scholarly journals Novel Virulent Bacteriophages Infecting Mediterranean Isolates of the Plant Pest Xylella fastidiosa and Xanthomonas albilineans

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 725
Author(s):  
Fernando Clavijo-Coppens ◽  
Nicolas Ginet ◽  
Sophie Cesbron ◽  
Martial Briand ◽  
Marie-Agnès Jacques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Infected Plant ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Genomic Features ◽  
Phylogeny Analysis ◽  
Plant Pest ◽  
European Regulations ◽  
Surrogate Host

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a plant pathogen causing significant losses in agriculture worldwide. Originating from America, this bacterium caused recent epidemics in southern Europe and is thus considered an emerging pathogen. As the European regulations do not authorize antibiotic treatment in plants, alternative treatments are urgently needed to control the spread of the pathogen and eventually to cure infected crops. One such alternative is the use of phage therapy, developed more than 100 years ago to cure human dysentery and nowadays adapted to agriculture. The first step towards phage therapy is the isolation of the appropriate bacteriophages. With this goal, we searched for phages able to infect Xf strains that are endemic in the Mediterranean area. However, as Xf is truly a fastidious organism, we chose the phylogenetically closest and relatively fast-growing organism X. albineans as a surrogate host for the isolation step. Our results showed the isolation from various sources and preliminary characterization of several phages active on different Xf strains, namely, from the fastidiosa (Xff), multiplex (Xfm), and pauca (Xfp) subspecies, as well as on X. albilineans. We sequenced their genomes, described their genomic features, and provided a phylogeny analysis that allowed us to propose new taxonomic elements. Among the 14 genomes sequenced, we could identify two new phage species, belonging to two new genera of the Caudoviricetes order, namely, Usmevirus (Podoviridae family) and Subavirus (Siphoviridae family). Interestingly, no specific phages could be isolated from infected plant samples, whereas one was isolated from vector insects captured in a contaminated area, and several from surface and sewage waters from the Marseille area.

scholarly journals Morphometric and Nutritional Characterization of the Main Spanish Lentil Cultivars

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 741
Author(s):  
Javier Plaza ◽  
M. Remedios Morales-Corts ◽  
Rodrigo Pérez-Sánchez ◽  
Isabel Revilla ◽  
Ana M. Vivar-Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Protein Food ◽  
Content Assessment ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Nutritional Characteristics ◽  
Clear Differentiation

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for high-quality vegetal protein food products, such as pulses and lentils in particular. However, there is no scientific evidence on the nutritional and morphometric characterization of the main lentil cultivars in the Western Mediterranean area. For this reason, the aim of this work is to carry out a morphometric and nutritional characterization of the main Spanish lentil cultivars. Nutrient content assessment was performed on dry matter. The results showed that all studied cultivars are large and heavy lentils, except for the cultivar “Pardina”. They have high protein levels, ranging from 21% to 25%, which is higher than those found in any other pulse, as well as a high carbohydrate content, greater than 59% in all cases. Fiber content was higher than expected in “Armuña” and “Rubia Castellana” cultivars, ranging from 6% to 6.6%, and exceptionally high in the case of the cultivar “Pardina”, which reached 7.8%. Conversely, very low values were found for fat content, varying between 0.5% and 0.9%. Ca, Fe and Mg levels were remarkably higher (from 550 ppm to 851 ppm, from 98 ppm to 139 ppm and from 790 ppm to 989 ppm, respectively) than those found for other lentil cultivars, especially the high Mg content in the cultivars “Jaspeada” and “Microjaspeada”, both above 955 ppm. Clear differentiation was found between the cultivars “Rubia Castellana”, “Pardina” and those included in the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Lenteja de la Armuña”. Overall, lentil cultivars included in the PGI “Lenteja de la Armuña” showed better morphometric and nutritional characteristics than cultivars “Pardina” or “Rubia Castellana”.

scholarly journals Analytical Characterization of Water-Soluble Constituents in Olive-Derived By-Products

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1299
Author(s):  
Pablo Doménech ◽  
Aleta Duque ◽  
Isabel Higueras ◽  
José Luis Fernández ◽  
Paloma Manzanares
Keyword(s):  
Olive Tree ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Olive Pomace ◽  
Olive Leaves ◽  
Olive Stone ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Tree Pruning ◽  
By Products

Olive trees constitute one of the largest agroindustries in the Mediterranean area, and their cultivation generates a diverse pool of biomass by-products such as olive tree pruning (OTP), olive leaves (OL), olive stone (OS), and extracted olive pomace (EOP). These lignocellulosic materials have varying compositions and potential utilization strategies within a biorefinery context. The aim of this work was to carry out an integral analysis of the aqueous extractives fraction of these biomasses. Several analytical methods were applied in order to fully characterize this fraction to varying extents: a mass closure of >80% was reached for EOP, >76% for OTP, >65% for OS, and >52% for OL. Among the compounds detected, xylooligosaccharides, mannitol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, and hydroxytyrosol were noted as potential enhancers of the valorization of said by-products. The extraction of these compounds is expected to be more favorable for OTP, OL, and EOP, given their high extractives content, and is compatible with other utilization strategies such as the bioconversion of the lignocellulosic fraction into biofuels and bioproducts.

scholarly journals scMET: Bayesian modeling of DNA methylation heterogeneity at single-cell resolution

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantriolnt-Andreas Kapourani ◽  
Ricard Argelaguet ◽  
Guido Sanguinetti ◽  
Catalina A. Vallejos
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Bayesian Modeling ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Differential Methylation ◽  
Hierarchical Bayesian Model ◽  
Genomic Features ◽  
Distinct Cell ◽  
Biological Heterogeneity

AbstractHigh-throughput single-cell measurements of DNA methylomes can quantify methylation heterogeneity and uncover its role in gene regulation. However, technical limitations and sparse coverage can preclude this task. scMET is a hierarchical Bayesian model which overcomes sparsity, sharing information across cells and genomic features to robustly quantify genuine biological heterogeneity. scMET can identify highly variable features that drive epigenetic heterogeneity, and perform differential methylation and variability analyses. We illustrate how scMET facilitates the characterization of epigenetically distinct cell populations and how it enables the formulation of novel hypotheses on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. scMET is available at https://github.com/andreaskapou/scMET.

scholarly journals Discovery of a Conjugative Megaplasmid in Bifidobacterium breve

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Bottacini ◽  
Mary O'Connell Motherway ◽  
Eoghan Casey ◽  
Brian McDonnell ◽  
Jennifer Mahony ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Dna Transfer ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Genomic Features ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bifidobacterium Breve ◽  
Extrachromosomal Element ◽  
Foreign Dna ◽  
Transfer Apparatus

ABSTRACTBifidobacterium breveis a common and sometimes very abundant inhabitant of the human gut. Genome sequencing ofB. breveJCM 7017 revealed the presence of an extrachromosomal element, designated pMP7017 consisting of >190 kb, thus representing the first reported bifidobacterial megaplasmid.In silicocharacterization of this element revealed several genomic features supporting a stable establishment of the megaplasmid in its host, illustrated by predicted CRISPR-Cas functions that are known to protect the host against intrusion of foreign DNA. Interestingly, pMP7017 is also predicted to encode a conjugative DNA transfer apparatus and, consistent with this notion, we demonstrate here the conjugal transfer of pMP7017 to representative strains ofB. breveandB. longumsubsp.longum. We also demonstrate the presence of a megaplasmid with homology to pMP7017 in threeB. longumsubsp.longumstrains.

scholarly journals Varietal and Geographical Origin Characterization of Peaches and Nectarines by Combining Analytical Techniques and Statistical Approach

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4128
Author(s):  
Gabriella Tamasi ◽  
Claudia Bonechi ◽  
Gemma Leone ◽  
Marco Andreassi ◽  
Marco Consumi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prunus Persica ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Chemometric Approach ◽  
Sims Analysis ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
Geographical Characteristics

Prunus persica L. is one of the most important fruit crops in European production, after grapes, apples, oranges and watermelons. Most varieties are rich in secondary metabolites, showing antioxidant properties for human health. The purpose of this study was to develop a chemical analysis methodology, which involves the use of different analytical-instrumental techniques to deepen the knowledge related to the profile of metabolites present in selected cultivars of peaches and nectarines cultivated in the Mediterranean area (Southern Italy). The comparative study was conducted by choosing yellow-fleshed peaches (RomeStar, ZeeLady) and yellow-fleshed nectarines (Nectaross, Venus) from two geographical areas (Piana di Sibari and Piana di Metaponto), and by determining the chemical parameters for the flesh and skin that allow for identification of any distinctive varietal and/or geographical characteristics. A combined analytical and chemometric approach was used, trough rheological, thermogravimetric (TGA), chromatographic (HPLC-ESI-MS), spectroscopic (UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR, NMR) and spectrometric (ToF-SIMS) analysis. This approach allowed us to identify the characterizing parameters for the analysis of a plant matrix so that the developed methodology could define an easily exportable and extendable model for the characterization of other types of vegetable matrices.

Functional and Evolutionary Characterization of a UDP-Xylose Synthase Gene from the Plant Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, Involved in the Synthesis of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

Biochemistry ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-792
Author(s):  
Valquíria Campos Alencar ◽  
Daniela Leite Jabes ◽  
Fabiano Bezerra Menegidio ◽  
Guilherme Lanzi Sassaki ◽  
Lucas Rodrigo de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

scholarly journals The hydrological response of baseflow in fractured mountain areas

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 3359-3384 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Millares ◽  
M. J. Polo ◽  
M. A. Losada
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Water System ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Linear Behavior ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Recession Curves

Abstract. The study of baseflow in mountainous areas of basin headwaters, where the characteristics of the often fractured materials are very different to the standard issues concerning porous material applied in conventional hydrogeology, is an essential element in the characterization and quantification of water system resources. Their analysis through recession fragments provides information on the type of response of the sub-surface and subterranean systems and on the average relation between the storage and discharge of aquifers, starting from the joining of these fragments into a single curve, the Master Recession Curve (MRC). This paper presents the generation of the downward MRC over fragments selected after a preliminary analysis of the recession curves, using a hydrological model as the methodology for the identification and the characterization of quick sub-surface flows flowing through fractured materials. The hydrological calculation has identified recession fragments through surface runoff or snowmelt and those periods of intense evapotranspiration. The proposed methodology has been applied to three sub-basins belonging to a high altitude mountain basin in the Mediterranean area, with snow present every year, and their results were compared with those for the upward concatenation of the recession fragments. The results show the existence of two different responses, one quick (at the sub-surface, through the fractured material) and the other slow, with linear behavior which takes place in periods of 10 and 17 days, respectively and which is linked to the dimensions of the sub-basin. In addition, recesses belonging to the dry season have been selected in order to compare and validate the results corresponding to the study of recession fragments. The comparison, using these two methodologies, which differ in the time period selected, has allowed us to validate the results obtained for the slow flow.

scholarly journals Detection and characterization of protease secreted by the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

2006 ◽  
Vol 161 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Maria Fedatto ◽  
Maria Estela Silva-Stenico ◽  
Augusto Etchegaray ◽  
Flávia T.H. Pacheco ◽  
Jorge L.M. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa

scholarly journals Characteristics of a Series of Three Bacteriophages Infecting Salmonella enterica Strains

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwaśnicka ◽  
Karolina Ciemińska ◽  
Michał Grabski ◽  
Łukasz Grabowski ◽  
Marcin Górniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Bacterial Biofilm ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Food Protection ◽  
Adsorption Rates ◽  
Potential Use

Molecular and functional characterization of a series of three bacteriophages, vB_SenM-1, vB_SenM-2, and vB_SenS-3, infecting various Salmonella enterica serovars and strains is presented. All these phages were able to develop lytically while not forming prophages. Moreover, they were able to survive at pH 3. The phages revealed different host ranges within serovars and strains of S. enterica, different adsorption rates on host cells, and different lytic growth kinetics at various temperatures (in the range of 25 to 42 °C). They efficiently reduced the number of cells in the bacterial biofilm and decreased the biofilm mass. Whole genome sequences of these phages have been determined and analyzed, including their phylogenetic relationships. In conclusion, we have demonstrated detailed characterization of a series of three bacteriophages, vB_SenM-1, vB_SenM-2, and vB_SenS-3, which reveal favorable features in light of their potential use in phage therapy of humans and animals, as well as for food protection purposes.

scholarly journals Natural Infection of Southern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum Interspecific Hybrids) by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (10) ◽  
pp. 2598-2605
Author(s):  
Dario Di Genova ◽  
Kippy J. Lewis ◽  
Jonathan E. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Significant Similarity ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Southern Georgia ◽  
First Time

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is an emerging insect-vectored, xylem-limited bacterium that can cause disease on several economically important fruit and tree crops including almond, blueberry, citrus, grapevine, peach, and pecan. On blueberry, Xf causes bacterial leaf scorch (BLS), which is prevalent in the southeastern United States. This disease, previously reported to be caused by Xf subsp. multiplex (Xfm), can result in rapid plant decline and death of southern highbush (SHB) blueberry cultivars. In 2017, a survey of blueberry plantings in southern Georgia (U.S.A.) confirmed the presence of Xf-infected plants in eight of nine sites examined, and seven isolates were cultured from infected plants. Genetic characterization of these isolates through single-locus and multilocus sequence analysis revealed that three isolates from two sites belonged to Xf subsp. fastidiosa (Xff), with significant similarity to isolates from grapevine. After these three isolates were artificially inoculated onto greenhouse-grown SHB blueberries (cv. ‘Rebel’), symptoms typical of BLS developed, and Xff infection was confirmed through genetic characterization and reisolation of the bacterium to fulfill Koch’s postulates. Because all previously reported Xf isolates from blueberry have been characterized as Xfm, this is the first time that isolation of Xff has been reported from naturally infected blueberry plantings. The potential impact of Xff isolates on disease management in blueberry requires further exploration. Furthermore, given that isolates from both Xfm and Xff were obtained within a single naturally infected blueberry planting, blueberry in southern Georgia may provide opportunities for intersubspecific recombination between Xff and Xfm isolates.

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