Manipulating the soil microbiome to increase soil health and plant fertility

A variety of soil factors are known to increase nutrient availability and plant productivity. The most influential might be the organisms comprising the soil microbial community of the rhizosphere, which is the soil surrounding the roots of plants where complex interactions occur between the roots, soil, and microorganisms. Root exudates act as substrates and signaling molecules for microbes creating a complex and interwoven relationship between plants and the microbiome. While individual microorganisms such as endophytes, symbionts, pathogens, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are increasingly featured in the literature, the larger community of soil microorganisms, or soil microbiome, may have more far-reaching effects. Each microorganism functions in coordination with the overall soil microbiome to influence plant health and crop productivity. Increasing evidence indicates that plants can shape the soil microbiome through the secretion of root exudates. The molecular communication fluctuates according to the plant development stage, proximity to neighboring species, management techniques, and many other factors. This review seeks to summarize the current knowledge on this topic.     

Antibacterial evaluation of 1,4-benzoquinone derivatives

We investigated the antibacterial activity of some new 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives, previously prepared from 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone by Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, to find effective antibacterial agents. The antibacterial activity was first tested in vitro by the disk diffusion assay against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria, and then the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of active compounds was determined. The results showed that some 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives inhibit growth of both gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes), microorganisms that cause food poisoning and rheumatic fever. This study points out the antibacterial activity of some 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives.     

Peel tissue α-farnesene and conjugated trienol concentrations during storage of ‘White Angel’בRome Beauty’ hybrid apple selections susceptible and resistant to superficial scald

In a 2-year study, fruit from eight red- and eight yellow-skinned ‘White Angel’בRome Beauty’ hybrid selections were stored for 21 weeks at 0.5°C plus 1 week at 20°C and evaluated for the incidence and severity of superficial scald. Five red-skinned (R-03, R-20, R-22, R-48 and R-85) and three yellow-skinned (Y-26, Y-55 and Y-65) selections were examined in both seasons. Peel-tissue samples taken at 0, 7, 14 and 21 weeks of storage were analyzed for concentrations of α-farnesene and its conjugated trienol (CTol) oxidation products by HPLC with UV detection. Three red-fruited (R-44, R-48 and R-85) and five yellow-fruited (Y-38, Y-40, Y-55, Y-65 and Y-67) lines exhibited scald symptoms. The remaining lines (R-01, R-03, R-16, R-20, R-22, Y-07, Y-26 and Y-28) were free of scald. Overall, production of α-farnesene and accumulation of CTols were not closely correlated with scald susceptibility. Data for the selections most prone to scald, Y-65, Y-40 and R-44, were consistent with the proposed role of α-farnesene oxidation products in scald induction, but for Y-55 and R-48, which developed mild to moderate scald and accumulated very little CTols, the data conflicted with the α-farnesene oxidation–scald induction hypothesis. Also, scald-resistant lines Y-07 and R-22 produced high levels of α-farnesene and reached CTol concentrations comparable to those in several scald-susceptible lines. We conclude that if CTol do play a role in scald induction, there must be other mitigating factors of at least equal importance. Moreover, our findings support the proposal that oxidation products of α-farnesene are not essential for scald development in fruit with severely compromised antioxidative defenses, but free radicals and/or toxic volatiles generated by α-farnesene oxidation can exacerbate scald symptoms.     

A major ecosystem shift in the northern Bering Sea

Until recently, northern Bering Sea ecosystems were characterized by extensive seasonal sea ice cover, high water column and sediment carbon production, and tight pelagic-benthic coupling of organic production. Here, we show that these ecosystems are shifting away from these characteristics. Changes in biological communities are contemporaneous with shifts in regional atmospheric and hydrographic forcing. In the past decade, geographic displacement of marine mammal population distributions has coincided with a reduction of benthic prey populations, an increase in pelagic fish, a reduction in sea ice, and an increase in air and ocean temperatures. These changes now observed on the shallow shelf of the northern Bering Sea should be expected to affect a much broader portion of the Pacific-influenced sector of the Arctic Ocean.     

设计一所房子,幸福花开

杰奎琳·柯丽雅是一个喜欢旅行和冒险的室内设计师,她热衷于把旅行中不断产生的灵感带到她的设计作品中。现在,她和丈夫以及儿子生活在亚伯达市中心的一幢带花园的别墅中。房间里的每一样饰品和花园里每一棵植物都是她精心挑选设计而成的。杰奎琳柯丽雅是个     

Determination of soluble immunoglobulin G in bovine colostrum products by Protein G affinity chromatography-turbidity correction and method validation

Immunoglobulin-containing food products and nutraceuticals such as bovine colostrum are of interest to consumers as they may provide health benefits. Commercial scale colostrum products are valued for their immunoglobulin G (IgG) content and therefore require accurate analysis. One of the most commonly used methods for determining total soluble IgG in colostrum products is based on affinity chromatography using a Protein G column and UV detection. This paper documents improvements to the accuracy of the Protein G analysis of IgG in colostrum products, especially those containing aggregated forms of IgG. Capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) analysis confirmed that aggregated IgG measured by Protein G does not contain significant amounts of casein or other milk proteins. Size exclusion chromatography identified the content of soluble IgG as mainly monomeric IgG and aggregated material MW > 450 kDa with small amounts of dimer and trimer. The turbidity of the eluting IgG, mainly associated with aggregated IgG, had a significant effect on the quantitative results. Practical techniques were developed to correct affinity LC data for turbidity on an accurate, consistent, and efficient basis. The method was validated in two laboratories using a variety of colostrum powders. Precision for IgG was 2-3% (RSD(r)) and 3-12% (RSD(R)). Recovery was 100.2 ± 2.4% (mean ± RSD, n = 10). Greater amounts of aggregated IgG were solubilized by a higher solution:sample ratio and extended times of mixing or sonication, especially for freeze-dried material. It is concluded that the method without acid precipitation and with turbidity correction provides accurate, precise, and robust data for total soluble IgG and is suitable for product specification and quality control of colostrum products.     

In vitro inhibition of feline coronavirus replication by small interfering RNAs

Infection with virulent biotypes of feline coronavirus (FCoV) can result in the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a typically fatal immune mediated disease for which there is currently no effective antiviral treatment. In this study we demonstrate the ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit the replication of virulent FCoV strain FIPV WSU 79-1146 in an immortalised feline cell line. A panel of eight synthetic siRNAs targeting four different regions of the FCoV genome were tested for antiviral effects. Efficacy was determined by qRT-PCR of intracellular viral genomic and messenger RNA, TCID50 infectivity assay of extracellular virus, and direct IFA for viral protein expression. All siRNAs demonstrated an inhibitory effect on viral replication in vitro. The two most effective siRNAs, targeting the untranslated 5' leader sequence (L2) and the nucleocapsid gene (N1), resulted in a >95% reduction in extracellular viral titre. Further characterisation of these two siRNAs demonstrated their efficacy when used at low concentrations and in cells challenged with high viral loads. Taken together these findings provide important information for the potential therapeutic application of RNAi in treating FIP.