ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been prevalently studied in plants, animals, and viruses. However, recent studies show evidences of miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) in fungi as well. It is known that after successful infection, pathogens hijack the host machinery and use it for their own growth and multiplication. Alternatively, resistant plants can overcome the pathogen attack by a variety of mechanisms. Based on this prior knowledge, we computationally predicted milRNAs from 13 fungi, and identified their targets in transcriptomes of the respective fungi as well as their host plants. The expressions of the milRNAs and targets were confirmed using qRT-PCR. We found that plant miRNAs targeted fungal virulence genes, while fungal milRNAs targeted plant resistance genes; corroborating miRNA-mediated trans-kingdom gene regulation and the roles of miRNAs in plant-pathogen interactions. Transgenic plants with miRNAs targeting fungal virulence genes, or anti-sense of fungal milRNAs, would be expected to be highly resistant to the fungal pathogens.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Plants/microbiology , RNA, Fungal/metabolism , RNA, Plant/metabolism , Ascomycota/genetics , Basidiomycota/genetics , Cicer/genetics , Cicer/microbiology , Fusarium/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal , MicroRNAs/chemistry , Plants/genetics , RNA, Fungal/chemistry , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
The production and accumulation of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in plants is one of the important responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Large number of identified PR proteins has been categorized into 17 functional families based on their structure, phylogenetics, and biological activities. However, they are not widely studied in legume crops. Using 29 PR1 proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, as query, here we have predicted 92 candidate PR1 proteins through the PSI-BLAST and HMMER programs. These candidate proteins were comprehensively analyzed with, multiple sequence alignment, domain architecture studies, signal peptide, and motif extraction followed by phylogenetic analysis. Further, response of two candidate PR1 proteins from chickpea against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceri attack was validated using qRT-PCR followed by their 3D structure prediction. To decipher mode of action for PR1s, docking of pathogen extracellular matrix components along with fungal elicitors was performed with two chickpea PR1 proteins. Based on these findings, we propose carbohydrate to be the unique pathogen-recognition feature for PR1 proteins and ß-glucanase activity via ß-glucan binding or modification.
Subject(s)
Cicer/enzymology , Cicer/physiology , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Plant Proteins/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Arabidopsis , Cicer/chemistry , Cicer/genetics , Fusarium , Molecular Docking Simulation , Plant Proteins/genetics , RNA, Plant , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Homology, Amino AcidABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this cross-sectional survey were to examine the prevalence, type and intensity of abuse in street children in Jaipur city, India. METHOD: Based on purposive random sampling, 200 street children, inclusive of equal number of boys and girls, were selected from the streets of Jaipur city, India, and administered an in-depth interview schedule which included five areas of abuse, namely, "general abuse," "health abuse," "verbal abuse," "physical abuse," and "psychological abuse." Data was interpreted using percentages, t-test and correlations. RESULTS: Street children reported experiences of abuse in all the five areas under study. Larger numbers of children (61.8%) scored in the "moderate" category of abuse while 36.6% children indicated abuse in "severe" and "very severe" categories on the intensity of abuse. Highest mean scores were obtained on the "verbal" and "psychological" area of abuse. Gender differences were significant in health and overall abuse, indicating boys to be significantly more abused than girls. There were significant positive correlations of abuse with increasing "age" and "income" of street children; and the occurrence of "multi-type" maltreatment and neglect in street children was clearly present. CONCLUSION: Different forms of abuse are prevalent in street children in India. This area of study needs attention both by the researchers and the social workers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: children who are identified in severe and very severe categories of abuse should be worked with in a follow up study with the help of governmental and nongovernmental agencies working in the field for child welfare.
