Role of Herbivore Associated Elicitors in Plant Defense Signaling

Chapter 2: In this chapter, I have provided an update on recent developments and advances on early signaling events in plant-herbivore interactions, with a particular emphasis on the membrane potential changes (Vm), calcium (Ca2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plant ion channels involvement in early signaling events initiation and propagation of defense signaling cascade. Chapter 3: In this chapter, we show that tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) caterpillar oral secretion (OS) induces ROS in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) protoplasts. By using a dye-based ROS imaging approach, our study showed that the application of Plant-Fed (PF) M. sexta OS generates significantly higher ROS while artificial Diet-Fed (DF) M. sexta OS failed to induce ROS in isolated tomato protoplasts. Chapter 4: In this chapter, we demonstrate that hemolymph from M. sexta also induce ROS and Ca2+ and thereby act as an herbivore associated elicitor (HAE). Using a dye-based imaging technique, our study showed that the application of crude M. sexta hemolymph potently increased ROS as well as Ca2+ production in isolated tomato protoplasts. In summary, our results demonstrate that M. sexta OS and hemolymph induces cellular defense signals by modulating intracellular ROS and Ca2+ in tomato protoplast

Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) Oral Secretion Elicits Reactive Oxygen Species in Isolated Tomato Protoplasts

Plants are under constant attack by a suite of insect herbivores. Over millions of years of coexistence, plants have evolved the ability to sense insect feeding via herbivore-associated elicitors in oral secretions, which can mobilize defense responses. However, herbivore-associated elicitors and the intrinsic downstream modulator of such interactions remain less understood. In this study, we show that tobacco hornworm caterpillar (Manduca sexta) oral secretion (OS) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) protoplasts. By using a dye-based ROS imaging approach, our study shows that application of plant-fed (PF) M. sexta OS generates significantly higher ROS while artificial diet-fed (DF) caterpillar OS failed to induce ROS in isolated tomato protoplasts. Elevation in ROS generation was saturated after ~140 s of PF OS application. ROS production was also suppressed in the presence of an antioxidant NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine). Interestingly, PF OS-induced ROS increase was abolished in the presence of a Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA-AM (1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N0,N0-tetraacetic acid). These results indicate a potential signaling cascade involving herbivore-associated elicitors, Ca2+, and ROS in plants during insect feeding. In summary, our results demonstrate that plants incorporate a variety of independent signals connected with their herbivores to regulate and mount their defense responses

Prison Within Prison

In the United States, around 80,000 prisoners are currently in solitary confinement. Solitary is seen as a “default” for prisons when it comes disciplinary actions taken against prisoners without consideration of its repercussions. These prisoners are locked in their cells alone anywhere from 22-24 hours a day. Prisoners in solitary for long periods of time have serious psychological repercussions and solitary often does not actually solve the targeted problems. Since there aren’t any policies controlling the maximum amount of solitary confinement time, many facilities do not abide by federal rules and instead make up their own. Solitary confinement can be considered torture because of the prolonged cruel and inhumane treatment prisoners have to go through. Many current policies make it very easy for a prisoner to go to solitary confinement, yet few make it easy to get out. Our policy focuses on fully removing solitary confinement as a form of punishment from all prisons. We start by limiting periods of isolation and having humane and adequate living conditions for prisoners. Also, correctional officers need alternative ways to manage dangerous and challenging inmates. In order to start creating change, it is important to educate the public on what is really going on in prisons and how our country is treating its people so that they are able to vote on local and state officials who will reform laws on solitary confinement. As a result of this, the focus of our activism project is spreading awareness about the cruelty of solitary confinement

Deciphering the Role of Ion Channels in Early Defense Signaling against Herbivorous Insects

Plants and insect herbivores are in a relentless battle to outwit each other. Plants have evolved various strategies to detect herbivores and mount an effective defense system against them. These defenses include physical and structural barriers such as spines, trichomes, cuticle, or chemical compounds, including secondary metabolites such as phenolics and terpenes. Plants perceive herbivory by both mechanical and chemical means. Mechanical sensing can occur through the perception of insect biting, piercing, or chewing, while chemical signaling occurs through the perception of various herbivore-derived compounds such as oral secretions (OS) or regurgitant, insect excreta (frass), or oviposition fluids. Interestingly, ion channels or transporters are the first responders for the perception of these mechanical and chemical cues. These transmembrane pore proteins can play an important role in plant defense through the induction of early signaling components such as plasma transmembrane potential (Vm) fluctuation, intracellular calcium (Ca2+), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, followed by defense gene expression, and, ultimately, plant defense responses. In recent years, studies on early plant defense signaling in response to herbivory have been gaining momentum with the application of genetically encoded GFP-based sensors for real-time monitoring of early signaling events and genetic tools to manipulate ion channels involved in plant-herbivore interactions. In this review, we provide an update on recent developments and advances on early signaling events in plant-herbivore interactions, with an emphasis on the role of ion channels in early plant defense signaling

Quantitative estimation of serum 25(OH) D and associated risk factors of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Introduction: Insufficiency of vitamin D is now known globally and is exceptionally common in temperate and tropical countries. Due to its several negative maternal and fetal health consequences, vitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy is a growing concern worldwide. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary medical hospital for one year. A sample of 280 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) were enrolled using a random sampling technique. A standard questionnaire was designed to collect socio-demographic details and the sun exposure of participants. To analyse dietary habits and consumption of vitamin D-rich foods, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. Serum samples were obtained and analyzed for and calcium levels. Results: High prevalence of maternal vitamin D insufficiency 122 (43.57%) and deficiency 92 (32.85%) observed. Most 263 (94%) participants had adequate serum calcium levels (> 8.5 mg/dL). Younger participants (< 25 yrs.) had low mean vitamin D (17.61±13.89 ng/mL), adequate calcium (9.52±0.70 mg/dL) levels. Rural residence, multigravida, advanced trimester, poor education, joint family, unemployment, and lower socioeconomic status were found associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusion: In the present study a high prevalence of maternal vitamin D deficiency was observed. The burden of Vitamin D inadequacy (76.39%) reflects poor nutritional status and health risks for mothers and fetuses. Sociodemographic factors (Residence, Education, Family, and Socioeconomic status) were linked to this micronutrient deficiency. There is a need for further community-based nutritional research on sociodemographic, biological, and nutritional determinants for in-depth understanding

CORK1, A LRR-Malectin Receptor Kinase, Is Required for Cellooligomer-Induced Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana

Cell wall integrity (CWI) maintenance is central for plant cells. Mechanical and chemical distortions, pH changes, and breakdown products of cell wall polysaccharides activate plasma membrane-localized receptors and induce appropriate downstream responses. Microbial interactions alter or destroy the structure of the plant cell wall, connecting CWI maintenance to immune responses. Cellulose is the major polysaccharide in the primary and secondary cell wall. Its breakdown generates short-chain cellooligomers that induce Ca 2+ -dependent CWI responses. We show that these responses require the malectin domain-containing CELLOOLIGOMER-RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (CORK1) in Arabidopsis and are preferentially activated by cellotriose (CT). CORK1 is required for cellooligomer-induced cytoplasmic Ca 2+ elevation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, cellulose synthase phosphorylation, and the regulation of CWI-related genes, including those involved in biosynthesis of cell wall material, secondary metabolites and tryptophan. Phosphoproteome analyses identified early targets involved in signaling, cellulose synthesis, the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi secretory pathway, cell wall repair and immune responses. Two conserved phenylalanine residues in the malectin domain are crucial for CORK1 function. We propose that CORK1 is required for CWI and immune responses activated by cellulose breakdown products

Salt induced stress responses in dairy bacteria

abstractBiological SciencesDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph

Can fruit wines be considered as functional food?—An overview

314-322We are in midst of antioxidant superfood revolution. Nutritional studies on examining the foods for their protective and disease preventing potential have established that apart from grapes, fruits like cranberry, sweet cherry, blue berry are equal or sometimes better sources of flavonoids and phenolics. These facts have given a new dimension to the non-grape wines or fruit wines. A lot of efforts have been directed towards potential use of these fruits for production of wines which are rich in phenolics and flavonoids. This paper presents an overview on the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the non-grape wines or fruit wines and their antioxidant potency. It has also been tried to answer the question, whether fruit wines can also be considered as functional food

Signals and Their Perception for Remodelling, Adjustment and Repair of the Plant Cell Wall

The integrity of the cell wall is important for plant cells. Mechanical or chemical distortions, tension, pH changes in the apoplast, disturbance of the ion homeostasis, leakage of cell compounds into the apoplastic space or breakdown of cell wall polysaccharides activate cellular responses which often occur via plasma membrane-localized receptors. Breakdown products of the cell wall polysaccharides function as damage-associated molecular patterns and derive from cellulose (cello-oligomers), hemicelluloses (mainly xyloglucans and mixed-linkage glucans as well as glucuronoarabinoglucans in Poaceae) and pectins (oligogalacturonides). In addition, several types of channels participate in mechanosensing and convert physical into chemical signals. To establish a proper response, the cell has to integrate information about apoplastic alterations and disturbance of its wall with cell-internal programs which require modifications in the wall architecture due to growth, differentiation or cell division. We summarize recent progress in pattern recognition receptors for plant-derived oligosaccharides, with a focus on malectin domain-containing receptor kinases and their crosstalk with other perception systems and intracellular signaling events

Benzathine Penicillin Prophylaxis in Children with Rheumatic Fever (RF)/ Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD): A Study of Compliance

Aims and Objectives: To study the compliance of patients of Rheumatic fever (RF)/ Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) regarding secondary prophylaxis with injection benzathine penicillin. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Pediatric Rheumatology Outpatients’ Department (OPD) of a tertiary care teaching university affiliated hospital. Patients below 18 years of age diagnosed as Rheumatic fever/ Rheumatic heart disease following up in Pediatric Rheumatology OPD for at least 1 year for benzathine pencillin prophylaxis were included in the study. The patients diagnosed to have RF/ RHD were advised injection benzathine penicillin prophylaxis every 3 weeks. A proforma was devised for recording the clinical details of the patient- including demographic information, clinical details regarding RF/ RHD and rheumatic fever recurrences. The details of the benzathine penicillin prophylaxis taken by the patient were also recorded in the proforma. The reasons for non-compliance were noted and enlisted as per their frequency. Results: The study included 10 patients following up at the specialty clinic for rheumatic heart disease patients. We had 7 males and 3 females in the study. The average age was 9.7 yrs (6 years to 12 years). The average number of months of follow up for assessing the compliance was 20.7 months (12.6 months to 44 months). The average compliance (%) of the 10 patients was 89.60% (63.69% to 100%). Out of the 10 subjects, four had a recurrence of rheumatic fever manifesting in the form of congestive cardiac failure & carditis. Though most of the times the patients were not able to recall the reason for missing the dose, trip to one’s native place was an important reason for missed doses besides forgetting the dates of the prophylaxis and doubts about need for the prophylaxis. Conclusions: Compliance of secondary prophylaxis with benzathine penicillin was about 90% in the present study. Frequent travel by patients to their native place was an important reason for missing the benzathine penicillin injections