Heterologous expression and partial purification of calcium and calmodulin dependant protein kinase (CCaMK) of Medicago truncatula

In legumes, the establishment of symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria share a common signalling pathway. One of the shared components is a calcium and calmodulin dependant protein kinase predicted to perceive and transduce the calcium signals generated upon perception of the symbiotic signals. The removal of the autoinhibitory domain that negatively regulates the kinase activity in Medicago truncatula, results in a constitutively-active form, inducing symbiotic responses in the absence of bacterial signals. Here, the heterologous production and partial purification of DMI3 variant as a tool for identifying substrates potentially involved in nodulation or mycorrhization was described.Key words: Medicago truncatula, CCaMK, heterologous protein expression

Análise integrada de sistemas de produção de tomateiro com base em indicadores edafobiológicos.

A análise integrada de indicadores edafobiológicos ligados ao manejo do solo constitui uma ferramenta importante para estimar níveis de sustentabilidade do agroecossistema, detectando-se pontos críticos para a devida correção de manejo. Essa ferramenta foi empregada na avaliação de sistemas de produção orgânica e convencional de tomate, em cultivo protegido e a campo aberto, no estado de São Paulo. Tomaram-se como referência solos de mata nativa e/ou pastagem natural, dependendo do local de estudo. Em Serra Negra, o solo sob sistema orgânico apresentou maior capacidade de campo e teor de argila dispersa mais baixo, indicativos da estabilidade dos agregados. No sistema convencional observou-se uma elevada condutividade elétrica, evidenciando a alta disponibilidade de sais solúveis. A análise de componentes principais (ACP) permitiu concluir que há maior grau de similaridade entre o solo sob sistema orgânico e aqueles das bases referenciais, com respeito aos indicadores químicos e biológicos. Constatou-se que C org, N total, polissacarídeos, FDA (hidrólise de diacetato de fluoresceína) e atividade enzimática de desidrogenase estão positivamente relacionados com o sistema orgânico, a mata nativa e a pastagem. Em contrapartida, a saturação por bases (V%), pH, teores de Mn, Mg e Ca, bem como a razão de dispersão estão inversamente relacionadas ao manejo orgânico. Já em Araraquara, os resultados da ACP distinguiram as áreas organicamente cultivadas das matas nativas, principalmente, com base nos indicadores biológicos

Rice crop residue as fertiliser substitute for enhancing yield and soil health: Identifying the optimum level from multilocation trials in India

To address agricultural challenges like residue burning and excessive inorganic fertilizer use, a two-year (2023–2024) multi-location field experiment was conducted across five diverse Indian agro-ecological zones. Six integrated nutrient management strategies were tested: T1 (100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF)), T2 (50% RDF + 50% RDF via residue), T3 (50% RDF + 50% RDF via residue + Pusa decomposer (PD)), T4 (50% RDF via residue + 50% RDF via green manure/green leaf manure), T5 (75% RDF + 25% via residue + PD), and T6 (control). Conventional fertilization (T1) consistently achieved the highest mean grain yield across locations. However, T5 (25% RDF substitution via crop residue) produced statistically comparable yields to T1, even surpassing it by 7.6% at Moncompu. Treatments T2 and T3 generally incurred yield penalties (10–28%), except at Karaikal, where T2 increased yield (+5% in 2023; +11.6% in 2024), due to favorable decomposition conditions. Despite yield trade-offs, T2 and T3 (50% RDF substitution via crop residue) exhibited superior yield stability across locations. Soil nutrient dynamics varied considerably by location and treatment. While T2 and T3 caused partial phosphorus (P) depletion, they consistently improved soil potassium (K) and organic carbon (OC). P buildup was seen in T2/T5 at Karaikal and T1-T5 at Pusa. Similarly, K buildup was seen across most treatments and sites, though K mining was widespread at Pantnagar. Nitrogen (N) and OC showed mixed results, with some treatments leading to accumulation and others depletion. The T6 consistently showed the highest nutrient depletion across all parameters. T1 yielded the highest partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFP-N) at 47 kg grain/kg N, closely followed by T5 (44 kg grain/kg N). T3 (42.5 kg grain/kg N) was statistically similar to T5, establishing a PFP-N hierarchy of T1 > T5 ≈ T3 > T2 ≈ T4. Grain yield correlated positively with agronomic traits like tiller number, panicle density, and 1000-grain weight, all linked to N and K availability. Thus, co-application of 75% RDF via fertilizers and 25% using crop residues with microbial decomposers (T5) is recommended as a sustainable alternative integrated approach to conventional fertilization

Differential immunity as a factor influencing mussel hybrid zone structure

Interspecific hybridisation can alter fitness-related traits, including the response to pathogens, yet immunity is rarely investigated as a potential driver of hybrid zone dynamics, particularly in invertebrates. We investigated the immune response of mussels from a sympatric population at Croyde Bay, within the hybrid zone of Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis in Southwest England. The site is characterised by size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies, with a higher frequency of M. galloprovincialis alleles in large mussels, largely attributed to selective mortality in favour of the M. galloprovincialis genotype. To determine if differences in immune response may contribute to this size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies, we assessed the two pure species and their hybrids in their phagocytic abilities when subject to immune challenge as a measure of immunocompetence and measured the metabolic cost of mounting an antigen-stimulated immune response. Mussels identified as M. galloprovincialis had a greater immunocompetence response at a lower metabolic cost compared to mussels identified as M. edulis. Mussels identified as hybrids had intermediate values for both parameters, providing no evidence for heterosis but suggesting that increased susceptibility compared to M. galloprovincialis may be attributed to the M. edulis genotype. The results indicate phenotypic differences in the face of pathogenic infection, which may be a contributing factor to the differential mortality in favour of M. galloprovincialis, and the size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies associated with this contact zone. We propose that immunity may contribute to European mussel hybrid zone dynamics

Safety profile of Coartem®: the evidence base

This article reviews the comprehensive data on the safety and tolerability from over 6,300 patients who have taken artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem®) as part of Novartis-sponsored or independently-sponsored clinical trials. The majority of the reported adverse events seen in these studies are mild or moderate in severity and tend to affect the gastrointestinal or nervous systems. These adverse events, which are common in both adults and children, are also typical of symptoms of malaria or concomitant infections present in these patients. The wealth of safety data on artemether/lumefantrine has not identified any neurological, cardiac or haematological safety concerns. In addition, repeated administration is not associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions including neurological adverse events. This finding is especially relevant for children from regions with high malaria transmission rates who often receive many courses of anti-malarial medications during their lifetime. Data are also available to show that there were no clinically relevant differences in pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to artemether/lumefantrine compared with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy. The six-dose regimen of artemether/lumefantrine is therefore well tolerated in a wide range of patient populations. In addition, post-marketing experience, based on the delivery of 250 million treatments as of July 2009, has not identified any new safety concerns for artemether/lumefantrine apart from hypersensitivity and allergies, known class effects of artemisinin derivatives

Estimating adjusted prevalence ratio in clustered cross-sectional epidemiological data

BACKGROUND: Many epidemiologic studies report the odds ratio as a measure of association for cross-sectional studies with common outcomes. In such cases, the prevalence ratios may not be inferred from the estimated odds ratios. This paper overviews the most commonly used procedures to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios and extends the discussion to the analysis of clustered cross-sectional studies. METHODS: Prevalence ratios(PR) were estimated using logistic models with random effects. Their 95% confidence intervals were obtained using delta method and clustered bootstrap. The performance of these approaches was evaluated through simulation studies. Using data from two studies with health-related outcomes in children, we discuss the interpretation of the measures of association and their implications. RESULTS: The results from data analysis highlighted major differences between estimated OR and PR. Results from simulation studies indicate an improved performance of delta method compared to bootstrap when there are small number of clusters. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of logistic model with random effects for analysis of clustered data. The choice of method to estimate confidence intervals for PR (delta or bootstrap method) should be based on study design