Cellular Aquaculture: Prospects and Challenges.

Aquaculture plays an important role as one of the fastest-growing food-producing sectors in global food and nutritional security. Demand for animal protein in the form of fish has been increasing tremendously. Aquaculture faces many challenges to produce quality fish for the burgeoning world population.

DNA barcoding Indian freshwater fishes.

DNA barcoding is a promising technique for species identification using a short mitochondrial DNA sequence of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. In the present study, DNA barcodes were generated from 72 species of freshwater fish covering the Orders Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Perciformes, Synbranchiformes, and Osteoglossiformes representing 50 genera and 19 families. All the samples were collected from diverse sites except the species endemic to a particular location.

Multidrug efflux pumps from Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial food pathogens.

Foodborne illnesses caused by bacterial microorganisms are common worldwide and constitute a serious public health concern. In particular, microorganisms belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae families of Gram-negative bacteria, and to the Staphylococcus genus of Gram-positive bacteria are important causative agents of food poisoning and infection in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Recently, variants of these bacteria have developed resistance to medically important chemotherapeutic agents.

DNA barcoding detected improper labelling and supersession of crab food served by restaurants in India.

Background: Detection of improper labelling of raw and processed seafood is of global importance for reducing commercial fraud and enhancing food safety. Crabs are crustaceans with intricate morphological as well as genetic divergence among species and are popular as seafood in restaurants. Owing to the high number of crab species available, it can be difficult to identify those included in particular food dishes, thus increasing the chance of supersession.

Induction of micronuclei and nuclear lesions in Channa punctatus following exposure to carbosulfan, glyphosate and atrazine.

The genotoxic effects of commonly used agricultural pesticides viz., carbosulfan, glyphosate, and atrazine, were evaluated in Channa punctatus (Pisces, Perciformes) using micronucleus (MN) test and induction of nuclear lesions (NL). The 96 h LC50 value were estimated by probit analysis as 0.

Fish communities and trophic metrics as measures of ecological degradation: a case study in the tributaries of the river Ganga basin, India.

In India, freshwater aquatic resources are suffering from increasing human population, urbanization and shortage of all kind of natural resources like water. To mitigate this, all the major rivers have been planned for a river-interlinking through an interlinking canal system under a huge scheme; yet, the baseline information on ecological conditions of those tropical rivers and their fish communities is lacking at present. In view of that, the present study was undertaken to assess the ecological condition by comparing the trophic metrics of the fish community, conservation status and water chemistry of the two tropical rivers of the Ganga basin, from October 2007 to November 2009.

In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of two heavy metal salts in a fish cell line (RF).

Labeo rohita (rohu) is one of most important of Indian major carps, which is highly ranked among the important freshwater aquaculture species in the world. Heavy metals are major risk factors for aquatic health, which are biomagnified through the food chain. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of different divalent salts of two heavy metals, such as zinc (ZnCl(2), ZnSO(4) and ZnNO(3)) and cadmium (CdCl(2) and CdSO(4)), in an established fish cell line, RF developed from fin tissue of L.

Permanent genetic resources added to molecular ecology resources database 1 December 2012-31 January 2013.

This article documents the addition of 268 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alburnoides bipunctatus, Chamaerops humilis, Chlidonias hybrida, Cyperus papyrus, Fusarium graminearum, Loxigilla barbadensis, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Odontesthes bonariensis, Pelteobagrus vachelli, Posidonia oceanica, Potamotrygon motoro, Rhamdia quelen, Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii, Sibiraea angustata, Takifugu rubripes, Tarentola mauritanica, Trimmatostroma sp. and Wallago attu.

Genetic relatedness and phylogenetics of five Indian pufferfishes.

The taxonomy and phylogeny of the pufferfishes belonging to the family Tetraodontidae found in India are poorly understood. We investigated five species of freshwater and marine pufferfishes using partial sequences of 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of mitochondrial genes. The sequence alignment of 16S rRNA yielded 573 bp, whereas COI gene sequence alignment yielded 614 bp.

Genetic differentiation of Ompok bimaculatus (Teleostei: Siluridae) population based on mtDNA cytochrome b gene.

Ompok bimaculatus commonly called as Indian butter catfish is a commercially important food fish and distributed throughout India and Southeast Asia. Genetic differentiation of O. bimaculatus was investigated using cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of three different riverine populations.

Morphological taxonomy and molecular divergence of four balitorid species (subfamily: Nemachelinae) from Central Himalaya, India.

The fishes in this study belong to the difficult group. It is difficult to identify about more than 50 nemacheilid loach species in India, mainly due to the poor quality of the original descriptions, the lack of good reviews, and the similarity of a number of the banded species. In view of this, a morphometric and genetic study was conducted on four species that have been documented in Central Himalayan region of India.

Molecular identification of three Ompok species using mitochondrial COI gene.

A DNA-based barcode identification system that is applicable to all animal species will provide a simple, universal tool for the identification of fish species. The barcode system is based on sequence diversity in subunit 1 cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene. Identification and characterization of fish species based on morphological characters are sometimes found to be erroneous and environmentally affected.

Investigation on acute toxicity and behavioral changes in Channa punctatus (Bloch) due to organophosphate pesticide profenofos.

Acute toxicity of an organophosphate pesticide profenofos (O-4-bromo-2- chlorophenyl-O-ethyl S-propyl phosphorothioate) to freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch), was studied in a static bioassay. Estimated 96-hour LC(50) of profenofos was found to be 2.68 μgL(-1).

Development and characterization of two cell lines PDF and PDH from Puntius denisonii (Day 1865).

The Puntius denisonii colloquially and more popularly referred to as Miss Kerala is a subtropical fish belonging to the genus Puntius (Barb) and family Cyprinidae. Two cell lines PDF and PDH were developed from the caudal fin and heart of P. denisonii, respectively.

Toxicity of the herbicide atrazine: effects on lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the freshwater fish Channa punctatus (Bloch).

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity and effects of a commercial formulation of the herbicide atrazine (Rasayanzine) on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme system in the freshwater air breathing fish Channa punctatus. The 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC(50) of atrazine, calculated by probit analysis, were determined to be 77.091, 64.

Development and characterization of three new diploid cell lines from Labeo rohita (Ham.).

Development of cell lines from fish for identifying the pathogenesis of viral diseases and for vaccine production against viral and bacterial diseases is imperative where they are of commercial importance. Three new diploid fish cell lines (RF, RH, and RSB) were developed from fin, heart, and swim bladder of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita, commonly called Rohu. All the cell lines were optimally maintained at 28 degrees C in Leibovitz-15 medium supplemented with 10% FBS.

Nucleotide sequences and chromosomal localization of 45S and 5S rDNA in Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (Pisces, Cyprinidae), using dual-color fish.

Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to study the simultaneous localization of major (45S) and minor (5S) family ribosomal RNA genes on chromosomes of Neolissochilus hexagonolepis. The partial 45S (18S, ITS 1, 5.8S, ITS 2 and 28S) and complete 5S (coding and NTS) rDNA units were amplified, sequenced, analyzed, and mapped on the metaphase chromosomes.

Development and characterization of a new epithelial cell line PSF from caudal fin of Green chromide, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790).

A new cell line [pearlspot fin (PSF)] has been developed from caudal fin of Etroplus suratensis, a brackish/freshwater fish cultivated in India. The cell line was maintained in Leibovitz's L-15 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The PSF cell line consisted predominantly of epithelial-like cells.

Development and characterization of two new cell lines from common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linn).

Two new cell lines (CCF and CCH) were established from fin and heart tissues of common carp, Cyprinus carpio. The cells were optimally maintained in Leibovitz-15 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10 ng/ml of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF). The effects of temperature, concentration of FBS and bFGF on the growth of CCF and CCH cells were examined.

Development of cell culture system from the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man).

A new cell culture system (MRH) was developed for the first time from 2 months old freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Primary cultures were developed from heart tissues by explant culture technique. Cell outgrowth was obtained from the heart explant after 14 days of explant culture.

Evaluation of genetic variation in the clown Knifefish, Chitala chitala, using allozymes, RAPD, and microsatellites.

Twenty-seven enzyme systems, six random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers, and two microsatellite loci were tested to determine intraspecific divergence in the natural population of the endangered Indian featherback fish, Chitala chitala, for the first time. The 262 samples of C. chitala were collected from six riverine locations in India: the Satluj, Ganga (Ghagra, Bhagirathi, and Brahmaputra), Mahanadi, and Narmada river systems.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic relationships of seven Indian Sciaenids (Pisces: Perciformes, Sciaenidae) based on 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial genes.

The partial sequences of 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial genes were analyzed for species identification and phylogenetic relationships among the commercially important Indian sciaenids (Otolithes cuvieri, Otolithes ruber, Johnius dussumieri, Johnius elongatus, Johnieops vogleri, Otolithoides biauritus and Protonibea diacanthus). Sequence analysis of both genes revealed that the seven species fell into three distinct groups, which were genetically distant from each other and exhibited identical phylogenetic resolution. Partial sequences of both the genes provided sufficient phylogenetic information to distinguish the seven sciaenids indicating the usefulness of mtDNA-based approach in species identification.