Drought is the most devastating stress for crops. Intensity and duration of drought determine the magnitude of plant damage; similarly, plant ability to counteract drought determines its tolerance capacity. Recent studies revealed that exogenous apocarotenoid treatment confers abiotic stress tolerance to plants. However, much less is known about the role of b-cyclocitral (bCC), the major apocarotenoid, in drought tolerance. Here, we demonstrate bCC's role in improving plants' tolerance against drought stress.• Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants were independently treated with water and bCC and grown under either water-limited or irrigated conditions. The bCC-treated drought-exposed (BD) and bCC-treated irrigated (BH) plants were analysed for the major drought tolerance associated traits; water-treated drought-exposed (CD) and water-treated irrigated plants (CH) were used as controls.• On exposure to drought, unlike controls, bCC-treated plants showed no wilting, higher RWC and stomatal conductance, unchanged ABA levels and stomatal closure. The BD plants had increased photosynthesis, chlorophyll content and enhanced root, but not shoot, growth. In addition, bCC treatment enhanced proline accumulation and activity of SOD in both drought-exposed and well irrigated plants.• Taken together, bCC was identified as a potential candidate that improves tomato osmolyte accumulation and superoxide elimination, independent of ABA, and prepares the plant for upcoming drought stress. Our results suggest that bCC can be used to prime crops against drought stress.

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Background: Dengue is a mosquito borne viral infection caused by one of the four serotypes of dengue viruses (DENV1-DENV4). The consequences of DENV infection range from asymptomatic condition, dengue fever (DF), or severe forms, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). The host immune responses have been considered as the major factor responsible for dengue pathogenesis. In this study, the cytokine IL-12 is reviewed for its utility as potential biomarker of severe dengue disease.Methods: 120 children of paediatric age group with either dengue NS1 antigen or dengue IgM positive were included. Cases were classified as uncomplicated dengue (dengue without warning signs) and complicated dengue (dengue with warning signs and severe dengue). Clinical features and IL-12 (ELISA KIT) levels were analyzed in the study population.Results: Analysis of clinical features among the study groups revealed children with complicated dengue had persistent vomiting (95%), abdominal pain (80%), decreased urine output (50%), bleeding manifestations (83.3%), Hepatomegaly (70%) Haemoconcentration with concurrent thrombocytopenia (93.3%), altered coagulation profile (28.3%), ICU stay (54.7%), leukocytosis (15%), leucopoenia (66.6%) normal leucocytes, (18.4%). Analysis of IL-12 levels revealed children with complicated dengue showed significant elevation compared to controls and uncomplicated dengue.Conclusions: In our study IL-12 levels were significantly higher in complicated dengue patients in comparison with uncomplicated dengue patients as well as normal control population.

BACKGROUND Dengue is a mosquito borne viral infection in tropical and subtropical regions caused by one of the four serotypes of dengue viruses (DENV1-DENV4). The consequences of DENV infection range from asymptomatic condition Dengue Fever (DF) or severe forms such as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). The host immune responses have been considered as the major factor responsible for dengue pathogenesis. Endothelial activation markers such as expression of adhesion molecules and receptors have been found to serve as biomarkers of severe dengue disease. In this study, the cytokine IL-4 is reviewed for its utility as potential biomarker of severe dengue disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS 120 children of paediatric age group from 1 month till 18 years of age with fever for more than 5 days with either dengue NS1 antigen or dengue IgM positive were included. 30 children who were admitted for noninfectious disease (e.g. surgery) without fever, any systemic illness and preexisting illness (tuberculosis, asthma) in SRMC and RI were taken as controls. Cases were classified as uncomplicated dengue (dengue without warning signs) and complicated dengue (dengue with warning signs and severe dengue). Clinical features and IL-4 (ELISA kit) were analysed and compared among the study population and statistical analysis done for the obtained data. RESULTS Analysis of clinical features among the study groups revealed children with complicated dengue had persistent vomiting (95%), abdominal pain (80%), decreased urine output (50%), bleeding manifestations (83.3%), hepatomegaly (70%), haemoconcentration with concurrent thrombocytopenia (93.3%), altered coagulation profile (28.3%), ICU stay (54.7%), leucocytosis (15%), leucopenia (66.6%) and normal leucocytes (18.4%). Analysis of IL-4 levels revealed children with complicated dengue showed >6 fold elevation in IL-4 levels (p=0.003). Mean IL-4 levels in complicated dengue group was also statistically significant (p=0.013). ROC curve for IL-4 indicated 50% reliability as predictor for dengue severity. CONCLUSION In our study, IL-4 levels were significantly higher in complicated dengue patients in comparison with uncomplicated dengue patients as well as normal control population. Though, this interleukin 4 can be used for assessing the severity of children with dengue, further studies with higher sample size are needed to advocate the routine use of IL-4 as a biomarker of dengue severity.