Optimization of multiple shoot induction and plant regeneration in Indian barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars using mature embryos

Barley is the fourth most important crop in the world. Development of a regeneration system using immature embryos is both time consuming and laborious. The present study was initiated with a view to develop a regeneration system in six genotypes of Indian barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars as a prerequisite to transformation. The mature embryos were excised from seeds and cultured on MS medium supplemented with high and low concentrations of cytokinins and auxins respectively. The MS medium containing 3 mg/L N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was found to be the most effective for multiple shoot formation in HOR7231 cultivar that could produce 12 shoots per explant. The other cultivars HOR4409 and HOR3844 produced a minimum number of adventitious shoots (1.33 and 1.67 respectively) on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L BA and 0.3 mg/L 2,4-D. The elongated shoots were separated and successfully rooted on MS medium containing 1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The response of different barley cultivars was found to be varying with respect to multiple shoot production. This is the first report of multiple shoot induction and plantlet regeneration in Indian cultivar of barley which would be useful for genetic transformation.     

SAHA Improves Depressive Symptoms,Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Stress: Rise of a New Antidepressant Class

Neurochemical Research - Depression is a disabling psychiatric disorder affecting millions of people all around the world. Under current therapeutic choices, a portion of patients are not...     

Establishing a cGMP pancreatic islet processing facility: the first experience in Iran

It has been predicted that one of the greatest increase in prevalence of diabetes will happen in the Middle East bear in the next decades. The aim of standard therapeutic strategies for diabetes is better control of complications. In contrast, some new strategies like cell and gene therapy have aimed to cure the disease. In recent years, significant progress has occurred in beta-cell replacement therapies with a progressive improvement of short-term and long term outcomes. In year 2005, considering the impact of the disease in Iran and the promising results of the Edmonton protocol, the funding for establishing a current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) islet processing facility by Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center was approved by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Several islet isolations were performed following establishment of cGMP facility and recruitment of all required equipments for process validation and experimental purpose. Finally the first successful clinical islet isolation and transplantation was performed in September 2010. In spite of a high cost of the procedure it is considered beneficial and may prevent long term complications and the costs associated with secondary cares. In this article we will briefly describe our experience in setting up a cGMP islet processing facility which can provide valuable information for regional countries interested to establish similar facilities.     

Newly identified genetic variations in common Escherichia coli MG1655 stock cultures

We have recently identified seven mutations in commonly used stocks of the sequenced Escherichia coli strain MG1655 which do not appear in the reference sequence. The mutations are likely to cause loss of function of the glpR and crl genes, which may have serious implications for physiological experiments using the affected strains.     

Investigating Avian Influenza Infection Hotspots in Old-World Shorebirds

Heterogeneity in the transmission rates of pathogens across hosts or environments may produce disease hotspots, which are defined as specific sites, times or species associations in which the infection rate is consistently elevated. Hotspots for avian influenza virus (AIV) in wild birds are largely unstudied and poorly understood. A striking feature is the existence of a unique but consistent AIV hotspot in shorebirds (Charadriiformes) associated with a single species at a specific location and time (ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres at Delaware Bay, USA, in May). This unique case, though a valuable reference, limits our capacity to explore and understand the general properties of AIV hotspots in shorebirds. Unfortunately, relatively few shorebirds have been sampled outside Delaware Bay and they belong to only a few shorebird families; there also has been a lack of consistent oropharyngeal sampling as a complement to cloacal sampling. In this study we looked for AIV hotspots associated with other shorebird species and/or with some of the larger congregation sites of shorebirds in the old world. We assembled and analysed a regionally extensive dataset of AIV prevalence from 69 shorebird species sampled in 25 countries across Africa and Western Eurasia. Despite this diverse and extensive coverage we did not detect any new shorebird AIV hotspots. Neither large shorebird congregation sites nor the ruddy turnstone were consistently associated with AIV hotspots. We did, however, find a low but widespread circulation of AIV in shorebirds that contrast with the absence of AIV previously reported in shorebirds in Europe. A very high AIV antibody prevalence coupled to a low infection rate was found in both first-year and adult birds of two migratory sandpiper species, suggesting the potential existence of an AIV hotspot along their migratory flyway that is yet to be discovered.     

Transgenic tobacco co-expressing flavodoxin and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase confers cadmium tolerance through boosting antioxidant capacity

Excessive heavy metal (HM) levels in soil have become a source of concern due to their adverse effects on human health and the agriculture industry. Soil contamination by HMs leads to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) within the plant cell and disruption of photosynthesis-related proteins. The response of tobacco lines overexpressing flavodoxin (Fld) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) to cadmium (Cd) toxicity was investigated in this study. PCR results demonstrated the expected amplicon length of each gene in the transgenic lines. Absolute qRT-PCR demonstrates a single copy of T-DNA integration into each transgenic line. Relative qRT-PCR confirmed overexpression of Fld and BADH in transgenic lines. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was measured under Cd toxicity stress and revealed that transgenic lines had a higher Fv/Fm than wild-type (WT) plants. Accumulation of proline, glycine betaine (GB), and higher activity of antioxidant enzymes alongside lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was indicative of a robust antioxidant system in transgenic plants. Therefore, performing a loop in reducing the ROS produced in the photosynthesis electron transport chain and stimulating the ROS scavenger enzyme activity improved the plant tolerance to Cd stress.

     

Clavulanic Acid Attenuating Effect on the Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Rats

Neurochemical Research - Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. Excess glutamate release and oxidative stress are hypothesized to be involved in the...