Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus methylotrophicus

The complete genome of Bacillus methylotrophicus strain B25, isolated in Switzerland, was sequenced. Its size is 3.85 Mb, and several genes that may contribute to plant growth-promoting activities were identified in silico

Complete genome sequence of bacillus methylotrophicus strain B25, a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium

The complete genome of Bacillus methylotrophicus strain B25, isolated in Switzerland, was sequenced. Its size is 3.85 Mb, and several genes that may contribute to plant growth-promoting activities were identified in silico

Does in vitro selection of biocontrol agents guarantee success in planta? A study case of wheat protection against Fusarium seedling blight by soil bacteria

International audienceBiological control is a great hope for reducing the overutilization of pesticides in agricultural soils. It often involves microorganisms or molecules produced by microorganisms that will be able to interact with either a plant or pathogens of this plant to reduce the growth of the pathogen and limit its negative impact on the host plant. When new biocontrol products are developed, strains were mostly selected based on their ability to inhibit a pathogen of interest under in vitro conditions via antagonistic effects. Strains with no in vitro effect are often discarded and not tested in planta. But is the in vitro selection of bacterial agents according to their antagonism activities towards a plant pathogen the best way to get effective biocontrol products? To answer this question, we used wheat and the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum as a study pathosystem model. A library of 205 soil bacteria was screened in 2 types of in vitro growth inhibition tests against F. graminearum, and in an in planta experiment. We find strains which do not have inhibition phenotypes in vitro but good efficacy in planta. Interestingly, some strains belong to species (Microbacterium, Arthrobacter, Variovorax) that are not known in the literature for their ability to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Thus, developing a biocontrol product against F. graminearum must be preferentially based on the direct screening of strains for their protective activity on wheat plants against fungal diseases, rather than on their in vitro antagonistic effects on fungal growth

Eur J Public Health

Background: Mental health problems in the perinatal period are common. We examined associations between different categories of migrant status and region of origin in relation to mental health during pregnancy and at 2 months post-partum. Methods: We analyzed data from the French nationally representative Etude Longitudinale Francaise depuis l'Enfance birth cohort (n = 17 988). Migrant status was divided into five categories: 'majority population', 'descendants with one migrant parent', 'descendants with two migrant parents', 'naturalized migrant' and 'non-naturalized migrant women'. Multivariate logistic regression models were implemented to examine associations between migrant status and mental health outcomes: persistent psychological difficulties during pregnancy as well as mother's depression and poor self-reported health at 2 months post-partum. Results: After adjusting for covariates, migrant status was not associated with psychological difficulties during pregnancy. Descendants of migrants had comparable mental health to the majority population. Non-naturalized migrant women were more likely to experience depression (odd's ratio (OR)= 1.66, 95%confidence interval (CI): 1.27, 2.20) and poor self-reported health (OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.98) during the post-partum period. The region of origin was associated with post-partum health independently of migrant status, such that women from Africa and Turkey were most likely to have depression or poor self-rated health. Conclusion: First, but not second, generation migrant women appear to have high levels of mental health difficulties during the post-partum period. Women from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Turkey have higher levels of distress than those from other regions. In particular, non-naturalized migrant appear to be a vulnerable group; they may disproportionately face stressors that increase their risk for post-partum depressive symptoms