Molecular and biological evidence for a severe seedling yellows strain of Citrus tristeza virus spreading in southern Italy

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) outbreaks have been reported in the main citrus-growing regions of Italy in the past 10 years. In some areas where eradication efforts failed to suppress spread, high CTV incidence is now observed. Recently, potentially severe CTV strains were detected in Calabria (southern Italy), one of the major citrus-growing area. As a result, investigations of the virulence and molecular features of CTV populations spreading in this region were undertaken. Virus was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a broad spectrum polyclonal antiserum, and was differentiated into potential virulent categories with the severe-strain discriminating monoclonal antibody MCA13. Isolate genotyping was conducted using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with multiple molecular markers (MMM), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the amplicons from the genes coding for the coat protein (CP) p25 and the non-structural p20 protein as well as sequence analysis. Based on the serological reactivity, the isolates were differentiated in two distinct serogroups: MCA13-reactive and MCA13 non-reactive. Similarly, based on the molecular profile, the isolates were grouped in two genetically distinct phylogenetic clusters, and associated either with a T30-like or with a T3-like genotype. These data were related to the results of biological indexing on standard indicator plants, which distinguished isolates causing mild or severe seedling yellow reactions. The study has demonstrated the presence of MCA13-reactive isolates associated with a T3-like genotype and causing severe seedling yellows in sour orange, grapefruit and lemon seedlings, and stem pitting in Mexican lime

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management

Molecular and biological evidence for a severe seedling yellows strain of Citrus tristeza virus spreading in Calabria (Southern Italy)

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) outbreaks have been reported in the main citrus-growing regions of Italy in the past 10 years. In some areas where eradication efforts failed to suppress spread, high CTV incidence is now observed. Recently, potentially severe CTV strains were detected in Calabria (southern Italy), one of the major citrusgrowing area. As a result, investigations of the virulence and molecular features of CTV populations spreading in this region were undertaken. Virus was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a broad spectrum polyclonal antiserum, and was differentiated into potential virulent categories with the severe-strain discriminating monoclonal antibody MCA13. Isolate genotyping was conducted using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with multiple molecular markers (MMM), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the amplicons from the genes coding for the coat protein (CP) p25 and the non-structural p20 protein as well as sequence analysis. Based on the serological reactivity, the isolates were differentiated in two distinct serogroups: MCA13-reactive and MCA13 non-reactive. Similarly, based on the molecular profile, the isolates were grouped in two genetically distinct phylogenetic clusters, and associated either with a T30-like or with a T3-like genotype. These data were related to the results of biological indexing on standard indicator plants, which distinguished isolates causing mild or severe seedling yellow reactions. The study has demonstrated the presence of MCA13-reactive isolates associated with a T3-like genotype and causing severe seedling yellows in sour orange, grapefruit and lemon seedlings, and stem pitting in Mexican lime

Assessment of <I>Citrus tristeza virus</I> (CTV) incidence in Calabria, southern Italy: results of a three-year survey

Since 2006 a survey on Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) has been carried out in Calabria, southern Italy, to determine the occurrence of the virus, to evaluate its incidence, to identify and characterize the virus strains, and to monitor the aphid vector populations. Citrus samples were collected from nurseries and orchards located in the five provinces of the region. The virus was not detected in the citrus-growing areas of Catanzaro (CZ) or Crotone (KR), whereas it was found in three orchards in Cosenza (CS), three in Vibo Valentia (VV) and twelve citrus plantings in Reggio Calabria (RC). The highest infection percentages occurred in citrus orchards close to fields already infected with CTV. Infections were detected not only in foreign cultivars, but also in local cultivars such as ‘Comune’ clementine, ‘Moro’, ‘Ovale’ and ‘Tarocco’ sweet orange, suggesting that CTV was transmitted by aphids. CTV occurred in only a few plantlets sampled in two citrus nurseries located near the main areas already infected. Serological differentiation of several CTV field isolates revealed that the mild strains were prevalent. Aphis gossypii (Glover) and A. spiraecola Patch (= A. citricola Van der Goot) were the most frequent aphids in the orchards, whereas Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Foscoulombe) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) occurred with low incidence. The absence of T. citricidus (Kirkaldy) was confirmed

PKC epsilon/PKC delta rate regulates human platelets production.

Platelet production is the terminal step of the megakaryocytopoiesis process (1). We previously observed that PKCepsilon, a member of the Protein Kinase C family of serine/threonine kinases, expression varies during human MK differentiation and modulates MK maturation and platelet release (2). Besides, it is also critical for proplatelet formation in murine model (3). Here we utilized an in vitro model of human platelet production to investigate a potential role for PKCdelta, well known to mediate contrasting and even opposing effects as compared to PKCepsilon in several non-hematopoietic models (4), in MK differentiation and proplatelet formation. By western blot analysis we found that PKCdelta expression escalates during megakarocyte differentiation and remains elevated during the final step of this process, with an opposite kinetics as compared to PKCepsilon expression levels. Furthermore, by using specific shRNA we observed that PKCdelta inhibition affected both MK differentiation, in terms of cell survival and ploidy, and platelet production. The correlation between PKCdelta/PKCepsilon levels and MK differentiation was also confirmed by pathological models. Indeed, primary myelofibrosis (PMF), characterized by an impaired MK differentiation, showed higher levels of PKCepsilon and reduced expression of PKCdelta. On the contrary, in essential thrombocytemia (ET), featured by a physiological increase of platelet number, PKCepsilon is virtually absent and PKCdelta is well represented. Finally, we demonstrated that the concurrent pharmacological inhibition of PKCepsilon and activation of PKCdelta are capable to build up platelet production in human. Collectively, these data indicate that novel PKCs are critical mediator of human proplatelet formation and the modulation of their expression might be a future strategy to revise platelet production

Modelling and control for plasma disruption avoidance and mitigation

This paper proposes an approach aimed at avoiding or mitigating the consequences of a plasma disruption in a tokamak. The control strategy is based on a Disruption Predictive Control (DPC) where the use of a set of disruption predictors could allow actively modification of some plasma parameters when a disruption warning is issued. The DPC approach requires the continuous monitoring of various plasma performance indicators, which play the role of disruption precursors. The active control is based on the availability of magnetic and nonmagnetic plasma parameter response models as well as multivariable control algorithms and architectures

Inter-laboratory validation of PCR-based protocol for detection of olive viruses

Sanitary selection and certification of olive cultivars require sensitive diagnostic methods and effective sanitation protocols. Although much attention has been paid in the past few years to the development of diagnostic tools for reliable virus identification, the need to define a common and standardized diagnostic protocol led to the implementation of a ring test among nine Italian diagnostic laboratories. A one-step RT-PCR protocol and different primer sets, targeting the most common olive viruses covered by phytosanitary rules, were tested in each laboratory, using the same batch of positive and healthy controls as well as the same amplification conditions and reaction components. The one-step RT-PCR, performed using several specific primer sets, was able efficiently to detect the target viruses in all laboratories. Furthermore, a one-step RT-PCR protocol was used successfully for the first time for detection of Tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) and Olive mild mosaic virus (OMMV). Results showed that all target viruses were not uniformly distributed in the canopy, and that at least two subsets of samples must be collected from each plant. This standardized protocol is now being used to produce nuclear stocks for 70 different Italian olive cultivars, in the framework of the national project OLVIVA, which involves 25 national research institutions

Margini della traduzione

Il primo numero dei Quaderni della Società italiana di Traduttologia, dedicato ai “margini della traduzione”, esplora alcune pratiche testuali e intertestuali che si collocano nelle aree di frontiera di ciò che generalmente si intende per traduzione. Né dati né ovvi, i concetti di margine e di centro richiedono di essere ridefiniti sulla base delle pratiche teoriche traduttive, dei diversi regimi storici, estetici ed ermeneutici che le alimentano. Spostare lo sguardo su aree ritenute periferiche, indagando casi e pratiche testuali apparentemente marginali, può rivelarsi molto utile per mettere a fuoco questioni essenziali nel ridisegnare il perimetro stesso del concetto di traduzione: i margini materiali del testo, le note del traduttore, i glossari terminologici, i rapporti fra traduzione, musica e pittura, le scritture di confine che interrogano la nozione di autorialità