Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the highly contagious viral disease, characterized by fever, sore mouth, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, primarily affecting sheep and goats. Reports suggested variable host response in goats and sheep and this host response vis-a-vis the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has not been investigated. Here, miRNAs were sequenced and proteomics data were generated to identify the role of differentially expressed miRNA (DEmiRNA) in PPR virus (PPRV) infected lung and spleen tissues of sheep and goats. In lungs, 67 and 37 DEmiRNAs have been identified in goats and sheep, respectively. Similarly, in spleen, 50 and 56 DEmiRNAs were identified in goats and sheep, respectively. A total of 20 and 11 miRNAs were found to be common differentially expressed in both the species in PPRV infected spleen and lung, respectively. Six DEmiRNAs—miR-21-3p, miR-1246, miR-27a-5p, miR-760-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 were selected based on their role in viral infections, apoptosis, and fold change. The target prediction analysis of these six selected DEmiRNAs from the proteome data generated, revealed involvement of more number of genes in lung and spleen of goats than in sheep. On gene ontology analysis of host target genes these DEmiRNAs were found to regulate several immune response signaling pathways. It was observed that the pathways viz. T cell receptor signaling, Rap1 signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and B cell receptor signaling governed by DEmiRNAs were more perturbed in goats than in sheep. The data suggests that PPRV-induced miR-21-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 might act cooperatively to enhance viral pathogenesis in the lung and spleen of sheep by downregulating several immune response genes. The study gives an important insight into the molecular pathogenesis of PPR by identifying that the PPRV—Izatnagar/94 isolate elicits a strong host response in goats than in sheep.

Heat stress has adverse effects on fertility of dairy animals. Decline in fertility is linearly associated with an increase in combination of both temperature and humidity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between temperature humidity index (THI) and the pregnancy rate of Murrah buffaloes in a subtropical climate. The effects of genetic and non-genetic factors viz., sire, parity, period of calving and age group at first calving were found non-significant on pregnancy rate. The effect of THI was found significant (p<0.001) on pregnancy rate of Murrah buffaloes calved for first time and overall pregnancy rate. The threshold THI affecting the pregnancy rate was identified as THI 75. The months from October to March showed THI<75 and considered as non heat stress zone (NHSZ), while months from April to September were determined as heat stress zone (HSZ) with THI≥75. The lowest overall pregnancy rate (0.25) was obtained in July with THI 80.9, while the highest overall pregnancy rate (0.59) was found in November with THI 66.1. May and June were identified as critical heat stress zone (CHSZ) within the HSZ with maximum decline (−7%) in pregnancy rate with per unit increase in THI. The highest overall pregnancy rate was estimated as 0.45 in NHSZ with THI value 56.7 to 73.2. The pregnancy rate was found to have declined to 0.28 in HSZ with THI 73.5 to 83.7. However, the lowest pregnancy rate was estimated as 0.27 in CHSZ with THI value 80.3 to 81.6.

In this study, transcriptome analysis of PPRV infected PBMC subsets—T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells, monocytes, and B lymphocytes was done to delineate their role in host response. PPRV was found to infect lymphocytes and not monocytes. The established receptor for PPRV—SLAM was found downregulated in lymphocytes and non-differentially expressed in monocytes. A profound deviation in the global gene expression profile with a large number of unique upregulated genes (851) and downregulated genes (605) was observed in monocytes in comparison to lymphocytes. ISGs—ISG15, Mx1, Mx2, RSAD2, IFIT3, and IFIT5 that play a role in antiviral response and the genes for viral sensors—MDA5, LGP2, and RIG1, were found to be upregulated in lymphocytes and downregulated in monocytes. The transcription factors—IRF-7 and STAT-1 that regulate expression of most of the ISGs were found activated in lymphocytes and not in monocytes. Interferon signaling pathway and RIG1 like receptor signaling pathway were found activated in lymphocytes and not in monocytes. This contrast in gene expression profiles and signaling pathways indicated the predominant role of lymphocytes in generating the antiviral response against PPRV in goats, thus, giving us new insights into host response to PPRV.

Extensive development of canal irrigation system led to formation of unproductive sodic lands, which limited the cultivation of flower crop gladiolus in the basins of major rivers. The purpose of this study was to isolate native rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria from sodic environment and evaluate their growth enhancement and bio-ameloirant properties in gladiolus under sodic soils. Sixteen isolates of plant-growth-promoting rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria were isolated and screened for growth promotion potential. The promising strains were identified and evaluated for growth and production in gladiolus. The plants treated with strains CSR-G-1, CSR-B-2, and CSR-B-3 significantly produced marketable spikes and higher number of florets/spike. Also, the treated plants showed an increased activity of superoxide dismutase, phenyl alanine lyase, catalase, peroxidase, phenols, and proline than control. Further, the soil pH, total carbonates, and sodium adsorption ratio were lower in treated soils. The Na + /K + ratio in leaves of treated plants was observed to be lower than control. In conclusion, these bio-inoculums can be used as growth enhancer and bioameliorant in sodic soils as an eco-friendly management strategy.

Aim:The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of temperature and humidity prevalent under subtropical climate on the breeding values for fertility traits viz. service period (SP), pregnancy rate (PR) and conception rate (CR) of Murrah buffaloes in National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) herd.Materials and Methods:Fertility data on 1379 records of 581 Murrah buffaloes spread over four lactations and climatic parameters viz. dry bulb temperature and relative humidity (RH) spanned over 20 years (1993-2012) were collected from NDRI and Central Soil and Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India. Monthly average temperature humidity index (THI) values were estimated. Threshold THI value affecting fertility traits was identified by fixed least-squares model analysis. Three zones of non-heat stress, heat stress and critical heat stress zones were developed in a year. The genetic parameters heritability (h2) and repeatability (r) of each fertility trait were estimated. Genetic evaluation of Murrah buffaloes was performed in each zone with respect to their expected breeding values (EBV) for fertility traits.Results:Effect of THI was found significant (p<0.001) on all fertility traits with threshold THI value identified as 75. Based on THI values, a year was classified into three zones: Non heat stress zone(THI 56.71-73.21), HSZ (THI 75.39-81.60) and critical HSZ (THI 80.27-81.60). The EBVfor SP, PR, CR were estimated as 138.57 days, 0.362 and 69.02% in non-HSZ while in HSZ EBV were found as 139.62 days, 0.358 and 68.81%, respectively. EBV for SP was increased to 140.92 days and for PR and CR, it was declined to 0.357 and 68.71% in critical HSZ.Conclusion:The negative effect of THI was observed on EBV of fertility traits under the non-HSZ and critical HSZ Thus, the influence of THI should be adjusted before estimating the breeding values for fertility traits in Murrah buffaloes.

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