Post-exposure temperature influence on the toxicity of conventional and new chemistry insecticides to green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is an important biological control agent currently being used in many integrated pest management (IPM) programs to control insect pests. The effect of post-treatment temperature on insecticide toxicity of a spinosyn (spinosad), pyrethroid (lambda cyhalothrin), organophosphate (chlorpyrifos) and new chemistry (acetamiprid) to C. carnea larvae was investigated under laboratory conditions. Temperature coefficients of each insecticide tested were evaluated. From 20 to 40 °C, toxicity of lambda cyhalothrin and spinosad decreased by 2.15- and 1.87-fold while toxicity of acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos increased by 2.00 and 1.79-fold, respectively. The study demonstrates that pesticide effectiveness may vary according to environmental conditions. In cropping systems where multiple insecticide products are used, attention should be given to temperature variation as a key factor in making pest management strategies safer for biological control agents. Insecticides with a negative temperature coefficient may play a constructive role to conserve C. carnea populations.     

Enhanced shoot organogenesis in Cassia angustifolia Vahl. — a difficult-to-root drought resistant medicinal shrub

In vitro regeneration was achieved through callus culture derived from cotyledon explants of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium. Calli were induced from cotyledon explants excised from aseptic 14?days old seedlings on MS medium containing 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid) at different concentrations with 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Optimal growth of callus was obtained at 5.0???M 2,4-D, which was proved to be the best for shoot regeneration when sub cultured onto MS medium supplemented with cytokinins either alone or in combination with an auxin. Maximum number of shoots (23.2?±?1.4) were produced at 5.0???M 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.4???M ??-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Regenerated shoots produced prominent roots when transferred to half strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0???M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 5.0???M phloroglucinol (PG). Rooted plantlets thus developed were hardened and successfully established in the soil. This protocol yielded an average of 23 plants per cotyledon explant over a period of 4?months.     

Synthesis of new sulfonamides as lipoxygenase inhibitors

The present study describes a convenient method for the synthesis of new lipoxygenase inhibitors, 4-(toluene-4-sulfonylamino)-benzoic acids from p-amino benzoic acid. Reaction of p-amino benzoic acid with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride provided thirteen N- and O-alkylation products 4a-4m in moderate to good yields. Lipoxygenase inhibition of newly formed sulfonamide derivatives was investigated and some of these compounds 4m, 4g, 4e, 4f and 4j showed good lipoxygenase inhibitory activities with IC(50) values ranged between 15.8 ± 0.57 and 91.7 ± 0.61 μmol whilst all other compounds exhibited mild anti-lipoxygenase activities with IC(50) values ranged between 139.2 ± 0.75 and 232.1 ± 0.78 μmol. N-alkylated products were more active against the enzyme than O-alkylated or both N- and O-alkylated ones. All synthesized sulfonamides were recrystallized in chloroform to give these title compounds which were characterized using FTIR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.     

DNA mismatch repair MSH2 gene-based SNP associated with different populations

We screened for the major essential single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant that might be associated with the MSH2 gene based on the data available from three types of human tissue samples [156 lymphoblastoid cell variations (LCL), 160 epidermis, 166 fat]. An association analysis confirmed that the KCNK12 SNP variant (rs748780) was highly associated (p value 9 × 10^?4) with the MSH2 gene for all three samples. Using SNP identification, we further found that the recognized SNP was also relevant among Hapmap populations. Techniques that display specific SNPs associated with the gene of interest or nearby genes provide more reliable genetic associations than techniques that rely on data from individual SNPs. We investigated the MSH2 gene regional linkage association with the determined SNP (rs748780), KCNK12 variant (Allele T>C) in the intronic region, in HapMap3 full dataset populations, Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI), Utah residents with ancestry from northern Europe (CEU), Han Chinese in Beijing, China (CHB), and a population of Mexican ancestry in Los Angeles, California (MEX). A gene-based SNP association analysis analyzes the combined impact of every variant within the gene while creating referrals to linkage disequilibrium or connections between markers. Our results indicated that among the four populations studied, this association was highest in the MEX population based on the r ² value; a similar pattern was also observed in the other three populations. The relevant SNP rs748780 in KCNK12 is related to a superfamily of potassium channel pore-forming P-domain proteins as well as to other non-pore-forming proteins and has been shown to be relevant to neurological disorder predisposition in MEX as well as in other populations.     

Structures of B-Lymphotropic Polyomavirus VP1 in Complex with Oligosaccharide Ligands

B-Lymphotropic Polyomavirus (LPyV) serves as a paradigm of virus receptor binding and tropism, and is the closest relative of the recently discovered Human Polyomavirus 9 (HPyV9). LPyV infection depends on sialic acid on host cells, but the molecular interactions underlying LPyV-receptor binding were unknown. We find by glycan array screening that LPyV specifically recognizes a linear carbohydrate motif that contains α2,3-linked sialic acid. High-resolution crystal structures of the LPyV capsid protein VP1 alone and in complex with the trisaccharide ligands 3′-sialyllactose and 3′-sialyl-N-acetyl-lactosamine (3SL and 3SLN, respectively) show essentially identical interactions. Most contacts are contributed by the sialic acid moiety, which is almost entirely buried in a narrow, preformed cleft at the outer surface of the capsid. The recessed nature of the binding site on VP1 and the nature of the observed glycan interactions differ from those of related polyomaviruses and most other sialic acid-binding viruses, which bind sialic acid in shallow, more exposed grooves. Despite their different modes for recognition, the sialic acid binding sites of LPyV and SV40 are half-conserved, hinting at an evolutionary strategy for diversification of binding sites. Our analysis provides a structural basis for the observed specificity of LPyV for linear glycan motifs terminating in α2,3-linked sialic acid, and links the different tropisms of known LPyV strains to the receptor binding site. It also serves as a useful template for understanding the ligand-binding properties and serological crossreactivity of HPyV9.     

Effect of constant and fluctuating temperature on the circadian foraging rhythm of the red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Understanding circadian foraging rhythms activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) foragers at different temperatures is an important step towards developing control measures in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. In this study, the circadian foraging rhythm activities of S. invicta foragersat different temperature were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Results indicated that the foraging activity increased after sunrise, and maximum foraging occurred at 14:00 (foraging rate was 69.22 ± 0.57 and 72.58 ± 1.15 foragers/min in the first and second year, respectively) in the tea fields of Guangzhou during autumn. Furthermore, foragers demonstrated circadian rhythms and exhibited a unimodal after 24 h. A significant correlation was found between foraging activity and temperature. S. invicta colonies were active at moderate soil temperatures (approximately 26.65 °C to 29.24 °C). The preferred temperature of the colonies was 26 °C, followed by 22 °C and 18 °C in the laboratory. The individual S. invicta activity was maximum at 17:00 (18.67 ± 1.66 times /10 min) and minimum at 5:00 (8.33 ± 2.51 times/10 min) at 26 °C. The fluctuating temperature had a significant impact on individual locomotor activity (r = 0.8979, P < 0.01) but did not alter the rhythm activity. Our results demonstrated that temperature might play an important role in circadian foraging rhythms activity of S. invicta. These results may have implications for the development of more effective fire ant management strategies.     

Effectiveness of phytase pre-treatment on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and mineral status of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) juveniles fed Moringa by-product based diet

Several anti-nutritional substances are found in plant derivatives for example phytate, that make the nutrients and minerals unavailable to fish, hence leading to poor growth performance. Presence of the anti-nutrient factor such as phytate is a chelated compound and need enzyme for its breakdown and availability of nutrients to improve fish growth. This research work was performed to check the improvement of overall performance of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings by the help of phytase addition in Moringa oleifera by- products based diet. Combination of Moringa seed meal and Moringa leaf meal was utilized as test ingredient to formulate seven test feeds, containing graded levels of phytase (0, 500, 650, 800, 950, 1100 and 1250 FTU kg⁻¹). In feeding trial of 70 days, fingerlings were given feed two times in a day at the rate of 4% of wet weight of their bodies and faeces were collected. According to current results, it was found that growth performance parameters i.e. weight gain; 25 g, specific growth rate; 1.67 and feed conversion ratio; 1.10 were improved to maximum at 950 FTU kg⁻¹. Digestibility of nutrients (crude protein; 73%, crude fat; 71% and gross energy; 67%) and minerals absorption was also maximum (Ca; 70%, Zn; 66%, K; 74%, Mn; 66% and P; 71%) at 950 FTU kg⁻¹. Lowest growth efficiency, nutrient digestibility and mineral absorption were observed in fingerlings fed at control diet (0 FTU kg⁻¹). Results of the current study, proved that 950 FTU kg⁻¹ is the most optimum level of phytase to formulate economical and ecofriendly feed for improved growth of C. carpio fingerlings as it decreases the discharge of minerals and nutrients in water bodies.     

The T Antigen Locus of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Downregulates Human Toll-Like Receptor 9 Expression

Establishment of a chronic infection is a key event in virus-mediated carcinogenesis. Several cancer-associated, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses act via their oncoproteins to downregulate Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), a key receptor in the host innate immune response that senses viral or bacterial dsDNA. A novel oncogenic virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), has been recently identified that causes up to 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). However, it is not yet known whether this oncogenic virus also disrupts immune-related pathways. We find that MCPyV large T antigen (LT) expression downregulates TLR9 expression in epithelial and MCC-derived cells. Accordingly, silencing of LT expression results in upregulation of mRNA TLR9 levels. In addition, small T antigen (sT) also appears to inhibit TLR9 expression, since inhibition of its expression also resulted in an increase of TLR9 mRNA levels. LT inhibits TLR9 expression by decreasing the mRNA levels of the C/EBPβ transactivator, a positive regulator of the TLR9 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation reveals that C/EBPβ binding at a C/EBPβ response element (RE) in the TLR9 promoter is strongly inhibited by expression of MCPyV early genes and that mutation of the C/EBP RE prevents MCPyV downregulation of TLR9. A survey of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), KI polyomavirus (KIPyV), MCPyV, simian virus 40 (SV40), and WU polyomavirus (WUPyV) early genes revealed that only BKPyV and MCPyV are potent inhibitors of TLR9 gene expression. MCPyV LT targeting of C/EBP transactivators is likely to play an important role in viral persistence and potentially inhibit host cell immune responses during MCPyV tumorigenesis.