Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. from central and northern regions of Turkey for suppression of Polymyxa betae as a vector of rhizomania disease

In the current study, 18 Trichoderma spp. isolates were obtained from different provinces in central and northern regions of Turkey. The ability of nine selected isolates to suppress the colonisation of roots by P. betae and the multiplication of BNYVV in sugar beet roots under controlled conditions were tested. Roots of seedlings growing in the P. betae-BNYVV-infested soil were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test for the presence of BNYVV and checked microscopically for the density of cystosori of P. betae. The numbers of P. betae resting spores in cystosori for each treatment were counted using a light microscope. Except for isolates Tr-1 and Tr-5, the effect of selected Trichoderma isolates on suppressing multiplication of BNYVV varied between 4 and 53%. The total number of resting spores in the roots varied between 14.4 and 25.1 for the different Trichoderma spp. treatments. The lowest number of resting spores in clusters was recorded in T. harzianum Tr-8. In addition, the shapes of resting spores were not normal in the Tr-8 treatments. The cystosori from this treatment were also abnormally dark in colour and had deformed walls.     

Strong nucleosomes reside in meiotic centromeres of C. elegans

Recently discovered strong nucleosomes (SNs) are characterized by strongly periodical DNA sequence, with visible rather than hidden sequence periodicity. In a quest for possible functions of the SNs, it has been found that the SNs concentrate within centromere regions of A. thaliana chromosomes . They, however, have been detected in Caenorhabditis elegans as well, although the holocentric chromosomes of this species do not have centromeres. Scrutinizing the SNs of C. elegans and their distributions along the DNA sequences of the chromosomes, we have discovered that the SNs are located mainly at the ends of the chromosomes of C. elegans. This suggests that, perhaps, the ends of the chromosomes fulfill some function(s) of centromeres in this species, as also indicated by the cytogenetic studies on meiotic chromosomes in spermatocytes of C. elegans, where the end-to-end association is observed. The centromeric involvement of the SNs, also found in A. thaliana, opens new horizons for the chromosome and centromere structure studies.     

Sequence-directed Mapping of Nucleosome Positions

Abstract

A nucleosome DNA sequence probe is designed that combines recently derived RR/YY counter-phase and AA/TT in-phase periodical patterns. A simple nucleosome mapping procedure is introduced for prediction of the nucleosome positions in the sequence of interest, to serve as a guide for experimental studies of the chromatin structure.     

Functional changes of the SCN in spontaneous hypertension but not after the induction of hypertension

ABSTRACT

The present study investigates the circadian behavior of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) during the pre-hypertensive and hypertensive stage, with the aim to gain insight into whether observed changes in the functionality of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypertensive state are cause or consequence of hypertension. Four types of animals were used in this study: (1) SHRs which develop hypertension genetically; (2) their normotensive controls, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs); (3) Wistar rats whereby hypertension was surgically induced (2 Kidney 1 Clamp (2K1C) method); and (4) sham-operated control Wistar rats. Period length and activity levels and amplitude changes of locomotor and wheel running activity were determined, in constant conditions, as a measure of the functionality of the SCN. Hereto two conditions were used, constant darkness (0 lux) and constant dim (5 lux) light. SHRs showed a shortened period of their locomotor and running wheel activity rhythms in constant darkness during both pre-hypertensive and hypertensive stages and exhibited period lengthening in constant dim light conditions, only during hypertensive stages. Total amount as well as the amplitude of daily running wheel rhythms showed an inverse correlation with the period length, and this relation was significantly different in SHRs compared to WKYs. None of the aforementioned changes in circadian rhythms were observed after the surgical induction of hypertension. The present findings suggest early functional changes of the SCN in the etiology of spontaneous hypertension.     

Liminality and racial hazing of Muslim migrants: media framing of Albanians in Shepparton,Australia, 1930–1955

This article is a historical empirical study of the Albanian Muslim migrant community of Shepparton. Through analysing newspaper reports, the authors discuss how these migrants were portrayed as liminal between their first arrival and acceptance as Australians a generation later. This is characteristic of a practice which the authors term “migrant hazing”, where a migrant group is demonized as a threat to the society during the liminal phase. Migrant hazing occurs in public discourse, particularly the media, and ceases with the replacement of the group by newer migrants, who are subjected to the same process. Furthermore, migrant hazing remains present in contemporary depictions of Australian Muslims. In this longitudinal study, media reports on Albanian Muslims revolved around three persistent themes: their supposed criminality, the wrongful use of land and the threat of dual-loyalty. These three items constituted the main weapons of the media in hazing the first, liminal generation.     

First Record of Steinernema kraussei (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from Turkey and Its Virulence against Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

During a survey of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey in 2009–2012, a steinernematid species was recorded and isolated using the Galleria-baiting method. The isolate was identified as Steinernema kraussei based on its morphological and molecular properties. The analysis of the ITS rDNA sequence placed the Turkish population of S. kraussei in the “feltiae-kraussei” group in the clade that contains different isolates of the species. This is the first record of S. kraussei from Turkey. The efficacy of S. kraussei was tested on Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidea) larvae at different densities (100, 300, and 500 infective juveniles (IJs) g⁻¹ dry sand ) in laboratory conditions at 25 °C. The highest mortality (98%) was obtained with 500 IJs g⁻¹ dry sand within 7 d after inoculation. Our results indicate that the new isolate is a highly promising biological control agent against A. segetum, one of the most serious soil pests of agricultural area and fruits worldwide.     

Erythropoietin stimulates the coronary collateral development in patients with coronary chronic total occlusion

Objective

Erythropoietin (EPO) improves cardiac function and induces neovascularisation in post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between the serum erythropoietin level and coronary collateral development in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic total occlusion.

Methods

A total of 168 patients consisting of 117 with coronary artery disease (CAD, (62 with chronic total occlusion (CTO), 55 without CTO)) and 51 with healthy coronary arteries were included in the study. The patients were assigned as coronary artery disease without CTO (group 0), CAD with CTO (group 1: poor collateral development, group 2: good collateral development) and normal coronary arteries (group 3).

Results

There was a significant positive correlation between serum EPO levels and the Rentrop scores in angiography (r = 0.243, p = 0.001). Similarly, a positive correlation was found between serum EPO levels and the Syntax scores (r = 0.253, p = 0.001). Echocardiography revealed a negative correlation between serum EPO levels and the cardiac ejection fraction (r = ?0.210, p = 0.006).

Conclusions

Serum EPO is a useful biomarker for coronary collateral development in patients with CTO.

     

A Persistence Detector for Metabolic Network Rewiring in an Animal

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