Fungal communities living in the wood of different cultivars of young Vitis vinifera plants

The fungal communities associated with fi ve Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in Switzerland (‘Humagne’, ‘Chasselas’, ‘Arvine’, ‘Gamaret’ and ‘Gamay’) were examined. Of the 703 fungal isolates obtained in pure culture, 66 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defi ned. The results show that: the great majority of the fungi isolated in this study were ascomycetes, with a high proportion of Sordariomycetes (mainly Hypocreales, Sordariales and Diaporthales); different fungal OTUs were associated with different cultivars; graft and rootstock contributed equally to the fungal community composition; Esca- or Petri-related species occurred sporadically in the different cultivars, with some of them occupying specifi c tissues or parts of the plant (e.g.: Botryosphaeriaceous species, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phomopsis viticola); almost 25% of OTUs occurred in different plant parts in most cultivars, which suggests an easy spread outwards from the infected material (graft or rootstock), which might be explained by the fungal propagules being transported through the xylem vessels

Cardiovascular Response to Intraneural Right Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Adult Minipig.

Objective: This study explored intraneural stimulation of the right thoracic vagus nerve (VN) in sexually mature male minipigs to modulate safe heart rate and blood pressure response. Material and methods: We employed an intraneural electrode designed for the VN of pigs to perform VN stimulation (VNS). This was delivered using different numbers of contacts on the electrode and different stimulation parameters (amplitude, frequency, and pulse width), identifying the most suitable stimulation configuration. All the parameter ranges had been selected from a computational cardiovascular system model. Results: Clinically relevant responses were observed when stimulating with low current intensities and relatively low frequencies delivered with a single contact. Selecting a biphasic, charge-balanced square wave for VNS with a current amplitude of 500 μA, frequency of 10 Hz, and pulse width of 200 μs, we obtained heart rate reduction of 7.67 ± 5.19 beats per minute, systolic pressure reduction of 5.75 ± 2.59 mmHg, and diastolic pressure reduction of 3.39 ± 1.44 mmHg. Conclusion: Heart rate modulation was obtained without inducing any observable adverse effects, underlining the high selectivity of the intraneural approach

Obese mice exposed to psychosocial stress display cardiac and hippocampal dysfunction associated with local brain-derived neurotrophic factor depletion

Introduction: Obesity and psychosocial stress (PS) co-exist in individuals of Western society. Nevertheless, how PS impacts cardiac and hippocampal phenotype in obese subjects is still unknown. Nor is it clear whether changes in local brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) account, at least in part, for myocardial and behavioral abnormalities in obese experiencing PS. Methods: In adult male WT mice, obesity was induced via a high-fat diet (HFD). The resident-intruder paradigm was superimposed to trigger PS. In vivo left ventricular (LV) performance was evaluated by echocardiography and pressure-volume loops. Behaviour was indagated by elevated plus maze (EPM) and Y-maze. LV myocardium was assayed for apoptosis, fibrosis, vessel density and oxidative stress. Hippocampus was analyzed for volume, neurogenesis, GABAergic markers and astrogliosis. Cardiac and hippocampal BDNF and TrkB levels were measured by ELISA and WB. We investigated the pathogenetic role played by BDNF signaling in additional cardiac-selective TrkB (cTrkB) KO mice. Findings: When combined, obesity and PS jeopardized LV performance, causing prominent apoptosis, fibrosis, oxidative stress and remodeling of the larger coronary branches, along with lower BDNF and TrkB levels. HFD/PS weakened LV function similarly in WT and cTrkB KO mice. The latter exhibited elevated LV ROS emission already at baseline. Obesity/PS augmented anxiety-like behaviour and impaired spatial memory. These changes were coupled to reduced hippocampal volume, neurogenesis, local BDNF and TrkB content and augmented astrogliosis. Interpretation: PS and obesity synergistically deteriorate myocardial structure and function by depleting cardiac BDNF/TrkB content, leading to augmented oxidative stress. This comorbidity triggers behavioral deficits and induces hippocampal remodeling, potentially via lower BDNF and TrkB levels. Fund: J.A. was in part supported by Rotary Foundation Global Study Scholarship. G.K. was supported by T32 National Institute of Health (NIH) training grant under award number 1T32AG058527. S.C. was funded by American Heart Association Career Development Award (19CDA34760185). G.A.R.C. was funded by NIH (K01HL133368-01). APB was funded by a Grant from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region entitled: “Heart failure as the Alzheimer disease of the heart; therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities”. M.C. was supported by PRONAT project (CNR). N.P. was funded by NIH (R01 HL136918) and by the Magic-That-Matters fund (JHU). V.L. was in part supported by institutional funds from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy), by the TIM-Telecom Italia (WHITE Lab, Pisa, Italy), by a research grant from Pastificio Attilio Mastromauro Granoro s.r.l. (Corato, Italy) and in part by ETHERNA project (Prog. n. 161/16, Fondazione Pisa, Italy). Funding source had no such involvement in study design, in the collection, analysis, interpretation of data, in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication

Novel Root-Fungus Symbiosis in Ericaceae: Sheathed Ericoid Mycorrhiza Formed by a Hitherto Undescribed Basidiomycete with Affinities to Trechisporales

Ericaceae (the heath family) are widely distributed calcifuges inhabiting soils with inherently poor nutrient status. Ericaceae overcome nutrient limitation through symbiosis with ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi that mobilize nutrients complexed in recalcitrant organic matter. At present, recognized ErM fungi include a narrow taxonomic range within the Ascomycota, and the Sebacinales, basal Hymenomycetes with unclamped hyphae and imperforate parenthesomes. Here we describe a novel type of basidiomycetous ErM symbiosis, termed ‘sheathed ericoid mycorrhiza’, discovered in two habitats in mid-Norway as a co-dominant mycorrhizal symbiosis in Vaccinium spp. The basidiomycete forming sheathed ErM possesses clamped hyphae with perforate parenthesomes, produces 1- to 3-layer sheaths around terminal parts of hair roots and colonizes their rhizodermis intracellularly forming hyphal coils typical for ErM symbiosis. Two basidiomycetous isolates were obtained from sheathed ErM and molecular and phylogenetic tools were used to determine their identity; they were also examined for the ability to form sheathed ErM and lignocellulolytic potential. Surprisingly, ITS rDNA of both conspecific isolates failed to amplify with the most commonly used primer pairs, including ITS1 and ITS1F + ITS4. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear LSU, SSU and 5.8S rDNA indicates that the basidiomycete occupies a long branch residing in the proximity of Trechisporales and Hymenochaetales, but lacks a clear sequence relationship (>90% similarity) to fungi currently placed in these orders. The basidiomycete formed the characteristic sheathed ErM symbiosis and enhanced growth of Vaccinium spp. in vitro, and degraded a recalcitrant aromatic substrate that was left unaltered by common ErM ascomycetes. Our findings provide coherent evidence that this hitherto undescribed basidiomycete forms a morphologically distinct ErM symbiosis that may occur at significant levels under natural conditions, yet remain undetected when subject to amplification by ‘universal’ primers. The lignocellulolytic assay suggests the basidiomycete may confer host adaptations distinct from those provisioned by the so far investigated ascomycetous ErM fungi

Cadophora margaritata sp. nov. and other fungi associated with the longhorn beetles Anoplophora glabripennis and Saperda carcharias in Finland

Symbiosis with microbes is crucial for survival and development of wood-inhabiting longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Thus, knowledge of the endemic fungal associates of insects would facilitate risk assessment in cases where a new invasive pest occupies the same ecological niche. However, the diversity of fungi associated with insects remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate fungi associated with the native large poplar longhorn beetle (Saperda carcharias) and the recently introduced Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) infesting hardwood trees in Finland. We studied the cultivable fungal associates obtained from Populus tremula colonised by S. carcharias, and Betula pendula and Salix caprea infested by A. glabripennis, and compared these to the samples collected from intact wood material. This study detected a number of plant pathogenic and saprotrophic fungi, and species with known potential for enzymatic degradation of wood components. Phylogenetic analyses of the most commonly encountered fungi isolated from the longhorn beetles revealed an association with fungi residing in the Cadophora-Mollisia species complex. A commonly encountered fungus was Cadophora spadicis, a recently described fungus associated with wood-decay. In addition, a novel species of Cadophora, for which the name Cadophora margaritata sp. nov. is provided, was isolated from the colonised wood.Peer reviewe

Importance of functional food compounds in cardioprotection through action on the epigenome.

Food constituents can either promote cardiovascular health or serve in its demise. In view of the lack of more effective pharmacological interventions in cardiovascular disease (CVDs), attention has focused on the potential protective effects of diet. Food components and their metabolites are emerging as major regulators of the human epigenome, which is being linked to CVDs. In this review, we summarize data from studies that suggest an important role for bioactive food compounds in cardioprotection and the potential for harnessing the epigenome as a nutrient sensor target in CVDs. While clinical data strongly support a role for effective diet intervention in CVDs protection, studies linking changes to human epigenome are now warranted for mechanistic insight and development of personalized care

Sevoflurane preconditioning increases the release of cardioprotective exosomes from coronary endothelial cells

Objective: Perioperative cardiac complications during cardiovascular surgery remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Endothelial-derived exosomes, smallest nanovesicles, increase the survival of ischemic cardiac cells. Even if the ischemic preconditioning is effective in modulating the release of cardioprotective exosomes, drugs that mimic this effect are not known yet. Sevoflurane (SEVO) preconditioning attenuates ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Hypothesis: The preconditioning by SEVO increases the levels of cardioprotective exosomes released by coronary endothelial cells. Methods: Murine coronary endothelial cells (MCEC) were cultured using exosome-depleted fetal bovine serum and then exposed to SEVO (0.35 mM= 1 MAC) for 6 h. Untreated MCEC were used as control. Afterward, cells were exposed to acute I/R injury mimicked by exposure to 1.5 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 1 h. Cell viability and anion superoxide (O2-) production were assessed by MTT assay and dihydroethidium staining, respectively. Endothelial levels of peNOS/eNOS, an index of endothelial function, and pSTAT3/STAT3, a transcription factor linked to cardioprotection, were measured by Western blotting (WB). Endothelial exosomes (CD63- and HSP70-positive) were isolated from cell culture media of SEVO cells by serial ultracentrifugation and quantified by WB. In order to assess the exosome mediated cardioprotection, murine cardiomyocytes (HL-1) were treated for 6h with whole or exosomedepleted medium of SEVO-treated MCEC; although, untreated HL-1 were used as control. Then, acute I/R injury was induced by exposure to 1mM H2O2 for 1h. Results: SEVO preconditioning of MCEC significantly prevents the loss of viability induced by acute oxidative stress without affecting O2-, peNOS/eNOS and pSTAT3/STAT3 levels. SEVO significantly increases the release of CD63- and HSP70- positive exosomes compared to untreated cells. After 1h exposure to H2O2, HL-1 survival reduces to 31.76% (p b 0.05). The pre-treatment with whole conditioned medium of SEVO-MCEC increases HL-1 survival to 45.21% (p b 0.05). Conversely, the exosomes-depleted medium of SEVO-MCEC fails in evoking protection and the HL-1 survival decreases to 13.09 % (p b 0.05). Finally, exosomes released by SEVO-MCEC do not contain STAT3. Conclusions: This study shows, for the first time, that SEVO induces the release of CD63- and HSP70-positive exosomes, which protect cultured cardiomyocytes against acute I/R injury. Our results fit into an emerging concept whereby the uptake of HSP70-positive exosomes increases the cellular levels of HSP70, an effector of preconditioning

Ancient grain bread rich in iron, zinc, flavonoids and alpha lipoic acid as a novel preoperative functional food for suppressing the progression of cardiovascular remodeling in infarcted male rats

BACKGROUND: The number of patients who require non-cardiac surgery following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is likely to increase due to aging of surgical population and risk for postoperative heart failure (HF) is increased as effective secondary prevention is missing. Nutritional preconditioning with sustained dietary intake of functional food targets an increase in the functional reserve preoperatively to optimize postoperative cardiac recovery even when the patients are not malnourished. However, a one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition is inappropriate and new personalized functional foods are necessary. Functional bread (FB) made from iron- and zinc-biofortified “Gentil Rosso”, a Tuscan ancient grain, contains higher levels of bioavailable iron (+180%), zinc (+640%), flavonoids (+1000%) and alpha lipoic acid (+50%) compared to regular bread (RB). We hypothesized that the regular intake of normocaloric diet supplemented with FB prevents HF after MI in both sexes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male and female Wistar rats were subjected to permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery and fed for 6 weeks with normal diet (3.344 kcal/g, 6.2% fat, 18.7% protein, 51% carbohydrate) supplemented with FB (AMI+FB, n=10 males, n=6 females) or normal bread (AMI+RB, n=10 males, n=6 females). Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and cardiac echocardiography were performed before and after diet. The infarct scar size, capillary and arteriolar density were quantified histologically. The myocardial inflammatory response was evaluated by ELISA assay of interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β, -2, -10 and -4. RESULTS Basal plasma glucose levels and IPGTT did not change in both sexes. The decline in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of male AMI+FB rats was significantly smaller (-12±1%) compared to male AMI+RB animals (-40±5%). Yet, no differences were detected between female AMI+FB and AMI+RB. The LV infarct scar size of male AMI+FB rats was smaller than male AMI+RB animals (30.5±3 vs 42 ± 3.3%, p<0.001), but no differences were detected in treated female rats. The capillary and arteriolar density in the LV border zone of male AMI+FB rats were higher than untreated male animals (+16.3 vs. +15.35%). We did not find any difference in capillary and arteriolar density in the LV border zone of treated female rats. Finally, lower levels of IL-1α, -1β, -2, -10 and -4 were expressed in the LV border zone of treated male infarcted rats (p<0.01). Conversely, cytokine expression in the remodeled LV region was significantly higher in female AMI+FB animals. CONCLUSIONS: Regular intake of normal diet supplemented with FB hampered cardiac remodeling and limited LV function decay in male, but not female infarcted rats. Bio-fortified bread can be a valid preoperative functional food for suppressing adverse post-AMI cardiac remodeling in a personalized manner