Co-existence of chlorosis inducing strain of Cucumber mosaic virus with tospoviruses on hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) in India.

Cucumo- and tospoviruses are the most destructive viruses infecting hot pepper (chilli). A diagnostic survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of cucumo and tospoviruses in chilli growing tracts of Tamil Nadu. Infected plants showing mosaic with chlorotic and necrotic rings, veinal necrosis, mosaic mottling, leaf filiformity and malformation were collected. Molecular indexing carried out through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with coat protein gene specific primer of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tospovirus degenerate primer corresponding to the L segment (RdRp). Ostensibly, amplifications were observed for both CMV and tospoviruses as sole as well for mixed infections. The sequence analysis indicated that the Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) and Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) to be involved with CMV in causing combined infections. The co-infection of CMV with CaCV was detected in 10.41% of the symptomatic plant samples and combined infection of CMV with GBNV was recorded in around 6.25% of the symptomatic plants surveyed. The amino acid substitution of Ser129 over conserved Pro129 in coat protein of CMV implies that CMV strain involved in mixed infection as chlorosis inducing strain. Further, the electron microscopy of symptomatic plant samples explicated the presence of isometric particles of CMV and quasi spherical particles of tospoviruses. This is the first molecular evidence for the natural co-existence of chlorosis inducing CMV strain with CaCV and GBNV on hot pepper in India.

Zinc protoporphyrin and percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes as markers of functional iron deficiency during therapy with erythropoietin in patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We assessed zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) and the percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes in patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treated with recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO). METHODS: Patients received 150 IU rhEPO subcutaneously every second day for 10 days, and 150 IU rhEPO plus 62.5 mg of intravenous iron every second day for an additional 10 days. RESULTS: Before rhEPO therapy, ZPP was at 64.3 +/- 27.3 micromol/mol heme and the percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes was elevated at 9.7%, indicating mild functional iron deficiency. Ferritin was 1,002 +/- 956 microg/L, with transferrin saturation of 19.1 +/- 9.7%. Under rhEPO alone, ZPP rose to 80.1 +/- 21.6 micromol/mol heme and the percentage of hypochromic red cells rose to 22.9 +/- 4.7%; ferritin fell to 705 +/- 601 microg/L and transferrin saturation fell to 12 +/- 6.3%. When rhEPO was supplemented with iron, ZPP fell to 70.4 +/- 20.5 micromol/mol heme, the percentage of hypochromic red cells fell to 14.7 +/- 3.4%; ferritin was unchanged at 771 +/- 62 microg/L and transferrin saturation rose to 20.5 +/- 5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to ferritin and transferrin saturation, ZPP and the percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes effectively detect the functional iron deficiency under rhEPO therapy in advanced AIDS.