Taxonomy and systematics of the 'Maharaja Barbs' (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with the description of a new genus and species from the Western Ghats, India.

Maharaja Barbs (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), endemic to the high-altitude streams of the northern Western Ghats are currently represented by a single species, Puntius sahyadriensis. Integrative taxonomic analysis of these fishes reveals them to form a distinct clade within the Cyprinidae, for which we propose the name Waikhomia gen. nov.

Description on variability of shelf-edge hydrography and current structure of the South Eastern Arabian Sea during summer and winter monsoons.

The paper describes the hydrography and vertical current structure along the shelf edge of South East Arabian Sea (SEAS) during summer and winter monsoons based on current profiles from moving Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). During summer monsoon, SEAS was characterized by upwelling with low saline water at the surface along the southern sector (8° N to 11° N). During winter, thermal structure was vertically homogeneous in the upper 80 m, and intrusion of low saline Bay of Bengal waters were found up to 14° N.

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorated titanium dioxide nanoparticle-induced toxicity via regulating oxidative stress-activated MAPK and NRF2/Keap1 signaling pathways in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TNP) has been suggested for use in fish farms to prevent or alleviate bacterial diseases owing to its bactericidal property. Unfortunately, the interaction of TNP with cells impaired the host defenses of fish resulting in increased mortality during bacterial challenges. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCE) as a dietary supplement in ameliorating TNP induced toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Aenigmachannidae, a new family of snakehead fishes (Teleostei: Channoidei) from subterranean waters of South India.

Pronounced organism-wide morphological stasis in evolution has resulted in taxa with unusually high numbers of primitive characters. These 'living fossils' hold a prominent role for our understanding of the diversification of the group in question. Here we provide the first detailed osteological analysis of Aenigmachanna gollum based on high-resolution nano-CT scans and one cleared and stained specimen of this recently described snakehead fish from subterranean waters of Kerala in South India.

Exosomes in Alzheimer's Disease: Potential Role as Pathological Mediators, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.

The concept of exosomes has been progressively changed from the status of cellular trashcans to multitasking organelles involved in many processes, including internalization, transport and transfer of macromolecules such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. While underpinning the mechanisms behind neurodegeneration and neuronal loss, exosomes were shown to be involved in carrying pathological misfolded proteins, propagation of β-amyloid protein and hyper-phosphorylated tau proteins across the brain that ultimately leads to the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevailing multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. A potential novel therapeutic role of exosomes in AD intervention is suggested by their ability to increase Aβ clearance.

Investigating the impact of hospital antibiotic usage on aquatic environment and aquaculture systems: A molecular study of quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli.

Quinolones are one of the most important classes of antibacterials available for the treatment of infectious diseases in humans. However, there is a growing concern about bacterial resistance to antimicrobials including quinolones. The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment has been recognized as a growing threat to public health and hospitals appear to be a major contributor to this.

Source-dependent compositional changes in coconut flavoured liquid smoke and its application in traditional Indian smoked fishery products.

Smoking is an age-old food preservation method. Intense smoking results in deposition of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in food. Replacing traditional smoking practices with application of liquid smoke or smoke flavouring is proven to reduce the PAH content without adversely affecting flavour of the products.

Geochemical fractionation of trace elements in the coral reef sediments of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean.

Geochemical fractionation of seven trace elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) was investigated in the surficial coral reef sediments of three inhabited islands (Kavaratti, Kadmat, and Agatti) belonging to the Lakshadweep Archipelago. The observations indicated that the metals showed their highest contents in the residual fraction of geological origin. The extent of risk, bioavailability, and contamination of trace elements was assessed by risk assessment codes and contamination factors.

Antibiofilm and immunological properties of lectin purified from shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus.

Penaeid prawns are considered as most demanding fishery resources. The current study aims to purify and characterize lectin from the haemolymph of Penaeus semisulcatus. The semisulcatus-lectin was purified by affinity chromatography using mannose coupled Sepharose CL-4B column and purified lectin exhibited a single band of 66 kDa in SDS-PAGE.

Detection of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase 1 and Cephalosporin Resistance Genes Among Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Water Bodies Adjacent to Hospitals in India.

The prevalence of carbapenem resistance among bacterial isolates from selected water bodies receiving hospital effluents and adjoining aquaculture farms in Kerala, India, was studied. Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes and Acinetobacter baumannii were the predominant isolates. Antibiotic sensitivity of these isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Assessment of cancer risk of microplastics enriched with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abundance of microplastics in aquatic and marine ecosystems is contaminating the seafood and it is leading to transfer of toxic pollutants to human beings. In this article, we report the hazardous nature and cancer risk of microplastics which originate from e-waste. Capture of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) onto microplastics by adsorption phenomena and an assessment of probable cancer risk of ingested PAHs enriched microplastics by human beings have been investigated.

Exploration and profiling of hidden endophytic mycota of marine macroalgae with potential drug leads.

Diversity studies of endophytic assemblages are emerging challenges, which unveil novel phenotypes producing interesting chemical entities and a better understanding of their ecological significance. In the present investigation, we selected an extremely complex and unique environment supporting unexplored endophytes, 'Macroalgae of Kerala coast, India'. Unlike terrestrial flora and mangroves, reports displaying endophytic assemblages of marine flora remain limited, especially from India.

Unravelling the menace: detection of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.

One of the major problems to be addressed in aquaculture is the prominence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The occurrence of bacterial infections in cultured fishes promotes the continuous use of antibiotics in aquaculture, which results in the selection of proliferated antibiotic-resistant bacteria and increases the possibility of transfer to the whole environment through horizontal gene transfer. Hence, the accurate cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent detection methods are very much crucial for the immediate and proper management of this menace.

Trace metal distribution in the sediment cores of mangrove ecosystems along northern Kerala coast, south-west coast of India.

Core sediment samples were collected from five mangrove ecosystems along northern Kerala coast (Kunjimangalam: S1, Pazhayangadi: S2, Pappinissery: S3, Thalassery: S4, and Kadalundi: S5) to assess the status of heavy metal pollution. S1 recorded comparatively lower metal concentration at surface (except Pb) due to low organic content and sandy texture, while the reverse was true for S3. Higher metal contents were recorded at S5 (0-5 cm), which was attributed to its unique biogeochemical behavior.

Nutrient stoichiometry (N:P) controls nitrogen fixation and distribution of diazotrophs in a tropical eutrophic estuary.

Nitrogen fixation and its ecological regulation are poorly understood in the tropical estuaries, which are highly influenced by anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, we investigated the role of nutrient stoichiometry in the diversity, abundance and activity of N-fixing bacterial community and their seasonal variations in the water column of a tropical eutrophic estuary (Cochin estuary). The N fixation rates in the estuary ranged from 0.

Influence of environmental factors on macrofoulant assemblages on moored buoys in the eastern Arabian Sea.

Factors governing the distribution of organisms in the pelagic ocean are understudied. In this paper we describe environmental parameters and macrofouling assemblages on 11 buoys deployed in the Arabian Sea for an average duration of 322 days. Macrofoulants on all the mooring components extending from the sea-surface to a depth of 1800-4300 m were documented.

Antibiofilm and anticancer potential of β-glucan-binding protein-encrusted zinc oxide nanoparticles.

β-Glucan-binding protein (βGBP) is important for the rational expansion of molecular biology. Here, zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnONP) was synthesized using βGBP from the crab Scylla serrata (Ss-βGBP-ZnONP). Ss-βGBP-ZnONP was observed as a 100 kDa band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel and characterized with UV-vis spectroscopy at 350 nm.

Response of bacterial communities from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Arctic Ocean) to macroalgal polysaccharide amendments.

Macroalgae are abundant in coastal Arctic habitats and contain a large amount of polysaccharides. Increased macroalgal productivity due to warmer temperatures and reduced sea-ice cover contribute a significant amount of polysaccharide-rich detritus in the region. To study bacterial degradation of macroalgal polysaccharides and their potential impact on biogeochemical processes we studied the response of bacterial communities from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (Arctic Ocean) to alginate (AL) and agarose (AG) amendments, using an ex-situ microcosm experiment.

Quorum quenching potential of Enterococcus faecium QQ12 isolated from gastrointestinal tract of Oreochromis niloticus and its application as a probiotic for the control of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus 1758).

Quorum quenching (QQ), the obstruction of quorum sensing, is the most attractive way to break down the N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) molecules. This work was focused at isolating AHL degrading bacteria from gastrointestinal tract of Oreochromis niloticus, with abilities appropriate for use as probiotic in aquaculture. The presence of an autoinducer inactivation (aiiA) homolog gene and AHL inactivation assay showed that Enterococcus faecium QQ12, which was one among the 20 isolates, could rapidly degrade synthetic C6-HSL in vitro and hampered violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum.

Antimicrobial profiling of coral reef and sponge associated bacteria from southeast coast of India.

Culturable bacteria associated with marine sponges and coral mucus (collected from Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay) were screened for their prospective antimicrobial compounds against 9 bacterial pathogens (Bacillus megaterium, B. cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsillla pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii) and a fungal pathogen (Candida albicans). Of the 263 bacterial isolates obtained during this study, 52 isolates displayed antimicrobial activity against one or more pathogens.

Influence of a diet containing plant ingredients at different levels on growth performance, carcass biochemical composition, and blood parameters in Indian major carps grown in polyculture earthen ponds.

The effect of feeding levels of plant ingredient-based diet on growth, body composition, and serological constituents of Indian major carps was determined in pond culture condition. Juveniles of Indian major carps (IMCs), Catla catla (catla, 65.87 ± 2.

Amazonian invaders in an Asian biodiversity hotspot: Understanding demographics for the management of the armoured sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis in Kerala, India.

Invasion of armoured catfish, Pterygoplichthys spp., is a major threat to global aquatic biodiversity, and developing effective strategies for their control and eradication is both a concern and a research priority. A length-based population assessment of invasive Pterygoplichthys pardalis in southern India, a hotspot for endemic aquatic biodiversity, indicated that rapid growth, high growth performance index and continuous recruitment have aided their successful invasion.

Modulation of mucosal parameters, innate immunity, growth and resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae by enrichment of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diet with Leucas aspera.

The present study aimed at evaluating the possible effects of Leucas aspera as immunostimulant on mucosal and serum immunity, as well as on growth and resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae infection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. In a 45 days trial, fish were fed experimental diets containing L. aspera 0 g kg (Diet 1- control), 1 g kg (Diet 2), 2 g kg(Diet 3), 4 g kg (Diet 4) and 8 g kg (Diet 5).

Mitogenome analysis of dwarf pufferfish () endemic to southwest India and its implications in the phylogeny of Tetraodontidae.

The Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes), is primarily a family of marine and estuarine fishes with a limited number of freshwater species. Freshwater invasions can be observed in South America, Southeast Asia and central Africa. In the present study, we have analysed the complete mitogenome of freshwater pufferfish, (dwarf pufferfish or Malabar pufferfish) endemic to southwest India.