Modulation of gut-microbiota through probiotics and dietary interventions to improve host health.

Dietary patterns play an important role in regards to the modulation and control of the gut microbiome composition and function. The interaction between diet and microbiota plays an important role in order to maintain intestinal homeostasis, which ultimately affect the host's health. Diet directly impacts the microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which then contributes to the production of secondary metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters, and antimicrobial peptides.

Positive and negative aspects of bacteriophages and their immense role in the food chain.

Bacteriophages infect and replicate inside a bacterial host as well as serve as natural bio-control agents. Phages were once viewed as nuisances that caused fermentation failures with cheese-making and other industrial processes, which lead to economic losses, but phages are now increasingly being observed as being promising antimicrobials that can fight against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Pathogen-free meals that fulfil industry requirements without synthetic additives are always in demand in the food sector.

Controlling Intestinal Infections and Digestive Disorders Using Probiotics.

After consumption, probiotics provide health benefits to the host. Probiotics and their metabolites have therapeutic and nutritional properties that help to alleviate gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular problems. Probiotics strengthen host immunity through various mechanisms, including improved gut barrier function, receptor site blocking, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and the production of bioactive molecules.

The draft genome sequence of the Brahminy blindsnake Indotyphlops braminus.

Blindsnakes of infraoder Scolecophidia (order Squamata) are the most basal group of extant snakes, comprising of more than 450 species with ecological and morphological features highly specialized to underground living. The Brahminy blindsnake, Indotyphlops braminus, is the only known obligate parthenogenetic species of snakes. Although the origin of I.

Simple Nested Allele-Specific approach with penultimate mismatch for precise species and sex identification of tiger and leopard.

Accurate species and sex identification of non-invasive and forensic samples of the tiger and leopard is still confusing when using the allele-specific methods. We designed allele-specific methods with penultimate nucleotide mismatch in a nested manner for the exact identification and double-checking of forensic samples. The mismatch design is a novel concept in species and sex identification, making the allele-specific targeting precise.

Microsatellite Genotyping Corroborated Loss of Genetic Diversity in Clarias batrachus as a Result of Lack of Regulatory Reforms in Aquaculture.

In India, over the past 50 years, aquaculture practices of species such as those used for Clarias batrachus were developed without adequate regulatory oversight. In these situations, it is important to consider the influence that genetic factors can have on such vulnerable aquaculture species. Population genetic structure can be evaluated through the use of neutral molecular markers, and this can aid in predicting the risk of the demise of populations and for framing management strategies to conserve remaining populations.

Refutation of media reports on introduction of the red bellied piranha and potential impacts on aquatic biodiversity in India.

The presence of a new, potentially deadly exotic fish resembling the Red Bellied Piranha, was reported in India by print media from various aquatic resources. These reports raised dramatic concerns over public health issues and threats to the aquatic biodiversity of India. Considering the potential severity of the issue and concerns raised by the media, we undertook a study to evaluate the reliability of identification reports of the suspected fish, any relationships to other species of piranha and to address any possible threats to the aquatic biodiversity of India.

Evidence for a species complex in Indialona ganapati (Chydoridae).

Indialona ganapati (Petkovski 1966 ), is one of the three known cladoceran endemic species from India. It is also the only one of these species that is monotypic and endemic to central India. In this study we report on habitat shifts for this species as well as presence of parthenogenetic and ephippial females throughout the year, phenomena that are uncommon in most species of the family Chydoridae.

Multiple tests on saffron find new adulterant materials and reveal that Ist grade saffron is rare in the market.

Among spices, Saffron is among the most extensively interrogated for purity and authenticity. Numerous methods have been recommended for authentication of Saffron samples and for detection of adulterants for codex compliance. However, none of these methods can fulfill both of these important quality criteria.

DNA barcode based wildlife forensics for resolving the origin of claw samples using a novel primer cocktail.

Excessive wildlife hunting for commercial purposes can have negative impacts on biodiversity and may result in species extinction. To ensure compliance with legal statutes, forensic identification approaches relying on molecular markers may be used to identify the species of origin of animal material from hairs, claw, blood, bone, or meat. Using this approach, DNA sequences from the COI "barcoding" gene have been used to identify material from a number of domesticated animal species.

Genetic fragmentation in India's third longest river system, the Narmada.

India's third longest river, the Narmada, is studied here for the potential effects on native fish populations of river fragmentation due to various barriers including dams and a waterfall. The species we studied include a cyprinid fish, Catla catla, and a mastacembelid, Mastacembelus armatus, both of which are found in the Narmada. Our goal was to use DNA sequence information from the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA to explore how this fragmentation could impact the genetic structure of these fish populations.

Genetic structure of populations and conservation issues relating to an endangered catfish, Clarias batrachus, in India.

The Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758), is a highly valued species endemic to India that is currently in drastic decline in most of its natural habitat. The present study was undertaken to document the genetic structure of populations of this species using mitochondrial DNA markers, specifically from the cytochrome B and D-loop regions. Specimens from eight wild populations were collected and analyzed from different regions in India.

DNA barcodes for the fishes of the Narmada, one of India's longest rivers.

This study describes the species diversity of fishes of the Narmada River in India. A total of 820 fish specimens were collected from 17 sampling locations across the whole river basin. Fish were taxonomically classified into one of 90 possible species based on morphological characters, and then DNA barcoding was employed using COI gene sequences as a supplemental identification method.

DNA barcoding using skin exuviates can improve identification and biodiversity studies of snakes.

Snakes represent a taxonomically underdeveloped group of animals in India with a lack of experts and incomplete taxonomic descriptions being the main deterrents to advances in this area. Molecular taxonomic approaches using DNA barcoding could aid in snake identification as well as studies of biodiversity. Here a non-invasive sampling method using DNA barcoding is tested using skin exuviates.

High rates of substitution of the native catfish Clarias batrachus by Clarias gariepinus in India.

The clariid catfish, Clarias batrachus commonly known as Magur, has declined drastically from natural habitats in India during the last decade. This fish is highly preferred fish by Indian consumers and has high market demand. As a result traders often substitute C.

Production of salted and pressed anchovies (stolephorus sp.) and it's quality evaluation during storage.

Present study deals with the production of low cost salted and dried product from anchovy fish (Stolephorus spp.) using traditional technology application of different inhibitory factors to achieve a reasonable shelf life at ambient tropical temperature. Microbial safety, nutrient retention and product quality in terms of flavor and texture after rehydration have been tested.

High levels of genetic diversity in Penaeus monodon populations from the east coast of India.

Quality production of the shrimp Penaeus monodon in hatchery operations depends heavily on the evaluation of genetic diversity and population structure of brood stocks. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences have been widely used to study genetic variability and relationships in many crustacean groups, and these same markers may be incorporated into evaluation studies of shrimp broods and populations. For this purpose we looked at variation in mitochondrial D-loop sequences as an indicator of genetic diversity in shrimp populations from a region of India that represents the main sources of new material for brood stocks.

Clarias batrachus (Linn.1758) population is lacking genetic diversity in India.

Genetic similarity and diversity of catfish Clarias batrachus (Linn.1758) populations collected from three regions of Indian riverine system were examined using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Out of 22 random primers tested, six primers produced 462 RAPD bands ranging from 105 to 128 polymorphic bands per primer in size between 100 and 1,200 bp.