Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Piriformospora indica, a plant-root-colonising fungus enhances growth and tolerance of wheat to seedlings damping-off caused by Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract In greenhouse experiments, we investigated the potentials of Piriformospora indica (Pi) to penetrate and colonise roots of wheat and to induce beneficial effects on growth as well as to reduce seedlings damping-off disease of wheat caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum (Fo). By microscopy we observed the intracellular hyphae within root cortex cells of 7–14 day-old plants and chlamydospores within root cortex cells of 14–28 day-old plants and within root hair cells of 21–28 day-old plants. Moreover, diagnostic PCR based on the β-tubulin gene marker confirmed the presence of Pi in roots of inoculated plants. Also, we found that plants inoculated with Pi exhibited a better growth of roots and shoots as well as early flowering as compared with non-treated plants. Moreover, Pi conferred tolerance of wheat to seedlings damping-off i.e. by reducing the harmful effects of Fo on infected plants.
Bio-invasion of exotic fish tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus P. 1852) in Lake Jaisamand, India

The tropical freshwater cichlidae fish, Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus Peters, 1852) is suitable for any aquatic ecosystems due to its adaptable life history, prolific reproduction, maternal care and ability to tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Tilapia is worldwide fish species and due to its potential and affordability it is considered as aquatic chicken. In the present study population structure of exotic fish tilapia and its impact on indigenous ichthyofauna of Lake Jaisamand (India) is described. Results show that fish production and community structure of local fish fauna were adversely affected by high density and abundance of this exotic fish species tilapia. During 1990-91 fish production was 287 metric tons which was composed by Indian major carps (37%), minor carps (54%) and catfishes (9%) but due to invasion of tilapia it was reduced 105 mt till 1996-97 and fish production composition was changed and it is contributed by Indian major carps (14%), minor carps (3%), catfishes (30%) and tilapia (54%). The reduction of indigenous fauna was continuous and it is noted that contribution of Indian major carps were only (11%), minor carps (3%), catfishes (4%) and tilapia dominated by 82% out of total production 119 metric tons (2012-13). The aquatic environment of lake was very suitable for tilapia and its growth in terms of length/weight was minimum 25.0 cm / 400 g and maximum 43.5 cm / 1620 g during 1997. It shows the stunted growth due to high density and observed 17.5 cm / 98 g minimum and 38.0 cm / 932.5 g maximum during 2013. Study revealed that tilapia is highly invasive due to high abundance and competitive for food and space to Indigenous fish fauna. It is also recommended that there is need of detailed studies on tilapia abundance, recruitment and local environmental conditions to understand the invasion potential and consequences for the endemic aquatic biodiversity.
Identification and validation of novel EST-SSR markers in olives

The olive (Olea europaea L.) is a leading oil crop in the Mediterranean area. Limited information on the inheritance of agronomic significant traits hinders progress in olive breeding programs, which encourages the development of markers linked to the traits. In this study, we report on the development of 46 olive simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, obtained from 577,025 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in developing olive fruits generated in the framework of the Slovenian national olive transcriptome project. Sequences were de novo assembled into 98,924 unigenes, which were then used as a source for microsatellites searching. We identified 923 unigenes that contained 984 SSRs among which dinucleotide SSRs (36 %) were the most abundant, followed by tri- (33 %) and hexa- (21 %) nucleotides. Microsatellite repeat motif GA (37 %) was the most common among dinucleotides, while microsatellite repeat motif GAA was the most abundant trinucleotide SSR motif (16 %). Gene ontology annotations could be assigned to 27 % of the unigenes. A hundred and ten expressed sequence tag-derived-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) with annotated genes were selected for primer designing and finally, 46 (42 %) polymorphic EST-SSRs were successfully amplified and used to validate genetic diversity among 24 olive varieties. The average number of alleles per locus, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content were 4.5, 0.649, 0.604 and 0.539, respectively. Twenty-seven EST-SSRs showed good diversity properties and were recommended for further olive genome investigation.
The Effect of Leptin on the Onset of Puberty in Normal Prebupertal Female Albino Rats = تأثير هرمون لبتن على بدء البلوغ في إناث الجرذان البيضاء

Background: Many studies have focused on leptin, the product of the LEP (ob) gene, searching for a possible link between energy balance and reproduction. Objective: Investigating the effect of daily leptin injection on prepubertal female rats and the possible mechanisms by which leptin can affect reproductive axis. Materials and method: This study was applied on eighty female albino rats weaned after 21 days. They were divided into two equal groups, group I (GI, control) was injected with saline 5uL/g and group II (GII) injected with leptin in a dose of 5μg/g. The injection was daily, intraperitoneally (i.p.), during the light cycle from 21 days age till one day before sacrification. The animals were assessed daily for body weight and vaginal opening (VO). At 28, 32, 38 and 42 days of age, 10 rats from each group were anesthetized and dissected. Blood was collected from the heart of each dissected animal for E2 and LH assay. The right ovaries were dissected and fixed in Bouin’s solution and stained with Hx & E for histological examination. Results: Daily i.p. leptin injection (5ug/g) resulted in a statistically significant decrease in body weight, a statistically significant earlier occurrence of VO, a statistically significant increase in serum estradiol (E2) levels, and early appearance of LH surge in GII as compared with GI. Also, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean numbers of primary, growing and mature follicles and corpora lutea with earlier occurrence of ovulation in GII when compared with GI. Conclusion: Daily i.p. injection of leptin 5ug/g BW to prepubertal female albino rats led to statistically significant decreased body weight and earlier onset of puberty and its manifestation in treated group. Leptin may act on the reproductive axis both centrally and peripherally. Leptin could be a possible link between the body fat and timing of puberty.
Comparative Studies of Tracheary Element Structure of Some Gymnosperms with Angiosperms

Tissues of the pinna and rachis of Cycas diannaensis and pinna, rachis, and root of Cycas taiwaniana, rachis of Cycas szechuanensis, stem of Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae), stems of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb.et Zucc.) Endl cv. Tetragona (Cupressaceae), and leaves and stems of Michelia alba and Michelia figo and stems of Amygdalus persica (angiosperms) were compared using the scanning electron microscopy. In all species of these gymnosperms, their many tracheary elemnts have perforations in end walls and lateral walls. These structures are the same as vessels of angiosperms; therefore, these tracheary elements are vessel elements. Many types of vessels were found in cycads: pitted vessels in M. glyptostroboides, spiral and pitted vessels in Chamaecyparis obtusa cv. Tetragona. The development and structural characteristics of vessels of cycads, the two other gymnosperms, and the angiosperms were identical. Some characters such as extent of incline of perforation plate in the end wall showed that vessel characters of some angiosperms were more primitive than the cycads or M. glyptostroboides and C. obtusa cv. Tetragona. Many of the vessel elements of the angiosperms were band shaped, without end walls, and had only two lateral walls and other two margins; the end was acuate or with an arc margin; the end of some vessel elements was acute with no perforations, many perforations located only in lateral wall. Such results are rarely reported in previous work. In all species, perforations were seen only in tracheae, and the walls of parenchyma cells only had a thin primary wall and without perforation. Analysis and discussion to the experimental measures which were observed and research of the structure of vessel or tracheid, pointed out that several measures all could be used and the Jeffrey’ method effects were better. Comparing the vessels of cycads, Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae helps us to understand the mechanism in which these most primitive or more primitive extant gymnosperms were adapted to harsh environments and to understand these species’ evolutionary extent, and has the significance to the studies of plant anatomy, plant systematics and plant evolution.
Isolation of a zoonotic pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila from freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) kept in a Korean aquarium with ricefish (Oryzias latipes)

In the present study, Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila was isolated from a captive-bred adult freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) reared at a commercial aquarium in Korea. The stingray had bites on its fins, hemorrhages on the ventral part, and congested internal organs. A bacterium was isolated from kidney and subsequently identified as A. hydrophila. Based on phylogenetic analysis results, the isolate in the present study (SNUAh-LA1) was most closely related to A. hydrophila AH10 (China) and A. hydrophila AKR1 (Korea). It is most likely that the pathogen infection resulted from Potamotrygon motoro cohabiting with ricefish (Oryzias latipes).
Whole-genome Based Investigation of Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common resident of the human throat, yet is also a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis and otitis media. In recent years, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been extensively used in research laboratories to study infectious pathogens. However, to date, the application of WGS in clinical laboratories is limited, especially for S. pneumoniae-associated diseases. We hypothesize that variations between the genome sequence of pneumococcal isolates can be used to monitor epidemiological spread and to reveal unique traits that define clinical disease outcome. In this thesis, I used WGS in a public health laboratory setting for rapid prediction of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and antimicrobial resistance, establishing good sensitivity and specificity in this context. I also used WGS to delineate outbreaks of pneumococcal diseases caused by 12F that occurred in Manitoba, Canada, which was the first reported use of WGS for tracing a pneumococcal epidemic. Through genomic comparisons of Canadian and U.S.A. 12F isolates, I was able to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, and monitor transmission and evolution of an emerging 12F outbreak strain. Finally, I performed a large-scale genome comparison of pneumococcal isolates associated with different clinical manifestations to gain insight into genomic landscape of S. pneumoniae, with a goal to reveal genetic differences between strains with a propensity to cause different types of disease. From this work, I have identified a handful of candidate genes that tend to differentiate pathogenic versus commensal strains When considered together, this thesis demonstrates the power of WGS in clinical epidemiology. Once routinely applied, WGS will allow high resolution mapping of epidemics, helpful predictions of antimicrobial resistance, and the presence of factors indicating a predisposition to cause different types of pneumococcal disease. When given the rapid turnaround of state-of-the-art sequencers, this will provide a profound benefit for clinical care and public health interventions against this incessant pathogen. Table of
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in Aplysia californica and Molecular Changes in the Aging Nervous System

of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Professor Lynne Fieber. No. of pages in text. (157) Aplysia californica is a marine snail with well-defined neural circuits and a relatively short life span of one year, making it a useful model for studies of neural function and aging. Many of these neural circuits likely use L-Glutamate as the excitatory neurotransmitter. The goal of this dissertation was to molecularly characterize ionotropic L-Glutamate receptors in A. californica, and describe molecular changes in these receptors during aging in well-defined neural circuits. The evolutionary relationship between ionotropic L-Glutamate receptors of A. californica and vertebrates was first studied to evaluate the relevance of A. californica as a model of ionotropic L-Glutamate receptor function. Genes belonging to the N-methylD-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subtypes were found to be particularly well-conserved between A. californica and vertebrates. Both subtypes are critical for synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. These results suggest conserved function of NMDAR and AMPAR over large evolutionary distances, thus making A. californica a suitable model for studying their function. Expression of all identified ionotropic L-Glutamate receptors in all A. californica nervous system tissues emphasized their important role in the nervous system. Next, age-related changes in L-Glutamate receptor expression were examined in two sensory neuron clusters. Several NMDAR subtype genes exhibited reduced expression in aged animals compared to sexually mature animals. This suggested that reduced NMDAR in sensory neurons may contribute to previously described declines in L-Glutamate current amplitude and reduced reflexes of aged animals. Finally, whole transcriptome expression changes in aged sensory neurons were studied using RNASeq. Transcription of ion channel genes and genes related to nervous system function were significantly affected in aged compared to mature animals. These alterations may negatively affect synaptic transmission and contribute to previously observed deficits in nervous system function of aged A. californica.
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NEOCARYAMACROPHYLLA LEAVES EXTRACT

The frequency of life-threatening infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms has increased worldwide and is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries with lower health status indices. The increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria raised the specter of untreatable bacterial infections and adds urgency to the search for new therapeutic strategies. Along this line, this study investigated phytochemical screening of Neocaryamacrophylla extract using GC-MS and Antibacterial screening of the extract using agar well diffusion method. Three microorganisms were used namely; Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The susceptibility tests result showed inhibition range of 24 and 13mm against K. pneumoniae at 20 and 10 mg/ml illustrating it to be the most sensitive organism. The least was E. coli, (16 and 7mm at 20 and 10 mg/ml). Similarly, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract indicated K. pneumoniae to be more susceptible followed by S. aureus and E. coli as the least susceptible species. Generally, in all the model organisms tested, the susceptibility was observed to be concentration dependent. The test results indicated that leaves extract of N. macrophylla has antimicrobial potency and could be used as an alternative antimicrobial therapy. Article DOI: https://dx.doi. org/10.20319/lijhls.2017. 31.1834 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
Sundaland's east–west rain forest population structure: variable manifestations in four polytypic bird species examined using RAD‐Seq and plumage analyses

A current model of rain forest population diversification in Sundaland specifies east–west vicariance into refugia during the early Pleistocene. In some taxa, this division was followed by dispersal and apparent secondary contact on Borneo in the late Pleistocene. To investigate genetic, morphological, spatial and temporal characteristics of the model, we compared genomic population and plumage variation among four bird species with east–west mtDNA and plumage structure.
International Journal of Current Research in

The diversity of endophytic fungi from different provenances of Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman, an endemic medicinal plant in Cameroon, was studied through culture dependent methods.1358 endophytic fungal isolates representing 27 genera were isolated from 1360 segments of leaf, stem, bark, root and seeds of P. africana. Hyphomycetes (56.19%) were the most predominant followed by Coelomycetes (37.63%). Mycelia sterilia (isolates without spores) constituted 6.19%. Seven genera Colletotrichum, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Lasiodiplodia, Curvularia, Fusarium, Pestalotia and Morphospecies P001 were common and dominant in more than one site. The diversity was highest in Mount Cameroon Forest and Limbe Botanic Garden provenances with 20 and 19 genera recorded as compared to Kilum-Ijim Forest and Bamendankwe provenances with 11 genera each. Incidence of endophytes, colonization frequency, isolation rate and dominance of fungi varied within tissues of host plant and sites. The leaves had the highest diversity index while the roots had the least. The highest similarity was recorded between Mount Cameroon Forest and the Kilum-Ijim Forest with a Sørensen similarity coefficient of 0.464. Ordination by simple correspondence analysis revealed clear distinct clusters of genera in different localities. This study represents the first comprehensive survey of endophyte diversity in P. africana from Cameroon. Accepted: 15 May 2017 Available Online: 06 June 2017
Chromosomal Characteristics of the Tropical Oyster, Crassostrea belcheri Sowerby, 1871 (Ostreoida, Ostreidae) by Conventional and Ag-NOR Banding Techniques

1 Research Group on Toxic Substances in Livestock and Aquatic Animals, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand 3 Marine Shellfish Breeding Research Unit, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science and Fisheries Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Trang Campus, Trang 92150, Thailand 4 Program in Biology, Department of Fundamental Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin 32000, Thailand
Dissecting brain-specific functions of histone deacetylases 1 and 3 by using genetic mouse models

Epigenetic mechanisms involving the acetylation state of histone molecules are just beginning to be understood in the emerging field of neuroepigenetics. Enzymes mediating the deacetylation are the histone deacetylases (HDACs) which have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for various pathologies. Therefore, we comprehensively mapped the expression of all 11 classical HDACs throughout the adult murine brain. Additionally, we used genetic mouse models to investigate brain-specific functions of HDAC1 and HDAC3.
The Effect of Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Characteristics of Galotyri Cheese

This study evaluated the effect of probiotic bacteria on the characteristics of the traditional Greek Galotyri cheese. Four Galotyri cheeses were made with the mesophilic starter culture BT002 along with the probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus acidophilus 145, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei LbC 81 or Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC 705 and a cheese was also made without the addition of probiotics. The microbiological, physicochemical, aromatic and sensory characteristics of the products were investigating during 30 days of storage at 4oC. The results indicated that probiotics remained above the recommended level for the therapeutic minimum (106 cfu g-1) after 30days. The addition of probiotics did not change the yield, chemical composition and sensory characteristics of Galotyri cheese. A total of 32 aromatic compounds were identified, of these acetaldehyde, diacetyl and acetoin presented in higher levels in cheeses containing probiotic strains. It was concluded that high quality Galotyri cheese with improved health enhancing properties could be produced.
Hemp yields and its rotation effects on wheat under rainfed mediterranean conditions

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has a low impact on the environment requiring few added resources, and has multiple downstream applications. There is little information on hemp biomass, seed yields, and response to NPK fertilization under humid rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Moreover, the effects of hemp on subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops have not been determined. To address these issues, we performed a field study for 6 yr in Catalonia (northeastern Spain). Hemp treatments included: hemp monoculture, unfertilized hemp succeeding wheat, and NPK-fertilized hemp succeeding wheat. In turn, wheat treatments included: wheat monoculture, first-, second-, and third-year wheat succeeding unfertilized hemp, and first-, second-, and third-year wheat succeeding NPK-fertilized hemp. The hemp biomass yields (5340–10,090 kg ha–¹) were similar to or lower than those achieved in other European regions whereas the hemp seed yields were relatively high (604–1434 kg ha–¹). Both the biomass yield and seed yield greatly increased with NPK fertilization. The rotation effects of hemp on the subsequent wheat crops increased the wheat yield by 1368 and 155 kg ha–¹ in the first and second years, respectively, but in the third year the yield was similar to the wheat monoculture. The beneficial effects of hemp on wheat therefore appear to last for 2 yr. We conclude that dual-purpose hemp (harvested for fiber and seed) is an excellent predecessor for wheat, improving the sustainability of cereal-based cropping systems under humid rainfed Mediterranean conditions.