Efficient DNA isolation from moroccan arar tree [Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters] leaves and optimization of the rapd-pcr molecular technique

Efficient DNA isolation from Moroccan Arar tree [Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters] leaves and optimization of the RAPD-PCR molecular technique. Molecular genetic analysis of Arar tree [Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters] is often limited by the availability of fresh tissue and an efficient and reliable protocol for high quality genomic DNA extraction. In this study, two DNA extraction protocols were specifically developed for extracting high quality genomic DNA from Arar tree leaves: modified QIAgen DNA Kit and protocol developed by Ouenzar et al. (1998). DNA yield and purity were monitored by gel electrophoresis and by determining absorbance at UV (A260/A280 and A260/A230). Both ratios were between 1.7 and 2.0, indicating that the presence of contaminating metabolites was minimal. The DNA yield obtained ranged between 20 to 40 μg/g of plant materiel. The Ouenzar and collaborators protocol gave higher yield but was more time consuming compared to QIAgen Kit. However, both techniques gave DNA of good quality that is amenable to RAPD-PCR reactions. Additionally, restriction digestion and PCR analyses of the obtained DNA showed its compatibility with downstream applications. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA profiling from the isolated DNA was optimized to produce scorable and clear amplicons. The presented protocols allow easy and high quality DNA isolation for genetic diversity studies within Arar tree

Beta-actin is required for proper mouse neural crest ontogeny

The mouse genome consists of six functional actin genes of which the expression patterns are temporally and spatially regulated during development and in the adult organism. Deletion of beta-actin in mouse is lethal during embryonic development, although there is compensatory expression of other actin isoforms. This suggests different isoform specific functions and, more in particular, an important function for beta-actin during early mammalian development. We here report a role for beta-actin during neural crest ontogeny. Although beta-actin null neural crest cells show expression of neural crest markers, less cells delaminate and their migration arrests shortly after. These phenotypes were associated with elevated apoptosis levels in neural crest cells, whereas proliferation levels were unchanged. Specifically the pre-migratory neural crest cells displayed higher levels of apoptosis, suggesting increased apoptosis in the neural tube accounts for the decreased amount of migrating neural crest cells seen in the beta-actin null embryos. These cells additionally displayed a lack of membrane bound N-cadherin and dramatic decrease in cadherin-11 expression which was more pronounced in the pre-migratory neural crest population, potentially indicating linkage between the cadherin-11 expression and apoptosis. By inhibiting ROCK ex vivo, the knockout neural crest cells regained migratory capacity and cadherin-11 expression was upregulated. We conclude that the presence of beta-actin is vital for survival, specifically of pre-migratory neural crest cells, their proper emigration from the neural tube and their subsequent migration. Furthermore, the absence of beta-actin affects cadherin-11 and N-cadherin function, which could partly be alleviated by ROCK inhibition, situating the Rho-ROCK signaling in a feedback loop with cadherin-11

The Encephalomyocarditis Virus

The encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a small non-enveloped single-strand RNA virus, the causative agent of not only myocarditis and encephalitis, but also neurological diseases, reproductive disorders and diabetes in many mammalian species. EMCV pathogenesis appears to be viral strain- and host-specific, and a better understanding of EMCV virulence factors is increasingly required. Indeed, EMCV is often used as a model for diabetes and viral myocarditis, and is also widely used in immunology as a double-stranded RNA stimulus in the study of Toll-like as well as cytosolic receptors. However, EMCV virulence and properties have often been neglected. Moreover, EMCV is able to infect humans albeit with a low morbidity. Progress on xenografts, such as pig heart transplantation in humans, has raised safety concerns that need to be explored. In this review we will highlight the biology of EMCV and all known and potential virulence factors

Toward a typology of incubators based on HRM

The fact that there are major differences between one incubator and another has resulted in many authors working on multiple typologies. Although these typologies are relatively common in the literature, they all tend to use the same classification criteria (objectives of the structures, funding, etc.). In this article, we hope to broaden the viewpoint to human resource management (HRM) within incubators. We defend the theory that the differences between incubators are not only found at the level of their objectives or their funding, but also at the level of their HRM policies. Through conceptual reflection, we thus propose HR management that is specific to each type of structure, based on Pichault and Nizet's configurational approach (2000), as well as on Mahé de Boislandelle's social mix (1993)

Phylogenetic diversity of Moroccan cork oak woodlands fungi : mythe ou réalité ?

La variabilité interspécifique de 87 carpophores des champignons appartenant à 15 genres et 39 espèces ont été évaluées par l'analyse du polymorphisme de longueur de fragments de restriction (RFLP) de l'espaceur interne transcrit (ITS). Cette région a été d'abord amplifiée, avec des amorces spécifiques, par la réaction de polymérisation en chaine (PCR), puis digérée avec différentes enzymes de restriction. Un produit d'amplification, dont la taille variait entre 500 et 950 paires de bases (pb), a été obtenu pour tous les isolats analysés. Le degré de polymorphisme observé ne permet pas l'identification de la plupart des espèces. L'analyse RFLP, avec les enzymes de restriction Alu I, EcoR I et Hinf I, des fragments amplifiés révèle un grand polymorphisme. Les quinze genres et la plupart des espèces présentent des profils de restriction spécifiques. Les deux espèces du genre Russula (R. decipiens et R. straminea) présentent le même profil de restriction. Ces espèces pourraient être considérées comme étroitement apparentées. Les carpophores de Pisolithus montrent deux profils ITS-RFLP distincts. Le séquençage de l'ITS confirme que ces deux profils correspondent à deux espèces distinctes de Pisolithus. Nos données montrent l'importance de l'analyse PCR-RFLP de l'ITS pour la caractérisation moléculaire et l'identification des champignons ectomycorhiziens et leur suivi dans les programmes d'inoculation artificielle. (Résumé d'auteur

A prototype node for wireless vision sensor network applications development

This paper presents a prototype vision-enabled sensor node based on a commercial vision system of reduced size and power consumption. The wireless infrastructure for the deployment of a distributed smart camera network based on these nodes is provided by commercial motes. The smart camera, based on a low-power bio-inspired processing scheme, enables in-node image processing and vision tools. This permits to elaborate a lighter representation of the scene, keeping the relevant information in terms of detected elements, features and events, alleviating the data transmission through the network. Therefore by passing only the relevant information to the neighboring sensor nodes, distributed and collaborative vision is possible with the limited data rates available in commercial wireless sensor networks. Communication between the different components of the system is supported by the available UARTs and GPIOs. Several examples of in-node image processing and feature detection has been tested in the prototype, and information at different abstraction levels has been broadcasted to the network.Junta de Andalucía 2006-TIC-2352Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-1181