Biological Science: Research Developments and Innovations Vol. 1

Assessment of Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses in Arsenic-Induced Hepatotoxicity: An in vivo Study

Ozdan Akram Ghareeb — 2026-07-22

Arsenic (As) is an environmental pollutant associated with hepatic oxidative injury and possible immune-related effects at high doses. This in vivo study evaluated acute arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity and the accompanying pro-inflammatory cytokine response in laboratory rats. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into three groups (n = 6/group). The control group (CON) received no treatment, whereas the remaining groups received a single oral dose of sodium arsenite (13 mg/kg). Animals were sacrificed 1 day and 7 days after exposure and were designated as AS-1 and AS-7, respectively. Serum was collected for biochemical assessment of hepatic enzymes and cytokines, while liver tissue was examined for oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes. Compared with untreated rats, arsenic exposure increased hepatic malondialdehyde levels and reduced total antioxidant levels. Serum concentrations of hepatic enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, also increased significantly in a time-dependent manner compared with control rats. Histopathological examination supported the biochemical findings, showing liver tissue alterations after sodium arsenite exposure, including changes consistent with hepatocyte injury. Overall, the findings indicate that arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity in this rat model is associated with oxidative imbalance and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine responses, with greater effects observed over time. These results provide experimental evidence linking acute arsenic exposure with hepatic inflammatory activation.

Nutrient Decomposition and Recycling in Forage Plantations: The Role of Insects and Ecological Implications

Derek J. Polakitan — 2026-07-22

Insects are integral components of decomposition and nutrient recycling in forage plantation and forest-based animal feed systems because they connect organic matter breakdown with soil fertility and forage development. This review synthesises scientific findings on the ecological roles of insects in the decomposition of litter, dead wood, plant residues and other organic materials, with emphasis on the biological, physical and microbial interactions that regulate nutrient cycling. Using a narrative review approach, literature was selected from major academic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, with attention to recent studies on soil insects, litter decomposition, nutrient transformation and forest ecosystem functioning. The synthesis indicates that insects contribute to decomposition through fragmentation, enzymatic digestion, bioturbation and symbiotic interactions with microorganisms. These processes increase the accessibility of organic substrates to microbes, accelerate mineralisation and support the release of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients into the soil. The influence of insects on soil fertility is reflected in improved organic matter dynamics, soil structure, aeration and nutrient availability, which may indirectly support forage biomass and nutritional quality. However, the effectiveness of insect-mediated decomposition varies with environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, litter quality, soil properties, microbial activity and ecosystem type. Anthropogenic pressures such as deforestation, intensive land management, pesticide use and insect biodiversity loss may reduce decomposition efficiency and weaken nutrient cycling. The review highlights the need to consider decomposer insects as essential biological components of sustainable forage plantation and forest-based feed systems. Conserving insect diversity and maintaining soil health may support more stable nutrient cycling and resilient forage production under changing environmental conditions.

Prevalence and Diversity of Protozoan and Helminth Parasites in Broilers Sold at Ikpa Market, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Elijah Sunday Okwuonu — 2026-07-22

Parasitic infections remain an important health and productivity concern in broiler production and may reflect management conditions at both farm and market levels. This study assessed the prevalence, distribution, and burden of protozoan and helminth parasites in broilers sold at Ikpa Market, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 278 broilers were examined using the flotation technique. Data on selected host- and management-related factors were analysed to estimate parasite prevalence, describe infection patterns, and evaluate associations with infection status and parasite intensity. Overall, 200 birds were positive for at least one parasite, giving a prevalence of 71.94%. Eight parasite taxa were recorded: Eimeria tenella, Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia galli, Subulura brumpti, Syngamus trachea, Capillaria spp., Prosthogonimus spp., and Raillietina echinobothrida. Eimeria tenella was the most frequently detected parasite, with a prevalence of 32.37%, followed by H. gallinarum (12.23%) and A. galli (7.19%). By parasite group, protozoa were the most prevalent (32.37%), followed by nematodes (22.66%), whereas cestodes (1.80%) and trematodes (1.08%) occurred at low levels. Single infections were more common than mixed infections, accounting for 59.0% and 12.6% of examined birds, respectively. Parasite detections were higher in cage samples (65.83%) than in intestinal samples (34.17%). Hygiene, deworming practice, and collection site were significantly associated with infection status, while housing quality and hygiene were associated with parasite intensity. The findings indicate a substantial parasitic burden among broilers sold in Ikpa Market and highlight the need for improved hygiene, biosecurity, and routine parasite-control practices. These results also support continued surveillance of market-ready poultry to inform practical parasite management.

Integrated Ectoparasite Management in Dairy Animals: Detection, Forecasting, and Control Strategies for Improved Health and Productivity

Shruti Gupta — 2026-07-22

Ectoparasites remain a major constraint on dairy animal productivity, with adverse effects on animal health and welfare, milk production, growth, fertility, hide quality, and farm profitability. Ticks, biting and nuisance flies, lice, and mites cause direct injury through blood loss, irritation, skin damage, restlessness, and reduced feeding and resting time. They also contribute to production losses by transmitting or facilitating diseases such as babesiosis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, eye and udder infections, mange, and secondary skin conditions. The scale of this burden is illustrated by field and economic data: hard-tick infestation has been recorded in over 60% of screened dairy cattle in parts of India, close to 80% of the world's cattle are considered at risk of tick infestation, and annual losses from ticks and tick-borne diseases are estimated at USD 22-30 billion globally and about USD 787.63 million in India alone, mostly from reduced milk yield, treatment costs, and hide damage. This review summarises the major ectoparasites of dairy animals, their economic importance, the factors promoting their spread, and current approaches to detection, forecasting, and control. Climate change, acaricide resistance, intensive animal management, animal movement, poor manure and shed hygiene, and the increased use of susceptible high-yielding breeds are identified as key drivers of ectoparasite pressure. Detection methods range from visual inspection, counting, stereomicroscopy, and thermal imaging to molecular assays, biosensors, image recognition, surveillance mapping, and resistance testing. Control strategies include judicious chemical use, integrated parasite management, biological control, tick vaccines, resistant breeds, plant-based and nanoscale formulations, improved husbandry, pasture management, quarantine, and modern fly traps. Digital tools, including connected sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and weather-based forecasting, can strengthen early warning and support more timely interventions. The review emphasises that durable ectoparasite management cannot rely on a single method. Locally adapted, integrated programmes, guided by monitoring and supported by farmer training, are needed to reduce production losses, limit chemical misuse, slow resistance development, and improve dairy animal health and welfare.

Evaluation of Different Milk Replacers on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Digestibility in Black Bengal Goat Kids

N. Sultana — 2026-07-22

Low milk production and frequent multiple births in Black Bengal goats often result in inadequate nutrition for kids, highlighting the need for affordable and nutritionally adequate milk replacers. Previous research has focused on the productive and reproductive performance and nutrient requirements of Black Bengal goats, whereas limited information is available on the effects of milk replacers on kids’ performance. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different milk replacers on the performance of kids.

In a 60-day feeding trial, twenty kids of both sexes (15 days of age; mean BW, 1.9 ± 0.4 kg) were divided into four groups of five kids each. The three milk-replacer treatments comprised a milk replacer prepared using shoti (Curcuma zedoaria) powder (T₁), a milk replacer prepared using fresh eggs and wheat flour (T₂), and a milk replacer prepared from skim milk powder (T₃). The results for feed intake, growth, and digestibility were analysed by one-way ANOVA using the General Linear Model procedure in SPSS (version 11.0).

The dry matter (DM) content of the milk replacers varied widely (64.4–92.8%), whereas crude protein (CP) (26.0–28.5%) and ether extract (EE) (13.5–26.9%) were within acceptable nutritional ranges for kid feeding. Nutrient intake was significantly affected by the type of milk replacer. Total dry matter intake (TDMI), milk dry matter intake, and crude protein intake (TCPI) were highest in the T₁ group, indicating better palatability and nutrient consumption. Average daily gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the T₁ group than in the T₂ and T₃ groups, whereas the control group was intermediate. Body weight gain in the T₂ and T₃ groups increased up to the fifth week and declined thereafter. Feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly among groups. DM and OM digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the T₁ group. N retention (as a percentage of N intake) was lower in the T₃ group. Costs for the T₀, T₁, T₂, and T₃ groups were 4.7, 9.0, 36.6, and 4.7 Tk/100 g (or 0.054, 0.113, 0.456, and 0.054 $/100 g) of mixed dry milk replacer, respectively. Because milk replacer supplementation did not affect weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), or nutrient utilisation, the milk replacers were cost-effective.

Overall, shoti- and skim-milk-based milk replacers improved growth performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility, demonstrating their suitability as alternatives to natural goat milk in kid rearing. Owing to the high price and unavailability of skim milk in the local market, the use of shoti or eggs and wheat flour to produce a milk replacer may support profitable kid rearing in Bangladesh.

Decoding Mucormycosis through Omics: A Critical Narrative Review of Pathogen Biology, Host Responses, Diagnostics and Translational Gaps

Dhananjaya Mishra — 2026-07-22

Mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive angioinvasive infection caused by phylogenetically and phenotypically diverse fungi of the order Mucorales. Its high case fatality, limited antifungal armamentarium and dependence on early recognition create a strong rationale for molecular approaches that can resolve pathogen diversity, host susceptibility and treatment response. This critical narrative review examines how genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics and integrated multi-omics have reshaped the study of mucormycosis. Modern comparative genomics has clarified genome duplication, taxonomic boundaries, strain-level heterogeneity and the distribution of virulence-associated families such as CotH invasins. Functional transcriptomics has identified stress-adaptive programmes governing iron acquisition, phagosomal germination, dimorphism and host-cell injury, while small-RNA and chromatin studies demonstrate that antifungal adaptation can arise through reversible epimutations as well as stable DNA variation. Host transcriptomic and proteomic studies reveal strong inflammatory transcriptional signals but also compartment-specific immune failure and discordance between messenger RNA and protein abundance. Proteomic, phosphoproteomic and metabolomic evidence remains substantially less mature than genomic and transcriptomic evidence, particularly in clinical specimens. Translationally, targeted fungal DNA assays, whole-genome sequencing, metagenomic sequencing and mass-spectrometric identification can shorten diagnostic pathways and improve outbreak resolution, but analytical sensitivity, contamination control, taxonomic representation, cost and uncertain clinical thresholds constrain routine use. The central conclusion is that omics has generated credible mechanistic hypotheses and several validated molecular targets, yet the evidence base remains concentrated in a few model species, small patient cohorts and reductionist experimental systems. Progress now depends on prospective, longitudinal and geographically diverse studies that pair fungal and host measurements, apply rigorous metadata standards, validate biomarkers against clinically meaningful endpoints and distinguish general Mucorales biology from species- and context-specific mechanisms.

Challenges in HCV Vaccine Development

K. R. Sanjay — 2026-07-22

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major cause of preventable cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and premature mortality despite the curative efficacy of direct-acting antivirals. A prophylactic vaccine could reduce primary infection and reinfection, complement treatment-based elimination and protect populations in whom diagnosis, linkage to care and repeated treatment remain difficult. Yet HCV vaccine development has advanced slowly and no candidate has demonstrated prevention of chronic infection in an efficacy trial. This critical narrative review evaluates why the problem has resisted conventional vaccinology and which development choices are now most defensible. Literature published from 1989 to 26 May 2026 was identified through accessible biomedical indexes, scholarly search tools, DOI registries, authoritative institutional sources and citation searching. Evidence was appraised for biological relevance, methodological strength, reproducibility, translational proximity and capacity to resolve conflicting interpretations. The central challenge is not a single obstacle but a coupled system: extensive viral diversity, rapid within-host evolution, conformational and lipoprotein-mediated shielding of envelope epitopes, incomplete definition of protective immunity, absence of a validated correlate of protection, imperfect animal models, non-standardised neutralisation assays and difficult efficacy testing in marginalised populations with fluctuating exposure. Natural clearance and accelerated control of reinfection show that protection against persistence is biologically achievable, but sterilising immunity is uncommon. T-cell-only vaccination can generate broad responses yet failed to prevent chronic infection, whereas E1E2-based immunogens can elicit cross-neutralising antibodies but have not established clinical efficacy. Structural biology, antigenically representative virus panels and improved immunogen engineering now support a combined strategy that coordinates broadly neutralising antibodies, durable helper and cytotoxic T-cell responses, and early innate control. Progress will depend on prospectively defined product profiles, harmonised assays, stage-gated down-selection, globally representative antigens, ethically robust trial designs and implementation planning with affected communities. The field has moved from uncertainty about feasibility to a more precise challenge: converting mechanistic breadth into reproducible, clinically protective immunity.

Influence of Water Pollution on the Phytosociological Characteristics of Aquatic Macrophytes in Lakes of Valsad District, Gujarat, India

Harvi Patel — 2026-07-22

Water pollution can alter the composition and distribution of aquatic macrophytes and thereby affect wetland ecological condition. This study evaluated the relationship between water quality and macrophyte communities in two lakes of Valsad district, Gujarat, India, during the post-monsoon season. One lake represented a polluted wetland and the other a comparatively non-polluted wetland. Physicochemical water parameters were measured, macrophyte species were recorded and classified, and community patterns were examined using Shannon’s diversity index, a bivariate linear model, and canonical correspondence analysis. A total of 45 vascular macrophyte species belonging to 26 families were recorded. Thirty-one species occurred in the polluted lake, 40 in the non-polluted lake, and 26 in both lakes. The polluted lake had a lower Shannon’s index than the non-polluted lake, indicating comparatively lower species diversity. Eichhornia crassipes dominated the polluted wetland, whereas Ceratophyllum demersum dominated the non-polluted wetland. Zinc and nickel were detected in the polluted lake but were below the detection limit in the non-polluted lake, while iron was detected at both sites. Canonical correspondence analysis showed associations between water-quality variables and macrophyte distribution. The findings indicate that pollution status was related to differences in macrophyte richness, composition, and dominance. Araceae was the most abundant family and may have value as an indicator group in the selected study area.