Comparative analysis of gene expression in tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) under low-temperature stress

Low-temperature stress is one of the main factors limiting the distribution and reducing the yield of many subtropical crops, including the tea crop. Efficient breeding to develop frost-tolerant cultivars requires a reliable set of genetic markers for identifying resistance donors, and that is why it is necessary to reveal the specific genetic response in frost-tolerant genotypes in comparison with frost- susceptible ones. In this work, we performed a comparative analysis of the expression of 18 tea genes (ICE1, CBF1, DHN1, DHN2, DHN3, NAC17, NAC26, NAC30, bHLH7, bHLH43, P5CS, WRKY2, LOX1, LOX6, LOX7, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.2, SnRK1.3) under cold and frost conditions in two tea genotypes, tolerant and susceptible. Low-temperature stress was induced by placing the potted plants in cold chambers and lowering the temperature to 0…+2 °С for 7 days (cold stress), followed by a decrease in temperature to –4…–6 °С for 5 days (frost stress). Relative electrical conductivity of leaf was measured in response to the stress treatments, and a significant difference in the frost tolerance of the two tea genotypes was confirmed. Cold exposure did not lead to a change in the electrical conductivity of leaf tissue. On the other hand, frost treatment resulted in increased REC in both genotypes and to a greater extent in the susceptible genotype. Increased expression of all the genes was shown during cold and frost. The genes that were strongly expressed in the tolerant tea genotype were revealed: ICE1, CBF1, DHN2, NAC17, NAC26, bHLH43, WRKY2, P5CS, LOX6, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.3. These genes can be proposed as markers for the selection of frost-tolerance donors in tea germplasm collections. Additionally, it was shown that the tolerant genotype is characterized by an earlier response to stress at the stage of cold acclimation. The study of the expression of the identified genes in different organs of tea plants and in different exposures to low temperature is relevant for further investigations

Значение экспрессии рАКТ1 при диффузной В-крупноклеточной лимфоме

Aim. To evaluate the prognostic value of pAKT1 expression by tumor cells in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.Materials and methods. The study included 90 patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), who were treated at the clinic of Kirov Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion from 2014 to 2017 and received standard first-line polychemotherapy according to the R-CHOP regimen. Using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods, the relative number of tumor cells expressing pAKT1 was determined. Using the two-sided Fisher’s exact test, the relationship of different levels of marker expression with clinical and laboratory parameters of patients and long-term treatment results was analyzed. The impact of pAKT1 on the risk of an adverse event was assessed using the Cox regression analysis.Results. Overexpression of pAKT1 is associated with unfavorable clinical characteristics of patients with DLBCL, excessive expression of the BCL2 and c-Myc oncoproteins, as well as with low rates of overall and progressive survival. Overexpression of pAKT1 is an independent prognostic factor and statistically significantly affects the risk of an adverse outcome in DLBCL.Conclusion. The degree of pAKT1 expression is an informative criterion that allows to predict the course of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It is advisable to use the indicated marker when stratifying patients into risk groups.Цель – оценить прогностическое значение экспрессии рАКТ1 опухолевыми клетками у больных диффузной В-крупноклеточной лимфомой.Материалы и методы. В исследование включены 90 пациентов с впервые диагностированной диффузной В-крупноклеточной лимфомой (ДВККЛ), наблюдавшиеся в клинике института с 2014 по 2017 г. и получавшие стандартную полихимиотерапию первой линии по схеме R-CHOP. С помощью иммуногистохимического и морфометрического методов определено относительное количество экспрессирующих рАКТ1 опухолевых клеток. С помощью точного двухстороннего критерия Фишера проанализирована взаимосвязь различных уровней экспрессии маркера с клинико-лабораторными показателями пациентов и отдаленными результатами лечения. Оценку влияния рАКТ1 на риск наступления неблагоприятного события проводили с помощью регрессионного анализа Кокса.Результаты. Гиперэкспрессия рАКТ1 ассоциирована с неблагоприятными клиническими характеристиками больных диффузной В-крупноклеточной лимфомой, избыточной экспрессией онкобелков BCL2, cMyc, а также низкими показателями общей и беспрогрессивной выживаемости. Гиперэкспрессия рАКТ1 является независимым фактором прогноза и статистически значимо влияет на риск возникновения неблагоприятного исхода при ДВККЛ.Заключение. Степень экспрессии рАКТ1 является информативным критерием, позволяющим прогнозировать течение диффузной В-крупноклеточной лимфомы. Указанный маркер целесообразно использовать при стратификации пациентов на группы риска

Epizootic Situation in the Crimean Federal District as Follows from Epidemiological Survey Results, 2014

The territory of the Crimean Peninsula is an endemic one as regards various natural-focal infections. The paper contains the data on epizootiological survey of 8 administrative regions of the Crimean Federal District (CFD). Carried out has been small mammals and Ixodidae ticks census. Identified is their species composition. Performed have been the field samples collection and laboratory studies for the presence of bacterial and viral infection agents. Established is the fact that H. marginatum is a dominating species among the ticks, collected during the spring season, while the house mouse prevails among the small mammals. As for the autumn collection of samples, the dominating species are H. punctata and common vole, respectively. Laboratory investigation results indicate the circulation of the agents of Ku fever, tick-borne spotty fever, Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, monocytic ehrlichiosis, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis

IL-12Rβ1 Deficiency in Two of Fifty Children with Severe Tuberculosis from Iran, Morocco, and Turkey

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the last decade, autosomal recessive IL-12Rβ1 deficiency has been diagnosed in four children with severe tuberculosis from three unrelated families from Morocco, Spain, and Turkey, providing proof-of-principle that tuberculosis in otherwise healthy children may result from single-gene inborn errors of immunity. We aimed to estimate the fraction of children developing severe tuberculosis due to IL-12Rβ1 deficiency in areas endemic for tuberculosis and where parental consanguinity is common. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We searched for IL12RB1 mutations in a series of 50 children from Iran, Morocco, and Turkey. All children had established severe pulmonary and/or disseminated tuberculosis requiring hospitalization and were otherwise normally resistant to weakly virulent BCG vaccines and environmental mycobacteria. In one child from Iran and another from Morocco, homozygosity for loss-of-function IL12RB1 alleles was documented, resulting in complete IL-12Rβ1 deficiency. Despite the small sample studied, our findings suggest that IL-12Rβ1 deficiency is not a very rare cause of pediatric tuberculosis in these countries, where it should be considered in selected children with severe disease. SIGNIFICANCE: This finding may have important medical implications, as recombinant IFN-γ is an effective treatment for mycobacterial infections in IL-12Rβ1-deficient patients. It also provides additional support for the view that severe tuberculosis in childhood may result from a collection of single-gene inborn errors of immunity

Lipid abnormality correction by integrase inhibitor among children taking ARt

Goal. To estimate a possibility of correction laboratory abnormalities (increased level of cholesterol and/or triglycerides at blood of HIV-positive children) by switch the boosted PI on HIV integrase inhibitor (Raltegravir). Methods. The retrospective study was conducted in group of 58 HIV-positive children (less 18 yo). Inclusion criteria were increasing level of cholesterol in blood (more than 5,0 mmol/l) and/or the triglyceride (more than 2,3 mmol/l) ART with boosted PI. The ART regime was changed for all children (n=58). Boosted PI was replaced to integrase inhibitor (RAL). RAL formulation (chewable tablets, 25mg and 100mg) used accordingly weight. Time horizon of observation and laboratory control after boosted PI switch was 24 months. Results. Lab abnormalities in study group (n=58) after switch to RAL were changed: reliable decrease in level of cholesterol (p <0,01), triglycerides (p <0,001), viral load (p <0,001) and growth CD4 count (p <0,05). Conclusion. Boosted PI switch to integrase inhibitor is providing long-term and effective HIV management and improvement of lipid abnormalities among children