Dynamics of limited neoplastic growth on Pongamia pinnata (L.) (Fabaceae) leaf, induced by Aceria pongamiae (Acari: Eriophyidae).

BACKGROUND: Galls or the neoplastic growth on plants result from a complex type of interaction between the inducers (Acari, Insects, Microbes and Nematodes) and plants. The present study sheds light on the gall inducing habit of a highly host specific eriophyid mite, Aceria pongamiae, on the leaves of Pongamia pinnata leading to the production of abnormal pouch like outgrowths on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the foliage. Each leaf gall is a highly complex, irregular massive structure, and the formation of which often leads to complete destruction of leaves, especially during heavy mite infestation, and thereby adversely affecting the physiology and growth of the host plant. RESULTS: The study was carried out by making comparative observations on FE-SEM histological sections of galls representing four different growth stages categorized on the basis of difference in age groups. Apart from variations in cell metaplasia, a dramatic change was observed in the abaxial-adaxial polarity of the laminar surfaces also throughout the developmental sequence of galls, in all the four growth stages. Significant variations could be observed in the anti-oxidative potency as well as elemental composition in the all the four age groups of galls, and also revealed ATR-FTIR pattern of gall formation. CONCLUSION: Being the first attempt to unravel the mystery of gall induction by eriophyids in general and by A. pongamiae in particular, on its host plant P.pinnata, by shedding light on the structural and histological alterations taking place during leaf gall formation under the influence of the mite, the current study is to be treated as the model of plant-animal interactive system.

Enzymatic characterization of the saliva of the eriophyid mite, Aceria pongamiae Keifer1966 (Acari: Eriophyidae) and the bacterial endobiome of the galls induced on Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Fabaceae).

Galls, like other regular plant organs, possess their own histological and physiological features. A high degree of specificity is maintained between the host and the inducer, and hence gall morphogenesis is highly conserved and would help trace gall lineages and cell fate. The present study highlights the induction and subsequent development of leaf galls on the Indian Beech tree, Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre (Fabaceae), mediated through the active participation of a gall-inducing species of eriophyid mite, Aceria pongamiae Keifer and gall-associated bacterial endobiome. The saliva of A. pongamiae and selected strains of gall-associated bacterial endobiome were characterized in part during the study. Three strains of Staphylococcus arlettae (PGP1-3) and one strain of Bacillus flexus (PGP4) were identified from the leaf galls through 16S rDNA sequencing. The mite saliva displayed tryptophanase activity, and the bacterial strains showed differential enzyme activities (protease, amylase, cellulase, DNAse, pectinase, tryptophanase, and catalase). All four strains of bacterial endobiome exhibited unique metal tolerance as well as pH and temperature regulating activity. Evaluation of the potential role of the mite saliva and the gall associated bacterial endobiome in gallogenesis was done by monitoring the plant growth-promoting activity of the salivary extract and the isolated bacterial strains through in vitro seed (Vigna radiata) germination assay. Salivary extract of the mite showed the highest rate of plant growth-promoting activity compared with that of the isolated strains of bacterial endobiome. The present study forms the first attempt that illustrates the characteristic features of the saliva of the gall inducer and the gall associated bacterial endobiome. Based on the results of the current study, we suggest that eriophyid mite saliva and the gall-associated microbes play significant roles in the induction of cecidia.

Molecular cloning, expression, mRNA secondary structure and immunological characterization of mussel foot proteins (Mfps) (Mollusca: Bivalvia).

The macroscale production of mussel foot proteins (Mfps) in the expression system has not succeeded to date. The principal reasons for this are low levels of expression and yield of Mfps, lack of post-translational modifications (PTMs), and immunological toxic effects on the host system. Identification of post-translational modification sites, suitable expression hosts, and immunological responses through an experimental approach is very costly and time-consuming. However, in the present study, in silico post-translation modification, antigenicity, allergenicity, and the immunological reaction of all available Mfps were characterized. Furthermore, all Mfps were codon optimized in three different expression systems to determine the best expression host. Finally, we performed the in-silico cloning of all codon-optimized Mfps in a suitable host (E. coli K12, pET28a(+) vector) and analyzed the secondary structure of mRNA and its structural stability. Among the 78 Mfps, six fps are considered potential allergenic proteins, six fps are considered non-allergenic proteins, and all other fps are probably allergenic. High antigenicity was observed in bacterial cells as compared to yeast and tumor cells. Nevertheless, the predicted expression of Mfps in a bacterial host is higher than in other expression hosts. Important to note that all Mfps showed significant immunological activity in the human system, and we concluded that these antigenic, allergenic, and immunological properties are directly correlated with their amino acid composition. The study's major goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of Mfps and aid in the future genetic engineering and expression of Mfps and its diverse applications in different fields.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Dye and metal ion adsorption ability of Asian green mussel byssus thread complex; their microscopic and thermal property characterization.

Various physical, chemical, and biological factors act as pollutants and cause deleterious effects on the environment and living organisms. Several researchers are developing eco-friendly good adsorbent from agriculture waste materials for pollutant removal, especially aromatic dyes and heavy metal removal. We used the Asian green mussel byssus thread, a natural mariculture waste product for the removal of aromatic dyes (methylene blue and eosin Y) and heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, mercury and lead). We documented the dynamicity of byssus thread dye and metal removal at different pH (pH 2-10) and different concentrations. The highest amount of metal removal was observed at pH 6.0, and the dye removal efficacy is related to the property of the dye (i.e. anionic or cationic dye). The byssus thread had a natural fluorescent property upon UV-excitation; however, microscopic examination revealed that metal and dye coordination significantly alter the byssus plaque region's physical and chemical property rather than the thread regions. It was further confirmed by using DSC and TGA characterization of de-metaled and metal-treated byssus thread complex. We concluded that Perna viridis byssus thread could be used as a strong adsorbent for dye and metal removal from the water.

Molecular and morphometric analyses reveal host-specific cryptic speciation in a mite species, Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Andre, 1933) (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Host- and habitat-induced morphological shape and size variations are common in phytophagous and parasitic taxa. Several integrated morphological and molecular techniques have been commonly used to understand host-induced morpho-cryptic species forms. Compared to other arthropods, cryptic speciation was more common in Acari. This study focused on the host-specific morphological cryptic shape and size variations of Tetranychus neocaledonicus, collected from moringa and cassava hosts. We used geometric morphometric analysis to uncover the shape and size of inter-and intra-spider mite populations, and discovered that host-specific shape and size variations existed in spider mites regardless of sex. Interestingly, there was no phylogenetic signal in spider mites, implying that the morpho-cryptic speciation of T. neocaledonicus is solely based on the host-induced selection. The molecular clock hypothesis was accepted in our CO1 and 18s rRNA phylogeny analyses, and spider mites collected from both hosts were genetically less diverse. We conclude that T. neocaledonicus exhibited morphologically detectable cryptic population diversity in each host but that these populations are evolutionarily young form. Apart from these host-induced variations, we also monitored the impact of the clearing agent (lactic acid) on the shape and size of T. neocaledonicus; from this study, we proved that the clearing agent significantly alters the taxonomically important morphological traits of spider mites irrespective of the mites' sex, as confirmed by multivariate statistical analysis. This is the first study report to investigated the host-induced morphological variations of spider mites and the impact of a clearing agent.

Protective effect of Catharanthus roseus plant extracts against endosulfan and its isomers induced impacts on non-targeted insect model, Drosophila melanogaster and live brain cell imaging.

Endosulfan has been recognized as a highly controversial pesticide due to its acute toxicity, potential bioaccumulation, persistency, and long-range atmospheric transport. Several plant extracts act as antioxidant agents against wide-range of pesticide toxicity hazards through the free radicals scavenging properties. Plants' secondary metabolites are considered as efficient protective agents against various cellular toxic injuries. Understanding these properties of botanicals, several researchers currently focused on the detoxification and ameliorative potency of plant extracts against highly toxic chemicals. In our studies, we focused on the endosulfan total and its isomers (alpha and beta) induced changes on Drosophila melanogaster and their ameliorative effects by co-administrated with methanolic and aqueous extracts of Catharanthus roseus whole plant. We selected the 1/5th EC50 concentration of alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, and endosulfan (total) and co-administrated with 1/50th EC50 concentration of aqueous and methanolic extracts and evaluated their ameliorative effects, in terms of verifying the life stage activities, protein profiling and also by using live brain cells imaging. We finally concluded that, the methanolic and aqueous extracts inhibit the toxic impacts caused by endosulfan and its isomers and also increasing the survival rate of the test organism.

Computational modelling of wet adhesive mussel foot proteins (Bivalvia): Insights into the evolutionary convolution in diverse perspectives.

Underwater adhesion in mussels (Bivalvia) is an extreme adaptation to achieve robust and firm wet adhesion in the freshwater/brackish/ocean, which biochemically shaped through millions of years. The protein-based adhesion has huge prospective in various fields like industry, medical, etc. Currently, no comprehensive records related to the systematic documentation of structural and functional properties of Mussel foot proteins (Mfps). In this study, we identified the nine species of bivalves in which the complete sequence of at least one adhesive protein is known. The insilico characterization revealed the specific physio-chemical structural and functional characters of each Mfps. The evolutionary analyses of selected bivalves are mainly based on Mfps, Mitogenome, and TimeTree. The outcome of the works has great applications for designing biomimetic materials in future.