Mazaedium evolution in the Ascomycota (Fungi) and the classification of mazaediate groups of formerly unclear relationship

Calicioid or mazaediate fungi constitute a heterogeneous assemblage of fungi sharing the presence of a mazaedium. These fungi were once treated as an order (Caliciales) of the Ascomycota but many are now known to be nested within the Arthoniomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Lecanoromycetes and Leotiomycetes. In this study we employ multigene phylogenetic analyses of main mazaediate groups (based on nuclear 18S, 28S, 5.8S rDNA, mitochondrial 16S, and the protein coding RPB1 and Mcm7) of 116 taxa corresponding to most major groups of the inoperculate ascomycetes (“Leotiomyceta”) and a selection of Pezizomycetes, to trace the evolution of the mazaedium in the Pezizomycotina (the “Euascomycetes”). In particular, we studied the placement of three calicioid groups of uncertain position, Calycidiaceae, Coniocybaceae and Microcaliciaceae. Here, we show that the Calycidiaceae is closely related to the Sphaerophoraceae in the Lecanoromycetidae (Lecanoromycetes), as supported by overall morphology and the production of sphaerophorin. The Coniocybaceae constitute an early divergent line in the inoperculate ascomycetes and here we propose to recognize this group formally as the new class and order Coniocybomycetes, Coniocybales. The Microcaliciaceae is nested within the Ostropomycetidae (Lecanoromycetes). Both Coniocybaceae and Microcaliciaceae, although highly distinctive, lack morphological similarities to related main fungal groups. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that the ancestor of all inoperculate ascomycetes and the ancestor of all main inoperculate ascomycete groups, with the exception of the Coniocybomycetes, was non‐mazediate, and thus confirms the large amount of parallel evolution and independent gains of the mazaedium in the history of the Ascomycota.     

A Fourier Transform-Raman Spectroscopic Study of Lichen Strategies on Granite Monuments

The biodeterioration of granite by Lecidea fuscoatra (L.) Ach., Porpidia cinereoatra (Ach.) Hertel & Knoph, and P. macrocarpa (DC.) Hertel & Schwab growing in the same environmental conditions has been studied by using Fourier transform-Raman spectroscopy. Results were significantly different for the three species, with P. cinereoatra being the most active biodeteriorative lichen. This lichen was also the only one in which calcium oxalate and gypsum were identified spectroscopically. Physical disturbances to the substratum were evidenced in all lichens studied by the incoporation of material, such as quartz and feldspar, into their thalli, but this phenomenon varied considerably from species to species. The results indicate that lichen species can adopt different strategies and can have different biodeteriorative effects on granite, independently of environmental conditions and substrate.     

Interaction of a peptide corresponding to the loop domain of the S2 SARS-CoV virus protein with model membranes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope spike (S) glycoprotein is responsible for the fusion between the membranes of the virus and the target cell. In the case of the S2 domain of protein S, it has been found a highly hydrophobic and interfacial domain flanked by the heptad repeat 1 and 2 regions; significantly, different peptides pertaining to this domain have shown a significant leakage effect and an important plaque formation inhibition, which, similarly to HIV-1 gp41, support the role of this region in the fusion process. Therefore, we have carried out a study of the binding and interaction with model membranes of a peptide corresponding to segment 1073–1095 of the SARS-CoV S glycoprotein, peptide SARS_L in the presence of different membrane model systems, as well as the structural changes taking place in both the lipid and the peptide induced by the binding of the peptide to the membrane. Our results show that SARS_L strongly partitions into phospholipid membranes and organizes differently in lipid environments, displaying membrane activity modulated by the lipid composition of the membrane. These data would support its role in SARS-CoV mediated membrane fusion and suggest that the region where this peptide resides could be involved in the merging of the viral and target cell membranes.     

Why and how to objectively evaluate medical gestures?

Junior physicians mainly learn during their observation in the operative room. The senior physicians evaluate them based on the same kind of observation. Knowledge transfer evaluation is thus done without quantitative methods and it mainly lies on a subjective assessment. In this paper, we present some recent techniques used to objectively evaluate medical gestures. The classical techniques used are Hidden Markov Models (HMM) or Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). Both techniques lies on the temporal analysis of the gestures. We proposed here a technique based on the arc length parametrization in order to analyze the gestures in space which is more appropriate because it gives information about the shape of the gestures independently of the chosen coordinate system.     

From the root to the stem: interaction between the biocontrol root endophyte Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7 and the pathogen Pseudomonas savastanoi NCPPB 3335 in olive knots

Olive knot disease, caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, is one of the most important biotic constraints for olive cultivation. Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7, a natural colonizer of olive roots and effective biological control agent (BCA) against Verticillium wilt of olive, was examined as potential BCA against olive knot disease. Bioassays using in vitro-propagated olive plants were carried out to assess whether strain PICF7 controlled knot development either when co-inoculated with the pathogen in stems or when the BCA (in roots) and the pathogen (in stems) were spatially separated. Results showed that PICF7 was able to establish and persist in stem tissues upon artificial inoculation. While PICF7 was not able to suppress disease development, its presence transiently decreased pathogen population size, produced less necrotic tumours, and sharply altered the localization of the pathogen in the hyperplasic tissue, which may pose epidemiological consequences. Confocal laser scanning microscopy combined with fluorescent tagging of bacteria revealed that when PICF7 was absent the pathogen tended to be localized at the knot surface. However, presence of the BCA seemed to confine P. savastanoi at inner regions of the tumours. This approach has also enabled to prove that the pathogen can moved systemically beyond the hypertrophied tissue.     

The role of snail aestivation in transmission of schistosomiasis in changing climatic conditions

Schistosomiasis vector snails are subjected to extreme seasonal changes, particularly in ephemeral rivers and lentic waterbodies. In the tropics, aestivation is one of the adaptive strategies for survival and is used by snails in times of extremely high temperatures and desiccation. Aestivation therefore plays an important role in maintaining the transmission of schistosomiasis. This review assesses the possible impacts of climate change on the temporal and spatial distribution of schistosomiasis-transmitting snails with special emphasis on aestivation, and discusses the effect of schistosome infection on aestivation ability. The impacts of parasite development on snails, as well as physiological changes, are discussed with reference to schistosomiasis transmission. This review shows that schistosome-infected snails have lower survival rates during aestivation, and that those that survive manage to get rid of the infection. In general, snail aestivation ability is poor and survival chances diminish with time. Longer dry periods result in fewer, as well as uninfected, snails. However, the ability of the surviving snails to repopulate the habitats is high.     

Outcrossing potential between 11 important genetically modified crops and the Chilean vascular flora

The potential impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on biodiversity is one of the main concerns in an environmental risk assessment (ERA). The likelihood of outcrossing and pollen‐mediated gene flow from GM crops and non‐GM crops are explained by the same principles and depend primarily on the biology of the species. We conducted a national‐scale study of the likelihood of outcrossing between 11 GM crops and vascular plants in Chile by use of a systematized database that included cultivated, introduced and native plant species in Chile. The database included geographical distributions and key biological and agronomical characteristics for 3505 introduced, 4993 native and 257 cultivated (of which 11 were native and 246 were introduced) plant species. Out of the considered GM crops (cotton, soya bean, maize, grape, wheat, rice, sugar beet, alfalfa, canola, tomato and potato), only potato and tomato presented native relatives (66 species total). Introduced relative species showed that three GM groups were formed having: a) up to one introduced relative (cotton and soya bean), b) up to two (rice, grape, maize and wheat) and c) from two to seven (sugar beet, alfalfa, canola, tomato and potato). In particular, GM crops presenting introduced noncultivated relative species were canola (1 relative species), alfalfa (up to 4), rice (1), tomato (up to 2) and potato (up to 2). The outcrossing potential between species [OP; scaled from ‘very low’ (1) to ‘very high’ (5)] was developed, showing medium OPs (3) for GM–native relative interactions when they occurred, low (2) for GMs and introduced noncultivated and high (4) for the grape‐Vitis vinifera GM–introduced cultivated interaction. This analytical tool might be useful for future ERA for unconfined GM crop release in Chile.     

Attenuation of pattern recognition receptor signaling is mediated by a MAP kinase kinase kinase

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a key role in plant and animal innate immunity. PRR binding of their cognate ligand triggers a signaling network and activates an immune response. Activation of PRR signaling must be controlled prior to ligand binding to prevent spurious signaling and immune activation. Flagellin perception in Arabidopsis through FLAGELLIN‐SENSITIVE 2 (FLS2) induces the activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and immunity. However, the precise molecular mechanism that connects activated FLS2 to downstream MAPK cascades remains unknown. Here, we report the identification of a differentially phosphorylated MAP kinase kinase kinase that also interacts with FLS2. Using targeted proteomics and functional analysis, we show that MKKK7 negatively regulates flagellin‐triggered signaling and basal immunity and this requires phosphorylation of MKKK7 on specific serine residues. MKKK7 attenuates MPK6 activity and defense gene expression. Moreover, MKKK7 suppresses the reactive oxygen species burst downstream of FLS2, suggesting that MKKK7‐mediated attenuation of FLS2 signaling occurs through direct modulation of the FLS2 complex.     

Dysfunctional mitochondrial fission impairs cell reprogramming

We have recently shown that mitochondrial fission is induced early in reprogramming in a Drp1-dependent manner; however, the identity of the factors controlling Drp1 recruitment to mitochondria was unexplored. To investigate this, we used a panel of RNAi targeting factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and we observed that MiD51, Gdap1 and, to a lesser extent, Mff were found to play key roles in this process. Cells derived from Gdap1-null mice were used to further explore the role of this factor in cell reprogramming. Microarray data revealed a prominent down-regulation of cell cycle pathways in Gdap1-null cells early in reprogramming and cell cycle profiling uncovered a G2/M growth arrest in Gdap1-null cells undergoing reprogramming. High-Content analysis showed that this growth arrest was DNA damage-independent. We propose that lack of efficient mitochondrial fission impairs cell reprogramming by interfering with cell cycle progression in a DNA damage-independent manner.