Repetitive sequences are immensely distributed in the genomes of all viruses, bacteria, plants and animals. Repetitive sequences throughout the genome in both coding and non-coding regions are a major source of endogenous DNA damage, due to the propensity of many of them to form alternative non-B DNA structures that can interfere with replication, transcription and DNA repair The alternative non-canonical structures include triple-helices, hairpins, cruciforms and slipped structures and they are more likely to form at particular repetitive sequences such as mirror repeats, inverted repeats, direct repeats, and short tandem repeats. Although mirror DNA repeats were discovered in genomic DNA,the ability of a subset of lengthy homopurine-homopyrimidine mirror repetitions (H-motifs) to form a triple-helical DNA secondary structure was the only functional property that was thoroughly identified. Over the past decade, biological databases have expanded significantly due to developments in genomics, computational biology, and bioinformatics. A computational method was used in this study to identify mirror repetitions in the Rattus norvegicus’s diabetic genes. The Fast Parallel Complement Blast (FPCB) tool, a rapid and efficient bioinformatics method for identifying gene and genome repeats, was used to do this. Mirror repeats were found 199 in Glucagon, 135 in Sox17, 116 in Gapdh and 167 in PKLR genes during this study. Through this study, we can better understand the function of mirror repeats in the Rattus norvegicus’s genes, which may be further linked to mirror repeats in the human genome. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 14(1): 28-43.
A study conducted in the sub-prefecture of Bâ-Illi, located in southern Chad, aimed to assess the state of agricultural soil degradation and explore prospects for its restoration. A survey was carried out among producers and other stakeholders involved in agricultural activities. The study reveals that the primary method of land acquisition is inheritance, followed by leasing. Producers are aware that declining field yields result from soil degradation caused by inadequate farming techniques. They employ a variety of techniques, ranging from no-till farming and mulching to half-moon planting.
This study was conducted from February to July of 2023 in the Fish Superzone of Rupandehi, Nepal, using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 135 randomly selected respondents. The objectives were to assess the feeding system, the willingness of fish farmers to adopt commercial fish feed, and the factors associated with feed type adoption. Results showed that 69.6% of respondents were using traditional feed, 25.9% both traditional and commercial feed, and 4.4% were using commercial feed exclusively. Among traditional feed users, 83.7% relied solely on mustard oilcake (MOC) and rice bran (RB), with significant variation in blending ratios. Additionally, 92.4% of respondents using traditional feed were unwilling to switch to commercial fish feed, primarily due to high cost (94.7% of responses) and adherence to traditional practices (88.3%). The pond water surface area and gender were found to be significantly associated with the type of feed adopted. This study suggests, providing women-specific training, optimizing nutrients in fish feed through training on blending of locally available inputs for traditional feed with effective pond management, and subsidy programs on feed additives (vitamins, minerals, and probiotics) can improve feeding system. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 14(1): 1-13.
The determination of oxalate in the biological fluid is of great importance in the diagnosis and medical management of urinary stone disease and various intestinal diseases. We describe herein preparation of oxalate oxidase (OxOx) nanoparticles (NPs) and their electrodeposition / imobilization onto Au electrode for improved amperometric determination oxalate in serum and urine. An oxalate biosensor was fabricated by connecting OxOxNPs,AgCl as standard electrode and Pt wire as auxillary electrode through potentiostat/Galvanostat. OxOxNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The enzyme electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The biosensor showed optimum response within 3s at pH5.5 and 350C, when operated at 0.345V. The biosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity with a detection limit (LOD) as low as 1 µM, fast response time and wider linear range (from1 to 400 µM). Michaelis Menten constant (Km) for OxOxNPs was 15.19 µM and Imax 0.001 mA. Analytic recoveries of exogenously added oxalate in urine (20 µM, 40 µM) were 97.5% and 99.1% respectively. Within and between batch coefficients of variation for urinary oxalate determination were <5.53% and <6.16% respectively. The biosensor showed good correlation of 0.98 with standard enzymic colourimetric method. Biosensor measured oxalate in urine and plasma of healthy persons and urinary stone formers. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 14(1): 44-52.
This study investigated the improvement of post-thaw motility and kinetics of Red Junglefowl sperm cryopreserved using extender supplemented with caffeine as an effective cryoprotectant. Semen samples collected from the cocks were cryopreserved using extenders containing 8% dimethyl sulfoxide and varying concentrations of caffeine (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/ml) assigned into 4 treatment groups: T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Post-thaw sperm motility and kinetic parameters were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the supplementation of 2 mg/ml caffeine (T2 group) significantly (P<0.05) enhanced post-thaw motility, progressive motility, and velocity compared to other treatment groups (T0, T1 and T3). The highest values for curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, and straight-line velocity were observed in sperm treated with 2 mg/ml caffeine, suggesting its role in mitigating cryodamage and improving sperm quality. Furthermore, straightness, linearity, and wobble indices were significantly (P<0.05) improved in the T2 group compared to other treatment groups. The amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat cross frequency were also influenced by caffeine supplementation recorded in T2 group. These findings indicated that caffeine served as an effective cryoprotective additive in avian semen cryopreservation. The supplementation of caffeine, particularly at 2 mg/ml, enhanced post-thaw sperm motility and kinetic properties, making it a promising candidate for improving the effectiveness of semen preservation protocols. Further studies are required to assess its impact on fertilization success rates in artificial insemination and long-term genetic conservation programs. This protocol could revolutionize avian genetic resource banking, particularly for threatened species like Red Junglefowl. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 14(1): 14-21.
