Microalgae harvesting is an important part in microalgae cultivation system. Techniques for harvesting marine microalgae which are commonly used are centrifugation, filtration and flocculation. These techniques still have some disadvantages, such as not environment friendly, and high usage of energy and cost. Bio-flocculation harvesting technique using microalgae as a flocculant agent can be an alternative way to solve these problems. In this research, mixing of Tetraselmis suecica (flocculant) with Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. (non-flocculant) in ratios of 1:4, 2:4, 3:4 and 4:4 (v/v) has been conducted to obtain percent recovery of marine microalgae harvest. The results showed that T. suecica as flocculant agent can fasten the harvesting of Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. It was shown by the increase of percent recovery value of Chlorella sp. from 51.14 ± 1.07% to 67.34 ± 0.67% and Nannochloropsis sp. from 20.52 ± 1.17% to 42.43 ± 0.40% during the first hour of flocculating process. Our result showed that bio-flocculation is an environment friendly technique which can be applied to harvest marine microalgae.

Agricultural land use is an artificial ecosystem. Insect pollinators are important keys to success of the agroecosystem. Converting natural landscapes to agricultural land, such as oil palm and rubber plantations, affects the insects. The research aims to study diversity and abundance of insect pollinators in three different agricultural land uses, i.e. oil palm plantation, rubber plantation, and jungle-rubber. Scan sampling method was used to explore the diversity of insect pollinators. Observations of the insects were conducted from 08.00 to 10.00 AM and 02.00 to 04.00 PM in sunny days. There were 497 individuals of insect pollinators collected, which belong to 43 species in three orders (Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera). Number of species and individual of insect pollinators found in rubber plantations (31 species, 212 individuals) and oil palm plantation (23 species, 188 individuals) were higher than that in jungle rubber (7 species, 97 individuals). Insect pollinators in oil palm plantations were dominated by giant honey bee (Apis dorsata) and stingless bee (Trigona sp. [=aff. T. planifrons]), whereas in rubber plantation, they were dominated by small carpenter bees (Ceratina lieftincki and Ceratina simillima), and in jungle-rubbers were dominated by hoverfly (Syrphid sp.) and Apis andreniformis. Higher foraging activities of insect pollinators occured in the morning.

Xanthopimpla is a major parasitoid of silk worm cocoons. The female Xanthopimpla pedator (Fabricius) lays the eggs in male cocoons. Control of this infestation with pesticides is not recommended because of its concealed behavior. Various control methods were found to be inefficient. Ecofriendly management is the best strategy that can be applied. We have studied the sex communication in Xanthopimpla pedator (Fabricius), which helps to develop management strategy. Bioassays were done in the laboratory by using olfactometer and pheromone extraction chambers. It was found that female Xanthopimpla produces sex pheromones. The results show a strong attraction of male by female Xanthopimpla. Present results with male and female volatiles also show that female volatiles attract male Xanthopimpla. Fractionation of female volatiles by column chromatography has proven that 20% fraction has highest attraction of males by females.

Infectious diseases became more serious problem for public health in recent years. Although existing antibacterial drugs have been relatively effective, they do not rule out the emergence of resistance to the drug. Therefore, the intensive exploration of new bioactive compounds from natural, especially peptide compounds began in recent decades in order-handling infection. This study aimed to isolate, purify and test the potential application of Xylaria psidii KT30 extracellular protease as antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria. X. psidii KT30, a marine fungus isolated from red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibacterial compounds of this fungus were predicted as a group of proteases. Extracellular protease exhibited an optimum activity when potato dextrose broth was used as cultivation medium. Furthermore, the highest activity of these proteases was found on fungal extract after day 15 of cultivation with value of 2.33 ± 0.19 U/mL. The partial purification of proteases using G-75 column chromatography resulted in 2 groups of fractions and showed protease activity based on zymogram assay. The extracellular proteases obtained from those fractions have 3 patterns of molecular mass based on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which are 56.62, 89.12, 162.18 kDa.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic used for anticancer therapy. However, this agent can cause various systemic side effects including cognitive impairments in chronic use. Brain damage due to DOX is caused by an increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level in the brain. Increased TNF-α can further lead to chronic inflammation which can lead to neuronal deaths or neurodegenerative diseases. Mangiferin (MAG), a compound extracted from Mangifera indica, has been found neuroprotective activities, but its effect on DOX-induced brain damage is unknown. This study aims to determine the effect of MAG on brain damage induced by DOX. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced by DOX intraperitoneally. MAG was given orally at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg bw for 7 consecutive weeks. The parameters measured were inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue. Coadministration of MAG with DOX reduced inflammation which was marked by the reduction of TNF-α mRNA expression, decreased TNF-α level and reduction of oxidative stress marked by increase of superoxide dismutase level and decrease of malondialdehyde level. In conclusion, MAG was shown to have a neuroprotective effect on brain damage induced by DOX, partly due to inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress.

One of the aluminum (Al) tolerance gene candidates, namely B11 gene, has been successfully isolated from Al-tolerant rice cv Hawara Bunar. However, the role of the gene in Al tolerance in rice has not been known. RNA interference (RNAi) technique is an effective tool to examine the biological function of the target gene in plant. The objective of the research was to construct RNAi recombinant vector carrying untranslated region of the B11 gene. RNAi recombinant vector carrying 195 bp sized 3′UTR_B11 fragment as a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) trigger has been successfully constructed using GATEWAY™ cloning technology, pENTR™/D-TOPO® as a shuttle vector, and pANDA vector as a destination vector. RNAi construct was successfully introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens AgL0, and has been infected to rice cv Hawara Bunar. Analysis of putative transgenic rice showed eight of 20 plants were transgenic carrying the B11-RNAi construct.

An experiment (triplicated) was conducted to assess the growth and production of Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus in semi intensive and semi biofloc culture technique for a period of 120 days in polythene liner ponds (300 m2). Water exchange was done at 10% in semi intensive culture method (control) and zero water exchange was done in semi biofloc method (treatment). Soya hull and molasses were added as carbon sources to induce biofloc formation in treatment ponds. Post larvae (PL20) were stocked at the rate of 100/m2 in each pond and fed with a standard shrimp feed. Shrimp growth, physico-chemical parameters of water, bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton population, immune response and physical quality of shrimp were recorded during the period. Significant difference (p < 0.01) in shrimp growth (weight) was observed between control and treatment. Phytoplankton population and total haemocyte count were found to be increased and pathogenic bacteria population decreased in treatment ponds. Strong linear relationship was found between growth and biofloc content in treatment ponds. Shrimp grown in biofloc pond showed better colour and taste compared to control. Semi biofloc technique can be considered as an ideal culture method for bio secure production of white shrimp in semi arid lands.

Koi herpesvirus (KHV) caused significant morbidity and mortality in koi and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Glycoprotein has been used for vaccine development as sub unit vaccine against many viruses. KHV ORF25 is one of koi herpesvirus genes which encode a glycoprotein. The objectives of this research are to clone gene KHV ORF25 and express its protein. The common carp showing necrosis and white patches of gill which was collected from Magelang was used in this research. Primers were designed to amplify partial ORF25 based on KHV J strain. KHV ORF25 was successfully amplified and cloned in pET32a. Sequence analysis showed that this KHV ORF25 has 99% homology with the sequences of KHV genotype KHV-J, KHV-I, and KHV-U. This ORF was predicted has 3, 23, and 8 B-cell epitopes based on Emini scale, Karplus and Schulz scale, and ElliPro respectively. The KHV ORF25 recombinant protein has been successfully produced in Escherichia coli as an insoluble protein with approximately 45 kDa in size. The high protein production was achieved when the protein induction was done at bacterial density at OD600 as 1.0 with 1-mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and incubated at 37°C for 18 hours. The protein predicted has immunogenicity and the potency as a vaccine is needed to be evaluated.

Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) have an important function in the ecosystem, i.e. bioindicators, saproxylic, pollinators, and as food of other organisms. Land cover changes due to land use can disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem, which can result in a decrease of cerambycid diversity. Cerambycid species diversity was evaluated in four land types, i.e. jungle-rubber, rubber plantations, oil palm plantations, and felled jungle-rubber. Collections of cerambycid beetles were conducted by using artocarpus trap, made by freshly cut Artocarpus heterophyllus branches. Collections of beetles were made on day 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th after the traps were set up. In the four land-use types in Jambi province, we collected 72 species including 34 morphospecies of cerambycids, consisting of 42 species from the jungle-rubber, 39 species from rubber plantations, 16 species from oil palm plantations, and 28 species from felled jungle-rubber. Cerambycid diversity was highest in jungle-rubber (H'=3.23), followed by rubber plantation (H'=2.67), felled jungle-rubber (H'=2.38), and oil palm plantations (H'=2.01). Highest similarities of cerambycid communities occurred in the rubber plantation–felled jungle-rubber (51.2), followed by jungle-rubber–rubber plantation (50.0), rubber plantations–oil palm plantations (43.5), oil palm plantation–felled jungle-rubber (42.4), jungle-rubber–oil palm plantations (35.3), and jungle-rubber–felled jungle rubber (34.8). The number of cerambycid species and individuals collected was highest on day 7th.

The objectives of this study were to reveal ecological preferences and distribution of all species of Caridina found in Lake Lindu and their catchment area. Specimens from 39 sampling sites were caught using tray net and hand net. There are three species of Caridina found in the lake system, i.e. Caridina linduensis, Caridina kaili and Caridina dali. There is no overlapping distribution among the species. Caridina kaili is a true riverine species and it is never encountered sympatric with C. dali nor C. linduensis. This species is abundant in streams and ditches with moderate flow running water and gravel–cobble substrate. It is mainly spread within streams west to the lake. Both C. dali and C. linduensis can be found in the lake and streams with very slow current to almost stagnant water, muddy sand substrate and associated with roots of water plants and leaf litter. However, C. dali is never occurred together with C. linduensis and they are less abundant compare to C. kaili. Distribution of Caridina spp. in Lake Lindu is probably affected by the temperature of their habitats and the occurrence of introduced fish such as Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and an alien riceland prawn (Macrobrachium lanchesteri). These introduced and alien species can have the potency to become predators or competitors for the Caridina spp. It is also the first record for M. lanchesteri present in Lake Lindu.