Foliar application of a tagatose-based product reduces downy mildew symptoms through Induction of grapevine resistance and anti-oomycete action

Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola represents one of the most devastating diseases in vineyards. Current ways to control this disease rely mainly on fungicide applications, but agro-ecological concerns have raised interest in sustainable alternative methods. Certain rare sugars, like D-tagatose, have shown efficacy in reducing various plant diseases, including grapevine downy mildew. However, the mechanism of action of D-tagatose against grapevine downy mildew is not understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the efficacy and mechanism of action of a D-tagatose-based formulated product (IFP48) against grapevine downy mildew and compare it with the correspondent active molecule, pure D-tagatose (TAG). Whereas IFP48 root treatment provided scarce protection, the leaf treatment was the most efficient, especially at the dosage of 5 g/L. In particular, IFP48 treatment directly inhibited P. viticola sporangia germination, upregulated the expression of defense-related genes, and increased the content of stilbene phytoalexins. Conversely, the expression of defense-related genes and the content of stilbene phytoalexins were only slightly affected by TAG, suggesting that the formulation possibly improved D-tagatose effects against downy mildew in grapevin

Rare sugars: recent advances and their potential role in sustainable crop protection

Rare sugars are monosaccharides with a limited availability in the nature and almost unknown biological functions. The use of industrial enzymatic and microbial processes greatly reduced their production costs, making research on these molecules more accessible. Since then, the number of studies on their medical/clinical applications grew and rare sugars emerged as potential candidates to replace conventional sugars in human nutrition thanks to their beneficial health effects. More recently, the potential use of rare sugars in agriculture was also highlighted. However, overviews and critical evaluations on this topic are missing. This review aims to provide the current knowledge about the effects of rare sugars on the organisms of the farming ecosystem, with an emphasis on their mode of action and practical use as an innovative tool for sustainable agriculture. Some rare sugars can impact the plant growth and immune responses by affecting metabolic homeostasis and the hormonal signaling pathways. These properties could be used for the development of new herbicides, plant growth regulators and resistance inducers. Other rare sugars also showed antinutritional properties on some phytopathogens and biocidal activity against some plant pests, highlighting their promising potential for the development of new sustainable pesticides. Their low risk for human health also makes them safe and ecofriendly alternatives to agrochemical

D-Tagatose-based product triggers sweet immunity and resistance of grapevine to downy mildew, but not to gray mold disease

The use of natural bio-based compounds becomes an eco-friendly strategy to control plant diseases. Rare sugars would be promising compounds as inducers of plant “sweet immunity”. The present study aimed to investigate the induced resistance of grapevine leaves against Plasmopara viticola and Botrytis cinerea by a rare sugar-based product (IFP48) and its active ingredient D-tagatose (TAG), in order to elucidate molecular mechanism involved in defense-related metabolic regulations before and after pathogen challenge. Data showed that spraying leaves with IFP48 and TAG lead to a significant reduction of downy mildew, but not of gray mold disease. The induced protection against P. viticola relies on IFP48’s and to a lesser extent TAG’s ability to potentiate the activation of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid/ethylene-responsive genes and stilbene phytoalexin accumulation. Most of defense responses remained upregulated in IFP48-treated plants after infection with P. viticola, but inconsistent following challenge with B. cinerea. The beneficial effects of IFP48 were associated with an enhanced accumulation of tagatose inside leaf tissues compared to TAG treatment. Meanwhile, the amounts of sugars, glucose, fructose, maltose, galactose and trehalose remained unchanged or decreased in IFP48-treated leaves after P. viticola infection, although only a few genes involved in sugar transport and metabolism showed transcriptional regulation. This suggests a contribution of sugar homeostasis to the IFP48-induced sweet immune response and priming plants for enhanced resistance to P. viticola, but not to B. cinere

Gait Analysis using Wearable Sensors with Multiple Sclerosis Patients

In this study we investigated gait measurement with wearable sensor for subjects with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) and evaluation gait function.The gait function was measured with Avatar sensors system in 3 patients with MS and in 3 healthy subjects without MS. The system consists of a main sensor node and three additional fixtures. Each sensor node is wearing three-axial accelerometer and two-axis gyroscope. Cross-correlation analysis with the walk signal was applied.Coefficient values from cross-correlation are determined for all 6 subjects. Then for a new unknown subject the cross-correlation was applied and the mean value cross-correlation for healthy subjects was 0.0477, while in MS subjects this value was 0.0207. A proven validation for this small training system has shown the evidence for different gait analysis for MS and healthy subjects.This small study opens a new avenue for clinical diagnosis of potential MS subjects while wearable sensor can provide an objective framework for assessing gait abnormality. The measured data can provide better understanding on the progression of the disease and response to treatment

Lečenje koronavirusne boLesti (CoviD-19)

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by RNA virus of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is highly contagious to humans. The primary receptor for the virus is probably angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, primarily transmitted by droplets and close contact with a diseased person. Estimated reproductive number (R0) is 2-2.5 and the mean incubation time is 5.2 days, ranging 1-14 days (95% confidence interval 4.1-7.0 days). The most common symptoms are: fever, dry cough, malaise, productive sputum and dyspnea, followed, sore throat, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, fever and dizziness and, occasionally, confusion, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, gastrointestinal symptoms, hemoptysis and conjunctival injection. Initial atypical manifestations are also known. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay is the "gold" diagnostic standard, but its specificity and sensitivity have not been established. The most common complications are: acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute liver damage, acute heart damage and arrhythmia, followed by secondary infections, acute respiratory failure, acute renal impairment, sepsis and/or septic shock, pneumothorax, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute heart failure and occasionally, rhabdomyolysis. Disease duration varies and in hospitalized patients it is estimated to be 16-26 days (interquartile range 12-29 days), while the global mortality rate is still unknown with certainty. Drugs against SARS-CoV-2 prescribed by empirical protocols (off-label use) are lopinavir/ritonavir, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, nitazoxanide, umifenovir, ribavirin, inhaled interferon Alpha while the new drugs of clinical trial stages are remdesivir, nafamostat i favipiravir. Proven drug prophylaxis of COVID-19 does not yet exist and vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been developed.Publishe

Rare Sugars as New Products for Plant Protection : Case of a D-Tagatose-Based Product in Grapevine

Le mildiou, causé par l'oomycète Plasmopara viticola, et la pourriture grise, causée par le champignon Botrytis cinerea, comptent parmi les maladies les plus dévastatrices des vignobles. Les stratégies actuelles de gestion de ces deux maladies reposent principalement sur l'utilisation de fongicides chimiques. L'utilisation de composés biosourcés est de plus en plus reconnue comme une stratégie durable et respectueuse de l'environnement. Certains monosaccharides rares, dont le D-tagatose, ont montré des propriétés fonctionnelles potentielles dans le contrôle des pathogènes des plantes. Cette thèse vise à caractériser le mécanisme d'action d'un produit à base de D-tagatose (appelé IFP48) et de son ingrédient actif, le D-tagatose (TAG), dans l'induction de la protection de la vigne contre les maladies du mildiou et de la pourriture grise.En utilisant à la fois des vitroplants et des boutures végétatives de Chardonnay comme cultivar sensible, nous fournissons la preuve que l'IFP48, et dans une moindre mesure le TAG pur, peuvent conférer une protection significative contre P. viticola, mais pas contre B. cinerea. L'efficacité de l'IFP48 et du TAG contre P. viticola dépend du mode d'application et de la dose ; le traitement foliaire étant la méthode la plus efficace à une concentration de 5g/L. L'effet protecteur repose sur la combinaison de l'activité anti-omycète et de la résistance induite des plantes (IR) au mildiou. Le phénotype de résistance induite produit par TAG était significativement plus faible que celui produit par IFP48. La RI induite contre P. viticola repose sur la capacité de l'IFP48 et, dans une moindre mesure, du TAG à potentialiser l'activation des gènes sensibles à l'acide salicylique et à l'acide jasmonique/éthylène et l'accumulation de phytoalexine stilbène. La plupart des réponses de défense sont restées régulées à la hausse dans les plantes traitées par l'IFP48, même après une attaque de P. viticola, mais ne sont pas cohérentes après une attaque de B. cinerea. Les effets bénéfiques de l'IFP48 ont été associés à une accumulation accrue de tagatose dans les tissus foliaires par rapport au traitement TAG. Parallèlement, les quantités de sucres (glucose, fructose, maltose, galactose et tréhalose) sont restées inchangées ou ont diminué dans les feuilles traitées par l'IFP48 après l'infection par P. viticola, bien que seuls quelques gènes impliqués dans le transport et le métabolisme des sucres aient montré une régulation transcriptionnelle. Cela suggère une contribution de l'homéostasie des sucres à la réponse immunitaire douce induite par l'IFP48 et l'amorçage des plantes pour une résistance accrue à P. viticola, mais pas à B. cinerea. La grande efficacité de l'IFP48 par rapport au TAG suggère que la formulation permet au TAG d'être plus efficace dans la lutte contre le mildiou à la fois par la production d'un phénotype IR plus fort et par un effet anti-omycète direct. Le co-formulant peut aider le TAG à pénétrer dans les tissus foliaires et/ou peut protéger le TAG du processus de dégradation, préservant ainsi son efficacité contre la maladie.Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator (version gratuite)Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola and gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea are among the most devastating diseases in vineyards. Current management strategies of both diseases mostly depend on the use of chemical fungicides. The use of bio-based compounds is gaining more recognition as a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy. Some rare monosaccharides including D-tagatose have shown potential functional properties in controlling plant pathogens. This thesis tempts to characterize the mechanism of action of a D-tagatose-based product (called IFP48) and its active ingredient D-tagatose (TAG) in inducing grapevine protection against downy mildew and gray mold diseases.Using both vitroplantlets and vegetative cuttings of Chardonnay as a susceptible cultivar, we provide evidence that both IFP48, and to the lesser extent pure TAG, can confer significant protection against P. viticola, but not against B. cinerea. The efficacy of IFP48 and TAG against P. viticola depends on the mode of application and dose rate; foliar treatment being the most efficient method at a concentration of 5g/L. The protective effect relies on of the combination of anti-oomycete activity and induced plant resistance (IR) to downy mildew. TAG-produced IR phenotype was significantly weaker compared to IFP48. The induced IR against P. viticola relies on IFP48’s and to a lesser extent TAG’s ability to potentiate the activation of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid/ethylene-responsive genes and stilbene phytoalexin accumulation. Most of defense responses remained upregulated in IFP48-treated plants even after challenge with P. viticola, but inconsistent following challenge with B. cinerea. The beneficial effects of IFP48 were associated with an enhanced accumulation of tagatose inside leaf tissues compared to TAG treatment. Meanwhile, the amounts of sugars (sugars, glucose, fructose, maltose, galactose and trehalose) remained unchanged or decreased in IFP48-treated leaves after P. viticola infection, although only a few genes involved in sugar transport and metabolism showed transcriptional regulation. This suggests a contribution of sugar homeostasis to the IFP48-induced sweet immune response and priming plants for enhanced resistance to P. viticola, but not to B. cinerea. The high efficiency of IFP48 compared to TAG suggests that the formulation enables TAG to be more effective in controlling downy mildew through both production of stronger IR phenotype and a direct anti-oomycete effect. The co-formulant can help TAG to enter the leaf tissues and/or can protect TAG from degradation process, thereby preserving its efficacy against disease

D-Tagatose-Based Product Triggers Sweet Immunity and Resistance of Grapevine to Downy Mildew, but Not to Gray Mold Disease

The use of natural bio-based compounds becomes an eco-friendly strategy to control plant diseases. Rare sugars would be promising compounds as inducers of plant “sweet immunity”. The present study aimed to investigate the induced resistance of grapevine leaves against Plasmopara viticola and Botrytis cinerea by a rare sugar-based product (IFP48) and its active ingredient D-tagatose (TAG), in order to elucidate molecular mechanism involved in defense-related metabolic regulations before and after pathogen challenge. Data showed that spraying leaves with IFP48 and TAG lead to a significant reduction of downy mildew, but not of gray mold disease. The induced protection against P. viticola relies on IFP48’s and to a lesser extent TAG’s ability to potentiate the activation of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid/ethylene-responsive genes and stilbene phytoalexin accumulation. Most of defense responses remained upregulated in IFP48-treated plants after infection with P. viticola, but inconsistent following challenge with B. cinerea. The beneficial effects of IFP48 were associated with an enhanced accumulation of tagatose inside leaf tissues compared to TAG treatment. Meanwhile, the amounts of sugars, glucose, fructose, maltose, galactose and trehalose remained unchanged or decreased in IFP48-treated leaves after P. viticola infection, although only a few genes involved in sugar transport and metabolism showed transcriptional regulation. This suggests a contribution of sugar homeostasis to the IFP48-induced sweet immune response and priming plants for enhanced resistance to P. viticola, but not to B. cinerea

Foliar Application of a Tagatose-Based Product Reduces Downy Mildew Symptoms through Induction of Grapevine Resistance and Anti-Oomycete Action

Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola represents one of the most devastating diseases in vineyards. Current ways to control this disease rely mainly on fungicide applications, but agro-ecological concerns have raised interest in sustainable alternative methods. Certain rare sugars, like D-tagatose, have shown efficacy in reducing various plant diseases, including grapevine downy mildew. However, the mechanism of action of D-tagatose against grapevine downy mildew is not understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the efficacy and mechanism of action of a D-tagatose-based formulated product (IFP48) against grapevine downy mildew and compare it with the correspondent active molecule, pure D-tagatose (TAG). Whereas IFP48 root treatment provided scarce protection, the leaf treatment was the most efficient, especially at the dosage of 5 g/L. In particular, IFP48 treatment directly inhibited P. viticola sporangia germination, upregulated the expression of defense-related genes, and increased the content of stilbene phytoalexins. Conversely, the expression of defense-related genes and the content of stilbene phytoalexins were only slightly affected by TAG, suggesting that the formulation possibly improved D-tagatose effects against downy mildew in grapevine

Manufacturing of Biodegradable Scaffolds to Engineer Artificial Blood Vessel

Blood vessels diseases such as cardiac infarction with coronary artery occlusion, peripheral arterial disorders, or stroke of carotid or cerebral arteries, are the leading causes of death in the world. One of medical procedures for clinical treatment of vascular diseases is the blood vessels grafting. As the autologous blood vessels, which are the “golden standard” for coronary grafting, are not always suitable for blood vessels grafting, there is a need to develop artificial blood vessels as a vascular prostheses, either from natural and synthetic materials, permanent synthetic or biodegradable scaffolds which would be suitable for vascular grafts. Considering this to be our study goal we made bilayered biodegradable polycaprolactone scaffolds with different properties and evaluated their morphological and biomechanical characteristics

Experimental Analysis of Handcart Pushing and Pulling Safety in an Industrial Environment by Using IoT Force and EMG Sensors: Relationship with Operators’ Psychological Status and Pain Syndromes

Non-ergonomic execution of repetitive physical tasks represents a major cause of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). This study was focused on the pushing and pulling (P&P) of an industrial handcart (which is a generic physical task present across many industries), with the aim to investigate the dependence of P&P execution on the operators’ psychological status and the presence of pain syndromes of the upper limbs and spine. The developed acquisition system integrated two three-axis force sensors (placed on the left and right arm) and six electromyography (EMG) electrodes (placed on the chest, back, and hand flexor muscles). The conducted experiment involved two groups of participants (with and without increased psychological scores and pain syndromes). Ten force parameters (for both left and right side), one EMG parameter (for three different muscles, both left and right side), and two time-domain parameters were extracted from the acquired signals. Data analysis showed intergroup differences in the examined parameters, especially in force integral values and EMG mean absolute values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluated the composite effects of pain syndromes, spine mobility, and psychological status of the participants on the execution of P&P tasks—concluding that they have a significant impact on the P&P task execution and potentially on the risk of WMSD. The future work will be directed towards the development of a personalized risk assessment system by considering more muscle groups, supplementary data derived from operators’ poses (extracted with computer vision algorithms), and cognitive parameters (extracted with EEG sensors)