Assessing hydroaeroponic culture for the tripartite symbiosis of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) has the potential to establish symbiosis with rhizobia that fix atmospheric dinitrogen (N2), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that improve the uptake of low mobile soil nutrients such as phosphorus. Both rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses can benefit plants synergistically. The tripartite symbiosis of mungbean with rhizobia and AMF was assessed in hydroaeroponic culture under sufficient versus deficient P supplies (250 versus 75 μmol P plant-1 week-1) by comparing the effects of three AMF species on the mycorrhizal root colonization, rhizobial nodulation, and plant growth. Although, Glomus intraradices colonized well the roots of mungbean in sand and hydroaeroponic cultures, Gigaspora rosea only established well under sand culture conditions, and Acaulospora mellea weakly colonized roots under both culture conditions. Though significant differences of mungbean growth were found with different AMF species in sand, only few differences were observed in hydroaeroponic cultures. It is argued that the later will probably be a valuable tool for scrutinizing the interactions among the three symbionts, as well as plant  physiology, and nutrient partitioning within the symbiotic system.Key words: Acaulospora mellea, arbuscular mycorrhizal, Bradyrhizobium, Gigaspora rosea, Glomus intraradices, mungbean, phosphorus, symbiotic nitrogen fixation

Improvement of legume productivity and role of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in cropping systems: Overcoming the physiological and agronomic limitations

Nitrogen-fixing legumes can meet most of their N-needs through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). However, in most cases, inclusion of a legume in a cropping system does not ensure the attainment of such levels ofSNF in the field. Several environmental factors including drought, temperature and soil nutrient status dramatically affect the process at molecular/functional level and thus playa part in determining the actual amount of nitrogen fixed by a given legume in the field. lhis chapter reviews the status of SNF in response to most significant environmental constraints, and focuses on specific cases of harnessing SNF by improving its tolerance to stress factors with tI1.e aim of enhancing system productivity. Several examples are discussed, including the selection of legume crops tolerant to drought and salinity and/or allowing high biomass production and solubilization of phosphorus, identifying high nitrogen-fixing and nilrate-N tolerant genotypes and their inclusion in relevant cropping systems, and changes in agronomical management practices for better integration of legumes in cereal cropping systems. Finally, a general framework is discussed for agro-physiological contributions that can help overcome SNF limitation by environmental constraints. The on-farm application of these knowledge-based SNF technologies will strengthen the role of N2-fixing legumes in cropping system

Serum-borne factors in cancer patients with advanced cachexia: influence on adipose cells

Background: The clinical syndrome cancer cachexia is recognized by a considerable weight loss being out of proportion to any reduction in energy intake. The underlying mechanisms are not completely known, but the marked weight loss is attributable to depletion of adipose tissue as well as skeletal muscle mass. Enhanced lipolysis in adipocytes, apoptosis of preadipocytes may be important for loss of adipose tissue.Results: Sera from cachectic cancer patients induced apoptosis in cultured human preadipocytes at a higher rate than sera from non-cachectic cancer patients (control group). There was a tendency towards increased mRNA levels of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene Bax after incubation of preadipocytes with cachectic sera. Moreover, the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-XL and pro-apoptotic Bcl-XS were increased and decreased, respectively, as compared to incubation with control sera. However, lipolysis was not enhanced in cultured human adipocytes after incubation with sera from cachectic cancer patients as compared to non-cachectic cancer patients.Methods: Serum samples from cachectic cancer patients (n=8) and non-cachectic cancer patients (n=6) were collected. Human SGBS (Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome) preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes were incubated in the presence of serum from cachectic and non-cachectic (control) cancer patients. Induction of apoptosis and necrosis was examined by cell staining with Hoechst 342 (HO342) and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. Expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 genes was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Lipolysis was monitored by measuring the release of radiolabeled fatty acids.Conclusion: Our in vitro data suggest that apoptosis of preadipocytes can be increased by serum-borne factors in cancer cachexia. Death or survival of preadipocytes may depend on the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic mediators. Further studies of patients with cancer cachexia will be needed to reveal if the disease involves loss of adipose tissue due to apoptosis of preadipocytes. We could not show that serum-borne factors associated with cachexia have a major impact on lipolysis in cultured human adipocytes.Adipobiology 2009; 1: 57-66

Locating dust and molecules in the inner circumstellar environment of R Sculptoris with MATISSE

Context. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are one of the main sources of dust production in the Galaxy. However, it is not yet clear what this process looks like and where the dust happens to be condensing in the circumstellar environment. Aims: By characterizing the location of the dust and the molecules in the close environment of an AGB star, we aim to achieve a better understanding the history of the dust formation process. Methods: We observed the carbon star R Scl with the thermal-infrared VLTI/MATISSE instrument in L- and N-bands. The high angular resolution of the VLTI observations (as small as 4.4 mas in the L-band and 15 mas in the N-band with ATs), combined with a large uv-plane coverage allowed us to use image reconstruction methods. To constrain the dust and molecules' location, we used two different methods: one using MIRA image reconstruction algorithm and the second using the 1D code RHAPSODY. Results: We found evidence of C2H2 and HCN molecules between 1 and 3.4 R* which is much closer to the star than the location of the dust (between 3.8 and 17.0 R*). We also estimated a mass-loss rate of 1.2 ± 0.4 × 10−6 M⊙ yr−1. In the meantime, we confirmed the previously published characteristics of a thin dust shell, composed of amorphous carbon (amC) and silicon carbide (SiC). However, no clear SiC feature has been detected in the MATISSE visibilities. This might be caused by molecular absorption that can affect the shape of the SiC band at 11.3 µm. Conclusions: The appearance of the molecular shells is in good agreement with predictions from dynamical atmosphere models. For the first time, we co-located dust and molecules in the environment of an AGB star. We confirm that the molecules are located closer to the star than the dust. The MIRA images unveil the presence of a clumpy environment in the fuzzy emission region beyond 4.0 R*. Furthermore, with the available dynamic range and angular resolution, we did not detect the presence of a binary companion. To solve this problem, additional observations combining MATISSE and SAM-VISIR instrument should enable this detection in future studies

Intestinal microbiota development and gestational age in preterm neonates

The intestinal microbiota is an important contributor to the health of preterm infants, and may be destabilized by a number of environmental factors and treatment modalities. How to promote the development of a healthy microbiota in preterm infants is largely unknown. We collected fecal samples from 45 breastfed preterm very low birth weight (birth weight <1500 g) infants from birth until 60 days postnatal age to characterize the intestinal microbiota development during the first weeks of life in preterm infants. Fecal microbiota composition was determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The main driver of microbiota development was gestational age; antibiotic use had strong but temporary effects and birth mode had little influence. Microbiota development proceeded in four phases indicated by the dominance of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and finally Bifidobacterium. The Enterococcus phase was only observed among the extremely premature infants and appeared to delay the microbiota succession. The results indicate that hospitalized preterm infants receiving breast milk may develop a normal microbiota resembling that of term infants.Peer reviewe

Capturing health and eating status through a nutritional perception screening questionnaire (NPSQ9) in a randomised internet-based personalised nutrition intervention : the Food4Me study

BACKGROUND: National guidelines emphasize healthy eating to promote wellbeing and prevention of non-communicable diseases. The perceived healthiness of food is determined by many factors affecting food intake. A positive perception of healthy eating has been shown to be associated with greater diet quality. Internet-based methodologies allow contact with large populations. Our present study aims to design and evaluate a short nutritional perception questionnaire, to be used as a screening tool for assessing nutritional status, and to predict an optimal level of personalisation in nutritional advice delivered via the Internet. METHODS: Data from all participants who were screened and then enrolled into the Food4Me proof-of-principle study (n = 2369) were used to determine the optimal items for inclusion in a novel screening tool, the Nutritional Perception Screening Questionnaire-9 (NPSQ9). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on anthropometric and biochemical data and on dietary indices acquired from participants who had completed the Food4Me dietary intervention (n = 1153). Baseline and intervention data were analysed using linear regression and linear mixed regression, respectively. RESULTS: A final model with 9 NPSQ items was validated against the dietary intervention data. NPSQ9 scores were inversely associated with BMI (β = -0.181, p < 0.001) and waist circumference (Β = -0.155, p < 0.001), and positively associated with total carotenoids (β = 0.198, p < 0.001), omega-3 fatty acid index (β = 0.155, p < 0.001), Healthy Eating Index (HEI) (β = 0.299, p < 0.001) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) (β = 0. 279, p < 0.001). Findings from the longitudinal intervention study showed a greater reduction in BMI and improved dietary indices among participants with lower NPSQ9 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy eating perceptions and dietary habits captured by the NPSQ9 score, based on nine questionnaire items, were associated with reduced body weight and improved diet quality. Likewise, participants with a lower score achieved greater health improvements than those with higher scores, in response to personalised advice, suggesting that NPSQ9 may be used for early evaluation of nutritional status and to tailor nutritional advice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01530139 .Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Enhanced nutrient supply and intestinal microbiota development in very low birth weight infants

BACKGROUND: Promoting a healthy intestinal microbiota may have positive effects on short- and long-term outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW; BW = 28 weeks) infants and a steeper decrease in relative Staphylococcus abundance in extremely preterm (EP, gestational age <28 weeks) infants as compared to controls. Relative Bifidobacterium abundance tended to increase more in MVP controls compared to the intervention group. Abundance of pathogens was not increased in the intervention group. Higher relative Bifidobacterium abundance was associated with improved weight gain. CONCLUSION: Nutrition may affect richness, diversity, and microbiota composition. There was no increase in relative abundance of pathogens among infants receiving enhanced nutrient supply. Favorable microbiota development was associated with improved weight gain.Peer reviewe