Heat shock protein 90 from neglected protozoan parasites

Significant advances have been made in our understanding of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in terms of its structure, biochemical characteristics, post-translational modifications, interactomes, regulation and functions. In addition to yeast as a model several new systems have now been examined including flies, worms, plants as well as mammalian cells. This review discusses themes emerging out of studies reported on Hsp90 from infectious disease causing protozoa. A common theme of sensing and responding to host cell microenvironment emerges out of analysis of Hsp90 in Malaria, Trypanosmiasis as well as Leishmaniasis. In addition to their functional roles, the potential of Hsp90 from these infectious disease causing organisms to serve as drug targets and the current status of this drug development endeavor are discussed. Finally, a unique and the only known example of a split Hsp90 gene from another disease causing protozoan Giardia lamblia and its evolutionary significance are discussed. Clearly studies on Hsp90 from protozoan parasites promise to reveal important new paradigms in Hsp90 biology while exploring its potential as an anti-infective drug target. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90).     

A spatial analytical approach for selecting reintroduction sites for burbot in English rivers

1. Availability of suitable habitat is a prerequisite for species reintroduction success, and to ensure population persistence, investigations of a species’ habitat utilisation throughout its life history should be conducted as part of a feasibility study. 2. Habitat utilisation models for burbot, Lota lota, developed using data from field studies conducted in France and Germany and information from the literature were used to assess the feasibility of reintroducing burbot into rivers of its former native range in eastern England. 3. Per cent tree roots, aquatic vegetation and flow types were important predictors of adult burbot abundance. Furthermore, the habitat utilisation models were supplemented with information from the literature, which suggested that off‐channel habitat such as wetlands and backwaters is important for spawning and nursery stages. 4. An assessment of the habitat availability in the rivers of the burbot’s former native range using variables related to spawning and nursery and adult life stages showed that although adult habitat was widely distributed, the availability of spawning and nursery habitat was less abundant, potentially limiting successful reestablishment. 5. Potential suitable habitat was concentrated in the central and southern areas of the species’ former English distribution. Overall, rivers of the burbot’s former range potentially afford suitable habitat to sustain a reintroduced population. However, sites should be preferentially selected on the basis of having appropriate spawning and nursery areas.     

RAPD Profile Analysis of Betel Vine Cultivars

RAPD analysis in selected cultivars of Kapoori and Bangla betel vines (Piper betle L.) were carried out in order to ascertain the relatedness of the two to each other. On the basis of the data from 10 RAPD primers, it was found that the Kapoori cultivars were more heterogeneous (mean SI = 0.521) while the Bangla cultivars were mostly similar to each other (mean SI = 0.884). Within each type, the overall polymorphism of RAPD bands was more than 70 %. When RAPD band data for both types of cultivars were considered cumulatively, the two were clearly separated from each other. In fact only six bands out of a total of 60 bands were found to be common to cultivars of both types. Bands specific to only one of the two types have potential for developing betel vine cultivar-specific probes and SCAR-markers.     

Isolation of propionate degrading bacterium in co-culture with a methanogen from a cattle dung biogas plant

Various anaerobic hydrolytic and methanogenic bacteria active in cattle dung biogas plants are reported in the literature. Anaerobic bacteria with ability to use volatile fatty acids constitute a vital bridge between hydrolytic bacteria and methanogenic bacteria. The present paper describes the isolation ofSyntrophobacter wolinii a propionate degrading bacterium in co-culture with a hydrogen utilizing methanogenviz.,Methanobacterium formicicum from the fermenting slurry of cattle dung biogas plant. Earlier studies on propionate and butyrate degradation indicatedMethanospirillum hungatei as the hydrogen utilizing partner of the co-culture whereas in the present studies this was not the case. Temperature 35° C, pH 7.5 and 20 mM of propionate were found optimal for growth and activity of co-culture.     

Genome analysis of amaranths: Determination of inter- and intra-species variations

Amaranths are an important group of plants and include grain, vegetable and ornamental types. Despite the economic importance of the amaranths, there is very little information available about the extent and nature of genetic diversity present in the genus Amaranthus at molecular level. We now report the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of different species of Amaranthus as well as different accessions of the species. These RAPD analyses have been carried out using 65 arbitrary sequence decamer primers. From the RAPD data, an UPGMA dendrogram illustrating the inter-as well as intra-species relationships has been computed. The putative hybrid origin of A.dubious from A. hybridus and A. spinosus is also ruled out by the RAPD data. The trends of species relationships amongst the amaranths determined by RAPDs is consistent with their cytogenetic and evolutionary relationships that have already been determined. NBRI Communication No:464 (N.S.).     

Analysis of variations in RAPD profiles among accessions ofProsopis

The genetic variability among accessions ofProsopis was determined using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. Similarities of profiles were determined using the algorithm of Jaccard, and UPGMA and neighbour joining trees were generated from the similarity data. The average similarity was highest among the accessions ofP. glandulosa (0.52 ± 0.18) and least in the accessions ofP. juliflora (0.37 ± 0.15), indicating that the latter species has greater diversity among accessions. Our observations suggest that RAPD analysis could help in identifying genetic variations among different accessions ofProsopis.     

A molecular insight into papaya leaf curl—a severe viral disease

Papaya leaf curl disease (PaLCuD) caused by papaya leaf curl virus (PaLCuV) not only affects yield but also plant growth and fruit size and quality of papaya and is one of the most damaging and economically important disease. Management of PaLCuV is a challenging task due to diversity of viral strains, the alternate hosts, and the genomic complexities of the viruses. Several management strategies currently used by plant virologists to broadly control or eliminate the viruses have been discussed. In the absence of such strategies in the case of PaLCuV at present, the few available options to control the disease include methods like removal of affected plants from the field, insecticide treatments against the insect vector (Bemisia tabaci), and gene-specific control through transgenic constructs. This review presents the current understanding of papaya leaf curl disease, genomic components including satellite DNA associated with the virus, wide host and vector range, and management of the disease and suggests possible generic resistance strategies.