Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) polymorphisms in Cupressus sempervirens (CNR-IBBR-C-SEMPERVIRENS)

The dataset derives from the first large-scale analysis using nuclear molecular markers to assess the genetic diversity and structure of Cupressus sempervirens L. Genetic and fossil data were combined to infer the possible role of human activity and evolutionary history in shaping the diversity of cypress populations. Thirty populations with six polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers were analyzed. Dramatic reductions in heterozygosity and allelic richness were observed from east to west across the species range. Structure analysis assigned individuals to two main groups separating the central Mediterranean and eastern populations. The two main groups could be further divided into five subgroups, which showed the following geographical distributions: Turkey with the Greek islands Rhodes and Samos, Greece (Crete), Southern Italy, Northern Italy, and Tunisia with Central Italy. This pattern of genetic structure is also supported by SAMOVA and Barrier analyses. Palaeobotanical data indicated that Cupressus was present in Italy in the Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene. Furthermore, the survey showed that Italian cypress populations experienced bottlenecks resulting in reduced genetic diversity, allelic richness, and higher genetic differentiation. Recent colonization or introduction may also have influenced levels of diversity detected in the Italian populations, as most individuals in this range today have multilocus genotypes also present in the eastern range of the species. The data reveal a new interpretation of the history of cypress distribution characterized by ancient eastern populations (Turkey and Greek islands) and a mosaic of recently introduced trees and remnants of ancient, depauperate populations in the central Mediterranean rang

Buoni risultati "fertilizzanti" dal digestato essiccato

Il digestato essiccato proveniente da un biodigestore alimentato con effluenti bovini e silomais ha dato risultati vegeto-produttivi analoghi a quelli di un concime minerale specifico per l’orticoltura su pomodoro da industria, mentre su bieta seminata i risultati non sono stati buoni a causa del contatto diretto (da evitare) con le radic

Popolazioni avventizie di Leptopilina japonica: una nuova opportunità per il controllo biologico aumentativo di Drosophila suzukii

Negli ultimi quindici anni, il moscerino asiatico dei piccoli frutti, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), è diventato una delle principali minacce per le colture frutticole a buccia tenera a livello globale. Nonostante l'adozione di diverse strategie di contenimento la gestione integrata di D. suzukii si basa ancora principalmente sull'uso di insetticidi. Tuttavia, il controllo biologico potrebbe ridurre ulteriormente i costi di gestione a lungo termine, migliorando la sostenibilità economica e ambientale delle produzioni. In questo contesto, sono attivi in vari paesi programmi di lotta biologica classica, finalizzati all'introduzione del parassitoide larvale specifico Ganaspis kimorum (Buffington). Inoltre, un altro parassitoide, Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura, ha stabilito popolazioni avventizie in varie regioni dell’Europa e del Nord America. Sebbene siano necessari studi a lungo termine per comprendere meglio le interazioni di L. japonica all'interno delle reti trofiche degli ecosistemi colonizzati e la sua efficacia come agente di controllo biologico, i dati attuali evidenziano la sua capacità di parassitizzare una percentuale significativa di larve di D. suzukii in vari habitat, con impatti minimi o nulli su organismi non bersaglio. Il presente intervento offre una revisione della biologia, della distribuzione e dei potenziali impatti di L. japonica su D. suzukii e su altre specie ospiti. Inoltre, si esplora la possibilità di utilizzarla in programmi di controllo biologico aumentativo, per migliorarne l’efficacia in specifici contesti agricoli. Viene analizzato il possibile ruolo di L. japonica nella gestione integrata di D. suzukii, attraverso la gestione mirata delle strategie di rilascio. Il caso di L. japonica sottolinea l'importanza di regolamenti chiari, fondati sulla ricerca, per guidare l’uso dei nemici naturali non indigeni naturalizzati nella gestione dei fitofagi

Ecological determinants driving orthohantavirus prevalence in small mammals of Europe: a systematic review

Orthohantaviruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens that cause severe human disease and are considered an emerging public health threat globally. Mammalian orthohantaviruses are naturally maintained in rodent species and occasionally in other mammals. The abundance and density of natural orthohantavirus reservoir species are affected by multi annual and seasonal population cycles, community composition, ecosystem variables and climate. Horizontal transmission between host species is mostly density-driven and occurs via contact with infected host excreta, thus, fluctuations in populations and environmental variables often determine the prevalence of hantavirus in natural hosts. Given the zoonotic potential of hantaviruses, ecological factors influencing their spread and persistence in their natural reservoir and population dynamics influencing horizontal transmission require critical evaluation for human infection risk assessment. The present review paper discusses the impacts of natural host population cycles and ecosystem diversity, environmental conditions, and abiotic factors on the epidemiology of rodent-borne hantavirus infections in Europe. While significant efforts have been made to understand the drivers of hantavirus prevalence in natural hosts, we highlight key challenges in evaluating viral prevalence and assessing the role of environmental and population variables in determining hantavirus prevalence in host specie

Hide and seek with falsified medicines: current challenges and physico-chemical and biological approaches for tracing the origin of trafficked products

The criminal trafficking of falsified medical products is a worldwide, yet still largely overlooked, public health problem. A falsified medicine fraudulently misrepresents its identity, composition and/or source, often being ineffective or toxic for patients. Although techniques have been developed to detect falsified medicines, it remains a challenge to trace where- and by whom- the products are manufactured. We aim to discuss plausible biological and physico-chemical analytical techniques that could reveal information about the origin of medical falsifications. We first provide a brief overview on the prevalence, criminal activities, health impacts and (bio)chemical features of falsified medical products. We then explore diverse laboratory approaches, that are used in food fraud, illicit drug and wildlife trafficking investigations, and discuss how they could be combined and redirected towards tracing falsified medicine origin and hence empowering enforcement to counter this pernicious but neglected global health problem

Candidate gene transcriptional signature unravels the reprogramming occurring in the peel of apple fruit of ‘Granny smith’ during postharvest storage

After harvest fruit are stored to preserve the quality features established during the on-tree development and maturation, ensuring thus a continuous availability of fresh fruit on the market. For certain fruit species like apple, storage can last for almost a year, especially when coupled with several strategies, such as the reduction of the oxygen concentration or the application of ethylene competitor molecules, like 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). To guarantee the maintenance of the highest quality, the monitoring of the physiological processes ongoing during the postharvest ripening is compelling. For this purpose, 16 genes belonging to key fruit ripening pathways, such as the ethylene and the sugar/fermentation metabolism, have been chosen as potential markers for the molecular characterization of the major changes occurring in the fruit during storage. Among these genes, ACS, PPO, PG1, RAP2-like, and ADH exhibited the most significant differential expression across the various samples. Based on the transcriptional pattern, this set of genes constitutes a valuable molecular tool for a precise and reliable RNA-based monitoring of the postharvest ripening progression and fermentation process in apples. PPO, together with S6PDH, were furthermore employed to inspect the onset of the superficial scald in apple and resulted to correlate with the evaluation of the incidence of this disorder and the accumulation of the sugar alcohol sorbitol, known to play important protecting roles to chilling injuries. The assessment of the transcriptional signature of these elements can facilitate the development of gene expression markers suitable for a more informed investigation of the physiological progression of the postharvest ripening in apples, ultimately leading to the promotion of high-quality stored apples, extending storage time while minimizing postharvest disorders and fruit los

Widespread distribution of chs-1 mutations associated with resistance to diflubenzuron larvicide in Culex pipiens across Italy, reaching virtual fixation in the Venetian lagoon

Control interventions against mosquito larvae are the primary measure to reduce the adult abundance and risk of arbovirus outbreaks in Europe. One of the most commonly used larvicides in Italy is diflubenzuron (DFB), which targets chitin synthase 1 (chs-1), interrupting the normal development of larvae into adults. Recent studies identified high levels of DFB resistance in Culex pipiens populations from Emilia-Romagna (Italy) associated with I1043L/M/F mutations at position 1043 of the chs-1 gene. The aim of the present study was to assess the circulation of 1043 resistance alleles in Cx. pipiens populations across Italy, outside Emilia-Romagna, with a focus on the Veneto region. Overall, 1032 specimens were genotyped. The 1043L allele was found in all examined Italian regions (Trentino-Alto Adige 19–36%; Veneto 0–91%; Piemonte 11%; Liguria 28%; Lazio 0–8%; Puglia 5%). The highest frequencies (up to >90%) were observed in the Venetian lagoon, where 1043M was also detected (6–11%). Overall, the relatively low frequencies of 1043 mutations despite extensive and longstanding use of DFB in Italy suggest a high fitness cost worthy of further investigations, while their extremely high frequencies in coastal touristic sites point to these sites as the most relevant for resistance monitoring and larvicide rotatio

Blood transcriptome changes linked to long-term arsenic exposure through drinking water: a cross-sectional study from the Bolivian Andes

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) in drinking water is a serious health concern but people differ in susceptibility. Naturally occurring As in Bolivian drinking water was recently reported, however, its long-term effects on the blood transcriptome remain unexplored. To bridge this gap, we conducted a transcriptome-wide analysis of whole blood cells from individuals in the Bolivian Andes. Blood and urine samples were collected for transcriptomic analysis, genotyping of AS3MT polymorphisms, and measurements of inorganic As metabolites in urine. Linear regression models were employed for extracting As-associated genes, and cell deconvolution to estimate cell fractions from the transcriptome. Functional annotations of the As-associated genes were performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) and ClusterProfiler. Protein-protein interaction analysis was conducted to identify networks between As-associated genes. A total of 588 genes were identified from linear regression analysis and associated with downregulation of autophagy-related functions and a reduction in activated NK cells. Stratification by gender showed a significant enrichment of pathways related to carcinogenesis, oxidative stress, glucose metabolism, and epigenetic regulation in females, e.g., PI3K/AKT/MTOR signaling, HIF-1 signaling, insulin receptor signaling, and microRNA biogenesis pathway. Carriers of the AS3MT genotypes associated with a poorer As metabolism showed enrichment in DNA replication and cell proliferation, whereas carriers of the genotype associated with an efficient As metabolism showed suppression of autophagy and DNA damage pathways. Our data indicate the importance of the autophagy pathway in relation to As exposure, and its crosstalk with PI3K/AKT/mTOR and miRNA biogenesis, providing new insights into the biological pathway under As exposure. Overall, this study identified novel genome-wide changes in blood mRNA in response to long-term As exposure in Bolivia, an underrepresented population, laying groundwork for further stud

BMP test to monitor seasonal efficiency of dry anaerobic digestion plant

The lack of specific monitoring tools is a hurdle for dry anaerobic digestion plant performance studies. The work aims to suggest a solid-state BMP protocol to monitor the full-scale dry anaerobic digestion process of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Physicochemical analyses, biomethane potential, and biodegradability data of different seasonal mixes fed in the reactor are provided. The data collected showed the effectiveness of the dry BMP test to analyse the process efficiency and to estimate the potential methane production of the biowaste. The process efficiency (expressed as % of methane production) was estimated combining the experimental data (BMP) and the plant parameters (organic loading rate and specific methane production) in four different seasons (Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer). The methane production (MP) of the plant ranged from 70 to 90 % of the potential biomethane production measured at lab scale. From the data collected, the seasonal differences were due to input biowaste (organic fraction of municipal solid waste and lignocellulosic materials used as bulking agent in dry AD) and their biodegradability, which results in different volatile solids removal in industrial reactor. The approach provided may be useful to better manage the process in a dry anaerobic digestion full-scale plant

Gestione di R201 Kissabel® varietà di mele a polpa rossa

A partire dal 2015 nel panorama frutticolo trentino sono state introdotte nuove varietà, tra tutte queste, R-201 Kissabel®, resistente a Venturia inaequalis, si distingue per la caratteristica polpa rossa, ma presenta tendenza ad alternanza produttiva e rugginosità che devono essere tenute sotto controllo