A transition from enemies to allies: how viruses improve drought resilience in plants.

Global crop production is severely affected by environmental factors such as drought, salinity, cold, flood etc. Among these stresses, drought is one of the major abiotic stresses reducing crop productivity. It is expected that drought conditions will further increase because of the increasing global temperature. In general, viruses are seen as a pathogen affecting the crop productivity. However, several researches are showing that viruses can induce drought tolerance in plants. This review explores the mechanisms underlying the interplay between viral infections and the drought response mechanisms in plants. We tried to address the molecular pathways and physiological changes induced by viruses that confer drought tolerance, including alterations in hormone signaling, antioxidant defenses, scavenging the reactive oxygen species, role of RNA silencing and miRNA pathway, change in the expression of several genes including heat shock proteins, cellulose synthase etc. Furthermore, we discuss various viruses implicated in providing drought tolerance and examine the range of plant species exhibiting this phenomenon. By applying current knowledge and identifying gaps in understanding, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of virus-induced drought tolerance in plants, paving the way for future research directions and practical applications in sustainable agriculture.

Phenomics in Livestock Research: Bottlenecks and Promises of Digital Phenotyping and Other Quantification Techniques on a Global Scale.

Bottlenecks in moving genomics to real-life applications also include phenomics. This is true not only for genomics medicine and public health genomics but also in ecology and livestock phenomics. This expert narrative review explores the intricate relationship between genetic makeup and observable phenotypic traits across various biological levels in the context of livestock research. We unpack and emphasize the significance of precise phenotypic data in selective breeding outcomes and examine the multifaceted applications of phenomics, ranging from improvement to assessing welfare, reproductive traits, and environmental adaptation in livestock. As phenotypic traits exhibit strong correlations, their measurement alongside specific biological outcomes provides insights into performance, overall health, and clinical endpoints like morbidity and disease. In addition, automated assessment of livestock holds potential for monitoring the dynamic phenotypic traits across various species, facilitating a deeper comprehension of how they adapt to their environment and attendant stressors. A key challenge in genetic improvement in livestock is predicting individuals with optimal fitness without direct measurement. Temporal predictions from unmanned aerial systems can surpass genomic predictions, offering in-depth data on livestock. In the near future, digital phenotyping and digital biomarkers may further unravel the genetic intricacies of stress tolerance, adaptation and welfare aspects of animals enabling the selection of climate-resilient and productive livestock. This expert review thus delves into challenges associated with phenotyping and discusses technological advancements shaping the future of biological research concerning livestock.

Synthesis of Vanadyl Complexes of N-Confused Porphyrins and Their Bromoperoxidase-like Catalytic Activity.

Two new vanadyl complexes of N-confused porphyrins (NCPs), [VONCTPP] (V-1) and [VONCP(OMe)8] (V-2), have been synthesized for the first time and investigated as a catalyst for the oxidative bromination reaction of phenol and its derivatives. This article further delineates crystal structures, photophysical, and redox properties of both the vanadyl complexes. Complexes V-1 and V-2 exhibited a significant red shift in their absorption spectra compared with their respective free bases. The single-crystal structure of V-1 revealed that the complex is in the 2H tautomeric form, while EPR studies revealed the +4 oxidation state of vanadium metal having an axial compression with dxy1 configuration. Catalytic potential for bromoperoxidases-like activity has been explored for both complexes V-1 and V-2 for the first time in NCP chemistry with excellent TOF values (4.7-6.3 s-1 for V-1 and 7.3-8.7 s-1 for V-2) using KBr as a source of bromine and H2O2 as a green oxidant in aqueous acidic medium at 298 K. Notably, both catalysts show excellent recyclability over five cycles. The vanadyl-metalated NCPs exhibit excellent stability in the air.

Risk factors and clinical presentation of rhino-orbital mucormycosis: Lesson learnt during Covid pandemic.

Aim: To analyze the potential predisposing factors and clinical presentation of mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19. Material and Methods: Medical records of 141 patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) treated at a tertiary care center in Bihar were reviewed. The predisposing factors, clinical features, and imaging findings of mucormycosis were analyzed. Results: The median age was 48 years (IQR, 43-60). A total of 58 patients developed concurrent CAM and 83 post-CAM. The median interval between COVID-19 and onset of CAM symptoms was 15 days (IQR, 9-16). A total of 80 patients received at-home treatment for COVID-19, and 73 had mild-to-moderate disease. While 61 patients received in-hospital treatment, 57 had severe disease. At presentation, 131 patients had hyperglycemia: 64 type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 67 new-onset DM. The history of glucocorticoid use for COVID-19 was present in 125 patients; 47% were administered at home without monitoring plasma glucose. The common presenting features were toothache, periocular or facial pain, and edema. Rhino-orbital mucormycosis was the most common. Imaging revealed rhinosinusitis in all patients, including pansinusitis (68%), pterygopalatine fossa involvement (21%), cavernous sinus thrombosis (38%), brain abscess (8%), and infarct (4%). All patients received intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, and surgical debridement was performed in 113. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with hyperglycemia are at risk of developing CAM, irrespective of the severity. Timely recognition of symptoms and prompt initiation of therapy by primary healthcare physicians are imperative for enhancing outcomes. Additionally, glucocorticoid overuse should be avoided, and close monitoring for hyperglycemia development is warranted.

Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Combination Therapy of Dapagliflozin and Linagliptin Over Dapagliflozin and Vildagliptin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Inadequately Controlled With Metformin.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients commonly undergo metformin monotherapy. This study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of combination therapy of dapagliflozin plus linagliptin versus dapagliflozin plus vildagliptin as add-on therapy in T2DM patients inadequately controlled on metformin. Methodology This was an 18-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group, phase III clinical study. About 236 participants were randomly assigned to receive either a fixed-dose combination of dapagliflozin 10 mg plus linagliptin 5 mg tablets or a fixed-dose combination of dapagliflozin 10 mg plus vildagliptin SR 100 mg tablets added to metformin monotherapy. The primary outcome was the mean change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline to the end of week 16. The key secondary endpoints were mean change in postprandial blood glucose (PPBG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, and the proportion of participants achieving HbA1c less than 7.0%. Results The dapagliflozin/linagliptin combination therapy showed a more significant change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of 16 weeks (mean reduction: -1.59% vs. -1.25%) compared to dapagliflozin/vildagliptin (p < 0.0001). Additionally, compared to the dapagliflozin/vildagliptin group, the dapagliflozin/linagliptin group demonstrated a significant reduction in both PPBG (mean reduction: -59.99 mg/dL vs. -55.34 mg/dL) and FPG (mean reduction: -32.91 mg/dL vs. -26.78 mg/dL). A total of 18 adverse events were reported in 17 (7.20%) participants, all of which were mild and resolved completely. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions Compared to dapagliflozin and vildagliptin combination therapy, dapagliflozin and linagliptin fixed-dose combination provided clinically significant improvements in glycemic control. Because of its effectiveness, safety, and tolerability, the fixed-dose combination of dapagliflozin and linagliptin was a better option for treating T2DM patients who had previously only received metformin monotherapy.

System of wheat intensification (SWI): Effects on lodging resistance, photosynthetic efficiency, soil biomes, and water productivity.

Intense cultivation with narrow row spacing in wheat, a common practice in the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia, renders the crop more susceptible to lodging during physiological maturity. This susceptibility, compounded by the use of traditional crop cultivars, has led to a substantial decline in overall crop productivity. In response to these challenges, a two-year field study on the system of wheat intensification (SWI) was conducted. The study involved three different cultivation methods in horizontal plots and four wheat genotypes in vertical plots, organized in a strip plot design. Our results exhibited that adoption of SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm resulted in significantly higher intercellular CO2 concentration (5.9-6.3%), transpiration rate (13.2-15.8%), stomatal conductance (55-59%), net photosynthetic rate (126-160%), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception (1.6-25.2%) over the existing conventional method (plant geometry 22.5 cm × continuous plant to plant spacing) of wheat cultivation. The lodging resistance capacity of both the lower and upper 3rd nodes was significantly higher in the SWI compared to other cultivation methods. Among different genotypes, HD 2967 demonstrated the highest recorded value for lodging resistance capacity, followed by HD 2851, HD 3086, and HD 2894. In addition, adoption of the SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm enhanced crop grain yield by 36.9-41.6%, and biological yield by 27.5-29.8%. Significantly higher soil dehydrogenase activity (12.06 µg TPF g-1 soil hr-1), arylsulfatase activity (82.8 µg p-nitro phenol g-1 soil hr-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (3.11 n moles ethylene g-1 soil hr-1), total polysaccharides, soil microbial biomass carbon, and soil chlorophyll content were also noted under SWI over conventional method of the production. Further, increased root volumes, surface root density and higher NPK uptake were recorded under SWI at 20×20 cm in comparison to rest of the treatments. Among the tested wheat genotypes, HD-2967 and HD-3086 had demonstrated notable increases in grain and biological yields, as well as improvements in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and chlorophyll content. Therefore, adoption of SWI at 20 cm ×20 cm (square planting) with cultivars HD 2967 might be the best strategy for enhancing crop productivity and resource-use efficiency under the similar wheat growing conditions of India and similar agro-ecotypes of the globe.

C-peptide Level in Patients With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Oral Anti-diabetic Drugs.

BACKGROUND: In the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus, ß-cell dysfunction occurs after insulin resistance. Despite poor glycaemic control, there is a practice of increasing the dose of oral anti-diabetics or adding more drugs to the regimen due to the common perception that low endogenous insulin secretion is related to type 1 diabetes mellitus only and patient's poor compliance to injectables. Keeping this perspective in mind, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of beta cell dysfunction by low serum C-peptide levels and its correlation with poor glycaemic control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 134 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for more than 10 years on oral anti-diabetic drugs fulfilling our eligibility criteria were enrolled in our study. Blood samples for fasting blood sugar and fasting C-peptide level were taken before breakfast and uptake of anti-diabetic drugs. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between fasting C-peptide and glycaemic control with respect to glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). RESULTS: Of the patients, 19.40% had insufficient beta cell reserve serum levels (C-peptide < 0.5 ng/ml), of which most of the patients (14/26 = 53.85%) had poor glycaemic control (HbA1c < 8.0%). Overall, there was a significant correlation between poor glycaemic control with respect to HbA1c and low serum C-peptide levels (p < 0.05). We found a significant association of beta cell dysfunction (low fasting C-peptide level) with the use of insulin secretagogue. The proportion of patients with C-peptide levels less than 0.5 ng/ml was lower in patients using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors as compared to insulin secretagogue. CONCLUSION: SGLT-2 inhibitors should be preferred over other anti-diabetic drugs as an add-on to existing metformin therapy. Insulin requirement must be assessed in patients who have long-term type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The first molecular characterization of Sarcocystis cameli in the Indian dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

In the present study, tissue samples (tongue, esophagus and heart) were investigated from dromedary camels of India for identification and characterization of Sarcocystis spp. using histopathology, PCR and gene sequencing. Genomic DNA extracted from these tissue samples was used for PCR amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) of Sarcocystis spp. and the partial sequence of small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene of the S. cameli. The PCR products were purified, sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics tools. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the cox1 gene, the sequences of the present study clustered with those of S. cameli, hosted by dromedary camels of Iraq and a close association was observed with S. masoni hosted by dogs and alpacas of China. Until now, there are no 18S rRNA sequences of S. cameli available in GenBank and this is the first study recording 18S rRNA sequences of S. cameli which were grouped with S. masoni from alpaca of China and guanaco and llama of Argentina in phylogenetic analysis. These findings could be useful for further studies on the characterization through molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity and host specificity of S. cameli.

Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene polymorphism and its association with somatic cell score and milk production traits in Indian dromedary camels.

Our study aimed to explore the genetic variation in the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene and establish its association with somatic cell score (SCS) and milk production traits in four Indian camel breeds namely Bikaneri, Kachchhi, Jaisalmeri and Mewari. TLR4 gene fragment of 573 bp spanning 5' UTR, exon-1 and partial intron-1 region was amplified and genotyped using the PCR-sequence based typing method. Only one SNP located at position C472T was identified. Genotyping revealed two alleles (C and T) and three genotypes: CC, CT and TT. The genotype frequencies for CC, CT and TT were 0.116, 0.326 and 0.558 and allele frequencies for C and T alleles were 0.279 and 0.721, respectively. Association study inferred that the effect of genotype on SCS, lactation yield (LY) and peak yield (PY) was non-significant however heterozygote (CT) genotypes recorded lower SCS and higher LY and PY. It can be concluded that the TLR4 gene possesses limited genetic variation, depicting polymorphism at a single locus in Indian camel breeds with a predominance of the TT genotype. The association study indicated that heterozygote animals possess better udder health and production performance, the statistical significance of which needs to be established using a large data set.

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor induced neurobehavioral toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is a widely used organic UV filter in personal care products. Extensive use of 4-MBC and its frequent detection in aquatic ecosystems defile the biota with muscular and neuronal impairments. This study investigates the neurobehavioral toxicity of 4-MBC using Danio rerio as a model organism. Embryos were exposed semi-statically to 4-MBC at 5, 50, and 500 µg/L concentrations for 10-day post fertilization (dpf). Embryos exhibited a significant thigmotaxis and decreased startle touch response with altered expression of nervous system mRNA transcripts on 5 & 10 dpf. Compared to the sham-exposed group, 4-MBC treated larvae exhibited changes in the expression of shha, ngn1, mbp, elavl3, α1-tubulin, syn2a, and gap43 genes. Since ngn1 induction is mediated by shh signaling during sensory neuron specification, the elevated protein expression of NGN1 indicates 4-MBC interference in the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. This leads to sensory neuron impairment and function such as 'sense' as evident from reduced touch response. In addition, larval brain histology with a reduced number of cells in the Purkinje layer emblazing the defunct motor coordination. Predictive toxicity study also showed a higher affinity of 4-MBC to modeled Shh protein. Thus, the findings of the present work highlighted that 4-MBC is potential to induce developmental neurotoxicity at both behavioral and molecular functional perspectives, and developing D. rerio larvae could be considered as a suitable alternate animal model to assess the neurological dysfunction of organic UV filters.

Construction and biological characterization of a cDNA infectious clone of wheat umbra-like virus in wheat and Nicotiana benthamiana.

Umbravirus-like associated RNAs (ulaRNAs) are a new group of subviral RNAs associated with plants. Little is known about the biology of ulaRNAs. We recently reported wheat umbra-like virus (WULV) from Kansas fields. In this work, we generated a full-length cDNA clone of WULV which systemically infected N. benthamiana. While agroinfiltrated leaves demonstrated severe necrosis, upper leaves were symptomless. We also showed that WULV is capable of infecting wheat in the absence of a helper virus. Furthermore, and through sap inoculation, we demonstrated that WULV is transmissible in the form of free RNA. This is the first report of a mechanically transmissible ulaRNA. Together, these findings contribute to advancing our knowledge of the biology of WULV. Moreover, the construction of the WULV infectious clone provides a valuable research tool for further investigations including the role of WULV in symptom development in interaction with other wheat viruses.

Encapsulated nanopesticides application in plant protection: Quo vadis?

The increased global food insecurity due to the growing population can be addressed with precision and sustainable agricultural practices. To tackle the issues regarding food insecurity, farmers used different agrochemicals that improved plant growth and protection. Among these agrochemicals, synthetic pesticides used for plant protection in the agricultural field have various disadvantages. Conventional applications of synthetic pesticides have drawbacks such as rapid degradation, poor solubility, and non-target effects, as well as increased pesticide runoff that pollutes the environment. Nanotechnology has evolved as a potential solution to increase agricultural productivity through the development of different nanoforms of agrochemicals such as nanopesticides, nano-fabricated fertilizers, nanocapsules, nanospheres, nanogels, nanofibers, nanomicelles, and nano-based growth promoters. Encapsulation of these pesticides inside the nanomaterials has provided good biocompatibility over conventional application by inhibiting the early degradation of active ingredients (AI), increasing the uptake and adhesion of pesticides, improving the stability, solubility, and permeability of the pesticides, and decreasing the environmental impacts due to the pesticide runoff. In this review, different nanoforms of encapsulated pesticides and their smart delivery systems; nanocarriers in RNA interference (RNAi) based pesticides; environmental fate, practical implications, management of nanopesticides; and future perspectives are discussed.

Efficacy of Artificial Oocyte Activation in Improving the Reproductive Outcome in Poor Responders: A Single Centre Cohort Study.

Objective: Achieving pregnancy in poor ovarian response patients is a challenge. Failed fertilization after ICSI, despite normal semen parameters is due to defects in oocyte activation. In-vitro activation of oocytes using Ca+2 agents can be useful in increasing the fertilization rates in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of artificial oocyte activation by calcium ionophores in poor responders in improving fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Materials and methods: This is a prospective, cohort study conducted on 120 patients having poor ovarian response, (POSEIDON criteria) undergoing in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) treatment at Southend Fertility and IVF, New Delhi from 1st August 2019 to 31st March 2020. Exclusion criterion was patients with partners with abnormal semen parameters. After OPU patients were randomized into two groups, study group (n=50) underwent ICSI-AOA (ICSI followed by artificial oocyte activation) using calcium ionophore- GM508 Cult-Active Solution) while the controls (n=57) were subjected to ICSI only. Results: Comparison of ICSI-AOA and ICSI groups showed: (i) number of fertilized oocytes - 2.42 vs. 2.16, p = 0.049 (ii) No. of cleavage stage embryos 2.32 vs. 1.96, p = 0.008 (iii) No. of grade A embryos 1.52 vs. 1.04, p = 0.009 (iv) fertilization rate - 89.00% vs. 83.04%, p = 0.093 (v) cleavage rate - 96.33% vs. 92.55%, p = 0.165 (vi) implantation rate - 27.14% vs. 11.74%, p = 0.098 (vii) clinical pregnancy rate - 34.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.167. Conclusion: The number of fertilized oocytes, grade A embryos and cleavage stage embryos formed after ICSI-AOA were statistically significantly more than ICSI. ICSI-AOA has not shown improvement in fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rate. From the present study the conclusive evidence cannot be drawn due to small sample size hence further studies are needed on a larger population.

Ameliorative effects of Si-SNP synergy to mitigate chromium induced stress in Brassica juncea.

Hyperaccumulation of heavy metal in agricultural land has hampered yield of important crops globally. It has consequently deepened concerns regarding the burning issue of food security in the world. Among heavy metals, Chromium (Cr) is not needed for plant growth and found to pose detrimental effects on plants. Present study highlights the role of exogenous application of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, exogenous donor of NO) and silicon (Si) in alleviating detrimental ramification of Cr toxicity in Brassica juncea. The exposure of B. juncea to Cr (100 µM) under hydroponic system hampered the morphological parameters of plant growth like length and biomass and physiological parameters like carotenoid and chlorophyll contents. It also resulted in oxidative stress by disrupting the equilibrium between ROS production and antioxidant quenching leading to accumulation of ROS such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2•‾) radicle which causes lipid peroxidation. However, application of Si and SNP both individually and in combination counteracted oxidative stress due to Cr by regulating ROS accumulation and enhancing antioxidant metabolism by upregulation of antioxidant genes of DHAR, MDHAR, APX and GR. As the alleviatory effects were more pronounced in plants treated with combined application of Si and SNP; therefore, our findings suggest that dual application of these two alleviators can be used to mitigate Cr stress.

Nanoencapsulation of Docetaxel Induces Concurrent Apoptosis and Necroptosis in Human Oral Cancer Cells (SCC-9) via TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3 Pathway.

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most frequent malignant cancer, with an unacceptably high death rate that affects people's health. Albeit, there are several clinical approaches for diagnosing and treating oral cancer they are still far from ideal. We previously synthesised and characterised the docetaxel nanoformulation (PLGA-Dtx) and discovered that docetaxel nanoencapsulation may suppress oral cancer cells. The goal of this study was to figure out the mechanism involved in the suppression of oral cancer cell proliferation. We discovered that PLGA-Dtx inhibited SCC-9 cell growth considerably as compared to free docetaxel (Dtx), and that the viability of SCC-9 cells treated with PLGA-Dtx was decreased dose-dependently. MTT assay showed that PLGA-Dtx selectively inhibited the growth of PBMCs from oral cancer patients while sparing PBMCs from normal healthy controls. Further, flow cytometry analysis showed that PLGA-Dtx induced apoptosis and necroptosis in SCC-9 cells. G2/M cell cycle arrest has been confirmed on exposure of PLGA-Dtx for 24 h in SCC-9 cells. Interestingly, western blot investigation found that PLGA-Dtx increased the amounts of necroptic proteins and apoptosis-related proteins more efficiently than Dtx. Furthermore, PLGA-Dtx was more effective in terms of ROS generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential depletion. Pretreatment with necroptosis inhibitor Nec-1 efficiently reversed the ROS production and further recover MMP caused by PLGA-Dtx. Overall, this study revealed a mechanistic model of therapeutic response for PLGA-Dtx in SCC-9 cells and proposed its potency by inducing cell death via activation of concurrent apoptosis and necroptosis in SCC-9 cells via TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3 and caspase-dependent pathway.

Surface modification of biodegradable Mg alloy by adapting µEDM capabilities with cryogenically-treated tool electrodes.

Biomaterials are engineered to develop an interaction with living cells for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. The last decade reported a tremendously rising shift in the requirement for miniaturized biomedical implants exhibiting high precision and comprising various biomaterials such as non-biodegradable titanium (Ti) alloys and biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloys. The excellent mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics of Mg AZ91D alloy make it an emerging material for biomedical applications. In this regard, micro-electric discharge machining (µEDM) is an excellent method that can be used to make micro-components with high dimensional accuracy. In the present research, attempts were made to improve the µEDM capabilities by using cryogenically-treated copper (CTCTE) and brass tool electrodes (CTBTE) amid machining of biodegradable Mg AZ91D alloy, followed by their comparison with a pair of untreated copper (UCTE) and brass tool electrodes (UBTE) in terms of minimum machining-time and dimensional-irregularity. To investigate the possible modification on the surfaces achieved with minimum machining-time and dimensional-irregularity, the morphology, chemistry, micro-hardness, corrosion resistance, topography, and wettability of these surfaces were further examined. The surface produced by CTCTE exhibited the minimum surface micro-cracks and craters, acceptable recast layer thickness (2.6 µm), 17.45% improved micro-hardness, satisfactory corrosion resistance, adequate surface roughness (Ra: 1.08 µm), and suitable hydrophobic behavior (contact angle: 119°), confirming improved biodegradation rate. Additionally, a comparative analysis among the tool electrodes revealed that cryogenically-treated tool electrodes outperformed the untreated ones. CTCTE-induced modification on the Mg AZ91D alloy surface suggests its suitability in biodegradable medical implant applications.

Engineering aphid transmission of foxtail mosaic virus in the presence of potyvirus helper component proteinase through coat protein modifications.

Biotechnologies that use plant viruses as plant enhancement tools have shown great potential to flexibly engineer crop traits, but field applications of these technologies are still limited by efficient dissemination methods. Potyviruses can be rapidly inoculated into plants by aphid vectors due to the presence of the potyviral helper component proteinase (HC-Pro), which binds to the DAG motif of the coat protein (CP) of the virion. Previously it was determined that a naturally occurring DAG motif in the non-aphid-transmissible potexvirus, potato aucuba mosaic virus (PAMV), is functional when a potyviral HC-Pro is provided to aphids in plants. The DAG motif of PAMV was successfully transferred to the CP of another non-aphid-transmissible potexvirus, potato virus X, to convey aphid transmission capabilities in the presence of HC-Pro. Here, we demonstrate that DAG-containing segments of the CP from two different potyviruses (sugarcane mosaic virus and turnip mosaic virus), and from the previously used potexvirus, PAMV, can make the potexvirus, foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV), aphid-transmissible when fused with the FoMV CP. We show that DAG-containing FoMVs are transmissible by aphids that have prior access to HC-Pro through potyvirus-infected plants or ectopic expression of HC-Pro. The transmission efficiency of the DAG-containing FoMVs varied from less than 10 % to over 70 % depending on the length and composition of the surrounding amino acid sequences of the DAG-containing segment, as well as due to the recipient plant species. Finally, we show that the engineered aphid-transmissible FoMV is still functional as a plant enhancement resource, as endogenous host target genes were silenced in FoMV-infected plants after aphid transmission. These results suggest that aphid transmission could be engineered into non-aphid-transmissible plant enhancement viral resources to facilitate their field applications.

Recovery from virus infection: plant's armory in action.

MAIN CONCLUSION: This review focuses on different factors involved in promoting symptom recovery in plants post-virus infection such as epigenetics, transcriptional reprogramming, phytohormones with an emphasis on RNA silencing as well as role of abiotic factors such as temperature on symptom recovery. Plants utilize several different strategies to defend themselves in the battle against invading viruses. Most of the viral proteins interact with plant proteins and interfere with molecular dynamics in a cell which eventually results in symptom development. This initial symptom development is countered by the plant utilizing various factors including the plant's adaptive immunity to develop a virus tolerant state. Infected plants can specifically target and impede the transcription of viral genes as well as degrade the viral transcripts to restrict their proliferation by the production of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) generated from the viral nucleic acid, known as virus-derived siRNA (vsiRNA). To further escalate the degradation of viral nucleic acid, secondary siRNAs are generated. The production of virus-activated siRNA (vasiRNA) from the host genome causes differential regulation of the host transcriptome which plays a major role in establishing a virus tolerant state within the infected plant. The systemic action of vsiRNAs, vasiRNA, and secondary siRNAs with the help of defense hormones like salicylic acid can curb viral proliferation, and thus the newly emerged leaves develop fewer symptoms, maintaining a state of tolerance.

Oxido-Molybdenum(V) Corroles as Robust Catalysts for Oxidative Bromination and Selective Epoxidation Reactions in Aqueous Media under Mild Conditions.

Two new meso-substituted oxido-molybdenum corroles were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. In the thermogram, MoO[TTC] (1) exhibited excellent thermal stability up to 491 °C while MoO[TNPC] (2) exhibited good stability up to 318 °C. The oxidation states of the molybdenum(V) were verified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and exhibited an axial compression with dxy1 configuration. Oxido-molybdenum(V) complexes were utilized for the selective epoxidation of various olefins with high TOF values (2066-3287 h-1) in good yields in a CH3CN/H2O (3:2, v/v) mixture in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant and NaHCO3 as a promoter. The oxidative bromination catalytic activity of oxido-molybdenum(V) complexes in an aqueous medium has been reported for the first time. Surprisingly, MoO[TNPC] (2) biomimics of the vanadium bromoperoxidase (VBPO) enzyme activity exhibited remarkably high TOF values (36 988-61 646 h-1) for the selective oxidative bromination of p-cresol and other phenol derivatives. Catalyst MoO[TNPC] (2) exhibited higher TOF values and better catalytic activity than catalyst MoO[TTC] (1) due to the presence of electron-withdrawing nitro groups evident from cyclic voltammetric studies.

Vasoactive-ventilation-renal score and outcomes in infants and children after cardiac surgery.

Introduction: There is a need to index important clinical characteristics in pediatric cardiac surgery that can be obtained early in the postoperative period and accurately predict postoperative outcomes. Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the pediatric cardiac ICU and ward on all children aged <18 years undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease from September 2018 to October 2020. The vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) score was analyzed to predict outcomes of cardiac surgeries with a comparison of postoperative variables. Results: A total of 199 children underwent cardiac surgery during the study period. The median (interquartile range) age was 2 (0.8-5) years, and the median weight was 9.3 (6-16) kg. The most common diagnoses were ventricular septal defect (46.2%) and tetralogy of Fallot (37.2%). At the 48th h, area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI) values were higher for the VVR score than those for other clinical scores measured. Similarly, at the 48th h, AUC (95% CI) values were higher for the VVR score than those for the other clinical scores measured for the length of stay and mechanical ventilation. Discussion: The VVR score at 48 h postoperation was found to best correlate with prolonged pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay, length of hospitalization, and ventilation duration, with the greatest AUC-receiver operating characteristic (0.715, 0.723, and 0.843, respectively). The 48-h VVR score correlates well with prolonged ICU, hospital stay, and ventilation.