The herpes simplex virus VP16-induced complex: the makings of a regulatory switch

Primary infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can cause clinical symptoms in the peripheral and central nervous system, upper respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Recurrent ocular shedding leads to corneal scarring that can progress to vision loss. Consequently, HSV-1 is the leading cause of corneal blindness due to an infectious agent. Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) has similar biological properties to HSV-1 and is a significant health concern to the cattle industry. Latency of BHV-1 and HSV-1 is established in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia, but latency can be interrupted periodically, leading to reactivation from latency and spread of infectious virus. The ability of HSV-1 and BHV-1 to reactivate from latency leads to virus transmission and can lead to recurrent disease in individuals latently infected with HSV-1. During latency, the only abundant HSV-1 RNA expressed is the latency-associated transcript (LAT). In latently infected cattle, the latency-related (LR) RNA is the only abundant transcript that is expressed. LAT and LR RNA are antisense to ICP0 or bICP0, viral genes that are crucial for productive infection, suggesting that LAT and LR RNA interfere with productive infection by inhibiting ICP0 or bICP0 expression. Numerous studies have concluded that LAT expression is important for the latency-reactivation cycle in animal models. The LR gene has recently been demonstrated to be required for the latency-reactivation cycle in cattle. Several recent studies have demonstrated that LAT and the LR gene inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death) in trigeminal ganglia of infected animals and transiently transfected cells. The antiapoptotic properties of LAT map to the same sequences that are necessary for promoting reactivation from latency. This review summarizes our current knowledge of factors regulating the latency-reactivation cycle of HSV-1 and BHV-1.

https://cmr.asm.org/content/cmr/16/1/79.full.pdf

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency

Cette video montre un exemple de realisation d'application developpee dans l'UE GLIHM du Master Informatique, specialite E-services. L'application 'I'm in' permet de creer et de partager des evenements sur le campus de Lille 1. Chaque utilisateur peut definir des centres d’interets ce qui permet d’…

I'm in

Light signals perceived by crop and weed plants.

This is a comprehensive review of all published, quantitative studies focused on adoption of agricultural conservation practices in the United States between 1982 and 2017. This review finds that, taken as a whole, few independent variables have a consistent statistically significant relationship with adoption. Analyses showed that variables positively associated with adoption include the farmer self-identifying primarily as stewardship motivated or otherwise nonfinancially motivated, environmental attitudes, a positive attitude toward the particular program or practice, previous adoption of other conservation practices, seeking and using information, awareness of programs or practices, vulnerable land, greater farm size, higher levels of income and formal education, engaging in marketing arrangements, and positive yield impact expected. Some variables often thought to be important, such as land tenure, did not emerge as consistently important in this cross-study review. Other variables, such as farmers9 sense of place, training, presence of institutional conditions supporting adoption, and the role of collective decision making are not measured in enough studies to draw conclusions but potentially have a relationship with adoption decisions. Implications for how to promote conservation adoption and directions for future research are discussed. Because positive attitudes and awareness of conservation programs or practices are positive predictors of adoption, practitioners should share benefits of specific practices and programs and leverage existing practice adoption. Further work to explore relationships between conservation adoption and the role of farmer identity, nuances of land tenure, and the influence of structural factors is needed. Moreover, we suggest that future research should focus on the impact of different messages and avenues of reaching farmers in order to continue to inform conservation practices. Future research should consider both individual and institutional factors that facilitate and constrain adoption.

https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2019/nrs_2019_prokopy_001.pdf

Adoption of agricultural conservation practices in the United States: Evidence from 35 years of quantitative literature

Genetic Resources and Breeding of Amaranthus

There is evidence that cover crops can bring both environmental and yield benefits to a farm operation, yet according to the USDA9s Census of Agriculture, in 2012 less than 5% of the nation9s total row crop land was planted to cover crops. In 2014, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) collected data on cover crop use from producers across the United States. Using data from early adopters of the practice, we examine the factors associated with higher percentage of land planted to cover crops and reliance on cost-share assistance. In addition, we provide rare insight into the number of producers discontinuing their use of cover crops and examine whether this group is distinguishable from continuous users. By understanding how producers use and finance cover crops, and identifying those most likely to continue their use, we provide insights into how policymakers and conservation staff can modify their strategies and increase the number of long-term cover crop users. Continuous use among early adopters is associated with a willingness to self-learn and experiment through trial and error, whereas the small number of producers in our sample discontinuing the practice typically operate large farms and perceive adoption to be limited in their area by the increased difficulties and costs cover crops bring to farm management. Promoters of cover crops should attempt to combat these perceptions by showcasing local examples where limitations have successfully been overcome. Despite evidence of concerns over the cost of cover crops, many current users are continuing to expand their cover crop land without the use of cost-share funding.

Perceptions and use of cover crops among early adopters: Findings from a national survey

Grain amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an ancient crop that is now receiving fresh attention. This has led to a demand for crop management information, including that on N fertilization. This study evaluated the effect of N fertilizer on amaranth grain yield, yield components, and growth and development. The study was carried out in three Missouri environments with five levels of N fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 broadcast preplant at 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg N ha -1 ) and three cultivars (Plainsman, D136, and K266). Averaged across cultivars and environments, N fertilizer at the top rate of 180 kg N ha -1 produced a yield increase of 42% relative to plots receiving no N fertilizer. Yields were consistently improved by additions of 45 and 90 kg N ha -1 , but additional N fertilizer above the 90 kg N ha -1 rate increased yield in only one out of three environments. At the one site where yield components were evaluated, yield differences were due to increases in seed number per plant, since seed weight and plant population at maturity were unaffected by N fertilizer rate. Plots with high rates of N fertilizer had later maturity, as indicated by time of flowering and seed moisture. Average moisture of seeds harvested from plots receiving 180 kg N ha -1 was 320 g kg -1 , while seeds from plots with no N fertilizer had 240 g kg -1 moisture. Comparing the same high-N treatment to the control with no N showed height increases of 14, 24, and 44% in the three environments. Although amaranth yield is responsive to N fertilization, high rates of N fertilization can negatively affect grain harvest in terms of excessive plant height, increased lodging, and delayed crop maturity.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Effect on Grain Amaranth

Effect of Raceme-Localized Supplemental Light on Soybean Reproductive Abscission1

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early (IE) proteins are required for the expression of viral early and late proteins. It has been hypothesized that host neuronal proteins regulate expression of HSV-1 IE genes that in turn control viral latency and reactivation. We investigated the ability of neuronal proteins in vivo to activate HSV-1 IE gene promoters (ICP0 and ICP27) and a late gene promoter (gC). Transgenic mice containing IE (ICP0 and ICP27) and late (gC) gene promoters of HSV-1 fused to the Escherichia coli β-galactosidase coding sequence were generated. Expression of the ICP0 and ICP27 reporter transgenes was present in anatomically distinct subsets of neurons in the absence of viral proteins. The anatomic locations of β-galactosidase-positive neurons in the brains of ICP0 and ICP27 reporter transgenic mice were similar and included cerebral cortex, lateral septal nucleus, cingulum, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and vestibular nucleus. Trigeminal ganglion neurons were positive for β-galactosidase in adult ICP0 and ICP27 reporter transgenic mice. The ICP0 reporter transgene was differentially regulated in trigeminal ganglion neurons depending upon age. β-Galactosidase-labeled cells in trigeminal ganglia and cerebral cortex of ICP0 and ICP27 reporter transgenic mice were confirmed as neurons by double labeling with antineurofilament antibody. Nearly all nonneuronal cells in ICP0 and ICP27 reporter transgenic mice and all neuronal and nonneuronal cells in gC reporter transgenic mice were negative for β-galactosidase labeling in the absence of HSV-1. We conclude that factors in neurons are able to differentially regulate the HSV-1 IE gene promoters (ICP0 and ICP27) in transgenic mice in the absence of viral proteins. These findings are important for understanding the regulation of the latent and reactivated stages of HSV-1 infection in neurons.

Robert L. Myers

Papers

Genetic Resources and Breeding of Amaranthus

Perceptions and use of cover crops among early adopters: Findings from a national survey

Nitrogen Fertilizer Effect on Grain Amaranth

Effect of Raceme-Localized Supplemental Light on Soybean Reproductive Abscission1

Neurons Differentially Activate the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Immediate-Early Gene ICP0 and ICP27 Promoters in Transgenic Mice