International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 61

Abstract: Rice blast fungus (Pyricularia grisea) is one of the most problematic pathogen to significantly reduce rice production worldwide. In this study, after being inoculated with P. grisea, changes in phenolic components and antioxidant capacity and correlation with the resistant level against rice blast fungus were investigated. Among screened rice cultivars, AV-3 was the strongest resistant, whereas BII-3 was the most susceptible. It was found that although total contents of phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant capacities varied among studied varieties, no significant coefficient with the resistance against P. grisea was observed. After rice was affected by rice blast fungus, total phenolics and flavonoids were markedly reduced, but in contrast, the DPPH scavenging activities of only the susceptible rice cultivars was reduced. Among the 11 phenolic acids detected, catechol was found only in the tolerant cultivar AV-3, whereas the amount of cinnamic acid was increased after infection. Quantity of vanillin was also promoted, except in the susceptible cultivar BII-3 that was significantly reduced. Findings of this study showed that the resistant level against P. grisea was proportionally correlated to the antioxidant capacity. Catechol, cinnamic acid, and vanillin may play a role but it needs further elaboration. Observations of this study suggested that the infection of blast disease by reducing amount of phenolics and flavonoids that may weaken the resistance of rice against this detrimental fungus.

Abstract: The activity of glucose catabolism pathways of staphylococci strains able to form biofilm and isolated from vagina of women with dysbiosis of reproductive tract and strains isolated from women without disorders of microflora was studied. It was established that the investigated film-forming strains utilized the carbohydrates by pentose phosphate pathway mainly, as indicated by 23-33% higher enzyme activity compare to strains isolated from healthy women. Instead strains, isolated from women without reproductive tract dysbiosis, have higher activity of glycolytic enzymes on 13-28%. The prevalence of glycolytic transformation of glucose by strains isolated from healthy women also indicates by the depression of glucose oxidation during action of monoiodinacetate – classical inhibitor of glycolysis. It inhibit glycolysis of strains isolated from healthy women more significant. It was established that oxidase activity of film-forming strains isolated from women with dysbiosis, increased over 40% during the use of basic substrates of citric acid cycle. These data indicate a general increase of catabolic activity of oxidative type of staphylococci isolated during vaginal dysbiosis and able to form biofilm.

Abstract: In the current scenario of sky high population and widespread food insecurity, there is an urgent need for productivity improvement of major crops like pulses, one of the most climate friendly and accessible foods for the large poor population of the world. Chickpea is an important pulse crop, having high percentage of nutritional content and is widely used as food across the world. Induced mutagenesis has proved over time as a coherent tool for modern plant breeders to improve the productivity for combating the food insecurity and malnutrition across the globe. Dry and healthy seeds of Cicer arietinum L. var. C-235 were treated with individual and combination doses of gamma rays, sodium azide and hydrazine hydrate to raise the M1 generation. M2 seeds harvested from M1 plants were sown in the nest season.Bio-physiological study in M1 generation showed growth inhibition in the order viz. combination treatment>hydrazine hydrate>gamma rays>sodium azide. In M2 generation, comparative observations were recorded for morphological variation and quantitative traits to assess the genetic response of the chickpea variety C-235 toward the different concentrations of mutagens. Observations on isolated mutants in M2 generation revealed that 0.3% HZ + 0.02% SA was most mutagenic while 200 Gy, 0.03% SA and 0.2% HZ were highest in their individual treatment groups. In context to the frequency of morphological mutants studied in M2 generation, dwarf mutants were found to be highest followed by tall and branching pattern mutants. Highly significant correlation coefficient between yield and other traits showed that the selection for high yielding mutants can be done on the basis of these traits undoubtedly.

Abstract: This paper reports on amino acid profiles of the flesh of heterosexuals of porcellanids collected from the Atlantic Ocean at Orimedu beach in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Results showed that high values of amino acids were observed in the heterosexual flesh of Neopetrolisthes maculatus (g 100g^-1 protein): 17.7 – 17.8 (Glu), 9.90 – 10.0 (Asp), 8.70 – 9.07 (Arg), 7.23 – 7.94 (Leu) and 5.81 – 6.06 (Gly). Total essential amino acid values ranged from 45.2 – 46.2 g 100^-1g. Predicted protein efficiency ratio was 3.82 – 4.14, the range of essential amino acid index was 86.9 – 89.9, the biological values ranged from 83.0 – 86.3. The Lys/Trp was 3.31-4.27. Serine was limiting amino acid (0.513 – 0.516) in the egg score comparison; under the essential amino acids scores, Lys (0.840) was limiting in female but Val (0.823) was limiting in the male; Lys (0.796 – 0.905) was limiting in both samples in the pre-school child amino acid requirements. It was observed that out of the twenty parameters determined, male flesh was more concentrated in 60% values than the female flesh and 40% better in female than male. Correlation coefficient result showed that significant differences existed in the amino acids composition at r _{= 0.01} of the N. maculatus samples.

Abstract: Earthquake is a major disaster responsible for vast losses both life and infrastructure. Pakistan is one of the highly earthquake prone areas in Asia. The present study is carried out to investigate the dynamics of disastrous Awaran earthquake. The 2013 Mw 7.7 Awaran earthquake and its Mw 6.8 aftershock caused numerous loss of lives and vast infrastructure damages. The earthquake triggered along Hoshab fault rupturing 230 km of the fault. The rupture propagated at 3 Km/s on average and was concentrated in top 10 km with no major displacement in the underlying decollement. The rupture released a cumulative moment of 5.4 x 1020 Nm. This study reveals that although Hoshab fault originated as thrust fault, the slip was purely strike slip during the earthquake and that the rigid block rotation of southeastern Makran is responsible for the Awaran earthquake. The study concludes that the earthquake significantly increased the coulomb stress on Makran mega thrust and strike slip faults in Chaman fault system, hence increasing the risk of a major seismic event. Therefore, in order to prevent major loss of lives and infrastructure damages; designing of new building codes, reassessing the seismic hazard of the region and marking of hidden faults is of utmost importance.

Abstract: The present study was attempted to detect potential phytoconstituents in C. procera against inflammation and pain. CRP is known to be increased up to 10,000 fold when acute inflammation take place in human. The interaction between C-reactive protein and phytochemical(s) from Calotropis procera was carried out with the help of molecular docking by using PyRx software (Ver. 0.8) and LigPlot software (Ver. 1.4) to compare energy value and binding site of phytochemicals in reference to established synthetic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The data suggest that the interaction between CRP and two phytochemicals namely methyl myrisate (-3.0) and methyl behenate (-3.2) showed close energy value (kcal/mol) and binding site in comparison to paracetamol (-3.9), ibobrufen (-4.2) while three phytochemicals viz. β-sitosterol (-5.6), uzarigenin (-5.5) and anthocyanins (-5.4) closely related to indomethacin (-5.2) in relation to energy value and binding site. In conclusion, based on molecular docking we found few phytochemicals of C. procera that can be used as lead compound(s) in future drug development as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent at low cost. It is also suggested to carry out functional assay of predicted compounds to validate suitability of this lead.

Abstract: The paper considers the patterns of interaction between algae relating to different ecological groups (phytoplankton and epiphytic algae) in the upper section of the Kaniv Water Reservoir (Ukraine). Phytoplankton and epiphytic algae have been shown to form the dynamic system, wherein phytoplankton makes an impact upon the epiphytic algal community structure, and, on the contrary, epiphytic algae in certain periods of the year can influence the phytoplankton structure. Several species were simultaneously present in both communities, and this was caused by: their habitat versatility, algae sedimentation from plankton to higher aquatic plant surface and transition of typically epiphytic species to plankton owing to hydrodynamic processes. The “phase opposition” was observed between phytoplankton and epiphytic algae: the maximal biomass of phytoplankton was recorded in summer, while that of epiphytic algae – in autumn. Such “phase opposition” is explained by different temperature optimums of dominant species and divisions in these communities, and also by shading of epiphytic algae by phytoplankton in case of intensive growth of the latter.

Abstract: Repetitive extragenic palindromic elements-polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) with 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) genes sequences successfully used for the analysis of microbial community. In this study, the prokaryotic community in Lake Meyghan described by using rep-PCR analysis along with 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The water samples were collected from Lake Meyghan in November 2013. All samples were diluted and cultured on three different media. To estimate the number of prokaryotes per milliliter of the lake we used quantitative real‑time PCR (qPCR). Rep-PCR combination with 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to investigate prokaryotes biodiversity in the lake. 305 strains were isolated in this work; 113 isolates for green region, 102 isolates for red region, and 90 isolates for white region. The dendrograms generated 10, 7, and 9 clusters for a 70 % similarity cut-off for green, red, and white regions, respectively. Based on rep-PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the recovered isolates were dominated by (77.5 %) Halobacteriacae and many isolates were related to the genera Halorubrum, Haloarcula, Haloterrigena, Natrinema, and Halovivax in the white region. In the red region more isolated strains (57.5 %) belonged to Bacillaceae and the remaining 42.5 % of isolates belonged to archaea domain, Halorubrum, and Haloarcula. In the green region members of Gammaproteobacteria were recoverd, this region was dominant with Pseudoalteromonas, Salinivibrio, and Aliidiomarina.

Abstract: During RNA interference in plants, Dicer-like/DCL proteins process longer double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) precursors into small RNA molecules. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are four DCLs (DCL1, DCL2, DCL3, and DCL4) that interact with various associated proteins to carry out this processing. The lack of complete structural-functional information and characterization of DCLs and their associated proteins leads to this study where we have generated the structures by modelling, analysed the structures and studied the interactions of Arabidopsis thaliana DCLs with their associated proteins with the homology-derived models to screen the interacting residues. Structural analyses indicate existence of significant conserved domains that may play imperative roles during protein-protein interactions. The interaction study shows some key domain-domain (including multi-domains and inter-residue interactions) interfaces and specific residue biases (like arginine and leucine) that may help in augmenting the protein expression level during stress responses. Results point towards plausible stable associations to carry out RNA processing in a synchronised pattern by elucidating the structural properties and protein-protein interactions of DCLs that may hold significance for RNAi researchers.