Spider mite infestation triggers coordinated hormonal trade-offs enabling plant survival with a fitness cost.

Tetranychus urticae is an important pest that causes severe damage to a wide variety of plants and crops, leading to a substantial productivity loss. Previous research has been focused on plant defence response to T. urticae to improve plant resistance. However, plant growth, development and reproduction throughout the infestation process have not been previously studied. Through physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic and hormonomic evaluation, we uncover the molecular mechanisms directing the defence-growth trade-off established in Arabidopsis upon T. urticae infestation. Upon mite attack, plants suffer an adaptation process characterized by a temporal separation between the defence and growth responses. Jasmonic and salicylic acids regulate the main defence responses in combination with auxin and abscisic acid. However, while the reduction of both auxin signalling and gibberellin, cytokinin and brassinosteroid biosynthesis lead to initial growth arrest, increasing levels of growth hormones at later stages enables growth restart. These alterations lead to a plant developmental delay that impacts both seed production and longevity. We demonstrate that coordinated trade-offs determine plant adaptation and survival, revealing mite infestation has a long-lasting effect negatively impacting seed viability. This study provides additional tools to design pest management strategies that improve resistance without penalty in plant fitness.

Biomarkers for personalised prevention of chronic diseases: a common protocol for three rapid scoping reviews.

INTRODUCTION: Personalised prevention aims to delay or avoid disease occurrence, progression, and recurrence of disease through the adoption of targeted interventions that consider the individual biological, including genetic data, environmental and behavioural characteristics, as well as the socio-cultural context. This protocol summarises the main features of a rapid scoping review to show the research landscape on biomarkers or a combination of biomarkers that may help to better identify subgroups of individuals with different risks of developing specific diseases in which specific preventive strategies could have an impact on clinical outcomes. This review is part of the "Personalised Prevention Roadmap for the future HEalThcare" (PROPHET) project, which seeks to highlight the gaps in current personalised preventive approaches, in order to develop a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for the European Union. OBJECTIVE: To systematically map and review the evidence of biomarkers that are available or under development in cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases that are or can be used for personalised prevention in the general population, in clinical or public health settings. METHODS: Three rapid scoping reviews are being conducted in parallel (February-June 2023), based on a common framework with some adjustments to suit each specific condition (cancer, cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases). Medline and Embase will be searched to identify publications between 2020 and 2023. To shorten the time frames, 10% of the papers will undergo screening by two reviewers and only English-language papers will be considered. The following information will be extracted by two reviewers from all the publications selected for inclusion: source type, citation details, country, inclusion/exclusion criteria (population, concept, context, type of evidence source), study methods, and key findings relevant to the review question/s. The selection criteria and the extraction sheet will be pre-tested. Relevant biomarkers for risk prediction and stratification will be recorded. Results will be presented graphically using an evidence map. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Population: general adult populations or adults from specific pre-defined high-risk subgroups; concept: all studies focusing on molecular, cellular, physiological, or imaging biomarkers used for individualised primary or secondary prevention of the diseases of interest; context: clinical or public health settings. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/7JRWD (OSF registration DOI).

Measuring gait parameters from a single chest-worn accelerometer in healthy individuals: a validation study.

Digital health technologies (DHTs) are increasingly being adopted in clinical trials, as they enable objective evaluations of health parameters in free-living environments. Although lumbar accelerometers notably provide reliable gait parameters, embedding accelerometers in chest devices, already used for vital signs monitoring, could capture a more comprehensive picture of participants' wellbeing, while reducing the burden of multiple devices. Here we assess the validity of gait parameters measured from a chest accelerometer. Twenty healthy adults (13 females, mean ± sd age: 33.9 ± 9.1 years) instrumented with lumbar and chest accelerometers underwent in-lab and outside-lab walking tasks, while monitored with reference devices (an instrumented mat, and a 6-accelerometers set). Gait parameters were extracted from chest and lumbar accelerometers using our open-source Scikit Digital Health gait (SKDH-gait) algorithm, and compared against reference values via Bland-Altman plots, Pearson's correlation, and intraclass correlation coefficient. Mixed effects regression models were performed to investigate the effect of device, task, and their interaction. Gait parameters derived from chest and lumbar accelerometers showed no significant difference and excellent agreement across all tasks, as well as good-to-excellent agreement and strong correlation against reference values, thus supporting the deployment of a single multimodal chest device in clinical trials, to simultaneously measure gait and vital signs.Trial Registration: The study was reviewed and approved by the Advarra IRB (protocol number: Pro00043100).

Contrasting plant transcriptome responses between a pierce-sucking and a chewing herbivore go beyond the infestation site.

BACKGROUND: Plants have acquired a repertoire of mechanisms to combat biotic stressors, which may vary depending on the feeding strategies of herbivores and the plant species. Hormonal regulation crucially modulates this malleable defense response. Jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) stand out as pivotal regulators of defense, while other hormones like abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), gibberellic acid (GA) or auxin also play a role in modulating plant-pest interactions. The plant defense response has been described to elicit effects in distal tissues, whereby aboveground herbivory can influence belowground response, and vice versa. This impact on distal tissues may be contingent upon the feeding guild, even affecting both the recovery of infested tissues and those that have not suffered active infestation. RESULTS: To study how phytophagous with distinct feeding strategies may differently trigger the plant defense response during and after infestation in both infested and distal tissues, Arabidopsis thaliana L. rosettes were infested separately with the chewing herbivore Pieris brassicae L. and the piercing-sucker Tetranychus urticae Koch. Moderate infestation conditions were selected for both pests, though no quantitative control of damage levels was carried out. Feeding mode did distinctly influence the transcriptomic response of the plant under these conditions. Though overall affected processes were similar under either infestation, their magnitude differed significantly. Plants infested with P. brassicae exhibited a short-term response, involving stress-related genes, JA and ABA regulation and suppressing growth-related genes. In contrast, T. urticae elicited a longer transcriptomic response in plants, albeit with a lower degree of differential expression, in particular influencing SA regulation. These distinct defense responses transcended beyond infestation and through the roots, where hormonal response, flavonoid regulation or cell wall reorganization were differentially affected. CONCLUSION: These outcomes confirm that the existent divergent transcriptomic responses elicited by herbivores employing distinct feeding strategies possess the capacity to extend beyond infestation and even affect tissues that have not been directly infested. This remarks the importance of considering the entire plant's response to localized biotic stresses.

Population Genomics Reveals the Underlying Structure of the Small Pelagic European Sardine and Suggests Low Connectivity within Macaronesia.

The European sardine (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum 1792) is indisputably a commercially important species. Previous studies using uneven sampling or a limited number of makers have presented sometimes conflicting evidence of the genetic structure of S. pilchardus populations. Here, we show that whole genome data from 108 individuals from 16 sampling areas across 5000 km of the species' distribution range (from the Eastern Mediterranean to the archipelago of Azores) support at least three genetic clusters. One includes individuals from Azores and Madeira, with evidence of substructure separating these two archipelagos in the Atlantic. Another cluster broadly corresponds to the center of the distribution, including the sampling sites around Iberia, separated by the Almeria-Oran front from the third cluster that includes all of the Mediterranean samples, except those from the Alboran Sea. Individuals from the Canary Islands appear to belong to the Mediterranean cluster. This suggests at least two important geographical barriers to gene flow, even though these do not seem complete, with many individuals from around Iberia and the Mediterranean showing some patterns compatible with admixture with other genetic clusters. Genomic regions corresponding to the top outliers of genetic differentiation are located in areas of low recombination indicative that genetic architecture also has a role in shaping population structure. These regions include genes related to otolith formation, a calcium carbonate structure in the inner ear previously used to distinguish S. pilchardus populations. Our results provide a baseline for further characterization of physical and genetic barriers that divide European sardine populations, and information for transnational stock management of this highly exploited species towards sustainable fisheries.

The Arabidopsis thioredoxin TRXh5regulates the S-nitrosylation pattern of the TIRK receptor being both proteins essential in the modulation of defences to Tetranychus urticae.

The interaction between plants and phytophagous arthropods encompasses a complex network of molecules, signals, and pathways to overcome defences generated by each interacting organism. Although most of the elements and modulators involved in this interplay are still unidentified, plant redox homeostasis and signalling are essential for the establishment of defence responses. Here, focusing on the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, we demonstrate the involvement in plant defence of the thioredoxin TRXh5, a small redox protein whose expression is induced by mite infestation. TRXh5 is localized in the cell membrane system and cytoplasm and is associated with alterations in the content of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Protein S-nitrosylation signal in TRXh5 over-expression lines is decreased and alteration in TRXh5 level produces changes in the JA/SA hormonal crosstalk of infested plants. Moreover, TRXh5 interacts and likely regulates the redox state of an uncharacterized receptor-like kinase, named THIOREDOXIN INTERACTING RECEPTOR KINASE (TIRK), also induced by mite herbivory. Feeding bioassays performed withTRXh5 over-expression plants result in lower leaf damage and reduced egg accumulation after T. urticae infestation than in wild-type (WT) plants. In contrast, mites cause a more severe injury in trxh5 mutant lines where a greater number of eggs accumulates. Likewise, analysis of TIRK-gain and -loss-of-function lines demonstrate the defence role of this receptor in Arabidopsis against T. urticae. Altogether, our findings demonstrate the interaction between TRXh5 and TIRK and highlight the importance of TRXh5 and TIRK in the establishment of effective Arabidopsis defences against spider mite herbivory.

A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals the key variables and scope of seed defense priming.

Background: When encountered with pathogens or herbivores, the activation of plant defense results in a penalty in plant fitness. Even though plant priming has the potential of enhancing resistance without fitness cost, hurdles such as mode of application of the priming agent or even detrimental effects in plant fitness have yet to be overcome. Here, we review and propose seed defense priming as an efficient and reliable approach for pathogen protection and pest management. Methods: Gathering all available experimental data to date, we evaluated the magnitude of the effect depending on plant host, antagonist class, arthropod feeding guild and type of priming agent, as well as the influence of parameter selection in measuring seed defense priming effect on plant and antagonist performance. Results: Seed defense priming enhances plant resistance while hindering antagonist performance and without a penalty in plant fitness. Specifically, it has a positive effect on crops and cereals, while negatively affecting fungi, bacteria and arthropods. Plant natural compounds and biological isolates have a stronger influence in plant and antagonist performance than synthetic chemicals and volatiles. Discussion: This is the first meta-analysis conducted evaluating the effect of seed defense priming against biotic stresses studying both plant and pest/pathogen performance. Here, we proved its efficacy in enhancing both, plant resistance and plant fitness, and its wide range of application. In addition, we offered insight into the selection of the most suitable priming agent and directed the focus of interest for novel research.

[Vitamin D deficiency in adulthood: Presentation of 2familial cases simulating pseudohypoparathyroidism]. / Deficiencia de vitamina D en la edad adulta: presentación de 2 casos familiares de seudohipoparatiroidismo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical and biochemical overlap of various pathologies of phosphocalcic metabolism can lead to misdiagnosis and consequent clinical management. One example is pseudohypoparathyroidism, which can be confused with vitamin D-dependent rickets (VDDR1) if appropriate biochemical determinations are not performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two pairs of siblings, from independent families, were clinically diagnosed in adolescence with pseudohypoparathyroidism due to hypocalcaemia, elevated parathyroid hormone levels and normal or elevated phosphorus values. After ruling out alterations in GNAS, a massive sequencing study of genes associated with other differential diagnoses was carried out. RESULTS: Two genetic variants in the CYP27B1 gene potentially associated with the phenotype were identified. Pathogenic variants in this gene are associated with VDDR1A. Clinical-biochemical re-evaluation of the patients confirmed this diagnosis and treatment was adapted. CONCLUSIONS: Although VDDR1A is an infrequently diagnosed pathology in adulthood, in cases of hypocalcaemia with elevated PTH values, determination of the 1,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3 forms of vitamin D is relevant to reach a correct diagnosis.

Jasmonic acid catabolism in Arabidopsis defence against mites.

Jasmonates are essential modulators of plant defences but the role of JA-derivatives has been scarcely studied, particularly in the plant-pest interplay. To deepen into the JA catabolism and its impact on plant responses to spider mite infestation, we selected the Arabidopsis JAO2 gene as a key element involved in the first step of the JA-catabolic route. JAO2 is responsible for the hydroxylation of JA into 12-OH-JA, contributes to attenuate JA and JA-Ile content and consequently, determines the formation of other JA-catabolites. JAO2 was up-regulated in Arabidopsis by mite infestation. Mites also induced JA-derivative accumulation in plants. In jao2 mutant lines, and in the triple mutant jaoT (jao2-1, jao3-1, jao4-2), mite feeding produced less leaf damage, minor callose deposition and lower mite fecundity rates than in Col-0 plants. The impairment of JA oxidation in jao2 lines not only diminished the 12-OH-JA levels but turned off further sulfation as shown the significant reduction of 12-HSO4-JA form. Thus, JAO2 acts as a negative modulator of defences to spider mites mediated by changes in the generation of JA catabolic molecules, and the consequent production of defensive metabolites such as glucosinolates or camalexin.

Towards a standardized initial training program in experimental microsurgery for pediatric surgeons. / Hacia un programa inicial de formación estandarizadoen microcirugía experimental para cirujanos pediátricos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a basic training program in microsurgery and to analyze the learning curve through the process, including improvement in operating times and functional outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our learning program included basic, transitional, and experimental models. The experimental model included tail vein cannulation, intestinal resection and anastomosis, dissection, division and anastomosis of the cava and aorta. Wistar rats (66.7% male; 406.9 ± 38.9 grams) were used. The program adhered to the 3R principle and obtained animal welfare committee approval. RESULTS: Mean tail vein cannulation time was 2.4 ± 1.2 minutes. Mean intestinal resection and jejunocolic anastomosis time was 14.8 ± 2.7 minutes and 10.4 ± 3 minutes, respectively. All anastomoses were functionally valid. Mean vessel dissection time was 22.9 ± 7.7 minutes, aortic artery anastomosis was 17.2 ± 7.1 minutes, and vena cava anastomosis was 25.9 ± 7.3 minutes. 66.7% of vena cava anastomoses were functionally valid vs. 88.9% for the aorta. The time required for all procedures decreased after the third attempt, except for vena cava anastomoses, which remained similar in all 9 procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Our model demonstrated that the procedures were suitable for trainer progression in terms of surgical time and functional outcome. Microsurgical training would benefit from standardized programs to optimize results.

OBJETIVO: Describimos un programa de formación básica en microcirugía y analizamos la curva de aprendizaje a través del proceso, incluyendo la mejora en los tiempos operatorios y en el resultado funcional del procedimiento. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Nuestro programa de aprendizaje incluye modelos básicos, de transición y experimentales. Dentro del modelo experimental se incluyeron: canulación de la vena de la cola, resección y anastomosis intestinal, disección, sección y anastomosis de la cava y la aorta. Se emplearon ratas Wistar (66,7% machos; 406,9 ± 38,9 gramos), el programa se adhirió al principio de las 3R y obtuvo la aprobación del comité de bienestar animal. RESULTADOS: El tiempo medio de canulación de la vena de la cola fue de 2.4 ± 1,2 minutos. El tiempo medio de resección intestinal y anastomosis yeyunocólica de 14.8 ± 2,7 minutos y 10.4 ± 3 minutos, respectivamente. Todas las anastomosis fueron funcionalmente válidas. El tiempo medio de la disección de vasos fue de 22,9 ± 7,7 minutos, la anastomosis de la arteria aorta de 17,2 ± 7,1 minutos, mientras que la anastomosis de la vena cava fue de 25,9 ± 7,3 minutos. El 66,7% de las anastomosis de la vena cava fueron funcionalmente válidas en comparación con el 88,9% de la aorta. El tiempo requerido para todos los procedimientos disminuyó después del tercer intento, excepto para las anastomosis de vena cava, que se mantuvo similar en los 9 procedimientos. CONCLUSIONES: Nuestro modelo demostró que los procedimientos eran adecuados para la progresión del entrenador en términos de tiempo quirúrgico y resultado funcional. La formación microquirúrgica se beneficiaría de programas estandarizados para optimizar los resultados.

Sequential teratoma in pediatric patients: causation or coincidence? / Teratoma de aparición secuencial en edad pediátrica: ¿casualidad o causalidad?

We describe the unusual case of a female patient with a history of two mature teratomas non-correlated in terms of location and occurrence. A 12-year-old girl presented at our consultation as a result of a growing tumor in the hypogastric region, with no further clinical signs. She had undergone surgery neonatally due to a mature cystic sacrococcygeal teratoma, which was fully removed. No clinical sequelae were noted and no additional treatment was required over a 10-year follow-up. Radiological examination showed a large 20 × 12 × 18 cm cystic mass extending from the pelvic region to the lower hemiabdomen, associated with two similar small formations adjacent to the right ovary. Tumor markers were negative, and a laparoscopic right salpingoophorectomy was carried out, with an excellent postoperative progression. Pathological examination revealed it was, again, a mature cystic teratoma. The genetic study ruled out causation in this respect.

Describimos el inusual caso de una paciente con antecedente de dos teratomas maduros no relacionados en cuanto a su localización y debut. Una niña de 12 años consultó por la aparición de una tumoración en la región hipogástrica de crecimiento progresivo sin otra clínica asociada. Había sido intervenida por un teratoma quístico maduro sacrococcígeo en el periodo neonatal con su extirpación completa y, ausencia secuelas clínicas y tratamiento adicional durante diez años de seguimiento posterior. Los exámenes radiológicos mostraron una gran masa quística de 20 × 12 × 18 cm que se extendía entre la región pélvica y el hemiabdomen inferior, acompañada por otras dos pequeñas formaciones similares adyacentes al ovario derecho. Los marcadores tumorales resultaron negativos y se llevó a cabo una salpingooforectomía derecha laparoscópica con una excelente evolución postoperatoria. El examen histopatológico, de nuevo, informó la lesión como teratoma quístico maduro. El estudio genético descartó una posible causalidad en este ámbito.

Incidental appendectomy in surgical treatment of ileocolic intussusception in children. Is it safe to perform? / Apendicectomía incidental en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la intususcepción ileocólica en niños. ¿Es segura?

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of ileo-colic intussusception (ICI) has been reported as the second cause of emergency laparotomy in children. The performance of incidental appendectomy after surgical reduction is currently controversial. The aim is to analyse the outcomes of performing incidental appendectomy after surgical ICI reduction with or without associated bowel resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients with ICI episodes, who underwent surgical treatment in our institution between 2005-2019. Patients were divided in two groups according to the performance of associated appendectomy (AA group) or not (NA group). Subsequently, a stratified analysis was performed according to the need for bowel resection in both groups. Demographic variables, intraoperative findings, surgical time, hospital stay, postoperative complications and recurrences were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (77 AA group; 24 NA group) were included, without differences in demographics or intraoperative findings. A total of 36 bowel resections were performed (24 group AA; 10 group NA), with no differences in surgical time (55.7 min in group AA vs. 61.2 min in group NA; p = 0.587) or hospital stay (median 5 days in both groups). There were also no differences in postoperative complications or recurrences between the two groups. Stratified analysis showed that bowel resection increases operative time, hospital stay and postoperative complications, regardless of whether associated appendectomy was performed or not. CONCLUSIONS: Incidental appendectomy during surgical treatment of ICI in children is a safe procedure that does not increase operative time, hospital stay, postoperative complications or recurrence.

OBJETIVO: El tratamiento quirúrgico de la intususcepción ileocólica (IIC) es la segunda causa más frecuente de laparotomía de urgencia en niños. La realización de una apendicectomía incidental tras la reducción quirúrgica sigue siendo motivo de controversia. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los resultados obtenidos al llevar a cabo una apendicectomía incidental tras la reducción quirúrgica de una IIC con o sin resección intestinal asociada. MATERIAL Y METODO: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en pacientes con episodios de IIC sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico en nuestro centro entre 2005 y 2019. Los pacientes se dividieron en dos grupos según se llevara a cabo apendicectomía asociada (grupo AA) o no (grupo NA). Posteriormente, se elaboró un análisis estratificado según la necesidad de practicar resección intestinal en ambos grupos. Se analizaron las variables demográficas, los hallazgos intraoperatorios, el tiempo quirúrgico, la estancia hospitalaria, las complicaciones posoperatorias y las recidivas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 101 pacientes (77 en el grupo AA, y 24 en el grupo NA), sin diferencias en las características demográficas ni en los hallazgos intraoperatorios. Se practicaron un total de 36 resecciones intestinales (24 en el grupo AA; 10 en el grupo NA), sin diferencias en el tiempo quirúrgico (55,7 min en el grupo AA frente a 61,2 min en el grupo NA; p = 0,587) ni en la estancia hospitalaria (mediana de 5 días en ambos grupos). Tampoco se registraron diferencias en términos de complicaciones posoperatorias o recidivas entre los dos grupos. El análisis estratificado mostró que la resección intestinal incrementa el tiempo quirúrgico, la estancia hospitalaria y las complicaciones posoperatorias, con independencia de si se lleva a cabo apendicectomía asociada o no. CONCLUSION: La apendicectomía incidental durante el tratamiento quirúrgico de la IIC en niños es un procedimiento seguro que no aumenta el tiempo quirúrgico, la estancia hospitalaria, las complicaciones posoperatorias ni las posibilidades de recidiva.

Perineal groove: an old, little known entity. / Surco perineal: un viejo poco conocido.

INTRODUCTION: Perineal groove is an infrequent midline malformation. It is a humid, mucosal, non-keratinized groove located at the perineal midline, extending from the vulvar fourchette to the anterior anal border. It is rare and usually asymptomatic, and it heals spontaneously in most cases. It is frequently mistaken for other malformations, which means correctly identifying it is essential to avoid iatrogenesis. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a female newborn with an asymptomatic lesion at the perineal midline consistent with anorectal malformation. Following assessment by the Pediatric Surgery Department, she was diagnosed with perineal groove. DISCUSSION: Perineal groove is a little known malformation among healthcare professionals as it is infrequent and there are not many publications in the literature about it. This case demonstrates how important it is to keep this abnormality in mind to avoid erroneous diagnoses, unnecessary treatments, and family stress.

INTRODUCCION: El surco perineal es una malformación infrecuente de la línea media. Se trata de un surco húmedo, mucoso y no queratinizado localizado en la línea media del periné desde la horquilla vulvar hasta el borde anal anterior. Es una malformación infrecuente, usualmente asintomática y de resolución espontánea en la mayoría de los casos. Esta anomalía es frecuentemente confundida con otras malformaciones por lo que su reconocimiento es fundamental para evitar yatrogenia. CASO CLINICO: Se presenta el caso de una recién nacida con una lesión asintomática en la línea media del periné sospechosa de malformación anorrectal. Tras valoración por el Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica se diagnosticó de surco perineal. COMENTARIOS: Debido a la infrecuencia y escasa documentación bibliográfica del surco perineal, esta malformación es desconocida para muchos sanitarios. Este caso expone la importancia de tener presente esta anomalía para evitar diagnósticos erróneos, tratamientos innecesarios y estrés familiar.

An automatic method to quantify trichomes in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Trichomes are unicellular or multicellular hair-like appendages developed on the aerial plant epidermis of most plant species that act as a protective barrier against natural hazards. For this reason, evaluating the density of trichomes is a valuable approach for elucidating plant defence responses to a continuous challenging environment. However, previous methods for trichome counting, although reliable, require the use of specialised equipment, software or previous manipulation steps of the plant tissue, which poses a complicated hurdle for many laboratories. Here, we propose a new fast, accessible and user-friendly method to quantify trichomes that overcomes all these drawbacks and makes trichome quantification a reachable option for the scientific community. Particularly, this new method is based on the use of machine learning as a reliable tool for quantifying trichomes, following an Ilastik-Fiji tandem approach directly performed on 2D images. Our method shows high reliability and efficacy on trichome quantification in Arabidopsis thaliana by comparing manual and automated results in Arabidopsis accessions with diverse trichome densities. Due to the plasticity that machine learning provides, this method also showed adaptability to other plant species, demonstrating the ability of the method to spread its scope to a greater scientific community.

Dual-species biofilms formation between dominant microbiota isolated from a meat processing industry with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica: Unraveling their ecological interactions.

Alternatives to combat the persistence of pathogens need to consider the microbiota established on industrial surfaces as they can influence the protection or replacement (i.e. reduction/inhibition) of pathogens. The objective of the present study was to determine the ecological interactions established in dual-species biofilms between Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica as target pathogens, and isolates recovered from a meat processing facility (i.e.Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas fragi, Bacillus safensis, Bacillus megaterium, and Candida zeylanoides). Results showed different ecological relations in biofilms depending on the species evaluated. Pseudomonas spp. did not influence the growth of either pathogen, although tested species tended to protect the pathogens in the structures generated. B. megaterium and C. zeylanoides affected the two pathogens differently, demonstrating a reduction of L. monocytogenes adhered cells within the formed biofilm. B. safensis reduced or presented non-influence on S. enterica depending on the incubation conditions. Contrarily, B. safensis was the microorganism that demonstrated the highest replacement capacity for L. monocytogenes, reducing its growth by up to 4 log CFU/cm2. The in vitro study of bispecies biofilms is important for the food industry, helping to understand how they behave and to find an effective way to eliminate them.

Hydroxynitrile lyase defends Arabidopsis against Tetranychus urticae.

Plant-pest interactions involve multifaceted processes encompassing a complex crosstalk of pathways, molecules, and regulators aimed at overcoming defenses developed by each interacting organism. Among plant defensive compounds against phytophagous arthropods, cyanide-derived products are toxic molecules that directly target pest physiology. Here, we identified the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) gene encoding hydroxynitrile lyase (AtHNL, At5g10300) as one gene induced in response to spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) infestation. AtHNL catalyzes the reversible interconversion between cyanohydrins and derived carbonyl compounds with free cyanide. AtHNL loss- and gain-of-function Arabidopsis plants showed that specific activity of AtHNL using mandelonitrile as substrate was higher in the overexpressing lines than in wild-type (WT) and mutant lines. Concomitantly, mandelonitrile accumulated at higher levels in mutant lines than in WT plants and was significantly reduced in the AtHNL overexpressing lines. After mite infestation, mandelonitrile content increased in WT and overexpressing plants but not in mutant lines, while hydrogen cyanide (HCN) accumulated in the three infested Arabidopsis genotypes. Feeding bioassays demonstrated that the AtHNL gene participated in Arabidopsis defense against T. urticae. The reduced leaf damage detected in the AtHNL overexpressing lines reflected the mite's reduced ability to feed on leaves, which consequently restricted mite fecundity. In turn, mites upregulated TuCAS1 encoding ß-cyanoalanine synthase to avoid the respiratory damage produced by HCN. This detoxification effect was functionally demonstrated by reduced mite fecundity observed when dsRNA-TuCAS-treated mites fed on WT plants and hnl1 mutant lines. These findings add more players in the Arabidopsis-T. urticae interplay to overcome mutual defenses.

The co-chaperone HOP3 participates in jasmonic acid signaling by regulating CORONATINE-INSENSITIVE 1 activity.

HOPs (HSP70-HSP90 organizing proteins) are a highly conserved family of HSP70 and HSP90 co-chaperones whose role in assisting the folding of various hormonal receptors has been extensively studied in mammals. In plants, HOPs are mainly associated with stress response, but their potential involvement in hormonal networks remains completely unexplored. In this article we describe that a member of the HOP family, HOP3, is involved in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway and is linked to plant defense responses not only to pathogens, but also to a generalist herbivore. The JA pathway regulates responses to Botrytis cinerea infection and to Tetranychus urticae feeding; our data demonstrate that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) hop3-1 mutant shows an increased susceptibility to both. The hop3-1 mutant exhibits reduced sensitivity to JA derivatives in root growth assays and downregulation of different JA-responsive genes in response to methyl jasmonate, further revealing the relevance of HOP3 in the JA pathway. Interestingly, yeast two-hybrid assays and in planta co-immunoprecipitation assays found that HOP3 interacts with COI1, suggesting that COI1 is a target of HOP3. Consistent with this observation, COI1 activity is reduced in the hop3-1 mutant. All these data strongly suggest that, specifically among HOPs, HOP3 plays a relevant role in the JA pathway by regulating COI1 activity in response to JA and, consequently, participating in defense signaling to biotic stresses.

Spider mite egg extract modifies Arabidopsis response to future infestations.

Transcriptional plant responses are an important aspect of herbivore oviposition studies. However, most of our current knowledge is derived from studies using Lepidopteran models, where egg-laying and feeding are separate events in time. Little is known regarding plant response to pests where females feed and oviposit simultaneously. The present study characterized oviposition-induced transcriptomic response of Arabidopsis to Tetranychus urticae egg extracts. Transcriptional evidence indicates that early events in plant response to the egg extract involve responses typical to biotic stresses, which include the alteration in the levels of Ca2+ and ROS, the modification of pathways regulated by the phytohormones jasmonic acid and ethylene, and the production of volatiles and glucosinolates as defence mechanisms. These molecular changes affect female fertility, which was significantly reduced when mites fed on plants pre-exposed to the egg extract. However, longer periods of plant exposure to egg extract cause changes in the transcriptional response of the plant reveal a trend to a decrease in the activation of the defensive response. This alteration correlated with a shift at 72 h of exposition in the effect of the mite feeding. At that point, plants become more susceptible and suffer higher damage when challenged by the mite.

Analysis of outcomes of emergency general and gastrointestinal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Few surgical studies have provided adjusted comparative postoperative outcome data among contemporary patients with and without COVID-19 infection and patients treated before the pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of performing emergency surgery in patients with concomitant COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Patients who underwent emergency general and gastrointestinal surgery from March to June 2020, and from March to June 2019 in 25 Spanish hospitals were included in a retrospective study (COVID-CIR). The main outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications and failure to rescue (mortality among patients who developed complications). Propensity score-matched comparisons were performed between patients who were positive and those who were negative for COVID-19; and between COVID-19-negative cohorts before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Some 5307 patients were included in the study (183 COVID-19-positive and 2132 COVID-19-negative during pandemic; 2992 treated before pandemic). During the pandemic, patients with COVID-19 infection had greater 30-day mortality than those without (12.6 versus 4.6 per cent), but this difference was not statistically significant after propensity score matching (odds ratio (OR) 1.58, 95 per cent c.i. 0.88 to 2.74). Those positive for COVID-19 had more complications (41.5 versus 23.9 per cent; OR 1.61, 1.11 to 2.33) and a higher likelihood of failure to rescue (30.3 versus 19.3 per cent; OR 1.10, 0.57 to 2.12). Patients who were negative for COVID-19 during the pandemic had similar rates of 30-day mortality (4.6 versus 3.2 per cent; OR 1.35, 0.98 to 1.86) and complications (23.9 versus 25.2 per cent; OR 0.89, 0.77 to 1.02), but a greater likelihood of failure to rescue (19.3 versus 12.9 per cent; OR 1.56, 95 per cent 1.10 to 2.19) than prepandemic controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 infection undergoing emergency general and gastrointestinal surgery had worse postoperative outcomes than contemporary patients without COVID-19. COVID-19-negative patients operated on during the COVID-19 pandemic had a likelihood of greater failure-to-rescue than prepandemic controls.