Muhammad Rafay

Desert Ecosystem Management: A Sustainable and Wise Use

Rapid growth of the world population, started in 1950, resulted in an estimated recent population of more than seven billion. Indian sub-continent is the most densely populated and fastest growing region. The desert ecosystem encompasses some 313,851 km2 area including Thar, Kharan, Cholistan, Thal and Indus valley plains in this region. The biodiversity includes some estimated 764 species of desert flora and 769 species of fauna, which includes 123 mammals, 540 birds, 96 reptiles and 10 amphibians. The desert dwellers lead a nomadic to semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals and trade. Deserts are already the most fragile ecosystems and facing an unprecedented vulnerability mainly due global warming phenomena by pushing its biological resources to their limits. There is a dire need to wisely use desert resources on sustainable basis, so that a symbiotic relationship between man and ecosystem may be guaranteed.

Impact of different mating sex ratios on reproductive efficiency of silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera (Galliformes, Phasianidae)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of different mating ratios (male-female) on egg production, egg fertilization %, egg hatching % and courtship behavior in Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera at three stations for a period of 16 weeks. The birds were kept in four groups with following malefemale ratios: Group-A (1:2), Group-B (1:3), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5). The results showed that Group-B (1:3) ratio has significant effect on mean number of eggs (1.75 ± 0.15), Group-C (1:4) on weight of eggs (93.22 ± 5.02), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5) on egg fertilization and hatching % while Group-B (1:3), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5) on time spent in mating. The feed consumed and feed conversion ratio was significant in Group-D (1:5).

Mannosylated thiolated polyethylenimine nanoparticles for the enhanced efficacy of antimonial drug against Leishmaniasis

AIM Our aim was to inhibit trypanothione reductase (TR) and P-gp efflux pump of Leishmania by the use of thiolated polymers. Thus, increasing the intracellular accumulation and therapeutic effectiveness of antimonial compounds. METHODS Mannosylated thiolated chitosan and mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft were synthesized and characterized. Meglumine antimoniate-loaded nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated for TR and P-gp efflux pump inhibition, biocompatibility, macrophage uptake and antileishmanial potential. RESULTS Thiomers inhibited TR with Ki 2.021. The macrophage uptake was 33.7- and 18.9-fold higher with mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft and mannosylated thiolated chitosan nanoparticles, respectively, as compared with the glucantime. Moreover, the in vitro antileishmanial activity showed 14.41- and 7.4-fold improved IC50 for M-TCS-g-PEI and M-TCS, respectively as compared with glucantime. CONCLUSION These results encouraged the concept that TR and P-gp inhibition by the use of thiomers improves the therapeutic efficacy of antimonial drugs.