Genetic Diversity of Armenian Grapevine ( L.) Germplasm: Molecular Characterization and Parentage Analysis.

Armenia is an important country of origin of cultivated subsp. and wild subsp. and has played a key role in the long history of grape cultivation in the Southern Caucasus.

Decoupling of Plant Growth and Accumulation of Biologically Active Compounds in Leaves, Roots, and Root Exudates of L. by the Combination of Jasmonate and Far-Red Lighting.

The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) fine tunes the growth-defense dilemma by inhibiting plant growth and stimulating the accumulation of secondary compounds. We investigated the interactions between JA and phytochrome B signaling on growth and the accumulation of selected secondary metabolites in L., a medically important plant, by spraying plants with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and by adding far-red (FR) lighting.

The Effect of Immunobiotic/Psychobiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain INMIA 9602 Er 317/402 Narine on Gut Prevotella in Familial Mediterranean Fever: Gender-Associated Effects.

Possible mechanisms involved in sex-dependent differences in the gut microbiota have a growing interest worldwide, but the effects of probiotics dependence on the gender of the host have remained outside of researchers' attention until now. Previously, our research data described gender-specific differences in the gut microbiota of Armenian Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients. Taking into account the possible association of Prevotella spp.

Magnetically Induced Transparency in Media with Helical Dichroic Structure.

In our paper, the magneto-optical properties of a dichroic cholesteric liquid crystal layer with large values of magneto-optical parameter g and low values of dielectric permittivity were investigated. The solutions of the dispersion equation and their peculiarities were investigated in detail. The specific properties of reflection, transmission, absorption, rotation, ellipticity spectra and also the spectra of ellipticity and azimuth of eigen polarization were investigated.

Nitrogen Deficiency and Synergism between Continuous Light and Root Ammonium Supply Modulate Distinct but Overlapping Patterns of Phytohormone Composition in Xylem Sap of Tomato Plants.

Continuous light (CL) or a predominant nitrogen supply as ammonium (NH) can induce leaf chlorosis and inhibit plant growth. The similarity in injuries caused by CL and NH suggests involvement of overlapping mechanisms in plant responses to these conditions; however, these mechanisms are poorly understood. We addressed this topic by conducting full factorial experiments with tomato plants to investigate the effects of NO or NH supply under diurnal light (DL) or CL.

A highly efficient protocol for transforming based on artificially induced infection sites.

The parasitic plant genus is notoriously difficult to transform and to propagate or regenerate in vitro. With it being a substantial threat to many agroecosystems, techniques allowing functional analysis of gene products involved in host interaction and infection mechanisms are, however, in high demand. We set out to explore whether -mediated transformation of different plant parts can provide efficient alternatives to the currently scarce and inefficient protocols for transgene expression in .

The Effectiveness of Potential Probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus Vahe and Lactobacillus delbrueckii IAHAHI in Irradiated Rats Depends on the Nutritional Stage of the Host.

Several species of eukaryotic organisms living in the high mountain areas of Armenia with naturally occurring levels of radiation have high adaptive responses to radiation. We speculate on the role of the gastrointestinal microbiota in this protection against radiation. Therefore, seventeen microorganisms with high antagonistic activities against several multi-drug-resistant pathogens were isolated from the human and animal gut microbiota, as well as from traditional Armenian fermented products.

Testing of a `hard' X-ray interferometer for experimental investigations.

A `hard' X-ray LLL interferometer is tested for experimental investigations. The interferometer has both a base and a `ceiling', which are rigidly connected through columns. As a result, the interferometer does not have uncontrollable preliminary moiré.

Blood protein polymorphisms and the gut bacteria: impact of probiotic Narine on carriage in sheep.

Related to previous reports on correlations between an animal's genotype, its commensal microbiota, and the ability to resist infections, the aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between sheep genotype and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) DNA methylation patterns, sheep genotype and cell surface hydrophobicity of sheep gut commensal bacteria. In addition, the effect of the probiotic strain INMIA 9602 Er 317/402 (probiotic formulation Narine) on carriage in sheep at Armenian farms was also investigated. Allelotypes and genotypes of different pathogen-sensitive sheep breeds from Armenian farms were studied based on genetic markers of blood transferrin, albumin, and ceruloplasmin.

Plant-associated and soil microbiota composition as a novel criterion for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants.

The impact of genetically modified plants on plant-associated and surrounding soil microorganisms is an uninvestigated area of environmental risk assessment. Biological markers such as lysine racemase, phosphomannose isomerase, and sulfadiazine are in use or suggested for use in plant genetic transformation technologies to confirm that the uptake of DNA has occurred. Similar to the effects of antibiotic-resistance genes, these markers might change the host plant's microbiota.

Immune cell pathology in rabbit hemorrhagic disease.

Aim: The aim of this research was to study the effect of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) on the host immune response by examining the cellular composition/pathology of lymphoid organs and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).

Materials And Methods: Nine adult rabbits were inoculated with 1 ml of 10% infected liver homogenate, and three rabbits served as controls. The rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD)-induced animals were studied on 3 consecutive days post-infection.

Low-Dose Electron-Beam Irradiation for the Improvement of Biofilm Formation by Probiotic Lactobacilli.

The effects of 50-150 gray electron-beam irradiation on the biofilm-formation ability and cell surface hydrophobicity of the commercial strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS®-1, from Lacto-G (a marketed synbiotic formulation) and the putative probiotic, L. rhamnosus Vahe, were evaluated. No significant changes in cell surface hydrophobicity were found after irradiation, while increases in biofilm-formation abilities were documented for both investigated microorganisms 0.

Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain INMIA 9602 Er 317/402 and Putative Probiotic Lactobacilli on DNA Damages in the Small Intestine of Wistar Rats In Vivo.

Double-strand breaks in the DNA of the small intestine in male Wistar rats were studied using a neutral comet assay after 7 days of feeding with a single strain probiotic formulation Narine (Vitamax-E, Armenia), containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain Er-2317/402 Narine, and putative probiotics L. rhamnosus Vahe and L. delbrueckii IAHAHI.

Geochemistry of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Soils of Mining Area: A Case Study from Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine, Armenia.

Research was carried out to determine and asses the influence of mining industries on soil contamination with application of various pollution indices. For soil sampling 13 points were selected. Soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals by AAS.

Probiotic Strain INMIA 9602 Er 317/402 Administration Reduces the Numbers of and Abundance of Enterobacteria in the Gut Microbiota of Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients.

Intestinal microorganisms play a crucial role in health and disease. The disruption of host-microbiota homeostasis has been reported to occur not only during disease development but also as a result of medication. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inflammatory genetic disease characterized by elevated systemic reactivity against the commensal gut microbiota and high levels of in the gut.

Third wave of African swine fever infection in Armenia: Virus demonstrates the reduction of pathogenicity.

Aim: First cases of clinically uncommon African swine fever (ASF), caused by virus genotype II are described in this article. These cases occurred in Armenia, Tavush region, Dilijan municipality in 2011. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the new pathogenic forms of ASF in Armenia.

The Fecal Microbial Community of Breast-fed Infants from Armenia and Georgia.

Multiple factors help shape the infant intestinal microbiota early in life. Environmental conditions such as the presence of bioactive molecules from breast milk dictate gut microbial growth and survival. Infants also receive distinct, personalized, bacterial exposures leading to differential colonization.

Lactobacillus acidophilus INMIA 9602 Er-2 strain 317/402 probiotic regulates growth of commensal Escherichia coli in gut microbiota of familial Mediterranean fever disease subjects.

Unlabelled: Previously, we reported a positive effect the probiotic formulation, Lactobacillus acidophilus INMIA 9602 Er-2 strain 317/402 (Narine strain), had on the blood characteristics of patients with familial Mediterranean fever disease (FMF). The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of the Narine probiotic on growth characteristics in the predominant commensal Escherichia coli isolates from the gut microbiota in FMF-positive study participants. Bacterial growth of 192 prevalent commensal E.

Effect of in vivo and in vitro exposure to electrostatic field on some hematological parameters in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the external electrostatic field (ESF) on some hematological parameters in rats. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were carried out. In in vivo investigations, rats were exposed to ESF (200 kV/m) during short (1 h) and long periods (6 days, 6 h daily).

A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.

In the first continent-wide study of the golden jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region.

Genetic variability of the grey wolf Canis lupus in the Caucasus in comparison with Europe and the Middle East: distinct or intermediary population?

Despite continuous historical distribution of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) throughout Eurasia, the species displays considerable morphological differentiation that resulted in delimitation of a number of subspecies. However, these morphological discontinuities are not always consistent with patterns of genetic differentiation. Here we assess genetic distinctiveness of grey wolves from the Caucasus (a region at the border between Europe and West Asia) that have been classified as a distinct subspecies C.

Effect of zinc on humoral and cell-mediated immunity of broilers vaccinated against coccidiosis.

Background: The aim of the present study was the comparison of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in broilers fed with different levels of zinc during a coccidiosis challenge.

Methods: One hundred and forty-four one-day-old broiler chicks were used with three dietary zinc (40, 120 and 200 mg/kg). At 14 d of age, all birds were inoculated orally with 5×10(3) sporulated oocysts of E.