Project description:Determination of the complete genome of European mountain ash ringspot-associated emaravirus from Sorbus intermedia reveals two additional genome segments
Project description:Coal-fired power plant is a major method of electricity generation worldwide with serious concerns relating to air pollution. In recent years, fly ash from coal-fired power plants has become a major target of pollution control by worldwide regulatory agencies. In this present study, fly ash particulate matter (PM) obtained from the electrostatic precipitator of Mae Moh Coal-fired Power Plant (Lampang, Thailand) was selected as a model for determination of physicochemical characteristics and toxicological profiles in mice. The average size of the fly ash PM was 4.29 ± 1.85 µm as determined by electron microscopy. Major heavy metal was iron at 101,067.31 ± 8,246.12 mg/kg as detected by ICPMS. Acenaphthene was the most abundant polyaromatic hydrocarbon at 40.77 ± 0.003 mg/kg as analyzed by GCMS. The toxicological profiles of the characterized fly ash PM were conducted in Balb/c mice by intratracheal instillation at 1 and 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days, compared to vehicle as negative control and standard PM 2.5 as positive control. The fly ash PM and the standard PM induced significant pulmonary inflammation in mice lungs compared to vehicle control. In addition, molecular toxicology of mice lungs investigated by proteomics demonstrated 3 inflammation associated pathways, which include leukocyte transendothelial migration, phagosome, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Furthermore, only high dose (10 mg/kg/day) standard PM and high dose fly ash PM showed high expression of NCF2, which potentially promotes cancer in the long run. This study is the first to report on the physicochemical characterization, histopathology, and proteomic-associated toxicological profiles of the fly ash PM obtained from the largest coal-fired power plant in Thailand. Information obtained from this study is useful for academic researchers, electricity enterprises, and policymakers to develop appropriate strategies to manage air pollution from coal-fired power plants worldwide.
Project description:Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of Ash Dieback (ADB), has been introduced to eastern Europe in the 1990s from where it spread causing decline in European ash populations. However, the genetic basis of the molecular response in tolerant and susceptible ash trees to this disease is still largely unknown. We performed RNA-sequencing to study the transcriptomic response to the disease in four ash genotypes (ADB-tolerant FAR3 and FS36, and ADB-susceptible UW1 and UW2), during a time-course of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation, including mock-infected trees as control samples for each sampling time point. The analysis yielded 395 and 500 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) along the response for ADB-tolerant FAR3 and FS36, respectively, while ADB-susceptible UW1 and UW2 revealed 194 and 571 DEGs, respectively, with most DEGs found exclusively in just one of the genotypes. DEGs shared between tolerant genotypes FAR3 and FS36, included genes involved in the production of phytoalexins and other secondary metabolites with roles in plant defense. Moreover, we identified an earlier expression of genes involved in both pattern- and effector-triggered immunity (PTI and ETI) in ADB-tolerant genotypes, while in ADB-susceptible genotypes both responses were delayed (late response). Overall, these results revealed different transcriptomic expression patterns not only between ADB-tolerant and ADB-susceptible genotypes, but also within these two groups. This hints to individual response in the natural tolerance to ADB, possibly revealing diversified strategies across ash genotypes.