Role of Cytosolic Malic Enzyme in Oleaginicity of High-Lipid-Producing Fungal Strain Mucor circinelloides WJ11.

Mucor circinelloides, an oleaginous filamentous fungus, is gaining popularity due to its ability to synthesize significant amounts of lipids containing γ-linolenic acid (GLA) that have important health benefits. Malic enzyme (ME), which serves as the main source of NADPH in some fungi, has been found to regulate lipid accumulation in oleaginous fungi. In the present study, the role of two cytosolic ME genes, cmalA and cmalB, in the lipid accumulation of the M. circinelloides high-lipid-producing strain WJ11, was evaluated. Strains overexpressing cmalA and cmalB showed a 9.8- and 6.4-fold rise in specific ME activity, respectively, and an elevation of the lipid content by 23.2% and 5.8%, respectively, suggesting that these genes are involved in lipid biosynthesis. Due to increased lipid accumulation, overall GLA content in biomass was observed to be elevated by 11.42% and 16.85% in cmalA and cmalB overexpressing strains, respectively. Our study gives an important insight into different studies exploring the role of the cmalA gene, while we have for the first time investigated the role of the cmalB gene in the M. circinelloides WJ11 strain.

Avian feathers as a biomonitoring tool to assess heavy metal pollution in a wildlife and bird sanctuary from a tropical coastal ecosystem.

In this study, we have assessed the concentrations of four heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the feathers of 11 species of birds from the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, a protected environment. Concentrations of copper and zinc were detected in all the bird species, cadmium was observed only in two bird species, and lead was below the detection limits for all birds. The order of concentration of metals in the feathers is Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb. Using the multivariate statistical analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), the metal origins were traced to natural, dietary, and manmade sources. In addition, sediment samples were also collected from the sanctuary, to assess the bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The BAF values follow the order Cd < Cu < Zn < Pb. In comparison with worldwide heavy metal reports in bird feathers, lower concentrations of metals are observed in our study area. The tropical marine ecosystem at Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary can be considered as pristine regarding heavy metal pollution. Continuous monitoring of the ecosystem is crucial to sustain the pristine nature of the sanctuary and to attract many more birds.

A provisional checklist of the avifauna of Turaif province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The richness and diversity of avian species inhabiting Turaif province of Saudi Arabia were surveyed for a period of one-year (2014-2015) using walked belt transects in different habitats of the studied area. Bird species were observed and recorded by sightings or vocal calls. A total of thirty-three bird species belonging to fifteen families were observed across all the surveys in the Turaif area. During a breeding season, species abundance was higher as compared to non-breeding season. Out of 33, eighteen species were passage migrants and fifteen species were noted as breeding residents. Family Muscicapidae which showed the highest proportion (24.24%) was represented by 8 bird species followed by family Alaudidae and family Falconidae represented by 4 species each. According to this survey relatively a fair quantity of bird species still exists in the Turaif region. This area is of significant interest in terms of conservation of birds due to higher densities of endemic, breeding or resident avian species.