In vitro and in vivo efficacy of Acorus calamus extract against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus
To develop a environment friendly control measure against cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, medicinally important plants were identified and extracts were prepared. Twelve 95% ethanolic, thirteen 50% hydroethanolic and nine hot water extracts were prepared and tested against laboratory reared homogenous colony of R. (B.) microplus. Amongst the 34 extracts, 26 extracts showed no mortality within 72 h of application while 12.0 ± 4.9% to 35.0 ± 9.6% mortality of treated ticks was recorded in other extracts. Of the effective extracts, the extract prepared from rhizome of Acorus calamus proved highly efficacious and 100% final mortality within 14 DPT was recorded. The LC85 value of the extract was determined as 11.26. In vivo experiments confirmed the efficacy of the extract up to 42%, and repeat application was required after 7 DPT. The extract was found safe and no reaction was observed when animals were treated with 50% of the concentration, which was five times of the concentration used for in vivo studies. The possibility of using the extract for the control of cattle tick is discussed.

title: Laboratory rearing of Theileria annulata-free Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks
abstract: Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum is a three-host tick which transmits Theileria annulata infection in Indian cattle. Laboratory rearing of ixodid ticks is an essential requirement of any laboratory engaged with research on ticks and tick borne diseases. The Entomology laboratory of Indian Veterinary Research Institute is fully equipped with all the facilities and skilled manpower to maintain a homogenous H. a. anatolicum population throughout the year. The continuous supply of eggs, larvae and adults of H. a. anatolicum is maintained to meet out the demand of different experiments viz., preparation of tick antigens for immunization of animals, experimental challenge, isolation of genomic DNA and RNA. Maintenance of a H. a. anatolicum colony free of T. annulata infection is imperative for the experimental challenge infestation on cross-bred (Bos indicus × B. taurus) calves, in order to prevent the transmission of T. annulata infection to the experimental animals. A system has been developed in the laboratory in which the larvae of H. a. anatolicum were fed on New Zealand white rabbits and the dropped fed nymphs molted to adults are fed on cross-bred calves free of T. annulata infection. This synthetic cycle prevents the transstadial transmission of T. annulata as the rabbits are unsusceptible to T. annulata infection and only the adults were fed on cross-bred animals. Moreover, absence of transovarial transmission of T. annulata prevents the chance of carry over infection to experimental animals in the next cycle.

title: Control of ticks of ruminants, with special emphasis on livestock farming systems in India: present and future possibilities for integrated control—a review
abstract: India is predominantly an agricultural country with about 70% of her population dependent on income from agriculture. Although India accounts for a significant share of world’s livestock resources, livestock production is greatly affected by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs). Therefore, India represents a particularly interesting scenario for the study of TTBDs. Herein, we review the problems and opportunities for the integrated control of ticks of ruminants with special emphasis on livestock farming systems in India. Developments discussed in the review in the area of tick vaccines and other tick control measures should have an impact on the future of Indian livestock production.

title: Acaricidal properties of Ricinus communis leaf extracts against organophosphate and pyrethroids resistant Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.
abstract: Indian cattle ticks have developed resistance to commonly used acaricides and an attempt has been made to formulate an ecofriendly herbal preparation for the control of acaricide resistant ticks. A 95% ethanolic extract of Ricinus communis was used to test the efficacy against reference acaricide resistant lines by in vitro assay. In in vitro assay, the extract significantly affects the mortality rate of ticks in dose-dependent manner ranging from 35.0 ± 5.0 to 95.0 ± 5.0% with an additional effect on reproductive physiology of ticks by inhibiting 36.4-63.1% of oviposition. The leaf extract was found effective in killing 48.0, 56.7 and 60.0% diazinon, deltamethrin and multi-acaricide resistant ticks, respectively. However, the cidal and oviposition limiting properties of the extract were separated when the extract was fractionated with hexane, chloroform, n-butanol and water. The HPTLC finger printing profile of R. communis leaf extract under λ(max.) - 254 showed presence of quercetin, gallic acid, flavone and kaempferol which seemed to have synergistic acaricidal action. In vivo experiment resulted in 59.9% efficacy on Ist challenge, however, following 2nd challenge the efficacy was reduced to 48.5%. The results indicated that the 95% ethanolic leaf extract of R. communis can be used effectively in integrated format for the control of acaricide resistant ticks.

title: 27 kDa Fasciola gigantica Glycoprotein for the Diagnosis of Prepatent Fasciolosis in Cattle
abstract: An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 27 kDa glycoprotein of Fasciola gigantica has been evaluated for its potential use in the diagnosis of bovine fasciolosis. Following experimental infection of rabbits, F. gigantica infection-induced antibodies were isolated and later used as ligands in affinity chromatography for isolation of infection-induced antibody-specific proteins. Among the five infection-specific proteins isolated, a glycoprotein of 27 kDa was later isolated by second-step purification using concanavalin A matrix. In crossbred cattle receiving different doses of infection (100, 200 and 400 metacercariae), the anti-27 kDa antibodies were detected as early as the 2nd week post infection. No direct correlation between initial dose, antibody response and fluke establishment was recorded. No cross-reaction was noted with the sera of goats experimentally infected with Paramphistomum epiclitum. ELISA with the 27 kDa glycoprotein could be a feasible diagnostic tool for the early detection of bovine fasciolosis.

title: Comparative immunopotentiating properties of saponin and incomplete Freund's adjuvant coupled to affinity purified larval antigen of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum.
abstract: Comparative immunostimulatory properties of saponin and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) were studied using affinity purified 39 kDa larval antigen of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. Significant antibody response to 39 kDa antigen was detected in the sera of rabbits immunized with both 39 kDa plus saponin and 39 kDa plus IFA in comparison to their corresponding control animals. Insignificant differences were noted in the antibody response between the animals of two immunized groups. Upon challenge, the animals immunized with 39 kDa plus IFA rejected 76.2 +/- 9.7% of larvae and 45.8 +/- 4.1% of adults while in group of animals injected with 39 kDa plus saponin rejected 80.9 +/- 11.2% of larvae and 47.2 +/- 5.7% of adults.

title: Airway obstruction in lungs obtained from an asthmatic donor complicating heart-lung transplantation.

title: Ranking of aqueous surfactant-humectant systems based on an analysis of in vitro and in vivo skin barrier perturbation measurements.
abstract: We propose that skin electrical current measurements can be used in vitro to effectively rank aqueous solutions containing surfactants and humectants (the enhancer) contacting the skin, relative to a PBS aqueous solution (the control) contacting the skin, based on their ability to perturb the skin aqueous pores. Specifically, we develop an in vitro ranking metric using the increase in the skin electrical current induced by an enhancer relative to the control. Aqueous contacting solutions containing (i) surfactants [SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate)] and C(12)E(6) [dodecyl hexa (ethylene oxide)], (ii) humectants (glycerol and propylene glycol), and (iii) a control (PBS) were studied. Utilizing the new in vitro ranking metric, these aqueous contacting solutions were ranked as follows (from the mildest to the harshest): glycerol < propylene glycol < PBS < C(12)E(6) < SDS. In order to further develop this ranking methodology, which can potentially lead to the reduction, or elimination, of costly and time-consuming procedures, such as human and animal testing and trial-and-error screening in vivo, it was important to correlate the findings of the in vitro ranking metric with direct in vivo skin barrier measurements. For this purpose, in vivo soap chamber measurements, including transepidermal water loss, visual skin dryness, and chromameter erythema measurements, were carried out on human volunteers using the aqueous surfactant-humectant solutions described above. The results of these in vivo measurements were found to be consistent with the ranking results obtained using the in vitro ranking metric. To further explore the validity of our model and to verify the skin barrier mitigating effect of glycerol, in vivo soap chamber measurements were carried out for aqueous SDS solutions containing 10 wt% added glycerol. These in vivo measurements support our recent in vitro finding that glycerol reduces the average radius and the pore number density of the skin aqueous pores, such that SDS micelles are hindered from penetrating into the skin and inducing skin barrier perturbation.

title: A novel non-parametric regression reveals linkage on chromosome 4 for the number of externalizing symptoms in sib-pairs.
abstract: In this report, we present results of a genome-wide linkage scan using as a phenotype the number of externalizing symptoms associated with alcohol use disorders. Subjects were collected by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism project from families in which at least three first degree relatives were affected by alcohol dependence. We use a novel non-parametric regression method based on kernel smoothing for our analysis. We report a statistically significant linkage close to the ADH gene cluster on Chromosome 4. We also obtain evidence for epistatic interaction between a region on Chromosome 1 and one on Chromosome 15. Although alcoholism as a covariate does not have any effect on the linkage scan, it has an effect on the epistatic interaction.

title: Isolation and characterization of superdormant spores of Bacillus species.
abstract: Superdormant spores of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium were isolated in 4 to 12% yields following germination with high nutrient levels that activated one or two germinant receptors. These superdormant spores did not germinate with the initial nutrients or those that stimulated other germinant receptors, and the superdormant spores' defect was not genetic. The superdormant spores did, however, germinate with Ca(2+)-dipicolinic acid or dodecylamine. Although these superdormant spores did not germinate with high levels of nutrients that activated one or two nutrient germinant receptors, they germinated with nutrient mixtures that activated more receptors, and using high levels of nutrient mixtures activating more germinant receptors decreased superdormant spore yields. The use of moderate nutrient levels to isolate superdormant spores increased their yields; the resultant spores germinated poorly with the initial moderate nutrient concentrations, but they germinated well with high nutrient concentrations. These findings suggest that the levels of superdormant spores in populations depend on the germination conditions used, with fewer superdormant spores isolated when better germination conditions are used. These findings further suggest that superdormant spores require an increased signal for triggering spore germination compared to most spores in populations. One factor determining whether a spore is superdormant is its level of germinant receptors, since spore populations with higher levels of germinant receptors yielded lower levels of superdormant spores. A second important factor may be heat activation of spore populations, since yields of superdormant spores from non-heat-activated spore populations were higher than those from optimally activated spores.

title: Application of rbcL based molecular diversity analysis to algae in wastewater treatment plants.
abstract: The molecular diversity of algae in the final clarifier or denitrification filter outfall from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with activated sludge based treatment was analyzed using the rbcL gene as a phylogenetic marker. The rbcL gene encodes the large subunit of the CO(2) fixing enzyme RuBisCO. Among algae identified at the WWTPs were diatoms, green algae, cyanobacteria, Eustigmatophyceae, and unknown heterokonts. A high level of diversity was observed within WWTPs with 19-24 unique rbcL sequences detected at each plant. Algae composition also varied between treatment plants. Our results show that the rbcL gene can be used as a phylogenetic marker for algae diversity analysis in a wastewater treatment context.