Culture and growth kinetics of selected nanoplankters

The present study on naoplankton is based on the isolation and development of unialgai culturas from the inshore waters at Cochin. characterization of their growth assimilation products. ecophysioiogy and evaluation of nutritional quality. The work was carried out during the period 1980-1983. The nanoplankters were isolated and grown in the labratory as batch cultures to study the increase in cell population, the photosynthetic pigment: ana physioiogical activity. The chemical composition of these organisms and their rate of excretion were also determined. The environmental factors physical and chemical that influence the growth of these Cultures were defined by conducting independentexperiments. These cultures of the isolated nanoplankters have raised indoor and fed to the larvae of edible oyster to test their suitability as live-food.

Kinetics of Bacterial Colony Growth by Laser Induced Fluorescence

The growth kinetics of an aerial bacterial colony on solid agar media was studied using laser induced fluorescence technique. Fluorescence quenching of Rhodamin B by the bacterial colony was utilized for the study. The lag phase, log phase, and stationary phase of growth curve of bacterial colony was identified by measuring peak fluorescence intensity of dye doped bacterial colony.

Photonic applications of biomaterials with special reference to biopolymers and microbes

This thesis Entitled Photonic applications of biomaterials with special reference to biopolymers and microbes. A detailed investigation will be presented in the present thesis related to direct applications of biopolymers into some selected area of photonics and how the growth kinetics of an aerial bacterial colony on solid agar media was studied using laser induced fluorescence technique. This chapter is an overview of the spectrum of biomaterials and their application to Photonics. The chapter discusses a wide range of biomaterials based photonics applications like efficient harvesting of solar energy, lowthreshold lasing, high-density data storage, optical switching, filtering and template for nano s tructures. The most extensively investigated photonics application in biology is Laser induced fluorescence technique. The importance of fluorescence studies in different biological and related fields are also mentioned in this chapter.

Studies on the Microbial spoilage of Penaeus indicus

The aim of the present investigation is to build up the knowledge on the role of commensal bacteria present on the prawns during storage at various temperatures. The study Evaluates the nature of spoilage of prawns during storage at three different temperatures (28:2OC, 4°C and -18°C) by organoleptic assessment, accumulation of trim ethylamine, ammonia content, changes in the flesh pH and total heterotrophic bacterial population at various time intervals and to find out the changes in the proximate composition (protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash and moisture) of the prawns during storage at various temperatures by estimating the contents at different time intervals along with spoilage assessment. The researcher studies the occurrence and role of various bacterial genera which form the component of spoilage flora during storage and determines the distribution of various hydrolytic enzyme producing bacteria by evaluating their ability to produce enzymes such as caseinase, gelatinase, amylase, lipase and urease. to assess the spoilage potential of the bacteria by testing their ability to reduce trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) to trimethylamine (TMA) and to produce odour in flesh broth and halos in flesh agar media.The researcher also gives stress on the growth kinetics of selected potential spoilers by growing_them in different media and to assess the effect of sodium chloride concentrations, temperature and pH on their growth, survival and. generation time.

Investigations on Phaeocystis sp., A Harmful Bloom- Forming Alga Isolated from Cochin Estuary

Considering the importance of diversity of micro algae in our ecosystem and new invasion of many organisms, an attempt was made to monitor the Cochin estuary along the south west coast of India for the qualitative distribution of phytoplankton and to study the growth kinetics and allelopathic effect of the phaeocystis sp. Isolated from the cochin estuary. Phaeocystis blooms are common only in high latitude environments and they rarely occur in low latitude environments such as tropics and subtropics. As phaeocystis is grouped under harmful alga ,in the present study the factors causing the blooms formation in the ecosystem. The nutrient concentration of the water body along with other physiochemical parameters that includes temperature salinity and ph play an important role in triggering the bloom of phaeocystis .The phaeocystis harbor specific bacterial flora associated with it and they exert an important role in the growth ,haemolytic activity and the bloom phases of the alga. The harmful alga mainly depends on the production of alleopathic compounds for the establishment of bloom in the marine environments .These physiological properties of the phaecystis were considered for the study, along with the role of nutrients in the allelopathic and hemolytic activity

Biochemical and Biotechnological Studies on the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis salina Wislouch

The group cyanobacteria includes a large number of organisms characterised by a low state of cellular organization. Their cells lack a well defined nucleus. Cell division is by division of the protoplast by an ingrowth of the septum. These organisms are characterised generally by a blue green colouration of the cell, the chief pigments being chlorophyll-a, carotenes, xanthophylls, C phycocyanin and C phycoerythrin. The product of photosynthesis is glycogen. These organisms lack flagellate reproductive bodies and there is a total lack of sexual reproduction. They are also unique because of the presence of murein in the place of cellulose (cell wall) and the absence of chloroplast, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Just like bacteria some of them possess Plasmids and can fix atmospheric nitrogen. In the present study growth kinetics, heavy metal tolerance, tolerance mechanisms, heavy metal intake, and antibacterial activity of §ynechocystics salina Wislouch - a nanoplanktonic, euryhaline, Cyanobacterium present in Cochin back waters has been carried out for the potential biotechnological application of this organism. _§; salina occur as small spherical cells of 3n diameter (sometimes in pairs) with bluish green colour. The species is characterised by jerky movement of the cells and is structrually similar to other cyanobacteria

Mosquito larvae borne viruses from the central travancore region of kerala: isolation and characterization

The present study was initiated when several massive outbreaks of Chikungunya, Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis were frequently reported across the State of Kerala. Multiple symptoms persisted among the affected individuals and the public health officials were in search of aetiological agents responsible for the out breaks and, other than clinical samples no resources were available. In this context, a study was undertaken to focus on mosquito larvae to investigate the viruses borne by them which remain silently prevalent in the environment. The study was not a group specific investigation limited to either arbovirus or enterovirus, but had a broad spectrum approach. The study encompassed the viral pathogens that could be isolated, their impact when passaged through cell lines, growth kinetics, titer of the working stocks in specific cell line, the structure by means of transmission electron microscopy(TEM), the one step growth and molecular characterization using molecular tools.

Growth response of phytoplankton exposed to industrial effluents in river Periyar

The thesis entitled Growth Response of Phytoplankton Exposed to Industrial Effluents in River Periyar. The present investigation has been conducted in two phases: field observation and algal assays. The monthly distribution of hydrographic features is represented graphically. The sampling year has been divided into three seasons: monsoon (June to September), postmonsoon (October to January) and premonsoon (February to May). The data were analysed using Student's t-test to find whether there was any significant difference between surface and bottom samples. The spatial variation of the variables was assessed by Page's L (trend) test (Ray Meddis, 1975). The standard procedure for algal toxicity test (Ward and Parrish, 1982) was followed throughout the study. Statistical analysis (Page's L (trend) test) showed that there was no significant difference in Secchi disc transparency between the stations. The field observations as well as the laboratory assays confirm that the rate of discharge in river Periyar during premonsoon is insufficient to effect dilution of wastewater received in the industrial zone.