Advancements in Life Sciences, volume 2, issue 2
Published online: 25-February-2015
ISSN 2310-5380
IN THIS ISSUE
Correspondence:
Pakistan at the verge of potential epidemics by multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria
Tahir Hussain, pages 46-47
Review Articles:
Micro Propagation in Advanced Vegetable Production: A Review
Shahid Javed Butt, Servet Varis, Idrees Ahmad Nasir, Suman Sheraz, Azka Shahid, Qurban Ali, pages 48-57
Read Abstract Micro propagation is a fast method of plant propagation that has a great potential to develop high quality as well as disease-free plants. Advancements in this field have led to the development of several techniques for rapid multiplication and improvement of a wide range of horticultural crops and their production systems. Micro propagation includes three types of vegetative propagation, 1) somatic embryogenesis, 2) adventitious shoot production and 3) axillary shoot production, which provide excellent opportunities for successful vegetable crops production. In Capsicumgenera, annuum-chinense-frutescens complex have been made with white flowers and small yellow seeds. A number of experiments have also been done to demonstrate the influence of hypocotyl explant orientation on shoot bud induction in Capsicum spp. Sweet potato cuttings when grown in vitro with Florialite gives greater percentage of survival. Similarly, in vitro layering of gourds; a modification in micro propagation methods become more advantageous as it produces single shoot rather than multiple shoots. Likewise, an immobilized culture system of obtaining torpedo-stage embryos of carrots of uniform size and higher tuber yield with rapid multiplication rate for potato were also introduced by micro propagation techniques.
Defense strategies of cotton against whitefly transmitted CLCuV and Begomoviruses
Muhammad Azmat Ullah Khan, Ahmad Ali Shahid, Abdul Qayyum Rao, Naila Shahid, Ayesha Latif, Salah ud Din, Tayyab Husnain, pages 58-66
Read Abstract Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) is economically important monopartite Geminivirus which is transmitted by whitefly in persistent circulative manner. In Pakistan, CLCuV causes severe damage to Gossypium hirsutum whereas G. arboreum is resistant to this virus. A total of 86 articles were included in this study that were searched through web of knowledge, web of science and google scholar by using the keywords of cotton, CLCuV, waxes, Begomoviruses and transgenic techniques used against Begomoviruses in plants. Various transgenic strategies i.e., pathogen derived resistance (with and without protein expression) and non – pathogen derived resistance have been adopted to control this virus or its vector. Beside these, some natural defense mechanisms of plant also protect it against the vector. The cuticular waxes make the insects’ attachment difficult to plant surfaces and act as a physical barrier. The cuticular waxes inG. arboreum act as first line of defense against whiteflies and thus CLCuV. Some other defense strategies may involve hindering the insect movements or depriving it from food due to thick waxy layer. Biotechnological strategies against various Begomoviruses including CLCuV were found successful in some crops except cotton. Whereas, the natural defense strategies in G. arboreumi.e., long trichome or presence of inorganic salts with increased concentration of waxes, provide good defense strategy against whiteflies, CLCuV and other pathogens.
Phytotoxicity of Hg and its Detoxification through Microorganisms in Soil
Aatif Amin, Zakia Latif, pages 98-105
Read Abstract Due to the advent of industrialization, pollution of terrestrial environment by heavy metals has emerged as a great issue. Therefore, it is an urgent need to realize the Hg-induced toxicity in plants and as well as in animals and the harmful effects by the consumption of contaminated nutrition. Mercury is considered as a hazardous contaminant that can be changed into various oxidation states easily and causes many deleterious effects in several physiological processes in both plants and animals. Microorganisms possess two extensively studied Hg-detoxification processes like Mer operon (merTPCFAD) and Met gene which encode the functional proteins for transportation (merT, merP and/or merC, merF), reduction (merA) and a secondary regulatory protein (merD) and sulfhydrylase enzymes (met gene) respectively to modify toxic Hg+2 to nontoxic elemental state (Hg0). Due to the ever increase in Hg-pollution and very little information about its phytotoxic effects and detoxification mechanisms, the authors expect, the present article will make possibility in the provision of a comprehensive literature study about Hg-induced toxicity in plants and its detoxification processes to provoke for advance research in this field.
Full Length Research Articles:
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) promoter-1082 A>G polymorphism and risk of cancer: Meta-analysis
Muhammad Tahir Khan, Sahar Afzal, Ashfaq Ur Rehman, Tariq Zeb, pages 67-73
Read Abstract Background: Interleukin-10-1082A>G variant is the most widely investigated polymorphism in the IL-10 gene in cancer susceptibility. A number of case control analysis showed the link between IL-10-1082A >G polymorphism and cancer risk in humans population. Methods: Twenty three case–control eligible studies, comprising 4753 cases and 6086 controls were selected for the meta-analysis of IL-10-1082 A/G SNP. The statistical analysis was conducted with comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA). We adopted heterozygous (GG vs. AG) model. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) was calculated to measure the power of the link under heterozygous model (GG vs AG). Result: Overall result obtained under fixed effect model are [OR: 1.066, 95% CI: 0.989-1.267, P: 0.464]. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that IL-10 promoter-1082 polymorphism under fixed effect model is not associated with the overall risk of developing cancer, HCV, Bechet’s disease and diabetes type-2.
Tolerance of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Genotypes to Drought Stress at Vegetative Stage
Bahaeldeen Babiker Mohamed, Muhammad Bilal Sarwar, Sameera Hassan, Bushra Rashid, Beenish Aftab, Tayyab Husnain, pages 74-82
Read Abstract Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is an important medicinal and fiber plant in Sudan. Among other stresses, drought extremely limits the growth, quality and net yield of the crop. The drought effects the crop plants by imposing certain morphological, physiological and biochemical changes at different periods of growth. Methods: Current study was carried out in greenhouse settings at Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) to investigate the effects of drought stress. Five (5) different genotypes of Hibiscus sabdariffa L., namely Baladimostadir (H1), Um shiak (H2), Abu shankal (H3), Rahad mix (H4) and Abu Najma (H5) were studied. Thirty (30) days old Roselle seedlings were drought stressed for 10 days and its implications on plant growth, gas exchange, water relation, chlorophyll content and proline accumulation were estimated. Substantial genotypic differences in their adaptive response to drought were observed. Results: Drought stress significantly affected the plant height; lowered the relative gas exchange efficiency and altered the physiological and biochemical responses. In comparison with others, H2 and H4 genotypes tolerated the osmotic stress well with lower osmotic potential and higher osmotic adjustment, better water content, higher stomatal conductance, photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content. Accumulation of osmoprotectant and gas exchange indicators clearly distinguished the responses of different genotypes towards water stress. Conclusion: Our results can be used for evaluation, screening, and manipulations of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. genotypes for improvement of drought tolerance through conventional breeding or drought responsive gene isolation.
Phytochemical Analyses for Antibacterial Activity and Therapeutic Compounds of Convolvulus arvensis L., Collected from the Salt Range of Pakistan
Muhammad Umair Khan, Noor-ul-Huda Ghori, Muhammad Qasim Hayat, pages 83-90
Read Abstract Background: Pharmaceutical world is currently facing a major issue of bacterial resistance against antibiotics. For the past few years, plants being an excellent source of phytochemicals have replaced many traditional antibacterial agents. Keeping this in view, the current study was conducted to detect the antibacterial activity and the presence of various phytochemicals in Convolvulus arvensis leaves and stem extracts. Methods: Eight different organic and aqueous extracts of Convolvulus arvensis L. (C. arvensis) leaves and stem were prepared and their antimicrobial activity against 13 clinically important bacterial species was investigated using the disc diffusion assay. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extracts of C. arvensis was performed using qualitative tests. Results: All the thirteen bacterial species tested in this study were found sensitive to the stem and leaf extracts of C. arvensis. Highest antimicrobial activity was observed against Escherichia coli while among all the extracts butanol extract was the most effective antimicrobial agent. Phytochemical analyses using organic and aqueous extracts confirmed the presence of various secondary plant metabolites of therapeutic value i.e. saponins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides and coumarins.Conclusion: Our results indicate that C. arvensis plant contains some phytochemicals with antimicrobial affects. These chemicals possess great potential to be used as advanced therapeutic compounds against broad range of pathogenic bacteria.
Molecular diagnostics for foodborne pathogen (Salmonella spp.) from poultry
Awais Afzal, Adeela Hussain, Muhammad Irfan, Kauser A. Malik, pages 91-97.
Read Abstract Background: Salmonella species (spp.) are among major food-borne pathogens all over the world. Salmonella typhimurium is the main cause of food poisoning in humans. The fundamental objective of this study is to develop a rapid and reliable method to detect Salmonella (a foodborne pathogen) in raw poultry meat by using molecular approaches. Methods: Total 200 samples of raw poultry meat were collected from different regions of Lahore and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp. fimA gene. Similarly, sent genes were selected for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis respectively. PCR technique was optimized for diagnosis of contamination. Results: Out of 200 samples, 2% samples had shown successful amplification of fimA gene representing the presence of serovar Salmonella typhimurium. PCR assay combined with enrichment can enhance the efficiency for detection of Salmonella in poultry. Conclusion: A robust, simple and convenient PCR based method has been developed for the detection of one of the major food-borne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium.
