A Study on the Muscle Carbohydrate Dynamics in Nemipterus japonicus with Reference to Microbial Infection.

The present study was carried out to determine the total carbohydrate dynamics in the non infected and infected muscle samples of Nemipterus japonicus, harboured with pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio vulnificus. About twenty seven fish collected from the coast off Visakhapatnam, identified with lesions were undergone microbial analysis to isolate the incriminating pathogenic bacteria. The total muscle carbohydrate levels were analysed by Dubois method. The estimated total carbohydrates in the infected fish were found significantly higher as compared to the non infected fish. Thus it can be concluded that an increase of carbohydrate concentrations in infected fish may cause harmful physiological effects, reducing the immune response of the fish to the microbial organisms.

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of marine sponge Clathria indica associated bacteria against Palsmodium falciparum

Objective: To identify the possible antiplasmodial drugs from bacteria associated with marine sponge Clathria indica. Methods: Clathria indica samples were collected from Thondi coast and subjected for enumeration and isolation of associated bacteria. Filter sterilized extracts (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 μg.mL-1) from isolated bacterial isolates were screened for antiplasmodial activity against Palsmodium falciparum and potential extracts were also screened for biochemical constituents. Results: The count of bacterial strains were maximum in November 2007 (19×104 CFU.g-1) and the average count was maximum during the monsoon season (107×10 3 CFU.g-1). Thirty one morphologically different bacterial isolates were isolated from Clathria indica and the ethyl acetate bacterial extracts were screened for antiplasmodial activity against Palsmodiumfalciparum. The antiplasmodial activity of a isolate THB23 (IC 50 28.80 μg.mL-1) extract is highly comparable with the positive control chloroquine (IC50 19.59 μg.mL-1) and 17 bacterial extracts which showed IC50 value of more than 100 μg.mL-1. Statistical analysis reveals that, significant in vitro antiplasmodial activity (P<0.05) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes showed no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the ethyl acetate extract of bacterial strains after 48 h of incubation. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity might be due to the presence of carbohydrates and alkaloids in the ethyl acetate extracts of bacterial isolates. Conclusions: The ethyl acetate extracts of THB23 possesses novel compounds for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

Biochemical composition of seven species of cyanobacteria isolated from different aquatic habitats of Western Ghats, Southern India

The aim of this work was to study the biochemical constituents of seven species of cyanobacteria namely, Calothrix fusca, Gloeocapsa livida, Lyngbya limnetica and Scytonema bohneri isolated from Panekal sulfur spring. The species namely, Oscillatoria acuminata from petrochemical refinery, O. calcuttensis from dairy effluent and O. foreaui from a sewage drain located in the Western Ghats of Southern India under laboratory culture conditions. The biochemical constituents were analyzed in terms of total carbohydrates, total protein, total free amino acid, total lipid, fatty acid and mineral contents. The analysis showed that maximum amount of total carbohydrate in S. bohneri (28.4 percent dry weight) and minimum in O. foreaui (8.0 percent of dry weight). Maximum amount of total protein and total free amino acid were in O. foreaui (7 percent of dry weight). O. calcuttensis showed higher amount of total lipid (20 percent dry weight). A total of 12 types of fatty acids were detected among which lauric acid was in highest quantity in all the seven species. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid was present in all the species ranging from 1.68 to 3.89 percent. O. foreaui showed highest quantities of copper, manganese, ferrous and zinc. Nickel was maximum in S. bohneri (11.05 µgmL-1). O. acuminata showed highest quantity of magnesium (21.050 mg g-1) and it was least in O. foreaui (12.812 mg g-1).

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of marine sponge Hyattella intestinalis associated bacteria against Plasmodium falciparum

Objective: To identify the antiplasmodial drugs from the marine sponge Hyattella intestinalis (H. intestinalis) associated bacteria. Methods: The H. intestinalis samples were collected from Thondi coast and subjected for enumeration and isolation of associated bacteria. Filter sterilized extracts (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125μg/mL) from bacterial isolates were screened for antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum and potential extracts were also screened for biochemical constituents. Results: The count of THB isolates were maximum in November 2007 (20×10 4 CFU/g) and the average count was maximum during the monsoon season (77×103 CFU/g). A total of 29 bacteria were isolated based on the morphological characteristics and screened for antiplasmodial activity. The antiplasmodial activity of THB20 extract (IC50 41.88 μg/mL) showed at two fold concentration of IC50 value of the positive control chloroquine (IC50 19.59 μg/mL) and 14 bacterial isolates showed IC50 value of more than 100 μg/mL. Statistical analysis reveals that, significant in vitro antiplasmodial activity (P<0.05) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes showed no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the ethyl acetate extract of THB isolates after 48 h of incubation. The antiplasmodial activity of potential bacterial isolates might be due to the presence of sugars and alkaloids in the ethyl acetate extracts. Conclusions: It is concluded from the present study that, the ethyl acetate extracts of THB20 posses novel metabolites for the development of newer antiplasmodial drugs.

Role of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Present study revealed the importance of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (variety JP-1-1). The seeds treated with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) of endosulfan showed a significant decrease in percent germination over control. As the concentration increased, the shoot length, root length and biomass decreased. The amount of chlorophyll-a and protein decreased gradually with the increase in endosulfan concentration, whereas phenol and proline contents increased from 1.08 to 1.57 mg g-1 and 0.18 to 0.98 mg g-1, respectively. Chlorophyll-b decreased in 0.2% (0.97 mg g-1) as compared to control and revealed a gradual increase in 0.4% (1.11 mg g-1) and 0.6 % (1.13 mg g-1). Endosulfan treatment suppressed the catalase and protease activity, but significantly increased the level of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, SOD and amylase enzymes. Lower dose (0.2%) of endosulfan stimulated the activity of amylases.

Changes of blood and urine constituents in high school boys during one week intense summer baseball training / 体力科学

A study was carried out to confirm the present states of physical training and nutritional condition in sportsmen on the growing stage. Energy expenditure (EE), caloric intake (CI), food items, body weight, running distance for 12 min and hematological and biochemical parameters of blood and urine were measured in 17 high school boys during intense summer baseball training for seven days. EE was estimated from the records by direct observation of activities during the baseball training (RMR method), and CI was calculated from the dietary record supplied each subject for the seven observation day.<BR>Following results were obtained.<BR>1) The average EE was 55.4±7.5 kcal/kg/day, and the CI corresponded to 87.2% of the EE, although no significant reduction of body weight was observed at the termination of the training session.<BR>2) Running distance for 12 min gradually decreased.<BR>3) Significant decreases in serum TG, TP and Hgb concentrations, and a remarkable increase in CPK activity were observed on the 4 th and final days. Urinary excretion of phosphate, urea nitrogen and catecholamines also increased gradually.<BR>4) The greater the increase in negative energy balance (CI-EE), the greater the decrease in TG, TP and Hgb concentrations, and the greater the increase in serum CPK and urinary excretion of catecholamines.<BR>The present results suggest that greater intake of total energy, protein and fat is recommended for development of endurance capacity, baseball techniques and sound growth in occasion such as the present baseball training program in high school boys.