Inheritance of determinants of flower colour in tetraploid roses

The choice of selection breeding for crop improvement in cut roses requires a better understanding of biological mechanisms and knowledge of the inheritance of the major target traits which can lead to new or improved screening methods. Colour is still the most important trait in cut roses. A tetraploid mapping population will be characterized for flower colour, by using colour charts such as the official chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, and additionally, by image analysis and measuring reflectance using a spectrocolorimeter. The genetics of flower colour will be studied. In addition, flower petals of all genotypes will be analysed by HPLC to characterize secondary metabolic components that determine flower colour, such as anthocyanins. The inheritance of these components will also be assessed and compared to that of flower colour. Preliminary results show that the most effective method to quantify colour is by HPLC analysis of the extracted anthocyanins. The highest pelargonidin concentrations occur at relatively low cyanidin concentrations. Absorbance and reflectance measurements illustrate the accumulated effect of all the individual antho¬cyanins present in the peta

Dépistage de la prééclampsie au premier trimestre de la grossesse

OBJECTIF: évaluer un modèle prédictif de prééclampsie associant des marqueurs cliniques, biologiques (Inhibine A, PP-13, hCG, ADAM12, PAPP-A et PlGF) et du Doppler des artères utérines (DAU) au 1er trimestre de la grossesse. METHODE : étude prospective de cohorte de 893 nullipares chez qui DAU et prélèvement sanguin étaient réalisés à 11-14 semaines. RESULTATS : 40 grossesses se sont compliquées de prééclampsie (4,5%) dont 9 de prééclampsie précoce (1,0%) et 16 de prééclampsie sévère (1,8%). Le meilleur modèle prédictif de la prééclampsie sévère associait les marqueurs cliniques, PAPP-A et PlGF (taux de détection 87,5% pour 10% de faux positif). Le DAU étant corrélé à la concentration de PAPP-A (r=-0,117 ; p<0,001), il n’améliorait pas la modélisation. CONCLUSION : la combinaison de marqueurs cliniques et biologiques (PlGF et PAPP-A) au 1er trimestre permet un dépistage performant de la prééclampsie sévère. Le DAU n’est pas un instrument efficace de dépistage au 1er trimestre dans cette population.OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of combined screening for pregnancy hypertensive disorders by maternal characteristics, first trimester uterine artery Doppler (UAD) and serum biomarkers (Inhibine A, PP-13, hCG, ADAM12, PAPP-A et PlGF). STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study, 893 nulliparous women had UAD evaluation and collection of serum sample at 11-14 weeks. RESULTS: 40 women developed preeclampsia (4.5%) of which 9 early-onset preeclampsia (1.0%), and 16 severe preeclampsia (1.8%). The best model to predict preeclampsia associated maternal charateristics, PAPP-A and PlGF (detection rate 87.5% for 10% of false positive). UAD was correlated to PAPP-A concentration (r=-0.117 ; p<0.001), and so did not add to predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION: Combination of maternal characteristics and first trimester PlGF and PAPP-A provides a useful screening for severe preeclampsia. First trimester UAD was not an efficient screening tool in this population

Specific mapping of disease resistance genes in tetraploid cut roses

Control of fungal diseases is a major constraint of cut-rose cultivation in greenhouses and in transportation around the world. Therefore, development of resistant cultivars is a promising way to reduce the use of chemicals required for controlling the diseases. Genetic analyses and breeding for resistance, however, are hampered by the high degree of heterozygosity and the polyploid nature of cultivated roses. Nucleotide-binding site (NBS) profiling of Van der Linden et al. (2004) was used as a tool enabling a more directed way of studying the genetics of resistance to pathogens responsible for diseases such as powdery mildew. NBS profiling is a multiplex screening technique, producing amplified resistance gene (R-gene) and resistance gene analogue (RGA) fragments by using degenerated primers based on the conserved motifs present in the NBS domain of resistance genes. Since RGAs are abundantly distributed and highly polymorphic within the plant genome, NBS profiling generates multiple markers of putative resistance genes. Twelve NBS degenerated primer/ restriction enzyme combinations were used to genotype the whole rose tetraploid K5 population (Yan, 2005) and its parents. To generate RGA profiles, the restriction enzymes: AluI, HaeIII, Mse and RsaI were used in combination with degenerated primers NBS1, NBS3, and NBS5a6. The profiles were dominantly scored resulting in 106 polymorphic RGA markers which segregated in a 1:1 or 3:1 ratio. Uni-and bi-parental simplex markers will be mapped on the two available AFLP/SSR K5 maps (Yan, 2005) with Joinmap 4.0. The resulting parental tetraploid maps will be used to dissect the genetic variation for resistance to powdery mildew resistance. Additional Rosaceae SSRs mentioned in the literature are currently tested on the K5 population to obtain allelic bridges between the tetraploid and diploid genetic maps in rose and related species in order to align them. These bridges will improve cross-ploidy comparisons in roses in order to strengthen cut rose breedin

From VIH-TAVIE™ to TAVIE-WOMAN™: Development of a Web-Based Virtual Nursing Intervention to Meet the Specific Needs of Women Living With HIV

The web-based virtual nursing intervention VIH-TAVIE™ was designed to help people living with HIV (PLWH) adhere to their antiretroviral treatment (ART). The content of the intervention is generic and gender neutral. However, it is recognised that women living with HIV (WLWH) experience their condition in a unique way and face gender-specific challenges regarding ART intake. Consequently, it seemed appropriate to adapt VIH-TAVIE™ specifically for women. The purpose of this paper is to present the qualitative results of an evaluative study of VIH-TAVIE™ that describe the experience of six WLWH who received the web-based computer-delivered intervention and to present the content and specificities of an offshoot intervention under development, TAVIE-Woman™. The following themes emerged from the content analysis of interviews with the WLWH about : 1) presence of actual nurse on site to facilitate transition to virtual mode; 2) virtual nurse humanises experience of computer-delivered intervention; 3) learners’ appreciation of medium and content; and 4) perceived benefits following participation in the intervention. To adapt VIH-TAVIETM for women, discussions were also held with a healthcare team in a mother-child university hospital centre. The gender-specific content added to TAVIE-WomanTM included digital storytelling of HIV-positive women, various topics about changing ARV medication during pregnancy, neonatal ART prophylaxis, disclosure  to children,  adapting to life with HIV, selecting a birth-control method, and social support. Ultimately, the purpose of TAVIE-WomanTM is to support WLWH by offering them 24/7 access to tailored education and reliable quality information

Pandemic stress and SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with pathological changes at the maternal-fetal interface

Introduction The reported effects of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy outcomes are conflicting; studies frequently overlook the placenta, which is critical for the health of the mother and infant(s). This study aimed to determine the effect of pandemic stress ± SARS CoV-2 infection on placental histopathology. Methods Women were recruited in Canada (n = 69); France (n = 21) or in the UK (n = 25), between March and October 2020. Historic controls (N = 20) were also included. Placenta and fetal membrane samples were collected rapidly after delivery and were fixed and stained for histopathological analysis. Maternal demographical data and obstetric outcomes were recorded. Results Over 80% of the placentas from SARS-CoV-2+ pregnancies had histopathological abnormalities: predominantly structural (71–86%) or inflammatory (9–22%), depending on geographical location. Excessive fibrin was seen in all sites, whereas deciduitis (Canada), calcifications (UK), agglutinations and chorangiosis (France) predominated in different locations. The frequency of abnormalities was significantly higher than in SARS-CoV-2 negative women (50%, p &lt; 0.05). Demographic and obstetric data were similar in the SARS-CoV-2+ women across all sites - characterised by predominantly Black/Middle Eastern women, and women with elevated body mass index. Discussion Overall, the frequency of placental abnormalities is increased in SARS-CoV-2+ women, but the incidence of placental abnormalities is also higher in SARS-CoV-2- women that gave birth during the pandemic, which highlights the importance of appropriate control groups to ascertain the roles of pandemic stress and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the placenta and pregnancy outcomes

Avaliação do contributo da expressão genética na tolerância à desidratação em Rosa × hybrida cultivada em humidade relativa elevada

Cultivation of cut flowers with high postharvest longevity is of extreme importance for consumer’s satisfaction. A negative water balance is indicated as the most important factor reducing longevity. This problem is more severe in plants grown at high relative air humidity (i.e. RH > 85%) mainly due to a poor stomatal functioning associated to lower abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations, leading to higher water loss. In this paper it is analysed whether a sensitive cut rose cultivar to high RH show different gene expression related to ABA metabolism when grown at moderate (60%) or high (90%) RH. RNA was isolated from fully developed leaves, harvested 180 min after the beginning of the dark period (stomatal closing stimulus) and the relative gene expression was evaluated in genes involved in: biosynthesis (AAO3 and NCED1), oxidation (CYP707A1 and CYP707A3) and conjugation (UGT75B2) of ABA. The stomatal conductivity in the dark period was 5.6-fold higher in intact plants developed at high RH compared to moderate RH-grown plants, showing the reduced closure capacity of the stomata during darkness. After 4 h of leaflet desiccation, leaflets grown at high RH showed a relative water content (RWC) 69% lower than the moderate RH-grown leaflets, validating the sensitivity of K023 to high RH during growth. At last, from the five studied genes only the expression of CYP707A3 was significantly reduced by high RH, without significant differences found in the other genes. In conclusion, the sensitivity of the genotype K023 to high RH cannot be explained by the expression of the genes evaluated in this study, using leaves harvested 180 min after the beginning of the dark period (closing stimulus). We expect that after transferring the plants to the postharvest conditions, inducing water stress, a more contrasting gene expression among RH levels will appear.O cultivo de flores de corte com elevada longevidade pós-colheita é de extrema importância para a satisfação do consumidor. O stress hídrico é uma das principais causas de uma longevidade reduzida. Este problema é agravado em plantas produzidas em ambiente de humidade relativa elevada (i.e. HR > 85%) devido maioritariamente a disfunções estomáticas associadas a baixas concentrações de ácido abcísico (ABA), conduzindo a acentuadas perdas de água. Neste estudo é analisado se uma cultivar sensível à HR elevada apresenta diferente expressão de genes relacionados com o metabolismo do ABA quando cultivada em HR moderada (60%) ou elevada (90%). Isolou-se RNA de folhas completamente expandidas, colhidas 180 min depois do início do período noturno, e avaliou-se a expressão relativa de genes envolvidos nos processos de: biossíntese (AAO3 e NCED1), oxidação (CYP707A1 e CYP707A3) e conjugação (UGT75B2) do ABA. A condutividade estomática noturna revelou-se 5,6 vezes mais elevada em plantas intactas desenvolvidas em HR elevada comparativamente a plantas desenvolvidas em HR moderada, mostrando a reduzida capacidade de fecho dos estomas durante o período de obscuridade. Ao fim de 4 h de desidratação, folíolos cultivados em HR elevada apresentaram um conteúdo relativo em água (CRA) 69% inferior aos folíolos cultivados em HR moderada, comprovando-se a sensibilidade do genótipo K023 à elevada HR durante o crescimento. Por fim, dos cinco genes estudados apenas a expressão de CYP707A3 foi significativamente reduzida pela HR elevada, não se verificando diferenças significativas nos restantes genes. Concluiu-se que para o genótipo K023 a sensibilidade à HR elevada não pode ser explicada pela expressão dos genes avaliados neste estudo, recorrendo a folhas colhidas após 180 min de obscuridade (estímulo de fecho). Será de esperar que após a transferência das plantas para condições de pós-colheita, induzindo stress hídrico, a expressão genética entre níveis de HR será mais contrastante.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The mode of inheritance in tetraploid cut roses

Tetraploid hybrid tea roses (Rosa hybrida) represent most of the commercial cultivars of cut roses and form the basis for breeding programmes. Due to intensive interspecific hybridizations, modern cut roses are complex tetraploids for which the mode of inheritance is not exactly known. The segregation patterns of molecular markers in a tetraploid mapping population of 184 genotypes, an F1 progeny from a cross of two heterozygous parents, were investigated for disomic and tetrasomic inheritance. The possible occurrence of double reduction was studied as well. We can exclude disomic inheritance, but while our observations are more in line with a tetrasomic inheritance, we cannot exclude that there is a mixture of both inheritance modes. Two novel parental tetraploid linkage maps were constructed using markers known from literature, combined with newly generated markers. Comparison with the integrated consensus diploid map (ICM) of Spiller et al. (Theor Appl Genet 122:489–500, 2010) allowed assigning numbers to each of the linkage groups of both maps and including small linkage groups. So far, the possibility of using marker-assisted selection in breeding of tetraploid cut roses and of other species with a tetrasomic or partly tetrasomic inheritance, is still limited due to the difficulties in establishing marker-trait associations. We used these tetraploid linkage maps to determine associations between markers, two morphological traits and powdery mildew resistance. The knowledge on inheritance and marker-trait associations in tetraploid cut roses will be of direct use to cut rose breeding

Multiple-Strain Infections of Human Cytomegalovirus with High Genomic Diversity are Common In Breast Milk from HIV-Positive Women in Zambia

Background In developed countries, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogen in congenitally infected and immunocompromised individuals, where multiple-strain infection appears linked to disease severity. The situation is less documented in developing countries. In Zambia, breast milk is a key route for transmitting HCMV and carries higher viral loads in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women. We investigated HCMV strain diversity. Methods High-throughput sequence datasets were generated from 28 HCMV-positive breast milk samples donated by 22 mothers (15 HIV-infected and 7 HIV-negative) at 4–16 weeks postpartum, then analyzed by genome assembly and novel motif-based genotyping in 12 hypervariable HCMV genes. Results Among the 20 samples from 14 donors (13 HIV-infected and one HIV-negative) who yielded data meeting quality thresholds, 89 of the possible 109 genotypes were detected, and multiple-strain infections involving up to 5 strains per person were apparent in 9 HIV-infected women. Strain diversity was extensive among individuals but conserved compartmentally and longitudinally within them. Genotypic linkage was maintained within hypervariable UL73/UL74 and RL12/RL13/UL1 loci for virus entry and immunomodulation, but not between genes more distant from each other. Conclusions Breast milk from HIV-infected women contains multiple HCMV strains of high genotypic complexity and thus constitutes a major source for transmitting viral diversity