Volume 25, Issue 1, 2025 January - July
| Volume 25, No 1 | Pages: |
| 2025 January - July | Articles: 6 |
First record of Pin-tailed Parrotfinch Erythrura prasina (Sparrman, 1788) from India
Lalawmawia Sailo , C. Lawmsangzuala, Elohim C. Lalthakima and Remsiamliana
We report the first confirmed sightings of Pin-tailed Parrotfinch Erythrura prasine from Mizoram and India. Pin-tailed Parrotfinch belongs to the family Estrildidae. In India, this is the only sighting record and photographic record of this species. The sighting details and habitat are discussed in detail.
Scrub typhus infections in relation to traditional agricultural practices and food habits in Mizoram, North East India
Lalfakzuala Pautu, Vanramliana, Hunropuia , Gabriel Rosangkima, Vanlawmpuii Ralte, Mary Lalramchuani, Vanlalruatkima Chinzah, Ramdinmawia
Scrub typhus, a disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is transmitted by trombiculid mites (Leptotrombidium spp.) and is primarily reported in the Asia-Pacific region. These mites act as both vectors and reservoirs. Small mammals, especially rodents, are important in the disease cycle as hosts for infected mites. In Mizoram, Northeast India, traditional slash-and-burn agriculture (jhum cultivation) is a widespread practice and may influence disease patterns. This study analyzed scrub typhus data from 2018 to 2022 to assess the correlation between jhum cultivation and scrub typhus infections, focusing on infected farmers. Over five years, 9,799 farmers were diagnosed with scrub typhus, making up nearly 50% of all reported cases across seven occupational groups. The highest number of cases occurred in 2022 (3,045), followed by 2019 (2,716). Of the infected farmers, 25 (0.25%) succumbed to the disease. Seasonally, infections peaked during the monsoon (33.56%), followed by post-monsoon (26.19%), winter (21.57%), and summer (18.25%). The data suggest a strong link between the seasonal intensity of jhum cultivation and increased scrub typhus infections among farmers, indicating that traditional agricultural practices may contribute significantly to disease transmission in the region.
Evaluation of growth and hydrolytic enzyme activities in Enterococcus faecium PB1, a probiotic bacterium with potential for application in dairy waste water treatment
Jugami Boro, Mintu Medhi, Asahan Ali, Tovikali Zhimo, Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya
Enterococcus faecium PB1 is a gram-positive, round-shaped, commercially important (probiotic) lactic acid bacterium. The present study was aimed to evaluate the ability of this bacterium to utilize the complex disaccharide lactose as a source of carbon for growth, and its enzymatic potential to hydrolyze lactose, proteins, and lipids. The results revealed that E. faecium PB1 can grow in the presence of a range of lactose concentrations (1-5%) with optimum growth at 2%. As with lactose, the bacterium was able to grow well in the presence of simple sugars glucose and galactose and, utilize various other carbohydrates. E. faecium PB1 exhibited β-D-galactosidase activity (an intracellular lactose-hydrolyzing enzyme) at all the concentrations of lactose tested; the maximum being observed at 2%. A neutral to moderate alkaline pH range (7.0-8.5) and mesophilic temperature (37°C) was optimum for β-D-galactosidase activity in E. faecium PB1. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA, a metal ion chelator), glucose and galactose (the breakdown products of lactose) inhibited this activity. E. faecium PB1 also displayed extracellular protein-degrading protease activity in cells grown with lactose and galactose. Although no extracellular lipid-degrading lipase activity could be detected in cells grown with lactose, this activity was present in cells grown with glucose and galactose. Taken together, the ability of the probiotic bacterium E. faecium PB1 to grow at a range of lactose concentrations and its potential to hydrolyze lactose, proteins, and lipids may be suitably exploited for biological treatment of dairy waste waters rich in similar types of organic nutrients.
Pharmacognostic, physicochemical evaluation and preliminary phytochemical screening of a neglected weed from Mizoram, India
Anima Debbarma, Probin Kr Roy, Sonjit Das, Lalhlenmawia Hauzel, Lalhriatpuii Tochhawng
Chromolaena odorata (CO) is a commonly available weed in Mizoram, India, and has been used by traditional healers for a long time in treating wounds, cuts, and infections. However, due to the presence of morphologically similar-looking invasive weed species, there might be a high chance of misidentification, which might result in compromising its therapeutic safety and efficacy. The present study provides a comprehensive pharmacognostic profile of the CO leaf found in Mizoram, India via its detailed macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, along with physicochemical evaluation and phytoconstituent screenings. This study not only provides the evidence of its therapeutic claims but also provides the parameters for its quality control analysis.
Biochemical characterization of Bacillus paramycoides DW1, a bacterial isolate from dairy waste water
Jugami Boro, Mintu Medhi, Asahan Ali, Nchebui Zeliang, Tovikali Zhimo, Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya
Bacillus paramycoides DW1 (hereafter B. paramycoides DW1), an isolate from dairy waste water is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, endo-spore forming bacterium. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of this bacterium to hydrolyze lactose, proteins, and lipids (major organic constituents of dairy waste water), and its potential to grow using lactose, glucose, and galactose as sources of carbon, and ability to utilize other complex carbohydrates. The results suggest that lactose is a good source of carbohydrate for B. paramycoides DW1 growth. Although the best growth of the bacterium was observed in the presence of 2% lactose, it was able to grow even at higher concentration of lactose (5%) usually encountered in dairy waste water, and could also utilize a variety of other carbohydrates, such as xylose, cellobiose, saccharose, trehalose, glucose, and galactose. Concomitant with its growth using lactose, B. paramycoides DW1 displayed lactose-hydrolyzing intracellular β-D-galactosidase activity irrespective of concentrations of lactose with the highest being at 2%. This activity was inhibited in bacterial cells grown in the presence of glucose and galactose and by a metal ion chelator ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) suggesting that the enzymatic reaction is catabolite repressible and requires metal ions for its activity. Further biochemical characterization revealed that a neutral pH (7.0) and mesophilic temperature (37°C) was optimum for β-D-galactosidase activity in B. paramycoides DW1. Additionally, the bacterium was also endowed with extracellular protease (caseinolytic) and lipase activities. Overall, the findings reveal that the potential to hydrolyze lactose, protein, and lipid probably enables B. paramycoides DW1 to grow and survive in nutritionally complex dairy waste water environment and implies that such a bacterium may be a significant contributor to reduction of organic pollutant load in dairy waste water.
A tectono-hydrogeologic investigation on the late medieval Ahom Era ponds of the Brahmaputra Valley, Northeast India
Farha Zaman , Uttam Goswami, Devojit Bezbaruah
The Brahmaputra valley was formed by stratified deposits of Palaeo-Proterozoic to Recent sediments that were drained from the Himalaya, Assam-Arakan, and Shillong-Mikir Hill ranges. The underlying hydrogeologic system was developed by alluvium (sand-silt-clay mixtures) layer. Several ancient kingdoms have thrived because of this hydrogeologic environment as a whole prior to the Ahom dynasty (1228-1826 AD). Ahoms were the final monarchs and they made a major impact on Assam’s history, particularly about pond building methods. This study has investigated tectonic and hydrogeological aspects of the major pond series in the Sivasagar District, Assam, using satellite imageries, subsurface lithologic distribution (panel or fence diagram from boreholes data), water table, and surface water variation. The regional groundwater flow is parallel to the east-west linearly aligned major ponds. The moat, or jamuna, that is built around these large ponds plays a vital part in preserving the water level. The sandy clay layer is found on top of the aquifer creating confined aquifers that have kept the water pressure constant, with the foothills having the maximum water pressure. Majority of ponds close to the foothill, therefore, do not need Jamuna surrounding them. The area is controlled by the splaying of the Jorhat Fault, the Naga Thrust zone, and local tectonic features. Conversely, the water from the Jamuna, paleo-channels, and channels has fed the large ponds in the valley. The water level has been sustained by the hydrogeologic environment as well as the link between the Jamuna and the ponds' effluent-affluent groundwater.
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