Number Of Progeny Research Articles

Climate Change: The Effect of Increasing Temperature on Caenorhabditis Elegans

The effect of temperature change on organisms continues to be an area of interest as global temperatures rise. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a small, transparent nematode that is commonly used as a model organism in biology research due to its short life cycle with distinct phases of life. The C. elegans wild type N2 strain, Strain A, and Strain B were observed at 22ºC, 22.5ºC, and 23ºC. The progeny numbers for all three strains at the indicated temperatures were quantified and the embryonic lethality of each was calculated. An increase in temperature was correlated with an increase in progeny number for Strain A and Strain B while no statistical difference was found in wild type N2. A decrease in embryonic lethality from the first day of exposure to the new surrounding temperature to the second day was observed for all three strains. These results suggest that temperature change can have a significant effect on the progeny number and the adaptability of C. elegans to their surroundings and genetic variation can affect an organism’s physiological response.

Isolation and characterization of phage ISTP3 for bio-control application against drug-resistant Salmonella

Salmonella including drug-resistant strains are major foodborne pathogens causing serious illness and pose a great threat to the prevention and control for food safety. Phages can naturally defect the bacterium, is considered as a new and promising biological antimicrobial agent in the post-antibiotic era. A poultry facility in Wuhan, China provided wastewater samples from which a collection of 29 phages were isolated and purified. A broad host spectrum phage ISTP3, which capable of infecting all tested Salmonella, including drug-resistant Salmonella enterica, were examined. Additionally, the effectiveness of this phage ISTP3 in reducing drug-resistant S. enterica was assessed in diverse food samples. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and whole genome sequencing demonstrated that ISTP3 was found to belong to family Ackermannviridae. The one-step growth experiment and assays of stability demonstrated that ISTP3 exhibited short periods of inactivity before replicating, produced a significant number of viral progeny during infection, and remained high stable under varying pH and temperature conditions. We evaluated the efficacy of phage ISTP3 against drug-resistant Salmonella on chicken breast and lettuce samples at different temperatures. When applying phage ISTP3 in food matrices, the drug resistant Salmonella count significantly reduced at 4°C and 25°C at an MOI of 100 or 1,000 within a timescale of 12 h. Overall, the results, such as broad host ranges, strictly lytic lifestyles, absence of lysogenic related genes, toxin genes, or virulence genes in the genome, demonstrate that the application of phage ISTP3 as a biocontrol agent has promising potential for preventing and controlling drug-resistant S. typhimurium in the context of food safety, processing, and production.

Epigenetic regulation of asymmetric cell division by the LIBR-BRD4 axis.

Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a mechanism used by stem cells to maintain the number of progeny. However, the epigenetic mechanisms regulating ACD remain elusive. Here we show that BRD4, a BET domain protein that binds to acetylated histone, is segregated in daughter cells together with H3K56Ac and regulates ACD. ITGB1 is regulated by BRD4 to regulate ACD. A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LIBR (LncRNA Inhibiting BRD4), decreases the percentage of stem cells going through ACD through interacting with the BRD4 mRNAs. LIBR inhibits the translation of BRD4 through recruiting a translation repressor, RCK, and inhibiting the binding of BRD4 mRNAs to polysomes. These results identify the epigenetic regulatory modules (BRD4, lncRNA LIBR) that regulate ACD. The regulation of ACD by BRD4 suggests the therapeutic limitation of using BRD4 inhibitors to treat cancer due to the ability of these inhibitors to promote symmetric cell division that may lead to tumor progression and treatment resistance.

PSI-19 Neonatal Lamb Growth and Thermoregulation After Nutrient Specific Restriction in Gestation

Abstract Depending on seasonal availability and quality of range forage, extensively managed ewes can experience nutrient restriction during any point of gestation. Neonatal lamb performance after severe experimental nutrient restriction during gestation has been well studied; however, there is a gap in understanding of how practical nutrient restriction experienced over the course of a production cycle impacts lamb success. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the first week fetal growth and development, and thermoregulation biomarkers in neonatal lambs from ewes fed a diet that simulates winter forage. Time-mated and confirmed pregnant Rambouillet x Merino ewes were blocked by body weight and allocated to one of two dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of 1) Control diet (CONT) formulated to meet or exceed the National Research Council (NRC) nutrient requirements for gestating ewes fed throughout gestation; 2) Nutrient restricted diet (NR) formulated to meet 70% of total digestible nutrient (TDN) and 50% of protein requirements from 30 to 125 d of gestation (dGA) and then re-alimented with the CONT diet for the remainder of gestation. Ewes were individually fed from 25 dGA to 137 dGA, then group fed through lambing. From 30 dGA to lambing, weekly body weights, bimonthly body condition scores (BCS), and monthly blood glucose concentrations were recorded for all ewes. A treatment by time interaction was observed where NR ewes weighed less (P < 0.05) starting at week 8 of the treatment period through lambing. There were effects of treatment and time on BCS, as ewes receiving the NR diet had lesser (P < 0.05) BCS compared with CONT ewes regardless of time in gestation. There were no observed differences in blood glucose concentrations between groups. At lambing, rectal temperature, birth weight and morphometrics (crown-rump length, abdominal circumference, head circumference, and cannon bone length) were collected on all lambs. Collection of rectal temperature and bodyweight continued daily for the first week of life. There were no differences in birthweight or birth morphometrics; however, growth by body weight in the first week of life was greater (P < 0.05) in NR (n = 10) compared with CONT lambs (n = 12), with an effect of progeny number. Additionally, treatment by day interactions were observed with NR lambs having lower (P < 0.05) body temperatures on days one, four, and five compared with CONT lambs. These data suggest that sustained nutrient challenge during gestation, even when re-alimented in late gestation, may produce lambs that are at increased risk of hypothermia. While maternal nutrient supplementation in late gestation is a common practice, it is crucial for producers to consider nutritional supplementation strategies throughout gestation to limit the number of lambs that require increased intervention after birth.

Inhibition of host cell division by T5 protein 008 (Hdi).

Bacteriophages (phages) have evolved effective methods of exploiting host-cell machinery by redirecting molecular pathways. In this study, we describe an inhibitor of bacterial growth, T5.008, encoded by the T5 phage. High-throughput sequencing of genomic DNA from bacterial mutants resistant to T5.008 identified mutations in the Escherichia coli ftsZ gene, suggesting that T5.008 targets the cell division protein FtsZ. We validated this finding by replacing a residue in FtsZ with one that confers protection from T5.008 inhibition. We used time-lapse microscopy to show that T5.008 interferes with FtsZ ring formation and stability, thereby inhibiting division. We also demonstrated that phages expressing T5.008 can prevent host division before lysis much more efficiently than those lacking T5.008. We also showed that T5.008 provides a competitive advantage to the T5 phage. This strategy of inhibiting division during phage infection likely enables T5 phage to utilize host-cell resources efficiently.IMPORTANCEWe have identified a novel phage-encoded inhibitor of the major cytoskeletal protein in bacterial division, FtsZ. The inhibition is shown to confer T5 bacteriophage with a growth advantage in dividing hosts. Our studies demonstrate a strategy in bacteriophages to maximize their progeny number by inhibiting escape of one of the daughter cells of an infected bacterium. They further emphasize that FtsZ is a natural target for bacterial growth inhibition.

Plasmodium falciparum OPA3-like protein (PfOPA3) is essential for maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and parasite proliferation.

Metabolic pathways and proteins responsible for maintaining mitochondrial dynamics and homeostasis in the Plasmodium parasite, the causative agent of malaria, remain to be elucidated. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a novel OPA3-like domain-containing protein in P. falciparum (PfOPA3). We show that PfOPA3 is expressed in the intraerythrocytic stages of the parasite and localizes to the mitochondria. Inducible knock-down of PfOPA3 using GlmS ribozyme hindered the normal intraerythrocytic cycle of the parasites; specifically, PfOPA3-iKD disrupted parasite development as well as parasite division and segregation at schizont stages, which resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of merozoites progenies. Parasites lacking PfOPA3 show severe defects in the development of functional mitochondria; the mitochondria showed reduced activity of mtETC but not ATP synthesis, as evidenced by reduced activity of complex III of the mtETC, and increased sensitivity for drugs targeting DHODH as well as complex III, but not to the drugs targeting complex V. Further, PfOPA3 downregulation leads to reduction in the level of mitochondrial proton transport uncoupling protein (PfUCP) to compensate reduced activity of complex III and maintain proton efflux across the inner membrane. The reduced activity of DHODH, which is responsible for pyrimidine biosynthesis required for nuclear DNA synthesis, resulted in a significant reduction in parasite nuclear division and generation of progeny. In conclusion, we show that PfOPA3 is essential for the functioning of mtETC and homeostasis required for the development of functional mitochondria as well as for parasite segregation, and thus PfOPA3 is crucial for parasite survival during blood stages.

Influence of temperature and exposure time of cold storage on the fitness of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is an important biological control agent that parasitizes larvae and pupae of Coleopteran pests. Cold storage can extend the shelf life of parasitoids for use in biological control programs. To understand the effects of cold storage on performance of A. calandrae, the adult survival, longevity, parasitism rate, and fecundity of A. calandrae after cold storage were investigated. Newly emerged A. calandrae females were stored at three constant temperatures (5, 10, and 15 °C) for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks. Both temperature and storage period significantly affected longevity, parasitism, progeny, and sex ratio of A. calandrae. Significant reduction in longevity was observed at 5 °C. After 1 week of cold storage, the longevity of A. calandrae at 5 °C decreased to 8 d, compared to 11 d in the control. However, there was no significant difference on the longevity and parasitism rate when the female wasps were stored at 15 °C for 3 weeks compared to control. The number of progeny gradually decreased with increasing storage period at 15 °C, and the maximum of progeny was observed for the control, 83.33 followed by 75.46 (1 week), 71.26 (2 weeks), and 68.40 (3 weeks). After cold storage at 5 °C for 1 week and 15 °C for 3 weeks, female-biased sex ratios in progeny were 0.53 and 0.55, respectively. Overall, storage at 15 °C for 3 weeks had the least negative impact on adult survival, longevity, parasitism rate, and progeny of A. calandrae wasps.

Life Table Analysis of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) on Maize Crop

Life table of Spodoptera frugiperda on maize was undertaken to study the different population growth statistics. The results on number of individuals survived during development revealed that there was 12.32% mortality during pupal stage. The number that survived from 100 eggs to adult emergence was 42 individuals. Females contributed highest number of progeny (mx =2285) in the life cycle on the 40th day of pivotal age. The net reproductive potential (Ro) obtained was 470.66 females with the mean length of generation period (Tc) 33.46 days. The innate capacity for increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) were found to be 0.183 and 1.201 females/day, respectively.

Sublethal effects of nine insecticides on Drosophila suzukii and its major pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae.

Although the pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae is employed in conservative and augmentative biocontrol of Drosophila suzukii infestations, current pest management strategies mostly rely on multiple insecticide applications. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the baseline toxicity of nine insecticides on D. suzukii larvae and their multiple sublethal effects (LC10 ) on immature stages of the pest feeding on contaminated diet and T. drosophilae developing within the intoxicated host. Chlorpyriphos and azadirachtin showed the lowest and the highest LC10 , which values were 9.78×1013 and 1.46×103 times lower than their recommended label field rate, respectively. Among tested insecticides, imidacloprid, malathion and dimethoate were the only treatments that did not affect the juvenile development time of D. suzukii, while spinosad and the organophosphates chlorpyriphos and dimethoate did not influence fly pupal size. No sublethal effects were recorded on T. drosophilae degree of infestation (DI) and juvenile development time. On the contrary, cyazypyr and dimethoate negatively affected the success of parasitism (SP) and the number of progeny of the pupal parasitoid, in association with malathion for the first parameter and spinosad for the fertility. Compared to the untreated control, more female progeny emerged following azadirachtin exposure, while dimethoate caused the opposite effect. Imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin and spinetoram decreased hind tibia length of emerged parasitoids. This study provides new insights on the (eco)toxicological profile of nine insecticides and new information needed to support the deployment of T. drosophilae in the field within the sustainable management techniques against D. suzukii. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Investigation on Host Preference of Sitophilus oryzae (Rice Weevil) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Different Grains

Rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae is one of the most devastating primary pests of stored grains. Adults feed mainly on endosperm, while larvae feed on germ, resulting in reduced germination and nutritional value. Rice product after wheat has special importance as the second agriculture strategic product. So in this research, the pest effect was studied with five different treatments viz, Oryza sativa (polished rice, unpolished (rough) rice), Triticum aestivum (wheat), Zea mays (maize), and Hordeum vulgare (barley), each replicated ten times. The assessed parameters were percent grain damage, percent weight loss, and number of F1 progeny produced in free choice conditions. Polished rice was the most preferred host in free-choice testing, with 18.75% grain damage, 14.11% grain weight loss, and 138.8 adult F1 progeny emergence.. Rough rice was the least preferred host under free choice condition. S. oryzae thus, preferred polished rice.

Insecticidal Effect of Diatomaceous Earth Formulations for the Control of a Wide Range of Stored-Product Beetle Species.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations are promising alternatives over the use of traditional insecticides. In the present study, a series of laboratory bioassays was carried out to assess the efficacy of three diatomaceous earth formulations, i.e., Silicid, Celatom® MN-23, and SilicoSec®, for the control of a wide range of stored-product insect species in soft wheat. The species tested were Tribolium confusum, Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius, Rhyzopertha dominica, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, and Alphitobious diaperinus. Different dose rates, i.e., 0 (control), 100, 300, 500, and 1000 ppm, were used for each of the aforementioned dust formulations. Mortality levels of the exposed individuals were assessed after 3, 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure. Moreover, progeny were counted 65 days later. Based on our results, dust formulations were effective for the control of most of the stored-product beetle species tested. Among the DE formulations tested, Silicid could adequately control the stored-product insect species. Complete suppression of offspring was observed only for secondary species (T. confusum, T. castaneum, O. surinamensis, and A. diaperinus). For primary species (S. oryzae, S. granarius, and R. dominica), the lowest number of progeny was observed in wheat treated with Silicid. For instance, in the case of R. dominica, significantly fewer individuals were produced in Silicid-treated wheat at the highest dose rate. The results of the present study aim to encourage the utilization of DE in stored-product protection as an integrated pest management tool. Additional experimentation is required to apply the tested DE formulations in the field and on different surfaces.

Susceptibility of pro-Vitamin A biofortified maize genotypes to Sitophilus zeamais (Mots) in Ghana

Pro-Vitamin A Biofortified maize is one of the crops with the cheapest and most sustainable option for preventing Vitamin A deficiency in humans in Ghana. It is also a key energy component of feed for layer chicken, forming about 60-70% of the total feed. Sitophilus zeamais is one of the most serious primary internal feeding pests of maize and other grains in sub-Saharan Africa. It causes both quantitative and qualitative grain losses. Two no - choice laboratory experiments in 112 days cumulative feeding of S. zeamais and 60 days susceptibility of six pro-Vitamin A Biofortified Maize (PVABM) genotypes to the insect were conducted. The experimental designs were Completely Randomized Design in four replications. Percentage grain damage and weight loss were significantly lower (P<0.05) in Aburokokoo than the other genotypes. Significantly more S. zeamais emerged from Accession GH2354 which also had significant (P<0.05) higher percentage grain damage than other genotypes. In the 60-day susceptibility experiment, grain hardness had significant (P<0.05) negative correlation with F1 progeny, index of susceptibility and protein content but positive significant correlation with median development period. Large number of S. zeamais F1 progeny, high susceptibility index, high protein, low total carbohydrate content, short median development time with low grain hardness value were observed on accession GH2354. Aburokokoo had significantly (P<0.05) small number of F1 progeny, low index of susceptibility, low protein and high total carbohydrate, long development period and intermediate value of grain hardness. The ascending order of grain hardness among the maize genotypes was GH2354<Obatanpa <Aburokokoo<Abontem<Honampa<Ahoodzin. There was no relationship between grain length, width and thickness and grain susceptibility. A cluster dendrogram obtained from the maize genotypes with regard to resistance parameters to S. zeamais showed that accession GH2354 and Obatanpa-QPM were susceptible, Ahoodzin, Honampa and Abontem were moderately resistant, with Aburokokoo resistant to the maize weevil infestation. Key words: Biofortified maize, stored produce, insect pest, Vitamin A deficiency, grain damage

Influence of Hypokinesia Applied During Different Periods of Pregnancy in Female Rats on the Dynamics of the Number and Survival of the Progeny

The influence of chronic hypokinesia in certain periods of pregnancy of female rats on the number of progenies was studied and their survival in the early stages of individual development up to a three-month period was traced. It has been shown that hypokinesia of pregnant female rats contributes to a significant decrease in their fertility. At the same time, the most vulnerable are the embryonic and prefoetal periods of pregnancy, where the number of born rat pups is reduced by 40–50% compared with the control. It was revealed that the most stable in terms of the number of progenies born is the third decade of pregnancy in female rats. The fecundity of animals subject to hypokinesia in this period of pregnancy was close to the control and was about 70%. Hypokinesia, which affects the prefoetal period of pregnancy (E8-E15), increases the risk of death of about 30% of individuals from the total number of progenies obtained. It was found that the restriction of the motor activity of female rats during pregnancy contributes to a decrease in the number of offspring and increases the risk of their premature death. It should be borne in mind that in our experiments, hypokinesia conditions were applied after fertilization (mating) and the reason for the decrease in the fertility of female rats and the viability of their progeny is profound changes in the relationship in the “mother-foetus” system. It is more likely that the limitation of the motor performance of rats during certain periods of their pregnancy, in addition to discomfort, which contributes to various stressful conditions, directly affects the state of the blood supply of the litters and the resulting hypoxic state disrupts the dynamics of the energy supply of the developing organism, as a result of which the survival of the progeny is significantly reduced.

Insect-resistance test of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on several maize hybrid lines

To reduce the loss because of pest attacks, it is important to select a maize hybrid line resistant to Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (maize weevil). This strategy can reduce seed damage during preservation and is safe for the environment. Therefore, the research was conducted to screen the germplasm resistance of maize against the attack of the powdery mildew S. zeamais. Maize strain resistance testing against S. zeamais was carried out in 2018 by testing 30 genetic materials of corn germplasm then the entry was stored in a freezer for 2 weeks which aims to kill warehouse insect pests from the field. Of the thirty accessions/lines of maize germplasm that were tested for resistance to the S. zeamais attack, there were twelve accessions/entries which showed high resistance, namely accession numbers/lines 48, 105, 228, 235, 237, 239, 273, 285, 290, 301, 342, 375. This resilience can be seen in the vulnerability index and the number of F1 progenies S. zeamais produced. The susceptibility index ranged from 0.9 to 3.6 and the number of F1 S. zeamais progeny ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 individuals. The methods and results of this study are useful before the release of the variety to the public.

Combination of genetically diverse Pseudomonas phages enhances the cocktail efficiency against bacteria

Phage treatment has been used as an alternative to antibiotics since the early 1900s. However, bacteria may acquire phage resistance quickly, limiting the use of phage treatment. The combination of genetically diverse phages displaying distinct replication machinery in phage cocktails has therefore become a novel strategy to improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we isolated and studied lytic phages (SPA01 and SPA05) that infect a wide range of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. These relatively small myophages have around 93 kbp genomes with no undesirable genes, have a 30-min latent period, and reproduce a relatively high number of progenies, ranging from 218 to 240 PFU per infected cell. Even though both phages lyse their hosts within 4 h, phage-resistant bacteria emerge during the treatment. Considering SPA01-resistant bacteria cross-resist phage SPA05 and vice versa, combining SPA01 and SPA05 for a cocktail would be ineffective. According to the decreased adsorption rate of the phages in the resistant isolates, one of the anti-phage mechanisms may occur through modification of phage receptors on the target cells. All resistant isolates, however, are susceptible to nucleus-forming jumbophages (PhiKZ and PhiPA3), which are genetically distinct from phages SPA01 and SPA05, suggesting that the jumbophages recognize a different receptor during phage entry. The combination of these phages with the jumbophage PhiKZ outperforms other tested combinations in terms of bactericidal activity and effectively suppresses the emergence of phage resistance. This finding reveals the effectiveness of the diverse phage-composed cocktail for reducing bacterial growth and prolonging the evolution of phage resistance.

Brown adipose tissue-derived exosomes delay fertility decline in aging mice.

Ovarian aging has steadily grown to be a significant health issue for women as a result of the increase in average life expectancy and the postponement of reproductive age. One of the important pathological foundations of ovarian aging is formed by mitochondrial dysfunction, which causes decreases in follicle quantity and oocyte quality. In recent years, brown adipose tissue (BAT) transplantation has been proven as an effective treatment for aging-related diseases, such as ovarian aging. However, BAT transplantation is an invasive operation with long-term risks. Therefore, we need to find an alternative strategy. We injected BAT-derived exosomes into eight-month-old C57BL/6 female mice. The fertility was detected by the estrous cycle and mating test. The changes of ovary and oocyte were measured by ovarian volume, organ coefficient, follicle counting, and oocyte maturation rate. ROS level, mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP level were measured to analyze the mitochondrial function of oocytes. The changes in metabolism were explored by cold stimulation test, body weight and blood sugar. The possible molecular mechanism was further investigated by RNA sequencing. In terms of fertility, the estrous cycle of aging mice after BAT-derived exosome intervention was more regular, and the number of progenies and litters was increased. At the tissue level, the ovaries in the BAT-exosome group were larger, and the number of primordial follicles, secondary follicles, antral follicles and total follicles increased. At the cellular level, BAT-derived exosomes improved the maturation of oocytes in vivo and in vitro, increased the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels of oocytes, and decreased ROS levels. Besides, BAT-derived exosomes ameliorated the metabolism and viability of aging mice. Furthermore, mRNA sequencing showed that BAT exosomes altered the expression levels of genes related to metabolism and the quality of oocytes. BAT-derived exosomes enhanced mitochondrial function, promoted follicle survival, improved fertility, and extended ovarian lifespan in aging mice.

A female fertile triploid loquat line produces fruits with less seed and aneuploid germplasm

Most loquat cultivars are diploid (2n=2x=34) and produce numerous large seeds, affecting their edibility rate and processing. Therefore, breeding less seed triploid cultivars has always been a primary goal of loquat breeding. However, most triploid plants have low fertility and cannot meet commercial needs. Here, we identified a triploid line, Q24, that can set seeds normally under natural conditions. We statistically analyzed the fruit setting rate, seed number, and external quality of Q24. The fruit setting rate of Q24 was similar to that of diploid Q14. The number of seeds in Q24 was 79.40% less than that in Q14. Pollen viability analysis and hybridization experiments revealed that Q24 male gametes were sterile. Further cytological observations showed that male gamete sterility was caused by abnormal chromosome pairing during meiosis. Hybridization experiments also confirmed that Q24 female gametes were fertile. Finally, chromosome counts showed that the progeny of Q24 could produce aneuploids at a frequency of 92.52%. In conclusion, the triploid Q24 loquat is a valuable breeding resource, not only because it has less seed and fertile female gametes but also because most of its offspring are aneuploids. This study provides an optimal material for breeding the less seed loquat, and its large number of aneuploid progenies enrich the germplasm resources of loquat.

Method for the growth of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in an oxygen-free environment

Vaginal herpes infections occur under low oxygen conditions, including anoxia. Using an anaerobic (0% O2) cell system, the infection rate, early protein expression, and progeny viability were determined. Anaerobic HeLa 229 cells (0% O2; anaerobic DMEM; 24h) were infected with MOI 1 of HSV1/2, then incubated under aerobic (control) and anaerobic conditions. Infectivity (6h post-infection (pi)) was assessed by ONPG activity and enumerating X-gal-stained cells. HSV1/2 viral immediate-early entry, early entry, and late entry protein expression were determined by fluorescent antibody staining followed by HSV1/2 glycoprotein B mouse monoclonal antibody and DAPI. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and data were considered significant when p ≤ 0.05 (GraphPad Prism). HSV1/2 infection under standard aerobic conditions was approximately twice that measured for anaerobically infected cells. In addition, the level of HSV-2 infectivity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (~8-fold) than that of HSV-1, regardless of oxygen level. HSV entry stage protein expression (ICP8, ICP27, VP5) was detected for anaerobic HSV1/2. A similar pattern was observed for anaerobically grown progeny of HSV1/2, i.e., the number of progeny was higher when anaerobic progenies were grown under aerobic conditions (anaerobic to aerobic) as compared to those grown under anaerobic conditions (anaerobic to anaerobic). In addition, the progeny levels grown solely under anaerobic conditions trended higher for HSV-1 than HSV-2 progeny but were not significantly different. These findings show that HSV1/2 can infect and replicate in anaerobically growing cells and that oxygen is not essential for productive replication.

Screening date cultivars for resistance against the saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae)

The saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) is an important insect pest of stored dates. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of ten date cultivars to the infestation by O. surinamensis. The tested cultivars were Rushodia, Segae, Shaishee, Nabtat Ali, Sari, Khalas, Ruzeiz, Sukkari, Ajwa Al Madina, and Deglet Noor. The response of the beetle to the ten cultivars was studied using a ten-arm olfactometer choice test. The nature of injury incurred by the beetle on the cultivars and the number of individuals produced per gram of consumed dates were determined. Additionally, the F1 progeny produced on each cultivar and the median developmental time were identified and used to calculate the susceptibility index (SI) for each cultivar. The cultivars Rushodia, Segae, and Shaishee were highly susceptible to the infestation by the saw-toothed beetle according to their high SI of 12.05, 12.02, and 11.11, respectively. However, the cultivar Deglet Noor was resistant to the infestation showing the smallest SI of 4.15. The ten cultivars were classified as highly susceptible, susceptible, moderately resistant, and resistant to attack by the saw-toothed grain beetle. The degree of susceptibility or resistance of the tested cultivars to the beetle also coincided with the beetle's mode of damage as well as the total number of progeny developed upon feeding on each date cultivar. The findings of the study can be used in the management strategies of O. surinamensis in stored dates.

The importance of historically popular sires on the accuracy of genomic predictions of young animals in the US Holstein population

The dairy industry is known for its extensive use of artificial insemination, which has resulted in a population where most animals can be traced back to only a few sires. Due to their relatedness to the population, old influential sires could still contribute to the accuracy of genomic predictions. The objective of the study was to identify the impact of historically influential sires on the recent population. This was tested by constructing a genomic relationship matrix using recursion with different sets of sires. Differences in prediction accuracies with different sets are indicative of how important each set is. Recursion coefficients linking young animals to those sets reveal the relative importance of specific sires to the prediction accuracy of recent animals. The data included ∼10 million scores for stature and fore udder attachment (FUA) measured from 1983. Genotypes of 569,404 animals were available. Sire sets included the 100 most popular sires born within different time periods. Computations were with single-step genomic BLUP. In general, the younger sires had higher prediction accuracies than the oldest sires, even though they generally have fewer progeny. The accuracy of evaluation for stature was increased from 0.54 with the most popular sires born before 1981 to 0.69 with sires born from 2001 to 2010, while the accuracy for FUA increased from 0.47 to 0.61. The accuracy achieved using the overall 100 most used sires was 0.66 for stature and 0.58 for FUA. All 100 sires from each period were combined in a subset to determine the importance of each sire relative to all 400 animals in the combined subset. The highest relative impact of a sire that was born within the different time sets was 1.97 for Valiant (before 1981), 1.94 for Blackstar (1981 to 1990), 4.38 for Shottle (1991 to 2000), and 3.09 for Planet (2001 to 2010). The 3 sires among the 400 with the greatest impact were Shottle, Goldwyn (3.73), and Planet. The relative impact of a sire was not strongly related to the number of progeny. For instance, the relative impact of Durham with 34K progeny was 2.29, whereas the impact of O Man with 15K progeny was 3.13. The impact of a sire is also influenced by whether it was used as a sire of sires. Results show that younger sires are more relevant to the accuracy of breeding value prediction in the recent population.