Cloning, in silico structural characterization and expression analysis of MfAtr4, an ABC transporter from the banana pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis

ABC transporters are membrane proteins that use the energy released from the hydrolysis of ATP to drive the transport of compounds across biological membranes. In some plants, pathogenic fungi ABC transporters play a role as virulence factors by mediating the export of plant defense compounds or fungal virulence factors. Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the causal agent of black Sigatoka disease in banana, is the main constraint for the banana industry worldwide. So far, little is known about molecular mechanism that it uses to infect the host. In this study, degenerated primers designed from fungal ABC transporters known to be involved in virulence were used to isolate homologs from M. fijiensis. Here, we reported the full cloning of MfAtr4 a putative ortholog of MgAtr4, an ABC transporter of the related Mycosphaerella graminicola with a function in virulence. Similarities and differences with its presumed ortholog MgAtr4 are described, and the putative function of MfAtr4 are discussed. Analysis of MfAtr4 gene expression in field banana samples exhibiting visible symptoms of black Sigatoka disease indicated a higher expression of MfAtr4 during the first symptomatic stages in comparison to the late necrotrophic phases, suggesting a role for MfAtr4 in the early stages of pathogenic development of M. fijiensis.Key words: ABC transporters, virulence factors, MgAtr4 ortholog, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, black Sigatoka, Musa sp

Design of qPCR primers for the early region of Human Papillomavirus oncogenic types 16 and 18

Primer pairs for the HR-HPV16 and 18 were designed to target the open reading frames (ORF) E6, E7, E1 and E2 in real-time PCR assays. This data is provided in the folders: Figures, Tables and HPV Alignments 1. HPV alignments folder contain the following files: For gene-specific qPCR primer design, poorly conserved nucleotide regions were identified from HPV alignments of full-length genomes of types HPV16, 31, 35 and HPV 18, 45 and 59 in FASTA format. The HPV clusters are available: “HPV16_31_35_alignment.fa”; “HPV18_45_59_alignment.fa”. 2. A list of qPCR primers proposed is presented in Table 1. A graphic representation of amplification strategy is shown in Figure 1. Briefly, primers that produce overlapping amplicons less than 600 bp, that passed the secondary structure tests, designed with annealing temperatures above 58°C, were selected for experimental evaluation. Calibration curves were generated using SYBR Green chemistry and serial dilutions of a DNA standard as template for each genotype evaluated. For ORF HPV18 E7, the amplification plots, including the melt curve analysis are shown in Figure 2. Primer pairs producing multiple products (Figure 3), are not recommended. Complete information for primer pair used in real-time PCR assays are described in Table 2. All this information is presented in Figures and Tables folders.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Design of a data set of qPCR primers for the early region of Human Papillomavirus oncogenic types 16 and 18

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) types 16 and 18 are estimated to be responsible for 72.4% of all HPV-related cancers worldwide in both men and women, including cervical, anal, penile, vulval, vaginal and head and neck cancers [1]. Important efforts worldwide have devoted to the study of these genotypes, throughout epidemiology and basic science approaches. Of particular interest are the genes from the early region (E), coding non-structural proteins. Early genes E1 and E2 products are involved in replication and transcription regulation, while E6 and E7 proteins are recognised for their oncogenic potential. In this data report, we described a set of primers based on reference sequences from HPV16 and HPV18 designed to cover the early region of these oncogenic genotypes. The design was based on multiple sequences alignment to identify the less conserved regions along the open reading frames (ORFs) E6, E7, E1 and E2. The design allows a highly stringent real time PCR essay ranged from 123 to 598 bp overlapping products for HPV16 (12 products in total) and from 183 to 526 bp for HPV18 (11 products in total), both spanning the early genomic region. The high annealing temperatures (Ta) and regions selected for primer bind were intended for genotypic specificity, without compromising the qPCR amplification efficiency (≥ 90%). Evaluation of qPCR conditions for primer set was performed using DNA standards as controls, generated from the HPV16 and 18 genomes clones. This provides relevant information for further multiple quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qPCR), using the SYBR green chemistry, which is is more affordable than generating multiple fluorescently labeled probes

Comunicaciones de salud dirigidas a los mayas de la península de Yucatán (México) en el marco de la pandemia COVID-19

Introduction: Public instances use indigenous languages in communications about COVID-19; but the availability of such materials is still very limited and sometimes are not accessible enough. Objective: To generate health communications according to the reality of the most numerous indigenous group in Mexico, the maya. Methodology: We conformed a multidisciplinary working team, and to identify the necessities of information, we performed a search for official materials and a survey in Mayan communities. We generated and adjusted the communications considering linguistic and sociocultural conditions. Results: All products were spoken in maya because the majority of maya speakers do not read in their language. We generated three videos and a podcast series of six episodes, in digital format and for traditional radio. They include general health information and topics with limited coverage in maya language. Conclusion: With our communication materials, we expect to contribute to equity in information about COVID-19 and to make more visible the importance of maya language in health messages.Introducción: Las lenguas indígenas son utilizadas por instancias públicas en comunicaciones sobre la emergencia COVID-19 aunque los materiales disponibles aún son limitados, y en ocasiones no son accesibles. Objetivo: Generar comunicaciones en salud acordes a la realidad del grupo indígena más numeroso de México: el pueblo maya. Metodología: Se conformó un equipo multidisciplinario de trabajo, se realizó una búsqueda de materiales oficiales y un sondeo en comunidades mayas, para identificar las necesidades de información. Se realizó la adecuación lingüística y considerando las condiciones socioculturales. Resultados: Los productos se realizaron con audio en maya, pues la mayoría de los mayahablantes no lee en su lengua. Se elaboraron tres videos y un programa de seis episodios de podcasts en formato digital y de radio tradicional. Incluyen información general de salud y temáticas que han tenido limitada cobertura en lengua maya. Conclusión: Con las comunicaciones generadas, se espera contribuir a una mayor equidad en la información en el marco de COVID-19 y a visibilizar la importancia de la lengua maya para los mensajes de salud

Comparative Transcriptomes of the Body Wall of Wild and Farmed Sea Cucumber Isostichopus badionotus

Overfishing of sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus from Yucatan has led to a major population decline. They are being captured as an alternative to traditional species despite a paucity of information about their health-promoting properties. The transcriptome of the body wall of wild and farmed I. badionotus has now been studied for the first time by an RNA-Seq approach. The functional profile of wild I. badionotus was comparable with data in the literature for other regularly captured species. In contrast, the metabolism of first generation farmed I. badionotus was impaired. This had multiple possible causes including a sub-optimal growth environment and impaired nutrient utilization. Several key metabolic pathways that are important in effective handling and accretion of nutrients and energy, or clearance of harmful cellular metabolites, were disrupted or dysregulated. For instance, collagen mRNAs were greatly reduced and deposition of collagen proteins impaired. Wild I. badionotus is, therefore, a suitable alternative to other widely used species but, at present, the potential of farmed I. badionotus is unclear. The environmental or nutritional factors responsible for their impaired function in culture remain unknown, but the present data gives useful pointers to the underlying problems associated with their aquaculture