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Potatoes are an important source of food for millions of people worldwide. Biotic stresses, notably late blight and potato cyst nematodes (PCN) pose a major threat to potato production worldwide, and knowledge of genes controlling these traits is limited. A genome-wide association mapping study was conducted to identify the genomic regulators controlling these biotic stresses, and the genomic prediction accuracy was worked out using the GBLUP model of genomic selection (GS) in a panel of 222 diverse potato accessions. The phenotype data on resistance to late blight and two PCN species ( Globodera pallida and G . rostochiensis ) were recorded for three and two consecutive years, respectively. The potato panel was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing (GBS), and 1,20,622 SNP markers were identified. A total of 7 SNP associations for late blight resistance, 9 and 11 for G. pallida and G . rostochiensis , respectively, were detected by additive and simplex dominance models of GWAS. The associated SNPs were distributed across the chromosomes, but most of the associations were found on chromosomes 5, 10 and 11, which have been earlier reported as the hotspots of disease-resistance genes. The GS prediction accuracy estimates were low to moderate for resistance to G . pallida (0.04-0.14) and G . rostochiensis (0.14-0.21), while late blight resistance showed a high prediction accuracy of 0.42-0.51. This study provides information on the complex genetic nature of these biotic stress traits in potatoes and putative SNP markers for resistance breeding.

The translational therapies to promote interaction between cell and signal come with stringent eligibility criteria. The chemically defined, hierarchically organized, and simpler yet blessed with robust intermolecular association, the peptides, are privileged to make the cut-off for sensing the cell-signal for biologics delivery and tissue engineering. The signature service and insoluble network formation of the peptide self-assemblies as hydrogels have drawn a spell of research activity among the scientists all around the globe in the past decades. The therapeutic peptide market players are anticipating promising growth opportunities due to the ample technological advancements in this field. The presence of the other organic moieties, enzyme substrates and well-established protecting groups like Fmoc and Boc etc., bring the best of both worlds. Since the large sequences of peptides severely limit the purification and their isolation, this article reviews the account of last 5 years' efforts on novel approaches for formulation and development of single molecule amino acids, ultra-short peptide self-assemblies (di- and tri- peptides only) and their derivatives as drug/gene carriers and tissue-engineering systems.The translational therapies to promote interaction between cell and signal come with stringent eligibility criteria. The chemically defined, hierarchically organized, and simpler yet blessed with robust intermolecular association, the peptides, are privileged to make the cut-off for sensing the cell-signal for biologics delivery and tissue engineering. The signature service and insoluble network formation of the peptide self-assemblies as hydrogels have drawn a spell of research activity among the scientists all around the globe in the past decades. The therapeutic peptide market players are anticipating promising growth opportunities due to the ample technological advancements in this field. The presence of the other organic moieties, enzyme substrates and well-established protecting groups like Fmoc and Boc etc., bring the best of both worlds. Since the large sequences of peptides severely limit the purification and their isolation, this article reviews the account of last 5 years' efforts on novel approaches for formulation and development of single molecule amino acids, ultra-short peptide self-assemblies (di- and tri- peptides only) and their derivatives as drug/gene carriers and tissue-engineering systems.

Summary Under field conditions, plants are often simultaneously exposed to several abiotic and biotic stresses resulting in significant reductions in growth and yield; thus, developing a multi‐stress tolerant variety is imperative. Previously, we reported the neofunctionalization of a novel PNP family protein, Putranjiva roxburghii purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PRpnp) to trypsin inhibitor to cater to the needs of plant defence. However, to date, no study has revealed the potential role and mechanism of either member of this protein group in plant defence. Here, we overexpressed PRpnp in Citrus aurantifolia which showed nuclear‐cytoplasmic localization, where it functions in maintaining the intracellular purine reservoir. Overexpression of PRpnp significantly enhanced tolerance to salt, oxidative stress, alkaline pH, drought and two pests, Papilio demoleus and Scirtothrips citri in transgenic plants. Global gene expression studies revealed that PRpnp overexpression up‐regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ABA‐ and JA‐biosynthesis and signalling, plant defence, growth and development. LC–MS/MS analysis validated higher endogenous ABA and JA accumulation in transgenic plants. Taken together, our results suggest that PRpnp functions by enhancing the endogenous ABA and JA, which interact synergistically and it also inhibits trypsin proteases in the insect gut. Also, like other purine salvage genes, PRpnp also regulates CK metabolism and increases the levels of CK‐free bases in transgenic Mexican lime. We also suggest that PRpnp can be used as a potential candidate to develop new varieties with improved plant vigour and enhanced multiple stress resistance.

India is the second largest producer of potatoes in the world. Seed is the single most important input in potato cultivation. High seed rate (2.5–3.0 tons/ha), low rate of multiplication, progressive viral degeneration, storage, and transportation are major issues of potato seed production in the country. Potato seed alone accounts for 40%-50% of the total potato production cost, and huge quantities of potentially edible food is put back into the soil as potato seed. The delayed penetration of new improved potato/seed varieties into farmers’ fields due to the slow multiplication rate and frequent seed replacement because of degeneration are associated issues. To circumvent these issues, continuous efforts are being made by potato researchers to develop innovative technologies for quick multiplication of initial healthy breeder’s seed of the released varieties in sufficient quantities to meet the demand in our country. A paradigm shift in potato seed production methods has taken place globally since the early 1900s. Major potato producers of the world have shifted from conventional to hi-tech seed production systems to improve the seed quality and enhance seed multiplication rate. New innovations can overcome many of the problems associated with potato seed production, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Recent advances in potato seed production systems in India and challenges ahead for seed production are described here.

The potato originated in southern Peru and north-western Bolivia (South America). However, native accessions have also been cultivated in India for many years. Late blight, caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans, is the most devastating potato disease, while potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp.) (PCN) is another economically significant quarantine-requiring pest in India. In this study, we have generated a new Indian native collection of 94 potato accessions collected from different parts India. These accessions were screened against late blight and potato cyst nematode resistance by using gene-based molecular markers and phenotypic screening methods. Marker assisted selection using R1 gene-specific marker CosA210 revealed a late blight resistance gene in 11 accessions. PCN resistance bands were found in 3 accessions with marker TG689141, 5 accessions with marker 57R452, and 1 accession having Gro1-4-1602 marker for G. rostochiensis (Ro1,4), while 64 accessions amplified marker HC276 indicating G. pallida (Pa2,3) resistance gene (GpaVvrn QTL). On the other hand, phenotypic screening against late blight resistance under natural epiphytic conditions (hot-spot) revealed three accessions with high resistance, while others were resistant (1 accession), moderately resistant (5 accessions), susceptible (29 accessions), and highly susceptible (56 accessions). For G. rostochiensis (golden cyst nematode) and G. pallida (white cyst nematode) resistance, accessions were grouped into highly resistant (3, 3), resistant (0, 2), moderately resistant (6, 29), susceptible (32, 30), and highly susceptible (53, 30), respectively, for the two PCN species. Collectively, we identified promising accessions with high resistance to late blight (JG-1, Kanpuria Safed, and Rangpuria), and also highly resistant to both Globodera species (Garlentic, Jeevan Jyoti, and JG-1). Our findings suggested that these accessions would be useful for late blight and PCN resistance breeding, as well as future molecular studies in potatoes.

ObjectiveOsteoid osteomas are benign bone tumors commonly treated using thermal ablation. We compare the technical success, complication rates, and long-term efficacy of the two most common ablation types: radiofrequency and microwave.Materials and methodsA retrospective study was performed of all osteoid osteoma ablation procedures between 2007 and 2017. A ten-point numerical pain scale was used to quantify symptoms before and after the procedures with > 12-month follow-up. Complications were reported using the Society of Interventional Radiology Adverse Events reporting criteria.ResultsTwenty-nine patients successfully underwent 15 radiofrequency ablations and 15 microwave ablations with a technical success rate of 83% for radiofrequency and 100% for microwave (p = 0.23). Long-term recurrence rates (p = 1.0) and complication rates (p = 0.60) were not significantly different for the groups. One patient developed a skin burn following microwave ablation and another developed 12 months of sciatic neuropathy following radiofrequency ablation.ConclusionMicrowave and radiofrequency ablation are safe and effective methods for treating osteoid osteomas with similar long-term efficacies. Although radiofrequency ablation is more commonly reported to result in skin burns, this complication can arise during microwave ablation.

Efficacious photodynamic therapy (PDT) of abscess cavities requires personalized treatment planning. This relies on knowledge of abscess wall optical properties, which we report for the first time in human subjects. The objective was to extract optical properties and photosensitizer concentration from spatially resolved diffuse reflectance measurements of abscess cavities prior to methylene blue (MB) PDT, as part of a phase 1 clinical trial. Diffuse reflectance spectra were collected at the abscess wall of 13 human subjects using a custom fiber-optic probe and optical spectroscopy system, before and after MB administration. A Monte Carlo lookup table was used to extract optical properties. Pre-MB abscess wall absorption coefficients at 665 nm were (0.03 to ) and (0.08 to ) post-MB. Reduced scattering coefficients at 665 nm were (4.8 to ) and (1.6 to ) for pre-MB and post-MB, respectively. Oxygen saturations were found to be (5.6% to 100%) pre-MB and (0.0001% to 76.4%) post-MB. Determined MB concentrations were (0 to ). We observed substantial inter-subject variation in both native wall optical properties and MB uptake. This underscores the importance of making these measurements for patient-specific treatment planning.

The glycosyl hydrolase 18 (GH18) family consists of active chitinases as well as chitinase like lectins/proteins (CLPs). The CLPs share significant sequence and structural similarities with active chitinases, however, do not display chitinase activity. Some of these proteins are reported to have specific functions and carbohydrate binding property. In the present study, we report a novel chitinase like lectin (TCLL) from Tamarindus indica. The crystal structures of native TCLL and its complex with N-acetyl glucosamine were determined. Similar to the other CLPs of the GH18 members, TCLL lacks chitinase activity due to mutations of key active site residues. Comparison of TCLL with chitinases and other chitin binding CLPs shows that TCLL has substitution of some chitin binding site residues and more open binding cleft due to major differences in the loop region. Interestingly, the biochemical studies suggest that TCLL is an N-acetyl glucosamine specific chi-lectin, which is further confirmed by the complex structure of TCLL with N-acetyl glucosamine complex. TCLL has two distinct N-acetyl glucosamine binding sites S1 and S2 that contain similar polar residues, although interaction pattern with N-acetyl glucosamine varies extensively among them. Moreover, TCLL structure depicts that how plants utilize existing structural scaffolds ingenuously to attain new functions. To date, this is the first structural investigation of a chi-lectin from plants that explore novel carbohydrate binding sites other than chitin binding groove observed in GH18 family members. Consequently, TCLL structure confers evidence for evolutionary link of lectins with chitinases.

Discovery of one-dimensional material carbon nanotubes in 1991 by the Japanese physicist Dr. Sumio Iijima has resulted in voluminous research in the field of carbon nanotubes for numerous applications, including possible replacement of silicon used in the fabrication of CMOS chips. Although various models for carbon nanotube-based transistors and interconnects have been proposed in the literature, an integrated approach to make them compatible with the present simulators is yet to be achieved. This book makes an attempt in this direction for the carbon-based electronics through fundamentals of solid-state physics and devices.

Citrus is one of the major horticultural crops with high economic and nutraceutical value. Despite the fact that conventional research has developed numerous improved varieties, citriculture is still susceptible to various stresses and requires innovative solutions such as genetic engineering. Among all the currently available modern approaches, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most efficient method for introducing desired traits in citrus. However, being a non-host for Agrobacterium, various citrus species, including Citrus aurantifolia and Citrus sinensis, are recalcitrant to this method. The available reports on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of commercial citrus cultivars show very low transformation efficiency with poor recovery rates of whole transgenic plantlets. Here, we provide an efficient and reliable procedure of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for both C. aurantifolia and C. sinensis. This protocol depends on providing callus-inducing treatment to explants before and during Agrobacterium co-cultivation, using optimum conditions for shoot regeneration and modifying in-vitro micrografting protocol to combat the loss of transgenic lines. As transgenic citrus shoots are difficult to root, we also developed the ideal conditions for their rooting. Using this protocol, the whole transgenic plantlets of C. aurantifolia and C. sinensis can be developed in about ~ 4 months, with transformation efficiency of 30% and 22% for the respective species.