Pine wilt disease: what do we know from proteomics?

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating forest disease caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a migratory endoparasite that infects several coniferous species. During the last 20 years, advances have been made for understanding the molecular bases of PWN-host trees interactions. Major advances emerged from transcriptomic and genomic studies, which revealed some unique features related to PWN pathogenicity and constituted fundamental data that allowed the development of postgenomic studies. Here we review the proteomic approaches that were applied to study PWD and integrated the current knowledge on the molecular basis of the PWN pathogenicity. Proteomics has been useful for understanding cellular activities and protein functions involved in PWN-host trees interactions, shedding light into the mechanisms associated with PWN pathogenicity and being promising tools to better clarify host trees PWN resistance/susceptibility.

Biological and proteomic analysis of a new isolate of the nematophagous fungus lecanicillium sp.

BACKGROUND: In our continuing search for biologically active natural enemies from North of Africa with special reference to Tunisian fungi, our teamwork screened fungi from different ecological habitats in Tunisia. Our previous study on the comparative effectiveness of filamentous fungi in the biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica, a taxon (Lecanicillium) showed high potentiality against M. javanica. We undertook the present study to evaluate the ability and understand the mechanism of this fungal parasite as a biological control candidate against the root-knot nematode M. javanica. This study used in vitro bioassays with fungal filtrate cultures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, and isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) methodology to characterize the biological and molecular features of this fungus. RESULTS: The microscopic and SEM observation revealed that Lecanicillium sp. exhibited exceptional hyperparasitism against M. javanica eggs. The hyphae of this fungi penetrated the eggs, causing destructive damage to the outer eggshell. The exposure to five concentrations of Lecanicillium sp. filtrate cultures showed high inhibition of egg hatching, which increases depending on the exposure time; the best results are recorded at 50%, 75%, and 100% dilutions after seven days of exposure. The SEM observation of nematode-parasitized eggs and juveniles suggests that the production of lytic enzymes degrades the egg cuticle and fungal hyphae penetrate unhatched M.javanica juveniles. Forty-seven unique proteins were identified from the Lecanicillium sp. isolate. These proteins have signalling and stress response functions, bioenergy, metabolism, and protein synthesis and degradation. CONCLUSION: Collectively, Lecanicillium sp. had ovicidal potentiality proved by SEM and proteomic analysis against root-knot nematode' eggs. This study recommended applying this biological control candidate as a bio-agent on vegetable crops grown in situ.

First record of the mermithid nematode worm Isomermis lairdi parasitizing black flies in Spain.

Mermithid nematodes are considered a promising biological control agent to reduce the population density of different blood-feeding vectors, i.e. black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), which are important pests of medical and veterinary interest worldwide. Immature larvae of black flies were collected in a rill from La Rioja (Northern Spain) in the summer of 2016. Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou, 1977 (Nematoda: Mermithidae) was found parasitizing eleven specimens of Simulium cryophilum s.l. (Rubtsov, 1959) (prevalence of 52%), which represent the first record of this nematode for Spain and the second for Europe. The confirmation of the nematode and the black fly species was carried out by both morphological and molecular approaches using the 18S ribosomal RNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the collected specimens were Isomermis lairdi (99.4-99.9% identity with homologues from Africa) with a sequence divergence of 0.2%. The role of Isomermis lairdi as an alternative tool in the biological control of black flies in Spain should be further explored.

Calculation of full process freezing time in minced fish muscle.

The present manuscript is the expansion of the method Modelling of freezing time described in a previous paper. This modeling was used for simulating freezing times required for the inactivation of anisakids. The method described here can also be used for a number of other applications where the time or the temperature of the food needs to be modeled. In general, when a food is brought from room temperature to temperatures below - 5 ∘ C , the temperature kinetics follow three different parts which include cooling from initial temperature to the initial freezing point, freezing from the freezing point to - 5 ∘ C in the center of the food, and cooling from - 5 ∘ C to the final temperature in the center of the food. The present customized procedure is mainly based upon established estimation procedures. Following the description of the methods, an example of the calculation for freezing hake (Merluccius merluccius) mince muscle is provided for each of the phases. The method consists in the following:•Calculation of the pre freezing and sub freezing times with a similar procedure but separately since the sample has different thermo physical properties in each stage (cooling).•Calculation of the freezing time first for an infinite flat plate, and then a correction is applied for the actual geometry (finite cylinder).•The total freezing time is the sum of the three separate parts of the freezing process.

Metagenomics Analysis Reveals an Extraordinary Inner Bacterial Diversity in Anisakids (Nematoda: Anisakidae) L3 Larvae.

L3 larvae of anisakid nematodes are an important problem for the fisheries industry and pose a potential risk for human health by acting as infectious agents causing allergies and as potential vectors of pathogens and microrganisms. In spite of the close bacteria-nematode relationship very little is known of the anisakids microbiota. Fresh fish could be contaminated by bacteria vectored in the cuticle or in the intestine of anisakids when the L3 larvae migrate through the muscles. As a consequence, the bacterial inoculum will be spread, with potential effects on the quality of the fish, and possible clinical effects cannot be discarded. A total of 2,689,113 16S rRNA gene sequences from a total of 113 L3 individuals obtained from fish captured along the FAO 27 fishing area were studied. Bacteria were taxonomically characterized through 1803 representative operational taxonomic units (OTUs) sequences. Fourteen phyla, 31 classes, 52 orders, 129 families and 187 genera were unambiguously identified. We have found as part of microbiome an average of 123 OTUs per L3 individual. Diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson) indicate an extraordinary diversity of bacteria at an OTU level. There are clusters of anisakids individuals (samples) defined by the associated bacteria which, however, are not significantly related to fish hosts or anisakid taxa. This suggests that association or relationship among bacteria in anisakids, exists without the influence of fishes or nematodes. The lack of relationships with hosts of anisakids taxa has to be expressed by the association among bacterial OTUs or other taxonomical levels which range from OTUs to the phylum level. There are significant biological structural associations of microbiota in anisakid nematodes which manifest in clusters of bacteria ranging from phylum to genus level, which could also be an indicator of fish contamination or the geographic zone of fish capture. Actinobacteria, Aquificae, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria are the phyla whose abundance value discriminate for defining such structures.

The artificial digestion method underestimates the viability of Anisakis simplex (s.l.) L3 present in processed fish products.

This work studied the performance of the artificial digestion method in terms of recovery and viability of Anisakis simplex third-stage larvae (L3) when previous treatments given to the infected fish muscle may accidentally render viable larvae. For that: a) hake mince was spiked with 10 L3/75g mince, frozen at -10, -15, -20, and -30 °C and immediately thawed, or stored for 12 or 24 h, and subjected to pepsin digestion; b) the mince was spiked under the same conditions, frozen at the above temperatures and thawed immediately. After manual recovery, L3 were assessed for viability, used to spike again the minced fish and subjected to pepsin digestion; c) the mince was spiked with 10 L3 which were: i) living (i.e. chilled), ii) freeze-surviving (live L3 had been previously recovered after freezing at -10 °C), or iii) dead (frozen at -30 °C or - 80 °C), and then subjected to pepsin digestion. Results showed that the artificial digestion method kills a significant number of larvae that may have survived freezing and thus may underestimate the number of viable larvae in a given batch. The method may also underestimate the infection level of fish batches containing dead larvae. It is suggested to take these limitations into account when designing digestion protocols for specific applications, especially when there is a risk of insufficiently treated or cooked fish batches or ready-to-eat foods.

Anisakis simplex (s.l.) resistance to the action of gastric enzymes depends upon previous treatments applied to infected fish mince and affects antigen release.

BACKGROUND: Freezing is considered the most suitable technological treatment to avoid Anisakis infection from eating raw or undercooked fish but modifications of their cuticles upon freezing may reduce their resistance to gastric fluids, provoking a greater release of allergens. This work aimed to study the relationship between freezing-induced modifications of Anisakis simplex s.l., antigen recognition, and resistance to oral and gastric digestion in spiked fish mince. RESULTS: (i) Differences between non-treated larvae and larvae that survived freezing / thawing were studied in terms of respiratory capacity, survival in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), recognition of antigens and allergens. (ii) Untreated (i.e. chilled) mince containing live larvae, mince frozen at two freezing rates, with a negative (uninfected) mince and a positive mince (infected with broken larvae) as controls, were subjected to the oral and gastric phases of a simulated digestion process. Anisakis able to survive freezing showed lower resistance to gastric fluid (i.e. faster mortality as compared to controls). Untreated larvae released significantly more antigens than freeze-surviving larvae but only after 96 h in SGF. In treatments rendering complete larvae mortality, the highest loss of larvae integrity was found upon fast freezing. There was a positive correlation between antigen release and the number of ruptures of larvae after the oral digestion phase, whereas a more complex trend was observed after oral plus gastric digestion phases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a new factor to consider for sensitized patients and suggest that the numbers of L3 should be reduced before industrial freezing to minimize risk. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quantitative Proteomics Comparison of Total Expressed Proteomes of Anisakis simplex Sensu Stricto, A. pegreffii, and Their Hybrid Genotype.

The total proteomes of Anisakis simplex s.s., A. pegreffii and their hybrid genotype have been compared by quantitative proteomics (iTRAQ approach), which considers the level of expressed proteins. Comparison was made by means of two independent experiments considering four biological replicates of A. simplex and two each for A. pegreffii and hybrid between both species. A total of 1811 and 1976 proteins have been respectively identified in the experiments using public databases. One hundred ninety-six proteins were found significantly differentially expressed, and their relationships with the nematodes' biological replicates were estimated by a multidimensional statistical approach. Results of pairwise Log2 ratio comparisons among them were statistically treated and supported in order to convert them into discrete character states. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirms the validity of the method. This comparison selected thirty seven proteins as discriminant taxonomic biomarkers among A. simplex, A. pegreffii and their hybrid genotype; 19 of these biomarkers, encoded by ten loci, are specific allergens of Anisakis (Ani s7, Ani s8, Ani s12, and Ani s14) and other (Ancylostoma secreted) is a common nematodes venom allergen. The rest of the markers comprise four unknown or non-characterized proteins; five different proteins (leucine) related to innate immunity, four proteolytic proteins (metalloendopeptidases), a lipase, a mitochondrial translocase protein, a neurotransmitter, a thyroxine transporter, and a structural collagen protein. The proposed methodology (proteomics and statistical) solidly characterize a set of proteins that are susceptible to take advantage of the new targeted proteomics.

Anisakis simplex products impair intestinal epithelial barrier function and occludin and zonula occludens-1 localisation in differentiated Caco-2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Anisakis spp. are nematode parasites found in a wide range of marine organisms. Human beings may accidentally become infected, showing the symptoms of anisakiasis and allergic responses. There has been evidence of increased intestinal permeability in A. simplex-sensitized subjects and that specific IgE titres increase in some allergic patients when fishery products are re-introduced into their diet. The aims of this work were to study the effect of A. simplex crude extract on the intestinal integrity and permeability by using Caco-2 cell monolayer. To analyse the capacity of Ani s 4 allergen to cross the epithelial barrier. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Cellular bioenergetics, transepithelial electrical resistance, viability, permeability, reactive oxygen species generation and immunofluorescent staining of tight junction proteins were analysed. A. simplex crude extract compromises the Caco-2 cell monolayer integrity in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is detected at 1 hour of culture and integrity is recovered after 24 hours of culture. The epithelial barrier disruption is accompanied by an increase in paracellular permeability and reactive oxygen species production and by a delocalization of occludin and zonula occludens-1. Finally, Ani s 4, a thermostable and resistant to digestion allergen with cystatin activity, is able to cross the epithelial barrier in Caco-2 monolayer and reach a cumulative mean percentage of 22.7% of total concentration in the basolateral side after 24 hours of culture. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that A. simplex induces an early and reversible alteration of integrity and permeability of Caco-2 cell monolayer and that an underlying mechanism of this effect would involve the oxidative stress and disruption of epithelial tight junctions. Additionally, it has been shown that Ani s 4 allergen is able to cross the epithelial barrier. These findings could explain the increased intestinal permeability observed in Anisakis-sensitized patients, the changes over time in IgE sensitization to A. simplex allergens, and the specific IgE persistence in Anisakis allergy.

Immunoreactive Proteins in the Esophageal Gland Cells of Anisakis Simplex Sensu Stricto Detected by MALDI-TOF/TOF Analysis.

In plant and animal nematode parasites, proteins derived from esophageal gland cells have been shown to be important in the host-nematodes relationship but little is known about the allergenic potential of these proteins in the genus Anisakis. Taking into account the increase of anisakiasis and allergies related to these nematodes, immunoreactive properties of gland cell proteins were investigated. Two hundred ventricles were manually dissected from L3 stage larvae of Aniskakis simplex s.s. to allow direct protein analysis. Denaturing gel electrophoresis followed by monochromatic silver staining which revealed the presence of differential (enriched) proteins when compared to total nematode extracts. Such comparison was performed by means of 1D and 2D electrophoresis. Pooled antisera from Anisakis spp.-allergic patients were used in western blots revealing the presence of 13 immunoreactive bands in the ventricular extracts in 1D, with 82 spots revealed in 2D. The corresponding protein bands and spots were excised from the silver-stained gel and protein assignation was made by MALDI-TOF/TOF. A total of 13 (including proteoforms) were unambiguously identified. The majority of these proteins are known to be secreted by nematodes into the external environment, of which three are described as being major allergens in other organisms with different phylogenetic origin and one is an Anisakis simplex allergen.

Respiratory analysis as a tool to detect physiological changes in Anisakis larvae subjected to stress.

Human infection due to eating fish parasitized by live Anisakis larvae in the third stage is considered an important health problem, and the application of treatments to ensure their mortality in the fish products is crucial to prevent the risk of infection. Mobility is used to assess viability, but mobile larvae may not always be infective and immobile larvae may be erroneously considered as non-viable. The objective was to establish whether the analysis of respiratory activity by means of the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of Anisakis could be used to identify subtle differences between larvae that were still considered viable in terms of their mobility but had been subjected to thermal and/or chemical stress. The metabolic modulators FCCP [carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone] and sodium azide were used and the basal, maximum, spare and residual respiration rates calculated. Results showed that maximum respiratory capacity of larvae subjected to freezing significantly decreased immediately after thawing, but after some acclimatization, they recovered their capacity fully. However, when these larvae were stored at 4.6 °C, their mitochondria became dysfunctional faster than those of untreated larvae. OCR also showed that mitochondria of larvae were affected by incubation at 37 °C in NaCl or gastric juice. To conclude, OCR of Anisakis in the presence of metabolic modulators can help to identify subtle changes that occur in the larva. These measurements could be used to characterize larvae subjected to various stresses so that a broader picture of Anisakis pathogenic potential can be gained.

Long-term immunosuppression for CNS mouse xenotransplantation: Effects on nigrostriatal neurodegeneration and neuroprotective carotid body cell therapy.

BACKGROUND: The use of long-term immunosuppressive treatments on neural transplantation has been controversial during the last decades. Although nowadays there is a consensus about the necessity of maintaining a permanent state of immunosuppression to preserve the survival of cerebral grafts, little is known about the effects that chronic immunosuppression produces both on the neurodegenerative process and on transplants function. METHODS: Here, we establish a new immunosuppressive protocol, based on the discontinuous administration of CsA (15 mg/kg; s.c.) and prednisone (20 mg/kg; s.c.), to produce long-term immunosuppression in mice. Using this treatment, we analyse the effects that long-term immunosuppression induces in a chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6,-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of parkinsonism and on the neuroprotective and neurorestorative anti-parkinsonian actions exerted by rat carotid body (CB) xenografts. RESULTS: This protocol preserves the survival of rat CB xenotransplants maintaining the general wellness of the grafted mice. Although permanent immunosuppression does not prevent the MPTP-induced cell death of nigral neurons and the consequent degeneration of dopaminergic striatal innervation, allowing for its use as Parkinson's disease (PD) model, it reduces the microglial activation and slightly declines the striatal damage. Moreover, we reported that chronic administration of immunosuppressant drugs does not alter the neuroprotective and restorative anti-parkinsonian actions of rat CB xenografts into parkinsonian mice. CONCLUSIONS: This new immunosuppressive protocol provides a new murine model to assay the long-term effects of cerebral xenografts and offer a pharmacological alternative to the commonly used genetic immunodeficient mice, allowing the use of genetically modified mice as hosts. In addition, it will permit the experimental analysis of the effects produced by human CB xenografts in the chronic PD murine model, with the final aim of using CB allografts as an option of cell therapy in PD patients.

Interplay among Resistance Profiles, High-Risk Clones, and Virulence in the Caenorhabditis elegans Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Model.

The increasing prevalence of nosocomial infections produced by multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently linked to widespread international strains designated high-risk clones. In this work, we attempted to decipher the interplay between resistance profiles, high-risk clones, and virulence, testing a large (n = 140) collection of well-characterized P. aeruginosa isolates from different sources (bloodstream infections, nosocomial outbreaks, cystic fibrosis, and the environment) in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. Consistent with previous data, we documented a clear inverse correlation between antimicrobial resistance and virulence in the C. elegans model. Indeed, the lowest virulence was linked to XDR profiles, which were typically linked to defined high-risk clones. However, virulence varied broadly depending on the involved high-risk clone; it was high for sequence type 111 (ST111) and ST235 but very low for ST175. The highest virulence of ST235 could be attributed to its exoU+ type III secretion system (TTSS) genotype, which was found to be linked with higher virulence in our C. elegans model. Other markers, such as motility or pigment production, were not essential for virulence in the C. elegans model but seemed to be related with the higher values of the statistical normalized data. In contrast to ST235, the ST175 high-risk clone, which is widespread in Spain and France, seems to be associated with a particularly low virulence in the C. elegans model. Moreover, the previously described G154R AmpR mutation, prevalent in ST175, was found to contribute to the reduced virulence, although it was not the only factor involved. Altogether, our results provide a major step forward for understanding the interplay between P. aeruginosa resistance profiles, high-risk clones, and virulence.

Changes over Time in IgE Sensitization to Allergens of the Fish Parasite Anisakis spp.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to Anisakis spp. can produce allergic reactions after eating raw or undercooked parasitized fish. Specific IgE is detected long after the onset of symptoms, but the changes in specific IgE levels over a long follow-up period are unknown; furthermore, the influence of Anisakis spp. allergen exposure through consumption of fishery products is also unknown. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the changes in IgE sensitization to Anisakis spp. allergens over several years of follow-up and the influence of the consumption of fishery products in IgE sensitization. METHODS: Total IgE, Anisakis spp.-specific IgE, anti-Ani s 1 and anti-Ani s 4 IgE were repeatedly measured over a median follow-up duration of 49 months in 17 sensitized patients. RESULTS: Anisakis spp.-specific IgE was detected in 16/17 patients throughout the follow-up period. The comparison between baseline and last visit measurements showed significant decreases in both total IgE and specific IgE. The specific IgE values had an exponential or polynomial decay trend in 13/17 patients. In 4/17 patients, an increase in specific IgE level with the introduction of fish to the diet was observed. Three patients reported symptoms after eating aquaculture or previously frozen fish, and in two of those patients, symptom presentation was coincident with an increase in specific IgE level. CONCLUSIONS: IgE sensitization to Anisakis spp. allergens lasts for many years since specific IgE was detectable in some patients after more than 8 years from the allergic episode. Specific IgE monitoring showed that specific IgE titres increase in some allergic patients and that allergen contamination of fishery products can account for the observed increase in Anisakis spp.-specific IgE level. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Following sensitization to Anisakis spp. allergens, the absence of additional exposure to those allergens does not result in the loss of IgE sensitization. Exposure to Anisakis spp. allergens in fishery products can increase the specific IgE level in some sensitized patients.

Ani s 11-Like Protein Is a Pepsin- and Heat-Resistant Major Allergen of Anisakis spp. and a Valuable Tool for Anisakis Allergy Component-Resolved Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Anisakis simplex is a fish parasite responsible for gastrointestinal and allergic symptoms in humans. The Ani s 11-like protein has been proposed as an Anisakis allergen because its primary structure is similar to that of Ani s 11. The aims of this work were to analyse the frequency of detection of the Ani s 11-like protein and assess its diagnostic value. METHODS: rAni s 11-like protein, rAni s 5 and rAni s 4 were expressed in Escherichia coli and rAni s 1 was produced in Pichia pastoris. Recombinant allergen detection patterns in 37 Anisakis-sensitised patients were determined. The stability to pepsin digestion and heat treatment of rAni s 11-like protein was also analysed by IgE immunoblotting. RESULTS: Ani s 11-like protein is a major allergen detected by 78% of Anisakis-allergic patients, and 13.5% of patients detect only the rAni s 11-like allergen. This allergen is heat stable because it retains its capability of binding IgE after boiling for 30 min and it is resistant to pepsin digestion for 120 min. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the Ani s 11-like protein is a pepsin- and heat-resistant major allergen (Ani s 11.0201) of Anisakis spp. and a valuable tool for Anisakis allergy component-resolved diagnosis.

Protein markers of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Steiner & Buhrer, 1934 (Nickle, 1970) populations using quantitative proteomics and character compatibility.

The Pine Wood Nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a severe forest pathogen in countries where it has been introduced and is considered a worldwide quarantine organism. In this study, protein markers for differentiating populations of this nematode were identified by studying differences among four selected Iberian and one American population. These populations were compared by quantitative proteomics (iTRAQ). From a total of 2860 proteins identified using the public database from the B. xylophilus genome project, 216 were unambiguous and significantly differentially regulated in the studied populations. Comparisons of their pairwise ratio were statistically treated and supported in order to convert them into discrete character states, suggesting that 141 proteins were not informative as population specific markers. Application of the Character Compatibility methodology on the remaining 75 proteins (belonging to families with different biological functions) excludes 27 which are incompatible among them. Considering only the compatible proteins, the method selects a subset of 30 specific unique protein markers which allowed the compared classification of the Iberian isolates. This approach makes it easier search for diagnostic tools and phylogenetic inference within species and populations of a pathogen exhibiting a high level of genetic diversity.

Evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antimicrobial Resistance and Fitness under Low and High Mutation Rates.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major cause of nosocomial and chronic infections, is considered a paradigm of antimicrobial resistance development. However, the evolutionary trajectories of antimicrobial resistance and the impact of mutator phenotypes remain mostly unexplored. Therefore, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed in lineages of wild-type and mutator (ΔmutS) strains exposed to increasing concentrations of relevant antipseudomonal agents. WGS provided a privileged perspective of the dramatic effect of mutator phenotypes on the accumulation of random mutations, most of which were transitions, as expected. Moreover, a frameshift mutagenic signature, consistent with error-prone DNA polymerase activity as a consequence of SOS system induction, was also seen. This effect was evidenced for all antibiotics tested, but it was higher for fluoroquinolones than for cephalosporins or carbapenems. Analysis of genotype versus phenotype confirmed expected resistance evolution trajectories but also revealed new pathways. Classical mechanisms included multiple mutations leading to AmpC overexpression (ceftazidime), quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) mutations (ciprofloxacin), oprD inactivation (meropenem), and efflux pump overexpression (ciprofloxacin and meropenem). Groundbreaking findings included gain-of-function mutations leading to the structural modification of AmpC (ceftazidime), novel DNA gyrase (GyrA) modification (ciprofloxacin), and the alteration of the ß-lactam binding site of penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) (meropenem). A further striking finding was seen in the evolution of meropenem resistance, selecting for specific extremely large (>250 kb) genomic deletions providing a growth advantage in the presence of the antibiotic. Finally, fitness and virulence varied within and across evolved antibiotic-resistant populations, but mutator lineages showed a lower biological cost for some antibiotics.

Chronic and progressive Parkinson's disease MPTP model in adult and aged mice.

Despite the different animal models of Parkinson's disease developed during the last years, they still present limitations modelling the slow and progressive process of neurodegeneration. Here, we undertook a histological, neurochemical and behavioural analysis of a new chronic parkinsonian mouse model generated by the subcutaneous administration of low doses of MPTP (20 mg/kg, 3 times per week) for 3 months, using both young adult and aged mice. The MPTP-induced nigrostriatal neurodegeneration was progressive and was accompanied by a decrease in striatal dopamine levels and motor impairment. We also demonstrated the characteristic neuroinflammatory changes (microglial activation and astrogliosis) associated with the neurodegenerative process. Aged animals showed both a faster time course of neurodegeneration and an altered neuroinflammatory response. The long-term systemic application of low MPTP doses did not induce any increase in mortality in either young adult or aged mice and better resembles the slow evolution of the neurodegenerative process. This treatment could be useful to model different stages of Parkinson's disease, providing a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and facilitating the testing of both protective and restorative treatments. Here, we show a new chronic and progressive parkinsonian mouse model, in young and aged mice. This model produces a stable degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway, continuous neuroinflammatory reaction and motor deficits. Aged animals showed a faster neurodegeneration and an altered neuroinflammatory response. This treatment could be useful to model different stages of PD and to test both protective and restorative therapeutic approaches.

Removal of Anisakis simplex allergens from infected fish during the washing step of surimi production.

BACKGOUND: The washing operation of fish muscle is one of the key steps in the production of surimi. The aim of this study was to assess in parasitised minced fish the effect of the washing steps on the allergen removal of Anisakis simplex and on protein yield during surimi processing. Experimentally infected hake (Merluccius merluccius) (50 Anisakis simplex s.s L3 larvae per 100 g of muscle) underwent three successive washing steps with water, phosphate buffer (20 mmol L(-1) ), sodium bicarbonate (60 mmol L(-1) ), or sodium hypochlorite (0.27 mmol L(-1) ) in the surimi processing (4 kg muscle, 1:4 w/v for each solution). Total protein concentration and A. simplex antigens and allergens were evaluated in each waste fraction. RESULTS: The highest removal of Ani s 4 and A. simplex antigens was achieved by using phosphate buffer, together with a good protein yield in the raw surimi. Decrease of the concentration of allergens and antigens as a function of the washing steps rendered a linear trend (R(2) = 0.95 and 0.98 for Ani s 4 and A. simplex antigens, respectively). CONCLUSION: The conditions for an optimal removal of Anisakis allergens can be established and calculated as a function of the washing steps. This approach opens a line to utilise parasitised fish in a safer way. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Biosafety Test for Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Proposed Environmental and Human Safety Index (EHSI) Protocol.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) colonize plants and enhance their growth by different mechanisms. Some of these microorganisms may represent a potential threat to human, animal or plant health; however, their use might be approved in parts of Europe if they have been recommended as plant growth enhancers. The current regulatory framework has resulted in a fragmented, contradictory system, and there is an urgent need to establish harmonized protocols for the predictability, efficiency, consistency and especially the safety of PGPB for human and animal health and for the environment. In response to current efforts to update biosafety policies and provide alternative methods to replace the use of vertebrate animals, we propose a panel of tests and an evaluation system to reliably determine the biosafety of bacterial strains used as PGPB. Based on the results of different tests, we propose a scoring system to evaluate the safety of candidates for PGPB within the limitations of the assays used.