Biscogniauxia Charcoal Canker—A New Potential Threat for Mid-European Forests as an Effect of Climate Change

Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze is a fungus which induces strip-cankers on beech, commonly referred to as charcoal canker. The symptoms of infection are visible on the host tree’s bark as elongated, blackish bark lesions on the trunk and branches. Recent years have shown that, due to climate change causing local epidemics, the species is increasing its economic impact in Mediterranean regions. Until recently, B. nummularia was considered rare and uncommon in central Europe. However, in the last few years it has been noticed more often, mostly in coniferous trees, which are out of B. nummularia’s host range. A similar situation has been observed with the closely related species Biscogniauxia mediterranea (De Not.) Kuntze, which prior to 2017 had not been observed in central Europe at all. This study shows the genetic diversity of mid-European strains of Biscogniauxia spp. (based on the ITS, TEF1, TUB2 and ACT regions) and, as the first in Europe, presents a molecular investigation of this species isolated from coniferous trees. It is also the first attempt at estimating the potential impact of this pathogenic fungus on European forestry management in the close future.

Molecular Investigation of the Unfolded Protein Response in Select Human Tauopathies

Background: Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the accumulation of misfolded tau protein. The mechanisms underpinning tau-dependent proteinopathy remain to be elucidated. A protein quality control pathway within the endoplasmic reticulum, the unfolded protein response (UPR), has been suggested as a possible pathway modulating cellular responses in a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including those associated with misfolded cytosolic tau. Objective: In this study we investigated three different clinically defined tauopathies to establish whether these diseases are accompanied by the activation of UPR. Methods: We used PCR and western blotting to probe for the modulation of several reliable UPR markers in mRNA and proteins extracted from three distinct tauopathies: 20 brain samples from Alzheimer’s disease patients, 11 from Pick’s disease, and 10 from progressive supranuclear palsy. In each disease samples from these patients were compared with equal numbers of age-matched non-demented controls. Results: Our investigation showed that different markers of UPR are not changed at the late stage of any of the human tauopathies investigated. Interestingly, UPR signatures were often observed in non-demented controls. Conclusion: These data from late-stage human cortical tissue report an activation of UPR markers within the aged brain across all cohorts investigated and further support the emerging evidence that the accumulation of misfolded cytosolic tau does not drive a diseased-associated activation of UPR.

Pathology and Molecular Characterization of Porcine Sapelovirus in Indian Pigs

Background: The porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is a small, non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense, RNA virus of the family Picornaviridae. The PSV infections in pigs have been found associated with diarrhoea, polioencephalomyelitis, pneumonia and reproductive disorders with a high morbidity rate. Despite of its economical importance very few studies are available on the pathology of PSV. The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the PSV infection and associated pathology in Indian pigs. Methods: Tissue samples along with intestinal content were collected from a total of 78 necropsied cases for histopathological examination and molecular investigation during April 2019 to August 2020. The amplification of 5' UTR region of PSV was carried out via RT-PCR and confirmed by sequencing. The Genetic characterization of Indian isolate of the PSV was done on the basis of viral 5' UTR gene. Result: A total of eight out of 78 cases were found positive for the PSV. Catarrhal and haemorrhagic enteritis, thickening and clouding of brain meninges along with congestion of brain and pneumonia was observed as common gross lesions. Microscopic lesions included perivascular cuffing, focal gliosis, neuronophagia, congestion of meningeal and cerebral vessels, interstitial pneumonia, inflammatory changes in the intestinal mucosa and sloughing of villi. The genetic characterization revealed maximum identity of 96.89% with PSV-1 strain PSV-46-V (LC508233) and PSV-1 strain PSV-26-B (LC508232) of Zambia. This study reported the pathological and molecular investigation of PSV from Indian pigs. Further explorative surveillance along with experimental studies in suitable animal model and cell lines are highly warranted for better understanding of PSV pathology in Indian pigs.