scholarly journals Uncovering Diagnostic Value of Mitogenome for Identification of Cryptic Species Fusarium graminearum Sensu Stricto

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Wyrębek ◽  
Tomasz Molcan ◽  
Kamil Myszczyński ◽  
Anne D. van Diepeningen ◽  
Alexander A. Stakheev ◽  
...  

Fungal complexes are often composed of morphologically nearly indistinguishable species with high genetic similarity. However, despite their close relationship, they can exhibit distinct phenotypic differences in pathogenicity and production of mycotoxins. Many plant pathogenic and toxigenic fungi have been shown to consist of such cryptic species. Identification of cryptic species in economically important pathogens has added value in epidemiologic studies and provides opportunities for better control. Analysis of mitochondrial genomes or mitogenomics opens up dimensions for improved diagnostics of fungi, especially when efficient recovery of DNA is problematic. In comparison to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be amplified with improved efficacy due to its multi-copy nature. However, to date, only a few studies have demonstrated the usefulness of mtDNA for identification of cryptic species within fungal complexes. In this study, we explored the value of mtDNA for identification of one of the most important cereal pathogens Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto (F.g.). We found that homing endonucleases (HEGs), which are widely distributed in mitogenomes of fungi, display small indel polymorphism, proven to be potentially species specific. The resulting small differences in their lengths may facilitate further differentiation of F.g. from the other cryptic species belonging to F. graminearum species complex. We also explored the value of SNP analysis of the mitogenome for typing F.g. The success in identifying F.g. strains was estimated at 96%, making this tool an attractive complement to other techniques for identification of F.g.

Author(s):  
Youssriah Yahia Sabri ◽  
Ikram Hamed Mahmoud ◽  
Lamis Tarek El-Gendy ◽  
Mohamed Raafat Abd El-Mageed ◽  
Sally Fouad Tadros

Abstract Background There are many causes of pleural disease including variable benign and malignant etiologies. DWI is a non-enhanced functional MRI technique that allows qualitative and quantitative characterization of tissues based on their water molecules diffusivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of DWI-MRI in detection and characterization of pleural diseases and its capability in differentiating benign from malignant pleural lesions. Results Conventional MRI was able to discriminate benign from malignant lesions by using morphological features (contour and thickness) with sensitivity 89.29%, specificity 76%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 76.92%, and accuracy 85.37%. ADC value as a quantitative parameter of DWI found that ADC values of malignant pleural diseases were significantly lower than that of benign lesions (P < 0.001). Hence, we discovered that using ADC mean value of 1.68 × 10-3 mm2/s as a cutoff value can differentiate malignant from benign pleural diseases with sensitivity 89.3%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 81.2%, and accuracy 92.68% (P < 0.001). Conclusion Although DWI-MRI is unable to differentiate between malignant and benign pleural effusion, its combined morphological and functional information provide valid non-invasive method to accurately characterize pleural soft tissue diseases differentiating benign from malignant lesions with higher specificity and accuracy than conventional MRI.


Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Krnjaja ◽  
Slavica Stanković ◽  
Ana Obradović ◽  
Tanja Petrović ◽  
Violeta Mandić ◽  
...  

Fusarium graminearum as the main causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and its ability to produce trichothecenes was investigated by molecular techniques. A total of 37 strains isolated from the wheat, harvested in Serbia in 2005, 2008 and 2015, and previously designated by morphological observation as F. graminearum, were used for trichothecene genotypes characterization. The strains were identified using the species-specific primer set FG16R/FG16F while genotypic characterization was done using specific TRI13 and TRI3 sequences of the trichothecene gene clusters. The PCR assays identified all strains as species of F. graminearum sensu stricto with the DON/15-ADON genotype. The quantification of the mycotoxin (DON) was performed using the biochemical assay. The high levels of DON (>20,000 µg kg−1) were recorded in all of the strains from 2005, four strains from 2008 and two strains from 2015. Weather data of the investigated seasons, showed that the optimal temperature, frequent rains and high relative humidity (RH) was very favourable for the development of F. graminearum, affecting the DON biosynthesis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 20180498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Paraskevopoulou ◽  
Ralph Tiedemann ◽  
Guntram Weithoff

Under global warming scenarios, rising temperatures can constitute heat stress to which species may respond differentially. Within a described species, knowledge on cryptic diversity is of further relevance, as different lineages/cryptic species may respond differentially to environmental change. The Brachionus calyciflorus species complex (Rotifera), which was recently described using integrative taxonomy, is an essential component of aquatic ecosystems. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these (formerly cryptic) species differ in their heat tolerance. We assigned 47 clones with nuclear ITS1 (nuITS1) and mitochondrial COI (mtCOI) markers to evolutionary lineages, now named B. calyciflorus sensu stricto (s.s.) and B. fernandoi . We selected 15 representative clones and assessed their heat tolerance as a bi-dimensional phenotypic trait affected by both the intensity and duration of heat stress. We found two distinct groups, with B. calyciflorus s.s. clones having higher heat tolerance than the novel species B. fernandoi . This apparent temperature specialization among former cryptic species underscores the necessity of a sound species delimitation and assignment, when organismal responses to environmental changes are investigated.


2015 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Kulik ◽  
Anna Ostrowska ◽  
Maciej Buśko ◽  
Matias Pasquali ◽  
Marco Beyer ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2130
Author(s):  
Ramya Ambur Sankaranarayanan ◽  
Susanne Kossatz ◽  
Wolfgang Weber ◽  
Mohsen Beheshti ◽  
Agnieszka Morgenroth ◽  
...  

The central paradigm of novel therapeutic approaches in cancer therapy is identifying and targeting molecular biomarkers. One such target is the nuclear DNA repair enzyme Poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). Sensitivity to PARP inhibition in certain cancers such as gBRCAmut breast and ovarian cancers has led to its exploitation as a target. The overexpression of PARP1 in several types of cancer further evoked interest in its use as an imaging target. While PARP1-targeted inhibitors have fast developed and approved in this past decade, determination of PARP1 expression might help to predict the response to PARP inhibitor treatment. This has the potential of improving prognosis and moving towards tailored therapy options and/or dosages. This review summarizes the recent pre-clinical advancements in imaging and theranostic PARP1 targeted tracers. To assess PARP1 levels, several imaging probes with fluorescent or beta/gamma emitting radionuclides have been proposed and three have advanced to ongoing clinical evaluation. Apart from its diagnostic value in detection of primary tumors as well as metastases, this shall also help in delivering therapeutic radionuclides to PARP1 overexpressing tumors. Henceforth nuclear medicine has now advanced towards conjugating theranostic radionuclides to PARP1 inhibitors. This paves the way for a future of PARP1-targeted theranostics and personalized therapy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan W. Arntzen ◽  
Jacob McAtear ◽  
Ernesto Recuero ◽  
Janine M. Ziermann ◽  
Annemarie Ohler ◽  
...  

The Common toad Bufo bufo sensu lato is a widespread, morphologically conserved taxon. Recent studies have uncovered deep genetic differentiation between population groups, highlighting the need to revise the current taxonomy of the group and recognize additional species. Here we investigate patterns of variation in molecular (a mitochondrial DNA restriction enzyme assay and sequence data for two nuclear DNA fragments totalling 979 bp) and 17 morphological variables in Northern France where two of these groups meet (B. bufo sensu stricto and B. spinosus), in order to delineate their contact zone and uncover characters that would allow discrimination of the two taxa. Mitochondrial DNA data show an abrupt transition from areas where B. bufo is present to those inhabited by B. spinosus, with a narrow area of overlap east of the city of Caen. Morphometric characters, particularly those related to the positioning of the parotoid glands and metatarsal tubercle shape and size, proved useful in discriminating between species (AUC ≥ 0.97, kappa ≥ 0.79). We then used the differentiating character states to allocate over 300 museum specimens from Western Europe to either species with consistent results, including comparable values of AUC and kappa of the identification models, indicating that models could successfully be applied across datasets. We summarize available evidence relevant to the delineation of the distribution of B. bufo and B. spinosus in France and discuss the characters differentiating both species in an evolutionary context. In view of the observed morphological and genetic differentiation and the absence of unequivocal evidence for widespread hybridization we support the view that B. bufo and B. spinosus are best considered different species. Finally, we propose that ‘parotoids in parallel position’ and a thin and smooth skin are derived character states for B. bufo over the northern part of its range.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Szabo ◽  
C S Czimbalmos ◽  
Z Dohy ◽  
I Csecs ◽  
A Toth ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction An estimated 25% of all cardiovascular deaths are due to sudden cardiac death (SCD). The primary cause of SCD is coronary artery disease, however cardiac diseases accounted for SCD differ in young vs. older individuals. In patients with normal coronary angiography (NCA) the differential diagnosis is still challenging, due to the broad spectrum of underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provides accurate tissue specific and functional information of the heart. Purpose We aimed to investigate patients after aborted sudden cardiac death but NCA using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Our goal was to evaluate left and right ventricular parameters, presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and to assess the diagnostic value of CMR. Methods We enrolled 84 consecutive patients (39±13 y; 51% male) after aborted SCD with NCA and without CMR contraindication. CMR examination including long- and short-axis cine, T2-weighted and LGE images were performed. Left and right ventricular parameters were evaluated. Presence and pattern of the oedema and LGE were also assessed. Results Structural myocardial abnormality was present in 57% of pts: dilated (n=13), arrhythmogenic right ventricular (n=6) and hypertrophic (n=4) cardiomyopathy (CMP), moreover acute (n=2) and chronic (n=3) myocardial infarction, acute (n=2) and chronic (n=2) myocarditis, Tako-Tsubo CMP (n=1), noncompaction CMP (n=1), endomyocardial fibrosis (n=1). In 13 cases aspecific structural alterations were detected with (n=7) and without (n=6) LGE. Only 13% of the patients showed ejection fraction lower than 35% (LVEF=52±9%), 54% showed LV dilation (LVEDVi>100 ml/m2 in males and >90 ml/m2 in females; LVEDVi=104±22 ml/m2). LGE was present in 36%, showing ischemic pattern in five cases and nonischaemic pattern in 25 cases. Eleven patients were elite athletes (28±10y, 91% male, training hours: >10 hours/week). Three of them showed ARVC based on the current Task Force criteria, another three athletes showed aspecific structural alteration with nonischaemic LGE. The CMR examination confirmed the referral diagnosis in 22%, excluded the presence of structural myocardial alteration in 43% and changed the clinical diagnosis in 35% of the patients. Conclusion CMR has an important diagnostic value in patients after reanimation but NCA. More than half of these patients showed structural alteration and CMR provided a diagnosis in 42%. Acknowledgement/Funding Project no. NVKP_16-1-2016-0017 has been implemented with the support provided from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 962-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Imbert ◽  
Anne Cécile Normand ◽  
Frédéric Gabriel ◽  
Sophie Cassaing ◽  
Christine Bonnal ◽  
...  

Abstract The taxonomy of Aspergillus species has recently been revolutionized with the introduction of cryptic species and section concepts. However, their species-level identification in routine laboratories remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the identification accuracy of cryptic species of Aspergillus in various laboratories using the mass spectrometry identification (MSI) platform, an independent and freely accessible online mass spectrometry database. Over a 12-month period, when a select set of MSI users identified cryptic species, they were contacted and requested to send the isolates to our laboratory for sequence-based identification. Sequence and MSI identification results were then compared. During the study period, 5108 Aspergillus isolates were identified using MSI including 1477 (28.9%) cryptic species. A total of 245 isolates that corresponded to 56 cryptic species and 13 sections were randomly selected for DNA sequencing confirmation. Agreement between the two methods was 99.6% at the section level and 66.1% at the species level. However, almost all discrepancies (72/83, 86.7%) were misidentifications between closely related cryptic species belonging to the same section. Fifty-one isolates from noncryptic species were also identified, thus yielding 100% and 92.2% agreement at the section and species level, respectively. Although the MSI fungus database is a reliable tool to identify Aspergillus at the section level, the database still requires adjustment to correctly identify rare or cryptic species at the species level. Nevertheless, the application properly differentiated between cryptic and sensu stricto species in the same section, thus alerting on possible specific isolate characteristics.


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