peer reviewed | An empirical approach for simulating the infection and progress of leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina) during stem elongation on winter wheat was analysed for the 2000 to 2006 growing seasons. The approach was elaborated based on night weather conditions (i.e., air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) and leaf rust occurrences. Data from three consecutive cropping seasons (2000-2002) at four representative sites of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg were used in the set-up phase. The capability to correctly simulate the occurrence expression of P. triticina infections on the upper leaf layers was then assessed over the 2003-2006 period. Our study revealed that the development of leaf rust required a period of at least 12 consecutive hours with air temperatures ranging between 8 and 16 °C, a relative humidity greater than 60 % (optimal values being 12-16 °C and up to 80 % for air temperatures and relative humidity, respectively) and rainfall less than 1 mm. Moreover, leaf rust occurrences and infections were satisfactorily simulated. The false alarm ratio was ranged from 0.06 to 0.20 in all the study sites. The probability of detection and critical success index for WLR infection were also close to 1 (perfect score). | Sentinelle

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and particulate air pollution are associated with inflammatory dysregulation. We assessed the modifying effects of diabetes medications on the association of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, and traffic exposure in adults with T2D (n = 379). CRP concentrations were significantly positively associated with residence ≤100 m of a roadway, >100 m and ≤200 m of a roadway and increased traffic density for individuals using insulin. For individuals using oral hypoglycemic medications (OHAs), CRP was significantly negatively associated with residence >100 m – ≤200 m of a roadway and multiple roadway exposure in an interaction model. Among people with diabetes, individuals on insulin appear to be most vulnerable to the effects of traffic exposure. Disease severity among insulin users may promote the pro-inflammatory response to traffic exposure, though diabetes medications may also modify the response. Possible anti-inflammatory effects of OHAs with traffic exposure merit further evaluation.

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are predicted to double within the next century and alter climate regimes, yet the extent that these changes will affect plant diseases remains unclear. In this study conducted over five years, we assessed how elevated CO2 and interannual climatic variability affect Cercospora leaf spot diseases of two deciduous trees. Climatic data varied considerably between the five years and altered disease expression. Disease incidence and severity for both species were greater in years with above average rainfall. In years with above average temperatures, disease incidence for Liquidambar styraciflua was decreased significantly. When significant changes did occur, disease incidence and severity always increased under elevated CO2. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of leaves revealed that any visible increase in disease severity induced by elevated CO2 was mitigated by higher photosynthetic efficiency in the remaining undamaged leaf tissue and in a halo surrounding lesions. Climatic variation had a greater impact than elevated CO2 on Cercospora diseases, especially since leaf photosynthetic efficiency increased under elevated CO2.

The goals of this study were to evaluate the contribution of sewage-derived N to reef flat communities in Guam and to assess the impact of N inputs on coral disease. We used stable isotope analysis of macroalgae and a soft coral, sampled bimonthly, as a proxy for N dynamics, and surveyed Porites spp., a dominant coral taxon on Guam’s reefs, for white syndrome disease severity. Results showed a strong influence of sewage-derived N in nearshore waters, with δ15N values varying as a function of species sampled, site, and sampling date. Increases in sewage-derived N correlated significantly with increases in the severity of disease among Porites spp., with δ15N values accounting for more than 48% of the variation in changes in disease severity. The anticipated military realignment and related population increase in Guam are expected to lead to increased white syndrome infections and other coral diseases.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues as a global pandemic. Patients with lung cancer infected with COVID-19 may develop severe disease or die. Treating such patients severely burdens overwhelmed healthcare systems. Here, we identified potential pathological mechanisms shared between patients with COVID-19 and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Co-expressed, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in patients with COVID-19 and LUAD were identified and used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and to perform enrichment analysis. We used the NetworkAnalyst platform to establish a co-regulatory of the co-expressed DEGs, and we used Spearman’s correlation to evaluate the significance of associations of hub genes with immune infiltration and immune checkpoints. Analysis of three datasets identified 112 shared DEGs, which were used to construct a protein-PPI network. Subsequent enrichment analysis revealed co-expressed genes related to biological process (BP), molecular function (MF), and cellular component (CC) as well as to pathways, specific organs, cells, and diseases. Ten co-expressed hub genes were employed to construct a gene-miRNA, transcription factor (TF)-gene, and TF-miRNA network. Hub genes were significantly associated with immune infiltration and immune checkpoints. Finally, methylation level of hub genes in LUAD was obtained via UALCAN database. The present multi-dimensional study reveals commonality in specific gene expression by patients with COVID-19 and LUAD. These findings provide insights into developing strategies for optimising the management and treatment of patients with LUAD with COVID-19.

Mitochondria are unique cell organelles, which exhibit multifactorial roles in numerous cell physiological processes, significantly preserving the integrity of neural synaptic interconnections, mediating ATP production, and regulating apoptotic signaling pathways and calcium homeostasis. Multiple neurological disorders occur as a consequence of impaired mitochondrial functioning, with greater sensitivity of dopaminergic (DA) neurons to mitochondrial dysfunction, due to oxidative nature and low mitochondrial mass, thus supporting the contribution of mitochondrial impairment in Parkinson’s disorder (neuronal damage due to curbed dopamine levels). The pathophysiology of the second most common disorder, PD, is potentiated by various mitochondrial homeostasis regulating genes, as discussed in the review. The PD symptoms are known to be aggravated by multiple mitochondria-linked alterations, like reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca2+ buffering, imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics (fission, fusion, mitophagy), biogenetic dysfunctions, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), protein aggregation, neurotoxins, and genetic mutations, which manifest the central involvement of unhealthy mitochondria in neurodegeneration, resulting in retarded DA neurons in region of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), causing PD. Furthermore, the review tends to target altered mitochondrial components, like oxidative stress, inflammation, biogenetic alterations, impaired dynamics, uncontrolled homeostasis, and genetic mutations, to provide a sustainable and reliable alternative in PD therapeutics and to overcome the pitfalls of conventional therapeutic agents. Therefore, the authors elaborate the relationship between PD pathogenesis and mitochondrial dysfunctions, followed by a suitable mitochondria-targeting therapeutic portfolio, as well as future considerations, aiding the researchers to investigate novel strategies to mitigate the severity of the disease.

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) with unique properties to protect tomato against the bacterial speck pathogen, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst). Protection of tomato against bacterial speck using ZONPS was evaluated by its direct antibacterial activity and its ability for inducing resistance in tomato plants. The results revealed that ZONPs showed significant direct antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato under laboratory conditions. Moreover, tomato plants treated with ZONPs showed a significant reduction in disease severity and bacterial proliferation relative to non-treated plants. Furthermore, tomato plants treated with ZONPs showed higher self-defense enzyme activity relative to untreated plants. The regulatory and defense genes, LePR-1a and Lipoxygenase (LOX), involved in the salicylic acid (SA) and (JA) signaling pathways, respectively, were highly expressed in tomato plants treated with ZONPs compared to untreated plants. Growth characters of tomato plants treated with ZONPs were significantly enhanced relative to untreated plants. The control of bacterial speck pathogen of tomato using ZONPs through its direct antibacterial and by developing of systemic resistance in treated tomatoes against the pathogen is considered the first report.

Wastewater management in Canadian Arctic communities is influenced by several geographical factors including climate, remoteness, population size, and local food-harvesting practices. Most communities use trucked collection services and basic treatment systems, which are capable of only low-level pathogen removal. These systems are typically reliant solely on natural environmental processes for treatment and make use of existing lagoons, wetlands, and bays. They are operated in a manner such that partially treated wastewater still containing potentially hazardous microorganisms is released into the terrestrial and aquatic environment at random times. Northern communities rely heavily on their local surroundings as a source of food, drinking water, and recreation, thus creating the possibility of human exposure to wastewater effluent. Human exposure to microbial hazards present in municipal wastewater can lead to acute gastrointestinal illness or more severe disease. Although estimating the actual disease burdens associated with wastewater exposures in Arctic communities is challenging, waterborne- and sanitation-related illness is believed to be comparatively higher than in other parts of Canada. This review offers a conceptual framework and evaluation of current knowledge to enable the first microbial risk assessment of exposure scenarios associated with food-harvesting and recreational activities in Arctic communities, where simplified wastewater systems are being operated.

Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum J. H. Owen is one of the major destructive soilborne diseases and results in considerable yield losses. Methyl bromide was once the most effective disease control method but has been confirmed as harmful to the environment. Using suppressive media as biological controls to assist crop growth is becoming popular. In this study, Fusarium wilt of cucumber was successfully controlled by a newly identified suppressive media: vinegar residue compost-amended media (vinegar residue compost mixed with peat and vermiculite in a 6:3:1 ratio (v/v) vinegar residue substrate (VRS). Greenhouse experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of VRS on the growth of cucumber seedlings and disease suppression. The control was peat/vermiculite (2:1, v/v). To identify the mixed media most suitable for the growth of plants and their suppressiveness indicators, we evaluated the biological characteristics of cucumber, the physicochemical and biochemical properties of the growth media, and the enzyme activities. Total organic C (Cₒᵣg), microbial biomass C (Cₘᵢc), basal respiration (Rₘᵢc), and enzyme (catalase, invertase, urease, proteinase, phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate) activities increased significantly after vinegar waste compost amendment. The compost media also showed a significantly positive effect on the growth of cucumber seedlings and the suppression of the disease severity index (DSI, 38 % reduction). The cucumber rhizosphere population of F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC) was significantly lower in VRS than in the control. These results demonstrate convincingly that vinegar residue compost-amended media has a beneficial effect on cucumber growth and could be applied as a method for biological control of cucumber Fusarium wilt.

Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, is one of the most destructive soilborne diseases and can result in serious economic loss. No efficient fungicide is currently available to control the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the disease suppression ability of pig manure and sludge composts in peat-based container media and explore the possible disease suppression mechanisms. Pig manure and sewage sludge compost were made in laboratory-scale tanks. Plant growth media were formulated with peat mixture and compost (or 60 °C heated compost) in a 4:1 ratio (v/v). Cucumber seedlings were artificially inoculated with F. oxysporum conidia (5 × 105 conidia mL−1) by the root-dip method. Cucumber Fusarium wilt was effectively suppressed in sludge compost-amended media, while the disease suppression effect of pig manure compost was limited. The ammonia levels in the manure compost-amended media were significantly higher than those of sludge compost-amended media, which could explain its lower disease suppression ability. Heated composts behaved similarly with respect to disease suppression. Adding composts increased microbial biomass, microbial activity, and the microbial diversity of the growth media. PCR-DGGE results indicated that the fungal community had a significant correlation to the disease severity. The artificially inoculated pathogen was retrieved in all treatments and one possible biocontrol agent was identified as a strain of F. oxysporum by phylogenetic analyses. The results indicated that the sludge compost used in this study could be applied as a method for biocontrol of cucumber Fusarium wilt.