Potential of Chitosan from Shrimp Waste for Treating Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria in Skin Wound

Shrimp or crustacean waste on the skin, head, and feet has not been maximally utilized. Shrimp or crustacean waste can be processed into chitin or chitosan which can provide high added value. Chitosan is one ingredient that can be used to make skin ointments. One of the bacteria that is harmful to the skin during a wound is Staphylococcus aureus. Hence, there is a need to have a skin ointment that can inhibit these bacteria. The current study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of chitosan in the ointment. Moreover, the current study planned to determine the optimum inhibitory concentration of chitosan in the ointment against Staphylococcus aureus and evaluate the physical properties of ointments. The methods used in the current study were the pH determination, organoleptic test, homogeneity test, and antibacterial activity test to examine chitosan against Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that chitosan in ointment had a weak antibacterial activity with a value of < 5 mm inhibition zone. Chitosan with a concentration of 0.2% in ointment fulfilled the requirements of a good ointment. Its white colour as the typical colour of chitosan showed the characteristic odour of chitosan and a semi-solid form. Chitosan in the ointment has antibacterial activity that can inhibit Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Diversity of indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates toxic to the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Plutellidae: Lepidoptera)

Background Toxins from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium are employed as an alternative to synthetic pesticides in pest management. The greatest threat to the long-term viability of Bt toxins is resistance evolution in the target pests. Genetic diversity and toxicity of Bt isolates were studied in this work in order to find Bt isolates with novel cry genes. Results In terms of colony morphology, among a total of 60 isolates, 51 isolates had off-white colour colonies with typical fried egg appearance, irregular shape, flat and undulate margin. Different crystal shapes, viz. spherical (88.13%), bipyramidal (49.15%), cuboidal (42.37%), rectangular, and crystals attached to spores (3.38%) were observed among Bt isolates. SDS-PAGE analysis of spore crystal mixture showed the presence of proteins with various molecular weights ranging from 124 to 26 kDa. PCR screening with cry1, cry2, cry9 and vip3A1 primers showed isolates with varied insecticidal gene combinations. Bt isolates containing cry1 genes were found to be abundant (30), followed by cry2 (9) and vip3A1 (9). Cry9 was absent in all the 60 isolates tested. Insecticidal activity of spore crystal mixtures ranged from 0 to 100% mortality. Furthermore, 12 isolates were found to be highly toxic against the larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Plutellidae: Lepidoptera) with 100% mortality, at 25 µg/ml in leaf disc bioassay. Conclusions The present work established the diversity of Bt isolates and confirmed the importance of continuous exploration of new Bt isolates for novel genes. Further, research needs to be carried out to unveil the hidden potential of these toxic isolates.

Characterization of Variovorax Strain C6d Isolated from the Algae-bacteria Consortia

The rhizosphere microorganisms can form beneficial, pathogenic, or neutral relationships. These relationships can promote plant growth and productivity. Among them, a number of Variovorax isolates from the rhizosphere were isolated. Bacteria Variovorax strain C6d (AB552893) was isolated from the non axenic culture of Chlorella spp., C6. The cell was Gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, short and rod-shaped (0.5-1.0x1.5-2.0µm). Colonies were in white colour after 7 days on 10-fold diluted Nutrient Broth. The strain was able to tolerate NaCL to 1.0% but not to 4.0% of NaCl. It grew quite well at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 37°C, yet did not show any growth at 4°C and 42°C. The dominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q8). The major fatty acid composition of this strain was summed feature 3, 16:0 and 18:1:w7. The DNA G+C content of strain C6d was 70.4 mol%.

Study on milky haemolymph diseases infection in wild and cultured of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus in Indonesia

Milky Haemolymph Disease in Spiny Lobster (MHD-SL) is the most pathogenic diseases in spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus). Research on MHD-SL infection has not been undertaken in Indonesia. Therefore, present study aims to determine the infection of MHD-SL lobster. In 2016 a total of 240 lobsters for 30 each both from wild and cultured sample were collected from four locations (Candi Kusuma Bay of Bali Island, Gerupuk, Awang, and Telong-Elong Bays of Lombok Island) and in 2019, 50 lobster samples were collected for artificial infection study. While in January 2020, another 40 lobsters were collected from 2 different sites of culture (coastal and offshore cages) within Telong Elong Bay to determine infection of MHD-SL and for transmission study. The MHD-SL diseased was first check by clinical sign and confirmed by PCR-DNA molecular with specific primer of 254 bp. An experimental infection of MHD-SL was carried out by injection and cohabitation. The result showed that infected MHD-SL lobster shows inactive, loose appetite to eat, reddish and white colour of abdomen then moribund and all positive by PCR test. MHD-SL was found only in cultured lobster on the cages located at coastal water and no in the cages located at offshore within Telong-Elong Bay. In the experiment of artificial infection, either by injection or cohabitation, shows clinical sign of MHD-SL appeared at 8 days and all died after 14 days for both treatments. The present study approved that MHD-SL is pathogenic agent belonged to Rickettsia-like bacterium and infection occurred by horizontal transmission.

Phytochemical & Pharmacological Studies of Moltkiopsis ciliata

The stem and branches have silvery white colour with a pink tint. They bear stiff covering trichomes and leaves or leaves remaining are found at their numerous inter nodes. Dark brown scars are left by falling leaves. The branches are brittle and their outer layer separate on breaking. Microscopically، the powder shown many free conical، warty، tapering covering trichomes of various lengths and sizes; the comparatively smaller ones belong to leaves while the significantly large ones are detached from stem and branches. The powder also shows light orange-brown fragments of leaf exhibiting compact endings of palisade cells rounded in outlines; some of these fragments bear many covering trichomes. There are also many grey or grayish-brown fragments of fibro-vascular tissues of branches، some are thick and closely packed، in addition to many fragments of light brown bark cells polygonal or almost square in outlines.

Identification of the Causal Agent of Aqueous Spot Disease of Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.) from the Jerte Valley (Cáceres, Spain)

The pre and postharvest disease named ‘aqueous spot’ is an emerging risk for sweet cherries growing in Jerte Valley (Cáceres, Spain). Early stages of the disease appear in the tree, but it is usually detected after harvesting, during the postharvest period. Symptoms include the appearance of skin discolouration and translucency in the shoulder areas. At the most advanced stages, a mycelium of white colour partially or completely covers the fruit. This manuscript provides a detailed description of the microbes involved in this disease, such as bacteria, yeasts, and moulds. Microbes of different cherry cultivars were studied during two consecutive seasons (2019 and 2020). The counts of bacteria and yeast in damaged tissues were higher (7.05 and 6.38 log10 CFU/g for total aerobic mesophilic microbes and yeasts, respectively) than sound tissues (6.08 and 5.19 log10 CFU/g, respectively). The Enterobacterales order dominated the bacteria population. Among yeasts, Yarrowia lipolytica, in 2019, and Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Metschnikowia viticola, in 2020, were consistently isolated from all samples. The presence of moulds was inconsistently detected at the early stage of this disease by plate counts. However, microscopic observations revealed the presence of hyphae in cherry flesh. Different pathogenic moulds were identified, although white mycelium, identified as Botrytis cinerea by molecular methods, was consistently isolated at later stages. Inoculation tests confirmed the involvement of white-mycelium B. cinerea in the development of this new postharvest disease in the Jerte Valley. Its combination with Enterobacterales enhanced the evolution of rotting, whereas the combination with yeasts decreased and delayed the symptoms. This work presents the first report of a consortia of microorganisms implicated in the development of ‘aqueous spot’, an emerging disease in sweet cherry cultivars in the Jerte Valley.

New Clone of Sesenduk (FRIMsrp001)

The clone was produced from a breeding attempt on pioneer indigenous species of Endospermum diadenum. Seeds from the tree were collected and then were propagate and germinated in FRIM’s nursery. The selection process continued for the progeny which has possessed vigorous growth among others. A bud from the plant was successfully tissue-cultured, which multiplied and developed roots in glass container. The clone was planted in year 1996 at Kepong Botanical Garden (FRIM’s KBG) and Kampung Jawa plantation plots in FRIM. The seedlings of the clone were able to grow and survive at open site. Several trees of the planted clone from these areas have been cut for timber testing for its basic properties as well as for product development. The wood of the clone trees possessed good physical and mechanical properties and acceptable wood colour (yellow to white colour). The trees were able to achieve 30cm in diameter and 24m in height of straight bole in 10 years after planting provided that the soil at the plantation site is well-nurtured. Short rotation of planting, practiced for the clone is suitable for forest plantation and sustainable supply of raw material either for solid furniture industry or wood-based industry.

Phenotypic Characterization of Diverse Rice Fertility Restorers

Characterization of restorer lines of rice based on seedling and plant morphology contributes in assessment of varietal identity and further its utilization in development of hybrids. With this objective the work was carried over with 90 restorer lines with three replications during Kharif season 2018. The experiment conducted under Rice Improvement Project at Seed Breeding Farm, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.).Out of 41 morphological traits as per DUS guidelines, variability was reported for all traits except leaf sheath anthocyanin colouration, presence of leaf auricle, presence of leaf collar, presence of leaf ligules, white colour of leaf ligules, absence of stem anthocyanin colouration of internodes, male sterility and presence of secondary branching in panicle. The genotypes Mahamaya, ANP-526 and ANP-553 revealed distinctness for most of the traits.

Morphological and biochemical properties of garlic (Allium sativum L.) collections

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important constituent of many of traditional medicines. The nutrient composition and biochemical ingredients of garlic vary among varieties and locations. The current experiment was conducted with 35 genotypes of garlic to study variation in morphological and biochemical properties among these genotypes. The weight of bulbs ranged from 6.9 g to 22.6 g. Highest number of clove bulb-1 was recorded in collection -286 (44.6) followed by GG-2 (40.6). Clove weight was higher in collection - 316 (1.41 g). The dry weight ranged from 28.6 per cent to 38.65 per cent. Highest total soluble solids were found in collection -79 (35.1°Brix). Potassium, iron and zinc content were higher in GG-2 (1.70%, 47 ppm and 19.2 ppm, respectively). Sulphur and copper content were higher in G-41. Manganese content ranged from 6.90 to 23.1 ppm. Highest anthocyanin pigment was found in the peel of cv. Godavari (5.35 mg). There was not much difference in anthocyanin content in pulp of purple and white colour varieties. Pyruvic acid content ranged from 20.9 µ mol ml-1 to 24.9 µ mol ml-1. Over all cvs. G-50, G-41, collection -316 were found superior over others.