Comparative study of the effects of five Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) strains on cabbage moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Food production is adversely affected by numerous biotic and abiotic factors that lead to reduction in yield and poor quality of the food products. Use of commercially synthetic pesticides was the most common method for pest control in many agricultural crops during recent decades. These synthetic chemicals have effects on all living organism when they consume such crops treated with pesticides. This research attempted is a green regulation technology as an alternative method to control cabbage moth Plutella xylostella towards the reduction of release of toxic chemical and residue. Virulence studies on different strains (Bb6, Bb11, Bb115, Bb116 and Bb362) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) were evaluated. Various doses at 0 (control) 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 conidies ml−1 of five strains were applied topically on the third stage larvae of P. xylostella. Different parameters of larvae were measured in terms of mortality, sporulation rates, the number of pupae that emerged as adult, number of eggs laid between survived adults and the survival rate of larvae were examined at different doses, statistical analysis was performed using Cox-regression. We found that Bb11 strain of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) produced highest virulence compared to other strains at 109 conidia/ml while, Bb6 strains showed lower virulence effect at 109 conidia/ml as compared to control dose. Due to the larvicidal effect of different fungus strains, the percentage weight of female adult decreased significantly as compare to the control

Molecular cloning and expression of recombinant Trichoderma harzianum chitinase in Pichia pastoris

Background: The importance of chitinases over the years had attracted huge biotechnological attention because its usage cut across wide range of field. It plays a significant role in the defensive mechanism against fungal pathogens.Methods: In this study, an endochitinase gene was isolated from Trichoderma harzianum, and characterized in-silico by using various bioinformatics tools. Further, the gene was cloned in eukaryotic expression vector (pPICZA) under the control of AOX1 promoter for recombinant expression in Pichia pastoris GS115 host strain.Results: The chitinase cDNA was ~1000 bp long, while in-silico studies revealed an open reading frame of 888 bp encoding 295 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 37332.76 Da and an estimated isoelectric point of 4.07. Recombinant chitinase protein expressed intracellularly and revealed high expression in P. pastoris host. The 37 kDa recombinant chitinase protein developed with antigen antibody confirmed its expression in P. pastoris.Conclusion: Conclusively, T. harzianum derived chitinase gene was successfully over expressed in P. pastoris where recombinant protein was expressed intracellular in the form of inclusion bodies.Keywords: Trichoderma harzianum; Chitinase; Pichia pastori

A collaborative approach to improving representation in viral genomic surveillance.

The lack of routine viral genomic surveillance delayed the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2, allowing the virus to spread unfettered at the outset of the U.S. epidemic. Over subsequent months, poor surveillance enabled variants to emerge unnoticed. Against this backdrop, long-standing social and racial inequities have contributed to a greater burden of cases and deaths among minority groups. To begin to address these problems, we developed a new variant surveillance model geared toward building 'next generation' genome sequencing capacity at universities in or near rural areas and engaging the participation of their local communities. The resulting genomic surveillance network has generated more than 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes to date, including the first confirmed case in northeast Louisiana of Omicron, and the first and sixth confirmed cases in Georgia of the emergent BA.2.75 and BQ.1.1 variants, respectively. In agreement with other studies, significantly higher viral gene copy numbers were observed in Delta variant samples compared to those from Omicron BA.1 variant infections, and lower copy numbers were seen in asymptomatic infections relative to symptomatic ones. Collectively, the results and outcomes from our collaborative work demonstrate that establishing genomic surveillance capacity at smaller academic institutions in rural areas and fostering relationships between academic teams and local health clinics represent a robust pathway to improve pandemic readiness

Characteristics of study donors in Louisiana (22 July 2021–12 April 2022).

Characteristics of study donors in Louisiana (22 July 2021–12 April 2022).</p

EPI_SET ID for subsampled set of global sequences.

EPI_SET ID for subsampled set of global sequences.</p

EPI_SET ID for sequences from this initiative.

The lack of routine viral genomic surveillance delayed the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2, allowing the virus to spread unfettered at the outset of the U.S. epidemic. Over subsequent months, poor surveillance enabled variants to emerge unnoticed. Against this backdrop, long-standing social and racial inequities have contributed to a greater burden of cases and deaths among minority groups. To begin to address these problems, we developed a new variant surveillance model geared toward building ‘next generation’ genome sequencing capacity at universities in or near rural areas and engaging the participation of their local communities. The resulting genomic surveillance network has generated more than 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes to date, including the first confirmed case in northeast Louisiana of Omicron, and the first and sixth confirmed cases in Georgia of the emergent BA.2.75 and BQ.1.1 variants, respectively. In agreement with other studies, significantly higher viral gene copy numbers were observed in Delta variant samples compared to those from Omicron BA.1 variant infections, and lower copy numbers were seen in asymptomatic infections relative to symptomatic ones. Collectively, the results and outcomes from our collaborative work demonstrate that establishing genomic surveillance capacity at smaller academic institutions in rural areas and fostering relationships between academic teams and local health clinics represent a robust pathway to improve pandemic readiness.</div

Geographic coverage of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi.

Map of the surveillance region with parishes (Louisiana) or counties (Georgia, Mississippi) where at least one specimen was sequenced by the network indicated in red. Map created using MapChart and republished under a CC BY license with permission from Minas Giannekas, original copyright 2014.</p

Viral gene copies by vaccination status and symptomatology.

(A) No statistically significant differences (p = 0.1191) in viral gene copies were observed between unvaccinated donors without a previous infection (n = 80) and vaccinated donors with or without a previous infection (n = 80). (B) Viral gene copies were lower (p = 0.0006) in asymptomatic donors (n = 30) compared to symptomatic donors (n = 160).</p

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Louisiana.

(A) Number of variants sequenced over time in Louisiana overlaid with number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. (B) Number of sequences uploaded and latency for new sequencing entities established at Grambling State University (GSU) and Louisiana Tech University (Tech).</p

Decreasing genome breadth of coverage in samples with high Cq values.

Higher Cq values were observed in Omicron (n = 115) than in Delta (n = 24). All but one Delta specimen was amplified for 32 cycles and all Omicron specimens were amplified for 35–40 cycles.</p