Ecological genetics

BACKGROUND: Polyamines are acting as signaling molecules during adaptation to stressful environment and as regulators of plant development. In plants, polyamines are represented mainly by putrescine, spermidine and spermine. The concentration of polyamines in symbiotic nodules of some legumes is 5–10 times higher than in the other organs, which indicates their important role in the formation and functioning of symbiotic nodules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the expression of genes encoding polyamine biosynthesis enzymes in symbiotic nodules, as well as the effect of exogenous polyamines on the nodule number and the average nodule weight in wild-type SGE plants and symbiotic pea mutants SGEFix^–-1 (sym40-1) and SGEFix^–-2 (sym33-3).

RESULTS: The comparable expression level of arginine decarboxylase gene (PsADC) was observed in all analyzed nodules, whereas the expression level of ornithine decarboxylase gene (PsODC), was highly increased in nodules of SGEFix^–-2 (sym33-3) mutant. Treatment of the root system with a 0.1 mM solution of polyamines mixture led to an increase in the average weight of the nodule in wild-type plants and in the SGEFix^–-2 (sym33-3) mutant plants.

CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that the main pathway of putrescine synthesis in wild-type pea symbiotic nodules is the arginine pathway, while the ornithine pathway is probably associated with activation of plant defense reactions. Polyamines acting, apparently, through ethylene, affect the functioning of the nodule meristem.

Surface of oil-contaminated soil from Industrial Estate of Al-Mafraq city, Jordan, was investigated for the presence of aerobic oil-degrading moderately thermophilic bacteria. A pure culture of spore – forming aerobic chemoorganogeterotrophic rod shaped bacterial isolate, designated as strain j3n, was obtained. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain j3n is closely related to gram-positive bacteria of kaustophilus – thermoleovorans cluster of Geobacillus genus. Strain j3n grew aerobically with oil, hexadecane, benzoate and acetate. Growth data indicated that utilization of hexadecane but not of oil and benzoate might be under catabolite repression control. Possibility of a regulation of alkane degradation by acetate in aerobic thermophilic gram-positive bacteria of Geobacillus spp. was shown for the first time.

Vaccination is one of the most effective and versatile ways to prevent infectious diseases. The development of modern technologies makes it possible to obtain vaccines with desired properties. The review presents data on different types of vaccines used for the prevention of infectious diseases of birds. The advantages and disadvantages of traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines, as well as recombinant vaccines – vector, subunit, based on virus-like particles and DNA vaccines – are considered. Possibilities of bacterial, yeast, baculovirus and plant systems for the expression of heterologous genes for the production of recombinant vaccines are discussed.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we investigated the role of +405 VEGF gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and to explore its association with several biochemical risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: VEGF +405 single nucleotide polymorphism were genotyped in 150 patients with metabolic syndrome and 50 healthy individuals using the PCR-RFLP method. Serum levels of biochemical variables were assessed by commercial ELISA technique.

RESULTS: GC genotype was more prevalent among patients with metabolic syndrome. In GC genotype, patients with metabolic syndrome had higher waist to hip ratio, WHR, triglyceride, and lower high density lipoprotein and alanine aminotransferase concentrations compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that +405 VEGF gene polymorphism was a potent predictor of metabolic abnormalities in patients with metabolic syndrome. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to clarify these associations properly.

Conservation biology aims to maintain biological diversity and to defend species from extinction. The number of endangered species is constantly increasing from year to year, reflecting both a deteriorating situation and an increasing number of studied species. In order to obtain a reliable assessment of the status and conservation planning of threatened species, not only an estimate of current total abundance, but also data on population structure, demographic history, and genetic diversity are needed. The development of new approaches and lower costs of sequencing have made it possible to solve these problems at a level previously inaccessible and have led to the formation of conservation genomics. This review discusses the opportunities and prospects offered by the use of whole genome sequencing in conservation biology, features of sample gathering for sequencing, as well as some features of planning whole genome studies. In addition, emphasis is placed on the importance of the formation of open biobanks of samples and cell cultures at the national level.