The preparation of HEMA-MPC films for ocular drug delivery

There is a need to prolong drug residence time using a biocompatible formulation in the subconjunctival space after surgery to treat glaucoma. Drug releasing discs were prepared with 2-(hydroxyethyl)methacrylate (HEMA) and 2-methacryloyl-oxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). The ratio of bound water (Wb) to free water (Wf) ratio increased from 1:0.3 to 1:6.8 with increasing MPC (0 to 50%, w/w). The optimal balance between water content, SR and mechanical strength were obtained with 10% MPC (w/w) hydrogels. Water-alcohol mixtures were examined to facilitate loading of poorly soluble drugs, and they showed greater hydrogel swelling than either water or alcohol alone. The SR was 1.2 ± 0.02 and 3.3 ± 0.1 for water and water:ethanol (1:1) respectively. HEMA-MPC (10%) discs were loaded with dexamethasone using either water:ethanol (1:1) or methanol alone. Drug release was examined in an outflow rig model that mimics the subconjunctival space in the eye. Dexamethasone loading increased from 0.3 to 1.9 mg/disc when the solvent was changed from water:ethanol (1:1) to methanol with the dexamethasone half-life (t½) increasing from 1.9 to 9.7 days respectively. These encouraging results indicate that HEMA-MPC hydrogels have the potential to sustain the residence time of a drug in the subconjunctival space of the eye

Cytogenetic analysis and mapping of leaf rust resistance in Aegilops speltoides Tausch derived bread wheat line “Selection 2427” carrying putative gametocidal gene(s)

Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) is a major biotic stress affecting wheat yields worldwide. Host plant resistance is the best method for controlling leaf rust. Aegilops speltoides is a good source of resistance against wheat rusts. So far five Lr genes, Lr28, Lr35, Lr36, Lr47 and Lr51 have been transferred from Ae. speltoides to bread wheat. In Selection2427, a bread wheat introgresed line with Ae. speltoides as donor parent, a dominant gene for leaf rust resistance was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 3B (LrS2427). None of the Lr genes introgressed from Aegilops speltoides has been mapped to chromosome 3B. Since none of the designated seedling leaf rust resistance genes have been located on chromosome 3B, LrS2427 seems to be a novel gene. Sel.2427 showed a unique property typical of gametocidal genes that when crossed to other bread wheat cultivars the F1 showed partial pollen sterility as well as poor seed setting whilst Sel.2427 shows reasonable male and female fertility. Accidental co-transfer of gametocidal genes with LrS2427 may have occurred in Selection2427. Though LrS2427 did not show any segregation distortion and assorted independently of putative gametocidal gene(s), its utilization will be difficult due to the selfish behavior of gametocidal genes.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

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Not AvailableA new leaf rust resistance gene tentatively named LrM was introgressed from the diploid non-progenitor species Ae. markgrafi (2n=2x=14, genome CC) into common wheat using the nulli-5B mechanism. The introgression line ER9- 700 showed a high degree of resistance against a wide spectrum of Puccinia triticina pathotypes. Genetic analysis was performed using the F1, F2, F2:3 and BC1F1 generations derived from the cross ER9-700/Agra Local. The results showed a single dominant gene for leaf rust resistance. The resistance gene LrM was mapped on chromosome arm 2AS using SSR- and SNP-based PCR markers. Preliminary mapping with SSR markers in the F2:3 population from the cross ER9-700/Agra Local identifed two SSR markers fanking the LrM. SNPs were identifed in the genomic region fanked by SSR markers, and SNP-based PCR markers were developed to construct the fnal map. Three SNP-based PCR markers co-segregated and mapped closest to the resistance gene at a distance of 2 cM. The gene LrM was distinguished from all the other genes designated and mapped on chromosome arm 2AS by molecular markers and rust reaction. All fve markers used in the mapping amplifed identical alleles in the donor Ae. markgrafi accession and introgression line ER9-700. The chromosomal location and rust reaction suggest that LrM is a novel leaf rust resistance gene that may be useful in broadening the genetic base of leaf rust resistance in wheat.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableJack (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a multi-purpose out-breeding tree species of the family Moraceae. We generated 42,928,887 high-quality expressed sequence reads, assembled them into 89,356 unigenes, and discovered 16,853 unigene-based perfect SSRs in A. heterophyllus. Thirty-eight polymorphic SSRs were used to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 224 germplasm accessions of A. heterophyllus constituting three populations from three agro-climatic zones, namely Eastern Plateau and Hills, Middle Gangetic Plain Region, and Eastern Himalayan Region, encompassing five Eastern and North-Eastern states of India. At the 38 SSR loci, we detected 142 alleles with a mean of 3.74 alleles per locus. The PIC values for the loci ranged from 0.25 to 0.69. The maximum genetic diversity was recorded in Eastern Plateau and Hills (I = 0.98, He = 0.52). The ANOVA analysis indicated significantly higher within-population variation (90%) than between populations (10%). The indirect estimation of gene flow (Nm) from PhiPT indicated significant gene flow among all three populations. The population structure analysis showed at least four distinct groups among the three populations with different introgression degrees. The NJ-based clustering grouped the 224 germplasm accessions into three main clusters, each with three sub-clusters. However, we did not observe distinct geographical structure among populations except some clustering among the germplasm accessions of the populations of geographically close locations. The transcriptome dataset and the SSR markers developed in the study would boost the species' molecular characterization, conservation, and specific need-based improvement.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableJack (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a multi-purpose out-breeding tree species of the family Moraceae. We generated 42,928,887 high-quality expressed sequence reads, assembled them into 89,356 unigenes, and discovered 16,853 unigene-based perfect SSRs in A. heterophyllus. Thirty-eight polymorphic SSRs were used to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 224 germplasm accessions of A. heterophyllus constituting three populations from three agro-climatic zones, namely Eastern Plateau and Hills, Middle Gangetic Plain Region, and Eastern Himalayan Region, encompassing five Eastern and North-Eastern states of India. At the 38 SSR loci, we detected 142 alleles with a mean of 3.74 alleles per locus. The PIC values for the loci ranged from 0.25 to 0.69. The maximum genetic diversity was recorded in Eastern Plateau and Hills (I = 0.98, He = 0.52). The ANOVA analysis indicated significantly higher within-population variation (90%) than between populations (10%). The indirect estimation of gene flow (Nm) from PhiPT indicated significant gene flow among all three populations. The population structure analysis showed at least four distinct groups among the three populations with different introgression degrees. The NJ-based clustering grouped the 224 germplasm accessions into three main clusters, each with three sub-clusters. However, we did not observe distinct geographical structure among populations except some clustering among the germplasm accessions of the populations of geographically close locations. The transcriptome dataset and the SSR markers developed in the study would boost the species' molecular characterization, conservation, and specific need-based improvement.Not Availabl