Novel and conserved microRNAs in soybean floral whorls

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) correspond to a class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs (19–24nt) that regulates the gene expression, through mRNA target cleavage or translation inhibition. In plants, miRNAs have been shown to play pivotal roles in a wide variety of metabolic and biological processes like plant growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stress. Soybean is one of the most important crops worldwide, due to the production of oil and its high protein content. The reproductive phase is considered the most important for soybean yield, which is mainly intended to produce the grains. The identification of miRNAs is not yet saturated in soybean, and there are no studies linking them to the different floral organs. In this study, three different mature soybean floral whorls were used in the construction of sRNA libraries. The sequencing of petal, carpel and stamen libraries generated a total of 10,165,661 sequences. Subsequent analyses identified 200 miRNAs sequences, among which, 41 were novel miRNAs, 80 were conserved soybean miRNAs, 31 were new antisense conserved soybean miRNAs and 46 were soybean miRNAs isoforms. We also found a new miRNA conserved in other plant species, and finally one miRNA-sibling of a soybean conserved miRNA. Conserved and novel miRNAs were evaluated by RT-qPCR. We observed a differential expression across the three whorls for six miRNAs. Computational predicted targets for miRNAs analyzed by RT-qPCR were identified and present functions related to reproductive process in plants. In summary, the increased accumulation of specific and novel miRNAs in different whorls indicates that miRNAs are an important part of the regulatory network in soybean flower

Preparation And Characterization Of Maleic Anhydride Grafted Poly (hydroxybutirate-co-hydroxyvalerate)-phbv-g-ma

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A compatibilizer agent was successfully produced by grafting maleic anhydride (MA) to poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) chains on a reactive processing by mechanical mixing, using a mixture of PHBV, MA and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator. The resulting PHBV grafted MA (PHBV-g-MA) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and its properties were compared to neat PHBV. FTIR showed an absorption band at 699 cm-1 for PHBV-g-MA, related to CH group of grafted anhydride ring. The initial thermal degradation temperature of the compatibilizer agent was reduced when compared to neat PHBV. DSC analysis showed that after grafting MA onto PHBV the crystallization temperature was about 20°C higher than neat PHBV, and the degree of crystallinity was increased. GPC analysis showed that MA when grafted onto PHBV led to a reduction of molecular weight and polydispersity.191229235CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorFAPESP, São Paulo Research FoundationCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Infection By Cytomegalovirus In Patients With Neonatal Cholestasis

Background - Neonatal cholestasis syndrome with an intra or extrahepatic origin has been associated to viral infections. The participation of the cytomegalovirus in the etiopathogenesis of neonatal hepatitis has been already known for some time, but only recently there have been indications that this virus may be one of the possible etiological factors for extrahepatic biliary atresia. Aims - To assess the prevalence of infection by cytomegalovirus in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis and extrahepatic cholestasis. To compare the clinical characteristics of the intrahepatic cholestasis and extrahepatic cholestasis groups with the cytomegalovirus serological results. Patients and Methods - This study consisted of 76 patients with neonatal cholestasis who were admitted between January 1980 and January 1999 when they underwent a cytomegalovirus serologic study using the ELISA method. A case note was kept on each patient with the following data: age of patient at admission, serologic result for cytomegalovirus, history of maternal infection, prematurity, fetal distress, birth weight, ponderal gain, choluria and fecal acholia. The final anatomic diagnosis of cholestasis was based on the results of an abdominal ultrasonography, a liver biopsy and its evolution. The patients were then divided into two groups: group I - intrahepatic cholestasis and group II - extrahepatic cholestasis. Each of these groups were then divided into two subgroups: subgroup A - positive serology (IgM) for cytomegalovirus and subgroup B - negative serology (IgM) for cytomegalovirus. Results - The frequency of positive serology (IgM) for cytomegalovirus was 29.4% in children with intrahepatic cholestasis and 28.5% in children with extrahepatic cholestasis. In comparison with group IIB, group IIA presented a higher rate of maternal infection history. The patients in group IIA demonstrated a delayed access to the service in comparison with group IA. The groups did not demonstrate any significant differences regarding the onset age of jaundice, choluria and fecal acholia, birth weight and ponderal gain. Conclusions - The positive (IgM) seroprevalence for cytomegalovirus in children with intrahepatic cholestasis and extrahepatic cholestasis is high. The history of maternal infection was more common in extrahepatic cholestasis patients with positive serology for cytomegalovirus. There was a delay in the referral of these patients which resulted in a late diagnosis and surgical treatment.392132136Balistreri, W.F., Grand, R., Hoofnagle, J.H., Suchy, F.J., Ryckman, F.C., Perlmutter, D.H., Sokol, R.J., Biliary atresia: Current concepts and research directions (1996) Hepatology, 23, pp. 1682-1692Boppana, S.B., Pass, R.F., Britt, W.J., Stagno, S., Alford, C.A., Symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Neonatal morbidity and mortality (1992) Pediatr Infect Dis J, 11, pp. 93-99Chang, M.H., Huang, H.H., Huang, E.S., Kao, C.L., Hsu, H.Y., Lee, C.Y., Polymerase chain reaction to detect human cytomegalovirus in livers of infants with neonatal hepatitis (1992) Gastroenterology, 103, pp. 1022-1025Fischler, B., Ehrnst, A., Forsgren, M., Örvell, C., Nemeth, A., The viral association of neonatal cholestasis in Sweden: A possible link between cytomegalovirus infection and extrahepatic biliary atresia (1998) J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 27, pp. 57-64Fowler, K.B., Stagno, S., Pass, R.F., Maternal age and congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Screening of two diverse newborn populations, 1980-1990 (1993) J Infect Dis, 168, pp. 552-556Griffiths, P.D., Baboonian, C., A prospective study of primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy: Final report (1984) Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 91, pp. 307-315Hanshaw, J.B., Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: A fifteen year perspective (1971) J Infect Dis, 123, pp. 555-561Jevon, G.P., Dimmick, J.E., Biliary atresia and cytomegalovirus infection: A DNA study (1999) Pediatr Dev Pathol, 2, pp. 11-14Kumar, M.L., Nankervis, G.A., Cooper, A.R., Gold, E., Postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus infections in infants of CMV excreting mothers (1984) J Pediatr, 104, pp. 669-673Leinikki, P., Granstrüm, M.L., Santavuori, P., Pettay, O., Epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections during pregnancy and infancy: A prospective study (1978) Scand J Infect Dis, 10, pp. 165-171Leinikki, P., Heinonen, K., Pettay, O., Incidence of cytomegalovirus infections in early childhood (1972) Scand J Infect Dis, 4, pp. 1-5Levinsohn, E.M., Foy, H.M., Kenny, G.E., Wentworth, B.B., Grayston, J.T., Isolation of cytomegalovirus from a cohort of 100 infant throughout the first year of life (1969) Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 132, pp. 957-962Machado, C.M., Fink, M.C.D.S., Vilas Boas, L.S., Sumita, L.M., Weinberg, A., Shiguematsu, K., Souza, I.C., Pannuti, C.S., Infecção perinatal pelo citomegalovirus em hospital público do municipio de São Paulo: Estudo prospectivo (1991) Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 33, pp. 159-166Mediaris, D.N., Observations concerning human cytomegalovirus infection and disease (1964) Bull Johns Hopkins, 114, pp. 181-211Nankervis, G.A., Kumar, M.L., Cox, F.E., Gold, E., A prospective study of maternal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on the fetus (1984) Am J Obstet Gynecol, 149, pp. 435-440Poley, J.R., Syndromes of neonatal cholestasis (1993) Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 3. Ed., pp. 566-593. , Gracey M, Burke V, editors. Boston: Blackwell ScientificPrado, E.T.M.L., Araujo, M.F., Campos, J.V.M., Colestase neonatal prolongada: Estudo prospectivo (1999) Arq Gastroenterol, 36, pp. 185-194Reynolds, D.W., Stagno, S., Hosty, T.S., Tiller, M., Alford, C.A., Maternal cytomegalovirus excretion and perinatal infection (1973) N Engl J Med, 289, pp. 1-5Siegel, S., A prova de Kruskal-Wallis e o caso de duas amostras independentes (1975) Estatistica Não-paramétrica, pp. 107-124. , Siegel S, editor. São Paulo: McGraw-HillStagno, S., Pass, R.F., Dworsky, M.E., Henderson, R.E., Moore, E.G., Walton, P.D., Alford, C.A., Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: The relative importance of primary and recurrent maternal infection (1982) N Engl J Med, 306, pp. 945-949Stagno, S., Pass, R.F., Thomas, J.P., Navia, J.M., Dworsky, M.E., Defects of tooth structure in congenital cytomegalovirus infection (1982) Pediatrics, 69, pp. 646-648Stagno, S., Reynolds, D.W., Huang, E.S., Thames, S.D., Smith, R.J., Alford, C.A., Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Occurrence in immune population (1977) N Engl J Med, 296, pp. 1254-1258Starr, J.G., Bart, R.D., Gold, E., Inapparent congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in early infancy (1970) N Engl J Med, 282, pp. 1075-1078Tarr, P.I., Haas, J.E., Christie, D.L., Biliary atresia, cytomegalovirus and age at referral (1996) Pediatrics, 97, pp. 828-831Yamamoto, A.Y., Figueiredo, L.T.M., Mussi-Pinhata, M.M., Infecção perinatal por citomegalovirus: Muito freqüente mas pouco diagnosticada (1999) J Pediatr (Rio de Janeiro), 75, pp. 126-130Yamamoto, A.Y., Mussi-Pinhata, M.M., Pinto, P.C., Figueiredo, L.T., Jorge, S.M., Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in preterm and full-term newborn infants from a population with a high seroprevalence rate (2001) Pediatr Infect Dis J, 20, pp. 188-19

Trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi enhances the adhesion properties and fibronectin-driven migration of thymocytes

In experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infections, severe thymic atrophy leads to release of activated CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells to the periphery. In humans, activated DP T cells are found in the blood in association with severe cardiac forms of human chronic Chagas disease. The mechanisms underlying the premature thymocyte release during the chagasic thymic atrophy remain elusive. We tested whether the migratory properties of intrathymic thymocytes are modulated by the parasite trans-sialidase (TS). We found that TS affected the dynamics of thymocytes undergoing intrathymic maturation, and these changes were accompanied by an increase in the number of recent DP thymic emigrants in the peripheral lymphoid organs. We demonstrated that increased percentages of blood DP T cell subsets were associated with augmented antibody titers against TS in chagasic patients with chronic cardiomyopathy. In vitro studies showed that TS was able to activate the MAPK pathway and actin filament mobilization in thymocytes. These effects were correlated with its ability to modulate the adhesion of thymocytes to thymic epithelial cells and their migration toward extracellular matrix. These findings point to effects of TS that could influence the escape of immature thymocytes in Chagas disease.Fil: Nardy, Ana Flávia F.R.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Silva Filho, Joao Luiz da. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Perez, Ana Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Meis, Juliana de. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Farias de Oliveira, Désio Aurélio. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Penha, Luciana. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Isadora de Araújo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dias, Wagner B.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Todeschini, Adriane. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Freire de Lima, Célio Geraldo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bellio, Maria. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Caruso Neves, Celso. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Pinheiro, Ana Acácia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Takiya, Christina Maeda. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bottasso, Oscar Adelmo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Savino, Wilson. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Morrot, Alexandre. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

The southern photometric local universe survey (S-PLUS): Improved SEDs, morphologies, and redshifts with 12 optical filters

The Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) is imaging ~9300 deg2 of the celestial sphere in 12 optical bands using a dedicated 0.8mrobotic telescope, the T80-South, at the Cerro Tololo Inter-american Observatory, Chile. The telescope is equipped with a 9.2k × 9.2k e2v detector with 10 μm pixels, resulting in a field of view of 2 deg2 with a plate scale of 0.55 arcsec pixel-1. The survey consists of four main subfields, which include two non-contiguous fields at high Galactic latitudes (|b| > 30° , 8000 deg2) and two areas of the Galactic Disc and Bulge (for an additional 1300 deg2). S-PLUS uses the Javalambre 12-band magnitude system, which includes the 5 ugriz broad-band filters and 7 narrow-band filters centred on prominent stellar spectral features: the Balmer jump/[OII], Ca H + K, Hd, G band, Mg b triplet, Hα, and the Ca triplet. S-PLUS delivers accurate photometric redshifts (δz/(1 + z) = 0.02 or better) for galaxies with r < 19.7 AB mag and z < 0.4, thus producing a 3D map of the local Universe over a volume of more than 1 (Gpc/h)3. The final S-PLUS catalogue will also enable the study of star formation and stellar populations in and around the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, as well as searches for quasars, variable sources, and low-metallicity stars. In this paper we introduce the main characteristics of the survey, illustrated with science verification data highlighting the unique capabilities of S-PLUS. We also present the first public data release of ~336 deg2 of the Stripe 82 area, in 12 bands, to a limiting magnitude of r = 21, available at datalab.noao.edu/splus.Fil: De Oliveira, C. Mendes. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Ribeiro, T.. Universidade Federal de Sergipe; Brasil. National Optical Astronomy Observatory; Estados UnidosFil: Schoenell, W.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Kanaan, A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Overzier, R.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; BrasilFil: Molino, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Sampedro, L.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Coelho, P.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Barbosa, C.E.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Cortesi, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Costa Duarte, M.V.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Herpich, F.R.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Hernandez Jimenez, J.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Placco, V.M.. University of Notre Dame; Estados Unidos. JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements ; Estados UnidosFil: Xavier, H.S.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Abramo, L.R.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Saito, R.K.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Chies Santos, A.L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Ederoclite, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmo de Aragon; EspañaFil: De Oliveira, R. Lopes. Universidade Federal de Sergipe; Brasil. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; Brasil. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Goncalves, D.R.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Akras, S.. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Almeida, L.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Almeida Fernandes, F.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Beers, T.C.. University of Notre Dame; Estados Unidos. JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements ; Estados UnidosFil: Bonatto, C.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bonoli, S.. Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmo de Aragon; EspañaFil: Cypriano, E.S.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Vinicius Lima, E.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Smith Castelli, Analia Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; Argentin

Dilatonic current-carrying cosmic strings

We investigate the nature of ordinary cosmic vortices in some scalar-tensor extensions of gravity. We find solutions for which the dilaton field condenses inside the vortex core. These solutions can be interpreted as raising the degeneracy between the eigenvalues of the effective stress-energy tensor, namely the energy per unit length U and the tension T, by picking a privileged spacelike or timelike coordinate direction; in the latter case, a phase frequency threshold occurs that is similar to what is found in ordinary neutral current-carrying cosmic strings. We find that the dilaton contribution for the equation of state, once averaged along the string worldsheet, vanishes, leading to an effective Nambu-Goto behavior of such a string network in cosmology, i.e. on very large scales. It is found also that on small scales, the energy per unit length and tension depend on the string internal coordinates in such a way as to permit the existence of centrifugally supported equilibrium configuration, also known as vortons, whose stability, depending on the very short distance (unknown) physics, can lead to catastrophic consequences on the evolution of the Universe.Comment: 10 pages, ReVTeX, 2 figures, minor typos corrected. This version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Regeneration Profile in Treated B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients:Association with MRD Status and Patient Outcome

SIMPLE SUMMARY: For the last 20 years, measurable residual disease (MRD) has proven to be a strong prognostic factor in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, the effects of therapy on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and their potential relationship with MRD and patient outcome still remain to be evaluated. Here, we show that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial cells (EC) are constantly present at relatively low frequencies in normal BM and in most follow-up BM samples from treated BCP-ALL patients. Of note, their levels are independent of the MRD status. From the prognostic point of view, an increased percentage of EC among stromal cells (EC plus MSC) at day +78 of therapy was associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS), independently of the MRD status both in childhood and in adult BCP-ALL. Thus, an abnormally high EC/MSC distribution at day +78 of therapy emerges as an adverse prognostic factor, independent of MRD in BCP-ALL. ABSTRACT: For the last two decades, measurable residual disease (MRD) has become one of the most powerful independent prognostic factors in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, the effect of therapy on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and its potential relationship with the MRD status and disease free survival (DFS) still remain to be investigated. Here we analyzed the distribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial cells (EC) in the BM of treated BCP-ALL patients, and its relationship with the BM MRD status and patient outcome. For this purpose, the BM MRD status and EC/MSC regeneration profile were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in 16 control BM (10 children; 6 adults) and 1204 BM samples from 347 children and 100 adult BCP-ALL patients studied at diagnosis (129 children; 100 adults) and follow-up (824 childhood samples; 151 adult samples). Patients were grouped into a discovery cohort (116 pediatric BCP-ALL patients; 338 samples) and two validation cohorts (74 pediatric BCP-ALL, 211 samples; and 74 adult BCP-ALL patients; 134 samples). Stromal cells (i.e., EC and MSC) were detected at relatively low frequencies in all control BM (16/16; 100%) and in most BCP-ALL follow-up samples (874/975; 90%), while they were undetected in BCP-ALL BM at diagnosis. In control BM samples, the overall percentage of EC plus MSC was higher in children than adults (p = 0.011), but with a similar EC/MSC ratio in both groups. According to the MRD status similar frequencies of both types of BM stromal cells were detected in BCP-ALL BM studied at different time points during the follow-up. Univariate analysis (including all relevant prognostic factors together with the percentage of stromal cells) performed in the discovery cohort was used to select covariates for a multivariate Cox regression model for predicting patient DFS. Of note, an increased percentage of EC (>32%) within the BCP-ALL BM stromal cell compartment at day +78 of therapy emerged as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for DFS in childhood BCP-ALL in the discovery cohort—hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.50 (1–9.66); p = 0.05—together with the BM MRD status (p = 0.031). Further investigation of the predictive value of the combination of these two variables (%EC within stromal cells and MRD status at day +78) allowed classification of BCP-ALL into three risk groups with median DFS of: 3.9, 3.1 and 1.1 years, respectively (p = 0.001). These results were confirmed in two validation cohorts of childhood BCP-ALL (n = 74) (p = 0.001) and adult BCP-ALL (n = 40) (p = 0.004) treated at different centers. In summary, our findings suggest that an imbalanced EC/MSC ratio in BM at day +78 of therapy is associated with a shorter DFS of BCP-ALL patients, independently of their MRD status. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved

Bacterial strains from floodplain soils perform different plant-growth promoting processes and enhance cowpea growth

ABSTRACT Certain nodulating nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes and other nodule endophytes perform different plant-growth promoting processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate 26 bacterial strains isolated from cowpea nodules grown in floodplain soils in the Brazilian savannas, regarding performance of plant-growth promoting processes and ability to enhance cowpea growth. We also identified these strains by 16S rRNA sequencing. The following processes were evaluated: free-living biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), solubilization of calcium, aluminum and iron phosphates and production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The abilities to nodulate and promote cowpea growth were evaluated in Leonard jars. Partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene identified 60 % of the strains as belonging to genus Paenibacillus. The following four genera were also identified: Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. None of the strains fixed N2 free-living. Among the strains, 80 % solubilized Ca phosphate and one solubilized Al phosphate and none solubilized Fe phosphate. The highest IAA concentrations (52.37, 51.52 and 51.00 μg mL−1) were obtained in the 79 medium with tryptophan by Enterobacter strains UFPI B5-7A, UFPI B5-4 and UFPI B5-6, respectively. Only eight strains nodulated cowpea, however, all increased production of total dry matter. The fact that the strains evaluated perform different biological processes to promote plant growth indicates that these strains have potential use in agricultural crops to increase production and environmental sustainability