Advancements in Life Sciences (E-Journal, University of the Punjab)
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Seasonal prevalence of eimeriosis in broiler chicken
No full textBackground: Poultry sector is a vibrant segment of Pakistan economy and is a viable source of animal origin protein source. The growth of this sector is badly affected by different devastating problem’s in-term of mortality and morbidity. Hazara region is so called Georgia of Pakistan for poultry Production. Coccidiosis is an economically devastating problem in the area and throughout the year its cases have been reported.Methods: The present study was conducted to know the round the year and seasonal prevalence of disease.During July 2012 to June 2013, a total of 1440 (n=1140) postmortem cases were carried out for disease diagnosis. Cases suspected for coccidiosis were confirmed by grass pathological lesions manifestation on the intestine and ceaca. Brief history including age, flock size was taken. For morphological examination, the oocytes were sieved and centrifuged at 3000 rpm with sugar solution.Results: A total no of (n=1440) cases brought to outdoor patient services of Veterinary Research & Disease Investigation Centre, Abbott bad for disease diagnosis and treatment. Out of the total cases n=546 were found positive showing the overall prevalence of 37.91%.During hot and humid climatic conditions of monsoon season its prevalence was significantly high, during the month of August and September the observed infection percentage as 60.16% and 62.29 % respectively while low infection rate has been observed during the month of April which was 20.17%. Predominance of eimeriosis was high in young birds (3-4 weeks) and adult birds and less than 3 week of age birds was 74.90%, 17.94% and 7.14% respectively.Conclusion: In present study, the higher prevalence of infection during the rainy season of monsoon observed indicating that warmth temperature and humid condition favors the oocytes sporulation and subsequent transmission
Occurrence of HCV genotypes in different age groups of patients from Lahore, Pakistan
Get PDFBackground: Hepatitis C virus is a small, enveloped single stranded, positive sense RNA virus. Different genotypes are distributed in different geographical areas of the world. Determination of HCV genotype is a powerful tool for the treatment of chronic and acute liver disease.Method: The present study was carried out to find the occurrence of different HCV genotypes in the city of Lahore, a populous city of Pakistan from January 2010 to December 2010. Blood sample of patients positive for anti HCV by ELISA as well as HCV by PCR were collected and plasma was separated. HCV viral RNA load was analyzed in these samples using Real Time PCR. Qiagen HCV mini kit for RNA extraction and Qiagen HCV amplification kit for PCR amplification were used. Amplicons were subjected to HCV genotyping using Third Wave Technology.Results: Among 489 patients, 211 (43.1%) patients were males and 278 (56.9%) were females. Occurrence of HCV in the age group of 36-45 years was 32.5 %. Occurrence of HCV genotype 1 was 9.6% (47), genotype 3a was 80.77% (395), genotype 3h was 1.0% (5) , genotype 4 was 4.9% (24), co-infection of genotypes 1 & 2 was 0.2% (01), co-infection of genotypes 1 & 3 was 0.6% (03) and co-infection genotypes 1 & 4 was 0.4% (02).Conclusion: HCV genotype 3a is most prevalent HCV genotype in subjected population during said duration with most infected people from 26 to 35 years of age. Female population is having more of HCV infection as compared to males
Characterization and efficiency assessment of PGPR for enhancement of rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield
Get PDFBackground: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in phosphorous solublization, nutrient uptake and crop productivity. A variety of PGPR and their combinations were supplemented to rice crop for evaluation of their effects on plant height, filled grain per panicle, tillers per plant, 1000 grain weight, panicle length and yield per acre. Methods: Roots of sugarcane plants and their adhering soil samples were used as an isolation source for PGPR. The nursery plant roots of local rice varieties i.e. Super Basmati and Basmati-515 were inoculated with isolated PGPR formulation. Data was recorded and statistically analyzed to determine analysis of variance, genetic correlation, path coefficient and principle component. Results: 5 out of 11 bacterial strains produced high indole acetic acid (IAA). Other 6 were either average or low producers of the acid. The strains selected for maximum amount of phosphorous solublization were CEMB-22 (Klebsiella sp.) and CEMB-15 (Burkholderia sp.) with best IAA production. It was found that higher genetic advance, heritability, genotypic and phenotypic correlation have positive direct effects on yield properties of rice.Conclusion: Yield of rice can be enhanced by the application of CEMB-22+CEMB-15 PGPR in combined formulation
Pomegranate juice attenuates acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rat model of experiment
Get PDFBackground: Pomegranate fruit has high contents of various polyphenols and antioxidants due to which it possesses variety of therapeutic properties. In particular, pomegranate fruit peel and flowers have exhibited high antioxidant activity in different studies. Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the most common cause of drug induced liver toxicity including both accidental and intentional types. In our study, we investigated the protecting mechanism of pomegranate fruit juice (PJ) against toxicity caused by APAP in Wistar rats.Methods: Rats were fed with 0.2% (w/v) pomegranate fruit extract as prophylaxis to counter single dose of APAP (2 g/kg, p.o). After that variation in levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) were marked.Results: A single dose of APAP elevated serum toxicity markers including lipid peroxidation. A simultaneous sharp depletion of glutathione and its metabolizing enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) was observed. Oral doses of PJ at (0.1% & 0.2% w/v) caused a significant (P<0.001) reduction in toxicity marker enzymes. A striking elevation in antioxidant armory was seen as in response to PJ.Conclusion: The results provide a clear picture of the defensive effect of PJ against APAP induced hepatic toxicity
Isolation, Identification and In Vitro Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Citrus Canker Causing Organism Xanthomonas axonopodis.
Get PDFBackground: Xanthomonas axonopodis or X. axonopodis is the devastating causal organism of citrus canker, widely spread bacterial disease of plants from both epidemiological and economic points of view. Furthermore, the situation is worsening by the advent of increased antibiotic resistance among this bacteria. The major interests of this study were isolation, identification and in vitro antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the causal organism. Besides, herbal sensitivity of those organisms was also tested. Methods: In this study, 9 isolates of the organism were identified based on morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. All the isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity against 5 commonly used antibiotics namely, cefotaxime, bacitracin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin and gentamycin. Results: X. axonopodis was found 100% resistant to cefotaxime and 77.77% to bacitracin. Chloramphenicol was found most effective as all the isolates were sensitive to it. The herbal sensitivity of X. axonopodis was tested with the plant extract of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Litchi chinensis, Vitis amurensis and Syzygium cumini. Among the plant extracts, the pathogens were found most sensitive to Allium sativum and Syzygium cumini and resistant to V. amurensis. Conclusion: The study showed herbal treatment can be implicated for the disease citrus canker caused by antibiotic resistant X. axonopodis in future
Genotypic response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for resistance against gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
Get PDFBackground: Chickpea is an important pulse crop of Pakistan. The pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), is the major pest in most of the chickpea growing areas of the country. A field trial was carried out at Entomological Research Area, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, during growing season of 2012-13 to evaluate the resistance of chickpea genotypes against gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera).Methods: Experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications having plot size of 3 ft × 20 ft. Morphological characters of chickpea like pod trichome, pod wall thickness, pod length, pod breadth, pod area and number of pods per plant were measured. The pod borer larval population/pod infestation was recorded from fifteen randomly selected plants per plot after ten days interval.Results: It was found that the genotypes which had higher trichomes length and density and pod wall thickness were more resistant against Helicoverpa infestation. Significant genetic variation for resistance against Helicoverpa armigera attack was found in chickpea and variety K-70005 showed resistant behavior followed by K-08004 and K-60062.Conclusions: It was concluded from prescribed study that the most susceptible genotypes were K-70005, K-08004 and K-70008 for the attack of Helicoverpa armigera to reduce grain yield
Phylogenetic analysis of coat protein gene of CYDV-RPV strain from Wheat
Get PDFBackground: Keeping in view the potential damage caused by viruses to production of different crops and possible ‘directed damages’ by manipulated viral attack in/across border collectively make phylogenetic analysis of any attacking viral specie important. Cereal yellow dwarf viruses (CYDV) are highly important viruses in wheat causing significant yield loss.Methods: Double antibody sandwich ELISA and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect and confirm the polerovirus i.e. CYDV-rhopalosiphum padi virus (RPV), and unassigned viruses (SGV, RMV) in Punjab and NWFP provinces. The PCR products were inserted into a pGEM®-T easy vector, which then transformed in JM-107 cells of Escherichia coli. Recombinant plasmids were sequenced. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were aligned, analyzed and compared with other RPV isolates of the family. The nucleotide sequence data were used to make a phylogenetic tree.Results: Sequencing of 600 bp of coat protein gene confirmed the presence of CYDV-RPV strain. Pakistani isolate has close phylogenetic relationship with RPV-Mexcio and RPV-Yolo (USA). They had 99.95% similarity with RPV-Pakistan. The RPV-Aus, RPV-IR, and RPV-Cal (USA) had 99.94% identities with RPV-Pakistan.Conclusion: This work led to a conclusion that there is very low genetic diversity in RPV-Pakistan. Now it is in our future interest to clarify the identity of RPV-PK with more sequencing. The current study may help scientists to formulate appropriate management strategies against CYDV-RPV
Genetically Modified Foods: Engineered tomato with extra advantages
No full textCurrently, genetically modified crops are among the most important constituents in all aspect of our life. Recent controversies about genetically modified crops in United Kingdom and other European countries indicate the apparent differences in public opinion on this subject across the Atlantic, where people do seem untroubled with GMO as compared to other countries. Among plants after potato, tomato is the model plant for genetic changes. A number of genetic modifications of tomato are available especially against different insects, pests and fungus. Gene silencing techniques against viruses have been applied for silencing the expression of damage causing gene. Genetic modifications inducing significant events regarding fruits ripening and growth in tomato and vaccines are of the particular importance. In this review article, we have covered genetic modifications which cause insect, virus and fungus resistance; confer fast growth, chilling and drought tolerance, increased and improved nutrients, yield, fruit ripening, quality and color of the tomato. Factors affecting photosynthesis and metabolic rate are also reviewed in this article
A cost effective preparative thin layer chromatography cleanup method for high performance liquid chromatography analysis of aflatoxins B1, B2 and G2
Get PDFAflatoxins are the by-products of fungal metabolism and common contaminants in feed. To keep their level below permissible limits, various assays have been developed. Currently, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection of toxins is most widely used method but the cleanup methods requiring specific gadgets have increased the cost of the assay. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is effective and economical but it only gives semi quantitative determination for aflatoxin.This study explores the preparative potential of TLC as cleanup method for HPLC analysis of toxin. Standard aflatoxins solutions containing 10 ng of B1, 2.5 ng of B2 and 2.5 ng of G2 were spotted on silica plates and then extracted using chloroform and acetone (4:1). The extracted toxins were resolved and quantified on HPLC using fluorescent detection. The results showed 81, 79 and 60% mean recovery of aflatoxin B1, B2 and G2, respectively. This method was proved equivocally comparable to other methods of aflatoxins cleanup and thus can be used as an alternative cost effective cleanup method
Genetic effects of Calotropis procera CpTIP1 gene on fiber quality in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
Get PDFBackground: The importance of cotton crop (Gossypium hirsutum) in textile industry is based on its fiber quality. A number of fiber-specific genes play important role in the development of cotton fiber. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of genes that are responsible for metabolic functions and their involvement in cotton fiber development.Methods: This study was focused at successful Agrobacterium mediated stable transformation of the fiber gene CpTIP1, isolated from the wild plant Calotropis procera, into cotton variety NIAB-846 for one generation. Results: Transformation efficiency was calculated to be 1.01% for the target gene. Different molecular techniques such as PCR were used for confirmation and Real-Time PCR was used to check the level of quantitative expression of fiber expansin gene in putative transgenic cotton plants. On the base of molecular analysis, results showed higher expression level of fiber gene (CpTIP1) in transgenic plants as compared to the control plants.Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea of improved cotton fiber through genetic modification especially the cotton fiber strength