Showing 14 results for Mehrvar
Hossein Lotfalizadeh, Soheila Masudi-Rad, Ali Mehrvar,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (6-2017)
Abstract
The Evanioidea wasp fauna of Iran is reviewed. The study is based on literature as well as collecting research carried out during 2007-2015 in the East and West-Azarbaijan provinces. The total number of species recorded from Iran is 34 including: Aulacidae (Pristaulacus, 4 species), Evaniidae (Evania, 2 species and Brachygaster, one species) and Gasteruptiidae (Gasteruption, 27 species). Four new records from Iran are added: Brachygaster minutus (Olivier) (Evaniidae); Gasteruption goberti (Tournier), G. henseni van Achterberg and G. undulatum (AbeilledePerrin) (Gasteruptiidae).
Volume 7, Issue 3 (7-2018)
Abstract
Small walnut aphid (SWA) Chromaphis juglandicola is an economic pest of walnut trees. Population fluctuation of SWA was studied in Mamaghan walnut orchards (East Azarbaijan Province, Iran).Three factors affecting population density of SWA, including vertical divisions of canopy (upper and lower half), geographical orientations of canopy (at four levels) and elongation of branch (basal and distal ends), were investigated. Sampling unit was a cluster of five leaves. Totally 128 samples were taken weekly from all strata upon eight chosen trees, repeating 30 times during the season. Natural enemies also were counted. The first SWA individuals were observed early May, consisting of first instar larvae and alate females. A sudden population increase occurred in mid-May. Maximum 40 aphids/leaf were observed in early June with first and second instars dominant, followed by a sudden decline in late June. A small peak was observed at early October. A partial tendency was observed toward north of canopy, at basal half of downward branches. Positive linear correlation between natural enemies' and SWA populations suggests density dependence. Moreover 2-4 week delay was present between them. Trioxys pallidus (Holliday) was dominant natural enemy in the region. Contrary to previous works, overwintering stages of the SWA in the region were predominantly developed stages (third and fourth instars as well as pre-reproductive winged females).
Volume 9, Issue 4 (Fall 2023)
Abstract
Aims: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are beneficial compounds that could be used as a new and effective method to suppress microbes. Both Ib-AMP4 and LL37 are antimicrobial peptides with a wide range of antimicrobial activities. This research aimed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of LL37-rIb-AMP4 hybrid protein as an antimicrobial agent against pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, its antibacterial effects against Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were investigated in vivo and in vitro.
Materials & Methods: In this study, antimicrobial peptides rIb-AMP4, LL37, and LL37-rIb-AMP4 were expressed, purified, and refolded, and their synergistic and antibacterial effects in combination with each other (LL37+rIb-AMP4) and as fusion proteins (LL37-rIb-AMP4) were tested against A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, VRE, and MRSA cells in vitro (MIC, time kill, and SEM) and against P. aeruginosa and VRE cells in vivo.
Findings: LL37-rIb-AMP4 Protein with molecular weight= 28 KD was correctly produced and purified. Despite the lack of synergistic effects between LL37 and rIb-AMP4 peptides in vitro, the stability test results showed higher stability for LL37-rIb-AMP4 hybrid protein.
The findings of in vivo tests confirmed that all infected mice were improved with LL37-rIb-AMP4 and no signs of bacteria were observed in their blood and spleen samples. Also, these results confirmed the stability and higher activity of LL37-rIb-AMP4 than the single form of these proteins.
Conclusion: Considering the antimicrobial potential of the produced proteins, it seems that the recombinant LL37-rIb-AMP4 protein could be considered and used as a stable and active antimicrobial drug in future studies.
Volume 10, Issue 2 (2-2021)
Abstract
The seed-eater wasp, Bruchophagus verbasci (Erdös, 1969) comb. nov. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eurytomidae) is newly quoted from Iran. This species was originally described in the genus Eurytoma Illiger, 1807. Considering its morphological characters and the new finding of its biological association with some fabaceous plants, it was transferred to the genus, Bruchophagus Ashmead, 1888. It was redescribed and illustrated. Two fabaceous plant species, Astragalus brachydonatus Boiss. and Trigonella montana C. A. Mey. are revealed as host plants of B. verbasci for the first time. It is a new record for France, Morocco, and Turkey.
Volume 10, Issue 3 (6-2021)
Abstract
Beet virus Q (BVQ) is a soilborne pomovirus (family Virgaviridae) associated with rhizomania syndrome in sugar beet. In the present study, BVQ was investigated in sugar beet farms of 12 provinces in Iran by RT-PCR. Thirty-five out of 214 root samples resulted in a positive reaction to BVQ (16.3%). Moreover, 501-bp- long fragments of the coat protein gene of 11 Iranian isolates were purified, cloned, and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis using the 501 bp fragment of 17 BVQ isolates (11 from this study and six retrieved from GenBank) showed that all isolates clustered in two main groups. Iranian isolates belonged to group I alongside isolates from France (AJ810289) and Germany (AJ223597). Iranian isolates shared 98.80–100% nucleotide sequence identity (98.19–100% amino acid identity) and 97.21–99.60% nucleotide sequence identity (96.99–99.40% amino acid identity) with the corresponding sequence of six other BVQ isolates available in the GenBank. Iranian isolates displayed the highest nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities of 98.80-99.60% and 98.19-99.40%, respectively, with the French isolate FP71 (AJ810289). To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of BVQ in Iran. This information can be used in plant breeding to obtain virus-resistant plants.
Volume 14, Issue 2 (Summer 2024)
Abstract
Aims: Utilizing passive architectural elements to conserve energy and optimize natural lighting is a common solution in traditional Iranian architecture. Various factors such as building shape and orientation, window positioning, use of local materials, and shading devices are recognized as traditional architectural elements in warm and humid climates. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the efficiency and optimize architectural elements in the warm and humid climate of Bushehr city, focusing on energy consumption control and utilization of natural light.
Methods: Firstly, through documentary resources, the residential architectural patterns of Bushehr were identified. Then, using the Rhinoceros software environment and Grasshopper plugin, selected variables were parametrically modeled, and quantitative data analysis was conducted using energy tools and radiation analysis. Finally, optimal patterns were selected using a genetic algorithm, and the final response was presented with an annual performance analysis.
Findings: By optimizing passive strategies, UDI could be increased up to 96%, and energy consumption could be reduced up to 174.1 kWh/m2. In hot and humid climates, paying attention to the minimum absorption of sunlight is essential, in addition to the importance of using natural ventilation.
Conclusion: Using passive architectural elements such as the use of Shenashir, the proportions of the room and the window-to-wall ratio increases the performance of the building. The conclusion emphasizes the pivotal role of the contemporization of traditional houses in resolving contemporary architectural challenges, especially high energy consumption and environmental regulation.
Volume 15, Issue 4 (7-2013)
Abstract
To study molecular evolutionary characteristics and genetics of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) isolates population from Iran, nucleotide sequences of p25 and coat protein (CP) were determined and the amino acids sequences thus deduced were analyzed using phylogenetic and population genetics methods. A survey of BNYVV in Iran indicated the infection of 288 collected samples out of 392 samples in most beet growing areas and that most of the isolates (92%) were of the A-type and the rest of isolates (8%) were P-type. Our molecular evolutionary analysis showed that CP was highly conserved but allowed to assign all isolates to three distinct groups. Different parts of p25 coding regions were under different evolutionary constraints. The most positive selection was detected at the position 68, the second amino acid of the tetrad motif. Iranian isolates were found to cluster with European isolates into three distinct clusters based on p25 sequences. Population genetics analysis revealed that BNYVV populations have low differentiation (Kt= 3.97145) and low diversity (πT= 0.006, Hd= 0.860) with frequent gene flow indicating lack of phylogeographic structure between populations.
Volume 16, Issue 5 (9-2014)
Abstract
Drought is the most restricting factor in agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions. This research was conducted on 19 facultative and winter wheat genotypes grown under normal irrigation (N), early post-anthesis (S1), and late post-anthesis (S2) drought stress conditions. The experiments were conducted at Karadj, Arak, and Jolgehrokh Agricultural Research Stations in Iran, during 2008-11 cropping seasons. Stress reduced grain number per spike, thousand grain weight, grain weight per spike, harvest index, biological weight, and grain yield.Effect of environment, irrigation, and genotype on most of the traits, including grain yield, was significant. Remobilization, efficiency of remobilization, and pre-anthesis photo-assimilate contribution to grain filling increased under drought stress condition. Correlation coefficients between those traits and grain yield were significantly positive under N, S1, and S2 conditions. Based ondifferent drought tolerance indices, the improved line Alvd//Aldan/Ias58*2/3/Gaspard was identified as the most tolerant genotype under anthesis and post-anthesis drought stress conditions.It also had the highest remobilization, efficiency of remobilization, and pre-anthesis photo-assimilate contribution to grain fillingunder drought stress conditions.
Volume 20, Issue 6 (11-2018)
Abstract
Citrus Viroid V (CVdV) is a member of the genus Apscaviroid, in the Pospiviroidae family. It is restricted to citrus species naturally. The herbaceous host range of CVdV was determined using the viroid infectious clone. Several herbaceous plants from the Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae families were found to be susceptible to CVdV. Also, CVdV could be transmitted to these hosts through rubbing of monomeric DNA plasmids and through mechanical inoculation of infected sap. The accumulation of CVdV in the tomato was monitored up to 28 days after inoculation and a further 56-fold increase of viroid titer was observed. Analysis of sequences of the viroid progenies from herbaceous plants revealed several nucleotide substitutions, which mostly concentrated in the pathogenicity domain on the secondary structure of the viroids.
Volume 20, Issue 7 (July 2020)
Abstract
Electrochemical machining (ECM) has unique features and advantages which is a suitable method for machining when surface quality and residual stresses are of importance. Because of various parameters that influence this process, numerical and experimental studies play a key role in feasibility, practical utilization, and selection of optimal machining parameters in different materials and applications. On the other hand, with the high technology used in the casting of nickel-based single crystal superalloys, no grain boundaries are created in the material. Therefore, by improving the mechanical properties of this material, the traditional machining processes are not effective and economical. Also, they cause defects such as residual stresses, tool wear, and poor surface quality. The purpose of this research is to investigate numerically the electrochemical machining on this special superalloy. Comsol software is used for process modeling and numerical analysis. Firstly, the electrical current and voltage in the machining gap are determined, and finally, the workpiece displacement boundary is obtained. Then the numerical conditions of machining parameters are implemented for experimental investigation by electrochemical machining machine. About 8% error between the results of numerical simulation and experimental investigation shows the feasibility and capability of this modern machining for this particular superalloy.
Volume 23, Issue 6 (11-2021)
Abstract
For the first time, the nearly complete genome sequence of onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) was found in Iran from garlic (Allium sativum L.) by deep RNA sequencing. Complete coding sequence of the Iranian isolate of OYDV (MN528769) consists of 10,212 nucleotides (nt), encodes a polyprotein with 3,403 amino acids (aa). Pairwise sequence comparisons showed that IR-Kh2 shares 74.84-97.39% identity at the nt level and 75.67-98% identity at the amino acids level, respectively with other OYDV isolates deposited in the GenBank previously. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the OYDV isolates were divided into two main groups based on the coding sequence of genome and the Iranian OYDV isolate cluster together with the Australian (MS/SW1), Spanish (SG1), Chinese (G78 and G37-2), and Indian (RR1) isolates. Furthermore, a genetic recombination analysis was also performed, in which a putative recombination event was detected in the nuclear inclusion body b (NIb) gene.
Volume 24, Issue 2 (3-2022)
Abstract
Squash Mosaic Virus (SqMV) is a Comovirus that infects many cucurbit crops worldwide. In this study, the first two complete genome sequences of SqMV (BSQ and TSQ) from Iran were determined. The RNA genomes of isolates BSQ and TSQ were, respectively, 5,754 and 5,755 (RNA1) and 3290 and 3271 (RNA2) nucleotides (nt) in length, excluding the 3'-terminal poly (A) tail. RNA1 of both isolates encodes a single polyprotein of 1858 amino acids (aa). The identity between the two Iranian isolates (BSQ and TSQ) was 94.24% nt and 94.82% aa for RNA1 and 88.80% nt and 89.50% aa for RNA2. In comparison to other SqMV isolates, BSQ and TSQ shared the highest nucleotide sequence identities of 95.12 % to 93.56 % (RNA1), and 87.59 % to 87.19 % (RNA2), respectively, with the Spanish isolate (RZ-SqMV). Phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome sequences reveals that SqMV isolates cluster into three distinct groups. BSQ was clustered alongside a Spanish isolate in one group and TSQ was separately clustered with a Chinese and US isolates in another group. Recombination analysis revealed that BSQ (RNA1, 2) and TSQ (RNA2) were putative recombinants. BSQ had 6 recombination sites within 5'-UTR, helicase, protease, RdRP (in RNA1), SCP and 3'-UTR (in RNA2) regions, whereas TSQ had 4 recombination sites within 5'-UTR, MP (two breaking points) and LCP region.
Volume 24, Issue 5 (9-2022)
Abstract
Several viruses affect iris plants worldwide, and are major constraints in commercial production due to serious economic losses. The first genomic sequences of two potyviruses, namely, Iris Severe Mosaic Virus (ISMV) and Iris Mild Mosaic Virus (IMMV) from naturally infected iris plants (Iris versicolor) in Iran were determined using RNA deep sequencing and RT-PCR followed by sequencing of amplicons. Both viruses (ISMV-Ir and IMMV-Ir) had a typical potyvirus genetic organization, with a large open reading frame translated as a polyprotein, including nine autocatalytic cleavage sites, and a putative smaller protein P3N-PIPO. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons revealed close relationships between ISMV and members of group Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus (OYDV) of the genus Potyvirus. The ISMV-Ir showed > 92% nucleotide (nt) identity (> 96% amino acid (aa) identity) to the three previously reported ISMV isolates, the highest with the Japanese isolate J (94.10% nt identity, 97.41% aa identity) and the lowest with Chinese isolate BJ (92.73% nt identity, 96.77% aa identity). IMMV-Ir belonged to the Chilli Veinal Mottle Virus (ChVMV) group of potyviruses, had 82.36% nt identity (91.25% aa identity) with the BC32 isolate, and 75.55% nt identity (83.59% aa identity) with the WA-1 isolate from Australia. The genetic distance among IMMV polyprotein-coding genomic sequences or gene-specific sequences indicated a high genetic divergence of these isolates. Our analysis indicated that natural selection has contributed to the evolution of isolates belonging to the two identified potyviruses. The information on genomic sequences presented in this study will improve our understanding of virus function and pathogenicity leading to better control of the disease.
Volume 25, Issue 1 (1-2023)
Abstract
To date, only the complete genome of one malva vein clearing virus (MVCV) has been sequenced worldwide. Here, for the first time, the genomic sequence of an isolate of MVCV affecting Malva sylvestris in Iran was determined, using RNA deep sequencing confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. The sequence of IR1 was 11,055 nucleotides in length and contained a single open reading frame of 10,527 nucleotides encoding a large polyprotein of 3,508 amino acids with predicted molecular weight of 395,08 KDa. The sequence contained nine putative proteolytic cleavage sites and motifs conserved in homologous proteins of other potyviruses. The P1 of the IR1 was 1236 nucleotides longer than that of the only recently reported sequence from China (MVCV-SX, MN116683). The complete genome sequence obtained from the study showed 81.24% and 91.93% identities to its Chinese counterpart at the nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) levels, respectively. The low nt and aa sequence identity with known MVCV isolate seems to indicate that IR1 is a novel strain. Phylogenetic analysis of the coat protein gene also showed that the Iranian isolate was most closely related to the Dutch isolate NAKT-NL (FJ539084), with identities of 94.06 (at nt level) and 96.04% (at aa level). The results of this study will be useful for understanding the global molecular epidemiology of MVCV.
