The Genome Assembly of Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz

Background and Aims. Shiraz (Syrah) is a dark-skinned cultivar of the wine grape Vitis vinifera that forms the basis of some of the world’s most iconic wines. Worldwide, Shiraz is the fourth most planted grapevine cultivar; however, it represents the most planted cultivar in Australia. Given the importance of Shiraz to worldwide wine production, this study aimed to produce a reference genome for this cultivar while investigating the unique genetic variants and ancestral origins of this iconic variety. Methods and Results. Long-read ONT data were selected to produce a highly contiguous genome assembly for Shiraz. Phylogenetic reconstruction using high-quality genome assemblies for wine grape cultivars provided further support of a kinship between Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Harnessing long-read data, transposable element insertions potentially affecting gene function were characterized in Shiraz and assessed relative to other cultivars. This revealed a heterogenous landscape of transposon insertion points across cultivars and uncovered a specific combination of allelic variants at the VviTPS24 terpene synthase locus. Conclusions. This establishment of a Shiraz genome provides a detailed view of the genetics that underpin this cultivar, including the discovery of a specific combination of VviTPS24 variants, which when combined with appropriate environmental triggers may allow Shiraz to produce high levels of rotundone, the aroma compound responsible for the distinctive peppery characteristics of this cultivar. Significance of the Study. The availability of a reference genome for Shiraz expands the pool of genomes available for wine grapes while providing a foundation resource for whole-genome studies involving this iconic cultivar, including intracultivar variant identification and transcriptomic studies using a matching reference genome

CA 19-9 assay in patients with extrahepatic cholestatic jaundice

Serum concentrations of the CA 19-9 tumour marker were determined in 35 patients with histologically proven bilio-pancreatic malignancies associated with obstructive jaundice and in 35 patients with benign extrahepatic jaundice due to choledocholithiasis. At a cut-off level of 37 U/ml the sensitivity of this assay was 82.8%, but the specificity was very low (45.7%). Thus CA 19-9 can not be employed to differentiate between malignant and benign extrahepatic jaundice. Serial samples of CA 19-9 were achieved in 7 patients with benign and in 6 patients with malignant biliary obstruction, before and after the disappearance of jaundice. Serum concentrations of this tumour-antigen returned to normal concurrently with the bilirubin values only in patients with benign obstruction, remaining unchanged in all cases of malignancies. The data suggest that patients with extrahepatic jaundice should be evaluated by other examinations or by collecting serial samples for this assay

Changes in Diversity and Community Composition of Root Endophytic Fungi Associated with Aristolochia chilensis along an Aridity Gradient in the Atacama Desert

Despite the widespread occurrence of fungal endophytes (FE) in plants inhabiting arid ecosystems, the environmental and soil factors that modulate changes in FE diversity and community composition along an aridity gradient have been little explored. We studied three locations along the coast of the Atacama Desert in Chile, in which the plant Aristolochia chilensis naturally grows, and that differ in their aridity gradient from hyper-arid to semi-arid. We evaluated if root-associated FE diversity (frequency, richness and diversity indexes) and community composition vary as a function of aridity. Additionally, we assessed whether edaphic factors co-varying with aridity (soil water potential, soil moisture, pH and nutrients) may structure FE communities. We expected that FE diversity would gradually increase towards the aridity gradient declines, and that those locations that had the most contrasting environments would show more dissimilar FE communities. We found that richness indexes were inversely related to aridity, although this pattern was only partially observed for FE frequency and diversity. FE community composition was dissimilar among contrasting locations, and soil water availability significantly influenced FE community composition across the gradient. The results indicate that FE diversity and community composition associated with A. chilensis relate to differences in the aridity level across the gradient. Overall, our findings reveal the importance of climate-related factors in shaping changes in diversity, structure and distribution of FE in desert ecosystems

X-ray computed tomography reveals that intraspecific competition promotes soldier differentiation in a one-piece nesting termite

© 2017 The Netherlands Entomological Society Investment in soldier production in eusocial lineages involves a trade-off between maintenance costs and defense benefits. Termites are eusocial insects that live in colonies organized into three castes: primary reproductives, soldiers, and workers or pseudergates. Neotermes chilensis (Blanchard) (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) is a one-piece nesting termite that nests and forages in a single piece of wood. Two scenarios may be of importance in a defense context of one-piece nesting termites: during swarms, when colonies may be invaded by winged termites (alates) in search of a place to found a new colony, and when colonies of conspecifics are present within the same substrate. It was hypothesized that the ratio of soldiers to non-soldiers would be higher at the onset of the swarming period and in substrates bearing more than one termite colony. A method based on X-ray computed tomography (CT) was developed to study gallery connectivity in colon

LH-RH analogue treatment in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: a phase II study. Gruppo Ligure per lo Studio del Pancreas.

In this phase II study, we treated 7 patients, all males, with stage III or IV pancreatic cancer with goserelin (an LH-RH analogue). Goserelin was administered at a dose of 3.6 mg every 4 weeks. The tumour response was assessed by measuring lesions with US- or CT-scan studies, according to WHO criteria. No response was observed. The median survival was 8 months in locally unresectable tumours and 4 months in advanced disease. The accrual was actually stopped at 7 cases because there were no responses in either of our series or in those published during our study. The authors conclude that the treatment with LH-RH analogue alone cannot be recommended for further studies