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The antifungal effects of Citrullus colocynthis extract (Hexane, chloroform, methanol, and water) were tested in vitro on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) W. C. Snyder & H. N. Hans (FOL), the causal agent of Fusarium wilt. Of these, methanol and water extract at 10% showed the highest inhibition of mycelial growth of FOL by 12.32 and 23.61 mm respectively. The antifungal compounds were identified through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The methanol extract was compatible with the biocontrol agent Trichoderma viride. The antagonistic fungi were mass-cultured under laboratory conditions using sorghum seeds. Both T. viride and C. colocynthis methanol extract was also tested alone and together against FOL under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The combination of T. viride and C. colocynthis showed the highest percentage of antifungal activity (82.92%) against FOL under in vitro conditions. This study revealed that induced systemic resistance (ISR) in enhancing the disease resistance in tomato plants against Fusarium wilt disease. The combined treatment of T. viride and C. colocynthis significantly reduced the disease incidence and index by 21.92 and 27.02% in greenhouse conditions, respectively. Further, the induction of defense enzymes, such as peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), β-1,3-glucanase, and chitinase were studied. The accumulation of defense enzyme was greater in plants treated with a combination of T. viride and C. colocynthis compared to the control. Reduction of wilt disease in tomato plants due to the involvement of defense-related enzymes is presumed through this experiment.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a Potential nephrotoxin that causes severe and prolonged chemical toxicity. Investigations have been accomplished on numerous species of genus Artemisia, but the plant Artemisia brevifolia has hardly been used in this respect. The present study was considered to ascertain the effects of “Artemisia brevifolia plant extract” against CCl4 prompted nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Forty-eight male albino rats were allocated into eight groups containing 6 rats in each. Group I was the control group. Group II was given dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (1 ml/kg) orally. Group III was treated with dissolved CCl4 in olive oil (1 ml/kg). Group IV was given CCl4 + Silymarine. Group V and VI were administered with Artemisia brevifolia extract (150 and 300 mg/kg respectively) + CCl4. Group VII and VIII were provided with only 150 and 300 mg/kg extract of Artemisia brevifolia respectively. Results displayed that CCl4 administration significantly (p

Metals are major toxic elements and cause various diseases and damage shorebirds. The study envisaged the heavy metals content in the feathers of shorebirds, prey, water, and sediment from Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (PMF). Primary feathers of shorebirds species such as Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, and Painted Stork were collected and analyzed the following metals viz., Cd, Cu, Cr, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni, and Zn. The levels of Hg, Cr, Pb and Ni varied significantly among the metals studied (p Eurasian Curlew > Curlew sandpiper. However, in the habitat, Cd, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zi varied significantly between water and sediment (p

The investigations on the role of dietary micronutrient(s), such as selenium, has recently emerged as the fixate of researchers, notably in aquaculture. Our study aimed at investigation of the impact of dietary selenium on growth and digestive enzymes (DE) activity in juvenile tilapia. Three iso-nitrogenous diets with a sequential increase of selenium doses viz. 2 (T1), 4 (T2), and 8 (T3) mg/kg of fish feed, and selenium-deficient (T4) feed were dispensed in independent treatments. The juvenile fish growth and enzyme activities showed direct links to selenium dose. The T1 illustrated significantly higher (P

Diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia can lead to other health complications. The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus can affect numerous tissues in the eye structure and cataracts are one of the major causes of visual impairment in diabetes mellitus patients. In this study, we aim to investigate the ability of D-limonene to inhibit aldose reductase hypoglycemic activity in lens organ culture and its anti-glycating properties in STZ-induced cataracts of rats with diabetes. D-limonene repressed aldose reductase in-vitro with IC50 ranges of ~13.9 ± 0.31 µg/mL in an uncompetitive manner. This compound also prevented hyperglycemic induced increases in aldose reductase activity, accumulation of sorbitol, altered crystalline proteins (α, β and γ), and opacification of the rat lens in ex-vivo lens organ culture. Supplementation of D-limonene in STZ-induced diabetic rats restored these changes and delayed the progression of cataracts. This study demonstrates that D-limonene is a pharmaceutically active component that inhibits rat-lens aldose reductase. Therefore, this study showed that D-limonene prevents advanced glycation end product formation contributing to the integrity of α-crystallin chaperone activity and delays cataract development. It has been concluded, D-limonene has a role in inhibiting aldose reductase activity and advanced glycation end products formation in vivo, and in delaying the development of diabetic cataracts. Further studies of D-limonene are needed to assess other complications in DM as they may provide additional evidence for establishing D-limonene as a potential pharmacological target therapy for diabetes mellitus complications. Keywords: D-limonene, Aldose reductase, α-Crystalline, Advanced glycation, End products, Cataracts

The main objective of the present study is to determine lead toxicity on various sizes of zebra fish in soft and hard water. Lead toxicity analysis was carried out in the laboratory trials for four days at various concentrations for the determination of LC50 value. Zebra fish was grouped into various sizes (G1-G4) and treated with lead for 96 h. Lead induced toxicity and induced various behavioural changes in Zebra fish. In the case of G1 (1.5 ± 0.2 cm length) fish the LC50 values ranged from 27.2 ± 1.8 mg/L to 9.7 ± 1.3 mg/L. In G2 (2.0 ± 0.2 cm length) fish, the LC50 value was 37.01 ± 2.3 mg/L and it reduced as 32.03 ± 3.4 mg/L after 48 h. In G3 group (2.5 ± 0.2 cm length fish), LC50 value was 38.78 ± 2.4 mg/L after 24 h treatment and this value decreased as 33.18 ± 1.1 mg/L after 48 h. After 72 h, LC50 value was 27.2 ± 2.1 mg/L and this value decreased considerably after 96 h (18.3 ± 2.1 mg/L) in G4 (3.0 ± 0.2 cm length) fish. Further, G4 fish was treated with lead in hard water and LC50 value was analyzed. LC50 value was observed as 28.62 ± 2.7 mg/L in hard water and the same fish group (G4) showed 18.3 ± 2.1 mg/L after 96 h. Toxicity analysis revealed that lead is less toxic in hard water than in soft water. Keywords: Lead, Toxicity, Water hardness, Zebra fish

In this study, 104 bacteria were isolated from the gut of Penaeus indicus. The morphologically different bacterial isolates were screened for probiotic properties. The strain D5 showed potent activity against various bacteria. The isolated strain Bacillus subtilis showed 17 mm zone of inhibition against Bacillus sp., 19 mm against Pseudomonas sp., 22 mm against Vibrio sp., and 22 mm against Micrococcus sp. The bacterial growth and bacterocin production in relation with incubation time was evaluated. Bacteriocin production was found to be high at the stationary phase and reduced considerably after fifth day. Bacterial growth and bacterocin production was maximum at pH 7.0 and optimum between pH 6.0 and 8.0. Incubation temperature is one of the important factors which significantly influences on the growth and production of bacteriocin. Bacterial growth and bacterocin production (17 ± 2 mm) were maximum at 30 °C. Glucose stimulated growth and bacterocin production (21 ± 3 mm). Among the supplemented nitrogen sources, glycine positively influenced on growth and metabolite production. In this study, bacteriocin supplemented diet enhanced the growth than control shrimp Bacteriocin was administered at various doses ranged between 10 and 50 mg/100 gm level. Shrimp length was 3.3 ± 0.13 cm and shrimp weight was 9.7 ± 0.12 g in 100 mg. The present finding revealed enhanced growth at high bacteriocin concentration. At 2 × 102 CFU/100 g probiotics in feed, the juvenile shrimp attained 16.8 ± 0.11 g after 40 days. The weight gain was 16.8 ± 0.11 CFU/100 g at 10 × 102 CFU/100 g probiotic concentration. Keywords: Shrimp gut, Bacillus subtilis, Probiotics, Penaeus indicus, Feed conversion ratio

The current study was aimed to evaluate the seasonal variation in bioaccumulation of metals (Pb, Cu and Ni) in the gills, kidney, liver and muscle of Oreochromis niloticus. Sixty fish samples (average wet body weight 460.77 ± 6.22 g) were collected from the freshwater reservoir Wadi Namar Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in winter, summer, spring and autumn seasons. The heavy metals were assessed through atomic absorption. The findings of this study revealed seasonal variation in bioaccumulation of metals. In winter season minimum concentration of Pb, Cu and Ni was recorded while the highest was recorded in summer season. The order of bioaccumulation of Pb and Ni in organs was: liver > kidney > muscle > gills in and liver > gills > kidney > muscle in winter and summer, respectively. The bioaccumulation order of Cu as kidney > liver > gills > muscle and gills > kidney > liver > muscle in winter and summer, respectively. The heavy metals concentration was crossing the permissible limits suggested by WHO. Histopathological examination in kidney exhibited congestion, dilation in bowman capsule space, necrosis. Liver of the fish exhibited cytoplasmic vacuolation, necrosis, sinusoid dilation. It has been concluded that this river is heavily contaminated due to the discharge of untreated waste from industry and domestic sewage from the city and there is a dire need to control this increasing contamination. Keywords: River, Histopathology, Kidney, Liver, Heavy metals, Fish

Obesity is known as weight gaining programme which leads to increase in body mass index (BMI), is known for significant risk factors for chronic diseases. The prevalence of obesity has been rising in South Asian countries, specifically in Pakistan. Numerous studies have shown the association with metabolic diseases (ex; obesity) with single nucleotide polymorphisms. The present study has been designed to investigate the association between C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene with obesity in Pakistan population. In this case-control study, we have enrolled 200 obese students and 200 non-obese or control students based on the BMI. Genomic DNA was isolated with enrolled 400 blood samples and PCR was performed with C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene to analyse the frequency. Later on restriction enzyme length polymorphism analysis was carried out for the undigested PCR products. Genotyping frequencies for C677T polymorphism were compared between obesity and non-obesity students. Genotype, allele and various genetic model of inheritances were calculated and documented the significant association (p 0.05). The present study concludes C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene was genetically associated between the obesity risks in Pakistan population. However, relation with Anova analysis showed the negative association with C677T polymorphism. Keywords: Obesity, C677T, MTHFR gene, GCUF students, Pakistan population

Field isolates of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were subjected to polypeptide analysis using SDS-PAGE. On electrophoresis the NDV proteins were settled into several peptide components related to structural elements of the virus. The field isolates of NDV were recovered from different outbreaks in commercial chicken flocks. The virus grew well into 9th day old embryonated chicken eggs. The presence of virus in harvested allantoic fluids was assessed by Haemagglutination Test (HA). The HA titer of virus ranged from 1:512 to 1:1024. All the field isolates were purified by chloroform extraction method. Same quantities of samples were loaded on 12.5% discontinuous SDS-PAGE system. There were 6 to 13 polypeptides recorded with a molecular weight ranged from 12 KDa to 160 KDa. The results of SDS-PAGE denoted that the indigenous isolates of NDV are almost identical and comparable with vaccines. SDS-PAGE, using 12.5 percent gel is a simple, economical, and easy way for the characterization of NDV and other viruses. Furthermore, the potency of the vaccines can easily be checked through this technique and comparison can be made between field and vaccine ND viruses. It is recommended that more work should be done at the molecular level of local isolates of NDV to confirm the molecular nature of these isolates. Keywords: Newcastle disease virus, Chicken, SDS-PAGE, Molecular weights

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic, non-communicable and complex, metabolic disease caused by resistance to insulin. The role of FABP2 in T2DM has been confirmed via genomic studies. Genetic studies related to Ala54Thr (A54T) polymorphism in FABP2 in the Pakistani population are lacking. The objective of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of A54T polymorphism among those diagnosed with T2DM in the Pakistani population. Clinical and genotype data were statistically analyzed. Baseline and demographic characteristics of T2DM cases and controls were evaluated. Genotype analysis indicated a significant association between T2DM cases and the Thr genotype, Thr allele, and genetic models (p

The present study was conducted to prepare cost effective and environment friendly zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) by using ZnSO4·7H2O and extract of sesame seeds. Zn NPs were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction and antibacterial potential was checked by using disc diffusion method. Solution colour turned yellow which ultimately confirmed the formation of Zn NPs and seed extract was used as a reducing agent. Crystalline size of the NPs was revealed by XRD spectra i.e. 9.07 nm. Functional groups were identified by the FTIR. SEM analysis given idea about the spherical shape of NPs. Antibacterial activity of the Zn NPs against different bacteria (S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and S. aureus) was measured by inhibition zone which ranged from 3.3 to 12.6 mm. Keywords: Zinc nanoparticles, Characterization, Antibacterial activity, FTIR, XRD

The issue of male sexual dysfunction arises due to numerous complications linked with sperm motility, imbalance of antioxidant enzymes and hormonal levels. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is widely used as a standard toxin to induce chemical injury and toxicity. A lot of research has been performed on many species of the genus Nepeta in vitro and in vivo but the plant Nepeta paulsenii have been rarely used in this aspect. The current research was designed to explore the impacts of methanolic extract of the Nepeta paulsenii plant on CCl4 induced testicular impairment in male albino rats. Forty-eight rats were distributed equally into 8 groups; Control, Vehicle control, CCl4 treated (1 ml/kg), CCl4 + Silymarine treated, CCl4 + Nepeta paulsenii (200 mg/kg) treated, CCl4 + Nepeta paulsenii (400 mg/kg), Nepeta paulsenii (200 mg/kg) and Nepeta paulsenii (400 mg/kg) treated. Blood and testicles were obtained and analyzed. To check antioxidant enzymes, hormonal concentrations, daily sperm production (DSP), protein content and histopathology various analyses were performed. CCl4 exposure resulted in adverse morphological changes and significant (p

Cisplatin (CP) is an active cytotoxic agent, which has been verified to be effective in multiple cancer regimen. In this study, potential antioxidant effects of casticin (CAS) were assessed against CP generated oxidative stress in rat liver. “Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups. Group-1 (control group) received only normal saline”. Group-2 was intraperitoneally injected with CP (10 mg/kg). Group-3 was orally provided by CAS (50 mg/kg) along with CP (10 mg/kg) injection at first day. Group-4 group was orally administered with CAS (50 mg/kg) throughout the experiment. The rats of group-1 indicated “increase in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while a significant decrease in the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD)” was noticed, which revealed that CP generated oxidative stress in rat liver. Moreover, administration of CP increased the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and level of “thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)”, while reducing the % DNA head and head length in liver cell nuclei. CP disturbs the lobular structure of the liver and increased the sinusoidal dilation in rat liver. However, co-treatment with CAS successfully mitigated the CP generated DNA disruption, biochemical and pathological changes in rat liver. These findings revealed that an effective antioxidant, CAS, alleviated the CP generated hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Keywords: Cisplatin, Oxidative stress, DNA damage, Liver damage, Antioxidant, Casticin

Limited molecular studies have been documented with ACE gene polymorphism in OA and RA in the major industrial city in the country. The current study aims to investigate the prevalence of the arthritis risks and perform the ACE gene polymorphism in OA and RA in hospital based population. In this hospital-based study, we adopted 1000 arthritis subjects; 539 was suffering with OA and 461 RA in the local hospital. Based on the filled questionnaire and signed consent form, patients were involved in this study. Genotyping was performed in 1000 arthritis subjects. Our results indicated the risk of BMI and smoking status in both OA and RA diseases. Most of the participants involved in this study were considered to opt the non-vegetarian rather than the vegetarian. The arthritis patients were interested in eating the chicken (65.7%) and then red meat (31.5%). Regular walking (22.4%) was found to be higher in the arthritis patients than the regular exercise (4.7%). However, males are more active than the females in both the regular exercise and regular walking. Most of the arthritis patients (37.3%) had the comfortable sleep duration between 9 and 10 h. The prevalence of arthritis has been increased and patients with high BMI should be growing the risks of the various arthritis. Simultaneously, weight gain is connected with both the OA and RA diseases. Physical activity is required to reduce the risks of arthritis. The present study recommends to avoid the smoking and maintain the normal BMI specifically in the females to avoid the arthritis disease in Faisalabad city in the Pakistan. Keywords: Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, BMI, Regular exercise and physical activity

Taxonomic characterization of bacterial 16S rRNA gene has become an accepted norm for inference of complex microbial communities and ecological shifts in gut. Recently, 16S rRNA gene sequences has emerged as a taxonomic marker to investigate crosstalk between gut bacteria and host via variations in feed. Here, broiler chickens (n = 240) were subjected to dietary modulation approach to substitute antibiotics with natural plant-derived products. Five experimental groups were control, antibiotic growth promoter, organic acids, phytogenic feed additives and combination (organic acids + phytogenic feed additives). Bacterial DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA gene was amplified through polymerase chain reaction using universal primers followed by observation through gel electrophoresis and then, confirmation by direct DNA sequencing. The sequence data was analyzed for homology search, multiple sequence alignment, and construction of phylogenetic clades using software BLASTn, CLUSTAL W and MEGA 7.0. respectively. Based on the phenetic relationship, bacterial phylotypes from organic acid and phytogenic feed additive groups belongs to Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis in both cecum and ileum. The bacterial isolate obtained from antibiotic feeding group characterized as Escherichia coli. Furthermore, sequences of probiotic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis) were retrieved from online repositories (GenBank and RDP) and aligned with indigenously isolated strains of this study. Comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed high sequence similarities (99%) of Enterococcus faecalis KIBGE AB-6 and Enterococcus faecalis KIBGE AB5 with Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433, and Enterococcus faecalis DD28 respectively. Hence, under the appropriate conditions of current investigation, these bacterial strains might serve as potential candidates for probiotics in animals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Pakistan depicting taxonomic classification of chicken gut bacterial diversity from cecal and ileal samples linked with dietary modulation. Keywords: 16S rRNA gene, Broiler chicken, Gut microbiota, Probiotic bacteria, Taxonomy

Unambiguous and precise identifications of a species are crucial for managing and conserving the species across their dispersal regions. This study analyzed the molecular signatures and phylogenetic relationship of 84 specimens of lutjanids obtained from Malaysia, which covers three marine regions; Straits of Malacca (SM), west South China Sea (west SCS), and east South China Sea (east SCS). The assessment of 613 bp mtDNA COI has markedly classified the samples into five distinct species namely Lutjanus malabaricus, L. argentimaculatus, L. erythtropterus, L. sebae and L. bohar. The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distance ranged between 0.1% − 0.7% and 8.2% − 19.6%, respectively. While genetic homogeneity occurred among population and species across SM and west SCS, significant genetic structuring was detected among species between west and east SCS as evidenced by the occurrence of a single species, L. bohar that can be found only in Sabah (east SCS). The divulged potential loss of gene flow among the regions and was probably caused by oceanic currents. This study detected an ambiguous sequence (from Genbank) probably due to hybridization between species or simply because of an unidentified node. This study proposed that COI is the valid and reliable genetic marker for identifying lutjanids distributed across Malaysian waters. Future revision in distribution pattern and diversity exploration on a large scale with a higher number of samples and different genetic markers is needed to fill this current study's gaps.

The current study was aimed to investigate the alleviative effect of Artemisia brevifolia (A. brevifolia) plant extract against CCl4-induced testicular damage in male albino rats. Forty-eight male albino rats were categorized into eight equal experimental groups i.e., control, vehicle control, CCl4 (1 ml/kg), CCl4 + silymarin, CCl4 + A. brevifolia (150 mg/kg), CCl4 + A. brevifolia (300 mg/kg), A. brevifolia (150 mg/kg) and A. brevifolia (300 mg/kg). After 56 days, blood and testicular samples were collected, and antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, hormonal concentration, daily sperm production (DSP), and histomorphometry were analyzed. The animals treated with the A. brevifolia extract exhibited a significant (p

Anthropogenic activities, urban and industrial wastewaters, and the usual disintegration of rock from physical, chemical, and biological stresses are the main cause of heavy metals in seawater and sediments worldwide. Five different sampling locations were selected after an initial survey of the Dammam region Seawater study area, and sediment samples were procured in triplicate from each location to assess the level of selected heavy metals pollutions in the Arabian Gulf, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Be, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Pb, Hg, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr, and Mo were detected using “inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).” The pH ranges from 7.91 ± 0.26–8.22 ± 0.38 in stations 4 and 3, respectively. Surface seawater's electrical conductivity values ranged from 71788 ± 28.52 to 75680 ± 42.92 µS/cm at stations 4 and 3. The minimum and maximum concentration of total dissolved solid was observed as 49524 ± 50.25 and 54786 ± 66.95 mgL-1 in sites 4 and 3, respectively. The level of these metals fluctuated among the sampling sites. The highest concentration of these heavy metals was recorded from sampling site 4 and minimum in location 1. The average level of these metals in water samples were recorded Sr > Cu > Se > Zn > As > Mn > Fe > Ni > Mo > Hg > Co > Cr > Ag > Cd > Pb and Be, respectively. The average level of these metals in sediment samples were recorded Fe > Sr > Ni > Mn > Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > Ag > As > Mo > Co > Se > Hg > Be and Cd, respectively. It has been concluded that the concentration of As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Sr was high, which is alarming, particularly in the Dammam area.

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat different tumors. Vitexin (VIT) is a natural flavonoid having various pharmacological activities along with its curative effects. The present research was planned to evaluate the therapeutic potential of VIT on cisplatin-induced renal damage in male albino rats. Twenty-four male albino rats were divided into four equal groups. These groups were treated with CP (10 mg/kg injection on the first day of trial) administered group, cotreated (CP; 10 mg/kg + VIT; 10 mg/kg) and only VIT (10 mg/kg orally till the end of the trial) treated group and a control. CP administration significantly decreased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione reductase (GSR). The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were increased. CP-treatment significantly increased the levels of urea, creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) while considerably reducing the creatinine clearance. The results demonstrated that CP significantly increased the inflammation markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activities and histopathological damages. However, co-treatment with VIT efficiently minimized the CP-induced biochemical, inflammatory, and histopathological impairments in rat kidneys. The study's outcomes indicated the significant curative efficacy of VIT to overcome CP-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats.

The present research was planned to analyze the toxic effects of thimerosal on rat liver. Mercury and mercury compounds are universally known toxicants for animals and humans. Thimerosal is widely used in the vaccines as a preservative which contains 49.6% mercury. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n=6). The first group was considered as a control group. While, second, third and fourth groups were intoxicated with 0.5, 10 and 50 µg/kg thimerosal (i.m.) respectively. After 30 days, rats were slaughtered to analyze the liver tissues. The results of the experiment exposed that thimerosal instigated significant (p

The high spread rate, severe symptoms, psychological and neurological problems, and unavailability of effective medicines are the major factors making Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a massive threat to the world. It is thought that COVID-19 causes mild symptoms or mild infectious illness in children. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of serious complications such as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome. COVID-19 induces mild to severe neurological problems in children, such as stroke, encephalopathy, mild shortness of breath, and myalgia. The development of these conditions is associated with pro-inflammatory responses and cytokine storms, which alter the physiology of the blood-brain barrier and allow the virus to enter the brain. Despite the viral entry into the brain, these neurological conditions can also be caused indirectly by severe immune responses. In this article, we describe COVID-19 and the associated neurological and immunological complications in children.

Chikungunya, Zika, Dengue Viruses, and now Novel Coronavirus are global health challenges that cause human diseases ranging from febrile illnesses to death. Most of these viruses are mainly vectored by

Various microorganisms present in beverages as contaminants, yet few can develop in the presence of acidic and low oxygen conditions. Notably, yeast is the dominant microbe group present in the fruit juices and drinks in the fruit juices and drinks. Due to the microbe development and secondary metabolite production, such as polluting compounds, carbon dioxide, and spoilage, the beverages were identified. Yeast and molds are considered to be a vital microbe that causes deterioration. The primary reason for the deterioration in fruits and fruit juices is because of the contamination caused by fungi and yeast, and sometimes damage may cause by insects. Sugars and sugar concentrates are generally polluted with osmophilic yeasts, for instance, Z. rouxii. This review mainly focuses on the types of spoilages in soft drinks and beverages and their control measures.

Carbon dioxide gas is the key element of the carbon cycle and a major source for photosynthesis, but for the past 150 years, the atmospheric CO2 has been increased drastically from 250 to 418 ppm due to the extreme utilization of fossil fuels. This accelerated release of CO2 acts as a major source for climatic change due to the greenhouse gas effect resulting in global warming and melting of polar ice caps, alteration in biogeochemical cycles, altered rainfall, ocean acidification, eutrophication of lakes, imbalance in the ecological communities and extinction of some species, effects on soil fertility, changes in the metabolism and at the molecular level. Reduce, reuse and recycle strategy can be applied to control elevated CO2 levels by preventing deforestation, using renewable energy as an alternative for fossil fuels and reusing the atmospheric CO2. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) are the two technologies adapted to capture the atmospheric CO2, utilize it, and focus on permanent storage in the geological sites. Captured CO2 is used to produce many value added products such as polymers, biofuels, reactants etc. Plants and microorganisms act as a natural CO2 filter. Several biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are produced due to the biological carbon fixation process using photosynthesis. Six different photosynthetic pathways and some non-photosynthetic pathways to fix atmospheric CO2 have been reported in diverse species of plants and microbes such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae etc. Algae are the most potent microbe in CO2 utilization and biological carbon fixation compared to other microbes and used widely on a large industrial scale for biofuel production. Algal biofuel production using captured CO2 is the best productive method to recycle and reduce atmospheric CO2.

Graphical abstract, The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic infecting millions of people globally has given rise to serious public health threats. The need for early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in asymptomatic pregnant women is compelling to detect vertical transmission timely. Here, 11 SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic pregnant cases from Wuhan China were investigated. All the patients were initially tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR, so a chest CT scan was performed. Also, serum antibody (IgM and IgG) titers were estimated. CT scan of patients revealed typical abnormalities related to SARS-CoV-2, indicating ground-glass opacity and infection lesions suggesting viral pneumonia. Elevated IgM and IgG antibodies levels (p

Objective: The primary aim of the study is to augment the biogas production from flower waste through optimization and pretreatment techniques. Methods: Enhancement of biogas production by using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) was done. The time for agitation, the concentration of the substrate, temperature and pH were considered as model variables to develop the predictive models. Pretreatment of withered flowers was studied by using physical, chemical, hydrothermal and biological methods. Results: The linear model terms of concentration of substrate, temperature, pH, and time for agitation had effects of interaction (p

The study is intended to deliver the incidence of heavy metals in the feathers of shorebirds from two important Central Asian Flyway (CAF) migratory shorebirds wintering sites such as the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS) and Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (PMF), India. Feathers of fifteen species of shorebirds and seven different metals viz., Cu, Cr, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn were analyzed. Zn was highest in Dunlin, Little-ringed Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, and Common sandpiper, Ni showed highest in Little ringed plover, and Common sandpiper, Co, Cr, and Cu were maximum in Little stint, Marsh sandpiper, and Dunlin, respectively. The Hg was higher in Black-winged stilt, Common redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian curlew, Lesser Sand-plover, Temminck’s stint, Kentish plover, Spotted redshank, and Wood sandpiper, the Pb found highest in Kentish plover, Painted stork, Spotted redshank, Wood sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, and Lesser sand-plover. The concentration of metals showed significant variations among the species of shorebirds studied (P Ni > Co > Cr > Cu > Pb > Hg. Nevertheless, the current study revealed that the level of metals in the shorebirds is alarming; since the PWLS and PMF are located along the CAF routes, it needs intensive studies on various pollutions to manage both the resident as well as migratory shorebirds.

Small epipelagic and migratory, Euthynnus affinis (kawakawa) is one of the commercially significant tunas of Indo-Pacific tropical and subtropical waters. Unfortunately, the management and stock structure of certain migratory species in the area is not clear. The current study aimed to discriminate the E. affinis through shape and body size variations and to evaluate the variations among seven populations of E. affinis. A total of 114 individuals of E. affinis were collected from two main geographic areas; the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Multivariate analyses, such as discriminant function analyses (DFA) and principal component analyses (PCA) of 11 homologous landmarks and seven morphometric variables were carried out to discriminate seven populations of E. affinis. The results revealed a significant variations among the body shape of the seven populations of E. affinis. Morphological homogenous occurred between populations obtained from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu, Kelantan, and Johor). However, populations found on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor) were separated and formed another cluster. The variations in the body shape of E. affinis occurred in the body depth and the overall body shape. The percentage of overall correct classification for all seven populations of E. affinis is 88.6%. This present study is the first report using a geometric morphometric method performed on the E. affinis from Peninsular Malaysian waters.

This research aimed to evaluate the curative impact of nobiletin (NOB) on paraquat (PQ) induced mitochondrial impairment in rats' hepatic tissues. Twenty-four male rats were divided into control, PQ, PQ + NOB, and NOB treated groups. The alanine aminotransferase levels, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were increased in the experimental animals after exposure with PQ. A significant decrease in the level of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species were recorded in rats exposed to PQ. The mitochondrial TCA cycle enzyme activities, including isocitrate-dehydrogenase, succinate-dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and malate-dehydrogenase, were reduced in PQ exposed rats. The activities of mitochondrial enzymes including NADH dehydrogenase, coenzyme Q-cytochrome reductase, succinic-coenzyme Q and cytochrome c-oxidase were significantly decreased after the PQ-exposure. PQ administration also reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential. However, the administration of mitochondria with NOB can decrease the toxic effect of the PQ in isolated mitochondria. NOB treatment potentially reduced the damaging effects of the PQ in the mitochondria isolated from hepatic tissues. Thus, the current study revealed that the NOB could attenuate PQ-induced mitochondrial damage in rats' hepatic tissues.

The cyto-nephrotoxicity in fishes induced by dyes is a global issue. Fluorescein dye has a wide range of applications in industry and biological laboratories. In vivo experiment was planned to assess the sublethal effects of Fluorescein dye, Eosin Y, and Eosin B in Labeo rohita. This freshwater fish was exposed to increasing concentrations (0.0011, 0.0023, and 0.0047 mg/L) of both dyes in the aquarium for definite time intervals. A dye-free trial was set as a control. Fish was anesthetized and dissected by cutting on the ventral side to remove a kidney. Cyto-nephrotoxicity was detected through histopathology. The fish's significant mortality was observed when exposed to 0.0023 mg/L (LC50) and 0.0047 mg/L concentration of Eosin Y dye. These trial groups showed many kidney tissues alterations such as glomerular, tubular epithelial cell's degeneration, a reduced lumen of tubules, vacuolation, absence of bowmen's space, necrosis, glomerulonephritis with increased per tubular space, shrinking of the glomerulus, congestion, clogging, and degeneration of tubules. Eosin B showed less mortality and tissue damage, including glomerular contraction and increased space between glomerulus and capsule. ANOVA showed a highly significant reduction in weight gain of fish at different treatments levels of Eosin Y, but less or none in the case of Eosin B. Increase in fish weight was found to be 66.3 ± 0.38 g when exposed to Eosin Y at 0.0047 mg/L, but it was 69.05 ± 0.63 g when exposed to Eosin B while it was almost identical 69.2 ± 0.23 g for both dye-free trial groups. The pair-wise comparison showed that exposure of the Eosin Y at treatment level 0.0047 mg/L was found to be highly toxic for the kidneys of Labeo rohita. Although both classes of dye are cytotoxic at small concentrations, Eosin Y is acute cyto-nephrotoxic and was found to be involved in growth retardation. To prevent society from fatal consequences, usage of dyes having acute toxicity must be banned or switched to alternates having no effects.

The heavy metal ions originating from the various point and nonpoint sources seriously threatening the lotic ecosystem by posing severe health crises to the aquatic organisms of higher trophic levels. The freshwater turtles with delicate body structure and devoid of any hardcovers are prone to higher heavy metal bioaccumulation risks. The present study was conducted to determine heavy metals bioaccumulation in three soft-shelled and hard-shelled freshwater turtle species in Pakistan. We collected the water samples and cadaver turtle bodies at both sites and transported them to the laboratory for heavy metal content evaluation. The skeletal muscles (1 g) and water samples (100 ml) were processed by acid digestion and prepared metals analyses by AAS. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) were significantly lower, while Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) were significantly higher at both sites compared with world health organization (WHO, 2004) standards. Muscles of softshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) showed the maximum bioaccumulation of targeted metals than other two species of hard-shell turtles i.e. Cu (7.61 ± 1.88), Zn (49.17 ± 4.11), Ni (2.77 ± 0.41), Cd (0.21 ± 0.02), Co (3.31 ± 0.43), Pb (4.70 ± 0.62) and Cr (6.09 ± 0.39). The mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr were maximum in water and turtle species muscles collected from Trimmu Barrage. In conclusion, the heavy metal loads in water and bioaccumulation patterns in the skeletal muscles of freshwater turtle species illustrated species and location-based variations with overall similar pattern corroborations among the sequence of heavy presence levels.

Specimens of Heteropneustes fossilis were treated with various levels of malathion and its 96 h LC50 value was determined. The effects of sub-lethal concentrations of insecticide on hematological and biochemical profile of Heteropneustes fossilis were also registered. The 96 h LC50 value obtained was 8.81 mg/l. Exposure of sub-lethal doses (0.44, 0.88 and 1.76 mg/l which are 5, 10 and 20% of the LC50) of malathion to Heteropneustes fossilis for 3 weeks demonstrated that the toxicant had a detrimental effect on the blood profile of fish. Blood cell (Erythrocyte and leucocytes) counts (from 1.66 to 1.44 cell × 106 × mm3 and 37.93 to 30.24 cell × 103 × mm3; respectively), haemoglobin (Hb) level (from 6.21 to 3.54 g/dl) and haematocrit (Ht) estimates (from 34.26 to 30.52%) were reduced in the fishes exposed to malathion. Elevated level (from 46.25 to 92.45 mg/100 ml) of glucose and decreased quantity (29.95 to 24.25 g/dl) of protein in plasma was registered. Glycogen content in muscle and liver was also decreased. The activity of enzymes glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were high in the fish treated with pesticide. The possible causes for variations in the different parameters were identified and discussed.

We hypothesized that the mitogenome of Gammarus lacustris (GL), native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, might exhibit genetic adaptations to the extreme environmental conditions associated with high altitudes (greater than 3000 m). To test this, we also sequenced the mitogenome of Gammarus pisinnus (GP), whose native range is close to the Tibetan plateau, but at a much lower altitude (200–1500 m). The two mitogenomes exhibited conserved mitochondrial architecture, but low identity between genes (55% atp8 to 76.1% cox1 ). Standard (homogeneous) phylogenetic models resolved Gammaridae as paraphyletic, but ‘heterogeneous’ CAT-GTR model as monophyletic. In indirect support of our working hypothesis, GL, GP and Gammarus fossarum exhibit evidence of episodic diversifying selection within the studied Gammaroidea dataset. The mitogenome of GL generally evolves under a strong purifying selection, whereas GP evolves under directional (especially pronounced in atp8 ) and/or relaxed selection. This is surprising, as GP does not inhabit a unique ecological niche compared to other gammarids. We propose that this rapid evolution of the GP mitogenome may be a reflection of its relatively recent speciation and heightened non-adaptive (putatively metabolic rate-driven) mutational pressures. To test these hypotheses, we urge sequencing mitogenomes of remaining Gammarus species populating the same geographical range as GP.

As a result of great diversity in life histories and a large number of described species, taxonomic and phylogenetic uncertainty permeates the entire crustacean order of Isopoda. Large molecular datasets capable of providing sufficiently high phylogenetic resolution, such as mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), are needed to infer their evolutionary history with confidence, but isopod mitogenomes remain remarkably poorly represented in public databases. We sequenced the complete mitogenome of Cymothoa indica, a species belonging to a family from which no mitochondrial genome was sequenced yet, Cymothoidae. The mitogenome (circular, 14484 bp, A+T = 63.8%) is highly compact, appears to be missing two tRNA genes (trnI and trnE), and exhibits a unique gene order with a large number of rearrangements. High compactness and the existence of palindromes indicate that the mechanism behind these rearrangements might be associated with linearization events in its evolutionary history, similar to those proposed for isopods from the Armadillidium genus (Oniscidea). Isopods might present an important model system to study the proposed discontinuity in the dynamics of mitochondrial genomic architecture evolution. Phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood) conducted using nucleotide sequences of all mitochondrial genes resolved Oniscidea and Cymothoida suborders as paraphyletic. Cymothoa indica was resolved as a sister group (basal) to all remaining isopods, which challenges the accepted isopod phylogeny, where Cymothoida are the most derived, and Phreatoicidea the most basal isopod group. There is growing evidence that Cymothoida suborder might be split into two evolutionary distant clades, with parasitic species being the most basal split in the Isopoda clade, but a much larger amount of molecular resources carrying a high phylogenetic resolution will be needed to infer the remarkably complex evolutionary history of this group of animals with confidence.

The major objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of alternate plant protein sources as a replacement for fish meal in feed on the proximate composition of muscle, liver and tissue in Oreochromis niloticus. O. niloticus of average size (average Weight 45.00±1.25 g, total length 13.28±1.42 cm) were stocked in 100 L glass aquarium. Fish were fed with three experimental feeds (A, B and C) and reference commercial feed (D) for 16 weeks. Feed A, B and C was prepared from four different plant sources and fish meal (40 % crude protein). Fish were fed at the rate 3 % of body weight daily. It has been observed that tilapia fed with feed B in which 20 % fish meal was replaced compared to feed C with other plant sources of protein, had shown significantly higher total protein in their muscle compared to diet other experimental and commercial feeds. In O. niloticus minimum lipid content was recorded in fish fed with diet B compared to A, C and commercial feed. It has been concluded that 20-40% level of fish meal can be replaced in the diet of fish without having any impact on growth and chemical composition of muscle.

A cross sectional study was conducted in two types of respiratory patients in hospital population. It was found that tuberculosis (T.B) was the most common type (29.66%) followed by the asthma (28.08%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (11.31%). Average age of diagnosis was 42.15 ± 0.65 years and average age at present 47.99 ± 0.70 years. Age group 51-60 years was more prone to this disease (21.13%). Most of the patients were married (80.06%). The highest representation of patients with respiratory diseases was observed in 1st birth order (30.36%) followed by 2nd (26.49%) and 3rd (18.45%), while the lowest was in 10th birth order (0.40%). Tuberculosis, asthma and COPD are the most prevalent types of respiratory diseases. Respiratory diseases were more common in males, in first birth order and in people of age group 51-60 years. This disease was more common in married, unemployed, less educated, and lower socioeconomic status people. Socioeconomic status and urban and rural living had a profound effect on the onset of disease.

A high-density linkage map of goldfish (Carassius auratus) was constructed using RNA-sequencing. This map consists of 50 linkage groups with 8,521 SNP markers and an average resolution of 0.62 cM. Approximately 84% of markers are in protein-coding genes orthologous to zebrafish proteins. We performed comparative genome analysis between zebrafish and medaka, common carp, grass carp, and goldfish to study the genome evolution events in the Cyprinidae family. The comparison revealed large synteny blocks among Cyprinidae fish and we hypothesized that the Cyprinidae ancestor undergone many inter-chromosome rearrangements after speciation from teleost ancestor. The study also showed that goldfish genome had one more round of whole genome duplication (WGD) than zebrafish. Our results illustrated that most goldfish markers were orthologous to genes in common carp, which had four rounds of WGD. Growth-related regions and genes were identified by QTL analysis and association study. Function annotations of the associated genes suggested that they might regulate development and growth in goldfish. This first genetic map enables us to study the goldfish genome evolution and provides an important resource for selective breeding of goldfish.

This study was conducted in the River Panjkora, Pakistan, in order to assess the level of heavy metals accumulated in the liver, kidneys, gills and muscle tissues of three highly consumed fish species by the local community, Garra gotyla, Cyprinus carpio and Cyprinion watsoni. The heavy metals including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were determined in the collected fish specimens through an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Level of heavy metals significantly varied depending upon tissues type and fish species. Cyprinus carpio accumulated highest concentration of heavy metals, followed by Garra gotyla while Cyprinion watsoni accumulated least concentration of heavy metals. All the three species displayed significant differences in level of accumulated heavy metals. The order of accumulation in tissues was gills

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of heavy metals on an important tissue of two fish species Cyprinus carpio and Wallago attu, sampled from the Indus river, Mianwali District, Pakistan. The concentration of selected heavy metals Fe, Cr, Cu, and in gills, muscles, kidney and liver was compared with an International standard of food fish. The overall metal concentrations among different weight categories in C. carpio were in the order of Fe > Cu > Cr >. In W. attu the overall accumulation of these metals were, in order of Fe > Cu > Cr > Pb The order of accumulation of metals in gills and muscle of C. carpio was Fe > Cr > Pb > Cu; kidney and muscles of W. attu was Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb; liver Fe > Cu > Cr > Pb. An increasing trend of concentration of iron, copper, chromium and lead occurred with an increase in weight of C. carpio and W. attu. There was a significant difference in the accumulation of heavy metals in different organs of both species (p

Background Aquaporins (Aqps) are integral membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of water and small solutes across cell membranes. Among vertebrate species, Aqps are highly conserved in both gene structure and amino acid sequence. These proteins are vital for maintaining water homeostasis in living organisms, especially for aquatic animals such as teleost fish. Studies on teleost Aqps are mainly limited to several model species with diploid genomes. Common carp, which has a tetraploidized genome, is one of the most common aquaculture species being adapted to a wide range of aquatic environments. The complete common carp genome has recently been released, providing us the possibility for gene evolution of aqp gene family after whole genome duplication. Results In this study, we identified a total of 37 aqp genes from common carp genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of aqps are highly conserved. Comparative analysis was performed across five typical vertebrate genomes. We found that almost all of the aqp genes in common carp were duplicated in the evolution of the gene family. We postulated that the expansion of the aqp gene family in common carp was the result of an additional whole genome duplication event and that the aqp gene family in other teleosts has been lost in their evolution history with the reason that the functions of genes are redundant and conservation. Expression patterns were assessed in various tissues, including brain, heart, spleen, liver, intestine, gill, muscle, and skin, which demonstrated the comprehensive expression profiles of aqp genes in the tetraploidized genome. Significant gene expression divergences have been observed, revealing substantial expression divergences or functional divergences in those duplicated aqp genes post the latest WGD event. Conclusions To some extent, the gene families are also considered as a unique source for evolutionary studies. Moreover, the whole set of common carp aqp gene family provides an essential genomic resource for future biochemical, toxicological, physiological, and evolutionary studies in common carp.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a major infectious disease of the poultry caused by a virulent strain of Avian Paramyxovirus - 1, that is a single strand non-segmented negative sense RNA virus. ND virus is major threat to the poultry industry in many countries of the world. The study was aimed to isolate and identify Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by using a haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. A total 100 samples of infected and dead birds were collected from different poultry farms. The weight of the birds was ranged 1000-1200g. The birds were divided into 3 groups. Haemagglutination assay (HA) was performed to detect the presence of NDV in suspension of infected homogenized tissues and it was found that HA is not the best method to detect the virus when it is in trace amounts. RT-PCR using NDV specific primers analyzed different clinical and postmortem samples. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and specific primers was used for determining the presence of viruses. It was found that the virus was present in most of the infected samples except the serum of infected birds. During multiple sequence alignment (MSA) it was found that, our isolates have high homology (98%) with other reported NDV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our isolate was closely related with viscerotropic velogenic types of NDV, which are highly pathogenic Newcastle disease virus.

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) gene family is considered to be one of the largest gene families in all forms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic life. Although the ABC transporter genes have been annotated in some species, detailed information about the ABC superfamily and the evolutionary characterization of ABC genes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) are still unclear. In this research, we identified 61 ABC transporter genes in the common carp genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they could be classified into seven subfamilies, namely 11 ABCAs, six ABCBs, 19 ABCCs, eight ABCDs, two ABCEs, four ABCFs, and 11 ABCGs. Comparative analysis of the ABC genes in seven vertebrate species including common carp, showed that at least 10 common carp genes were retained from the third round of whole genome duplication, while 12 duplicated ABC genes may have come from the fourth round of whole genome duplication. Gene losses were also observed for 14 ABC genes. Expression profiles of the 61 ABC genes in six common carp tissues (brain, heart, spleen, kidney, intestine, and gill) revealed extensive functional divergence among the ABC genes. Different copies of some genes had tissue-specific expression patterns, which may indicate some gene function specialization. This study provides essential genomic resources for future studies in common carp.

In humans, the frizzled (FZD) gene family encodes 10 homologous proteins that commonly localize to the plasma membrane. Besides being associated with three main signaling pathways for cell development, most FZDs have different physiological effects and are major determinants in the development process of vertebrates and. Here, we identified and annotated the FZD genes in the whole-genome of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a teleost fish, and determined their phylogenetic relationships to FZDs in other vertebrates. Our analyses revealed extensive gene duplications in the common carp that have led to the 26 FZD genes that we detected in the common carp genome. All 26 FZD genes were assigned orthology to the 10 FZD genes of on-land vertebrates, with none of genes being specific to the fish lineage. We postulated that the expansion of the FZD gene family in common carp was the result of an additional whole genome duplication event and that the FZD gene family in other teleosts has been lost in their evolution history with the reason that the functions of genes are redundant and conservation. Through the expression profiling of FZD genes in common carp, we speculate that the ancestral gene was likely capable of performing all functions and was expressed broadly, while some descendant duplicate genes only performed partial functions and were specifically expressed at certain stages of development.

Background The common carp is an important aquaculture species that is widely distributed across the world. During the long history of carp domestication, numerous carp strains with diverse skin colors have been established. Skin color is used as a visual criterion to determine the market value of carp. However, the genetic basis of common carp skin color has not been extensively studied. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we performed Illumina sequencing on two common carp strains: the reddish Xingguo red carp and the brownish-black Yellow River carp. A total of 435,348,868 reads were generated, resulting in 198,781 assembled contigs that were used as reference sequences. Comparisons of skin transcriptome files revealed 2,012 unigenes with significantly different expression in the two common carp strains, including 874 genes that were up-regulated in Xingguo red carp and 1,138 genes that were up-regulated in Yellow River carp. The expression patterns of 20 randomly selected differentially expressed genes were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Gene pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes indicated that melanin biosynthesis, along with the Wnt and MAPK signaling pathways, is highly likely to affect the skin pigmentation process. Several key genes involved in the skin pigmentation process, including TYRP1, SILV, ASIP and xCT, showed significant differences in their expression patterns between the two strains. Conclusions In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of Xingguo red carp and Yellow River carp skins, and we detected key genes involved in the common carp skin pigmentation process. We propose that common carp skin pigmentation depends upon at least three pathways. Understanding fish skin color genetics will facilitate future molecular selection of the fish skin colors with high market values.