scholarly journals Exploring thermosonication as non-chemical disinfection technology for strawberries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iolanda Nicolau-Lapeña ◽  
Ingrid Aguiló-Aguayo ◽  
Marina Anguera ◽  
Inmaculada Viñas ◽  
Maribel Abadias
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Listeria Innocua ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Yeasts And Molds ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact ◽  
Chemical Disinfection ◽  
Main Factor

AbstractThe scope of this work was to study the efficacy of the combination of sonication at 35 or 130 kHz with three temperature treatments: 20, 50 and 55 ºC, on the population of artificially inoculated Listeria innocua in strawberries, and on their overall quality. Prior in vitro results showed that temperature was the main factor in decreasing L. innocua population: a maximum of 3.8 log reductions was obtained with sonication at 130 kHz and 55 ºC for 15 min Treatments combining—or not—sonication at 130 kHz with mild temperatures (50 and 55 ºC) for 5 or 10 min were able to decrease about 3 log units of artificially inoculated L. innocua in strawberries and about 2 log units of total aerobic mesophilic and yeasts and molds populations naturally occurring in strawberries. Thermosonication treatments did not exert a detrimental impact on fruit quality, except for those at the higher temperatures and times, which caused a change in color to more purplish and a little softening of the strawberries, which were proposed to be assessed for further processing other than fresh commercialization. Overall, the impact of sonication in fresh strawberries needs to be further investigated to find the adequate conditions to enhance the effects of temperature itself.

scholarly journals Morphologial variation in colonies of Chalara fraxinea isolated from ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) stems with symptoms of dieback and effects of temperature on colony growth and structure

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Kowalski ◽  
Czesław Bartnik
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Malt Extract ◽  
Optimum Temperature ◽  
Ash Trees ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Main Factor

The present paper presents the results of long-term observations of differences in growth and morphology of colonies of <i>C. fraxinea</i> isolated from ash stems with symptoms of dieback and the results of studies on effects of temperature on growth and morphology of colonies <i>in vitro</i>. Thirty randomly chosen <i>C. fraxinea</i> cultures, originating from six Forest Districts in southern and northern Poland, viz. Andrychów, Gryfice, Kańczuga, Lębork, Miechów and Mircze, were included in the temperature assay. Colony growth and morphology were evaluated <i>in vitro</i>, on malt extract agar. Two replicates of each isolate were incubated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C in darkness. Colonies of <i>C. fraxinea</i> isolated from necrotic stem tissues of diseased ash trees differed greatly in colour, structure, growth rate, presence of sectors and stromata as well as the intensity of conidial sporulation. Colony characters were often lost in further sub-cultures grown on the same medium. Colonies of <i>C. fraxinea</i> grew at 5-25°C <i>in vitro</i>. Three isolates still grew, though slowly, at 30°C. The optimum temperature for growth was 20°C. Among 30 isolates tested, five grew most quickly at 25°C and four at 15°C. Differences among colony diameters recorded at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30°C were statistically significant, while differences at 15 and 25°C were not. At some temperatures, statistically significant differences in growth rate were related to the origin of the isolates. There were three main colony colour types. Temperature was the main factor affecting colony morphology <i>in vitro</i>. The formation of sectors was observed in 36% of colonies, pseudoparenchymatous stromata in 10.4% of colonies, and white crystalline substances in 53.3% of colonies. The results of <i>in vitro</i> observations were used for discussion of the effects of temperature on growth and activity of <i>C. fraxinea</i> <i>in vivo</i>.

scholarly journals Crystal structure of cis-aconitate decarboxylase reveals the impact of naturally occurring human mutations on itaconate synthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (41) ◽  
pp. 20644-20654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangfang Chen ◽  
Peer Lukat ◽  
Azeem Ahmed Iqbal ◽  
Kyrill Saile ◽  
Volkhard Kaever ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Itaconic Acid ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Biotechnological Production ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Impact

cis-Aconitate decarboxylase (CAD, also known as ACOD1 or Irg1) converts cis-aconitate to itaconate and plays central roles in linking innate immunity with metabolism and in the biotechnological production of itaconic acid by Aspergillus terreus. We have elucidated the crystal structures of human and murine CADs and compared their enzymological properties to CAD from A. terreus. Recombinant CAD is fully active in vitro without a cofactor. Murine CAD has the highest catalytic activity, whereas Aspergillus CAD is best adapted to a more acidic pH. CAD is not homologous to any known decarboxylase and appears to have evolved from prokaryotic enzymes that bind negatively charged substrates. CADs are homodimers, the active center is located in the interface between 2 distinct subdomains, and structural modeling revealed conservation in zebrafish and Aspergillus. We identified 8 active-site residues critical for CAD function and rare naturally occurring human mutations in the active site that abolished CAD activity, as well as a variant (Asn152Ser) that increased CAD activity and is common (allele frequency 20%) in African ethnicity. These results open the way for 1) assessing the potential impact of human CAD variants on disease risk at the population level, 2) developing therapeutic interventions to modify CAD activity, and 3) improving CAD efficiency for biotechnological production of itaconic acid.

scholarly journals Assessment of genetic diversity of Canthium parviflorum Lam by RAPD and ISSR markers

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kokkanti Mallikarjuna ◽  
Chandra Kala Sirigiri ◽  
Ratnakar Reddi K.V.N. ◽  
Chandra Sekhar Akila ◽  
Obul Reddy Puli Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Leaf Explants ◽  
Issr Markers ◽  
Diversity Analysis ◽  
Genetic Diversity Analysis ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Regenerated Plants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rapd And Issr

Canthium parviflorum Lam is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine with propagation limitations. In the present work, we are reporting the genetic diversity analysis of naturally occurring and in vitro grown plants by RAPD and ISSR markers. The plants developed on MS medium supplemented with BA (2mg/l) and NAA (0.5mg/l) using nodal and leaf explants were used along with plants present in five different geographical areas. Genetic diversity analysis using DNA based markers, RAPD and ISSR indicated that considerable genetic variations are present in naturally occurring plants. It is also indicated that tissue culture plants and their wild relatives show genetic similarity by grouping into one clad. The amplification products of the regenerated plants showed similar banding patterns to that of the mother plant thus demonstrating the homogeneity of the micropropagated plants. The variations observed in naturally occurring plants could be due to the impact of local environmental factors and accumulation of mutations in the course of evolution. This is the first report on genetic diversity of Canthium plant populations.

scholarly journals P. falciparum K13 mutations present varying degrees of artemisinin resistance and reduced fitness in African parasites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara H. Stokes ◽  
Kelly Rubiano ◽  
Satish K. Dhingra ◽  
Sachel Mok ◽  
Judith Straimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Mutations ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Parasite Growth ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Antimalarial Treatment ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Resistance Markers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact

AbstractThe emergence of artemisinin (ART) resistance in Plasmodium falciparum parasites, driven by K13 mutations, has led to widespread antimalarial treatment failure in Southeast Asia. In Africa, our genotyping of 3,299 isolates confirms the emergence of the K13 R561H variant in Rwanda and reveals the continuing dominance of wild-type K13 across 11 countries. We show that this mutation, along with M579I and C580Y, confers varying degrees of in vitro ART resistance in African parasites. C580Y and M579I cause substantial fitness costs, which may counter-select against their dissemination in high-transmission settings. We also define the impact of multiple K13 mutations on ART resistance and fitness in multiple Southeast Asian strains. ART susceptibility is unaltered upon editing point mutations in ferrodoxin or mdr2, earlier resistance markers. These data point to the lack of an evident biological barrier to mutant K13 mediating ART resistance in Africa, while identifying their detrimental impact on parasite growth.

scholarly journals Inosine Triphosphate Pyrophosphatase Dephosphorylates Ribavirin Triphosphate and Reduced Enzymatic Activity Potentiates Mutagenesis in Hepatitis C Virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Nyström ◽  
Paulina H. Wanrooij ◽  
Jesper Waldenström ◽  
Ludmila Adamek ◽  
Sofia Brunet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Progeny Virus ◽  
Core Antigen ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Genotype 2 ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT A third of humans carry genetic variants of the ITP pyrophosphatase (ITPase) gene (ITPA) that lead to reduced enzyme activity. Reduced ITPase activity was earlier reported to protect against ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia and to diminish relapse following ribavirin and interferon therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 infections. While several hypotheses have been put forward to explain the antiviral actions of ribavirin, details regarding the mechanisms of interaction between reduced ITPase activity and ribavirin remain unclear. The in vitro effect of reduced ITPase activity was assessed by means of transfection of hepatocytes (Huh7.5 cells) with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against ITPA or a negative-control siRNA in the presence or absence of ribavirin in an HCV culture system. Low ribavirin concentrations strikingly depleted intracellular GTP levels in HCV-infected hepatocytes whereas higher ribavirin concentrations induced G-to-A and C-to-U single nucleotide substitutions in the HCV genome, with an ensuing reduction of HCV RNA expression and HCV core antigen production. Ribavirin triphosphate (RTP) was dephosphorylated in vitro by recombinant ITPase to a similar extent as ITP, a naturally occurring substrate of ITPase, and reducing ITPA expression in Huh 7.5 cells by siRNA increased intracellular levels of RTP in addition to increasing HCV mutagenesis and reducing progeny virus production. Our results extend the understanding of the biological impact of reduced ITPase activity, demonstrate that RTP is a substrate of ITPase, and may point to personalized ribavirin dosage according to ITPA genotype in addition to novel antiviral strategies. IMPORTANCE This study highlights the multiple modes of action of ribavirin, including depletion of intracellular GTP and increased hepatitis C virus mutagenesis. In cell culture, reduced ITP pyrophosphatase (ITPase) enzyme activity affected the intracellular concentrations of ribavirin triphosphate (RTP) and augmented the impact of ribavirin on the mutation rate and virus production. Additionally, our results imply that RTP, similar to ITP, a naturally occurring substrate of ITPase, is dephosphorylated in vitro by ITPase.

scholarly journals Pharmacological features of osthole

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 0-0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Jarząb ◽  
Aneta Grabarska ◽  
Krystyna Skalicka-Woźniak ◽  
Andrzej Stepulak
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
The Impact

Coumarins are a group of naturally occurring compounds common in the plant world. These substances and their derivatives exhibit a broad range of biological activities.One of the naturally occurring coumarins is osthole, which can most frequently be found in plants of the Apiaceae family. Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson ex Juss. Angelica pubescens Maxim. and Peucedanum ostruthium (L.). It has anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, and antiallergic properties; apart from that, inhibition of platelet aggregation has also been proved. The impact of osthole on bone metabolism has been demonstrated; also its hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties have been confirmed. The inhibitory effect of this metokcompound on the development of neurodegenerative diseases has been proved in experimental models. Anticancer features of osthole have been also demonstrated both in vitro on different cell lines, and in vivo using animals xenografts. Osthole inhibited proliferation, motility and invasiveness of tumor cells, which may be associated with the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle slowdown. The exact molecular mechanism of osthole anti-cancer mode of action has not been fully elucidated. A synergistic effect of osthole with other anti-tumor substances has been also reported. Modification of its chemical structure led to the synthesis of many derivatives with significant anticancer effects.To sum up, osthole is an interesting therapeutic option, due to both its direct effect on tumor cells, as well as its neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, there is a chance to use osthole or its synthetic derivatives in the treatment of cancer.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Analysis and Splicing Characterization of Naturally Occurring Synonymous Variants in the ATP7B Gene

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Zhou ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Chunli Wang ◽  
Lan Wang ◽  
Yu Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Genetic Diagnosis ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Computational Prediction ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Splicing Regulatory Elements ◽  
The Impact

Next-generation sequencing is effective for the molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases. However, the identification of the clinical significance of synonymous variants remains a challenge. Our previous study showed that some synonymous variants in ATP7B gene produced splicing disruptions, leading to Wilson disease (WD). To test the hypothesis that synonymous variants of ATP7B cause abnormal splicing by disrupting authentic splice sites or splicing regulatory elements, we used computational tools and minigene assays to characterize 253 naturally occurring ATP7B gene synonymous variants in this study. Human Splicing Finder (HSF) and ESE Finder 3.0 were used to predict the impact of these rare synonymous variants on pre-mRNA splicing. Then, we cloned 14 different wild-type Minigene_ATP7B_ex constructs for in vitro minigene assay, including 16 exons of ATP7B gene. After computational prediction, 85 candidate variants were selected to be introduced into the corresponding Minigene_ATP7B_ex constructs for splicing assays. Using this two-step procedure, we demonstrated that 11 synonymous variants in ExAc database (c.1620C&gt;T, c.3888C&gt;T, c.1554C&gt;T, c.1677C&gt;T, c.1830G&gt;A, c.1875T&gt;A, c.2826C&gt;A, c.4098G&gt;A, c.2994C&gt;T, c.3243G&gt;A, and c.3747G&gt;A) disrupted RNA splicing in vitro, and two (c.1620C&gt;T and c.3243G&gt;A) of these caused a complete exon skipping. The results not only provided a reliable experimental basis for the genetic diagnosis of WD patients but also offered some new insights into the pathogenicity of synonymous variants in genetic diseases.

GRAFTED TOMATOES – ECOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVE FOR CHEMICAL DISINFECTION OF SOIL

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorin Sora ◽  
Mădălina Doltu
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Mineral Elements ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Solanum Lycopersicum L ◽  
Abiotic Stress Factors ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Tomato Cultivars ◽  
Chemical Disinfection

This study aimed to identification of an ecological alternative for the chemical disinfection of soil in the greenhouses from Romania. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most popular vegetable crops in the world. The carbohydrate, vitamins, salts of important mineral elements and organic acids content of tomato fruits is very important. Tomato crops are very sensitive to climatic vagaries, so fluctuation in climatic parameters at any phase of growth can affect the yield and the fruit quality. Grafting on Solanaceae is a method which has improved and spread quickly during the past years, a similar approach to crop rotation, a practice meant to increase productivity, resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress factors and at increasing fruit quality. The research was conducted in a glass greenhouse of the Horting Institute, Bucharest, Romania. The biological material used was a Romanian tomato hybrid (Siriana F1), a Dutch tomato hybrid (Abellus F1) and four rootstocks, a Dutch tomato hybrid (Emperador F1) and three Romanian tomato cultivars (L542, L543 and L544) obtained from the Research and Development Station for Vegetable Growing, Buzău, Romania. The rootstocks have had resistance to biotic stress factors (soil diseases and pests) and the chemical disinfection of soil has was eliminated. The result of this research are presented in this paper.

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