Intraspecific Variation in Armillaria Species from Shrubs and Trees in Northwestern Spain

Until recently, the identification of Armillaria species relied upon morphological characteristics and mating tests, but now molecular techniques based on polymorphisms in the IGS region of the fungal rDNA are more commonly used, since these are more rapid and reliable. Differences found in RFLP patterns identifying Armillaria species have suggested the existence of intraspecific variation. In this work, 185 Armillaria isolates from different plant species (including fruit trees, broadleaf and coniferous trees, ornamental shrubs, kiwifruit and grapevine) affected by white root rot were analyzed by RFLP-PCR, in order to study intraspecific variation in Armillaria and the relationship with the plant host. Armillaria mellea was found in the majority of samples (71%), and was the most frequent Armillaria species in symptomatic ornamental shrubs, kiwifruit, grapevine, fruit trees and broadleaf trees. In conifers however white root rot was generally caused by Armillaria ostoyae. Armillaria gallica was identified, although with low incidence, in ornamental, coniferous, broadleaf and fruit hosts. Intraspecies variation was recorded only in A. mellea, for which RFLP patterns mel 1 and mel 2 were found. Most plants infected with A. mellea showed the mel 2 pattern. Further research is needed to study whether Armillaria RFLP patterns are specific to certain plant hosts, and whether intraspecific variation is related to differences in pathogenicity

Azoor. Tras una lesión por latigazo cervical

Purpose/Method: To present a case of a 30 years old woman that suffered a car accident one year ago, diagnosed of cervical sprain. One month after the accident, the patient saw a black stein in the outer side of the visuald field on the left eye.Results/Conclusions: Brain CAT, evocated visual potencials, color test and MRI were within of the normality. Acording with the ophtalmic examination, visual field test and OCT (optical coherence tomography), the diagnosis was acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR).Objetivo/Metodo: Se presenta un caso clínico de una paciente de 30 años que sufrió un accidente de tráfico en el cual fue diagnosticada de contractura cervical. Aproximadamente un mes después, la paciente percibe un escotoma en la región externa del campo visual del ojo izquierdo. Resultado/Conclusiones: La TAC craneal, potenciales visuales evocados, test de los colores y RNM fueron normales. El estudio mediante oftalmoscopía, campimetría y OCT, sirvió para realizar el diagnósti- co de retinopatía zonal externa aguda oculta (AZOOR)

From chemical gardens to chemobrionics

Chemical gardens in laboratory chemistries ranging from silicates to polyoxometalates, in applications ranging from corrosion products to the hydration of Portland cement, and in natural settings ranging from hydrothermal vents in the ocean depths to brinicles beneath sea ice. In many chemical-garden experiments, the structure forms as a solid seed of a soluble ionic compound dissolves in a solution containing another reactive ion. In general any alkali silicate solution can be used due to their high solubility at high pH. The cation should not precipitate with the counterion of the metal salt used as seed. A main property of seed chemical-garden experiments is that initially, when the fluid is not moving under buoyancy or osmosis, the delivery of the inner reactant is diffusion controlled. Another experimental technique that isolates one aspect of chemical-garden formation is to produce precipitation membranes between different aqueous solutions by introducing the two solutions on either side of an inert carrier matrix. Chemical gardens may be grown upon injection of solutions into a so-called Hele-Shaw cell, a quasi-two-dimensional reactor consisting in two parallel plates separated by a small gap

Modeling the Subsurface Structure of Sunspots

While sunspots are easily observed at the solar surface, determining their subsurface structure is not trivial. There are two main hypotheses for the subsurface structure of sunspots: the monolithic model and the cluster model. Local helioseismology is the only means by which we can investigate subphotospheric structure. However, as current linear inversion techniques do not yet allow helioseismology to probe the internal structure with sufficient confidence to distinguish between the monolith and cluster models, the development of physically realistic sunspot models are a priority for helioseismologists. This is because they are not only important indicators of the variety of physical effects that may influence helioseismic inferences in active regions, but they also enable detailed assessments of the validity of helioseismic interpretations through numerical forward modeling. In this paper, we provide a critical review of the existing sunspot models and an overview of numerical methods employed to model wave propagation through model sunspots. We then carry out an helioseismic analysis of the sunspot in Active Region 9787 and address the serious inconsistencies uncovered by \citeauthor{gizonetal2009}~(\citeyear{gizonetal2009,gizonetal2009a}). We find that this sunspot is most probably associated with a shallow, positive wave-speed perturbation (unlike the traditional two-layer model) and that travel-time measurements are consistent with a horizontal outflow in the surrounding moat.Comment: 73 pages, 19 figures, accepted by Solar Physic

Identification of novel synthetic lethal vulnerability in non small cell lung cancer by co targeting TMPRSS4 and DDR1

Finding novel targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly needed and identification of synthetic lethality between two genes is a new approach to target NSCLC. We previously found that TMPRSS4 promotes NSCLC growth and constitutes a prognostic biomarker. Here, through large-scale analyses across 5 public databases we identified consistent co-expression between TMPRSS4 and DDR1. Similar to TMPRSS4, DDR1 promoter was hypomethylated in NSCLC in 3 independent cohorts and hypomethylation was an independent prognostic factor of disease-free survival. Treatment with 5-azacitidine increased DDR1 levels in cell lines, suggesting an epigenetic regulation. Cells lacking TMPRSS4 were highly sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of the DDR1 inhibitor dasatinib. TMPRSS4/DDR1 double knock-down (KD) cells, but not single KD cells suffered a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest with loss of E2F1 and cyclins A and B, increased p21 levels and a larger number of cells in apoptosis. Moreover, double KD cells were highly sensitized to cisplatin, which caused massive apoptosis (~40%). In vivo studies demonstrated tumor regression in double KD-injected mice. In conclusion, we have identified a novel vulnerability in NSCLC resulting from a synthetic lethal interaction between DDR1 and TMPRSS4

Prognostic factors of a lower CD4/CD8 ratio in long term viral suppression HIV infected children

Background Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is associated with marked immune reconstitution. Although a long term viral suppression is achievable, not all children however, attain complete immunological recovery due to persistent immune activation. We use CD4/CD8 ratio like a marker of immune reconstitution. Methods Perinatal HIV-infected children who underwent a first-line cART, achieved viral suppression in the first year and maintained it for more than 5 years, with no viral rebound were included. Logistic models were applied to estimate the prognostic factors, clinical characteristics at cART start, of a lower CD4/CD8 ratio at the last visit. Results 146 HIV-infected children were included: 77% Caucasian, 45% male and 28% CDC C. Median age at cART initiation was 2.3 years (IQR: 0.5-6.2). 42 (30%) children received mono-dual therapy previously to cART. Time of undetectable viral load was 9.5 years (IQR: 7.8, 12.5). 33% of the children not achieved CD4/CD8 ratio >1. Univariate analysis showed an association between CD4/CD8 <1 with lower CD4 nadir and baseline CD4; older age at diagnosis and at cART initiation; and a previous exposure to mono-dual therapy. Multivariate analysis also revealed relationship between CD4/CD8 <1 and lower CD4 nadir (OR: 1.002, CI 95% 1.000-1.004) as well as previous exposure to mono-dual therapy (OR: 0.16, CI 95% 0.003-0.720). Conclusions CD4/CD8 > 1 was not achieved in 33% of the children. Lower CD4 nadir and previous exposure to suboptimal therapy, before initiating cART, are factors showing independently association with a worse immune recovery (CD4/CD8 < 1)

Método selectivo de PCR para la identificación de Phytophthora hibernalis Carne

Preharvest and postharvest brown rot of citrus fruit is responsible for important economic losses thoroughout the world. The disease is commonly caused by several species of Phytophthora. In Spain, citrus brown rot is mainly caused by P. citrophthora, but in the last years outbreaks of the disease in lemon and sweet orange caused by P. hibernalis Carne have been recorded in northwestern citrus-growing areas. In this work, a PCR method has been developed for the diagnostic of P. hibernalis either from isolated mycelia or directly from fruit lesions. One specific primer pair, PHIB1 and PHIB2, was designed from the nucleotide sequences of ITS1 and ITS2 regions. The two primers amplified a 407-bp fragment from the genomic DNA of P. hibernalis that was sequenced (Acc. No. AY827556). Results demonstrated that PCR amplification of ITS regions by primers PHIB1 and PHIB2 followed by DNA sequencing can provide a rapid, selective and reliable identification of P. hibernalis.La podredumbre marrón del fruto en cítricos ha ocasionado importantes pérdidas económicas en pre y postcosecha en todo el mundo. Por lo general esta enfermedad está provocada por varias especies de Phytophthora. En España, P. citrophthora es el principal agente causante de esta patología, sin embargo, en los últimos años, P. hibernalis Carne ha sido detectado ocasionando daños en limoneros y naranjos localizados en el noroeste del país. En el presente trabajo, se ha desarrollado un método de PCR para el diagnóstico de P. hibernalis tanto a partir de micelio en cultivo como directamente de lesiones del fruto. Se diseñó un par de primers específicos, PHIB1 y PHIB2, a partir de secuencias de las regiones ITS1 e ITS2. Estos dos primers amplificaron un fragmento de 407 pb, que fue secuenciado (Acc. No. AY827556). Los resultados demostraron que la amplificación por PCR de las regiones ITS mediante los primers PHIB1 y PHIB2 seguida por la secuenciación del ADN permiten una identificación rápida, selectiva y fiable de P. hibernalis