Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Effect of the inoculum size on the axenic in vitro production of Steinernema carpocapsae

The effect of inoculum size on the axenic in vitro production of Steinernema carpocapsae, using a transparent medium with hemoglobin and cholesterol, was studied. Axenic cultivation was performed with fertile eggs ofS. carpocapsae (hatching of eggs: 89 ± 4%), which were obtained by lyses of female nematodes and subsequent incubation. Two important aspects of this work include the use of a completely transparent medium enriched with hemoglobin and cholesterol and the high multiplication factor of the population (MFIP) of 87, which is considered high for in vitro axenic cultures of nematodes. In vivo methods have the advantage of high MFIP, but they also have the disadvantage of the high number and complexity of the operations involved for the purposes of harvesting axenic nematodes. It is assumed that the availability of a high number of nematodes in a transparent medium will further encourage the characterization of new native strains of nematodes.Se estudió el efecto del tamaño de inoculo en la producción axénica in vitro de Steinernema carpocapsae, utilizando un medio de cultivo transparente enriquecido con hemoglobina y colesterol. El cultivo axénico se llevó a cabo con huevos fértiles de S. carpocapsae (incubación de los huevos: 89 ± 3%) obtenidos por lisis de nematodos hembras y su subsecuente incubación en medio de cultivo adicionado con antibióticos. Dos aspectos importantes a destacar son el uso de un medio de cultivo totalmente transparente enriquecido con la hemoglobina y colesterol, y el alto factor de multiplicación de la población (MFIP) de 87, que se considera alto para cultivos axénicos in vitro. Los métodos in vivo tienen la ventaja de su alta MFIP, pero también tienen la desventaja del elevado número y complejidad de las operaciones involucradas en el proceso de cosecha de nematodos. Se considera que la disponibilidad de un alto número de nematodos en un medio de cultivo transparente favorecerá la caracterización de cepas nativas nuevas de nematodos

Polymeric Encapsulate of <i>Streptomyces</i> Mycelium Resistant to Dehydration with Air Flow at Room Temperature

Encapsulation is one of the technologies applied for the formulation of biological control agents. The function of the encapsulating matrix is to protect the biological material from environmental factors, while dehydration allows for its viability to be prolonged. An advantage of dehydrated encapsulation formulations is that they can be stored for long periods. However, vegetative cells require low-stress dehydration processes to prevent their loss of viability. Herein we describe the fabrication of a dehydrated encapsulate of the Streptomyces CDBB1232 mycelium using sodium alginate with a high concentration of mannuronic acid; sodium alginate was added with YGM medium for mycelium protection purposes. The encapsulation was carried out by extrusion, and its dehydration was carried out in a rotating drum fed with air at room temperature (2–10 L min−1). The drying of the capsules under air flows higher than 4 L min−1 led to viability loss of the mycelium. The viability loss can be decreased up to 13% by covering the alginate capsules with gum arabic. Compared to conventional dehydration processes, air moisture removal can be lengthy, but it is a low-cost method with the potential to be scaled

Nanoemulsified Formulation of Cedrela odorata Essential Oil and Its Larvicidal Effect against Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)

Cedrela odorata L. is a plant species from the Meliaceae family that is cultivated for timber production. Although the C. odorata essential oil (EO) contains mainly sesquiterpenes, its insecticidal potential is unknown. The lipophilic properties and high degradation capacity of EOs have limited their application for use in pest control. However, the currently available knowledge on the nanoemulsification of EOs, in addition to the possibility of improving their dispersion, would allow them to prolong their permanence in the field. The objective of the present work was to develop a nanoemulsion of the C. odorata EO and to evaluate its larvicidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda. The EO was obtained by the hydrodistillation of C. odorata dehydrated leaves, and the nanoemulsion was prepared with non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80 and Span 80) using a combined method of agitation and dispersion with ultrasound. The stability of the nanoemulsion with a droplet diameter of &lt;200 nm was verified in samples stored at 5 &deg;C and 25 &deg;C for 90 days. Both the C. odorata EO and its corresponding nanoemulsion presented lethal properties against S. frugiperda. The results obtained provide guidelines for the use of wood waste to produce sustainable and effective insecticides in the fight against S. frugiperda. In addition, considering that a phytochemical complex mixture allows the simultaneous activation of different action mechanisms, the development of resistance in insects is slower

Biological Activity of Phytochemicals from Agricultural Wastes and Weeds on <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous insect pest native to America. Due to its capacity for adaptation and migration, it is currently located in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, where it threatens agricultural crops. The ability of S. frugiperda to develop resistance to insecticides is one of the reasons for the continuous search for more effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly control products. In the present work, the insecticidal activity of ethanolic and hexane extracts obtained from fresh and dehydrated leaves of Piper auritum Kunth (Piperales: Piperaceae), Piper umbellatum L. (Piperales: Piperaceae), and Cedrela odorata L. (Sapindales: Meliaceae) was studied against first instar larvae of S. frugiperda. The ethanolic extracts of the dehydrated leaves of C. odorata and P. auritum presented insecticidal activity as high (100% mortality at a concentration of 92 mg/cm2) as that obtained with the positive control, Melia azedarach L. (Sapindales: Meliaceae). The GC-MS analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of phytochemicals classified mainly into the groups of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, phenylpropanoids, alcohols, and fatty acids. P. auritum grows and propagates rapidly. In addition, due to its low toxicity in mammals and non-target insects, it is a plant with the potential to be used as a botanical insecticide. The exposure of S. frugiperda larvae to low concentrations of ethanolic extract of P. auritum allowed us to observe their biological activity in the development of this insect. The LC50 was 22.1 mg/cm2. At sublethal concentrations (LC21 and LC35) the low fertility of the emerging adults was noticeable