The Arabidopsis thaliana Homeobox Gene ATHB12 Is Involved in Symptom Development Caused by Geminivirus Infection

BACKGROUND: Geminiviruses are single-stranded DNA viruses that infect a number of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Arabidopsis is susceptible to infection with the Curtovirus, Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV). Infection of Arabidopsis with BSCTV causes severe symptoms characterized by stunting, leaf curling, and the development of abnormal inflorescence and root structures. BSCTV-induced symptom development requires the virus-encoded C4 protein which is thought to interact with specific plant-host proteins and disrupt signaling pathways important for controlling cell division and development. Very little is known about the specific plant regulatory factors that participate in BSCTV-induced symptom development. This study was conducted to identify specific transcription factors that are induced by BSCTV infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Arabidopsis plants were inoculated with BSCTV and the induction of specific transcription factors was monitored using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. We found that the ATHB12 and ATHB7 genes, members of the homeodomain-leucine zipper family of transcription factors previously shown to be induced by abscisic acid and water stress, are induced in symptomatic tissues of Arabidopsis inoculated with BSCTV. ATHB12 expression is correlated with an array of morphological abnormalities including leaf curling, stunting, and callus-like structures in infected Arabidopsis. Inoculation of plants with a BSCTV mutant with a defective c4 gene failed to induce ATHB12. Transgenic plants expressing the BSCTV C4 gene exhibited increased ATHB12 expression whereas BSCTV-infected ATHB12 knock-down plants developed milder symptoms and had lower ATHB12 expression compared to the wild-type plants. Reporter gene studies demonstrated that the ATHB12 promoter was responsive to BSCTV infection and the highest expression levels were observed in symptomatic tissues where cell cycle genes also were induced. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that ATHB7 and ATHB12 may play an important role in the activation of the abnormal cell division associated with symptom development during geminivirus infection

Cyanobacterial Diversity and a New Acaryochloris-Like Symbiont from Bahamian Sea-Squirts

Symbiotic interactions between ascidians (sea-squirts) and microbes are poorly understood. Here we characterized the cyanobacteria in the tissues of 8 distinct didemnid taxa from shallow-water marine habitats in the Bahamas Islands by sequencing a fragment of the cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene and the entire 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and by examining symbiont morphology with transmission electron (TEM) and confocal microscopy (CM). As described previously for other species, Trididemnum spp. mostly contained symbionts associated with the Prochloron-Synechocystis group. However, sequence analysis of the symbionts in Lissoclinum revealed two unique clades. The first contained a novel cyanobacterial clade, while the second clade was closely associated with Acaryochloris marina. CM revealed the presence of chlorophyll d (chl d) and phycobiliproteins (PBPs) within these symbiont cells, as is characteristic of Acaryochloris species. The presence of symbionts was also observed by TEM inside the tunic of both the adult and larvae of L. fragile, indicating vertical transmission to progeny. Based on molecular phylogenetic and microscopic analyses, Candidatus Acaryochloris bahamiensis nov. sp. is proposed for this symbiotic cyanobacterium. Our results support the hypothesis that photosymbiont communities in ascidians are structured by host phylogeny, but in some cases, also by sampling location

Neuron-glia cross talk in rat striatum after transient forebrain ischemia

Striatum is highly vulnerable to transient forebrain ischemia induced by the 4 vessel occlusion (4V0) method (Brierley 1976. Pulsinelli et al. 1982, Zini et al. 1990a). Massive degeneration and loss of Nissl-stained neurons occur within 24 hr from an ischemia of long duration (30 min) (Pulsinelli et al. 1982). Neuronal loss is mainly restricted to the lateral part of caudate-putamen (Pulsinelli et al. 1982, Zini et al. 1990a). Cellular alterations include loss of medium-size spiny projection neurons (Pulsinelli et al. 1982, Francis and Pulsinelli 1982), largely corresponding to dopaminoceptive neurons (Benfenati et al. 1989, Zoli et al. 1989), and increase in reactive astrocytes (Pulsinelli et al. 1982, Grimaldi et al. 1990) and microglia (Gehrmann et al. 1982). On the other hand, large cholinergie (Francis and Pulsinelli 1982) and medium-size aspiny somatostatin (SS)/neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing interneurons are resistant to the ischemic insult (Pulsinelli et al. 1982, Grimaldi et al. 1990). In a few instances, such as in the case of SS and NPY immunoreactivity (IR), the initial loss is followed by full recovery within 7 (SS) or 40 (NPY) days post-ischemia (Grimaldi et al. 1990). However, it is not known whether some kind of recovery is present for the bulk of medium-size spiny projections neurons after the first days post-ischemia

SdiA, an N-Acylhomoserine Lactone Receptor, Becomes Active during the Transit of Salmonella enterica through the Gastrointestinal Tract of Turtles

encode a LuxR-type AHL receptor, SdiA, they cannot synthesize AHLs. In vitro, it is known that SdiA can detect AHLs produced by other bacterial species..We conclude that the normal gastrointestinal microbiota of most animal species do not produce AHLs of the correct type, in an appropriate location, or in sufficient quantities to activate SdiA. However, the results obtained with turtles represent the first demonstration of SdiA activity in animals

Avaliação eletromiográfica de músculos da cintura escapular e braço durante exercícios com carga axial e rotacional Evaluación electromiográfica de músculos de la cintura escapular y brazos durante ejercicios con cargas axial y rotacional Electromyographic assessment of the shoulder girdle and arm muscles during exercises with axial and rotational loads

O conhecimento da atividade eletromiográfica produzida durante a realização de exercícios para o ombro pode auxiliar na determinação de sua aplicabilidade clínica. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a influência da direção da carga e condição da extremidade na atividade elétrica de músculos da cintura escapular e membro superior durante a realização de exercícios com a extremidade distal fixa e carga externa axial (EFCA) e extremidade livre com carga externa rotacional (ELCR). Foram selecionadas 20 voluntárias (23,2 anos ± 0,9) sedentárias. Foram avaliados os mm. tríceps do braço, bíceps do braço, peitoral maior, trapézio e deltóide. Foi realizado o registro eletromiográfico de superfície, durante a realização de dois exercícios com EFCA e dois com ELCR, utilizando 100% da resistência máxima previamente estabelecida. Os valores de RMS normalizados pela contração voluntária máxima foram comparados por meio de um modelo de efeitos mistos com nível de significância de 5%. Nessas condições experimentais, os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que exercícios semelhantes, classificados pela condição da extremidade e a direção da carga aplicada ao membro superior, promovem níveis semelhantes de atividade eletromiográfica em apenas parte dos músculos estudados. Esses achados questionam a capacidade do sistema de classificação utilizado neste estudo de predizer o tipo de resposta muscular esperada na realização de diferentes tarefas de mesma classificação.<br>El conocimiento de la actividad electromiográfica producida durante los ejercicios para el hombro puede ayudar en la determinación de la pertinencia clínica. El objetivo de esta investigación era evaluar sus influencias de la dirección de la carga y condición de la extremidad en la actividad eléctrica de músculos de la cintura escapular y miembro superior durante ejercicios con la extremidad distal fija y carga externa axial (EFCA) y extremidad libre con la carga rotacional externa (ELCR). Se seleccionaron 20 voluntarias (23,2 años ± 0,9) sedentarias. Ellos estimaron el grosor en mm. de los tríceps del brazo, los bíceps del brazo, pectoral mayor, trapecio y deltoides. El registro electromiográfico de superficie se hizo, durante la realización de los ejercicios con EFCA y de los con ELCR, usando 100% de la resistencia máxima establecidos previamente. Se compararon los valores de RMS normalizados por la reducción máxima voluntaria a través de modelo de efectos mixtos con un nivel de significancia de 5%. En estas condiciones experimentales, los resultados del estudio presente mostraron que ejercicios similares, clasificados por la condición de la extremidad y la dirección de la carga aplicada al miembro superior, promoven niveles similares de electromiografía con actividad en sólo parte de los músculos estudiados. Estos descubrimientos cuestionan la capacidad del sistema de la clasificación usada en este estudio para predecir el tipo de respuesta muscular esperada en el logro de tareas diferentes de misma clasificación.<br>The knowledge of the electromyographic activity produced during shoulder exercises can help in determining its clinical applicability. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the load direction and the extremity condition on the electrical activity of the shoulder girdle and upper limb muscles during exercises with fixed distal extremity and external axial load (FEAL) and mobile extremity with rotational external load (MERL). Twenty 23.2 ± 0.9 years old female sedentary volunteers were selected. The triceps brachii, biceps brachii, major pectoral, trapezium and deltoid muscles were assessed. The surface electromyography was recorded during two FEAL and two MERL exercises using 100% of the previously established maximal resistance. The RMS values normalized by the maximal voluntary contraction were compared by a mixed effect model with 5% significance level. In these experimental conditions, the results found in the present study have shown that similar exercises classified by extremity condition and load direction applied on the upper limbs promote similar levels of the electromyographic activity only in part of the assessed muscles. These findings discuss the ability of the classification system used in this study to predict the type of the muscular response expected during different tasks with the same classification