Identification of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) proteins interacting with Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus coat protein gene using Y2H system

Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV) (Geminiviridae) causes the economically important tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD), and is transmitted by the whitefy, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera). Successful transmission of the virus by the insect requires safe translocation of the virus through diferent barriers inside the vector. During the translocation, the viral coat protein will interact with many whitefy proteins, while a few of them are benefcial to virus (e.g. heat shock proteins) but some may be harmful (e.g. whitefy immune proteins). We carried out the yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assays to identify the proteins of the B.tabaci Asia 1 genetic group interacting with ToLCBV coat protein (CP). The Y2H assay initially identifed a total of 425 putative interacting whitefy proteins on a low stringent selection media, and they were reduced to 324 when the yeast colonies were grown on a high stringent media, and of which about 274 colonies produced single bands in colony PCR experiments while the remaining colonies produced multiple bands. Further, high selection pressure assays confrmed a total of 102 whitefy proteins interacting with ToLCBV CP and these included the heat shock proteins (HSPs) 70 kDa, GroEL, nucleoproteins, vitellogenins, apolipophorins, 40 s ribosomal proteins, sorbitol dehydrogenase, dipeptidyl peptidase, E3 ubiquitin, annexin, GTP cyclohydrolase, tropomyosin, salivary secreted proteins, succinate dehydrogenase, lachesins, enolase and others. The identifed proteins could be potential targets for novel whitefy control strategies such as using RNAi or insecticide target sites for developing future disease and whitefy control strategies

Understanding the interactions among the crop plants, a virus, insect vector whiteflies and their endosymbionts

Interactions among the four biotic agents - the host plants, a virus, insect vector whiteflies and their bacterial endosymbionts was investigated in this study. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important crop pest that is infected by several endosymbiotic bacteria that can play varying roles on their hosts. Both whiteflies and endosymbionts are affected by the host plants they feed on, which in turn affect the fourth agent – the viruses, which are transmitted by the whiteflies. We investigated these interactions on five different host plants – eggplant, tomato, beans, okra and cotton - using a single whitefly species Asia 1 infected with three different bacteria Portiera, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus. B. tabaci Asia 1 transmits the Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV) effectively, which was the virus used in the study. We found host plants having a significant impact on whitefly growth and development. Eggplant was most favourable, while okra and tomato were least preferred. The endosymbiont Wolbachia was significantly affected by feeding of B. tabaci on different host plants while Portiera and Arsenophonus were unaffected. When whiteflies fed on ToLCBV-infected tomato plants, the concentration of Arsenophonus increased significantly while other endosymbionts remain unchanged. Understanding these interactions will help in managing both whiteflies and viral diseases

Socio-demographic profile of poisoning in children admitted to a tertiary hospital

Background: Childhood poisoning is a significant public health problem and is very important cause of mortality and morbidityin children. The offending substances used vary from place to place. The pattern of poisoning has been changing with new hazardsconstantly appearing due to the introduction of new drugs and chemicals. Childhood poisoning is usually accidental makingpoisoning a preventable problem. Objectives: To determine the socio-demographic and clinical profile and outcome of childhoodpoisoning in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was done over a period of 2-year in a tertiarycare hospital. We studied children <15 years of age who were admitted to our hospital with a history of poisoning. Children withhistory of food poisoning, snake bite, scorpion sting, and insect bites were excluded from the study. The demographic profile ofpatients, various substances of poisoning, mode of poisoning, and outcome of admitted children with poisoning were studied.Results: Among 200 children admitted with the history of poisoning, 126 (63%) were boys and 74 (37%) were girls. The majorityof the poisoning were accidental in nature and found to be common in the age group of 1-5 years, children from rural areas, and areof lower socio-economic status. Kerosene poisoning was the most common (35%) agent followed by organophosphorus poisoning(11%). 4 children died due to various complications of poisoning. Conclusion: Common household products were found to be themain source of poisoning in younger age groups from rural background, and the majority was accidental in nature. Educationalprograms toward creating awareness among public are necessary to reduce the incidence of poisoning in children

Spatial Distribution Patterns for Identifying Risk Areas Associated with False Smut Disease of Rice in Southern India

False smut disease (FSD) of rice incited by Ustilaginoidea virens is an emerging threat to paddy cultivation worldwide. We investigated the spatial distribution of FSD in different paddy ecosystems of South Indian states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, by considering the exploratory data from 111 sampling sites. Point pattern and surface interpolation analyses were carried out to identify the spatial patterns of FSD across the studied areas. The spatial clusters of FSD were confirmed by employing spatial autocorrelation and Ripley’s K function. Further, ordinary kriging (OK), indicator kriging (IK), and inverse distance weighting (IDW) were used to create spatial maps by predicting the values at unvisited locations. The agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis using the average linkage method identified four main clusters of FSD. From the Local Moran’s I statistic, most of the areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were clustered together (at I > 0), except the coastal and interior districts of Karnataka (at I < 0). Spatial patterns of FSD severity were determined by semi-variogram experimental models, and the spherical model was the best fit. Results from the interpolation technique, the potential FSD hot spots/risk areas were majorly identified in Tamil Nadu and a few traditional rice-growing ecosystems of Northern Karnataka. This is the first intensive study that attempted to understand the spatial patterns of FSD using geostatistical approaches in India. The findings from this study would help in setting up ecosystem-specific management strategies to reduce the spread of FSD in India

Understanding our seas: National Institute of Oceanography, Goa

The present article summarizes the research done at the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography in 2014 in ocean science, resources and technology. Significant research has been conducted on air–sea interactions and coastal circulation, biogeochemistry, biology, marine geophysics, palaeoceanography, marine fishery, gas hydrates and wave energy. Technological advances covered topics like oceanographic tools. Major strides have been made in marine resources research and evaluation

Understanding our seas: National Institute of Oceanography, Goa

The present article summarizes the research done at the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography in 2014 in ocean science, resources and technology. Significant research has been conducted on air–sea interactions and coastal circulation, biogeochemistry, biology, marine geophysics, palaeoceanography, marine fishery, gas hydrates and wave energy. Technological advances covered topics like oceanographic tools. Major strides have been made in marine resources research and evaluation

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity &gt; 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted to characterize the brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens (Stål.)) damage stress on rice crops through hyperspectral remote sensing. The BPH-damaged rice crop had higher reflectance in visible (VIS) and lower reflectance in near-infrared regions (NIR) of the electromagnetic spectrum compared with uninfested plants. Mean reflectance of the rice crop varied among different BPH damage levels in various wavebands, with the greatest variation in NIR (740–925 nm). Correlations between plant reflectance and BPH damage depicted four sensitive wavelengths, at 764, 961, 1201 and1664 nm in relation to BPH stress on the rice crop. Three new brown planthopper spectral indices (BPHI) were formulated by combining two or more of these sensitive wavelengths. Some of the hyperspectral indices reported in the literature were also tested for their suitability to detect BPH stress on rice crops. Based on crop reflectance corresponding to the sensitive wavelengths, a multiple-linear regression model was developed (R2=0.71, RMSE=1.74, P<0.0001) and validated (R2=0.73, RMSE=0.71, P<0.0001) that would help to monitor BPH stress on a rice crop and to issue forewarnings to growers.ICAR-IAR