Creativity and Autism Spectrum Conditions: a Hypothesis on Lewis Carroll

The hypothesis formulated by Simon Baron-Cohen and his collaborators on the onset of autistic syndromes and their link with an excess of the so-called S brain is reflected in the work of Lewis Carroll, a formal logic and mathematics professor deeply inclined to visual and spatial descriptions, interested in affordances and systemic circuits, and devoid of empathic tendencies in creating his characters. In the future, this finding may serve as a test for predicting autism spectrum disorders and support the elaboration of narrative artefact for therapeutic purposes in relation to people with autism

Creativity and Autism Spectrum Conditions: a Hypothesis on Lewis Carroll

The hypothesis formulated by Simon Baron-Cohen and his collaborators on the onset of autistic syndromes and their link with an excess of the so-called S brain is reflected in the work of Lewis Carroll, a formal logic and mathematics professor deeply inclined to visual and spatial descriptions, interested in affordances and systemic circuits, and devoid of empathic tendencies in creating his characters. In the future, this finding may serve as a test for predicting autism spectrum disorders and support the elaboration of narrative artefact for therapeutic purposes in relation to people with autism

Genome Sequencing of <i>Pantoea agglomerans</i> C1 Provides Insights into Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Plant Growth-Promotion and Tolerance to Heavy Metals

Distinctive strains of Pantoea are used as soil inoculants for their ability to promote plant growth. Pantoea agglomerans strain C1, previously isolated from the phyllosphere of lettuce, can produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), solubilize phosphate, and inhibit plant pathogens, such as Erwinia amylovora. In this paper, the complete genome sequence of strain C1 is reported. In addition, experimental evidence is provided on how the strain tolerates arsenate As (V) up to 100 mM, and on how secreted metabolites like IAA and siderophores act as biostimulants in tomato cuttings. The strain has a circular chromosome and two prophages for a total genome of 4,846,925-bp, with a DNA G+C content of 55.2%. Genes related to plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity, such as those associated with IAA and spermidine synthesis, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, acquisition of ferrous iron, and production of volatile organic compounds, siderophores and GABA, were found in the genome of strain C1. Genome analysis also provided better understanding of the mechanisms underlying strain resistance to multiple toxic heavy metals and transmission of these genes by horizontal gene transfer. Findings suggested that strain C1 exhibits high biotechnological potential as plant growth-promoting bacterium in heavy metal polluted soils.6s

Screening, isolation, and characterization of glycosyl-hydrolase-producing fungi from desert halophyte plants

Fungal strains naturally occurring on the wood and leaves of the salt-excreting desert tree Tamarix were isolated and characterized for their ability to produce cellulose- and starch- degrading enzymes. Of the 100 isolates, six fungal species were identified by ITS1 sequence analysis. No significant differences were observed among taxa isolated from wood samples of different Tamarix species, while highly salt-tolerant forms related to the genus Scopulariopsis (an anamorphic ascomycete) occurred only on the phylloplane of T. aphylla. All strains had cellulase and amylase activities, but the production of these enzymes was highest in strain D, a Schizophyllum-commune- related form. This strain, when grown on pretreated Tamarix biomass, produced an enzymatic complex containing levels of filter paperase (414 &plusmn; 16 IU/ml) that were higher than those of other S. commune strains. The enzyme complex was used to hydrolyze different lignocellulosic substrates, resulting in a saccharification rate of pretreated milk thistle (73.5 &plusmn; 1.2 %) that was only 10 % lower than that obtained with commercial cellulases. Our results support the use of Tamarix biomass as a useful source of cellulolytic and amylolytic fungi and as a good feedstock for the economical production of commercially relevant cellulases and amylases. [Int Microbiol 2014; 17(1):41-48]Keywords: Schizophyllum commune &middot; Tamarix ssp. &middot; cellulase activity &middot; amylase activit

Rapid bioassay for evaluating enzyme production in fungal isolates from environmental sources

Fungal hydrolytic enzymes have a great potential due to the rapid development of enzyme technology and their industrial applications. A fluorimetric microplate assay has been developed for measuring activity of &#x3b2;-D-exoglucanase, &#x3b2;-D-glucosidase, &#x3b1;-D-glucosidase, &#x3b2;-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, &#x3b2;-D-xylosidase in diluted culture broth samples. The substrates used are conjugates of the highly fluorescent compounds 4-methylumbelliferone (MUB) and thus product formation can be measured directly in the microplate without previous extraction and purification of the product. The developed system was evaluated on eight fungal strains isolated from shrub species (Tamarix) that can be used in phytoremediation. Depending upon the enzyme, each species exhibited different levels of enzymatic activities as well as different production profiles. The fluorimetric method could constitute an effective alternative to the pectrophotometric method to screen hydrolase-producing microbial strains

Pre-fermentative cold maceration in the presence of non-Saccharomyces strains: effect on fermentation behaviour and volatile composition of a red wine

Background and Aims This study evaluated the impact of pre‐fermentative cold maceration (PCM), in the presence of two non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, Metschnikowia pulcherrima MP 346 and Metschnikowia fructicola MF 98‐3, and of a commercial pectic enzyme, on fermentation kinetics and on the volatile composition of a Sangiovese red wine. Methods and Results Sangiovese grape must was inoculated with MP 346 or MF 98‐3 or treated with a pectic enzyme preparation during PCM, at 5°C for 24 or 72 h. A Control wine was produced by a pure culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both non‐Saccharomyces strains affected the initial yeast population dynamics and the persistence of S. cerevisiae at the end of malolactic fermentation. Irrespective of the duration of PCM, the inoculum of Metschnikowia strains did not influence the rate of sugar consumption or the kinetics of malolactic fermentation. The volatile composition of the final wines was evaluated with solid‐phase extraction, followed by GC/MS. The concentration of some terpenes and C13‐norisoprenoids, nerol, geraniol, 8‐hydroxy‐linalool (cis) and 3‐oxo‐α‐ionol, and of some esters, isoamyl lactate and ethyl isoamyl succinate, was higher in wines inoculated with Metschnikowia strains than in the Control and wine treated with pectic enzyme. Conclusions Metschnikowia yeast strains MP 346 and MF 98‐3 affect wine volatile composition. Significance of the Study This study shows for the first time that an inoculum of Metschnikowia strains MP 346 and MF 98‐3 during PCM is effective in modulating the volatile composition of a Sangiovese red wine

Monochromic Radiations Provided by Light Emitted Diode (LED) Modulate Infection and Defense Response to Fire Blight in Pear Trees

open access articlePathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are part of the systemic signaling network that perceives pathogens and activates defenses in the plant. Eukaryotic and bacterial species have a 24-h ‘body clock’ known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm regulates an organism’s life, modulating the activity of the phytochromes (phys) and cryptochromes (crys) and the accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs, which results in the synchronization of the internal clock and works as zeitgeber molecules. Salicylic acid accumulation is also under light control and upregulates the PR genes expression, increasing plants’ resistance to pathogens. Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight disease in pear trees. In this work, four bacterial transcripts (erw1-4), expressed in asymptomatic E. amylovora-infected pear plantlets, were isolated. The research aimed to understand how the circadian clock, light quality, and related photoreceptors regulate PR and erw genes expression using transgenic pear lines overexpressing PHYB and CRY1 as a model system. Plantlets were exposed to different circadian conditions, and continuous monochromic radiations (Blue, Red, and Far-Red) were provided by light-emitting diodes (LED). Results showed a circadian oscillation of PR10 gene expression, while PR1 was expressed without clear evidence of circadian regulation. Bacterial growth was regulated by monochromatic light: the growth of bacteria exposed to Far-Red did not differ from that detected in darkness; instead, it was mildly stimulated under Red, while it was significantly inhibited under Blue. In this regulatory framework, the active form of phytochrome enhances the expression of PR1 five to 15 fold. An ultradian rhythm was observed fitting the zeitgeber role played by CRY1. These results also highlight a regulating role of photoreceptors on the expression of PRs genes in non-infected and infected plantlets, which influenced the expression of erw genes. Data are discussed concerning the regulatory role of photoreceptors during photoperiod and pathogen attacks

Production of Indole Auxins by Enterobacter sp. Strain P-36 under Submerged Conditions

Bioactive compounds produced by plant growth-promoting bacteria through a fermentation process can be valuable for developing innovative second-generation plant biostimulants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biotechnological potential of Enterobacter on the production of auxin—a hormone with multiple roles in plant growth and development. The experiments were carried in Erlenmeyer flasks and a 2-L fermenter under batch operating mode. The auxin production by Enterobacter sp. strain P-36 can be doubled by replacing casein with vegetable peptone in the culture medium. Cultivation of strain P36 in the benchtop fermenter indicates that by increasing the inoculum size 2-fold, it is possible to reduce the fermentation time from 72 (shake flask cultivation) to 24 h (bioreactor cultivation) and increase the auxin volumetric productivity from 6.4 to 17.2 mg [IAAequ]/L/h. Finally, an efficient storage procedure to preserve the bacterial auxin was developed. It is noteworthy that by sterilizing the clarified fermentation broth by filtration and storing the filtrated samples at +4 °C, the level of auxin remains unchanged for at least three months