Assessment of ectomycorrhizal biodiversity in Tuber macrosporum productive sites

Tuber macrosporum Vittad. is a truffle with superb organoleptic properties, whose cultivation is still in its infancy. For the first time we have aimed to provide information on ectomycorrhizal communities in natural and cultivated T. macrosporum sites. Ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were identified using ITS nrDNA sequencing and sorted into molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU). We detected 16 MOTUs in the T. macrosporum cultivated plantation. Ascomycota were the most abundant (86.4 %) with Helvellaceae, Pyronemataceae and Pezizaceae the most common. Twenty-two MOTUs were collected in the natural T. macrosporum site. Basidiomycota morphotypes were plentiful (70.6 %) and Thelephoraceae dominated. Each site had different taxa belowground with only T. macrosporum in common, being more abundant in the natural (18.2 %) than in the cultivated (14.4 %) site. Species richness, Simpson and Shannon diversity indices, taxonomic diversity, distinctness and variation of taxonomic distinctness were lower in the cultivated than in the natural site.     

Quantifying the relationship between sequence and three-dimensional structure conservation in RNA

Background  

In recent years, the number of available RNA structures has rapidly grown reflecting the increased interest on RNA biology. Similarly to the studies carried out two decades ago for proteins, which gave the fundamental grounds for developing comparative protein structure prediction methods, we are now able to quantify the relationship between sequence and structure conservation in RNA.     

Induction of polyphenol gene expression in apple (Malus x domestica) after the application of a dioxygenase inhibitor

A comprehensive study of the complex polyphenol biosynthesis in developing leaves of apple ( Malus domestica ) was performed comprising gene expression, enzyme activities and polyphenol composition. During leaf development, an early increase in gene expression was observed for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5), chalcone synthase (CHS, EC 2.3.1.74), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (FHT, EC 1.14.11.9) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase/flavanone 4-reductase (DFR/FNR, EC 1.1.1.219). Their enzyme activities showed a corresponding trend during the time course. A parallel set of experiments was carried out with leaves treated with prohexadione-Ca (ProCa), which is an enzyme inhibitor of 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases (2-ODDs). ProCa is known to induce changes in polyphenol biosynthesis, which are accompanied by a reduced incidence of fire blight and scab, the two major pome fruit diseases. The application of ProCa led to an increase in activities of PAL, CHS, FHT and DFR/FNR, which was based on an enhanced gene expression. In contrast, an inhibition of gene expression was detected for anthocyanidin synthase (EC 1.14.11.19). These effects are interpreted as a feedback regulation by changed polyphenol levels. Because of the inhibition of the 2-ODDs FHT and flavonol synthase (EC 1.14.11.23), some pronounced changes in polyphenol composition were observed. Eriodictyol, the substrate of FHT, accumulated as eriodictyol-7- O -glucoside and 6"- O - trans - p -coumaroyleriodictyol 3'- O -glucoside. In addition, the 3-deoxycatechin luteoliflavan was formed which is not present in untreated apple leaves. Hence, beyond the redirection of polyphenol biosynthesis by the enzyme inhibitor, changed polyphenol levels obviously cause a distinct induction of gene expression by feedback regulation.     

Inhibitory Effects of 1-Deazaadenosine Analogues on HIV Replication and Adenosine Deaminase

Abstract

A series of 2′,3′-dideoxy-N⁶-(cyclo)alkyl-1-deazaadenosine derivatives were synthesized starting from 2,6-dichloro-1-deazapurine (9). The new nucleosides proved to be good inhibitors of HIV-1 replication, the most active being the 2′,3′-dideoxy-2-chloro-N⁶-cycloctyl-1-deazaadenosine (14h, ED₅₀ = 0.4 μ).     

The influence of illness‐related variables,personal resources and context‐related factors on real‐life functioning of people with schizophrenia

In people suffering from schizophrenia, major areas of everyday life are impaired, including independent living, productive activities and social relationships. Enhanced understanding of factors that hinder real‐life functioning is vital for treatments to translate into more positive outcomes. The goal of the present study was to identify predictors of real‐life functioning in people with schizophrenia, and to assess their relative contribution. Based on previous literature and clinical experience, several factors were selected and grouped into three categories: illness‐related variables, personal resources and context‐related factors. Some of these variables were never investigated before in relationship with real‐life functioning. In 921 patients with schizophrenia living in the community, we found that variables relevant to the disease, personal resources and social context explain 53.8% of real‐life functioning variance in a structural equation model. Neurocognition exhibited the strongest, though indirect, association with real‐life functioning. Positive symptoms and disorganization, as well as avolition, proved to have significant direct and indirect effects, while depression had no significant association and poor emotional expression was only indirectly and weakly related to real‐life functioning. Availability of a disability pension and access to social and family incentives also showed a significant direct association with functioning. Social cognition, functional capacity, resilience, internalized stigma and engagement with mental health services served as mediators. The observed complex associations among investigated predictors, mediators and real‐life functioning strongly suggest that integrated and personalized programs should be provided as standard treatment to people with schizophrenia.     

In planta expression of a mature Der p 1 allergen isolated from an Italian strain of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

European (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and American (Dermatophagoides farinae) house dust mite species are considered the most common causes of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. Der p 1 protein, one of the main allergens of D. pteronyssinus, is found in high concentration in mites faecal pellets, which can became easily airborne and, when inhaled, can cause perennial rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Here we report the isolation of the Der p 1 gene from an Italian strain of D. pteronyssinus and the PVX-mediated expression of its mature form (I-rDer p 1) in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Human sera from characterized allergic patients were used for IgE binding inhibition assays to test the immunological reactivity of I-rDer p 1 produced in N. benthamiana plants. The binding properties of in planta produced I-rDer p 1 versus the IgE of patients sera were comparable to those obtained on Der p 1 preparation immobilized on a microarray. In this paper we provide a proof of concept for the production of an immunologically active form of Der p 1 using a plant viral vector. These results pave the way for the development of diagnostic allergy tests based on in planta produced allergens.     

Systemic elevation of interleukin-15 in vivo promotes apoptosis in skeletal muscles of young adult and aged rats

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that systemic elevation of IL-15 would attenuate apoptosis in skeletal muscles of aged rats. IL-15 was administered to young adult (n = 6) and aged (n = 6) rats for 14 days. Apoptosis was quantified using an ELISA assay and verified through TUNEL staining of muscle sections. As expected, apoptosis was greater in muscles from aged control rats, compared to age-matched control. Apoptosis was also greater in the muscles from young adult and aged rats treated with IL-15. These increases in apoptosis were associated with decreases in muscle mass of IL-15 treated rats. These data do not support our initial hypothesis and suggest that systemic elevation of IL-15 promotes apoptosis in skeletal muscle. The proposed anti-apoptotic property of IL-15 may be specific to cell-type and/or the degree of muscle pathology present; however, additional research is required to more clearly decipher its role in skeletal muscle.     

Current status in production and utilization of dihaploids from somatic hybrids between eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and its wild relatives

The major constrains for practical exploitation of the somatic hybrids between eggplant and its wild relatives have been their sterility and tetraploidy which prevented their incorporation into breeding programs. Here we demonstrate that anther culture was successfully utilized to bring back the ploidy level to the diploid status in tetraploid interspecific hybrids between eggplant and the allied species S. integrifolium and S. aethiopicum gr. gilo. Both the relative species are resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae and to some strains of bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) which are very destructive diseases of eggplant. Dihaploid androgenetic plants were obtained from the somatic hybrids, from the “double somatic hybrid” obtained by sexual cross of the two somatic hybrids [(eggplant + S. aethiopicum) × (eggplant + S. integrifolium)], and from tetraploid backcrossed plants between the somatic hybrid with S. aethiopicum and eggplant. Phenotypical, molecular, biological and biochemical characterization, and also artificial inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum are consistent with a recombination between the genomes of the species involved in the hybridizations. Dihaploids resistant to Fusarium were successfully backcrossed with eggplant. Besides their utility as potential valuable breeding materials, the introgressed lines obtained may be utilized in genetic and molecular studies about the resistance to Fusarium from S. integrifolium and S. aethiopicum gr. gilo.