Search

Introduction:Feronia limonia (synonyms: Feronia elephantum, Hesperethusa crenulata, Limonia acidissima Linn, Schinus limonia) is a member of Rutaceae family. F. limonia is an aesthetically pleasing plant with various medicinal and nutraceutical properties.

Creating salt-tolerant genotypes is crucial for maximizing the productivity under salinized land. To evaluate genetic diversity for salt tolerance, 35 diverse cotton accessions were screened under 17 dS m−1 salt stress conditions using 20 agronomic and physiological traits relevant to salt tolerance. The general linear model analysis indicated significant salinity impacts across the studied accessions, and genotype × treatment effects were also significant for all parameters examined. Among all 35 studied accessions; the genotypes CCB-1, CCB-2, CCB-28, CCB-3, CCB-4, Ghauri-1, JSQ-70, and JSQ-71 showed considerably higher performance for plant height, boll per plant, boll weight, lint percentage, seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits under salt stress. Physiological traits, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, total soluble proteins, K+, and K+/Na+ were reduced under saline conditions, while biochemical traits such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, H2O2 and MDA level increased. The genotypes CCB-17, CCB-18, CCB-19, CCB-20, CCB-21, CCB-22, Hatf-3, Badar-1, Eagle-2, Eagle-4, CCB-23, CCB-24, CCB-25, CCB-26 and CCB-28 exhibited lower values for agro-physiological and fiber quality character respectively, signifying their sensitivity to salt stress. Under salinity, these genotypes showed reduced antioxidant levels and increased values for K+/Na+, Na+, H2O2, and MDA contents. Whereas the genotypes CCB-5, CCB-6, CCB-7, CCB-8, CCB-9, CCB-10, CCB-11, CCB-12, CCB-13, CCB-14, CCB-15, and CCB-16 demonstrated moderate performance for these traits under salt stress conditions respectively. Utilizing multivariate analysis techniques (cluster and PCA), 35 genotypes have been categorized into three groups based on studied traits: tolerant (cluster-1), moderately tolerant (cluster-2), and susceptible (cluster-3) under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metagenomics means the study of genetic material that is directly collected from environmental samples. Conventional microbiology involves isolation and culturing of individual species, but it fails to capture the full diversity of microbial life as many microbes cannot be cultured in the lab by this methodology. Meta genomics can overcome this limitation by sequencing all the DNA of a given sample, providing a broad view of the microbial community. Therefore, diverse and unknown species of microbes have been categorized and identified that open a new window to an overwhelming the applied role of microbes. And now this is where AI interrupts, facilitating us to find patterns and make predictions that would be unattainable through any other way. This chapter provides us with a gateway to understand various microbial communities that haunt ecosystems from the human gut to ocean troughs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is the sixth most frequent malignancy and the fourth major cause of deaths worldwide. The current treatments are only effective in early stages of cancer. To overcome the therapeutic challenges and exploration of immunotherapeutic options, broad spectral therapeutic vaccines could have significant impact. Based on immunoinformatic and integrated machine learning tools, we predicted the potential therapeutic vaccine candidates of liver cancer. In this study, machine learning and MD simulation-based approach are effectively used to design T-cell epitopes that aid the immune system against liver cancer. Antigenicity, molecular weight, subcellular localization and expression site predictions were used to shortlist liver cancer associated proteins including AMBP, CFB, CDHR5, VTN, APOBR, AFP, SERPINA1 and APOE. We predicted CD8+ T-cell epitopes of these proteins containing LGEGATEAE, LLYIGKDRK, EDIGTEADV, QVDAAMAGR, HLEARKKSK, HLCIRHEMT, LKLSKAVHK, EQGRVRAAT and CD4+ T-cell epitopes of VLGEGATEA, WVTKQLNEI, VEEDTKVNS, FTRINCQGK, WGILGREEA, LQDGEKIMS, VKFNKPFVF, VRAATVGSL. We observed the substantial physicochemical properties of these epitopes with a significant binding affinity with MHC molecules. A polyvalent construct of these epitopes was designed using suitable linkers and adjuvant indicated significant binding energy (>-10.5 kcal/mol) with MHC class-I and II molecule. Based on in silico cloning, we found the considerable compatibility of this polyvalent construct with the E. coli expression system and the efficiency of its translation in host. The system-level and machine learning based cross validations showed the possible effect of these T-cell epitopes as potential vaccine candidates for the treatment of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus, a globally distributed grain pest that affects cereals and pulses. Using chemicals to store grains can harm pest control and pose risks to consumers and the environment. The facultative intracellular symbiont bacteria Wolbachia can affect host's reproductive capacities in a variety of ways, which makes it useful in the management of pests such as C. maculatus. The main goal of the study was to identify Wolbachia diversity in the C. maculatus population. Phylogenetic analysis utilized mitochondrial COI and 12S rRNA genes to identify the host C. maculatus, while screening for Wolbachia was conducted using genes (wsp, coxA, and ftsZ) genes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Wolbachia genes resulted in one new Wolbachia strain (wCmac1) in C. maculatus populations and contrasting already published data of other Callosobruchus strains. The study discussed the detection of Wolbachia and its phylogenetic comparison with other C. maculatus and Coleopteran populations. It is important to take these findings into account when considering host-pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The global supply of the primary component of poultry feed, i.e., soybean meal, has dwindled due to an imbalance between demand and supply. Hence, there is an urgent need for exploring some cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative protein sources to ensure sustainable poultry production. The outcomes of the present study exhibited that replacing 12% of soybean meal with either Periplaneta americana or Hermetia illucens improves the growth, blood hematology, gut morphometry, and meat quality of broilers. Consequently, these insects can serve as a viable alternative to traditional protein sources in poultry nutrition, offering a promising solution to meet the rising demand for animal protein, while mitigating the environmental impacts associated with conventional feed ingredients. Insects are becoming increasingly popular as a sustainable and nutritious alternative protein source in poultry feeds, due to their high protein content, low environmental impact, and efficient feed conversion rates. Using insect-based feeds can reduce the need for traditional protein sources like soybean meal (SBM), which often contribute to environmental issues such as deforestation and high water consumption. The current experiments were devised to assess the impacts of the partial replacement of SBM with the American cockroach Periplaneta americana and black soldier fly Hermetia illucens on the performances, hematology, gut morphometry, and meat quality of male broilers (Ross 308). A total of 350, 1-day-old chicks weighing 40.05 ± 0.27 g were divided into 7 dietary treatments (5 pens/treatment and 10 birds/pen) at random, i.e., a 4, 8, or 12% SMB replacement with P. americana and H. illucens. Soybean meal was used as a basal diet and taken as a control. The results indicated that broilers fed on 12% P. americana or H. illucens showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in feed conversion ratio, live weight, and daily weight gain. Hematological traits significantly improved (p < 0.05). A gut histology showed increased villus height, villus width, crypt depth, and villus height/crypt depth ratios, indicating improved nutrient absorption. Broiler meat fed on 12% P. americana meal had significantly higher redness and yellowness (p < 0.05). Substituting soybean meal with up to 12% P. americana or H. illucens meal in poultry feed can enhance the broilers' growth performance, hematology, gut morphometry, and meat quality. Hence, these findings imply that P. americana or H. illucens meal are viable and constructive alternative protein sources in poultry nutrition, offering a sustainable approach to meet the increasing demand for animal protein across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]