Flavivirids are single stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that belong to family Flaviviridae. B... more Flavivirids are single stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that belong to family Flaviviridae. Being responsible for ever evolving diseases and various health problems, flavivirids are big threat to world's health. Plant secondary metabolites as drug candidates may interfere flavivirids' replication. This study is an effort to computationally analyze the phytochemicals from the family Meliaceae targeting RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase protein of the type species from each of the four genus of the family Flaviviridae. Selection and screening through ADMET analysis, modeling and validation of targeted proteins, molecular docking, and the DFT analysis were carried out. Significant number of phytochemicals were determined as potential inhibitors of the targeted proteins. However, only four phytochemicals-3-beta-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one, Kulinone, Odoratone, and Quercetin-3-O-L-Rhamnosidewere selected for further analysis being promising candidate drugs. This study not only infer the phytochemicals from family Meliaceae as potential drug inhibitors, it may also expedite a way to further validation.
Luteovirus is a phytopathogenic monopartite virus of global importance. Re-assortment and recombi... more Luteovirus is a phytopathogenic monopartite virus of global importance. Re-assortment and recombination by exchanging genome segments play vital role in the virus evolution. Differences in the breadth and specificity of host range, serology and divergence of >10 % amino acids in any gene product (ORF) are the basis of Luteovirus species distinction. To confirm taxonomic status, single ORF that may not accommodate / represent occurrence of genetic recombination (may be of polythetic nature), therefore, may not be sufficient. Instead inference from the whole genome is required. We analyzed distribution of a total of 94 available whole genome Luteovirus sequences in a consistent classification based on pairwise sequence comparison. The adjustment of the two outlier sequences, being recognized, is also discussed
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that causes acute and chronic hepatitis, c... more Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that causes acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. This positive stranded RNA virus is extremely efficient in establishing persistent infection by escaping immune detection or hindering the host immune responses. Recent studies have discovered two important signaling pathways that activate the host innate immunity against viral infection. One of these pathways utilizes members of Toll-like receptor (TLR) family and the other uses the RNA helicase retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) as the receptors for intracellular viral double stranded RNA (dsRNA), and activation of transcription factors. In this review article, we summarize the interaction of HCV proteins with various host receptors/sensors through one of these two pathways or both, and how they exploit these interactions to escape from host defense mechanisms. For this purpose, we searched data from Pubmed and Google Scholar. We found that three HCV proteins; Core (C), non structural 3/4 A (NS3/4A) and non structural 5A (NS5A) have direct interactions with these two pathways. Core protein only in the monomeric form stimulates TLR2 pathway assisting the virus to evade from the innate immune system. NS3/4A disrupts TLR3 and RIG-1 signaling pathways by cleaving Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-beta (TRIF) and Cardif, the two important adapter proteins of these signaling cascades respectively, thus halting the defense against HCV. NS5A downmodulates the expressions of NKG2D on natural killer cells (NK cells) via TLR4 pathway and impairs the functional ability of these cells. TLRs and RIG-1 pathways have a central role in innate immunity and despite their opposing natures to HCV proteins, when exploited together, HCV as an ever developing virus against host immunity is able to accumulate these mechanisms for near unbeatable survival.
Plant breeding is the management of variation. Genotypic performance of segregating wheat populat... more Plant breeding is the management of variation. Genotypic performance of segregating wheat populations gives way to breeders for further improvement. Important yield attributing traits of wheat were determined at Summer Wheat Nursery, Kaghan (High altitude area with more than 2000 meters above the sea level), during summer 2005. Thirteen F 3 segregating wheat populations were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data were recorded on spikelets spike-1 , grains spike-1 and 100-grain weight. Data of all the traits were statistically analyzed. Number of grains spike-1 showed highly significant differences and also had medium broad sense heritability. However, non-significant differences were observed for spikelets spike-1 and 100-grain weight. Genotypes ranged between 14-17, 35-49 and 3.75-4.58 for spikelets spike-1 , grains spike-1 and 100-grain weight respectively. The population Takbeer/Khattakwal showed maximum mean value for grains spike-1. Therefore, this population could yield potential lines for commercial purpose.
Searching to explore the new avenues is the basis of science. An experiment consisting of six spr... more Searching to explore the new avenues is the basis of science. An experiment consisting of six spring wheat genotypes viz. Pirsbak-85, Dera-98, Ghaznavi-98, Fakhr-e-Sarhad, Takbeer and SARC-3 were planted at Malakandher Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during, 2004-2005. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot design with three replications. Clipping was made before booting stage. The results obtained showed that the effect of clipping was significant forage yield, spike weight, spikelets per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index, while no differences were observed for plant height, tillers per m 2 and spike length. Pirsabak-85 showed significantly higher plant height, while minimum was observed in Ghaznavi-98. Pirsabak-85 showed maximum number of tillers in clipped, while Fakhre-e-Sarhad in un-clipped treatment. In both cases, minimum tillers were recorded for SARC-3. Similarly, maximum spike weight was recorded in Pirsabak-85 and minimum in Dera-98. Likewise Pirsabak-85 showed significantly higher spikes length, while Takbeer showed significantly higher spike length in un-clipped. In both treatments, minimum spike length was recorded in Dera-98. Finally, grain yield, harvest index, spikelets per spike and spike weight were increased due to clipping, when compared with un-clipped treatments. To sum up, clipping at an early stage of vegetative growth produced almost higher grain yield with an additional forage yield. Though the results obtained are appreciating, yet it needs to be reaffirmed via extensive experimentation approach.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the leading food grain crop of Pakistan that contributes 2.7 perc... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the leading food grain crop of Pakistan that contributes 2.7 percent to the GDP.
Phytic acid is a major storage form of phosphorous. Obvious reasons are there to favor its reduce... more Phytic acid is a major storage form of phosphorous. Obvious reasons are there to favor its reduced concentration in organisms. However, certain justifications can also be settled, in order to support its increased natural concentration. In both cases, there are questions to be answered to favor one side while alleviating the harm of neglecting the other. This article reviews our current state of understanding of phytic acid-focusing on the topics of current and future interests in the field.
– Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is a potential threat to the agriculture production. The ampli... more – Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is a potential threat to the agriculture production. The amplified complete coat protein sequences of the isolate M07 and M12 were determined to be 597 bp and 603 bp, respectively. M07 showed maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 87.6% (84.3% amino acid sequence identity) to a Chinese isolate of BYDV-PAV. Whereas, the isolate M12 showed maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 94.5% (94.0% amino acid sequence identity) to French isolate BYDV-PAV. Since more than 10 % differences, among the amino acid level of any gene product, is the sole criterion to discriminate between species within the family Luteoviridae, the isolate M07 that shows maximum of 84.3% (less than 90%) amino acid sequence identity with previously known Luteovirus species, is thus, recommended to be a distinct PAV species within the genus Luteovirus.
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