Pyramiding of blast and bacterial leaf blight resistance genes into rice cultivar RD6 using marker assisted selection

Blast caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (Hebert) Barr. and bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) are two major diseases of rice (Oryza sativa). The use of varietal resistance is the most appropriate strategy for controlling the diseases, and molecular assisted selection can potentially accelerate breeding programs. The objective of this study was to pyramid genes conferring resistance to blast and bacterial leaf blight diseases to rice cultivar RD6, using molecular assisted selection. Near-isogenic lines (NIL) derived from two blast resistant crosses (RD6 × P0489 and RD6 × Jao Hom Nin) were pyramided with IR62266 (xa5), to transfer bacterial leaf blight resistance to RD6 introgression lines. Five flanking sets of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (RM319/RM212, RM48/RM207, RM224/RM144, RM313/RM277 and RM122/RM159: four for blast and one for BLB resistance) were used for screening of introgression lines carrying five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from the BC1F2 generation through to BC2F2:3 generation, and 12 pyramiding lines were identified. Gene validation for blast and bacterial leaf blight diseases was accomplished using artificial inoculation under greenhouse conditions. BC2F2:3 2-8-2-24 and BC2F2:3 2-8-2-25 showed greater levels of blast broad spectrum resistance (BSR) whereas BC2F2:3 2-8-2-36 expressed the highest of bacterial leaf blight resistance with a high blast BSR.Keywords: Gene pyramiding, introgression lines, molecular marker, Near-isogenic lines, SSR.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(28), pp. 4432-443

Caractéristiques polliniques des plantes mellifères de la zone soudano-guinéenne d'altitude de l'ouest Cameroun

Pollen Characteristics of Melliferous Plants of the Soudano Guinean Western Highlands of Cameroon. Between November 2000 and 2001, an inventory and pollen characteristics study of major melliferous plants of the Menoua Division in the Western highlands of Cameroon (Latitude North 5° 21.45N- 5°35.44'N and Longitude east 10°04.72- 10°26.24) were carried out. A total of 78 melliferous plants belonging to 33 families were identified. In terms of number of plants, the most-represented species were Asteraceae (12.9%); Solanaceae (8.6%); Euphorbiaceae (7.6%); Myrtaceae and Malvaceae (6.4%) respectively in decreasing order. As concerns pollen characteristics inter and intra families variations were recorded. The smallest pollen size (15.7 ± 1.6 μ) was found with Leucaena leucocephala while Calliandra callothyrsus had the highest (190.9 ± 7.1 μ). Subcircular pollen form was predominant (Asteraceae 39.2% of the 78 melliferous plants) followed respectively by spheric (20.3%; Convovulaceae), elliptic (12.2%; Dacryodes edulis, cordia sp.), and triangular (10.8%; Myrtaceae). Melliferous plants with aperturated exine pollen (Ageratum conyzoides, Psidium guayava) were predominant (71.7%) compared to those without aperturated exine pollen (Manihot esculenta, Croton macrostachyus; 28.2%). Pollen ornamentation also showed a trend of variation between species. Smooth pollen plants (Arachis hypogaea, Psidium guajava) were more numerous (46.1%), followed respectively by spined (25.6%; Asteracea, Malvaceae) and scabrous pollen species (Casuarina equisetifolia, Musa paradisiaca)

Physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the sudano-guinean zone of West Cameroon

The physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the sudano-guinean zone of West Cameroon were determined. The indices obtained were within their respective ranges recorded forhoney in temperate countries, except for calcium content whose value was on the upper side of its reference range. A bacterial type and eight fungi species contamination were found to have contaminated the honey from the local markets. However, there were no microbes present in honey harvested from the Bee Research Farm of the University of Dschang. This indicated contamination from secondary sources, during handling and or adulterations of honey from our local markets. Honey used in this study showed medium crystallisation tendency and granulation was faster when stored under dark than light at similar conditions. The mixed floral or nectar sources, fluctuating environmental conditions and processing procedures played major roles in the physico-chemical differences observed between the local and temperate honeys

La pathologie comparée vue par la spectrométrie d'absorption atomique sans flamme La dyschondroplasie tibiale (Dys. T.) des poulets de chair ou syndrome des tibias en « S »

Syndrome of Tibia in S. Comparative pathology studied by atomic absorption spectrometry. Tibia dyschondroplasie (T. Dys.) of flesh chicken. Non flame atomic absorption spectrometry is used to analyse chicken calcined bones attacked by tibia syndrome in «S» (T. Dys.) ; a disorder of elements is observed comparatively to check chicken. A relative anickelose and an increase more than 200% of K, Na, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe is shown ; iron is an antagonist of nickel.Les auteurs montrent par la spectrométrie sans flamme que dans l’os cuit puis calciné des poulets de chair atteints de syndrome des tibias en «S» (Dys. T.), il y a un bouleversement des éléments minéraux par rapport au poulet témoin. Il y a une anickelose relative et une augmentation de plus de 200 % du K, Na, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn et Fe, ce dernier étant antagoniste du Ni. Ces perturbations sont dues à une absence d'orthomolécularité nutritionnelle par complémentation excessive de ces éléments ; malgré la vitamine D3, le Ca et le P restent inchangés.Adam J., Pinta M. La pathologie comparée vue par la spectrométrie d'absorption atomique sans flamme. La dyschondroplasie tibiale (Dys. T.) des poulets de chair ou syndrome des tibias en «S» (T. en S.). In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 135 n°1, 1982. pp. 67-70

Ulosteenkarkailu ja sen hoito sakraalisella neuromodulaatiolla

Sakraalinen neuromodulaatio on vakiintunut hoitomuoto ulosteenkarkailuun. Hoitoon pääsy edellyttää, että potilas on käynyt läpi konservatiivisen hoidon. Ikä ei ole hoidon este. Eniten hoidosta hyötyvät potilaat, joilla on synnytyksen yhteydessä tullut sulkijalihasvaurio. Komplikaatiot ovat yleensä lieviä infektioita, ja vakavia komplikaatioita esiintyy harvoin.</p

The Clinical Frailty Scale is a useful tool for predicting postoperative complications following elective colon cancer surgery at the age of 80 years and above: A prospective, multicentre observational study

Aim Identification of the risks of postoperative complications may be challenging in older patients with heterogeneous physical and cognitive status. The aim of this multicentre, observational study was to identify variables that affect the outcomes of colon cancer surgery and, especially, to find tools to quantify the risks related to surgery. Method Patients aged >= 80 years with electively operated Stage I-III colon cancer were recruited. The prospectively collected data included comorbidities, results of the onco-geriatric screening tool (G8), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), and operative and postoperative outcomes. Results A total of 161 patients (mean 84.5 years, range 80-97, 60% female) were included. History of cerebral stroke (64% vs. 37%, p = 0.02), albumin level 31-34 g/l compared with >= 35 g/l (57% vs. 32%, p = 0.007), CFS 3-4 and 5-9 compared with CFS 1-2 (49% and 47% vs. 16%, respectively) and American Society of Anesthesiologists score >3 (77% vs. 28%, P = 0.006) were related to a higher risk of complications. In multivariate logistic regression analysis CFS >= 3 (OR 6.06, 95% CI 1.88-19.5, p = 0.003) and albumin level 31-34 g/l (OR 3.88, 1.61-9.38, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with postoperative complications. Severe complications were more common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (43% vs. 13%, p = 0.047), renal failure (25% vs. 12%, p = 0.021), albumin level 31-34 g/l (26% vs. 8%, p = 0.014) and CCI >6 (23% vs. 10%, p = 0.034). Conclusion Surgery on physically and cognitively fit aged colon cancer patients with CFS 1-2 can lead to excellent operative outcomes similar to those of younger patients. The CFS could be a useful screening tool for predicting postoperative complications.Peer reviewe

Candida parapsilosis Colony Morphotype Forecasts Biofilm Formation of Clinical Isolates

Candida parapsilosis is a frequent cause of fungal bloodstream infections, especially in critically ill neonates or immunocompromised patients. Due to the formation of biofilms, the use of indwelling catheters and other medical devices increases the risk of infection and complicates treatment, as cells embedded in biofilms display reduced drug susceptibility. Therefore, biofilm formation may be a significant clinical parameter, guiding downstream therapeutic choices. Here, we phenotypically characterized 120 selected isolates out of a prospective collection of 215 clinical C. parapsilosis isolates, determining biofilm formation, major emerging colony morphotype, and antifungal drug susceptibility of the isolates and their biofilms. In our isolate set, increased biofilm formation capacity was independent of body site of isolation and not predictable using standard or modified European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) drug susceptibility testing protocols. In contrast, biofilm formation was strongly correlated with the appearance of non-smooth colony morphotypes and invasiveness into agar plates. Our data suggest that the observation of non-smooth colony morphotypes in cultures of C. parapsilosis may help as an indicator to consider the initiation of anti-biofilm-active therapy, such as the switch from azole- to echinocandin- or polyene-based strategies, especially in case of infections by potent biofilm-forming strains.This work was funded in part by grants or scholarships from the ZabaldUz program (Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea) to IDlP, the Consejería de Educación, Universidades e Investigación (GIC15/78 IT-990-16) of Gobierno Vasco-Eusko Jaurlaritza to GQ, the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (grants SAF2013-47570-P and SAF2017-86188-P, the latter co-financed by FEDER) of the Spanish government to P.G. and G.Q., and the FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN—Marie-Curie Action: “Initial Training Networks”: Molecular Mechanisms of Human Fungal Pathogen Host Interaction, ImResFun, MC-ITN-606786, to O.B. and U.G