Colletotrichum coccodes in potato and tomato leaves in Russia

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Colletotrichum coccodes is a plant pathogenic fungus affecting different organs of potato, tomato, and some other plants. The leaf infection with C....     

Late Holocene paleopedological records contained in tephra from El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, Mexico

High rates of pedogenesis on unconsolidated volcanic materials imply the accelerated generation of the soil memory. The purpose of this research was to extract the high resolution (centennial scale) paleopedological records from the Late Holocene paleosols of the El Chichón volcano formed during the last 2000 years. We studied buried monogenetic Andosols on the dated tephras and a pedocomplex formed from a set of thin ash layers deposited on older Acrisol derived from shales. Particle size distribution, DCB-extractable Fe, oxalate-extractable Fe, Al and Si, sand and clay mineralogy, organic carbon content and stable C isotope composition in humus were evaluated and interpreted as the elements of the soil memory. However, some differences were found in properties of two buried soils, especially in the kind of A horizons. We attribute such differences of individual Andosols to be caused by ancient human impact because it has been demonstrated that humid conditions persisted during the last 1300 years. Thus the drought that was supposed to provoke the collapse of the Maya civilization at the end of I millennium A.D., should have been a short-term event, below the resolution of this paleopedological record. The Andic Acrisol pedocomplex demonstrated the domination of the humid tropical climate over longer time intervals (probably major part of the Holocene) with possible minor dry episodes.     

Sexual conflict via maternal-effect genes in ZW species

In female heterogamous (ZW) species, sex-linked genes coding for maternal products that are packaged into the egg open a unique arena for genetic conflict that does not occur in male heterogamous (XY) species. Z-linked maternal-effect alleles that help sons and harm daughters are expected to go to fixation, as are W-linked alleles that help daughters and harm sons. This conflict differs from known cases of meiotic drive, because sex-specific ontogeny, physiology, and gene expression greatly simplify the genetic interactions that lead to sexual conflict. Selection on maternal-effect genes may substantially alter the evolution of ZW compared with XY systems.     

Echinochrome A Treatment Alleviates Fibrosis and Inflammation in Bleomycin-Induced Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease caused by the abnormal regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and is activated by non-regulated inflammatory cells and cytokines. Echinochrome A (EchA), a natural pigment isolated from sea urchins, has been demonstrated to have antioxidant activities and beneficial effects in various disease models. The present study demonstrates for the first time that EchA treatment alleviates bleomycin-induced scleroderma by normalizing dermal thickness and suppressing collagen deposition in vivo. EchA treatment reduces the number of activated myofibroblasts expressing α-SMA, vimentin, and phosphorylated Smad3 in bleomycin-induced scleroderma. In addition, it decreased the number of macrophages, including M1 and M2 types in the affected skin, suggesting the induction of an anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, EchA treatment markedly attenuated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, in a murine scleroderma model. Taken together, these results suggest that EchA is highly useful for the treatment of scleroderma, exerting anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Anticancer and Cancer Preventive Properties of Marine Polysaccharides: Some Results and Prospects

Many marine-derived polysaccharides and their analogues have been reported as showing anticancer and cancer preventive properties. These compounds demonstrate interesting activities and special modes of action, differing from each other in both structure and toxicity profile. Herein, literature data concerning anticancer and cancer preventive marine polysaccharides are reviewed. The structural diversity, the biological activities, and the molecular mechanisms of their action are discussed.     

Effect of Echinochrome A on Submandibular Gland Dysfunction in Ovariectomized Rats

Post-menopausal dry mouth or xerostomia is caused by reduced salivary secretion. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of echinochrome A (Ech A) in alleviating submandibular gland dysfunctions in ovariectomized rats that mimic menopause. Female rats that were eight-weeks-old were randomly divided into SHAM-6, -12; OVX-6, -12; and ECH-6, -12 groups (consisting of 6- and 12-weeks post-sham-operated, ovariectomized, and Ech A-treated ovariectomized rats, respectively). The ECH groups had lower body weight than OVX but similar food intake and estradiol or estrogen receptor β expression. However, the ECH groups had lower mRNA expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36), and lipid vacuole deposition than OVX mice. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and iron accumulation were lower in the ECH than in the OVX groups. Fibrosis markers, transforming growth factor β (Tgf-βI and Tgf-βII mRNA) increased in the OVX than SHAM groups but decreased in the ECH groups. Aquaporin (Aqp-1 and Aqp-5 mRNA) and mucin expressions were downregulated in the OVX groups but improved with Ech A. In addition, Ech A prevented post-menopausal salivary gland dysfunction by inhibiting lipogenesis and ferroptosis. These findings suggest Ech A as an effective remedy for treating menopausal dry mouth.     

Electron-induced oxygen desorption from the TiO2(011)-2x1 surface leads to self-organized vacancies

When low-energy electrons strike a titanium dioxide surface, they may cause the desorption of surface oxygen. Oxygen vacancies that result from irradiating a TiO2(011)-2x1 surface with electrons with an energy of 300 electron volts were analyzed by scanning tunneling microscopy. The cross section for desorbing oxygen from the pristine surface was found to be 9 (+/-6) x 10(-17) square centimeters, which means that the initial electronic excitation was converted into atomic motion with a probability near unity. Once an O vacancy had formed, the desorption cross sections for its nearest and next-nearest oxygen neighbors were reduced by factors of 100 and 10, respectively. This site-specific desorption probability resulted in one-dimensional arrays of oxygen vacancies.