Endophytic and rhizosphere actinobacteria isolated from the root system of 1-year-old grafted
plants were evaluated for their activities against fungi that cause grapevine trunk diseases. A total of ...58 endophytic and 94 rhizosphere isolates were tested. Based on an
bioassay, 15.5% of the endophytic isolates and 30.8% of the rhizosphere isolates exhibited antifungal activity against the fungal pathogen
, whereas 13.8% of the endophytic isolates and 16.0% of the rhizosphere isolates showed antifungal activity against
(formerly
). The strains which showed the greatest
efficacy against both pathogens were further analyzed for their ability to inhibit the growth of
and
(formerly
). Based on their antifungal activity, three rhizosphere isolates and three endophytic isolates were applied on grafts in an open-root field nursery in a 3-year trial. The field trial led to the identification of one endophytic strain,
sp. VV/E1, and two rhizosphere isolates,
sp. VV/R1 and
sp. VV/R4, which significantly reduced the infection rates produced by the fungal pathogens
sp.,
sp.,
, and
, all of which cause young grapevine decline. The VV/R1 and VV/R4 isolates also significantly reduced the mortality level of grafted plants in the nursery. This study shows that certain actinobacteria could represent a promising new tool for controlling fungal trunk pathogens that infect grapevine plants through the root system in nurseries.
Grapevine trunk diseases are a major threat to the wine and grape industry worldwide. They cause a significant reduction in yields as well as in grape quality, and they can even cause plant death. Trunk diseases are caused by fungal pathogens that enter through pruning wounds and/or the root system. Although different strategies have recently been developed to protect pruning wounds using antifungal compounds (natural or synthetic) or biocontrol agents, no tools are yet available for controlling soil pathogens that infect plants through their root system. This study shows that different actinobacterial isolates, when applied to grafts in a nursery, can significantly reduce the infection rate caused by fungal pathogens that enter through the root system. This is a new, promising, and green alternative for preventing the decline of young grapevines in nurseries and vineyards.
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is of paramount importance in the development of biomining technologies. Being widely recognized as an extreme acidophile, extensive research has been dedicated to ...understanding its significant role in the extraction of several ores in recent years. However, there still exist significant molecular uncertainties surrounding this species. This study focuses on developing a taxonomic assignment method based on the sequencing of the 16S-5S rRNA cluster, along with a qPCR-based technology enabling precise growth determination. Additionally, an approach to understanding its response to acid stress is explored through RT-PCR and MALDI-TOF analysis. Our findings indicate that when subjected to pH levels below 1, the cell inhibits central (carbon fixation and metabolism) and energy (sulfur metabolism) metabolism, as well as chaperone synthesis, suggesting a potential cellular collapse. Nevertheless, the secretion of ammonia is enhanced to raise the environmental pH, while fatty acid synthesis is upregulated to reinforce the cell membrane.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Pine processionary caterpillar nests are made from raw silk. Fibroin protein is the main component of silk which, in the case of pine processionary caterpillar, has some unusual properties such as a ...higher resistance to chemical hydrolysis. Isolation of microorganisms naturally present in silk nests led to identification of
and
strains that in a defined minimal medium were able to carry out extensive silk biodegradation. A LasB elastase-like protein from
was shown to be involved in silk biodegradation. A recombinant form of this protein expressed in
and purified by affinity chromatography was able to efficiently degrade silk in an in vitro assay. However, silk biodegradation by
strain was mediated by a SubC subtilisin-like protease. Homologous expression of a subtilisin Carlsberg encoding gene (
C) allowed faster degradation compared to the biodegradation kinetics of a wildtype
strain. This work led to the identification of new enzymes involved in biodegradation of silk materials, a finding which could lead to possible applications for controlling this pest and perhaps have importance from sanitary and biotechnological points of view.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The endophytic Streptomyces sp. VV/E1, and rhizosphere Streptomyces sp. VV/R4 strains, isolated from grapevine plants were shown in a previous work to reduce the infection rate of fungal pathogens ...involved in young grapevine decline. In this study we cloned fragments from randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and developed two stably diagnostic sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers of 182 and 160 bp for the VV/E1 and VV/R4 strains, respectively. The SCAR markers were not found in another 50 actinobacterial strains isolated from grapevine plants. Quantitative real-time PCR protocols based on the amplification of these SCAR markers were used for the detection and quantification of both strains in plant material. These strains were applied on young potted plants using two methods: perforation of the rootstock followed by injection of the microorganisms or soaking the root system in a bacterial suspension. Both methods were combined with a booster treatment by direct addition of a bacterial suspension to the soil near the root system. Analysis of uprooted plants showed that those inoculated by injection exhibited the highest rate of colonization. In contrast, direct addition of either strain to the soil did not lead to reliable colonization. This study has developed molecular tools for analyzing different methods for inoculating grapevine plants with selected Streptomyces sp. strains which protect them from fungal infections that enter through their root system. These tools are of great applied interest since they could easily be established in nurseries to produce grafted grapevine plants that are protected against fungal pathogens. Finally, this methodology might also be applied to other vascular plants for their colonization with beneficial biological control agents.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: Some Network Meta-analysis (NMA) has been published regarding atopic dermatitis (AD). These studies have considered drugs under investigation both in monotheraphy or in combination with ...topical corticosteroids, as well as systemic immunosuppressant therapies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biological agents and small molecules in AD. Methods: A systematic review and NMA of biologics agents and small molecules in AD was performed. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for clinical trials and systematic reviews between January 2000 and 19 December 2020. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. It was limited to English language and adult human subjects. Two networks were evaluated: monotherapy and combination with TCS. The two primary outcomes were Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) 75 and EASI 90 change from baseline to week 12–16, depending on source study cut-off. The Cochrane’s Risk of Bias tool 2011 update was used to analyze the risk of bias, focused on the primary objectives. Results: 30 RCTs (included in 26 publications) were included in the systematic review. Finally, 23 RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis (14 RCTs including 3582 patients in monotherapy; and 9 RCTs including 3686 patients with TCS). In monotherapy, a higher percentage of patients achieving EASI-75 was obtained with Upadacitinib 30 mg OR: 18.90 (13.94; 25.62) followed by Abrocitinib 200 mg OR = 11.26 (7.02; 18.05) and Upadacitinib 15 mg OR: 10.89 (8.13; 14.59). These results were also observed in studies where the use of topical corticosteroid (TCS) was allowed (OR Upadacitinib 30 mg = 9.43; OR Abrocitinib 200 mg = 6.12; OR Upadacitinib 15 mg = 5.20). Regarding IGA, the percentage of patients achieving IGA0/1 was higher with both doses of Upadacitinib 30 mg OR: 19.13 (13.14; 27.85) and 15 mg OR = 10.95 (7.52; 15.94). In studies where the use of TCS were allowed, however, the dose of Abrocitinib 200 mg OR = 6.10 (3.94; 9.44) showed higher efficacy than Upadacitinib 15 mg OR = 5.47 (3.57; 8.41). Regarding safety, the drugs with the highest probability of presenting adverse effects were the Janus kinases (JAK) inhibitors, Upadacitinib and Abrocitinib in monotherapy and Baricitinib in combination with TCS. Discussion: Some risks of bias have been found, which must be taken into account when interpreting the results. The funnel plot shows a possible publication bias that may underestimate the efficacy of drugs. Upadacitinib and Abrocitinib are the drugs with the highest efficacy, both in monotherapy and in association with TCS. However, they were also those associated with the highest risk of adverse effects, showing monoclonal antibodies better safety profile. Limitations: We have included molecules still in the development phase as well studies completed and presented at conferences and with data available in Trialsgov® but not published yet. Several molecules’ development had included a small number of patients from 12 to 17 years of age, without being able to differentiate the results from the adult population. Other: Founding: None. PROSPERO database registration number CRD42021225793.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Many phytopathogenic fungi produce necrosis and ethylene inducing peptide 1 (Nep1-like proteins or NLP) that trigger leaf necrosis and the activation of defense mechanisms. These proteins have been ...widely studied in plant pathogens as
Moniliophthora perniciosa
or
Botrytis cinerea
between others, but little is known about their biological roles in grapevine trunk pathogens. Advances in the sequencing of genomes of several fungi involved in grapevine trunk diseases have revealed that these proteins are present in several copies in their genomes. The aim of this project was to analyze the presence of genes encoding NLP proteins in the
Diplodia seriata
genome and to characterize their putative role as virulence factors associated to grapevine trunk diseases. In this study, we characterized four NLPs from
Diplodia seriata
. All proteins showed highly similar amino acid sequences and contained the characteristic peptide motifs of NLPs. DserNEPs slightly reduced the viability of
Vitis vinifera
L. cell cultures. The cytolytic activity from DserNEP1 was stronger than that from DserNEP2, even at low concentrations. Purified DserNEPs also produced necrosis in leaves when they were inoculated into micropropagules of
V. vinifera
L. This is the first record of Nep1-like proteins from a fungus associated with grapevine trunk diseases and also from a member of the Botryosphaeriaceae family.
Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are one of the most devastating pathologies that threaten the survival and profitability of vineyards around the world. Progressive banning of chemical pesticides and ...their withdrawal from the market has increased interest in the development of effective biocontrol agents (BCAs) for GTD treatment. In recent years, considerable progress has been made regarding the characterization of the grapevine microbiome, including the aerial part microbiome (flowers, berries and leaves), the wood microbiome, the root environment and vineyard soil microbiomes. In this work, we review these advances especially in relation to the etiology and the understanding of the composition of microbial populations in plants affected by GTDs. We also discuss how the grapevine microbiome is becoming a source for the isolation and characterization of new, more promising BCAs that, in the near future, could become effective tools for controlling these pathologies.
The objective of this work is to estimate the capital stock invested in the Spanish freezer trawler fleet dedicated to the capture of crustaceans on the African coast, for the period from 1964 to ...2019. The importance of having methods for the correct measurement of the capital invested in a fishing fleet is to be able to express in monetary terms the excess catch capacity, which is a signal of overexploitation of a fishery, that is, the fleet operates at a level of effort or capacity higher than the minimum amount required to capture the desired quantity at the lowest possible cost. Following a methodology based on the permanent inventory method, we obtained a model that explains the construction value of a fishing vessel as a function of its technical characteristics. The market value in successive sales was estimated as a function of the construction value, the age of vessel and other variables. In this way, we estimated the value that the market assigns to the possible increases in individual fishing capacity and the decrease in value derived from the technical obsolescence of the vessels. Finally, we calculated the gross and net investment series and net capital stock.
On average less than 1% of the total phosphorous present in soils is available to plants, making phosphorous one of the most limiting macronutrients for crop productivity worldwide. The aim of this ...work was to isolate and select phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) from the barley rhizosphere, which has other growth promoting traits and can increase crop productivity. A total of 104 different bacterial isolates were extracted from the barley plant rhizosphere. In this case, 64 strains were able to solubilize phosphate in agar plates. The 24 strains exhibiting the highest solubilizing index belonged to 16 different species, of which 7 isolates were discarded since they were identified as putative phytopathogens. The remaining nine strains were tested for their ability to solubilize phosphate in liquid medium and in pot trials performed in a greenhouse. Several of the isolated strains (Advenella mimigardefordensis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium and Burkholderia fungorum) were able to significantly improve levels of assimilated phosphate, dry weight of ears and total starch accumulated on ears compared to non-inoculated plants. Since these strains were able to increase the growth and productivity of barley crops, they could be potentially used as microbial inoculants (biofertilizers).
PDF
