[en] Feed used to rear farm animals for human consumption has often been implicated as vehicle for dissemination of microbial pathogens that can adversely affect both animals or birds, and humans. Radiation pasteurization of animal feed to improve its microbiological quality should reduce the incidence of feed-borne infection (both clinical and subs clinical) in the herd or flock. This would result in safer food for the consumer, and improved economic performance of the production unit. This latter benefit is particularly important because it could directly offset the treating the feed. The likelihood of occurrence, as well as the magnitude, of any improved economic performance in the herd or flock consuming the irradiated feed must be determined experimentally. Accordingly, short term feeding tests were carried out to determine the effect of radiation pasteurization of poultry feed on growth performance of young chicks. Newly hatched white leghorn cacklers were used in the present studies to examine the effects of (i) control vs irradiated feed; and (ii) control vs stressed (transient chilled) birds. Feed consumption and pen weight were monitored for 21 days. Three experiments were conducted in the summer of 1989, using separate lots of commercially obtained feed ingredients for each experiment, In two of the three feeding tests there was a highly significant (p<.01) increase in feed conversion efficiency in the birds fed the irradiated feed. The magnitude of the increased efficiency was 2.4% and 2.8% in the two positive experiments. In one of the two positive experiments the feed contained antibiotics (Penicillin and Streptomycin) while the feed in other was antibiotic-free these results suggest that radiation pasteurization of poultry feed may have a beneficial effect on the feed conversion efficiency of the birds consuming that feed.8 tab

[en] MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny, non-protein coding and negative regulatory RNAs approximately 21 nucleotides in length. The comparative genomic methodology due to their conserved nature is a reasonable approach for the novel miRNAs discovery. In this research, total 25 novel miRNAs from 18 families (ras-miR-156, 160, 162, 163, 164, 167, 168, 319, 399, 408, 413, 414, 841, 1310, 2936, 5030 and 5661) are identified in an important vegetable radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The 25 miRNA precursor sequences showed secondary structures with the mature miRNAs in the stem region. Total 42 putative targets are also identified for the novel 25 radish miRNAs. These findings suggest that more thorough understanding of the function of such miRNAs will help to unravel the mysteries role in plant biology. (author)

[en] This research is based on synonymous codon usage which has been well-known as a feature that affects typical expression level of protein in an organism. Different organisms prefer different codons for same amino acid and this is called Codon Usage Bias (CUB). The codon usage directly affects the level or even direction of changes in protein expression in responses to environmental stimuli. Cold stress is a major abiotic factor that limits the agricultural productivity of plants. In the recent study CUB has been studied in Arabidopsis thaliana cold resistant and housekeeping genes and their homologs in rice (Oryza sativa) to understand the cold stress and housekeeping genes relation with CUB. Six cold resistant and three housekeeping genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and their homologs in rice, were subjected to CUB analysis. The three cold resistant genes (DREB1B, RCI and MYB15) showed more than 50% (52%, 61% and 66% respectively) similar codon usage bias for Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. On the other hand three cold resistant genes (MPK3, ICE1 and ZAT12) showed less than 50% (38%, 38% and 47% respectively) similar codon usage bias for Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. The three housekeeping genes (Actin, Tubulin and Ubiquitin) showed 76% similar codon usage bias for Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. This study will help to manage the plant gene expression through codon optimization under the cold stress. (author)

[en] MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of small RNAs. It is non-coding, 18-26 nucleotides (nt) in length and play a useful and vital role in post-transcriptional gene regulation by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The short mature miRNAs generate from long precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). The length of pre-miRNAs is range from 50-500 nt. Many of the mature miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved but the convergence of the pre-miRNAs is not well studied. The aim of this research is to study the convergence and divergence of pre-miRNAs in the significant and major groups of plants. In this research, homology-based comparative genomics approach was employed to study the convergence and divergence studies of pre-miRNAs from 35 species of plants. Among the selected species, two are from bryophyta and pteridophyta, one from each, three from gymnosperm, three from monocot, and twenty seven species were from dicot. The three monocots, containing 969 pre-miRNAs, were subjected to convergence and divergence analyses. Out of 969, 27 pre-miRNAs showed convergence with gymnosperm, 26 with bryophyta and pteridophyta and 157 with dicot. Similarly, out of 104, 20 pre-miRNAs of gymnosperm showed convergence with monocot, eight with bryophyta and pteridophyta, and 26 with dicot. The 27 out of 287 pre-miRNAs of bryophyta and pteridophyta showed convergence with monocot, five with gymnosperm, and 18 with dicot. The 148 out of 2647 pre-miRNAs of dicot showed convergence with monocot, 62 with gymnosperm and 51 with bryophyta and pteridophyta. These findings would help us to better understand the pre-miRNAs convergence and divergence in plants. As pre-miRNA generate the functional mature miRNA, so, findings of pre-miRNAs convergence and divergence will also be useful to design and regulate the miRNAs expression for better crop production, biotic and abiotic stress management at the pre-miRNAs level in plants. (author)

[en] Short communications only

[en] The adsorption capability of commercially manufactured poly (methyl methacrylate) for lead in aqueous medium has been investigated. Percent adsorption and distribution coefficient values have been determined in relation to the shaking time, amount of adsorbent, pH effects and concentration of lead in the solution. The experimental results are compatible with Freundlich type of adsorption behavior. It is discernible from the experimental results that poly (methyl methacrylate) can be used for the removal of lead from slightly acidic aqueous solutions. (author)

[en] Objectives: Urinary tract infections are the second most common bacterial infections occurring at all ages and both sexes. The increasing rate of antibiotic resistance is a global concern. The use of routinely used antibiotics is resulting in treatment failure. The objective of this study was to diagnose the urinary tract infections by routine culture sensitivity test and by molecular methods. Methods: This study was conducted in Microbiology laboratory, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, from July 1st to 31st March 2019. Isolates were identified biochemically by API20E and API20NE. Antibiogram was performed using disc diffusion Kirby Bauer technique. The 16S rDNA gene approach was used for molecular identification of bacterial isolates. The presence of the blaNDM-1gene was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: We isolated 146 bacterial isolates namely Escherichia coli (n=99) 67.80%, Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=33) 22.60%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=11) 7.53% and Proteus mirabilis (n=3) 2.05% from 2032 urine samples. The resistance pattern was dominated by Multi Drug Resistance (MDR). Remarkably, four isolates of Escherichia coli (n=3) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=1) were displaying resistance against a range of antibiotics used in the study, including carbapenems but sensitive to tigecycline and polymyxins only, suggesting extensive drug resistance having blaNDM-1 gene. Conclusion: This is the first report on direct molecular detection of bacterial pathogens from urinary tract infected patients in Balochistan. The presence of blaNDM-1 in different bacterial species and their extensive drug resistance pattern poses a significant clinical threat. Molecular detection of bacteria and resistant gene may reduce the diagnostic time of patients. (author)

[en] Objectives: A bunch of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, was caused by a novel beta-corona virus, (COVID-19) in December 2019 from where it spread rapidly across the globe. The aim of the study was to find out relevant reasons and offered suggestions to reduce the risk of infection and check clinical outcomes of the infected healthcare workers. Methods: This study was conducted in COVID-19 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) laboratory, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta, Baluchistan from May to June 2020. Eight hundred (n=800) health workers and their families were included in this study. Data were obtained with standardized data collection forms shared by the WHO. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected following the WHO protocols. RNA was extracted and amplified using real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum ferritin level, C-reactive protein, D-dimer and radiological results of the RT-PCR confirmed individuals were also recorded and analyzed. Results: Among (n=800) health workers and their families 457 (57.1%) were COVID-19 PCR negative, 332 (41.5%) positive and 11 (1.4%) individuals were PCR positive but asymptomatic carriers, 234 (29.5%) were male and 103 (12.9%) were female. Mortality rate in our study was very low, only three patients (0.87%) died of this COVID-19 pneumonia. Conclusion: Our results showed increased rate of positive cases with fortunately lower mortality rate, although this novel pneumonia was associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Timely decisions, risk awareness knowledge and supply of necessary equipments are inevitable for the control of such epidemics. (author)

[en] The increasing expansion of agro-industrial activity over the last 50 years has led to the accumulation of a large quantity of organic residues all over the world that they have become a threat to the environment. Bioconversion of these wastes seems to be a practical and promising alternative for increasing their nutritional value, transforming them into animal feed and thus producing a value added product. Radiation processing has the capability to reduce or eliminate pathogenic bacteria, insects and parasites, thereby increasing the utilization and sustainable management of waste organic matter from food production and processing while contributing to improve food quality and reducing the environmental impact of the wastes. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiation treatment at 25 kGy and fermentation process by Aspergillus niger, on crude and soluble protein, amino acid profile, available lysine and in vitro digestibility of dried tomato pomace (DTP), the by-product of the tomato canning industry. The study has also, investigated the effect of supplementation of 30% of raw or processed DTP meal in food of male Albino rats for six weeks on body and liver weight evaluation and the effect on blood lipid pattern. The work concluded that the combination between the irradiation of DTP at 25 kGy and fermentation process has increased the nutritional value of treated DTP meal and improved the plasma and liver lipid pattern of rats. Therefore, the combination treatment has beneficial effects on recycling of DTP and permits it to be included in monogastric animals' food without any health hazard or nutritional problem

[en] The sex pheromone gland of female oases date moth, Ephestia calidella is located inter segmentally between eight and nine abdominal segment. Effect of three sub sterilizing doses 75, 100 and 125 Gy of gamma radiation on pheromone production and on male response were studied. The results obtained revealed that gamma irradiation reduce the pheromone production by female and the responsiveness of male. The effect was increased by increasing the radiation dose. Histological studies of pheromone gland also, indicated that gamma irradiation disturb epithelial cells of the gland and becoming thin at certain parts. Also, gland hairs ruptured or completely disappeared at the highest dose of 125 Gy.