Search

Chondracanthus chamissoi is part of the diet of coastal people from Peru and is exported dehydrated to Asian countries for direct consumption. Although it is considered endemic to Peru and Chile, its range has extended to distant regions, such as Korea, Japan, and France. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we examined specimens from Peru assigned to C. chamissoi (including the taxon of uncertain status Chondracanthus glomeratus) to improve phylogenetic and geographical information and characterize its morphological variability. Twenty-one localities on the Peruvian coast were sampled, obtaining 102 COI and 27 rbcL sequences. To differentiate both entities, morphological characters such as thallus size, consistency, arrangement of main and secondary axes, branching patterns and location of reproductive structures, were analyzed on 46 specimens. While morphological characteristics are clearly contrasting among the two groups, both COI and rbcL phylogenies revealed a well-supported clade with no genetic differentiation between the two morphologies. Therefore, the phylogenies indicate that C. chamissoi and C. glomeratus form a single taxonomic entity with high morphological variability, large geographic distribution and at least two morphological forms. The smaller form of C. chamissoi can be identified as C. chamissoi f. glomeratus. Such morphological variability can be of interest for future aquaculture development. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion Tecnologica, Grant/Award Number: Convenio de Subvencion Nro. 017-2016-FONDECYT

Purpose The aim of this paper is to describe the tests carried out on a SRSMapCheck array, to verify its reliability and sensitivity for quality assurance (QA) of high gradient treatments as an alternative system to the use of high spatial resolution detectors, such as gafchromic film, whose processing requires meticulous and time‐consuming procedures. Methods In an initial step, general functionality tests were carried out to verify that the equipment meets the manufacturer's specifications. A study of the accuracy of the application of correction factors to compensate for variation in detector response due to dose rate, field size and beam angle incidence has been included. Besides, to assess the ability of the array to detect inaccurately delivered treatments, systematic errors corresponding to the deviation in the position of the leaves and the accuracy of the gantry position, have been introduced. Based on these results, an estimate of sensitivity and specificity values of the device has been completed. The final step included a study applied to high gradient treatment for real cases of spatially fractionated radiotherapy, where the results of SRSMapCheck measurements have been compared with gafchromic films. Results General commissioning tests meet the manufacturer's specifications. dose rate (DR) response variation is better than 1.5% and for DR above 50 MU/min better than 1%. The results for beam incidences are better than 1% for all gantry angles, including beam incidences parallel to the array. Field size response differences are within the range of ±1% for sizes up to 2 × 2 cm2, with a maximum value obtained of 3.5%, for 1 × 1 cm2. From the systematic error study, using a Gamma function Γ (2%, 2 mm), the detector presents a high specificity with a value greater than 90% at its lower limit, while its sensitivity has a moderate mean value of 81%. Sensitivity values increase above 86% when we apply a Gamma function Γ (2%, 1 mm) is applied. Finally, the study of actual cases comprises 17 patients, distributed into 11 lung tumors, 3 gynecological and 3 soft tissue tumors. The gafchromic film showed a lower passing rate with an average value of Γ (2%, 2 mm) = 94.1% compared to Γ (2%, 2 mm) = 98.6% reached by the measurements with the array. Conclusions Gamma function obtained with the SRSMapCheck array always presented a higher value than gafchromic film measurements, resulting in a greater number of plans considered correct. This fact, together with the sensitivity and specificity study carried out, allows us to conclude the recommendation that a restrictive metric must be established, in this way we will improve sensitivity, and therefore we will reduce the rate of incorrect plans qualified as correct. The characteristics of the equipment together with the correction factors applied, led to reliably performing acquisitions for complex treatments with multiple small targets in oblique rotational incidences. The spatial resolution of detectors allows the verification of high gradient dose plans such as those achieved in spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT).

Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) proteins are a family of plant transporters that are typically involved in transition metal homeostasis. Three of the four YSL clades (I, II and IV) transport metals complexed with the non-proteinogenic amino acid nicotianamine or its derivatives. No such capability has been shown for any member of clade III, but the link between these YSLs and metal homeostasis could be masked by functional redundancy. We studied the role of the clade III YSL protein MtSYL7 in Medicago truncatula nodules. MtYSL7, which encodes a plasma membrane-bound protein, is mainly expressed in the pericycle and cortex cells of the root nodules. Yeast complementation assays revealed that MtSYL7 can transport short peptides. M. truncatula transposon insertion mutants with decreased expression of MtYSL7 had lower nitrogen fixation rates and showed reduced plant growth whether grown in symbiosis with rhizobia or not. YSL7 mutants accumulated more copper and iron in the nodules, which is likely to result from the increased expression of iron uptake and delivery genes in roots. Taken together, these data suggest that MtYSL7 plays an important role in the transition metal homeostasis of nodules and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

27 Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules requires a steady supply of 28 molybdenum for synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase. This nutrient 29 has to be provided by the host plant from the soil, crossing several symplastically 30 disconnected compartments through molybdate transporters, including members of the 31 MOT1 family. MtMOT1.2 is a Medicago truncatula MOT1 family member located in 32 the endodermal cells in roots and nodules. Immunolocalization of a tagged MtMOT1.2 33 indicates that it is associated to the plasma membrane and to intracellular membrane 34 systems, where it would be transporting molybdate towards the cytosol, as indicated in 35 yeast transport assays. Loss-of-function mot1.2-1 mutant showed reduced growth 36 compared to wild-type plants when nitrogen fixation was required, but not when nitrogen 37 was provided as nitrate. While no effect on molybdenum-dependent nitrate reductase 38 activity was observed, nitrogenase activity was severely affected, explaining the observed 39 difference of growth depending on nitrogen source. This phenotype was the result of 40 molybdate not reaching the nitrogen-fixing nodules, since genetic complementation with 41 a wild-type MtMOT1.2 gene or molybdate-fortification of the nutrient solution, both 42 restored wild-type levels of growth and nitrogenase activity. These results support a 43 model in which MtMOT1.2 would mediate molybdate delivery by the vasculature into 44 the nodules. 45 46, 19 molybdate delivery for nitrogen fixation is occurring at the 450 level of nodule vessels and 451 not in loading the root vasculature with Mo. Otherwise, an accumulation of Mo in mot1.2 452 roots would be expected as well as a decrease in shoots, and none was detected in either 453 (in this case, even slightly higher levels were detected, which might correspond to surplus 454 Mo being delivered to the shoots). 455 In summary, MtMOT1.2 would position itself between molybdate root uptake 456 transporter, likely MtMOT1.1 as the closest LjMOT1 orthologue, and the nodule apoplast 457 molybdate uptake protein MtMOT1.3 (Fig. 6). MtMOT1.2 would facilitate the transfer 458 of this nutrient into endodermal cells mediating the sink-to-source molybdate trafficking, 459 which would be controlled by mass-effects to ensure that it reaches its destination. 460 However, a critical point remains to be solved, which is the identity of the proteins 461 mediating molybdate efflux from the cytosol to the symbiosome. Whether these are 462 sulfate transporters, or whether a novel family of Mo transporters with a direction of 463 transport opposite to MOT1 proteins, remains to be unveiled. 464 465 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 466 This research was funded by a European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC- 467 2013-StG-335284) and a Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grant 468 (AGL2015-65866-P) to M.G-G. Development of the M. truncatula Tnt1 mutant 469 population was, in part, funded by the National Science Foundation, USA (DBI-0703285 470 & IOS-1127155) to K.S.M. Yeast transport assays were partially funded by the Plan 471 Propio de la Universidad de Córdoba (to M.T-J) and MINECO (BFU2015-70649-P). The 472 authors would like to thank Dr. Emilio Fernández and Dr. Aurora Galván (Universidad 473 de Córdoba) for their help with the yeast transport assays, as well as to members of 20 Laboratory 281 at Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de 474 Plantas (UPM-INIA) for their 475 support and feed-back in preparing this manuscript

Background Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been detected in wild birds in West Africa during the northern winter, but no information is available on a potential year-round circulation of AIV in West Africa. Such year-round circulation would allow reassortment opportunities between strains circulating in Afrotropical birds and strains imported by migratory birds wintering in West Africa. Objective and Method A 2-year longitudinal survey was conducted in the largest continental wetland of West Africa, the Inner Niger Delta in Mali, to determine the year-round circulation of AIV in wild birds. Results and Conclusions Avian influenza virus RNA was detected during all periods of the year. Very low prevalence was detected during the absence of the migratory wild birds. However, a year-round circulation of AIV seems possible in West Africa, as shown in other African regions. West Africa may hence be another potential site of reassortment between AIV strains originating from both Afro-tropical and Eurasian regions. (Resume d'auteur)

Four pap genes (papA, papB, papC, papM) were found by sequencing near to snbA, a Streptomyces pristinaespiralis gene which was previously shown to encode one of the pristinamycin I (PI) synthetases. Analysis of the homologies observed from the deduced amino acid sequences suggested that these four genes could be involved in the biosynthesis of the PI precursor 4-dimethylamino-L-phenylalanine (DMPAPA). This was first verified when disruption of papA in S. pristinaespiralis led to a Pl- phenotype, which was reversed by the addition of DMPAPA into the culture medium. Further confirmation was obtained when papM was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the corresponding protein purified to homogeneity. It catalysed the two successive N-methylation steps of 4-amino-L-phenylalanine leading to DMPAPA via 4-methylamino-L-phenylalanine. These results allowed us to assign a function to each of the four pap genes and to propose a biosynthetic pathway for DMPAPA. (Resume d'auteur)