Aphelenchoides besseyi parasitizing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Brazil

Several species of nematodes are known to cause losses to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) throughout the world. In Brazil, Aphelenchoides besseyi was recently described causing damages on soybean, cotton, and common bean, but no report was found about the parasitism of this nematode in cowpea. The present study aimed to verify the host reaction of cowpea cultivars to A. besseyi. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions, using as inoculum two A. besseyi populations, obtained from symptomatic soybean and cotton plants collected in naturally infested fields. Cultivars ‘Imponente’, ‘Aracê’, ‘Guariba’, ‘Tumucumaque’, ‘Nova Era’, and ‘Tracuateua’ were inoculated with 500 A. besseyi of each population, separately, into soil and after 30 days from the inoculation nematodes were extracted from shoot systems. Both populations were able to parasitize all the cowpea cultivars. Independently of the cultivar, cowpea plants exhibited symptoms of leaf deformation similar to those described for soybean, cotton, and common bean and, in addition, severe brooming was observed and the interior of the stems was porous and necrotic. To our knowledge, this is the first report of parasitism by A. besseyi of cowpea in Brazil, under greenhouse conditions, increasing the list of hosts of this nematode.

Diagnosis and staging of ophthalmic manifestations of the graft-versus-host reaction after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Graft-versus-host reaction is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This condition develops in approximately 4070% of patients. Its most common clinical manifestations include xerotic keratoconjunctivitis and cicatricial conjunctivitis. It is important to correctly diagnose and classify the ocular condition after surgery. Ocular graft-versus-host reaction can present as either classic acute or chronic form, acute form with late onset or with overlap syndrome. It may lead to severe ocular surface disease, which can significantly decrease the quality of life and restrict daily activities of patients. It is thus important to monitor the ocular condition closely since with early diagnosis of the condition and timely treatment start, risks of irreversible damage could be diminished. This article is dedicated to modern criteria of diagnosis and staging of ocular graft-versus-host reaction.

Mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a characteristic of human intestinal spirochetosis

Background Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is an infectious disease of large intestines caused by Brachyspira species, and most HIS cases are asymptomatic or exhibit mild intestinal symptoms. The host reaction to HIS remains unclear, and we examined HIS-related mucosal inflammatory features histologically. Methods From the archival HIS cases in a single medical center, 24 endoscopically taken specimens from 14 HIS cases (male:female = 10:4; 28–73 yrs) were selected as not containing polypoid or neoplastic lesions. Stromal neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells, and intraepithelial neutrophils and eosinophils, (sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo, respectively) were counted, and the presence or absence of lymphoid follicles/aggregates (LFs) was also examined. Association of the above inflammation parameters and spirochetal infection parameters (such as degrees of characteristic fringe distribution, of spirochetal cryptal invasion, and of spirochetal intraepithelial invasion) were also analysed. Results iNeu was observed in 29.2%, iEo in 58.3%, and LFs in 50.0% of the specimens. Maximal counts of sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo averaged 8.4, 21.5, 6.0, 0.5 and 1.5, respectively. Strong correlation between the maximum counts of iNeu and iEo (p < 0.001, r = 0.81), and correlations between those of iEo and sNeu (p = 0.0012, r = 0.62) and between those of iEo and sEo (p = 0.026, r = 0.45) were observed. iNeu was influenced by fringe formation (p < 0.05) and spirochetal crypt involvement (p < 0.05). Conclusions HIS was accompanied by inflammatory reactions, and among these, mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a central indicator and host reaction of HIS.

Proteomic characterisation of serum proteins from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from an outbreak with Cardiomyopathy Syndrome

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS), caused by piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), is a serious challenge to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) aquaculture. Regrettably, husbandry techniques are the only tool to manage CMS outbreaks, and no prophylactic measures are available at present. Early diagnosis of CMS is therefore desirable, preferably with non-lethal diagnostic methods, such as serum biomarkers. To identify candidate biomarkers for CMS, the protein content of pools of sera (4 fish/pool) from salmon a CMS outbreak (3 pools) and from clinically healthy salmon (3 pools) were compared using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Overall, seven proteins were uniquely identified in the sera of clinically healthy fish, while twenty seven proteins were unique to the sera of CMS fish. Of the latter, 24 have been associated with cardiac disease in humans. These were grouped as leakage enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase and carbonic anhydrase); host reaction proteins (acute phase response proteins - haptoglobin, fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin; and complement-related proteins); and regeneration/remodelling proteins (fibronectin, lumican and retinol). Clinical evaluation of the suitability of these proteins as biomarkers of CMS, either individually or as part of a panel, is a logical next step for the development of early diagnostic tools for CMS.

Proteomic characterisation of serum proteins from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from an outbreak with Cardiomyopathy Syndrome

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS), caused by piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), is a serious challenge to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) aquaculture. Regrettably, husbandry techniques are the only tool to manage CMS outbreaks, and no prophylactic measures are available at present. Early diagnosis of CMS is therefore desirable, preferably with non-lethal diagnostic methods, such as serum biomarkers. To identify candidate biomarkers for CMS, the protein content of pools of sera (4 fish/pool) from salmon a CMS outbreak (3 pools) and from clinically healthy salmon (3 pools) were compared using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Overall, seven proteins were uniquely identified in the sera of clinically healthy fish, while twenty seven proteins were unique to the sera of CMS fish. Of the latter, 24 have been associated with cardiac disease in humans. These were grouped as leakage enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase and carbonic anhydrase); host reaction proteins (acute phase response proteins - haptoglobin, fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin; and complement-related proteins); and regeneration/remodelling proteins (fibronectin, lumican and retinol). Clinical evaluation of the suitability of these proteins as biomarkers of CMS, either individually or as part of a panel, is a logical next step for the development of early diagnostic tools for CMS.

Proteomic characterisation of serum proteins from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from an outbreak with Cardiomyopathy Syndrome

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS), caused by piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), is a serious challenge to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) aquaculture. Regrettably, husbandry techniques are the only tool to manage CMS outbreaks, and no prophylactic measures are available at present. Early diagnosis of CMS is therefore desirable, preferably with non-lethal diagnostic methods, such as serum biomarkers. To identify candidate biomarkers for CMS, the protein content of pools of sera (4 fish/pool) from salmon a CMS outbreak (3 pools) and from clinically healthy salmon (3 pools) were compared using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Overall, seven proteins were uniquely identified in the sera of clinically healthy fish, while twenty seven proteins were unique to the sera of CMS fish. Of the latter, 24 have been associated with cardiac disease in humans. These were grouped as leakage enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase and carbonic anhydrase); host reaction proteins (acute phase response proteins - haptoglobin, fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin; and complement-related proteins); and regeneration/remodelling proteins (fibronectin, lumican and retinol). Clinical evaluation of the suitability of these proteins as biomarkers of CMS, either individually or as part of a panel, is a logical next step for the development of early diagnostic tools for CMS.

Morus alba: Host reaction for Meloidogyne javanica, biological nematicides assessment and study of these relationships with yield and quality of leaves, cocoon and health of the silkworm

Root-knot nematodes cause damage to several crops and the importance of each species can vary according with the crop and the agricultural region. In Brazil, Meloidogyne javanica is one of the most important nematode species parasitizing mulberry. To define management strategies, it is important to know if the crop species is damaged by the parasitism of the nematode and the best choices for control, as the use of nematicides. Biological nematicides have been extensively used in Brazil, but no information regarding its efficiency to control M. javanica in mulberry is available. Besides, it is not known if biological nematicides could improve the quality of leaves or if they alter the nutrient composition of leaves, which could interfere in the development of the silkworms that are feed with these leaves or in the quality of the silk produced. With the aim to address these questions, we propose a study that will start in the phenotyping of the main Brazilian mulberry cultivars to Meloidogyne species, passing through the test of efficiency of biological nematicides in the control of M. javanica in mulberry cultivar Miura, evaluation of the amount and quality of leaves produced and, using these leaves to feed silkworms, in the analyzes of the impact of these diet in the health of silkworms, and in the production and quality of the silk.

Mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a characteristic of human intestinal spirochetosis

Background: Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is an infectious disease of large intestines caused by Brachyspira species, and most HIS cases are asymptomatic or exhibit mild intestinal symptoms. The host reaction to HIS remains unclear, and we examined HIS-related mucosal inflammatory features histologically. Method: From the archival HIS cases in a single medical center, 24 endoscopically taken specimens from 14 HIS cases (M:F = 10:4; 28-73 yrs) were selected as not containing polypoid or neoplastic lesions. Stromal neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells, and intraepithelial neutrophils and eosinophils, (sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo, respectively) were counted, and the presence or absence of lymphoid follicles/aggregates (LFs) was also examined. Association of the above inflammation parameters and spirochetal infection parameters (such as degrees of characteristic fringe distribution, of spirochetal cryptal invasion, and of spirochetal intraepithelial invasion) were also analysed. Results: iNeu was observed in 29.2%, iEo in 58.3%, and LFs in 50.0% of the specimens. Maximal counts of sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo averaged 8.4, 21.5, 6.0, 0.5 and 1.5, respectively. Strong correlation between the maximum counts of iNeu and iEo (p < 0.001, r = 0.81), and correlations between those of iEo and sNeu (p = 0.0012, r = 0.62) and between those of iEo and sEo (p = 0.026, r = 0.45) were observed. iNeu was influenced by fringe formation (p < 0.05) and spirochetal crypt involvement (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HIS was accompanied by inflammatory reactions, and among these, mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a central indicator and host reaction of HIS.

Exploitation of the genetic variability in the genotype of Egyptian Wheat by studding Molecular Markers, Molecular Docking, and Nano Composites. Regulation of leaf and stem rust.

Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) and P. triticina (Pt), the causal agents of stem rust and leaf rust, respectively form new physiological races that significantly reduce growth and yield of wheat cultivars. Therefore, seeking for resistant cultivars and exploring it to continuously produce new wheat cultivars resistant to stem and leaf rust through breeding programs is urgent. The aim of the present study was to assess 18 Egyptian wheat genotypes for resistance to stem and leaf rust. The 18 genotypes were also analyzed for polymorphism using 20 SCoT and SRAP primers. Furthermore, the activity of chitosan-cupper composite nanoparticle in controlling stem rust is examined and its mode of action is studied using molecular docking analysis. In seedling stage, the genotypes were tested against 20 stem rust races, and the host reaction types were noticed. The lowest host reaction types (It = 0; to 2++) were recorded for Sakha 94, Sakha 95, Beni Sweif 4, Beni Sweif 7, Sohag 4, Sohag 5 and Gemmeiza 12. These genotypes except Gemmeiza 12 were resistant to all races. The remaining genotypes were susceptable to most races, but Giza 160 was highly susceptible to all races. In adult stage, the 18 genotypes were evaluated for resistant to stem rust and leaf rust in two different location, i.e. Giza and sids. The evaluation was expressed as percentage of final rust severity (FRS%), Area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and rate of rust disease increase (r-value). SCoT and SRAP analysis generated 140 and 121 polymorphic band with 97 and 99% polymorphism, respectively. Among them, 71 and 73 were unique loci for SCoT and SRAP, respectively. The 18 genotypes were divided into two main groups depending on the similarity matrix. The first cluster consists of the most resistant genotypes to leaf rust (Giza 171, Sakha 94, Misr 1, Misr 2, Misr 3, Giza 168, Gemmeiza 12 and Sids 12) in addition to two cultivars susceptible to leaf and stem rust (Beni Sweif 7, Gemmeiza 11). Meanwhile, the second ones consists of the most susceptible genotypes to stem and leaf rust (Giza 164, Sakha 69, Giza 160, Beni Sweif 4, Sohag 5 and Sohag 4) in addition to Sakha 95 (resistant to leaf rust but susceptible to stem rust) and Shandaweel 1 (resistant to stem rust but susceptible to leaf rust). Moreover, the 18 genotypes were sprayed with Cu-chitosan composite nanoparticle either before or before and after inoculation with uridiospores of stem rust to determine the effect of this solution and its application method in controlling the disease. The infection was reduced when the plant sprayed 24 h before and 24 h before and after inoculation. Incubation and latent periods were increased in treated plant genotypes. Besides, the treatment gave the lowest infection type compared to the control. The foliar spray application did not affect the efficacy of the tested treatment. Keywords: Molecular markers, Genetic diversity, stem rust, leaf rust, nanoparticle.

The risk of wheat blast in rice-wheat-co-planting regions in China: MoO strains of Pyricularia oryzae cause typical symptom and host reaction on both wheat leaves and spikes

Triticum pathotype (MoT) of Magnaporthe oryzae (syn. Pyricularia oryzae) causes wheat blast, which has recently spread to Asia. To assess the potential risk of wheat blast in rice-wheat growing regions, we investigated the pathogenicity of 14 isolates of P. oryzae on 32 wheat cultivars, among which MoO isolates were completely avirulent on the wheat cultivars at 22℃, but caused various infection degrees at 25℃. These reactions at 25℃ were isolate- and cultivar- dependent like race-cultivar specificity which was also recognized at the heading stage and caused typical blast symptoms on spikes. Microscopic analyses indicated that a compatible MoO isolates produced appressoria and infection hyphae on wheat as on rice. By comparing transcriptomes in wheat-MoO interactions, a bulk of pathogen-related genes was up-/down- regulated in compatible and incompatible patterns, but that changes of gene transcription were more significant in compatible pattern. These results indicate that the temperature could influence the infection ratio of wheat with MoO, and some MoO strains could be potential pathogens that increase the risk for the outbreak of wheat blast in wheat-rice growing regions with global warming. In addition, certain wheat cultivars exhibited resistance and are assumed to carry promoting resistant genes to the MoO strains.