Detection of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense' in a new geographic region and existence of two genetically distinct dnaK genotypes

In September 2007, a peach tree (Prunus persica) displaying yellowing symptoms indicative of phytoplasma infection was sampled in Quba region of Azerbaijan. A phytoplasma was detected in the diseased peach tree by nested PCR amplification of its 16Sr DNA with universal primers for phytoplasmas. Phylogenetic analyses of the amplified 16S rDNA showed that the phytoplasma infecting peach tree corresponded to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense', a phytoplasma not previously reported in the Euro-Mediterranean area. To set up a detection assay, cloning of a 'Ca. P. brasiliense' DNA fragment was undertaken by comparative RAPD. The amplified dnaK-dnaJ genetic locus was used to design a nested PCR assay able to amplify all 'Ca. P. brasiliense' strains of the subgroup 16SrXV-A without amplifying the related members of the group 16SrII. The use of this assay also confirmed detection for the first time of 'Ca. P. brasiliense' in diseased basil collected in south Lebanon

Insulin Effect on Gene Expression of Dental Pulp Cell during Osteodifferentiation

Insulin, an old but still actual molecule, has many roles in various cellular processes including bone formation and also angiogenesis. Insulin effects on different cell types were investigated, and we intended to check its effect on dental pulp cells (DPC) during osteoblast differentiation. First, bone differentiation ability of isolated dental pulp cells was assessed by alizarin red (AR) staining. Insulin increased dental pulp cell proliferation after 25 hours of culture. It increased mRNA expression of osteogenic markers such as Col1, RunX2, ALP, Osc, Mef2C and expression of genes involved in TGF b pathway such as Smad3, TSP1, VEGF at different time points

Integration of Software Agent Technologies and Web Services

Web Services technology enables the automation of service discovery, invocation, and composition. On the other hand, Software Agents provide a distinctive capability in mediating user goals to determine service invocations. Software Agents are autonomous entities that can discover, invoke, compose, and monitor services without user’s intervention. Moreover, agents possess the ability to handle the dynamism of the Web Services environments. Web Services and agent technologies have different problems that limit their functionality when applied separately. The major reason is that agents are not compatible with the widely accepted standards of Web Services. This paper presents a framework that provides an integration of Web Services and Software Agents technologies by making use of a middleware to facilitate their interoperation

First Detection and Characterization of Ca. P. brasiliense From Yellowing Peach Tree in Guba Region of Azerbaijan

<p>"Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense", a new phytoplasma taxon associated with hibiscus witches<br>broom disease was firstly described in 2001 in Brazil. The disease was characterized by symptoms of<br>witches' broom, i.e. leaf yellowing and malformation.Yellowing peach tree (Prunus persica) samples<br>reminiscent of phytoplasma infection were collected in September 2007 in Guba region, which is an<br>important fruit and vegetable growing area in Azerbaijan. A phytoplasma was detected in the diseased<br>peach tree by amplification of its 16 S rDNA by nested PCR with universal primers for phytoplasmas.<br>It was furthermore characterized by RFLP and nucleotide sequence analyses of 16S rDNA. It was<br>shown that a phytoplasma infected peach tree is Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense. This report con-<br>stitutes the first detection of this phytoplasma in a plant other than hibiscus and elsewhere than in<br>Brazil. To set up a specific detection test, cloning of a 'Ca. P. brasiliense' DNA fragment was underta-<br>ken by comparative RAPD. The amplified dnaK-dnaJ genetic locus was used to design a specific PCR<br>test that amplify all 'Ca. P. brasiliense' isolates of the group 16SrXV-A without amplifying the related<br>members of the group 16SrII.</p&gt

Assessing the Adaptive Mechanisms of Two Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes to Salinity Stress

This work deals with the assessment of physiological and biochemical responses to salt stress, as well as the regulation of the expression of the K+/Na+ transporter gene-TaHKT1;5 of two Triticum aestivum L. genotypes with contrasting tolerance. According to the observations, salinity stress caused lipid peroxidation; accumulation of soluble sugars and proline; decreased osmotic potential, Fv/Fm value, and K+/Na+ ratio; and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both genotypes. In the salt-tolerant genotype, the activity of enzymes, the amounts of soluble sugars and proline were higher, the osmotic potential and the lipid peroxidation were lower than in the sensitive one, and the Fv/Fm value remained unchanged. A comparison of the accumulation of Na+ and K+ ions in the roots and leaves showed that the Na+ content in the leaves is lower. The selective transport of K+ ions from roots to leaves was more efficient in the salt-tolerant genotype Mirbashir-128; consequently, the K+/Na+ ratio in the leaves and roots of this genotype was higher compared with the sensitive Fatima genotype. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR expression experiments on TaHKT1;5 indicated that this gene was not expressed in the leaf of the wheat genotypes. Under salt stress, the expression level of the TaHKT1;5 gene increased in the root tissues of the salt-sensitive genotype, while it decreased in the salt-tolerant wheat genotype. The results obtained suggest that the ion status and salt tolerance of the wheat genotypes are related to the TaHKT1;5 gene activity

Genetic diversity of "<em>Candidatus</em> Phytoplasma solani" strains associated to ''bois noir" and planthoppers in Azerbaijan

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Important genetic diversity of Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ related strains associated with bois noir grapevine yellows and planthoppers in Azerbaijan

Bois noir (BN) is an important grapevine yellows endemic to the Euro-Mediterranean basin caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (‘Ca. P. solani’), a non culturable plant pathogenic Mollicute. Bois noir symptoms could be associated with ‘Ca. P. solani’ in two Azerbaijanian vineyards where disease incidence and severity were recorded for five local Vitis vinifera cultivars. In order to gain insight into the epidemiology of Bois noir in Azerbaijan, ‘Ca. P. solani’ isolates infecting plants were characterized by multi-locus sequence analysis and their secY and stamp gene sequences compared to that of the strains detected in other plants and in local Cixiidae planthoppers. Genotypes were determined for two non-ribosomal house-keeping genes, namely tuf and secY, as well as two variable markers namely Stamp and mleP1 genes, that respectively encode the antigenic membrane protein AMP and a 2-Hydroxycarboxylate transporter. The Azerbaijanian BN phytoplasma isolates corresponded to three tufB and secY genotypes. A finer differentiation of Azerbaijanian ‘Ca. P. solani’ isolates was obtained with mleP1 as five different mleP1 genetic variants were found. Finally, Stamp gene allowed differentiating four new genotypes in grapevine among the 10 new Stamp genotypes detected in various plants in Azerbaijan. The preliminary survey for infected insects conducted in northern Azerbaijan, led to the identification of Hyalesthes obsoletus and Reptalus noahi as potential vectors for two ‘Ca. P. solani’ new genotypes phylogenetically distant from the known genetic clusters. Altogether these results indicate an important genetic diversity of BN phytoplasmas in Azerbaijan that certainly result from spread through local insect vectors

Genetic diversity of chickpea genotypes as revealed by ISSR and RAPD markers

Genetic diversity of 62 chickpea accessions was studied using 8 ISSR and 11 RAPD primers. In the study RAPD primers detected more polymorphism (98%) than the ISSR primers (80%). Genetic diversity index was high (0.73 for ISSR and 0.85 for RAPD) for each of these marker systems. Cluster analysis performed from both separate and combined data of RAPD and ISSR markers using SPSS software package. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient for 62 chickpea genotypes was 0.65. Cluster analyses based on combined data generated a dendrogram that separated genotypes into 11 clusters. Four clusters contained only one genotype showing the genetic uniqueness of these accessions. The studied chickpea collection has been proved to constitute a rich source of biodiversity as revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers. Crossing between distantly related genotypes is expected to yield more vigorous plants constituting much of the different traits contained in the two parental lines

First report of tomato yellow leaf curl virus infecting tomato in Azerbaijan

International audienc