Gene expression in Catla catla (Hamilton) subjected to acute and protracted doses of gamma radiation

Studies on transcriptional modulation after gamma radiation exposure in fish are limited. Cell cycle perturbations and expression of apoptotic genes were investigated in the fish, Catla catla after acute and protracted exposures to gamma radiation over a 90day period. Significant changes in gene expression were observed between day 1 and 90 post-exposure. Gamma radiation induced a significant down-regulation of target genes gadd45α, cdk1 and bcl-2 from day 1 to day 3 after protracted exposure, whereas it persists till day 6 upon acute exposure. From day 12 onwards, Gadd45α, cdk1 and bcl-2 genes were up-regulated following protracted exposure, indicating DNA repair, cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. There exists a linear correlation between these genes (gadd45α - r=0.85, p=0.0073; cdk1 - r=0.86, p=0.0053; bcl-2 - r=0.89, p=0.0026) at protracted exposures. This is the first report on the dual role of bcl-2 gene in fish exposed to acute and protracted radiation and correlation among the aforementioned genes that work in concert to promote 'repair' and 'death' circuitries in fish blood cells.

Nucleoplasmic bridges and tailed nuclei are signatures of radiation exposure in Oreochromis mossambicus using erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay (EMNCA)

Gamma radiation-induced genetic perturbations in aquatic vertebrates is largely unknown at low-dose rate, especially in the wake of a nuclear disaster and/or other environmental outbreaks. Freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus subjected to low-dose rate (2 mGy/min) at 2.5-, 5-, and 10-Gy doses, were analyzed for "exposure signatures" in blood samples drawn on days 3, 6, 12, 18, and 30, respectively. Significant dose-dependent increments in micronuclei frequency and other anomalies such as nucleoplasmic bridges and tailed nuclei were observed and exhibit a strong positive correlation, suggesting that they could be used as prospective signatures of radiation exposure. Similarly increased incidence of apoptosis and DNA repair machinery circuits at high and low doses were noted. This work highlighted "cytogenetic signatures" in fish and the sensitivity of these endpoints toward low-dose rate of radiation exposure.

Cytogenotoxicity assessment of monocrotophos and butachlor at single and combined chronic exposures in the fish Catla catla (Hamilton)

Cytogenotoxic effects in the form of micronuclei and deformed nucleus, nuclear buds, binucleated cells, vacuolated nucleus, vacuolated cytoplasm, echinocytes, and enucleus induced by two compounds belonging to two different chemical classes of agrochemicals (monocrotophos and butachlor) at sublethal concentrations (0.625, 1.3, and 2.3 ppm and 0.016, 0.032, and 0.064 ppm) in single and combined chronic exposures were studied under laboratory conditions for a period of 35 days in the economically important Indian fish Catla catla. Statistically significant duration-dependent increases in the frequencies of micronucleus (MN) and other cytological anomalies were observed. Compared to single exposures, a twofold increase in micronuclei frequency was noted at combined exposures indicating the synergistic phenomenon. Binucleated and enucleated cells appeared only in fishes exposed to sublethal concentrations of butachlor. The present study is the first of its kind in exploring a significant positive correlation between micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies suggesting them as new possible biomarkers of genotoxicity after agrochemical exposures. The study highlights the sensitivity of the assay in exploring various predictive biomarkers of genotoxic and cytotoxic events and also elicits the synergistic effects of agrochemicals in apparently healthy fishes. C. catla can be considered as a suitable aquatic biomonitoring sentinel species of contaminated water bodies.

Gamma radiation induced cell cycle perturbations and DNA damage in Catla Catla as measured by flow cytometry

Gamma radiation induced cell cycle perturbations and DNA damage in Catla catla were analyzed in erythrocytes at different time points using flow cytometry (FCM). Protracted exposure to radiation induced damage between days 12 and 45. Disturbances in cell cycle machinery, i.e., proportional increase and decrease in Gap0 or quiescent/Gap1 (G0/G1), Synthesis (S) and Gap2/Mitotic (G2/M) phases were observed at both acute and protracted treatments. Both acute and protracted exposures induced apoptosis with a notable significance between days 3 and 6 at protracted and on day 45 at acute doses. Fish exposed protractedly avail some DNA repair mechanisms than acutely exposed. This is the first study to analyze radiation induced DNA damage under laboratory conditions and suggests that flow cytometry can also be an alternate tool to screen genotoxicity induced by ionizing radiation in fish.

Gamma radiation induced micronuclei and erythrocyte cellular abnormalities in the fish Catla catla

Ionizing radiation induced DNA damage in fishes is a scarcely studied topic and very few studies are available in fishes exposed to ionizing radiation using the erythrocyte micronucleus assay under laboratory conditions. Since radionuclides released accidentally or during a nuclear disaster can contaminate inland water bodies, biomonitoring methods are required for assessing the impacts of high and low levels of radiation that may ultimately result in ionizing radiation exposure to both humans and non-human biota. Fresh water fish, Catla catla were subjected to protracted (0.002 Gy/min) and acute (3.2 Gy/min) gamma radiation to a total dose of 5 Gy. Peripheral blood samples were collected at different intervals (days 3, 6, 12, 18, 30, 45, 90, 135, 202) and analyzed by the erythrocyte micronucleus assay. Nuclear anomalies observed were micronuclei (MN), deformed nuclei (DN), nuclear bud (NBu), nuclear bridge (NBr), vacuolated nucleus (VN), binucleated cell (BNC), apoptotic cells (AC) while cytoplasmic abnormalities detected were vacuolated cytoplasm (VC), anisochromasia (AN), echinocytes (EC) and enucleus (EN). Both exposures caused a statistically significant increase in nuclear and cytoplasmic abnormalities that correlated with micronucleus and other nuclear anomalies. However, the extent of damage is higher after an acute exposure lasting for a longer period leading to apoptosis. Nuclear and cytoplasmic abnormalities are the resultants of gamma radiation induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity.

Isolation of Legionella pneumophila from clinical & environmental sources in a tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Legionella pneumophila and other members of this genus are important respiratory pathogens but legionellosis often remains a neglected and under reported condition. Hence, this study was done to find out the presence of this organism in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODS

A total of 470 lower respiratory tract samples and 24 water samples from hospital outlets were examined. Culture was done on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar with supplements and identification of the isolates was done by microscopy and biochemical tests.

RESULTS

L. pneumophila could be isolated from 12 (2.55%) patients suffering from community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection, unassociated with other aetiological agents of bacterial pneumonia. Of the 24 water samples tested, 8 (33.3%) grew the same organism.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

Our study has shown that Legionella is present in the hospital environment and was the aetiological agent of lower respiratory tract infection in 2.55 per cent of patients. A larger study and reports from other parts of the country may help in determining the true significance of legionellosis in India.