Sex and Regeneration

Regeneration is usually regarded as a unique plant or some animal species process. In reality, regeneration is a ubiquitous process in all multicellular organisms. It ranges from response to wounding by healing the wounded tissue to whole body neoforming (remaking of the new body). In a larger context, regeneration is one facet of two reproduction schemes that dominate the evolution of life. Multicellular organisms can propagate their genes asexually or sexually. Here I present the view that the ability to regenerate tissue or whole-body regeneration is also determined by the sexual state of the multicellular organisms (from simple animals such as hydra and planaria to plants and complex animals). The above idea is manifested here by showing evidence that many organisms, organs, or tissues show inhibited or diminished regeneration capacity when in reproductive status compared to organs or tissues in nonreproductive conditions or by exposure to sex hormones.

Perspective on Sex and Regeneration

Regeneration is usually regarded as a unique plant or some animal species process. In reality, regeneration is a ubiquitous process in all multicellular organisms. It ranges from response to wounding by healing the wounded tissue to whole body neoforming (remaking of the new body). In a larger context, regeneration is one facet of two reproduction schemes that dominate the evolution of life. Multicellular organisms can propagate their genes asexually or sexually. Here I present the view that the ability to regenerate tissue or whole-body regeneration is also determined by the sexual state of the multicellular organisms (from simple animals like hydra and planaria to plants and complex animals). The above idea is manifested here by showing evidence that many organisms, organs, or tissues show inhibited or diminished regeneration capacity when in reproductive status compared to the same organism organs or tissues in nonreproductive conditions or by exposure to sex hormones.

Epidemiology of infections due to zoophilic dermatophyte trichophyton simii, an update

Trichophyton simii is an important zoophilic dermatophyte. It has two different names, one for the asexual form (the anamorph state) that occurs in the vertebrate host, and the other for the sexual form (teleomorph also called “perfect state”) produced by mating between anamorphs. The sexual state of T. simii belongs to the genus Arthroderma in the family Arthrodermataceae of the phylum Ascomycota of the Kingdom fungi. Zoophilic Trichophyton species include Trichophyton equinum, T. bullosum, members of the T. mentagrophytes complex, T. simii, and T. verrucosum. The clinical lesions caused by T. simii in humans and animals are usually inflammatory and erythematous. It can be distinguished from other Trichophyton species by its faster growth on agar media, forming finely granular colonies with white-to-pale yellow color on reverse and distinctive to fusiform 3–7 septate macroconidia converting into chlamydospores in older cultures, and pyriform microconidia, and inability to perforate hair in-vitro, and produce the enzyme urease . Trichophyton simii is known to infect monkeys, chickens, dogs, and humans worldwide, though infections are sporadic and epidemic potential and zoonotic risk for humans is low; this dermatophyte is also known to occur as a geophilic species in several countries. The literature search generated a lot of data on T. simii infections from several countries, namely India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, France, the USA, and Brazil; many of the reports lacked details of clinical lesions and did not mention about treatment/outcome of infections. The results are analyzed and presented concisely in the tables. There is need for investigating the epidemiology of T. simii infections in countries from where, human T. simii infections have been reported, and occurrence of this dermatophyte in soil by employing conventional mycological methods and a newly developed PCR technique based on ITS genomic sequences of this dermatophyte.

Alternaria japonica (pod spot of radish).

A. japonica is a seed-borne pathogen of plants in the Brassicaceae. No sexual state is known for the fungus, and identification based on conidial and cultural morphology is difficult. The production of chlamydospores, structures that should allow it to survive in soil or plant debris, does distinguish it from similar species. It is known to occur in certain regions on all continents, but is generally a minor pathogen compared to other species on the same hosts. Its major impact consists of reduced germination of contaminated seeds and disease and death of seedlings. It is not listed as being of concern by phytosanitary agencies, but imported seed lots can be and are rejected due to its presence, because once introduced, it can persist and then spread by means of airborne conidia.

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI FROM SUBMERGED PLANTS DEBRIS IN AQUATIC HABITATS IN MISAN PROVINCE

Forty-eight taxa of saprophytes fungi were isolated and identified from submerged plant debris samples collected from different sites in Misan province, southern Iraq, which are Maymouna, Al-Salam, Majar Al-Kabir, and Amara. Among them, 24 species belonged to Ascomycota (six of which are sexual state), 19 species to hyphomycetes (anamorphic fungi), 4 to Zygomycota, and one to Oomycetes. Six species were isolated and newly recorded from Iraq, which are Aniptodera margaration, Cirrenalia iberica, Cordana lignicola, Cordana verruculosa, Pseudoacrodictys appendiculata, and Scytalidium thermophilum. However, in the evaluation of both moist chamber and direct culture methods, 34 species were isolated by the first method and 27 species by the second method, meantime, 13 species (9 belonged to Ascomycota, 2 to hyphomycetes, and 2 to Zygomycetes) were recovered by both methods. Aspergillus terrus was appeared in highest frequency and occurrence (11.76%, 42.55%, respectively), followed by Aspergillus horti (10%, 36.17%, respectively), and then A. niger with a frequency and occurrence of 5.29% and 19.14%, respectively, while 17 species were appeared lowest frequency and occurrence to reach 0.58%, 2.12%, respectively, for all. One hundred and seven isolates have been recovered from all study sites. Meantime, sixty-four isolates have been reported from Majar Al-Kabir, as compared with other sites, followed by Amara (43 isolates), while 39 isolates have been isolated from the Maymouna, and 24 isolates from Al-Salam. The biodiversity of fungi isolated from submerged plant debris was compared with previous studies. Brief descriptions of the new recorded fungi were given.

Marvell and Lyrics of Undifference

In recent times, Marvell’s lyric poems have been increasingly read with an eye to the social and the topical: the sociabilities of the author, the topicalities of his verse. This essay faces in another direction, suggesting that in poems like ‘The Nymph Complaining’ the topical was a means for Marvell to explore inward matter, an occasion to see the interior life projected into the world. In such lyrics, Marvell discovers two distinct sites of suspension or coming-to-be: tears, in which categories and differences are dissolved; childhood, where the conditions of differentiation that underlie the adult order are suspended or elided. The poet’s fascination with the figure of the child reveals a preoccupation with a pre-sexual state altogether congruent with the primal oneness imagined in the ‘Mower’ poems and ‘The Garden’ and adventured so achingly in ‘The Nymph Complaining’. Such a reading as we propose uncovers the strange and compelling fit of the ontological and the psychological in Marvell’s work.

Three Colletotrichum Species Responsible for Anthracnose on Synsepalum dulcificum (Miracle Fruit)

By 2016, fruit rot and two different leaf diseases (leaf spot and leaf blight) were found on Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit) in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Kagoshima prefectures of Japan. From the lesions, abundant conidial masses and acervuli of three Colletotrichum species, two of which produced sexual state, were observed. We conducted a pathogenicity assay using these Colletotrichum species on healthy fruits and leaves of S. dulcificum. Our artificial inoculation tests showed symptoms of disease on tested fruit and leaf and indicated all three Colletotrichum species as causal agents of anthracnose on S. dulcificum. Based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, GAPDH, ACT, CAL and TUB2 loci, these species were identified as Colletotrichum aenigma (MAFF 246750), C. siamense (MAFF 246751) and C. karstii (MAFF 245966). They have been previously reported as plant pathogenic fungi elsewhere in the world. This is the first report of fruit rot, leaf blight and leaf spot on S. dulcificum caused by these three Colletotrichum species.

Pathogenicity of Phyllosticta citricarpa Ascospores on Citrus spp.

Citrus black spot, caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa, is one of the most important fungal diseases in many citrus-growing regions with hot and humid summers. Ascospores and conidia are known to contribute to epidemic development of the disease. However, pathogenicity testing has never been done for pure ascospores produced from fully characterized P. citricarpa isolates, due to the inability to induce the sexual state in vitro. Recently, an in vitro mating technique was developed to readily produce pure P. citricarpa ascospores for use in host inoculation studies. To test the pathogenicity of P. citricarpa ascospores, we inoculated Troyer citrange leaves and Murcott tangor fruit with ascospores produced in vitro from characterized P. citricarpa isolates. Typical symptoms of citrus black spot occurred. Recovery of P. citricarpa isolates from symptomatic lesions and their characterization using genetic markers enabled us to identify recombinant genotypes among the isolates recovered from ascospore inoculations and, as such, fulfill Koch’s postulates for ascospores. We have also identified Troyer citrange seedlings as a potential model system for citrus black spot inoculation studies, because it allows typical symptoms of citrus black spot to be expressed with a much shorter latent period than on fruit. This will facilitate future studies of epidemiological aspects of P. citricarpa ascospores relative to conidia and improve our understanding of the citrus black spot pathosystem. The susceptibility of Troyer citrange seedlings will also facilitate experimenting with disease management methods, aimed at reducing the impact of citrus black spot.