Identification and distribution of species of Neofusicoccum that cause blueberry stem blight in Chile.

Stem blight is a destructive woody disease of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) caused by several species of the family Botryosphaeriaceae. A field survey was conducted in the mayor blueberry production area of Chile, comprising latitudes 32°49'S to 40°55'S, to determine the occurrence and distribution of Botryosphaeriaceae in the region. Together, a multilocus analysis, morphological characterization, and phytopathogenicity testing were used to identify 51 Neofusicoccum isolates belonging to N. nonquaesitum (28 strains), N. parvum (22 strains), and N. australe (1 strain). Of these, N. parvum and N. nonquaesitum were the most commonly found, with N. parvum most frequent from latitude 37°40'S to the north and N. nonquaesitum predominantly located from the same latitude toward the south. Morphological traits of the isolates were consistent with the species identified by molecular techniques, despite the overlapping of conidial size of some isolates among species. Pathogenicity trials showed that the three species were pathogenic to blueberry plants and revealed that N. parvum and N. nonquaesitum were the most aggressive species, although variability in virulence was observed among isolates of N. parvum and N. nonquaesitum.

Presencia de síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en estudiantes de medicina durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Anxiety and depression among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Medical students are especially prone to anxiety and depression. AIM: To characterize the presence of anxiety and depression and their association with gender and academic year among medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Standardized electronic surveys about anxiety and depression symptoms were sent to 498 medical students with a response rate of 78%. Results: We analyzed 359 surveys. A mean of 11.4 points out of 27 was observed in the depression symptoms scale. Also, 23 and 10% of respondents had moderately severe or symptoms of depression, respectively. A mean of 8.9 out of 21 points in the anxiety symptoms scale was observed. Moderate or severe anxiety symptoms were present in 26 and 15% of respondents, respectively. Women and preclinical students had higher depression and anxiety scores. CONCLUSIONS: A high presence of anxiety and depression symptoms was characterized among medical students during the pandemic. Preclinical students and women had higher scores in both scales.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain RGM 3321, a Phyllosphere Endophyte from Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. patagonica.

Pseudomonas sp. strain RGM 3321 is a phyllosphere endophyte from Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. patagonica that harbors genes associated with plant growth promotion pathways, as well as genes typically found in plant pathogens.

[Anxiety and depression among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic]. / Presencia de síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en estudiantes de medicina durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Medical students are especially prone to anxiety and depression. AIM: To characterize the presence of anxiety and depression and their association with gender and academic year among medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Standardized electronic surveys about anxiety and depression symptoms were sent to 498 medical students with a response rate of 78%. RESULTS: We analyzed 359 surveys. A mean of 11.4 points out of 27 was observed in the depression symptoms scale. Also, 23 and 10% of respondents had moderately severe or symptoms of depression, respectively. A mean of 8.9 out of 21 points in the anxiety symptoms scale was observed. Moderate or severe anxiety symptoms were present in 26 and 15% of respondents, respectively. Women and preclinical students had higher depression and anxiety scores. CONCLUSIONS: A high presence of anxiety and depression symptoms was characterized among medical students during the pandemic. Preclinical students and women had higher scores in both scales.

Enzymatic production of lactulose by fed-batch and repeated fed-batch reactor.

The effects of the most significant operational variables on reactor performance of fed-batch and repeated fed-batch were evaluated in the lactulose production by enzymatic transgalactosylation. Feed flowrate in the fed stage (F) and fructose to lactose molar ratio (Fr/L) were the variables that mostly affected the values ​​of lactulose yield (YLu), lactulose productivity (πLu) and selectivity of transgalactosylation (SLu/TOS). Maximum YLu of 0.21 g lactulose per g lactose was obtained at 50% w/w inlet carbohydrates concentration (IC) of, 50 °C, Fr/L 8, F 1 mL⋅min-1, 200 IU∙gLactose-1 reactor enzyme load and pH 4.5. At these conditions the selectivity was 7.4, productivity was 0.71 gLu∙g-1∙h-1and lactose conversion was 0.66. The operation by repeated fed batch increases the efficiency of use of the biocatalysts (EB) and the accumulated productivity compared to batch and fed batch operation with the same biocatalyst. EB obtained was 4.13 gLu∙mgbiocatalyst protein-1, 10.6 times higher than in fed-batch.

Antifungal Activity of Beauveria bassiana Endophyte against Botrytis cinerea in Two Solanaceae Crops.

Botrytis cinerea causes substantial losses in tomato and chili pepper crops worldwide. Endophytes have shown the potential for the biological control of diseases. The colonization ability of native endophyte strains of Beauveria bassiana and their antifungal effect against B. cinerea were evaluated in Solanaceae crops. Root drenching with B. bassiana was applied, and endophytic colonization capacity in roots, stems, and leaves was determined. The antagonistic activity was evaluated using in vitro dual culture and also plants by drenching the endophyte on the root and by pathogen inoculation in the leaves. Ten native strains were endophytes of tomato, and eight were endophytes of chili pepper. All strains showed significant in vitro antagonism against B. cinerea (30-36%). A high antifungal effect was observed, and strains RGM547 and RGM644 showed the lowest percentage of the surface affected by the pathogen. Native strains of B. bassiana colonized tomato and chili pepper tissues and provided important levels of antagonism against B. cinerea.

Up-regulation of the kinin B2 receptor pathway modulates the TGF-ß/Smad signaling cascade to reduce renal fibrosis induced by albumin.

The presence of high protein levels in the glomerular filtrate plays an important role in renal fibrosis, a disorder that justifies the use of animal models of experimental proteinuria. Such models have proved useful as tools in the study of the pathogenesis of chronic, progressive renal disease. Since bradykinin and the kinin B2 receptor (B2R) belong to a renoprotective system with mechanisms still unclarified, we investigated its anti-fibrotic role in the in vivo rat model of overload proteinuria. Upon up-regulating the kinin system by a high potassium diet we observed reduction of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, decreased renal expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, reduced Smad3 phosphorylation and increase of Smad7. These cellular and molecular effects were reversed by HOE-140, a specific B2R antagonist. In vitro experiments, performed on a cell line of proximal tubular epithelial cells, showed that high concentrations of albumin induced expression of mesenchymal biomarkers, in concomitance with increases in TGF-ß1 mRNA and its functionally active peptide, TGF-ß1. Stimulation of the tubule cells by bradykinin inhibited the albumin-induced changes, namely α-SMA and vimentin were reduced, and cytokeratin recovered together with increase in Smad7 levels and decrease in type II TGF-ß1 receptor, TGF-ß1 mRNA and its active fragment. The protective changes produced by bradykinin in vitro were blocked by HOE-140. The development of stable bradykinin analogues and/or up-regulation of the B2R signaling pathway may prove value in the management of chronic renal fibrosis in progressive proteinuric renal diseases.