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Porcini mushrooms (Boletus sect. Boletus) have both economic and ecological importance. During this study, a specimen of the phenotypically complex species Boletus himalayensis was analyzed morphologically and molecular genetically. This bolete species is characterized by a combination of porcini features: whitish pileus margin and context, pore surface and overall basidiomata having a whitish look before maturity and it has a considerably longer stipe compared to the pileus diameter when immature, with whitish reticulation extending longitudinally towards base. The whitish context and the white to white yellowish pore surface both do not change color upon bruising. Although the specimen exhibited a long stipe and a small non--cracked pileus as compared to other collections of Boletus himalayensis, molecular genetic analysis revealed that it belongs to this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the family Inocybaceae, many species of Mallocybe have been reported, but there are only a few reports of this genus from Pakistan. In this study, six collections of Mallocybe were studied by morphological and phylogenetic methods. Phylogenetic analyses, based on sequence data from two different loci (ITS and LSU) using Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods, have been performed to infer species relationships within Mallocybe. Results indicated that these six collections encompass two new species of Mallocybe i.e. M. pakistanica and M. pinicola, from Pakistan. Their detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are also provided. In addition, comparison with morphologically closely-related taxa is also discussed. Previously, only two species of this genus have been recorded from Pakistan and, with this addition, the total number of reported taxa of Mallocybe has been raised to four from Pakistan. A key to the described taxa of Mallocybe from Pakistan is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ectomycorrhizae of a newly described club fungus Clavariadelphus pakistanicus were collected from Ayubia, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and described morpho-anatomically. Its Pinus wallichiana associated ectomycorrhizae has been characterized by dichotomously branched, reddish brown color of mature and dark brown to blackish young ectomycorrhizal tips with frequent unbranched and septate emanating hyphae. During molecular and phylogenetic analyses, these mycobionts showed maximum similarity and were clustered with basidiocarps sequences of C. pakistanicus. Hence it was confirmed that these ectomycorrhizae belong to C. pakistanicus and being first time reported from Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology deals with the production of small-sized nanoparticles with sizes of 1-100 nm which play a substantial role in plant disease management and are synthesized utilizing chemical, physical and biological processes. Green synthesis has gained significance over other methods of synthesizing nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are characterized using different characterization techniques like UV.VIS, FTIR, SEM, TEM, DLS, XRD, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, and Zeta potential. Selenium nanoparticles over other nanoparticles play an important role in plant disease management by controlling various plant diseases like downy mildew of pearl millet, early blight of potato, and inhibiting various fungi like Alternaria, Candida albicans, Pyricularia grisea, and Alternaria solani on chili and tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubroboletus himalayensis sp. nov. (Boletaceae, Boletales, Basidiomycota) was collected from diversity rich Himalayan range of Pakistan and characterised by combination of morphological and molecular methods. Its mycochemical screening as well as antioxidant analysis was also done. Comparison with closely related species was also done. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was sequenced and then the phylogenetic analysis was performed for the focal fungus and its related species. Mycochemical analysis of this mushroom indicated the presence of proteins, triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolics while absence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, anthocyanins. Quantitative analysis of mycochemicals revealed that the total phenolic and tannin contents were highest in methanol extracts (7.66 mg GAE/g dW and 441.0 mg TAE/g dW, respectively) while the flavonoid contents were highest in n-hexane extract (607.0 mg QE/g dW). All the extracts were subjected to DPPH radical scavenging assay. Maximum antioxidant activity at 1 mg/ml was observed in dichloromethane extract of R. himalayensis that is 98.14%. At 0.125 mg /mL concentration, the highest antioxidant activity was observed for dichloromethane extract (34.43%) and lowest in ethyl acetate (19.66%). The present study results showed that the analysed mushroom is new to science and has medicinal power due to the presence of various mycochemicals and its antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 30 pollen samples, 16 families and 25 genera that were gathered, identified and preserved from 6 different localities of District Sheikhupura. Light and scanning electron microscopy was done for all collected flora. Out of the total samples, 43% specie was identified as herbs, 23% as shrubs, and 33% were identified as trees. The flora was both wild and cultivated. Wild plants were 33%, cultivated 40% and 26% of them were both wild and cultivated. Qualitative and Quantitative survey of pollens revealed polar shape of pollens were 37% spheroidal, 20% prolate spheroidal, 17% oblate spheroidal, remaining were rectangular and pecolpate. Sexine and nexine were available in 100% of samples. Thirty‐three percentage of pollen grains were having spines on them. The presence of spines on pollen grains represents the evolutionary relationship amongst the plants. Current study was conducted to record and analyze palynomorphic diversity in district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder with distinctive clinical feature such as obesity, degeneration of retina, polydactyly, and renal abnormalities. The study was aimed at finding out the disease-causing variant/s in patients exhibiting clinical features of BBS. Methods. The identification of disease-causing variant was done by using whole exome sequencing on Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform involving the SeqCap EZ Exome v3 kit (Roche NimbleGen). The identified variant was further validated by Sanger sequencing. Results. WES revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation (NM_031885: c.443A>T:p.N148I) in exon 3 of the BBS2 gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed this variant as homozygous in both affected subjects and heterozygous in obligate parents, demonstrating autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this variant was not present in literature and all publically available databases. The candidate variant is predicted to be pathogenic by a set of in-silico softwares. Conclusion. Clinical and genetic spectrum of BBS and BBS-like disorders is not completely defined in the Pakistani as well as in Kashmiri population. Therefore, more comprehensive genetic studies are required to gain insights into genotype-phenotype associations to facilitate carrier screening and genetic counseling of families with such disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study deals with the plectological and molecular analysis as well as use of economically important wild Russuloid mushrooms against food pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. Three different species of mushrooms viz., Russla laeta, R. nobilis, and R. nigricans were collected and identified from Himalayan range of Pakistan and are found as new records for this country. Major objective of this study was to highlight the importance of these wild creatures as antifungal agents against A. niger. For this purpose methanolic extract of selected mushrooms of different concentration levels viz., 1, 1.5, 2 and 3% were used. This activity is also first time reported from Pakistan by using this group of mushrooms. Results showed that all tested mushrooms exhibit growth inhibition of A. niger and can be used as biocontrol agents. R. nigricans showed maximum inhibition of fungus growth that is 62% at 3% concentrations while minimum inhibition was observed in R. nobilis at same concentration that is 43.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was designed to throw light on the microbial status of bakery products available in bakeries and supermarkets of Lahore. Different bakery samples such as biscuits, pizza, patties were collected from different localities such as Anar Kali, Chauburji, Faisal Town, Iqbal Town, Model Town, Muslim Town were investigated for mold and yeast using serial dilution technique inoculated over malt extract agar and potato dextrose agar under sterilized conditions. Isolated fungi were namely Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Curvularia americana, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Geotrichum candidum. Results depicted maximum fungal viable count in biscuits, collected from Model Town while minimum count was in the samples of Chauburji. In the case of pizza, the maximum fungal viable count was found in the sample of Muslim Town. In the case of patties, the maximum fungal viable count was found in the sample of Muslim Town while minimum count was found in the sample of Iqbal Town. Prevalence of microorganisms may be due to the use of contaminated raw material, use of polluted waters, human handling, and the use of contaminated containers. Contaminated food intake can lead to measurable signs of liver injury, inflammation, etc. Preventive measures like washing and drying of hands before preparing food, cleaning of food preparation areas, and the use of clean equipment can avoid microbes which cause hazards to human health. Research Highlights: Bakery products of Lahore, Pakistan is investigated for the first time on the basis of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and found very significant to check the quality of bakery products or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boletus pakistanicus (Fungi, Basidiomycota, Boletaceae) characterized by uniformly pale yellowish flesh; is described as a new species from the coniferous forests of Pakistan based on morphological and molecular analysis. A description, illustrations, phylogenetic analysis and comparison with related taxa are presented. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suillus (Boletales; Basidiomycota) is an ectomycorrhizal genus, generally aβociated with Pinaceae. Coniferous forests of Pakistan are rich in mycodiversity and Suillus species are found as early appearing fungi in the vicinity of conifers. This study reports the diversity of Suillus collected during a period of three (3) years (2008-2011). From 32 basidiomata of Suillus collected, 12 species of this genus were identified. These basidiomata were characterized morphologically, and phylogenetically by amplifying and sequencing the ITS region of rDNA. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian protein deacetylase SIRT1 (sirtuin1) is widely recognized for its link to calorie restriction and longevity. SIRT1 not only modulates the function of protein targets such as p53 or NFkappaB, but it also affects gene transcription by causing hypoacetylation of associated nucleosomal histones. However, the identification of SIRT1-specific DNA targets that confer chromosomal stability and cell longevity have remained elusive. Here, we report the usefulness of a ChIP-cloning approach for the identification of an endogenous DNA target intimately linked with SIRT1 activity. Using the aforementioned technique, we identified a gene encoding the neuro-oncological ventral antigen2 (nova2) as a SIRT1 target. Nova2 regulates the alternative splicing of scn1a, which encodes the alpha-subunit of a neuronal sodium channel targeted by antiepileptic drugs. This finding demonstrates that ChIP-cloning is an innovative approach for the identification of SIRT1-specific DNA targets.