A cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus isolated from the pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa

A cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) was isolated from the larvae of Thaumetopoea pityocampa and shown to cause an infection of midgut cells. This viral infection revealed several important diagnostic symptoms, including discoloration of the posterior midgut, reduced feeding, and extended development time of the larvae. The virus infection is lethal to Thaumetopoea pityocampa, and with the increasing doses kills the larvae within 4-5 days post infection. Electron microscopy studies showed typical cytoplasmic polyhedral inclusion bodies that are icosahedral, and ranged from 2.4 to 5.3 microm in diameter. Electrophoretic analysis of the RNA genome showed that the virus has a genome composed of 10 equimolar RNA segments with the sizes of 3,907, 3,716, 3,628, 3,249, 2,726, 1,914, 1,815, 1,256, 1,058, and 899 bp, respectively. Based on morphology and nucleic acid analysis, this virus was named Thaumetopoea pityocampa cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (TpCPV), and belongs to the genus Cypovirus, family Reoviridae.     

BACTIBASE: a new web-accessible database for bacteriocin characterization

Background  

Bacteriocins are very diverse group of antimicrobial peptides produced by a wide range of bacteria and known for their inhibitory activity against various human and animal pathogens. Although many bacteriocins are now well characterized, much information is still missing or is unavailable to potential users. The assembly of such information in one central resource such as a database would therefore be of great benefit to the exploitation of these bioactive molecules in the present context of increasing antibiotic resistance and natural bio-preservation need.     

Sources of Nitrogen in Combination with Systems of Irrigation Influence the Productivity of Modern Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) Cultivars during Dry Season in Sub-Tropical Environment

In irrigated agricultural systems, nitrogen (N) and water are the vital resources for sustainability of the crop production in the modern era of climate change. The current study aimed to assess the impact of water and N management on the productivity of irrigated rice cultivars. In the context, a field observation was done at the research farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during dry seasons in consecutive two years (2018–2019 and 2019–2020). The experiments were set up following split-plot design assigning water management in the main plots, nitrogen management in the sub-plots, and the cultivars were approved in the split-split plot with three replications. After two years observation, it was revealed that rice cultivar Binadhan-8 gave the maximum value of leaf area index, number effective tillers hill^-1 and grains panicle^-1 which lead to the higher grain yield (GY). Substantial relationships were observed among the concentration of N, growth, total dry matter (TDM) and N content, N uptake, N utilization effectiveness, and GY. However, with little exception, the Combined effect of water and N, cultivars and water management were varied significantly for all parameters. Finally, the results of the current study concluded that application of irrigation at 8 days after the disappearance of ponded water and source of 105 kg N ha^-1 from PU + Poultry manure are the best management approach for the excellent performance of rice cultivar Binadhan-8.     

Kannaphallus leptosomus n. sp. (Monogenea: Heteraxinidae: Cemocotylinae) parasitizing Scyris indica (Carangiformes: Carangidae) from Malaysia

Systematic Parasitology - A new monogenean species, Kannaphallus leptosomus n. sp., from the gills of the diamond trevally, Scyris indica Rüppell, caught off Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia is...     

Evaluation of the androgenic competence of 66 wild Turkish Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert genotypes through microspore culture

One of the most remarkable natural plants is Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert, which has a high economic, medicinal and industrial potential due to its valuable compounds. However, it is mostly an underused plant worldwide. To implement doubled haploid technology in plant breeding programs and exploit its potential, first knowing the particulars of the species is necessary. This study was aimed to explore the androgenic potential of different wild Turkish V. hispanica genotypes collected from different Turkish regions, as a starting point to identify bottlenecks to solve in future studies. As to induction of microspore embryogenesis, nearly all of them responded, with efficiencies reaching 300 embryos/100 buds in some cases. However, we also found three main bottlenecks. First, the presence of foam-producing saponins in flowers prevented an efficient isolation of microspores. Second, embryos showed a reduced ability to germinate. Third, a dense network of hairy roots prevented the formation of a true, fully functional root system. Together, these drawbacks led to the production of very few DH plants. The presence of rhizogenic endophytes may be the cause of most of these problems, which opens the door for possible solutions.

     

Nobiletin protects against diabetes-induced testicular injury via hypophysis–gonadal axis upregulation and amelioration of oxidative stress

Background

Testicular injury is one of the most serious problems associated with diabetes mellitus. The present study aimed to compare the effects of two different doses of nobiletin and analyze its mechanisms of action against diabetes-induced testicular impairment in rats.

Methods and results

Streptozotocin injection was used to induce diabetes. Diabetic rats received nobiletin orally at 10 or 25 mg/kg daily for 30 days. Diabetic rats displayed significant elevations in glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Homeostatic Model of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while the serum levels of insulin, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly reduced. Histological changes to positivity for caspase-3 and decreased androgen receptors (AR) immunoexpression were observed in diabetic rats. Both doses of nobiletin improved hyperglycemia, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, and augmented insulin, testosterone, LH, and FSH levels. LH and FSH receptors and cytochrome P450 17 α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1) were markedly downregulated in terms of both gene and protein expression in testicular tissues of the diabetic group, effects that were markedly ameliorated with both doses of nobiletin. In addition, both doses significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and caspase-3 immunoexpression and improved the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and AR in testicular tissues of the diabetic group.

Conclusion

Both nobiletin doses showed protective effects against diabetes-induced testicular injury by reducing oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, inflammation, and caspase-3 and upregulating the hypophysis–gonadal axis and AR. The high dose of nobiletin was more effective than the lower one.

     

DNA ligase III acts as a DNA strand break sensor in the cellular orchestration of DNA strand break repair

In the current model of DNA SSBR, PARP1 is regarded as the sensor of single-strand breaks (SSBs). However, biochemical studies have implicated LIG3 as another possible SSB sensor. Using a laser micro-irradiation protocol that predominantly generates SSBs, we were able to demonstrate that PARP1 is dispensable for the accumulation of different single-strand break repair (SSBR) proteins at sites of DNA damage in live cells. Furthermore, we show in live cells for the first time that LIG3 plays a role in mediating the accumulation of the SSBR proteins XRCC1 and PNKP at sites of DNA damage. Importantly, the accumulation of LIG3 at sites of DNA damage did not require the BRCT domain-mediated interaction with XRCC1. We were able to show that the N-terminal ZnF domain of LIG3 plays a key role in the enzyme''s SSB sensing function. Finally, we provide cellular evidence that LIG3 and not PARP1 acts as the sensor for DNA damage caused by the topoisomerase I inhibitor, irinotecan. Our results support the existence of a second damage-sensing mechanism in SSBR involving the detection of nicks in the genome by LIG3.     

Multi‐isotype antibody responses against the multimeric Salmonella Typhi recombinant hemolysin E antigen

The detection and measurement of different antibody isotypes in the serum provide valuable indicators of the different stages of typhoid infection. Here, the ability of S. Typhi recombinant hemolysin E (HlyE) to detect multi‐isotype antibody responses in sera of patients with typhoid and paratyphoid A was investigated using an indirect antibody immunoassay. Nanogram amounts of HlyE were found to be sufficient for detection of IgG and IgA isotypes and, in a study of individuals' sera (n = 100), the immunoassay was able to distinguish between typhoid and non‐typhoid sera. The overall sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of the ELISA were 70% (39/56), 100% (44/44) and 83% respectively.     

Relationship of aerobic and anaerobic parameters with 400 m front crawl swimming performance

The aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship of aerobic and anaerobic parameters with 400 m performance, and establish which variable better explains long distance performance in swimming. Twenty-two swimmers (19.1±1.5 years, height 173.9±10.0 cm, body mass 71.2±10.2 kg; 76.6±5.3% of 400 m world record) underwent a lactate minimum test to determine lactate minimum speed (LMS) (i.e., aerobic capacity index). Moreover, the swimmers performed a 400 m maximal effort to determine mean speed (S400m), peak oxygen uptake (V.O2PEAK) and total anaerobic contribution (C_ANA). The C_ANA was assumed as the sum of alactic and lactic contributions. Physiological parameters of 400 m were determined using the backward extrapolation technique (V.O2PEAK and alactic contributions of C_ANA) and blood lactate concentration analysis (lactic anaerobic contributions of C_ANA). The Pearson correlation test and backward multiple regression analysis were used to verify the possible correlations between the physiological indices (predictor factors) and S400m (independent variable) (p < 0.05). Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Significant correlations were observed between S400m (1.4±0.1 m·s^-1) and LMS (1.3±0.1 m·s^-1; r = 0.80), V.O2PEAK (4.5±3.9 L·min^-1; r = 0.72) and C_ANA (4.7±1.5 L·O₂; r= 0.44). The best model constructed using multiple regression analysis demonstrated that LMS and V.O2PEAK explained 85% of the 400 m performance variance. When backward multiple regression analysis was performed, C_ANA lost significance. Thus, the results demonstrated that both aerobic parameters (capacity and power) can be used to predict 400 m swimming performance.