Toxic thermoresistant metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum are capable of inducing histopathological alterations in Wistar rats

The genus Fusarium is known to produce mycotoxins that cause fusariosis in plants, animals and humans. Mycotoxins are among the virulence factors of this genus. Metabolic extracts of Fusarium oxysporum, isolated from a patient with onychomycosis and sterilized by filtration or autoclave, were inoculated intradermally into Wistar rats at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 µg/µL, and the effects on their tegument were observed at 24 and 72 hours. After histological procedures and staining by hematoxylineosin, the sections were studied for their inflammatory-reaction intensity and for evidence of injury and tissue distortion. Inflammatory reactions in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue were observed at all concentrations of the inoculated extract tested. There was a significant influx of neutrophils, mastocytes and lymphocytes, as well as a large quantity of macrophages. Apoptotic bodies and hyperemic blood vessels were observed. This reaction was directly related to the extract concentration, and was most intense in animals that received the 1 mg/µL dose. The maximum peak was observed at 24 hours. The autoclaved metabolic extract produced the same effects as the untreated one, indicating the presence of heat-resistant metabolites. In conclusion, the metabolic extracts obtained from sterilized culture filtrates of F. oxysporum are capable of inducing an inflammatory response within 24 hours in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue of rats

Effect of Interspecific Yeast Hybrids for Secondary In-Bottle Alcoholic Fermentation of English Sparkling Wines

In sparkling winemaking, only a few yeast strains are regularly used for the secondary in-bottle alcoholic fermentation (SiBAF). Recently, advances in yeast development programs have yielded new breeds of interspecific wine yeast hybrids that ferment efficiently while producing novel flavors and aromas. In this work, the chemical and sensorial impacts of the use of interspecific yeast hybrids for SiBAF were studied using three commercial English base wines prepared for SiBAF using two commercial and four novel interspecific hybrids. After 12 months of lees aging, the chemical and macromolecular composition, phenolic profile, foaming, viscosity and sensory properties of the resulting 13 wines were assessed. Chemically, the yeast strains did not result in significant differences in the main wine parameters, while some differences in their macromolecular contents and sensory characteristics were noticeable. The foamability was mostly unaffected by the strain used; however, some effect on the foam stability was noticeable, likely due to the differences in polysaccharides released into the wines by the yeast strains. The wines exhibited different sensory characteristics in terms of aroma and bouquet, balance, finish, overall liking and preference, but these were mostly attributable to the differences in the base wines rather than the strain used for SiBAF. Novel interspecific yeast hybrids can be used for the elaboration of sparkling wines, as they provided wines with chemical characteristics, flavor and aroma attributes similar to those of commonly used commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Spatiotemporal reconstruction and transmission dynamics during the 2016-17 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic in Italy

Effective control of avian diseases in domestic populations requires understanding of the transmission dynamics facilitating viral emergence and spread. In 2016–17, Italy experienced a significant avian influenza epidemic caused by a highly pathogenic A(H5N8) virus, which affected domestic premises housing around 2.7 million birds, primarily in the north‐eastern regions with the highest density of poultry farms (Lombardy, Emilia‐Romagna and Veneto). We perform integrated analyses of genetic, spatiotemporal and host data within a Bayesian phylogenetic framework. Using continuous and discrete phylogeography, we estimate the locations of movements responsible for the spread and persistence of the epidemic. The information derived from these analyses on rates of transmission between regions through time can be used to assess the success of control measures. Using an approach based on phylogenetic–temporal distances between domestic cases, we infer the presence of cryptic wild bird‐mediated transmission, information that can be used to complement existing epidemiological methods for distinguishing transmission within the domestic population from incursions across the wildlife–domestic interface, a common challenge in veterinary epidemiology. Spatiotemporal reconstruction of the epidemic reveals a highly skewed distribution of virus movements with a high proportion of shorter distance local movements interspersed with occasional long‐distance dispersal events associated with wild birds. We also show how such inference be used to identify possible instances of human‐mediated movements where distances between phylogenetically linked domestic cases are unusually high

Técnica de criação de Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) em dieta artificial.

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Different environmental gradients associated to the spatiotemporal and genetic pattern of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry in Italy

Comprehensive understanding of the patterns and drivers of avian influenza outbreaks is pivotal to inform surveillance systems and heighten nations’ ability to quickly detect and respond to the emergence of novel viruses. Starting in early 2017, the Italian poultry sector has been involved in the massive H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic that spread in the majority of the European countries in 2016/2017. Eighty‐three outbreaks were recorded in north‐eastern Italy, where a densely populated poultry area stretches along the Lombardy, Emilia‐Romagna and Veneto regions. The confirmed cases, affecting both the rural and industrial sectors, depicted two distinct epidemic waves. We adopted a combination of multivariate statistics techniques and multi‐model regression selection and inference, to investigate how environmental factors relate to the pattern of outbreaks diversity with respect to their spatiotemporal and genetic diversity. Results showed that a combination of eco‐climatic and host density predictors were associated with the outbreaks pattern, and variation along gradients was noticeable among genetically and geographically distinct groups of avian influenza cases. These regional contrasts may be indicative of a different mechanism driving the introduction and spreading routes of the influenza virus in the domestic poultry population. This methodological approach may be extended to different spatiotemporal scale to foster site‐specific, ecologically informed risk mitigating strategies

Optimal Strategies for Investment in Generation of Electric Energy through Real Options

The Brazilian electric sector has two market-environments for the energy supply: a regulated pool (ACR), with 64 power distribution companies, and the free market (ACL), including free-consumers and energy wholesalers. In the regulated market, the power generation competition is enforced via energy auctions, where the winning generator has to sign long-term standard power purchase agreements (PPA) simultaneously with all distributors at the bidding-price. In this work we use the Real Options Theory to valuate new hydraulic generation assets, which will be traded in the new energy auction. This approach models the uncertainties in setting up the cash flow for the investments and incorporates some possible managerial flexibility associated with the decision taken along the investment forecast. A real example is presented, in which we incorporated the flexibilities regarding the waiting to invest in a new hydro power plant and an abandon option, representing the transfer of concession rights. Since the project involves a multistage investment consisting of design, construction and operation phases, it can be treated as a sequential compound option. A binomial approach was elaborated to model this investment opportunity analysis

Optimal Strategies for Investment in Generation of Electric Energy through Real Options

The Brazilian electric sector has two market-environments for the energy supply: a regulated pool (ACR), with 64 power distribution companies, and the free market (ACL), including free-consumers and energy wholesalers. In the regulated market, the power generation competition is enforced via energy auctions, where the winning generator has to sign long-term standard power purchase agreements (PPA) simultaneously with all distributors at the bidding-price. In this work we use the Real Options Theory to valuate new hydraulic generation assets, which will be traded in the new energy auction. This approach models the uncertainties in setting up the cash flow for the investments and incorporates some possible managerial flexibility associated with the decision taken along the investment forecast. A real example is presented, in which we incorporated the flexibilities regarding the waiting to invest in a new hydro power plant and an abandon option, representing the transfer of concession rights. Since the project involves a multistage investment consisting of design, construction and operation phases, it can be treated as a sequential compound option. A binomial approach was elaborated to model this investment opportunity analysis

The contribution of varietal thiols in the diverse aroma of Italian monovarietal white wines

Thanks to their low odor detection thresholds, free varietal thiols (VTs) play a key role in the primary aroma of wines, to which they confer an intense scent reminiscent of box tree, grapefruit, citrus fruits, passionfruit and cat urine odor. Excluding wines from a few VT-rich grapevine cultivars, VTs appear to be present in most cultivars at trace levels, although a comprehensive dataset is still missing. The low concentration of VTs combined with their high reactivity and matrix complexity make their determination in wines a challenging task. In this research an optimized liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was validated and used for the quantification of 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one (4-MSP), 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3-SH), 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate (3-SHA) and ethyl 3-sulfanylpropionate (E3SP) in 246 samples (vintage 2019) representative of 18 monovarietal Italian white wines. VTs were detected in all cultivars even though higher values of 3-SH were found in Lugana, Müller-Thurgau and Verdicchio cultivars. Müller-Thurgau wines showed the highest level of 4-MSP, that was mainly correlated to the odor descriptors of passionfruit and box tree/cat urine. The VTs composition of Müller-Thurgau was confirmed on a second set of 50 wines from different vintages. From a sensory perspective, the samples of Müller-Thurgau showed the best positive correlations between chemical variables and the odor descriptors thiol note, passion fruit and box tree/cat urine. These notes are significantly related to 4-MSP, suggesting that it could play a relevant olfactory role for the aroma of Müller-Thurgau wines. Sorting analysis allowed to group these wines according to their thiolic characteristics. The chemical variables and the odor descriptors attributable to the thiol notes are important for Müller-Thurgau and Lugana wines, while the contribution of thiol notes was sensorially negligible for the other wines.18openNoMinistry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) under the PRIN 2017 grant (Prot. 2017RXFFRR, CUP code B38D19000120006)Carlin, Silvia; Piergiovanni, Maurizio; Pittari, Elisabetta; Tiziana Lisanti, Maria; Moio, Luigi; Piombino, Paola; Marangon, Matteo; Curioni, Andrea; Rolle, Luca; Rìo Segade, Susana; Versari, Andrea; Ricci, Arianna; Parpinello, Giuseppina Paola; Luzzini, Giovanni; Ugliano, Maurizio; Perenzoni, Daniele; Vrhovsek, Urska; Mattivi, FulvioCarlin, S.; Piergiovanni, M.; Pittari, E.; Tiziana Lisanti, M.; Moio, L.; Piombino, P.; Marangon, M.; Curioni, A.; Rolle, L.; Rìo Segade, S.; Versari, A.; Ricci, A.; Parpinello, G.P.; Luzzini, G.; Ugliano, M.; Perenzoni, D.; Vrhovsek, U.; Mattivi, F

Dysregulation of the GPR17 receptor in neuroinflammatory diseases: implications for remyelination in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system, in which inflammation and myelin disruption contribute to impaired in electrical conduction. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are massively recruited to the site of injury to myelinate damaged axons, but in MS patients remyelination is often ineffective. For this reason, therapeutic strategies aimed at fostering this process could block/delay the development of the disease and the consequent disability. We have previously shown that the membrane receptor GPR17 timely regulates the early stages of OPC differentiation, but, after reaching its highest levels in immature oligodendrocytes, it has to be down-regulated to allow terminal maturation. Any defect in its expression pattern leads to impairment in oligodendrocyte differentiation. Interestingly, overexpression of GPR17 was found in rodent models of cerebral trauma, ischemia and in lysolecithin induced focal demyelination. Instead, little is known about GPR17 in a primary demyelinating disease such as MS. On this basis, aim of this work has been to characterize GPR17 alterations in a murine model of MS and in human post-mortem MS lesions. In spinal cord of mice subjected to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we observed a marked and persistent upregulation of GPR17 in the OPCs accumulating at demyelinating lesions. Moreover, fate-mapping experiments with transgenic GPR17iCreERT2-GFP reporter mice showed that this increased pool of proliferating cells is blocked at an intermediate stage of differentiation, and cannot fully complete the myelination process, likely due to unfavourable inflammatory environment. In a similar way, in post-mortem tissues from SPMS patients, many GPR17-positive activated OPCs accumulated at the border of active lesions. In particular, GPR17 was found mainly expressed by hypertrophic cells HLA (human leukocyte antigen or major histocompatibility complex) -positive at within the lesions, suggesting that GPR17 is involved in the reaction to damage in both OPCs and immune cells directly responding to inflammation. We conclude that the coordinated presence of GPR17 at the membrane of these cells at the lesion sites could be exploited as potential new target to support endogenous remyelination through advanced pharmacological approaches