-
The Journal of Biological Chemistry Jun 2024During sporulation, Bacillus subtilis forms an asymmetric septum, dividing the cell into two compartments, a mother cell and a forespore. The site of asymmetric...
During sporulation, Bacillus subtilis forms an asymmetric septum, dividing the cell into two compartments, a mother cell and a forespore. The site of asymmetric septation is linked to the membrane where FtsZ and SpoIIE initiate the formation of the Z-ring and the E-ring, respectively. These rings then serve as a scaffold for the other cell division and peptidoglycan synthesizing proteins needed to build the septum. However, despite decades of research, not enough is known about how the asymmetric septation site is determined. Here, we identified and characterized the interaction between SpoIIE and RefZ. We show that these two proteins transiently colocalize during the early stages of asymmetric septum formation when RefZ localizes primarily from the mother cell side of the septum. We propose that these proteins and their interplay with the spatial organization of the chromosome play a role in controlling asymmetric septum positioning.
Topics: Bacillus subtilis; Bacterial Proteins; Spores, Bacterial; Cell Division; Cytoskeletal Proteins
PubMed: 38705388
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107339 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports May 2024Mature cystic teratoma co-existing with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is a rare tumor that few cases have been reported until now. In these cases, either a benign...
BACKGROUND
Mature cystic teratoma co-existing with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is a rare tumor that few cases have been reported until now. In these cases, either a benign teratoma is malignantly transformed into adenocarcinoma or a collision tumor is formed between a mature cystic teratoma and a mucinous tumor, which is either primarily originated from epithelial-stromal surface of the ovary, or secondary to a primary gastrointestinal tract tumor. The significance of individualizing the two tumors has a remarkable effect on further therapeutic management.
CASE PRESENTATION
In this case, a mature cystic teratoma is co-existed with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in the same ovary in a 33-year-old Iranian female. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan with additional contrast of the left ovarian mass suggested a teratoma, whereas examination of resected ovarian mass reported an adenocarcinoma with a cystic teratoma. A dermoid cyst with another multi-septate cystic lesion including mucoid material was revealed in the gross examination of the surgical specimen. Histopathological examination revealed a mature cystic teratoma in association with a well-differentiated mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The latter showed a CK7-/CK20 + immune profile. Due to the lack of clinical, radiological, and biochemical discoveries attributed to a primary lower gastrointestinal tract tumor, the immune profile proposed the chance of adenocarcinomatous transformation of a benign teratoma.
CONCLUSIONS
This case shows the significance of large sampling, precise recording of the gross aspects, histopathological examination, immunohistochemical analysis, and the help of radiological and clinical results to correctly diagnose uncommon tumors.
Topics: Humans; Female; Teratoma; Adult; Ovarian Neoplasms; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
PubMed: 38704586
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04544-w -
Plant Disease May 2024Photinia × fraseri is a well-known ornamental shrub in southern China. In December 2021, we observed leaf spots that were circular to irregular, gray with dark red...
Photinia × fraseri is a well-known ornamental shrub in southern China. In December 2021, we observed leaf spots that were circular to irregular, gray with dark red margins and violet brown with brownish violet edges on the leaves of Photinia × fraseri shrubs in the scenic area of Shenlongtan (28°46'10″N, 115°42'93″E), Jiangxi Province, China. Almost 15% of the leaves in the 1300 m2 Photinia × fraseri planting area were symptomatic. Thirty symptomatic leaves were randomly collected from different plants, and sectioned into 5-mm2 pieces, which were surface-sterilized using 1% NaOCl for 30 s. After rinsing thrice in sterile distilled water and drying, the pieces were transferred onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28 ℃ for 5-7 days. A total of sixteen morphologically similar isolates were obtained. After incubation on PDA for 20 days, the fungi had irregular edges, were white to pale brown, and had spare aerial mycelium on the surface with irregularly distributed black, gregarious conidiomata. Conidia were fusoid, subcylindrical, straight to slightly curved, 4-septated, slightly constricted at the septa, and 23 to 36 × 6 to 10 μm (mean: 27.6 × 7.7 μm). The morphological characteristics were consistent with the features of Pseudopestalotiopsis species (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2014). The genomic DNA of two representative isolates (JFRL032 and JFRL033) was extracted for further identification. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-ɑ (tef1-ɑ) and β-tubulin (tub2) genes were amplified and sequenced using primers ITS5/ITS4, EF1-526F/EF1-1567R, and Bt2A/Bt2B, respectively (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2012). The sequences of the two representative isolates were 100% identical to each other. These nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers, ON342794 and ON342795 (ITS); ON375851 and ON375852 (tef1-ɑ); ON375853 and ON375854 (tub2). BLASTn searches of the obtained sequences revealed 99%-100% to ITS (MG816316, 478/478 nucleotides), tef1-ɑ (MG816336, 924/926 nucleotides), tub2 (MG816326, 441/442 nucleotides) sequences of the ex-type strain of Pseudopestalotiopsis ixorae (NTUCC17-001.1). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the concatenation of multiple sequences (ITS, tef1-ɑ and tub2) with the Maximum likelihood statistics in PhyloSuite v1.2.2 (Zhang et al.2020). The phylogenetic tree showed the two isolates clustered with P. ixorae in a clade with 100% bootstrap support. The isolates were identified as P. ixorae based on morphological and molecular data. To confirm pathogenicity, eight healthy leaves of 3-year-old Photinia × fraseri were surface sterilized, scratched with a pair of sterilized tweezers, and ten µl of conidial suspension (106 conidia/ml) was sprayed on the injured leaves and the control was sprayed with sterile distilled water. Then, All plants were potted in a climate chamber at 25℃ and 85% relative humidity. After 3 days, leaf spot symptoms similar to those described above were observed on inoculated leaves, while the non-inoculated leaves remained symptomless. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated leaves to fulfill Koch's postulates and confirmed as P. ixorae by morphological and molecular analysis. It has been reported that P. ixorae can infect the Ixora plant (Tsai et al., 2018). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. ixorae causing leaf spot on Photinia × fraseri in China. The study provides valuable information for identifying and controlling the leaf spot on Photinia × fraseri.
PubMed: 38698523
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-08-23-1591-PDN -
Plant Disease May 2024Fusarium pseudograminearum is an important plant pathogen that invades many crops (Zhang et al. 2018). Since it was first discovered in Australia in 1951, F....
Fusarium pseudograminearum is an important plant pathogen that invades many crops (Zhang et al. 2018). Since it was first discovered in Australia in 1951, F. pseudograminearum has been reported in many countries and regions and caused huge economic losses (Burgess et al. 2001). In 2012, crown rot of wheat caused by F. pseudograminearum was discovered for the first time in Henan Province, China (Li et al. 2012). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), with 1.07 million hectares cultivated in 2020. In June 2023, a survey of crown rot disease was carried out in winter wheat cv. Xindong 20 in Hotan area, XUAR, China (80.148907°E, 37.051474°N). About 5% of wheat plants showed symptoms of crown rot such as browning of the stem base and white head. The disease was observed in 85% of wheat fields. In order to identify the pathogens, 36 pieces of diseased stem basal tissue, 0.5 cm in length, were collected and sterilized with 75% alcohol for 30s and 5% NaOCl solution for 2 min, then rinsed three times with sterile water and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at 25°C. A total of 27 isolates with consistent morphological characteristics were obtained using single-spore technique (Leslie and Summerell. 2006), and the isolation rate was 75%. The isolates grew rapidly on PDA, produced large numbers of fluffy white hyphae, and pink pigment accumulated in the medium. The isolates were grown on 2% mung bean flour medium and identified by morphological and molecular methods. Macroconidia were abundant, relatively slender, curved to almost straight, commonly two to seven septate, and averaged 22 to 72 × 1.8 to 4.9 μm. Microconidia were not observed. The morphological characters are consistent with Fusarium (Aoki and O'Donnell. 1999). Two isolates (LP-1 and LP-3) were selected for molecular identification. Primers EF1/EF2 (5'-ATGGGTAAGGARGACAAGAC-3'/5'-GGARGTACCAGTSATCATG-3') were used to amplify a portion of the EF-1α gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998). The two 696 bp PCR products were sequenced and submitted to GenBank. The EF-1α gene sequences (GenBank Accession No: PP062794 and PP062795) shared 99.9% identity (695/696) with published F.pseudograminearum sequences (e.g., OP105187, OP105184, OP105179, OP105173). The identification was further confirmed by F. pseudograminearum species-specific PCR primers Fp1-1/Fp1-2 (Aoki and O'Donnell. 1999). The expected PCR products of 518 bp were produced only in F. pseudograminearum. Pathogenicity tests of LP-1 and LP-3 isolates were performed on 7-day-old seedlings of winter wheat cv. Xindong 20 using the drip inoculation method with a 10-μl of a 106 macroconidia ml-1 suspension near the stem base (Xu et al. 2017). The experiment was repeated five times in a 20 to 25°C greenhouse. Control seedlings were treated with sterile water. After 4 weeks, wheat seedling death and crown browning occurred in the inoculated plants with over 90% incidence. No symptoms were observed in the control plants. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated plants by the method described above and identified by morphological and PCR amplification using F. pseudograminearum species-specific primers Fp1-1/Fp1-2. No F. pseudograminearum was isolated from the control plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. pseudograminearum causing crown rot of winter wheat in XUAR of China. Since F. pseudograminearum can cause great damage to wheat, one of the most important food crops in China, necessary measures should be taken to prevent the spread of F. pseudograminearum to other regions.
PubMed: 38698521
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0209-PDN -
European Journal of Protistology Jun 2024Gregarines are symbiotic protists that are found in a broad spectrum of invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, and annelids. Among these the globally distributed...
Gregarines are symbiotic protists that are found in a broad spectrum of invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, and annelids. Among these the globally distributed amphipod Gammarus pulex is one of the earliest recognized hosts for aquatic gregarines and is prevalent among macroinvertebrates in freshwater environments. In this study, samples of G. pulex were collected in the Water of Leith river, Scotland, UK. Gregarines were identified using light and scanning electron microscopy as well as standard molecular techniques. We identified three septate eugregarine symbionts-Heliospora longissima, Cephaloidophora gammari, and the here newly characterized Cephaloidophora conus n. sp. (formerly Cephaloidophora sp.) associated with Gammarus pulex in the Water of Leith. Prevalences for identified gregarine species were calculated and seasonal dynamics of gregarine infections/colonization were analyzed. Prevalences were highest in autumn and spring reaching almost 50 %. While the two Cephaloidophora species showed similar colonization patterns, the prevalence of Heliospora showed an opposite trend. Identifying gregarine infection/colonization patterns is one step towards better understanding the gregarine-host relationship, as well as possible impacts of the gregarines on their hosts.
Topics: Animals; Amphipoda; Scotland; Apicomplexa; Prevalence; Species Specificity; Seasons; Rivers; Symbiosis
PubMed: 38692224
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126084 -
Plant Disease Apr 2024Cactus pear var. miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera L. Salm-Dyck) is an important crop for the Northeast region of Brazil, composing one of the main sources of animal feed....
Cactus pear var. miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera L. Salm-Dyck) is an important crop for the Northeast region of Brazil, composing one of the main sources of animal feed. By April 2021, cladode rot caused death of several cactus pear plants in a production area located in Itaporanga, Paraíba state, Brazil (7°21'55.35" S and 38°11'38.68" W). The infected cladodes showed brown circular necrotic spots, and soft rot with perforations that extended throughout the cladode, followed by tipping over and death of the infected plants. The incidence of the disease ranged from 10 to 30% of the plants. Bisifusarium strains were isolated and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and syntetic-nutrient-poor-agar (SNA). The colonies showed purple color on PDA. On SNA, macroconidia (n = 100) were abundant, hyaline, slightly falcate, three-septate, measuring 11.0-23.1 x 2.3-4.1 μm. Microconidia (n = 100) were oval, generally aseptate, measuring 4.1-8.7 x 2.3-3.0 μm. Conidiogenic cells formed into short monophialides. Chlamydospores were not observed. According to these morphological features, the pathogen was initially identified as Bisifusarium lunatum (Gryzenhoutm et al. 2017). For further confirmation of the identification, the partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes were sequenced for a representative isolate (CMA 34: GenBank accession no: TEF1-α: OR536502; and RPB2: OR553509) and compared to other Bisifusarium species from GenBank database. Subsequently, it was subjected to a phylogenetic analysis of maximum likelihood including previously published sequences. According to BLAST searches, the TEF1-α and RPB2 sequences were 99% (637/640 nt) and 100% (312/312 nt) similar to B. lunatum (COUFAL0213: TEF1-α (MK640219), and RPB2 (MK301291)), respectively. The isolate was also clustered in a clade containing the ex-type of B. lunatum with 100% support (SH-aLRT and UFboot), being confidently assigned to this species. The pathogenicity test was performed after Medeiros et al. (2015), by using healthy two months old cactus pear seedlings (n = 10) cultivated in a greenhouse. Sterile toothpicks were distributed over colonies of the representative isolate grown on PDA at 25 ± 2 °C for seven days. Seedling cladodes were stuck with the toothpicks, moistened with sterile water and covered with transparent plastic bags for 24h, thus simulating a humid chamber. Following three months, all control plants (stuck with sterile toothpicks) remained healthy, while those inoculated with the representative isolate exhibited rot symptoms. This test was performed twice. B. lunatum was reisolated from symptomatic cladodes and identified as previously described, thus fulfilling the Koch's postulates. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of B. lunatum causing soft rot on N. cochenillifera in Brazil. Besides N. cochenillifera, this species was also reported on Opuntia ficus-indica in India (Gryzenhoutm et al., 2017), which raises concern regarding its ability to infect other forage sources for cattle feed in Brazilian semiarid regions. The present study highlights that the precise identification of B. lunatum is a key factor to adjust control strategies and management of the disease to prevent the spread of this disease to prevent its spread to other crops.
PubMed: 38687578
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-02-24-0456-PDN -
Cureus Mar 2024Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital aberration that requires special attention due to its clinical, diagnostic, and surgical complexity. Its symptoms are...
Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital aberration that requires special attention due to its clinical, diagnostic, and surgical complexity. Its symptoms are usually consistent with cholecystitis and other gallbladder etiologies. This is a case report of a 39-year-old male patient with a known case of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. He presented with mild epigastric abdominal pain over two months; as a result, he opted for elective cholecystectomy. Subsequently, a type I septate duplicated gallbladder was incidentally diagnosed following a histopathology report. This literature is the first report of a case of septate gallbladder duplication presenting with cholecystitis in the United Arab Emirates.
PubMed: 38681394
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57061 -
Redundant and Distinct Roles of Two 14-3-3 Proteins in , Pathogen of Sugarcane Pokkah Boeng Disease.Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024, a key pathogen of sugarcane, is responsible for the Pokkah boeng disease (PBD) in China. The 14-3-3 proteins have been implicated in critical developmental processes,...
, a key pathogen of sugarcane, is responsible for the Pokkah boeng disease (PBD) in China. The 14-3-3 proteins have been implicated in critical developmental processes, including dimorphic transition, signal transduction, and carbon metabolism in various phytopathogenic fungi. However, their roles are poorly understood in This study focused on the characterization of two 14-3-3 protein-encoding genes, and , within . Both genes were found to be expressed during the vegetative growth stage, yet was repressed at the sporulation stage in vitro. To elucidate the functions of these genes, the deletion mutants ΔFsBmh1 and ΔFsBmh2 were generated. The ΔFsBmh2 exhibited more pronounced phenotypic defects, such as impaired hyphal branching, septation, conidiation, spore germination, and colony growth, compared to the ΔFsBmh1. Notably, both knockout mutants showed a reduction in virulence, with transcriptome analysis revealing changes associated with the observed phenotypes. To further investigate the functional interplay between and , we constructed and analyzed mutants with combined deletion and silencing (ΔFsBmh/siFsBmh) as well as overexpression (O-FsBmh). The combinations of ΔFsBmh1/siFsBmh2 or ΔFsBmh2/siFsBmh1 displayed more severe phenotypes than those with single allele deletions, suggesting a functional redundancy between the two 14-3-3 proteins. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays identified 20 proteins with pivotal roles in primary metabolism or diverse biological functions, 12 of which interacted with both FsBmh1 and FsBmh2. Three proteins were specifically associated with FsBmh1, while five interacted exclusively with FsBmh2. In summary, this research provides novel insights into the roles of and in and highlights potential targets for PBD management through the modulation of functions.
PubMed: 38667928
DOI: 10.3390/jof10040257 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Neural crest cells (NCCs) are multipotent and are attributed to the combination of complex multimodal gene regulatory mechanisms. Cardiac neural crest (CNC) cells,...
INTRODUCTION
Neural crest cells (NCCs) are multipotent and are attributed to the combination of complex multimodal gene regulatory mechanisms. Cardiac neural crest (CNC) cells, originating from the dorsal neural tube, are pivotal architects of the cardio-neuro-vascular domain, which orchestrates the embryogenesis of critical cardiac and vascular structures. Remarkably, while the scientific community compiled a comprehensive inventory of neural crest derivatives by the early 1980s, our understanding of the CNC's role in various cardiovascular disease processes still needs to be explored. This review delves into the differentiation of NCC, specifically the CNC cells, and explores the diverse facets of non-syndromic cardiovascular neurocristopathies.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted as per the PRISMA Statement. Three prominent databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, were searched, which yielded 1,840 studies. We excluded 1,796 studies, and the final selection of 44 studies formed the basis of this comprehensive review.
RESULTS
Neurocristopathies are a group of genetic disorders that affect the development of cells derived from the NC. Cardiovascular neurocristopathy, i.e., cardiopathy and vasculopathy, associated with the NCC could occur in the form of (1) cardiac septation disorders, mainly the aortico-pulmonary septum; (2) great vessels and vascular disorders; (3) myocardial dysfunction; and (4) a combination of all three phenotypes. This could result from abnormalities in NCC migration, differentiation, or proliferation leading to structural abnormalities and are attributed to genetic, familial, sporadic or acquired causes.
DISCUSSION
Phenotypic characteristics of cardiovascular neurocristopathies, such as bicuspid aortic valve and thoracic aortic aneurysm, share a common embryonic origin and are surprisingly prevalent in the general population, necessitating further research to identify the underlying pathogenic and genetic factors responsible for these cardiac anomalies. Such discoveries are essential for enhancing diagnostic screening and refining therapeutic interventions, ultimately improving the lives of individuals affected by these conditions.
PubMed: 38660479
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1333265 -
Surgical Case Reports Apr 2024The age of onset of the phyllodes tumor is generally in the late 40 s, and diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy and lactation are rare. We herein present a case of...
BACKGROUND
The age of onset of the phyllodes tumor is generally in the late 40 s, and diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy and lactation are rare. We herein present a case of a phyllodes tumor that rapidly increased in size during the pregnancy and lactation period.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 39-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a mass in the right breast that increased in size during the pregnancy and lactation period. On ultrasound (5 week postpartum), a well-defined lobulated mass with internal septations and fluid retention was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging of the breast at 8 week postpartum revealed a 70-mm-sized smooth-margin mass with multilocular cystic components. Marked proliferation of stromal cells with high cell density was observed in a biopsy specimen taken at the previous hospital. We diagnosed the mass as a phyllodes tumor of borderline malignancy and excised it at 13 week postpartum. The excised tumor was 85 mm in diameter and its interior was filled with a milk-like substance. Histologically, there was only a mild increase in stromal cell density but fibrosis with associated degeneration was prominent. The final diagnosis was benign phyllodes tumor with degeneration.
CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of a phyllodes tumor that rapidly increased in size during pregnancy and the lactation period. The accumulation of a milk-like substance was thought to be responsible for the rapid growth of the tumor.
PubMed: 38656672
DOI: 10.1186/s40792-024-01895-w