Occurrence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Lepstospira spp. in manatees (Trichechus inunguis) of the Brazilian Amazon

The presence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leptospira spp. antibodies was investigated in 74 manatees (Trichechus inunguis [Mammalia: Sirenia]) kept in captivity in two rescue units in the northern region of Brazil. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 29 (39.2%) of 74 animals by using the modified agglutination test (titer, 1:25). For antibodies against Leptospira spp., sera were diluted 1:50 and tested against 24 strains ofleptospires by microscopic agglutination microtechnique, and positive samples were end titrated. Twenty-three (31.1%) of 74 animals were reactive to four serovars (Patoc 21/23, Castellonis 2/23, Icterohaemorrhagiae 1/23, and Butembo 1/ 23), with titers ranging from 100 to 1,600. This is the first report of antibodies against T. gondii and Leptospira spp. in T. inunguis from the Brazilian Amazon.     

Genotypic variations in the plasticity of nodal root penetration through the hardpan during soil moisture fluctuations among four rice varieties

Rainfed lowland rice fields are characterized by soil moisture fluctuations (SMF) and the presence of hardpan that impedes deep rooting and thus limits water extraction from deep soil layer during the periods of drought. In this study, we used rootboxes with three layers; shallow layer, artificial hardpan, and deep and wet layer below the hardpan, to evaluate differences in the plasticity of nodal roots elongation through the hardpan and promote root branching below the hardpan in response to SMF among four rice varieties; Sasanishiki, Habataki, Nipponbare, and Kasalath. Experiments were conducted during the summer and autumn seasons. Plasticity was computed as the difference in root traits within each variety between the SMF and continuously well-watered treatments. In both experiments, Habataki consistently tended to exhibit higher root plasticity than the other three varieties by increasing number of nodal roots that penetrated the hardpan during rewatering period in SMF, when the soil moisture increased and penetration resistance decreased. This root plasticity then contributed to greater water use at the deeper soil during the subsequent drought period and overall shoot dry matter production. Habataki had significantly higher δ¹³C value in roots at deep layer than roots at the shallow and hardpan layers under SMF, which may indicate that these were relatively newly grown roots as a consequence of root plasticity. This study also indicates that CSSLs derived from Sasanishiki and Habataki varieties may be suitable for the analysis of QTLs associated with root plasticity expression in rainfed lowland with hardpan and experiencing SMF.     

Assessment of the nutritional values of genetically modified wheat, corn, and tomato crops

The genetic modification in fruit and vegetables could lead to changes in metabolic pathways and, therefore, to the variation of the molecular pattern, with particular attention to antioxidant compounds not well-described in the literature. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality composition of transgenic wheat ( Triticum durum L.), corn ( Zea mays L.), and tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) to the nontransgenic control with a similar genetic background. In the first experiment, Ofanto wheat cultivar containing the tobacco rab1 gene and nontransgenic Ofanto were used. The second experiment compared two transgenic lines of corn containing Bacillus thuringiensis "Cry toxin" gene (PR33P67 and Pegaso Bt) to their nontransgenic forms. The third experiment was conducted on transgenic tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) containing the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene and its nontransgenic control (cv. Tondino). Conventional and genetically modified crops were compared in terms of fatty acids content, unsaponifiable fraction of antioxidants, total phenols, polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C, total antioxidant activity, and mineral composition. No significant differences were observed for qualitative traits analyzed in wheat and corn samples. In tomato samples, the total antioxidant activity (TAA), measured by FRAP assay, and the naringenin content showed a lower value in genetically modified organism (GMO) samples (0.35 mmol of Fe (2+) 100 g (-1) and 2.82 mg 100 g (-1), respectively), in comparison to its nontransgenic control (0.41 mmol of Fe (2+) 100 g (-1) and 4.17 mg 100 g (-1), respectively). On the basis of the principle of substantial equivalence, as articulated by the World Health Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, these data support the conclusion that GM events are nutritionally similar to conventional varieties of wheat, corn, and tomato on the market today.     

Work and struggle of fishing livelihoods in the Delta: Development and ‘new’ change along the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River,Myanmar

Fishing constitutes a key source of income and food for rural communities worldwide. This is the case in predominantly rural Myanmar (World Fish, 2019), particularly in the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River Delta. Fishing has long been a central livelihood strategy and valuable source of food security in the Delta, and now also generates a substantial contribution to the gross domestic product. However, the livelihood practices of the fishers, particularly small‐scale fishers, are largely ‘invisible’ in the literature and policy. In this article, we advance understanding of the significant but understudied livelihoods of small‐scale fishers through interviews with fishers and a range of other actors in 2018. Taking a careful examination of the challenges, practices and responses of fishers in the Delta, our research underlines that fishers are important actors in the ‘making’ of the Delta as a geographical scale and concept, yet they are being pushed out of the very landscape they have helped co‐create and have lived in for generations. At this crucial point in Myanmar's development and change, we contend that a better understanding of the livelihoods of fishing households, as some of the nation's most vulnerable, is important for inclusive policy development, economic reforms and research strategy going forward.     

The revised international autoimmune hepatitis score in chronic liver diseases including autoimmune hepatitis/overlap syndromes and autoimmune hepatitis with concurrent other liver disorders

Background

We conducted a study in order to determine the usefulness and diagnostic value of International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAHG) score in non-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) hepatic disorders as well as in AIH/overlap syndromes and in cases with coexistence of AIH and other liver diseases.

Methods

We applied the IAHG score in 423 patients with liver diseases excluding patients with AIH, AIH/overlap syndromes and AIH with concurrent other liver disease namely, patients with chronic hepatitis B (n = 109), chronic hepatitis C (n = 95), chronic hepatitis D (n = 4), alchoholic liver disease (n = 28), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 55), autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases (n = 77), liver disorders of undefined origin (n = 32) and with miscellaneous hepatic disorders (n = 23). 24 patients with AIH associated with any kind of liver disorder including 10 patients with AIH/overlap syndromes and 14 AIH with concurrent other liver disease were also investigated. 43 patients with AIH consisted the control group.

Results

The specificity of the score was 98.1% while the sensitivity in unmasking AIH in patients with either AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases was only 50% and 78.6%. In the binary logistic regression model, the presence of other autoimmune diseases (p < 0.001), the total histological score (p < 0.001) and positivity for autoantibodies (p < 0.05) were identified as independent predictors for the presnce of AIH/ovea syndromes o AI with concurren other liver diseass.

Conclusion

The IAHG scoring system has very good specificity for excluding AIH in patients with chronic liver diseases but not that sensitivity in order to unmask AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases. The presence of other autoimmune diseases or autoantibody markers in the absence of hepatitis viral markers should alarm physicians for the possible presence of AIH either as "pure" AIH or in association with other liver disorders (AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases). Under these conditions, liver histology seems essential and it must always be included in the work up of hepatic patients.

     

Production of aneuploids of the cotton hybrid G. barbadense × <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. hirsutum</Emphasis> L. via intergeneric pollination with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abelmoschus esculentus</Emphasis>

The possibility to induce embryo development after pollination of F₁ interspecific cotton hybrids (Gossypium barbadense × Gossypium. hirsutum) with pollen from Abelmoschus esculentus was investigated to determine if wide-cross hybrid, haploid or other types of progeny might result. Small numbers of progeny (Pa) were indeed recovered after numerous alien pollinations and in-planta development or in-vitro culture. The Pa plants were characterized phenotypically and studied cytogenetically and microscopically to help establish their origin documenting their reproductive basis. Root-tip chromosome counts and meiotic Metaphase-I analyses revealed that chromosome numbers among cells of the Pa plants ranged from 33 to 44 and that the differences in chromosome number among cells of the same plant ranged from 1 to 3, indicating somatic instability. Flow cytometric analysis also indicated the aneuploid nature of Pa plants. Although the reproductive mechanisms need to be characterized more extensively by cytological and molecular means, the observations suggest that alien pollinations may have resulted in parthenogenetic (Pa) egg cell development, or some other unusual reproductive events. The production of wide-crosses and high degrees of aneuploidy could be of use for several types of genomic studies, e.g., functional genomic characterization of genome shock, deletion mapping, and germplasm introgression.     

Molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cows, goats and sheep with intramammary infections on the basis of gene polymorphisms and toxins genes

We investigated 116 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cows, goats and sheep with intramammary infections (IMI) in Italy to provide information about the spread of enterotoxigenic strains and to compare strains isolated from different ruminant species. The isolates were typed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the coagulase (coa) gene, by analysis of polymorphisms of the X region of protein A (spa) gene and by detection of genes encoding enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, sej and sel). Seven different coa types and 12 different spa types were distinguished. On the basis of polymerase chain reaction-RFLP, 29 different coa subtypes were identified. Two different coa subtypes accounted for 49% and 67% of bovine and ovine isolates respectively. Only seven coa subtypes were observed in isolates from more than one host species and no coa subtype was present in isolates from all three ruminant species. Furthermore, 85 of the isolates (73%) harboured at least one enterotoxin gene (se) with a predominance of sea, sed and sej among isolates from bovine IMI, and sec and sel among isolates from caprine and ovine IMI. Comparing the S. aureus isolates on the basis of gene polymorphisms and presence of se genes, significant differences were found in distributions of genotypes among isolates from cows, goats and sheep.     

Novel approach to the detection and quantification of phenolic compounds in olive oil based on 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

31P NMR spectroscopy has been employed to detect and quantify phenolic compounds in the polar fraction of virgin olive oil. This novel analytical method is based on the derivatization of the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of phenolic compounds with 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyldioxaphospholane and the identification of the phosphitylated compounds on the basis of the 31P chemical shifts. Quantification of a large number of phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil can be accomplished by integration of the appropriate signals in the 31P NMR spectrum and the use of the phosphitylated cyclohexanol as internal standard. Finally, the validity of this technique for quantitative measurements was thoroughly examined.     

Highlighting the Biotechnological Potential of Deep Oceanic Crust Fungi through the Prism of Their Antimicrobial Activity

Among the different tools to address the antibiotic resistance crisis, bioprospecting in complex uncharted habitats to detect novel microorganisms putatively producing original antimicrobial compounds can definitely increase the current therapeutic arsenal of antibiotics. Fungi from numerous habitats have been widely screened for their ability to express specific biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) involved in the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds. Here, a collection of unique 75 deep oceanic crust fungi was screened to evaluate their biotechnological potential through the prism of their antimicrobial activity using a polyphasic approach. After a first genetic screening to detect specific BGCs, a second step consisted of an antimicrobial screening that tested the most promising isolates against 11 microbial targets. Here, 12 fungal isolates showed at least one antibacterial and/or antifungal activity (static or lytic) against human pathogens. This analysis also revealed that Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Enterococcus faecalis CIP A 186 were the most impacted, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. A specific focus on three fungal isolates allowed us to detect interesting activity of crude extracts against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, complementary mass spectrometry (MS)-based molecular networking analyses were performed to putatively assign the fungal metabolites and raise hypotheses to link them to the observed antimicrobial activities.