The present study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary zinc nanoparticles (size 50 nm) on the growth, biochemical constituents, enzymatic antioxidant levels and the nonspecific immune response of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL). The concentrations of dietary supplement zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg kg(-1) with the basal diet, and the level of Zn in ZnNP-supplemented diets were 0.71, 10.61, 20.73, 40.73, 60.61 and 80.60 mg kg(-1), respectively. ZnNP-incorporated diets were fed to M. rosenbergii PL (initial body weight, 0.18 ± 0.02 g) in a triplicate experimental setup for a period of 90 days. ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL up to 60 mg kg(-1) showed significantly (P < 0.05) improved performance in survival, growth and activities of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase and lipase). The concentrations of biochemical constituents (total protein, total amino acid, total carbohydrate and total lipid), total haemocyte count and differential haemocyte count were elevated in 10-60 mg kg(-1) ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL. However, the PL fed with 80 mg ZnNPs kg(-1) showed negative results. Activities of enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)], metabolic enzymes [glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT)] and the process of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the hepatopancreas and muscle showed no significant alterations in 10-60 mg kg(-1) ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL. Whereas, 80 mg ZnNPs kg(-1) supplemented feed fed PL showed significant elevations in SOD, CAT, LPO, GOT and GPT. Therefore, 80 mg ZnNPs kg(-1) was found to be toxic to M. rosenbergii PL. Thus, the study suggests that up to 60 mg ZnNPs kg(-1) can be supplemented for regulating survival, growth and immunity of M. rosenbergii.

The fishmeal replaced with Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris and Azolla pinnata and the formulated diet fed to Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae to assess the enhancement ability of non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C and E), enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) were analysed. In the present study, the S. platensis, C. vulgaris and A. pinnata inclusion diet fed groups had significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the levels of vitamins C and E in the hepatopancreas and muscle tissue. Among all the diets, the replacement materials in 50% incorporated feed fed groups showed better performance when compared with the control group in non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. The 50% fishmeal replacement (best performance) diet fed groups taken for enzymatic antioxidant study, in SOD, CAT and LPx showed no significant increases when compared with the control group. Hence, the present results revealed that the formulated feed enhanced the vitamins C and E, the result of decreased level of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT and LPx) revealed that these feeds are non-toxic and do not produce any stress to postlarvae. These ingredients can be used as an alternative protein source for sustainable Macrobrachium culture.

Candida albicans were isolated from patients with clinical symptoms of vaginal ulcer. Culture test for vaginal swab and scrapings were conducted on Sabouraud's dextrose broth and Sabouraud's dextrose agar plate respectively. Hichrome candida agar culture was used for differential identification of Candida. Smears from vaginal scrapings were prepared for gram staining. The suspected strain of Candida was inoculated on corn meal agar medium for chlamydospore formation. The suspected strain of Candida was inoculated in human serum for germ tube formation. Carbohydrate assimilation and fermentation tests were also conducted. The selected Candida colony was inoculated in YEPD medium for subculture and the cultured organism was harvested. The organisms were homogenized, centrifuged and the supernatant was filtered. The filtrate was extracted in chloroform. The extract was centrifuged and the aqueous phase was dialyzed. The dialyzed crude enolase was subjected to SDS-PAGE. The Sabouraud's dextrose broth inoculated with vaginal swab showed turbid growth. The scraping from vagina showed typical smooth creamy white colonies with a characteristic yeast odour on Sabouraud's dextrose agar plate. On Hichrome candida agar the Candida growth appeared as glistening green colored. Gram stained smears from vaginal scraps showed appearance of fungus as yeast January, 2010 85 budding. On corn meal agar the suspected Candida growth showed the formation of large, highly refractive, thick walled terminal chlamydospores. Germ tubes were seen as long tube like projections extending from the yeast cells on human serum inoculated with suspected strain of Candida. The carbohydrate assimilation tests were positive for dextrose, maltose, sucrose, galactose, xylose and trehalose, and negative for lactose, melibiose, ellobiose, inositol, reffinose and dulcitol. The carbohydrate fermentation tests showed positive for dextrose, maltose, galactose and trehalose, and negative for sucrose and lactose. SDS-PAGE for enolase from C. albicans showed a single polypeptide band of around 46 -48 kDa. International Journal of Biology

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