Utilization of F1 monosomics for genetic analyses involving awn expression,glume color,seed setting,and seed abortion in crosses of tetraploid and hexaploid wheats

Summary F₁ plants, monosomic for chromosomes 1A to 7B, from crosses of three lines of Triticum durum var. Khapli with the Chinese series were investigated together with their backcrosses to normal Chinese Spring. The three Khapli lines were designated K1-A, K1-B, and K1-D. Five parameters were analyzed: awn development, glume color, degree of selfing, crossing ability, and seed abortion.Morphological examination of F₁ monopentaploid plants revealed that, in the three lines, chromosomes 5A, 1B, 3B, 4B, 5B, and 6B had promotor genes and 2A, 6A, and 2B had inhibitor genes for awn development. Results on glume color suggested the presence of at least three inhibitor genes on 1B, 5B, and 7B, and three promotor genes on 3A, 6A, and 6B chromosomes of Chinese Spring.The first backcross of interspecific hybrids seemed to indicate that some chromosomes (1A, 1B, and 4B) originating from the Khapli lines possessed promotor genes, others (2B and 4A) carried inhibitor genes for seed setting. Similarily, the genetic factor (s) carried by chromosome 5A increased seed abortion whereas those on 2B and 6B reduced it.Self fertility in K1-D hybrids was probably the result of the inhibitor factor (s) on 7A and promotor genes on 3B, 4B, 5B, and 6B chromosomes coming from K1-D.     

Controlled trial of sodium valproate in severe epilepsy.

In a double-blind crossover trial sodium valproate or placebo was added to the existing anticonvulsant treatment of 20 patients with chronic uncontrolled epilepsy. Sodium valproate 1200 mg/day significantly reduced the frequency of both tonic-clonic and minor seizures in these patients. Only mild and transient side effects occurred (drowsiness, ataxia, and nausea), and these may have been due to the effect of adding sodium valproate to existing phenobarbitone or phenytoin treatment. Further controlled trials are needed to assess more fully the efficacy of this drug in various types of epilepsy.     

Multipartite symbioses in fungus-growing termites (Blattodea: Termitidae,Macrotermitinae) for the degradation of lignocellulose

Fungus-growing termites are among the most successful herbivorous animals and improve crop productivity and soil fertility. A range of symbiotic organisms can be found inside their nests. However, interactions of termites with these symbionts are poorly understood. This review provides detailed information on the role of multipartite symbioses (between termitophiles, termites, fungi, and bacteria) in fungus-growing termites for lignocellulose degradation. The specific functions of each component in the symbiotic system are also discussed. Based on previous studies, we argue that the enzymatic contribution from the host, fungus, and bacteria greatly facilitates the decomposition of complex polysaccharide plant materials. The host–termitophile interaction protects the termite nest from natural enemies and maintains the stability of the microenvironment inside the colony.     

Endogenous production of prothymocyte differentiating activity by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-cell-depleted human marrow

The PHA responsiveness of marrow T-cell precursors remains a matter of controversy. We have investigated the capacity of human marrow to proliferate under phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation following extensive removal of mature T cells by complement-dependent cytotoxicity with MBG6 and RFT8 monoclonal antibodies. PHA-induced thymidine uptake by marrow cells occurred with a peak on Days 6-8 of incubation instead of Day 3 for PBL. This peak was observed 48 hr earlier in the presence of PHA-stimulated T-depleted marrow cell supernatants. These supernatants can also promote the growth of mature T-cell colonies from MBG6-, RFT8-, T11-, T3- marrow. However, full colony development requires exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2). IL-2 could be detected in marrow supernatants but only at very low levels and beyond Days 3 and 4. In contrast Days 1-6 marrow supernatants were equally effective in promoting MBG6-RFT8- marrow cell responsiveness to PHA. We conclude that marrow T-cell precursors are not PHA responsive and that PHA induces the production by marrow non-T cells of a prothymocyte-differentiating activity (PTDA); PTDA can differentiate marrow T-cell progenitors into PHA-responsive T cells; following activation by PHA, these cells undergo limited proliferation induced by IL-2 endogenously released from de novo differentiated T cells. It is suggested that this mechanism may account for extrathymic differentiation of the T-cell lineage in heavily irradiated marrow transplantation recipients.     

Metagenomics analysis of the fecal microbiota in Ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and Green pheasants (Phasianus versicolor) using next generation sequencing

Pheasant reintroduction and conservation efforts have been in place in Pakistan since the 1980 s, yet there is still a scarcity of data on pheasant microbiome and zoonosis. Instead of growing vast numbers of bacteria in the laboratory, to investigate the fecal microbiome, pheasants (green and ring neck pheasant) were analyzed using 16S rRNA metagenomics and using IonS5TMXL sequencing from two flocks more than 10 birds. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) cluster analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis was performed using Mothur software against the SSUrRNA database of SILVA and the MUSCLE (Version 3.8.31) software. Results of the analysis showed that firmicutes were the most abundant phylum among the top ten phyla, in both pheasant species, followed by other phyla such as actinobacteria and proteobacteria in ring necked pheasant and bacteroidetes in green necked pheasant. Bacillus was the most relatively abundant genus in both pheasants followed by Oceanobacillus and Teribacillus for ring necked pheasant and Lactobacillus for green necked pheasant. Because of their well-known beneficial characteristics, these genus warrants special attention. Bird droppings comprise germs from the urinary system, gut, and reproductive sites, making it difficult to research each anatomical site at the same time. We conclude that metagenomic analysis and classification provides baseline information of the pheasant fecal microbiome that plays a role in disease and health.     

Target size analysis of neurotensin receptors

The neurotensin receptors from rat brain synaptosomal membranes differed in subunit structure from those in rat gastric fundus smooth muscle plasma membranes when studied following photoaffinity labelling or after exposure to cross-linking reagents. However, these two receptors were similar in their recognition properties. In this study we compared the target size of the two receptors by radiation inactivation and observed that the receptors in both tissues had similar target sizes (mean values 103,000 and 108,000 daltons). This suggests that the differences in size observed in biochemical studies may reflect changes occurring during the isolation procedures, or, on the other hand, there might be inherent difference in the subunit structure of these receptors.     

Use of response surface methodology to study the effect of media composition on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus

Aflatoxins are one of the most important secondary metabolites. These extrolites are produced by a number of Aspergillus fungi. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of media components and enhanced aflatoxin yield shown by A. flavus using response surface methodology in response to different nutrients. Different components of a chemically defined media that influence the aflatoxin production were monitored using Plackett–Burman experimental design and further optimized by Box–Behnken factorial design of response surface methodology in liquid culture. Interactions were studied with five variables, namely sorbitol, fructose, ammonium sulfate, KH₂PO₄, and MgSO₄.7H₂O. Maximum aflatoxin production was envisaged in medium containing 4.94 g/l sorbitol, 5.56 g/l fructose, 0.62 g/l ammonium sulfate, 1.33 g/l KH₂PO₄, and 0.65 g/l MgSO₄·7H₂O using response surface plots and the point prediction tool of the DESIGN EXPERT 8.1.0 (Stat-Ease, USA) software. However, a production of 5.25 μg/ml aflatoxin production was obtained, which was in agreement with the prediction observed in verification experiment. The other component (MgSO₄.7H₂O) was found to be an insignificant variable.