Effect of Flavan-3-ols on the Adhesion of Potential Probiotic Lactobacilli to Intestinal Cells

The effect of dietary flavan-3-ols on the adhesion of potential probiotic lactobacilli strains to intestinal cells was unraveled. The inhibitory activity of these compounds on intestinal cells was highlighted. The cytotoxic effect was shown to depend on both the compound's chemical structure (galloylation and polymerization) and degree of differentiation of intestinal cells. The effect of flavan-3-ols on bacteria adhesion differed greatly between compounds, strains, and intestinal cells. All flavan-3-ols inhibited significantly Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Lactobacillus plantarum IFPL379 adhesion except epigallocatechin gallate, which enhanced L. acidophilus LA-5 adhesion to Caco-2. Procyanidins B1 and B2 increased remarkably the adhesion of Lactobacillus casei LC115 to HT-29 cells, whereas epigallocatechin increased L. casei LC115 adhesion to Caco-2. These data showed the potential of flavan-3-ols to alter gut microecology by modifying adhesion of lactobacilli strains to intestinal cells.     

Correction to: Propolis extract combined with oregano essential oil applied to lima bean seeds against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) play a role in suppression of plant pathogens during anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), but it is unclear how VFAs in anaerobic...     

New hosts for Lecanosticta acicola and Dothistroma septosporum in newly established arboreta in Spain

A historical outbreak of needle blight disease was recorded during 2018 to 2019 in plantations of Pinus radiata and Pinus nigra in the North of Spain. The main pathogens involved in this historical outbreak were identified as Lecanosticta acicola and Dothistroma septosporum. Recently, a variety of tree species in three arboreta planted between 2011 and 2013 in the Basque Country as part of the European project REINFFORCE were showing symptoms of needle blight and defoliation. The aim of this study was to determine which pine species were affected with these pathogens. Tree species sampled included several provenances of P. brutia, P. elliottii, P. nigra, P. pinaster, P. pinea, P. ponderosa, P. sylvestris and P. taeda. Using molecular identification methods, Lecanosticta acicola was confirmed infecting Pinus brutia (Provenance: Alexandropolis, Greece and var. eldarica, Crimea) and represents a new host species for this pathogen. Pinus elliottii (Provenance: Georgia, USA) and P. ponderosa (Provenance: Central California, USA) are new host reports of L. acicola for Spain. Dothistroma septosporum was found for the first time on P. brutia (Provenance: Marmaris, Turkey) and P. ponderosa (Provenance: Oregon, USA) in Spain and was also detected infecting P. nigra (Provenance: Sologne Vayrières, France).     

A coherent signature of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition to remote watersheds of the Northern Hemisphere

Humans have more than doubled the amount of reactive nitrogen (Nr) added to the biosphere, yet most of what is known about its accumulation and ecological effects is derived from studies of heavily populated regions. Nitrogen (N) stable isotope ratios ((15)N:(14)N) in dated sediments from 25 remote Northern Hemisphere lakes show a coherent signal of an isotopically distinct source of N to ecosystems beginning in 1895 ± 10 years (±1 standard deviation). Initial shifts in N isotope composition recorded in lake sediments coincide with anthropogenic CO(2) emissions but accelerate with widespread industrial Nr production during the past half century. Although current atmospheric Nr deposition rates in remote regions are relatively low, anthropogenic N has probably influenced watershed N budgets across the Northern Hemisphere for over a century.     

Dissecting temporal and spatial control of cytokinesis with a myosin II Inhibitor

Completion of cell division during cytokinesis requires temporally and spatially regulated communication from the microtubule cytoskeleton to the actin cytoskeleton and the cell membrane. We identified a specific inhibitor of nonmuscle myosin II, blebbistatin, that inhibited contraction of the cleavage furrow without disrupting mitosis or contractile ring assembly. Using blebbistatin and other drugs, we showed that exit from the cytokinetic phase of the cell cycle depends on ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Continuous signals from microtubules are required to maintain the position of the cleavage furrow, and these signals control the localization of myosin II independently of other furrow components.     

Simultaneous zoonotic transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci genotypes D, F and E/B to a veterinary scientist

Two groups of five 1-day-old conventional turkeys were housed in negative pressure stables to become experimentally infected with Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) at the age of 3 weeks. However, during the first 2 weeks, turkeys started to show respiratory disease characterized by rhinitis and dyspnoea. Routine bacterial and viral diagnoses remained negative. Therefore, pharyngeal swabs from the turkeys and from the veterinary scientist handling the animals were examined for the presence of Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci by using a combination of cell culture, nested PCR and ompA genotype-specific quantitative real-time PCR, as well as by serology. Results revealed simultaneous transmission of C. psittaci outer membrane protein A (ompA) genotypes D, F and E/B from infected turkeys to the veterinary scientist.     

Analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in dried ground ginseng root by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and -flame photometric detection

A method was developed to determine organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in dried ground ginseng root. Pesticides were extracted from the sample using acetonitrile/water saturated with salts, followed by solid-phase dispersive cleanup, and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with electron ionization mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring mode (GC-MS/SIM) and flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) in phosphorus mode. The detection limits for most of the pesticides were 0.025-0.05 microg/g using GC-FPD but were analyte-dependent for GC-MS/SIM, ranging from 0.005 to 0.50 microg/g. Quantitation was determined from 0.050 to 5.0 microg/g with r 2 > 0.99 for a majority of the pesticides using both detectors. Recovery studies were performed by fortifying the dried ground ginseng root samples to concentrations of 0.025, 0.1, and 1.0 microg/g, resulting in recoveries of >90% for most pesticides by GC-FPD. Lower (<70%) and higher (>120%) recoveries were most likely from complications of pesticide lability or volatility, matrix interference, or inefficient desorption from the solid-phase sorbents. There was difficulty in analyzing the ginseng samples for the OPs using GC-MS at the lower fortification levels for some of the OPs due to lack of confirmation. GC-FPD and GC-MS/SIM complement each other in detecting the OPs in dried ground ginseng root samples. This procedure was shown to be effective and was applied to the analysis of OPs in ginseng root samples. One particular sample, a ground and dried American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) root sample, was found to contain diazinon quantified at approximately 25 microg/kg by external calibration using matrix-matched standards or standard addition using both detectors. The advantage of using both detectors is that confirmation can be achieved using GC-MS, whereas the use of a megabore column in GC-FPD can be used to quantitate some of the nonpolar OPs without the use of matrix-matched standards or standard addition.     

Pan‐continental invasion of Pseudorasbora parva: towards a better understanding of freshwater fish invasions

In recent years, policy‐makers have sought the development of appropriate tools to prevent and manage introductions of invasive species. However, these tools are not well suited for introductions of non‐target species that are unknowingly released alongside intentionally‐introduced species. The most compelling example of such invasion is arguably the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a small cyprinid species originating from East Asia. A combination of sociological, economical and biological factors has fuelled their rapid invasion since the 1960s; 32 countries (from Central Asia to North Africa) have been invaded in less than 50 years. Based on a combination of monitoring surveys (2535 populations sampled) and literature reviews, this paper aims to quantify and characterise important invasion parameters, such as pathways of introduction, time between introduction and detection, lag phase and plasticity of life history traits. Every decade, five new countries have reported P. parva introduction, mainly resulting from the movement of Chinese carps for fish farming. The mean detection period after first introduction was 4 years, a duration insufficient to prevent their pan‐continental invasion. High phenotypic plasticity in fitness related traits such as growth, early maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and the ability to cope with novel pathogens has predisposed P. parva to being a strong invader. The Pseudorasbora parva invasion has provided quantitative data for the development of 1) early warning systems across different spatial scales; 2) rapid eradication programmes prior to natural spread in open systems and 3) sound risk assessments with emphasis on plasticity of life history traits.