Targeted re-sequencing and genome-wide association analysis for wood property traits in breeding population of Eucalyptus tereticornis × E. grandis.

Globally, Eucalyptus plantations occupy 22 million ha area and is one of the preferred hardwood species due to their short rotation, rapid growth, adaptability and wood properties. In this study, we present results of GWAS in parents and 100 hybrids of Eucalyptus tereticornis × E. grandis using 762 genes presumably involved in wood formation. Comparative analysis between parents predicted 32,202 polymorphic SNPs with high average read depth of 269-562× per individual per nucleotide. Seventeen wood related traits were phenotyped across three diverse environments and GWAS was conducted using 13,610 SNPs. A total of 45 SNP-trait associations were predicted across two locations. Seven large effect markers were identified which explained more than 80% of phenotypic variation for fibre area. This study has provided an array of candidate genes which may govern fibre morphology in this genus and has predicted potential SNPs which can guide future breeding programs in tropical Eucalyptus.

Quantitative genetic analysis of wood property traits in biparental population of Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. tereticornis.

Eucalyptus breeding programme mainly aims at increasing productivity associated with wood property traits which are suitable for different end uses. The principal challenge in this endeavor is to combine productivity with industrially relevant wood traits. In the present study, 23 hybrid clones derived from a biparental mapping population of Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. tereticornis was assessed for six wood property traits across two sites in Tamil Nadu, India. The mean of most of the traits evaluated was consistently higher in Muthupettai, indicating significant site effect. Combined and location-wise analysis indicated additive genetic control of assessed traits. The stability of acoustic velocity in study sites, negligible G × E interaction and significant correlation with dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMoE) implies its use in selecting trees/logs for solid wood properties. Combined analysis of locations revealed low to moderate heritability (0.294-0.439) for all the traits with H2 being highest for cellulose per cent (0.439) followed by acoustic velocity (0.416). Genetic advance was calculated and was the highest for diameter (10.47%) followed by DMoE (9.19%). The two major chemical constituents of wood, namely total lignin and cellulose per cent showed 7.13% and 7.53% advancement in the hybrids. The out-performance of several hybrid clones when compared to the parents for different wood traits reiterates the use of Eucalyptus hybrids in plantation programmes to improve quality of raw material suitable for industrial application.

Designing peptide-based vaccine candidates for Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte binding antigen 175.

Plasmodium falciparum leads to a virulent form of malaria. Progress has been achieved in understanding the mechanisms involved in the malarial infection, still there is no effective vaccine to prevent severe infection. An effective vaccine against malaria should be one which can induce immune responses against multiple epitopes in the context of predominantly occurring HLA alleles. In this study, an integrated approach was employed to identify promiscuous peptides of a well-defined sequence of erythrocyte binding antigen-175 and promiscuous peptides for HLA alleles were designed using bioinformatics tools. A peptide with 15 amino acids (ILAIAIYESRILKRK) was selected based on its high binding affinity score and synthesized. This promiscuous peptide was used as stimulating antigen in lymphoproliferative responses to evaluate the cellular immune response. It was observed this peptide evokes lymphoproliferative and cytokine responses in individuals naturally exposed to the malaria parasite. The intensity of PBMCs proliferation was observed to be higher in sera obtained from P. falciparum exposed as compared to unexposed healthy individuals, suggesting earlier recognition of peptide of this region by T cells. Furthermore, the binding mode of HLA-peptide complex and their interaction may lead to a rational and selective peptide-based vaccine candidate design approach which can be used as a malaria prophylaxis.

An immunoinformatics approach to promiscuous peptide design for the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1.

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (Pfemp-1), a variant adhesion molecule, can act as a key component of immunity against malaria. In the current selection of malaria vaccines, no efficient vaccines are available that can be employed for its proper treatment. Unfortunately, resistance to post-infection treatments is increasing and therefore there is a pressing need to develop an efficient vaccine. Peptide-based vaccines can be effective tools against malaria but HLA restriction is a major hindrance which can be conquered by using promiscuous peptides. In this work, we employed a combined in silico and experimental approach to identify promiscuous peptides for the treatment of malaria. At first, using the immunoinformatics approach, promiscuous peptides were predicted from two conserved domains, CIDR-1 and DBL-3γ, of the Pfemp-1 antigen. These peptides were selected on the basis of their predicted binding affinity with different HLA class-I & class-II alleles. A total of 13 peptides were selected based on their predicted IFN-γ and IL-4 induction ability as well as their hydrophobicity. Out of these 13, the peptide C6 was synthesised and experimentally evaluated for further rationalization, HLA-peptide complex modelling and binding interaction analysis. Interestingly, the peptide C6 (SFIHIYLYRNIRIQL) showed an encouraging immunological response and T-cell proliferation in the immunological assay. This valuable content can aid the better design of more potent and selective vaccine candidates against infectious diseases.

Wheat cultivars differing in heat tolerance show a differential response to oxidative stress during monocarpic senescence under high temperature stress.

Wheat crop may experience heat stress during post-anthesis phase associated with oxidative stress, enhanced senescence, and reduced productivity. Stay green is a desirable character for the selection for heat tolerance in wheat. In the present study, antioxidant metabolism was studied under post-anthesis heat stress in field during monocarpic senescence by comparing two wheat genotypes, namely Hindi62 (heat tolerant and delayed senescent) and PBW343 (heat susceptible and early senescent). Hindi62 exhibited lesser oxidative stress, membrane damage, and coordinated antioxidant defense as compared to PBW343 under heat stress during post-anthesis stage. Higher activity of SOD, CAT, APX, GR, and MDHAR under heat stress contributed towards delayed senescence in Hindi62 compared to PBW343. GSH/GSSG ratio was also maintained at higher level in Hindi62 under heat stress compared to PBW343 during senescence. Hence, the present study clearly shows that upregulated level of the total antioxidant capacity during grain development contributed towards delayed senescence and heat tolerance in Hindi62 compared to the heat-susceptible PBW343.