bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Exopolysaccharides in the Survival and Pathogenesis of the Fire Blight Bacterium, Erwinia amylovora
Authors: Gutnick David , Coplin David L.
Published: December 2021

Fireblight, a disease of apples and pears, is caused by Erwinia amylovora. Mutants of E. amylovora that do not produce the extreacellular polysaccharide (EPS), amylovoran, are avirulent. A similar EPS, stewartan, is produced by E. stewartii, which caused Stewart's wilt of corn, and which has also been implicated in the virulence of this strain. Both stewartan and amylovoran are type 1 capsular polysaccharides, typified by the colanic acid slime produced by Escherichia coli. Extracellular polysaccharide slime and capsules are important for the virulence of bacterial pathogens of plants and animals and to enhance their survival and dissemination outside of the host. The goals of this project were to examine the importance of polysaccharide structure on the pathogenicity and survival properties of three pathogenic bacteria: Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia stewartii and Escherichia coli. The project was a collaboration between the laboratories of Dr. Gutnick (PI, E. coli genetics and biochemistry), Dr. Coplin (co-PI, E. stewartii genetics) and Dr. Geider (unfunded collaborator, E. amylovora genetics and EPS analysis). Structural analysis of the EPSs, sequence analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters and site-directed mutagenesis of individual cps and ams genes revealed that the three gene clusters shared common features for polysaccharide polymerization, translocation, and precursor synthesis as well as in the modes of transcriptional regulation. Early EPS production resulted in decreased virulence, indicating that EPS, although required for pathogenicity, is anot always advantageous and pathogens must regulate its production carefully.
Improving Preferential Flow Modules by Experimentation
Authors: Steenhuis Tammo S. , Ravina Israela , Parlange Jean-Yves , Wallach Rony , Geohring Larry D.
Published: December 2021

Preferential flow is the process whereby water and solutes move by preferred pathways. During preferential flow, local wetting fronts propagate to considerable depths in the soil profile, essentially bypassing the matrix pore space. Under such conditions classical methods, such as the convective-dispersive equation, for quantifying flow of water and solutes in uniform soils are not valid. This project set out to develop methods to predict fast and early breakthrough of solutes. To facilitate understanding of these processes, several field drainage studies were conducted in the United States and Israel. In both countries, solutes moved rapidly down and could be found below 1 m depth soon after application. Based on these experiments, we developed and validated a number of modules to predict the solute concentration of the preferentially moving water in the vadose zone. We also successfully simulatd the initial high solute concentration in agriculturel tile lines shortly after the chemical was applied. The understanding gained on fast transport of agri-chemicals is instrumental in developing management practices to reduce the nonpoint sources and to increase the leaching efficiency of salt affected soils.
Enhancement of Baculoviruses' Insecticidal Potency by Expression of Synergistic Anti-Insect Scorpion Toxins
Authors: Chejanovsky Nor , Hammock Bruce D.
Published: December 2021

The extensive use or non-specific, hazardous, chemical insecticides demands the development of "healthier" alternative means for pest control. Insect-specific, baculoviruses expressing anti-insect toxin genes (from mites or scorpions) demonstrated in laboratory assays and field trials enhanced insecticidal activity and provided some protection from lepidopterous larvae to agricultural plantations. To utilize recombinant baculoviruses as commercial biopesticides in row crop agriculture, further increase in their speed of kill should be achieved and the reduction in crop damage should be comparable to the levels obtained with organic insecticides (the problem). In this project we developed strategies to improve further the efficacy of recombinant baculoviruses which included: I) Synergism among baculoviruses expressing different anti-insect toxins: a) Synergism among two complementary anti-insect scorpion neurotoxins each expressed by a separate recombinant baculovirus, both regulated by the same or a different viral promoter. b) Synergism among two complementary anti-insect scorpion neurotoxins expressed by the same recombinant virus, both regulated by the same or a different viral promoter respectively. The above included two classes of pharmacologically complementary toxins: i) toxins with strictly anti-insect selectivity (excitatory and depressant); ii) toxins with preferential anti-insect activity (anti-insect alpha toxins). c) Synergism among wild type viruses, recombinant baculoviruses and chemicals (insecticides and phytochemicals) II) Identification of more potent toxins against lepidopterous pests for their expression by baculoviruses. Our approach was based on the synergistic effect displayed by the combined application of pairs of anti-insect toxins to blowfly and lepidopterous larvae that resulted in 5 fold increase in their insecticidal activity without apparent increase in their anti-mammal toxicity (toxins LqhIT2 and LqhaIT, LqhIT2 and AaIT, and LqhaIT and AaIT (1). Thus, we developed new concepts and produced a "second generation" of recombinant baculoviruses with enhanced potencies and speeds of kill comparable to classical insecticides. These achievements contribute to make these biopesticides a viable alternative to minimize the use of hazardous chemicals in pest control. Also, our project contributed new tools and model systems to advance the study of insect sodium channels.
In situ Evaluation of Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties Using Subsurface Points
Authors: Warrick Arthur , Shani Uri , Or Dani , Yitayew Muluneh
Published: December 2021

The primary information for accurately predicting water and solute movement and their impact on water quality is the characterization of soil hydraulic properties. This project was designed to develop methods for rapid and reliable estimates of unsaturated hydraulic properties of the soil. Particularly, in situ methodology is put forth, based on subsurface point sources. Devices were designed to allow introduction of water in subsurface settings at constant negative heads. The ability to operate at a negative head allows a direct method of finding unsaturated soil properties and a mechanism for eliminating extremely rapid preferential flow from the slow matrix flow. The project included field, laboratory and modeling components. By coupling the measurements and the modeling together, a wider range of designs can be examined, while at the same time realistic performance is assured. The developed methodology greatly expands the possibilities for evaluating hydraulic properties in place, especially for measurements in undisturbed soil within plant rooting zones. The objectives of the project were (i) To develop methods for obtaining rapid and reliable estimates of unsaturated hydraulic properties in situ, based on water distribution from subsurface point sources. These can be operated with a constant flow or at a constant head; (ii) To develop methods for distinguishing between matrix and preferential flow using cavities/permeameters under tension; (iii) To evaluate auxiliary measurements such as soil water content or tensions near the operating cavities to improve reliability of results; and (iv: To develop numerical and analytical models for obtaining soil hydraulic properties based on measurements from buried-cavity sources and the auxiliary measurements. The project began in July 1995 and was terminated in November 1998. All of the objectives were pursued. Three new subsurface point sources were designed and tested and two old types were also used. Two of the three new designs used a nylon cloth membrane (30 mm) arranged in a cylindrical geometry and operating at a negative water pressure (tension). A separate bladder arrangement allowed inflation under a positive pressure to maintain contact between the membrane and the soil cavity. The third new design used porous stainless steel (0.5 and 5 mm) arranged in six segments, each with its own water inlet, assembled to form a cylindrical supply surface when inflated in a borehole. The "old" types included an "off-the-shelf" porous cup as well as measurements from a subsurface drip emitter in a small subsurface cavity. Reasonable measurements were made with all systems. Sustained use of the cloth membrane devices were difficult because of leaks and plugging problems. All of the devices require careful consideration to assure contact with the soil system. Steady flow was established which simplified the analysis (except for the drip emitter which used a transient analysis).
Map Merging and Homology Studies in Cucumis Species
Authors: Katzir Nurit , Perl-Treves Rafael , Staub Jack E.
Published: December 2021

List of original objectives (1) Construct a saturated map of melon, using RFLP, SSR, RAPD and Inter-SSR genetic markers. (2) Study the homology between the genomes of cucumber and melon. (3) Add to the Cucumis map, biologically important genes that had been cloned in other plant systems. Background Cucumber and melon are important vegetable crops in Israel and the US. Genome analysis of these crops has lagged behind the major plant crops, but in the last few years genetic maps with molecular markers have been developed. The groups that participated in this program were all involved in initial mapping of cucurbit crops. This grant was meant to contribute to this trend and promote some of the more advanced applications of genome analysis, i.e., map saturation and comparative mapping between cucurbit species. Major achievements The main achievements of the research were (a) the construction of melon maps that include important horticultural traits and Resistance Gene Homologues, (b) the development of approximately 200 SSR markers of melon and cucumber, (c) the preliminary map merging of melon maps and of comparative mapping between melon and cucumber. Implications As a result of this program, we have a good estimate of the applicability of different types or markers developed in one cucurbit species to genetic mapping in other species. Since the linkage groups of melon and cucumber can now be related to each other, future identification of important genes in the two crops will be facilitated. Moreover, the further saturation of the maps with additional markers will now allow us to target several disease resistance loci, horticultural traits for marker-assisted selection, fine mapping and positional cloning.
Identification of Citrus Fruit-Specific and Pathogen-Induced Promoters and Their Use in Molecular Engineering
Authors: Porat Ron , Holland Doron , Walling Linda
Published: December 2021

This one year BARD project was funded to develop methods to monitor promoter activity a gene expression patterns in citrus fruit. To fulfill this goal, we divided the research tasks between both labs so that the Israeli side evaluated the use of microprojectile bombardment ; a tool to evaluate transient gene expression in various citrus fruit tissues, and the US side optimized technical parameters required for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of various citrus cultivars. Microprojectile bombardment appeared to be a very efficient method for transient gene expression analysis in citrus leaf tissues but was somewhat less applicable in fruit tissues. Nevertheless, we did succeeded to achieve significant levels of 35S-GUS gene expression in young green flavedo tissue. However, only single random spots of 35S-GUS gene expression were detected mature flavedo and in juice sacs and albedo tissue. Overall, we assume that following some more technical improvements particle bombardment could provide a useful technique to rapidly analyze promoter activity at least in the flavedo tissue. For Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, we found that shoot cultures of 'Washington' navel oranges,'Fairchild' mandarins,'Eureca' lemons,'Troyer' citrange and various grapefruits provided a more reliable and consistent source of tissue for transformation than germinated seedlings. Moreover, various growth media's (McCown, Quoirin & Lepoivre, DCR) further improved shoot and root growth relative to MS mineral media, which is commonly used. Also pure white light (using bulbs which do not emit UV or blue light) improved shoot growth in various citrus varieties, and paromomycin appeared to be a more efficient antibiotic for the selection of transgenic plants than Kanamycin. Overall, these optimizations improve transformation efficacy and shoot growth and rooting capacity. In addition to the development of transformation methods, both Israeli and US labs achieved progress in the identification of citrus fruit-specific promoters. In Israel, we isolated a 3.6 kb promoter fragment of the thiamine biosynthesis c-thi gene, which is highly expressed in fruit peel tissue, whereas in the US we isolated a 1.5 kb promoter fragment of the citrus seed-specific cDNA CssH. The identification of more fruit-specific cDNAs and their corresponding promoter regions is currently in progress.
Molecular Approach for Improving the Stability of Insecticidal Nematodes
Authors: Gaugler Randy , Glazer Itamar , Segal Daniel , Hashmi Sarwar
Published: December 2021

Our overall goal is to improve insecticidal nematodes by genetically engineering strains capable of entering an enhanced state of dormancy that provides improved stability. Objectives: 1. Clone and sequence tps-l homologue from Steinernema carpocapsae. (Revised: A failure to isolate the tps gene group from Steinernema precipitated a redirection to identifying other genes involved in insecticidal nematode desiccation process.) 2. Incorporate cloned tps-l gene into S. carpocapsae to obtain overexpression, thereby, enhancing desiccation tolerance. (Revised: Other stress genes in addition to tps-l genes were cloned and efforts at expression in S. carpocapsae were conducted) 3. Characterize the transgenic strains. No other biological control agent offers more impressive attributes than insecticidal nematodes. However, their potential is limited by the bane of nearly all biological control agents: poor stability. This leads to inadequate shelf-life and ultimately reduced field efficacy. Nematode storage is based on desiccation, yet insecticidal species are only capable of partial desiccation termed quiescent anhydrobiosis. Overwhelming evidence has shown that when the disaccharide compound trehalose is elevated in anhydrobiotic organisms such as yeast, plants, and nematodes it enables these organisms the ability to survive environmental stresses i.e., desiccation. Armed with this information our goal was to improve insecticidal nematodes stability by engineering trehalose overexpression.
Translational Mechanisms that Govern Milk Protein Levels and Composition
Authors: Barash Itamar , Rhoads Robert E.
Published: December 2021

Original objectives: The long term objective of the project is to achieve higher content of protein in the milk of ruminants by modulating the translational machinery in the mammary gland. The first specific aim of the BARD proposal was to characterize responsiveness of various experimental systems to combination of lactogenic hormones and amino acids with particular emphasis on discrimination between the control of total protein synthesis and milk protein synthesis. Based on the results, we planned to proceed by characterizing the stage of protein synthesis in which the stimulation by lactogenic hormones and amino acid occur and finally we proposed to identify which components of the translation machinery are modified. Background to the topic: Milk protein is the most valuable component in milk, both for direct human consumption and for manufacturing cheese and other protein-based products. Attempts to augment protein content by the traditional methods of genetic selection and improved nutritional regimes have failed. The proposal was based on recent results suggesting that the limiting factor for augmenting protein synthesis in the bovine mammary gland is the efficiency of converting amino acids to milk proteins. Major conclusions, solutions, achievements: Insulin and prolactin synergistically stimulate â-casein mRNA translation by cytoplasmatic polyadenylation. The interaction between insulin and prolactin was demonstrated two decades ago as crucial for milk-protein synthesis, but the molecular mechanisms involved were not elucidated. We found in differentiated CID 9 mouse mammary epithelial cells line that insulin and prolactin synergistically increases the rate of milk protein mRNA translation. We focused on â-casein, the major milk protein, and found that the increase in â-casein mRNA translation was reflected in a shift to larger polysomes, indicating an effect on translational initiation. Inhibitors of the PI3K, mTOR, and MAPK pathways blocked insulin-stimulated total protein and â-casein synthesis but not the synergistic stimulation. Conversely, cordycepin, a polyadenylation inhibitor, abolished synergistic stimulation of protein synthesis without affecting insulin-stimulated translation. The poly(A) tract of â-casein mRNA progressively increased over 30 min of treatment with insulin plus prolactin. The 3’-untranslated region of â-casein mRNA was found to contain a cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE), and in reporter constructs, this was sufficient for the translational enhancement and mRNA-specific polyadenylation. Furthermore, insulin and prolactin stimulated phosphorylation of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB) but did not increase cytoplasmic polyadenylation.
Manipulating Chloroplast Gene Expression: A Genetic and Mechanistic Analysis of Processes that Control RNA Stability
Authors: Stern David , Schuster Gadi
Published: December 2021

New potential for engineering chloroplasts to express novel traits has stimulated research into relevant techniques and genetic processes, including plastid transformation and gene regulation. This BARD-funded research dealt with the mechanisms that influence chloroplast RNA accumulation, and thus gene expression. Previous work on cpRNA catabolism has elucidated a pathway initiated by endonucleolytic cleavage, followed by polyadenylation and exonucleolytic degradation. A major player in this process is the nucleus-encoded exoribo-nuclease/polymerase polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Biochemical characterization of PNPase has revealed a modular structure that controls its RNA synthesis and degradation activities, which in turn are responsive to the phosphate (P) concentration. During the funding period, new insights emerged into the molecular mechanism of RNA metabolism in the chloroplast and cyanobacteria, suggesting strategies for improving agriculturally-important plants or plants with novel introduced traits.
Molecular interactions of TYLCV capsid protein during assembly of viral particles
Authors: Gafni Yedidya , Citovsky Vitaly
Published: December 2021

Tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV) is a major pathogen of cultivated tomato, causing up to 100% crop loss in many parts of the world. The present proposal, a continuation of a BARD-funded project, expanded our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which CP molecules, as well as its pre-coat partner V2, interact with each other (CP), with the viral genome, and with cellular proteins during assembly and movement of the infectious virions. Specifically, two major objectives were proposed: I. To study in detail the molecular interactions between CP molecules and between CP and ssDNA leading to assembly of infectious TYLCV virions. II. To study the roles of host cell factors in TYLCV assembly. Our research toward these goals has produced the following major achievements: • Characterization of the CP nuclear shuttling interactor, karyopherin alpha 1, its pattern of expression and the putative involvement of auxin in regulation of its expression. (#1 in our list of publication, Mizrachy, Dabush et al. 2004). • Identify a single amino acid in the capsid protein’s sequence that is critical for normal virus life-cycle. (#2 in our list of publications, Yaakov, Levy et al. in preparation). • Development of monoclonal antibodies with high specificity to the capsid protein of TYLCV. (#3 in our list of publications, Solmensky, Zrachya et al. in press). • Generation of Tomato plants resistant to TYLCV by expressing transgene coding for siRNA targeted at the TYLCV CP. (#4 in our list of publications, Zrachya, Kumar et al. in press). •These research findings provided significant insights into (i) the molecular interactions of TYLCV capsid protein with the host cell nuclear shuttling receptor, and (ii) the mechanism by which TYLCV V2 is involved in the silencing of PTGS and contributes to the virus pathogenicity effect. Furthermore, the obtained knowledge helped us to develop specific strategies to attenuate TYLCV infection, for example, by blocking viral entry into and/or exit out of the host cell nucleus via siRNA as we showed in our publication recently (# 4 in our list of publications). Finally, in addition to the study of TYLCV nuclear import and export, our research contributed to our understanding of general mechanisms for nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of proteins and nucleic acids in plant cells. Also integration for stable transformation of ssDNA mediated by our model pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens led to identification of plant specific proteins involved.
Effects of soil properties and organic residues management on C sequestration and N losses
Authors: Bar-Tal Asher , Bloom Paul R. , Fine Pinchas , Clapp C. Edward , Hadas Aviva , Venterea Rodney T. , Zohar Dan , Chen Dong , Molina Jean-Alex
Published: December 2021

Objectives - The overall objective of this proposal was to explore the effects of soil properties and management practices on C sequestration in soils and off-site losses of N.The specific objectives were: 1. to investigate and to quantify the effects of soil properties on C transformations that follow OW decomposition, C losses by gaseous emission, and its sequestration by organic and mineral components of the soil; 2. to investigate and to quantify the effects of soil properties on organic N mineralization and transformations in soil, its losses by leaching and gaseous emission; 3. to investigate and to quantify the effects of management practices and plants root activity and decomposition on C and N transformations; and 4. to upgrade the models NCSOIL and NCSWAP to include inorganic C and root exudation dynamics. The last objective has not been fulfilled due to difficulties in experimentally quantification of the effects of soil inorganic component on root exudation dynamics. Objective 4 was modified to explore the ability of NCSOIL to simulate organic matter decomposition and N transformations in non- and calcareous soils. Background - Rates of decomposition of organic plant residues or organic manures in soil determine the amount of carbon (C), which is mineralized and released as CO₂ versus the amount of C that is retained in soil organic matter (SOM). Decomposition rates also greatly influence the amount of nitrogen (N) which becomes available for plant uptake, is leached from the soil or lost as gaseous emission, versus that which is retained in SOM. Microbial decomposition of residues in soil is strongly influenced by soil management as well as soil chemical and physical properties and also by plant roots via the processes of mineral N uptake, respiration, exudation and decay.
Improvement of quality and nutritional value of muscle foods
Authors: Kanner Joseph , Richards Mark , Kohen Ron , Jess Reed
Published: December 2021

Food is an essential to our existence but under certain conditions it could become the origin to the accumulative health damages. Technological processes as heating, chopping, mincing, grounding, promote the lipid oxidation process in muscle tissues and meat foodstuffs. Lipid oxidation occurred rapidly in turkey muscle, intermediate in duck, and slowest in chicken during frozen storage. Depletion of tocopherol during frozen storage was more rapid in turkey and duck compared to chicken. These processes developed from lipid peroxides produce many cytotoxic compounds including malondialdehyde (MDA). The muscle tissue is further oxidized in stomach conditions producing additional cytotoxic compounds. Oxidized lipids that are formed during digestion of a meal possess the potential to promote reactions that incur vascular diseases. A grape seed extract (1% of the meat weight) and butylated hydroxytoluene (0.2% of the lipid weight) were each effective at preventing formation of lipid oxidation products for 3 hours during co-incubation with cooked turkey meat in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). Polyphenols in the human diet, as an integral part of the meal prevent the generation and absorption of cytotoxic compounds and the destruction of essential nutrients, eg. antioxidants vitamins during the meal. Polyphenols act as antioxidants in the gastrointestinal tract; they scavenge free radicals and may interact with reactive carbonyls, enzymes and proteins. These all reactions results in decreasing the absorption of reactive carbonyls and possible other cytotoxic compounds into the plasma. Consumptions of diet high in fat and red meat are contributory risk factors partly due to an increase production of cytotoxic oxidized lipid products eg. MDA. However, the simultaneously consumption of polyphenols rich foods reduce these factors. Locating the biological site of action of polyphenols in the in the gastrointestinal tract may explain the paradox between the protective effect of a highly polyphenols rich diet and the low bioavailability of these molecules in human plasma. It may also explain the "French paradox" and the beneficial effect of Mediterranean and Japanese diets, in which food products with high antioxidants content such as polyphenols are consumed during the meal.
Potentiation of Pest Control by Insect Immunosuppression
Authors: Chejanovsky Nor , Webb Bruce A.
Published: December 2021

The restricted host range of many baculoviruses, highly pathogenic to Lepidoptera and non-pathogenic to mammals, limits their use to single or few closely related Lepidopteran species and is an obstacle to extending their implementation for pest control. The insect immune response is a major determinant of the ability of an insect pathogen to efficiently multiply and propagate. We have developed an original model system to study the Lepidopteran antiviral immune response based on Spodoptera littoralis resistance to AcMNPV (Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus) infection and the fascinating immunosuppressive activity of polydnaviruses .Our aim is to elucidate the mechanisms through which the immunosuppressive insect polydnaviruses promote replication of pathogenic baculoviruses in lepidopteran hosts that are mildly or non-permissive to virus- replication. In this study we : 1- Assessed the extent to which and the mechanisms whereby the immunosuppressive Campoletis sonorensis polydnavirus (CsV) or its genes enhanced replication of a well-characterized pathogenic baculovirus AcMNPV, in polydnavirus-immunosuppressedH. zea and S. littoralis insects and S. littoralis cells, hosts that are mildly or non-permissive to AcMNPV. 2- Identified CsV genes involved in the above immunosuppression (e.g. inhibiting cellular encapsulation and disrupting humoral immunity). We showed that: 1. S. littoralis larvae mount an immune response against a baculovirus infection. 2. Immunosuppression of an insect pest improves the ability of a viral pathogen, the baculovirus AcMNPV, to infect the pest. 3. For the first time two PDV-specific genes of the vankyrin and cystein rich-motif families involved in immunosuppression of the host, namely Pvank1 and Hv1.1 respectively, enhanced the efficacy of an insect pathogen toward a semipermissive pest. 4. Pvank1 inhibits apoptosis of Spodopteran cells elucidating one functional aspect of PDVvankyrins. 5. That Pvank-1 and Hv1.1 do not show cooperative effect in S. littoralis when co-expressed during AcMNPV infection.   Our results pave the way to developing novel means for pest control, including baculoviruses, that rely upon suppressing host immune systems by strategically weakening insect defenses to improve pathogen (i.e. biocontrol agent) infection and virulence. Also, we expect that the above result will help to develop systems for enhanced insect control that may ultimately help to reduce transmission of insect vectored diseases of humans, animals and plants as well as provide mechanisms for suppression of insect populations that damage crop plants by direct feeding.
Role of RNA Silencing Suppression in the Pathogenicity and Host Specificity of the Grapevine Virus A
Authors: Mawassi Munir , Dolja Valerian
Published: December 2021

RNA silencing is a defense mechanism that functions against virus infection and involves sequence-specific degradation of viral RNA. Diverse RNA and DNA viruses of plants encode RNA silencing suppressors (RSSs), which, in addition to their role in viral counterdefense, were implicated in the efficient accumulation of viral RNAs, virus transport, pathogenesis, and determination of the virus host range. Despite rapidly growing understanding of the mechanisms of RNA silencing suppression, systematic analysis of the roles played by diverse RSSs in virus biology and pathology is yet to be completed. Our research was aimed at conducting such analysis for two grapevine viruses, Grapevine virus A (GVA) and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-2 (GLRaV- 2). Our major achievements on the previous cycle of BARD funding are as follows. 1. GVA and GLRaV-2 were engineered into efficient gene expression and silencing vectors for grapevine. The efficient techniques for grapevine infection resulting in systemic expression or silencing of the recombinant genes were developed. Therefore, GVA and GLRaV-2 were rendered into powerful tools of grapevine virology and functional genomics. 2. The GVA and GLRaV-2 RSSs, p10 and p24, respectively, were identified, and their roles in viral pathogenesis were determined. In particular, we found that p10 functions in suppression and pathogenesis are genetically separable. 3. We revealed that p10 is a self-interactive protein that is targeted to the nucleus. In contrast, p24 mechanism involves binding small interfering RNAs in the cytoplasm. We have also demonstrated that p10 is relatively weak, whereas p24 is extremely strong enhancer of the viral agroinfection. 4. We found that, in addition to the dedicated RSSs, GVA and GLRaV-2 counterdefenses involve ORF1 product and leader proteases, respectively. 5. We have teamed up with Dr. Koonin and Dr. Falnes groups to study the evolution and function of the AlkB domain presents in GVA and many other plant viruses. It was demonstrated that viral AlkBs are RNA-specific demethylases thus providing critical support for the biological relevance of the novel process of AlkB-mediated RNA repair.
Novel Approach to Mycotoxin Detoxification in Farm Animals Using Probiotics Added to Feed Stuffs
Authors: Shapira Roni , Grizzle Judith , Paster Nachman , Pines Mark , Mendis-Handagama Chamindrani
Published: December 2021

T-2 toxin, a toxic product belongs to the trichothecene mycotoxins, attracts major interest because of its severe detrimental effects on the health of human and farm animals. The occurrence of trichothecenes contamination is global and they are very resistant to physical or chemical detoxification techniques. Trichothecenes are absorbed in the small intestine into the blood stream. The hypothesis of this project was to develop a protecting system using probiotic bacteria that will express trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase (Tri101) that convert T-2 to a less toxic intermediate to reduce ingested levels in-situ. The major obstacle that we had faced during the project is the absence of stable and efficient expression vectors in probiotics. Most of the project period was invested to screen and isolate strong promoter to express high amounts of the detoxify enzyme on one hand and to stabilize the expression vector on the other hand. In order to estimate the detoxification capacity of the isolated promoters we had developed two very sensitive bioassays.The first system was based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Human liver cells proliferation was used as the second bioassay system.Using both systems we were able to prove actual detoxification on living cells by probiotic bacteria expressing Tri101. The first step was the isolation of already discovered strong promoters from lactic acid bacteria, cloning them downstream the Tri101 gene and transformed vectors to E. coli, a lactic acid bacteria strain Lactococcuslactis MG1363, and a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus casei. All plasmid constructs transformed to L. casei were unstable. The promoter designated lacA found to be the most efficient in reducing T-2 from the growth media of E. coli and L. lactis. A prompter library was generated from L. casei in order to isolate authentic probiotic promoters. Seven promoters were isolated, cloned downstream Tri101, transformed to bacteria and their detoxification capability was compared. One of those prompters, designated P201 showed a relatively high efficiency in detoxification. Sequence analysis of the promoter region of P201 and another promoter, P41, revealed the consensus region recognized by the sigma factor. We further attempted to isolate an inducible, strong promoter by comparing the protein profiles of L. casei grown in the presence of 0.3% bile salt (mimicking intestine conditions). Six spots that were consistently overexpressed in the presence of bile salts were isolated and identified. Their promoter reigns are now under investigation and characterization.
Soil Environmental Effects on Root Growth and Uptake Dynamics for Irrigated Systems
Authors: Furman Alex , Hopmans Jan , Assouline Shmuel , Simunek Jirka , Richards Jim
Published: December 2021

Root water uptake is perhaps the most important unknown in the mass balance of hydrological and agricultural systems. The understanding and the ability to predict root uptake and the way it is influence by environmental conditions has great potential in increasing water and fertilizer use efficiency and allowing better control of water and contaminant leach towards groundwater. This BARD supported research is composed of several components, including a) intensive laboratory work for the quantification of root uptake and the way it is controlled by environmental conditions; b) development of tools for laboratory and field use that can help in sensing very low water fluxes and water content, which is a necessity for studying root uptake; c) development of capabilities to model compensated root uptake; and d) development of a database that will allow calibration of such a model. In addition some auxiliary research was performed as reported later. Some of the components, and especially the modeling and the HPP development, were completed in the framework of the project and even published in the international literature. The completed components provide a modeling environment that allows testing root compensated uptake modeling, a tool that is extremely important for true mechanistic understanding of root uptake and irrigation design that is based on mechanistic and not partially based myth. The new button HPP provides extended level of utilization of this important tool. As discussed below, other components did not get to maturity stage during the period of the project, but comprehensive datasets were collected and will be analyzed in the near future. A comprehensive dataset of high temporal and spatial resolution water contents for two different setups was recorded and should allow us understanding f the uptake at these fine resolutions. Additional important information about root growth dynamics and its dependence in environmental conditions was achieved in both Israel and the US. Overall, this BARD supported project provided insight on many important phenomena related to root uptake and to high resolution monitoring in the vadose zone. Although perhaps not to the level that we initially hoped for, we achieved better understanding of the related processes, better modeling capabilities, and better datasets that will allow continuation of this effort in the near future.
Characterization and Chemistry of Sexual Communication in Two Psyllid Pests of Pears (Homoptera: Psyllidae)
Authors: Horton David , Soroker Victoria , Landolt Peter , Zada Byers Anat
Published: December 2021

Pear-feeding psyllids in the genus Cacopsylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) are among the most important arthropod pests of pears worldwide. These pests are exceedingly difficult to control, and new management tools are needed. Sex attractantpheromones have been used in IPM programs for pests of pome fruits (especially Lepidoptera), but not as yet for pest Hemiptera. Results of the current project showed that males of two psyllid pests of pears, Cacopsylla bidens (Israel) and Cacopsylla pyricola (North America), use volatile or semi-volatile compounds to locate female psyllids for mating. For both species, the attractants can be collected from the cuticle of females by washing live female psyllids with an appropriate solvent. Analysis of these washes by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry led to the following discoveries: Psyllid cuticles contain a mix of hydrocarbons, straight chain and branched alkanes, and long chain aldehydes The two species have different chemical profiles Chemical profiles change seasonally and with reproductive status Chemical profiles differ between male and reproductive female psyllids   Several specific compounds found to be more abundant in attractive females than males were identified and synthesized. Behavioral assays (olfactometer) were then used to determine whether these compounds were attractive to males. Two compounds showed promise as attractants for male psyllids: 7-methylheptacosane (C. bidens) and 13-methylheptacosane (C. pyricola and C. bidens). These are the first sex attractantpheromones identified for any psyllid species. Field tests showed that the chemicals could be used to attract males under orchard conditions, but that effectiveness in the field appeared to be seasonally variable. Future research plans include: (a) test mixtures of compounds; (b) explore seasonality in field response to compounds; (c) determine whether chirality of the two compounds affects their attractiveness; and (d) compare different types of traps and release devices to optimize lure performance.
Do Saponins Present in Model Systems and Legume Bread Modulate Cholesterol Absorption in vitro and in vivo?
Authors: Kerem Zohar , Vodovotz Yael , Bonfil David , Schwartz Steven J. , Failla Mark
Published: December 2021

No abstract.   The overall general goal of the research project was to provide evidence for the beneficial biological activity of saponins from edible legumes, and to incorporate them into bread hat will become a functional food. Its functionality is in its ability to attenuate the absorption of dietary lipids and cholesterol.
Studying the Involvement of the Linker Protein CWLP and its Homologue in Cytoskeleton-plasma Membrane-cell Wall Continuum and in Drought Tolerance
Authors: Zilberstein Aviah , Liu Bo , Sadot Einat
Published: December 2021

The study has been focused on proline-rich proteins from the HyPRP family. Three proline-rich proteins have been characterized with the CWLP as the main objective. We showed that this unique protein is assembled in the plasma membrane (PM) and forms a continuum between the cell wall (CW) and cytosol via the PM. While spanning the PM, it is arranged in lipid rafts as CWLP-aquaporin complexes that recruit PP2A-β”, as a part of PP2A enzyme, close to the aquaporin moiety where it dephosphorylates two crucial Ser residues and induces closure of the aquaporin water channels. The closure of water channels renders cells more tolerant to plasmolysis and plants to dehydration. This unique effect was observed not only in Arabidopsis, but also in potato plants over expressing the CWLP, suggesting a possible usage in crop plants as a valve that reduces loss of water or/and elevates cold resistance.   The CWLP is a member of the HyPRP protein family that all possess structurally similar 8CM domain, predicted to localize to PM lipid rafts. In this study, two additional highly homologous HyPRP proteins were also studied. The GPRP showed the same localization and it’s over expression increased tolerance to lack of water. However, the third one, PRP940, despite sharing high homology in the 8CM domain, is completely different and is assembled in parallel to cortical microtubules in the cell. Moreover, our data suggest that this protein is not involved in rendering plants resistant to lack of water. We suggest implying CWLP as a tool for better regulation of water maintenance in crop plants.
БІЗНЕС-ПЛАНУВАННЯ ЯК ІНСТРУМЕНТ ЗДІЙСНЕННЯ ЗОВНІШНЬОЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ НА ПІДПРИЄМСТВІ
Authors: Євтушенко Вікторія , Шуба Тетяна , Подлипян Інна
Published: December 2021

Мета статті полягає у дослідженні і вдосконаленні бізнес-планування в умовах розвитку зовнішньоекономічної діяльності підприємства. Даний інструмент господарської діяльності набуває особливого значення на етапі економічного розвитку, оскільки об’єктивно зростає потреба в більш детальному та комплексному застосуванні сучасних елементів планування для забезпечення життєздатності та запланованої конкурентоспроможності підприємства. Сучасна економічна ситуація, пов’язана з активним розвитком ринкових відносин та євроінтеграційним курсом країни, визначає новий підхід до внутрішнього та зовнішньоекономічного планування діяльності, які сьогодні набувають особливої актуальності. Проведено аналіз стосовно методології складання та ефективного впровадження бізнес-плану, на базі детального вивчення надано рекомендації щодо застосування при зовнішньоекономічній діяльності підприємства.
ІМПЛЕМЕНТАЦІЯ ҐЕНДЕРНО ОРІЄНТОВАНОГО БЮДЖЕТУВАННЯ У ФІСКАЛЬНУ ПОЛІТИКУ ДЕРЖАВИ: ПРОПОЗИЦІЇ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ
Authors: Карпич Анна , Чернявка Владислав
Published: December 2021

У статті обґрунтовано імплементацію ґендерно-орієнтованого бюджетування у фіскальну політику України та запропоновано потенційні напрямки його подальшого впровадження задля досягнення ґендерної рівності та наближення до соціальної справедливості у вітчизняному суспільстві. Авторами було узагальнено значення фіскальної політики для соціально-економічного розвитку держави та нинішнього стану економіки України. З’ясовано, що фіскальна політика в Україні на сьогодні потребує коригувань та перегляду задля подолання наявних кризових явищ у економіці. Встановлено та охарактеризовано місце ґендерно-орієнтованого бюджетування у фіскальній політиці держави. Визначено, що ґендерно-орієнтоване бюджетування є більш ефективним за умови формування дохідної частини бюджетів з урахуванням ґендерних аспектів. Надано пропозиції щодо розширення імплементації ґендерно-орієнтованого бюджетування в Україні в напрямку впровадження ґендерно-орієнтованого підходу до акумуляції бюджетних доходів.
Основні вимоги до кабельних виробів систем, важливих для безпеки АЕС
Authors: Iokst O. , Iokst V. , Ivashova L. , Yefimova K. , Levakin V.
Published: December 2021

Розглянуто особливості експлуатаційних умов кабельних ліній в складі систем, важливих для безпеки АЕС. Наведено класифікацію кабельних виробів, а також основні вимоги до кабельних виробів, що забезпечують ядерну та радіаційну безпеку експлуатації АЕС.
Комп’ютерна безпека інформаційних та керуючих систем АЕС: кібернетичні загрози
Authors: Klevtsov O. , Trubchaninov S.
Published: December 2021

Статтю присвячено вивченню кібернетичних загроз як одного з аспектів комп’ютерної безпеки інформаційних та керуючих систем АЕС. Коротко розглянуто базові поняття, терміни й визначення у сфері комп’ютерної безпеки. Дано аналіз потенційних кібернетичних загроз на стадіях розробки й експлуатації інформаційних та керуючих систем АЕС. Наведено основні типи загроз, серед яких шкідливі закладки в програмному забезпеченні й технічних засобах (зокрема покупних), комп’ютерні атаки по мережах передачі даних, внесення шкідливих програм із зовнішніх носіїв інформації та портативних пристроїв. Особливу увагу приділено впливу програмного забезпечення низьких класів безпеки на програмне забезпечення більш високих класів безпеки. Наведено приклади реальних інцидентів на ядерних установках, спричинених умисними кібернетичними атаками або ненавмисними комп’ютерними помилками під час роботи з програмним забезпеченням систем, важливих для безпеки АЕС.
Високотемпературні відмінності густини теплового джерела MOX-палива і діоксидного палива та пов’язані з цим особливості аварії на третьому блоці АЕС «Фукусіма-1»
Authors: Tarasov V. , Chernezhenko S. , Kakaev A. , Kosenko S. , Pantak O.
Published: December 2021

До аварії на АЕС «Фукусіма-1» перспектива розширення паливної бази АЕС орієнтувалась на використанням MOX-палива. Аварія ж виявила недостатнє знання температурних властивостей паливних нуклідів у більш широкому інтервалі температур (понад 1000 К), ніж інтервали робочих температур діючих реакторів.

Виявлено принципову відмінність температурних залежностей усереднених по тепловому спектру нейтронів перерізів реакції поділу 235U і 239Pu. Отримано розрахункові температурні залежності густини теплових джерел MOX- та UO2-палива теплових реакторів.
Оцінка застосовності моделі деформації оболонок твелів розрахункового коду RELAP5/MOD3.2 для палива реакторів ВВЕР-1000
Authors: Vorobyov Yu. , Zhabin O.
Published: December 2021

Досліджується застосовність моделі деформації оболонок твелів розрахункового коду RELAP5/MOD3.2 до умов палива ВВЕР-1000 з оболонками зі сплаву Zr+1 % Nb. Для цього використовуються експериментальні дані та результати, отримані на розрахунковій моделі каналу тепловидільної збірки активної зони. Застосовність моделі деформації оболонки перевірено в інтервалі температур від 600 до 1200 °С та інтервалі перепадів тиску від 1 до 12 МПа. Результати оцінки свідчать, що дані вбудованої моделі деформації твелів коду RELAP5/MOD3.2 можуть бути застосовані до оцінки руйнування оболонок твелів із сплаву Zr+1 % Nb лише в певній, обмеженій області параметрів. Це свідчить про необхідність урахування результатів цієї оцінки в разі використання моделі деформації оболонок твелів розрахункового коду RELAP5/MOD3.2 в аналізі проектних аварій для реакторів ВВЕР.
Контактна корозія алюмінію та його сплавів у водному середовищі ядерних установок
Authors: Zuiok V. , Rud R. , Тretiakov М. , Кushtym Ya. , Кrasnorutskii V. , Cherniaieva Т. , Gritsyna V.
Published: December 2021

Досліджено процеси, що відбуваються в процесі контактної корозії таких конструкційних матеріалів ядерних установок, як алюміній, його сплав САВ-1 з цирконієвим сплавом Е110 і нержавіючою сталлю марки Х18Н10Т. Результати електрохімічних та автоклавних випробувань досліджуваних контактних пар показують, що в усіх випадках анодом є алюміній (або САВ-1), який окиснюється більш інтенсивно порівняно з Е110 і Х18Н10Т. У разі окиснювання алюмінію та САВ-1 у водному середовищі продукти корозії переходять у корозійне середовище. Попереднє окиснення матеріалу катода (Е110) до товщини оксидної плівки 1—1,5 мкм практично унеможливлює гальванічну складову корозії САВ-1 у контактній парі з Е110, що підтверджується результатами вимірювання щільності струму корозії та іншими показниками, які характеризують надійність роботи елементів і безпеку всієї установки в цілому.