Endophytic microorganisms have been reported from various plants. In the current study, somatic embryogenic cultures of banana (Musa accuminata AAA cv. Grand Naine) were found to have association with endophytic bacteria which were present initially in a covert state. The presence of bacteria was detected only in suspension cultures derived from the somatic embryogenic cultures. The bacteria isolated from embryogenic cell suspension culture were identified as Ralstonia sp. and Bacillus sp. The Ralstonia sp. interestingly showed the presence of various plant growth promoting properties including indole acetic acid and siderophore production. Also the strain was found to have the potential to solubilize phosphate and produce ammonia. Growth enhancement effect of Ralstonia sp. on Vigna radiata seedlings showed promising results and the growth parameters were found to be statistically significant when compared to control. Identification and confirmation of the plant growth promoting properties of Ralstonia sp. makes the study significant with promising applications.
Gap junctions (GJs) are important for maintenance of CNS homeostasis. GJ proteins, connexin 43 (Cx43) and connexin 47 (Cx47), play a crucial role in production and maintenance of CNS myelin. Cx43 is mainly expressed by astrocytes in the CNS and forms gap junction intercellular communications between astrocytes-astrocytes (Cx43-Cx43) and between astrocytes-oligodendrocytes (Cx43-Cx47). Mutations of these connexin (Cx) proteins cause dysmyelinating diseases in humans. Previously, it has been shown that Cx43 localization and expression is altered due to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 infection both and; however, its mechanism and association with loss of myelin protein was not elaborated. Thus, we explored potential mechanisms by which MHV-A59 infection alters Cx43 localization and examined the effects of viral infection on Cx47 expression and its association with loss of the myelin marker proteolipid protein. Immunofluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy confirmed that MHV-A59 used microtubules (MTs) as a conduit to reach the cell surface and restricted MT-mediated Cx43 delivery to the cell membrane. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that Cx43-β-tubulin molecular interaction was depleted due to protein-protein interaction between viral particles and MTs. During acute MHV-A59 infection, oligodendrocytic Cx47, which is mainly stabilized by Cx43 , was down-regulated, and its characteristic staining remained disrupted even at chronic phase. The loss of Cx47 was associated with loss of proteolipid protein at the chronic stage of MHV-A59 infection.
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