Comparative analysis of herbivory responsive miRNAs to delineate pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) resistance mechanisms in Cajanus cajan and its wild relative Cajanus scarabaeoides.

KEY MESSAGE: Comparative analysis of herbivory responsive miRNAs between pod borer susceptible C. cajan and its resistant Crop Wild Relative (CWR) C. scarabaeoides revealed miRNA-based regulation of defense genes and plant-insect interactions. Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is one of most devastating pests of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) worldwide, responsible for huge losses in crop productivity. The lack of genes conferring resistance to pod borer in pigeon pea has proven to be a bottleneck for its improvement. One of its CWR, C. scarabaeoides has demonstrated resistance to this pest and can be exploited for developing pest resistant crop varieties. Differences in expression patterns of herbivory responsive microRNAs in the susceptible C. cajan and resistant C. scarabaeoides after different time duration of pod borer infestation (2 h, 8 h and 18 h) were identified, characterized and functionally validated to understand their role in insect defense response. A total of 462 conserved and 449 novel miRNAs and 273 conserved and 185 novel miRNAs, were identified in C. cajan and C. scarabaeoides, respectively. Among the identified miRNAs, 65, 68 and 65 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressing between the C. scarabaeoides and C. cajan libraries 2 h, 8 h and 18 h post infestation, respectively. These miRNAs were found to target genes involved in a number of pathways contributing to defense and acquired resistance in C. scarabaeoides against pod borer, indicating miRNA-based regulation of defense pathways. Expression patterns of eight of these miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. This study provides novel insights into the miRNA-mediated plant-insect interactions and the mechanisms of regulatory pathways involved in insect defense. These findings can be utilized for further exploring the mechanism of herbivore defense in plant systems.

Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Transgender Women Undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Review.

Transwomen frequently undergo androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) incorporated with oestrogen, but they are still prone to the occurrence of prostatic cancer since the prostate remains intact. The probability of this clinical condition reduces as compared with the general male population. This study aimed to study the occurrence of prostatic malignancy under hormonal therapy such as ADT in transwomen. An extensive literature search was performed using online searches on transgender health, centring on the incidence, diagnosis, treatment and management of prostate cancer in transgender women. Original articles from 1975 to 2022 were searched using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, DOAJ and Cochrane databases. Physical, mental and communal deliberation of health development is the major constituent of trans-health. It exhibits a fivefold reduction in prostatic malignancies in transwomen undergoing hormonal therapy contrasted with the extensive male community of indistinguishable age.

Amelioration of cold-induced sweetening in potato by RNAi mediated silencing of StUGPase encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase.

Cold-induced sweetening (CIS) is an unwanted physiological phenomenon in which reducing sugars (RS) get accumulated in potato (Solanum tuberosum) upon cold storage. High RS content makes potato commercially unsuitable for processing due to the unacceptable brown color in processed products like chips, fries, etc., and the production of a potential carcinogen, acrylamide. UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) catalyzes the synthesis of UDP-glucose towards the synthesis of sucrose and is also involved in the regulation of CIS in potato. The objective of the present work was RNAi-mediated downregulation of the StUGPase expression level in potato for the development of CIS tolerant potato. Hairpin RNA (hpRNA) gene construct was developed by placing UGPase cDNA fragment in sense and antisense orientation intervened by GBSS intron. Internodal stem explants (cv. Kufri Chipsona-4) were transformed with hpRNA gene construct, and 22 transgenic lines were obtained by PCR screening of putative transformants. Four transgenic lines showed the highest level of RS content reduction following 30 days of cold storage, with reductions in sucrose and RS (glucose & fructose) levels of up to 46% and 57.5%, respectively. Cold stored transgenic potato of these four lines produced acceptable chip colour upon processing. The selected transgenic lines carried two to five copies of the transgene. Northern hybridization revealed an accumulation of siRNA with a concomitant decrease in the StUGPase transcript level in these selected transgenic lines. The present work demonstrates the efficacy of StUGPase silencing in controlling CIS in potato, and the strategy can be employed for the development of CIS tolerant potato varieties.

Identification of dynamic microRNA associated with systemic defence against Helicoverpa armigera infestation in Cajanus scarabaeoides.

BACKGROUND: Helicoverpa armigera is a major insect pest of several crop plants, including pigeonpea. Resistant gene sources are not available in the cultivated gene pool, but resistance has been observed in its crop wild relative, Cajanus scarabaeoides. Gene regulatory mechanisms governing the systemic immune response of this plant to pod borer infestation have not yet been deciphered. MicroRNA (miRNA) profiles of H. armigera-infested and undamaged adjacent leaves of C. scarabaeoides were compared to gain an insight into the plant-insect interactions and to identify dynamic miRNA molecules potentially acting as mediators of systemic defence responses. RESULTS: A total of 211 conserved, temporally dynamic miRNA were identified in the unfed adjacent leaves, out of which 98 were found to be differentially expressed in comparison to control leaves. On further analysis, most of the miRNA detected in the adjacent leaves was found to target genes involved in the defence pathways and plant immune response. An overlap of the differentially expressing miRNAs was observed between insect-fed and adjacent unfed leaves, indicating the transmission of signal from the site of infestation to the undamaged parts of the plant, indicative of induction of a systemic defence response. CONCLUSION: The miRNA response in the unfed leaves had the signatures of induced changes in metabolism and signal transduction for induction of defence pathway genes. This study reveals the participation of miRNAs in imparting pod borer resistance and mounting a systemic defence response against pod borer infestation in C. scarabaeoides. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on cardiac risk markers in people living with HIV/AIDS.

Introduction: Chronic HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are the major causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mortality in HIV patients. This study was conducted to look upon the effect of ART on CVD risk markers in patients on different ART regimens and ART-naïve patients. Methods: It was a cross-sectional, observational study done on 120 HIV-infected patients. CV risk markers were assessed and correlated with disease-specific factors within individual subgroups differentiated as Group A (ART naïve), Group B (first-line ART), and Group C (second-line ART). Carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) were done to classify cases as having CVD. Results: CVD risk parameters were found to be significantly higher in cases on ART, as compared to ART-naïve cases. The mean CIMT among cases in Group C, Group B, and Group A was 0.072 ± 0.01 cm, 0.063 ± 0.01 cm, and 0.055 ± 0.01 cm, respectively (P < 0.01). 95%, 65% and 25% cases in Group C, Group B, and Group A, respectively, had high CIMT (>0.06 cm) and were seen to be directly correlated with disease-related factors, i.e., duration of disease and ART, type of ART, and low CD4 cell counts. hsCRP was significantly increased in 65 out of total 120 cases. The mean hsCRP in Group A, Group B, and Group C was 3.69 ± 3.37, 4.21 ± 3.4, and 5.72 ± 3.54 mg/L, respectively (P < 0.01), which corresponds to the high risk of CVD. Conclusion: CVD risk parameters of CIMT and hsCRP are seen to be higher in patients on ART than ART-naive subjects.