Inoculation Rate Research Articles

Analyzing the Role of Different Molybdenum doses and Rhizobium Inoculation in Optimizing Nutrient Absorption and Yield in Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cv. AVCP 1

Legumes, along with cereals, can be considered a main plant source of energy and quality proteins. A versatile legume crop, cowpeas offer economic, agronomic, environmental, and nutritional advantages. Cowpeas have a high total protein level and a relatively low fat content, making them nutritionally similar to other pulses. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of different rates of ammonium molybdate and Rhizobium inoculation on the yield and nutrient uptake of vegetable cowpea. There were 12 treatment combinations comprising six concentrations of molybdenum i.e. M0:control, M1: soil application of molybdenum @ 200 g ha-1, M2: soil application of molybdenum @ 300 g ha-1, M3: seed treatment of molybdenum 25 g ha-1 seeds, M4: seed treatment of molybdenum 50 g ha-1 seeds and M5: seed treatment of molybdenum 6 ml kg-1 seeds and two levels of Rhizobium i.e. R0: without Rhizobium seed treatment, R1: with Rhizobium (10 ml kg-1 seed) seed treatment in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. Results indicated that the application of ammonium molybdate and Rhizobium inoculation significantly improved total cowpea yield. The highest yield was observed with the treatment combination of 300 g ha⁻¹ ammonium molybdate (M₂) and Rhizobium inoculation (R₁). Nutrient analysis revealed that phosphorus, potassium and iron content in cowpea pods significantly increased with ammonium molybdate and Rhizobium treatments. The highest phosphorus and potassium contents were recorded with M₂ treatment, while the maximum iron content was found in M₃ treatment. Rhizobium treated seeds (R₁) also enhanced phosphorus, potassium and iron content in the pods. In terms of nutrient uptake, the highest nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were observed with the combined M₂R₁ treatment. Similarly, the highest potassium uptake in pods and total potassium uptake were recorded with M₂R₁ treatment, respectively. The interaction between ammonium molybdate and Rhizobium inoculation showed significant effects on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake, highlighting the importance of these treatments in enhancing cowpea nutrient absorption and yield. The use of biofertilizers can be highly successful in restoring agricultural soil, and this study highlights the possibility of combining Rhizobium inoculation with ammonium molybdate treatment to maximize nutrient uptake and enhance cowpea yield in sustainable agriculture production.

Two mosquito salivary antigens demonstrate promise as biomarkers of recent exposure to P. falciparum infected mosquito bites.

Measuring malaria transmission intensity using the traditional entomological inoculation rate is difficult. Antibody responses to mosquito salivary proteins like SG6 have been used as biomarkers of exposure to Anopheles mosquito bites. Here, we investigate four mosquito salivary proteins as potential biomarkers of human exposure to mosquitoes infected with P. falciparum: mosGILT, SAMSP1, AgSAP, and AgTRIO. We tested population-level human immune responses in longitudinal and cross-sectional plasma from individuals with known P. falciparum infection from low and moderate transmission areas in Senegal using a multiplexed magnetic bead-based assay. AgSAP and AgTRIO were the best indicators of recent exposure to infected mosquitoes. Antibody responses to AgSAP, in a moderate endemic area, and to AgTRIO in both low and moderate endemic areas, were significantly higher than responses in a healthy non-endemic control cohort (p-values = 0.0245, 0.0064, and <0.0001 respectively). No antibody responses significantly differed between the low and moderate transmission area, or between equivalent groups during and outside the malaria transmission seasons. For AgSAP and AgTRIO, reactivity peaked 2-4 weeks after clinical P. falciparum infection and declined 3 months after infection. Reactivity to AgSAP and AgTRIO peaked after infection, with no differences between transmission seasons within region or between low and moderate transmission regions. This suggests that reactivity reflects exposure to infectious mosquitoes or recent bites rather than general mosquito exposure. Kinetics suggest reactivity is relatively short-lived. AgSAP and AgTRIO are promising candidates to incorporate into multiplexed assays for serosurveillance of population-level changes in P. falciparum-infected mosquito exposure.

The efficacy of attractive targeted sugar baits in reducing malaria vector abundance in low-endemicity settings of northwest Mali

BackgroundAttractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have the potential to significantly reduce infective female Anopheles mosquitoes in arid areas, such as in Northern Mali. Malaria is epidemic in the north due to the limited viability of Anopheles species in the desert climate.The goal of this study was to determine of the effect of ATSB on the number of older female An. gambiae and on the number of sporozoite-positive females in villages in northern Mali.MethodsVillages were located in the north of Mali. In this study, 5677 ATSB stations were deployed, two on each home, in ten villages during late July and early August 2019. Ten villages served as controls. After a pre-treatment monitoring period in July, An. gambiae populations were monitored again from August to December using CDC-UV light traps, pyrethrum spray catches (PSC), and human landing catches (HLC). Mosquitoes were dissected to estimate their age, while ELISA detected sporozoite positivity. The monthly entomological inoculation rates (EIRs) were calculated for HLC indoors and outdoors. Data from villages were compared using t-tests, while bait station weighted density versus amount of collected females was checked with a Pearson’s correlation.ResultsA total of 2703 female An. gambiae were caught from treated villages, 4582 from control villages, a 41.0% difference. Dissection of 1759 females showed that ATSB significantly reduced the number of older females. The proportion of older females in treated villages was 0.93% compared to 9.4% in control villages. ELISA analysis of 7285 females showed that bait stations reduced the number of sporozoite-positive females. The infective females in treated villages was 0.30% compared to 2.73% in the controls. The greater the density of bait stations deployed, the fewer the older, infective females (P < 0.05).EIRs were low in control villages except in months when An. gambiae populations were high. EIRs in ATSB placement villages remained zero. Significant reductions (P < 0.0001) in An. gambiae males were observed.ConclusionsBait stations reduced all measures of vector populations in this study. In a low-transmission setting, ATSB has the potential to greatly reduce malaria.

Why does malaria transmission continue at high levels despite universal vector control? Quantifying persistent malaria transmission by Anopheles funestus in Western Province, Zambia

BackgroundSome settings continue to experience a high malaria burden despite scale-up of malaria vector control to high levels of coverage. Characterisation of persistent malaria transmission in the presence of standard control measures, also termed residual malaria transmission, to understand where and when individuals are exposed to vector biting is critical to inform refinement of prevention and control strategies.MethodsSecondary analysis was performed using data collected during a phase III cluster randomized trial of attractive targeted sugar bait stations in Western Province, Zambia. Two seasonal cohorts of children aged 1–14 years were recruited and monitored monthly during the malaria transmission season, concurrent with entomological surveillance using a combination of human landing catch (HLC) and Centres for Disease Control (CDC) light traps at randomly selected households in study clusters. Behavioural data from cohort participants were combined with measured Anopheles funestus landing rates and sporozoite positivity to estimate the human behaviour-adjusted entomological inoculation rate (EIR).ResultsBehavioural data from 1237 children over 5456 child-visits in 20 entomology surveillance clusters were linked with hourly landing rates from 8131 female An. funestus trapped by HLC. Among all An. funestus tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 3.3% were sporozoite-positive. Mean EIR directly measured from HLC was 0.07 infectious bites per person per night (ib/p/n). When accounting for child locations over the evening and night, the mean behaviour-adjusted EIR was 0.02 ib/p/n. Children not sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) experienced 13.6 infectious bites per person per 6 month season, 8% of which occurred outdoors, while ITN users received 1.3 infectious bites per person per 6 month season, 86% of which were received outdoors. Sleeping under an ITN can prevent approximately 90% of potential An. funestus bites among children.ConclusionsIn this setting ITNs have a high personal protective efficacy owing to peak An. funestus biting occurring indoors while most individuals are asleep. However, despite high household possession of ITNs (>90%) and high individual use (>70%), children in this setting experience more than one infectious bite per person per 6 month transmission season, sufficient to maintain high malaria transmission and burden. New tools and strategies are required to reduce the malaria burden in such settings.Graphical

Influence of future climate scenarios using CMIP 5 data on malaria transmission in India

BackgroundVector-borne diseases, such as malaria, pose a significant global threat, and climatological factors greatly influence their intensity. Tropical countries, like India, are particularly vulnerable to such diseases, making accurate estimation of malaria risk crucial.MethodsThis study utilized the well-known Vector-borne Disease Community Model, VECTRI, developed by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste. The model was implemented to estimate malaria’s Entomological Inoculation Rate (EIR). Future climatic prediction datasets, including CMIP 5 and population data sets, were used as inputs for the analysis. Three RCP scenarios are considered (Representative Concentration Pathways are climate change scenarios that project radiative forcing to 2100 due to future greenhouse gas concentrations). The projections covered the period from 1 Jan, 2020, to 31 Dec, 2029.ResultsThe estimated mean EIR for the years 2020–2029 ranged, and a significant decline in malaria risk was observed with all RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 scenarios. Each year 0.3 to 2.6 [min–max] EIR/person/day decline is observed with a strong decline in man rainfall ranging from 5 to 17 [min–max] mm/year and associated high temperatures ranging from 0.03 to 0.06 [min–max] °C/year. During the post-monsoon period, August to November were identified as highly prone to malaria transmission. Spatial analysis revealed that the east coast of India faced a higher vulnerability to malaria risk, which kept increasing through RCP scenarios. Thus, it is essential to exercise caution, especially in areas with heavy rainfall.ConclusionThis research provides valuable insights for policy-makers, highlighting the need to implement future strategies to mitigate malaria risk effectively. By utilizing these findings, appropriate measures can be taken to combat the threat posed by malaria and protect public health.

Optimizing Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation for Enhanced Summer and Autumn Tea Quality

The level of consumption of summer tea is a problem in the development of China’s tea industry. Current strategies to enhance the quality of summer and autumn teas primarily target the cultivation environment, with less emphasis on processing improvements. This study aimed to optimize the fermentation parameters to impact the quality of summer and autumn teas. We screened four strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) suitable for tea fermentation and determined their optimal mix. This optimized blend was applied to ferment summer and autumn teas. Through single-factor experiments, we evaluated the impact of various processing parameters, including the fixation method, rolling degree, inoculation amount, glucose concentration, fermentation temperature, and fermentation duration, on LAB growth and tea quality. The optimal processing conditions were established as microwave fixation, heavy rolling, an inoculation rate of 1.8% LAB, glucose addition at 8.8%, and fermentation at 36.5 °C for five days. Analysis revealed that the fermentation process significantly reduced the levels of polyphenols and ester-type catechins, which are associated with astringency and bitterness while enhancing the content of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Specifically, after five days, polyphenol content decreased by 26.89%, and GABA levels increased from 0.051 mg/g to 0.126 mg/g. The predominant aroma compounds in the fermented tea were alcohols with floral and fruity scents, constituting 54.63% of the total aroma profile. This research presents a methodical approach to reduce the astringency and bitterness of summer and autumn teas while concurrently increasing GABA levels.

Seedling Growth and Nutritional Status of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Robinia pseudoacacia as Response to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and K-Humate

ABSTRACT This study aimed to reveal the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae and K-humate on some of the morphological characteristics and growth of Russian olive (RO; Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) and black locust (BL; Robinia pseudoacacia L.). The indigenous mycorrhizal spores (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Claroideoglomus luteum, and Funneliformis mosseae) collected from rhizospheres of RO and BL trees in afforestation sites located in Central Anatolia. In addition, commercial mycorrhizal mixture and K-humate were used as treatments. Five treatments (1—indigenous mycorrhizal fungi, 2—K-humate, 3—indigenous mycorrhizal fungi + K-humate, 4—commercial mycorrhizal fungi, and 5—control) were assigned in a completely randomized design for both tree species. Four months after the treatments, inoculation rate, above-ground seedling height, fresh and dry weight, root collar diameter, length, fresh, and dry weight, leaf area index, shot-to-root dry weight ratio, seedling height to root collar diameter ratio, and Dickson quality index were determined. Plant and soil analyses were carried out to determine the effects of treatments on plant and soil nutrition. Indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and K-humate combinations had positive effects on the morphological characteristics and nutritional status of the seedlings. The indigenous mycorrhizal and K-humate interaction showed the most pronounced effects on RO growth and nutrition.

Analysis of management factors influencing Anaplasma marginale transmission

The aim of this study was to identify factors that play a key role in the epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis by adapting a model primarily developed for cattle babesiosis. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to study the proportion of calf herds in endemic stability/instability for A. marginale in a semi-arid area of Argentina. The A. marginale inoculation rate (h) was calculated from age-specific seroprevalence using double-antigen sandwich ELISA in 58 herds of 4.5–8.5-month–old calves. Herds were considered to be in endemic instability (EI) at h < 0.005 and, therefore, at risk of anaplasmosis outbreaks. A generalized linear model was performed to explore husbandry practices associated with differences in A. marginale transmission. Additionally, spatial clustering of herds with the same immunological status was analyzed using spatial scan statistics (SatScan, Bernoulli model). Spearman's correlation was used to explore a possible association between A. marginale h and Babesia bovis and B. bigemina h (data obtained in previous works). Almost half (43 %) of the herds were in the EI zone for A. marginale. Calves raised under forage combinations had a greater risk of being in EI (OR = 5.41, CI95 %OR = 1.43–20.41) than those reared exclusively on permanent pastures, where cattle density is higher (P = 0.01). Moreover, calves from herds treated only with pyrethroids to control ticks had more chances of being in EI (OR = 4.16, CI95 %OR = 1.12–15.38) than calves from herds receiving different acaricide combinations (P = 0.03). Calves from herds subjected to more than two treatments against Haematobia irritans had higher odds for EI (OR = 5.69, CI95 %OR = 1.24–26.11) than those from herds using fewer than two treatments (P = 0.02). The spatial analysis revealed no spatial clustering of the immune status of the herds (P = 0.67 and P = 0.74 for low and high incidence rates, respectively). A significant variation between farms was observed in A. marginale h (CV = 90.38 %). The correlation analysis revealed a strong epidemiological link of A. marginale h with B. bovis h (Rho=0.794, P<0.001) and B. bigemina h (Rho=0.839, P<0.001). Given that R. microplus is the only vector of B. bovis and B. bigemina in the region, the results of this work strongly suggest an active and significant role of R. microplus in the transmission of A. marginale.

Hg2+ removal characteristics of a strain of mercury-tolerant bacteria screened from heavy metal-contaminated soil in a molybdenum-lead mining area.

In this study, the mercury-tolerant strain LTC105 was isolated from a contaminated soil sample collected from a molybdenum-lead mine in Luanchuan County, Henan Province, China. The strain was shown to be highly resistant to mercury, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 mg·L-1. After a 24-h incubation in LB medium with 10 mg·L-1 Hg2+, the removal, adsorption, and volatilization rates of Hg2+ were 97.37%, 7.3%, and 90.07%, respectively, indicating that the strain had significant influence on mercury removal. Based on the results of Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the investigation revealed that the primary function of LTC105 was to encourage the volatilization of mercury. The LTC105 strain also showed strong tolerance to heavy metals such as Mn2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+. According to the results of the soil incubation test, the total mercury removal rate of the LTC105 inoculation increased by 16.34% when the initial mercury concentration of the soil was 100 mg·L-1 and by 62.28% when the initial mercury concentration of the soil was 50 mg·kg-1. These findings indicate that LTC105 has certain bioremediation ability for Hg-contaminated soil and is a suitable candidate strain for microbial remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil in mining areas.

Entomological effects of attractive targeted sugar bait station deployment in Western Zambia: vector surveillance findings from a two-arm cluster randomized phase III trial

BackgroundAttractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) stations are a novel tool with potential to complement current approaches to malaria vector control. To assess the public health value of ATSB station deployment in areas of high coverage with standard vector control, a two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) of Sarabi ATSB® stations (Westham Ltd., Hod-Hasharon, Israel) was conducted in Western Province, Zambia, a high-burden location were Anopheles funestus is the dominant vector. The trial included 70 clusters and was designed to measure the effect of ATSBs on case incidence and infection prevalence over two 7-month deployments. Reported here are results of the vector surveillance component of the study, conducted in a subset of 20 clusters and designed to provide entomological context to guide overall interpretation of trial findings.MethodsEach month, 200 paired indoor-outdoor human landing catch (HLC) and 200 paired light trap (LT) collections were conducted to monitor An. funestus parity, abundance, biting rates, sporozoite prevalence, and entomological inoculation rates (EIR).ResultsDuring the study 20,337 female An. funestus were collected, 11,229 from control and 9,108 from intervention clusters. A subset of 3,131 HLC specimens were assessed for parity: The mean non-parous proportion was 23.0% (95% CI 18.2–28.7%, total n = 1477) in the control and 21.2% (95% CI 18.8–23.9%, total n = 1654) in the intervention arm, an OR = 1.05 (95% CI 0.82–1.34; p = 0.688). A non-significant reduction in LT abundance (RR = 0.65 [95% CI 0.30–1.40, p = 0.267]) was associated with ATSB deployment. HLC rates were highly variable, but model results indicate a similar non-significant trend with a RR = 0.68 (95%CI 0.22–2.00; p = 0.479). There were no effects on sporozoite prevalence or EIR.ConclusionsAnopheles funestus parity did not differ across study arms, but ATSB deployment was associated with a non-significant 35% reduction in vector LT density, results that are consistent with the epidemiological impact reported elsewhere. Additional research is needed to better understand how to maximize the potential impact of ATSB approaches in Zambia and other contexts.Trial registration number: This trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04800055, 16 March 2021).

Malaria prevalence and transmission in the Zakpota sub-district of central Benin: baseline characteristics for a community randomised trial of a new insecticide for indoor residual spraying

BackgroundMalaria transmission is known to be perennial and heterogeneous in Benin. Studies assessing local malaria prevalence, transmission levels and vector characteristics are critical for designing, monitoring and evaluating new vector control interventions in community trials. We conducted a study in the Zakpota sub-district of central Benin to collect baseline data on household characteristics, malaria prevalence, vector characteristics and transmission dynamics in preparation for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the community impact of VECTRON™ T500, a new broflanilide indoor residual spraying (IRS) product.MethodsA total of 480 children under 5 years of age from the 15 villages of the sub-district were tested for malaria by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catches (HLCs), pyrethrum spray catches (PSCs) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps (CDC-LTs) in selected houses in each village to assess vector density, composition, vector infectivity and prevalence of insecticide resistance markers. Bioassays were performed to detect vector susceptibility to pyrethroids, broflanilide (6 µg/bottle) and clothianidin (90 µg/bottle).ResultsA total of 9080 households were enumerated in the 15 study villages. Insecticide-treated net (ITN) usage was > 90%, with 1–2 ITNs owned per household. Houses were constructed mainly with cement (44%) and mud (38%) substrates or a mixture of cement and mud (18%), and 60% of them had open eaves. The overall prevalence of P. falciparum infection was 19% among surveyed children: 20% among females and 18% among males. The haemoglobin rate showed an anaemia (< 11 g/dl) prevalence of 66%. Anopheles coluzzii and An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) were the two vector species present at an overall proportion of 46% versus 54%, respectively. The human biting rate was 2.3 bites per person per night (b/p/n) and biting occurred mostly indoors compared with outdoors (IRR = 0.776; P = 0.001). The overall proportion of outdoor biting was 44% and exceeded indoor biting in three villages. The sporozoite rate was 2% with a combined yearly entomological inoculation rate (EIR) of 16.1 infected bites per person per year (ib/p/y). There was great variability in malaria transmission risk across the villages, with EIR ranging from 0 to 29.3 ib/p/y. The vector population showed a high intensity of resistance to pyrethroids across the study villages but was largely susceptible to broflanilide and clothianidin.ConclusionsThis study found high levels of malaria prevalence, vector density and transmission in the Zakpota sub-district despite the wide use of insecticide-treated nets. The vector population was mostly indoor resting and showed a high intensity of pyrethroid resistance but was generally fully susceptible to broflanilide. These findings demonstrated the suitability of the study area for the assessment of VECTRON™ T500 in a community randomised trial.Graphical

Biological Control Options for the Management of Tadpole Shrimp (Triops longicaudatus (LeConte)) in California Rice

Tadpole shrimp (Triops longicaudatus) has become a major pest for California rice farmers. Currently, management relies solely on the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. However, resistance to this pyrethroid was confirmed in 2016; thus, identifying an effective and practical biological control method for TPS is a priority. Field trials were conducted from 2017 to 2018 to (1) evaluate the efficacy of the predatory fish Gambusia affinis and the predatory beetles, Laccophilus maculosus (Say) and Tropisternus lateralis (Fabricius), in controlling TPS, (2) test the efficacy of several inoculation rates of Gambusia affinis at controlling TPS and (3) to explore early indicators of TPS activity and damage as monitoring tools. Both Gambusia affinis and the predatory beetle treatments were not significantly different from the commercial standard (lambda-cyhalothrin). Both four and five Gambusia per 1 m2 controlled TPS as well as lambda-cyhalothrin, and we observed that Gambusia affinis was able to reproduce in the field. Water turbidity was significantly correlated with TPS counts (R = 0.85, N = 20, p &lt; 0.0001 (2017); R = 0.58, N = 30, p = 0.0007 (2018)). The number of dislodged seedlings was less reliably correlated with TPS count; in 2017, correlations were significant (R = 0.84, N = 20, p &lt; 0.0001); however, in 2018, correlations were not significant (R = 0.18, N = 30, p = 0.35). With further refinement, water turbidity could play a valuable role in monitoring TPS populations.

Biotransformation of minocycline by a novel strain Kluyvera sp. DM13 isolated from municipal sludge: Performances, removal pathways, and toxicity

Minocycline has been widely used in clinical treatment and its residues were considered to have environmental safety risks due to complex chemical structure. Therefore, it is necessary to find an efficient and environmentally friendly method to remove minocycline from the environment. This study screened and isolated a minocycline degrading strain DM13 from the activated sludge for municipal sewage pipeline, and optimized the biodegradation of minocycline by DM13 under various environmental conditions. The maximum biodegradation efficiency of 50 mg/L minocycline reached 93 % at 72 h with the temperature of 30 °C, the initial pH of 7.0, and the inoculation rate of 3 %. Two potential biotransformation pathways were proposed, including deamination, demethylation, and decarbonylation. The acute toxicity assessment showed that the biotransformation products of minocycline had lower toxicity than the parent compound. In addition, the first-generation tetracycline antibiotics could be removed, suggesting that strain DM13 has the potential for application in treating antibiotic wastewater.

Production and characterization of anti‐hypertensive and anti‐diabetic peptides from fermented sheep milk with anti‐inflammatory activity: in vitro and molecular docking studies

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe present study aimed to evaluate the anti‐hypertensive and anti‐diabetic activities from biologically active peptides produced by fermented sheep milk with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei M11 (MG027695), as well as to purify and characterize the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and anti‐diabetic peptides produced from fermented sheep milk.RESULTSAfter 48 h of fermentation at 37 °C, sheep milk demonstrated significant changes in anti‐diabetic effects and ACE‐I effects, with inhibition percentages observed for ACE inhibition (76.32%), α‐amylase (70.13%), α‐glucosidase (70.11%) and lipase inhibition (68.22%). The highest level of peptides (9.77 mg mL–1) was produced by optimizing the growth conditions, which included an inoculation rate of 2.5% and a 48 h of incubation period. The comparison of molecular weight distributions among protein fractions was conducted through sodium dodecyl‐sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, whereas spots were separated using 2D gel electrophoresis according to both the molecular weight and pH. Peptide characterization with ultra‐filtration membranes at 3 and 10 kDa allowed the study to assess molecular weight‐based separation. Nitric oxide generated by lipopolysaccharide and the secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 immune cells were both inhibited by sheep milk fermented with M11. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to assess changes in functional groups after fermentation, providing insights into the structural changes occurring during fermentation.CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrates that fermentation with L. paracasei (M11) led to significant changes in fermented sheep milk, enhancing its bioactive properties, notably in terms of ACE inhibition and anti‐diabetic activities, and the generation of peptides with bioactive properties has potential health benefits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Seroprevalence and Endemic Status of Babesia ovis by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in East Azerbaijan Province, North-West of Iran.

Babesia ovis, an intraerythrocytic parasite carried by ticks and one of the most common subclinical ovine illnesses, was studied to ascertain its seroprevalence and endemic status in ram and ewe populations in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, in lambs, yearlings, and adults of over two years of age. A total of 960 sheep from 10 cities were selected from Jan 2018 to Nov 2019. Blood samples were collected from each animal and tested for the presence of B. ovis antibodies by applying a developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Checkerboard titrations were used to determine the optimal dilution of the antigen using negative and positive control sera. To determine whether the disease is endemically stable, inoculation rates for each age group were also calculated. Correlation coefficients were calculated between age and infection rates and also between age and inoculation rates. The results revealed an average infection rate of 49.4% in East Azerbaijan Province. There was a positive correlation between the age of animals and susceptibility to infection except for lambs and yearlings, whereas there was no meaningful difference in exposure to B. ovis between rams and ewes. The negative correlation between age and inoculation rates indicates increased disease instability with age. Inoculation rate results revealed the endemically instable status of B. ovis in the studied area. High prevalence rates and endemically instable status of the disease suggest demand for vaccine development and implementation of appropriate control measures for ovine babesiosis to mitigate the associated economic losses.

Efficacy of pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen and pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets on entomological indicators of malaria transmission: third year of a randomised controlled trial in Benin

The present cluster-randomised control trial aims to assess the entomological efficacy of pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen and pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr LLINs compared to the standard pyrethroid-only LLINs, in their third year of community usage. Adult mosquito collections were performed every 3 months, in 4 randomly selected houses in each of the 60 trial clusters, using human landing catches. Adult mosquitoes were morphologically identified and Anopheles vectors were molecularly speciated and screened for the presence of the L1014F kdr mutation using PCR. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection was assessed using ELISA. A subset of An. gambiae s.l. was also dissected to examine parity and fertility rates across study arms. There was no evidence of a significant reduction in indoor vector density and entomological inoculation rate by the pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen [DR 0.94 (95% CI 0.46–1.88), p = 0.8527; and RR 1.10 (95% CI 0.44–2.72), p = 0.8380], and pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr [DR 0.74 (95% CI 0.37–1.48), p = 0.3946; and RR 1.00 (95% CI 0.40–2.50), p = 0.9957] LLINs, respectively. The same trend was observed outdoors. Frequencies of the L1014F kdr mutation, as well as parous and fertility rates, were similar between study arms. In the third year after net distribution, entomological indicators show that the two dual active-ingredients nets performed similarly to the standard pyrethroid-only LLIN. To maintain malaria gains, it is crucial that net distribution cycles fit with their operational lifespan.

Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and mosquitoes influence natural Anopheline biting behavior and transmission

The human infectious reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum is governed by transmission efficiency during vector-human contact and mosquito biting preferences. Understanding biting bias in a natural setting can help target interventions to interrupt transmission. In a 15-month cohort in western Kenya, we detected P. falciparum in indoor-resting Anopheles and human blood samples by qPCR and matched mosquito bloodmeals to cohort participants using short-tandem repeat genotyping. Using risk factor analyses and discrete choice models, we assessed mosquito biting behavior with respect to parasite transmission. Biting was highly unequal; 20% of people received 86% of bites. Biting rates were higher on males (biting rate ratio (BRR): 1.68; CI: 1.28–2.19), children 5–15 years (BRR: 1.49; CI: 1.13–1.98), and P. falciparum-infected individuals (BRR: 1.25; CI: 1.01–1.55). In aggregate, P. falciparum-infected school-age (5–15 years) boys accounted for 50% of bites potentially leading to onward transmission and had an entomological inoculation rate 6.4x higher than any other group. Additionally, infectious mosquitoes were nearly 3x more likely than non-infectious mosquitoes to bite P. falciparum-infected individuals (relative risk ratio 2.76, 95% CI 1.65–4.61). Thus, persistent P. falciparum transmission was characterized by disproportionate onward transmission from school-age boys and by the preference of infected mosquitoes to feed upon infected people.

Reagent-free detection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in field-collected mosquitoes using mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.

Field-derived metrics are critical for effective control of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease kills over half a million people yearly. One key metric is entomological inoculation rate, a direct measure of transmission intensities, computed as a product of human biting rates and prevalence of Plasmodium sporozoites in mosquitoes. Unfortunately, current methods for identifying infectious mosquitoes are laborious, time-consuming, and may require expensive reagents that are not always readily available. Here, we demonstrate the first field-application of mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning (MIRS-ML) to swiftly and accurately detect Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in wild-caught Anopheles funestus, a major Afro-tropical malaria vector, without requiring any laboratory reagents. We collected 7178 female An. funestus from rural Tanzanian households using CDC-light traps, then desiccated and scanned their heads and thoraces using an FT-IR spectrometer. The sporozoite infections were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to establish references for training supervised algorithms. The XGBoost model was used to detect sporozoite-infectious specimen, accurately predicting ELISA and PCR outcomes with 92% and 93% accuracies respectively. These findings suggest that MIRS-ML can rapidly detect P. falciparum in field-collectedmosquitoes, with potential for enhancing surveillance in malaria-endemic regions. The technique is both fast, scanning 60-100 mosquitoes per hour, and cost-efficient, requiring no biochemical reactions and therefore no reagents. Given its previously proven capability in monitoring key entomological indicators like mosquito age, human blood index, and identities of vector species, we conclude that MIRS-ML could constitute a low-cost multi-functional toolkit for monitoring malaria risk and evaluating interventions.

Effect of Rhizobium Bacteria Inoculation Rate on Yield and Yield Components of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) at Awi Zone, Ethiopia

Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) is economically a significant crop in Ethiopia. The yield of field peas in our country has fell due to poor management practices of Bio fertilizer rates usage. Three rates of bio fertilizer (0, 250 and 500g ha-1) were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Number of nodules per plant, Pod numbers per plant, plant height, and effective nodule number of productive tillers, total biomass yield, grain yield, and straw yield were recorded and significantly affected by bio-fertilizer rate application. The determined or the highest grain yield (2671kg ha-1) was recorded from 250 g ha-1 bio-fertilizer rate. Almost 250g ha-1 bio fertilizer rates were superior for the research area. Nevertheless, more investigation has to be done under different locations and seasons to come up with practical recommendations correlated to the current study.

Assessing the potential impact of livestock immunisation and acaricide use on controlling the spread of East Coast fever

Immunisation of livestock with high-quality vaccines and the use of acaricides are highly ranked tick control strategies worldwide. However, the effects of coupling livestock immunisation and acaricide control on mitigating the spread of East Coast Fever (ECF) is not well understood. Effective strategies to curb the disease require an understanding of the influence of control strategies on ECF dynamics. This paper presents a new mathematical model for ECF in ticks and livestock to analyze the effect of livestock immunisation and acaricide control on preventing ECF spread. Our research is focused on examining how vaccine efficacy, inoculation rate, and acaricide efficacy affect disease progression. Our finding is that acaricide control alone may not be sufficient to stop the spread of ECF, even if it has an 80% effectiveness all the time. However, by pairing acaricide control with livestock vaccination, disease transmission is significantly reduced and elimination is possible under certain circumstances. Overall, results show that it is crucial to understand the influence of combining control strategies to mitigate the spread of this devastating livestock disease and enhance decision making among policymakers and livestock keepers.