Grain quality of dry-seeded rice in response to sowing dates and genotypes

The information on quality aspects of rice genotypes specifically developed for direct seeding in response to sowing time is limited. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of sowing time (1, 10 and 20 June) on quality of rice genotypes (RIL-367 and RIL-1649, PR-115 and PR-121) sown under direct-seeding conditions. The results revealed that newly developed genotypes (RIL-367 and RIL-1649) for dry-seeded rice (DSR) had higher head rice recovery (HRR\ua0%) as compared to PR-115 (the popular variety for DSR) and, HRR\ua0% of RIL-1649 improved (~ 63–64%) under late sowing (20 June). In each sowing date, RIL-367 and RIL-1649 had similar but lower chalkiness (< 8%) than PR-115 and PR-121. RIL-1649 had a higher kernel elongation ratio and lower alkali spreading score among all genotypes at each sowing date. The present study revealed that high chalkiness in the early sown crop resulted in lower HRR% as the relationship of HRR% with chalkiness in the early sown crop was found negative (−.0.72). It was also seen that high amylose contents of RIL-367 and RIL-1649 helped in reducing chalkiness, as the negative correlation (− 0.74) was found between amylose content and chalkiness. This study suggests that chalkiness in DSR may be reduced by manipulating sowing time in DSR. This study also suggests that genotypes RIL-367 and RIL-1649 having higher HRR% with low chalkiness and intermediate amylose could be considered as parents in the breeding program for developing new rice varieties with improved appearance quality, especially for DSR in South Asia

Sample analysis report of one of the pathogen-specific protein (gi:15607938) of <i>M. tuberculosis</i> to determine domain-level conserveness in low-matching sequences between pathogen-specific and non-pathogenic protein sequences^ζ.

ζ<p>For detail see Algorithm section in ‘<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032833#s2" target="_blank">Material and Methods</a>’.</p>φ<p>Residue, +, blank and - indicate identity, similarity, dissimilarity and gap, respectively w.r.t. corresponding residues in pathogenic sequences in equivalent positions.</p>ψ<p>Different residues forming a given pocket are represented by a number, i.e. 0 indicates biggest size pocket in a protein.</p

Metabolic paths identified until end metabolite synthesis in pyrimidine metabolism (00240) connected pathways starting from the reaction (R00978) catalyzed by the enzyme, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (NADP+ [EC: 1.3.1.2], KEGG Orthologous Id: K00207).

<p>Metabolic paths identified until end metabolite synthesis in pyrimidine metabolism (00240) connected pathways starting from the reaction (R00978) catalyzed by the enzyme, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (NADP+ [EC: 1.3.1.2], KEGG Orthologous Id: K00207).</p

Flow diagram representing methodology implemented in UniDrug-Target server to identify potential pathogen-specific drug targets.

<p>Flow diagram representing methodology implemented in UniDrug-Target server to identify potential pathogen-specific drug targets.</p

UniDrug-Target predicted pocket forming residues (<b>Table 2</b>) of gi:15607942 (PDBID: 2VZZ).

<p>Visualization through VMD (<a href="http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/" target="_blank">www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/</a>) showed that above residues forming a pocket. Pocket forming residues shown in the surface representation.</p

Identified pocket residues of pathogen-specific protein, gi:15607942, matching with residues forming similar pocket in nonpathogenic sequences of different organisms ^*.

*<p>The number indicates the gi: number. Residue, +, blank and - indicate identity, similarity, dissimilarity and gap, respectively w.r.t. corresponding residues in pathogenic sequences in equivalent positions.</p>#<p>gi:15607942 is having an X-ray crystallographic structure with 2VZZ. The predicted residues are forming pocket equivalent to 2VI7.</p

Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes preferentially expressed during human infection

The identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes, specifically expressed during infection is a key step in understanding molecular mechanism of mycobacterial pathogenesis. Such genes likely encode proteins required for mycobacterium’s survival and progressive infection within the host. In this study,we applied in-vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT) to M. tuberculosis and identified 11 putative in-vivo induced genes encoding for immunogenic proteins of diverse functions; these included transcriptional regulators (Rv1460 and Rv2565), biosynthesis and macromolecule metabolism (leuD, guaB1, plcC, hupB and glyS), polyketide synthases (pks6 and pks9), cell processes (ctpA) and one with unknown function (Rv3701c). Quantitative real time-PCR analysis of these genes in the specimens obtained from TB patients demonstrated induced expression of eight genes as compared with bacteria grown in-vitro. In addition, distribution of these genes in different strains of M. tuberculosis was analyzed using PCR and their nucleotide sequence alignments and they were found to be widely distributed among M. tuberculosis isolates including multiple-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively-drug resistant (XDR). This study identified several antigenic determinants of M.tuberculosis expressed during infection, which might help pathogens adapt to or counter hostile environments and suggesting their role during disease process

Evaluation of serum Vitamin D levels in patients with systemic sclerosis and healthy controls: Results of a pilot study

Background: The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-proliferative effects of vitamin D in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases have been highlighted in recent years but implications of vitamin D deficiency in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain understudied. Objectives: To evaluate serum vitamin D levels in SSc patients and matched controls. Materials and Methods: Serum vitamin D levels were estimated in 38 (M:F 5:33) patients aged 23–70 years of untreated SSc and age and gender matched healthy controls. Clinical and investigative evaluation for skin sclerosis by modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), presence of digital ulcers, Raynaud's phenomenon, type of auto-antibodies, systemic involvement, and serum vitamin D levels were performed. Serum vitamin D levels were defined as normal (30–100 ng/ml), insufficient (10–30 ng/ml), and deficient (<10 ng/ml). Results: Serum vitamin D levels (median ± IQR) were 19.5 ± 77.8 ng/ml in 38 patients and 100 ± 31.3 ng/ml in controls each. Vitamin D deficiency in 13 (34.2%) and insufficiency in 10 (26.3%) patients were identified. Only 2 (5.3%) controls had vitamin D insufficiency and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). An inverse relationship was observed between mRSS and serum vitamin D levels. Conclusions: Patients with SSc have significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than healthy controls. Serum vitamin D levels do not correlate well with age, gender, disease duration or its variants, type of auto antibodies, presence of digital ulceration, or systemic involvement but has inverse correlation with skin sclerosis. Better-designed studies will perhaps resolve issues of potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in modification of disease activity or severity in SSc

Effect of actinomycin D on expression of significant genes of Picroside-I biosynthetic pathway in <i>Picrorhiza kurroa</i>.

<p>Effect of actinomycin D on expression of significant genes of Picroside-I biosynthetic pathway in <i>Picrorhiza kurroa</i>.</p

Effect of inhibitors, fosmidomycin, mevinolin, glyphosate and AOA on transcript levels of target as well as upstream and downstream genes in Picroside-I biosynthesis in <i>Picrorhiza kurroa</i>.

<p>Effect of inhibitors, fosmidomycin, mevinolin, glyphosate and AOA on transcript levels of target as well as upstream and downstream genes in Picroside-I biosynthesis in <i>Picrorhiza kurroa</i>.</p