فصلنامه زیست شناسی جانوری تجربی
سال نهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 34، پاییز 1399)

The present study aimed to identify fimbria, fluroquinolone and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolated from buffalo feces. In this study, a number of 384 buffalo feces from different regions of west Azerbaijan and in different seasons were randomly collected. Fecal samples were cultured and E. coli were investigated using biochemical method. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify fimbria genes (fimA, crl and csgA), tsh gene, floroqinulone (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M) resistance genes. A number of 115 (29.9%) fecal samples were positive for E. coli. The frequency of the positive fecal for E. coli from northern region were significantly lower than central and southern regions (P<0.05). The frequency of positive fecal samples for E. coli did not differ between seasons.  The frequency of fimbria genes fimA, crl and csgA were 79.1%, 72.1% and 74.7% respectively. tsh gene had the lowest frequency in E. coil isolates. Among fluroquinolone and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase resistance genes, qnrS gene had the lowest (6.0%) and blaTEM had the highest (13.9%) frequencies. The results revealed that E. coli was isolated from less than one third of fecal samples. Fimbria genes had almost similar frequencies among E. coli isolates and antibiotic resistance genes were exist in less than 14% of E. coli isolates from buffalo feces. The investigation of antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli originated from animals is of great epidemiological and public health importance.

Todays, with the clarifying of the toxicity and side effects of synthetic preservatives, consumers are looking for natural compounds with anti-oxidant and antimicrobial effects. In the present study, lizardfish (Saurida tumbil) muscle was hydrolyzed by Alcalase at two concentrations of 2 and 4% and two times of 90 and 180 min. Then the antioxidant activity of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) was evaluated by measuring DPPH, ABTS and OH free radical scavenging activity, and reducing power and ferrous ion-chelating assays. Antimicrobial activity was determined by disc diffusion and mic test. Alcalase enzymes hydrolyzed proteins showed remarkable activity in removing DPPH (37.92%), ABTS (77.34%) and hydroxyl (21.79%), as well as ferrous ion (26.95%) and poor activity in ion ferric degradation (Optical absorption of 0.001 ± 0.00 at a wavelength of 700). In the present study, the most inhibitory activity of DPPH and OH radicals was observed by hydrolyzed samples with 4% enzyme for 180 minutes. The most protein recovery yield was observed by the above sample. FPH showed no antibacterial activity against the studied bacterial strains. FPH of lizard fish with potential antioxidant activity can be recommended as an inexpensive antioxidant for use in the food industry, functional foods and animal feed.

In Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, proteins, like CoxB, present in the electron transmission pathway. The structure of CoxB has two copper atoms (CuA, CuB). CuA plays an important role in electron transport. According to previous studies, the conversion of histidine to methionine in a similar protein leads to an increase the stability of protein and to improve its function. Also, the binding of methionine to CuB in the wild protein structure is another reason for the selection of the H230M mutation in CuA site. Wild-type and H230M mutants are simulated in the presence of a bilayer membrane POPC using the gromacs version 5.1.4. The conformational changes of mutated protein were investigated by RMSD, RMSF, SASA, Rg, DSSP, density, MSD, thickness, PCA, ED, DCCM and FEL analysis. The results of the wild protein and H230M mutant analysis show that the bacteria still preserves its sustainability after mutation. It seems that the H230M mutation leads to the increase of the amount of electron reception that requires further studies in this regard. Molecular dynamic simulation and principal component analysis provide compelling evidence that this H230M mutation contributes to increase the stability of protein. Thus, this finding defines new approaches in structural properties, accurate survey, and probability improves the electron transfer.

Wild goat (Capra aegagrus) as the most vulnerable species is one of the mountainous mammals whose population has declined due to the destruction of the habitat at the national and international levels. This study was aimed to determine the suitably potential habitat area for wild goat in Bafgh protected area using multi-layer perceptron neural network. A total of 196 points including presence (111 points) and absence (85 point) of the species were collected in fieldwork. 18 variables such as slope, geographical aspect, elevation above sea level, rocky regions, mean temperatures, vegetation types, water resources, inhabited and uninhabited villages, and roads (dirt and asphalt) were used to determine the suitability of habitats. Results showed that Juniperus excelsa -Amygdalus scoparia vegetation type (11.23%), slope steepness (10.42%), distance to south direction (10.15%), distance to Cousinia desertii-Artemisia sieberi-Zygophyllum eurypterum vegetation type (9.9 %), elevation above sea level (9.63%), and distance to water source (9.09%) are the most effective variables in habitat suitability evaluation in the Kouh-e-Bafgh protected area. The model output efficiency of 0.97 was achieved in this study. Based on the results, 36% of the protected area was evaluated as the suitable for wild goat habitat. Results also reveald that by reducing the distance to the roads the suitability of habitats is reduced. Therefore, this study suggests that human activities close to the potentially suitable area is suggested to be avoided.

To study reproductive characteristics of Caucasian dwarf goby (K. caucasica), a total of 149 samples were caught in the Gorgan bay and 192 inthe Gomishanwetlandusing beach seine during a period from February 2014 to May 2016.Thereproductive characteristics including sex ratio, gonadal development index, and absolute fecundity, relative fecundity were calculated.Samples of Gorgan bay ranged from 8.07 to 39.41 mm TL and 0.01 to 0.84 g total weight, while the samples caught in Gomishan wetland had total lengthlength between 15.48 to 44.78 mm and in the total weight between 0.05 to 1.10g.The highest condition factor in the Gorgan bay for both sexes was observed in February and March, and in the Gomishan wetland for in January and April. In the both study areas, the highest average GSIof females was observed in March and of malesin April. Minimum, maximum and average ofabsolute fecundity were 79.80, 888 and 387,37in the Gorgan bay respectively, and the relative fecundity were 152.58, 2733.54 and 797.11 respectively. While absolute fecundities’ minimum, maximum and averagewere 136.96,1002.22 and 482.94 and those of relative fecundity 243.70,2326.53 and 870.32. Ova diameter ranged between 0.24 to 0.84 mm with a mean value of 0.52 mm, and in the Gomishan wetland mean of the diameter was 0.50 mm ranging from 0.26 to 0.85 mm. Analysis of GSI revealed that the species spawns once per year in a short period, and has different eggs during this period.

As a stabilizing agent, docetaxel can potentially reduce the damage to the oocyte cytoskeleton during vitrification. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of docetaxel on the survival rate and in vitro fertilization of oocytes after vitrification. NMRI mice (8-10 weeks old) were superovulated by injecting PMSG and HCG. Oocytes are surrounded by cumulus and corona cells and must be denuded by 0.1% hyaluronidase enzyme. The oocytes were then divided into 5 experimental groups including control, docetaxel, docetaxel+vitrification solution; docetaxel+ vitrification and vitrification. Mature oocytes were vitrified in ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide solutions at 15% concentration and 0.5 M sucrose. After thawing, their survival and fertilization rates were assessed up to the two-cell stage. Staining of the microtubules in the oocytes was performed with alpha-tubulin antibody. The fertilization rate of each group showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (P=0.001). The rate of formation of 2-cell embryos in both vitrified groups (docetaxel+ vitrified and vitrified vitrified) was significantly lower than non-vitrified (control (P=0.001) and docetaxel ((P=0.004)). The results showed that survival and fertilization rates in pre-incubated groups with docetaxel were higher than non-incubated groups, so docetaxel could improve reproductive techniques by reducing the damage to the oocyte cytoskeleton.

Today, human and wildlife conflict, especially big carnivores such as brown bear, is one of the most challenges and difficulties in biodiversity conservation. Increasing the conflicts have resulted in increasing the negative attitude of local people toward the wildlife and as a result of that leads to increasing poaching of carnivores, especially in an area such as Mazandaran Province which has a high density of human and wildlife. We conducted this study by identifying the area with a high conflicts between the bear and human and human assets in Mazandaran Province. Moreover, we used field observation data to diagnose the distribution of mountainous areas which are potentially exposed to bear attacks in the Province. We collected the bear damages data by questionnaire form and field surveys. Biogeoclimatic variables which were used in the analyses are elevation, distance to the village, the density of beehives, human footprint, the density of domestic animals and land use. We recorded 150 bear attacks to human and human properties which include 16 to human, 19 to domestic animals, 67 and 48 destruction of fruit gardens and beehives, respectively. According to the results, most conflicts are in the spring and autumn. The most important variables are elevation, distance to village and fruit gardens. According to the results, human-bear conflicts in the Mazandaran Province are in the elevation range between 150 to 3000 m. On the other hand, fruit gardens around the villages have a key role in attracting bears to human settlements.

The present study was carried out to investigate the diversity and distribution of the Polychaeta species in the Qeshm Island and the effect of desalination plants on their communities. The desalination plants provide a large portion of Qeshm Island drinking water. So, their waste waters could effect on environment especially benthic animals near the coastline. Substrate sampling was carried out in summer and winter 2014 from 9 stations. Station 1 was situated near (desalination site) with the highest temperature and salinity in both summer and winter season, which shows the effects of drainage waste water on environment condition. The substrates of the most stations were silt-clay. At the stations 4 and 5, which sediments included more silt and clay, organic matters were higher than other stations. In this study 49 genera and species were identified. There was a significant negative correlation between the polychaetes abundances and sediment content of silt and clay observed. The higher abundances of polychaetes were found in the stations with lower content of organic matters and greater grain size sediments. The genera Cossura sp. and Scoloplos simplex which related to Cossuridae and Orbiniidae families respectively were dominant specimens. The lowest level of diversity was estimated in station 1. Diversity and dominance indices at stations near the wastewater outlet showed significant differ in both seasons (P<0.05). Finally, it seems that desalination plant may affects adversely on species diversity by increasing of temperature and salinity in short distances.

Bryozoans are known as one of the coral-associated and cryptic fauna that plays an important role in sediment stabilization and contributes to framework-building species same as corals. However, little is known about bryozoan species occurring in the coral communities of Iranian islands. During a coral survey in Abu-Musa and Sirri Islands, Celleporaria pigmentaria was observed on some dead parts of Porites harrisoni and coralline red algae at depth of 3-8m. After sampling, specimens were bleached and were examined under a stereomicroscope and SEM. Specimens were identified to the species level based on skeleton and morphological traits according to available taxonomic guide. This species is one of the common and successful coral-associated bryozoan that belongs to Cheilostomatida. The C. pigmentaria easily recognized with black encrusting colonies, white blotches scattered over the colony surface as well as the non-uniform arrangement of its zooecia. This case study is the first report of C. pigmentaria in coral communities of Iran.

Abiratreone is known as the most important drug in reducing prostate cancer symptoms. Finding a way to transport the drug to targeted tissue by nanoparticles can be a crucial method in targeted therapy. At this survey adsorption of Abiraterone on structural and electronic properties of Boron-Nitrite at gas phase and in water solvent was studied using Density Functional Theory. It was aimed to investigate the applicability of BNNT as carrier for this drug. Different structural parameters, adsorption energy, dipole moment, density of state, molecular orbitals, thermodynamic and spectroscopy were considered to explore. The results indicate that adsorption energy of Abiraterone to the Nanocage in gas phase is -25/7 ev while for this complex in water it is 2/3 ev. Furthermore, a dipole moment value for complex in gas phase was the highest value and was 8/3428 deby. Chemical hardness and chemical potential showed the highest amount for nanocage while the electrophilicity highest values were for Abiraterone. Besides, spectroscopic results also confirmed the adsorption of Abiraterone on BNNT nanocgae