Mitochondrial DNA diversity patterns in Pakistani buffalo

The Indian subcontinent is considered to be the likely centre of river buffalo domestication, based on population dynamics, archaeological evidence and genetic diversity. Recent studies on mitochondrial DNA diversity have drawn useful conclusions about the domestication history of Bubalus bubalis. The conclusions of these studies are, however, incomplete, unless samples can also be analysed from Pakistan, which contains the second largest buffalo population of the world. Here, we report the results of the first study on mitochondrial D-loop sequence diversity in five breeds of Pakistani buffalo. Analysis of sequence variations in 503-bp of the D-loop region of 123 animals revealed 52 haplotypes, including 40 singletons. Multidimensional display of breed pairwise F(ST) values revealed no strong clustering of breeds. Bayesian, maximum parsimony, neighbour joining and UPGMA trees revealed a topology consistent with domestication as well as subsequent introgression of multiple maternal lineages from the wild stocks. Reduced median network analysis provided evidence of population expansion from more than one set of haplotypes. The study also confirmed that Pakistani buffalo are of the river type. The observed mitochondrial D-loop sequence diversity suggests that Pakistani areas bordering India might have contributed to the initiation of domestication of the present-day river buffalo.     

Detection of common mutations in the GALT gene through ARMS

Type I galactosemia is an inborn error resulting from mutations on both alleles of the GALT gene, which leads to the absence or deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltranseferase (GALT), the second of three enzymes catalyzing the conversion of galactose into glucose. On the basis of residual GALT activity, Type I galactosemia is classified into severe “Classical” and mild “Duarte” phenotypes. Classical galactosemia is frequently associated with S135L, Q188R and K285N mutations in the GALT gene. The functionally neutral N314D variation in the GALT gene is associated with Duarte galactosemia and is widespread among various worldwide populations. The present study aimed at detecting S135L, Q188R and K285N mutations and the N314D variant in the GALT gene by PCR using amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). ARMS assays were established using standard DNA samples and were used for 8 galactosemia patients and 190 unrelated normal subjects all of Pakistani origin. S135L and K285N mutations were present neither in galactosemia patients nor in normal subjects. Only one galactosemia patient carried Q188R mutation that was in homozygous state. However, the N314D variant was frequently found both in affected (7 out of 16 alleles) and normal subjects (55 out of 380 alleles). This finding indicates that Duarte allele D314 might be far more common in Pakistani population than in European and North American ones.     

Root colonization and growth promotion of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by phosphate solubilizing Enterobacter sp. Fs-11

An Enterobacter sp. Fs-11 was isolated from sunflower rhizosphere, identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (GeneBank accession no. GQ179978) and studied for its root colonization and growth promotion ability in sunflower. Morphologically, it was rod shaped Gram-negative, motile bacterium, producing 4.5 μg mL(-1) indole acetic acid in tryptophan-supplemented medium. It utilized 27 out of 95 substrates in BIOLOG GN2 micro plate system. It was able to convert insoluble tri-calcium phosphate to soluble phosphorus up to 43.5 μg mL(-1) with decrease in pH of the medium up to 4.5 after 10 days incubation at 28 ± 2 °C in the Pikovskaya's broth. High performance liquid chromatography of cell free supernatant showed that Fs-11 produced malic acid and gluconic acid (2.43 and 16.64 μg mL(-1), respectively) in Pikovskaya's broth. Analysis of 900 bp fragment of pyrroloquinoline quinine pqqE gene sequence showed 98 % homology with that of E. cloacae pqqE gene. Confocal laser scanning microscope revealed strong colonization of fluorescently labeled Fs-11 with sunflower roots. Sunflower inoculation with Fs-11 and its rifampicin resistant derivative in sterile sand and natural soil showed that Fs-11 colonized sunflower roots up to 30 days after transplanting in both sterile sand as well as natural soil. Moreover, Fs-11 inoculation resulted in increased plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and total phosphorus contents as compared to un-inoculated plants. The data showed that Enterobacter sp. Fs-11 is an efficient phosphate solubilizing and plant growth promoting rhizobacterium and has great potential to be used as bio-inoculant for sunflower under phosphorus deficient conditions.     

3D-QSAR studies of triazolopyrimidine derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors using a combination of molecular dynamics,docking, and genetic algorithm-based methods

A series of 35 triazolopyrimidine analogues reported as Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) inhibitors were optimized using quantum mechanics methods, and their binding conformations were studied by docking and 3D quantitative structure–activity relationship studies. Genetic algorithm-based criteria was adopted for selection of training and test sets while maintaining structural diversity of training and test sets, which is also very crucial for model development and validation. Both the comparative molecular field analyses ( q_\textLOO² = 0.841 q_{\text{LOO}}^2 = 0.{841} , r_\textncv² = 0.99 r_{\text{ncv}}^2 = 0.{99} ) and comparative molecular similarity indices analyses ( q_\textLOO² = 0.757 q_{\text{LOO}}^2 = 0.{757} , r_\textncv² = 0.943 r_{\text{ncv}}^2 = 0.{943} ) show excellent correlation and high predictive power. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the binding mode of the two of the most active compounds of the series, 10 and 14. Harmonization in the two simulation results validate the analysis and therefore applicability of docking parameters based on crystallographic conformation of compound 14 bound to receptor molecule. This work provides useful information about the inhibition mechanism of this class of molecules and will assist in the design of more potent inhibitors of PfDHODH.     

Virtual Fossils: a New Resource for Science Communication in Paleontology

Computer-aided 3-D reconstruction of fossils, or virtual paleontology, is an increasingly common and powerful technique. It is now regularly used for research in paleontology, yet to date has impacted little on public outreach and science communication; however, it is ideally suited for these purposes, being increasingly cheap and available, dynamic and exciting, and applicable to a range of topics. Here, we provide an introduction to the field, and a case study of its use for a public engagement event. The steps involved in creating such an educational resource are outlined, and include computed tomography scanning, digital visualization, and 3-D printing of fossils. We emphasize the value of virtual fossils for science communication; they allow for diverse learning styles in a variety of topics. In the future, we hope that virtual paleontology will become a mainstay of communicating the history of life, thereby promoting accurate understanding of evolution.     

海南岛象耳豆根结线虫的种类鉴定及其rDNA ITS序列分析

【背景】植物根结线虫病是世界性分布的土传病害,常造成农作物的重大经济损失。目前分布于热带亚热带区域的象耳豆根结线虫,由于其致病性和分子特征以及与植物互作关系的独特性,被认为是一种对农作物具有潜在危害性的重要病原根结线虫,因而引起国内外植物寄生线虫学者的广泛关注。【方法】用形态学、同工酶技术和分子生物学技术相结合的方法,对从海南岛农作物上采集到的10个根结线虫纯化种群进行分类鉴定。【结果】象耳豆根结线虫在海南岛大面积栽培的10种农作物和南药植物,包括黄瓜、南瓜、苦瓜、丝瓜、葫芦瓜、辣椒、番石榴、海巴戟、沈香和丁香上均有寄生,其形态学、酯酶表型和mtDNA PCR扩增产物均有别于常见的根结线虫种类;用引物18S和28S扩增象耳豆根结线虫种群的rDNA ITS区序列,并对其进行克隆、测序和比对分析,结果表明,象耳豆根结线虫4HBJ种群分别与南方根结线虫、爪哇根结线虫和花生根结线虫的同源性均仅为88%左右。【结论与意义】本文准确鉴定了象耳豆根结线虫,首次阐述其对海南岛多种农作物的致害性;阐释了象耳豆根结线虫的形态和分子特征,并明确了其与3种常见根结线虫的系统发育关系。本研究对今后进一步开展象耳豆根结线虫的基础研究和防治工作具有重要参考价值。     

Resistance of Asian Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A is confined to few microsatellite genotypes

Background

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that causes cryptococcosis, a life threatening disease. The prevalence of cryptococcosis in Asia has been rising after the onset of the AIDS epidemic and estimates indicate more than 120 cases per 1,000 HIV-infected individuals per year. Almost all cryptococcal disease cases in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients in Asia are caused by C. neoformans var. grubii. Epidemiological studies on C. neoformans in pan-Asia have not been reported. The present work studies the genetic diversity of the fungus by microsatellite typing and susceptibility analysis of approximately 500 isolates from seven Asian countries.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Genetic diversity of Asian isolates of C. neoformans was determined using microsatellite analysis with nine microsatellite markers. The analysis revealed eight microsatellite complexes (MCs) which showed different distributions among geographically defined populations. A correlation between MCs and HIV-status was observed. Microsatellite complex 2 was mainly associated with isolates from HIV-negative patients, whereas MC8 was associated with those from HIV-positive patients. Most isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole, but 17 (3.4%) and 10 (2%) were found to be resistant to 5-flucytosine and fluconazole, respectively. Importantly, five Indonesian isolates (approximately 12.5% from all Indonesian isolates investigated and 1% from the total studied isolates) were resistant to both antifungals. The majority of 5-flucytosine resistant isolates belonged to MC17.

Conclusions

The findings showed a different distribution of genotypes of C. neoformans var. grubii isolates from various countries in Asia, as well as a correlation of the microsatellite genotypes with the original source of the strains and resistance to 5-flucytosine.     

一个籼稻脆性突变体的生物学特性及基因定位研究

水稻脆性突变体是研究细胞壁组分结构形成机制的重要材料。通过离子束诱变籼稻9311获得1个茎秆、叶片均脆的突变体,命名为bc9311-1。bc9311-1突变体与野生型9311相比,分蘖数减少,结实率显著降低,其他农艺性状无明显差异。叶片和茎秆的细胞壁成分分析表明,与野生型相比,bc9311-1突变体茎秆中的纤维素和木质素含量明显降低,半纤维素和SiO2含量显著增加;叶片中的纤维素含量降低,半纤维素和木质素含量增加,SiO2含量无明显差异。遗传分析表明,该脆性突变体脆性性状受单隐性基因控制。以bc9311-1突变体与02428杂交的F2群体为基因定位群体,利用SSR标记将bc9311-1突变位点定位在水稻第1染色体上,位于SSR分子标记的RM1095和RM3632之间,遗传距离分别为0.6cM和3.4cM,与其中的标记RM1183表现共分离。这些结果为进一步克隆突变基因,揭示脆性性状的分子机制奠定坚实基础。