Diversity and distribution of Ephemeroptera larvae were studied in ten study sites of Tamiraparani river of southern Western Ghats, India. Twenty four species belonging to twenty genera and six families were recorded. Diversity (Simpson and Shannon's index) was governed by the heterogeneity of the substratum which in turn was influenced by catchment disturbances (anthropogenic impact, sewage mixing, inorganic agriculture and sand mining). Insects /Biodiversity
The gut microflora of the murrel Ophiocephalus striatus in Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu was estimated quantitatively and qualitatively, and the isolates were identified at species level. Total viable microbial count measured a highest range of 9.49 ± 0.25 x 106 CFUg-1 and a lowest range of 6.12 ± 0.09 x 106 CFU g-1 in the digestive tract of O. striatus collected from pond C and A respectively. Six bacterial genus were isolated and identified in the digestive tract of the fish, viz., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Proteus rettgeri. The total viable microbial count and bacterial species were also isolated and identified from the water samples and bottom sediments of the selected ponds. Gut Microflora /Microbiology
Haemolymph of Trichopeltarion nobile was strong with agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes. The specificity of this agglutinin was studied by heamagglutination inhibition with N-acetyl neuraminic acid. The optimum temperature for the haemagglutination activity for the haemolymph of Trichopeltarion nobile was stable between 30C and 40C and the optimum pH was 7 to 8. The agglutinin required calcium ions for its activity. A fraction containing the agglutinin was isolated by gel filtration chromatography SepadexG75.The corresponding protein molecular weight of 96kDa. Trichopeltarion nobile /Biochemistry
Polyclonal antibodies were raised against purified whole Chickpea vicilin protein. The titre of anti-vicilin antibody was determined using ELISA. The anti vicilin antibody has shown significant reactivity with vicilin even at 10-4 dilution. The strong signals of anti- vicilin antibody were also confirmed by dot-bloating technique and western blot analysis. ELISA assessment of specificity of anti- vicilin antibodies has shown stronger cross reaction with pea and frenchbean than those of cowpea and Cluster bean. There was little homology with Brassica and BSA. The cross reactions with legumin and convicilin were also substantially high. Immunohistochemistry with cotyledonary section of chick pea using antivicilin antibodies indicated the submembranous fluorescence confirming the localization of protein bodies in membrane bound organelles. Legumes /Immunology
