Water Quality Project Evaluation A Handbook for Objectives-Based Evaluation of Water Quality Projects

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Aluminum Tolerance in the Model Legume \u3cem\u3eMedicago Truncatula\u3c/em\u3e

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal found in the earth\u27s crust, comprising up to 7% of its mass. At low pH, Al becomes soluble and available to plants, resulting in inhibition of root elongation and reduced plant growth. Aluminum toxicity associated with acid soils has been a major obstacle in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) production. The objective of this study is to identify genes that are differentially expressed under normal and Al stress conditions in the model legume M. truncatula, with the long term goal of using these genes to improve cultivated alfalfa

Economic Potential of Substituting Legumes for Synthetic Nitrogen in Warm Season Perennial Grasses used for Stocker Cattle Grazing

Stocker cattle grazing warm season perennial grasses is an important economic activity in the southern Great Plains. Substantial increases in the price of nitrogen fertilizer is negatively affecting forage producers’ profitability. Two alternative nitrogen management systems that use annual and perennial legumes have been developed for bermudagrass pastures. The goal of the study is to determine if the legumes systems are more profitable than the conventional practice of applying synthetic sources of nitrogen. Results of the two-year grazing study show that the legume systems could not compete economically with the common practice.economics, grazing, legumes, bermudagrass, nitrogen fertilizer, stocker cattle, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Production Economics,

Aluminum Tolerance QTL in Diploid Alfalfa

Aluminum (Al) toxicity associated with acid soils greatly inhibits alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) productivity throughout much of the world’s major grassland areas. In this paper, we report the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling aluminum tolerance in diploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). An in vitro callus growth bioassay was used to select aluminum tolerant and aluminum sensitive parents, and to screen an F2 population for aluminum tolerance. Fifty-eight cDNA probes were mapped to nine linkage groups, and the F2 genotypic classes were contrasted with means from the callus growth bioassay using ANOVA. We also used Mapmaker-QTL to identify markers associated with aluminum tolerance. Four markers, UGAc044, UGAc053, UGAc141, and UGAc782, were found to be associated with aluminum tolerance. UGAc044 had the greatest effect, accounting for 15% (LOD 2.3) of the variation in aluminum tolerance

MADNet: microarray database network web server

MADNet is a user-friendly data mining and visualization tool for rapid analysis of diverse high-throughput biological data such as microarray, phage display or even metagenome experiments. It presents biological information in the context of metabolic and signalling pathways, transcription factors and drug targets through minimal user input, consisting only of the file with the experimental data. These data are integrated with information stored in various biological databases such as NCBI nucleotide and protein databases, metabolic and signalling pathway databases (KEGG), transcription regulation (TRANSFAC©) and drug target database (DrugBank). MADNet is freely available for academic use at http://www.bioinfo.hr/madnet

Self-amplifying RNA SARS-CoV-2 lipid nanoparticle vaccine candidate induces high neutralizing antibody titers in mice

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 into a global pandemic within a few months of onset motivates the development of a rapidly scalable vaccine. Here, we present a self-amplifying RNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein encapsulated within a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) as a vaccine. We observe remarkably high and dose-dependent SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody titers in mouse sera, as well as robust neutralization of both a pseudo-virus and wild-type virus. Upon further characterization we find that the neutralization is proportional to the quantity of specific IgG and of higher magnitude than recovered COVID-19 patients. saRNA LNP immunizations induce a Th1-biased response in mice, and there is no antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) observed. Finally, we observe high cellular responses, as characterized by IFN-γ production, upon re-stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptides. These data provide insight into the vaccine design and evaluation of immunogenicity to enable rapid translation to the clinic

Foxtail mosaic virus: a new viral vector for protein expression in cereals

Rapid and cost-effective virus-derived transient expression systems for plants are invaluable in elucidating gene function. These are particularly useful in the case of plant species for which transformation-based methods are either not yet developed, or are too time- and labor-demanding, such as wheat and maize. The Virus-mediated overexpression (VOX) vectors based on Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) or Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) previously described for these species are incapable of expressing free recombinant proteins >150-250 amino-acids (aa), not suited for high throughput screens, and have other limitations. In this study, we report the development of a new VOX vector based on a monopartite single-stranded positive sense RNA virus, Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV, genus Potexvirus). The gene of interest is inserted downstream of a duplicated sub-genomic promoter of the viral coat protein gene and the corresponding protein is expressed in its free form. This new vector, PV101, allowed expression of a 239 aa-long green fluorescent protein (GFP) in both virus inoculated and upper uninoculated (systemic) leaves of wheat and maize, and directed systemic expression of a larger ca. 600 aa protein GUSPlus in maize. Moreover, we demonstrated that PV101 can be used for in planta expression and functional analysis of apoplastic pathogen effector proteins such as host-specific toxin ToxA of Parastagonospora nodorum. Therefore, this new VOX vector opens new possibilities for functional genomics studies in two of the most important cereal crops

Polymer formulated self-amplifying RNA vaccine is partially protective against influenza virus infection in ferrets

COVID-19 has demonstrated the power of RNA vaccines as part of a pandemic response toolkit. Another virus with pandemic potential is influenza. Further development of RNA vaccines in advance of a future influenza pandemic will save time and lives. As RNA vaccines require formulation to enter cells and induce antigen expression, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a recently developed bioreducible cationic polymer, pABOL for the delivery of a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine for seasonal influenza virus in mice and ferrets. Mice and ferrets were immunized with pABOL formulated saRNA vaccines expressing either haemagglutinin (HA) from H1N1 or H3N2 influenza virus in a prime boost regime. Antibody responses, both binding and functional were measured in serum after immunization. Animals were then challenged with a matched influenza virus either directly by intranasal inoculation or in a contact transmission model. While highly immunogenic in mice, pABOL-formulated saRNA led to variable responses in ferrets. Animals that responded to the vaccine with higher levels of influenza virus-specific neutralizing antibodies were more protected against influenza virus infection. pABOL-formulated saRNA is immunogenic in ferrets, but further optimization of RNA vaccine formulation and constructs is required to increase the quality and quantity of the antibody response to the vaccine