Production and Evaluation of Encapsulated Zinc Oxide on Performance, Ileal Digestibility and Zinc Transporter Gene Expression in Broiler Chicken.

The present study was undertaken for the production of encapsulated zinc and its evaluation in broiler chicken diet. The process of microencapsulation involved the use of polymers, gum arabic and maltodextrin with a maximum encapsulation of efficiency of 66%. Encapsulated material contained about 20% zinc oxide (ZnO) as core material following the freeze-drying process.

Heat Stress and Goat Welfare: Adaptation and Production Considerations.

This review attempted to collate and synthesize information on goat welfare and production constraints during heat stress exposure. Among the farm animals, goats arguably are considered the best-suited animals to survive in tropical climates. Heat stress was found to negatively influence growth, milk and meat production and compromised the immune response, thereby significantly reducing goats' welfare under extensive conditions and transportation.

Toll-like receptors: Significance, ligands, signaling pathways, and functions in mammals.

This review attempts to cover the implication of the toll-like receptors (TLRs) in controlling immune functions with emphasis on their significance, function, regulation and expression patterns. The tripartite TLRs are type I integral transmembrane receptors that are involved in recognition and conveying of pathogens to the immune system. These paralogs are located on cell surfaces or within endosomes.

Identification of cellulase gene from the metagenome of Equus burchelli fecal samples and functional characterization of a novel bifunctional cellulolytic enzyme.

The metagenomic approach has been used successfully to isolate novel biocatalyst gene from uncultured microorganisms. The gene encoding exo-1,4-β-glucanase avicelase was amplified from the metagenome of the Equus burchelli fecal sample and cloned. The gene was found to be of 1,007 bp of nucleotide which encodes a protein of 318 amino acids with a calculated MW of 36 kDa.