In vivo characterization of histological and immunological response of allergic protein of Metapenaeus dobsonii using an adjuvant free BALB/c mice model.

Shrimp allergy, a common form of food allergy is an adverse immunological response to shrimp proteins. BALB/c mice was sensitized by an adjuvant free oral administration of purified tropomyosin, from Metpenaeus dobsonii to characterize intestinal histological responses and immunological protein recognition pattern as it is unpractical in human subjects. Sensitized mice with higher dose of tropomyosin expressed symptoms of anaphylaxis including puffiness around eyes and snout, no activity, tremor and convulsion after challenge.

Fabrication and characterization of chitosan based collagen/ gelatin composite scaffolds from big eye snapper Priacanthus hamrur skin for antimicrobial and anti oxidant applications.

In this study, for developing a scaffold for tissue engineering from fish processing wastes, a hierachial collagen/gelatin/chitosan novel porous scaffold was fabricated using blends of collagen and gelatin extracted from the skins of Marine big eye snapper Priacanthus humrur. Scaffolds were developed by mechanical spinning of chitosan and by mixing of collagen and gelatin solutions followed by freeze drying and subsequent crosslinking of polymers. The scaffolds were evaluated for rheological properties - porosity, apparent density and swelling capacity to assess their mechanical property.

Pangio bhujia, a new, peculiar species of miniature subterranean eel loach lacking dorsal and pelvic fins from India (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

A unique, new species of eel loach, Pangio bhujia, is described from Kerala, India. It is the first species of Pangio to be described from subterranean waters. It possesses several unusual characters including absence of both dorsal and pelvic fins, the presence of only 3 pectoral-fin rays, 6 anal-fin rays and a unique count of 38 precaudal + 24 caudal vertebrae.

Dietary GABA enhances hypoxia tolerance of a bottom-dwelling carp, Cirrhinus mrigala by modulating HIF-1α, thyroid hormones and metabolic responses.

The Indian major carp, mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), is a bottom-dwelling fish that can survive hypoxic episodes in its natural environment. We hypothesise that it can better survive hypoxic conditions by altering metabolic responses through GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) supplementation. In the first experiment, the hypoxia tolerance time of the fishes was evaluated under extreme anoxic conditions after feeding with GABA, which showed that GABA had improved survival time under hypoxia.

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Arsenic Distribution in a Tropical Estuary Along the West Coast of India.

Arsenic (As) contamination was studied and reported for the first time in the sediments of the Cochin estuary. Surface sediment samples were collected from twenty-seven stations encompassing the entire estuary constituting south, central and north estuary. The total As concentration varied from 0.

Anti-biofilm properties and immunological response of an immune molecule lectin isolated from shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros.

The study is carried out to understand the antimicrobial and immunological response of a potential immune molecule lectin, MmLec isolated from haemolymph of Speckled shrimp, Metapenaeus monoceros. MmLec was purified using mannose coupled Sepharose CL-4B affinity chromatography, which was further subjected on SDS-PAGE to ascertain the distribution of their molecular weight. Sugar binding specificity assay was conducted at various pH and temperatures to investigate the binding affinity of MmLec towards the specific carbohydrate molecule.

Natural products against cancer: Review on phytochemicals from marine sources in preventing cancer.

Marine natural products have as of now been acknowledged as the most important source of bioactive substances and drug leads. Marine flora and fauna, such as algae, bacteria, sponges, fungi, seaweeds, corals, diatoms, ascidian etc. are important resources from oceans, accounting for more than 90% of the total oceanic biomass.

Spatial variation of trace element concentration and contamination assessment in the coral reef sediments of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Indian Ocean.

Surface sediments were collected from the shore and lagoons of Kavaratti, Kadmat and Agatti islands of Lakshadweep Archipelago and analysed for trace element concentration. The sediment contamination was assessed on the basis of geochemical, biological hazard and ecological risk indices. Except Cd and Pb, all the other trace elements selected for the study were below the contamination level.

Character based identification system for Elasmobranchs for conservation and forensic applications.

The term Elasmobranchs or Chondrichthyans refer to the group of marine organisms include sharks, skates, rays and chimeras. Due to high demand most of the Elasmobranch species depleted drastically in recent years. Being the apex predators in the marine environment most of the Chondrichthyan species are vulnerable with some risk of extinction.

Antimicrobial properties and phenoloxidase activation of the lectin isolated from kadal shrimp (Metapenaeus dobsoni).

The present study reveals purification and characterization of the lectin from the haemolymph of Metapenaeus dobsoni. The Md-Lec was purified by affinity chromatography with mannose coupled sepharose CL-4B column and it exhibits single band with a molecular weight of 68 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the molecular mass was confirmed by MALDI-TOF and functional groups present were analysed by FTIR.

Community composition of marine and brackish water ammonia-oxidizing consortia developed for aquaculture application.

To mitigate the toxicity of ammonia in aquaculture systems, marine and brackish water ammonia-oxidizing bacterial consortia have been developed and are used for activation of nitrifying bioreactors integrated to recirculating aquaculture systems. To shed more light on to these biological entities, diversity of both the consortia were analyzed based on random cloning of 16S rRNA gene and ammonia-oxidizing bacterial specific amoA gene sequences. The dendrograms of representative clones on the basis of amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis generated 22 and 19 clusters for marine and brackish water nitrifying consortia, respectively.

Basin-wide sea level coherency in the tropical Indian Ocean driven by Madden-Julian Oscillation.

Changes in sea level may be attributed either to barotropic (involving the entire water column) or baroclinic processes (governed by stratification). It has been widely accepted that barotropic sea level changes in the tropics are insignificant at intraseasonal time scales (periods of 30-80 days). Based on bottom pressure records, we present evidence for significant basin-wide barotropic sea level variability in the tropical Indian Ocean during December-April with standard deviations amounting to ∼30-60% of the standard deviation in total intraseasonal sea level variability.

Effect of alkoxy glycerol on growth performance, immune response and disease resistance in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Fish oil and their compounds derived from the same have immense applications in the improvement of health, brain development, enhancing immunity etc. This study aimed at the supplementation of such a compound alkoxy glycerol derived from shark liver oil in fish diet and thereby analyzing growth as well as immune parameters of Oreochromis niloticus. 400 fishes were distributed into 11 glass tanks, and then fishes were weighed before starting the experiment.

Antimicrobial and biochemical characterization of a C-type lectin isolated from pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis).

The present study reveals purification and characterization of a C-type lectin from the serum of pearl spot, Etroplus suratensis (Es-Lec). The Es-Lec was purified by affinity chromatography with mannose coupled sepharose CL-4B column and it exhibits single band with a molecular weight of 75 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The surface morphology of purified Es-Lec displays the homogeneous nature of protein.

An Overview on Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is among the first-line chemotherapeutic drugs used in oncological practice. It has shown substantial efficacy in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukaemia. The clinical use of ATO is hampered due to cardiotoxicity and hence many patients are precluded from receiving this highly effective treatment.

Demographics of Lagocephalus inermis in the Arabian Sea unveils complex conservation challenges.

The first assessment of the demographics of Lagocephalus inermis, a species associated with pufferfish bites and fishing down the food web in the Arabian Sea, south-west coast of India, was performed based on length structured population dynamics of 1601 individuals caught in commercial fisheries. Analysis revealed that the current level of exploitation is 90% of the predicted exploitation producing maximum relative yield per recruit (E ), suggesting high levels of exploitation with potential for significant negative consequences for trophic cascades.

The diversity of finfish population in Poonthura estuary, south-west coast of India, Kerala.

Quantitative measures of diversity are the ideal tools to reveal the community differences that are due to changes in the relative taxon abundance. The present study is an attempt to investigate the measures of finfish diversity of the Poonthura estuary, located in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. Samples were collected using gill nets from three stations.

A new syntopic species of small barb from the Western Ghats of India (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

A new species of the cyprinid genus Pethia is described from the Hiranyakeshi, a tributary of the Krishna River system in the Western Ghats mountain ranges of peninsular India. The new species, Pethia sahit, is syntopic-and shoals together-with Pethia longicauda, a species described recently from the same river. Pethia sahit is distinguished from P.

Phylogeny of the hillstream loach genus Mesonoemacheilus reveals widespread diversification through ancient drainage connections in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.

Rivers draining the Western Ghats (WG) mountain ranges in peninsular India harbor an exceptionally diverse, unique and evolutionarily distinct assemblage of lower vertebrates with high levels of endemism, attributed to their evolution and potentially long history of isolation during the Late Cretaceous or Early Tertiary. A molecular phylogeny of hillstream loaches of the genus Mesonoemacheilus endemic to the WG revealed the presence of four clades which we designate as 'species groups'. A consensus of various species delimitation methods indicates the likelihood of 'at least' seven more undescribed species within Mesonoemacheilus.

Protective efficacy of Shilajit enriched diet on growth performance and immune resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Oreochromis mossambicus.

We investigated the effects of dietary enriched with Shilajit in three dose levels: 2.0, 4.0, and 6.

Population dynamics of a poorly known serranid, the duskytail grouper Epinephelus bleekeri in the Arabian Sea.

A demographic study on Epinephelus bleekeri based on a sample of 1,003 individuals caught in commercial fisheries along the Arabian Sea coast of southern India considerably extends the maximum recorded standard length for this species to 870 mm, indicates a high natural mortality rate and an exploitation level (E) greater than the E .

Resolving the taxonomic enigma of the iconic game fish, the hump-backed mahseer from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India.

Growing to lengths and weights exceeding 1.5 m and 45 kg, the hump-backed mahseer fish of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, is an iconic, mega-faunal species that is globally recognized as a premier freshwater game fish. Despite reports of their high extinction risk, conservation approaches are currently constrained by their lack of valid taxonomic identity.

Effects of orange peels derived pectin on innate immune response, disease resistance and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured under indoor biofloc system.

The present study investigates the effects of orange peels derived pectin (OPDP) on skin mucus and serum immune parameters, disease resistance and growth performance of O. niloticus cultured under indoor biofloc system. Six hundred Nile tilapia (average weight 9.

Marine derived bioactive compounds for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD ) is mounting as social and economic encumbrance which are accompanied by deficits in cognition and memory. Over the past decades, Alzheimer's disease (AD) holds the frontline as one of the biggest healthcare issues in the world. AD is an age related neurodegenerative disorder marked by a decline in memory and an impairment of cognition.