Tapping into the maize root microbiome to identify bacteria that promote growth under chilling conditions

Background When maize (Zea mays L.) is grown in the Northern hemisphere, its development is heavily arrested by chilling temperatures, especially at the juvenile phase. As some endophytes are beneficial for plants under stress conditions, we analyzed the impact of chilling temperatures on the root microbiome and examined whether microbiome-based analysis might help to identify bacterial strains that could promote growth under these temperatures. Results We investigated how the maize root microbiome composition changed by means of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing when maize was grown at chilling temperatures in comparison to ambient temperatures by repeatedly cultivating maize in field soil. We identified 12 abundant and enriched bacterial families that colonize maize roots, consisting of bacteria recruited from the soil, whereas seed-derived endophytes were lowly represented. Chilling temperatures modified the root microbiome composition only slightly, but significantly. An enrichment of several chilling-responsive families was detected, of which the Comamonadaceae and the Pseudomonadaceae were the most abundant in the root endosphere of maize grown under chilling conditions, whereas only three were strongly depleted, among which the Streptomycetaceae. Additionally, a collection of bacterial strains isolated from maize roots was established and a selection was screened for growth-promoting effects on juvenile maize grown under chilling temperatures. Two promising strains that promoted maize growth under chilling conditions were identified that belonged to the root endophytic bacterial families, from which the relative abundance remained unchanged by variations in the growth temperature. Conclusions Our analyses indicate that chilling temperatures affect the bacterial community composition within the maize root endosphere. We further identified two bacterial strains that boost maize growth under chilling conditions. Their identity revealed that analyzing the chilling-responsive families did not help for their identification. As both strains belong to root endosphere enriched families, visualizing and comparing the bacterial diversity in these communities might still help to identify new PGPR strains. Additionally, a strain does not necessarely need to belong to a high abundant family in the root endosphere to provoke a growth-promoting effect in chilling conditions

Underuse of Anticoagulation in Older Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and CHADS2 Score ≥ 2: Are We Doing Better Since the Marketing of Direct Oral Anticoagulants?

Our objectives were to (1) describe the evolution of the underuse of anticoagulants in older people with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a CHADS2 score ≥ 2 since direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were introduced to the market and (2) describe factors associated with this underuse. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study including geriatric patients admitted during the pre-DOAC (2008-2011) and post-DOAC (2013-2015) periods in an academic hospital in Belgium. Five inclusion criteria were met: age ≥ 75 years, diagnosis of AF, indication for anticoagulation (CHADS2 score ≥ 2), risk of functional decline (Identification of Seniors At Risk [ISAR] score ≥ 2), and comprehensive geriatric assessment. The use of anticoagulants and antiplatelets at home before admission was recorded. Risks of stroke and bleeding were calculated using CHADS2 and HEMORR2HAGES scores, respectively. Three different logistic regression models were performed to describe the evolution of and factors associated with the underuse of anticoagulants after DOAC marketing. Anticoagulant underuse, present in 209 of 614 (34%) geriatric patients with AF, was lower in patients with a history of stroke (28.5%) or congestive heart failure (26.9%) but higher in those receiving antiplatelets (56.2%) and in older individuals. Anticoagulant underuse decreased significantly from the pre-DOAC (37.3%) to the post-DOAC (29.7%) era, as shown by two analyses using propensity scores. In older patients with AF, anticoagulant underuse was mainly associated with antiplatelet use. Anticoagulant underuse and antiplatelet use have both decreased since DOAC marketing. Underuse of anticoagulants was still a concern for three in ten geriatric patients with AF at high risk of stroke (CHADS2 score ≥ 2)

Underuse of anticoagulation in older patients with atrial fibrillation at high-risk of thromboembolic events: are we doing better since the marketing of direct oral anticoagulants?

INTRODUCTION : Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac arrhythmia that is associated with a higher risk of thromboembolic events, e.g. stroke. The prevention of thromboembolic events relies on the initiation of antithrombotic therapy, including oral anticoagulants (OAC). According to guidelines, patients at high risk of thromboembolic event, as defined by a CHADS2 score ≥ 2, must receive anticoagulants. Until recently, vitamin K antagonists (VKA) were the only OAC available on the market. In 2012, the first direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) entered the Belgian market. DOACs have several advantages over VKAs that could increase the use of OACs in these patients, and especially in older ones in whom anticoagulation is often underused. Our objectives were to (1) describe the evolution of the underuse of anticoagulants in older people with AF at high risk of thromboembolic event since the marketing of DOACs and (2) describe factors associated with this underuse. [...

Equine multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease: a case report and review of literature

CASE HISTORY: A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding presented with a history of fever over 1 week, anorexia and skin lesions on all four legs. The lesions were associated with severe pruritus and oedema, and there was no response to therapy. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The horse was in poor body condition, was lethargic and severely pruritic. Skin lesions consisted of diffuse alopecia and crusting of the distal extremities. Initially it was slightly febrile, but subsequently its temperature increased up to 40 degrees C. Ten days after admission it developed profuse watery diarrhoea and the skin lesions progressed. Skin biopsies revealed superficial and deep perivascular dermatitis with lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic predominance. Based on the poor prognosis the horse was subject to euthanasia. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The most notable lesions included ulcerative gastritis, typhlitis and colitis with prominent oedema of the intestines, marked subcutaneous oedema and severe thickening of the large bile ducts. Histopathology showed marked eosinophilic and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of various tissues including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, mesenteric lymph nodes, large bile ducts, pancreatic duct and kidney. Immunohistochemistry revealed a clear predominance of CD3-positive cells in the lymphocytic infiltrations. DIAGNOSIS: Based on the clinical findings and histopathology a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED) was made. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is rare in horses, and usually chronic. In the current case the horse showed an apparently acute onset with high fever and rapid clinical deterioration. A diagnosis of MEED should be considered in horses presenting with weight loss and skin lesions with or without fever. A final diagnosis is based on histological results of biopsy specimens from affected organs

Association of cell death markers with tumor immune cell infiltrates after chemo-radiation in cervical cancer

Irradiation induces distinct cellular responses such as apoptosis, necroptosis, iron-dependent cell death (a feature of ferroptosis), senescence, and mitotic catastrophe. Several of these outcomes are immunostimulatory and may represent a potential for immunogenic type of cell death (ICD) induced by radiotherapy triggering abscopal effects. The purpose of this study is to determine whether intra-tumoral ICD markers can serve as biomarkers for the prediction of patient's outcomes defined as the metastasis status and survival over a 5-year period. Thirty-eight patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin were included in this study. Pre-treatment tumor biopsy and post-treatment hysterectomy samples were stained for cell death markers and danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs): cleaved caspase-3 (apoptosis), phosphorylated mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase (pMLKL; necroptosis), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4; ferroptosis) and 4-hydroxy-2-noneal (4-HNE; ferroptosis), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and calreticulin. Although these markers could not predict the patient's outcome in terms of relapse or survival, many significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration. For instance, inducing ferroptosis post-treatment seems to negatively impact immune cell recruitment. Measuring ICD markers could reflect the impact of treatment on the tumor microenvironment with regard to immune cell recruitment and infiltration. One Sentence SummaryCell death readouts during neoadjuvant chemoradiation in cervical cance

First evidence of Besnoitia bennetti infection (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Belgium

BACKGROUND: Besnoitiosis is caused by different species of intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the family Sarcocystidae and affecting multiple host species worldwide. Including B. besnoiti, ten species are described infecting animals. Among ungulates, Besnoitia bennetti infects horses, donkeys and zebras and was described in Africa and in the USA where donkey besnoitiosis is considered as an emerging disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A two-year-old male donkey was purchased in May 2016 in poor body condition (cachexia, alopetic areas and pruritus mainly on neck and head) by the present owner in Le Roeulx (Belgium) from a milk producing donkey farm in Frasnes-lez-Buissenal (Belgium). Shortly after its purchase and shearing, the donkey presented with crusts, hyperkeratosis (both flanks and neck) anorexia and cachexia. A treatment with phoxim was given with no improvement. A cutaneous biopsy of hyperkeratotic skin was performed in July. It showed a perivascular eosinophilic infiltrate with a large thick walled cyst located in the dermis containing numerous bradyzoites. This was highly suggestive of besnoitiosis. Several skin biopsy samples were obtained for qPCR analysis and confirmed the presence of Besnoitia spp. DNA. Further laboratory diagnosis tests were performed (western blot and rDNA sequencing) confirming Besnoitia bennetti aetiology for the male. For the female, the punch-biopsy, haematology and qPCR were negatives but the western blot showed the presence of antibodies directed to Besnoitia spp. Further clinical examination performed in August highlighted scleral pinhead sized cysts (pearl) in the right eye and between nares. Another ten-year-old female donkey purchased in France and sharing the same accommodation showed a good clinical condition, but a thorough clinical examination showed the presence of numerous cysts on the inner face of upper labial mucosa. A daily treatment based on sulfamethaxzole and trimethoprim (Emdotrim 60% Mix(R), 30 mg/kg) was given orally and some improvement was noticed. CONCLUSION: This is the first evidence of Besnoitia bennetti infection (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Belgium