Phylogenetic diversity of indigenous Rhizobium trapped from the natural habitat of Pisum sativum L. in eastern and central Algeria

Plant and Soil - The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis fixation between legumes and Rhizobium helps the plant to survive and to compete effectively on nitrogen poor soils. The soil environment attached to...     

Functional integration for enrolment constrains evolutionary variation of phacopid trilobites despite developmental modularity

Modularity and integration are variational properties expressed at various levels of the biological hierarchy. Mismatches among these levels, for example developmental modules that are integrated in a functional unit, could be informative of how evolutionary processes and trade‐offs have shaped organismal morphologies as well as clade diversification. In the present study, we explored the full, integrated and modular spaces of two developmental modules in phacopid trilobites, the cephalon and the pygidium, and highlight some differences among them. Such contrasts reveal firstly that evolutionary processes operating in the modular spaces are stronger in the cephalon, probably due to a complex regime of selection related to the numerous functions ensured by this module. Secondly, we demonstrate that the same pattern of covariation is shared among species, which also differentiate along this common functional integration. This common pattern might be the result of stabilizing selection acting on the enrolment and implying a coordinate variation between the cephalon and the pygidium in a certain direction of the morphospace. Finally, we noticed that Austerops legrandi differs slightly from other species in that its integration is partly restructured in the way the two modules interact. Such a divergence can result from the involvement of the cephalon in several vital functions that may have constrained the response of the features involved in enrolment and reorganized the covariation of the pygidium with the cephalon. Therefore, it is possible that important evolutionary trade‐offs between enrolment and other functions on the cephalon might have partly shaped the diversification of trilobites.     

Effects of Previous Land-Use on Plant Species Composition and Diversity in Mediterranean Forests

At some point in their history, most forests in the Mediterranean Basin have been subjected to intensive management or converted to agriculture land. Knowing how forest plant communities recovered after the abandonment of forest-management or agricultural practices (including livestock grazing) provides a basis for investigating how previous land management have affected plant species diversity and composition in forest ecosystems. Our study investigated the consequences of historical “land management” practices on present-day Mediterranean forests by comparing species assemblages and the diversity of (i) all plant species and (ii) each ecological group defined by species’ habitat preferences and successional status (i.e., early-, mid-, and late-successional species). We compared forest stands that differed both in land-use history and in successional stage. In addition, we evaluated the value of those stands for biodiversity conservation. The study revealed significant compositional differentiation among stands that was due to among-stand variations in the diversity (namely, species richness and evenness) of early-, intermediate-, and late-successional species. Historical land management has led to an increase in compositional divergences among forest stands and the loss of late-successional forest species.     

Encapsulation of Resveratrol Using Water-in-Oil-in-Water Double Emulsions

The suitability of water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions to encapsulate resveratrol was assessed. Multiple emulsions were prepared by emulsifying a primary emulsion (40 wt.%) in water containing 0.5 wt.% sodium caseinate and 0.1 M NaCl. Four primary emulsions of canola oil (20 wt.%) stabilized by 8 wt.% polyglycerol polyricinoleate were chosen. The dispersed phase of the primary emulsions contained 0.1 M NaCl and either water, 20 wt.% ethanol in water, 2.5 wt.% whey protein isolate (WPI) in water, or 2.5 wt.% WPI and 5 wt.% gelatine in water. Resveratrol was incorporated into these primary emulsions at 0.25 wt.% to give a final 0.02 wt.% resveratrol in the multiple emulsions. Slight increase in particle size with storage at 23 °C for up to 2 weeks was observed. Further, less than 10% of the total encapsulated resveratrol is released to the external, continuous, aqueous phase. This work demonstrates the potential of multiple emulsions to encapsulate resveratrol for food applications.     

Advances in application of machine learning to life cycle assessment: a literature review

Purpose

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the process of systematically assessing impacts when there is an interaction between the environment and human activity. Machine learning (ML) with LCA methods can help contribute greatly to reducing impacts. The sheer number of input parameters and their uncertainties that contribute to the full life cycle make a broader application of ML complex and difficult to achieve. Hence a systems engineering approach should be taken to apply ML in isolation to aspects of the LCA. This study addresses the challenge of leveraging ML methods to deliver LCA solutions. The overarching hypothesis is that: LCA underpinned by ML methods and informed by dynamic data paves the way to more accurate LCA while supporting life cycle decision making.

Methods

In this study, previous research on ML for LCA were considered, and a literature review was undertaken.

Results

The results showed that ML can be a useful tool in certain aspects of the LCA. ML methods were shown to be applied efficiently in optimization scenarios in LCA. Finally, ML methods were integrated as part of existing inventory databases to streamline the LCA across many use cases.

Conclusions

The conclusions of this article summarise the characteristics of existing literature and provide suggestions for future work in limitations and gaps which were found in the literature.

     

Role of permissive neuraminidase mutations in influenza A/Brisbane/59/2007-like (H1N1) viruses

Neuraminidase (NA) mutations conferring resistance to NA inhibitors were believed to compromise influenza virus fitness. Unexpectedly, an oseltamivir-resistant A/Brisbane/59/2007 (Bris07)-like H1N1 H275Y NA variant emerged in 2007 and completely replaced the wild-type (WT) strain in 2008-2009. The NA of such variant contained additional NA changes (R222Q, V234M and D344N) that potentially counteracted the detrimental effect of the H275Y mutation on viral fitness. Here, we rescued a recombinant Bris07-like WT virus and 4 NA mutants/revertants (H275Y, H275Y/Q222R, H275Y/M234V and H275Y/N344D) and characterized them in vitro and in ferrets. A fluorometric-based NA assay was used to determine Vmax and Km values. Replicative capacities were evaluated by yield assays in ST6Gal1-MDCK cells. Recombinant NA proteins were expressed in 293T cells and surface NA activity was determined. Infectivity and contact transmission experiments were evaluated for the WT, H275Y and H275Y/Q222R recombinants in ferrets. The H275Y mutation did not significantly alter Km and Vmax values compared to WT. The H275Y/N344D mutant had a reduced affinity (Km of 50 vs 12 μM) whereas the H275Y/M234V mutant had a reduced activity (22 vs 28 U/sec). In contrast, the H275Y/Q222R mutant showed a significant decrease of both affinity (40 μM) and activity (7 U/sec). The WT, H275Y, H275Y/M234V and H275Y/N344D recombinants had comparable replicative capacities contrasting with H275Y/Q222R mutant whose viral titers were significantly reduced. All studied mutations reduced the cell surface NA activity compared to WT with the maximum reduction being obtained for the H275Y/Q222R mutant. Comparable infectivity and transmissibility were seen between the WT and the H275Y mutant in ferrets whereas the H275Y/Q222R mutant was associated with significantly lower lung viral titers. In conclusion, the Q222R reversion mutation compromised Bris07-like H1N1 virus in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the R222Q NA mutation present in the WT virus may have facilitated the emergence of NAI-resistant Bris07 variants.     

Involvement of fengycin-type lipopeptides in the multifaceted biocontrol potential of Bacillus subtilis

In this work, the potential of Bacillus subtilis strain M4 at protecting plants against fungal diseases was demonstrated in different pathosystems. We provide evidence for the role of secreted lipopeptides, and more particularly of fengycins, in the protective effect afforded by the strain against damping-off of bean seedlings caused by Pythium ultimum and against gray mold of apple in post-harvest disease. This role was demonstrated by the strong biocontrol activity of lipopeptide-enriched extracts and through the detection of inhibitory quantities of fengycins in infected tissues. Beside such a direct antagonism of the pathogen, we show that root pre-inoculation with M4 enabled the host plant to react more efficiently to subsequent pathogen infection on leaves. Fengycins could also be involved in this systemic resistance-eliciting effect of strain M4, as these molecules may induce the synthesis of plant phenolics involved in or derived from the defense-related phenylpropanoid metabolism. Much remains to be discovered about the mechanisms by which Bacillus spp suppress disease. Through this study on strain M4, we reinforce the interest in B. subtilis as a pathogen antagonist and plant defense-inducing agent. The secretion of cyclic fengycin-type lipopeptides may be tightly related to the expression of these two biocontrol traits.