Detection of Arthropod Transmitted Viruses of Cereal Crops and RNAi Induced Resistance to Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important crops cultivated worldwide both in terms of nutrition and economic value. Some of the greatest challenges wheat growers face around the world are plant viruses, which may induce symptoms such as stunting or discoloration and can lead to yield losses, or in extreme cases, total crop failure. To identify potential solutions to the threat posed by plant viruses in wheat, one of the most important steps is to accurately and quickly detect and discriminate between viruses so the appropriate management strategy may be applied. Two of the most powerful technologies currently available for the detection and discrimination of plant viruses are PCR and massive parallel sequencing (MPS). The objectives of this study are to utilize multiplex PCR in combination with high-resolution melting (HRM), as well as the MPS based Electronic-Probe Diagnostic Nucleic Acid Analysis (EDNA), to develop new tools for the detection and discrimination of viruses of wheat such as Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). Next, to test the efficacy of RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential treatment to induce resistance to WSMV in wheat. Primers were designed to simultaneously detect WSMV, Maize mosaic virus (MMV) and Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in multiplex, and to discriminate between the three species of BYDV using HRM. E-probes capable of detecting 21 different viruses of cereal in metagenomic data were designed and the theoretical limit of detection was assessed for WSMV using in silico predictive models. These models were validated by sequencing known ratios of WSMV to wheat nucleic acids in a series of dilutions, then analyzed using EDNA on the subsequent metagenomic data. Gallagher, a wheat variety susceptible to WSMV, was injected with an RNAi construct specific to WMSV, then inoculated with WSMV. Viral titer of WSMV was then monitored at 7, 14 and 21 days post inoculation with qPCR and results were compared to WSMV inoculated and uninoculated, susceptible and resistant wheat varieties. It was determined that susceptible wheat treated with RNAi specific to WSMV prior to inoculation with WSMV had significantly reduced viral expression

Manipulation of the Solenopsis Invicta Virus-1 by RNA Interference in the Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and Examination of Differences in Resulting Micro RNA Expression

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), is an invasive ant species from South America to the United States and is responsible for approximately six billion dollars (U.S.) every year. In 2004, as part of an effort to find a self-sustained, long term biological control agent against S. invicta, researchers discovered the first ever known virus to infect Solenopsis sp., the Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1). RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of biological systems in insects and was used in this study to manipulate viral titers of SINV-1 in individual S. invicta workers and whole S. invicta colonies. By exposing S. invicta workers and whole colonies to a whole isolated SINV-1 virions and double stranded RNA (dsRNA) complementary to SINV-1, viral titers of SINV-1 were shown to significantly increase and decrease respectively. Increases and decreases in SINV-1 viral titers were shown to correlate with S. invicta worker mortality in infected S. invicta colonies. Differences in gene expression across SINV-1 and dsRNA treated S. invicta workers was measured by predicting the existence of 110 micro RNAs (miRNAs) in S. invicta, and measuring the relative abundance of each. The expression of five screened miRNAs was measured in SINV-1 infected S. invicta workers exposed to SINV-1 viral isolate, water, and dsRNA, with miRNAs Bantam and miR-8 determined to be significant components of the innate immunity of S. invicta against SINV-1

System dynamics model for analyzing and measuring the benefits of Global Earth Observation

The underlying Earth system and socio-economic system components of GEOSS are strongly interlinked forming a "fine" (complex) dynamic system. In order to quantify the total system benefit of GEOSS there was developed a dynamic computer simulation model called 'FeliX (Full of Economic-Environment Linkages and Integration dX/dt). The studies focus on exploring economic and environmental linkages and interrelations within and between specific Social Benefits Areas (SBAs), and measuring benefits of Global Earth Observation (GEO) across such defined systems. The model aggregates findings from particular case studies conducted as a part of the GEO-BENE project in particular SBAs. It maps in an explicit manner important elements of complex ecosystem. The simulation conducted in a dedicated, user-friendly simulator allows for analysis of the impact of GEO and for testing various scenarios and policies. Although the total system benefit is strongly policy scenario dependent we find that the total system benefits across all SBAs exceed the costs of the respective GEOSS

Impact of Global Earth Observation – Systemic view across GEOSS Societal Benefit Areas

Global Earth Observation (GEO) is perceived as instrumental to attain sustainable development goals and to be a major driver of how the society–technology–environment system is managed. However, appropriate scientific methodologies to assess the benefits of GEO and validate investments in earth observation infrastructure development have been missing. This paper presents the systems approach to measure and analyze the impact of Global Earth Observation across nine GEOSS Societal Benefit Areas. The described methodology framework was used as part of global-wide earth observation assessment conducted during the European Commission sponsored project “Global Earth Observation – Benefit Estimation: Now, Next and Emerging” (GEOBENE). The applied systems approach enabled integration and aggregation of GEOBENE project findings. Apart from the assessment framework, there are described specific tools used for the GEO’s impact assessment, i.e. system dynamics model and based on it freely available simulator, as well as some assessment results. Although the total system benefits are strongly policy scenario dependent it was found that improved data due to use of Global Earth Observation and the data availability for community has a great potential in shaping the sustainable future of our planet

Impact of Global Earth Observation - Systemic view across GEOSS societal benefit area

The work of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) is perceived as instrumental to attain sustainable dEvelopment goals and to be a major driver of how the society-technology-environment system is managed. However, appropriate scientific methodologies to assess the benefits of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and validate investments in Earth observation infrastrucure have been missing. This paper presents a systems approach to measure and analyze the impact oF Glbal Earth Observation across the nine Societal Benefit Areas defined by GEO. The methodological framework presented here was developed and applied to be complete across space, time and sectors through Integration and aggregation. Apart from the general assessment framework, we present some speciFics of the numerical tool, which is based on System Dynamics modeling and simulation technique. Our results indicate that through the total system benefits are strongly policy dependent, improvements of GEOSS per se and data availability and interoperability, the accrued benefits are large and have a great potential shaping mankind's course to sustainability

Analysis of Selected Physicochemical Properties of Commercial Apple Juices

The paper presents the comparison of quality of six different commercial apple juices produced in Poland. The apple juices came from two different Polish companies. From each manufacturer three various juices were selected: two cloudy and clarified one produced as a mixture of different apple varieties. The following properties were evaluated: density, soluble solid content, viscosity, total phenolic contents, phenolic acid, and antiradical activity. The obtained results showed that three from fourth cloudy juices (M1Sz, M1A and M2A) differed from clarified juices. The highest differences were noticed for total phenolic contents, phenolic acids, antiradical activity and viscosity. The values of these properties ranged between 60.72–103.6 mg GAE·100-1 mL-1 for phenolic contents, 78.3–90.9% for antiradical activity and 2.68–5.79 mPa·s for viscosity. The remaining cloudy juice (M2Sz) was more similar to the clarified ones. The strong correlation between total phenolic content and antiradical activity of apple juices was found. The high correlation coefficient obtained between these features indicates that both producers do not apply excessive amounts of vitamin C during the production of cloudy apple juices. There was also a strong interrelation between the density of juice and solid soluble content. However, no correlation was found between the solid soluble content and the viscosity of the tested juices

Biomarker enrichment medium: A defined medium for metabolomic analysis of microbial pathogens

Microbes have diverse metabolic capabilities and differences in these phenotypes are critical for differentiating strains, species, and broader taxa of microorganisms. Recent advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) allow researchers to track the complex combinations of molecules that are taken up by each cell type and to quantify the rates that individual metabolites enter or exit the cells. This metabolomics-based approach allows complex metabolic phenotypes to be captured in a single assay, enables computational models of microbial metabolism to be constructed, and can serve as a diagnostic approach for clinical microbiology. Unfortunately, metabolic phenotypes are directly affected by the molecular composition of the culture medium and many traditional media are subject to molecular-level heterogeneity. Herein, we show that commercially sourced Mueller Hinton (MH) medium, a Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) approved medium for clinical microbiology, has significant lot-to-lot and supplier-to-supplier variability in the concentrations of individual nutrients. We show that this variability does not affect microbial growth rates but does affect the metabolic phenotypes observed in vitro—including metabolic phenotypes that distinguish six common pathogens. To address this, we used a combination of isotope-labeling, substrate exclusion, and nutritional supplementation experiments using Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium to identify the specific nutrients used by the microbes to produce diagnostic biomarkers, and to formulate a Biomarker Enrichment Medium (BEM) as an alternative to complex undefined media for metabolomics research, clinical diagnostics, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and other applications where the analysis of stable microbial metabolic phenotypes is important

FeliX 2.0: An integrated model of climate, economy, environment, and society interactions

The Full of Economic-Environment Linkages and Integration dX/dt (FeliX) model is a System Dynamics-based Integrated Assessment Model (IAM), explicitly incorporating human behaviors and their dynamic interactions among global systems. This paper presents FeliX 2.0, describing the detailed framework and key interactions among nine integrated modules. FeliX 2.0 refined its original version in population dynamics, food and land use systems, and socioeconomic settings for poverty analysis. Robust calibration is applied to key variables against their historical data since 1950. Future projections of multiple variables up to 2100 demonstrate coherences between FeliX 2.0 and the IAMs used in IPCC assessments. Both outputs (the robust calibration results and future projections) underscore the efficacy of FeliX 2.0 in capturing complex interdependencies within global systems. FeliX 2.0 stands as an informative tool and offers insights into interactions within the human-Earth system and the analysis of complex economic-environmental-social challenges in short- and long-term future