True breeding of button mushrooms has hardly been done in the last decades, despite this species being one of the most cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Research done in the last 20 years has ...identified and characterised new germplasm and improved our understanding of the genetic base for some traits. A substantial collection of wild-collected strains is now available and partly characterised for a number of important traits such as disease resistance and yield. Most of the variations found in a number of important agronomic traits have a considerable heritability and are thus useful for breeding. Genetic marker technology has also developed considerably for this mushrooms in the last decade and used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for important agronomic traits. This progress has, except for one example, not resulted so far into new commercially varieties. One of the reasons lies in the typical life cycle of the button mushroom
Agaricus bisporus
var.
bisporus
which hampers breeding. Joint investment is needed to solve technical problems in breeding. Special attention is needed for the protection of new varieties. Due to its typical life cycle, it is very easy to generate so called “look-a-likes” from protected cultivars by screening fertile single spore cultures. A consensus has been reached within the mushroom (breeding) industry to consider this method as the generation of essentially derived varieties as defined in plant breeding.
The ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-5 Precursor (S-5 P) is a low Earth orbit polar satellite to provide information and services on air quality, climate and the ozone layer in the timeframe ...2015–2022. The S-5 P mission is part of the Global Monitoring of the Environment and Security (GMES) Space Component Programme. The payload of the mission is the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) that will measure key atmospheric constituents including ozone, NO2, SO2, CO, CH4, CH2O and aerosol properties. TROPOMI has heritage to both the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) as well as to the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY (SCIAMACHY). The S-5 P will extend the data records of these missions as well as be a preparatory mission for the Sentinel-5 mission planned for 2020 onward. The mission is pre-operational and is the link between the current scientific and the operational Sentinel-4/-5 missions.
This contribution describes the science and mission objectives, the mission and the instrument, and the data products. While building on a solid foundation of the heritage instruments, the S-5P/TROPOMI mission is an exciting step forward with a strong focus on the troposphere. This is achieved by a combination of a high spatial resolution and improved signal-to-noise, as well as dedicated data product development. It is anticipated that the S-5 P mission will make a large contribution to the monitoring of the global atmospheric composition, as well as to the scientific knowledge of relevant atmospheric processes.
► The S-5 P satellite mission will monitor the global atmospheric composition. ► TROPOMI will measure key tropospheric constituents with a resolution of 7×7km2. ► TROPOMI is a major step forward and links with the GMES Sentinel 4/5 missions.
Abstract
Background
Respiratory failure and thromboembolism are frequent in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2–infected patients. Vitamin K activates both hepatic coagulation factors and ...extrahepatic endothelial anticoagulant protein S, required for thrombosis prevention. In times of vitamin K insufficiency, hepatic procoagulant factors are preferentially activated over extrahepatic proteins. Vitamin K also activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which protects against pulmonary and vascular elastic fiber damage. We hypothesized that vitamin K may be implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), linking pulmonary and thromboembolic disease.
Methods
A total of 135 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were compared with 184 historic controls. Inactive vitamin K–dependent MGP (desphospho-uncarboxylated dp-uc MGP) and prothrombin (PIVKA-II) were measured inversely related to extrahepatic and hepatic vitamin K status, respectively. Desmosine was measured to quantify the rate of elastic fiber degradation. Arterial calcification severity was assessed using computed tomography.
Results
dp-ucMGP was elevated in COVID-19 patients compared with controls (P < .001), with even higher dp-ucMGP in patients with poor outcomes (P < .001). PIVKA-II was normal in 82.1% of patients. dp-ucMGP was correlated with desmosine (P < .001) and with coronary artery (P = .002) and thoracic aortic (P < .001) calcification scores.
Conclusions
dp-ucMGP was severely increased in COVID-19 patients, indicating extrahepatic vitamin K insufficiency, which was related to poor outcome; hepatic procoagulant factor II remained unaffected. These data suggest pneumonia-induced extrahepatic vitamin K depletion leading to accelerated elastic fiber damage and thrombosis in severe COVID-19 due to impaired activation of MGP and endothelial protein S, respectively.
Indirectly quantified extrahepatic vitamin K status is severely reduced in COVID-19. Data suggest pneumonia-induced vitamin K depletion leading to elastic fiber damage and thrombosis due to impaired vitamin K–dependent activation of matrix Gla protein and endothelial protein S, respectively.
Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication of arthroplasty. Due to biofilm and persister formation current treatment strategies often fail. Therefore, innovative anti-biofilm and ...anti-persister agents are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides with their broad antibacterial activities may be such candidates. An
model simulating PJI comprising of rifampicin/ciprofloxacin-exposed, mature methicillin-resistant
(MRSA) biofilms on polystyrene plates, titanium/aluminium/niobium disks, and prosthetic joint liners were developed. Bacteria obtained from and residing within these biofilms were exposed to SAAP-148, acyldepsipeptide-4, LL-37, and pexiganan. Microcalorimetry was used to monitor the heat flow by the bacteria in these models. Daily exposure of mature biofilms to rifampicin/ciprofloxacin for 3 days resulted in a 4-log reduction of MRSA. Prolonged antibiotic exposure did not further reduce bacterial counts. Microcalorimetry confirmed the low metabolic activity of these persisters. SAAP-148 and pexiganan, but not LL-37, eliminated the persisters while ADEP4 reduced the number of persisters. SAAP-148 further eradicated persisters within antibiotics-exposed, mature biofilms on the various surfaces. To conclude, antibiotic-exposed, mature MRSA biofilms on various surfaces have been developed as
models for PJI. SAAP-148 is highly effective against persisters obtained from the biofilms as well as within these models. Antibiotics-exposed, mature biofilms on relevant surfaces can be instrumental in the search for novel treatment strategies to combat biofilm-associated infections.
Background
In the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the validation of biomarkers for early AD diagnosis and for use as a surrogate outcome in AD clinical trials is of considerable research interest.
...Objective
To characterize the clinical profile and genetic, neuroimaging and neurophysiological biomarkers of prodromal AD in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients enrolled in the IMI WP5 PharmaCog (also referred to as the European ADNI study).
Methods
A total of 147 aMCI patients were enrolled in 13 European memory clinics. Patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and lumbar puncture to assess the levels of amyloid β peptide 1–42 (Aβ42), tau and p‐tau, and blood samples were collected. Genetic (APOE), neuroimaging (3T morphometry and diffusion MRI) and EEG (with resting‐state and auditory oddball event‐related potential (AO‐ERP) paradigm) biomarkers were evaluated.
Results
Prodromal AD was found in 55 aMCI patients defined by low Aβ42 in the cerebrospinal fluid (Aβ positive). Compared to the aMCI group with high Aβ42 levels (Aβ negative), Aβ positive patients showed poorer visual (P = 0.001), spatial recognition (P < 0.0005) and working (P = 0.024) memory, as well as a higher frequency of APOE4 (P < 0.0005), lower hippocampal volume (P = 0.04), reduced thickness of the parietal cortex (P < 0.009) and structural connectivity of the corpus callosum (P < 0.05), higher amplitude of delta rhythms at rest (P = 0.03) and lower amplitude of posterior cingulate sources of AO‐ERP (P = 0.03).
Conclusion
These results suggest that, in aMCI patients, prodromal AD is characterized by a distinctive cognitive profile and genetic, neuroimaging and neurophysiological biomarkers. Longitudinal assessment will help to identify the role of these biomarkers in AD progression.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, exerts far-reaching effects on public health and socio-economic welfare. The majority of ...infected individuals have mild to moderate symptoms, but a significant proportion develops respiratory failure due to pneumonia. Thrombosis is another frequent manifestation of Covid-19 that contributes to poor outcomes. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in the activation of both pro- and anticlotting factors in the liver and the activation of extrahepatically synthesised protein S which seems to be important in local thrombosis prevention. However, the role of vitamin K extends beyond coagulation. Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent inhibitor of soft tissue calcification and elastic fibre degradation. Severe extrahepatic vitamin K insufficiency was recently demonstrated in Covid-19 patients, with high inactive MGP levels correlating with elastic fibre degradation rates. This suggests that insufficient vitamin K-dependent MGP activation leaves elastic fibres unprotected against SARS-CoV-2-induced proteolysis. In contrast to MGP, Covid-19 patients have normal levels of activated factor II, in line with previous observations that vitamin K is preferentially transported to the liver for activation of procoagulant factors. We therefore expect that vitamin K-dependent endothelial protein S activation is also compromised, which would be compatible with enhanced thrombogenicity. Taking these data together, we propose a mechanism of pneumonia-induced vitamin K depletion, leading to a decrease in activated MGP and protein S, aggravating pulmonary damage and coagulopathy, respectively. Intervention trials should be conducted to assess whether vitamin K administration plays a role in the prevention and treatment of severe Covid-19.
KEY MESSAGE : Biochemical characterization in combination with genetic analyses in BC ₂ S ₁ plants and near-isogenic lines led to the detection and validation of C. baccatum loci affecting flavor, ...terpenoid content and Brix level. The species Capsicum baccatum includes the most common hot peppers of the Andean cuisine, known for their rich variation in flavors and aromas. So far the C. baccatum genetic variation remained merely concealed for Capsicum annuum breeding, due to post-fertilization genetic barriers encountered in interspecific hybridization. However, to exploit the potential flavor wealth of C. baccatum we combined interspecific crossing with embryo rescue, resulting in a multi-parent BC₂S₁ population. Volatile and non-volatile compounds plus some physical characters were measured in mature fruits, in combination with taste evaluation by a sensory panel. An enormous variation in biochemical composition and sensory attributes was found, with almost all traits showing transgression. A population-specific genetic linkage map was developed for QTL mapping. BC₂S₁ QTLs were validated in an experiment with near-isogenic lines, resulting in confirmed genetic effects for physical, biochemical and sensory traits. Three findings are described in more detail: (1) A small C. baccatum LG3 introgression caused an extraordinary effect on flavor, resulting in significantly higher scores for the attributes aroma, flowers, spices, celery and chives. In an attempt to identify the responsible biochemical compounds few consistently up- and down-regulated metabolites were detected. (2) Two introgressions (LG10.1 and LG1) had major effects on terpenoid content of mature fruits, affecting at least 15 different monoterpenes. (3) A second LG3 fragment resulted in a strong increase in Brix without negative effects on fruit size. The mapping strategy, the potential application of studied traits and perspectives for breeding are discussed.
► We measured volatile and non-volatile compounds in mature fruits of sweet pepper. ► Genotypes were also evaluated for taste by a descriptive sensory expert panel. ► Phenolic and lipid derivatives, ...higher alkanes and sesquiterpenes formed major determinants of genotypic differences. ► Flavour was discriminated mainly by texture attributes and the sweet–sour contrast. ► Most attributes could be predicted with specific volatiles and/or non-volatiles.
In this study volatile and non-volatile compounds, as well as some breeding parameters, were measured in mature fruits of elite sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) lines and hybrids from a commercial breeding program, several cultivated genotypes and one gene bank accession. In addition, all genotypes were evaluated for taste by a trained descriptive sensory expert panel. Metabolic contrasts between genotypes were caused by clusters of volatile and non-volatile compounds, which could be related to metabolic pathways and common biochemical precursors. Clusters of phenolic derivatives, higher alkanes, sesquiterpenes and lipid derived volatiles formed the major determinants of the genotypic differences. Flavour was described with the use of 14 taste attributes, of which the texture related attributes and the sweet–sour contrast were the most discriminatory factors. The attributes juiciness, toughness, crunchiness, stickiness, sweetness, aroma, sourness and fruity/apple taste could be significantly predicted with combined volatile and non-volatile data. Fructose and (E)-2-hexen-1-ol were highly correlated with aroma, fruity/apple taste and sweetness. New relations were found for fruity/apple taste and sweetness with the compounds p-menth-1-en-9-al, (E)-β-ocimene, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol and (E)-geranylacetone. Based on the overall biochemical and sensory results, the perspectives for flavour improvement by breeding are discussed.
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