N-terminal HrpE from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae mediates the regulation of growth and photosynthesis in rice

Plant Growth Regulation - Harpin proteins, produced by gram-negative bacteria, can enhance the plant growth. The growth enhancing potential of the harpins are beneficial and may be associated with...     

Mathematical modeling and experimental analysis of the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in conjunction with photo thermal therapy and PEG-coated Au-doped TiO2 nanostructures to target MCF-7 cancerous cells

Some nanoscale morphologies of titanium oxide nanostructures blend with gold nanoparticles and act as satellites and targeted weapon methodologies in biomedical applications. Simultaneously, titanium oxide can play an important role when combined with gold after blending with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Our experimental approach is novel with respect to the plasmonic role of metal nanoparticles as an efficient PDT drug. The current experimental strategy floats the comprehensive and facile way of experimental strategy on the critical influence that titanium with gold nanoparticles used as novel photosensitizing agents after significant biodistribution of proposed nanostructures toward targeted site. In addition, different morphologies of PEG-coated Au-doped titanium nanostructures were shown to provide various therapeutic effects due to a wide range of electromagnetic field development. This confirms a significantly amplified population of hot electron generation adjacent to the interface between Au and TiO₂ nanostructures, leading to maximum cancerous cell injury in the MCF-7 cell line. The experimental results were confirmed by applying a least squares fit math model which verified our results with 99% goodness of fit. These results can pave the way for comprehensive rational designs for satisfactory response of performance phototherapeutic model mechanisms along with new horizons of photothermal therapy (HET) and photodynamic therapy (HET) operating under visible and near-infrared (NIR) light.     

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in swamp buffalo

The swamp buffalo (Bubalus carabanensis) is mainly bred for meat, transport and rice cultivation in China and Southeast Asian countries. In the current study, we investigated the genetic diversity, maternal origin and phylogenetic relationship of swamp buffalo by analyzing 1,786 mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences from China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Our results indicated that the swamp buffalo can be divided into two major lineages (SA and SB with the sublineages) and three rare lineages (SC, SD and SE), which showed strong geographic differentiation. The SA1 lineage represented a major domestication event, which involved population expansion. Regions III and V showed higher haplotype diversity than the other regions, indicating that the regions of Southwest China and IndoChina are potential domestication centers for the swamp buffalo. In addition, the swamp buffalo showed a closer phylogenetic relationship to tamaraw. In conclusion, our findings revealed a high level of genetic diversity and the phylogenetic pattern of the swamp buffalo.     

Manganese-doped cerium oxide nanocomposite as a therapeutic agent for MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cell line

The preparation of a manganese-doped cerium oxide (Mn:CeO₂) nanocomposite via hydrothermal route is described. Cubic fluorite structure of single phase was exhibited by studying structural analysis through x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and morphological analysis was conducted by scanning electron microscope. Surface analytic technique of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was conducted to analyze the relative amount of any impurity and doping. Structural changes due to manganese doping such as increment in production of vacancies of oxygen within crystal of cerium oxide, and reduction in size of crystallite and constant of lattice was observed in our research study. Moreover, the Mn:CeO₂ nanocomposite demonstrates differential cytotoxicity against MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cell line, which renders it a promising candidate for targeted cancer therapy. The anti-tumorous activity of the cerium oxide nanocomposite was significantly enhanced with doping of manganese, which is directly linked with the generation of highly reactive oxygen facets. The experimental results are supported by a mathematical model that confirms a confidence level of 95%. This research has paved the way for many utilities in therapeutics and magnetic resonance imaging diagnostics through new observations, and hence verified their math model.     

A SNP in PLAG1 is associated with body height trait in Chinese cattle

Stature is an important quantitative trait for cattle performance, which influences herd productivity. Previous studies have reported that an SNP (AC_000171.1:g.25015640G>T, rs109815800) in Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) on chromosome 14 (CHR14) is associated with bovine stature. To validate whether rs109815800 is associated with the body height of Chinese cattle, we carried out an association analysis using 558 adult cattle samples from seven populations. Then, 1038 samples from 38 Chinese cattle breeds were used to show the geographical distribution of this variant in China. The results showed that the Q allele (G allele) increased the height of cattle. Furthermore, the frequencies of Q allele in Chinese native breeds tend to decrease from northern China to southern China, and the frequency of Q allele in two Chinese beef cattle breeds is much higher than that in another 36 Chinese local cattle breeds. Our data suggest that the prevalence of the Q allele is correlated with latitude in China.     

Genome‐wide association study identifies energy metabolism genes for resistance to ketosis in Chinese Holstein cattle

Ketosis (KET) is one common metabolic disorder that occurs mainly in early lactation and affects the dairy industry with significant economic losses. Cows with ketosis have lower milk yield and reproductive performance and greater risk of other periparturient diseases. As a metabolic disease, the pathogenesis of KET is multifactorial. To better understand the genetic background of KET, a genome‐wide association study was performed using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Single‐step genomic BLUP methodology was used to incorporate genomic data into a threshold‐liability model. Results of the GWAS are reported as the proportion of variance explained by 20‐SNP windows. Six genomic regions on Bos taurus autosomes 10, 13, 14 and 25 showed association with KET. Most interestingly, several candidate genes, including previously reported genes (BMP4, HNF4A and APOBR) and newly identified genes (SOCS4, GCH1, ATG14, RGS6, CYP7A1 and MAPK3), are involved in insulin metabolism or lipid metabolism, implicating the contribution of energy‐metabolism‐associated genes to the genetic basis of KET. Our results provide new information about the underlying biology and molecular mechanisms associated with KET. Future studies that combine genomic variation analysis and functional gene information may help elucidate the biology of KET.     

Agrotis segetum granulosis virus as a control agent against field populations ofAgrotis ipsilon andA. Segetum [Lep.: Noctuidae] on tobacco,okra, potato and sugar beet in northern pakistan

Agrotis segetum Schiff granulosis virus (AsGV) propagated in Denmark was supplied against naturally occurring cutworm populations (A. ipsilon and to a less extentA. segetum) in experimental field plots of tobacco, okra, potato and sugar beet in northern Pakistan. AsGV doses varied between 4 × 10⁷ and 4 × 10¹¹ capsules per m² plot, and no. of applications between 1 and 3. One treatment with AsGV did not reduce cutworm damage significantly to tobacco seedlings and potato plants. Two treatments with AsGV reduced cutworm damage significantly. In tobacco, reduction was 64–82%, in okra and potato 85% and 77% respectively. Damage in sugar beet was reduced 78%. Three treatments with AsGV dis not reduce damage significantly better than two treatments. AsGV and the chemical insecticides Tamaran and Dieldrin, andBacillus thuringiensis (Thuricide) were about equally effective, reducing damage by 85%, 79%, 87% and 69%, respectively. No difference was found between the efficiency of highly purified AsGV to which activated charcoal was added and partially purified AsGV without charcoal.