Patterns of virulence diversity in Puccinia recondita on wheat in Morocco in 2005 and 2006

A total of 105 isolates of Puccinia recondita from durum wheat and common wheat were collected from the four main agro-ecological areas of Morocco, Abda-Doukkala, Chaouia-Tadla, Gharb-Saïss and Tangérois. The isolates were tested for virulence phenotypes on seedling plants of 21 near-isogenic lines of Thatcher wheat. Eightynine virulence phenotypes were identified and the resistance genes Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr9, Lr21, and Lr24 were found to confer a good resistance on isolates of all four collections. In the set of differentials used in this study, no significant difference was found between virulence frequencies of isolates from durum and from common wheat. Principal coordinates analysis and the Kosman distance between virulence phenotypes showed that the collections from Gharb-Saïss and Tangérois were closely related to each other, while Abda-Doukkala was closely related to Chaouia-Tadla

An early myeloma bone disease model in skeletally mature mice as a platform for biomaterial characterization of the extracellular matrix

Multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease is characterized by osteolytic bone tissue destruction resulting in bone pain, fractures, vertebral collapse, and spinal cord compression in patients. Upon initial diagnosis of MM, almost 80% of patients suffer from bone disease. Earlier diagnosis and intervention in MM bone disease would potentially improve treatment outcome and patient survival. New preclinical models are needed for developing novel diagnostic markers of bone structural changes as early as possible in the disease course. Here, we report a proof-of-concept, syngeneic, intrafemoral MOPC315.BM MM murine model in skeletally mature BALB/c mice for detection and characterization of very early changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of MM-injected animals. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) in vivo confirmed myeloma engraftment in 100% of the animals with high osteoclast activity within 21 days after tumor cell inoculation. Early signs of aggressive bone turnover were observed on the outer bone surfaces by high-resolution microcomputed tomography (microCT). Synchrotron phase contrast-enhanced microcomputer tomography (PCE-CT) revealed very local microarchitecture differences highlighting numerous active sites of erosion and new bone at the micrometer scale. Correlative backscattered electron imaging (BSE) and confocal laser scanning microscopy allowed direct comparison of mineralized and nonmineralized matrix changes in the cortical bone. The osteocyte lacunar-canalicular network (OLCN) architecture was disorganized, and irregular-shaped osteocyte lacunae were observed in MM-injected bones after 21 days. Our model provides a potential platform to further evaluate pathological MM bone lesion development at the micro- and ultrastructural levels. These promising results make it possible to combine material science and pharmacological investigations that may improve early detection and treatment of MM bone disease

Patterns of virulence diversity in Puccinia recondita on wheat in Morocco in 2005 and 2006

A total of 105 isolates of Puccinia recondita from durum wheat and common wheat were collected from the four main agro-ecological areas of Morocco, Abda-Doukkala, Chaouia-Tadla, Gharb-Saïss and Tangérois. The isolates were tested for virulence phenotypes on seedling plants of 21 near-isogenic lines of Thatcher wheat. Eightynine virulence phenotypes were identified and the resistance genes Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr9, Lr21, and Lr24 were found to confer a good resistance on isolates of all four collections. In the set of differentials used in this study, no significant difference was found between virulence frequencies of isolates from durum and from common wheat. Principal coordinates analysis and the Kosman distance between virulence phenotypes showed that the collections from Gharb-Saïss and Tangérois were closely related to each other, while Abda-Doukkala was closely related to Chaouia-Tadla