New insights on Flavescence dorée phytoplasma ecology in the vineyard agro-ecosystem in southern Switzerland

Phytoplasmas associated with Flavescence dor\ue9e (FDp) grapevine disease are quarantine pathogens controlled through mandatory measures including the prompt eradication and destruction of diseased plants, and the insecticide treatments against the insect vector, the ampelophagous leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus. In the present study, a multidisciplinary approach has been applied to investigate the FDp ecological cycle in a test vineyard agro-ecosystem in Canton Ticino, south Switzerland. Despite the scarce population density of S. titanus, a regular trend of new infections (3.4% of the total vines) through the years was observed. The leafhopper Orientus ishidae was found as the most abundant among the captured insect species known as phytoplasma vectors (245 out of 315 specimens). The population of O. ishidae was evidenced prevalently (167 specimens) in the south-western side of the vineyard and within the neighbouring forest constituted mainly by hazel (Corylus avellana) and willow (Salix spp.). These plant species were found infected by FDp related strains (30% of analysed trees) for the first time in this study. Interestingly, O. ishidae was found to harbour FDp related strains in high percentage (26% of the analysed pools). In addition, 16SrV phytoplasma group was detected for the first time in the insect Hyalesthes obsoletus and a FDp related strain in Thamnotettix dilutior, present in low populations within the test vineyard. Molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analyses of methionine aminopeptidase (map) gene sequences of FDp and related strains, here identified, revealed the great prevalence of the map-type FD2 in grapevines (97%) and in O. ishidae pools (72%). Such a map-type was found also in hazel and in T. dilutior, but not in S. titanus. Moreover, map-types FD1 and FD3 were identified for the first time in Switzerland in several host plants and phytoplasma vectors, including grapevine (FD1), S. titanus (FD1) and O. ishidae (FD1 and FD3). Based on the data obtained in this study, it is reasonable to hypothesise that the ecological cycle of FDp could be related not exclusively to the grapevine-specific feeding diet of S. titanus, but it could include other insect vector(s) and/or plant host(s). Further studies will be needed to prove the role of O. ishidae as vector able to transmit FDp from wild plants (e.g. hazel) to grapevine

Acrolein Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Causes Airspace Enlargement

BACKGROUND: Given the relative abundance and toxic potential of acrolein in inhaled cigarette smoke, it is surprising how little is known about the pulmonary and systemic effects of acrolein. Here we test the hypothesis whether systemic administration of acrolein could cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and lung cell apoptosis, leading to the enlargement of the alveolar air spaces in rats. METHODS: Acute and chronic effects of intraperitoneally administered acrolein were tested. Mean alveolar airspace area was measured by using light microscopy and imaging system software. TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for active caspase 3 and Western blot analysis for active caspase 3, and caspase 12 were performed to detect apoptosis. The ER-stress related gene expression in the lungs was determined by Quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Acrolein-protein adducts in the lung tissue were detected by IHC. RESULTS: Acute administration of acrolein caused a significant elevation of activated caspase 3, upregulation of VEGF expression and induced ER stress proteins in the lung tissue. The chronic administration of acrolein in rats led to emphysematous lung tissue remodeling. TUNEL staining and IHC for cleaved caspase 3 showed a large number of apoptotic septal cells in the acrolein-treated rat lungs. Chronic acrolein administration cause the endoplasmic reticulum stress response manifested by significant upregulation of ATF4, CHOP and GADd34 expression. In smokers with COPD there was a considerable accumulation of acrolein-protein adducts in the inflammatory, airway and vascular cells. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic administration of acrolein causes endoplasmic reticulum stress response, lung cell apoptosis, and chronic administration leads to the enlargement of the alveolar air spaces and emphysema in rats. The substantial accumulation of acrolein-protein adducts in the lungs of COPD patients suggest a role of acrolein in the pathogenesis of emphysema

Orientus ishidae, un nouveau vecteur de la flavescence dorée au Tessin = Orientus ishidae, a new vector of flavescence dorée in Ticino = Orientus ishidae, un nuovo vettore della flavescenza dorata in Ticino

Orientus ishidae, a new vector of flavescence dor\ue9e in Ticino This study was carried out in Ticino during the 2013\u20132015 time period. Its objective was to establish the presence of alternative insect vectors and plant hosts for grapevine flavescence dor\ue9e (FD).The results show that while the mosaic leafhopper Orientus ishidae constitutes a second vector of FD, it does not help spread the disease in an epidemic way as Scaphoideus titanus, the main vector, does. O. ishidae is present in all studied vineyards, but with varying population densities.Corylus avellana and Salix sp.are its preferred plant hosts and FD-positive individuals were found among them.Moreover, four other FD-positive leafhoppers were identified, but, contrary to O. ishidae, their ability to transfer the disease to grapevines has still to be demonstrated. The FD ecology appears to be a much more opened system than previously thought, where the landscape surrounding the vineyards plays an important role by determining which alternative plant hosts are present, it also determines their associated insect vectors.The present control strategy, based on the eradication of FD, is challenged and must be reassessed.Cette \ue9tude, conduite au Tessin pendant la p\ue9riode 2013\u20132015, a pour but d\u2019\ue9tablir la pr\ue9sence de vecteurs et de plantes h\uf4tes alternatifs de la flavescence dor\ue9e de la vigne (FD). Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que la cicadelle Orientus ishidae constitue au Tessin un deuxi\ue8me vecteur de la FD, sans toutefois diffuser la maladie de fa\ue7on \ue9pid\ue9mique comme Scaphoideus titanus, le vecteur principal de la maladie. O. ishidae est pr\ue9sent dans toutes les parcelles de l\u2019\ue9tude, mais \ue0 des densit\ue9s de populations diff\ue9rentes. Corylus avellana et Salix sp.sont ses plantes h\uf4tes de pr\ue9dilection et des individus positifs \ue0 la FD y ont \ue9t\ue9 identifi\ue9s. En outre, quatre autres esp\ue8ces de cicadelles se sont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9es porteuses de FD, mais, contrairement \ue0 O. ishidae, il reste \ue0 d\ue9montrer pour ces derni\ue8res la capacit\ue9 de transmettre la maladie \ue0 la vigne. L\u2019\ue9cologie de la FD se r\ue9v\ue8le donc \ueatre un syst\ue8me bien plus ouvert qu\u2019anticip\ue9, o\uf9 le paysage bordant les vignes joue un r\uf4le important en d\ue9terminant la pr\ue9sence (ou l\u2019absence) de plantes h\uf4tes alternatives pouvant h\ue9berger la FD ainsi que la pr\ue9sence des esp\ue8ces vectrices qui leur sont associ\ue9es.La strat\ue9gie de lutte actuelle ax\ue9e sur l\u2019\ue9radication de la FD est remise en question et doit \ueatre repens\ue9e et adapt\ue9e

Outbreak of listerosis due to imported cooked ham, Switzerland 2011

From 24 April to 31 July 2011, nine cases of listeriosis were registered in the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Land and Zurich, Switzerland. In six of the cases, infection with Listeria monocytogenes was laboratory confirmed, while three remained suspected cases. The suspected cases were family members of confirmed cases with identical or similar symptoms. All confirmed cases were infected with a L. monocytogenes strain belonging to serovar 1/2a: all had an indistinguishable pulsotype by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The same strain was detected in samples of cooked ham that were on sale from a particular retailer. Two samples of ham tested contained 470 and 4,800 colony-forming units (CFU) L. monocytogenes per gram respectively. Data of shopper cards from two confirmed cases could be evaluated: both cases had purchased the contaminated ham. The outbreak initiated a product recall and alert actions at national and European level, through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Following the RASFF alert, the company producing the contaminated ham was inspected by the responsible authorities. Their investigations showed that the ham was not contaminated in the production plant, but in the premises of a company to which slicing and packing was outsourced

Radiolabelled choline versus PSMA PET/CT in prostate cancer restaging: a meta-analysis.

Both radiolabelled choline and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could be used in patients with biochemical recurrent prostate cancer (BRPCa). We aimed to perform a meta-analysis about the head-to-head comparison of detection rate (DR) between these methods in BRPCa. A comprehensive literature search of studies listed in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases through October 2018 and regarding the head-to-head comparison of DR between radiolabelled choline and PSMA PET/CT in BRPCa was carried out. Overall pooled DR was calculated on a per patient-based analysis; subgroup analyses taking into account different prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cut-off values were performed. Five studies (257 BRPCa patients) were included. The meta-analysis provided the following overall DR: 56% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 37-75%] for radiolabelled choline PET/CT and 78% (95% CI: 70-84%) for radiolabelled PSMA PET/CT. Significant difference of DR was found only in patients with PSA ≤ 1 ng/ml [the DR of radiolabelled choline and PSMA PET/CT were 27% (95% CI: 17-39%) and 54% (95% CI: 43-65%), respectively]. Radiolabelled PSMA PET/CT proved to be clearly superior in detecting BRPCa lesions at low PSA levels (≤ 1 ng/ml) when compared to radiolabelled choline PET/CT. On the other hand, the superiority of radiolabelled PSMA PET/CT was less evident in patients with PSA > 1 ng/ml. More studies and in particular cost-effectiveness analyses comparing these imaging methods are warranted

Comparison of Different Approaches To Quantify Staphylococcus aureus Cells by Real-Time Quantitative PCR and Application of This Technique for Examination of Cheese

Two different real-time quantitative PCR (RTQ-PCR) approaches were applied for PCR-based quantification of Staphylococcus aureus cells by targeting the thermonuclease (nuc) gene. Purified DNA extracts from pure cultures of S. aureus were quantified in a LightCycler system using SYBR Green I. Quantification proved to be less sensitive (60 nuc gene copies/μl) than using a fluorigenic TaqMan probe (6 nuc gene copies/μl). Comparison of the LightCycler system and the well-established ABI Prism 7700 SDS with TaqMan probes revealed no statistically significant differences with respect to sensitivity and reproducibility. Application of the RTQ-PCR assay to quantify S. aureus cells in artificially contaminated cheeses of different types achieved sensitivities from 1.5 × 10(2) to 6.4 × 10(2) copies of the nuc gene/2 g, depending on the cheese matrix. The coefficients of correlation between log CFU and nuc gene copy numbers ranged from 0.979 to 0.998, thus enabling calculation of the number of CFU of S. aureus in cheese by performing RTQ-PCR