Groundwater contamination with cadmium concentrations in some West U.P. Regions,India

Water is considered a vital resource because it is necessary for all aspects of human and ecosystem survival. However, due to natural processes and anthropogenic activities, various pollutants have been added to the ground water system. Among these, heavy metals are some of the most serious pollutants. Cd, a toxic heavy metal used in Ni-Cd batteries, the colouration of plastic and various discarded electronic products released into the water system causes serious health issues. The chronic exposure to Cd produces a wide variety of acute and chronic effects in humans. Cd accumulates in the human body, especially in the kidneys, resulting in kidney damage (renal tubular damage), which is a critical health effect. Other effects of Cd exposure are disturbances in calcium metabolism, hypercalciuria and the formation of kidney stones. High exposure to Cd can lead to lung cancer and prostate cancer; hence, poor quality water that may result in Cd toxicity has become a global concern. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the concentration of Cd in underground water sources in western U.P. regions. Water samples were acidified to 1% with nitric acid and then stored in double-capped polyethylene bottles for further analysis by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. After comparing the data to the WHO (2011) permissible limit, the study revealed that the concentration of Cd was higher than the regulatory threshold; therefore, the underground water system is seriously affected by Cd toxicity.     

Prediction of cotton leaf curl virus disease and its management through resistant germplasm and bio-products

Cotton leaf curl virus disease reduces the cotton yield significantly every year and is transmitted by Bemisia tabaci. The study was designed to evaluate 15 varieties/lines against the disease. Multiple regression analysis was performed based on a-biotic environmental variables (maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) to predict disease incidence and its vector (Bemisia tabaci). Two bio-products were evaluated against the whitefly population to control the disease. Out of 15 cotton varieties/lines, no one was found highly resistant against the disease. Five varieties/lines (BT BT-980, BT-457, KIRAN, BT-666 and SLH-BT-6) exhibited moderately resistant response. Maximum air temperature (34–35.5 °C), minimum temperature (25.75–26.25 °C), relative humidity (64.14–66%), rainfall (1–2 mm) and wind speed (5.50–5.75 Kmh^?1) favoured the disease development. Maximum whitefly population was favoured by maximum air temperature from 34–35.5 °C, 25.8–26.2 °C minimum air temperature, 64.14–66% relative humidity, 1–2 mm from rainfall and 5.50–5.75 Kmh^?1 wind speed. Datura stramonium was found more effective as compared to Aviara (Homoeopathic) but not from the positive control (Acetamiprid).     

Mutation in LIM2 Is Responsible for Autosomal Recessive Congenital Cataracts

PurposeTo identify the molecular basis of non-syndromic autosomal recessive congenital cataracts (arCC) in a consanguineous family.MethodsAll family members participating in the study received a comprehensive ophthalmic examination to determine their ocular phenotype and contributed a blood sample, from which genomic DNA was extracted. Available medical records and interviews with the family were used to compile the medical history of the family. The symptomatic history of the individuals exhibiting cataracts was confirmed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. A genome-wide linkage analysis was performed to localize the disease interval. The candidate gene, LIM2 (lens intrinsic membrane protein 2), was sequenced bi-directionally to identify the disease-causing mutation. The physical changes caused by the mutation were analyzed in silico through homology modeling, mutation and bioinformatic algorithms, and evolutionary conservation databases. The physiological importance of LIM2 to ocular development was assessed in vivo by real-time expression analysis of Lim2 in a mouse model.ResultsOphthalmic examination confirmed the diagnosis of nuclear cataracts in the affected members of the family; the inheritance pattern and cataract development in early infancy indicated arCC. Genome-wide linkage analysis localized the critical interval to chromosome 19q with a two-point logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 3.25. Bidirectional sequencing identified a novel missense mutation, c.233G>A (p.G78D) in LIM2. This mutation segregated with the disease phenotype and was absent in 192 ethnically matched control chromosomes. In silico analysis predicted lower hydropathicity and hydrophobicity but higher polarity of the mutant LIM2-encoded protein (MP19) compared to the wild-type. Moreover, these analyses predicted that the mutation would disrupt the secondary structure of a transmembrane domain of MP19. The expression of Lim2, which was detected in the mouse lens as early as embryonic day 15 (E15) increased after birth to a level that was sustained through the postnatal time points.ConclusionA novel missense mutation in LIM2 is responsible for autosomal recessive congenital cataracts.     

Resistance to Chilo infuscatellus (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) in transgenic lines of sugarcane expressing Bacillus thuringiensis derived Vip3A protein

Molecular Biology Reports - Sustainable agriculture requires management of insect pests through resistance development. The biological potential of Cry toxins and Vip protein, derived from Bacillus...     

Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a with phylogenetically distinct origin is circulating in Pakistan

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of viral hepatitis worldwide and its genotype 3a is predominant in vast areas of Pakistan.

Findings

The present study reports the first full sequence of HCV 3a isolate PK-1 from Pakistan. This nucleotide sequence was compared with six other HCV genotype 3a full length sequences from different regions of the world by using statistical methods of phylogenetic analysis.

Conclusion

The nucleotide difference of these seven sequences shows that HCV genotype 3a of phylogenetically distinct origin is circulating in Pakistan.     

Alleviation of salt stress in lemongrass by salicylic acid

Soil salinity is one of the key factors adversely affecting the growth, yield, and quality of crops. A pot study was conducted to find out whether exogenous application of salicylic acid could ameliorate the adverse effect of salinity in lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud. Wats.). Two Cymbopogon varieties, Krishna and Neema, were used in the study. Three salinity levels, viz, 50, 100, and 150 mM of NaCl, were applied to 30-day-old plants. Salicylic acid (SA) was applied as foliar spray at 10^?5 M concentration. Totally, six SA-sprays were carried out at 10-day intervals, following the first spray at 30 days after sowing. The growth parameters were progressively reduced with the increase in salinity level; however, growth inhibition was significantly reduced by the foliar application of SA. With the increase in salt stress, a gradual decrease in the activities of carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase was observed in both the varieties. SA-treatment not only ameliorated the adverse effects of NaCl but also showed a significant improvement in the activities of these enzymes compared with the untreated stressed-plants. The plants supplemented with NaCl exhibited a significant increase in electrolyte leakage, proline content, and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase activity. Content and yield of essential oil was also significantly decreased in plants that received salinity levels; however, SA overcame the unfavorable effects of salinity stress to a considerable extent. Lemongrass variety Krishna was found to be more adapted to salt stress than Neema, as indicated by the overall performance of the two varieties under salt conditions.     

Natural variation of Arabidopsis response to nitrogen availability

Our understanding of plant growth in response to nitrogen (N) supply is mainly based on studies of mutants and transformants. This study explored the natural variability of Arabidopsis thaliana first to find out its global response to N availability and secondly to characterize the plasticity for growth and N metabolism among 23 genetically distant accessions under normal (N+), limited (N-), and starved (N0) N supplies. Plant growth was estimated by eight morphological traits characterizing shoot and root growth and 10 metabolic parameters that represented N and carbon metabolism. Most of the studied traits showed a large variation linked to genotype and nutrition. Furthermore, Arabidopsis growth was coordinated by master traits such as the shoot to root ratio of nitrate content in N+, root fresh matter and root amino acids in N-, and shoot fresh matter together with root thickness in N0. The 23 accessions could be gathered into four different groups, according to their growth in N+, N-, and N0. Phenotypic profiling characterized four different adaptative responses to N- and N0. Class 1 tolerated N limitation with the smallest decrease in shoot and root biomass compared with N+, while class 2 presented the highest resistance to N starvation by preferential increased root growth, huge starch accumulation, and high shoot nitrate content. In contrast, class 3 plants could tolerate neither N limitation nor N starvation. Small plants of class 4 were different, with shoot biomass barely affected in N- and root biomass unaffected in N0.