Characterization and defining of a core set of novel microsatellite markers for use in genotyping and diversity study of Adriatic fig (Ficus carica L.) germplasm

To support studies of the genetic diversity and population structure of Ficus carica L., 16 additional microsatellite markers were developed from genomic libraries enriched for GA/TC and GT/AC motifs. A total of 87 alleles were amplified in 83 analyzed fig samples. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to eight, with a mean value of 5.44 alleles per locus. Mean values of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.575 and 0.626, respectively. Calculated PIC values varied among loci in a range from 0.369 to 0.761. All markers were successfully cross-amplified in five closely related species belonging to the Moraceae family: Ficus (F. barteri Sprague, F. rubiginosa Desf. ex Vent., F. benjamina L.) and Morus (M. alba L. and M. nigra L.). These novel microsatellite markers represent a new valuable tool for further genome investigation, population studies, and management of genetic resources of wild, feral, and domesticated Ficus carica L. samples and other related species of Moraceae family, distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world

Phylogeographic Diversity of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Hantaviruses in Slovenia

Slovenia is a very diverse country from a natural geography point of view, with many different habitats within a relatively small area, in addition to major geological and climatic differences. It is therefore not surprising that several small mammal species have been confirmed to harbour hantaviruses: A. flavicollis (Dobrava virus), A. agrarius (Dobrava virus–Kurkino), M. glareolus (Puumala virus), S. areanus (Seewis virus),M. agrestis, M. arvalis and M. subterraneus (Tula virus). Three of the viruses, namely the Dobrava, Dobrava–Kurkino and Puumala viruses, cause disease in humans, with significant differences in the severity of symptoms. Due to changes in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome cases (HFRS) epidemiology, a detailed study on phylogenetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of pathogenic and non-pathogenic hantaviruses circulating in ecologically diverse endemic regions was performed. The study presents one of the largest collections of hantavirus L, M and S sequences obtained from hosts and patients within a single country. Several genetic lineages were determined for each hantavirus species, with higher diversity among non-pathogenic compared to pathogenic viruses. For pathogenic hantaviruses, a significant geographic clustering of human- and rodent-derived sequences was confirmed. Several geographic and ecological factors were recognized as influencing and limiting the formation of endemic areas