43 research outputs found
Comparative transcriptome analysis of two citrus germplasms with contrasting susceptibility to Phytophthora nicotianae provides new insights into tolerance mechanisms
No full textKey message: Host perception of Phytophthora nicotianae switching to necrotrophy is fundamental for disease tolerance of citrus. It involves an HR-like response, strengthening of the cell wall structure and hormonal signaling. Abstract: Stem rot caused by P. nicotianae is a worldwide disease of several important crops, including citrus. Given the growing awareness of chemical fungicides drawbacks, genetic improvement of citrus rootstocks remains the best alternative. However, the molecular basis underlying the successful response of resistant and/or tolerant genotypes remains poorly understood. Therefore, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to examine the differential defense response to P. nicotianae of two germplasmsâtolerant sour orange (SO, Citrus aurantium) and susceptible Madam Vinous (MV, C. sinensis)âin both the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases of hostâpathogen interaction. Our results revealed the necrotrophic phase as a decisive turning point, since it included stronger modulation of a number of genes implicated in pathogen perception, signal transduction, HR-like response, transcriptional reprogramming, hormone signaling, and cell wall modifications. In particular, the pathogen perception category reflected the ability of SO to perceive the pathogen even after its switch to necrotrophy, and thus to cope successfully with the infection, while MV failed. The concomitant changes in genes involved in the remaining functional categories seemed to prevent pathogen spread. This investigation provided further understanding of the successful defense mechanisms of C. aurantium against P. nicotianae, which might be exploited in post-genomic strategies to develop resistant Citrus genotypes
Proof of concept of flexible supercapacitors fabricated with carbon gels and MnO2 printed on carbon cloth
No full textUp to now, the scientific community has achieved a significant progress in designing innovative, flexible and conductive materials, paving the way for the advancement of cutting-edge electronic devices dedicated for smart wearable applications. Herein, the introduction of carbon cloth (CC)-based platform for energy storage devices was adopted for nanomaterial coating and improved multilayer adhesion. Using carbon xerogel (CX) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) printed on CC, an asymmetric supercapacitor was developed, achieving a high specific capacitance of 213 F g−1, energy density of 24 Wh·kg−1, at a power density of 180 W kg−1, and low self-discharge rate with a voltage retention of 72 % after 22 h. This work paves the way for the adoption of carbon cloth thanks to its outstanding features as a promising and flexible platform to drive the development of next-generation smart and wearable electronic devices dedicated for healthcare and environmental monitoring applications.This research was funded by ERA.NET Network (www.m-era.net/) through INNENERMAT project, and from grants PID2020-113001RB-I00 and PCI2020-112039 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. The author Achref Chebil thanks the European Union – Next Generation EU from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security POR H2 AdP MMES/ENEA with involvement of CNR and RSE, PNRR - Mission 2, Component 2, Investment 3.5 "Ricerca e sviluppo sull'idrogeno", CUP: B93C22000630006.Peer reviewe
Optimization of Baiting Bioassay for the Detection of Phytophthora Spp. From Infested Citrus Soils and Virulence Evaluation of the Recovered Isolates
No full textFungi from the Diaporthaceae and Botryosphaeriaceae families associated with grapevine decline in Tunisia
Get PDFSevere decline of mature grapevines has recently been observed in several vineyards in grape regions in northern Tunisia. Between August 2011 and June 2013, wood samples from diseased vines showing dead spur and cordons, shoot dieback associated with sunken necrotic bark lesions and brown to black vascular streaking were collected from numerous diseased vineyards. Several fungal species were isolated from the margin between healthy and symptomatic tissue. Three species of Botryosphaeriaceae, namely, Diplodia seriata, Neofusicoccum australe, and N. vitifusiforme and one species of Diaporthaceae, namely, Diaporthe neotheicola, were observed to be associated with the decline of old vines. Other fungal species were recovered from diseased wood, namely, Alternaria alternata, Botryotinia fuckeliana (anamorph of Botrytis cinerea), Acremonium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Fusarium spp. In addition, Penicillium spp. inter-and intra-species diversity were assessed based on virtual RFLP gel analyses and identification of restriction enzymes able to distinguish fungi strains within species based on determination of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) lineages within cluster members based on the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region of the rDNA
Prognostic value of tumor-associated macrophages count in human non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated by BCG immunotherapy.
No full textPURPOSE: Tumor-associated macrophages can regulate the growth of various cancers positively or negatively. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation is now the gold standard treatment for bladder carcinoma in situ. The authors investigated the correlation between tumor-associated macrophages infiltrating bladder carcinoma in situ and the response to intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors examined paraffin-embedded tissues from 41 patients with bladder carcinoma in situ who received intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. Tumor-associated macrophages were immunohistochemically stained by anti-CD68 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: The median number of tumor-associated macrophages infiltrating among cancer cells and the number in the lamina propria were 4 and 24, respectively. Recurrent carcinoma in situ was found in 4.8% of cases with a lower cancer cell tumor-associated macrophage count but in 47.6% of those with a higher cancer cell tumor-associated macrophage count (less than 4 vs. 4 or greater). Recurrence was found in 31.8% of patients with a lower lamina propria tumor-associated macrophage count but in 21.1% of those with a higher lamina propria tumor-associated macrophage count (less than 25 vs. 25 or greater). The median ratio of tumor-associated macrophages among cancer cells vs. in the lamina propria was 0.2. Recurrence-free survival was significantly better in patients with a lower cancer cell tumor-associated macrophage count (p = .0002). Those with a lower cancer cell-to-lamina propria tumor-associated macrophage ratio had a higher recurrence-free rate (p < .0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the cancer cell tumor-associated macrophage count and the cancer cell-to-lamina propria tumor-associated macrophage ratio can be prognostic factors for bladder carcinoma in situ. CONCLUSIONS: The count of tumor-associated macrophages infiltrating the cancer area is useful for predicting the response of bladder carcinoma in situ to intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation before treatment initiation. Although on univariate analysis TAMs are associated with other poor prognosticators, on multivariate analysis, TAMs appear only to be associated with MI and VI. TAMs may play a significant role in the biology of tumor progression of endometrial adenocarcinoma, but do not appear to be independent prognostic indicators of patient's survival
Tumor multiplicity is an independent prognostic factor of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy.
No full textInternational audienceBACKGROUND: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy is regarded as the current treatment of choice for non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), though its efficacy is limited by high recurrence and progression rate. Identification of factor prognosticators that might be helpful in discriminating between responders and nonresponders to BCG treatment is therefore of major clinical importance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of recurrence after intravesical adjuvant BCG immunotherapy in patients with NMIBC. METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic data of primary NMIBC from 112 patients who were treated with transurethral resection followed by BCG-immunotherapy. Time follow-up was 30 months. The prognostic significance of tumor stage, grade, multiplicity, age, sex and smoking in determining the risk for recurrence after BCG therapy was studied with both univariate and multivariate methods of analysis. RESULTS: According to univariate analysis of the prognostic significance for tumor stage, grade, loci number, sex, age and smoking, the pT1 stage and multiplicity seem to be associated in a statistically significant manner with higher risk for recurrence (P = 0.009, P = 0.011, respectively). In the other hand, multivariate analysis showed that only multiplicity was an independent significant prognosticator. CONCLUSION: Significant independent predictor for recurrence was multiplicity which offers important clinical information and may be a useful tool in the selection of suitable candidates for BCG-immunotherapy
The impact of age and clinical factors in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette Guerin therapy.
No full textInternational audienceBACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is a disease of older persons, the incidence of which is expected to increase as the population ages. Prognostic factors for local recurrence for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer have not been fully established. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of age on the outcomes of non muscle invasive bladder (NMIBC) cancer treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic data of primary NMIBC from 112 patients who were treated with transurethral resection followed by BCG-immunotherapy. Time follow-up was 30 months. Clinicopathologic characteristics and response to BCG therapy were correlated with age using univariate and multivariate methods of analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that age analyzed as a categorical variable was not associated with other clinicopathological characteristics. On the other hand, multivariate analysis showed that only multiplicity, stage and tumor size were independent significant prognosticators. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that aging has no impact on the outcomes of high-risk NMIBC treated by BCG immunotherapy
The Efficacy of Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in the Treatment of Patients with pT1 Stage Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.
No full textAbstract Background: pT1 bladder urothelial carcinomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with different biologic behaviors, and identifying the subset of tumors that carries a high risk of disease recurrence and progression is therefore important. Induction and maintenance intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been proven to reduce tumour recurrence and progression. However, no markers are available to predict BCG response. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of stage in predicting recurrence after intravesical adjuvant BCG immunotherapy in patients with NMIBC. Methods: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic data of primary NMIBC from 45 patients who were treated with transurethral resection followed by BCG-immunotherapy. Time follow-up was 30 months. The prognostic significance of clinicopathologics characteristics in determining the risk for recurrence after BCG therapy was studied with both univariate and multivariate methods of analysis. Results: univariate Cox regression analysis of clinicopathologic characteristics revealed that the rate of recurrence was statistically associated with tumor stage. Indeed, a significant concordance was noted between the EORTC s predicted risks and the actuarial recurrence rate of NMIBC at one year. On the other hand, multivariate analysis using Cox regression based on the AIC criteria and biological considerations, selected the score of recurrence as independent predictor of recurrence. Conclusion: The conventional clinicopathological factors used in EORTC model are relevant for the assessment of the outcome of pT1 stage bladder tumors treated by BCG immunotherapy. Management of pT1 bladder cancer patients remains one of the most difficult problems in urologic practice. At this time the decision to preserve the bladder or to perform a cystectomy depends on a number of clinicopathologic parameters, but none are able to sufficiently identify patients for the appropriate therapeutic modality. Additional studies using a more large scale of patients will be required to confirm our findings
Effect of early contamination by <em>Botrytis cinerea</em> on the development of Grey mould on Muscat d’Italie in Tunisian vineyard
No full textGrey rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is nowadays the most damaging disease of the Tunisian vineyard. The fungus attacks berries at the maturation stage and causes important economic losses. The protection of vineyard against this disease is very difficult due to the fungus characteristics. In fact B. cinerea is in the border of parasitism and saprophytism, in pre-veraison it usually survive as saprophyte then it attacks berries before their maturation. The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of pre-veraison’s contamination by B. cinerea on the development of the Grey rot on the berries after veraison.
The results revealed that at the pre-veraison stage, B. cinerea grows as a saprophyte. The fungus’s rate presence is low on the barks (less than 10 %), very high on the floral buds (between 5 and 27 %) and relatively high in the immature berries (about 20 %). The quantification of bunches pollution, showed that the rate of contaminations by B. cinerea is very high (more than 70 %).
On the other hand, the mapping out showed up that outbreak of the disease happened after veraison on Muscat d’Italie. Also, the rate of berries’ rot, were different each year, in relation to the climatic conditions and plant’s physiology. We found that the rate of rot inside bunches is relatively high (between 15 and 40 %) due to condia on stem or B. cinerea latent. The statistical analysis showed significant relationships between the rate of latent B. cinerea and the appearance of the disease after the veraison stage. Also, the scoring of conidia observed in the air showed a big activity of the fungus during flowering and the maturation of berries
