Induction of defensive responses in sugarcane against Sugarcane mosaic virus with two bioproducts

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), main sugar crop worldwide, is affected by multiple pathogens. One of the most important viral diseases in this crop is mosaic, caused by Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). This research was conducted with the objective of demonstrating the ability of two bioproducts to induce defenses response against this virus. The first based on the encapsulation of the endopolygalacturonase enzyme of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus CCEBI 2011 and another whose active principle is constituted by phenolic compounds produced by sugarcane in temporary immersion bioreactors. SP70-1284 cultivars susceptible to SCMV and resistant C323-68 were treated with the bioproducts and inoculated with SCMV. The severity of the infection, the accumulation of superoxide radicals and the expression of 10 defense-related genes were evaluated. The resistant cultivar did not show symptoms of infection during the development of the experiment, while in the susceptible the application of both bioproducts decreased the severity of the infection between 38.9 and 44.4% with respect to the control. The presence of superoxide radicals was observed in the first hours of sugarcane-SCMV interaction, while at 28 days’ post inoculation, a differentiated expression of three genes related to antiviral defense was observed. The ability of both bioproducts to induce defensive responses in sugarcane against SCMV was demonstrated

Primary skin fibroblasts as a model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. While most cases occur sporadic mutations in a growing number of genes including Parkin (PARK2) and PINK1 (PARK6) have been associated with the disease. Different animal models and cell models like patient skin fibroblasts and recombinant cell lines can be used as model systems for Parkinson's disease. Skin fibroblasts present a system with defined mutations and the cumulative cellular damage of the patients. PINK1 and Parkin genes show relevant expression levels in human fibroblasts and since both genes participate in stress response pathways, we believe fibroblasts advantageous in order to assess, e.g. the effect of stressors. Furthermore, since a bioenergetic deficit underlies early stage Parkinson's disease, while atrophy underlies later stages, the use of primary cells seems preferable over the use of tumor cell lines. The new option to use fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells redifferentiated into dopaminergic neurons is an additional benefit. However, the use of fibroblast has also some drawbacks. We have investigated PARK6 fibroblasts and they mirror closely the respiratory alterations, the expression profiles, the mitochondrial dynamics pathology and the vulnerability to proteasomal stress that has been documented in other model systems. Fibroblasts from patients with PARK2, PARK6, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 demonstrated a distinct and unique mRNA expression pattern of key genes in neurodegeneration. Thus, primary skin fibroblasts are a useful Parkinson's disease model, able to serve as a complement to animal mutants, transformed cell lines and patient tissues

Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil

Global interest in sugarcane has increased significantly in recent years due to its economic impact on sustainable energy production. Sugarcane breeding and better agronomic practices have contributed to a huge increase in sugarcane yield in the last 30 years. Additional increases in sugarcane yield are expected to result from the use of biotechnology tools in the near future. Genetically modified (GM) sugarcane that incorporates genes to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses could play a major role in achieving this goal. However, to bring GM sugarcane to the market, it is necessary to follow a regulatory process that will evaluate the environmental and health impacts of this crop. The regulatory review process is usually accomplished through a comparison of the biology and composition of the GM cultivar and a non-GM counterpart. This review intends to provide information on non-GM sugarcane biology, genetics, breeding, agronomic management, processing, products and byproducts, as well as the current technologies used to develop GM sugarcane, with the aim of assisting regulators in the decision-making process regarding the commercial release of GM sugarcane cultivars

Tratamiento local de metástasis cutánea facial de cáncer de colon mediante colgajo submentoniano Local management of colon carcinoma metasasis in the face with a submental flap

Las metástasis cutáneas de los tumores del aparato digestivo son lesiones infrecuentes que aparecen en pacientes con estadíos avanzados de la enfermedad, frecuentemente ya intervenidos del tumor primario. Son lesiones que aparecen de novo, de características variables y crecimiento rápido; suelen localizarse en tronco o extremidades inferiores y se diagnostican precozmente, lo que hace fácil su extirpación y el cierre directo del defecto. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con cáncer de colon en estadío avanzado con lesión metastásica facial de 6 cm de diámetro en mejilla derecha. Esta lesión ulcerada y maloliente, precisaba curas diarias y empeoraba la calidad de vida del paciente. Se procedió a su extirpación y para cobertura realizamos un colgajo submentoniano ipsilateral con excelente resultado. Este colgajo proporciona un tejido muy parecido al del defecto, creando mínimas secuelas de la zona donante que queda oculta en el área de sombra submandibular, por lo que representa una alternativa terapéutica ideal en defectos faciales de tamaño medio.Cutaneous metastasis of the digestive tract are infrequent lesions appearing in patients with advanced disease. Most of these patients have been already operated of their primary tumour. Lesions are variable in aspect, arising de novo and evolving with rapid growth. They usually lie in the trunk or lower extremities thus facilitating an early diagnosis and management with simple extirpation and direct closure. A case-report of a patient with advanced colonic cancer is here presented. At admission he presented a cutaneous matastasic lesion in the right cheek; it was a 6 cm ulcerated, bad -smelling lesion which needed daily dressings affecting patient's normal life. The lesion was removed using successfully a submental flap as coverage. The submental flap provides a very similar tissue to facial defects, leaving no donor area sequelae which is in addition well hidden, being consequently a good tool for midsize facial defects

Identification of sugarcane genes induced in disease-resistant somaclones upon inoculation with Ustilago scitaminea or Bipolaris sacchari

To understand the molecular basis of a specific plant-pathogen interaction, it is important to identify plant genes that respond to the pathogen attack. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of cDNA was used to identify sugarcane genes differentially expressed in disease-resistant but not in susceptible sugarcane somaclones in response to inoculation with either Ustilago scitaminea or Bipolaris sacchari (also known as Helminthosporium sacchari or Drechslera sacchari), causal agents of smut and eyespot respectively. In total 62 differentially regulated genes were identified, of which 10 were down-regulated and 52 were induced. Of these 52, 19 transcript derived fragments showed homology to known plant gene sequences, most of them related to defense or signaling. The total set of differentially expressed sugarcane genes can be an important resource for further studies aimed at understanding sugarcane pathogen defens