Application of filamentous phages in environment: A tectonic shift in the science and practice of ecorestoration

Theories in soil biology, such as plant–microbe interactions and microbial cooperation and antagonism, have guided the practice of ecological restoration (ecorestoration). Below‐ground biodiversity (bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, etc.) influences the development of above‐ground biodiversity (vegetation structure). The role of rhizosphere bacteria in plant growth has been largely investigated but the role of phages (bacterial viruses) has received a little attention. Below the ground, phages govern the ecology and evolution of microbial communities by affecting genetic diversity, host fitness, population dynamics, community composition, and nutrient cycling. However, few restoration efforts take into account the interactions between bacteria and phages. Unlike other phages, filamentous phages are highly specific, nonlethal, and influence host fitness in several ways, which make them useful as target bacterial inocula. Also, the ease with which filamentous phages can be genetically manipulated to express a desired peptide to track and control pathogens and contaminants makes them useful in biosensing. Based on ecology and biology of filamentous phages, we developed a hypothesis on the application of phages in environment to derive benefits at different levels of biological organization ranging from individual bacteria to ecosystem for ecorestoration. We examined the potential applications of filamentous phages in improving bacterial inocula to restore vegetation and to monitor changes in habitat during ecorestoration and, based on our results, recommend a reorientation of the existing framework of using microbial inocula for such restoration and monitoring. Because bacterial inocula and biomonitoring tools based on filamentous phages are likely to prove useful in developing cost‐effective methods of restoring vegetation, we propose that filamentous phages be incorporated into nature‐based restoration efforts and that the tripartite relationship between phages, bacteria, and plants be explored further. Possible impacts of filamentous phages on native microflora are discussed and future areas of research are suggested to preclude any potential risks associated with such an approach.     

聚叶钗子股-中国兰科新记录种及形态特征增补(英文稿)

报道了产自滇东南的中国兰科植物一新记录种--聚叶钗子股（Luisia appressifolia Averyanov）。研究发现,已往文献报道该种时,对其花部特征（如花颜色、萼片及花瓣形状、大小等）的描述仅依据腊叶标本,因标本严重失水导致描述信息不准或缺失。本文根据新鲜植株和花部材料对该种相关形态特征给予了补充。     

Unravelling the emerging threats of microplastics to agroecosystems

Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology - In the past few decades, pollution from microplastics has emerged as an important issue on a global scale. These plastic particles are mainly...     

Targeting AMPK signaling pathway by natural products for treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications

Diabetes affects a large population of the world. Lifestyle, obesity, dietary habits, and genetic factors contribute to this metabolic disease. A target pathway to control diabetes is the 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. AMPK is a heterotrimeric protein with α, β, and γ subunits. In several studies, AMPK activation enhanced glucose uptake into cells and inhibited intracellular glucose production. Impairment of AMPK activity is present in diabetes, according to some studies. Drugs used in the treatment of diabetes, such as metformin, are also known to act through regulation of AMPK. Thus, drugs that activate and regulate AMPK are potential candidates for the treatment of diabetes. In addition, many patients encounter important adverse effects, like hypoglycemia, while using allopathic drugs. As a result, the investigation of plant-derived natural drugs that lack adverse side effects and treat diabetes is necessary. Natural products like berberine, quercetin, resveratrol, and so forth have shown significant potential in regulating and activating the AMPK pathway which can lead to manage diabetes mellitus and its complications.     

Length–weight relationships of nine freshwater fishes from six rivers of the Western Ghats of India

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for nine freshwater fish species collected three times using a scoop net (mesh size 0.3–0.5 cm), cast net (mesh size 1–1.5 cm) and gillnet (mesh size 2.5–4.5 cm) from six rivers of the Western Ghats of India during August 2017–October 2018. The b values for LWRs varied from 2.862 to 3.656 (R² > 0.916 and p < 0.0001 for all species).     

Syrbactin-class dual constitutive- and immuno-proteasome inhibitor TIR-199 impedes myeloma-mediated bone degeneration in vivo

Proteasome-addicted neoplastic malignancies present a considerable refractory and relapsed phenotype with patients exhibiting drug resistance and high mortality rates. To counter this global problem, novel proteasome-based therapies are being developed. In the current study, we extensively characterize TIR-199, a syrbactin-class proteasome inhibitor derived from a plant virulence factor of bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae. We report that TIR-199 is a potent constitutive and immunoproteasome inhibitor, capable of inducing cell death in multiple myeloma, triple-negative breast cancer, (TNBC) and non-small cell lung cancer lines. TIR-199 also effectively inhibits the proteasome in primary myeloma cells of patients, and bypasses the PSMB5 A49T+A50V bortezomib-resistant mutant. TIR-199 treatment leads to accumulation of canonical proteasome substrates in cells, it is specific, and does not inhibit 50 other enzymes tested in vitro. The drug exhibits synergistic cytotoxicity in combination with proteasome-activating kinase DYRK2 inhibitor LDN192960. Furthermore, low-doses of TIR-199 exhibits in vivo activity by delaying myeloma-mediated bone degeneration in a mouse xenograft model. Together, our data indicates that proteasome inhibitor TIR-199 could indeed be a promising next-generation drug within the repertoire of proteasome-based therapeutics.     

Alteration of microtubule dynamic instability during preprophase band formation revealed by yellow fluorescent protein-CLIP170 microtubule plus-end labeling

At the onset of mitosis, plant cells form a microtubular preprophase band that defines the plane of cell division, but the mechanism of its formation remains a mystery. Here, we describe the use of mammalian yellow fluorescent protein-tagged CLIP170 to visualize the dynamic plus ends of plant microtubules in transfected cowpea protoplasts and in stably transformed and dividing tobacco Bright Yellow 2 cells. Using plus-end labeling, we observed dynamic instability in different microtubular conformations in live plant cells. The interphase plant microtubules grow at 5 micro m/min, shrink at 20 micro m/min, and display catastrophe and rescue frequencies of 0.02 and 0.08 events/s, respectively, exhibiting faster turnover than their mammalian counterparts. Strikingly, during preprophase band formation, the growth rate and catastrophe frequency of plant microtubules double, whereas the shrinkage rate and rescue frequency remain unchanged, making microtubules shorter and more dynamic. Using these novel insights and four-dimensional time-lapse imaging data, we propose a model that can explain the mechanism by which changes in microtubule dynamic instability drive the dramatic rearrangements of microtubules during preprophase band and spindle formation in plant cells.     

Interaction of lentil lectin with human platelets. Evidence against glycoprotein II as aggregation mediator

Human platelets bind on an average of 5 × 10⁵ molecules of lentil lectin/cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 3 × 10^?7 M. The lectin binds mainly to surface glycoprotein II with an apparent molecular weight of 125,000. Lentil lectin neither caused aggregation nor did it inhibit platelet aggregation by other agents. It had no influence on the binding of thrombin to platelets or on thrombin-induced clot retraction. The hypothesis that glycoprotein II mediates platelet aggregation needs reevaluation.