Molecular characterization of the Indian isolate (Ka-To) of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infecting tomato ( L.).

Unlabelled: Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infecting tomato has been identified as an emerging constraint for tomato cultivation in the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Infection of TSWV produces circular necrotic ring spots on leaves, stem and floral necrosis and necrotic ringspots on fruits of tomato. In this study, we describe the characterization of TSWV isolate (Ka-To) infecting tomato from India based on biological, serological and molecular assay.

Twelve-Year Survival After Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Right Atrial Tumor Thrombus.

Introduction: A large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with macrovascular invasion is generally considered to have poor prognosis due to unfavorable tumor biology andsuch patients are relegated to palliative options. This report describes long term survival after surgery in a patient with HCC and tumor thrombus in the rightatrium.

Methods: Case records of the patient, details of follow up visits and surveillance computed tomography scans performed were reviewed.

Screening of a multi-virus resistant RNAi construct in cowpea through transient vacuum infiltration method.

Plant viruses are the most devastating pathogens causing substantial economic losses in many crops. Current viral disease management relies on prophylactics, roguing and insect vector control, since in most crops resistant gene pools for resistance breeding are unavailable. RNA interference, a sequence dependent gene silencing mechanism holds great potential in imparting virus resistance.

LeMYC2 acts as a negative regulator of blue light mediated photomorphogenic growth, and promotes the growth of adult tomato plants.

Background: Arabidopsis ZBF1/MYC2bHLH transcription factor is a repressor of photomorphogenesis, and acts as a point of cross talk in light, abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. MYC2 also functions as a positive regulator of lateral root development and flowering time under long day conditions. However, the function of MYC2 in growth and development remains unknown in crop plants.

Synthesis of biocompatible gelatinated thioglycolic acid-capped CdTe quantum dots ("jelly dots").

Semiconductor luminescent Quantum Dots (QDs) constitute a growing area of research for biological imaging and other biomedical applications. One of the main challenges is to provide QDs with a biocompatible and easy to functionalize surface while retaining the core optical properties. Gelatine is an excellent candidate for that purpose as it is a very common natural polymer, highly biocompatible and bearing various functional groups.

Evaluating the potential of quantum dots for in vitro biological studies: effects on gene expression using microarray analysis.

Quantum dots have potential applications in the biomedical field and especially in bioimaging owing to their tunable fluorescent properties. Although many phenotypic studies have been carried out using QDs on different cell lines, only very few of them involved the analysis of the effect of QDs on gene expression. Here, we describe the application of microarray gene expression analysis for studying the differential expression of genes in the cells treated with QDs.

HY1 genetically interacts with GBF1 and regulates the activity of the Z-box containing promoters in light signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arabidopsis HY1/HO1, heme oxygenase enzyme, catalyses the oxygenation of heme to produce biliverdin, an essential step in the phytochrome-chromophore biosynthesis pathway. GBF1/ZBF2 is a G/Z-box binding bZIP protein that plays a dual but opposite regulatory roles in blue light-mediated seedling development and gene expression. Here, we show the genetic interactions of HY1 and GBF1 in seedling photomorphogenesis, and the role of HY1 in the regulation of promoters containing the Z-box light responsive element.

Ceftazidime resistance in Burkholderia pseudomallei: first report from India.

Melioidosis, a disease of public health importance in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, of late has shown an increasing trend in India, particularly Southern India. We describe a case of a 39-year-old diabetic patient with left elbow septic arthritis, multiple liver, splenic abscesses, pneumonia, pleural effusion, followed by sepsis syndrome. Blood cultures and culture of the joint aspirate yielded pure growth of Burkholderia pseudomallei (B.

Functional interconnections of HY1 with MYC2 and HY5 in Arabidopsis seedling development.

Arabidopsis seedling development is controlled by many regulatory genes involved in multiple signaling pathways. The functional relationships of these genes working in multiple signaling cascades have started to be unraveled. Arabidopsis HY1/HO1 is a rate-limiting enzyme involved in biosynthesis of phytochrome chromophore.

Effects of long-term exposure of gelatinated and non-gelatinated cadmium telluride quantum dots on differentiated PC12 cells.

Background: The inherent toxicity of unmodified Quantum Dots (QDs) is a major hindrance to their use in biological applications. To make them more potent as neuroprosthetic and neurotherapeutic agents, thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped CdTe QDs, were coated with a gelatine layer and investigated in this study with differentiated pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells. The QD--cell interactions were investigated after incubation periods of up to 17 days by MTT and APOTOX-Glo Triplex assays along with using confocal microscopy.

A technique for gall bladder fundal traction in single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: The last 2 years have seen numerous reports on single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in the surgical literature. Achieving an appropriate fundal traction is one among the many technical challenges while performing a SILS cholecystectomy. We describe herein an innovative method of suture traction of gall bladder fundus during SILS cholecystectomy.

Functional interconnection of MYC2 and SPA1 in the photomorphogenic seedling development of Arabidopsis.

MYC2 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that cross talks with light, abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. Here, we have shown that Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) MYC2 directly binds to the G-box present in the SUPPRESSOR OF PHYTOCHROME A1 (SPA1) promoter and that it controls the expression of SPA1 in a COP1-dependent manner. Analyses of atmyc2 spa1 double mutants suggest that whereas MYC2 and SPA1 act redundantly to suppress photomorphogenic growth in the dark, they function synergistically for the suppression of photomorphogenic growth in the light.

Controlling cellular activity by manipulating silicone surface roughness.

Silicone elastomers exhibit a broad range of beneficial properties that are exploited in biomaterials. In some cases, however, problems can arise at silicone elastomer interfaces. With breast implants, for example, the fibrous capsule that forms at the silicone interface can undergo contracture, which can lead to the need for revision surgery.

Long-term exposure of CdTe quantum dots on PC12 cellular activity and the determination of optimum non-toxic concentrations for biological use.

Background: The unique and tuneable photonic properties of Quantum Dots (QDs) have made them potentially useful tools for imaging biological entities. However, QDs though attractive diagnostic and therapeutic tools, have a major disadvantage due to their inherent cytotoxic nature. The cellular interaction, uptake and resultant toxic influence of CdTe QDs (gelatinised and non-gelatinised Thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped) have been investigated with pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells.

ISSR markers based on GA and AG repeats reveal genetic relationship among rice varieties tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity.

Drought, flood, salinity, or a combination of these limits rice production. Several rice varieties are well known for their tolerance to specific abiotic stresses. We determined genetic relationship among 12 rice varieties including 9 tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers.