Estimation of microsatellite-based autozygosity and its correlation with pedigree inbreeding coefficient in crossbred cattle.

In countries where farming is largely subsistence, no pedigree records of farm animals are maintained at farmers' herd and scientific mating plans are not observed which leads to the accumulation of inbreeding and loss of production potential. Microsatellites have been widely used as reliable molecular markers to measure inbreeding. We attempted to correlate autozygosity estimated from microsatellite data with the inbreeding coefficient (F) calculated from pedigree data in Vrindavani crossbred cattle developed in India. The inbreeding coefficient was calculated from the pedigree of ninety-six Vrindavani cattle. Animals were further grouped into three groups viz. acceptable/low (F: 0-5%), moderate (F: 5-10%) and high (F: ≥10%), based on their inbreeding coefficients. The overall mean of the inbreeding coefficient was found to be 0.070 ± 0.007. A panel of twenty-five bovine-specific loci were chosen for the study according to ISAG/FAO. The mean FIS, FST, and FIT values were 0.0548 ± 0.025, 0.012 ± 0.001 and 0.0417 ± 0.025, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the FIS values obtained and the pedigree F values. The locus-wise individual autozygosity was estimated using the method-of-moments estimator (MME) formula for locus-specific autozygosity. The autozygosities ascribing to CSSM66 and TGLA53 were found to be significantly (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively) correlated with pedigree F values.

Development of a depuration protocol for commercially important edible bivalve molluscs of India: Ensuring microbiological safety.

We investigated the effect of depuration of three naturally contaminated commercially important tropical edible bivalve molluscs by varying temperature, salinity and body-size of animals harvested from Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries, India using a static depuration system to ensure microbiological food safety. Before depuration, the levels of faecal indicators and pathogens were above the acceptable limits for live consumption. The depuration water temperature had a significant effect on bacterial elimination. Log reduction of faecal coliforms (FC) and E. coli varied between room-temperature (RTDS) and low-temperature depuration system (LTDS) and it was in the range of 1.39-2.44 and 1.88-2.82 log MPN, respectively under RTDS and LTDS. The elimination of bacterial pathogens such as Vibrio and Salmonella spp. was rapid in RTDS compared to LTDS. The highest elimination of FC and E. coli (2.39 and 2.92 log) was at 35 psµ depuration and the lowest (0.87 and 1.65 log) at 15 psµ depuration. The reduction of FC and E. coli was higher in the medium-sized animals compared to the small animals. Based on the results it is recommended that depuration using the static system under room-temperature (30 ± 1 °C); a salinity range of (25-35 psµ) and using medium-size bivalves (clam>30 mm; mussel >45 mm, and oyster >65 mm length) as optimum conditions for producing microbiologically safe bivalves for live consumption within 36 h.

Temperature, salinity and body-size influences depuration of heavy metals in commercially important edible bivalve molluscs of India.

The effect of temperature, salinity and body-size on depuration of naturally accumulated heavy metals in clams, mussels and oysters harvested from Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries of Kerala, India were investigated using a static depuration system. Before depuration, the concentrations of heavy metals such as Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn were analysed and it was found that the Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb contents in all the three bivalve molluscs were above the prescribed limit which poses a significant health risk to bivalve consumers. To protect consumer food safety, depuration experiments were conducted at varying temperatures, salinities and body-sizes. The clams, mussels and oysters depurated under the room temperature depuration system (RTDS) showed a better reduction of heavy metals compared with low-temperature depuration system (LTDS). ANOVA showed clams and mussels depurated at RTDS significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the heavy metals than LTDS. However, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in oysters between RTDS and LTDS. Further, clams and mussels depurated at low salinity (15-psµ) showed high resistance against Pb reduction. But, all the heavy metals, particularly, Pb, Fe, Zn and Cu were effectively removed at higher salinity depuration (25-psµ and 35-psµ). Moreover, irrespective of the body-size of clams, mussels and oysters used for depuration, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in all metals (Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cu) was observed. Relatively, the medium-size bivalves showed higher reductions compared to small-size bivalves. Based on the experiments conducted, we recommend 48 h depuration using the static system under room temperature (30 ±â€¯1 °C) with a salinity range of (25-35 psµ) using medium-size bivalves (clam>30 mm; mussel >45 mm, and oyster >65 mm length) as optimum conditions for producing safe bivalves for consumption in the tropics.

Antioxidant, functional properties and amino acid composition of pepsin-derived protein hydrolysates from whole tilapia waste as influenced by pre-processing ice storage.

In recent years, hygienic handling of fishery waste is demanded owing to the fact that the fishery waste is an ideal raw material for the preparation of bioactive compounds. In the present study, the effect of pre-processing storage (at 4 ± 2 °C) of whole tilapia waste (WTW) on the properties of its protein hydrolysate derived using pepsin was evaluated. Fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) were prepared from 0, 24 and 48 h old ice stored WTW and designated as FPH-0, FPH-1, and FPH-2, respectively. Total amino acids, total essential amino acids and total hydrophobic amino acids of FPH samples increased with the storage period of raw material (WTW). Antioxidant activities such as DPPH (2, 2 diphynyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power of FPH samples were dose dependent. FPH-0 had better antioxidant properties including linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition activity than FPH-1 and FPH-2. The DNA nicking assay revealed the protective effect of FPH preparations against Fenton's reaction mediated oxidative damage. FPH-2 had better emulsifying properties and foaming stability whereas the FPH-0 had relatively good foaming capacity. SDS-PAGE indicated the presence of peptides ranging from 116 to < 14.4 kDa in FPH-0 and less than 18 kDa in FPH-1 and FPH-2. The present study, clearly demonstrated that whole tilapia waste can effectively be converted to FPH and could be a potential ingredient in functional food and as a rich source of high-quality protein in animal feed formulations.

Dietary supplementation of thiamine and pyridoxine-loaded vanillic acid-grafted chitosan microspheres enhances growth performance, metabolic and immune responses in experimental rats.

In the present investigation, the effect of dietary supplementation of thiamine and pyridoxine loaded vanillic acid-grafted chitosan microspheres (TPVGC) on growth, metabolic and immune responses in Wistar strain albino rats was studied. Eight experimental groups, namely four groups each for male and female rats were fed with 0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6% of TPVGC in the diet. At the end of 45days feeding trials, both male and female rats supplemented with TPVGC had higher weight gain% and specific growth rate than the control groups. Significantly (p<0.05) lower blood glucose level and higher respiratory burst activity were recorded in the treatment groups than the control groups of both male and female rats. Activity of metabolic enzymes (aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the control groups and a decreasing trend in the same was observed with a gradual increase in the inclusion level of TPVGC in the diet of the treatment groups. However, a reverse trend was observed for acetylcholine esterase. It was inferred that dietary supplementation of thiamine and pyridoxine loaded vanillic acid-grafted chitosan enhanced the growth performance, metabolic and immune responses in the animal-model.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and structural properties of oven- and freeze-dried protein hydrolysate from fresh water fish (Cirrhinus mrigala).

The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and structural properties of oven-dried (OD-FPH) and freeze-dried (FD-FPH) protein hydrolysates derived from fresh water fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) muscle, using papain, were investigated. Amino acid profiles indicated a higher proportion of hydrophobic residues in OD-FPH and hydrophilic residues in FD-FPH samples. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra revealed random coil structure in OD-FPH and ß-sheet in FD-FPH samples. The approximate molecular weight of peptides in OD-FPH and FD-FPH was in the range of 7030-339Da. The IC50 values for ACE inhibition by OD-FPH and FD-FPH samples were found to be 1.15 and 1.53mg of proteinml(-1), respectively. The ACE-inhibitory activity of OD-FPH was more stable (during sequential digestion, using pepsin and pancreatin) than that of FD-FPH sample. The study suggested that the ACE inhibitory activity of protein hydrolysate was not affected by oven-drying.

Effect of ice storage on the functional properties of proteins from a few species of fresh water fish (Indian major carps) with special emphasis on gel forming ability.

In the present study the effect of ice storage on physico-chemical and functional properties of proteins from Indian major carps with special emphasis on gel forming ability have been assessed for a period of 22 days. The solubility profile of proteins in high ionic strength buffer and calcium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) enzyme activity reduced significantly (p < 0.05), while that of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) increased significantly (p < 0.05) at the end of 22 days of ice storage. The major protein fraction showed association-dissociation-denaturation phenomenon during ice storage as revealed by gel filtration profile and viscosity measurements. The gel forming ability of three fish species both in fresh and during different periods of ice storage was assessed by measuring the gel strength of heat induced gel. Among the three species the gel strength of the gel obtained from Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala was higher (586 and 561 g.cm) than the gel obtained from Labeo rohita (395 g.cm) in fresh condition. The gel forming ability of three species was significantly affected (p < 0.05) during ice storage. The TVB-N values of fish meat as a function of ice storage was within the prescribed limit up to 17 days of the ice storage.