Generation and Evaluation of a Genome-Scale Metabolic Network Model of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942.

The reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models and their applications represent a great advantage of systems biology. Through their use as metabolic flux simulation models, production of industrially-interesting metabolites can be predicted. Due to the growing number of studies of metabolic models driven by the increasing genomic sequencing projects, it is important to conceptualize steps of reconstruction and analysis. We have focused our work in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942, for which several analyses and insights are unveiled. A comprehensive approach has been used, which can be of interest to lead the process of manual curation and genome-scale metabolic analysis. The final model, iSyf715 includes 851 reactions and 838 metabolites. A biomass equation, which encompasses elementary building blocks to allow cell growth, is also included. The applicability of the model is finally demonstrated by simulating autotrophic growth conditions of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942.

[Effect of water activity and temperature on competing abilities of Penicillium oxalicum against Fusarium oxysporum]. / Efecto de la actividad de agua y de la temperatura sobre el comportamiento de Penicillium oxalicum frente a Fusarium oxysporum.

The in vitro effect of water activity (0.995, 0.98, 0.95, 0.90 and 0.85) and temperature (25 and 15 degrees C) on competing abilities of the biocontrol agent Penicillium oxalicum against Fusarium oxysporum fsp. lycopersici, a tomato pathogen, and Fusarium oxysporum fsp. gladioli, a gladiolus pathogen, was evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of P. oxalicum to be applied as a biocontrol agent against these phytopathogenic fungi. Plates were inoculated in two points with P. oxalicum and one of the Fusarium species. Two different approaches were taken into account: the growth rate of each isolate and the Dominance Index (ID). P. oxalicum showed higher growth rates under most of the conditions tested except for 0.995 aw at both temperatures and at 0.98 and 15 degrees C. Similarly, P. oxalicum was dominating at 25 degrees C and < or = 0.95 aw, and at 15 degrees C and < or = 0.90 aw, while under the other conditions studied, mutual inhibition situations were found. This indicates a high ability of this species to successfully compete over a wide range of conditions and consequently the potential of P. oxalicum as a biocontrol agent against these Fusarium species.