scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas9 mediated mutagenesis of MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 1 in tomato confers resistance to root parasitic weed Phelipanche aegyptiaca

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Kumar Bari ◽  
Jackline Abu Nassar ◽  
Radi Aly
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Parasitic Weed ◽  
Parasitic Weeds ◽  
Biotechnological Approach ◽  
Pathway Gene ◽  
Efficient Control ◽  
The Impact

AbstractRoot parasitic weeds infect numerous economically important crops, affecting total yield quantity and quality. A lack of an efficient control method limits our ability to manage newly developing and more virulent races of root parasitic weeds. To control the parasite induced damage in most host crops, an innovative biotechnological approach is urgently required. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones derived from carotenoids via a pathway involving the Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase (CCD) 7, CCD8 and More Axillary Growth 1 (MAX1) genes. SLs act as branching inhibitory hormones and strictly required for the germination of root parasitic weeds. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targted editing of SL biosynthetic gene MAX1, in tomato confers resistance against root parasitic weed Phelipanche aegyptiaca. We designed sgRNA to target the third exon of MAX1 in tomato plants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The T0 plants were edited very efficiently at the MAX1 target site without any non-specific off-target effects. Genotype analysis of T1 plants revealed that the introduced mutations were stably passed on to the next generation. Notably, MAX1-Cas9 heterozygous and homozygous T1 plants had similar morphological changes that include excessive growth of axillary bud, reduced plant height and adventitious root formation relative to wild type. Our results demonstrated that, MAX1-Cas9 mutant lines exhibit resistance against root parasitic weed P. aegyptiaca due to reduced SL (orobanchol) level. Moreover, the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway gene PDS1 and total carotenoid level was altered, as compared to wild type plants. Taking into consideration, the impact of root parasitic weeds on the agricultural economy and the obstacle to prevent and eradicate them, the current study provides new aspects into the development of an efficient control method that could be used to avoid germination of root parasitic weeds.

Subtle Impact of Akt1 and Akt3 on Exploratory Behavior in Gene Targeted Mice

2015 ◽  
Vol 223 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Leibrock ◽  
Michael Hierlmeier ◽  
Undine E. Lang ◽  
Florian Lang
Keyword(s):  
Forced Swimming Test ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Average Speed ◽  
Closed Area ◽  
Light Area ◽  
Swimming Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Center Area ◽  
Dark Transition

Abstract. The present study explored the impact of Akt1 and Akt3 on behavior. Akt1 (akt1-/-) and Akt3 (akt3-/-) knockout mice were compared to wild type (wt) mice. The akt1-/- mice, akt3-/- mice, and wt mice were similar in most parameters of the open-field test. However, the distance traveled in the center area was slightly but significantly less in akt3-/- mice than in wt mice. In the light/dark transition test akt1-/- mice had significantly lower values than wt mice and akt3-/- mice for distance traveled, number of rearings, rearing time in the light area, as well as time spent and distance traveled in the entrance area. They were significantly different from akt3-/- mice in the distance traveled, visits, number of rearings, rearing time in the light area, as well as time spent, distance traveled, number of rearings, and rearing time in the entrance area. In the O-maze the time spent, and the visits to open arms, as well as the number of protected and unprotected headdips were significantly less in akt1-/- mice than in wt mice, whereas the time spent in closed arms was significantly more in akt1-/- mice than in wt mice. Protected and unprotected headdips were significantly less in akt3-/- mice than in wt mice. In closed area, akt3-/- mice traveled a significantly larger distance at larger average speed than akt1-/- mice. No differences were observed between akt1-/- mice, akt3-/- mice and wt-type mice in the time of floating during the forced swimming test. In conclusion, akt1-/- mice and less so akt3-/ mice display subtle changes in behavior.

scholarly journals Titanium Dioxide Presents a Different Profile in Dextran Sodium Sulphate-Induced Experimental Colitis in Mice Lacking the IBD Risk Gene Ptpn2 in Myeloid Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 772
Author(s):  
Javier Conde ◽  
Marlene Schwarzfischer ◽  
Egle Katkeviciute ◽  
Janine Häfliger ◽  
Anna Niechcial ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Sodium Sulphate ◽  
Food Additive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dextran Sodium Sulphate ◽  
Risk Gene ◽  
The Impact

Environmental and genetic factors have been demonstrated to contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent studies suggested that the food additive; titanium dioxide (TiO2) might play a causative role in the disease. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to explore the interaction between the food additive TiO2 and the well-characterized IBD risk gene protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (Ptpn2) and their role in the development of intestinal inflammation. Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced acute colitis was performed in mice lacking the expression of Ptpn2 in myeloid cells (Ptpn2LysMCre) or their wild type littermates (Ptpn2fl/fl) and exposed to the microparticle TiO2. The impact of Ptpn2 on TiO2 signalling pathways and TiO2-induced IL-1β and IL-10 levels were studied using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Ptpn2LysMCre exposed to TiO2 exhibited more severe intestinal inflammation than their wild type counterparts. This effect was likely due to the impact of TiO2 on the differentiation of intestinal macrophages, suppressing the number of anti-inflammatory macrophages in Ptpn2 deficient mice. Moreover, we also found that TiO2 was able to induce the secretion of IL-1β via mitogen-activated proteins kinases (MAPKs) and to repress the expression of IL-10 in bone marrow-derived macrophages via MAPK-independent pathways. This is the first evidence of the cooperation between the genetic risk factor Ptpn2 and the environmental factor TiO2 in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. The results presented here suggest that the ingestion of certain industrial compounds should be taken into account, especially in individuals with increased genetic risk

Applying Synthetic Control Method to Estimate the Impact of the Lava Jato Operation on the Worldwide Governance Indicators in Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 2631309X2110178
Author(s):  
Eduardo Carvalho Nepomuceno Alencar ◽  
Bryant Jackson-Green
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Synthetic Control Method ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Governance Indicators ◽  
Regulatory Quality ◽  
Legal Judgments ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Of Corruption

In 2014, the most prominent anti-corruption investigation in Latin America called Lava Jato, exposed a Brazilian corruption scheme with reverberations in 61 countries, resulting in legal judgments for nearly 5 billion USD in reimbursements thus far. This article applies the synthetic control method on data from 135 countries (2002–2018) to test the hypothesis that Lava Jato impacts the Worldwide Governance Indicators in Brazil. The findings reveal that Lava Jato negatively affects control of corruption, the rule of law, and regulatory quality. There are signs of possible improvement in at least the corruption and the rule of law measures. This paper brings value to the criminological body of literature, notably lacking in the Global South.

scholarly journals The Impact of Salt Stress on Plant Growth, Mineral Composition, and Antioxidant Activity in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: An Underutilized Edible Halophyte in South Africa

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Avela Sogoni ◽  
Muhali Jimoh ◽  
Learnmore Kambizi ◽  
Charles Laubscher
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Mineral Composition ◽  
Nutrient Solution ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Antioxidant Power ◽  
The Impact

Climate change, expanding soil salinization, and the developing shortages of freshwater have negatively affected crop production around the world. Seawater and salinized lands represent potentially cultivable areas for edible salt-tolerant plants. In the present study, the effect of salinity stress on plant growth, mineral composition (macro-and micro-nutrients), and antioxidant activity in dune spinach (Tetragonia decumbens) were evaluated. The treatments consisted of three salt concentrations, 50, 100, and 200 mM, produced by adding NaCl to the nutrient solution. The control treatment had no NaCl but was sustained and irrigated by the nutrient solution. Results revealed a significant increase in total yield, branch production, and ferric reducing antioxidant power in plants irrigated with nutrient solution incorporated with 50 mM NaCl. Conversely, an increased level of salinity (200 mM) caused a decrease in chlorophyll content (SPAD), while the phenolic content, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, increased. The results of this study indicate that there is potential for brackish water cultivation of dune spinach for consumption, especially in provinces experiencing the adverse effect of drought and salinity, where seawater or underground saline water could be diluted and used as irrigation water in the production of this vegetable.

scholarly journals When is a Match Sufficient? A Score-based Balance Metric for the Synthetic Control Method

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-228
Author(s):  
Layla Parast ◽  
Priscillia Hunt ◽  
Beth Ann Griffin ◽  
David Powell
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Donor Pool ◽  
Synthetic Control Method ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn some applications, researchers using the synthetic control method (SCM) to evaluate the effect of a policy may struggle to determine whether they have identified a “good match” between the control group and treated group. In this paper, we demonstrate the utility of the mean and maximum Absolute Standardized Mean Difference (ASMD) as a test of balance between a synthetic control unit and treated unit, and provide guidance on what constitutes a poor fit when using a synthetic control. We explore and compare other potential metrics using a simulation study. We provide an application of our proposed balance metric to the 2013 Los Angeles (LA) Firearm Study [9]. Using Uniform Crime Report data, we apply the SCM to obtain a counterfactual for the LA firearm-related crime rate based on a weighted combination of control units in a donor pool of cities. We use this counterfactual to estimate the effect of the LA Firearm Study intervention and explore the impact of changing the donor pool and pre-intervention duration period on resulting matches and estimated effects. We demonstrate how decision-making about the quality of a synthetic control can be improved by using ASMD. The mean and max ASMD clearly differentiate between poor matches and good matches. Researchers need better guidance on what is a meaningful imbalance between synthetic control and treated groups. In addition to the use of gap plots, the proposed balance metric can provide an objective way of determining fit.

Abnormal Spinal Cord Myelination due to Oligodendrocyte Dysfunction in a Model of Huntington’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Costanza Ferrari Bardile ◽  
Harwin Sidik ◽  
Reynard Quek ◽  
Nur Amirah Binte Mohammad Yusof ◽  
Marta Garcia-Miralles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cervical Area

Background: The relative contribution of grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) degeneration to the progressive brain atrophy in Huntington’s disease (HD) has been well studied. The pathology of the spinal cord in HD is comparatively less well documented. Objective: We aim to characterize spinal cord WM abnormalities in a mouse model of HD and evaluate whether selective removal of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) from oligodendroglia rescues these deficits. Methods: Histological assessments were used to determine the area of GM and WM in the spinal cord of 12-month-old BACHD mice, while electron microscopy was used to analyze myelin fibers in the cervical area of the spinal cord. To investigate the impact of inactivation of mHTT in oligodendroglia on these measures, we used the previously described BACHDxNG2Cre mouse line where mHTT is specifically reduced in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Results: We show that spinal GM and WM areas are significantly atrophied in HD mice compared to wild-type controls. We further demonstrate that specific reduction of mHTT in oligodendroglial cells rescues the atrophy of spinal cord WM, but not GM, observed in HD mice. Inactivation of mHTT in oligodendroglia had no effect on the density of oligodendroglial cells but enhanced the expression of myelin-related proteins in the spinal cord. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the myelination abnormalities observed in brain WM structures in HD extend to the spinal cord and suggest that specific expression of mHTT in oligodendrocytes contributes to such abnormalities.

scholarly journals Primary and Secondary Kinase Genotypes Correlate With the Biological and Clinical Activity of Sunitinib in Imatinib-Resistant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (33) ◽  
pp. 5352-5359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Heinrich ◽  
Robert G. Maki ◽  
Christopher L. Corless ◽  
Cristina R. Antonescu ◽  
Amy Harlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mutational Status ◽  
Imatinib Resistant ◽  
Exon 9 ◽  
Exon 11 ◽  
The Impact

PurposeMost gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) harbor mutant KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA) kinases, which are imatinib targets. Sunitinib, which targets KIT, PDGFRs, and several other kinases, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with GIST after they experience imatinib failure. We evaluated the impact of primary and secondary kinase genotype on sunitinib activity.Patients and MethodsTumor responses were assessed radiologically in a phase I/II trial of sunitinib in 97 patients with metastatic, imatinib-resistant/intolerant GIST. KIT/PDGFRA mutational status was determined for 78 patients by using tumor specimens obtained before and after prior imatinib therapy. Kinase mutants were biochemically profiled for sunitinib and imatinib sensitivity.ResultsClinical benefit (partial response or stable disease for ≥ 6 months) with sunitinib was observed for the three most common primary GIST genotypes: KIT exon 9 (58%), KIT exon 11 (34%), and wild-type KIT/PDGFRA (56%). Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer for patients with primary KIT exon 9 mutations (P = .0005) or with a wild-type genotype (P = .0356) than for those with KIT exon 11 mutations. The same pattern was observed for overall survival (OS). PFS and OS were longer for patients with secondary KIT exon 13 or 14 mutations (which involve the KIT-adenosine triphosphate binding pocket) than for those with exon 17 or 18 mutations (which involve the KIT activation loop). Biochemical profiling studies confirmed the clinical results.ConclusionThe clinical activity of sunitinib after imatinib failure is significantly influenced by both primary and secondary mutations in the predominant pathogenic kinases, which has implications for optimization of the treatment of patients with GIST.

Active Noise Control Using Phase-Compensated, Damped Resonant Filters

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse B. Bisnette ◽  
Adam K. Smith ◽  
Jeffrey S. Vipperman ◽  
Daniel D. Budny
Keyword(s):  
Noise Control ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Active Noise Control ◽  
Control Device ◽  
Modal Control ◽  
Pass Filter ◽  
Acoustic Transducers ◽  
Active Noise ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Resonant Filters

An active noise control device called active noise absorber or ANA, which is based upon damped, resonant filters is developed and demonstrated. It is similar to structural positive position feedback (PPF) control, with two exceptions: (1) Acoustic transducers (microphone and speaker) cannot be truly collocated, and (2) the acoustic actuator (loudspeaker) has significant dynamics. The speaker dynamics can affect performance and stability and must be compensated. While acoustic modal control approaches are typically not sought, there are a number of applications where controlling a few room modes is adequate. A model of a duct with speakers at each end is developed and used to demonstrate the control method, including the impact of the speaker dynamics. An all-pass filter is used to provide phase compensation and improve controller performance and permits the control of nonminimum phase plants. A companion experimental study validated the simulation results and demonstrated nearly 8 dB of control in the first duct mode. A multi-modal control example was also demonstrated producing an average of 3 dB of control in the first four duct modes.

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