Identification of genomic regions associated with early plant vigour in lentil (Lens culinaris)

Lentil is one of the most important food legume species, however its genetic and genomic resources remained largely uncharacterized and unexploited. In the past few years, a number of genetic maps have been constructed and marker resources have been developed in lentil. These resources could be exploited for understanding the extent and distribution of genetic variation in genus Lens and also for developing saturated and consensus genetic maps suitable for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted selection. The present study aims to enrich polymerase chain reaction-based linkage map of F10 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population of 94 individuals derived from cross WA8649090 9 Precoz and identification of QTLs linked to early plant vigour traits. Of the 268 polymorphic markers (93 simple sequence repeats (SSR), three inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and 172 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs)), 265 (90 SSRs, three ISSRs and 172 RAPDs) were mapped on seven linkage groups, varying in length between 25.6 and 210.3 cM, coverage of 809.4 cM with an average marker spacing of 3.05 cM. The study also reported assigning of 24 new cross-genera SSRs of Trifolium pratense on the present linkage map. The RILs along with the parents were screened for shoot length, root length, seedling length, dry weight, number of leaves and number of branches based on two replications under polyhouse conditions. A QTLhotspot consisting of six QTLs for shoot length (cm), root length (cm) and seedling length (cm) was observed between a map distances of 56.61 and 86.81 cM on LG1.

Isolation of Brucella melitensis from a human case of chronic additive polyarthritis.

Brucellar arthritis remains under diagnosed owing to non‑specific clinical manifestations. Here, we report isolation of Brucella melitensis from synovial fluid of 5th metatarsophalangeal joint of a 39‑year‑old lady having unusually chronic asymmetric, additive, peripheral polyarthritis. This isolation was confirmed by Bruce‑Ladder polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient had a history of contact with an aborted goat. Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (SAT) were positive for Brucella‑specific antibodies both for patient and in contact with sheep and goats. The patient was treated with doxycycline and rifampicin for 16 weeks and was recovered fully.

Detection of flea‑borne Rickettsia species in the Western Himalayan region of India.

Human infections by various rickettsial species are frequently reported globally. We investigated a flea‑borne rickettsial outbreak infecting 300 people in Western Himalayan region of India. Arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) and animal and human blood samples from affected households were analysed by gltA and ompB genes based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Rat flea (Ceratophyllus fasciatus) samples were found harbouring a Rickettsia sp. Phylogenetic analysis based on gltA gene using PHYLIP revealed that the detected Rickettsia sp. has 100% identity with SE313 and RF2125 strains of Rickettsia sp. of flea origin from Egypt and Thai‑Myanmar border, respectively and cf1 and 5 strains from fleas and lice from the USA. But, the nucleotide sequence of genetically variable gene ompB of R14 strain was found closely related to cf9 strain, reported from Ctenocephalides felis fleas. These results highlight the public health importance of such newly discovered or less recognised Rickettsia species/strains, harboured by arthropod vectors like fleas.