Breakdown of scavina resistance in Bahia caused by the evolution of Moniliophthora perniciosa

Resistant clones to witches' broom disease of cacao (WBD), caused by the basidiomycete fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa (Mp) is the most practical and cost efficient strategy for WBD management, but their use is currently restricted to very limited clones, mostly, Scavina's descendants. Scavina resistance has proved inadequate or unstable, as, for example, in Rondônia in the Amazon basin, in Ecuador during the 1980s, and in Bahia in 2002. In this paper, we present evidences, through several independent studies, that the Scavinas' resistance have been overcome because of changes in the pathogen population. Using molecular markers in studies of 40 isolates of the fungus, collected from brooms from five resistant and two susceptible cocoa genotypes, a clear genetic differentiation was observed between fungal isolates from primarily resistant clones and from susceptible ones. Further, a study carried out to characterize temporal genetic variability of Mp populations in Bahia, Brazil, over four consecutive years (2001 to 2004), in several locations, have shown that there was a shift in the genetic composition of the Mp populations. Pathogenic variability through cross inoculation experiments using -isolates derived from Scavinas (Scavina 6 and descendants), non scavina, and from SIC, a susceptible clone, showed that Scavina isolates caused more disease on the Scavinas genotypes, whereas the isolate derived from SIC was less pathogenic on the Scavinas and more pathogenic on its respective host. These results allowed us to conclude that the increase in susceptibility in Scavina descendants was the result of the buildup of resistance-breaking pathogen's strains capable of overcoming the resistance of Scavina. Also, temporal observations of natural infections between 2003 and 2010 in a F2 Scavina 6 x ICS1 showed that the major QTL identified in the LG9 had its effect decreased year by year; moving from a LOD of 9 in 2003 to a non significant LOD in 2010. The same results were found under artificial inoculations with specific strains of Mp and using a new F2 population created in 2007. The present study provides the first evidences that Scavinas WB resistance breakdown is due to the adaptation of the Mp field populations. These studies, besides proving the change in the Mp population in Bahia, they are also a warning call that the efficiency of resistant cultivars in WBD management is limited by Mp variability and an incentive to design breeding programs for durable resistance. Different sources of resistance have been identified and are being used in the cacao breeding program to associate distinct genes of resistance. (Résumé d'auteur

Importance of Common Wall Lizards in the Transmission Dynamics of Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Northern Apennine Mountains, Italy

During the investigations on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) range expansion in the Northern Apennines, we captured 107 Podarcis muralis lizards. Sixty-eight animals were infested by immature Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis sulcata and H. punctata. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 3.7% of I. ricinus larvae and 8.0% of nymphs. Together with the species-specific B. lusitaniae, we identified B. garinii, B. afzelii and B. valaisiana. Rickettsia spp. (18.1% larvae, 12.0% nymphs), namely R. monacensis, R. helvetica and R. hoogstraalii, were also found in I. ricinus. R. hoogstraalii was detected in H. sulcata nymphs as well, while the two H. punctata did not harbour any bacteria. One out of 16 lizard tail tissues was positive to R. helvetica. Our results support the hypothesis that lizards are involved in the epidemiological cycles of TBP. The heterogeneity of B. burgdorferi genospecies mirrors previous findings in questing ticks in the area, and their finding in attached I. ricinus larvae suggests that lizards may contribute to the maintenance of different genospecies. The rickettsiae are new findings in the study area, and R. helvetica infection in a tail tissue indicates a systemic infection. R. hoogstraalii is reported for the first time in I. ricinus ticks. Lizards seem to favour the bacterial exchange among different tick species, with possible public health consequences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cytogenetic characterization and evaluation of c-MYC gene amplification in PG100, a new Brazilian gastric cancer cell line

Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer and the second cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The genetic alterations described so far for gastric carcinomas include amplifications and mutations of the c-ERBB2, KRAS, MET, TP53, and c-MYC genes. Chromosomal instability described for gastric cancer includes gains and losses of whole chromosomes or parts of them and these events might lead to oncogene overexpression, showing the need for a better understanding of the cytogenetic aspects of this neoplasia. Very few gastric carcinoma cell lines have been isolated. The establishment and characterization of the biological properties of gastric cancer cell lines is a powerful tool to gather information about the evolution of this malignancy, and also to test new therapeutic approaches. The present study characterized cytogenetically PG-100, the first commercially available gastric cancer cell line derived from a Brazilian patient who had a gastric adenocarcinoma, using GTG banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization to determine MYC amplification. Twenty metaphases were karyotyped; 19 (95%) of them presented chromosome 8 trisomy, where the MYC gene is located, and 17 (85%) presented a deletion in the 17p region, where the TP53 is located. These are common findings for gastric carcinomas, validating PG100 as an experimental model for this neoplasia. Eighty-six percent of 200 cells analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization presented MYC overexpression. Less frequent findings, such as 5p deletions and trisomy 16, open new perspectives for the study of this tumor.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal do Pará Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Laboratório de Citogenética HumanaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Disciplina de GenéticaUNIFESP, Disciplina de GenéticaCNPq: 20/2007CNPq: 550885/2007-2SciEL

Contournement de la résistance de Scavina dans la région de Bahia causé par l'évolution de Moniliophthora Perniciosa

Les clones résistants à la maladie des balais de sorcières du cacao (WBD), causée par le champignon basidiomycète Moniliophthora perniciosa (Mp) constituent la stratégie la plus pratique et la plus rentable pour la lutte contre la WBD, mais leur utilisation est actuellement restreinte à des clones très limités, à savoir les descendants de Scayina. La résistance de Scavina s'est avérée insuffisante ou instable comme par exemple, dans le Rondônia dans le bassin amazonien, en Équateur pendant les années 1980 et dans la région de Bahia en 2002. Dans ce document, nous présentons des éléments démontrant, au travers de plusieurs études indépendantes, que la résistance de Scavina a été contournée en raison de changements dans la population du pathogène. En utilisant des marqueurs moléculaires dans des études sur 40 isolats du champignon, collectés à partir de balais de cinq génotypes de cacaoyer résistants et deux génotypes sensibles, une nette différenciation génétique a été observée entre les isolats de champignons à partir des clones principalement résistants et des clones sensibles. De plus, nne étude réalisée pour caractériser la variabilité génétique temporelle des populations de Mp à Bahia, au BrésiL au cours de quatre années consécutives (2001 à 2004), dans plusieurs sites, a démontré qu'il y a nn changement de la composition génétique des populations de Mp. La variabilité pathogénique observée par des expériences d'inoculation croisée utilisant des isolats issus de Scavinas (Scavina 6 et descendants), de non Scavina et de SIC, un clone sellSlble, a montré que les isolats de Scavina entraînaient plus souvent la maladie sur les génotypes Scavina, alors que l'isolat issu de SIC était moins pathogène sur les Scavinas et plus pathogène sur son hôte respecti Ces résultats nous ont permis de conclure que l'augmentation de la sensibilité des descendants Scavina était le résultat de l'accumulation de souches de pathogène capables de contourner la résistance de Scavina De plus, des observatons temporelles d'infections naturelles entre 2003 et 2010 sur un clone F4 Scavina 6 x ICSl a montré que le QTL principal identifié dans le GL9 voyait son effet réduit d'une année sur l'autre, past d'un score LOD de 9 en 2003 à un score LOD non significatif en 2010. Les mêmes résultats ont été trouvés dans le cadre d'inoculations artificielles avec des souches particulières de Arp et en utilisant une nouvelle population F2 créée en 2007. L'étude actuelle fournit les premiers éléments démontrant que le contournement de la résistance à WB des Scavinas est dû à l'adaptation des populations de Mp sur le terrain. Ces études démontrent non seulement le changement des populations de Mp à Bahia, mais elles constituent aussi un avertissement indiquant que l'efficacité des cultivars résistants dans la lutte contre WBD est limitée par la variabilité de Mp et elle constitue une incitation à concevoir des programmes de sélection ast une résistance durable. Différentes sources de résistance ont été identifiées et sont actuellement utilisées dans le programe de sélection génétique de cacao pour associer des gènes de résistance distincts. (Résumé d'auteur

A large community outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, October to November 2014

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease with 334 confirmed cases was identified on 7 November 2014 in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal and declared controlled by 21 November. Epidemiological, environmental and microbiological analysis identified industrial wet cooling systems to be the probable source of infection. Preliminary results from sequence-based typing of clinical specimens and environmental isolates confirmed this link. A series of meteorological phenomena are likely to have contributed to the scale of this outbreak

Sirolimus-eluting stent for the treatment of in-stent restenosis: a quantitative coronary angiography and three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound study

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported the safety and effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents for the treatment of de novo coronary lesions. The present investigation explored the potential of this technology to treat in-stent restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with in-stent restenosis were successfully treated with the implantation of 1 or 2 sirolimus-eluting Bx VELOCITY stents in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nine patients received 2 stents (1.4 stents per lesion). Angiographic and volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images were obtained after the procedure and at 4 and 12 months. All vessels were patent at the time of 12-month angiography. Angiographic late loss averaged 0.07+/-0.2 mm in-stent and -0.05+/-0.3 mm in-lesion at 4 months, and 0.36+/-0.46 mm in-stent and 0.16+/-0.42 mm in-lesion after 12 months. No patient had in-stent or stent margin restenosis at 4 months, and only one patient developed in-stent restenosis at 1-year follow-up. Intimal hyperplasia by 3-dimensional IVUS was 0.92+/-1.9 mm(3) at 4 months and 2.55+/-4.9 mm(3) after 1 year. Percent volume obstruction was 0.81+/-1.7% and 1.76+/-3.4% at the 4- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. There was no evidence of stent malapposition either acutely or in the follow-up IVUS images, and there were no deaths, stent thromboses, or repeat revascularizations. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the safety and the potential utility of sirolimus-eluting Bx VELOCITY stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis

Lack of Neointimal Proliferation After Implantation of Sirolimus-Coated Stents in Human Coronary Arteries: A Quantitative Coronary Angiography and Three-Dimensional Intravascular Ultrasound Study

BACKGROUND: Restenosis remains an important limitation of interventional cardiology. Therefore, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of sirolimus (a cell-cycle inhibitor)-coated BX Velocity stents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients with angina pectoris were electively treated with 2 different formulations of sirolimus-coated stents (slow release [SR], n=15, and fast release [FR], n=15). All stents were successfully delivered, and patients were discharged without clinical complications. Independent core laboratories analyzed angiographic and 3D volumetric intravascular ultrasound data (immediately after procedure and at 4-month follow-up). Eight-month clinical follow-up was obtained for all patients. There was minimal neointimal hyperplasia in both groups (11.0+/-3.0% in the SR group and 10.4+/-3.0% in the FR group, P:=NS) by ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography (in-stent late loss, 0.09+/-0.3 mm [SR] and -0.02+/-0.3 mm [FR]; in-lesion late loss, 0.16+/-0.3 mm [SR] and -0.1+/-0.3 mm [FR]). No in-stent or edge restenosis (diameter stenosis >or=50%) was observed. No major clinical events (stent thrombosis, repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction, or death) had occurred by 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of sirolimus-coated BX Velocity stents is feasible and safe and elicits minimal neointimal proliferation. Additional placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these promising results

Two-year angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up after implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents in human coronary arteries

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stenting have been demonstrated, but the outcome of patients treated with this novel technology beyond the first year remains unknown. We sought to evaluate the angiographic, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and clinical outcomes of patients treated with sirolimus-eluting stents 2 years after implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included 30 patients treated with sirolimus-eluting Bx Velocity stenting (slow release [SR], n=15, and fast release [FR], n=15) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-eight patients underwent 2-year angiographic and IVUS follow-up. No deaths occurred during the study period. In-stent late loss was slightly greater in the FR group (0.28+/-0.4 mm) than in the SR group (-0.09+/-0.23 mm, P=0.007). No patient had in-stent restenosis. At 2-year follow-up, only 1 patient (FR group) had a 52% diameter stenosis within the lesion segment, which required repeat revascularization. The target-vessel revascularization rate for the entire cohort was 10% (3/30) at 2 years. All other patients had < or =35% diameter stenosis. Angiographic lumen loss at the stent edges was also minimal (in-lesion late loss was 0.33+/-0.42 mm [FR] and 0.13+/-0.29 mm [SR]). In-stent neointimal hyperplasia volume, as detected by IVUS, remained minimal after 2 years (FR= 9.90+/-9 mm3 and SR=10.35+/-9.3 mm3). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting Bx Velocity stents 2 years after implantation in humans. In-stent lumen dimensions remained essentially unchanged at 2-year follow-up in the 2 groups, although angiographic lumen loss was slightly higher in the FR group. Restenosis "catch-up" was not found in our patient population