We aimed to unravel the events which favor the seed-rhizobacterium
strain ALB629 (hereafter ALB629) interaction and which may interfere with the rhizobacterium colonization and growth on the ...spermosphere of common bean. Seed exudates from common bean were tested
for ALB629 biofilm formation and bacterial growth. Furthermore, the performance of ALB629 on plant-related variables under drought stress was checked. Seed exudates (1 and 5% v/v) increased ALB629 biofilm formation. Additionally, the colony forming units for ALB629 increased both in culture and on the bean seed surface. The bean seed exudates up-regulated biofilm operons in ALB629
and
by ca. two and sixfold, respectively. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-coupled with MS showed that malic acid is present as a major organic acid component in the seed exudates. Seeds treated with ALB629 and amended with malic acid resulted in seedlings with a higher bacterial concentration, induced plant drought tolerance, and promoted plant growth. We showed that seed exudates promote growth of ALB629 and malic acid was identified as a major organic acid component in the bean seed exudates. Our results also show that supplementation of ALB629 induced drought tolerance and growth in plants. The research pertaining to the biological significance of seed exudates in plant-microbe interaction is unexplored field and our work shows the importance of seed exudates in priming both growth and tolerance against abiotic stress.
Abstract
Background
High-resolution metabolomics (HRM) is an innovative tool to study challenging infectious diseases like leprosy, where the pathogen cannot be grown with standard methods. Here, we ...use HRM to better understand associations between disease manifestations, nutrition, and host metabolism.
Methods
From 2018 to 2019, adults with leprosy and controls were recruited in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Plasma metabolites were detected using an established HRM workflow and characterized by accurate mass, mass to charge ratio m/z and retention time. The mummichog informatics package compared metabolic pathways between cases and controls and between multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy. Additionally, select individual metabolites were quantified and compared.
Results
Thirty-nine cases (62% MB and 38% PB) and 25 controls were enrolled. We found differences (P < .05) in several metabolic pathways, including fatty acid metabolism, carnitine shuttle, retinol, vitamin D3, and C-21 steroid metabolism, between cases and controls with lower retinol and associated metabolites in cases. Between MB and PB, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, tryptophan, and cortisol were all found to be lower in MB (P < .05).
Discussion
Metabolites associated with several nutrient-related metabolic pathways appeared differentially regulated in leprosy, especially MB versus PB. This pilot study demonstrates the metabolic interdependency of these pathways, which may play a role in the pathophysiology of disease.
Results of our untargeted high-resolution metabolomics study demonstrated differentially regulated metabolic pathways that differed significantly across cases of leprosy and controls with vitamin D, retinol, and fatty acid metabolites featuring prominently, supporting potential roles in the immune response to infection.
Introduction
The transition into parenthood is associated with an increased psychopathological vulnerability. Most studies have focused on mothers, although recently, the role of fathers has grown ...more importance. Paternal perinatal depression (PPD) is an episode of major depressive disorder occurring in new or expectant fathers during the perinatal period. PPD is not widely acknowledged and research are rare.
Objectives
The authors intend to review the literature about PPD, focusing on its prevalence, risk factors, clinical features, treatment and consequences.
Methods
Non-systematic review of the literature through PubMed.
Results
A meta-analysis of PPD estimated a prevalence of 10.4%. Risk factors of PPD are multiple and complex. There are sociodemographic factors, such as marital status, monthly income and social support. Psychological factors, for instance history of depression, maternal prenatal anxiety and maternal depression. Some literature also suggests hormonal changes on men like increase estrogen and lower testosterone levels. PPD can present with symptoms of mood alterations, like irritability and restricted emotions, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite. Also common are behavioural disturbances such as interpersonal conflicts, impulsivity, violence, avoidance behaviour, and substance abuse. There are no studies to specific treatments to PPD, so the treatment is the same for women, such as antidepressants and psychotherapy. If untreated, PPD can have an adverse influence on the health and wellbeing of the mother and child.
Conclusions
PPD is still underscreened, underdiagnosed and undertreated. It is fundamental identifying risk factors and the development of specific interventions. Further research on PPD is needed.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Reactive oxygen species, as singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydrogen peroxide, are continuously generated by aerobic organisms, and react actively with biomolecules. At excessive amounts, 1O2 induces ...oxidative stress and shows carcinogenic and toxic effects due to oxidation of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Singlet oxygen is able to react with DNA molecule and may induce G to T transversions due to 8-oxodG generation. The nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair and mismatch repair have been implicated in the correction of DNA lesions induced by 1O2 both in prokaryotic and in eukaryotic cells. 1O2 is also able to induce the expression of genes involved with the cellular responses to oxidative stress, such as NF-κB, c-fos and c-jun, and genes involved with tissue damage and inflammation, as ICAM-1, interleukins 1 and 6. The studies outlined in this review reinforce the idea that 1O2 is one of the more dangerous reactive oxygen species to the cells, and deserves our attention.
Singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) has been associated with a number of physiological processes. Despite the recognized importance of 1O2‐mediated protein modifications, little is known about the role of ...this oxidant in crosslink formation and protein aggregation. Thus, using lysozyme as a model, the present study sought to investigate the involvement of 1O2 in crosslink formation. Lysozyme was photochemically oxidized in the presence of rose bengal or chemically oxidized using 18O‐labeled 1O2 released from thermolabile endoperoxides. It was concluded that both 1O2 generating systems induce lysozyme crosslinking and aggregation. Using SDS‐PAGE and nano‐scale liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, the results clearly demonstrated that 1O2 is directly involved in the formation of covalent crosslinks involving the amino acids histidine, lysine, and tryptophan.
This survey focuses on recent aspects of the singlet oxygen oxidation of the guanine moiety of nucleosides, oligonucleotides, isolated and cellular DNA that has been shown to be the exclusive DNA ...target for this biologically relevant photogenerated oxidant. A large body of mechanistic data is now available from studies performed on nucleosides in both aprotic solvents and aqueous solutions. A common process to both reaction conditions is the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine by reduction of 8-hydroperoxyguanine that arises from the rearrangement of initially formed endoperoxide across the 4,8-bond of the purine moiety. However, in organic solvent the hydroperoxide is converted as a major degradation pathway into a dioxirane that subsequently decomposes into a complex pattern of oxidation products. A different reaction that involved the formation of a highly reactive quinonoid intermediate consecutively to the loss of a water molecule from the 8-hydroperoxide has been shown to occur in aqueous solution. Subsequent addition of a water molecule at C5 leads to the generation of a spiroiminodihydantoin compound via a rearrangement that involves an acyl shift. However, in both isolated and cellular DNA the latter decomposition pathway is at the best a minor process, because only 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine has been found to be generated. It is interesting to point out that singlet oxygen has been shown to contribute predominantly to the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine in the DNA of bacterial and human cells upon exposure to UVA radiation. It may be added that the formation of secondary singlet-oxygen oxidation products of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, including spiroiminodihydantoin and oxaluric acid that were characterized in nucleosides and oligonucleotide, respectively, have not yet been found in cellular DNA.
Introduction
Recently there has been renewal in interest of psychedelic research. Classic psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin and mescaline act pharmacologically as ...agonists at the 5-HT2A receptor. The entactogens like methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), acts as a serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline agonist. All of these drugs are potential candidates in the treatment of multiple psychiatric illnesses.
Objectives
The authors intend to review the literature on the clinical application of psychedelic drugs in psychiatric disorders.
Methods
Non-systematic review of the literature.
Results
In recent clinical trial the psychedelic is given with psychotherapeutic input. In a supportive setting, psychedelics produced immediate and significant anti-depressant and anxiolytic effects that were endured for several months. Randomized clinical trials support the efficace of psilocybin in the treatment of depression and those with anxiety and depression symptoms provoked by life-threatening cancer. There have also been studies showing efficacy in both alcohol and tobacco dependence. When administered safely LSD can reduce anxiety and have anti-addictive property. Randomized clinical trials support the efficacy of MDMA in the treatment of PTSD. Psychedelics were well-tolerated, few adverse effects have been reported. The most common adverse effects were transient anxiety, short-lived headaches, nausea and mild increases in heart rate and blood pressure, with no persisting adverse effects. Serious adverse events, such as persistent psychosis and suicidality, have not been demonstrated.
Conclusions
Psychedelics appear to be effective in multiple psychiatric disorders and are well-tolerated, although further evidence is required, to better see they therapeutic potential.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Bacillus
spp. are widely marketed and used in agricultural systems as antagonists to various phytopathogens, but it can also benefit the plant as plant growth promoters. Therefore, the longer ...presence of the bacterium in the rhizosphere would result in a prolonged growth-promoting benefit, but little is yet known about its persistence in the rhizosphere after seed coating. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the tomato growth promotion mediated by
Bacillus licheniformis
FMCH001 and
Bacillus subtilis
FMCH002 and the survival rate of these bacteria both in shoots and in the rhizosphere. The
Bacillus
strains used throughout this study were obtained from Quartzo® produced by Chr. Hansen. The application of a mixture of
B. subtilis
and
B. licheniformis
(Quartzo®) at concentrations 1 × 10
8
, 1 × 10
9
, and 1 × 10
10
CFU mL
−1
, as well as the application of
B. subtilis
and
B. licheniformis
individually at concentration 1 × 10
8
CFU mL
−1
, increased fresh and dry masses of shoot and root system, volume of root system, and length of roots of tomato plants when compared to control. Both
Bacillus
strains produced IAA after 48 h of in vitro.
Bacillus
colonies obtained from plant sap were morphologically similar to colonies of
B. subtilis
and
B. licheniformis
strains and were detected in inoculated on plants and not detected in control ones. A similar pattern was obtained through DNA-based detection (qPCR). Therefore,
B. subtilis
and
B. licheniformis
were able to produce auxin, promote tomato growth, and colonize and persist in the rhizosphere.
Rhizosphere microbiome is a dynamic and complex zone of microbial communities. This complex plant-associated microbial community, usually regarded as the plant's second genome, plays a crucial role ...in plant health. It is unquestioned that plant microbiome collectively contributes to plant growth and fitness. It also provides a safeguard from plant pathogens, and induces tolerance in the host against abiotic stressors. The revolution in omics, gene-editing and sequencing tools have somehow led to unravel the compositions and latent interactions between plants and microbes. Similarly, besides standard practices, many biotechnological, (bio)chemical and ecological methods have also been proposed. Such platforms have been solely dedicated to engineer the complex microbiome by untangling the potential barriers, and to achieve better agriculture output. Yet, several limitations, for example, the biological obstacles, abiotic constraints and molecular tools that capably impact plant microbiome engineering and functionality, remained unaddressed problems. In this review, we provide a holistic overview of plant microbiome composition, complexities, and major challenges in plant microbiome engineering. Then, we unearthed all inevitable abiotic factors that serve as bottlenecks by discouraging plant microbiome engineering and functionality. Lastly, by exploring the inherent role of micro/macrofauna, we propose economic and eco-friendly strategies that could be harnessed sustainably and biotechnologically for resilient plant microbiome engineering.
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) confer disease resistance in many agricultural crops. In the case of Bacillus subtilis (UFLA285) isolated from the cotton producing state of Mato Grosso ...(Brazil), in addition to inducing foliar and root growth, disease resistance against damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani was observed. The aim of this cotton study was to identify gene transcriptional events altered with exposure to the PGPR strain UFLA285 in infected plants. Global gene transcription was profiled using a commercially-available cotton gene chip; cotton plants with and without UFLA285-seed treatment were infected with R. solani 9-days after planting and harvested on day 14. Microarray data of stem tissue revealed 247 genes differentially regulated in infected plants, seed treated versus untreated with UFLA285. Transcripts encoding disease resistance proteins via jasmonate/ethylene signaling as well as osmotic regulation via proline synthesis genes were differentially expressed with UFLA285 induction. Consistent with transcriptional regulation, UFLA285 increased plant-proline accumulation and dry weight. This study has identified transcriptional changes in cotton, induced by the beneficial soil bacterium UFLA285 and associated with disease control.