Cucurbits are among the most popular vegetables cultivated globally. They have high economic importance, especially in India, where they are cooked and eaten as vegetables (Dhillon et al. 2016). In February 2023, yellowing symptoms were observed on cucurbitaceous species, viz. Trichosanthes cucumerina (Snake gourd - SG), Luffa acutangula (Ridge gourd - RG), Lagenaria siceraria (Bottle gourd - BG), Luffa aegyptiaca (Sponge gourd - SPG) and yellow chlorotic spots were recorded on Benincasa hispida (Ash gourd - AG) growing in the experimental farm at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Pune (Supplementary Figure 1). The average disease incidence ranged from 5% to 30%. A total of 175 leaf samples, including thirty symptomatic and five asymptomatic plants of each cucurbit, were collected and tested by DAS-ELISA using antisera against cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) (DSMZ, Germany), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) (Arsh Biotech, India), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) (Agdia, USA). All 150 symptomatic cucurbit samples tested positive for CABYV, while five samples from SG, 14 from RG, two from AG, and 11 from SPG hosts were also positive for PRSV. Asymptomatic samples were negative for all viruses tested. In order to further confirm the presence of the virus, total RNA was extracted from ten samples of each cucurbit host that were positive only for CABYV and the asymptomatic samples using the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany) as per the manufacturer's protocol. Two-step RT-PCR was carried out using the extracted RNA and CABYV-specific primers, amplifying c. 484 bp of the coat protein gene region (Boubourakas et al. 2006). Amplicons of expected size were obtained in all symptomatic samples, whereas the asymptomatic samples tested negative. Three amplicons obtained from positive samples from each of the cucurbit species were directly sequenced and found to be identical to each other. A representative virus sequence obtained from each cucurbit was deposited in GenBank (Snake gourd - OQ921128, Ridge gourd - OQ921127, Bottle gourd - OQ921126, Ash gourd - OQ921125, Sponge gourd - OQ921129). In BLASTn analysis, the isolates shared from 94.23 to 100% nucleotide identities with the Indian CABYV isolates of various cucurbits and clustered closely with other Pune isolates in the phylogenetic analysis (Supplementary Figure 2). CABYV (genus Polerovirus) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus, and is known to infect and cause severe economic losses in cucurbits worldwide. Previously, occurrences of CABYV have been reported in cucurbits such as watermelon, bitter gourd, cucumber, squash, teasel gourd, and muskmelon in India (Nagendran et al. 2022; Tripathi et al. 2023). It has also been reported to infect a weed species - Abelmoschus moschatus from the same geographical region (Verma et al. 2023). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of CABYV in snake gourd and ridge gourd worldwide and bottle gourd, ash gourd and sponge gourd in India. The present findings have significant epidemiological importance, as they demonstrate that CABYV is spreading to other cucurbits and occurring widely in India.
Background and objective A significant proportion of the adult population in the United States (US) live with some form of mental illness. The more prevalent conditions of depression and anxiety are typically managed in primary care settings rather than specialty care. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a novel, measurement-driven psychiatric treatment platform delivered via an online telemental health platform as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Methods The TAU dataset and the telemental health platform (Brightside) dataset were constructed based on the total populations of adult patients receiving care for depression from January 2018 through December 2020 (November 2018 through March 2021 for the Brightside group). Patients in both groups had a primary mental health diagnosis of depression and the presence of a positive screen for depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) upon initiation of treatment. HITLAB, an independent digital health verification and testing lab, conducted comparative analyses of the two groups using the Chi-square test of independence. Results Close to 80% of telemental health platform patients experienced a reduction of 5 or more points from their baseline PHQ-9 score as compared to 52% of TAU patients. The mean reduction in PHQ-9 score was slightly higher in the Brightside group (-11.5) versus the TAU group (-10.1). Chi-square tests of independence [x2 (1, n=6281) = 256.75, p≤0.001] for meaningful reduction and for remission [x2 (1, n=6281) = 105.50 p≤0.001] were highly significant. Conclusion The telemental health platform patients performed significantly better than those under psychiatric TAU in terms of reduction in symptoms of depression in adults.
ISHS I International Conference on Indigenous Vegetables and Legumes. Prospectus for Fighting Poverty, Hunger and Malnutrition CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF WINTER FRUITED BOTTLE GOURD [LAGENARIA SICERARIA (MOL.) STANDL.]
The current study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteriophage against drug resistant, Shiga toxigenic E.coli, one of the zoonotic, food-borne organisms associated with ruminants, mainly cattle. STEC were isolated (n=35) from neonatal calves, dairy workers and the surrounding environment and their antimicrobial resistance pattern was studied. Out of the 35 isolates tested, 17 isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant to important antibiotics like as ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin and tetracycline. Bacteriophage namely Ib_pec2 was isolated against NM—18-040 isolate and its morphology, genetic and proteomic characterization was done. Morphological analysis by TEM revealed bacteriophage belonging to myoviridae family. The genetic characterization of g23 gene revealed that the bacteriophage belonged to Tequatrovirus of myoviridae family. SDS-PAGE analysis of structural proteins followed by LC-MS/MS analysis could able to identify five proteins identical to Tequatrovirus of myoviridae family. One step growth curve experiments revealed a latency period of 40 mins and a burst size of 893 PFU/ bacteria. Temperature and pH ranging from 40-50°C, pH 7-8, respectively were ideal for phage survival and multiplication. Phage was able to lyse 22 out of 35 STEC isolates. Thus, the study could able to characterize Ib_pec2 which could be used in control of STEC in the near future. STEC is a commensal organism in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants but pathogenic in humans. Bacteriophages can be used as alternatives to antibiotics to control its growth in ruminants and prevent its further spillage in the environment.
Background: The field of medical education is constantly evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing health-care landscape. To address the dynamic challenges faced by medical professionals, medical colleges across the globe are adopting innovative and comprehensive approaches to curriculum design. One such approach that has gained significant attention is the attitude, ethics, and communication (AETCOM) based medical curriculum, which emphasizes developing not only clinical knowledge and technical skills but also ethical values, empathetic communication, and a patient-centric approach among medical students. Aim and Objective: This study aims to record the perceptions of medical students and faculties regarding the effectiveness of AETCOM modules. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study performed in October 2022 where a pre-validated questionnaire consisting of components of AETCOM was e-mailed to the 1st-year MBBS students of Jhalawar Medical College and teaching faculties of Jhalawar Medical College through Google Forms. The results were analyzed by statistics is a statistical software suite 23.0 (trail version) and the Chi-square test was used for data analysis and P < 0.05 is considered significant. Results: About 95% of students have positive perceptions regarding the mandatory inclusion of AETCOM competencies. However, only 73.3% of faculties have positive perceptions regarding the mandatory inclusion of AETCOM competencies and 26.7% completely disagree with the beneficial role of mandatory inclusion of AETCOM competencies in competency-based medical education curriculum. Conclusions: A hybrid problem-oriented approach is one of the most effective ways for students to promote communication skills, in building doctor-patient relationships and understanding the professional qualities and roles of a physician.
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