A serial litigant known for taking the Hong Kong government to court faces being declared bankrupt after the justice department filed a petition against him.Retired civil servant Kwok Cheuk-kin, dubbed the “king of judicial reviews” by the media, has been filing applications with the High Court since 2006, often challenging the legality of government policies and decisions.But many of his attempts ended in failure, and despite being ordered to bear the government’s legal costs in such…

ISLAMABAD: The Centre will have to face serious challenges to support day to day expenditures after paying defence and debt servicing bills from available resources, as the fiscal budget 2020-21 is...

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LONDON: Fifty Labour Party parliamentarians have told the new Labour leader Keir Starmer that his recent statement on Indian Occupied Kashmir after a meeting with Labour Friends of India is...

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ISLAMABAD: The Centre will have to face serious challenges to support day to day expenditures after paying defence and debt servicing bills from available resources, as the fiscal budget 2020-21 is...

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ISLAMABAD: Rector International Islamic University Islamabad Dr Masoom Yasinzai is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly receiving dual salary without the notice and prior approval of Board of...

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LONDON: Fifty Labour Party parliamentarians have told the new Labour leader Keir Starmer that his recent statement on Indian Occupied Kashmir after a meeting with Labour Friends of India is...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

ISLAMABAD: The Centre will have to face serious challenges to support day to day expenditures after paying defence and debt servicing bills from available resources, as the fiscal budget 2020-21 is...

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FRANKFURT AM MAIN: An Indian national will stand trial in Germany accused of spying on Sikh and Kashmiri communities for New Delhi’s secret service, a court said on Friday.Federal prosecutors allege the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Balvir, has been working with the Indian foreign...

ISLAMABAD: Rector International Islamic University Islamabad Dr Masoom Yasinzai is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly receiving dual salary without the notice and prior approval of Board of Governors , Board of Trustees ."I received an honoraria for giving consultancy to a Saudi...

FRANKFURT: An Indian national will stand trial in Germany accused of spying on Sikh and Kashmiri communities for New Delhi’s spy agency, a court said on Friday.Federal prosecutors allege the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Balvir, has been working with the Indian foreign intelligence...

"Nigeria is a secular state and freedom of speech is one of the fundamental characteristics of a modern democratic state. Criticizing a religion is not a criminal offence."

Among HARMAN’s core beliefs is the power of music to bring people together, to enhance wellbeing, and to inspire. That is why for decades, music has been at the heart of HARMAN’s entrepreneurial initiatives, with a special focus on children and young...

Title: Laser Process May Kill Bacteria on Metal Surfaces
Category: Health News
Created: 4/16/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

ABSTRACT

The appressoria that are generated by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in response to surface cues are important for successful colonization. Previous work showed that regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) and RGS-like proteins play critical roles in appressorium formation. However, the mechanisms by which these proteins orchestrate surface recognition for appressorium induction remain unclear. Here, we performed comparative transcriptomic studies of Morgs mutant and wild-type strains and found that M. oryzae Aa91 (MoAa91), a homolog of the auxiliary activity family 9 protein (Aa9), was required for surface recognition of M. oryzae. We found that MoAA91 was regulated by the MoMsn2 transcription factor and that its disruption resulted in defects in both appressorium formation on the artificial inductive surface and full virulence of the pathogen. We further showed that MoAa91 was secreted into the apoplast space and was capable of competing with the immune receptor chitin elicitor-binding protein precursor (CEBiP) for chitin binding, thereby suppressing chitin-induced plant immune responses. In summary, we have found that MoAa91 is a novel signaling molecule regulated by RGS and RGS-like proteins and that MoAa91 not only governs appressorium development and virulence but also functions as an effector to suppress host immunity.

IMPORTANCE The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae generates infection structure appressoria in response to surface cues largely due to functions of signaling molecules, including G-proteins, regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways, cAMP signaling, and TOR signaling pathways. M. oryzae encodes eight RGS and RGS-like proteins (MoRgs1 to MoRgs8), and MoRgs1, MoRgs3, MoRgs4, and MoRgs7 were found to be particularly important in appressorium development. To explore the mechanisms by which these proteins regulate appressorium development, we have performed a comparative in planta transcriptomic study and identified an auxiliary activity family 9 protein (Aa9) homolog that we named MoAa91. We showed that MoAa91 was secreted from appressoria and that the recombinant MoAa91 could compete with a chitin elicitor-binding protein precursor (CEBiP) for chitin binding, thereby suppressing chitin-induced plant immunity. By identifying MoAa91 as a novel signaling molecule functioning in appressorium development and an effector in suppressing host immunity, our studies revealed a novel mechanism by which RGS and RGS-like proteins regulate pathogen-host interactions.

Key Points

Rigid IT departments and job-hopping data scientists are just two of the challenges that make implementing machine learning harder than you might think

From a veteran fire chief to a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor, over 71,000 people have died in the United States from the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.Those we've lost come from all backgrounds and walks of life and include the very people -- first responders and medical staff, who are working so diligently to stem the tide of the infection and care for the sick. Variously described as heroes, caring educators and loving family members, they will never be forgotten. ...

The coronavirus has been found to stick to surfaces for days – but you’re more likely to catch it when close to infected people, or possibly through droplets spread via plumbing and ventilation systems

The renewable energy source has never quite lived up to its potential, but a new experiment in Nova Scotia could flip the script

Follow our live Covid-19 updates HERE Coronavirus: The symptoms

Harvey Weinstein has been charged with a new count of sexual assault, prosecutors in Los Angeles have said.

Read our live coronavirus updates HERE Health Secretary said his 'heart goes out' to the families of NHS workers killed during outbreak Facing backlash for calling protective equipment for healthcare workers a 'precious resource' Sir Keir Starmer waded into row, calling Mr Hancock's comments 'insulting'

Follow our live coronavirus updates HERE Coronavirus: the symptoms

Increased social isolation, health anxiety and stress over an economic downturn are all factors that could spark a protracted crisis, the group said.

Some hospitals face running out of personal protection equipment this weekend amid growing concerns over supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Met Police is facing legal action in regards to the murder of PC Keith Palmer in the Westminster terror attack.

The UK's coronavirus lockdown faces a stern test with the public urged to stay home for a fifth weekend running.

Damien Conrad from The Felix Project shares his story You can donate here virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Gary Kynaston from Hammersmith Academy shares his story You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

A convicted stalker has admitted assaulting emergency workers after spitting blood in the faces of police officers while shouting about coronavirus.

Anne Elkins from The Felix Project shares her story You can donate here virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Felix Project volunteer Lauren Graham shares her story You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Tam Carrigan from the Haringey Play Association shares his story You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Felix Project volunteer Carrie Hogan shares her story You can donate here virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Pandemic disrupts broadband progress as cities halt construction.

The UK is facing the deepest recession not just in living memory but for centuries, the Bank of England has warned

The Trump administration’s nominee for inspector general overseeing billions in Treasury Department coronavirus relief funds is facing skepticism from Democrats who fear that he will not show sufficient independence.

Ottawa police received a call that a residence on St. Catherine near Percy Street had been shot at on March 26. No one was injured.

'That is the most exciting thing I've ever had happen!'

• Ferguson meets Gaethje for UFC’s interim lightweight title
• UFC head Dana White eager to reach sports-starved audience

The main event of Saturday’s UFC 249 card in Florida is billed as being for the interim lightweight title but Tony Ferguson says he should be considered the real champion if he beats opponent Justin Gaethje.

Former collegiate wrestler Ferguson, coming into the bout on a 12-fight win streak, was supposed to fight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in Brooklyn on 18 April but that was postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Related: UFC announces three events to be held without fans at Jacksonville arena

Jack Wilshere has admitted his transfer to West Ham "hasn't worked out" as he had hoped amid uncertainty over his future at the club.

Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE coverage as the coronavirus crisis continues to heavily impact sport across the globe.

Premier League clubs will meet today as officials prepare to step up plans for 'Project Restart', in the hope that the English football season can yet be completed and avoid the fate of its French and Dutch counterparts.

Fans could be locked out of Premier League games until the end of the 2020-21 season.

An 81-year-old man is charged over the alleged sexual and indecent assault of two minors in northern NSW and police say there could be more victims who were drawn in over CB radio at the time.

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins host Ant Middleton sparked outrage as he dubbed struggling Anthea Turner a 'grandma'

Officials will scrutinise the latest data on the spread of the disease, and ministers are expected to convene over the weekend.