Multiline operation from a single plasmon-assisted laser

The demonstration of plasmon-assisted lasing by associating optical gain media with plasmonic nanostructures has led to a new generation of nanophotonic devices with unprecedented performances. However, despite the variety of designs demonstrated so far, the operation of these systems is in most cases limited to a single output wavelength, and some reports on multiline emission refer to mixing single nanolasers with the subsequent limitation in compactness. Here, we show multiline operation from a single plasmon-assisted nonlinear solid-state laser on which a linear chain of Ag nanoparticles is deposited. The system provides lasing at 1.08 μm, which is self-converted to the visible range through different parametric frequency-mixing processes generated at metal-dielectric interfaces. Near infrared and simultaneously green and tunable blue radiation with a subwavelength confinement in the direction perpendicular to the nanoparticle chain, are obtained at room temperature in CW regime. The results demonstrate the possibility of multifunctional operation from a single plasmon-assisted laser and offer new avenues for the development of highly integrable sources of coherent radiationThis work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under Projects MAT201343301-R, MAT2015-66128-R and MAT2016-76106-R and by Comunidad de Madrid under Grant S2013/MIT-274

The age again in the eye of the COVID-19 storm: evidence-based decision making

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Immunosenescència; ConfinamentCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Inmunosenescencia; ConfinamientoCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Immunosenescence; LockdownBackground One hundred fifty million contagions, more than 3 million deaths and little more than 1 year of COVID-19 have changed our lives and our health management systems forever. Ageing is known to be one of the significant determinants for COVID-19 severity. Two main reasons underlie this: immunosenescence and age correlation with main COVID-19 comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidaemia. This study has two aims. The first is to obtain cut-off points for laboratory parameters that can help us in clinical decision-making. The second one is to analyse the effect of pandemic lockdown on epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters concerning the severity of the COVID-19. For these purposes, 257 of SARSCoV2 inpatients during pandemic confinement were included in this study. Moreover, 584 case records from a previously analysed series, were compared with the present study data. Results Concerning the characteristics of lockdown series, mild cases accounted for 14.4, 54.1% were moderate and 31.5%, severe. There were 32.5% of home contagions, 26.3% community transmissions, 22.5% nursing home contagions, and 8.8% corresponding to frontline worker contagions regarding epidemiological features. Age > 60 and male sex are hereby confirmed as severity determinants. Equally, higher severity was significantly associated with higher IL6, CRP, ferritin, LDH, and leukocyte counts, and a lower percentage of lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 count. Comparing this cohort with a previous 584-cases series, mild cases were less than those analysed in the first moment of the pandemic and dyslipidaemia became more frequent than before. IL-6, CRP and LDH values above 69 pg/mL, 97 mg/L and 328 U/L respectively, as well as a CD4 T-cell count below 535 cells/μL, were the best cut-offs predicting severity since these parameters offered reliable areas under the curve. Conclusion Age and sex together with selected laboratory parameters on admission can help us predict COVID-19 severity and, therefore, make clinical and resource management decisions. Demographic features associated with lockdown might affect the homogeneity of the data and the robustness of the results.This work has been carried out without funding

IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism is associated with unfavourable clinical and immunological status in HIV-infected individuals

AbstractThe IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism, in high linkage disequilibrium with the IL28B rs12979860 variant, has been associated with hepatitis C virus clearance. We evaluated whether ss469415590 is associated with clinical and immunovirological parameters in human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects. We found an independent association of the IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism with higher prevalence of AIDS-defining illnesses and lower CD4 T cell numbers. These results suggest the existence of common host defence mechanisms against different viral infections

The 150^{150}Nd(3^3He,tt) and 150^{150}Sm(tt,3^3He) reactions with applications to ββ\beta\beta decay of 150^{150}Nd

The $^{150}$Nd($^3$He,$t$) reaction at 140 MeV/u and $^{150}$Sm($t$,$^3$He) reaction at 115 MeV/u were measured, populating excited states in $^{150}$Pm. The transitions studied populate intermediate states of importance for the (neutrinoless) $\beta\beta$ decay of $^{150}$Nd to $^{150}$Sm. Monopole and dipole contributions to the measured excitation-energy spectra were extracted by using multipole decomposition analyses. The experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations obtained within the framework of Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation (QRPA), which is one of the main methods employed for estimating the half-life of the neutrinoless $\beta\beta$ decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) of $^{150}$Nd. The present results thus provide useful information on the neutrino responses for evaluating the $0\nu\beta\beta$ and $2\nu\beta\beta$ matrix elements. The $2\nu\beta\beta$ matrix element calculated from the Gamow-Teller transitions through the lowest $1^{+}$ state in the intermediate nucleus is maximally about half of that deduced from the half-life measured in $2\nu\beta\beta$ direct counting experiments and at least several transitions through $1^{+}$ intermediate states in $^{150}$Pm are required to explain the $2\nu\beta\beta$ half-life. Because Gamow-Teller transitions in the $^{150}$Sm($t$,$^3$He) experiment are strongly Pauli-blocked, the extraction of Gamow-Teller strengths was complicated by the excitation of the $2\hbar\omega$, $\Delta L=0$, $\Delta S=1$ isovector spin-flip giant monopole resonance (IVSGMR). However, the near absence of Gamow-Teller transition strength made it possible to cleanly identify this resonance, and the strength observed is consistent with the full exhaustion of the non-energy-weighted sum rule for the IVSGMR.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures, 2 table

The age again in the eye of the COVID-19 storm: evidence-based decision making

Background: One hundred fifty million contagions, more than 3 million deaths and little more than 1 year of COVID-19 have changed our lives and our health management systems forever. Ageing is known to be one of the significant determinants for COVID-19 severity. Two main reasons underlie this: immunosenescence and age correlation with main COVID-19 comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidaemia. This study has two aims. The first is to obtain cut-off points for laboratory parameters that can help us in clinical decision-making. The second one is to analyse the effect of pandemic lockdown on epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters concerning the severity of the COVID-19. For these purposes, 257 of SARSCoV2 inpatients during pandemic confinement were included in this study. Moreover, 584 case records from a previously analysed series, were compared with the present study data. Results: Concerning the characteristics of lockdown series, mild cases accounted for 14.4, 54.1% were moderate and 31.5%, severe. There were 32.5% of home contagions, 26.3% community transmissions, 22.5% nursing home contagions, and 8.8% corresponding to frontline worker contagions regarding epidemiological features. Age > 60 and male sex are hereby confirmed as severity determinants. Equally, higher severity was significantly associated with higher IL6, CRP, ferritin, LDH, and leukocyte counts, and a lower percentage of lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 count. Comparing this cohort with a previous 584-cases series, mild cases were less than those analysed in the first moment of the pandemic and dyslipidaemia became more frequent than before. IL-6, CRP and LDH values above 69 pg/mL, 97 mg/L and 328 U/L respectively, as well as a CD4 T-cell count below 535 cells/?L, were the best cut-offs predicting severity since these parameters offered reliable areas under the curve. Conclusion: Age and sex together with selected laboratory parameters on admission can help us predict COVID-19 severity and, therefore, make clinical and resource management decisions. Demographic features associated with lockdown might affect the homogeneity of the data and the robustness of the results

COVID-19 : Age, Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and lymphocytes as key clues from a multicentre retrospective study

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infection has widely spread to become the greatest public health challenge to date, the COVID-19 pandemic. Different fatality rates among countries are probably due to non-standardized records being carried out by local health authorities. The Spanish case-fatality rate is 11.22%, far higher than those reported in Asia or by other European countries. A multicentre retrospective study of demographic, clinical, laboratory and immunological features of 584 Spanish COVID-19 hospitalized patients and their outcomes was performed. The use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was also analysed as a risk factor. Results: In this study, 27.4% of cases presented a mild course, 42.1% a moderate one and for 30.5% of cases, the course was severe. Ages ranged from 18 to 98 (average 63). Almost 60 % (59.8%) of patients were male. Interleukin 6 was higher as severity increased. On the other hand, CD8 lymphocyte count was significantly lower as severity grew and subpopulations CD4, CD8, CD19, and NK showed concordant lowering trends. Severity-related natural killer percent descents were evidenced just within aged cases. A significant severity-related decrease of CD4 lymphocytes was found in males. The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with a better prognosis. The angiotensin II receptor blocker use was associated with a more severe course. Conclusions: Age and age-related comorbidities, such as dyslipidaemia, hypertension or diabetes, determined more frequent severe forms of the disease in this study than in previous literature cohorts. Our cases are older than those so far reported and the clinical course of the disease is found to be impaired by age. Immunosenescence might be therefore a suitable explanation for the hampering of immune system effectors. The adaptive immunity would become exhausted and a strong but ineffective and almost deleterious innate response would account for COVID-19 severity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors used by hypertensive patients have a protective effect in regards to COVID-19 severity in our series. Conversely, patients on angiotensin II receptor blockers showed a severer disease

Mental impact of Covid-19 among Spanish healthcare workers. A large longitudinal survey

Altres ajuts: Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León (SACYL, GRS COVID 32/A/20).Aims Longitudinal data on the mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in healthcare workers is limited. We estimated prevalence, incidence and persistence of probable mental disorders in a cohort of Spanish healthcare workers (Covid-19 waves 1 and 2) -and identified associated risk factors. Methods 8996 healthcare workers evaluated on 5 May-7 September 2020 (baseline) were invited to a second web-based survey (October-December 2020). Major depressive disorder (PHQ-8 ≥ 10), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10), panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 ≥ 7), and alcohol use disorder (CAGE-AID ≥ 2) were assessed. Distal (pre-pandemic) and proximal (pandemic) risk factors were included. We estimated the incidence of probable mental disorders (among those without disorders at baseline) and persistence (among those with disorders at baseline). Logistic regression of individual-level [odds ratios (OR)] and population-level (population attributable risk proportions) associations were estimated, adjusting by all distal risk factors, health care centre and time of baseline interview. Results 4809 healthcare workers participated at four months follow-up (cooperation rate = 65.7%; mean = 120 days s.d. = 22 days from baseline assessment). Follow-up prevalence of any disorder was 41.5%, (v. 45.4% at baseline, p < 0.001); incidence, 19.7% (s.e. = 1.6) and persistence, 67.7% (s.e. = 2.3). Proximal factors showing significant bivariate-adjusted associations with incidence included: work-related factors [prioritising Covid-19 patients (OR = 1.62)], stress factors [personal health-related stress (OR = 1.61)], interpersonal stress (OR = 1.53) and financial factors [significant income loss (OR = 1.37)]. Risk factors associated with persistence were largely similar. Conclusions Our study indicates that the prevalence of probable mental disorders among Spanish healthcare workers during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was similarly high to that after the first wave. This was in good part due to the persistence of mental disorders detected at the baseline, but with a relevant incidence of about 1 in 5 of HCWs without mental disorders during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Health-related factors, work-related factors and interpersonal stress are important risks of persistence of mental disorders and of incidence of mental disorders. Adequately addressing these factors might have prevented a considerable amount of mental health impact of the pandemic among this vulnerable population. Addressing health-related stress, work-related factors and interpersonal stress might reduce the prevalence of these disorders substantially. Study registration number: NCT0455656

Strain-induced pseudomagnetic field and Landau levels in photonic structures

Magnetic effects at optical frequencies are notoriously weak. This is evidenced by the fact that the magnetic permeability of nearly all materials is unity in the optical frequency range, and that magneto-optical devices (such as Faraday isolators) must be large in order to allow for a sufficiently strong effect. In graphene, however, it has been shown that inhomogeneous strains can induce 'pseudomagnetic fields' that behave very similarly to real fields. Here, we show experimentally and theoretically that, by properly structuring a dielectric lattice, it is possible to induce a pseudomagnetic field at optical frequencies in a photonic lattice, where the propagation dynamics is equivalent to the evolution of an electronic wavepacket in graphene. To our knowledge, this is the first realization of a pseudomagnetic field in optics. The induced field gives rise to multiple photonic Landau levels (singularities in the density of states) separated by band gaps. We show experimentally and numerically that the gaps between these Landau levels give rise to transverse confinement of the optical modes. The use of strain allows for the exploration of magnetic effects in a non-resonant way that would be otherwise inaccessible in optics. Employing inhomogeneous strain to induce pseudomagnetism suggests the possibility that aperiodic photonic crystal structures can achieve greater field-enhancement and slow-light effects than periodic structures via the high density-of-states at Landau levels. Generalizing these concepts to other systems beyond optics, for example with matter waves in optical potentials, offers new intriguing physics that is fundamentally different from that in purely periodic structures.Comment: 24 pages including supplementary information section, 4 figure

Response of Quercus ilex seedlings to Phytophthora spp. root infection in a soil infestation test

[EN] Phytophthora species are the main agents associated with oak (Quercus spp.) decline, together with the changing environmental conditions and the intensive land use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of Quercus ilex to the inoculation with eight Phytophthora species. Seven to eight month old Q. ilex seedlings grown from acorns, obtained from two Spanish origins, were inoculated with P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. megasperma, P. nicotianae, P. plurivora, P. psychrophila and P. quercina. All Phytophthora inoculated seedlings showed decline and symptoms including small dark necrotic root lesions, root cankers, and loss of fine roots and tap root. The most aggressive species were P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. plurivora and P. psychrophila followed by P. megasperma., while Phytophthora quercina and P. nicotianae were the less aggressive species. Results obtained confirm that these Phytophthora species could constituted a threat to Q. ilex ecosystems and the implications are further discussed.The authors are grateful to A. Solla and his team from the Centro Universitario de Plasencia-Universidad de Extremadura (Spain) for helping in the acorns collection and to the CIEF (Centro para la Investigación y Experimentación Forestal, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain) for providing the acorns. This research was supported by funding from the project AGL2011- 30438-C02-01 (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain).Mora-Sala, B.; Abad Campos, P.; Berbegal Martinez, M. (2018). Response of Quercus ilex seedlings to Phytophthora spp. root infection in a soil infestation test. European Journal of Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-018-01650-6SÁlvarez, L. A., Pérez-Sierra, A., Armengol, J., & García-Jiménez, J. (2007). Characterization of Phytophthora nicotianae isolates causing collar and root rot of lavender and rosemary in Spain. Journal of Plant Pathology, 89, 261–264.Balci, Y., & Halmschlager, E. (2003a). Incidence of Phytophthora species in oak forests in Austria and their possible involvement in oak decline. Forest Pathology, 33, 157–174.Balci, Y., & Halmschlager, E. (2003b). Phytophthora species in oak ecosystems in Turkey and their association with declining oak trees. Plant Pathology, 52, 694–702.Brasier, C. M. (1992a). Oak tree mortality in Iberia. Nature, 360, 539.Brasier, C. M. ((1992b)). Phytophthora cinnamomi as a contributory factor on European oak declines. In N. by Luisi, P. Lerario, & A. B. Vannini (Eds.), Recent Advances in Studies on Oak Decline. Proc. Int. Congress, Brindisi, Italy, September 13-18, 1992 (pp. 49–58). Italy: Università degli Studi.Brasier, C. M. (1996). Phytophthora cinnamomi and oak decline in southern Europe. Environmental constraints including climate change. Annales des Sciences Forestieres, 53, 347–358.Brasier, C. M. (2008). The biosecurity threat to the UK and global environment from international trade in plants. Plant Pathology, 57, 792–808.Brasier, C. M., Hamm, P. B., & Hansen, E. M. (1993a). Cultural characters, protein patterns and unusual mating behaviour of P. gonapodyides isolates from Britain and North America. Mycological Research, 97, 1287–1298.Brasier, C. M., Robredo, F., & Ferraz, J. F. P. (1993b). Evidence for Phytophthora cinnamomi involvement in Iberian oak decline. Plant Pathology, 42, 140–145.Camilo-Alves, C. S. P., Clara, M. I. E., & Ribeiro, N. M. C. A. (2013). Decline of Mediterranean oak trees and its association with Phytophthora cinnamomi: a review. European Journal of Forest Research, 132, 411–432.Català, S., Berbegal, M., Pérez-Sierra, A., & Abad-Campos, P. (2017). Metabarcoding and development of new real-time specific assays reveal Phytophthora species diversity in holm oak forests in eastern Spain. Plant Pathology, 66, 115–123.Collett, D. (2003). Modelling survival data in medical research (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: Chapman & Hall/CRC, 410 pp.Corcobado, T., Cubera, E., Pérez-Sierra, A., Jung, T., & Solla, A. (2010). First report of Phytophthora gonapodyides involved in the decline of Quercus ilex in xeric conditions in Spain. New Disease Reports, 22, 33.Corcobado, T., Cubera, E., Moreno, G., & Solla, A. (2013). Quercus ilex forests are influenced by annual variations in water table, soil water deficit and fine root loss caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 169, 92–99.Corcobado, T., Vivas, M., Moreno, G., & Solla, A. (2014). Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in declining and non-declining Quercus ilex trees infected with or free of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Forest Ecology and Management, 324, 72–80.Corcobado, T., Miranda-Torres, J. J., Martín-García, J., Jung, T., & Solla, A. (2017). Early survival of Quercus ilex subspecies from different populations after infections and co-infections by multiple Phytophthora species. Plant Pathology, 66, 792–804.Erwin, D. C., & Ribeiro, O. K. (1996). Phytophthora diseases worldwide. St. Paul, Minnesota,USA: APS Press, American Phytopathological. Society 562pp.Gallego, F. J., Perez de Algaba, A., & Fernandez-Escobar, R. (1999). Etiology of oak decline in Spain. European Journal of Forest Pathology, 29, 17–27.Hansen, E., & Delatour, C. (1999). Phytophthora species in oak forests of north-east France. Annals of Forest Science, 56, 539–547.Hardham, A. R., & Blackman, L. M. (2010). Molecular cytology of Phytophthora plant interactions. Australasian Plant Pathology, 39, 29.Hernández-Lambraño, R. E., González-Moreno, P., & Sánchez-Agudo, J. Á. (2018). Environmental factors associated with the spatial distribution of invasive plant pathogens in the Iberian Peninsula: The case of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Forest Ecology and Management, 419, 101–109.Jankowiak, R., Stępniewska, H., Bilański, P., & Kolařík, M. (2014). Occurrence of Phytophthora plurivora and other Phytophthora species in oak forests of southern Poland and their association with site conditions and the health status of trees. Folia Microbiologica, 59, 531–542.Jeffers, S. N., & Aldwinckle, H. S. (1987). Enhancing detection of Phytophthora cactorum in naturally infested soil. Phytopathology, 77, 1475–1482.Jiménez, A. J., Sánchez, E. J., Romero, M. A., Belbahri, L., Trapero, A., Lefort, F., & Sánchez, M. E. (2008). Pathogenicity of Pythium spiculum and P. sterilum on feeder roots of Quercus rotundifolia. Plant Pathology, 57, 369.Jönsson, U. (2006). A conceptual model for the development of Phytophthora disease in Quercus robur. New Phytologist, 171, 55–68.Jönsson, U., Jung, T., Rosengren, U., Nihlgard, B., & Sonesson, K. (2003). Pathogenicity of Swedish isolates of Phytophthora quercina to Quercus robur in two different soils. New Phytologist, 158, 355–364.Jung, T., & Burgess, T. I. (2009). Re-evaluation of Phytophthora citricola isolates from multiple woody hosts in Europe and North America reveals a new species, Phytophthora plurivora sp. nov. Persoonia, 22, 95–110.Jung, T., Blaschke, H., & Neumann, P. (1996). Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of Phytophthora species from declining oak stands. European Journal of Forest Pathology, 26, 253–272.Jung, T., Cooke, D. E. L., Blaschke, H., Duncan, J. M., & Oßwald, W. (1999). Phytophthora quercina sp. nov., causing root rot of European oaks. Mycological Research, 103, 785–798.Jung, T., Blaschke, H., & Oßwald, W. (2000). Involvement of soilborne Phytophthora species in Central European oak decline and the effect of site factors on the disease. Plant Pathology, 49, 706–718.Jung, T., Hansen, E. M., Winton, L., Oßwald, W., & Delatour, C. (2002). Three new species of Phytophthora from European oak forests. Mycological Research, 106, 397–411.Jung, T., Orlikowski, L., Henricot, B., Abad-Campos, P., Aday, A. G., Aguín Casal, O., Bakonyi, J., Cacciola, S. O., Cech, T., Chavarriaga, D., Corcobado, T., Cravador, A., Decourcelle, T., Denton, G., Diamandis, S., Dogmus-Lehtijärvi, H. T., Franceschini, A., Ginetti, B., Glavendekic, M., Hantula, J., Hartmann, G., Herrero, M., Ivic, D., Horta Jung, M., Lilja, A., Keca, N., Kramarets, V., Lyubenova, A., Machado, H., Magnano di San Lio, G., Mansilla Vázquez, P. J., Marçais, B., Matsiakh, I., Milenkovic, I., Moricca, S., Nagy, Z. Á., Nechwatal, J., Olsson, C., Oszako, T., Pane, A., Paplomatas, E. J., Pintos Varela, C., Prospero, S., Rial Martínez, C., Rigling, D., Robin, C., Rytkönen, A., Sánchez, M. E., Scanu, B., Schlenzig, A., Schumacher, J., Slavov, S., Solla, A., Sousa, E., Stenlid, J., Talgø, V., Tomic, Z., Tsopelas, P., Vannini, A., Vettraino, A. M., Wenneker, M., Woodward, S., & Peréz-Sierra, A. (2016). Widespread Phytophthora infestations in European nurseries put forest, semi-natural and horticultural ecosystems at high risk of Phytophthora diseases. Forest Pathology, 46, 134–163.Kroon, L. P., Brouwer, H., de Cock, A. W., & Govers, F. (2012). The genus Phytophthora anno 2012. Phytopathology, 102, 348–364.Linaldeddu, B. T., Scanu, B., Maddau, L., & Franceschini, A. (2014). Diplodia corticola and Phytophthora cinnamomi: the main pathogens involved in holm oak decline on Caprera Island (Italy). Forest Pathology, 44, 191–200.Luque, J., Parladé, J., & Pera, J. (2000). Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from Quercus suber in Catalonia (NE Spain). Forest Pathology, 30, 247–263.Luque, J., Parladé, J., & Pera, J. (2002). Seasonal changes in susceptibility of Quercus suber to Botryosphaeria stevensii and Phytophthora cinnamomi. Plant Pathology, 51, 338–345.MAGRAMA. (2014). Diagnóstico del Sector Forestal Español. Análisis y Prospectiva - Serie Agrinfo/Medioambiente n° 8. Ed. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. In NIPO: 280-14-081-9.Martín-García, J., Solla, A., Corcobado, T., Siasou, E., & Woodward, S. (2015). Influence of temperature on germination of Quercus ilex in Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila infested soils. Forest Pathology, 45, 215–223.Maurel, M., Robin, C., Capron, G., & Desprez-Loustau, M. L. (2001). Effects of root damage associated with Phytophthora cinnamomi on water elations, biomass accumulation, mineral nutrition and vulnerability to water deficit of five oak and chestnut species. Forest Pathology, 31, 353–369.McKinney, H. H. (1923). Influence of soil temperature and moisture on infection of wheat seedlings by Helminthosporium sativum. Journal of Agricultural Research, 26, 195–217.Moralejo, E., Pérez-Sierra, A., Álvarez, L. A., Belbahri, L., Lefort, F., & Descals, E. (2009). Multiple alien Phytophthora taxa discovered on diseased ornamental plants in Spain. Plant Pathology, 58, 100–110.Mora-Sala, B., Berbegal, M., & Abad-Campos, P. (2018). The use of qPCR reveals a high frequency of Phytophthora quercina in two Spanish holm oak areas. Forests, 9(11):697. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110697 .Moreira, A. C., & Martins, J. M. S. (2005). Influence of site factors on the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi in cork oak stands in Portugal. Forest Pathology, 35, 145–162.Mrázková, M., Černý, K., Tomosovsky, M., Strnadová, V., Gregorová, B., Holub, V., Panek, M., Havrdová, L., & Hejná, M. (2013). Occurrence of Phytophthora multivora and Phytophthora plurivora in the Czech Republic. Plant Protection Science, 49, 155–164.Navarro, R. M., Gallo, L., Sánchez, M. E., Fernández, P., & Trapero, A. (2004). Efecto de distintas fertilizaciones de fósforo en la resistencia de brinzales de encina y alcornoque a Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Investigación Agraria. Sistemas y Recursos Forestales, 13, 550–558.Panabières, F., Ali, G., Allagui, M., Dalio, R., Gudmestad, N., Kuhn, M., Guha Roy, S., Schena, L., & Zampounis, A. (2016). Phytophthora nicotianae diseases worldwide: new knowledge of a long-recognised pathogen. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 55, 20–40.Pérez-Sierra, A., & Jung, T. (2013). Phytophthora in woody ornamental nurseries. In: Phytophthora: A global perspective (pp. 166-177). Ed. by Lamour, K. Wallingford: CABI.Pérez-Sierra, A., Mora-Sala, B., León, M., García-Jiménez, J., & Abad-Campos, P. (2012). Enfermedades causadas por Phytophthora en viveros de plantas ornamentales. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 38, 143–156.Pérez-Sierra, A., López-García, C., León, M., García-Jiménez, J., Abad-Campos, P., & Jung, T. (2013). Previously unrecorded low-temperature Phytophthora species associated with Quercus decline in a Mediterranean forest in eastern Spain. Forest Pathology, 43, 331–339.Redondo, M. A., Pérez-Sierra, A., & Abad-Campos, P. (2015). Histology of Quercus ilex roots during infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Trees - Structure and Function, 29, 1943–5197.Ríos, P., Obregón, S., de Haro, A., Fernández-Rebollo, P., Serrano, M. S., & Sánchez, M. E. (2016). Effect of Brassica Biofumigant Amendments on Different Stages of the Life Cycle of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Journal of Phytopathology, 164, 582–594.Rizzo, D. M., Garbelotto, M., Davidson, J. M., Slaughter, G. W., & Koike, S. T. (2002). Phytophthora ramorum as the cause of extensive mortality of Quercus spp. and Lithocarpus densiflorus in California. Plant Disease, 86, 205–214.Robin, C., Desprez-Loustau, M. L., Capron, G., & Delatour, C. (1998). First record of Phytophthora cinnamomi on cork and holm oaks in France and evidence of pathogenicity. Annales Des Sciences Forestieres, 55, 869–883.Robin, C., Capron, G., & Desprez-Loustau, M. L. (2001). Root infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi in seedlings of three oak species. Plant Pathology, 50, 708–716.Rodríguez-Molina, M. C., Torres-Vila, L. M., Blanco-Santos, A., Núñez, E. J. P., & Torres-Álvarez, E. (2002). Viability of holm and cork oak seedlings from acorns sown in soils naturally infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi. Forest Pathology, 32, 365–372.Romero, M. A., Sánchez, J. E., Jiménez, J. J., Belbahri, L., Trapero, A., Lefort, F., & Sánchez, M. E. (2007). New Pythium taxa causing root rot in Mediterranean Quercus species in southwest Spain and Portugal. Journal of Phytopathology, 115, 289–295.Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres J. M. (2001). Guía de las plantas ornamentales. S.A. Mundi-Prensa Libros. ISBN 9788471149374. 688 pp.Sánchez, M. E., Caetano, P., Ferraz, J., & Trapero, A. (2002). Phytophtora disease of Quercus ilex in south-western Spain. Forest Pathology, 32, 5–18.Sánchez, M. E., Sánchez, J. E., Navarro, R. M., Fernández, P., & Trapero, A. (2003). Incidencia de la podredumbre radical causada por Phytophthora cinnamomi en masas de Quercus en Andalucía. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 29, 87–108.Sánchez, M. E., Andicoberry, S., & Trapero, A. (2005). Pathogenicity of three Phytophthora spp. causing late seedling rot of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota. Forest Pathology, 35, 115–125.Sánchez, M. E., Caetano, P., Romero, M. A., Navarro, R. M., & Trapero, A. (2006). Phytophthora root rot as the main factor of oak decline in southern Spain. In: Progress in Research on Phytophthora Diseases of Forest Trees. Proceedings of the Third International IUFRO Working Party S07.02.09. Meeting at Freising. Germany 11-18 September 2004. Brasier C. M., Jung T., Oßwald W. (Eds). Forest Research. Farnham, UK. pp. 149-154.Scanu, B., Linaldeddu, B. T., Deidda, A., & Jung, T. (2015). Diversity of Phytophthora species from declining Mediterranean maquis vegetation, including two new species, Phytophthora crassamura and P. ornamentata sp. nov. PLoS ONE, 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143234 .Schmitthenner, A. F., & Canaday, C. H. (1983). Role of chemical factors in the development of Phytophthora diseases. In: Phytophthora. Its biology, taxonomy, ecology, and pathology (pp.189-196). Ed. by Erwin D. C., Bartnicki-Garcia S., Tsao P. H. St. Paul, : The American Phytopathological Society.Scibetta, S., Schena, L., Chimento, A., Cacciola, S. A., & Cooke, D. E. L. (2012). A molecular method to assess Phytophthora diversity in environmental samples. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 88, 356–368.Sena, K., Crocker, E., Vincelli, P., & Barton, C. (2018). Phytophthora cinnamomi as a driver of forest change: Implications for conservation and management. Forest Ecology and Management, 409, 799–807.Thines, M. (2013). Taxonomy and phylogeny of Phytophthora and related oomycetes In: Phytophthora: A global perspective (pp. 11-18). Ed. by Lamour, K. Wallingford: CABI.Tsao, P. H. (1990). Why many Phytophthora root rots and crown rots of tree and horticultural crops remain undetected. EPPO Bulletin, 20, 11–17.Tuset, J. J., Hinarejos, C., Mira, J. L., & Cobos, M. (1996). Implicación de Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands en la enfermedad de la seca de encinas y alcornoques. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 22, 491–499.Vettraino, A. M., Barzanti, G. P., Bianco, M. C., Ragazzi, A., Capretti, P., Paoletti, E., & Vannini, A. (2002). Occurrence of Phytophthora species in oak stands in Italy and their association with declining oak trees. Forest Pathology, 32, 19–28.Xia, K., Hill, L. M., Li, D. Z., & Walters, C. (2014). Factors affecting stress tolerance in recalcitrant embryonic axes from seeds of four Quercus (Fagaceae) species native to the USA or China. Annals of Botany, 114, 1747–1759

Direct Identification of the Meloidogyne incognita Secretome Reveals Proteins with Host Cell Reprogramming Potential

The root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is an obligate parasite that causes significant damage to a broad range of host plants. Infection is associated with secretion of proteins surrounded by proliferating cells. Many parasites are known to secrete effectors that interfere with plant innate immunity, enabling infection to occur; they can also release pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, e.g., flagellin) that trigger basal immunity through the nematode stylet into the plant cell. This leads to suppression of innate immunity and reprogramming of plant cells to form a feeding structure containing multinucleate giant cells. Effectors have generally been discovered using genetics or bioinformatics, but M. incognita is non-sexual and its genome sequence has not yet been reported. To partially overcome these limitations, we have used mass spectrometry to directly identify 486 proteins secreted by M. incognita. These proteins contain at least segmental sequence identity to those found in our 3 reference databases (published nematode proteins; unpublished M. incognita ESTs; published plant proteins). Several secreted proteins are homologous to plant proteins, which they may mimic, and they contain domains that suggest known effector functions (e.g., regulating the plant cell cycle or growth). Others have regulatory domains that could reprogram cells. Using in situ hybridization we observed that most secreted proteins were produced by the subventral glands, but we found that phasmids also secreted proteins. We annotated the functions of the secreted proteins and classified them according to roles they may play in the development of root knot disease. Our results show that parasite secretomes can be partially characterized without cognate genomic DNA sequence. We observed that the M. incognita secretome overlaps the reported secretome of mammalian parasitic nematodes (e.g., Brugia malayi), suggesting a common parasitic behavior and a possible conservation of function between metazoan parasites of plants and animals