The cp genome characterization of Adenium obesum: Gene content,repeat organization and phylogeny

Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is remarkable for its horticultural and ornamental values, poisonous nature, and medicinal uses. In order to have understanding of cp genome characterization of highly valued medicinal plant, and the evolutionary and systematic relationships, the complete plastome / chloroplast (cp) genome of A. obesum was sequenced. The assembled cp genome of A. obesum was found to be 154,437 bp, with an overall GC content of 38.1%. A total of 127 unique coding genes were annotated including 96 protein-coding genes, 28 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. The repeat structures were found to comprise of only mononucleotide repeats. The SSR loci are compososed of only A/T bases. The phylogenetic analysis of cp genomes revealed its proximity with Nerium oleander.     

Fruit properties during the harvest period of eleven Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cultivars

The geometric attributes and physical, mechanical, and chemical properties were determined for 11 Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cultivars grown in Saudi Arabia including Zaytoni, Kashmiri, Komethry, Um-Sulaem with spines, Toffahy, Um-Sulaem without spines, Abdel-Sattar, Pu-Yun, Pu-Pineau, seedy ber, and buddling ber. The geometric mean diameter, surface area, sphericity, and shape index of the fruits ranged from 20.61 to 42.48 mm, 1339.58–5666.92 mm², 71.39–96.80%, and 110.25–275.18%, respectively. The fruit physical properties, i e fruit weight, fruit volume, stone weight, flesh weight, true fruit density, and pulp-stone ratio varied from 4.71 to 39.02 g, 4.78 to 42.75 cm3, 0.11 to 2.35 g, 4.61 to 36.67 g,0.913 to 1.055 g/cm3, and 7.90 to 43.11, respectively. In addition, the mean color value of L*, a* and b* for the fruits ranged from 64.48 to 96.33, 2.65–4.05, and 6.32–84.36, respectively. The mechanical properties, including elastic range, bioyield force, modulus of elasticity, plastic range, and rupture force ranged from 2.31 to 8.86 mm, 21.64–325.77 N, 14.15–124.09 N/s, 0.83–3.45 mm, 56.42–364.21 N, and 107.77–480.91 N/s, respectively. The greatest rupture force belonged to the Pu-Pineau cultivar and the smallest belonged to the Um-Sulaem without spines cultivar at the horizontal orientation of both cultivars. The fruit chemical analysis values for total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio, and vitamin C ranged from 13.43 to 23.55%, 0.48–1.27%, 14.24–39.85%, and 55.27–164.47 mg/100 g, respectively. The relevant data obtained for the 11 varieties of Indian jujube are valuable for developing and designing machines for processing operations, transportation, separating, packing, sorting, and harvesting. Additionally, the findings revealed considerable variation in chemical content, physical and mechanical characteristics among the tested cultivars.     

Partial purification and characterization of 2, 4-diacetylphloroglucinol producing Pseudomonas fluorescens VSMKU3054 against bacterial wilt disease of tomato

We find out the antimicrobial potential of partially purified 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) against Ralstonia solanacearum and fungal plant pathogens isolated from tomato rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens VSMKU3054. The present study is mainly focused on the control of wilt disease of tomato by our isolate VSMKU3054 and DAPG. The cell free culture filtrate of P. fluorescens VSMKU3054 was significantly arrested the growth of R. solanacearum and fungal pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum compared to control. The existence of DAPG from the crude metabolites of P. fluorescens VSMKU3054 was confirmed on TLC with Rf value 0.34, which is coincide with that of authentic phloroglucinol. The partially purified DAPG exhibited much higher activity against R. solanacearum at 30 µg/ml than the fungal plant pathogens compared to control. The antimicrobial partially purified compound was identified as DAPG by UV, FT-IR and GC–MS analysis. The percentage of live cells of R. solanacearum when supplemented with DAPG at 30 µg/ml, significantly controlled the living nature of R. solanacearum up to 68% compared to tetracycline and universal control observed under high content screening analysis. The selected isolate P. fluorescens VSMKU3054 and DAPG significantly controlled wilt disease of tomato up to 59.5% and 42.12% on 3rd and 7th days compared to positive and negative control by detached leaf assay. Further, in silico analysis revealed that high interaction of DAPG encoding protease with lectin which is associated with R. solanacearum. Based on our findings, we confirmed that P. fluorescens VSMKU3054 and DAPG could be used a potential bio inoculants for the management of bacterial wilt disease of tomato.     

Genetic network analysis between Apis mellifera subspecies based on mtDNA argues the purity of specimens from North Africa,the Levant and Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the genetic relationships between honey bee subspecies using reference specimens and recently collected specimens from different parts of the world. The purity of these specimens was discussed in light of the obtained results.MethodsThe genetic networks were constructed between 21 subspecies of honey bees, Apis mellifera L.: 9 in Africa, 7 in Europe and 5 in Asia. The analysis was performed using the mtDNA of these subspecies and the Population Analysis with Reticulate Trees software. Some subspecies were represented by more than two specimens based on the available online sequences.Results and conclusionsThe subspecies A. m. sahariensis from Africa showed unique characteristics and is genetically isolated than all other studied bee subspecies. Specimens collected from Saudi Arabia showed genetic relatedness to A. m. jemenitica, A. m. lamarckii, and some European subspecies, suggesting high degree of hybridization. The close genetic relationship between the Egyptian bees, A. m. lamarckii, and the Syrian bees, A. m. syriaca, were emphasized. The overall genetic network showed the presence of three distinct branches in relation to geographical locations. The high accurateness of the used analysis was confirmed by previous phylogenetic studies as well as the genetic relationships between hybrid bees of A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata. The genetic networks showed the presence of bee subspecies from Africa in all branches including Europe and Asia. The study suggests the impurity of some specimens mostly due to the hybridization between subspecies. Specific recommendations for future conservation efforts of bees were presented in light of this study.     

Anti-obesity potential of almond (Prunus dulcis) in experimental animals under cafeteria and atherogenic diets

Background & objectivesNatural dietary supplements are progressively getting famous to supplant synthetic substances particularly in chronic morbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-obesity potential of almond on the normal, Cafeteria, and Atherogenic diets.Materials and methodsParameters such as change in body weight, body temperature, lipid profile, organ weights, and fat pad weights were assessed. Central Nervous System related studies (Despair Swim test and Elevated Plus maze test) were also performed to comprehend the effect of the diets, and almond on the brain. All of the experimental animals were randomly assigned to one of three diet categoriesregular, cafeteria, or atherogenic, and fed those diets for 40 days. Each diet had the control group, standard drug group and three almond groups (low dose: 50; medium dose: 100 and high dose: 200 mg/kg body weight). Body weight was recorded every alternate day. On 40th day, body temperature was measured. On day 41, lipid parameters, organ weights, fat pad weights and the CNS parameters were evaluated. ANOVA followed by Duncans Multiple Range Test were used for statistical analysis.ResultsTreatment of animals with either a low or high dose of almond as well as a standard herb prevented a rise in body weight significantly (p = 0.01) in all three diet groups. When a regular diet was replaced with a cafeteria and atherogenic diet, the serum levels of triglycerides and LDL increased significantly, while HDL levels decreased significantly. Overall, almond preparation reduced lipid parameters, organ weights, fat-pad weights, and stabilized CNS parameters substantially.Interpretation & conclusionThe almond high dose was the most effective of all the almond preparations. Our study suggests that chronic administration of almond independently reduces the body weight in experimental animals.     

Correlation of expression of Akt1 and E2F1 and their phosphorylated forms in breast cancer patients with clinicopathological parameters

Journal of Molecular Histology - Breast cancer is the leading cancer worldwide among women. Traditional clinicopathological prognostic and predictive markers need refining to improve clinical...     

In Vitro Selective Suppression of Tumor Cells by an Oncolytic Peptide in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a typically violent sort of malignancy and a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most of the radiation as well as chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of PDAC exhibit strong adverse effects with low specificity. Henceforth, a need for an alternative demanded that prompted us to design a novel anticancer peptide (KOR-19) in such a way that it interacts predominantly with cancer cells but exhibits low toxicity with normal mammalian cells. Cell proliferation (XTT) assay and crystal violet assay revealed that the novel designed peptide exhibited vital toxic activities against four different PDAC cell lines (BxPC3, Colo-357, Panc89, and Panc1). On the opposite, this peptide depicted negligible or very low toxicity towards a non-cancerous primary mouse pancreatic stellate cells (MPSC). In the LDH-release assay, we have detected potential membrane damaging properties of KOR-19 as its major mode of action. Further, the hemolytic assay revealed very low or negligible toxic activities towards both mouse- and human RBCs. The flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the KOR-19 expanded both apoptotic and necrotic cell death in all PDAC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological assessments also supported the notion of necrosis assassination of cancer cells as there were elevated swollen vesicle-like structure and cell aggregation noticed in a cell type-dependent manner. In summary, KOR-19 exhibits excellent “druggable” properties due to its promising oncolytic and growth inhibitory activities against PDAC cells, making it a promising agent for the future remedy choice for PDAC.

     

Potentiality of Different Seed Priming Agents to Mitigate Cold Stress of Winter Rice Seedling

Seed priming has proved to be an effective pre-germination seed invigoration technique for different crops to improve seed and seedling performance under different abiotic stresses. In Bangladesh, winter rice is very often exposed to cold waves just after sowing in the nursery bed resulting in poor seed germination and seedling emergence, yellowish and thin seedlings production, and a very low survival rate. Seed priming may mitigate the cold stress during seed germination and seedling emergence and helps in the quality seedling production of winter rice. To evaluate the efficacy of different seed priming techniques in increasing seedling emergence, growth, vigor and survivability of winter rice cultivars under cold stress, a pot experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University during December 2018 to January 2019. The experiment comprised two factors, (A) Winter rice variety namely, i) BRRI dhan29 and ii) BRRI dhan36; (B) Seed priming agent namely i) Control (no priming), ii) 20000 ppm NaCl, iii) 30000 ppm NaCl, iv) 20000 ppm KCl, v) 30000 ppm KCl, vi) 20000 ppm CaCl₂, vii) 30000 ppm CaCl₂, viii) 50 ppm CuSO₄, ix) 75 ppm CuSO₄, x) 10000 ppm ZnSO₄, xi) 15000 ppm ZnSO₄, xii) 2 ppm Na₂MoO₄, xiii) 3 ppm Na₂MoO₄, xiv) 100 ppm PEG (Polyethylene glycol 4000) and xv) 150 ppm PEG. Seeds were sown on two different dates viz., 1st December and 1st January so that seedlings are exposed to cold stress at different stages. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results indicated that (in most of the cases) seed priming has a positive impact on seedling emergence rate (%), root length, shoot length, root shoot ratio, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, seedling dry weight and survival rate (%). Among the priming agents, KCl and CaCl₂ performed best; while priming with NaCl and PEG showed no advantages over no priming for both the sowing dates. In general, BRRI dhan36 performed better than BRRI dhan29 in terms of seedling growth because of its higher tolerance to cold stress. But, both the varieties performed similarly in terms of emergence rate and survival rate. Thus, priming is an effective tool to increase seed germination, better seedling growth, and higher seedling survivability of winter rice under cold stress, and KCl (20000 ppm) or CaCl₂ (20000 ppm) can be considered as a viable priming agent.