Peanut Chlorotic Streak Virus, a New Caulimovirus Infecting Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) in India

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea [groundnut]) plants with reduced leaflets, chlorotic streaks, and stunting were observed during surveys for diseases caused by peanut viruses in India. These peanut plants were infected with a new caulimovirus designated peanut chlorotic streak virus (PClSV). PClSV was mechanically transmissible to several plants in Leguminosae and Solanaceae but was not transmitted by Aphis craccivora or Myzus persicae. Purified from Nicotiana clevelandii leaves, PClSV contained isometric particles 52 ± 3 nm in diameter. The virus was not related to cauliflower mosaic, figwort mosaic, or soybean chlorotic mottle viruses. Inclusion bodies similar to those produced by caulimoviruses were observed in the cytoplasm of infected Nicotiana rustica and A. hypogaea leaves. Purified PClSV contained two polypeptides with relative molecular masses of 58 and 51 kDa. The size of double-stranded DNA was estimated as approximately 8.1 kbp, which contained two single-stranded discontinuities. The physical map of the PClSV genome was distinctly different from those of other caulimoviruses

Gene and pathway identification with Lp penalized Bayesian logistic regression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Identifying genes and pathways associated with diseases such as cancer has been a subject of considerable research in recent years in the area of bioinformatics and computational biology. It has been demonstrated that the magnitude of differential expression does not necessarily indicate biological significance. Even a very small change in the expression of particular gene may have dramatic physiological consequences if the protein encoded by this gene plays a catalytic role in a specific cell function. Moreover, highly correlated genes may function together on the same pathway biologically. Finally, in sparse logistic regression with <it>L</it>_{<it>p </it>}(<it>p </it>< 1) penalty, the degree of the sparsity obtained is determined by the value of the regularization parameter. Usually this parameter must be carefully tuned through cross-validation, which is time consuming.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper, we proposed a simple Bayesian approach to integrate the regularization parameter out analytically using a new prior. Therefore, there is no longer a need for parameter selection, as it is eliminated entirely from the model. The proposed algorithm (BLpLog) is typically two or three orders of magnitude faster than the original algorithm and free from bias in performance estimation. We also define a novel similarity measure and develop an integrated algorithm to hunt the regulatory genes with low expression changes but having high correlation with the selected genes. Pathways of those correlated genes were identified with DAVID <url>http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/</url>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Experimental results with gene expression data demonstrate that the proposed methods can be utilized to identify important genes and pathways that are related to cancer and build a parsimonious model for future patient predictions.</p

A Serious Disease of Groundnut Caused by Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus in the Sudan

A disease of groundnut characterized by stunting, downward rolling, mottling, general chlorosis and reduced leaflet size occurred in the Sudan. During 1992-94, surveys showed that the disease was restricted to irrigated groundnut crops grown between the 2 Niles. The viral causal agent had slightly flexuous filamentous particles (626 nm long) and was transmitted by whiteflies. It was identified serologically as cowpea mild mottle carlavirus (CPMMV). This appears to be the first record of natural occurrence of CPMMV on groundnut in the Sudan

Inflammatory and Immunological parameters in adults with Down syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increase in life expectancy within the general population has resulted in an increasing number of elderly adults, including patients with Down syndrome (DS), with a current life expectancy of about 50 years. We evaluate the parameters of humoral and cellular immune response, the quantitative expression of the regulator of calcineurin1 gene (RCAN1) and the production of cytokines. The study group consisted of adults DS (n = 24) and a control group with intellectual disability without Down syndrome (ID) (n = 21) and living in a similar environmental background. It was evaluated serology, immunophenotyping, the quantitative gene expression of RCAN1 and the production of cytokines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the DS group, the results showed an increase in NK cells, CD8, decreased CD19 (p < 0.05) and an increase spontaneous production of IFNgamma, TNFalpha and IL-10 (p < 0.05). There was not any difference in RCAN1 gene expression between the groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest a similar humoral response in the two groups. The immunophenotyping suggests sign of premature aging of the immune system and the cytokine production show a proinflammatory profile.</p

Mechanism of nitrogen metabolism-related parameters and enzyme activities in the pathophysiology of autism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is evidence that impaired metabolism play an important role in the etiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although this has not been investigated to date, several recent studies proposed that nitrogen metabolism-related parameters may have a pathophysiological role in autism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study enrolled 20 Saudi boys with autism aged 4 to 12 years and 20 healthy controls matched for age and gender. Levels of creatine, urea, ammonia, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate:glutamine (Glu:Gln) ratio, and enzymatic activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, 5'-nucleotidase, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) were determined in plasma samples from both groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found a significant elevation of creatine, 5'-nucleotidase, GABA, and glutamic acid and a significant decrease in the enzymatic activity of ADA and glutamine level in patients with autism compared with healthy controls. The most significant variation between the two groups was found in the Glu:Gln ratio.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A raised Glu:Gln ratio together with positive correlations in creatine, GABA, and 5'-nucleotidase levels could contribute to the pathophysiology of autism, and might be useful diagnostic markers. The mechanism through which these parameters might be related to autism is discussed in detail.</p