scholarly journals Two Phages of the Genera Felixounavirus Subjected to 12 Hour Challenge on Salmonella Infantis Showed Distinct Genotypic and Phenotypic Changes

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rivera ◽  
Hudson ◽  
Denes ◽  
Hamilton-West ◽  
Pezoa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Optical Density ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Narrow Host Range ◽  
Phenotypic Changes ◽  
Phage Titer ◽  
Wide Host Range

Salmonella Infantis is considered in recent years an emerging Salmonella serovar, as it has been associated with several outbreaks and multidrug resistance phenotypes. Phages appear as a possible alternative strategy to control Salmonella Infantis (SI). The aims of this work were to characterize two phages of the Felixounavirus genus, isolated using the same strain of SI, and to expose them to interact in challenge assays to identify genetic and phenotypic changes generated from these interactions. These two phages have a shared nucleotide identity of 97% and are differentiated by their host range: one phage has a wide host range (lysing 14 serovars), and the other has a narrow host range (lysing 6 serovars). During the 12 h challenge we compared: (1) optical density of SI, (2) proportion of SI survivors from phage-infected cultures, and (3) phage titer. Isolates obtained through the assays were evaluated by efficiency of plating (EOP) and by host-range characterization. Genomic modifications were characterized by evaluation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The optical density (600 nm) of phage-infected SI decreased, as compared to the uninfected control, by an average of 0.7 for SI infected with the wide-host-range (WHR) phage and by 0.3 for SI infected with the narrow-host-range (NHR) phage. WHR phage reached higher phage titer (7 × 1011 PFU/mL), and a lower proportion of SI survivor was obtained from the challenge assay. In SI that interacted with phages, we identified SNPs in two genes (rfaK and rfaB), which are both involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) polymerization. Therefore, mutations that could impact potential phage receptors on the host surface were selected by lytic phage exposure. This work demonstrates that the interaction of Salmonella phages (WHR and NHR) with SI for 12 h in vitro leads to emergence of new phenotypic and genotypic traits in both phage and host. This information is crucial for the rational design of phage-based control strategies.

scholarly journals In Vitro-Transcribed Chrysanthemum stunt viroid RNA Is Infectious to Chrysanthemum and Other Plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Matsushita ◽  
Kumar K. R. Penmetcha
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Chrysanthemum Stunt Viroid ◽  
Stunt Viroid ◽  
Wide Host Range

Chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd), a noncoding RNA, is known to cause chrysanthemum stunt disease, which affects the yield of flowers. To gain insights into CSVd replication, infection, and the reasons for the spreading of CSVd disease in chrysanthemum plants, we prepared linear CSVd RNA and analyzed its ability to cause disease in chrysanthemum plants. We found that linear CSVd replicated as efficiently as CSVd RNA isolated from the infected chrysanthemum plants. Additionally, the linear CSVd RNA was evaluated for its ability to infect other plants as well, which revealed that CSVd has a wide host range for its replication. Importantly, the CSVd isolated from these hosts is infectious to chrysanthemum plants, and thus potentially contributes to the spreading of the disease to chrysanthemum plants.

scholarly journals Mice Expressing Minimally Humanized CD81 and Occludin Genes Support Hepatitis C Virus Uptake In Vivo

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Ding ◽  
Markus von Schaewen ◽  
Gabriela Hrebikova ◽  
Brigitte Heller ◽  
Lisa Sandmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Host Factors ◽  
Narrow Host Range ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Mouse Hepatocytes

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic infections in at least 150 million individuals worldwide. HCV has a narrow host range and robustly infects only humans and chimpanzees. The underlying mechanisms for this narrow host range are incompletely understood. At the level of entry, differences in the amino acid sequences between the human and mouse orthologues of two essential host factors, the tetraspanin CD81 and the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN), explain, at least in part, HCV's limited ability to enter mouse hepatocytes. We have previously shown that adenoviral or transgenic overexpression of human CD81 and OCLN facilitates HCV uptake into mouse hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. In efforts to refine these models, we constructed knock-in mice in which the second extracellular loops of CD81 and OCLN were replaced with the respective human sequences, which contain the determinants that are critical for HCV uptake. We demonstrate that the humanized CD81 and OCLN were expressed at physiological levels in a tissue-appropriate fashion. Mice bearing the humanized alleles formed normal tight junctions and did not exhibit any immunologic abnormalities, indicating that interactions with their physiological ligands were intact. HCV entry factor knock-in mice take up HCV with an efficiency similar to that in mice expressing HCV entry factors transgenically or adenovirally, demonstrating the utility of this model for studying HCV infection in vivo. IMPORTANCE At least 150 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic hepatitis C can result in progressive liver disease and liver cancer. New antiviral treatments can cure HCV in the majority of patients, but a vaccine remains elusive. To gain a better understanding of the processes culminating in liver failure and cancer and to prioritize vaccine candidates more efficiently, small-animal models are needed. Here, we describe the characterization of a new mouse model in which the parts of two host factors that are essential for HCV uptake, CD81 and occludin (OCLN), which differ between mice and humans, were humanized. We demonstrate that such minimally humanized mice develop normally, express the modified genes at physiological levels, and support HCV uptake. This model is of considerable utility for studying viral entry in the three-dimensional context of the liver and to test approaches aimed at preventing HCV entry.

scholarly journals Morphological and pathogenic variations in the isolates of Rhizoctonia solani in Bangladesh

1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
BK Goswami ◽  
KA Bhuiyan ◽  
IH Mian
Keyword(s):  
Rhizoctonia Solani ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Infected Plant ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Narrow Host Range ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Virulent Isolate ◽  
Wide Host Range ◽  
Avirulent Isolate

Rhizoctonia solani isolates were collected from soil of different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh and also from infected plant parts of different crops and grasses. Collected isolates were classified into five different cluster groups on the basis of morphological and cultural characters. Five isolates taking one from each of the five different cluster groups were selected to study their pathogenicity and host range on 35 different crops. Pathogenicity and host range of the isolates were determined by planting the seeds in water agar plate infested with R. solani isolates and incubated at 25°C temperatures. After analyzing the morphological and cultural characters of the isolates, it was found that there was no relations between the isolates with respect to their origin from where they were collected. It indicated that the diversity among the isolates was not correlated with their origin. In case of host range and pathogenicity among the five selected isolates of different cluster groups, the isolate JES-16 was an avirulent isolate. The isolate SYL-30 had narrow host range and a low virulent isolate. The isolates DIN-8 and GAZ-18 possessed wide host range and might be considered as virulent isolates. The isolate GAZ-9 was a highly virulent isolate with a wide host range. Keywords: Rhizoctonia solani; morphological and pathogenic variations; isolates. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i3.6443Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(3) : 375-380

Host specificity and vegetative compatibility of Dutch isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. asparagi

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim J. Blok ◽  
Gerrit J. Bollen
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Oxysporum ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vegetative Compatibility ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Vegetative Compatibility Groups ◽  
Narrow Host Range

The host range of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. asparagi (Foa) was studied in inoculation experiments with 21 plant species. Typical root rot symptoms were incited only in asparagus, in all experiments; lupin and pea were susceptible under in vitro conditions but showed only mild symptoms occasionally when tested in soil; none of the other species showed external disease symptoms. Root colonization by Foa was studied for 14 plant species. The pathogen was detected in externally disinfested roots of all species except leek and onion, with asparagus the most extensively colonized species. Asparagus was not susceptible to isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. pisi, lupini, cepae, lilii, and gladioli and Fusarium sacchari var. elongatum. Naturally infested field soil was planted twice for 11 – 13 weeks with 11 plant species, including asparagus and several symptomless hosts, and subsequently with asparagus as a biotest plant. Of these crops, only asparagus greatly increased the severity of Foa root rot. It was concluded that Foa has a narrow host range as a pathogen but a broad host range as a parasite. The consequences of the latter for the epidemiology of Foa are discussed. Twenty-four Foa isolates were assigned to 18 different vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs); three additional F. oxysporum isolates, which were not pathogenic on asparagus, each belonged to a unique VCG. These findings indicate that the Dutch Foa population is very diverse genetically, as was found previously for the Foa population in the United States. Key words: asparagus, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. asparagi, host range, lupin, pea, symptomless hosts, vegetative compatibility.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Broad-Host-Range Lytic Phage SHWT1 Against Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella and Evaluation of Its Therapeutic Efficacy in vitro and in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenglin Tao ◽  
Zhengfei Yi ◽  
Yaodong Zhang ◽  
Yao Wang ◽  
Hong Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Lytic Activity ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Broad Host Range

Inappropriate use of antibiotics has accelerated to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, becoming a major health threat. Moreover, bacterial biofilms contribute to antibiotic resistance and prolonged infections. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy may provide an alternative strategy for controlling multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, a broad-host-range phage, SHWT1, with lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Salmonella was isolated, characterized and evaluated for the therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Phage SHWT1 exhibited specific lytic activity against the prevalent Salmonella serovars, such as Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Salmonella Typhimurium. Morphological analysis showed that phage SHWT1 was a member of the family Siphoviridae and the order Caudovirales. Phage SHWT1 had a latent period of 5 min and burst size of ~150 plaque-forming units (PFUs)/cell. The phage was stable from pH 3-12 and 4–65°C. Phage SHWT1 also showed capacity to lyse Salmonella planktonic cells and inhibit the biofilm formation at optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 100, respectively. In addition, phage SHWT1 was able to lyse intracellular Salmonella within macrophages. Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that SHWT1 was a lytic phage without toxin genes, virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes, or significant genomic rearrangements. We found that phage SHWT1 could successfully protect mice against S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium infection. Elucidation of the characteristics and genome sequence of phage SHWT1 demonstrates that this phage is a potential therapeutic agent against the salmonellosis caused by multidrug-resistant Salmonella.

scholarly journals Characterization and Sequencing of a Novel Phage Abp95 Against Multi-genotypes of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Huang ◽  
Siyi Huang ◽  
Lingli Jiang ◽  
Jingjie Tan ◽  
Xueping Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Wide Host Range ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii has become a challenging conditional pathogen. A. baumannii can lead to different infections, such as wound or urinary tract infections and pneumonia. As an alternative strategy for antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii infections, phage therapy had been used and approved by several governments. Previously we had reported two potential phage therapy candidates named Abp1 and Abp9. In this study, a wide host range lytic phage Abp95 were isolated and sequenced. The biological characteristics of Abp95 are also stuied. Abp95 belongs to the myoviridae family, containing a G+C content of 38.07% with a genome of 43,176 bp. Abp95 genome encodes 77 hypothetical genes, without any known virulence genes. With a diabetic wound infection model, Abp95 could accelerate wound healing though clearing local infections of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. In conclusion, wide host range lytic phage Abp95 shows the potential as phage therapy candidate against multi-genotypes of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

scholarly journals 99mTc Labelling Strategies for the Development of Potential Nitroimidazolic Hypoxia Imaging Agents

Inorganics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giglio ◽  
Rey
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Oxidation States ◽  
Hypoxia Imaging ◽  
Biological Target ◽  
99Mtc Radiopharmaceuticals ◽  
99Mtc Labelling

Technetium-99m has a rich coordination chemistry that offers many possibilities in terms of oxidation states and donor atom sets. Modifications in the structure of the technetium complexes could be very useful for fine tuning the physicochemical and biological properties of potential 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals. However, systematic study of the influence of the labelling strategy on the “in vitro” and “in vivo” behaviour is necessary for a rational design of radiopharmaceuticals. Herein we present a review of the influence of the Tc complexes’ molecular structure on the biodistribution and the interaction with the biological target of potential nitroimidazolic hypoxia imaging radiopharmaceuticals presented in the literature from 2010 to the present. Comparison with the gold standard [18F]Fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) is also presented.

scholarly journals High-throughput screening and rational design of biofunctionalized surfaces with optimized biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Fang ◽  
Junjian Chen ◽  
Ye Zhu ◽  
Guansong Hu ◽  
Haoqian Xin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Click Reaction ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Biomaterial Surfaces

AbstractPeptides are widely used for surface modification to develop improved implants, such as cell adhesion RGD peptide and antimicrobial peptide (AMP). However, it is a daunting challenge to identify an optimized condition with the two peptides showing their intended activities and the parameters for reaching such a condition. Herein, we develop a high-throughput strategy, preparing titanium (Ti) surfaces with a gradient in peptide density by click reaction as a platform, to screen the positions with desired functions. Such positions are corresponding to optimized molecular parameters (peptide densities/ratios) and associated preparation parameters (reaction times/reactant concentrations). These parameters are then extracted to prepare nongradient mono- and dual-peptide functionalized Ti surfaces with desired biocompatibility or/and antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate this strategy could be extended to other materials. Here, we show that the high-throughput versatile strategy holds great promise for rational design and preparation of functional biomaterial surfaces.

scholarly journals Somatic variants for seed and fruit set in grapevine

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Costantini ◽  
Paula Moreno-Sanz ◽  
Chinedu Charles Nwafor ◽  
Silvia Lorenzi ◽  
Annarita Marrano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Wine Quality ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Germplasm Collections

Abstract Background Grapevine reproductive development has direct implications on yield. It also impacts on berry and wine quality by affecting traits like seedlessness, berry and bunch size, cluster compactness and berry skin to pulp ratio. Seasonal fluctuations in yield, fruit composition and wine attributes, which are largely driven by climatic factors, are major challenges for worldwide table grape and wine industry. Accordingly, a better understanding of reproductive processes such as gamete development, fertilization, seed and fruit set is of paramount relevance for managing yield and quality. With the aim of providing new insights into this field, we searched for clones with contrasting seed content in two germplasm collections. Results We identified eight variant pairs that seemingly differ only in seed-related characteristics while showing identical genotype when tested with the GrapeReSeq_Illumina_20K_SNP_chip and several microsatellites. We performed multi-year observations on seed and fruit set deriving from different pollination treatments, with special emphasis on the pair composed by Sangiovese and its seedless variant locally named Corinto Nero. The pollen of Corinto Nero failed to germinate in vitro and gave poor berry set when used to pollinate other varieties. Most berries from both open- and cross-pollinated Corinto Nero inflorescences did not contain seeds. The genetic analysis of seedlings derived from occasional Corinto Nero normal seeds revealed that the few Corinto Nero functional gametes are mostly unreduced. Moreover, three genotypes, including Sangiovese and Corinto Nero, were unexpectedly found to develop fruits without pollen contribution and occasionally showed normal-like seeds. Five missense single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified between Corinto Nero and Sangiovese from transcriptomic data. Conclusions Our observations allowed us to attribute a seedlessness type to some variants for which it was not documented in the literature. Interestingly, the VvAGL11 mutation responsible for Sultanina stenospermocarpy was also discovered in a seedless mutant of Gouais Blanc. We suggest that Corinto Nero parthenocarpy is driven by pollen and/or embryo sac defects, and both events likely arise from meiotic anomalies. The single nucleotide polymorphisms identified between Sangiovese and Corinto Nero are suitable for testing as traceability markers for propagated material and as functional candidates for the seedless phenotype.

scholarly journals Experimental and theoretical explorations of nanocarriers’ multistep delivery performance for rational design and anticancer prediction

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. eaba2458
Author(s):  
Weier Bao ◽  
Falin Tian ◽  
Chengliang Lyu ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Cell Uptake ◽  
Anticancer Efficacy ◽  
Delivery Performance ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Multistep Process

The poor understanding of the complex multistep process taken by nanocarriers during the delivery process limits the delivery efficiencies and further hinders the translation of these systems into medicine. Here, we describe a series of six self-assembled nanocarrier types with systematically altered physical properties including size, shape, and rigidity, as well as both in vitro and in vivo analyses of their performance in blood circulation, tumor penetration, cancer cell uptake, and anticancer efficacy. We also developed both data and simulation-based models for understanding the influence of physical properties, both individually and considered together, on each delivery step and overall delivery process. Thus, beyond finding that nanocarriers that are simultaneously endowed with tubular shape, short length, and low rigidity outperformed the other types, we now have a suit of theoretical models that can predict how nanocarrier properties will individually and collectively perform in the multistep delivery of anticancer therapies.

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