Central Agricultural University

About: Central Agricultural University is a education organization based out in Imphal, Manipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 1116 authors who have published 1157 publications receiving 9217 citations.

Recent Developments and Challenges of Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol Fermentation

Abstract: The major concern for sustainable industrial development is the transition from fossil-based fuels to renewable resources for fuel, chemicals and materials production. The exploiting usage of fossil fuels is not only environmentally unsafe but also prone to price inflation and concerns related to ozone layer depletion and global warming. Therefore, lignocellulosic materials are seen as potential renewable resources to supply the future green energy and materials. Butanol is considered a superior biofuel due to greater energy density, better fuel properties, engine compatibility and less hygroscopic nature than ethanol. Also, it has created popularity among biofuels in higher blending ratios with gasoline. However, the major limitation of butanol production is the cost of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation process that subsequently affects the yield and productivity in bioprocessing. For conversion of renewable resources into valuable base chemicals and liquid fuels, ABE fermentation has been receiving renewed interest in utilizing lignocellulosic biomass that is abundant and incompetent with food sources. In this chapter, some recent developments in ABE process are discussed along with certain major challenges and future prospects.

Scrub typhus in Mizoram, India

Abstract: (‘tsutsuga’ means something small and dangerous and ‘mushi’ means insect/mite/creature) which circulates mainly between human and rodents. Clinical signs and symptoms include febrile condition, headache, eschar, lymphadenopathy, muscular pain and gastrointestinal disorders which in severe and untreated case may end into fatal multiple organ failure1–7. The observation of the eschar is often missed and other symptoms of the disease are not characteristic thus posing the problem of delayed diagnosis by the clinician. Although, scrub typhus is known since 1889 in Japan, the severe epidemics of scrub typhus in Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during World War II intensified the interest of studying about this disease8. Scrub typhus is endemic in a region called ‘tsutsugamushi triangle’ which extends from northern Japan and far-eastern Russia in the north, to the territories around the Solomon Sea into northern Australia in the south and to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the west1–2. In India, scrub typhus was first reported from Assam and West Bengal states during World War II9. The disease is being reported in many endemic pockets of different states of India such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland and Meghalaya1–6. Vaccination against this scourge faces challenging obstacles such as extensive antigenic diversity and short duration of immune protection following immunity stimulated by naturally acquired scrub typhus infection. Moreover, immunity to the homologous strain wanes over a period of few years7. In the present situation, early diagnosis and chemotherapy is the only choice for combating scrub typhus infection and reducing associated mortality. Diagnosis of scrub typhus is carried out mainly by serological assays, though in recent years, there are specific molecular detection techniques employing amplification of different target genes by polymerase chain reaction. The immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is considered as ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing rickettsial infections but faces certain demerits like its cost-effectiveness in developing countries and technical expertness. One of the most widely used serological assay, Weil-Felix test suffers from poor sensitivity and specificity. Scrub typhus ELISA, which uses O. tsutsugamushi recombinant p56 kD typespecific antigen of Karp, Kato, Gilliam and TA716 strains has > 90% sensitivity and specificity for detecting specific antibodies10–11. However, the samples are usually examined multiple times for ELISA test thereby causing delay in diagnosis. On the contrary, rapid detection in immunochromatographic test format can identify a single sample in short span of time. The present study was carried out to know the current status of the prevalence of scrub typhus in Mizoram from clinically suspected patients who were admitted to Synod Hospital, Aizawl, Mizoram by rapid-ICT test kit. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to December 2016 on serum samples of patients with undifferentiated fever from different parts of Mizoram admitted to the Synod Hospital, Mizoram. The samples were examined for detection of anti-OrientiaIgM antibody in rapid-ICT test having sensitivity of 98.6% and specificity of 98.2% (ImmuneMed scrub typhus rapid test kit, South Korea)12. Clinical samples were collected after taking informed consent from the patients. A total of 4081 sera samples were examined for the presence of anti-Orientia IgM antibody in the human subjects. The result revealed that 6.9% (n = 283) samples were positive in the test kit, irrespective of age and gender. The percentage of seropositivity was higher during the winter (November–February) at 13.5% (154/1141) followed by autumn (September–October) at 10.9% (141/1287). In summer and spring seasons the percentages were comparatively lower at levels of 4.8 and 5.5%, respectively. Age wise comparison of the prevalence indicated that 21–30 yr age group were most affected (prevalence Scrub typhus in Mizoram, India

Immobilization Increases the Stability and Reusability of Pigeon Pea NADP + Linked Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Abstract: Immobilization of enzymes is valuably important as it improves the stability and hence increases the reusability of enzymes. The present investigation is an attempt for immobilization of purified glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from pigeon pea on different matrix. Maximum immobilization was achieved when alginate was used as immobilization matrix. As compared to soluble enzyme the alginate immobilized enzyme exhibited enhanced optimum pH and temperature. The alginate immobilized enzyme displayed more than 80% activity up to 7 continuous reactions and more than 50% activity up to 11 continuous reactions.

Effect of fungicides on growth and sporulation of Fusarium solani

Abstract: The efficacy of 6 fungicides against Fusarium solani was tested in vitro The test fungicides were Baynate [thiophanate-methyl], Blitox 50 (copper oxychloride), captan, carbendazim, Contaf (hexaconazole) and Indofil M-45 [mancozeb] All of the fungicides could inhibit fungal growth for up to 7 days of incubation Blitox 50 and captan had fungistatic action while the other treatments were fungicidal