ABSTRACT
RNA-seq analysis of B. megaterium exposed to pH 7.0 and pH 4.5 showed differential expression of 207 genes related to several processes. Among the 207 genes, 11 genes displayed increased transcription exclusively in pH 4.5. Exposure to pH 4.5 induced the expression of genes related to maintenance of cell integrity, pH homeostasis, alternative energy generation and modification of metabolic processes. Metabolic processes like pentose phosphate pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis, cysteine and methionine metabolism and synthesis of arginine and proline were remodeled during acid stress. Genes associated with oxidative stress and osmotic stress were up-regulated at pH 4.5 indicating a link between acid stress and other stresses. Acid stress also induced expression of genes that encoded general stress-responsive proteins as well as several hypothetical proteins. Our study indicates that a network of genes aid B. megaterium G18 to adapt and survive in acid stress condition.
Subject(s)
Acids/toxicity , Adaptation, Physiological/genetics , Bacillus megaterium/genetics , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Regulatory Networks/drug effects , Genome, Bacterial , Stress, Physiological/genetics , Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects , Bacillus megaterium/drug effects , Bacillus megaterium/growth & development , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Stress, Physiological/drug effects , Transcriptome/geneticsABSTRACT
The study investigated the success rate, genetic improvement, and monetary benefit of artificial insemination (AI) technology in smallholder backyard pig production system. The pig production system was studied, and performance of nondescript and crossbred pigs under the traditional system was evaluated. Litter size and growth rate of crossbred pig was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to the nondescript pigs. Non-availability of superior germplasm to produce crossbred pigs and high mating cost were the major constraints observed in the study in addition to indiscriminate mating and non-availability of breeding boar. For genetic improvement of nondescript local pigs and to produce crossbred pigs, AI delivery mechanism was developed in participatory mode including farmers, village leaders, and key persons in 36 villages. The information system was designed in such a way that AI was carried out at the doorstep of the farmer upon request. A total of 167 estrus sow/gilts were artificially inseminated, and a farrowing rate of 78.44 % was obtained with a mean litter size of 7.86 ± 0.65 following AI, which did not differ significantly from natural service. However, the growth rate of crossbred piglets obtained through AI was significantly higher than the growth rate of piglets born out of natural service. The tribal farmers were benefited by AI in several ways: (1) timely availability of superior germplasm to produce crossbred piglets; (2) saved the mating cost of INR 1,000-1,200 and transport of cost (INR 300-400) of female to the boar premises and (3) controlled mating to prevent inbreeding. The present study clearly demonstrates the feasibility and potential benefit of AI technique to smallholder backyard pig production system in tribal rural areas. In addition to genetic improvement of nondescript local pigs, this technology can help in overcoming breeding constraints in smallholder backyard pig production for increasing productivity.
Subject(s)
Insemination, Artificial/economics , Insemination, Artificial/methods , Reproduction , Sus scrofa/physiology , Animal Husbandry/methods , Animals , Female , India , Litter Size , Male , Sus scrofa/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Two outbreaks of orf virus (ORFV) (a parapoxvirus) infection in goats, which occurred in Golaghat and Kamrup districts of Assam, a northeastern part of India, were investigated. The disease was diagnosed by standard virological and molecular techniques. The entire protein-coding region of B2L gene of two isolates were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on B2L amino acid sequences showed that the ORFVs identified in these outbreaks were closely related to each other and both were closer to ORFV-Shahjahanpur 82/04 isolate from north India. The present study revealed that the precise characterization of the genomic region (B2L gene) might provide evidence for the genetic variation and movement of circulating ORFV strains in India.
