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MicroPublication Biology 2024The GTPase, Spg1 , activates the septation initiation network (SIN) protein kinase cascade to trigger septation. In the absence of functional Spg1 , cells fail...
The GTPase, Spg1 , activates the septation initiation network (SIN) protein kinase cascade to trigger septation. In the absence of functional Spg1 , cells fail cytokinesis and become multinucleate. In this study, we characterize a set of temperature-sensitive alleles isolated in the 1990s. We identify the mutations within each new and previously characterized allele, characterize the extent of relative growth defects, and assess their interaction with other SIN alleles.
PubMed: 38938413
DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001193 -
Cureus May 2024Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of , predominantly affects the liver and lungs, with humans acting as accidental hosts.
INTRODUCTION
Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of , predominantly affects the liver and lungs, with humans acting as accidental hosts.
METHODS
Our retrospective study at the Department of Radiology and Imageology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, included 187 histopathologically or serologically proven cases. The mean age of presentation was 49.4 years.
RESULTS
Liver involvement was most prevalent, accounting for 83.4% (n=156) of cases, followed by sporadic involvement of other organs such as the mesentery, spleen, pancreas, thalamus, kidney, lung, spine, and omentum. Characteristic diagnostic features observed on imaging included peripheral calcifications in 33% of cases, internal septations in 25% (n=47), dense calcifications in 15% (n=29), daughter cysts in 6% (n=11), and floating membranes in 5% (n=10). Among hepatic lesions, 90% (n=141) were showing involvement of a single lobe. Notably, 78% (n=110) of lesions were limited to the right lobe, 21% (n=30) to the left lobe, and 1% (n=1) to the caudate lobe. The most affected hepatic segment was segment VIII, while the least common was segment I (caudate lobe). Complications were identified in 13% (n=25) of cases of hepatic hydatidosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of our study emphasize the systemic nature of infection which can affect various organs in the body. It also illustrates the invaluable insights imaging provides for timely and accurate diagnosis of hydatid disease.
PubMed: 38933644
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61180 -
Plant Disease Jun 2024Cigar tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is widely planted in Yunnan, which is becoming an important economic crop in China. In March 2023, root rot of cigar tobacco (cv....
Cigar tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is widely planted in Yunnan, which is becoming an important economic crop in China. In March 2023, root rot of cigar tobacco (cv. Yunxue 38) was observed in Baoshan (98°51'E, 24°58'N), and in July 2022 root rot of tobacco (cv. Yunyan 87) was observed in Dali (99°54'E, 26°30'N), Yunnan Province, China. The average disease incidences surveyed in the fields reached 10%. At the early stage, the bottom leaves showed wilting and turned yellow, and the roots became brown. Following the disease development, the color of roots turned to dark brown and ultimately necrosis. To isolate the causal agent, small pieces (5×5 mm) of diseased root from 6 symptomatic plant samples (three samples of cv. Yunxue 38 and three samples of cv. Yunyan 87) were cut. Pieces were surface-sterilized by dipping in 75% ethanol for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, then transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 28°C in the dark. Six fungal isolates cultured for 14 days were obtained. They were morphologically similar, so a representative isolate was selected for the following experiment. The colonies grew slowly on PDA, and their color were light pink initially, then changed to amaranth. Hyphae were hyaline and septate. Microconidia were hardly produced on PDA plates. After 14 days of culture on V8 juice agar, the colonies showed white aerial mycelia, and ellipsoidal and transparent conidia were observed, which measured 6.5 to 8.3 × 3.4 to 5.0 μm (n=20). Also, the pycnidia were measured 150 to 220 μm, that were subglobose in dark brown with brown setae. These morphological characteristics of 22DL91 were identical to S. terrestris (Boerema et al. 2004). For molecular identification, DNA was extracted and the PCR products of ITS region and polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and RPB2-5F/RPB2-7cR, were sequenced. By BLASTn analysis, the obtained ITS sequences showed 100% homology and the RPB2 sequences showed 95% homology with S. terrestris strains in GenBank (accession ON006851 and OM417590). The sequences were deposited in NCBI with accession numbers OR539491 (ITS) and OR554276 (RPB2), respectively. Based on the morphology and phylogenetic analysis, the isolate was 22DL91 identified as S. terrestris. Pathogenicity was evaluated on 50-day-old cigar tobacco seedlings (cv. Yunxue 38) and tobacco seedlings (cv. Yunyan 87). Ten plants were inoculated with 20 mL of conidial suspension of 105 conidia/mL poured onto the roots and ten control seedlings dipped in sterile water as controls (Luo et al. 2023). After 14 days, all inoculated seedlings showed the symptoms with leaves yellowing and root rot, whereas the control seedlings had no symptoms. Moreover, the fungus S. terrestris was reisolated from the infected roots, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This fungus was previously known to cause pink root on garlic in China (Zhang et al. 2019). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. terrestris causing root rot of Nicotiana tabacum in China. Therefore, this finding will provide valuable information for prevention and management of root rot on tobacco.
PubMed: 38916905
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-04-24-0721-PDN -
Cureus May 2024Ovarian cystadenomas are benign epithelial neoplasms, many of which are of the serous subtype. Most patients present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and...
Ovarian cystadenomas are benign epithelial neoplasms, many of which are of the serous subtype. Most patients present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and bladder issues. This patient, who had a BMI of 45, presented with a giant ovarian serous cystadenoma identified during an elective bariatric surgery; interestingly, she was completely asymptomatic at the time of discovery. A large, predominantly cystic pelvic mass with internal septations and soft tissue components, suspicious for ovarian neoplasm, was discovered on a CT abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy with complete resection, right oophorectomy, and ovarian cystectomy. Her postoperative pathology report revealed the mass to be a benign serous cystadenoma. This case serves as an example of how a massive tumor can potentially get overlooked for many years, only to be detected unintentionally in an asymptomatic patient. Healthcare quality is often negatively impacted by the inherent prejudice that many healthcare providers have toward their obese patients. Providers may mistakenly over-attribute a patient's symptoms to their obesity, failing to effectively evaluate the patient's concerns, which could lead to overlooking potentially harmful diagnoses. A comprehensive history and physical exam in all patients, especially those who are obese, is vital in ensuring timely diagnosis and management to improve patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38910640
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60807 -
Plant Disease Jun 2024Coptis (Coptis chinensis) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, the rhizomes used in traditional Chinese medicine. Since 2021, an uncommon stem and leaf wilt disease,...
Coptis (Coptis chinensis) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, the rhizomes used in traditional Chinese medicine. Since 2021, an uncommon stem and leaf wilt disease, with an average disease incidence of 70%~90%, has been observed in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The early wilt symptoms were observed on older leaves and stems, and the whole seedling wilted and died. The rhizome of the diseased seedlings changed in color, became necrotic, and rotted. Symptomatic roots and stems were surface-sterilized with 70% ethanol for 30 s, followed by 0.2% NaClO for 2-3 min, rinsed in sterile water three times, and then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25℃for 14 days. Fungal growth was observed, and six isolates with similar morphology were obtained. The 14-day-old colonies on PDA were buff with few aerial hyphae and slimy surfaces. Aerial hyphae were sparse with simple or branched conidiophores. Conidia were hyaline, smooth, ovoid, septate or aseptate, and 5.77 to 9.53 × 2.15 to 3.32 µm (n = 50). Three of the six isolates were subjected to further analysis. The genomic DNA of three isolates (CCF1-1, CCF1-2, CCF1-3) was extracted using Axygen MAG-FRAG- I-50 (Axygen Bio-Tek) for molecular identification. Partial sequences of the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA (ITS) and large subunit rDNA (LSU) were amplified using the primers ITS1/4 and LR5F/LROR, respectively (Vilgalys and Hester 1990). Their sequences were aligned by MEGA X (Kumar et al., 2018), and the sequences of each region showed 100% sequence similarity among our isolates. A BLAST search of ITS and LSU sequences (accession nos. ON377369, ON428244) showed that both regions had the highest nucleotide similarities (99.43 to 99.89%) to the Plectosphaerella cucumerina strains. Based on morphological and molecular analyses, the isolates were identified as P. cucumerina (Palm et al. 1995). The pathogenicity of our isolates CCF1-1, CCF1-2, CCF1-3 was tested on ten 2-month-old healthy seedlings of coptis, respectively. For the seedlings, 30 ml of fungal conidial suspension (1×106 conidia/ml) or sterile water, as control, were poured into their root area. Conidia suspension were prepared from 14-day-old cultures on PDA by eluting with sterilized water. The seedlings were incubated at 25°C and 75% relative humidity under a 12-h/12-h light/dark cycle. The test was repeated three times. After 20 days, only seedlings inoculated with P. cucumerina exhibited symptoms similar to those diseased seedlings in the field. The control seedling had no symptoms. The morphologically similar fungus was re-isolated from the tested seedlings, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Based on molecular, morphological, and pathogenic properties, P. cucumerina is the causal fungal pathogen of coptis wilt disease. Previously, P. cucumerina has been related to wilt disease in strawberry and Chinese cabbage (Yang et al. 2023; Gao et al. 2022), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cucumerina causing wilt disease on coptis in China. Coptis wilt disease tends to occur in a warm and rainy environment, and strengthening the detection and quarantine of seedlings is the key to preventing the occurrence and spread of the disease.
PubMed: 38907519
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0677-PDN -
Plant Disease Jun 2024Agave sisalana, as an excellent fiber producing plant, is mainly planted in Guangxi Province, China. In November 2023, a foliar disease occured on A. sisalana at...
Agave sisalana, as an excellent fiber producing plant, is mainly planted in Guangxi Province, China. In November 2023, a foliar disease occured on A. sisalana at Liangjiang Town (108.3593 W, 23.4723 N), Wuming District, Nanning in GuangXi, China. Approximately 50 to 60% of the plants (n=200) had obvious leaf spots on more than 70% of the leaves. On the leaves of sisal, circular or irregularly shaped yellow brown spots can be seen, sunken, with no halo on the edges. As time goes on, the lesion gradually expands to the entire blade of the sword (Figure 1A, 1B). To identify the disease etiology, ten agave leaves were collected from GuangXi. Symptomatic midribs were cut into 3×3 mm pieces, surface sterilized with 75 % ethanol for 20 s, rinsed with sterilized distilled water three times, air dried on sterile filter paper, plated on photo dextrose agar (PDA) medium, and incubated at 28 ℃ in the dark. Five isolates (JM01, JM02, JM03, JM05, JM06) with similar morphology were obtained. Colonies on PDA medium were white to grayish-white with atrial mycelia growing initially upward and then forming clusters (Figure 1E). After five days, mycelia turned grayish black. Immature conidia were initially hyaline, aseptate, and ellipsoid. Mature conidia were dark brown, one septate, longitudinal striate, and 22.1 to 26.3×10.2 to 14.9 μm (Figure 1F). Morphologically , the isolates were identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Alves et al. 2008). For molecular identification, genome DNA of five representative isolate was extracted using the Fungi Genomic DNA Purification kit. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) and β-tublin (TUB) gene were amplified with primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and Bt2a/Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995), respectively, and sequenced. The ITS (PP209594), TEF-1α (PP234629), and TUB (PP234628) sequences of representative isolate JM01 were deposited in GeneBank. BLAST searches showed >99% nucleotide identity to sequences of L. theobromae (ITS, 99.26% to NR111174; TEF-1α, 99.69% to MM840490; TUB, 98.92% to MN172230). Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood based on the combined ITS, TEF-1α, and TUB sequences of the isolates and reference sequences of Lasiodiplodias spp. from GenBank indicated the isolates obtained in this study formed a clade strongly supported based on bootstrap values to the ex-type isolate CBS164.96 sequences of L.theobromae (Figure 2). To test pathogenicity, JM01 was tested by inoculation leaves of one year old agave plants, the epidermis at the inoculation site, 10, 15 and 20 cm below to the crown, was wiped with a 75% alcohol cotton ball, washed three times with sterile water, and punctured (5 mm diameter) with a sterile inoculation needle. A 5 mm block of each isolate cultured on PDA for 3 days was attached to the inoculation site. Controls were inoculated with sterile PDA. The inoculation area was covered with plastic wrap. All plants were kept in a controlled greenhouse at 27℃, 80% relative humidity, and natural daylight, and watered weekly. Each treatment was repeated three times. Remove the block one day later. Three days after inoculation, all inoculated had typical symptoms,but control were healthy (Figure 1C, 1D). Fungal isolates were only recovered from symptomatic stems and were morphologically identical to L. theobromae, completing Koch's postulates. L. Theobromae has been reported as the cause of leaf rot on A. angustifolia in Mexico (Reyes-García et al. 2023). To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae causing leaf spot on A. sisalana in GuangXi, China. L. theobromae is primarily a plant pathogen that causes rotting and dieback in fruits and plants in tropical and subtropical regions (Puttanna 1967). This study is useful to focus on management strategies for leaf rot disease by L. theobromae of A. sisalana.
PubMed: 38902877
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-02-24-0425-PDN -
Plant Disease Jun 2024Psidium guajava L. is widely cultivated in southern China. In May 2021, guava scab on cv. Zhenzhu was observed in Zhanjiang (21.18° N, 110.21° E), Guangdong province,...
Psidium guajava L. is widely cultivated in southern China. In May 2021, guava scab on cv. Zhenzhu was observed in Zhanjiang (21.18° N, 110.21° E), Guangdong province, China. Guava scab was corky with ovoid or round lesions on the surfaces of green fruits. Gradually the lesions sunk. Disease incidence was estimated as 85% in 500 investigated plants in about 50 ha. Twenty diseased fruits were collected from twenty trees in the field. From each fruit the margin of the diseased tissues was cut into 2 mm × 2 mm pieces; surface disinfected with 75% ethanol and 2% sodium hypochlorite for 30 and 60 s, successively; and rinsed thrice with sterile water. The tissues were plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 28 ℃. Thirty-four isolates were obtained. Single-spore isolation method (Liu et al. 2021) was used to recover pure cultures of three isolates (PGNC-1, PGNC-2, and PGNC-3) . The colonies were initially white with cottony aerial mycelium at 7 days on PDA. Then, these colonies form black acervular conidiomata at 10 days. Conidia were clavate to fusiform, four-septate, straight or slightly curved, and measured 15.8 to 21.2 µm × 4.5 to 6.5 µm (n = 40). The three median cells were versicolored, whereas the basal and apical cells were hyaline. Conidia had a single basal appendage (4.5 to 5.5 µm long; n = 40) and three apical appendages (19.2 to 24.5 µm long; n = 40). The morphological characteristics of the isolates were consistent with the description of Neopestalotiopsis clavispora (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2012). Molecular identification was performed using PCR method with MightyAmp DNA Polymerase (Takara-Bio, Dalian, China) (Lu et al. 2012). Sequences were generated from the isolates using primers for the rDNA ITS (ITS1/ITS4), TEF1-α (EF1-728F/EF1-986R), and β-tubulin (T1/βt2b) loci (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2012). The sequences of the isolates were submitted to GenBank (ITS, OQ996557 to OQ996559; TEF, OR101037 to OR101039; β-tubulin, OR100971 to OR100973). The sequences of the isolates were 100% identical to the type strain MFLUCC12-0281 (accession nos. JX398979, JX399014, and JX399045) through BLAST analysis. The isolates clustered with N. clavispora (MFLUCC12-0280 and MFLUCC12-0281). N. clavispora and Pestalotiopsis clavispora are synonyms. The pathogenicity was tested in vivo. Plants (cv. Zhenzhu) were grown ( 3 years old) in a quarantine orchard at 25 ℃ to 32 ℃ with 60 to 80% relative humidity in May 2022. Disease-free green fruits were inoculated. Sterile cotton balls were immersed in the spore suspension (1 × 105 per mL) and sterile distilled water (control) for about 15 s before they were fixed on the wounded fruits with transparent tape. Five fruits on one plant per isolate were inoculated. Five fruits on one plant severed as control. The test was performed thrice. Disease symptoms were found on the inoculated fruits after 20 days, whereas the controls remained healthy. The pathogen was re-isolated from infected fruits and was phenotypically identical to the original isolates thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Neopestalotiopsis or Pestalotiopsis spp. were reported to be the causal agents of guava scab in Colombia and in Hawaii (Keith et al. 2006; Solarte et al. 2018). N. clavispora has been reported to cause disease in a broad range of hosts (Ge et al. 2009; Chen et al. 2018), but not in guava. This is the first report of N. clavispora causing guava scab in China. There would be no harvest if this disease is left unmanaged.
PubMed: 38885025
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-11-23-2357-PDN -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) generally coexist in the roots of plants. However, our understanding of the effects of their...
INTRODUCTION
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) generally coexist in the roots of plants. However, our understanding of the effects of their coexistence on plant growth and stress resistance is limited.
METHODS
In the present study, the effects of single and dual inoculation of AMF and DSE on the growth, photosynthetic physiology, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, endogenous hormones, and cadmium (Cd) content of maize under 25 mg•kg Cd stress were investigated.
RESULTS
Compared with that after the non-inoculation treatment, AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of maize leaves; promoted root GSH metabolism; increased the root GSH concentration and activity of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthase (γ-GCS), ATP sulfatase (ATPS) and sulfite reductase (SIR) by 215%, 117%, 50%, and 36%, respectively; and increased the concentration of endogenous hormones in roots, with increases in zeatin (ZR), indole-3 acetic acid (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA) by 81%, 209%, and 72%, respectively. AMF inoculation, DSE inoculation and AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased maize biomass, and single inoculation with AMF or DSE increased the Cd concentration in roots by 104% or 120%, respectively. Moreover, significant or highly significant positive correlations were observed between the contents of ZR, IAA, and ABA and the activities of γ-GCS, ATPS, and SIR and the glutathione (GSH) content. There were significant or highly significant positive interactions between AMF and DSE on the Pn of leaves, root GSH metabolism, and endogenous hormone contents according to two-way analysis of variance. Therefore, the coexistence of AMF and DSE synergistically enhanced the Cd tolerance of maize.
PubMed: 38855464
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1349202 -
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 2024The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a crucial interface between the circulatory system and the brain. In , the BBB is composed of perineurial and subperineurial...
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a crucial interface between the circulatory system and the brain. In , the BBB is composed of perineurial and subperineurial glial cells. The perineurial glial cells are small mitotically active cells forming the outermost layer of the nervous system and are engaged in nutrient uptake. The subperineurial glial cells form occluding septate junctions to prevent paracellular diffusion of macromolecules into the nervous system. To address whether the subperineurial glia just form a simple barrier or whether they establish specific contacts with both the perineurial glial cells and inner central nervous system (CNS) cells, we undertook a detailed morphological analysis. Using genetically encoded markers alongside with high-resolution laser scanning confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, we identified thin cell processes extending into the perineurial layer and into the CNS cortex. Interestingly, long cell processes were observed reaching the glia ensheathing the neuropil of the central brain. GFP reconstitution experiments highlighted multiple regions of membrane contacts between subperineurial and ensheathing glia. Furthermore, we identify the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Moody as negative regulator of the growth of subperineurial cell processes. Loss of triggered a massive overgrowth of subperineurial cell processes into the CNS cortex and, moreover, affected the polarized localization of the xenobiotic transporter Mdr65. Finally, we found that GPCR signaling, but not septate junction formation, is responsible for controlling membrane overgrowth. Our findings support the notion that the BBB is able to bridge the communication gap between circulation and synaptic regions of the brain by long cell processes.
PubMed: 38846639
DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1397627 -
JTCVS Techniques Apr 2024In select patients with borderline ventricular hypoplasia, we adopted a strategy of initial single-ventricle palliation followed by staged or direct biventricular...
OBJECTIVE
In select patients with borderline ventricular hypoplasia, we adopted a strategy of initial single-ventricle palliation followed by staged or direct biventricular conversion by 2 years of age.
METHODS
Between 2018 and 2023, 14 newborns with borderline hypoplastic heart disease deemed high risk for primary biventricular repair underwent palliative procedures as a neonate/infant, followed by staged or direct biventricular conversion.
RESULTS
Of the 14 patients, 6 had borderline left ventricles and 8 had borderline right ventricles. Index neonatal operations were performed in 12 patients and included the Norwood operation (n = 5), pulmonary artery band (n = 3), ductal stent (n = 3), and hybrid Norwood (n = 1). Five patients underwent direct biventricular conversion, and the remaining 9 patients underwent staged ventricular recruitment operations at a mean age of 6 months (range, 3-11 months). Ventricular recruitment operations included atrial septation with or without ventricular rehabilitation, atrioventricular valve repair, or outflow tract operations. At a mean duration of 8 months (range, 4-10 months) after ventricular recruitment, there was a significant increase in chamber volume, aortic valve, and mitral valve size in patients with borderline left ventricles, and a normalization of the right ventricle:left ventricle end-diastolic volume ratio in patients with borderline right ventricles. To date, 13 of 14 patients have undergone successful biventricular conversion at a mean age of 16 months (range, 4-31 months).
CONCLUSIONS
In select newborns with borderline hypoplastic heart disease, single-ventricle palliation followed by staged or direct biventricular conversion may increase infant survival while allowing for early attainment of a biventricular circulation.
PubMed: 38835569
DOI: 10.1016/j.xjtc.2024.02.006