Bio Technology

A biogeochemical field study was carried out in the outskirts of Mumbai, where agricultural soils were contaminated by potentially toxic elements. Amaranthus cruentus is an important part of the diet in the state of Maharashtra and thus it was selected as a test plant. Environmental pollution is one of the severe problems that are faced by Mumbai and agriculture is also affected due to it. Analysis of lead and cadmium, two of the most hazardous heavy metals was done from the soil samples and its accumulation patterns in the test plant were studied. Lead and cadmium analysis was done using ICP-AAS to determine if these vegetable samples are fit for human consumption

The production of genetically modified food using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins (proteins) and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) is not new; various food crops have been transformed to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses using the lectin (agglutinin) from Galanthus nivalis. The rice samples used in this work were analysed for the presence of the genetically modified material. Two of the rice samples used gave dot fluorescence of 223.513 and 150.032 with calculated GNA amount of 14.02 and 9.19 ng respectively. The samples contained GNA between 0.031 and 0.07 % per 1µg; the values are significant indicating that the samples express significant amount of the lectin, which implies that the rice analysed are genetically modified. Thus this study identified rice that has been genetically modified with the lectin from Galanthus nivalis using the immunoblot method.

The leaf epidermis and midrib of Vernonia amygdalina, V. cinerea, V. perrottetii and V. adoensis were studied following standard proceedures and features were observed with the aid of compound microscope. To the authors’ knowledge, the leaf and midrib anatomical features of V. adoensis and V. perrottetii are being comprehensively and adequately documented for the first time. The results obtained revealed that the four species were hypoamphistomatic with anomocytic type of stomata. Stomata Index (%) was higher at the lower epidermis than the upper epidermis with V. amygdalina having 35.00 as the highest and V. perrottetii having 31.00 as the lowest. Similarly, the highest width (µm) of stomata was found in the upper epidermis of V. adoensis having an average of 73.22 ± 21.77 while the lowest was 22.46 ± 2.47 as found in the lower epidermis of V. adoensis. Highest stomata length (µm) of 81.46 ± 22.38 was also recorded in upper leaf epidermis of V. adoensis while lowest length of 30.43 ± 4.26 was recorded in its lower epidermis. In the four species, epidermal cells were predominantly irregular in shapes with predominantly sinuous anticlinal and periclinal walls. In another vein, the midribs were oblong in outline consisting of collateral and open bundles arranged in ring-like pattern except in V. perrottetii in which the bundles were concentric, amphicribral, collateral and close. Based on the overwhelming similarities that existed among the four taxa, it was established that there exist interspecies relationship among them. In conclusion, it was opined that the minor and discontinuous differences in the anatomical features of the four species are insufficient to adjudge their rearrangement and repositioning to separate genus and that their present taxonomic status are unbiased and warranted.

Background: The hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal (HPG)axis is central to the mammalian reproductive system. Pulsatile release of GnRH from neurons in the hypothalamus stimulates the secretion of LH and FSH from gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary. It has long been recognized that reproductive function is closely associated with energy balance, and metabolic dysregulation is linked with reproductive abnormalities (Lu et al.,2008). Compare the differences in levels of adiponectin, FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol between the diabetic patients and control group and in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease for both males and females groups .Also study the relationship between adiponectin and hormones for both gender and for both diabetic groups and control also in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease. The statistical analysis of this study showed that patients with Type 2 diabetes of both males and females had significantly lower in adiponectin levels than control group (P<0.05),but this level of adiponectin significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (p<0.05) ,while the levels of FSH and LH had significantly higher in diabetes group than control (p<0.05) ,also significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (P< 0.05). The result of hormonal analysis show there were no significant differences in estradiol and testosterone between diabetic groups and control (p > 0.05). According to the durations of disease, the results show significant elevation in adiponectin level in third duration of disease for both males and females groups as compared with first and second duration (P <0.004), while the levels of FSH, LH ,estradiol and testosterone show no significant differences among duration(P>0.05).

Researches on cassava brown streak diseasis (CBSD) were conducted in North Kivu province. The study aimed to determine incidence and severity of cassava brown streak diseasis, evaluate whitefly abundance and infection origin. Incidence was evaluated using the proportion of damaged cassava plants by the disease and the severity was determined on leaves and stems using score ranging from 1 to 5. Whiteflies counting were done on the five first apical leaves. Infection origin was determined considering symptom appearence apical leaves (origin from whitefly) and on lower leaves (origin from infected cutting). Results show that cassava brown streak diseas is in really present in north Kivu province with incidence reaching 26% and a severity of score 2 from the entire surveyed district. Incidence ranged from 2% with a severity of score 2 in Nyiragongo district up to 39% with a score of 2 in both Beni and Rutshuru district. Observed symptom proportions on stems were higher in Rutshuru (39%) but lower in Nyiragongo (2%). Whitefly population was high in Nyiragongo (37 whiteflies/cassava plant) but lower in Beni (5 whiteflies/cassava plant). Infection proportion due to whiteflies was of 1% in Rutshuru and 13 % in Masisi, while those from infected cutting as planting materials were of 4 % in Rutshuru and 47 % in Lubero

This study investigated the impact of dredging on the physicochemical, and microbial properties of Oyibo River in Ehime Mbano, Imo State, Nigeria. This study was carried out during the raining season (August) and dry season (January). Samples of water were collected using standard methods (collection from downstream to upstream). pH, temperature, flow rate, depth, width, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were analyzed in–situ using digital pH meter, thermometer, current meter, calibrated meter stick, measuring tape, Conductivity/ TDS meter and Dissolved Oxygen meter respectively. Other parameters (microbial, and some physicochemical parameters) were carried out ex-situ using existing standard methods. The river in the raining season had an average depth range of 1.60±0.00-2.00±0.00m; width range of 6.20±0.00-15.00±0.00m, pH, 5.60±0.00-7.15±0.05; temperature, 27.20±0.00 - 29.30±0.000C and flow rate range of 0.00±0.00 - 0.40±0.00 m/s. In the dry season the depth ranged from 0.08 - 0.50m; width, 6.20 - 11.40; pH, 2.8±0.00 - 5.50±0.00; temperature, 25.80±0.00 - 27.90±0.00?C; and flow rate 6.20 - 11.40m. The water samples during the rainy season were found to be turbid (17.00±.0.00-48.44±0.00 NTU) while Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, total hardness and total alkalinity were within the Federal Ministry of Environment permissible limits. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the results in the raining season and dry season (p?0.05). Microbial values exceeded their permissible limits with Bacillus spp, Staphylococci spp, Enterococcus spp, Psendomonas spp, Micrococcus spp, Salmonella spp and Enterobacter spp present in the water samples across the river points. Asperigillus fumigatus, Asperigillus niger, Penicillum spp, Drechslera spp, Candida spp, Penicillum spp, Asperigillus niger, Asperigillus fumigatus and Paecilomyces spp were among the fungi isolates from water and sediments samples. During the dry season, COD, BOD, DO, Total Hardness & Total chloride were observed to be within the permissible limits. No growth was observed for the Total Fecal Coliform Count while Total Bacteria count, Total Coliform count and Total Fungi Count were observed to be above permissible limits. Organisms observed in the surface water include, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp, Yersinia spp, Vibrio spp, Bacillus spp, Yersinia spp, Pseudomonas spp, Vibrio spp and Citrobacter spp. Values of the sediment parameters were higher in the dry season. Asperigillus niger, Candida spp, Asperigillus fumigatus, Penicillum spp, Asperigillus fumigatus and Paecilomyces spp were the fungi that were observed in the surface water while Candida spp, Penicillum spp, Dreschela spp, Penicillum spp and Asperigillus fumigatus were observed in the sediment samples during the dry season. Some of the parameters are not within the federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv.) acceptable limits, hence, the River in this study is not portable for drinking

Development of molecular markers for various desirable traits related to disease resistance, drought tolerance, compact canopy, higher yield, etc hold great potential for crop improvement of Casuarina equisetifolia L. This work focuses on the analysis of genetic relationship between 24 first generation colones of C. equisetifolia. Total genomic DNA was isolated by CTAB method and amplified with random oligonucleotide primers (Ten arbitrary 10-mer primers from Oberon Technologies Primer, USA) using PCR. The polymorphic bands were detected on agarose gels. Each random primer used in this study produced distinct bands. These were used for the final analysis. Six primers (OPM-05, OPM-13, OPB-18, OPE-06, OPE-07 and OPE-08) yielded 39 scorable bands. These bands were then constructed using the RAPD distance v1.04 package. Following this, SHAN method in NTSYSpc v2.02 was used to generate a pair wise distance matrix between various clones of C. equisetifolia. The highest genetic similarity co-efficient value (0.91) was observed between clones APSKLM-25 and APVSP-14 while the lowest co-efficient value (0.04) was seen between clones APKKD-11 and APKKD-9. The RAPD study was helpful to establish clonal identify.

To evaluate the performance of ion exchange HPLC method using Bio-Rad D10 analyser and compare with Immunoturbidimentric method (IT) of Beckman Coulter (BC)for the measurement of HbA1c in human blood. 100 patients blood samples referred for HbA1c test by the diabetic clinic, both Males and Females with a wide range of age groups were used for this study. Blood samples for HbA1c was collected as per standard protocols. Measurement of HbA1c was carried out using both methods. Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) protocols for the evaluation of a new method was followed in this study. The intra and inter assay precision obtained were 1.0 % and 1.41 % and the intra and inter accuracy were 1.5 % & 1.3 % for HPLC method and the figures for IT method was 1.5 % and 2.0 % for Intra & Inter assay precision and 1.5 % & 0.8 % for intra and inter accuracy. All statistical parameters obtained in this study are well within those recommended by International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) & World Health Organization (WHO). The linearity obtained for both the methods are similar (4.2 to 16 %). HPLC method using Bio-Rad D10 analyser is comparable to the method based on IT of Beckman Coulter in terms of precision and accuracy. Hence the laboratory confidently switched over to this method for measuring HbA1c.

The Present study, methanol and aqueous extracts of Spathodea campanulata leaves were tested for anti-inflammatory activity (paw edema induced by carrageenan) in rats. The methanolic extract in dose of 200 mg/kg bw showed the significant inhibition of paw edema at the end of 180 min was 0.431% followed by aqueous extract (0.593%). Among the two extracts tested, the methanolic extract showed remarkable activity at 200 mg/kg dose level whereas aqueous extract was not able to show such remarkable significant activities. The extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, which supports the traditional medicinal utilization of the plant.

In the present study the level of S, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb and Cr was estimated in samples of the common thalloid liverwort Riccia aravalliensis Pande et Udar, from Ranthambhore National park, Rajasthan (India). High metallic load was observed both in substrate as well as in plant tissue at locations adjacent to higher vehicular load, during winter the metallic content is highest, followed by summer and monsoon season. Elemental concentration in substrate for R. aravalliensis was in the order of Zn> S> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr, while in plant tissue it showed S> Zn> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr which is indicative of air borne trace elemental load. Quantitative analysis of these elements in vegetative thalli of R. aravalliensis and the substrate showed an increase in metallic content during winter, which reveals the significance of this liverwort as a biological sink of mineral elements present in the soil and air and may provide an important tool in estimation of both aerial pollution and mineral enrichment in soil.