We began with the intention of monographing Chalara and very similar fungi ( Excioconidium ,
etc.). We soon extended the scope of our study to encompass those dimorphic imperfect genera with Chalara ...-like phialides ( Thielaviopsis , Chalaropsis , Stilbochalam , Hughesiella ), then to cover two other genera with Chalara -like phialides but having characteristic ancillary sterile structures ( Chaetochalara , Sporoschisma ). Finally we considered several other genera with phialides having more or less cylindrical collarettes and deep-seated conidiogenous loci ( Bloxamia , Endosporostilbe , Ascoconidium , Sporendocladia ) or whose descriptions raised the suspicion that they had such attributes ( Endoconidium , Columnophora , Milowia ). To have extended the study further would have meant including phialidic genera
which, although often having relatively deep collarettes, were otherwise not particularly morphologically comparable to Chalara ( Catenularia , Phialophora , Phialocephala , Sporoschismopsis ).
Our study, which began as an attempt to revise one genus, thus finished up by considering fifteen existing generic names (five reduced to synonymy, one to the status of nomen dubium ) and adding one additional generic name (first published
elsewhere).
Readers will find in the taxonomic part of this book a compilation of descriptions and illustrations of species of Sporoschisma and Fusichalara . Some may consider these redundant, especially since we have added nothing significantly new to what is already known about them: our purpose in including them is solely to bring together all taxonomic data relating to Chalara and other closely allied genera in a single source-book.
Background & objectives: India has been reporting the cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since January 30, 2020. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) formulated and established ...laboratory surveillance for COVID-19. In this study, an analysis of the surveillance data was done to describe the testing performance and descriptive epidemiology of COVID-19 cases by time, place and person.
Methods: The data were extracted from January 22 to April 30, 2020. The frequencies of testing performance were described over time and by place. We described cases by time (epidemic curve by date of specimen collection; seven-day moving average), place (area map) and person (attack rate by age, sex and contact status), and trends were represented along with public health measures and events.
Results: Between January 22 and April 30, 2020, a total of 1,021,518 individuals were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Testing increased from about 250 individuals per day in the beginning of March to 50,000 specimens per day by the end of April 2020. Overall, 40,184 (3.9%) tests were reported positive. The proportion of positive cases was highest among symptomatic and asymptomatic contacts, 2-3-fold higher than among those with severe acute respiratory infection, or those with an international travel history or healthcare workers. The attack rate (per million) by age was highest among those aged 50-69 yr (63.3) and was lowest among those under 10 yr (6.1). The attack rate was higher among males (41.6) than females (24.3). The secondary attack rate was 6.0 per cent. Overall, 99.0 per cent of 736 districts reported testing and 71.1 per cent reported COVID-19 cases.
Interpretation & conclusions: The coverage and frequency of ICMR's laboratory surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 improved over time. COVID-19 was reported from most parts of India, and the attack rate was more among men and the elderly and common among close contacts. Analysis of the data indicates that for further insight, additional surveillance tools and strategies at the national and sub-national levels are needed.
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are vulnerable to endogenous damage and defects in DNA repair can limit their function. The 2 single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins SSB1 and ...SSB2 are crucial regulators of the DNA damage response; however, their overlapping roles during normal physiology are incompletely understood. We generated mice in which both Ssb1 and Ssb2 were constitutively or conditionally deleted. Constitutive Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (DKO) caused early embryonic lethality, whereas conditional Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (cDKO) in adult mice resulted in acute lethality due to bone marrow failure and intestinal atrophy featuring stem and progenitor cell depletion, a phenotype unexpected from the previously reported single knockout models of Ssb1 or Ssb2. Mechanistically, cDKO HSPCs showed altered replication fork dynamics, massive accumulation of DNA damage, genome-wide double-strand breaks enriched at Ssb-binding regions and CpG islands, together with the accumulation of R-loops and cytosolic ssDNA. Transcriptional profiling of cDKO HSPCs revealed the activation of p53 and interferon (IFN) pathways, which enforced cell cycling in quiescent HSPCs, resulting in their apoptotic death. The rapid cell death phenotype was reproducible in in vitro cultured cDKO-hematopoietic stem cells, which were significantly rescued by nucleotide supplementation or after depletion of p53. Collectively, Ssb1 and Ssb2 control crucial aspects of HSPC function, including proliferation and survival in vivo by resolving replicative stress to maintain genomic stability.
•Combined loss of Ssb1/Ssb2 induces rapid lethality due to replication stress–associated loss of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.•Functionally, loss of Ssb1/Ssb2 activates p53 and IFN pathways, causing enforced cell cycling in quiescent HSPCs and apoptotic cell loss.
Harknessia species occurring in South Africa Crous, P.W. (University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa); Wingfield, M.J; Raj, T.R.N
Mycologia,
(Jan-Feb 1993), 1/1/1993, 19930101, 1993, 1993-01-00, Letnik:
85, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Three new species of Harknessia are described from leaves of woody hosts in South Africa. Harknessia eucalyptorum and its teleomorph, Wuestneia eucalyptorum, are described from Eucalyptus leaves. In ...this case, the teleomorph, anamorph connection was proven in culture. Harknessia fusiformis is described from Eucalyptus leaf litter, while H. syzygii is described from Syzygium cordatum. Additional collections of H. uromycoides and H. hawaiiensis are also discussed, and a microconidial state described for the latter species.
In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of multifunctional composite polyurethane (PU) membrane from a sol gel system containing TiO2 and fly ash (FA) nanoparticles (NPs). The adsorptive ...property of FA and photocatalytic property of TiO2 can introduce different functionalities on PU mat for water purification. Different types of PU nanofiber mats were prepared by varying the composition of NPs in blend solution. FE-SEM, TEM, TGA, XRD, UV–visible spectra, and water contact angle measurement confirmed the incorporation of FA and TiO2 NPs on/into PU nanofibrous mat. The influence of NPs on PU membrane was evaluated from the adsorption of heavy metals (Hg, Pb), removal of dyes (methylene blue), antibacterial activity, and water flux. The improvement of all these activities is attributed to the adsorptive property of FA and photocatalytic/hydrophilic property of TiO2 NPs. Therefore, as-synthesized composite membrane can be utilized as an economically friendly filter media for water purification.
•Rubella IgG sero-prevalence among pregnant women in the six sentinel sites was found to be high.•High sero-prevalence, in absence of immunization indicates continued transmission of ...rubella.•Periodic sero-surveys among pregnant women could be useful to monitor rubella sero-prevalence.
We conducted a sero-survey among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of six hospitals which also function as sentinel sites for CRS surveillance, to estimate the prevalence of IgG antibodies against rubella.
We systematically sampled 1800 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and tested their sera for IgG antibodies against rubella. We classified sera as seropositive (titre ≥10 IU/ml), sero-negative (titre <8 IU/ml) or indeterminate (titre 8–9.9 IU/ml) per manufacturer's instructions. In a sub-sample, we estimated the titers of IgG antibodies against rubella. IgG titer of ≥10 IU/mL was considered protective.
Of 1800 sera tested, 1502 (83.4%) were seropositive and 24 (1.3%) were indeterminate and 274 (15.2%) were sero-negative. Rubella sero-positivity did not differ by age group, educational status or place of residence. Three hundred and eighty three (87.8%) of the 436 sera had IgG concentrations ≥10 IU/mL.
The results of the serosurvey indicate high levels of rubella sero-positivity in pregnant women. High sero-prevalence in the absence of routine childhood immunization indicates continued transmission of rubella virus in cities where sentinel sites are located.