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Background: Asthma is the main reason of disability, health resource exploitation and low quality of life for those who are affected. It is estimated that nearly 300 million people in the world are suffering from asthma. Studies have identified 18 genomic regions and more than 100 genes associated with asthma. Among these candidate genes, IL-17F plays a very interesting role in asthma. This study was conducted to predict the conformational and functional impact of asthma-associated IL-17F polymorphisms on protein product of the corresponding gene using Phyre2, PolyPhen2 and SIFT softwares. Methods: In the present study, 10 significant missense SNPs (rs763780, rs144576902, rs11465553, rs368500268, rs141798304, rs2397084, rs146083682, rs200163061, rs376671742, and rs373228601) were taken from Ensembl Genome Browser database. Polymorphism-induced protein structural changes were predicted using Protein Homology analogY Recognition Engine V2.0 (PHYRE2) program. The possible impact of an amino acid substitution on the function of protein was analyzed using PolyPhen-2 (Polymorphism Phenotyping Version2) and SIFT (Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant) tools. Results: The analysis revealed mutant proteins having structural changes in the number of atoms, H-bonds, turns and helices. While wild copy has 82 H-bonds, 5 helices and 20 turns, the mutant types show considerable changes. At functional level also, substantial changes were observed between the wild protein and the mutant one. Conclusion: A single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene sequence can lead to the substantial structural and functional variations in the protein product of the gene, a process that may account for etiology of a number of complex diseases including asthma.

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Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aerial parts of Aster indamellus Grierson, Calamintha umbrosa Benth. and Erigeron annuus (L.) Pres.were analyzed by GC, GC/MS. The major acetylenic constituent (cis-lachnophyllum ester) of E. annuus was isolated and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectra. Their toxicity and repellent effect against Lipaphiserysimi was tested. Oils of E. annuus and C. umbrosa exhibited higher toxicity on direct spray and by fumigation. LC₅₀ value of E. annuus oil was 0.43 mg/ml as direct spray. By fumigation, LC₅₀ value for E. annuus was 1.29 ml/l air, while for C. umbrosa;it was 1.00 ml/l air. With acetylenic ester, about half of L. erysimi were killed at 10 mg/ml approximately within 13.25 h, while with E. annuus oil the LT₅₀ value was approximately 8.89 h. In conclusion, the EO of E. annuus and its acetylenic constituent have potential as biopesticide for economically important crop pests.

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Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida are major limiting factors to potato cultivation globally. Effective use of nematode antagonistic bio-agents is a potentially important component of the eco-friendly agro-farming. Pseudomonas fluorescens and Purpureocillium lilacinum are known for their nematode antagonistic potential and plant growth promotion ability. The effect of seed treatment with liquid suspension of P. fluorescens at 1 l/ton seeds and soil drenching with suspension of P. lilacinum at 5 l/ha, singly and jointly, was studied to minimize the damage caused by PCNin potato plants under field conditions in two regions in India. Both applications showed significantly greater PCN suppression and better plant growth promotion in comparison to solo application. The both application showed the highest reduction of cyst population (75.7%) in soil, female population (79.9%) in root and egg numbers per soil of each location (84%). The potato plants from P. fluorescens-seed treatment and P. lilacinum-soil drenching both applied plots were 33.5% taller with 45.6% more number of tubers than untreated plants. The tuber yield was also significantly higher (35.9%) in both application than untreated control. There was no significant difference on the root colonization of P. fluorescens and P. lilacinum in solo and both treatments.
 

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The Nandhour Landscape located in an eco-fragile biodiversity rich Terai Arc Landscape of India is protected in the form of a wildlife sanctuary and is least explored in terms of insect diversity and functions. Therefore, this study aimed to provide baseline information on the biodiversity of insects and their ecological functions in tropical to sub-tropical forest ecosystems which is important for the successful long-term provisioning of ecosystem functions and services in the protected landscape. Using standardized sampling techniques, the present study examined the structure and composition of insect assemblages in terms of their comparative diversity and richness across a range of habitat types in the Nandhour Landscape. Besides, the present study also evaluated the ecological significance of insect fauna. A total of 230 insect species belonging to 47 families and nine orders were recorded from various habitats and Lepidoptera was the most dominant insect order in terms of both richness and abundance, followed by Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata and others. Species diversity and richness were the highest in dense moist and open dry riverine forests, while the least in plantation forest and agricultural land. The heterogeneous structure and composition substantiated the importance of overall spatial heterogeneity and natural forests in sustaining and maintaining the rich insect diversity. Conservation of insect diversity is highly important as several species provide crucial ecosystem services and aid in the functioning of various ecologically fragile habitats of the landscape.

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Background: To evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 and IL-6 polymorphism, a meta- analysis was conducted on seven studies, comprising 2265 controls and 1686 cases.
Materials & Methods: The literature on IL-6 polymorphism and its correlation with COVID-19 severity was extensively reviewed, covering research up to August 2023. Various databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase were utilized for literature search. Data analysis was performed using Cochrane Rob Tool 2 and Review Manager 5 software.
Findings: In this meta-analysis, none of the models showed a correlation between IL-6 polymorphism and COVID-19, including the allelic (G vs C, OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.63–1.64, p= .22, I2=91%), homozygote (GG vs. CC, OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.41–2.83, p= .87, I2=79%),
heterozygote (GC vs. CC, OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.34–1.78, p= .55, I2=73%), dominant (GG + GC vs CC, OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.32–1.95, p= .61, I2=81%), and recessive (OR: 1.26, 95% CI:
0.51–3.10, p= .61, I2=81%) models. Notably, funnel plot analysis revealed no indication of publication bias.
Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis indicated no significant correlation between IL-6 polymorphism and COVID-19 severity, suggesting insufficient data to establish a link between IL-6 (rs1800795) and more severe COVID-19 cases.

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Odonata diversity of the Kuruva Islands in Wayanad, a part of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot in southern India, was studied for a year using transect counts. A total of 59 species were recorded of which 7 are endemic to the Western Ghats. Herb cover, shrub cover, open space, water pH, air temperature, and a composite water chemistry variable incorporating conductivity, TDS, and salinity emerged as the most important predictors of Odonata diversity. The distribution of the endemic and Vulnerable Disparoneura apicalis (Fraser, 1924) in the islands is influenced by particular species of plants that act as their perching posts and ovipositing sites. It is recommended that the tourists visiting the Kuruva Islands be sensitized about the importance of the place as an odonate habitat. The highly range-restricted D. apicalis can be made a flagship species for the conservation of this unique ecosystem.

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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a biodiversity hotspot in India, hosts a diverse array of insect species, many of which are endemic to the region. The present work focuses on the pyraloid moth diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and significantly expands the knowledge of the known pyraloid moth fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reporting new distributional records for 19 species. The work provides differential diagnoses, distributional data, and microphotographs of adult genitalia, including the first descriptions of genitalia structures for five species, namely Tatobotys varanesalis (Walker, 1859); Ravanoa xiphialis (Walker, 1859); Nosophora albiguttalis Swinhoe, 1890; Nosophora conjunctalis Walker, 1866; and Macaretaera hesperis Meyrick, 1886. Additionally, the documentation of seven genera new to the archipelago, viz. Macaretaera Meyrick, 1886; Ravanoa Moore, 1885; Bocchoris Moore, 1885; Botyodes Guenée, 1854; Hemopsis Kirti & Rose, 1987; Zitha Walker, 1866 and Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889, highlights the biogeographic significance of this underexplored region and the need for continued faunistic surveys.

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The compatibility studies of Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf1) with azoxystrobin at differ-ent concentrations viz., 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 ppm revealed that it was compatible with all the concentrations of azoxystrobin tested and the growth of the bacterium was unaffected even at the maximum concentration of 300 ppm. The field experiment revealed a foliar application of Pf1 (2.5 kg ha-1) and azoxystrobin (250 ml ha-1) combined, reduced downy mildew as well as powdery mildew disease severities more than azoxystrobin (250 and 500 ml ha-1) alone. An application of Pf1+azoxystrobin treatment recorded only 2.22 and 1.00 Percent Disease Index (PDI) of downy mildew and 1.85 and 0.50 PDI of powdery mildew during the first and second seasons, respectively. The treatment also recorded a maximum fruit yield of 14.30 and 15.65 tonnes ha-1 for the first and second seasons, re-spectively. Application of Pf1 along with azoxystrobin significantly increased the survival of Pf1 in the phylloplane of cucumber crop. In addition, there was multifold increase in peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, ß-1, 3 glucanase, chitinase and phenolics in plants treated with Pf1+azoxystrobin.

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The Palni Hills, part of the Western Ghats Mountain range in southern India, constitute a biodiversity hotspot, and their high elevation creates unique ecological conditions. Despite global recognition of the region as a biodiversity hotspot, many taxonomic groups remain poorly studied, including mayflies. We conducted a survey of mayflies in the Palni Hills to document the current diversity profile and analyse their altitudinal distribution patterns, ranging from 346 to 1685 m asl. Our sampling from April to October 2023 covered eleven sites, resulting in the collection of 788 individuals, representing 24 species, 16 genera, and six families. Four species are reported for the first time from Palni Hills. Notably, the families Baetidae, Heptageniidae, and Leptophlebiidae were the most species-rich, although individual population densities remained low. We have provided the updated taxonomic hierarchy, current diversity profile, and abundance of mayflies of Palni Hills. We have also highlighted the knowledge gaps in the taxonomy and distribution of Ephemeroptera within this study area

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Sewage effluent is the carrier of huge amounts of N (0.09 to 0.16%), P (0.023 to 0.029 %), and K (0.11 to 0.18%) and as well as it is rich in organic carbon (3.27%). Transfer of the toxic trace metal (Pb) from the contaminated site can be seized out from the food chain through application of FeSO4.7H2O and CaSO4 in a larger area. The efficacy of the toxic metal immobilization through an application of FeSO4.7H2O and CaSO4 was studied in the laboratory and tested in the field. In batch experiments, application of FeSO4 at the rate of 5% (on soil weight basis) indicated a greater decrease in soil pH (from 7.54 to 5.55) in half an hour of shaking period as a result of which water soluble and exchangeable Pb concentrations decreased by 100%. Application of CaSO4 also decreases soil pH, as well as Pb concentration in soil solution. Pot culture experiments with two flower and leafy vegetable plants also show decrease in bioavailability of Pb in FeSO4 treated soils.

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Linseed is an important oilseed and fibre crop predominantly grown in India. The aim of the present research was to evaluate genetic diversity and patterns of relationships among the 58 genotypes through 10 morphological traits and 12 polymorphic microsatellite (SSR) markers. Euclidean analysis of agro-morphological traits grouped the 58 genotypes into four clusters of which cluster I was the largest with 20 accessions while clusters II and IV were most genetically diverse due to maximum inter-cluster distance. Principal component analysis revealed three traits accounted for more than 86% of the total variation. A total of 41 alleles were amplified with 12 SSRs having an average of 5.71 alleles per primer locus. The Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) varied between 0.18 to 0.78. Based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient, the genetic distance varied from 0.07 to 0.89 with an average of 0.54±0.10. The genotypes RKY-14, KL-213, LC-185 and Kartika were found to be the most divergent among all the genotypes studied on the basis of genetic distance. The most diverse genotypes identified in this study can be used in breeding programs to broaden the genetic base of the linseed germplasm.