Distribution of Three Races in Coastal California and Evaluation of Resistance in Lettuce.

Verticillium wilt, caused by , is one of the most devastating soilborne diseases of lettuce ( L.). There are three races of , and each race has been characterized by markers representing race-specific effectors.

Characterization and genome sequence of phage Morrigan, of cluster EA6 with siphovirus morphology.

Bacteriophage Morrigan, which was isolated from soil using NRRL B-24224, is lytic with siphovirus morphology. Morrigan's 40,509-bp genome has a GC content of 62.8% and 66 putative protein-coding genes, of which 31 could be assigned putative functions.

First report of (syn. ) causing Pythium wilt of lettuce in Arizona.

In 2021 and 2022, wilt symptoms were observed in lettuce ( L.) fields in Yuma County, Arizona (AZ). Incidence was < 1% at all locations.

Manipulation of the Plant Host by the Geminivirus AC2/C2 Protein, a Central Player in the Infection Cycle.

Geminiviruses are a significant group of emergent plant DNA viruses causing devastating diseases in food crops worldwide, including the Southern United States, Central America and the Caribbean. Crop failure due to geminivirus-related disease can be as high as 100%. Improved global transportation has enhanced the spread of geminiviruses and their vectors, supporting the emergence of new, more virulent recombinant strains.

Complementary-sense gene regulation in beet curly top virus-SpCT.

A 278-bp region upstream of the beet curly top virus-SpCT (BCTV-SpCT) C2/C3 genes is necessary for promoter activity and exhibits significant sequence similarity to AL2/3 promoter sequences in tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV). Maximal expression of the downstream C2/3 genes in BCTV-SpCT requires the presence of the C1 protein, which is supported by observations that mutation of the initiator codon for C1 results in decreased C2/C3 expression. This is similar to TGMV and cabbage leaf curl virus, where AL1 is required for maximal AL2/3 expression.

Emerging technologies for protease engineering: New tools to clear out disease.

Proteases regulate many biological processes through their ability to activate or inactive their target substrates. Because proteases catalytically turnover proteins and peptides, they present unique opportunities for use in biotechnological and therapeutic applications. However, many proteases are capable of cleaving multiple physiological substrates.

Intracellular FRET-based Screen for Redesigning the Specificity of Secreted Proteases.

Proteases are attractive as therapeutics given their ability to catalytically activate or inactivate their targets. However, therapeutic use of proteases is limited by insufficient substrate specificity, since off-target activity can induce undesired side-effects. In addition, few methods exist to enhance the activity and specificity of human proteases, analogous to methods for antibody engineering.

Cardiac hormones are c-Jun-N-terminal kinase 2-inhibiting peptides.

Background: Four cardiac peptide hormones, namely vessel dilator, long-acting natriuretic peptide (LANP), kaliuretic peptide, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) have anticancer effects.

Materials And Methods: The effects of these four cardiac hormones on human c-Jun-N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2) were examined in human small cell lung cancer and human prostate cancer cells.

Results: Vessel dilator, LANP, kaliuretic peptide and ANP maximally reduced expression of JNK2 by 89%, 56%, 45%, and 28%, respectively (each at p<0.

Rethinking the role of automaticity in cognitive control.

Behaviour that is assumed to be guided by strategy can, in fact, be based on the implicit learning of regularities in the environment. We demonstrate this point in the context of a Stroop experiment. It has been shown previously that performance on this measure of cognitive control varies as a function of the relative proportions of congruent and incongruent trials in a block.

[Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a general hospital: epidemiological overview between 2000-2007].

Introduction: The high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitalized patients is a significant problem due to its associated morbidity and mortality. It is important to know the recent MRSA epidemiology at a General Hospital.

Objectives: To determine the MRSA epidemiology at a Mexican general hospital from 2000 to 2007, in order to know if there is a significant trend in its proportion.

Rational improvement of simvastatin synthase solubility in Escherichia coli leads to higher whole-cell biocatalytic activity.

Simvastatin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the blockbuster cholesterol lowering drug Zocor. We have previously developed an Escherichia coli based whole-cell biocatalytic platform towards the synthesis of simvastatin sodium salt (SS) starting from the precursor monacolin J sodium salt (MJSS). The centerpiece of the biocatalytic approach is the simvastatin synthase LovD, which is highly prone to misfolding and aggregation when overexpressed from E.