Nanoscale CuO charge and morphology control Fusarium suppression and nutrient biofortification in field-grown tomato and watermelon.

Limited data exist on how surface charge and morphology impact the effectiveness of nanoscale copper oxide (CuO) as an agricultural amendment under field conditions. This study investigated the impact of these factors on tomatoes and watermelons following foliar treatment with CuO nanosheets (NS-) or nanospikes (NP+ and NP-) exhibiting positive or negative surface charge. Results showed plant species-dependent benefits. Notably, tomatoes infected with Fusarium oxysporum had significantly reduced disease progression when treated with NS-. Watermelons benefited similarly from NP+. Although disease suppression was significant and trends indicated increased yield, the yield effects weren't statistically significant. However, several nanoscale treatments significantly enhanced the fruit's nutritional value, and this nano-enabled biofortification was a function of particle charge and morphology. Negatively charged nanospikes significantly increased the Fe content of healthy watermelon and tomato (20-28 %) and Ca in healthy tomato (66 %), compared to their positively charged counterpart. Negatively charged nanospikes also outperformed negatively charged nanosheets, leading to significant increases in the content of S and Mg in infected watermelon (37-38 %), Fe in healthy watermelon (58 %), and Ca (42 %) in healthy tomato. These findings highlight the potential of tuning nanoscale CuO chemistry for disease suppression and enhanced food quality under field conditions.

Changes in the serum proteome of patients with sepsis and septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is still the leading cause of death in the intensive care unit. Our goal was to elucidate potential early differences in serum between survivors (SURV) and non-survivors (NON-SURV) on day 28. METHODS: We applied proteomic technology to serum samples of patients with sepsis and septic shock. Serum samples from 18 patients with sepsis and septic shock were obtained during the first 12 h after diagnosis of septic shock. Patients were grouped into SURV and NON-SURV on day 28. RESULTS: Seven patients survived and 11 patients died. Using proteome analysis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis detected more than 200 spots per gel. A differential protein expression was discovered between SURV and NON-SURV, whereby protein alterations not yet described in sepsis were revealed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that proteomic profiling is a useful approach for detecting protein expression dynamics in septic patients, and may bring us closer to achieving a comprehensive molecular profiling compared with genetic studies alone.