Genetic Diversity and Association Analysis for Carotenoid Content among Sprouts of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp).

The development and promotion of biofortified foods plants are a sustainable strategy for supplying essential micronutrients for human health and nutrition. We set out to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with carotenoid content in cowpea sprouts. The contents of carotenoids, including lutein, zeaxanthin, and ß-carotene in sprouts of 125 accessions were quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography. Significant variation existed in the profiles of the different carotenoids. Lutein was the most abundant (58 ± 12.8 mg/100 g), followed by zeaxanthin (14.7 ± 3.1 mg/100 g) and ß-carotene (13.2 ± 2.9 mg/100 g). A strong positive correlation was observed among the carotenoid compounds (r ≥ 0.87), indicating they can be improved concurrently. The accessions were distributed into three groups, following their carotenoid profiles, with accession C044 having the highest sprout carotenoid content in a single cluster. A total of 3120 genome-wide SNPs were tested for association analysis, which revealed that carotenoid biosynthesis in cowpea sprouts is a polygenic trait controlled by genes with additive and dominance effects. Seven loci were significantly associated with the variation in carotenoid content. The evidence of variation in carotenoid content and genomic regions controlling the trait creates an avenue for breeding cowpea varieties with enhanced sprouts carotenoid content.

Polymorphisms in Fc Gamma Receptors and Susceptibility to Malaria in an Endemic Population.

Repeated infections by Plasmodium falciparum result in a humoral response that could reduce disease symptoms and prevent the development of clinical malaria. The principal mechanism underlying this humoral response is that immunoglobulin G (IgG) binds directly to the parasites, thus causing their neutralization. However, the action of antibodies alone is not always sufficient to eliminate pathogens from an organism. One key element involved in the recognition of IgG that plays a crucial role in the destruction of the parasites responsible for spreading malaria is the family of Fc gamma receptors. These receptors are expressed on the surface of immune cells. Several polymorphisms have been detected in the genes encoding these receptors, associated with susceptibility or resistance to malaria in different populations. In this review, we describe identified polymorphisms within the family of Fc gamma receptors and the impact of these variations on the response of a host to infection as well as provide new perspectives for the design of an effective vaccine for malaria.