Neopolyploidy-induced changes in giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) alter herbivore preference and performance and plant population performance.

PREMISE: Polyploidy is a widespread mutational process in angiosperms that may alter population performance of not only plants but also their interacting species. Yet, knowledge of whether polyploidy affects plant-herbivore dynamics is scarce. Here, we tested whether aphid herbivores exhibit preference for diploid or neopolyploid plants, whether polyploidy impacts plant and herbivore performance, and whether these interactions depend on the plant genetic background. METHODS: Using independently synthesized neotetraploid strains paired with their diploid progenitors of greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), we evaluated the effect of neopolyploidy on duckweed's interaction with the water-lily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae). Using paired-choice experiments, we evaluated feeding preference of the herbivore. We then evaluated the consequences of polyploidy on aphid and plant performance by measuring population growth over multiple generations. RESULTS: Aphids preferred neopolyploids when plants were provided at equal abundances but not at equal surface areas, suggesting the role of plant population surface area in driving this preference. Additionally, neopolyploidy increased aphid population performance, but this result was dependent on the plant's genetic lineage. Lastly, the impact of herbivory on neopolyploid vs. diploid duckweed varied greatly with genetic lineage, where neopolyploids appeared to be variably tolerant compared to diploids, sometimes mirroring the effect on herbivore performance. CONCLUSIONS: By experimentally testing the impacts of polyploidy on trophic species interactions, we showed that polyploidization can impact the preference and performance of herbivores on their plant hosts. These results have significant implications for the establishment and persistence of plants and herbivores in the face of plant polyploidy.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the regulatory mechanisms of two tropical water lilies in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Tropical water lily is an aquatic plant with high ornamental value, but it cannot overwinter naturally at high latitudes. The temperature drop has become a key factor restricting the development and promotion of the industry. RESULTS: The responses of Nymphaea lotus and Nymphaea rubra to cold stress were analyzed from the perspective of physiology and transcriptomics. Under the cold stress, Nymphaea rubra had obvious leaf edge curling and chlorosis. The degree of peroxidation of its membrane was higher than that of Nymphaea lotus, and the content of photosynthetic pigments also decreased more than that of Nymphaea lotus. The soluble sugar content, SOD enzyme activity and CAT enzyme activity of Nymphaea lotus were higher than those of Nymphaea rubra. This indicated that there were significant differences in the cold sensitivity of the two varieties. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that many stress response genes and pathways were affected and enriched to varying degrees under the cold stress, especially plant hormone signal transduction, metabolic pathways and some transcription factor genes were from ZAT gene family or WKRY gene family. The key transcription factor ZAT12 protein in the cold stress response process has a C2H2 conserved domain, and the protein is localized in the nucleus. Under the cold stress, overexpression of the NlZAT12 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana increased the expression of some cold-responsive protein genes. The content of reactive oxygen species and MDA in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was lower, and the content of soluble sugar was higher, indicating that overexpression of NlZAT12 can improve the cold tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that ethylene signalling and reactive oxygen species signalling play critical roles in the response of the two cultivars to cold stress. The key gene NlZAT12 for improving cold tolerance was identified. Our study provides a theoretical basis for revealing the molecular mechanism of tropical water lily in response to cold stress.

Insights into Adaptive Regulation of the Leaf-Petiole System: Strategies for Survival of Water Lily Plants under Salt Stress.

The water lily (Nymphaea tetragona) is an ancient angiosperm that belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. As a rooted floating-leaf plant, water lilies are generally cultivated in fresh water, therefore, little is known about their survival strategies under salt stress. Long-term salt stress causes morphological changes, such as the rapid regeneration of floating leaves and a significant decrease in leaf number and surface area. We demonstrate that salt stress induces toxicity soon after treatment, but plants can adapt by regenerating floating leaves that are photosynthetically active. Transcriptome profiling revealed that ion binding was one of the most-enriched GO terms in leaf-petiole systems under salt stress. Sodium-transporter-related genes were downregulated, whereas K+ transporter genes were both up- and downregulated. These results suggest that restricting intracellular Na+ importing while maintaining balanced K+ homeostasis is an adaptive strategy for tolerating long-term salt stress. ICP-MS analysis identified the petioles and leaves as Na-hyperaccumulators, with a maximum content of over 80 g kg-1 DW under salt stress. Mapping of the Na-hyperaccumulation trait onto the phylogenetic relationships revealed that water lily plants might have a long evolutionary history from ancient marine plants, or may have undergone historical ecological events from salt to fresh water. Ammonium transporter genes involved in nitrogen metabolism were downregulated, whereas NO3--related transporters were upregulated in both the leaves and petioles, suggesting a selective bias toward NO3- uptake under salt stress. The morphological changes we observed may be due to the reduced expression of genes related to auxin signal transduction. In conclusion, the floating leaves and submerged petioles of the water lily use a series of adaptive strategies to survive salt stress. These include the absorption and transport of ions and nutrients from the surrounding environments, and the ability to hyperaccumulate Na+. These adaptations may serve as the physiological basis for salt tolerance in water lily plants.

Chemical Composition, Market Survey, and Safety Assessment of Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea Savigny) Extracts.

Blue lotus, also known as Nymphaea caerulea (Nymphaeaceae), is a water lily found globally in lakes and rivers. With its long history of use in Egyptian culture, blue lotus has been associated with spiritual rituals and health benefits. Nowadays, blue lotus is still consumed as a tea or tincture to induce relaxation and heightened spiritual awareness. In this study, six authentic N. caerulea extracts from trusted sources and eleven commercial products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Authentic blue lotus extracts were produced in industrial settings. Overall, the extracts were a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic alcohols, fatty acids, phenyl derivatives, diterpenoids, phytosterols, and stigmastanes. Apomorphine and nuciferine, which are responsible for psychoactive effects of the blue lotus flower, were virtually absent from the authentic blue lotus extract. Although blue lotus has a long history of use, the safety data on the plant and its extracts is limited; however, together with the analytical data, the available information does not indicate major safety concerns for the topical application of authentic blue lotus flower concrete or absolute when diluted as a fragrance ingredient.

Phosphodiesterase 5 and Arginase Inhibitory Activities of the Extracts from Some Members of Nelumbonaceae and Nymphaeaceae Families.

The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of extracts from some plants in the families Nelumbonaceae and Nymphaeaceae on phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and arginase, which have been used in erectile dysfunction treatment, and (2) to isolate and identify the compounds responsible for such activities. The characterization and quantitative analysis of flavonoid constituents in the active extracts were performed by HPLC. Thirty-seven ethanolic extracts from different parts of plants in the genus Nymphaea and Victoria of Nymphaeaceae and genus Nelumbo of Nelumbonaceae were screened for PDE5 and arginase inhibitory activities. The ethanolic extracts of the receptacles and pollens of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., petals of Nymphaea cyanea Roxb. ex G.Don, Nymphaea stellata Willd., and Victoria amazonica (Poepp.) Sowerby and the petals and receptacles of Nymphaea pubescens Willd. showed IC50 values on PDE5 of less than 25 µg/mL while none of the extracts showed effects on arginase. The most active extract, N. pubescens petal extract, was fractionated to isolate and identify the PDE5 inhibitors. The results showed that six flavonoid constituents including quercetin 3'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (1), quercetin 3-methyl ether 3'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (2), quercetin (3), 3-O-methylquercetin (4), kaempferol (5) and 3-O-methylkaempferol (6) inhibited PDE5 with IC50 values at the micromolar level.

Intergeneric Relationships within the Early-Diverging Angiosperm Family Nymphaeaceae Based on Chloroplast Phylogenomics.

The order Nymphaeales, consisting of three families with a record of eight genera, has gained significant interest from botanists, probably due to its position as a basal angiosperm. The phylogenetic relationships within the order have been well studied; however, a few controversial nodes still remain in the Nymphaeaceae. The position of the Nuphar genus and the monophyly of the Nymphaeaceae family remain uncertain. This study adds to the increasing number of the completely sequenced plastid genomes of the Nymphaeales and applies a large chloroplast gene data set in reconstructing the intergeneric relationships within the Nymphaeaceae. Five complete chloroplast genomes were newly generated, including a first for the monotypic Euryale genus. Using a set of 66 protein-coding genes from the chloroplast genomes of 17 taxa, the phylogenetic position of Nuphar was determined and a monophyletic Nymphaeaceae family was obtained with convincing statistical support from both partitioned and unpartitioned data schemes. Although genomic comparative analyses revealed a high degree of synteny among the chloroplast genomes of the ancient angiosperms, key minor variations were evident, particularly in the contraction/expansion of the inverted-repeat regions and in RNA-editing events. Genome structure, and gene content and arrangement were highly conserved among the chloroplast genomes. The intergeneric relationships defined in this study are congruent with those inferred using morphological data.

First confirmed case of hydatid disease of the male breast: A case report.

Introduction: Hydatid disease of the male breast has not been documented in literature to date. Case report: We present a case of a 46-year old male patient who presented with a painful breast lump for 1 year. On imaging, it was suspicious for hydatid disease of the breast and was successfully diagnosed preoperatively on fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathology as hydatid disease of the breast. Discussion: Incidence of hydatid disease of the breast contributes to a minute number of total cases of hydatid disease. Male breast hydatid disease was unknown prior to this report. We did find similarities in the imaging features of our case and the ones described for female breasts. On ultrasonography, we found it analogous to the 'water-lily' sign which has been described in hepatic hydatic cysts. Conclusion: Keeping hydatid disease as a differential in the setting of a suspicious breast mass even in a male patient proved to be rewarding as it negated the need for further cross-sectional imaging and a definitive diagnosis could be sought based on the fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathological findings.

Anti-Aging Potential of the Two Major Flavonoids Occurring in Asian Water Lily Using In Vitro and In Silico Molecular Modeling Assessments.

Our previous study investigated the major flavonoids and antioxidant potential of Asian water lily (Nymphaea lotus L., family Nymphaeaceae) stamens and perianth extracts. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (Que-3-Rha) and kaempferol-3-O-galactoside (Kae-3-Gal) were reported as the two most prominent flavonoids found in these extracts. Many flavonoids have been reported on the skin anti-aging effect that are useful for cosmeceutical/phytopharmaceutical application. However, Que-3-Rha and Kae-3-Gal occurring in this medicinal plant have not yet been evaluated for their ability to inhibit skin-aging enzymes. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to assess the enzyme inhibitory activity of Que-3-Rha and Kae-3-Gal, and (2) to conduct molecular modeling of these compounds against critical enzymes involved in skin aging such as collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase. In vitro enzymatic assays demonstrated that both of the two most prominent flavonoids exhibited moderate to good inhibitory activity toward these enzymes. These experimental findings were supported by molecular docking analysis, which indicated that Que-3-Rha and Kae-3-Gal showed superior binding affinity to the target enzymes compared to the positive controls. Additionally, computational predictions suggested favorable skin permeability and no severe toxicity for both compounds. The results from molecular dynamic (MD) simulation revealed that all the complexes remained stable during the 200 ns MD simulation. Structural analyses and binding free energy calculations also supported the inhibitory potential of these two flavonoids against skin-aging enzymes. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the anti-aging potential of the two major flavonoids occurring in this medicinal plant, paving the way for further development of cosmeceutical/phytopharmaceutical products targeting skin aging.

Biomimic Design of Solar Steam Generation Devices Enabled by the Tannin-Iron Complex.

Solar-powered steam generation equipment has experienced considerable advancement in recent years as it offers a cleaner and greener method for freshwater production. However, the devices always suffer from a complicated process, high cost, and salt accumulation, which hinder their further application. Here, inspired by the water lily, a highly efficient and antisalt accumulation interfacial solar-driven steam generation device was designed by using the tannic acid-Fe3+ complex as photothermal material. The designed evaporator could be quickly unfolded within 24 s after being irradiated with light and then produce fresh water. It folded within 10 s and then sank into water for removing the accumulated salt after removing the irradiation sources. In addition, the tannic acid-Fe3+ complex on the evaporator surface and the angle of the evaporator allowed light to be reflected several times within the evaporator, effectively increasing the solar energy conversion efficient (2.22 kg/(m2·h)), and apparently, the overall evaporation efficiency of 139.18% was achieved under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, it exhibited an extraordinary antisalt accumulation capacity (by working continuously for 7 days in 10 wt % saline water and 80% reduction in salt accumulation) as well as a low price ($ 1.11/m2). This design would provide a strategy to prepare an antisalt accumulation solar steam devices.

Complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic relationship of Nymphaea nouchali (Nymphaeaceae), a rare species of water lily in China.

Nymphaea nouchali is a native species of Chinese water lily with important ornamental, economical, and medicinal purposes. However, due to the serious disturbance by alien biological invasion and human factors, N. nouchali is in an endangered state in China and urgently needs to be protected. Here, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of N. nouchali for the first time, and we found that its plastome is 159 978 bp long, comprising large and small single copies and two inverted repeats (90 001, 19 603, and 50 374 bp, respectively), indicating a typical tetrad structure. In total, 130 genes were identified, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNAs, and 8 ribosomal RNAs. Additionally, 136 simple sequence repeat sites were identified, composed mainly of single nucleotide (46.32%) and trinucleotide (47.05%) sequences. Five highly variable sites (psaI, rps19, ndhF, rps15, and ycf1) with a high Pi value were identified as potential molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis showed that N. nouchali and N. ampla are closely related, and further validated previous water lily classification results based on morphological characteristics, which divided water lilies into five subgenera: Nymphaea, Brachyceras, Anecphya, Hydrocallis, and Lotos. These results are valuable for the identification and the formulation of protection strategies of N. nouchali, as well as contributing to understanding the evolutionary relationships among Nymphaeaceae species.

Ruptured Pulmonary Hydatid Cyst.

A 37-year-old male presented with left-sided hydropneumothorax. After drainage of fluid and air from the pleural cavity, chest radiograph and computed tomography of chest showed characteristic radiological image of ruptured hydatid cyst. The diagnosis was supported by positive echinococcal serology.

Transcriptome and hormone metabolome reveal the mechanism of stem bending in water lily (Nymphaea tetragona) cut-flowers.

Water lilies are popular ornamental cut-flowers with significant economic and cultural value. However, stem bending affects the preservation of cut-flowers during their vase life. To gain further insights into the molecular mechanisms of stem bending, transcriptome profiling, hormone measurement, and morphological analysis were performed using the stems of the 'Blue Bird' water lily. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 607 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with the dorsal and ventral stems of the water lily, of which 247 were up-regulated and 360 were down-regulated. Significant differences in genes associated with plant hormones, calcium ions, glucose metabolism, and photosynthesis pathways genes involved in the dorsal and ventral areas of the curved stem. In particular, DEGs were associated with the hormone synthesis, gravity response, starch granules, Ca2+ ions, and photosynthesis. The results of qRT-PCR were consistent with that of the transcriptome sequence analysis. A total of 12 hormones were detected, of which abscisic acid, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-carboxaldehyde and jasmonic acid were significantly differentially expressed in the dorsal and ventral stems, and were significantly higher in the dorsal stem than in the ventral stem. The cell morphology in the dorsal and ventral areas of the curved stem clearly changed during vase life. The direction of starch granule settlement was consistent with the bending direction of the water lily stem, as well as the direction of gravity. In conclusion, stem bending in water lily cut-flowers is regulated by multiple factors and genes. This study provides an important theoretical basis for understanding the complex regulatory mechanism of water lily stem bending.

Pericardial hydatid cyst: The water lily sign as a classical sign in a nonclassical location.

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection that usually targets the liver and is rarely seen affecting the heart. Herein, we present an incidentally diagnosed cardiac hydatid cyst with a pathognomonic radiological feature of a water lily sign.

The complete chloroplast genome of Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeaceae) from Rwanda, Africa.

Nymphaea thermarum is classified in the Nymphaeaceae, and is the smallest water lily in the world. It has been extinct its native environment and needs urgent protection. Here, we report and characterize the complete chloroplast genome of N. thermarum. The total length of the chloroplast genome is 159,849 bp and the GC content is 39.2% (A: 30.1%, C: 20.0%, G: 19.2%, T: 30.8%). The chloroplast genome consists of 8 rRNA, 37 tRNA, and 85 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis of N. thermarum fully resolved this taxon in a clade with Nymphaea capensis. The chloroplast genome of N. thermarum provides scientific guidance for its conservation genetics and also contributes genome resources for the phylogenetic relationship of Nymphaea.

Differential efficacy of water lily cultivars in phytoremediation of eutrophic water contaminated with phosphorus and nitrogen.

Excessive inputs of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) trigger eutrophication of the water bodies, which promotes the undesirable growth of algal bloom and deterioration of the water quality, and aquatic biodiversity. Macrophytes provide an environmentally benign and economically viable paradigm for the ecological restoration of eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. Water lily (Nymphaea) is largely used as ornamental plant for landscaping, and it has been documented that water lily possesses the potentiality in mitigating polluted aquatic environments. In the present study, water lily cultivars Nymphaea Texas Dawn (NTD), Nymphaea Colorado (NC), Nymphaea Madame Wilfron Gonnère (NMWG), and Nymphaea Sunshine Princess (NSP) were investigated for their potency in alleviating the eutrophication. The concentrations of total P and total N were significantly higher in the leaves of NC and NSP compared with NTD and NMWG. Therefore, NC and NSP were selected for subsequent studies to decipher their recuperation efficacy on eutrophic waters at different growth stages. NC and NSP significantly reduced the concentrations of eutrophication indicators i.e., total P, NH4+-N, and chemical oxygen demand in different gradients of the simulated eutrophic water in a growth-dependent manner. On the contrary, NC and NSP triggered a significant increase in the concentration of dissolved oxygen particularly at the seedling stage. Notably, the concentrations of total P (shoot and root) and total N (root) were relatively higher in NSP than NC. The study thus revealed a growth-dependent differential efficacy of NSP and NC in mitigating the different eutrophic waters.

Phylogenomics as an effective approach to untangle cross-species hybridization event: A case study in the family Nymphaeaceae.

Hybridization is common and considered as an important evolutionary force to increase intraspecific genetic diversity. Detecting hybridization events is crucial for understanding the evolutionary history of species and further improving molecular breeding. The studies on identifying hybridization events through the phylogenomic approach are still limited. We proposed the conception and method of identifying allopolyploidy events by phylogenomics. The reconciliation and summary of nuclear multi-labeled gene family trees were adopted to untangle hybridization events from next-generation data in our novel phylogenomic approach. Given horticulturalists' relatively clear cultivated crossbreeding history, the water lily family is a suitable case for examining recent allopolyploidy events. Here, we reconstructed and confirmed the well-resolved nuclear phylogeny for the Nymphaeales family in the context of geological time as a framework for identifying hybridization signals. We successfully identified two possible allopolyploidy events with the parental lineages for the hybrids in the family Nymphaeaceae based on summarization from multi-labeled gene family trees of Nymphaeales. The lineages where species Nymphaea colorata and Nymphaea caerulea are located may be the progenitors of horticultural cultivated species Nymphaea 'midnight' and Nymphaea 'Woods blue goddess'. The proposed hybridization hypothesis is also supported by horticultural breeding records. Our methodology can be widely applied to identify hybridization events and theoretically facilitate the genome breeding design of hybrid plants.

Cytotoxicity of Thioalkaloid-Enriched Nuphar lutea Extract and Purified 6,6'-Dihydroxythiobinupharidine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Intracellular Calcium.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid progenitors. Here, we report the in vitro antileukemic effects of the sesquiterpene thioalkaloid-enriched fraction of the Nuphar lutea leaf extract (NUP) and a purified thioalkaloid 6,6'-dihydroxythiobinupharidine (DTBN). Treatment with 0.3-10 µg/mL NUP caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction in proliferation and viability of human AML cells (KG-1a, HL60 and U937). This was associated with apoptosis induction manifested by annexin-V/propidium iodide binding as well as cleavage of caspases 8, 9, and 3 as well as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Caspase-dependence of the apoptotic effect was confirmed using the pan-caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPH. NUP induced significant biphasic changes in the cytosolic levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to untreated cells-a decrease at early time points (2-4 h) and an increase after a longer incubation (24 h). ROS accumulation was accompanied by lowering the cellular glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, NUP treatment resulted in elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+cyt) levels. The thiol antioxidant and glutathione precursor N-acetyl cysteine prevented NUP-induced ROS accumulation and markedly inhibited apoptosis. A similar antiapoptotic effect was obtained by Ca2+cyt chelating using BAPTA. These data indicate that NUP-induced cell death is mediated, at least in part, by the induction of oxidative stress and Ca2+cyt accumulation. However, a substantial apoptotic activity of pure DTBN (0.05-0.25 µg/mL), was found to be independent of cytosolic ROS or Ca2+, suggesting that alternative mechanisms are involved in DTBN-induced cytotoxicity. Notably, neither NUP nor DTBN treatment significantly induced cell death of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results provide the basis for further investigation of the antileukemic potential of NUP and its active constituents.

Camalote sign in intraventricular hydatid cyst: A rare presentation of uncommon disease.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid cyst is a common zoonotic condition in endemic areas. Intraventricular hydatid cyst is a rare entity with less than 50 cases published in literature. Floating water lily sign (also called Camalote sign) is very rare in intracranial hydatid cysts. Only a single case report of this sign exists in literature in intraventricular hydatidosis suggesting rupture of hydatid cyst leading to CSF dissemination and frequent poor outcome. CASE DESCRIPTION: This case report describes the successful management of a 5-year-old child who presented with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure due to large intraventricular hydatid cyst in the right frontal horn, and magnetic resonanace imaging of the brain showed hydatid cyst with typical camalote sign. CONCLUSION: Although very rare, the presence of camalote sign in intraventricular cysts is very categorical in establishing preoperative diagnosis of hydatid cyst, especially in endemic areas.

Expression and Functional Analyses of Nymphaea caerulea MADS-Box Genes Contribute to Clarify the Complex Flower Patterning of Water Lilies.

Nymphaeaceae are early diverging angiosperms with large flowers characterized by showy petals and stamens not clearly whorled but presenting a gradual morphological transition from the outer elements to the inner stamens. Such flower structure makes these plant species relevant for studying flower evolution. MADS-domain transcription factors are crucial components of the molecular network that controls flower development. We therefore isolated and characterized MADS-box genes from the water lily Nymphaea caerulea. RNA-seq experiments on floral buds have been performed to obtain the transcript sequences of floral organ identity MADS-box genes. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses confirmed their belonging to specific MADS-box gene subfamilies. Their expression was quantified by RT-qPCR in all floral organs at two stages of development. Protein interactions among these transcription factors were investigated by yeast-two-hybrid assays. We found especially interesting the involvement of two different AGAMOUS-like genes (NycAG1 and NycAG2) in the water lily floral components. They were therefore functionally characterized by complementing Arabidopsis ag and shp1 shp2 mutants. The expression analysis of MADS-box genes across flower development in N. caerulea described a complex scenario made of numerous genes in numerous floral components. Their expression profiles in some cases were in line with what was expected from the ABC model of flower development and its extensions, while in other cases presented new and interesting gene expression patterns, as for instance the involvement of NycAGL6 and NycFL. Although sharing a high level of sequence similarity, the two AGAMOUS-like genes NycAG1 and NycAG2 could have undergone subfunctionalization or neofunctionalization, as only one of them could partially restore the euAG function in Arabidopsis ag-3 mutants. The hereby illustrated N. caerulea MADS-box gene expression pattern might mirror the morphological transition from the outer to the inner floral organs, and the presence of transition organs such as the petaloid stamens. This study is intended to broaden knowledge on the role and evolution of floral organ identity genes and the genetic mechanisms causing biodiversity in angiosperm flowers.

Concurrent pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts managed with single stage surgery.

Most of the case reports on hydatid cyst have documented its diagnosis and treatment involving either lungs or liver. This case report is unique as it documents the standard diagnostic and treatment approach followed for curing concurrent multiple hydatid cysts involving liver and right lung simultaneously via single stage surgery. A 52-year-old male presented with symptoms of simple pneumonia along with mild pain in the right upper quadrant. Hydatid cyst was considered as the differential diagnosis after physical examination. Both CT scan and MRI confirmed the presence of multiple cysts both in the liver as well as right lung. A single stage radical removal of cysts from both the organs was performed. The patient was hemodynamically stable, and no complications were reported postoperatively. This case report highlights the importance of considering hydatid cyst as a differential diagnosis in the light of vague presenting symptoms. Also, it emphasizes on the benefits of single stage surgery for removing cysts from both the organs simultaneously.