Association of two groups of phytoplasma with various symptoms in some wooden and herbaceous plants

During 2015–2016, wooden and herbaceous plants growing in parks, boulevards, fields, gardens and forests in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran, were visually inspected for symptoms resembling phytoplasma. Fifty‐one symptomatic samples from nine different species and one symptomless sample from each plant were collected. Leaf midribs, petioles and the parts of stem cambium were separated and freeze‐dried. Total DNA was extracted using CTAB‐based method and tested for phytoplasma using a nested PCR assay. The expected size amplicons of 16S rDNA were sequenced and compared to those of reference phytoplasmas by BLASTn search and phylogenetic analysis. The consensus 16S rDNA sequence of the detected phytoplasma in narrow cattail related to reference phytoplasma group 16SrVI, “Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii” while in the other plants were related to reference phytoplasma subgroup 16SrII–D, “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia.” All isolates showed 98%–99% sequence identity to members of their reference groups. To our knowledge, this is the first report of “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia”‐related strains infecting the plants of Acacia salicina, Alternanthera ficoidea, Melaleuca citrine, Citrus aurantium throughout the world and Celosia christata in Iran. Furthermore, this study is the first to report the association of a “Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii”‐related strain with Typha angustifolia worldwide.     

Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. and new hosts and records of Allophoma spp. in Iran

A survey was conducted to identify fungi associated with leaf diseases of ornamental herbs, including Christ plant, dracaena, rose geranium, rose periwinkle and treasure flower, in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Twenty‐five symptomatic herbs were collected and studied, which led to the isolation of seven Phoma‐like strains belonging to four taxa. These fungi were characterised based on DNA sequence data for the partial large subunit 28S nrDNA (LSU‐D1/D2), the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 and 5.8S nrDNA (ITS) and part of the β‐tubulin (tub2) gene regions. A multi‐locus‐based phylogeny, in combination with morphology, allowed for the identification of Allophoma hayatii, A. labilis, A. tropica and a novel species of the genus Ectophoma. Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. is morphologically and genetically distinctive from previously described species. In pathogenicity tests, the two strains of E. iranica (CBS 144681 and IRAN 3354C) caused leaf spot symptoms on leaves of Catharanthus roseus. New host plant species and records for A. hayatii, A. labilis and A. tropica are reported, plus further emended characterization of A. hayatii.     

Evaluating the effect of a mixture of two main conjugated linoleic acid isomers on hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cellular model

Molecular Biology Reports - Hepatic steatosis is an early form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), caused by abnormal fat deposition in the hepatocytes. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is...     

Traction Force Screening Enabled by Compliant PDMS Elastomers

Actomyosin contractility is an essential element of many aspects of cellular biology and manifests as traction forces that cells exert on their surroundings. The central role of these forces makes them a novel principal therapeutic target in diverse diseases. This requires accurate and higher-capacity measurements of traction forces; however, existing methods are largely low throughput, limiting their utility in broader applications. To address this need, we employ Fourier-transform traction force microscopy in a parallelized 96-well format, which we refer to as contractile force screening. Critically, rather than the frequently employed hydrogel polyacrylamide, we fabricate these plates using polydimethylsiloxane rubber. Key to this approach is that the polydimethylsiloxane used is very compliant, with a lower-bound Young’s modulus of ～0.4 kPa. We subdivide these monolithic substrates spatially into biochemically independent wells, creating a uniform multiwell platform for traction force screening. We demonstrate the utility and versatility of this platform by quantifying the compound and dose-dependent contractility responses of human airway smooth muscle cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells. By directly quantifying the endpoint of therapeutic intent, airway-smooth-muscle contractile force, this approach fills an important methodological void in current screening approaches for bronchodilator drug discovery, and, more generally, in measuring contractile response for a broad range of cell types and pathologies.     

Stage-Specific Differential Gene Expression of Glutathione Peroxidase in Leishmania Major and Leishmania Tropica

Background:Leishmania (L) major and L. tropica are the etiological agents of cutaneous leishmaniosis. Leishmania species cause a board spectrum of phenotypes. A small number of genes are differentially expressed between them that have likely an important role in the disease phenotype. Procyclic and metacyclic are two morphological promastigote forms of Leishmania that express different genes. The glutathione peroxidase is an important antioxidant enzyme that essential in parasite protection against oxidative stress and parasite survival. This study aimed to compare glutathione peroxidase (TDPX) gene expression in procyclic and metacyclic and also interspecies in Iranian isolates of L. major and L. tropica. Methods:The samples were cultured in Novy-Nicolle-Mc Neal medium to obtain the promastigotes and identified using PCR-RFLP technique. They were then grown in RPMI1640 media for mass cultivation. The expression level of TDPX gene was compared by Real-time PCR.Results:By comparison of expression level, up-regulation of TDPX gene was observed (5.37 and 2.29 folds) in L. major and L. tropica metacyclic compared to their procyclic, respectively. Moreover, there was no significant difference between procyclic forms of isolates, while 3.05 folds up-regulation in metacyclic was detected in L. major compared L. tropica.Conclusion:Our data provide a foundation for identifying infectivity and high survival related factors in the Leishmania spp. In addition, the results improve our understanding of the molecular basis of metacyclogenesis and development of new potential targets to control or treatment and also, to the identification of species-specific factors contributing to virulence and pathogenicity in the host cells.Key Words: Glutathione peroxidase, Leishmania, L. major, L. tropica, Quantitative Real-time PCR