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Zubairi T, Jabeen K, Khalid S, Iqbal S. Isolation and molecular characterization of causal agent of blue mold on Allium cepa L. and its control by Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:6774-6781. [PMID: 34866976 PMCID: PMC8626295 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Blue mold pathogen, isolated from infected Allium cepa L., was identified as a Penicillium species through morphological and molecular characterisation. Internal Transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was utilised for DNA sequencing. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis has found the maximum similarity index of the fungus to be 82.39% with the Uncultured Penicillium clone (Accession: MF535522). So, the isolated Penicillium specie is the first reported specie of the genus that infects onion. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to establish a relationship of the isolated fungus with the most relevant species reported on GenBank. Extracts of Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb. were evaluated against the isolated fungus as a potential biocontrol agent. Among the five tested methanol concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%) of each plant part (root, inflorescence and foliage), 0.5% root extract showed maximum growth retardation, i.e. 89%. For bioassay-guided fractionation, the root extract was partitioned in n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate (1%) was proved to be the most potent one. Phytochemical screening has confirmed the occurrence of terpenoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. The applied molecular approach has deduced that the Penicillium specie collected from Pakistan might be novel. This study can be concluded that P. flaccidum contains potent phytochemicals which might be used as antifungal agent against Penicillium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehzeeb Zubairi
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Khajista Jabeen
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.,Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Sumera Iqbal
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
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Abstract
AbstractObserving and quantifying primate behavior in the wild is challenging. Human presence affects primate behavior and habituation of new, especially terrestrial, individuals is a time-intensive process that carries with it ethical and health concerns, especially during the recent pandemic when primates are at even greater risk than usual. As a result, wildlife researchers, including primatologists, have increasingly turned to new technologies to answer questions and provide important data related to primate conservation. Tools and methods should be chosen carefully to maximize and improve the data that will be used to answer the research questions. We review here the role of four indirect methods—camera traps, acoustic monitoring, drones, and portable field labs—and improvements in machine learning that offer rapid, reliable means of combing through large datasets that these methods generate. We describe key applications and limitations of each tool in primate conservation, and where we anticipate primate conservation technology moving forward in the coming years.
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Smart U, Cihlar JC, Budowle B. International Wildlife Trafficking: A perspective on the challenges and potential forensic genetics solutions. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2021; 54:102551. [PMID: 34134047 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
International wildlife trafficking (IWT) is a thriving and pervasive illegal enterprise that adversely affects modern societies. Yet, despite being globally recognized as a threat to biodiversity, national security, economy, and biosecurity, IWT remains largely unabated and is proliferating at an alarming rate. The increase in IWT is generally attributed to a lack of prioritization to curb wildlife crime through legal and scientific infrastructure. This review: (1) lays out the damaging scope and influence of IWT; (2) discusses the potential of DNA marker systems, barcodes, and emerging molecular technologies, such as long-read portable sequencing, to facilitate rapid, in situ identification of species and individuals; and (3) encourages initiatives that promote quality and innovation. Interdisciplinary collaboration promises to be one of the most effective ways forward to surmounting the complex scientific and legal challenges posed by IWT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utpal Smart
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Jennifer Churchill Cihlar
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
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Moorat G, Reed J, Bleay S, Amaral MA, Chappell B, Pamment N, Plowman C, Smith PA. The visualisation of fingermarks on Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 313:110221. [PMID: 32485556 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent media reports document the plight of the Pangolin and its current position as "the most trafficked mammal in the world". They are described by some as scaly anteaters as all species are covered in hard keratinous tissue in the form of overlapping scales acting as a "flexible dermal armour". It is estimated that between 2011 and 2013, 117,000-234,000 pangolins were slaughtered, but the seizures may only represent as little as 10% of the true volume of pangolins being illegally traded. In this paper, methods to visualise fingermarks on Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters is presented. The gelatine lifters provide an easy to use, inexpensive but effective method to help wildlife crime rangers across Africa and Asia to disrupt the trafficking. The gelatine lifting process visualised marks producing clear ridge detail on 52% of the Pangolin scales examined, with a further 30% showing the impression of a finger with limited ridge detail. The paper builds on an initial sociotechnical approach to establishing requirement, then it focuses on the methods and outcomes relating to lifting fingermarks off Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters, providing an evaluation of its use in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Moorat
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - J Reed
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - S Bleay
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - M A Amaral
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - B Chappell
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - N Pamment
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - C Plowman
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - P A Smith
- University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 141 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2HY, United Kingdom.
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George K, Masters A, Dawnay N. Development of HyBeacon® probes for the forensic detection of Panthera, rhinoceros, and pangolin species. Mol Cell Probes 2019; 48:101450. [PMID: 31563668 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2019.101450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) represents a multi-billion dollar black-market industry whereby wild species are illegally taken from their natural environment and sold. A common question asked by wildlife forensic scientists pertains to species and/or genus identity, which currently requires multi-step processing. Our work details the development of three HyBeacon® probes, used for the presumptive detection of rhinoceros, pangolin and key target species in the Panthera genus. The approach can be performed in a single tube using melt curve analysis and provide rapid assessment of sample identity. Using synthetic DNA of representative species, early data suggest the approach is sensitive enough to achieve species identification with <10 cells. Future development and assay validation can allow the rapid screening of multiple seized items before confirmatory DNA sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley George
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Alice Masters
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Nick Dawnay
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK.
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