Evaluation of detection methods for Virus, Viroids and Phytoplasmas affecting pear and apple

The RT-PCR technique for the detection of apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and pear blister canker viroid (PBCV) was evaluated for health control of fruit plants from nurseries. The technique was evaluated in purified RNA and crude extracts and also in phloem collected in autumn and from young spring shoots. The results obtained for phytoplasma detection with ribosomal and non-ribosomal primers are also presented. Keywords: Detection, fruit virus, viroids, phytoplasm

Evaluation of susceptibility of pear and plum varieties and rootstocks to Ca. P. pyri and Ca. P. prunorum using Real-Time PCR

Real-time PCR was used to quantify phytoplasma concentration in fifty inoculated trees from five Prunus rootstocks and in forty-eight symptomatic pear and Japanese plum trees from orchards. Seasonal fluctuation of Ca. P. prunorum in different Prunus rootstocks, over three years, showed that the highest percentage detected by nested-PCR was in the ‘Garnem’ rootstock on nearly all sampling dates. Intra-varietal differences were also observed. Phytoplasma titer could be estimated by real time PCR in some trees of the rootstocks ‘Garnem’, ‘Barrier’, ‘GF-677’ and ‘Marianna’, and ranged from 4.7x105 to 3.18x109 phytoplasmas per gram of tissue. Quantification by real-time PCR was not possible in the ‘Cadaman’ trees analyzed, probably due to a lower phytoplasma titer in this variety. Samples from infected trees from commercial plots had different phytoplasma concentration and detection percentage depending on the variety, both being lower in ‘Fortune’ and ‘606’ Japanese plum and in ‘Blanquilla’ pear trees.Keywords: Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri, Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum, real time PCR, detectio

Detection of flavescence dorée phytoplasma in grapevine in northern Spain

Research NoteGrapevine yellows diseased stocks were observed in vineyards of the Alt Emporda area, northern Spain. Phytoplasma was detected and characterized by PCR-RFLP in the region of the 16S rDNA of phytoplasmas or by ELISA. For the first time a FD phytoplasma was detected in Spain

Bacterial multi-solute transporters

Bacterial membrane proteins of the SbmA/BacA family are multi-solute transporters that mediate the uptake of structurally diverse hydrophilic molecules, including aminoglycoside antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides. Some family members are full-length ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, whereas other members are truncated homologues that lack the nucleotide-binding domains and thus mediate ATP-independent transport. A recent cryo-EM structure of the ABC transporter Rv1819c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has shed light on the structural basis for multi-solute transport and has provided insight into the mechanism of transport. Here, we discuss how the protein architecture makes SbmA/BacA family transporters prone to inadvertent import of antibiotics and speculate on the question which physiological processes may benefit from multi-solute transport

First identification of the pathogen causing tumor malformations in holm oak in Spain

Aim of study: In recent years an increase in pests and diseases associated with truffle plantations has been detected in Spain. The appearance of tumor malformations in trunks and branches of Quercus ilex L. must be highlighted. These bumps have expanded dramatically since the increase in the number and density of truffle plantations. This pathology is not only found in plantations, but also in forests, and in trees of all ages. Area of study: the eastern mountains and the truffle plantations of the Iberian Peninsula. Material and methods: Positive results were obtained by using two types of PCR: Real-Time PCR and nested-PCR. They were carried out with primers that amplified 16S ribosomal gene sequences that are common to all known phytoplasmas. Main result: The disease manifests itself as an irregular thickening in branches of any age and in the trunk that results in the woody tissue cracking open, forming wounds. The affected branches usually undergo necrosis and in case of affecting the trunk, the tree will eventually die. After an extensive literature review and several failed attempts to isolate fungal and bacterial species from these tumors and wounds, the disease-causing organism has been identified as a Candidatus Phytoplasma. Research highlights: The appearance of this disease may endanger the profitability of an a priori profitable crop. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the organism, and knowing that no phytosanitary treatment is able to control phytoplasmas, future works should be directed towards identifying the transmitter in order to control the diseasePublishe

Costs of hospital care for hypertension in an insured population without an outpatient medicines benefit: an observational study in the Philippines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertension is the number one attributable risk factor for death throughout the world and a major contributor to morbidity, mortality, and increasing health care expenditures in the Philippines. Lack of access to outpatient antihypertensive medicines leads to avoidable disease progression and costly inpatient admissions. We estimated the cost to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which generally does not cover outpatient medicines, for inpatient care for hypertension and its sequelae.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using PhilHealth inpatient claims for discharges between July 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005, we describe costs to PhilHealth for hospitalizations classified by primary discharge diagnoses into hospitalizations for hypertension; hypertensive heart and/or renal disease; other definite; and other possible consequences of untreated hypertension and assess disease trajectory for patients with more than one admission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PhilHealth reimbursed US $56 million for 444,628 hospitalizations for hypertension-related diagnoses incurred by 360,016 patients during 3.5 years; 42% of admissions were for essential or secondary hypertension; 19% for hypertensive heart or renal disease; and 39% for other consequences of untreated hypertension. Among 60,659 patients admitted during the first 18 months of the study with a diagnosis of essential or secondary hypertension, 9% were hospitalized again for treatment of sequelae; older individuals (vs. =< 40 years old), men, dependents (vs. members), and those who were employed (vs. in the private membership category) were more likely to be hospitalized again; as were those whose first admission during the study period was for consequences of hypertension (vs. essential or secondary hypertension).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Inpatient care for hypertension and its sequelae is expensive. Since many hospitalizations may be avoided with antihypertensive pharmacologic therapy, an outpatient medicines benefit may be one cost-effective policy option for PhilHealth.</p

Capillary glucose concentration during oral glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Objective: To assess concordance between two point-of-care testing (POCT) devices and the standard laboratory method in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Huesca. Methods: Pregnant women who met criteria for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and attended the laboratory between October 2017 and November 2018 were recruited in this prospective observational study. Glucose was measured in venous (laboratory) and capillary blood (Accu-Chek or Contour Next glucometers). GDM was diagnosed attending to NDDG criteria for venous samples or capillary-specific cut-off. Linear regression, Passing–Bablok, Bland–Altman, and the kappa coefficient were used to study concordance between POCT and laboratory method. Results: Data from 109 women were analyzed (57 for Accu-Chek, 52 for Contour Next). Statistical analyses showed good agreement between both POCT and laboratory method. There were no statistical differences in fasting glucose measurements between capillary and venous samples and both POCT devices meet the ISO 15197 standard. Accu-Chek showed good agreement (k=0.629) regarding the laboratory method in classifying GDM, with an acceptable inter-evaluator bias of 3.5% (P<0.001). Conclusion: POCT can be used to obtain fasting values and reduce overall waiting times for patients. Additionally, Accu-Chek can be used to diagnose GDM in remote areas applying specific cut-off values

Transmission of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ by naturally infected Cacopsylla pyri to peach, an approach to the epidemiology of peach yellow leaf roll (PYLR) in Spain

Peach orchards in the northeast of Spain were severely affected in 2012 by a previously unreported disease in this area. The symptoms included early reddening, leaf curling, decline, abnormal fruits, and in some cases death of the peach trees. All the infected peach samples were positive for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’, but none were infected by the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum’. In this work, potential vectors able to transmit ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ from pear to peach and between peach trees were studied and their infective potential was analysed at different times of the year. Transmission trials of the phytoplasma with potential vectors to an artificial feeding medium for insects and to healthy peach trees were conducted. Additionally, isolated phytoplasmas were genetically characterized to determine which isolates were able to infect peach trees. Results showed that the only insect species captured inside peach plots that was a carrier of the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ phytoplasma was Cacopsylla pyri. Other insect species captured and known to be phytoplasma transmitters were present in very low numbers, and were not infected with ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ phytoplasma. A total of 1928 individuals of C. pyri were captured in the peach orchards, of which around 49% were phytoplasma carriers. All the peach trees exposed to C. pyri in 2014, and 65% in 2015, were infected by ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ 1 year after exposure, showing that this species is able to transmit the phytoplasma to peach. Molecular characterization showed that some genotypes are preferentially determined in peach.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Libro Blanco UD 2010

[ES]Se presenta la iniciativa “Libro Blanco Universidad Digital 2010”, que se ha llevado a cabo por un conjunto de universidades y empresas españolas para definir un modelo de universidad capaz de abordar las directrices del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES), hacer frente a los nuevos retos del mercado universitario en un contexto de internacionalización y competencia, facilitar el acercamiento de los ciudadanos a las ventajas de las Tecnologías de la Información y de las Comunicaciones (TIC) y contribuir al desarrollo de la sociedad de la información, satisfaciendo las exigencias normativas y legales en todo lo relacionado con estos objetivos

Microcin H47 System: An Escherichia coli Small Genomic Island with Novel Features

Genomic islands are DNA regions containing variable genetic information related to secondary metabolism. Frequently, they have the ability to excise from and integrate into replicons through site-specific recombination. Thus, they are usually flanked by short direct repeats that act as attachment sites, and contain genes for an integrase and an excisionase which carry out the genetic exchange. These mobility events would be at the basis of the horizontal transfer of genomic islands among bacteria