Side-effects of a number of insecticides on predatory mites in apple orchards

Background: Amblyseius andersoni is a common predatory mite occurring in fruit orchards located in Europe and North America. Its role in preventing spider mite outbreaks is widely recognized, in particular when selective pesticides are used. The compatibility between plant protection products and predatory mites is crucial to preserve their activity. There is a need to investigate the effects of pesticides on beneficials using multiple approaches. Objectives: Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a number of insecticides on A. andersoni. Methods: The effects of neonicotinoids (i.e., acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thia-methoxam) were compared with those of pyrethroids (i.e., tau-fluvalinate), well known for their negative impact on predatory mites. Insecticides were applied 1-3 times in an experimental fruit orchard located in Northern Italy. Laboratory trials focused on their effects on the survival and the fecundity of predatory mite females. Results: Field experiments showed a decline in predatory mite numbers in plots treated with neonicotinoids or tau-fluvalinate compared to the untreated control. However, predatory mites in neonicotinoid plots reached higher densities compared to those recorded in tau-fluvalinate plots. Spider mite (Panonychus ulmi) populations reached moderate to high densities in plots treated with tau-fluvalinate while their densities were negligible in the remaining plots. Amblyseius andersoni survival was moderately affected by some neonicotinoids in the laboratory while they significantly reduced predatory mite fecundity. In contrast tau-fluvalinate exerted severe effects on survival and fecundity of predatory mites. Finally, escaping rate increased after pesticide exposure suggesting possible alterations in predatory mite behavior. Conclusions: Neonicotinoid applications significantly affected predatory mite densities in field conditions and this phenomenon appeared to be influenced by their impact on female fecundity. Their effects on survival were less severe. Implications of these results for IPM tactics in fruit orchards are discusse

Is Eriophyes mali Nalepa present in Italy?

In the last few years, blistering symptoms were observed on apple plants in commercial orchards. Blisters are commonly found on apple leaves as well as on small fruits. This symptom is compatible with that described for apple blister mites belonging to the genus Eriophyes (Eriophyidae). To assess the identity of the etiological agent, leaf blisters and buds of symptomatic apple and, as a control, pear plants were examined under the dissection microscope and eriophyoid mites were collected. Specimens were examined using both molecular and morphological approaches. The analysis of sequences confirmed that eriophyoid mites collected from symptomatic apple and pear plants are genetically different. Our analyses highlight a complex scenario inside the genus Eriophyes that is worth to be studied in more detai

Successes and failures of angiogenesis blockade in gastric and gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma

Gastric and gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEA) remains a considerable major public health problem worldwide, being the fifth most common cancer with a fatality-to-case ratio that stands still at 70%. Angiogenesis, which is a well-established cancer hallmark, exerts a fundamental role in cancer initiation and progression and its targeting has been actively pursued as a promising therapeutic strategy in GEA. A wealth of clinical trials has been conducted, investigating anti-angiogenic agents including VEGF-directed monoclonal antibodies, small molecules tyrosine kinase inhibitors and VEGF-Trap agents both in the resectable and advanced setting, reporting controversial results. While phase III randomized trials testing the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody Ramucirumab and the selective VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor Apatinib demonstrated a significant survival benefit in later lines, the shift of angiogenesis inhibitors in the perioperative and first-line setting failed to improve patients’ outcome in GEAs. The molecular landscape of disease, together with novel combinatorial strategies and biomarker-selected approaches are under investigation as key elements to the success of angiogenesis blockade in GEA. In this article, we critically review the existing literature on the biological rationale and clinical development of antiangiogenic agents in GEA, discussing major achievements, limitations and future developments, aiming at fully realizing the potential of this therapeutic approach

role of evaluating tumor infiltrating lymphocytes programmed death ligand 1 and mismatch repair proteins expression in malignant mesothelioma

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GU-CA-COVID: a clinical audit among Italian genitourinary oncologists during the first COVID-19 outbreak

Background: Considering the growing genitourinary (GU) cancer population undergoing systemic treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we planned a clinical audit in 24 Italian institutions treating GU malignancies. Objective: The primary objective was investigating the clinical impact of COVID-19 in GU cancer patients undergoing ICI-based therapy during the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in Italy. Design, setting, and participants: The included centers were 24 Oncology Departments. Two online forms were completed by the responsible Oncology Consultants, respectively, for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) patients receiving at least one administration of ICIs between 31 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. Results and limitation: In total, 287 mRCC patients and 130 mUC patients were included. The COVID-19 incidence was, respectively, 3.5%, with mortality 1%, in mRCC patients and 7.7%, with mortality 3.1%, in mUC patients. In both groups, 40% of patients developing COVID-19 permanently discontinued anticancer treatment. The pre-test SARS-CoV-2 probability in the subgroup of patients who underwent nasal/pharyngeal swab ranged from 14% in mRCC to 26% in mUC. The main limitation of the work was its nature of audit: data were not recorded at the single-patient level. Conclusion: GU cancer patients undergoing active treatment with ICIs have meaningful risk factors for developing severe events from COVID-19 and permanent discontinuation of therapy after the infection. Treatment delays due to organizational issues during the pandemic were unlikely to affect the treatment outcome in this population

Safe and efficient in vivo hematopoietic stem cell transduction in nonhuman primates using HDAd5/35++ vectors

We tested a new in vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transduction/selection approach in rhesus macaques using HSC-tropic, integrating, helper-dependent adenovirus vectors (HDAd5/35++) designed for expression of human γ−globin in red blood cells (RBCs) to treat hemoglobinopathies. We show that HDAd5/35++ vectors preferentially transduce HSCs in vivo after intravenous injection into G-CSF/AMD3100-mobilized animals, and that transduced cells return to the bone marrow and spleen. The approach was well tolerated and activation of proinflammatory cytokines that is usually associated with intravenous adenovirus vector injection, was successfully blunted by pre-treatment with dexamethasone in combination with IL-1 and IL-6 receptor blockers. Using our MGMT(P140K)-based in vivo selection approach, γ-globin(+) RBCs increased in all animals with levels up to 90%. After selection, the percentage of γ-globin(+) RBCs declined most likely due to an immune response against human transgene products. Our biodistribution data indicate that γ-globin(+) RBCs in the periphery were mostly derived from mobilized HSCs that homed to the spleen. Integration site analysis revealed a polyclonal pattern and no genotoxicity related to transgene integrations. This is the first proof-of-concept study in nonhuman primates that in vivo HSC gene therapy could be feasible in humans without the need for high-dose chemotherapy conditioning and HSC transplantation