•Chemical, ethno-botanical and nutritional information of Ficus carica L.•The potential to get new chemical scaffolds from common figs.•A comprehensive revision of the state of the art about Ficus ...carica.
Since early in the man history, common fig was appreciated as food and for its medicinal properties. This review explores some aspects about the importance of Ficus carica L., an amazing and ancient source of medicines and food. Topics regarding chemistry, biological activity, ethno-pharmacological uses, and its nutritional value are discussed, as well as the potential of the species as a source of new and different chemical scaffolds. Very important in the past, appreciated in our time and extremely promising in the future, F. carica represents an interesting example of healthy foods and bioproducts.
The broad spectrum herbicide glyphosate is widely used in agriculture worldwide. There has been ongoing controversy regarding the possible adverse effects of glyphosate on the environment and on ...human health. Reports of neural defects and craniofacial malformations from regions where glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are used led us to undertake an embryological approach to explore the effects of low doses of glyphosate in development. Xenopus laevis embryos were incubated with 1/5000 dilutions of a commercial GBH. The treated embryos were highly abnormal with marked alterations in cephalic and neural crest development and shortening of the anterior−posterior (A-P) axis. Alterations on neural crest markers were later correlated with deformities in the cranial cartilages at tadpole stages. Embryos injected with pure glyphosate showed very similar phenotypes. Moreover, GBH produced similar effects in chicken embryos, showing a gradual loss of rhombomere domains, reduction of the optic vesicles, and microcephaly. This suggests that glyphosate itself was responsible for the phenotypes observed, rather than a surfactant or other component of the commercial formulation. A reporter gene assay revealed that GBH treatment increased endogenous retinoic acid (RA) activity in Xenopus embryos and cotreatment with a RA antagonist rescued the teratogenic effects of the GBH. Therefore, we conclude that the phenotypes produced by GBH are mainly a consequence of the increase of endogenous retinoid activity. This is consistent with the decrease of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling from the embryonic dorsal midline, with the inhibition of otx2 expression and with the disruption of cephalic neural crest development. The direct effect of glyphosate on early mechanisms of morphogenesis in vertebrate embryos opens concerns about the clinical findings from human offspring in populations exposed to GBH in agricultural fields.
Tuta absoluta
Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most devastating pests of tomato crops worldwide.
Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus
Spinola (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a predator that can complete ...its life cycle by preying only on
T. absoluta
eggs from irradiated parental males or untreated parents. The Inherited Sterility technique (IS) is an environmentally friendly option to control lepidopteran pests whose efficiency is improved when combined with other compatible methods, such as biological control (BC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of integrating
T. cucurbitaceus
with the IS technique for the suppression of
T. absoluta
population. Four treatments were carried out in cages in a greenhouse: T1, where untreated
T. absoluta
adults were released; T2, consisting of the release of irradiated
T. absoluta
adults in an over-flooding ratio of 15:1 (irradiated:untreated adults); T3, consisting of the release of couples of
T. cucurbitaceus
; and T4, consisting of the combination of T2 and T3 (IS-BC combination). The number of
T. absoluta
eggs and larvae in each treatment and the number of
T. cucurbitaceus
nymphs and adults in T3 and T4 were counted twice a week during three generations of
T. absoluta
. In all the larval population peaks, the number of individuals was higher in T1 than in the other treatments. The highest population suppression was obtained in T4 compared to the other treatments. These results show that combining
T. cucurbitaceus
with the IS technique is a useful approach to control the
T. absoluta
population.
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation is a multipurpose cellular process that viruses use ubiquitously during their multiplication. Cauliflower mosaic virus replication complexes are condensates that ...differ from those of most viruses, as they are nonmembranous assemblies that consist of RNA and protein, mainly the viral protein P6. Although these viral factories (VFs) were described half a century ago, with many observations that followed since, functional details of the condensation process and the properties and relevance of VFs have remained enigmatic. Here, we studied these issues in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. We observed a large dynamic mobility range of host proteins within VFs, while the viral matrix protein P6 is immobile, as it represents the central node of these condensates. We identified the stress granule (SG) nucleating factors G3BP7 and UBP1 family members as components of VFs. Similarly, as SG components localize to VFs during infection, ectopic P6 localizes to SGs and reduces their assembly after stress. Intriguingly, it appears that soluble rather than condensed P6 suppresses SG formation and mediates other essential P6 functions, suggesting that the increased condensation over the infection time-course may accompany a progressive shift in selected P6 functions. Together, this study highlights VFs as dynamic condensates and P6 as a complex modulator of SG responses.
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved intracellular degradation pathway that has recently emerged as an integral part of plant responses to virus infection. The known mechanisms of autophagy range ...from the selective degradation of viral components to a more general attenuation of disease symptoms. In addition, several viruses are able to manipulate the autophagy machinery and counteract autophagy-dependent resistance. Despite these findings, the complex interplay of autophagy activities, viral pathogenicity factors, and host defense pathways in disease development remains poorly understood. In the current study, we analyzed the interaction between autophagy and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that autophagy is induced during CMV infection and promotes the turnover of the major virulence protein and RNA silencing suppressor 2b. Intriguingly, autophagy induction is mediated by salicylic acid (SA) and dampened by the CMV virulence factor 2b. In accordance with 2b degradation, we found that autophagy provides resistance against CMV by reducing viral RNA accumulation in an RNA silencing-dependent manner. Moreover, autophagy and RNA silencing attenuate while SA promotes CMV disease symptoms, and epistasis analysis suggests that autophagy-dependent disease and resistance are uncoupled. We propose that autophagy counteracts CMV virulence via both 2b degradation and reduced SA-responses, thereby increasing plant fitness with the viral trade-off arising from increased RNA silencing-mediated resistance.
Abbreviations: AGO1: argonaute1; ANOVA: analysis of variance; ATG: autophagy related; AZD: AZD8055; CMV: cucumber mosaic virus; CaMV: cauliflower mosaic virus; Co-IP: Co-immunoprecipitation; ConA: concanamycin A; CP: coat protein; DAI: days after inoculation; DCL2/DCL4: dicer like 2/ dicer like 4; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; FLUC: firefly luciferase; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GUS: β-glucuronidase; h: hours; NahG: salicylate hydroxylase; NBR1: neighbor of BRCA1; NPR1: non-expressor of pathogensis related 1; PR1: pathogenesis related 1; RDR6: RNA dependent RNA polymerase 6; RFP: red fluorescent protein; RLUC: renilla luciferase; SA: salicylic acid; SGS3: suppressor of gene silencing 3; TuMV: turnip mosaic virus; WT: wild type
Superficial infections involving the skin and mucosa are the most common fungal disease in humans. Fungi can also produce invasive infections (IFI), which are increasing in incidence among the ...growing population of immunocompromised patients, and are characterized by a high mortality rate. Amphotericin B, new triazoles and echinocandins have improved treatment options in IFI. However, the frequency of less common and more resistant fungi, the limited activity of available antifungal drugs and their undesirable side effects reflect the urgent need for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Areas covered: This review summarizes the patents granted from August 2013 to June 2016 for antifungal compounds, reflecting the advances made by pharmaceutical companies and research groups in the discovery of new natural or synthetic antifungal compounds as well as the improvement of previously patented structures with antifungal activity. Expert opinion: in the period covered here, progress has been in the development of new antifungal compounds or analogs of existing drugs with broad spectrum of activity, more favorable pharmacokinetic profiles or better bioavailability. However, the development of more promising approaches as antifungal compounds with broader antifungal activity and fungal-specific mechanisms of action are a high priority.
Small, 2-dimensional sections routinely used for human pathology analysis provide limited information about bowel innervation. We developed a technique to image human enteric nervous system (ENS) and ...other intramural cells in 3 dimensions.
Using mouse and human colon tissues, we developed a method that combines tissue clearing, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and quantitative analysis of full-thickness bowel without sectioning to quantify ENS and other intramural cells in 3 dimensions.
We provided 280 adult human colon confocal Z-stacks from persons without known bowel motility disorders. Most of our images were of myenteric ganglia, captured using a 20× objective lens. Full-thickness colon images, viewed with a 10× objective lens, were as large as 4 × 5 mm2. Colon from 2 pediatric patients with Hirschsprung disease was used to show distal colon without enteric ganglia, as well as a transition zone and proximal pull-through resection margin where ENS was present. After testing a panel of antibodies with our method, we identified 16 antibodies that bind to molecules in neurons, glia, interstitial cells of Cajal, and muscularis macrophages. Quantitative analyses demonstrated myenteric plexus in 24.5% ± 2.4% of flattened colon Z-stack area. Myenteric ganglia occupied 34% ± 4% of myenteric plexus. Single myenteric ganglion volume averaged 3,527,678 ± 573,832 mm3 with 38,706 ± 5763 neuron/mm3 and 129,321 ± 25,356 glia/mm3. Images of large areas provided insight into why published values of ENS density vary up to 150-fold—ENS density varies greatly, across millimeters, so analyses of small numbers of thin sections from the same bowel region can produce varying results. Neuron subtype analysis revealed that approximately 56% of myenteric neurons stained with neuronal nitric oxide synthase antibody and approximately 33% of neurons produce and store acetylcholine. Transition zone regions from colon tissues of patients with Hirschsprung disease had ganglia in multiple layers and thick nerve fiber bundles without neurons. Submucosal neuron distribution varied among imaged colon regions.
We developed a 3-dimensional imaging method for colon that provides more information about ENS structure than tissue sectioning. This approach could improve diagnosis for human bowel motility disorders and may be useful for other bowel diseases as well.
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Advancements in research on the interaction of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) with nanotopographies and biomaterials are enhancing the ability to influence cell migration, proliferation, gene ...expression, and tailored differentiation toward desired phenotypes. Here, the fabrication of pyrolytic carbon nanograss (CNG) nanotopographies is reported and demonstrated that these can be employed as cell substrates boosting hNSCs differentiation into dopaminergic neurons (DAn), a long-time pursued goal in regenerative medicine based on cell replacement. In the near future, such structures can play a crucial role in the near future for stem-cell based cell replacement therapy (CRT) and bio-implants for Parkinson's disease (PD). The unique combination of randomly distributed nanograss topographies and biocompatible pyrolytic carbon material is optimized to provide suitable mechano-material cues for hNSCs adhesion, division, and DAn differentiation of midbrain hNSCs. The results show that in the presence of the biocoating poly-L-lysine (PLL), the CNG enhances hNSCs neurogenesis up to 2.3-fold and DAn differentiation up to 3.5-fold. Moreover, for the first time, consistent evidence is provided, that CNGs without any PLL coating are not only supporting cell survival but also lead to significantly enhanced neurogenesis and promote hNSCs to acquire dopaminergic phenotype compared to PLL coated topographies.
One of the most remarkable challenges concerning global migration policies nowadays has to do with impeding the trafficking of migrant workers for the purposes of labour exploitation. This paper aims ...to examine whether Spain has adequately fulfilled its obligations to prevent and prosecute labour trafficking and protect trafficking victims. To do so, it offers a critical analysis of public policies concerning labour trafficking, contrasting them with case-law and data regarding its implementation in practice. Thus, the most recent available data concerning inspection, investigation and prosecution of labour trafficking cases, as well as the identification and protection of labour trafficking victims in Spain is evaluated here. The results highlight the invisibility of human trafficking victims for the purposes of labour exploitation, partly caused by the lack of measures that specifically address this form of trafficking.
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