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Neurology India Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Congenital Hypothyroidism; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38817186
DOI: 10.4103/neurol-india.Neurol-India-D-24-00195 -
Plant Disease May 2024Pepper ( L.) is a popular vegetable and condiment consumed around the world. In the Guizhou Province of China, peppers are the most commonly grown crop on 300,000...
Pepper ( L.) is a popular vegetable and condiment consumed around the world. In the Guizhou Province of China, peppers are the most commonly grown crop on 300,000 planted hectares. A variety of diseases routinely occur on peppers in this province, resulting in yield losses (Liu et al., 2022). Root rot is one of the most common symptoms and produces poor root growth and wilting of pepper. In April 2023, symptomatic pepper plants displaying stunting, dwarfism, wilting, and root browning were collected from five fields in Guizhou, with disease incidence ranging from 10% to 20%. The collected rotten roots were cleaned with sterilize distilled water and placed in selective V8 juice agar (V8A) medium (15% clarified V8 juice with 2.5 g/L CaCO and 2% agar) containing nystatin, ampicillin, rifampicin, and miconazole, and incubated at 25℃ for 1 to 2 days (Morita and Tojo, 2007). Eight isolates with similar colony morphology were transferred to V8A medium via hyphal tipping, and incubated at 25℃ in the dark. Colony and sexual structures were observed using a microscope. Mycelium was aseptate and formed white cottony colonies. Globose, intercalary, or terminal hyphal swellings were observed with a diameter of 20.5 to 25 µm (average: 22 µm), and aplerotic oospores had a diameter of 15 to 20 µm (average: 17.5 µm) with a wall thickness of approximately 2 µm. Three representative isolates HSLJ-3, LJG-1, and LJY-2 were chosen for further molecular identification. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 () genes were identified using primer sets ITS4/ITS5 (White et al., 1990) and OomCoxI-Levup/OomCoxI-Levlo (Robideau et al., 2011), respectively. All sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession nos. OR554005, PP083310, and PP083420 for ITS, and OR529247, PP093821 and PP093822 for ). BLAST analysis revealed all ITS and sequences exhibited 100% identity with () isolate BR850 (GenBank accession nos. HQ643892.1 and HQ708933.1 for ITS and , respectively). Phylogenetic analysis was performed by the maximum-likelihood method on the CIPRES web portal (https://www.phylo.org/portal2/login!input.action, accessed on 9 January 2024). For pathogenicity tests, each isolate was cultured in V8A medium containing 50 autoclaved wheat seeds at 25℃ for 7 days. Budding pepper seedling (cv. Huaxi) was transplanted into a 0.4 L pot containing sterilized commercial potting mix (Seedling Cultivation Substrate, Hunan Xianghui Agricultural E-commerce Co., Ltd.) which was saturated with deionized water. Eight infected and non-infected wheat seeds were placed near the roots of five pepper seedlings, respectively. Plants were placed in an artificial climate chamber, with a 14 h photoperiod and approximately 75% relative humidity at 25℃. After 14 days, inoculated seedlings showed symptoms of stunting, wilting, and rotting roots similar to those observed in the field. No disease was observed on the non-inoculated control plants. The pathogen was isolated from infected pepper roots and confirmed as by morphological and molecular analyses as previously described. This is the first report of causing root rot on pepper in Guizhou, China. This finding is critical to the discover of treatment options for this pathogen, thereby improving management practices to reduce yield losses in pepper.
PubMed: 38812366
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0127-PDN -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics May 2024In this study, we used targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the genetic basis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a 19-year-old Tunisian man who...
BACKGROUND
In this study, we used targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the genetic basis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a 19-year-old Tunisian man who presented with severe hypothyroidism and goiter.
CASE PRESENTATION
The propositus reported the appearance of goiter when he was 18. Importantly, he did not show signs of mental retardation, and his growth was proportionate. A partial organification defect was detected through the perchlorate-induced iodide discharge test. NGS identified a novel homozygous mutation in exon 18 of the SLC26A7 gene (P628Qfs*11), which encodes for a new iodide transporter. This variant is predicted to result in a truncated protein. Notably, the patient's euthyroid brother was heterozygous for the same mutation. No renal acid-base abnormalities were found and the administration of 1 mg of iodine failed to correct hypothyroidism.
CONCLUSIONS
We described the first case of goitrous CH due to a homozygous mutation of the SLC26A7 gene diagnosed during late adolescence.
Topics: Humans; Male; Antiporters; Congenital Hypothyroidism; Goiter; Homozygote; Mutation; Sulfate Transporters; Adolescent
PubMed: 38812002
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01672-3 -
ISME Communications Jan 2024Plants host a large array of commensal bacteria that interact with the host. The growth of both bacteria and plants is often dependent on nutrients derived from the...
Plants host a large array of commensal bacteria that interact with the host. The growth of both bacteria and plants is often dependent on nutrients derived from the cognate partners, and the bacteria fine-tune host immunity against pathogens. This ancient interaction is common in all studied land plants and is critical for proper plant health and development. We hypothesized that the spatial vicinity and the long-term relationships between plants and their microbiota may promote cross-kingdom horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a phenomenon that is relatively rare in nature. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the genome and its extensively sequenced microbiome to detect events of horizontal transfer of full-length genes that transferred between plants and bacteria. Interestingly, we detected 75 unique genes that were horizontally transferred between plants and bacteria. Plants and bacteria exchange in both directions genes that are enriched in carbohydrate metabolism functions, and bacteria transferred to plants genes that are enriched in auxin biosynthesis genes. Next, we provided a proof of concept for the functional similarity between a horizontally transferred bacterial gene and its Arabidopsis homologue . The Arabidopsis gene is essential for biosynthesis of the brassinosteroid phytohormones, and loss of function of the gene leads to dwarfism. We found that expression of the homologue from bacteria of the Actinobacteria phylum in the background complements the mutant and leads to normal plant growth. Together, these data suggest that cross-kingdom HGT events shape the metabolic capabilities and interactions between plants and bacteria.
PubMed: 38808121
DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae073 -
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics &... May 2024We present perinatal imaging findings of a fetus with Pfeiffer syndrome and a heterozygous c.1019A>G, p.Tyr340Cys (Y340C) mutation in FGFR2 presenting a cloverleaf...
Perinatal imaging findings of a fetus with Pfeiffer syndrome and a heterozygous c.1019A>G, p.Tyr340Cys (Y340C) mutation in FGFR2 presenting a cloverleaf skull, craniosynostosis and short limbs on prenatal ultrasound mimicking thanatophoric dysplasia type II.
OBJECTIVE
We present perinatal imaging findings of a fetus with Pfeiffer syndrome and a heterozygous c.1019A>G, p.Tyr340Cys (Y340C) mutation in FGFR2 presenting a cloverleaf skull, craniosynostosis and short limbs on prenatal ultrasound mimicking thanatophoric dysplasia type II (TD2).
CASE REPORT
A 37-year-old, gravida 2, para 1, woman underwent amniocentesis at 17 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XY. However, craniofacial anomaly was found on prenatal ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation, which showed a cloverleaf skull with severe craniosynostosis and relatively short straight long bones. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis at 22 weeks of gestation showed a cloverleaf skull, proptosis and relatively shallowing of the sylvian fissures. Prenatal ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation showed a fetus with a cloverleaf skull with a biparietal diameter (BPD) of 6.16 cm (equivalent to 24 weeks), an abdominal circumference (AC) of 18.89 cm (equivalent to 24 weeks) and a femur length (FL) of 3.65 cm (equivalent to 21 weeks). A tentative diagnosis of TD2 was made. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a 928-g malformed fetus was delivered with severe craniosynostosis, proptosis, midface retrusion, a cloverleaf skull, broad thumbs and broad big toes. The broad thumbs were medially deviated. Whole body X-ray showed a cloverleaf skull and straight long bones. However, molecular analysis of FGFR3 on the fetus revealed no mutation in the target regions. Subsequent whole exome sequencing (WES) on the DNA extracted from umbilical cord revealed a heterozygous c.1019A>G, p.Tyr340Cys (Y340C) mutation in the FGFR2 gene.
CONCLUSION
Fetuses with a Y340C mutation in FGFR2 may present a cloverleaf skull on prenatal ultrasound, and WES is useful for a rapid differential diagnosis of Pfeiffer syndrome from TD2 under such a circumstance.
Topics: Humans; Female; Acrocephalosyndactylia; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Adult; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; Craniosynostoses; Thanatophoric Dysplasia; Mutation; Diagnosis, Differential; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Heterozygote; Infant, Newborn; Skull
PubMed: 38802203
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2024.03.005 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024A breakthrough "Green Revolution" in rice enhanced lodging resistance by using gibberellin-deficient semi-dwarf varieties. However, the gibberellic acid (GA) signaling...
A breakthrough "Green Revolution" in rice enhanced lodging resistance by using gibberellin-deficient semi-dwarf varieties. However, the gibberellic acid (GA) signaling regulation on rice disease resistance remains unclear. The resistance test showed that a positive GA signaling regulator mutant was more susceptible while a negative GA signaling regulator () mutant was less susceptible to sheath blight (ShB), one of the major rice diseases, suggesting that GA signaling positively regulates ShB resistance. To isolate the regulator, which simultaneously regulates rice lodging and ShB resistance, SLR1 interactors were isolated. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and Co-IP assay results indicate that SLR1 interacts with Calcineurin B-like-interacting protein kinase 31 (CIPK31). mutants exhibited normal plant height, but showed semi-dwarfism. In addition, the SLR1 level was much higher in than in the wild-type, suggesting that might accumulate SLR1 to inhibit GA signaling and thus regulate its semi-dwarfism. Recently, we demonstrated that CIPK31 interacts and inhibits Catalase C (CatC) to accumulate ROS, which promotes rice disease resistance. Interestingly, CIPK31 interacts with Vascular Plant One Zinc Finger 2 (VOZ2) in the nucleus, and expression of CIPK31 accumulated VOZ2. Inoculation of AG1-IA revealed that the mutant was more susceptible to ShB. Thus, these data prove that CIPK31 promotes lodging and ShB resistance by regulating GA signaling and VOZ2 in rice. This study provides a valuable reference for rice ShB-resistant breeding.
PubMed: 38794377
DOI: 10.3390/plants13101306 -
Medicine May 2024Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH, OMIM # 250250) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which includes cartilage-hair hypoplasia-anauxetic dysplasia (CHH-AD) spectrum...
RATIONALE
Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH, OMIM # 250250) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which includes cartilage-hair hypoplasia-anauxetic dysplasia (CHH-AD) spectrum disorders. CHH-AD is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the RNA component of the mitochondrial RNA-processing Endoribonuclease (RMRP) gene.
PATIENT CONCERNS
Here, we report 2 cases of Korean children with CHH-AD.
DIAGNOSES
In the first case, the patient had metaphyseal dysplasia without hypotrichosis, diagnosed by whole exome sequencing (WES), and exhibited only skeletal dysplasia and lacked extraskeletal manifestations, such as hair hypoplasia and immunodeficiency. In the second case, the patient had skeletal dysplasia, hair hypoplasia, and immunodeficiency, which were identified by WES.
INTERVENTIONS
The second case is the first CHH reported in Korea. The patients in both cases received regular immune and lung function checkups.
OUTCOMES
Our cases suggest that children with extremely short stature from birth, with or without extraskeletal manifestations, should include CHH-AD as a differential diagnosis.
LESSONS SUBSECTIONS
Clinical suspicion is the most important and RMRP sequencing should be considered for the diagnosis of CHH-AD.
Topics: Humans; Republic of Korea; Osteochondrodysplasias; Male; Female; Hair; Hirschsprung Disease; Mutation; Dwarfism; Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases; Hypotrichosis; Exome Sequencing; Infant; Child, Preschool; Endoribonucleases; Child; RNA, Long Noncoding
PubMed: 38787970
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037247 -
Gene Oct 2024ACAN gene variants, prevalent monogenic defects linked to short stature, are characterized by impaired cartilage generation in growth plates. We aimed to unravel the...
OBJECTIVE
ACAN gene variants, prevalent monogenic defects linked to short stature, are characterized by impaired cartilage generation in growth plates. We aimed to unravel the genetic basis of short stature in a specific pedigree by investigating the role of a novel non-canonical splicing-site variant, c.630-13G > A, within the ACAN gene.
METHOD
Sanger sequencing was used for pedigree verification, and the effects of this variant on mRNA splicing were analyzed through minigene assay.
RESULTS
The study revealed that this variant led to the creation of a previously unreported splice site in the fourth intron, resulting in the incorporation of an 11 bp sequence from the intron into the final transcript. This alteration led to a frameshift and formation of a premature termination codon, impacting the structure of the aggrecan protein.
CONCLUSIONS
We document the pathogenicity of an ACAN non-canonical splicing-site variant, emphasizing the significance of considering intronic variants during genetic testing.
Topics: Humans; Aggrecans; Introns; Pedigree; Female; Male; RNA Splicing; Dwarfism; RNA Splice Sites
PubMed: 38782218
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148602 -
Clinical Genetics May 2024Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGORS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short stature, microtia, and patellar hypoplasia, and is caused by pathogenic variants...
Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGORS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short stature, microtia, and patellar hypoplasia, and is caused by pathogenic variants of cellular factors involved in the initiation of DNA replication. We previously reported that biallelic variants in GINS3 leading to amino acid changes at position 24 (p.Asp24) cause MGORS. Here, we describe the phenotype of a new individual homozygous for the Asp24Asn variant. We also report the clinical characteristics of an individual harboring a novel homozygous GINS3 variant (Ile25Phe) and features suggestive of MGORS. Modification of the corresponding residue in yeast Psf3 (Val9Phe) compromised S phase progression compared to a humanized Psf3 Val9Ile variant. Expression of Psf3 Val9Phe in yeast also caused sensitivity to elevated temperature and the replicative stress-inducing drug hydroxyurea, confirming partial loss of function of this variant in vivo and allowing us to upgrade the classification of this variant. Taken together, these data validate the critical importance of the GINS DNA replication complex in the molecular etiology of MGORS.
PubMed: 38773883
DOI: 10.1111/cge.14545