Einsatz mikrobiologischer Präparate zur Regulierung von Schadinsekten und Krankheiten an Erdbeeren

Im organischen Erdbeeranbau sind bodenbürtige Krankheiten, z. B. Verticillium-Welke und Rhizomfäule, ein wachsendes Problem. Auch im konventionellen Anbau ist eine Bekämpfung der Verticillium-Welke nur bedingt möglich, da keine effizienten Pflanzenschutzmittel verfügbar sind. Aus diesem Grund sollte untersucht werden, ob Mikroorganismen zur Regulierung von bodenbürtigen Krankheiten an Erdbeeren verwendet werden können. Hierfür wurden 98 Mikroorganismen, davon 68 Bakterien und 26 Pilze, in in vitro Tests gegen die Verticillium-Welke (V. albo-atrum, V. dahliae), die Rhizomfäule (Phytophthora cactorum) und die Rote Wurzelfäule getestet. In einem mehrstufigen Selektionsprozess wurden von den 98 Mikroorganismen 15 Mikroorganismen für weitere Laborversuche ausgewählt. Als Selektionskriterien wurden u.a. das antagonistische Potential, die Kombinierbarkeit und die Marktverfügbarkeit berücksichtigt. Die fünfzehn Mikroorganismen, die die vorgegebenen Kriterien erfüllten, wurden in weiteren Kompatibilitätstest getestet. Anschließend wurden vier Mikroorganismen ausgewählt: zwei Trichoderma (T. atroviride P1 und T. harzianum T58), ein entomopathogener Pilz (Metarhizium anisopliae Ma43) und ein Bakterium (Bacillus subtilis FZB24). Diese Antagonisten wurden in Gewächshaus- und Freilandversuche an zwei Erdbeersorten (Honeoye und Sonata) in mit V. dahliae und P. cactorum inokulierter Erde getestet. Weder in Gewächshaus- noch in Freilandversuchen konnten auch nach künstlicher Inokulation des Bodens mit den zwei Pathogenen reproduzierbare Krankheitssymptome hervorgerufen werden. Damit konnte keine klare Aussage zur befallsreduzierenden Wirkung der antagonistischen Mikroorganismen getroffen werden. Allerdings wurde in Gewächshausversuchen mit V. dahliae inokulierter Erde bei der Sorte Honeoye ein positiver Einfluss der Antagonisten auf unterschiedliche Wachstumsparameter beobachtet. Die Ergebnisse zum Einfluss der Antagonisten auf die Mikrosklerotien, die Überdauerungsformen von V. dahliae, waren widersprüchlich. Nur in Freilandversuchen wurde eine Reduktion der Mikrosklerotien durch pilzliche Antagonisten erreicht

COMPRENDO: Focus and approach

Tens of thousands of man-made chemicals are in regular use and discharged into the environment. Many of them are known to interfere with the hormonal systems in humans and wildlife. Given the complexity of endocrine systems, there are many ways in which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect the body’s signaling system, and this makes unraveling the mechanisms of action of these chemicals difficult. A major concern is that some of these EDCs appear to be biologically active at extremely low concentrations. There is growing evidence to indicate that the guiding principle of traditional toxicology that “the dose makes the poison” may not always be the case because some EDCs do not induce the classical dose–response relationships. The European Union project COMPRENDO (Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters—Phylogenetic Approach and Common Principles focussing on Androgenic/Antiandrogenic Compounds) therefore aims to develop an understanding of potential health problems posed by androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds (AACs) to wildlife and humans by focusing on the commonalities and differences in responses to AACs across the animal kingdom (from invertebrates to vertebrates)

Apparently Healthy College Students: Elevated Blood Pressure and the Need for Cardiovascular Risk Education

Elevated blood pressure (BP) at a young age leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Zhang et al., 2019). College students are often unaware of hypertension and its risk factors which could increase the development of these conditions. Our study served to educate, assess BP rates, and identify risk factors to promote health. To frame our research, two theoretical models were utilized: Neuman Systems Model and The Fogg Behavioral Model (TFBM). Through convenience sampling, BP assessments were performed on participants attending a private midwestern university. At each screening, participants filled out a Google Form, measuring hypertension knowledge, habits, stress, medications, history, and other factors. BP, heart rate, body fat, body water, and BMI were measured. BP was measured twice and averaged. Recent caffeine, food, and alcohol intake were recorded. Education was provided about stress, stress reduction, and CVD. The results indicated most participants were unaware of their risk factors regarding hypertension. The majority of participants self-reported normal BP; however, 52% of participants had an elevated systolic BP, and 30.4% of participants had an elevated diastolic BP. Caffeine and alcohol use were not shown to be related to hypertension. Participants reported high stress related to college life. To prevent future complications of hypertension in participants, it is crucial to implement interventions that address these outcomes (Choi et al., 2020). We disseminated our results and invited students to perform a knowledge check on another Google Form, of which 96% of students were able to accurately identify their risks

Induction of Overt Menstruation in Intact Mice

The complex tissue remodeling process of menstruation is experienced by humans and some primates, whereas most placental mammals, including mice, go through an estrous cycle. How menstruation and the underlying mechanisms evolved is still unknown. Here we demonstrate that the process of menstruation is not just species-specific but also depends on factors which can be induced experimentally. In intact female mice endogenous progesterone levels were raised by the induction of pseudopregnancy. Following an intrauterine oil injection, the decidualization of the endometrium was reliably induced as a prerequisite for menstruation. The natural drop of endogenous progesterone led to spontaneous breakdown of endometrial tissue within an average of 3 days post induction of decidualization. Interestingly, morphological changes such as breakdown and repair of the endometrial layer occurred in parallel in the same uterine horn. Most importantly, endometrial breakdown was accompanied by vaginally visible (overt) bleeding and flushing out of shed tissue comparable to human menstruation. Real-time PCR data clearly showed temporal changes in the expression of multiple factors participating in inflammation, angiogenesis, tissue modulation, proliferation, and apoptosis, as has been described for human menstruating endometrium. In conclusion, human menstruation can be mimicked in terms of extravaginally visible bleeding, tissue remodeling, and gene regulation in naturally non-menstruating species such as intact female mice without the need for an exogenous hormone supply

Vaping Prevalence after “AVOID” on a College Campus

The college-aged demographic is at risk for adverse effects from using electronic vaping devices (Kenne et al., 2017). Youth e-cigarette rates were 20.9% in 2018 (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 2021), and 11.8% in 2021 (ACHA). The objective was to analyze the use of electronic vaping devices by college students, following the Anti-Vaping Ongoing Interventions Dissemination (AVOID) program. Using the Transtheoretical Model, decisions to change vaping behavior were assessed to determine the effects of the AVOID program (Prochaska & Velicer, 1997). 900 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university were invited to participate through SurveyMonkey®. Data were collected and analyzed to further understand relationships and opinions about the use of electronic vaping devices. This survey was sent out after initiating the AVOID intervention which involved interacting in the campus community regarding the dangers of vaping. The AVOID intervention included eight-campus strategies including social media, posters, and ads on campus TVs. Of the 464 students who responded (51.6%), 15.84% said they had vaped in the last 30 days. While 65.27% stated that the educational programs had no effect regarding their vaping habits, 21.76% indicated they had learned something from the AVOID program, and 54.11% decided to quit within the next month. 86.68% would encourage a family member or friend to quit vaping. Progress was made with the AVOID program. A majority of respondents noticed an AVOID educational tool and have plans to change behavior. The team plans to further disseminate education regarding harms of vaping