Characterization of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) isolated from the rhizosphere of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum.

Motivation: The recent boom in organic agriculture has awakened the need to find alternative methods to chemical products. PGPRs (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) are rhizospheric bacteria that contribute in a favourable way for the plant development through different mechanisms like exudates production (that enhance plant rooting), nutrient solubilization or resistance to pathogenic agents (1). The study of these microorganisms and its subsequent use for different agriculture requirements is a viable option in order to get good results in a more sustainable way. In addition, it is an interesting approach to promote the soil regenerative abilities of some plants, like the halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (2).Methods: Bacteria from the rhizosphere of A. macrostachyum were isolated from plants grown in different areas at the Lebrija marshes. 5 µl of exponentially bacterial cultures were dropped onto Petri dishes containing different media: CAS to test siderophores production (3), PVK for phosphate solubilization (3), nutrient broth supplemented with NaCl for testing tolerance to sodium chloride and nutrient broth with 0,5mM and 1mM Zn concentrations to test heavy metal resistance. All of them were incubated at 28ºC for 72h. Acyl-homoserine lactone and indolacetic acid (IAA) production tests (3) were also performed. In addition, 5 µl droplets of each bacterial suspension were spotted on Petri dishes together with a disk of active Macrophomina phaseolina culture to test antifungal activity.Results: A total of 203 strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of A.macrostachyum plants. In CAS medium, 40% of them formed an orange-yellowish halo, denoting siderophore production. In PVK medium, 7% shown a transparent halo, indicating phosphate solubilization ability. 30% of the strains were auxin producers, while only a 13% exhibited the quorum sensing mechanism. 3% of all the strains displayed high halotolerance, showed positive growth in 24 % (p/v) NaCl. 5% and 3% of the strains were able to grow in the presence of 0,5 and 1 mM Zn, respectively. Taking into account fungicide activity, 11% of the bacterial isolates are able to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungus M. phaseolina.Conclusions: An earlier conclusion of this incipient study is that the rhizosphere of halophyte plants living in natural stressing areas is a good source for isolating bacteria with desirable properties to be used as PGPR and also for the control of pathogenic fungus

Pollen-producing plants of allergenic interest

El incremento de la sensibilidad humana a los alergenos, en particular al polen, tiene relación con factores medioambientales y con el estilo de vida. La cantidad total de polen observado en el aire está creciendo debido a los cambios climáticos. En Europa la floración de muchos árboles y hierbas empieza antes y dura más que hace 10 años, debido a la interacción entre el aumento de la temperatura y la concentración de CO2. Además, los contaminantes químicos del aire pueden modificar las características de los alergenos, entre los que se incluye el polen, aumentando la sensibilidad y las respuestas alérgicas de la población. El tipo de alergia respiratoria más frecuente es causado por la presencia de polen en el aire y se denomina polinosis. Las plantas polinizan durante el día, pero el polen queda en suspensión muchas horas. La concentración de polen en el aire decrece con la distancia, por lo que un solo árbol en un jardín puede tener más repercusiones en la salud que un bosque a 10 km de distancia. Las redes aerobiológicas mundiales realizan observaciones sistemáticas de la concentración de polen en el aire, advirtiendo a las personas alérgicas para adaptar a corto plazo sus actividades al aire libre y la medicación preventiva, reduciendo los efectos adversos sobre su salud. La selección de plantas ornamentales no alergológicas en las calles y jardines podría reducir significativamente la exposición a los alergenos polínicos. El corte periódico de ciertas hierbas reduciría la emisión de polen y las alergias respiratorias estacionales, mejorando la calidad de vida de la población susceptible. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar las especies mundiales productoras de pólenes de interés alergológico, clasificarlas por su abundancia en los diferentes continentes y vincularlas con su incidencia sobre la salud de la población.Increased sensitivity to allergens, particularly pollen, is related to environmental factors and lifestyle. The total amount of pollen found in the air is growing due to climate change. In Europe the flowering of many trees and grasses starts earlier and it is longer than 10 years ago, due to the interaction between increased temperature and CO2 concentration. In addition, air chemical contaminants can modify the allergens characteristics, such as pollens, increasing human sensitivity to them and allergic responses. The most widespread type of respiratory allergy is caused by the presence of pollen in the air and it is called hay fever. Plants pollinate during the day but pollen keep suspended for many hours. The air pollen concentration decreases with distance, so a single tree in a garden can have more impact on health than a large forest 10 km away. Aerobiological global networks make systematic observations of the concentration of pollen in the air in order to warning people with allergies to adapt their short-term outdoor activities and to use the preventive medication, reducing the effects of pollen on the population health. The selection of ornamental no allergenic plants in the streets and gardens could significantly reduce exposure to pollen allergens. The periodic cut of certain herbs would reduce the emission of pollen and seasonal respiratory allergies frequency, improving the quality of life of a significant portion of the world population. The aim of this paper is review pollen-producing plants all over the word, and classify them by their abundance in different continents, and their relationship with the incidence on the population respiratory health.Fil: Barcia, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Laboratorio de Bromatología; ArgentinaFil: Veríssimo Pires, Paula C.. Universidad de Coimbra. Facultad de Ciencias E Tecnología. Departamento de Ciencias Da Vida; PortugalFil: Barberis, Sonia Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; Argentin

Identification and Visualization of CD8+ T Cell Mediated IFN-γ Signaling in Target Cells during an Antiviral Immune Response in the Brain

CD8+ T cells infiltrate the brain during an anti-viral immune response. Within the brain CD8+ T cells recognize cells expressing target antigens, become activated, and secrete IFNγ. However, there are no methods to recognize individual cells that respond to IFNγ. Using a model that studies the effects of the systemic anti-adenoviral immune response upon brain cells infected with an adenoviral vector in mice, we describe a method that identifies individual cells that respond to IFNγ. To identify individual mouse brain cells that respond to IFNγ we constructed a series of adenoviral vectors that contain a transcriptional response element that is selectively activated by IFNγ signaling, the gamma-activated site (GAS) promoter element; the GAS element drives expression of a transgene, Cre recombinase (Ad-GAS-Cre). Upon binding of IFNγ to its receptor, the intracellular signaling cascade activates the GAS promoter, which drives expression of the transgene Cre recombinase. We demonstrate that upon activation of a systemic immune response against adenovirus, CD8+ T cells infiltrate the brain, interact with target cells, and cause an increase in the number of cells expressing Cre recombinase. This method can be used to identify, study, and eventually determine the long term fate of infected brain cells that are specifically targeted by IFNγ. The significance of this method is that it will allow to characterize the networks in the brain that respond to the specific secretion of IFNγ by anti-viral CD8+ T cells that infiltrate the brain. This will allow novel insights into the cellular and molecular responses underlying brain immune responses

IFN-γ signaling, with the synergistic contribution of TNF-α, mediates cell specific microglial and astroglial activation in experimental models of Parkinson's disease

To through light on the mechanisms underlying the stimulation and persistence of glial cell activation in Parkinsonism, we investigate the function of IFN-γ and TNF-α in experimental models of Parkinson's disease and analyze their relation with local glial cell activation. It was found that IFN-γ and TNF-α remained higher over the years in the serum and CNS of chronic Parkinsonian macaques than in untreated animals, accompanied by sustained glial activation (microglia and astroglia) in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Importantly, Parkinsonian monkeys showed persistent and increasing levels of IFN-γR signaling in both microglial and astroglial cells. In addition, experiments performed in IFN-γ and TNF-α KO mice treated with MPTP revealed that, even before dopaminergic cell death can be observed, the presence of IFN-γ and TNF-α is crucial for microglial and astroglial activation, and, together, they have an important synergistic role. Both cytokines were necessary for the full level of activation to be attained in both microglial and astroglial cells. These results demonstrate that IFN-γ signaling, together with the contribution of TNF-α, have a critical and cell-specific role in stimulating and maintaining glial cell activation in Parkinsonism

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes in Children With Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: A Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium Study

© Copyright © 2020 D\u27Alessandri-Silva, Carpenter, Ayoob, Barcia, Chishti, Constantinescu, Dell, Goodwin, Hashmat, Iragorri, Kaspar, Mason, Misurac, Muff-Luett, Sethna, Shah, Weng, Greenbaum and Mahan. Background and Objectives: Congenital or primary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare genetic disorder that severely impairs renal concentrating ability, resulting in massive polyuria. There is limited information about prognosis or evidence guiding the management of these patients, either in the high-risk period after diagnosis, or long-term. We describe the clinical presentation, genetic etiology, treatment and renal outcomes in a large group of children (89%) and white (67%). Median age at diagnosis was 4.2 months interquartile range (IQR 1.1, 9.8). A desmopressin acetate loading test was administered to 46% of children at a median age of 4.8 months (IQR 2.8, 7.6); only 15% had a water restriction test. Genetic testing or a known family history was present in 70% of the patients; out of those genetically tested, 89 and 11% had mutations in AVPR2 and AQP2, respectively. No positive family history or genetic testing was available for 30%. The most common treatments were thiazide diuretics (74%), potassium-sparing diuretics (67%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (42%). At the time of first treatment, 70 and 71% of children were below −2 standard deviations (SD) for weight and height, respectively. At last follow-up, median age was 72.3 months (IQR 40.9, 137.2) and the percentage below −2 SD improved to 29% and 38% for weight and height, respectively. Adverse outcomes included inpatient hospitalizations (61%), urologic complications (37%), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 2 or higher in 23%. Conclusion: We found the majority of patients were treated with thiazides with either a potassium sparing diuretic and/or NSAIDs. Hospitalizations, urologic complications, short stature, and CKD were common. Prospective trials to evaluate different treatment strategies are needed to attempt to improve outcomes

Circulating Metabolites Associated with Body Fat and Lean Mass in Adults with Overweight/Obesity

The interplay between fat mass and lean mass within human metabolism is not completely understood. We aimed to identify specific circulating metabolomic profiles associated with these body composition compartments. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted over 236 adults with overweight/obesity from the Satiety Innovation (SATIN) study. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A targeted multiplatform metabolite profiling approach was applied. Associations between 168 circulating metabolites and the body composition measures were assessed using elastic net regression analyses. The accuracy of the multimetabolite weighted models was evaluated using a 10-fold cross-validation approach and the Pearson's correlation coefficients between metabolomic profiles and body compartments were estimated. Two different profiles including 86 and 65 metabolites were selected for % body fat and lean mass. These metabolites mainly consisted of lipids (sphingomyelins, phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines), acylcarnitines, and amino acids. Several metabolites overlapped between these body composition measures but none of them towards the same direction. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the metabolomic profiles and % body fat or lean mass were 0.80 and 0.79, respectively. Our findings suggest alterations in lipid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and protein degradation with increased adiposity and decreased lean body mass. These findings could help us to better understand the interplay between body composition compartments with human metabolic processes

Food addiction in Bulimia Nervosa: Analysis of body composition, psychological and problematic foods profile

IntroductionFood Addiction (FA) has been related with eating disorders (ED), especially Bulimia Nervosa (BN). BN + FA may have different physical characteristics than patients with BN without the comorbidity, such as body mass index (BMI) or body composition, and psychological as emotion regulation. However, the relationship between psychological and physical aspects, connected by problematic food and its influence on body composition, has been barely studied. Therefore, the aims of the present study are: Aims(a) To explore the differences in body composition between FA positive (FA+) and negative (FA-) in women with BN; (b) to identify problematic relationship with certain food types, according with the foods mentioned in the YFAS scale questionnaire, between FA+ and FA- patients; (c) to know the psychological characteristic differences between FA+ and FA- patients, considering emotion regulation, personality traits and general psychopathological state; (d) to identify the relationship between physical and psychological traits, and the identified problematic foods, in patients with BN and FA. MethodologyN = 81 BN women patients, with a mean age of 29.73 years +/- 9.80 SD, who completed the questionnaires: Yale Food Addiction Scale V 1.0 (YFAS 1.0), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), Symptom Checklist-90 Items-Revised (SCL-90-R), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Strategies (DERS). YFAS problematic foods were grouped considering their principal nutrients sources. Body composition and difference in metabolic age was determined using bioimpedance analyzer. ResultsThe 88% of patients with BN presented FA+. Patients with BN who were FA+ self-reported more problematic relationships with sweets and starches. Also presented higher emotion regulation difficulties, general psychopathology and eating symptomatology severity, than those without FA. Finally, emotional regulation difficulties were positively associated with higher eating disorder symptomatology and more types of foods self-reported as problematic, which increased indirectly fat mass. ConclusionThe results suggest that BN + FA presented more eating and psychopathology symptomatology and higher problems with specific food types. As well, the path analysis emphasized that emotion regulation difficulties might be related with problematic food relationship in BN, impacting over the ED severity. ImplicationsThe results may impact the development of precise therapies for patients with BN + FA