Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from New Caledonian ultramafic soils improve tolerance to nickel of endemic plant species.

In order to improve knowledge about the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the tolerance to heavy metals in ultramafic soils, the present study investigated the influence of two Glomus etunicatum isolates from New Caledonian ultramafic maquis (shrubland), on nickel tolerance of a model plant species Sorghum vulgare, and of two ultramafic endemic plant species, Alphitonia neocaledonica and Cloezia artensis. In a first step, plants were grown in a greenhouse, on sand with defined concentrations of Ni, to appreciate the effects of the two isolates on the alleviation of Ni toxicity in controlled conditions. In a second step, the influence of the AMF on A. neocaledonica and C. artensis plants grown in a New Caledonian ultramafic soil rich in extractable nickel was investigated. Ni reduced mycorrhizal colonization and sporulation of the fungal isolates, but the symbionts increased plant growth and adaptation of endemic plant species to ultramafic conditions. One of the two G. etunicatum isolates showed a stronger positive effect on plant biomass and phosphorus uptake, and a greater reduction in toxicity symptoms and Ni concentration in roots and shoots. The symbionts seemed to act as a barrier to the absorption of Ni by the plant and reduced root-to-shoot Ni translocation. Results indicate the potential of selected native AMF isolates from ultramafic areas for ecological restoration of such degraded ecosystems.

Endotherapia: a new frontier in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases.

Currently, several drugs are accessible for the treatment of many chronic diseases (multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), but most of them have a large list of side effects. Here, we propose a new therapeutic approach called Endotherapia for the treatment of chronic diseases. This approach combines a biomedical evaluation of circulating immunoglobulins directed against specific self-antigens and self-antigens modified by free radicals. The therapy proposed here is a "tailor-made" combination of small molecules (e.g., fatty acids and vitamins) linked to a non-immunogenic chain of poly-L.Lysine (PLL). Each individual linkage or PLL derivative offers great advantages, such as an increase in the half-life of the active small molecules. Endotherapia also involves clinical aspects, allowing an exact diagnosis of the disease and the identification of specific circulating antibodies in the serum of patients in several clinical trials (e.g., multiple sclerosis). Endotherapia has been shown to be very safe. In summary, Endotherapia is the result of an immunopathological strategy addressing chronic incurable diseases with a multifactorial etiology. In light of the results obtained, it seems that Endotherapia is a promising therapy for chronic diseases, with no side effects, which is evidently mandatory in the management of long-term pathologies.