In vitro immune analysis of serum from the hemolymph of the anomuran crab Albunea symmysta (Linnaeus, 1758) displayed diversified reactions

The present investigation aims to substantiate that serum from the hemolymph of anomuran crab Albunea symmysta encompasses multiple immunological reactions in in vitro condition. The serum highly agglutinated human O erythrocytes in the presence of Ba2+. Distinct and unique sugar binding capacity of serum towards laminarin, N-acetyl sugars and higher binding specificity towards a glycoprotein, fetuin was inferred. In vitro enhancement of melanin synthesis due to enhanced oxidation of 3, 4-dihydroxy-dl-phenylalanine (dl-DOPA) by preincubation of nonself molecules with serum phenoloxidase (PO) was documented. Similarly, dl-DOPA oxidation by serum PO was reduced when preincubated with chemical inhibitors and copper chelators. Further, the crab serum lysed the vertebrate erythrocytes with maximum hemolysis against chicken and it unveiled dependency on divalent cation, serum concentration, ionic strength, pH, temperature and time interval. Occurrence of maximum hemolysis at a concentration of 30 µl, pH 8.0, temperature 37 °C and time interval of 60 min in the presence of Ba2+ were documented. Interestingly, serum hemolysis was reduced by different osmoprotectants suggesting a colloid-osmotic mechanism involving in hemolysis. It was observed that A. symmysta serum had antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The serum showed higher glycan content, potent lysozyme and free radical scavenging activity suggesting the existence of potential immune molecules of therapeutic use. These results clearly demonstrated the diversified immunogenicity of A. symmysta serum confirming a highly conserved non-specific immunity of crustaceans.

Cellular and molecular immune response and production performance of Indian white shrimp Penaeus indicus (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837), reared in a biofloc-based system with different protein levels of feed

The present study focuses on the immunity and growth of Penaeus indicus fed with varying protein levels (25%, 30%, and 35%) in a biofloc based rearing system. A 120 days growth trial was carried out using juvenile Penaeus indicus (0.71 ± 0.01) with dietary protein level, 25% (LP), 30% (MP), and 35% (HP), and a control diet-fed with 35% acted as control group resulting in 4 treatments each with four replicates and were randomly assigned 16 tank units (7500 L each). A combination of different carbon sources (molasses, wheat flour, and rice bran in 2:1:1 ratio), yeast and a probiotic (Bacillus sp.) consortium were used for the development of biofloc. At the end of the trial, the growth parameters of shrimps viz., initial weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and daily growth coefficient (DGC) were computed. The results indicated that shrimp fed with medium (30%) protein (MP) diet recorded significantly (P < 0.05) improved growth performance compared to high protein fed group (35%) and low protein (25%) fed group (LP) in a biofloc system and control group (35%). The immunological parameters such as hemagglutination activity (HA) assay, serum protein, lysozyme, phenol oxidase (PO), and inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed in serum, plasma, and hemocyte lysate supernatant (HLS). The HA activity, PO activity in plasma was found to be higher in high protein fed animals, whereas medium protein resulted in enhanced PO activity in serum. Similarly, lysozyme and SOD were inhibited well in high protein fed animals compared to the low protein fed group. The vital immune genes's mRNA profiling showed a potential rise in the expressional pattern in MP and HP treatments compared to LP and control. BGBP (beta-1,3-glucan binding protein) and hemocyanin mRNA transcript levels were highly upregulated in the HP (5 fold) and moderately expressed in MP (2 fold) and LP (1-2 fold). The transcripts of peroxinectin, antimicrobial peptides like crustin showed significant upregulation in HP followed by in MP and LP and control. Likewise, other immune genes, such as SOD, prophenoloxidase (proPO), showed a similar trend in a marginal way, indicating immunomodulation in the biofloc groups. This study suggested that biofloc with high protein (35%) supplementation can substantially enhance the immune response of shrimps, although medium protein level (30%) is optimum for improving the survival, growth, and in turn economic return in Indian white shrimp.

Bio-augmentation of heterotrophic bacteria in biofloc system improves growth, survival, and immunity of Indian white shrimp Penaeus indicus

Effect of bio-augmentation of Bacillus spp in biofloc on growth, survival and immunity in Indian white shrimp Penaeus indicus was evaluated. Nine Bacillus strains were isolated and screened individually as well as in the form of a consortia. To maintain a C:N ratio of 12:1 a blend of carbohydrate sources was used. Bio-augmentation with bacterial consortium and Virgibacillus sp. produced improved growth and immunity. Shrimp survival ranged from 80 to 95% among treatments. Production was higher (35%) in the biofloc tanks with an average body weight (ABW) of 10.89 ± 1.2 g. On evaluating the immune responses, it was found that trypsin significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced Prophenoloxidase (PO) activity in Lysinibacillus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis bio-augmented groups. Laminarin induced PO activity was observed in groups supplemented with Oceanobacillus sp., Bacillus sp.and Bacillus megaterium. The lysozyme (LZ) activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in B. cereus and Microbial Consortia (MC), while other treatments were less effective. Total hemocyte count (THC) significantly (P < 0.05) increased in all treatment groups compared to the control. Hyaline hemocyte (HH) count was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the control group (14.43%). Semi granular hemocytes (SGH) was higher in groups treated with Lysinibacillus, Bacillus sp., B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. The granular hemocyte (GH) count was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Virgibacillus sp., B. cereus, B.megaterium and Oceanobacillus sp. The biofloc alone (BF), treated and augmented with B. megaterium significantly (P < 0.05) increased phagocytic activity. Highly significant phagocytic index (PI) was observed in bio-augmented groups, BF and MC. The relative expression levels of immune genes were found to be significantly up-regulated in shrimps grown in bio-augmented groups. Enhanced immunological parameters implies that bio-augmentation of biofloc with Bacillus spp. improved immunity in shrimps. Hence, bio-augmentation of probiotics in biofloc may be useful in improving culture conditions to produce P. indicus.

Meeting the challenges of stroke in India

Worldwide, cerebrovascular diseases are responsible for 6.15 million deaths (10.8% of all deaths)(1) and are the second most common cause of mortality; 87% of stroke deaths occur in low or middle income countries.(2) With the world's second largest population, India is witnessing several adverse trends for the cardiovascular health of its population, including a rapid rise in the proportion of patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia, and the relative lack of exercise among the general population. India has the world's largest population of patients with diabetes, with over 62 million people with diabetes in 2011.(3) At the current time, the population in India is projected to have over 1 million strokes per year. This figure will surely rise in the coming decades due to longer life expectancy and the downstream influence of risk factors such as diabetes.