The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created havoc worldwide. Due to the non-availability of any vaccine or drugs against COVID-19, immunotherapies involving convalescent plasma, immunoglobulins, antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal), and the use of immunomodulatory agents to enhance immunity are valuable alternative options. Cell-based therapies including natural killer cells, T cells, stem cells along with cytokines and toll-like receptors (TLRs) based therapies are also being exploited potentially against COVID-19. Future research need to strengthen the field of developing effective immunotherapeutics and immunomodulators with a thrust of providing appropriate, affordable, convenient, and cost-effective prophylactic and treatment regimens to combat global COVID-19 crisis that has led to a state of medical emergency enforcing entire countries of the world to devote their research infrastructure and manpower in tackling this pandemic.

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Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are now proven as essential regulatory elements, playing diverse roles in many biological processes including mammary gland development. However, little is known about their roles in the bovine lactation process. Results To identify and characterize the roles of lncRNAs in bovine lactation, high throughput RNA sequencing data from Jersey (high milk yield producer), and Kashmiri cattle (low milk yield producer) were utilized. Transcriptome data from three Kashmiri and three Jersey cattle throughout their lactation stages were utilized for differential expression analysis. At each stage (early, mid and late) three samples were taken from each breed. A total of 45 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between the three stages of lactation. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were found co-expressed with genes involved in the milk synthesis processes such as GPAM, LPL, and ABCG2 indicating their potential regulatory effects on milk quality genes. KEGG pathways analysis of potential cis and trans target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs indicated that 27 and 48 pathways were significantly enriched between the three stages of lactation in Kashmiri and Jersey respectively, including mTOR signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling, and RAP1 signaling pathways. These pathways are known to play key roles in lactation biology and mammary gland development. Conclusions Expression profiles of lncRNAs across different lactation stages in Jersey and Kashmiri cattle provide a valuable resource for the study of the regulatory mechanisms involved in the lactation process as well as facilitate understanding of the role of lncRNAs in bovine lactation biology.

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Aims: Under the innovative concept of integrated farming, a trial using vanraja birds was conducted to find out the comparative performance of birds reared in confinement and outdoor in orchards. Study Design: 600 Vanraja birds of one month age were divided into two equal groups was conducted. One group (T1) that served as control was confined to shed and put on concentrate feeding and the another  group (T2) were given free access to the KVK orchard during day and confined to shelter during night and were allowed to feed on herbage, insects and other scavenging resources during the day and in the evening hours were offered kitchen waste comprising of leftover rice, vegetable waste, egg shells, leftover pulses etc. collected from the hostels of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama that are in the close vicinity of the Kendra. Methodology: The two groups of vanraja birds were compared with respect to body weight gain, egg production and mortality rate and at the end of 40 weeks trial the concentrate feeding cost in case of free range reared birds was reduced and there was less mortality, increase in the body weight and egg production with additional income from the existing orchards as compared to the control group kept confined to sheds Results and Conclusion: This innovative model of integrating the poultry with horticulture has been termed as horti-poultry model that proved to increase performance of birds with respect to decreased mortality, lower body weight (fat accumulation) that caused increased egg production and lower mortality. Further an additional income of 101850/hectare of land was observed. The model when replicated in fields is expected to be game changer in improving rural income by rearing birds in orchards.