Prolific shoot regeneration from immature embryo explants of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.)

Summary Immature cotyledons and embryo axes of sainfoin were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to induce adventitious shoot regeneration. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration occurred following an initial callus growth on a MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP and 2 mg/l NAA. Immature embryo axes showed higher regeneration capacity than immature cotyledons, however, shoot elongation was best achieved on immature cotyledons. Regenerated shoots were excised and rooted in half strength MS medium with 1 mg/l indole-butyric acid (IBA) or 1 mg/l NAA. The rooted plantlets were finally transferred to compost.     

Comparative bioinformatics analysis and abiotic stress responses of expansin proteins in Cucurbitaceae members: watermelon and melon

Protoplasma - Watermelon and melon are members of the Cucurbitaceae family including economically significant crops in the world. The expansin protein family, which is one of the members of the...     

First report of Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) in Italy with insights into its identity

The Asian walnut moth, Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae), is a major pest of walnut. Native to Central Asia, it was found to be invasive in 2008 in Sevastopol (Crimea) and nowadays widespread in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Russia. Here, we account for the finding of G. musculana in NE Italy (Veneto region) in 2021, where adults were found in a light lamp, representing the first record of the Asian walnut moth for this country and Western Europe. Adult specimens were identified morphologically on both external characters and genitalia features. G. musculana larvae and damage were also observed on a plantation of Juglans regia L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) located in Veneto in October 2021. A COI-barcoding analysis was performed to attain a molecular characterization of our specimens and probate our morphological identification. However, because no sequence of G. musculana was present in major gene databases and the similarity of our sequences with those attributed to Garella ruficirra (Hampson, 1905) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) made clear that these taxa deserved further scrutiny regarding their specific distinction. Some subtle differences in the male terminalia could be found between them and their vast geographic distributions, but the strong similarity in most features calls for further morphological and genetical insights on a broad set of samples to assess whether they represent two closely related, substantially parapatric species, or a unique, geographically varying entity. Solving this issue may turn out crucial in the identification and proper management of walnut moths of the genus Garella.     

Evaluation of the standards compliance of the queen bees reared in the Mediterranean region in Turkey

The influence of different commercial queen producers on the quality of Apis mellifera queens was assessed. It was aimed to determine the quality characteristics of queens reared by commercial queen producers located in the province of Antalya, which is an important region in queens production due to its climatic characteristics. For this purpose, the quality characteristics of a total of 105 queen bees obtained from 21 enterprises were determined. Differences between the enterprises in terms of the number of spermatozoa (P < 0.01) were determined. In terms of the diameter of spermatheca, spermatheca volume and live weight, statistical differences between the enterprises were also observed (P < 0.05). When the relationships between the measured characteristics were examined, significant values were obtained statistically between live weight and diameter of spermathecae (0.268) and spermatheca volume (0.258). It was also determined that there is a significant correlation between spermatheca diameter and spermatheca volume (0.995). The spermatheca diameter of a good quality queen bee should not be <1.2 mm, spermatheca volume 0.90 mm³ and live weight not <200 mg. Only live weight was found to be within the normal quality standard values when the average results of the quality criteria are taken into consideration. Other characters such as spermathecae diameter, spermathecae volume and number of spermatozoa in spermathecae seem to be below quality standard values.     

Role of serum concentration of VEGFR1 and TIMP2 on clinical outcome in primary cervical cancer: Results of a companion protocol of the randomized,NOGGO–AGO phase III adjuvant trial of simultaneous cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy vs. carboplatin and paclitaxel containing sequential radiotherapy

ObjectiveAim of the present study was to analyze the expression-profile of IGF1, IGFBP3, sICAM1, sVCAM1, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP2, VEGFA, VEGFD, VEGFC and VEGFR1 in patients with high-risk FIGO-stage Ib-IIb cervical cancer.MethodsSerum from 68 cervical cancer patients treated within a phase-III-trial with either simultaneous cisplatin radiochemotherapy or sequential systemic carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by percutaneous irradiation was analyzed by ELISA. Both target expression and correlation with important clinicopathological factors were analyzed following standard statistic procedures.ResultsAll 68 patients underwent a primary radical hysterectomy with pelvic and/or paraaortic lymphadenectomy. 85.3% of the extirpated tumors had clear surgical margins (R0). Increased levels of VEGFR1, TIMP2 and MMP2 were significantly associated with positive surgical margins (p = 0.004, p = 0.018 and p = 0.004, respectively). High concentration of MMP2 and TIMP2 correlated additionally with an advanced age at time of diagnosis (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). For the cut-off value of 100 pg/ml, an increased VEGFR1 was significantly associated with poor overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival (p = 0.017 and p = 0.015, respectively). A TIMP2 concentration of lower than 90 ng/ml was significantly associated with poorer OS and PFS (p = 0.009 and p = 0.043, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, TIMP2 expression in serum was the only independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.032, HR = 6.51, 95% CI = 1.17–36.01).ConclusionsExpression-profile of specific biomarkers associated with tumor invasion, cell migration and angiogenesis seems to be of prognostic value for both OS and PFS in patients undergoing surgery due to primary cervical cancer. Further analyses are warranted to allow an implementation of such markers into clinical practice.     

On-line preconcentration/determination of zinc from water,biological and food samples using synthesized chelating resin and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line flow injection pre-concentration-flame atomic absorption spectrometry method was developed to determine trace zinc in water (tap, dam, and well water), biological (hair and nail), and liver samples. As a solid phase extractant, a synthesized new chelating resin, poly(2-thiozylmethacrylamide-co-divinylbenzene-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) was used. The resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and surface area by nitrogen sorption. A pre-concentration factor of 40-fold for a sample volume of 12.6 mL was obtained by using the time-based technique. The detection limit for the pre-concentration method was found to be 2.2 μg L^?1. The precision (as RSD,%) for 10 replicate determinations at the 0.04 μg mL^?1 Zn concentration was 1.2%. The calibration graph using the pre-concentration system for zinc was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 in the concentration range from 0.005 to 0.05 μg mL^?1. The applicability and accuracy of the developed method were estimated by the analysis spiked water, biological, liver samples (83–105%), and also certified reference material TMDA-70 (fortified lake water) and SPS-WW1 Batch 111-Wastewater. The results were in agreement with the certified values.     

Single-step purification of recombinant Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase using DNA-aptamer immobilized novel affinity magnetic beads

A DNA aptamer specific for Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (Taq-polymerase) was immobilized on magnetic beads, which were prepared in the presented study. The effect of various parameters including pH, temperaturem and aptamer concentration on the immobilization of 5'-thiol labeled DNA-aptamer onto glutaric dialdhyde activated magnetic beads was evaluated. The binding conditions of Taq-polymerase on the aptamer immobilized magnetic beads were studied using commercial Taq-polymerase to characterize the surface complexation reaction. Efficiency of affinity magnetic beads in the purification of recombinant Taq-polymerase from crude extracts was also evaluated. For this case, the enzyme "recombinant Taq-DNA polymerase" was cloned and expressed using an Amersham E. coli GST-Gene Fusion Expression system. Crude extracts were in contact with affinity magnetic beads for 30 min and were collected by magnetic field application. The purity of the eluted Tag-polymerase from the affinity beads, as determined by HPLC, was 93% with a recovery of 89% in a one-step purification protocol. Apparently, the system was found highly effective as one step for the low-cost purification of Taq-polymerase in bacterial crude extract.     

K2P18.1 translates T cell receptor signals into thymic regulatory T cell development

It remains largely unclear how thymocytes translate relative differences in T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength into distinct developmental programs that driv...     

Effects of a GnRH agonist on oocyte number and maturation in mice superovulated with eCG and hCG

The objective was to investigate the effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH) on ovulation rate and the number and maturation of oocytes in mice superovulated with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Thirty 3-month-old BALB/C female mice (weight: 25-30 g) were assigned to three experimental groups: control, superovulated, and superovulated with GnRH pretreatment (n=10 per group). Control mice received an i.p. injection of 0.1 ml physiological saline solution. Superovulation was induced with 5 IU eCG (i.p.) and 5 IU hCG 48 h later. Mice in the superovulated with GnRH pretreatment group were given GnRH (20 mg/kg Fertirelin, i.m.), 24 h before superovulation. Thirteen hours after hCG administration, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood samples were collected to determine serum progesterone concentration (by radioimmunoassay). Ovaries and oviducts were also harvested to enumerate corpora lutea and cumulus-enclosed oocytes. Progesterone concentrations were not significantly different among groups. The oocyte number and the maturation, ovulation rate, and the number of corpora lutea were higher in GnRH-treated mice than both controls and superovulated mice. In conclusion, GnRH given 24 h before superovulation with eCG-hCG increased the number and maturation of oocytes and the rate of ovulation in mice.