AtGSTU19 and AtGSTU24 as Moderators of the Response of Arabidopsis thaliana to Turnip mosaic virus

Plants produce glutathione as a response to the intercellular redox state. Glutathione actively participates in the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent signaling pathway, especially under biotic stress conditions. Most of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are induced in cells during the defense response of plants not only through highly specific glutathione-binding abilities but also by participating in the signaling function. The tau class of GSTs has been reported to be induced as a response under stress conditions. Although several studies have focused on the role of the tau class of GSTs in plant–pathogen interactions, knowledge about their contribution to the response to virus inoculation is still inadequate. Therefore, in this study, the response of Atgstu19 and Atgstu24 knockout mutants to mechanical inoculation of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) was examined. The systemic infection of TuMV was more dynamically promoted in Atgstu19 mutants than in wild-type (Col-0) plants, suggesting the role of GSTU19 in TuMV resistance. However, Atgstu24 mutants displayed virus limitation and downregulation of the relative expression of TuMV capsid protein, accompanied rarely by TuMV particles only in vacuoles, and ultrastructural analyses of inoculated leaves revealed the lack of virus cytoplasmic inclusions. These findings indicated that Atgstu24 mutants displayed a resistance-like reaction to TuMV, suggesting that GSTU24 may suppress the plant resistance. In addition, these findings confirmed that GSTU1 and GSTU24 are induced and contribute to the susceptible reaction to TuMV in the Atgstu19–TuMV interaction. However, the upregulation of GSTU19 and GSTU13 highly correlated with virus limitation in the resistance-like reaction in the Atgstu24–TuMV interaction. Furthermore, the highly dynamic upregulation of GST and glutathione reductase (GR) activities resulted in significant induction (between 1 and 14 days post inoculation [dpi]) of the total glutathione pool (GSH + GSSG) in response to TuMV, which was accompanied by the distribution of active glutathione in plant cells. On the contrary, in Atgstu19, which is susceptible to TuMV interaction, upregulation of GST and GR activity only up to 7 dpi symptom development was reported, which resulted in the induction of the total glutathione pool between 1 and 3 dpi. These observations indicated that GSTU19 and GSTU24 are important factors in modulating the response to TuMV in Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, it was clear that glutathione is an important component of the regulatory network in resistance and susceptible response of A. thaliana to TuMV. These results help achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating the Arabidopsis–TuMV pathosystem

Financial performance of public hospitals : a cross-sectional study among Polish providers

There is growing evidence of a positive association between health care providers’ financial standing and the quality of care. In Poland, the instable financial situation and growing debt of public hospitals has been a source of concern for more than two decades now. The objectives of this paper were to compare the financial performance of public hospitals in Poland, depending on the ownership and organizational form; and analyze whether there is an association between financial performance and the chosen variables. We conducted a cross sectional study covering the whole population of public hospitals operating in 2018. The total number of included units was 805. The hospitals’ financial outcomes were measured by several variables; Spearman’s rank correlation was calculated, and a multivariable logistic regression model was performed. In 2018, the majority of public hospitals in Poland (52%) generated a gross loss, while 40% hospitals had overdue liabilities. There were statistically significant differences between hospital groups, with university hospitals and those owned by counties (local hospitals) being in the most disadvantageous situation. Additionally, corporatized public hospitals performed worse than those functioning in the classic legal form of independent health care units. Urgent actions are needed to measure and monitor the potential impact of financial performance on the quality of care

Urban Green Spaces: how geospatial information can help identify diversity. A case study from eastern Lesser Poland

Progressing globalisation and suburbanisation are driving dynamic changes in land management, particularly in suburban zones. Green infrastructure and its impact on human quality of life are playing an increasingly important role in appropriate spatial management, because of human activities that are changing the natural environment. Therefore, monitoring and assessing the proportion of green spaces is essential for environmental, urban and social balance. The purpose of the study is to develop a method for measuring and monitoring the diversity of land cover classes, including green spaces as representatives of natural land cover classes. The proposed method describes the current state of land in quantitative and qualitative terms based on spatial data on land cover. The study employs Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI) to empirically investigate land cover homogeneity. The intensity of the phenomenon was visualised in space using statistical hot spot analysis. The case study involves two cities in eastern Lesser Poland and districts adjacent to them. The results have demonstrated that the investigated areas have a highly heterogenic land cover. Basic assessment fields have exhibited homogeneity only towards large, green, agricultural, environmentally valuable and, often, protected areas. The results concerning urban green spaces comprise a set of data that constitute a valuable source of information to aid the development of informed urban-planning solutions under the sustainable development paradigm

On the diversity of the jet production efficiency in Swift/BAT AGNs

We address the very large diversity of the jet production efficiency in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) by using data on low redshift AGNs selected from the Swift/BAT catalog and having black hole (BH) masses larger than $10^{8.5}\,M_{\odot}$. Most of these AGNs accrete at intermediate rates and have bolometric luminosities dominated by mid-IR radiation. Our sample contains $14\%$ radio-loud (RL), $6\%$ radio-intermediate (RI), and $80\%$ radio-quiet (RQ) AGNs. All RL objects are found to have extended radio structures and most of them have classical FR II morphology. Converting their radio loudness to the jet production efficiency, we find that the median of this efficiency is on the order of $(\epsilon_d/0.1)\%$, where $\epsilon_d=L_{\rm bol}/\dot{M}c^2$ is the radiation efficiency of the accretion disk. Without knowing the contribution of jets to the radio emission in the RQ AGNs, we are only able to estimate their efficiencies using upper limits. Their median is found to be $0.002(\epsilon_d/0.1)\%$. Our results suggest that some threshold conditions must be satisfied to allow production of strong, relativistic jets in RL AGNs. We discuss several possible scenarios and argue that the production of collimated, relativistic jets must involve the Blandford-Znajek mechanism and can be activated only in those AGNs whose lifetime is longer than the time required to enter the magnetically arrested disk (MAD). Presuming that MAD is required to collimate relativistic jets, we expect that the weak nonrelativistic jets observed in some RQ AGNs are produced by accretion disks rather than by rotating BHs.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. Published in ApJ on 2020 September

The role of Mcl-1 in S. aureus-induced cytoprotection of infected macrophages

As a facultative intracellular pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus invades macrophages and then promotes the cytoprotection of infected cells thus stabilizing safe niche for silent persistence. This process occurs through the upregulation of crucial antiapoptotic genes, in particular, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1). Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism and signal transduction pathways leading to increased MCL-1 expression in infected macrophages. Live S. aureus not only stimulated de novo synthesis of Mcl-1, but also prolonged the stability of this antiapoptotic protein. Consistent with this, we proved a crucial role of Mcl-1 in S. aureus-induced cytoprotection, since silencing of MCL1 by siRNA profoundly reversed the cytoprotection of infected cells leading to apoptosis. Increased MCL1 expression in infected cells was associated with enhanced NF B activation and subsequent IL-6 secretion, since the inhibition of both NF B and IL-6 signalling pathways abrogated Mcl-1 induction and cytoprotection. Finally, we confirmed our observation in vivo in murine model of septic arthritis showing the association between the severity of arthritis and Mcl-1 expression. Therefore, we propose that S. aureus is hijacking the Mcl-1-dependent inhibition of apoptosis to prevent the elimination of infected host cells, thus allowing the intracellular persistence of the pathogen, its dissemination by infected macrophages, and the progression of staphylococci diseases

Ultrastructural effects of PVYNTN infection of <em>Capsicum annuum</em> L. cv. Yolo Wonder generative organs; a first step in describing seed transmission

Potato virus Y NTN (PVYNTN), a member of the family Potyviridae, is one of the most important plant viruses. Despite common occurrence of seed transmission process in the Potyviridae, the number or routes of virion entry into seeds are still unclear. Embryos could probably be infected either through host embryogenesis processes or via infection of reproductive tissues, therefore both processes of virus transmission in seeds and pollen grains are likely to be related. Infection by PVY has been studied in detail in host vegetative organs. We investigated, for the first time the impact of infection by the necrotic strain of PVY on Capsicum annuum reproductive organs. We found PVYNTN particles inside C. annuum pollen grains and on the exine surfaces, and PVY epitopes were also found in pollen tubes. We postulate that the male gametophyte in C. annuum could be a source of PVY infection, which may have significance in self-pollinated hosts. We also demonstrated that PVYNTN particles could be detected inside C. annuum seeds on embryo surfaces, while particles and Potyvirus inclusion bodies were observed in endothelium layers. These were mainly detected inside ovarian tissues, that is, in the ovular integuments and nucelli. Changes in both gametophytes strongly indicate that generative organs were a source of PVYNTN infection. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that in C. annuum, PVY was transmitted vertically via seeds

Związek akceptacji choroby oraz lęku i depresji z oceną jakości życia pacjentek z chorobą nowotworową gruczołu piersiowego

Introduction. Cancer disease is often synonymous with a lengthy and cumbersome treatment process for the patient and a reduction in quality of life (QoL). The attitude to the disease affects the treatment process and the level of acceptance of the illness determines the well-being of the patient, the level of trust in the medical staff and methods of treatment. It is also associated with the success of the therapy. Material and methods. The study included 112 women diagnosed with breast cancer treated at Lower Silesian Oncology Center. The study used a standardized questionnaire tools: AIS-scale acceptance of the illness, QoL WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, HADS-M questionnaire. Results. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the level of acceptance of the illness and all the domains of QoL WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire: somatic domain (r = 0.47; p &lt; 0.001), psychological domain (r = 0.40; p &lt; 0.001), social domain (r = 0.39; p &lt; 0.001), environmental domain (r = 0.46; p &lt; 0.001). Analysis of correlation between anxiety and depression with the assessment of acceptance of the illness showed a negative influence of all components of the questionnaire HADS-M level AIS, as appropriate: anxiety (r = -0.51; p &lt; 0.001), depression (r = -0.57; p &lt; 0.001), irritability (r = -0.32; p = 0.001). A similar relationship was observed in the analysis of the correlation of anxiety and depression, quality of life in all domains of the questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusions. Patients with breast cancer presented a medium level of acceptance of the illness and limiting level of anxiety and depression. There is a positive relationship between acceptance of the illness with the assessment of QoL, while anxiety and depression negatively affects the assessment of QoL.Wstęp. Choroba nowotworowa często jest równoznaczna z długotrwałym i uciążliwym dla pacjenta procesem leczenia oraz pogorszeniem jakości życia (QoL). Postawa wobec choroby wpływa na proces leczenia, a poziom akceptacji choroby determinuje samopoczucie chorego, zaufanie do personelu medycznego i stosowanych metod leczenia, a co z tym związane — również na powodzenie terapii. Materiał i metody. Badaniami objęto 112 kobiet z rozpoznanym rakiem gruczołu piersiowego leczonych w Dolnośląskim Centrum Onkologii we Wrocławiu. W badaniu wykorzystano standaryzowane narzędzia kwestionariuszowe: skalę akceptacji choroby AIS, kwestionariusz oceny QoL WHOQOL-BREF, kwestionariusz oceny lęku i depresji HADS-M. Wyniki. Analiza korelacji wykazała istotną statystycznie zależność pomiędzy poziomem akceptacji choroby a wszystkimi obszarami QoL WHOQOL-BREF: obszarem somatycznym (r = 0,47; p &lt; 0,001), psychologicznym (r = 0,40; p &lt; 0,001), socjalnym (r = 0,39; p &lt; 0,001) i środowiskowym (r = 0,46; p &lt; 0,001). Analiza korelacji związku lęku i depresji z oceną akceptacji choroby wykazała negatywny wpływ wszystkich składowych kwestionariusza HADS-M na poziom AIS, odpowiednio: lęk (r = -0,51; p &lt; 0,001), depresja (r = -0,57; p &lt; 0,001), rozdrażnienie (r = -0,32; p = 0,001). Podobną zależność zaobserwowano podczas analizy korelacji lęku i depresji z jakością życia we wszystkich obszarach kwestionariusza WHOQOL-BREF. Wnioski. Pacjentki z rakiem piersi wykazują średni poziom akceptacji choroby oraz graniczny poziom lęku i depresji. Akceptacja choroby pozytywnie wpływa na QoL, natomiast lęk i depresja negatywnie wpływają na ocenę QoL

Ultrastructural effects of PVYNTN infection of Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yolo Wonder generative organs; a first step in describing seed transmission

Potato virus Y NTN (PVYNTN), a member of the family Potyviridae, is one of the most important plant viruses. Despite common occurrence of seed transmission process in the Potyviridae, the number or routes of virion entry into seeds are still unclear. Embryos could probably be infected either through host embryogenesis processes or via infection of reproductive tissues, therefore both processes of virus transmission in seeds and pollen grains are likely to be related. Infection by PVY has been studied in detail in host vegetative organs. We investigated, for the first time the impact of infection by the necrotic strain of PVY on Capsicum annuum reproductive organs. We found PVYNTN particles inside C. annuum pollen grains and on the exine surfaces, and PVY epitopes were also found in pollen tubes. We postulate that the male gametophyte in C. annuum could be a source of PVY infection, which may have significance in self-pollinated hosts. We also demonstrated that PVYNTN particles could be detected inside C. annuum seeds on embryo surfaces, while particles and Potyvirus inclusion bodies were observed in endothelium layers. These were mainly detected inside ovarian tissues, that is, in the ovular integuments and nucelli. Changes in both gametophytes strongly indicate that generative organs were a source of PVYNTN infection. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that in C. annuum, PVY was transmitted vertically via seeds