Current Science

K. D. Joshi ¹, D. N. Jha ¹, A. Alam ¹, S. K. Srivastava ¹, Vijay Kumar ¹, A. P. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Allahabad Regional Centre, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR), 24 Panna Lal Road, Allahabad 211 002, IN
2 Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, IN

Abstract

Environmental flow of the river Sone at Indrapuri barrage was estimated using 36 years discharge data and the Global Environmental Flow Calculator Software. To maintain the river in moderate condition and to keep basic ecosystem functions intact, at least 18.9% of mean annual runoff (MAR) has been estimated, while the actual discharge of the river was merely 5.16% of MAR. The river presently holds 89 fish species, but 20 species reported in an earlier study were not observed, while 14 new fish species were encountered. Sediments, water and macro-benthic biota of the river were also studied to know the effect of low discharge.

Keywords

Environmental Flow, Fish Diversity, Indrapuri Barrage, River Sone, Water Discharge.

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Richa Ahuja ¹, Azfar Jamal ¹, Nagisa Nosrati ¹, Vijaya Pandey ¹, Pallavi Rajput ¹, Nehul Saxena ¹, Kaveri Sidhu ¹, Vijay Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Virology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN

Abstract

The role of viral infection in cancer was established towards the beginning of 20th century. The study of tumour viruses, their oncogenes and different mechanisms employed by these viruses to subvert the growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic functions of host tumour suppressor genes has laid the foundation of cancer biology. The human tumour viruses induce malignancies after a prolonged latency and in conjunction with other environmental and host factors. The eight known human tumour viruses contribute to nearly 10-15% of the cancers worldwide. Advancements in research on virus-related cancers offer a plethora of opportunities to fight cancer by preventing viral spread through vaccination and use of antivirals. Besides, recent developments on viral oncogenic mechanisms should allow development of novel and targeted approaches for control and treatment of virus-associated human cancers.

Keywords

Cancer, Cell Transformation, Mitogenic Signalling, Tumour Virus, Viral Integration.

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Vijay Kumar ¹, Girija Jayaraman ¹, Beena Kumari ²

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, IN
2 Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad 380 015, IN

Abstract

A biophysical coupled model, which includes interaction of processes at different spatial and temporal scales, is used to assess the seasonal variability of plankton and forage fish. A five-compartment nutrient, phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus, forage(NPZDF) ecological model is coupled with hydrodynamic model to understand the interaction of hydrographic characteristics and ecological dynamics in the study area. Operator splitting method is used to handle two different physical and biological scales for numerical simulation of the resulting partial differential equations. Gulf of Kachchh (22°20'N–23°40'N, 68°20'E–70°40'E), in the northwest coast of India is used for the application and validation of the model’s behaviour. This region demonstrates rich biodiversity and productivity in highly turbid and varying marine conditions. Co-ordinate transformation is used to convert the irregular coastal geometry of Gulf of Kachchh into a rectangular domain. Numerical experiments, together with sensitivity analysis are carried out to get the values/ranges of the model parameters. The model application is able to bring out many striking features of the Gulf of Kachchh including bimodal oscillations observed in the ecological data of the region.

Keywords

Gulf of Kachchh, Physico-Biological Model, Plankton and Forage Fish.

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Aarti Rama ¹, Pradeep Das ², Vijay Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Agamkuan, Patna 800 007, IN
2 Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Agamkuan, Patna 800 007, IN

Abstract

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a chlorinated insecticide served as a well-established tool against the Indian Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar vector, i.e. Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) till infestation with insecticide resistance (IR) among these vector species, leading to the legacy of failure of major campaigns for global VL elimination via vector control strategy. Failing in the task of controlling the insect population, IR has definitely imposed a negative impact over the quality of mosquito vector species in terms of their physiological fitness and reproductive viability, but this has never been reported in the case of Indian VL vector. Therefore, to explore IR implications and comparative assessment over the physiological fitness and reproductive robustness within subsequent generations of laboratory- reared resistant sand flies, bioassay experiments have been performed up till the seventh generation of homozygous 4% DDT-resistant strained colony (DRC) of P. argentipes. With observed mean vector longevity ranging between 3 and 9 days (for male sand flies) as well as 5 and 13.5 days (for female sand flies) till their seventh generation, IR causes an abrupt decrease in fecundity (with mean potential fecundity per female from 60.72 to 6.44), fertility (with mean no. of eggs oviposited per female from 53.4 to 6.02 and mean no. of eggs hatching per female from 13.6 to 1.67) and greatly affecting reproductive fitness and behaviour throughout the studied generations of DRC sand flies. The affected DDT-modulated behavioural profile in terms of the studied four-pronged LF3 parameters (i.e. longevity, fitness, fecundity and fertility), revealed that the changed quality of DRC P. argentipes in the forthcoming generations to such an extent, that it might prove to be detrimental to the survival and fitness of the sand flies, if selection pressures maintained throughout their subsequent generations. The results of the present study provide the probable reasons and side effects associated with the developed resistance both at macroscopic and microscopic levels, which deserve additional attention for upischolar_maining the disease from its end.

Keywords

Behavioural Responses, Dichlorodiphenyl-Trichloroethane, Insecticide Resistance, Phlebotomus argentipes, Visceral Leishmaniasis.

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Vijay Kumar ¹, Jagdev Singh Kular ¹, Rishi Kumar ², Sukhdev Singh Sidhu ³, Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja ¹

Affiliations
1 Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, IN
2 ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research, Sirsa 125 055, IN
3 Department of Agriculture (Punjab), Mohali 160 055, IN

Abstract

In 2015, a whitefly epidemic devastated cotton in about 1.5 m ha in North India and reduced the yield level to about 35% of average productivity in the state of Punjab. Protection of crop from sucking insect pests, including whitefly, is primarily based on insecticides. A more knowledgeintensive and multidisciplinary approach which can lead to a dramatic reduction in chemical use combined with unprecedented improvement in productivity should qualify as a worthy successor to the green revolution. Interventions include host plant resistance, robust surveillance and ETLbased decision-making, managing non-crop hosts, pest resurgence curtailment through targeted biopesticide and pesticide application, crop nutrition, and abiotic stress amelioration. Research refinements even as implementation progressed, high intensity outreach and cotton belt-wide implementation not just restored productivity, but also resulted in achieving record yields of 756, 750 and 778 kg lint/ha in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively, compared with 197 kg lint/ha in 2015 in Punjab, and pesticide savings during these years over 2015 were INR 2589/ha, 2808/ha and 3060/ha respectively. The success story and its modus operandi have implications for ‘new agriculture’, which needs to be disseminated and debated widely.

Keywords

Agroecosystem, Bemisia tabaci, Bt-cotton, Community-Based Approach.

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