Truncation of TRIM5 in the <i>Feliformia</i> explains the absence of retroviral restriction in cells of the domestic cat

TRIM5[alpha] mediates a potent retroviral restriction phenotype in diverse mammalian species. Here, we identify a TRIM5 transcript in cat cells with a truncated B30.2 capsid binding domain and ablated restrictive function which, remarkably, is conserved across the &lt;i&gt;Feliformia&lt;/i&gt;. Cat TRIM5 displayed no restriction activity, but ectopic expression conferred a dominant negative effect against human TRIM5[alpha]. Our findings explain the absence of retroviral restriction in cat cells and suggest that disruption of the TRIM5 locus has arisen independently at least twice in the &lt;i&gt;Carnivora&lt;/i&gt;, with implications concerning the evolution of the host and pathogen in this taxon

Restriction of the felid lentiviruses by a synthetic feline TRIM5-CypA fusion

Gene therapy approaches to the treatment of HIV infection have targeted both viral gene expression and the cellular factors that are essential for virus replication. However, significant concerns have been raised regarding the potential toxic effects of such therapies, the emergence of resistant viral variants and unforeseen biological consequences such as enhanced susceptibility to unrelated pathogens. Novel restriction factors formed by the fusion of the tripartite motif protein (TRIM5) and cyclophilin A (CypA), or "TRIMCyps", offer an effective antiviral defence strategy with a very low potential for toxicity. In order to investigate the potential therapeutic utility of TRIMCyps in gene therapy for AIDS, a synthetic fusion protein between feline TRIM5 and feline CypA was generated and transduced into cells susceptible to infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The synthetic feline TRIMCyp was highly efficient at preventing infection with both HIV and FIV and the cells resisted productive infection with FIV from either the domestic cat or the puma. Feline TRIMCyp and FIV infection of the cat offers a unique opportunity to evaluate TRIMCyp-based approaches to genetic therapy for HIV infection and the treatment of AIDS

The Composition and Metabolic Phenotype of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Biofilms

Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been shown to form biofilms during cervical infection. Thus, biofilm formation may play an important role in the infection of women. The ability of N. gonorrhoeae to form membrane blebs is crucial to biofilm formation. Blebs contain DNA and outer membrane structures, which have been shown to be major constituents of the biofilm matrix. The organism expresses a DNA thermonuclease that is involved in remodeling of the biofilm matrix. Comparison of the transcriptional profiles of gonococcal biofilms and planktonic runoff indicate that genes involved in anaerobic metabolism and oxidative stress tolerance are more highly expressed in biofilm. The expression of aniA, ccp, and norB, which encode nitrite reductase, cytochrome c peroxidase, and nitric oxide reductase respectively, is required for mature biofilm formation over glass and human cervical cells. In addition, anaerobic respiration occurs in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms and disruption of the norB gene required for anaerobic respiration, results in a severe biofilm attenuation phenotype. It has been demonstrated that accumulation of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the phenotype of a norB mutant and can retard biofilm formation. However, NO can also enhance biofilm formation, and this is largely dependent on the concentration and donation rate or steady-state kinetics of NO. The majority of the genes involved in gonococcal oxidative stress tolerance are also required for normal biofilm formation, as mutations in the following genes result in attenuated biofilm formation over cervical cells and/or glass: oxyR, gor, prx, mntABC, trxB, and estD. Overall, biofilm formation appears to be an adaptation for coping with the environmental stresses present in the female genitourinary tract. Therefore, this review will discuss the studies, which describe the composition and metabolic phenotype of gonococcal biofilms

Specialised Sweetpotato Vine Multiplication in Lake Zone, Tanzania: What “Sticks” and What Changes?

In Lake Zone, Tanzania, farmers were trained to multiply and distribute quality sweetpotato planting material. The objectives of this study were to assess changes in skills and practices among the trained farmers as vine multiplication became a specialized task. Nine months after the project ended, all 88 decentralized vine multipliers (DVMs) operating as groups (72%) or individuals (28%) were visited and qualitative data on their current multiplication practices collected through a questionnaire, checklists and observations. Results showed that 69% of DVMs were still multiplying vines, but less than half were using the seed production technologies promoted by the project. 34% used rapid multiplication beds; 61% used conventional plant spacing on ridges for roots and vines and 5% used both. As the vine multiplication cycle became a specialised activity, the multiplication and root production cycles were separated. Vines were treated differently in terms of site selection, length of cutting and spacing, depending on whether the objective of their use was for high root or high vine production. Capacity building of specialised vine multipliers and scaling-up seed interventions should consider the implications of skilling and task segregation in a broader context based on society’s choice of technologies and agrarian change

Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Frost Damage

This dataset is one of three affiliated with the paper Leaf phenology and freeze tolerance of the invasive tree Pyrus calleryana Roseaceae) and potential native competitors. The other two datasets are: Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Spring Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Fallhttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/mcewanlab_3_data/1008/thumbnail.jp

Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Fall

This dataset is one of three affiliated with the paper Leaf phenology and freeze tolerance of the invasive tree Pyrus calleryana Roseaceae) and potential native competitors. The other two datasets are: Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Spring Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Frost Damagehttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/mcewanlab_3_data/1007/thumbnail.jp

Leaf Phenology of Callery Pear: Spring

https://ecommons.udayton.edu/mcewanlab_3_data/1006/thumbnail.jp

User guide to seed regulatory framework analysis and implications for vegetatively propagated crops

Farmers who grow vegetatively propagated crops (VPC) face certain limitations in access to seed. Some of these constraints are related to policy, institutions and markets. This user guide describes a tool for conducting seed regulatory framework analysis for VPCs. It addresses quality assurance models (e.g. seed certification) and other regulations that can increase availability and access to quality VPC seed for smallholders. The methods used to collect and analyze the data include literature reviews, analysis of regulatory documents, focus group discussions and validation workshops. Stakeholder consultations through standardized key informant interviews are especially important. The resulting analysis is used to advise policy makers and regulatory bodies.Non-PRIFPRI5; CRP3.4; CRP2; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; Capacity StrengtheningDSGD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tuber, and Bananas (RTB); CGIAR Research Programs on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

Exploring the regulatory space for improving availability, access and quality of vegetatively propagated crop seed: Potato in Kenya

Potato ranks second staple food crop in Kenya. The Government seeks rapid yield growth in the potato subsector, however with only 2% of potato seed planted currently certified there is a persistent shortage of quality seed. There is no consensus on an appropriate model for quality seed assurance which can ensure increased availability and access to quality seed by smallholder farmers, while minimizing risk of spread of plant diseases. This study addressed the question of whether the current seed regulatory framework in Kenya and its implementation meets the need for increased availability and access to quality seed potato, for who, and with what consequences? Secondary data and policy analysis were complemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions involving 72 stakeholders from public, private and civil society conducted in the major potato production areas, and at national level. Our findings show a range of different actors have different and sometimes conflicting interests. Seed potato needs to be produced on a large-scale with enough land and resources to meet rotation and isolation standards and inspection costs. However, this has implications for equitable participation in the seed potato industry. Current regulatory and inspection procedures are perceived by small-scale seed producers as policing rather than facilitating quality seed production. This highlights compromises between achieving short term food security and managing risk of spread of plant diseases. The feasibility of different approaches to manage bacterial wilt and potato cyst nematode are discussed with implications for different scales of seed production. Several policy options are reviewed, with their trade-offs, emphasising the need to for inclusive stakeholder consultations to negotiate towards a common interest space.Non-PRIFPRI5; CRP3.4; CRP2; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; Capacity StrengtheningDSGD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tuber, and Bananas (RTB); CGIAR Research Programs on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

Yield potential of sandponically produced sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) pre-basic seed for selected genotypes

Sufficient sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) pre-basic seed at the start of the “seed” value chain is critical and often a bottleneck in the production of sweetpotato in Sub-Saharan Africa. Predominantly, pre-basic seed is multiplied in screenhouse using the conventional soil substrate method which is costly, is untenable, and achieves sub-optimal yields. The sandponics system is a better alternative for sweetpotato pre-basic seed multiplication in the screenhouse attributed to increased yields and cost-effectiveness. This experiment compared sweetpotato yield- and growth-related traits of planting materials sourced from the sandponics system with conventional soil substrate planting materials for four genotypes when grown in the field. A randomized complete block design was used with three replicates. Results showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between sources of planting materials and among genotypes for the measured traits. The interaction of source of planting materials and genotype was significant (p ≤ 0.05) for harvest index. Vine survival, storage root yield, number of storage roots per plant, and vine yield were higher by 4.1%, 24%, 27%, and 24%, respectively, in favor of planting materials sourced from the sandponics system. Sandponically multiplied planting materials showed superior performance for yield and most of the measured growth-related traits to planting materials multiplied by the conventional soil substrate method