A new species of troglobitic eel loach Pangio juhuae, is described from Kerala, India. Pangio juhuae sp. nov. is distinguished from its subterranean congeners by the presence of a dorsal fin; four pectoral rays and five segmented anal fin rays. Genetic analyses using mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase 1 gene revealed that P. juhuae is closely related to P. bhujia, being separated by a genetic distance of 1.5%. However, the current species is conspicuously distinct from P. bhujia by the presence of a dorsal fin, among other features. A low genetic distance and significant morphological difference between these two Pangio species suggest that they have diverged from an immediate common ancestor and have evolved distinct adaptations to intricate subterranean niches of the region. Compared to P. bhujia and P. pathala, less evolved troglobitic traits reflect that P. juhuae can also be a connecting species in the evolutionary ladder of terrestrial loaches to subterranean ones. Hence, this could also be an instance of possible subterranean speciation of fishes in underground habitats.

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The reproductive biology of Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus 1758, was studied based on 6167 and 3346 specimens collected weekly along Eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) and Western Bay of Bengal (WBB) respectively during 2014 to 2018. The sex ratio varied significantly (p<0.05) throughout the year with a predominance of females during all months except September and October in EAS while, it did not differ significantly (p<0.05) except during June and July in WBB. The estimated length at first maturity (Lm50) for females was 58.0 cm TL in EAS and 55.5 cm in WBB. Higher Gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were recorded in February and May along EAS and in February and October along WBB. The proportion of ripe and partially spawned fishes were high to moderate during January to May in EAS and during October to March in WBB indicating peak spawning periods for T. lepturus. The presence of ripe, partially spawned, spent and spent-recovering fishes throughout the year in varied proportions implied prolonged spawning throughout the year. Microscopic and histological examination of the ovaries further confirmed T. lepturus to be an asynchronous batch spawner. The estimated absolute fecundity ranged from 21,930 to 1,85,941 [average 28,245±3306 (SE)] and 17,294 to 1,86,667 [average 75,000±10,436 (SE)] per female fish along EAS and WBB respectively. The relative fecundity (per g body weight) varied from 12 to 841 [average 105±12.2 (SE)] and 64 to 241 [average 64±15.1 (SE)] in EAS and WBB respectively.

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Bacterial exopolysaccharides with (1 → 3) linked β-glucans and β-galactans have been identified as potent candidates for wound healing. In this study, a sulfated exopolysaccharide (BAP-2), characterized by its major repeating units as [→3)-β-GlcAp-(1 → 3)-(2,6-di-O-SO3)-β-Galp-(1→], was isolated from seaweed-associated Bacillus altitudinis MTCC13046. Whole-genome analysis of B. altitudinis MTCC13046 revealed the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters coding for saccharin. BAP-2 demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by downregulating the expressions of inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-γ (1.77-fold), interleukins (IL-2/1β/6/12), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (~87 %) along with nitric oxide (~45 %), while upregulating transforming growth factor-β (3.88-fold) in comparison with lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage and human monocytic THP-1 cells. BAP-2 exhibited biocompatibility with dermal fibroblasts, promoting cell adhesion and proliferation by upregulating Ki-67 (fibroblast proliferation marker) (12.66-fold), epidermal growth factor (5.6-fold), and epithelial-cadherin expressions level (~6-fold), after 48 h. Cell cycle progression and cellular interaction studies showed that administration of BAP-2 promotes conversion of human dermal fibroblast cells into the S phase, highlighting its effect on cell proliferation. In vivo experiments demonstrated approximately 98 % wound closure in BAP-2 administered experimental rats along with re-epithelialization of injured tissue. The pharmaceutical characteristics of the (1 → 3)-linked sulfated exopolysaccharide (BAP-2) suggests it could be an effective candidate for the treatment of cutaneous wound.

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Economic burden of diseases on Indian aquaculture sector was estimated to be US$ 2.48 B, 14.95% of annual aquaculture production value. Analysis revealed a higher cost of disease (US$ t−1) in shrimp (1,224.82) followed by marine fish (815.87), IMC+ (364.89), tilapia (260.34), IMC (200.70), and pangasius (pond 198.92; cage 168.36). The major contributors to the disease burden included production loss (23.90%), expenses on prophylactics (50.31%) and therapeutics (17.26%). The economic loss was dominated by diseases of multiple etiology (US$ 468.27 M), bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia (US$ 326.47 M), and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (US$ 88.12 M) in finfish and by Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection (US$ 571.24 M) in shrimp. Multinomial logit regression identified farm size, water source and exchange, stocking biomass and feed type as the main determinants of disease. The study findings would assist in prioritizing resource allocation and developing intervention strategies at the national level for effective and targeted disease management.

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Portunus sanguinolentus is widely distributed all along the Indian coast and the most dominant marine crab landed in the country. In Kerala also, species share is maximum in the marine landings and recorded an average landing of 1200 tonnes during 2007-2018. The bulk of the catch is contributed by trawlers and the species is mainly fished from 20-30 m depth zone. It grows to a maximum size of 20 cm in carapace width (CW) and the estimated life span is approximately three years. Knowledge on the body weight-length/width relationships and relative condition factor in populations is important for estimating the population size of a stock and its exploitation. Hence, the interrelationships between various morphometric characters, viz., Carapace Width (CW) and Length (CL) and Chelar Propodus Length (CPL) and Height (CPH) in males, as well as Carapace Width and length and Abdominal Width (AW) and Length (AL) in females, were estimated using a total of 2476 male and 2965 female crabs. The Carapace Width/Length-Weight relationship was studied in both sexes on a total of 5595 crabs using the allometric growth equation. The allometric relationships between the characters of this set suggest that most relationships are positive and highly significant (P ≤ 0.01). The ‘b’ values for carapace width-weight in males (55-171 mm/CW), females (54-170 mm/CW), and pooled were 2.9657, 2.8028, and 2.8914 respectively. The results show an isometric growth pattern for males and considerable deviation from isometric growth in females and also when all sizes are pooled. An analysis of covariance indicates that there is a significant difference between sexes (P ≤ 0.01) with respect to the carapace width-weight relationship. The condition factor values estimated in males and females (based on CW) were 0.942 ± 0.145 and 1.371 ± 0.255 respectively and the estimated Kn values based on CL were 0.985 ± 0.204 and 1.022 ± 0.233 respectively.

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