Surface properties of sendai virus envelope

Surface properties of Sendai virus envelope membrane have been measured, using both biological and biophysical techniques. Both normal and trypsin-treated virus were studied. SDS gel electrophoresis showed cleavage of the F protein exclusively by trypsin. The major activity change was observed in the hemolysing activity which is an expression of F protein. Hemolysis was reduced to less than 10% of its value for intact virus. ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the envelope surface of the native virus showed a highly restricted phospholipid headgroup environment. Interestingly, this restriction was relieved by treatment with trypsin. Thus these data suggest a role of the F protein of Sendai virus in tightly organizing the surface of the viral envelope membrane.     

Elaborate petals and staminodes in eudicots: Diversity, function, and evolution

Petals, a characteristic feature of eudicots, have evolved elaborations in various ways and across diverse clades. In this survey of petal and staminode elaborations throughout the eudicots, based on both new studies and a review of the literature, the diversity of such structures and their functions is discussed. Petal elaborations are primarily present as marginal lobes and ventral lobes of various shapes. Lobation patterns can be loosely classified as pinnate, binate, or ternate. One of these patterns may be dominant within a family (e.g. pinnate in Anisophylleaceae, binate in Caryophyllaceae, ternate in Elaeocarpaceae); transitional forms also occur (e.g. between binate and ternate in Onagraceae). Coronas between the corolla and androecium are found in several groups, for example in several families of Malpighiales or in Apocynaceae. In some clades, petal elaborations are especially prominent and can be used as approximate systematic markers (Anisophylleaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Rhizophoraceae). Petal elaborations are especially diverse in rosids. In asterids, which are characterized by sympetaly, elaborations are more conspicuous at the level of the architecture of the entire corolla, rather than at the level of individual petals. Evolutionary trends in petal elaboration in certain larger clades are shown and their involvement in floral biological functions is discussed.     

Antimicrobial peptides: Possible anti-infective agents

Multidrug-resistant bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections are major health threats. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has expressed concern on the decrease of pharmaceutical companies working on antibiotic research and development. However, small companies, along with academic research institutes, are stepping forward to develop novel therapeutic methods to overcome the present healthcare situation. Among the leading alternatives to current drugs are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are abundantly distributed in nature. AMPs exhibit broad-spectrum activity against a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, and even cancerous cells. They also show potential immunomodulatory properties, and are highly responsive to infectious agents and innate immuno-stimulatory molecules. In recent years, many AMPs have undergone or are undergoing clinical development, and a few are commercially available for topical and other applications. In this review, we outline selected anion and cationic AMPs which are at various stages of development, from preliminary analysis to clinical drug development. Moreover, we also consider current production methods and delivery tools for AMPs, which must be improved for the effective use of these agents.     

Auswirkungen des Anbaus einer Wirts- und einer Nichtwirtspflanze unter wechselnden ökologischen Bedingungen auf die Populationsdynamik von Rhizoctonia solani Kühn und Fusarium solani f. pisi (Jones) Snyd. et Hans

An isometric virus was isolated from Helianthus annuus L. plants showing a yellow leaf spot mosaic on affected leaves. Infected plants were found in different ecological regions of Ukraine. A procedure of virus purification is described. The diametres of the virus particles were nonuniform and ranged from 50 to 120 nm. The sedimentation coefficient of the virus was 518–540 S and the floating density in the CsCl gradient was 1.22 g/cm³. The MW of proteins separated by electrophoresis amounted to 78±0.9, 58±0.8, 52±0.2, and 27±0.8 kDa, respectively. The virus was assigned to the tospoviruses for which sunflower is a new previously undescribed natural host plant.     

八段锦和五行音乐疗法在缓解新型冠状病毒肺炎患者负性情绪中的疗效分析

摘要 目的：观察八段锦和五行音乐疗法对新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）患者负性情绪的疗效。方法：收集孝感市第一人民医院就诊的COVID-19患者40例，采用随机数字表法将40例患者随机分为对照组（n=20）和观察组（n=20），观察组接受八段锦和子午流注理论指导下的择时五行音乐疗法进行干预，对照组保持日常生活方式。两组在干预前、干预2周采用焦虑自评量表（SAS）和抑郁自评量表(SDS)分别评定两组实验对象在实验前和干预后的负性情绪的改变，用患者生活质量量表(QLQ-C30)分别对两组患者进行生活质量的测评。结果：接受八段锦和子午流注理论指导下的择时五行音乐疗法的患者负性情绪明显减低，SAS、SDS评分明显较前明显改善，观察组患者SAS评分、SDS评分较对照组降低程度明显，差异存在统计学差异（P＜0.05）；干预后观察组、对照组的角色功能、认知功能、情感功能、躯体功能及生活质量评分均明显改善，接受八段锦和子午流注理论指导下的择时五行音乐疗法的患者在角色功能、认知功能、情感功能、躯体功能及生活质量评分方面均优于对照组，差异存在统计学差异（P＜0.05）。结论：COVID-19患者通过八段锦和五行音乐疗法能够明显减低负性情绪，此种疗法可有效起到"精神内守，病安从来"的安慰作用。     

Emergence,evolution, and vaccine production approaches of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Benefits of getting vaccinated and common questions

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Wuhan city, China at the end of 2019 made it urgent to identify the origin of the causal pathogen and its molecular evolution, to appropriately design an effective vaccine. This study analyzes the evolutionary background of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-2) in accordance with its close relative SARS-CoV (SARS-1), which was emerged in 2002. A comparative genomic and proteomic study was conducted on SARS-2, SARS-1, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS), which was emerged in 2012. In silico analysis inferred the genetic variability among the tested viruses. The SARS-1 genome harbored 11 genes encoding 12 proteins, while SARS-2 genome contained only 10 genes encoding for 10 proteins. MERS genome contained 11 genes encoding 11 proteins. The analysis also revealed a slight variation in the whole genome size of SARS-2 comparing to its siblings resulting from sequential insertions and deletions (indels) throughout the viral genome particularly ORF1AB, spike, ORF10 and ORF8. The effective indels were observed in the gene encoding the spike protein that is responsible for viral attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell receptor and initiating infection. These indels are responsible for the newly emerging COVID-19 variants αCoV, βCoV, γCoV and δCoV. Nowadays, few effective COVID-19 vaccines developed based on spike (S) glycoprotein were approved and become available worldwide. Currently available vaccines can relatively prevent the spread of COVID-19 and suppress the disease. The traditional (killed or attenuated virus vaccine and antibody-based vaccine) and innovated vaccine production technologies (RNA- and DNA-based vaccines and viral vectors) are summarized in this review. We finally highlight the most common questions related to COVID-19 disease and the benefits of getting vaccinated.     

Selection of Powdery Mildew and Yellow Mosaic-Resistant Greengram Plants Regenerated Through Organogenesis

Several regenerants through organogenesis were obtained in greengram ( Vigna radiata L. wilczek). Cytokinins appear to be important in inducing organogenesis and IAA induces root induction. Heritable variations could be seen among organogenesis regenerants. Some of the regenerants showed resistance to powdery mildew while some others showed resistance to yellow mosaic virus disease. The disease resistant characters were stable also in R 3 and R 4 generations.     

Untersuchungen über den Proteingehalt virusinfizierter Futtergräser

Unter Verwendung verschiedener Methoden der Inokulation wurde das Verhalten von acht Aprikosensorten sowie 18 Pflaumensorten bzw. -zuchtklonen gegenüber dem Plum pox virus (PPV) überprüft und verglichen. Die eingesetzten Methoden führten zu übereinstimmenden Ergebnissen in Hinblick auf Virusresistenz und -anfa¨lligkeit. Die einbezogenen Aprikosensorten entwickelten nach der Übertragung des PPV entweder chlorotische Blattflecken oder sie verhielten sich immun. Überempfindlichkeitsreaktionen waren nicht zu beobachten. Die geprüften Pflaumengenotypen reagierten auf eine Virusinfektion mit der Ausbildung chlorotischer und nekrotischer Symptome, die allein oder gemeinsam auftraten. Immunität lag in keinem Fall vor. Bei dem untersuchten Aprikosensortiment besteht offensichtlich keine Korrelation zwischen Virusisolat, dessen Stammzugehörigkeit (entsprechend den Ergebnissen der PCR) und Resistenzverhalten. Bei Pflaumen scheint der Einflu g des Virusisolates auf das Resistenzniveau grö g er zu sein.