Establishing a national fungal genetic resource to build a major cog for the bioeconomy

Genetic resource banks (GRB) preserve the genetic material of endangered, valuable individuals or genetically relevant breeds. Semen cryopreservation is a crucial technique to reach these goals. Thus, we aimed to assess the sperm parameters of semen doses from the native pig breed Gochu Asturcelta stored at the GRB of Principado de Asturias (GRB-PA, Gijón, Spain), focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic (boar, season) factors. Two straws per boar (n = 18, 8–71 months of age) were thawed, pooled, and assessed after 30 and 150 min at 37 °C by CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis system; motility and kinematic parameters) and flow cytometry (viability, acrosomal status, mitochondrial activity, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, and chromatin status). The effects of age, incubation, and season on post-thawing quality were determined using linear mixed-effects models. Parameters were on the range for commercial boar breeds, with chromatin status (SCSA: fragmentation and immaturity) being excellent. Incubation decreased sperm quality and functionality. The boar age did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05), but the between-boar variability was significant (p < 0.001). The season significantly affected many parameters (motility, kinematics, viability, acrosomal status, mitochondrial activity), especially after 150 min of incubation. In general, samples collected in spring and summer showed higher quality post-thawing, the lowest in winter. In conclusion, the sperm doses from the Gochu Asturcelta breed stored at the GRB-PA showed excellent chromatin status and acceptable characteristics after thawing. Therefore, boar and seasonal variability in this autochthonous breed could be relevant for cryobank management.

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Accelerating Medicines Partnership: Parkinson's Disease. Genetic Resource

Movement Disorders ◽

10.1002/mds.28549 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hirotaka Iwaki ◽

Hampton L. Leonard ◽

Mary B. Makarious ◽

Matt Bookman ◽

Barry Landin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Genetic Resource

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Biogenetic Paradoxes of the Nation: Finncattle, Apples, and Other Genetic‐Resource Puzzles by SakariTamminen Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2019. 272 pp.

American Anthropologist ◽

10.1111/aman.13545 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hannu I. Heikkinen

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resource ◽

Duke University

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Trichostatin A-Assisted Epigenomic Modulation Affects the Expression Profiles of Not Only Recombinant Human α1,2-Fucosyltransferase and α-Galactosidase A Enzymes But Also Galα1→3Gal Epitopes in Porcine Bi-Transgenic Adult Cutaneous Fibroblast Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22031386 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 1386

Author(s):

Jerzy Wiater ◽

Marcin Samiec ◽

Maria Skrzyszowska ◽

Daniel Lipiński

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resource ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Trichostatin A ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Fibroblast Cells ◽

Control Groups ◽

Transgenic Pigs ◽

Cell Tissue ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Lower Expression

This study was conducted to explore whether trichostatin A-assisted epigenomic modulation (TSA-EM) can affect the expression of not only recombinant human α1,2-fucosyltransferase (rhα1,2-FT) and α-galactosidase A (rhα-Gal A) immune system enzymes but also Galα1→3Gal epitopes in ex vivo proliferating adult cutaneous fibroblast cells (ACFCs) derived from hFUT2×hGLA bi-transgenic pigs that had been produced for the needs of future xenotransplantation efforts. The ACFC lines were treated with 50 nM TSA for 24 h and then the expression profiles of rhα1,2-FT and rhα-Gal A enzymes were analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The expression profiles of the Galα1→3Gal epitope were determined by lectin blotting and lectin fluorescence. The ACFCs derived from non-transgenic (nTG) pigs were served as the negative (TSA−) and positive (TSA+) control groups. For both hFUT2×hGLA and nTG samples, the expression levels of α1,2-FT and α-Gal A proteins in TSA+ cells were more than twofold higher in comparison to TSA− cells. Moreover, a much lower expression of the Galα1→3Gal epitopes was shown in TSA− hFUT2×hGLA cells as compared to the TSA− nTG group. Interestingly, the levels of Galα1→3Gal expression in TSA-treated hFUT2×hGLA and nTG ACFCs were significantly higher than those noticed for their TSA-untreated counterparts. Summing up, ex vivo protection of effectively selected bi-transgenic ACFC lines, in which TSA-dependent epigenetic transformation triggered the enhancements in reprogrammability and subsequent expression of hFUT2 and hGLA transgenes and their corresponding transcripts, allows for cryopreservation of nuclear donor cells, nuclear-transferred female gametes, and resultant porcine cloned embryos. The latter can be used as a cryogenically conserved genetic resource of biological materials suitable for generation of bi-transgenic cloned offspring in pigs that is targeted at biomedical research in the field of cell/tissue xenotransplantation.

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Wild coriander: an untapped genetic resource for future coriander breeding

Euphytica ◽

10.1007/s10681-021-02870-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 217 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Vivek Arora ◽

Chen Adler ◽

Alina Tepikin ◽

Gili Ziv ◽

Tali Kahane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resource

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The systematic collection and characterisation of herbaceous forage species for recharge and discharge environments in southern Australia

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea07106 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 397 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

S. J. Hughes ◽

R. Snowball ◽

K. F. M. Reed ◽

B. Cohen ◽

K. Gajda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resource ◽

Dryland Salinity ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Comprehensive Collection ◽

Forage Species ◽

Improvement Programs ◽

Species Specific ◽

New Germplasm ◽

Herb Species ◽

Systematic Collection

Australian temperate pasture Genetic Resource Centres (GRCs) co-ordinated a major program to introduce and screen herbaceous forage species. This program aims to expand the environments where such species could reduce recharge and manage discharge for the control of dryland salinity in southern Australia. The sustainability of agriculture, in Australia especially, depends on continued access to new germplasm to enable plant breeders to continue crop and forage improvement. The GRCs supported the selection and identification of promising new legume, grass and herb species as part of a national pasture evaluation program. In total, 671 species and 21 non-species-specific genera were identified as having potential to increase water use profitability of recharge lands and to improve the productivity of saline lands across a diverse range of agricultural environments in southern Australia. Through a series of activities, 201 of these species, representing legumes, herbs and grasses were identified as promising. These were then disseminated for evaluation in a range of environments across southern Australia. The progress of selected species was monitored and germplasm of the most promising 11 species and three leguminous genera was targeted for intensive acquisition and characterisation as the basis for selection and breeding. In addition to the identification and dissemination of promising species of immediate potential, a comprehensive collection of 544 native and exotic, wild and cultivated pasture species was conserved and is now available to service future plant improvement programs.

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