Allocation of food resource by experimentally evolved lines of developmental variants of Propylea dissecta: a food exploitation strategy.

The effects of selection on developmental variants have not yet been rigorously investigated on variable prey quantities. We investigated the food exploitation strategy of first (F1) and fifteenth (F15) generation slow and fast developers of Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) in the presence of scarce and abundant quantities of pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), and its effect on adult body mass and reproductive attributes. Both selected slow developers and selected fast developers were higher in number than their counter unselected generation on scarce and abundant diets, respectively. Immature survivals of selected slow developers were depressed after the selection process while it was enhanced for selected fast developers on both diet regimes. On both diets, the total developmental duration was longer for selected slow developers and shorter for selected fast developers. Fecundity and percent egg viability were greater in selected fast developers with plentiful prey supply and lower in control slow developers with inadequate prey supply. More adult body mass was found for pre-selected slow developers than selected slow developers on a scarce diet but selected fast developers enhanced their body weight than unselected individuals of fast developers on an abundant diet. The present experimental evolution findings point to the presence and persistence of developmental variations with variability in their developmental and reproductive traits on allocating scarce and abundant prey supplies.

Intestinal viral infections of nSARS-CoV2 in the Indian community: Risk of virus spread in India.

In December 2019, novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (nSARS-CoV-2) virus outbreaks emerged from Wuhan, China, and spread all over the world, including India. Molecular diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID) 19 for densely and highly populated countries like India is time-consuming. A few reports have described the successful diagnosis of nSARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage and wastewater samples contaminated with fecal matter, suggesting the diagnosis of COVID 19 from the same to raise an alarm about the community transmission of virus for implementation of evacuation and lockdown strategies. So far, the association between the detection of virus and its concentration in stool samples with severity of the disease and the presence or absence of gastrointestinal symptoms have been rarely reported. We led the search utilizing multiple databases, specifically PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar. We conducted a literature survey on gastrointestinal infection and the spread of this virus through fecal-oral transmission. Reports suggested that the existence and persistence of nSARS-CoV-2 in anal/rectal swabs and stool specimens for a longer period of time than in nasopharyngeal swabs provides a strong tenable outcome of gastrointestinal contamination and dissemination of this infection via potential fecal-oral transmission. This review may be helpful to conduct further studies to address the enteric involvement and excretion of nSARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces and control the community spread in both COVID-19 patients ahead of the onset of symptoms and in asymptomatic individuals through wastewater and sewage surveillance as an early indication of infection. The existence of the viral genome and active viral particle actively participate in genomic variations. Hence, we comprehended the enteric spread of different viruses amongst communities with special reference to nSARS-CoV-2.

Selection and inheritance of developmental variants of Propylea dissecta under thermal stress conditions.

The present study aims to understand the influence of two thermal extremes (15°C and 35°C) as thermal stressors on the selected line of developmental variants (slow and fast developers) in Propylea dissecta and to compare it with the response at the optimal temperature (27°C). The ratio of slow and fast developers within an egg batch differed with thermal extremes irrespective of F1 and F15 generations. Adult body mass got depressed after selection for control slow developers at 15°C while it got enhanced for selected fast developers at 35°C. More selected slow developers were found at low temperature and more selected fast developers at high temperature. Selection probably favours the enhancement of immature survival and emergence ratio which was found to be highest for selected fast developers at 35°C and selected slow developers at 15°C. Population level disparity on thermal confliction was observed in ladybird post selection over several generations. Therefore, we put forward that exposure thermal extremes over a long duration, causes an adaptive differentiation in thermal responses of slow and fast developers.

Detection and molecular characterization of naturally transmitted sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever in cattle in India.

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal herpesvirus infection of domestic and wild ruminants, with a short and dramatic clinical course characterized primarily by high fever, severe depression, swollen lymph nodes, salivation, diarrhea, dermatitis, neurological disorders, and ocular lesions often leading to blindness. In the present study, fatal clinical cases of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) were identified in cattle in the state of Karnataka. These cases were initially presented with symptoms of diarrhea, respiratory distress, conjunctivitis, and nasal discharges. Laboratory diagnosis confirmed the detection of ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) genome in the peripheral blood samples of two ailing animals. The blood samples collected subsequently from sheep of the neighboring areas also showed presence of OvHV-2 genome indicating a nidus of infection in the region. The positive test results were further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the OIE approved portion of tegument gene as well as complete ORF8 region of the OvHV-2 genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of the latter region indicated close genetic relationship with other OvHV-2 reported elsewhere in the world.

In silico analysis and molecular characterization of Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus circulating and causing major outbreaks in central India, 2009-2019.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 causes respiratory illness and remains a concern for public health. Since its first emergence in 2009, the virus has been continuously circulating in the form of its genetic variants. Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 surveillance is essential for uncovering emerging variants of epidemiologic and vaccine efficacy. The present study attempts in silico analysis and molecular characterization of Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus circulating and causing major outbreaks in central India during 2009-2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have investigated the antigenic drift analysis of 96 isolates' hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences (59 central Indian and 37 local Indian and 28 global reference HA gene sequences) of Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 viruses from 2009 to 2019. The study includes mutational (Multiple sequence Alignment), phylogenetic (Maximum Likelihood Method), and statistical analysis (Covariance and correlation) of HA sequences submitted in NCBI, IRD and GISAID from central India. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis indicated maximum clustering of central Indian HA gene sequences in genogroup 6B. Analysis of amino acid sequence alignment revealed changes in receptor binding site (RBS). The frequency of S220T amino acid substitution was found to be high followed by S202T, K300E A273T, K180Q. The Karl Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and covariance between the number of mutations and the death toll was found +0.246 and +100.3 respectively. CONCLUSION: The study identifies the continuous genetic variations in the HA gene sequences of circulating Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 in central India from the year 2009 to 2019. Further suggesting importance of monitoring the gradual evolution of the virus with regards to an increase in virulence, pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy timely.

Predator-prey interactions in selected slow and fast developing females of a ladybird, Propylea dissecta.

Development rate polymorphism describes the scenario in which individuals exhibit distinct differences in their rate of development resulting in slow and fast developers even from the same clutch of eggs. Previously we showed that in ladybird, Propylea dissecta fast developers have higher foraging and predation rates than slow developers. But correlation between foraging efficacies with reproductive output of female remains unexplored. We selected slow and fast developmental rate for 15 generations in a P. dissecta and assessed female functional response and numerical response by using varying prey biomasses (A. pisum). We evaluated predatory parameters: prey consumption, attack rate, handling time, and the reproductive measures: number of eggs laid, egg, and body biomass conversion efficiencies. Overall, both group of P. dissecta showed increased prey biomasses curvilinear for consumption rate demonstrating the physiological capacity of foraging for food are mutually exclusive behaviors (i.e., Holling's Type-II functional response). Consumption rate and proportion of prey consumed was higher, and prey handling time was shorter, in experimental fast developers. However, prey attack rate was higher in experimental slow developers. The functional response of experimental fast developers got elevated whereas got depressed for control slow-fast developers. Our results suggest that slow developers may perform better at low prey biomass than fast developers due to their high attack rate whereas high density prey may favour fast developers due to their shorter prey handling time and higher consumption rates. This study is first attempt to evaluate predatory responses of experimentally selected lines of slow and fast developers. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 745-756, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.