Index based approach for assessment of abundance of marine debris and status of marine pollution in Kandakuliya, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka.

Marine debris accumulation and contamination have become escalating yet disastrous environmental impacts in marine ecosystems at present Sri Lanka context. Thus, we conducted this study to assess the marine debris abundance and density in randomly selected sites (n = 6) of Kandakuliya beach, Negombo, Sri Lanka. Marine debris density was used to explore the extent of beach pollution from marine debris.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout Zebrafish: Unraveling the Pathogenesis of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria and Facilitating Drug Screening.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP1) results in painful photosensitivity and severe liver damage in humans due to the accumulation of fluorescent protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). While zebrafish () models for porphyria exist, the utility of ferrochelatase () knockout zebrafish, which exhibit EPP, for therapeutic screening and biological studies remains unexplored. This study investigated the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated -knockout zebrafish larvae as a model of EPP1 for drug screening.

Spatial distribution characteristics of carbazole and polyhalogenated carbazoles in water column and sediments in the open Western Pacific Ocean.

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), an emerging persistent halogenated organic pollutant, have been detected in the environment. However, our understanding of PHCZs in the ocean remains limited. In this study, 47 seawater samples (covering 50 - 4000 m) and sediment samples (49 surface and 3 cores) were collected to investigate the occurrence and spatial distribution patterns of carbazole and its halogenated derivants (CZDs) in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Ecological ramifications of marine debris in mangrove ecosystems: Estimation of substrate coverage and physical effects of marine debris on mangrove ecosystem in Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka.

The adverse environmental impacts on mangrove ecosystems due to anthropogenic marine debris contamination have attracted public attention not only in Sri Lanka but worldwide. Therefore, quantification of marine debris in sensitive ecosystems like mangroves is critical to assess the impacts on ecosystem vitality and services. We conducted this study to assess the abundance and density of marine debris in Negombo lagoon, Western Province, Sri Lanka.

Aircraft observations in a tropical supercluster over the equatorial Indian Ocean during MISO-BOB field campaign.

The Monsoon Intra-Seasonal Oscillations in the Bay of Bengal (MISO-BOB) field campaign was conducted in the Indian Ocean during the 2018 and 2019 summer monsoon seasons. WC-130J aircraft of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the US Air Force participated in the campaign in June 2018. The dropsonde observations across a tropical supercluster showed zonal wind variations in association with the structure of the convectively coupled Kelvin wave (CCKW).

Voyaging of halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, an emerging group of pollutants, on micro-mesoplastics in the marine environment.

The limited existing research on the accumulation of hazardous chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs and BrPAHs) in micro-mesoplastics (mMPs) motivated this investigation. We collected mMPs from the coastal environments of Sri Lanka and Japan. Out of 75 target compounds analyzed, 61 were detected, with total parent PAH concentrations reaching 16,300 and 1770 ng/g plastic in Sri Lanka and Japan, respectively.

Assessing the influence of transect interval in monitoring and analysis of shoreline change.

Shoreline analysis helps to understand the coastal dynamism for decision-making in coastal management. As there are still doubts in transect-based analysis, this study attempts to understand the influence of transect intervals in shoreline analysis. Shorelines were delineated on high-resolution satellite images in Google Earth Pro for twelve beaches in Sri Lanka under different spatial and temporal scales.

Presence of Halogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Milk Powder and the Consequence to Human Health.

Recent reports of the presence of halogenated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in human foods of animal origin, such as chlorinated (ClPAHs) and brominated (BrPAHs) PAHs, suggest that their contamination in dairy products may also pose a human health risk. This study used GC/Orbitrap-MS to analyze 75 congeners of halogenated PAHs and parent PAHs in milk and creaming powder samples commonly found in grocery stores in Sri Lanka and Japan. Our investigation revealed a total of 31 halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) in the samples.

Comparative Study on the Distribution of Essential, Non-Essential Toxic, and Other Elements across Trophic Levels in Various Edible Aquatic Organisms in Sri Lanka and Dietary Human Risk Assessment.

Thirty-six elements are categorized as essential but toxic in excess amount (EBTEs), non-essential toxic (NETs), and Other in 29 different edible aquatic species dwelling in offshore pelagic, and coastal and estuarine (CE) ecosystems were investigated in Sri Lanka. Elements were analyzed using an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer, and an NIC MA-3000 Mercury Analyzer. EBTEs showed a negative relationship, whereas NETs showed a positive relationship between the concentration (mg/kg wet weight) and trophic levels in both ecosystems.

Multiple potential strategies for the application of nisin and derivatives.

Nisin is a naturally occurring bioactive small peptide produced by subsp. and belongs to the Type A (I) lantibiotics. Due to its potent antimicrobial activity, it has been broadly employed to preserve various food materials as well as to combat a variety of microbial pathogens.

Reproductive Biology and Feeding Ecology of The Blue Swimming Crab () in Northern Coastal Waters, Sri Lanka.

Blue swimming crab () fishery has emerged to become an important export-oriented fishery in Sri Lanka over a decade and recently resulted in a rapid increase in the exploitation. The present study attempts to understand the reproductive biology and feeding ecology of blue swimming crab which will be vital in the management of capture fishery. Five major landing sites in the Jaffna district in Northern Sri Lanka, where blue swimming crab is frequently landed throughout the year were selected for the study.

Phloroglucinol and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobial Properties toward Microbial Pathogens.

Phloroglucinol (PG) is a natural product isolated from plants, algae, and microorganisms. Aside from that, the number of PG derivatives has expanded due to the discovery of their potential biological roles. Aside from its diverse biological activities, PG and its derivatives have been widely utilized to treat microbial infections caused by bacteria, fungus, and viruses.

Combination Therapy for Bacterial Pathogens: Naturally Derived Antimicrobial Drugs Combined with Extract.

Background: With the growing incidence of microbial pathogenesis, several alternative strategies have been developed. The number of treatments using naturally (e.g.

Suppression of hyphal formation and virulence of by natural and synthetic compounds.

undergoes a morphological yeast-to-hyphal transition during infection, which plays a significant role in its pathogenesis. The filamentous morphology of the hyphal form has been identified as a virulence factor as it facilitates surface adherence, intertwining with biofilm, invasion, and damage to host tissues and organs. Hence, inhibition of filamentation in addition to biofilm formation is considered a viable strategy against infections.

In vitro characterization of bioactive compounds extracted from sea urchin (Stomopneustes variolaris) using green and conventional techniques.

This study investigated the in vitro bioactivities of extracts obtained from viscera, spines, shells, and gonads of Stomopneustes variolaris using subcritical water extraction (SWE) at 110 °C, 150 °C, 190 °C, and 230 °C and Soxhlet extraction. The highest amounts of phenolics (22.68 ± 0.

Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible aquatic species of two Asian countries: Congener profiles, biomagnification, and human risk assessment.

Seventy-five contaminants including chlorinated/brominated/parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Cl/Br/PAHs) were investigated in 29 edible aquatic species from the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka and 10 species from the Pacific Ocean near Japan. Concentrations of total ClPAHs and BrPAHs in the samples were 2.6-57 and 0.

Mixed biofilms of pathogenic -bacteria: regulation mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Mixed-species biofilm is one of the most frequently recorded clinical problems. Mixed biofilms develop as a result of interactions between microorganisms of a single or multiple species (e.g.

Caffeic Acid and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobial Drugs toward Microbial Pathogens.

Caffeic acid is a plant-derived compound that is classified as hydroxycinnamic acid which contains both phenolic and acrylic functional groups. Caffeic acid has been greatly employed as an alternative strategy to combat microbial pathogenesis and chronic infection induced by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Similarly, several derivatives of caffeic acid such as sugar esters, organic esters, glycosides, and amides have been chemically synthesized or naturally isolated as potential antimicrobial agents.

Inhibition of Virulence Factors and Biofilm Formation of Acinetobacter Baumannii by Naturally-derived and Synthetic Drugs.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and pleomorphic bacillus. A. baumannii is also a highly-infectious pathogen causing high mortality and morbidity rates in intensive care units.

Quantification and morphological characterization of plastic litter (0.30-100 mm) in surface waters of off Colombo, west coast of Sri Lanka.

This study focused on quantification and morphological characterization of plastics (0.30-100 mm) at seven sites, namely, Uswetakeiyawa, Kerawalapitiya, Dikowita, Modera, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, and Wellawatta along the west coast, off Colombo, in August, October, and November, 2017. Samples were collected by dragging the floating net with a mesh size of 300 μm horizontally at the surface.

Accumulation of halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by different tuna species, determined by high-resolution gas chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (HPAH) concentrations in tissues from three tuna species Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack tuna), and Auxis thazard (frigate tuna) were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The tuna samples were collected from the Indian Ocean. The instrument conditions gave high mass accuracy at 0.

First nationwide investigation and environmental risk assessment of 72 pharmaceuticals and personal care products from Sri Lankan surface waterways.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are known as an emerging class of water contaminants due to their potential adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we conducted the first nationwide survey to understand the distribution and environmental risk of 72 PPCPs in surface waterways of Sri Lanka. Forty-one out of 72 targeted compounds were detected with total concentrations ranging between 5.

Global microbialization of coral reefs.

Microbialization refers to the observed shift in ecosystem trophic structure towards higher microbial biomass and energy use. On coral reefs, the proximal causes of microbialization are overfishing and eutrophication, both of which facilitate enhanced growth of fleshy algae, conferring a competitive advantage over calcifying corals and coralline algae. The proposed mechanism for this competitive advantage is the DDAM positive feedback loop (dissolved organic carbon (DOC), disease, algae, microorganism), where DOC released by ungrazed fleshy algae supports copiotrophic, potentially pathogenic bacterial communities, ultimately harming corals and maintaining algal competitive dominance.