Apoplastic and vascular defences

The apoplast comprises the intercellular space between cell membranes, includes the xylem, and extends to the rhizoplane and the outer surfaces of the plant. The apoplast plays roles in different biological processes including plant immunity. This highly specialised space is often the first place where pathogen recognition occurs, and this then triggers the immune response. The immune response in the apoplast involves different mechanisms that restrict pathogen infection. Among these responses, secretion of different molecules like proteases, proteins related to immunity, small RNAs and secondary metabolites play important and often additive or synergistic roles. In addition, production of reactive oxygen species occurs to cause direct deleterious effects on the pathogen as well as reinforce the plant’s immune response by triggering modifications to cell wall composition and providing additional defence signalling capabilities. The pool of available sugar in the apoplast also plays a role in immunity. These sugars can be manipulated by both interactors, pathogens gaining access to nutrients whilst the plant’s responses restrict the pathogen’s access to nutrients. In this review, we describe the latest findings in the field to highlight the importance of the apoplast in plant – pathogen interactions and plant immunity. We also indicate where new discoveries are needed

PCOS Physiopathology and Vitamin D Deficiency: Biological Insights and Perspectives for Treatment

Recent literature has stressed the importance of vitamin D (VD) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS are deficient in VD, particularly those with a higher weight. Hypovitaminosis is a risk factor for glucose intolerance, and reduced levels of VD is associated with insulin resistance and increased diabetes risk. Since women with PCOS and hirsutism seem to have lower levels of VD than women with PCOS without hirsutism, a correlation between VD deficiency and hyperandrogenism may be suggested. Interestingly, VD is crucial for many human physiological functions, including to counteract inflammation and oxidative stress. Some studies evaluated effects of VD supplementation on glucose homeostasis variables, hormonal status, lipid concentrations, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among VD-deficient women. Moreover, VD has been shown to play a role in egg quality and fertility. This review aims to show the relationship between VD and the endocrine and metabolic profile of PCOS patients, as well as its implications for their fertility. The supplement of VD to the common therapy can lead to an improvement of the insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, a reduction of circulating androgens, as well as a better response to the induction of ovulation in PCOS women

Identification and functional characterisation of a locus for target site integration in Fusarium graminearum

Background Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a destructive floral disease of different cereal crops. The Ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum (Fg) is one of the main causal agents of FHB in wheat and barley. The role(s) in virulence of Fg genes include genetic studies that involve the transformation of the fungus with different expression cassettes. We have observed in several studies where Fg genes functions were characterised that integration of expression cassettes occurred randomly. Random insertion of a cassette may disrupt gene expression and/or protein functions and hence the overall conclusion of the study. Target site integration (TSI) is an approach that consists of identifying a chromosomal region where the cassette can be inserted. The identification of a suitable locus for TSI in Fg would avert the potential risks of ectopic integration. Results Here, we identified a highly conserved intergenic region on chromosome 1 suitable for TSI. We named this intergenic region TSI locus 1. We developed an efficient cloning vector system based on the Golden Gate method to clone different expression cassettes for use in combination with TSI locus 1. We present evidence that integrations in the TSI locus 1 affects neither fungal virulence nor fungal growth under different stress conditions. Integrations at the TSI locus 1 resulted in the expression of different gene fusions. In addition, the activities of Fg native promoters were not altered by integration into the TSI locus 1. We have developed a bespoke bioinformatic pipeline to analyse the existence of ectopic integrations, cassette truncations and tandem insertions of the cassette that may occurred during the transformation process. Finally, we established a protocol to study protein secretion in wheat coleoptiles using confocal microscopy and the TSI locus 1. Conclusion The TSI locus 1 can be used in Fg and potentially other cereal infecting Fusarium species for diverse studies including promoter activity analysis, protein secretion, protein localisation studies and gene complementation. The bespoke bioinformatic pipeline developed in this work together with PCR amplification of the insert could be an alternative to Southern blotting, the gold standard technique used to identify ectopic integrations, cassette truncations and tandem insertions in fungal transformation

Systematic Y2H screening reveals extensive effector-complex formation

During infection pathogens secrete small molecules, termed effectors, to manipulate and control the interaction with their specific hosts. Both the pathogen and the plant are under high selective pressure to rapidly adapt and co-evolve in what is usually referred to as molecular arms race. Components of the host’s immune system form a network that processes information about molecules with a foreign origin and damage-associated signals, integrating them with developmental and abiotic cues to adapt the plant’s responses. Both in the case of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors and leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases interaction networks have been extensively characterized. However, little is known on whether pathogenic effectors form complexes to overcome plant immunity and promote disease. Ustilago maydis, a biotrophic fungal pathogen that infects maize plants, produces effectors that target hubs in the immune network of the host cell. Here we assess the capability of U. maydis effector candidates to interact with each other, which may play a crucial role during the infection process. Using a systematic yeast-two-hybrid approach and based on a preliminary pooled screen, we selected 63 putative effectors for one-on-one matings with a library of nearly 300 effector candidates. We found that 126 of these effector candidates interacted either with themselves or other predicted effectors. Although the functional relevance of the observed interactions remains elusive, we propose that the observed abundance in complex formation between effectors adds an additional level of complexity to effector research and should be taken into consideration when studying effector evolution and function. Based on this fundamental finding, we suggest various scenarios which could evolutionarily drive the formation and stabilization of an effector interactome

Levantamento de mulheres uruguaias sobre conhecimentos relacionados à prevenção do câncer de mama

Natalia Camejo: Prof. Adjunta del Servicio de Oncología Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-8684-0291 -- Dahiana Amarillo: Asistente del Servicio de Oncología Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-8615-8639 -- Cecilia Castillo: Ex. Prof. Adj. del Servicio de Oncología. Hospital de Clínicas “Dr. Manuel Quintela”. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de la República. Montevideo, Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-0417-0512 -- Moira Bernate: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-4771-2166 -- Florencia Burguez: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-1918-6373 -- Eliana Darino: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-8530-653X -- Adrián Deleón: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-3848-2856 -- Tatiana Milwa: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-9592-2064 -- María Barcia: Estudiante de grado, carrera Doctor en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-7982-9775 -- Gabriel Krygier: Prof. Titular del Servicio de Oncología Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Uruguay. Correo electrónico: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0002-0518-1854Introducción: En Uruguay el cáncer de mama (CM) ocupa el primer lugar en incidencia y mortalidad por cáncer en mujeres. Objetivo: Evaluar el conocimiento de mujeres uruguayas sobre el tamizaje de cáncer de mama. Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio observacional descriptivo y transversal. Se aplicó una encuesta dirigida a mujeres, que fue difundida mediante las redes sociales. El consentimiento informado se solicitó al inicio de la encuesta, como requisito excluyente para poder realizar la misma. Se mantuvo el anonimato de las pacientes en el análisis estadístico y se contó con la aprobación del Comité de Ética del Hospital de Clínicas. Resultados: Participaron 1859 mujeres. El 75.1% (1396) de las encuestadas reconoce el CM como el de mayor mortalidad en mujeres. El 52% (967) cree que 3 de cada 10 mujeres tienen riesgo de desarrollar CM, y 18.4% (342) desconoce su prevalencia. El 60.2% (1119) reconoce a la mamografía como prueba que ha logrado disminuir la mortalidad por CM. El 64.2% (1193) cree que se realiza a partir de los 40 años. Sobre la frecuencia, el 60.5% (1125) considera que se realiza de forma anual. Los factores de riesgo para desarrollar CM mayormente considerados fueron tabaquismo (60.9%, 1132), obesidad (57.%, 1060) y sedentarismo (56.8%,1056). Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados evidencian que las encuestadas están informadas de manera adecuada sobre la importancia del CM y de realizar el tamizaje mamográfico para prevenirlo; sin embargo, el 74.3% (1381) cree que el mismo, debe comenzar a hacerse a los 40 añosIntroduction: In Uruguay, breast cancer (BC) has the highest incidence and mortality of all cancer in women. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of Uruguayan women about breast cancer screening for the early detection of BC. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive and observational study. A survey was applied to woman, it was disseminated through social networks. Informed consent was requested at the beginning of the survey as an exclusive requirement to be able to carry it out. In the statistical analysis, the anonymity of the patients was maintained and the approval of the Ethics Committee of the Hospital de Clínicas was obtained.Introdução: No Uruguai, o câncer de mama (CM) tem a maior incidência e mortalidade de todos os cânceres em mulheres. Objetivos: Avaliar o conhecimento de mulheres uruguaias sobre o rastreamento do câncer de mama para a detecção precoce do CM. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e observacional. Foi aplicado um questionário às mulheres, divulgado através das redes sociais. O consentimento informado foi solicitado no início da pesquisa como requisito exclusivo para poder realizá la. Na análise estatística, foi mantido o anonimato dos pacientes e obtida a aprovação do Comitê de Ética do Hospital de Clínicas. Resultados: participaram 1859 mulheres. 75.1% (1396) dos pesquisados reconhecem o CB como o de maior mortalidade em mulheres. 52% (967) acreditam que 3 em cada 10 mulheres estão em risco de desenvolver CM e 18.4% (342) não conhecem sua prevalência. 60.2% (1119) reconhecem a mamografia como um exame que tem conseguido reduzir a mortalidade por CM. 64.2% (1.193) acreditam que é feito após os 40 anos. Em relação à frequência, 60.5% (1125) consideram que é realizado anualmente. Os fatores de risco mais considerados para desenvolver CM foram tabagismo (60.9%, 1132), obesidade (57%, 1.060) e sedentarismo (56.8%, 1056). Conclusões: Nossos resultados mostram que as entrevistadas estão adequadamente informadas sobre a importância do MC e a realização da mamografia de rastreament

Xyloglucan Remodeling Defines Auxin-Dependent Differential Tissue Expansion in Plants

Size control is a fundamental question in biology, showing incremental complexity in plants, whose cells possess a rigid cell wall. The phytohormone auxin is a vital growth regulator with central importance for differential growth control. Our results indicate that auxin-reliant growth programs affect the molecular complexity of xyloglucans, the major type of cell wall hemicellulose in eudicots. Auxin-dependent induction and repression of growth coincide with reduced and enhanced molecular complexity of xyloglucans, respectively. In agreement with a proposed function in growth control, genetic interference with xyloglucan side decorations distinctly modulates auxin-dependent differential growth rates. Our work proposes that auxin-dependent growth programs have a spatially defined effect on xyloglucan's molecular structure, which in turn affects cell wall mechanics and specifies differential, gravitropic hypocotyl growth