@article {8520, title = {Resistance (R) Genes: Applications and Prospects for Plant Biotechnology and Breeding.}, journal = {Curr Protein Pept Sci}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul 24}, abstract = {

The discovery of novel plant resistance (R) genes (including their homologs and analogs) opened interesting possibilities for controlling plant diseases caused by several pathogens. However, due to environmental pressure and high selection operated by pathogens, several crop plants have lost specificity, broad-spectrum or durability of resistance. On the other hand, the advances in plant genome sequencing and biotechnological approaches, combined with the increasing knowledge on R-genes have provided new insights on their applications for plant genetic breeding, allowing the identification and implementation of novel and efficient strategies that enhance or optimize their use for efficiently controlling plant diseases. The present review focuses on main perspectives of application of R-genes and its co-players for the acquisition of resistance to pathogens in cultivated plants, with emphasis on biotechnological inferences, including transgenesis, cisgenesis, directed mutagenesis and gene editing, with examples of success and challenges to be faced.

}, issn = {1875-5550}, author = {Pandolfi, Valesca and Neto, Jos{\'e} Ribamar Costa Ferreira and Silva, Manass{\'e}s Daniel and Amorim, Lidiane Lindinalva Barbosa and Wanderley-Nogueira, Ana Carolina and de Oliveira Silva, Roberta Lane and Kido, {\'E}derson Akio and Crovella, Sergio and Iseppon, Ana Maria Benko} } @article {1877, title = {A real-time polymerase chain reaction-based protocol for low/medium-throughput Y-chromosome microdeletions analysis.}, journal = {Genet Test Mol Biomarkers}, volume = {16}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {1349-55}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: We describe a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol based on the fluorescent molecule SYBR Green chemistry, for a low- to medium-throughput analysis of Y-chromosome microdeletions, optimized according to the European guidelines and aimed at making the protocol faster, avoiding post-PCR processing, and simplifying the results interpretation.

METHODS: We screened 156 men from the Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo (Trieste, Italy), 150 not presenting Y-chromosome microdeletion, and 6 with microdeletions in different azoospermic factor (AZF) regions. For each sample, the Zinc finger Y-chromosomal protein (ZFY), sex-determining region Y (SRY), sY84, sY86, sY127, sY134, sY254, and sY255 loci were analyzed by performing one reaction for each locus.

RESULTS: AZF microdeletions were successfully detected in six individuals, confirming the results obtained with commercial kits.

CONCLUSION: Our real-time PCR protocol proved to be a rapid, safe, and relatively cheap method that was suitable for a low- to medium-throughput diagnosis of Y-chromosome microdeletion, which allows an analysis of approximately 10 samples (with the addition of positive and negative controls) in a 96-well plate format, or approximately 46 samples in a 384-well plate for all markers simultaneously, in less than 2 h without the need of post-PCR manipulation.

}, keywords = {Azoospermia, Chromosome Deletion, Chromosomes, Human, Y, Female, Humans, Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors, Male, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sex Chromosome Aberrations, Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development}, issn = {1945-0257}, doi = {10.1089/gtmb.2012.0220}, author = {Segat, Ludovica and Padovan, Lara and Doc, Darja and Petix, Vincenzo and Morgutti, Marcello and Crovella, Sergio and Ricci, Giuseppe} } @article {1748, title = {Role of DC-SIGN and L-SIGN receptors in HIV-1 vertical transmission.}, journal = {Hum Immunol}, volume = {72}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Apr}, pages = {305-11}, abstract = {

The innate immune system acts in the first line of host defense against pathogens. One of the mechanisms used involves the early recognition and uptake of microbes by host professional phagocytes, through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). These PRRs bind to conserved microbial ligands expressed by pathogens and initiate both innate and adaptative immune responses. Some PRRs located on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs) and other cells seem to play an important role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission. Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing non-integrin, CD209 (DC-SIGN) and its homolog, DC-SIGN-related (DC-SIGNR or L-SIGN) receptors are PPRs able to bind the HIV-1 gp120 envelope protein and, because alterations in their expression patterns also occur, they might play a role in both horizontal and vertical transmission as well as in disseminating the virus within the host. This review aims to explore the involvement of the DC-SIGN and L-SIGN receptors in HIV-1 transmission from mother to child.

}, keywords = {Cell Adhesion Molecules, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Lectins, C-Type, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Cell Surface}, issn = {1879-1166}, doi = {10.1016/j.humimm.2011.01.012}, author = {da Silva, Ronaldo Celerino and Segat, Ludovica and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1749, title = {The role of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in Southern Brazilian patients.}, journal = {AIDS}, volume = {25}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Feb 20}, pages = {411-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection analyzing polymorphisms located at the MBL2 promoter and exon 1 regions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prevalence of MBL2 variant alleles was investigated in 410 HIV-1-infected patients from the South Brazilian HIV cohort and in 345 unexposed uninfected healthy individuals. The promoter variants were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and exon 1 variants were analyzed by real-time PCR using a melting temperature assay and were confirmed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). MBL2 genotypic and allelic frequencies were compared between HIV-1-infected patients and controls using the chi-squared tests.

RESULTS: The analyses were performed subdividing the individuals according to their ethnic origin. Among Euro-derived individuals a higher frequency of the LX/LX genotype was observed in patients when compared to controls (P < 0.001). The haplotypic analysis also showed a higher frequency of the haplotypes associated with lower MBL levels among HIV-1-infected patients (P = 0.0001). Among Afro-derived individuals the frequencies of LY/LY and HY/HY genotypes were higher in patients when compared to controls (P = 0.009 and P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: An increased frequency of MBL2 genotypes associated with low MBL levels was observed in Euro-derived patients, suggesting a potential role for MBL in the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in Euro-derived individuals.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Brazil, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Lectins, C-Type, Male, Mannose-Binding Lectin, Mannose-Binding Lectins, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Genetic, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Receptors, Cell Surface, Young Adult}, issn = {1473-5571}, doi = {10.1097/QAD.0b013e328342fef1}, author = {da Silva, Gabriela Kniphoff and Guimar{\~a}es, Rafael and Mattevi, Vanessa Su{\~n}{\'e} and Lazzaretti, Rosmeri Kuhmmer and Sprinz, Eduardo and Kuhmmer, Regina and Brand{\~a}o, Lucas and Crovella, Sergio and Chies, Jos{\'e} Artur Bogo} }