Assessment of genetic variation in common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) from Nebrodi mountains (Sicily,Italy)

This study was carried out to estimate the level of diversity existing within some common bean landraces still cultivated in Nebrodi mountains, North-western area of Sicily. The multidisciplinary approach adopted to reach this goal involved the characterisation of collected material through morphological, biochemical and molecular marker analyses. The nutritional quality of seeds was also investigated in view of the proposition of the best landraces as niche products. Results showed that those bean landraces retain a considerable level of heterogeneity. The use of both biochemical and molecular markers showed that all landraces clustered into two main groups, corresponding to the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools. Our results suggest that the best strategy for preserving the diversity of common bean from a restricted area such as Nebrodi mountains, necessitates of a deep knowledge of germplasm to avoid the loss of precious genetic resources or, on the contrary, the safeguard of populations genetically redundant.     

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in cats from Italy

One hundred and eighty one cats living in central Italy were tested for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infection by IFAT test and specific PCRs. Overall eight (4.4%) samples were IFAT-positive for Giardia. All the IFAT-positive samples for Giardia scored positive for the PCRs, and three more samples IFAT-negative generated PCR products leading to a total 6.1% molecular positivity rate for Giardia. All the examined samples were negative for Cryptosporidium. Sequencing of samples molecularly positive to Giardia indicated that three cats harbored the zoonotic Giardia duodenalis Assemblage A, whereas all other positive animals were infected with the feline-specific G. duodenalis Assemblage F. Phylogenetic analysis carried out on the sequences obtained supported the clustering of the isolates within Assemblages A and F. The results here presented provide data on the occurrence of Giardia genotypes in cats living in close contact with humans highlighting the potential importance of this protozoan disease for the public health.     

The potential for zoonotic transmission of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. from beef and dairy cattle in Ontario, Canada

The objective of this study was to compare the occurrence and the genotypes and species of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in beef and dairy cattle from farms in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, in an effort to determine the potential for zoonotic transmission from these animals. Pooled manure samples were collected from 45 dairy cattle farms and 30 beef cattle farms. The presence of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy, while nested-PCR and DNA sequencing were used to determine genotypes and species. The overall farm prevalence was very high for both Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and was similar for dairy cattle farms (96 and 64%, respectively) and beef cattle farms (97 and 63%, respectively). However, on dairy cattle farms, G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 44% and 6% of total pooled pen manure samples, respectively, with the occurrence of both parasites being generally higher in calves than in older animals. Most Giardia isolates were identified as either the host-adapted genotype G. duodenalis Assemblage E or the zoonotic Assemblage B. Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium andersoni were the most frequently identified species in dairy cattle, while the non-zoonotic species Cryptosporidium ryanae and Cryptosporidium bovis were also found. On beef cattle farms, 72% and 27% of the total pooled pen manure samples were positive for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, respectively, with no obvious correlation with age. All Giardia isolates in beef cattle were identified as G. duodenalis Assemblage E, while all Cryptosporidium isolates were identified by sequence analysis as C. andersoni, although microscopic analyses, and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses, indicated that other Cryptosporidium species were also present. The results of this study indicate that although Giardia and Cryptosporidium were identified in a higher overall percentage of the pooled beef cattle manure samples than in dairy cattle, firmly established zoonotic genotypes and species were much more common in dairy cattle than in beef cattle in this region. Dairy cattle, and especially dairy calves, may, therefore, pose a greater risk of infection to humans than beef cattle. However, these results may also provide evidence of potential zooanthroponotic transmission (human to animal).     

Bioavailability of Cd in 110 polluted topsoils to recombinant bioluminescent sensor bacteria: effect of soil particulate matter

Purpose  

In this study, bioavailability and water extractability of Cd in a panel of 110 natural aged heavy metal-polluted soils from northern France containing up to 20.1 mg of Cd per kilogramme was evaluated.     

Biochemical properties and microbial community structure of five different soils after atrazine addition

Atrazine is one of the most used herbicides worldwide; however, consequences of its long-term agricultural use are still unknown. A laboratory study was performed to examine changes in microbial properties following ethylamino-¹⁵N-atrazine addition, at recommended agronomic dose, to five acidic soils from Galicia (NW Spain) showing different physico-chemical characteristics, as well as atrazine application history. Net N mineralization was observed in all soils, with nitrate being the predominant substance formed. The highest values were detected in soils with low atrazine application history. From 2% to 23% of the atrazine-¹⁵N was found in the soil inorganic-N pool, the highest values being detected after 9 weeks in soils with longer atrazine application history and lower indigenous soil N mineralization. The application of atrazine slightly reduced the amount of soil N mineralized and microbial biomass at short term. Soluble carbohydrates and β-glucosidase and urease activity decreased with incubation time, but were not significantly affected by the single application of atrazine. Microbial community structure changed as consequence of both soil type and incubation time, but no changes in the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) pattern were detected due to recent atrazine addition at normal doses. The saturated 17- to 20-carbon fatty acids had higher relative abundance in soils with a longer atrazine history and fungal biomass, as indicated by the PLFA 18:2ω6,9, decreased with the incubation time. The results suggested that the PLFA pattern and soil N dynamics can detect the long-term impact of repeated atrazine application to agricultural soils.     

A novel MCT1 and MCT4 dual inhibitor reduces mitochondrial metabolism and inhibits tumour growth of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) support tumour growth by regulating the transport of metabolites in the tumour microenvironment. High MCT1 or MCT4 expression is correlated with poor outcomes in human patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, drugs targeting these transporters have been developed and may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy resembling advanced or recurrent HNSCC. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of a previously characterized dual MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitor, MD‐1, in OSCC as a novel treatment approach for feline oral cancer. We also sought to determine the potential of feline OSCC as a large animal model for the further development of MCT inhibitors to treat human HNSCC. In vitro, MD‐1 reduced the viability of feline OSCC and human HNSCC cell lines, altered glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and synergized with platinum‐based chemotherapies. While MD‐1 treatment increased lactate concentrations in an HNSCC cell line, the inhibitor failed to alter lactate levels in feline OSCC cells, suggesting an MCT‐independent activity. In vivo, MD‐1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and prolonged overall survival in an orthotopic model of feline OSCC. Our results show that MD‐1 may be an effective therapy for the treatment of feline oral cancer. Our findings also support the further investigation of feline OSCC as a large animal model to inform the development of MCT inhibitors and future clinical studies in human HNSCC.     

Serum concentrations of leptin in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches

Leptin regulates body weight and several physiological processes including reproduction. We evaluated the circulating levels of leptin in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches as well as their correlation with body weight, food intake and number of foetuses. Nineteen healthy German shepherd bitches were used and divided in two groups (pregnant n = 12 and non-pregnant n = 7). Blood samples were collected every 15 days starting from ovulation (Day 0) throughout pregnancy (pregnant group, P) or throughout luteal phase (non-pregnant group, NP) In pregnant bitches, leptin concentrations increased from the day of ovulation (1.32 ± 0.06 ng/ml) up to day 45 (1.51 ± 0.06 ng/ml; p < .01) and returned to baseline values from day 60 post-ovulation. In non-pregnant bitches, leptin concentrations remained constant throughout the whole observation period (estimated marginal mean ± SE=1.33 ± 0.38 ng/ml). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between P and NP at day 45 post-ovulation (p < .05). Multivariable models indicated that, controlling for time and litter size, there was a positive relationship between leptin concentration and BW (p < .05) although Pearson coefficients showed that the correlation between BW and leptin was only significant in NP animals at day 45 (r = 0.76, p < .05). The multivariable approach also suggested that, holding BW and time constant, leptin concentrations tend to increase as the number of puppies increased (p = .06). Our study supports indirectly the contribution of the feto-placental unit to the circulating maternal leptin concentration.     

A New Micromonospora Strain with Antibiotic Activity Isolated from the Microbiome of a Mid-Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponge

To tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, it is essential to identify new bioactive compounds that are effective against resistant microbes and safe to use. Natural products and their derivatives are, and will continue to be, an important source of these molecules. Sea sponges harbour a diverse microbiome that co-exists with the sponge, and these bacterial communities produce a rich array of bioactive metabolites for protection and resource competition. For these reasons, the sponge microbiota constitutes a potential source of clinically relevant natural products. To date, efforts in bioprospecting for these compounds have focused predominantly on sponge specimens isolated from shallow water, with much still to be learned about samples from the deep sea. Here we report the isolation of a new Micromonospora strain, designated 28ISP2-46^T, recovered from the microbiome of a mid-Atlantic deep-sea sponge. Whole-genome sequencing reveals the capacity of this bacterium to produce a diverse array of natural products, including kosinostatin and isoquinocycline B, which exhibit both antibiotic and antitumour properties. Both compounds were isolated from 28ISP2-46^T fermentation broths and were found to be effective against a plethora of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. This study suggests that the marine production of isoquinocyclines may be more widespread than previously supposed and demonstrates the value of targeting the deep-sea sponge microbiome as a source of novel microbial life with exploitable biosynthetic potential.     

Effect of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) on soil‐phosphorus availability and organic acids

As a cover crop, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) may increase soil‐P availability. Buckwheat was grown in low‐P and P‐fertilized field plots, and organic anions were measured in rhizosphere soil. Soil‐P availability was not affected by buckwheat, but the concentration of rhizosphere tartrate^2– was significantly higher (p < 0.005) in low‐P vs. P‐fertilized plots. This suggests that organic‐anion root exudation may have a role in buckwheat‐rhizosphere P dynamics.