On the Security of Group-based Proxy Re-encryption Scheme

Proxy re-encryption (PRE) allows a semi-trusted proxy to convert a ciphertext intended for Alice into a ciphertext for Bob without learning anything about the underlying plaintext. Chunbo Ma et al. have proposed a group based proxy re-encryption scheme to convert a ciphertext from one group to another. Any group member can independently decrypt the ciphertexts encrypted to its group. In their paper, the authors gave a security proof to say that the scheme is secure against adaptive chosen ciphertext attack. However, we highlight the flaws in their scheme and show that their scheme is not secure against adaptive chosen ciphertext attack. In this direction, we construct an adversary who issues only one decryption oracle query and break the security of their scheme with non-negligible advantage

On the Security of an Efficient Group Key Agreement Scheme for MANETs

Yang et al. have proposed an efficient group key agreement scheme for Mobile Adhoc Networks. The scheme is efficient as only one bilinear computation is required for group members to obtain the session key. The scheme is analyzed for security without random oracle model. However, we prove that their scheme is not secure. In particular, we show that any passive adversary (or non-group member) can compute the session key without having access to the individual secret keys of the group members. Hence, Yang et al. scheme cannot be used for secure group communication. We also show that, the scheme cannot be used for secure group communication unless there exists a central entity, and hence cannot be used for secure communication in mobile adhoc networks

Antiviral Silencing and Suppression of Gene Silencing in Plants

RNA silencing is an evolutionary conserved sequence-specific gene inactivation mechanism that contributes to the control of development, maintains heterochromatin, acts in stress responses, DNA repair and defends against invading nucleic acids like transposons and viruses. In plants RNA silencing functions as one of the main immune systems. RNA silencing process involves the small RNAs and trans factor components like Dicers, Argonautes and RNA-dependent RNA poly- merases. To deal with host antiviral silencing responses viruses evolved mecha- nisms to avoid or counteract this, most notably through expression of viral suppressors of RNA silencing. Due to the overlap between endogenous and antiviral silencing pathways while blocking antiviral pathways viruses also impact endogenous silencing processes. Here we provide an overview of antiviral silencing pathway, host factors implicated in it and the crosstalk between antiviral and endogenous branches of silencing. We summarize the current status of knowledge about the viral counter-defense strategies acting at various steps during virus infection in plants with the focus on representative, well studied silencing suppres- sor proteins. Finally we discuss future challenges of the antiviral silencing and counter-defense research field

On the Security of Group-based Proxy Re-encryption Scheme

Proxy re-encryption (PRE) allows a semi-trusted proxy to convert a ciphertext intended for Alice into a ciphertext for Bob without learning anything about the underlying plaintext. Chunbo Ma et al. have proposed a group based proxy re-encryption scheme to convert a ciphertext from one group to another. Any group member can independently decrypt the ciphertexts encrypted to its group. In their paper, the authors gave a security proof to say that the scheme is secure against adaptive chosen ciphertext attack. However, we highlight the flaws in their scheme and show that their scheme is not secure against adaptive chosen ciphertext attack. In this direction, we construct an adversary who issues only one decryption oracle query and break the security of their scheme with non-negligible advantage

Toxigenic fusarium species and fumonisin b1 and b2 associated with freshly harvested sorghum and maize grains produced in Karnataka, India

Fumonisins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by the species of Fusarium. Accurate detection of these toxins in cereals is essential for a reliable evaluation of human exposure to these carcinogenic mycotoxins. In the present study, maize and sorghum samples were randomly collected from different regions of Karnataka (India) used for the analysis of fumonisin contamination. Preliminary mycological studies of samples confirmed the occurrence of mycotoxigenic Fusarium species such as F. verticillioides (18 strains), F. proliferatum (2 strains) and F. anthophilum (2 strains). The method used for the analysis of fumonisins was solvent extraction, C18 Sep-Pak reverse phase clean-up and orthophthalaldehyde plus 2-mercaptoethanol derivatization followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. The FB1 and FB2 concentration in maize patties inoculated with three different Fusarium species ranged between 0.065 to 121.42 µg/g. Fumonisin concentrations in 13 of 15 natural maize samples were found to be 0.003-23.43 µg/g. similarly FB1 and FB2 concentrations in 07 of 13 natural sorghum samples were found to be 0.001 to 17.09 µg/g. The average yield of FB1 produced was much higher concentration to that of FB2 in all the samples analyzed. Further, FB2 was always found in association with FB1 in all the samples analyzed by HPLC. This is first report on the natural occurrence of fumonisins in cereals produced in Karnataka (India)

First report of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-1 and Hop stunt viroid infecting grapevines (Vitis vinifera) in India

During March through July 2012, 10 to 15% of the Vitis vinifera cultivars Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shahi exhibited yellow leaf spots and flecks, shortened internodes, and tiny yellow leaves in vineyards of the Bijapur, Doddaballapur, and Kolar districts of Karnataka State, India. These are the major grapevine cultivation regions in India. Samples were collected from four different plants from each district (12 samples in total) and RNA was extracted using 2X CTAB buffer (1). Presence of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid1 (GYSVd-1, genus Apscaviroid) was tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primer pair PBCVd100C/194H (4) for the amplification of a 220-bp region of the genome. In agarose gel electrophoresis, five samples showed amplicons of the expected size. These amplicons were cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of GYSVd-1. Based on this data, the full-length genome of GYSVd-1 was amplified by RT-PCR using primer pair 341M (5′-CACTCGCGGGGCGCGTTGGA-3′) and 342P (5′-CAATCCCCGGAACCCCCGCT-3′) and the amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed two sequence variants namely Kar-1 (GenBank Accession No. AB742222) and Kar-2 (AB742223) with 98% and 99% identity to GYSVd-1 variants IXc (X87913) and II (X87906), respectively. GYSVd-1 variants Kar-1 and Kar-2 clustered in two distinct phylogenetic sub-clades. All 12 samples also tested positive for Hop stunt viroid (HpSVd, genus Hostuviroid) in two separate sets of RT-PCR using HSV-78P (5′-AACCCGGGGCAACTCTTCTC-3′) and HSV-83M (5′-AACCCGGGGCTCCTTTCTCA-3′); and HSV-7P (5′-AATTCTCGAGTTGCCGC-3′) and HSV-220M (5′-CGAACCGAGAGGTGATGCCA-3′), with the expected size of 303 and 213 bp, respectively (3). Sequence analysis of the amplicons confirmed the presence of HpSVd. Alignment of HpSVd nucleotide sequences obtained from the 12 samples showed the presence of a single type of sequence variant, namely Ind-2 (AB742225). BLAST analysis showed 99% sequence identity of Ind-2 with a HpSVd variant isolated from a 100-year-old grapevine in China. All 12 grapevine samples were also tested for the presence of Australian grapevine viroid (AGVd, genus Apscaviroid), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd 2, genus Apscaviroid), and Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd, genus Pospiviroid) by RT-PCR as described previously (2). None of the samples showed any positives. Northern blot assay using appropriate digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes performed as described previously (2) further confirmed RT-PCR results. Positive controls for RT-PCR and Northern blot were obtained from viroid-infected grapevines maintained in the greenhouse. GYSVd-1 and HpSVd were detected in symptomatic and symptomless plants. Hence, the symptoms observed in the vineyard cannot be attributed to viroid infection. More work is needed to identify the causal agent(s) of the decline of Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shadi cultivars

First report of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-1 and Hop stunt viroid infecting grapevines (Vitis vinifera) in India

During March through July 2012, 10 to 15% of the Vitis vinifera cultivars Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shahi exhibited yellow leaf spots and flecks, shortened internodes, and tiny yellow leaves in vineyards of the Bijapur, Doddaballapur, and Kolar districts of Karnataka State, India. These are the major grapevine cultivation regions in India. Samples were collected from four different plants from each district (12 samples in total) and RNA was extracted using 2X CTAB buffer (1). Presence of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid1 (GYSVd-1, genus Apscaviroid) was tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primer pair PBCVd100C/194H (4) for the amplification of a 220-bp region of the genome. In agarose gel electrophoresis, five samples showed amplicons of the expected size. These amplicons were cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of GYSVd-1. Based on this data, the full-length genome of GYSVd-1 was amplified by RT-PCR using primer pair 341M (5′-CACTCGCGGGGCGCGTTGGA-3′) and 342P (5′-CAATCCCCGGAACCCCCGCT-3′) and the amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed two sequence variants namely Kar-1 (GenBank Accession No. AB742222) and Kar-2 (AB742223) with 98% and 99% identity to GYSVd-1 variants IXc (X87913) and II (X87906), respectively. GYSVd-1 variants Kar-1 and Kar-2 clustered in two distinct phylogenetic sub-clades. All 12 samples also tested positive for Hop stunt viroid (HpSVd, genus Hostuviroid) in two separate sets of RT-PCR using HSV-78P (5′-AACCCGGGGCAACTCTTCTC-3′) and HSV-83M (5′-AACCCGGGGCTCCTTTCTCA-3′); and HSV-7P (5′-AATTCTCGAGTTGCCGC-3′) and HSV-220M (5′-CGAACCGAGAGGTGATGCCA-3′), with the expected size of 303 and 213 bp, respectively (3). Sequence analysis of the amplicons confirmed the presence of HpSVd. Alignment of HpSVd nucleotide sequences obtained from the 12 samples showed the presence of a single type of sequence variant, namely Ind-2 (AB742225). BLAST analysis showed 99% sequence identity of Ind-2 with a HpSVd variant isolated from a 100-year-old grapevine in China. All 12 grapevine samples were also tested for the presence of Australian grapevine viroid (AGVd, genus Apscaviroid), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd 2, genus Apscaviroid), and Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd, genus Pospiviroid) by RT-PCR as described previously (2). None of the samples showed any positives. Northern blot assay using appropriate digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes performed as described previously (2) further confirmed RT-PCR results. Positive controls for RT-PCR and Northern blot were obtained from viroid-infected grapevines maintained in the greenhouse. GYSVd-1 and HpSVd were detected in symptomatic and symptomless plants. Hence, the symptoms observed in the vineyard cannot be attributed to viroid infection. More work is needed to identify the causal agent(s) of the decline of Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shadi cultivars

Affordable and reliable plant sap-mediated template preparation for the detection of various phytopathogens by PCR assay

Plant pathogens like 'Ca. Liberibacter', phytoplasma, viruses and viroids cause diseases to almost all economically important plants. A simple and fast sap-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection of these pathogens infecting various plant hosts is described in the present study. Sap from selected plants was drawn aseptically on parafilm, from the mid-rib of young leaves. Depending on the type of host plant, sap was diluted to optimal concentration before PCR analysis. 'Ca. Liberibacter', Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) and Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) infecting citrus, and 'Ca. Phytoplasma' infecting pepper and sandal trees were tested by sap-mediated PCR. The reliability of this procedure was evaluated by comparing the findings with previously described protocols. The sap-mediated nucleic acid template preparation for PCR assay is devoid of laborious nucleic acid extraction and expensive chemicals. Hence the present method is rapid, economical and so can be employed for diagnosis of large number of plant samples

InCl<SUB>3</SUB>-catalyzed alkylation of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds with cyclic allylic acetates

Various aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds undergo smooth alkylation with cyclic allylic acetates in the presence of 10 mol% of indium trichloride under mild conditions to afford 3-substituted indoles, 2-substituted furan and pyrrole and cyclohex-enyl-substituted arenes in good yields with high selectivity