PRNP Polymorphisms in Eight Local Goat Populations/Breeds from Central and Southern Italy

In goats, as in sheep, genotypes of the prion protein gene (PRNP) can influence animals’ susceptibility to scrapie. Since the polymorphic codons in sheep are well known, a genetic selection plan has been implemented in Europe, in order to reduce the prevalence of susceptible genotypes to scrapie. In Italy, no breeding plan for scrapie resistance in goats has been adopted, yet. Likewise, according to the most recent modification of Regulation EU 999/2001 (Regulation EU 772/2020) of the European Commission (EU), based on all the available experimental and in field data, K222, D146 and S146 polymorphisms could be used as scrapie resistance alleles in genetic management both in scrapie outbreaks and in disease prevention. In order to collect data on the variability of PRNP, the present study aimed to analyze the sequence of the PRNP gene in eight Italian local goat populations/breeds reared in central and southern Italy (Bianca Monticellana, Capestrina, Facciuta della Valnerina, Fulva del Lazio, Garganica, Grigia Ciociara, Grigia Molisana, and Teramana), some of which were investigated for the first time; moreover, two cosmopolitan breeds (Alpine and Saanen) were included. Blood samples were collected from 219 goats. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. DNA was used as template in PCR amplification of the entire PRNP open reading frame (ORF). Purified amplicons have been sequenced and aligned to Capra hircus PRNP. Particularly, the alleles carrying the resistance-related 222 K polymorphism occurred in all populations with a frequency between 2.5% and 12.5%. An additional resistance allele carrying the S146 variant was observed with a frequency of 3.7% only in the Alpine breed. For three of the estimated alleles, we could not establish if the found double polymorphisms in heterozygosis were in phase, due to technical limitations. In this context, in addition to selective culling in scrapie outbreaks according to the European regulation in force, in the future, selection plans could be adopted to deal with scrapie and to control its diffusion, meanwhile paying attention to preserve a high variability of PRNP.

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Regulating short-term rentals: Joined cases C-724/18 and C-727/18 Cali Apartments

Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law ◽

10.1177/1023263x211014688 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1023263X2110146

Author(s):

Tania Pantazi

Keyword(s):

Consumer Protection ◽

European Court Of Justice ◽

Short Term ◽

European Regulation ◽

Future Developments ◽

Online Platforms ◽

Court Of Justice ◽

European Court ◽

Tourist Accommodation ◽

First Time

The increase in short-term rentals via online platforms has captured the attention of scholars and regulators. Short-term letting is now considered a considerable alternative to traditional tourist accommodation contracts, challenging matters such as conditions in the housing market and consumer protection. Online platforms, such as Airbnb, Booking.com , Expedia and Tripadvisor, now provide offers for short-term accommodation contracts along with traditional accommodation options (hotels, hostels, apartments). The recent decision of the European Court of Justice in Joined cases C-724/18 and C-727/18 addresses for the first time the issue of regulation of short-term rentals in Member States and evaluates a national authorization scheme in light of the Services Directive. The present paper provides a brief background of European regulation affecting short-term rentals and discusses the judgment and its implications for future developments.

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Viral Profiling Identifies Multiple Subtypes of Kaposi’s Sarcoma

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01633-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Mina C. Hosseinipour ◽

Kristen M. Sweet ◽

Jie Xiong ◽

Dan Namarika ◽

Albert Mwafongo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽

Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽

Complete Information ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Treatment Naïve ◽

First Time

ABSTRACTKaposi’s sarcoma (KS), caused by KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is the most common cancer among HIV-infected patients in Malawi and in the United States today. In Malawi, KSHV is endemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with HIV infection and KS with no history of chemo- or antiretroviral therapy (ART). Seventy patients were enrolled. Eighty-one percent had T1 (advanced) KS. Median CD4 and HIV RNA levels were 181 cells/mm3and 138,641 copies/ml, respectively. We had complete information and suitable plasma and biopsy samples for 66 patients. For 59/66 (89%) patients, a detectable KSHV load was found in plasma (median, 2,291 copies/ml; interquartile range [IQR], 741 to 5,623). We utilized a novel KSHV real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) array with multiple primers per open reading frame to examine KSHV transcription. Seventeen samples exhibited only minimal levels of KSHV mRNAs, presumably due to the limited number of infected cells. For all other biopsy samples, the viral latency locus (LANA, vCyc, vFLIP, kaposin, and microRNAs [miRNAs]) was transcribed abundantly, as was K15 mRNA. We could identify two subtypes of treatment-naive KS: lesions that transcribed viral RNAs across the length of the viral genome and lesions that displayed only limited transcription restricted to the latency locus. This finding demonstrates for the first time the existence of multiple subtypes of KS lesions in HIV- and KS-treatment naive patients.IMPORTANCEKS is the leading cancer in people infected with HIV worldwide and is causally linked to KSHV infection. Using viral transcription profiling, we have demonstrated the existence of multiple subtypes of KS lesions for the first time in HIV- and KS-treatment-naive patients. A substantial number of lesions transcribe mRNAs which encode the viral kinases and hence could be targeted by the antiviral drugs ganciclovir or AZT in addition to chemotherapy.

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Analysis of The Open Reading Frame (ORF) 29-TrnC (GCA) Sequence to Detect Indica and Japonica Sub Species on Upland Rice of Situ Bagendit and Inbred Rice of Ciherang

Biosaintifika Journal of Biology & Biology Education ◽

10.15294/biosaintifika.v10i1.12626 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 153-159

Author(s):

Rohma Istiana ◽

Hermin Pancasakti Kusumaningrum ◽

Rejeki Siti Ferniah

Keyword(s):

Plant Breeding ◽

Upland Rice ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Breeding Program ◽

Abiotic Factor ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Plant Breeding Program ◽

Pcr Products

The identification and the characterization of genetic diversity of rice was the first step in the rice plant breeding program. This study aimed to detect indica or japonica sub-species on upland rice Situ Bagendit and inbred rice Ciherang using molecular markers ORF 29-TrnC (GCA) on the chloroplast genome. Rice was included to the indica sub-species if the 32 bp insertion on ORF 29-TrnC (GCA) sequence was found, on the contrary, if the deletion 32 bp on ORF 29-TrnC (GCA) was found then it was included to the japonica sub-species. DNA isolation was examined from the leaves of the rice plants, and then it tested quantitatively to determine the transparency and DNA concentration from the isolation results. PCR amplification was performed using a pair of primers CP2 and it was followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The visualization of the DNA bands used the gel documentation. Sequencing of PCR products produced a long base 390 bp in Situ Bagendit rice and 390 bp in Ciherang rice. Analysis of the sequences showed that the insertions occurred throughout the 32 bp in Situ Bagendit rice and the insertions occurred throughout the 32 bp in Ciherang rice. The results showed that upland rice Situ Bagendit and inbred rice Ciherang were included in the indica sub-species. The knowledge of variety of genetics of rice can be used as bio-information in the plant breeding program. Further, the knowledge can be used to protect in genetic power source, the selection and the composing of superior varieties of rice which is tolerant with kinds of biotic and abiotic factor.

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Persistence of ambigrammatic narnaviruses requires translation of the reverse open reading frame

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00109-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hanna Retallack ◽

Katerina D. Popova ◽

Matthew T. Laurie ◽

Sara Sunshine ◽

Joseph L. DeRisi

Keyword(s):

Viral Genome ◽

Rna Viruses ◽

Single Gene ◽

Ribosome Profiling ◽

Open Reading Frames ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Infected Cells ◽

The Cost ◽

Overlapping Open Reading Frames ◽

First Time

Narnaviruses are RNA viruses detected in diverse fungi, plants, protists, arthropods and nematodes. Though initially described as simple single-gene non-segmented viruses encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a subset of narnaviruses referred to as “ambigrammatic” harbor a unique genomic configuration consisting of overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) encoded on opposite strands. Phylogenetic analysis supports selection to maintain this unusual genome organization, but functional investigations are lacking. Here, we establish the mosquito-infecting Culex narnavirus 1 (CxNV1) as a model to investigate the functional role of overlapping ORFs in narnavirus replication. In CxNV1, a reverse ORF without homology to known proteins covers nearly the entire 3.2 kb segment encoding the RdRp. Additionally, two opposing and nearly completely overlapping novel ORFs are found on the second putative CxNV1 segment, the 0.8 kb “Robin” RNA. We developed a system to launch CxNV1 in a naïve mosquito cell line, then showed that functional RdRp is required for persistence of both segments, and an intact reverse ORF is required on the RdRp segment for persistence. Mass spectrometry of persistently CxNV1-infected cells provided evidence for translation of this reverse ORF. Finally, ribosome profiling yielded a striking pattern of footprints for all four CxNV1 RNA strands that was distinct from actively-translating ribosomes on host mRNA or co-infecting RNA viruses. Taken together, these data raise the possibility that the process of translation itself is important for persistence of ambigrammatic narnaviruses, potentially by protecting viral RNA with ribosomes, thus suggesting a heretofore undescribed viral tactic for replication and transmission. IMPORTANCE Fundamental to our understanding of RNA viruses is a description of which strand(s) of RNA are transmitted as the viral genome, relative to which encode the viral proteins. Ambigrammatic narnaviruses break the mold. These viruses, found broadly in fungi, plants, and insects, have the unique feature of two overlapping genes encoded on opposite strands, comprising nearly the full length of the viral genome. Such extensive overlap is not seen in other RNA viruses, and comes at the cost of reduced evolutionary flexibility in the sequence. The present study is motivated by investigating the benefits which balance that cost. We show for the first time a functional requirement for the ambigrammatic genome configuration in Culex narnavirus 1, which suggests a model for how translation of both strands might benefit this virus. Our work highlights a new blueprint for viral persistence, distinct from strategies defined by canonical definitions of the coding strand.

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Diversity of nodular bacteria ofScorpiurus muricatusin western Algeria and their impact on plant growth

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/cjm-2016-0493 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (5) ◽

pp. 450-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zoulikha Bouchiba ◽

Zineb Faiza Boukhatem ◽

Zohra Ighilhariz ◽

Nouria Derkaoui ◽

Benaissa Kerdouh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Nucleotide Sequencing ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Single Strain ◽

Western Algeria ◽

First Time

A total of 51 bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of Scorpiurus muricatus sampled from 6 regions of western Algeria. Strain diversity was assessed by rep-PCR amplification fingerprinting, which grouped the isolates into 28 different clusters. Partial nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and BLAST analysis revealed that root nodules of S. muricatus were colonized by different species close to Rhizobium vignae, Rhizobium radiobacter, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Phyllobacterium ifriqiyense, Phyllobacterium endophyticum, Starkeya sp., and Pseudomonas sp. However, none of these strains was able to form nodules on its host plant; even nodC was present in a single strain (SMT8a). The inoculation test showed a great improvement in the growth of inoculated plants compared with noninoculated control plants. A significant amount of indole acetic acid was produced by some strains, but only 2 strains could solubilize phosphate. In this report we described for the first time the diversity of bacteria isolated from root nodules of S. muricatus growing in different regions in western Algeria and demonstrated their potential use in promoting plant growth.

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On the Use of Satellite Rainfall Data to Design a Dam in an Ungauged Site

Water ◽

10.3390/w12113028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3028

Author(s):

Claudia Bertini ◽

Luca Buonora ◽

Elena Ridolfi ◽

Fabio Russo ◽

Francesco Napolitano

Keyword(s):

Hydrological Model ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Storm Events ◽

Satellite Precipitation ◽

Design Storm ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

High Return ◽

Precipitation Estimates ◽

First Time ◽

Climate Prediction Center

The estimation of the design peak discharge is crucial for the hydrological design of hydraulic structures. A commonly used approach is to estimate the design storm through the intensity–duration–area–frequency (IDAF) curves and then use it to generate the design discharge through a hydrological model. In ungauged areas, IDAF curves and design discharges are derived throughout regionalization studies, if any exist for the area of interest, or from using the hydrological information of the closest and most similar gauged place. However, many regions around the globe remain ungauged or are very poorly gauged. In this regard, a unique opportunity is provided by satellite precipitation products developed and improved in the last decades. In this paper, we show weaknesses and potentials of satellite data and, for the first time, we evaluate their applicability for design purposes. We employ CMORPH—Climate Prediction Center MORPHing technique satellite precipitation estimates to build IDAF curves and derive the design peak discharges for the Pietrarossa dam catchment in southern Italy. Results are compared with the corresponding one provided by a regionalization study, i.e., VAPI—VAlutazione delle Piene in Italia project, usually used in Italy in ungauged areas. Results show that CMORPH performed well for the estimation of low duration and small return periods storm events, while for high return period storms, further research is still needed.

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Phylogenetic analysis of Black Bengal and Jamunapari goats in Bangladesh based on partial sequence of cytochrome b gene

SAARC Journal of Agriculture ◽

10.3329/sja.v17i1.42759 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 23-35

Author(s):

SMZH Chowdhury ◽

MS Mahmud ◽

MR Islam ◽

KHMNH Nazir

Keyword(s):

Cytochrome B ◽

Gene Sequence ◽

Yangtze River Delta ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Capra Hircus ◽

Genetic Lineage ◽

Phylogenetic Status ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

First Time ◽

Black Bengal Goat

Goats, among the livestock species, are considered the most prolific ruminant especially under callous climatic conditions. The aim of the present study was to depict the current phylogenetic status and genetic diversities of Black Bengal (BBG) and Jamunapari goat of Bangladesh and the world. Cytochrome b (cytb) gene (1140 bp) of mitochondrial DNA of Black Bengal goats (Capra hircus) was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the first time in Bangladesh. The sequence from BBG had no nucleotide (nt) difference and 100% homology with the BBG (C. hircus) of India and also the goats (C. hircus) from China (Yangtze River Delta White Goat), Thailand (Wild Cervidae), Japan (Bezoar goat) and South Africa (Domestic goat). The sequence had 1-5 nt differences and 99% homology with the goats (C. hircus) from China, Thailand and Japan (other goats), and also with the goats (C. hircus) from Malaysia, South Korea, France, Italy, Pakistan, Slovenia, Switzerland and USA. Phylogenetic tree constructed with Black Bengal Goat (BBG-K-2) and Jamunapari goats (SG-1) of Bangladesh with cytochrome b nucleotide sequences were closely related to China-HM7. China-YP xj46, Pakistan-Lineage C1, Pakistan-Lineage C2, Slovenia- ChSo1, Switzerland-ChTo2992 and shared 98.8% to 99% and 98.3% to 98.6% similarity, respectively and 1-1.2% and 1.4 to 1.7% genetic distance, respectively. Based on Ctb gene Sequence collected from Bangladeshi Black Bengal Goats (BBG-K-2) and Jamunapari goats (SG- 1) that were closely related and shared with the same genetic lineage of China HM18 and India-BBG-DQ073048, respectively, suggesting a common origin. SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 23-35 (2019)

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Tetracycline Residues in Bovine Muscle and Liver Samples from Sicily (Southern Italy) by LC-MS/MS Method: A Six-Year Study

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24040695 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 695 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gaetano Cammilleri ◽

Andrea Pulvirenti ◽

Antonio Vella ◽

Andrea Macaluso ◽

Gianluigi Lo Dico ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Continuous Improvement ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Bovine Liver ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Good Recovery ◽

Bovine Muscle ◽

Low Incidence ◽

Tetracycline Residues ◽

First Time

We examined a total of 369 bovine liver and muscle samples for the detection of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and doxycycline (DOX) residues by implementation and validation of a LC-MS/MS method. The method showed good recovery values between 86% and 92% at three levels of concentrations. The linearity tests revealed r2 > 0.996 for all the tetracyclines examined. Furthermore, the Youden test revealed that the method was robust. Only 14.4% of the samples showed OTC and TC residues in a concentration range of 10.4–40.2 µg kg−1. No CTC and DOX residues were found in all the samples analyzed. Liver samples showed the highest average values (31.5 ± 20.6 and 21.8 ± 18.9 for OTC and TC, respectively). The results showed a low incidence of TCs in all the samples examined, in comparison with other studies reported in the literature. A significant decrease in TC residues frequency was found from 2013 (p < 0.05). This work reports for the first time epidemiological data on the presence of TC residues in liver and muscle samples of cattle farmed in Sicily (Southern Italy). The very low incidence of TC residues indicates a continuous improvement in farming techniques in Southern Italy, which is essential to ensure consumers’ protection.

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A relict population of Cymbalophora rivularis on the Pollino Massif, southern Italy (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Fragmenta Entomologica ◽

10.4081/fe.2018.282 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 37-41

Author(s):

Silvia Greco ◽

Francesco Luigi Leonetti ◽

Stefano Scalercio

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

National Park ◽

Southern Italy ◽

First Record ◽

South Italy ◽

Refuge Area ◽

Relict Populations ◽

Relict Population ◽

A Site ◽

First Time

The first record for South Italy of Cymbalophora rivularis (Ménétriès, 1832) is reported, until now recorded in Italy only for Central Apennine. Three specimens were collected during August-September 2017, in an Acer spp. forest located on Monte Sparviere, a Site of Community Importance within the Pollino National Park. Furthermore, this species was successfully barcoded for the first time. This finding reinforces the biogeographic importance of Pollino Massif as refuge area for relict populations of several animal and plant species.

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Biochemical studies on red blood cells from a patient with the Inab phenotype (decay-accelerating factor deficiency)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v78.12.3291.3291 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 78 (12) ◽

pp. 3291-3297 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

ME Reid ◽

G Mallinson ◽

RB Sim ◽

J Poole ◽

V Pausch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Group ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Phosphatidyl Inositol ◽

Human Antibody ◽

Blood Group Antigens ◽

Decay Accelerating Factor ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Old Russian ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Epstein Barr

Abstract A 38-year-old Russian woman (KZ) has been identified as the fourth proposita with the Inab blood group phenotype. Like the first two propositi, she has a chronic intestinal disorder and, as shown for the third proposita, her Inab phenotype is demonstrably inherited. KZ's serum contained anti-IFC, which reacted with a red blood cell (RBC) membrane component with an Mr of 70,000, which is decay accelerating factor (DAF). Her RBCs lacked all Cromer-related blood group antigens and DAF. Her RBCs were no more susceptible than normal control RBCs to lysis in acid lysis or in rabbit or human antibody-initiated complement lysis tests. Northern blots of total RNA isolated from KZ's Epstein- Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts showed a marked reduction of DAF mRNA when compared with normal. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA confirmed this reduced level of DAF mRNA. Sequencing of the PCR product showed a 44-nucleotide deletion in the mRNA close to the short consensus repeats IIIa/IIIb intron/exon boundary. This deletion results in a change in the reading frame that places a termination codon six amino acids after the deletion. The putative translation product would lack a glycosyl phosphatidyl- inositol linkage site and, therefore, would not be membrane-bound in the RBC.

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