadpoles were collected from various water bodies of the state of Odisha over three consecutive breeding seasons (2018–2020). Oral and internal buccal characters were analysed independently for Gosner developmental stages 25 to 46. The upper labium has four labial tooth rows with a medial gap in the three rows proximal to the mouth, whereas the lower labium has three rows with a medial gap in the row proximal to the mouth. The order of length of denticle rows is A2>P1>P2>A1>P3>A3>A4 with a dental formula of A4(3)/P3(1). The food spectrum of the tadpoles included mostly phytoplanktons (represented by six classes and 51 genera) followed by zooplankton (two classes and four genera). Three Bacillariophyceae genera (Navicula, Pinnularia, and Synedra) contributed most of the gut contents. Scenedesmus was the major food items in Chlorophyceae family and had the highest numeric frequency (7.63%) among all the food items. Other prevalent food items included Zygnematophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Rotifera, Ulvophyceae and Copepoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms form a complex layer with defined structures, that attach on biotic or abiotic surfaces, are tough to eradicate and tend to cause some resistance against most antibiotics. Several studies confirmed that biofilm-producing bacteria exhibit higher resistance compared to the planktonic form of the same species. Antibiotic resistance factors are well understood in planktonic bacteria which is not so in case of biofilm producing forms. This may be due to the lack of available drugs with known resistance mechanisms for biofilms. Existing antibiotics cannot eradicate most biofilms, especially of ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium , Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Acinetobacter baumannii , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Enterobacter species). Insects produce complex and diverse set of chemicals for survival and defense. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), produced by most insects, generally have a broad spectrum of activity and the potential to bypass the resistance mechanisms of classical antibiotics. Besides, AMPs may well act synergistically with classical antibiotics for a double-pronged attack on infections. Thus, AMPs could be promising alternatives to overcome medically important biofilms, decrease the possibility of acquired resistance and treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogens including ESKAPE. The present review focuses on insect-derived AMPs with special reference to anti-biofilm-based strategies. It covers the AMP composition, pathways and mechanisms of action, the formation of biofilms, impact of biofilms on human diseases, current strategies as well as therapeutic options to combat biofilm with antimicrobial peptides from insects. In addition, the review also illustrates the importance of bioinformatics tools and molecular docking studies to boost the importance of select bioactive peptides those can be developed as drugs, as well as suggestions for further basic and clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian tadpoles are the key consumers and play an important role in the food chain of aquatic ecosystems. Understanding the natural diet of tadpoles can help in developing management strategies for them. We characterized the diet of 170 Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis tadpoles collected from 34 sites during rainy seasons (July to October) of 2014 and 2013 in different temporary habitats in and around Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India. After morphometric measurements (total length, body length and body width), the complete intestine of each tadpole was analyzed for food items and quantified based on the numeric frequency (NF%) and frequency of occurrence (FO%). The food spectrum of tadpoles included mostly detritus followed by phytoplanktons (represented by 6 classes and 35 genera). The food items ingested were similar in all the habitats, suggesting that they are non-selective predators that kick an apparent dietary preference, and their diet is mostly dependent on the availability of food items. Knowledge of food habits and feeding behaviour of the tadpoles is essential, since the early part of the life history of amphibians is dependent on the availability of the food items in the natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the sources of calcium for the developing embryo and the parallel changes in eggshell structure in the Indian agamid lizard Psammophilus blanfordanus. The developing eggs were opened at 0 (freshly laid), 10, 20, 30, 35, 38, and 40 days of incubation and at hatching (day 41) and subjected to chemical and structural analyses. The oval and flexible-shelled eggs had undergone significant changes in size (40% increase in length, 68% increase in breadth and 315% increase in weight) from laying to hatching. The fresh eggshell contained 2.76 mg (12.51%) calcium whereas the hatched eggshell had only 1.02 mg (7.20%), or a 63% reduction from its original content. The yolk + fluids fraction provides only 0.47 mg to the 1.76 mg of calcium in the hatchling, the rest being resorbed from the eggshell during development. The fresh eggshell (62 μm thick) had a rough granular structure in its calcareous layer with near uniform rectangular/polygonal fields made up of globules of varying sizes. The membrane layer had a multilayered mat of interwoven, irregularly oriented and bifurcated, fibres of uneven thickness. The spherical globules were absent at several places in the hatched eggshell as a result of eggshell calcium utilisation by the developing embryo. Hence, like that of most reptiles, the eggshell of Psammophilus blanfordanus also acts as a secondary source of calcium for the developing embryo. The embryo utilizes the eggshell calcium towards the end of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the structural changes in the eggshells of olive ridley turtle particularly during embryonic development. It references a study by Gunanidhi Sahoo at the North Orissa University Department of Zoology in India, and his colleagues, published in an issue of the "Herpetological Journal." The researchers observed a freshly deposited egg clutch, which contained a total of 127 eggs that laid close to the high tide water mark. They also investigated the structural and compositional changes in the eggshells and concluded that calcium utilization caused gradual changes in the cell structure of the marine turtle eggshells.

Approximately 270 species of mushrooms have been reported as potentially useful for human health. However, few mushrooms have been studied for bioactive compounds that can be helpful in treating various diseases. Like other natural regimens, the mushroom treatment appears safe, as could be expected from their long culinary and medicinal use. This review aims to provide a critical discussion on clinical trial evidence for mushrooms to treat patients with diverse types of cancer. In addition, the review also highlights the identified bioactive compounds and corresponding mechanisms of action among the explored mushrooms. Furthermore, it also discusses mushrooms with anticancer properties, demonstrated either in vitro and/or in vivo models, which have never been tested in clinical studies. Several mushrooms have been tested in phase I or II clinical trials, mostly for treating breast cancer (18.6%), followed by colorectal (14%) and prostate cancer (11.6%). The majority of clinical studies were carried out with just 3 species: Lentinula edodes (22.2%), Coriolus versicolor, and Ganoderma lucidum (both 13.9%); followed by two other species: Agaricus bisporus and Grifola frondosa (both 11.1%). Most in vitro cell studies use breast cancer cell lines (43.9%), followed by lung (14%) and colorectal cancer cell lines (13.1%), while most in vivo animal studies are performed in mice tumor models (58.7%). Although 32 species of mushrooms at least show some promise for the treatment of cancer, only 11 species have been tested clinically thus far. Moreover, most clinical studies have investigated fewer numbers of patients, and have been limited to phase III or IV. Therefore, despite the promising preclinical and clinical data publication, more solid scientific efforts are required to clarify the therapeutic value of mushrooms in oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lineages at the western most limit (Western Ghats) and eastern most limit (Luzon) is characterized by narrow range and warrants a reassessment of their conservation status. [Display omitted] • We performed an integrative species delimitation analysis of king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) across its range in the Oriental realm. • Mitochondrial and nuclear gene and morphology support the recognition of four independently evolving lineages. • The boundaries of four delimited lineages are broadly coincident the following biogeographic sub-regions: Western Ghats, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Malayan and Luzon island (Philippine archipelago). In widespread species, the diverse ecological conditions in which the populations occur, and the presence of many potential geographical barriers through their range are expected to have created ample opportunities for the evolution of distinct, often cryptic lineages. In this work, we tested for species boundaries in one such widespread species, the king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), a largely tropical elapid snake distributed across the Oriental realm. Based on extensive geographical sampling across most of the range of the species, we initially tested for candidate species (CS) using Maximum-Likelihood analysis of mitochondrial genes. We then tested the resulting CS using both morphological data and sequences of three single-copy nuclear genes. We used snapclust to determine the optimal number of clusters in the nuclear dataset, and Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP) to test for likely species status. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis for discerning morphological separation. We recovered four independently evolving, geographically separated lineages that we consider Confirmed Candidate Species: (1) Western Ghats lineage; (2) Indo-Chinese lineage (3) Indo-Malayan lineage; (4) Luzon Island lineage, in the Philippine Archipelago. We discuss patterns of lineage divergence, particularly in the context of low morphological divergence, and the conservation implications of recognizing several endemic king cobra lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]