Inter-species functional compatibility of the Theobroma cacao and Arabidopsis FT orthologs: 90 million years of functional conservation of meristem identity genes.

BACKGROUND: In angiosperms the transition to flowering is controlled by a complex set of interacting networks integrating a range of developmental, physiological, and environmental factors optimizing transition time for maximal reproductive efficiency. The molecular mechanisms comprising these networks have been partially characterized and include both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory pathways. Florigen, encoded by FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) orthologs, is a conserved central integrator of several flowering time regulatory pathways. To characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in controlling cacao flowering time, we have characterized a cacao candidate florigen gene, TcFLOWERING LOCUS T (TcFT). Understanding how this conserved flowering time regulator affects cacao plant's transition to flowering could lead to strategies to accelerate cacao breeding. RESULTS: BLAST searches of cacao genome reference assemblies identified seven candidate members of the CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1/SELF PRUNING gene family including a single florigen candidate. cDNA encoding the predicted cacao florigen was cloned and functionally tested by transgenic genetic complementation in the Arabidopsis ft-10 mutant. Transgenic expression of the candidate TcFT cDNA in late flowering Arabidopsis ft-10 partially rescues the mutant to wild-type flowering time. Gene expression studies reveal that TcFT is spatially and temporally expressed in a manner similar to that found in Arabidopsis, specifically, TcFT mRNA is shown to be both developmentally and diurnally regulated in leaves and is most abundant in floral tissues. Finally, to test interspecies compatibility of florigens, we transformed cacao tissues with AtFT resulting in the remarkable formation of flowers in tissue culture. The morphology of these in vitro flowers is normal, and they produce pollen that germinates in vitro with high rates. CONCLUSION: We have identified the cacao CETS gene family, central to developmental regulation in angiosperms. The role of the cacao's single FT-like gene (TcFT) as a general regulator of determinate growth in cacao was demonstrated by functional complementation of Arabidopsis ft-10 late-flowering mutant and through gene expression analysis. In addition, overexpression of AtFT in cacao resulted in precocious flowering in cacao tissue culture demonstrating the highly conserved function of FT and the mechanisms controlling flowering in cacao.

Cadmium phytoextraction by Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Brassica napus cv Wichita (rapeseed), and Chyrsopogon zizanioides (vetiver).

The use of phytoextraction plant species to accumulate soil metals into harvestable plant parts is a method used for managing soils with high cadmium (Cd). We evaluated three Cd accumulating species recently recommended for such use in cacao farms where Cd removal is needed to maintain markets: Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Brassica napus (rapeseed), and Chyrsopogon zizanioides (vetiver). Plants were grown in two greenhouse pot experiments with different Cd-spiked growth media: (sand plus perlite) and a natural soil. Plant total Cd and Cd uptake in shoot biomass of all species, across both experiments, increased linearly with increasing amounts of added Cd. Rapeseed had the highest plant total Cd and sunflower had the highest Cd uptake in shoot biomass. The highest application of Cd corresponded to the highest plant total Cd and shoot biomass Cd uptake, regardless of species. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for each species increased in a curvilinear manner with added Cd, with maximum BCF values for plants grown in the sand and perlite matrix at 2.5 mg kg-1 added Cd and in the natural soil at 5.0 mg kg-1 added Cd. We conclude that the Cd uptake (shoot biomass only) capability of the three species examined is greatest for sunflower given its increased uptake with Cd additions, its BCF value > 1, and lack of observed visual Cd toxicity symptoms, fungus and insect damage. Although these species had BCF >1, the potential annual removal of Cd would have been too small to support a meaningful phytoextraction practice.

Antiradical Activity of Hydrolysates and Extracts from Mollusk A. broughtonii and Practical Application to the Stabilization of Lipids.

The antiradical properties of hydrolysates and hydrothermal extracts of bivalve mollusks (Anadara broughtonii) from the Far Eastern Region of Russia and their influence on lipid oxidation in mayonnaise were investigated. The radical binding activity of hydrolysates and extracts of A. broughtonii varies from 55% to 89%. The maximum radical-binding activity was observed for acid hydrolysates. The antiradical efficiency of acid hydrolysates is 35%-41% of the BHT (butylhydroxytoluene) index. The antiradical activity depends on the (method of) technological and biotechnological processing of raw materials. Acid and enzymatic hydrolysates and hydrothermal extracts of A. broughtonii in mayonnaise slow down the process of oxidation of lipids and hydrolysis of triglycerides. Acid hydrolysates reduce the speed of oxidation and hydrolysis of lipids in mayonnaise more efficiently than the enzymatic hydrolysates.

[Model of social exclusion of the elderly people in Siberian Regions].

An article presents results of the construction and approbation of a theoretical model of social exclusion of population of elderly age groups in Siberian regions. It bases on the results of sociological research (2016) in three Russian regions: Altai region, Trans-Baikal region and Kemerovo oblast (n=779 age of respondents from 55 (women) and 60 (men) years and older). In theory, the model lays on the following: in is determined by economic (material) deprivation, deprivation of social rights (access to social institutes and services) and deprivation of security (safe environment), deprivation of social participation, cultural (normative) disintegration and social autism; the above named components are specific for the group of elderly people, that is a priori a high risk of exclusion; social exclusion, as a condition and situation of exclusion can be estimated straightly through the manifestation of its dimensions; the model has a one-way causality, i.e. the manifestation of one of its dimensions can lead to the high manifestation of the social exclusion. Basing on dimensions, operationalized in questionnaire, we calculated as an index of components of the social exclusion, as the total social exclusion index for elderly people including its regional correlations. By the results of a posteriori testing of the suggested model, we proved a good correlation between theoretical and empirical models of social exclusion of elderly people.

Measuring risk of HIV and HCV among injecting drug users in the Russian Federation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to measure risk of HIV and HCV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) through force of infection (FOI) models in three cities of the Russian Federation and assess the value of behavioural data and FOI in predicting risk of infection as a method of second-generation surveillance. METHODS: FOI models were fitted to prevalence data collected through an anonymous, cross-sectional community-recruited survey of IDUs with oral fluid sample collection for antibodies to HIV and HCV. Risk of infection was estimated from FOI estimates obtained by fitting a model to prevalence data by length of injecting career for each city and then overall. Risk behaviours were examined by injecting career length. RESULTS: A total of 1473 IDUs were recruited. Prevalence of HIV was 8.1% (95% CI 6.7-9.6%) and HCV 63.4% (95% CI 60.9-65.9%). A higher FOI in new initiates to injecting (injecting career length <1 year) was found for both HIV and HCV compared with experienced IDUs (injecting career length <5 years). Increased risk of infection was not corroborated by injecting risk behaviours among new initiates into injecting (n = 38). Only 5.7% (n = 2) reported receptive sharing in the last 4 weeks, 57.9% (n = 22) sharing any injecting paraphernalia, 2.6% (n = 1) frontloading and 8.5% (n = 3) ever injecting with used needles/syringes. However, 29% of new initiates reported exchanging sex in the last 4 weeks (29%) compared with 11% long term IDUs. CONCLUSIONS: FOI models can play an important role in surveillance of HIV but caution is needed in the interpretation of behavioural data for predicting current or future risk of HIV.

Stable transformation of Theobroma cacao L. and influence of matrix attachment regions on GFP expression.

We describe a protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Theobroma cacao L. using cotyledonary explants from primary somatic embryos (SEs) and A. tumefaciens strain AGL1. Transgenic plants carrying the visible marker, gene green fluorescent protein ( EGFP), the selectable marker gene neomycin phosphotransferase II ( NPTII), the class I chitinase gene from cacao ( Chi), and tobacco nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) in different combinations were successfully produced via regeneration of secondary SEs. The presence of the Chi gene or MARs did not influence the number of transgenic plants produced compared to the marker genes alone. However, the inclusion of MARs contributed to increased mean GFP expression in the population of transgenics. Additionally, the presence of MARs reduced the occurrence of gene silencing and stabilized high levels of GFP expression in lines of transgenic plants multiplied via reiterative somatic embryogenesis. Ninety-four transgenic plants were acclimated in a greenhouse and grown to maturity. Detailed growth analysis indicated that there were no differences in various growth parameters between transgenic and non-transgenic SE-derived plants. Seeds produced from two genetic crosses with one of the transgenic lines were analyzed for EGFP expression-a near-perfect 1:1 segregation was observed, indicating that this line resulted from the insertion of a single locus of T-DNA.

Investigation of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple using green fluorescent protein: high transient expression and low stable transformation suggest that factors other than T-DNA transfer are rate-limiting.

To investigate early events of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple cultivars, a synthetic green fluorescent protein gene (SGFP) was used as a highly sensitive, vital reporter gene. Leaf explants from four apple cultivars ('Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', 'Royal Gala' and 'Greensleeves') were infected with Agrobacterium EHA101 harboring plasmid pDM96.0501. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that SGFP expression was first detected 48 h after infection and quantitative analysis revealed a high T-DNA transfer rate. Plant cells with stably incorporated T-DNA exhibited cell division and developed transgenic calli, followed by formation of transgenic shoots at low frequencies. The detection of SGFP expression with an epifluorescence stereomicroscope confirmed the effectiveness of SGFP as a reporter gene for detection of very early transformation events and for screening of putative transformants. The efficiency of the transformation and regeneration process decreased ca. 10,000-fold from Agrobacterium infection to transgenic shoot regeneration, suggesting that factors other than Agrobacterium interaction and T-DNA transfer are rate-limiting steps in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple.

Experimental data on the effect of nitrates entering the organism with the drinking water.

A six-months continuous experiment was carried out on 48 viripotent white female rats, line "Vistar", divided into one control and three experimental groups of 12 rats each. The experimental groups received drinking water containing nitrates 50, 100 and 500 mg/dm3, respectively and the control group-7.0 +/- 0.03 mg/dm3. All animals were fed with a standard vivarium food containing 22.0 +/- 0.1 mg/kg nitrates. Upon expiry of the test period the animals were killed. Blood parameters and some internal organs were studied by macro- and microscopy. Microscopic changes in the thyroid gland, liver, kidneys, small and intestines, stomach of the test animals were established. The results of the blood analysis showed statistically significant deviations in haemoglobin values and the differential blood count as well as in some serum parameters.

Varied presentations of sporadic group A streptococcal bacteremia: clinical experience and attempt at classification.

The epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory aspects of group A streptococcal bacteremia were studied in 33 patients seen at two urban hospitals in the Tel Aviv (Israel) area, over an 8-year period. Most patients (two-thirds) were female. Clinically significant bacteremia was observed in 26 patients, two of whom acquired their infection (puerperal sepsis) during hospitalization. A portal of entry, mainly cutaneous, was recognized in 61% of the patients, and a chronic underlying condition was observed in 69%. The case-fatality rate was 27%, with death occurring predominantly in patients admitted with shock or cryptogenic bacteremia. Our clinical experience and literature review show that the presentation of group A streptococcal bacteremia is diverse, with transient bacteremia of uncertain clinical significance on one end of the spectrum and overwhelming sepsis on the other. A practical classification of the various clinical forms of group A streptococcal bacteremia is proposed.

Cancer family syndrome of Lynch.

This report describes a family in whom eight cancers (six colonic and two endometrial) occurred in seven relatives. The colonic cancer was diagnosed in five of the six affected patients at an unusually young age, had a predilection for the proximal colon, and was of the mucinous type in four patients. Polyposis was not found in any colon. The occurrence of cancer in this kindred is characteristic of the "cancer family syndrome" of Lynch.