Sequence analysis of a microsatellite and its flanking regions in intraspecific hybrids of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Microsatellite (MS) VVMD21 (BOWERS et al. 1999) was taken as a model to explore the molecular basis of polymorphism in a panel of 6 grapevine accessions (Vitis vinifera L.), consisting of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon and 4 F1 plants derived from crossing both varieties. The 12 alleles of both parents and the progeny were cloned and sequenced. The microsatellite repeat (AG)n>6 was found in each sequence, together with a poly-T rich region that showed irregularity. Furthermore, single nucleotide deletion or exchange (point mutations) were found in the microsatellite flanking regions

The prognostic value of baseline and early variations of peripheral blood inflammatory ratios and their cellular components in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab: The Δ-Meet-URO analysis

Background: Treatment choice for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients is still based on baseline clinical and laboratory factors. Methods: By a pre-specified analysis of the Meet-URO 15 multicentric retrospective study enrolling 571 pretreated mRCC patients receiving nivolumab, baseline and early dynamic variations (Δ) of neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet absolute cell counts (ACC) and their inflammatory ratios (IR) were evaluated alongside their association with the best disease response and overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariable analyses on OS and PFS between baseline and Δ ACC and IR values were investigated with receiving operating curves-based cut-offs. Results: The analysis included 422 mRCC patients. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) increased over time due to consistent neutrophil increase (p < 0.001). Higher baseline platelets (p = 0.044) and lower lymphocytes (p = 0.018), increasing neutrophil Δ (p for time-group interaction <0.001), higher baseline IR values (NLR: p = 0.012, SII: p = 0.003, PLR: p = 0.003), increasing NLR and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) (i.e., NLR x platelets) Δ (p for interaction time-group = 0.0053 and 0.0435, respectively) were associated with disease progression. OS and PFS were significantly shorter in patients with baseline lower lymphocytes (p < 0.001 for both) and higher platelets (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively) alongside early neutrophils Δ (p = 0.046 and p = 0.033, respectively). Early neutrophils and NLR Δ were independent prognostic factors for both OS (p = 0.014 and p = 0.011, respectively) and PFS (p = 0.023 and p = 0.001, respectively), alongside baseline NLR (p < 0.001 for both) and other known prognostic variables. Conclusions: Early neutrophils and NLR Δ may represent new dynamic prognostic factors with clinical utility for on-treatment decisions

Grapevine biotechnology coming on to the scene

The ancientness of viticulture and the mythology of wine have given the grapevine a specially favorable and beneficial position among cultivated fruit plants.It is thought that cultivation of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) began during the Neolithic era (6000–5000 BC) in the region known as Transcaucasia corresponding to the eastern shores of the Black Sea. However archeological finds of grape seeds indicate that either the grapevine or at least its progenitor, Vitis sylvestris, was already distributed throughout much of Europe during the Atlantic and Sub-Boreal paleoclimatic peri-ods (7500–2500 years ago). Quite recently archeological grape seeds, dating according to radiocarbon method, between 4350 and 3950 years, were discovered in Spain (Walker 1985)

Molecular markers and genomics for food and beverages characterization

We summarize and discuss latest trends and works on methods and most significant case studies concerning molecular-based food and beverages quality and authenticity assessment. DNA-based technology may work as a wild card between food authentication, gut microbiome profiling, and the evaluation of food-borne microbiological risk. The central axiom of food security necessarily passes through the validation of the concept of food authenticity that in turn depends on the analytical assessment of ingredients. With increasing molecular detail, literature demonstrates how the food intake is associated with specific epigenetic effects on genomes leading to gene expression regulation. Similarly, food intake deeply affects human health by influencing secondary metabolite production regulated by the gut microbiome. In the last decade, biology moved rapidly from small numbers to big data, keeping the DNA as a major tagged molecule for food characterization. Simple molecular markers have the advantage to be used by small-medium laboratories and may be effective in addressing simple questions, while the integrated genomics approaches address exhaustive description of food and beverages quality traits. More significant case studies of molecular characterization of plant and animal-derived food and grapevine-derived beverages are also reported. Finally we conclude on how the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches could improve our relation with food and beverages from the point of view of health and quality of life and against frauds

Microsatellite DNA polymorphism analysis of clones of Vitis vinifera 'Sangiovese'

Allelic polymorphism at seven microsatellite loci (VVMD5, VVMD6, VVMD7, VVMD8, VVMS2, VVMS4, and VVMS29) was analyzed in 12 clones of Vitis vinifera L. 'Sangiovese', an ancient Italian wine grape cultivar. Eleven of the clones were identical at all seven loci, but one clone (SG 8T) differed from the others by one allele at each of four loci. These data suggest that the eleven identical clones most likely originated from a single seedling progenitor and that SG 8T could be a seedling, parent or sibling of this progenitor. A strict definition of cultivar (monoclonal origin) would require that SG 8T be excluded from 'Sangiovese', but a broader definition, that includes the possibility of polyclonal origin from closely related individuals, is widely accepted in the wine grape research community. If analysis at additional loci confirms the close genetic relationship between SG 8T and the other clones that is suggested by this study, then, by the broader definition, SG 8T might still be included in the cultivar Sangiovese. The ability to detect allelic differences that is afforded by microsatellite analysis may force a clarification of the economic definitions of "cultivar" and "clone" with respect to wine grapes