Cu-Catalyzed Tandem Oxidation-Intramolecular Cannizzaro Reaction of Biorenewables and Bioactive Molecules

A tandem Cu-catalyzed oxidation-intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction leading to bioactive α-hydroxyesters from α-hydroxyketones is reported. The process uses oxygen as a sole oxidant to achieve the formation of glyoxals, which are efficiently converted in situ to important α-hydroxyesters. The mechanistic insights are provided by isotopic labeling and supported by DFT calculations. The transformation proved a robust synthetic tool to achieve the synthesis of human metabolites and hydroxyl esters of various biologically active steroid derivatives.Peer reviewe

Multilocus genotyping reveals new molecular markers for differentiating distinct genetic lineages among “candidatus phytoplasma solani” strains associated with grapevine bois noir

Grapevine Bois noir (BN) is associated with infection by “Candidatus Phytoplasma solani” (CaPsol). In this study, an array of CaPsol strains was identified from 142 symptomatic grapevines in vineyards of northern, central, and southern Italy and North Macedonia. Molecular typing of the CaPsol strains was carried out by analysis of genes encoding 16S rRNA and translation elongation factor EF-Tu, as well as eight other previously uncharacterized genomic fragments. Strains of tuf-type a and b were found to be differentially distributed in the examined geographic regions in correlation with the prevalence of nettle and bindweed. Two sequence variants were identified in each of the four genomic segments harboring hlyC, cbiQ-glyA, trxA-truB-rsuA, and rplS-tyrS-csdB, respectively. Fifteen CaPsol lineages were identified based on distinct combinations of sequence variations within these genetic loci. Each CaPsol lineage exhibited a unique collective restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern and differed from each other in geographic distribution, probably in relation to the diverse ecological complexity of vineyards and their surroundings. This RFLP-based typing method could be a useful tool for investigating the ecology of CaPsol and the epidemiology of its associated diseases. Phylogenetic analyses highlighted that the sequence variants of the gene hlyC, which encodes a hemolysin III-like protein, separated into two clusters consistent with the separation of two distinct lineages on the basis of tufB gene sequences. Alignments of deduced full protein sequences of elongation factor-Tu (tufB gene) and hemolysin III-like protein (hlyC gene) revealed the presence of critical amino acid substitutions distinguishing CaPsol strains of tuf-type a and b. Findings from the present study provide new insights into the genetic diversity and ecology of CaPsol populations in vineyards

Pepper Diseases in Balkan Region

One of the most important problems affecting pepper production in the Balkan peninsula is the occurrence of common pathogens causing severe diseases and epidemics resulting in reduced and compromised yield. Phytophthora capsici, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Verticillium dahliae, Fusarium spp., Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Potato virus Y (PVY) etc. are among the most devastating and widely distributed pathogens. This region is also characterized with endemic, emerging or newly introduced pathogens threatening pepper production. In the last years new pepper fungal pathogens (Phomopsis capsici and several Colletotrichum spp.) were found in Bulgaria with increasingly frequency. In 2010 a SEE-ERA. NET project started combining the research efforts of seven scientific institutions from five Balkan countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia). The strategic objectives of the project are: i) to explore Balkan biodiversity of Capsicum spp. in order to extract biotic stress resistant germplasm; ii) to update knowledge about the most economically important and emerging pathogens on Capsicum in the Balkan region and to form pathogen collection; iii) to develop database, concerning the pepper pathogen occurrence in the mentioned regions; iv) to identify areas at differing pathogen risk in the involved Balkan countries and to define risks related to introduction of new pathogen biotypes by trading. Adequate knowledge for pathogens is essential for the management of the diseases, caused by them and for solving problems in sustainable and conventional agriculture. First joint collecting expeditions have been carried out. Pathogens have been isolated, identified and characterized mainly at species level. Collections have been created and properly preserved in related institutes for further investigations concerning the race and strain specificity of the saved pathogens and host-pathogen interaction

Multilocus Genotyping Reveals New Molecular Markers for Differentiating Distinct Genetic Lineages among “Candidatus Phytoplasma Solani” Strains Associated with Grapevine Bois Noir

Grapevine Bois noir (BN) is associated with infection by \u201cCandidatus Phytoplasma solani\u201d (CaPsol). In this study, an array of CaPsol strains was identified from 142 symptomatic grapevines in vineyards of northern, central, and southern Italy and North Macedonia. Molecular typing of the CaPsol strains was carried out by analysis of genes encoding 16S rRNA and translation elongation factor EF-Tu, as well as eight other previously uncharacterized genomic fragments. Strains of tuf-type a and b were found to be differentially distributed in the examined geographic regions in correlation with the prevalence of nettle and bindweed. Two sequence variants were identified in each of the four genomic segments harboring hlyC, cbiQ-glyA, trxA-truB-rsuA, and rplS-tyrS-csdB, respectively. Fifteen CaPsol lineages were identified based on distinct combinations of sequence variations within these genetic loci. Each CaPsol lineage exhibited a unique collective restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern and differed from each other in geographic distribution, probably in relation to the diverse ecological complexity of vineyards and their surroundings. This RFLP-based typing method could be a useful tool for investigating the ecology of CaPsol and the epidemiology of its associated diseases. Phylogenetic analyses highlighted that the sequence variants of the gene hlyC, which encodes a hemolysin III-like protein, separated into two clusters consistent with the separation of two distinct lineages on the basis of tufB gene sequences. Alignments of deduced full protein sequences of elongation factor-Tu (tufB gene) and hemolysin III-like protein (hlyC gene) revealed the presence of critical amino acid substitutions distinguishing CaPsol strains of tuf-type a and b. Findings from the present study provide new insights into the genetic diversity and ecology of CaPsol populations in vineyards

Review article: consensus statements on therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents can help optimise outcomes. Consensus statements based on current evidence will help the development of treatment guidelines

Suicide Lethality: A Concept Analysis

Purpose: Suicide is a significant health problem internationally. Those who complete suicide may have different behaviors and risk factors than those who attempt a non-fatal suicide. The purpose of this article is to analyze the concept of suicide lethality and propose a clear definition of the concept through the identification of antecedents, attributes, and consequences. Methods: A literature search for articles published in the English language between 1970 and 2016 was conducted using MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Psychlit, Ovid, PsycINFO, and Proquest. The bibliographies of all included studies were also reviewed to identify additional relevant citations. A concept analysis was conducted on the literature findings using six stages of Walker and Avant's method. Findings: The concept analysis differentiated between suicide, lethality, suicidal behavior, and suicide lethality. Presence of a suicide plan or a written suicide note was not found to be associated with the majority of completed suicides included in the definition of suicide lethality. There are a few scales that measure the lethality of a suicide attempt, but none that attempt to measure the concept of suicide lethality as described in this analysis. Conclusions: Clarifying the concept of suicide lethality encourages awareness of the possibility of different suicidal behaviors associated with different suicide outcomes and will inform the development of future nursing interventions. A clearer definition of the concept of suicide lethality will guide clinical practice, research, and policy development aimed at suicide prevention