Reduced Central Memory CD4+ T Cells and Increased T-Cell Activation Characterise Treatment-Naive Patients Newly Diagnosed at Late Stage of HIV Infection

Objectives. We investigated immune phenotypes of HIV+ patients who present late, considering late presenters (LPs, CD4+ < 350/μL and/or AIDS), advanced HIV disease (AHD, CD4+ < 200/μL and/or AIDS), and AIDS presenters (AIDS-defining condition at presentation, independently from CD4+). Methods. Patients newly diagnosed with HIV at our clinic between 2007–2011 were enrolled. Mann-Whitney/Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were used for statistics. Results. 275 patients were newly diagnosed with HIV between January/2007–March/2011. 130 (47%) were LPs, 79 (29%) showed AHD, and 49 (18%) were AIDS presenters. LP, AHD, and AIDS presenters were older and more frequently heterosexuals. Higher CD8+%, lower CD127+CD4+%, higher CD95+CD8+%, CD38+CD8+%, and CD45R0+CD38+CD8+% characterized LP/AHD/AIDS presentation. In multivariate analysis, older age, heterosexuality, higher CD8+%, and lower CD127+CD4+% were confirmed associated with LP/AHD. Lower CD4+ and higher CD38+CD8+% resulted independently associated with AIDS presentation. Conclusions. CD127 downregulation and immune activation characterize HIV+ patients presenting late and would be studied as additional markers of late presentation

The genomic tool-kit of the truffle Tuber melanosporum programmed cell death

A survey of the truffle Tuber melanosporum genome has shown the presence of 67 programmed cell death (PCD)-related genes. The 67 genes are all expressed during fruit body (FB) development of T. melanosporum development; their expression has been detected by DNA microarrays and qPCR. A set of 14 PCD-related genes have been chosen, those with the highest identities to the homologs of other species, for a deeper investigation. That PCD occurs during T melanosporum development has been demonstrated by the TUNEL reaction and transmission electron microscopy. The findings of this work, in addition to the discovery of PCD-related genes in the T. melanosporum genome and their expression during the differentiation and development of the FB, would suggest that one of the PCD subroutines, maybe autophagy, is involved in the FB ripening, i.e., sporogenesis

Périgord black truffle genome uncovers evolutionary origins and mechanisms of symbiosis

LetterInternational audienceThe Périgord black truffle ($Tuber\ melanosporum$ Vittad.) and the Piedmont white truffle dominate today's truffle market. The hypogeous fruiting body of $T.\ melanosporum$ is a gastronomic delicacy produced by an ectomycorrhizal symbiont endemic to calcareous soils in southern Europe. The worldwide demand for this truffle has fuelled intense efforts at cultivation. Identification of processes that condition and trigger fruit body and symbiosis formation, ultimately leading to efficient crop production, will be facilitated by a thorough analysis of truffle genomic traits. In the ectomycorrhizal $Laccaria\ bicolor$, the expansion of gene families may have acted as a 'symbiosis toolbox'. This feature may however reflect evolution of this particular taxon and not a general trait shared by all ectomycorrhizal species. To get a better understanding of the biology and evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, we report here the sequence of the haploid genome of $T.\ melanosporum$, which at $\sim$125 megabases is the largest and most complex fungal genome sequenced so far. This expansion results from a proliferation of transposable elements accounting for $\sim$58% of the genome. In contrast, this genome only contains $\sim$7,500 protein-coding genes with very rare multigene families. It lacks large sets of carbohydrate cleaving enzymes, but a few of them involved in degradation of plant cell walls are induced in symbiotic tissues. The latter feature and the upregulation of genes encoding for lipases and multicopper oxidases suggest that $T.\ melanosporum$ degrades its host cell walls during colonization. Symbiosis induces an increased expression of carbohydrate and amino acid transporters in both $L.\ bicolor$ and $T.\ melanosporum$, but the comparison of genomic traits in the two ectomycorrhizal fungi showed that genetic predispositions for symbiosis $-$'the symbiosis toolbox'$-$ evolved along different ways in ascomycetes and basidiomycete

Simon & Schusters guide to mushrooms

511 hlm.: ill.; 19 cm

Typification des quatre truffes les plus recherchées et les plus précieuses : &lt;i&gt;Tuber aestivum&lt;/i&gt; Vittad., &lt;i&gt;T. borchii &lt;/i&gt;Vittad., &lt;i&gt;T. magnatum&lt;/i&gt; Picco et &lt;i&gt;T. melanosporum&lt;/i&gt; Vittad.

Les vraies truffes Tuber aestivum Vittad., T. borchii Vittad., T. magnatum Picco et T. melanosporum Vittad. sont parmi les espèces de champignons les plus étudiées ; en outre elles ont une valeur économique élevée, due à leurs caractéristiques aromatiques et nutriceutiques qui en font une gourmandise gastronomique. Malgré cela, leur identification s’est toujours basée sur l’analyse des caractères morphologiques et moléculaires en absence de spécimen type de référence. Bien que les noms aient été largement utilisés à des fins aussi bien scientifiques que commerciales, l’appelation scientifique est confrontée dès le départ au risque lié à la priorité nomenclaturale et sa sanction légale. Afin de fournir à la communauté scientifique des échantillons de référence et d’avancer la proposition nomenclaturale pour la reconnaissance de leur statut de « nomina conservanda », quatre collections provenant des lieux indiqués par leurs auteurs (Picco et Vittadini) sont proposées comme épitypes pour Tuber aestivum, T. borchii and T. melanosporum, et néotypes pour T. magnatum. Le type de chaque nom est décrit aussi bien morphologiquement que moléculairement par les séquences de trois marqueurs ITS, β tubuline et le facteur d’élongation 1α. La taxonomie et la nomenclature de chaque espèce sont discutées. La conservation des noms Tuber aestivum contre l’homonyme Tuber aestivum (Wulfen) Spreng. et le synonyme précédent Tuber blotii Eudes-Desl., T. magnatum contre Tuber griseum Borch ex Pers. et T. melanosporum contre Tuber nigrum Bull. sera proposé. Le nom Tuber borchii n’a pas de synonyme précédent, il est donc légitime et ne nécessite pas de conservation.The true truffles, Tuber aestivum Vittad., T. borchii Vittad., T. magnatum Picco and T. melanosporum Vittad., are among the most studied fungal species; they also have a high economic value due to their special aromatic and nutritional properties that make them a much sought delicacy. Despite this, their identification has been based on morphological and then molecular characters in the absence of reference type specimens. Although long of scientific, commercial and regulatory use, these four scientific names are at risk due to a lack of nomenclatural priority. To provide the scientific community with reference voucher samples and to initiate nomenclatural proposals for the recognition of their status as conserved names, three collections from sites mentioned by their authors (Picco and Vittadini) are proposed as epitypes for Tuber aestivum, T. borchii and T. melanosporum, and one as a neotype for T. magnatum. The type of each name is described morphologically and molecularly characterized with the sequences of three markers: ITS, β-tubulin, elongation factor 1α. The taxonomy and nomenclature of each species are discussed. The conservation of the names Tuber aestivum against the previous homonymous Tuber aestivum (Wulfen) Spreng. and the competing name Tuber blotii Eudes-Desl., T. magnatum against Tuber griseum Borch ex Pers., and T. melanosporum against Tuber nigrum Bull. will be proposed. The name Tuber borchii has no previous synonyms and therefore it is legitimate and does not require conservation.</p

On the Tuber magnatum, Tuber albidum and Tuber rufum author name: Picco vs Pico

This article presents the results of a research that has been conducted on the surname of the author of the three truffle species Tuber magnatum, T. albidum and T. rufum who in the nomenclatural databases of fungi is listed as “Picco” rather than “Pico” (how he is usually indicated). Drawing upon official documents from the Turin State and University Archives the claim is made that the surname Picco is the correct version. This name can also be found in a contemporary review of the book Melethemata Inauguralia (Picco 1788), as well as in a biographic dictionary of Piedmontese physicians dated back to 1825. Therefore, the officially used indication since Stafleu and Cowan (1983) can be considered to be correct.In questo lavoro è stata condotta un’indagine sul cognome dell’autore delle tre specie di tartufi Tuber magnatum, T. albidum e T. rufum, che nelle banche dati di riferimento nomenclaturali dei funghi viene riportato come “Picco” e non “Pico”, come usualmente viene indicato. Sulla base dei documenti ufficiali degli Archivi di Stato e dell’Università di Torino è stato possibile accertare che, in effetti, il vero cognome è Picco. Tale indicazione si ritrova anche in una recensione letteraria contemporanea al libro Melethemata Inauguralia (Picco 1788) e in una raccolta delle biografie dei medici piemontesi del 1825. Per cui viene considerata corretta l’indicazione di Stafleu e Cowan (1983) che è ufficialmente utilizzata a livello internazionale

Virtual Truffle Hunting—A New Method of Burgundy Truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) Site Typing

The aim of this study was to enable searches for truffles (Tuber spp.), particularly the Burgundy truffle (T. aestivum Vittad.), to be carried out in forests based on a method that has been constantly developed since 2007 by the Forest Research Institute. The method is termed “Virtual Truffle Hunting” and it takes 12 parameters into account: bedrock, soil pH, Ca+ and CaCO3 content in soil, C/N ratio, soil structure, altitude of terrain, type of forest site, forest structure, the Burgundy truffle host trees, and the presence of particular species including orchids and insects. A simple “Virtual Truffle Hunting” software has also been developed, which makes the use of the method easy, fast, and effective. This method is to ascertain the truffle potential for all areas in which digital maps are not available. In 2015, the method was tested in 20 sites, representing forests in 5 Polish macroregions. Hunting for hypogeous fungi was conducted from June to October with the help of trained dogs. Thanks to this method, 14 new truffle sites were found. The knowledge of environmental conditions conducive to the Burgundy truffle growth enabled us to form an effective tool in order to identify new sites of truffle presence

Distribution of epiphytic lichens on Quercus pubescens along an altitudinal gradient on the Adriatic side of Central Italy

The distribution of epiphytic lichens on Quercus pubescens on the Adriatic side of Central Italy (Abruzzo) was studied along an altitudinal gradient from O to 1000 m by multivariate techniques. The general response of epiphytic lichens to elevation was similar to that found on the Tyrrhenian side of Italy, with great differences in community structure and the altitude of 500 m as an ecotone. However, suboceanic species, which are widespread on the Tyrrhenian side, were rare and confined to higher elevations, or not present at all in the Adriatic gradient. The use of epiphytic lichens as phytoclimatic indicators is discussed

L’insorgenza delle malattie professionali negli operatori addetti alla coltivazione e manipolazione dei funghi: una revisione

The paper presents a review on health hazards involving operators that cultivate and handle mushrooms. Intensive production of edible and medicinal fungi is a common agricultural management all over the world and involves a number of operators whose health must be safeguarded due the number of risks. Growth techniques and environmental conditions for producing and handling mushrooms expose workers to several types of allergens that possibly cause occupational diseases. Namely, mushroom workers suffer from allergic pulmonary diseases and, more rarely, from forms of contact dermatitis. The cause of these clinical manifestations may be found in the exposure to several factors, such as the peculiar production conditions leading to the presence of many allergens (bacteria, moulds, mycotoxins, endotoxins) and the direct contact of workers with some fungal species, which are themselves allergens.La produzione intensiva di funghi commestibili e medicinali è un'attività agricola comune in tutto il mondo e coinvolge un gran numero di operatori la cui salute deve essere salvaguardata poiché potrebbero esserci dei rischi. Le tecniche di crescita e le condizioni ambientali richieste per la produzione e la lavorazione dei funghi espongono i lavoratori a diversi tipi di allergeni che causano l'insorgenza di una serie di condizioni classificabili come malattie professionali. Vale a dire, i lavoratori di funghi soffrono di malattie polmonari allergiche e, più raramente, di forme di dermatite da contatto. La causa di queste manifestazioni cliniche si può riscontrare nell'esposizione a diversi fattori, come le particolari condizioni di produzione che portano allo sviluppo di molti allergeni (batteri, muffe, micotossine, endotossine) e il contatto diretto con alcune specie fungine, che sono esse stesse allergeni