Coffee leaf scorch caused by a strain of Xylella fastidiosa from citrus

Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and coffee leaf scorch (CLS) are two economically important diseases in Brazil caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Strains of the bacterium isolated from the two plant hosts are very closely related, and the two diseases share sharpshooter insect vectors. In order to determine if citrus strains of X. fastidiosa could infect coffee and induce CLS disease, plant inoculations were performed. Plants of coffee, Coffea arabica 'Mundo Novo', grafted on Coffea canephora var, robusta 'Apuatao 2258' were mechanically inoculated with triply cloned strains of X. fastidiosa isolated from diseased coffee and citrus. Three months postinoculation, 5 of the 10 plants inoculated with CLS-X. fastidiosa and 1 of the 10 plants inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa gave positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eight months postinoculation, another six plants inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa gave positive PCR results. The two X. fastidiosa strains were isolated from the inoculated plants and showed the same characteristics as the original clones by microscopy, ELISA, and PCR. None of the plants inoculated with sterile periwinkle wilt (PW) medium as controls gave positive reactions in diagnostic tests, and none developed disease symptoms. Six months postinoculation, seven plants inoculated with CLS-X. fastidiosn and eight inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa began to develop characteristic CLS symptoms, including apical and marginal leaf scorch, defoliation, and reductions of internode length, leaf size, and plant height, terminal clusters of small chlorotic and deformed leaves, and lateral shoot dieback. We have demonstrated that X, fastidiosa from citrus plants is pathogenic for coffee plants. This has important consequences for the management of CLS disease and has implications for the origin of citrus variegated chlorosis disease.

Prediction via neural networks of the residual hydrogen peroxide used in photo-fenton processes for effluent treatment

This communication proposes the use of neural networks in the prediction of residual concentrations of hydrogen peroxide from the treatment of effluents through Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOP's), in particular, the photo-Fenton process. To verify the efficiency of the oxidative process, the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) parameter, the values of which may be modified by the presence of oxidizing agents such as residual hydrogen peroxide, is frequently taken in account. The analysis of the H2O2 interference was performed by spectrophotometry at 450 nm wavelength, via the monitoring of the reaction of ammonia with metavanadate. The results of the hydrogen peroxide residual concentration were modeled via a feedforward neural network, with the correlation coefficients between actual and predicted values above 0.96, indicating good prediction capacity.

Tin(II)-EDTA complex: kinetic of thermal decomposition by non-isothermal procedures

Tin on the oxide form, alone or doped with others metals, has been extensively used as gas sensor, thus, this work reports on the preparation and kinetic parameters regarding the thermal decomposition of Sn(II)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate as precursor to SnO2. Thus, the acquaintance with the kinetic model regarding the thermal decomposition of the tin complex may leave the door open to foresee, whether it is possible to get thin film of SnO2 using Sn(II)-EDTA as precursor besides the influence of dopants added.The Sn(II)-EDTA soluble complex was prepared in aqueous medium by adding of tin(II) chloride acid solution to equimolar amount of ammonium salt from EDTA under N-2 atmosphere and temperature of 50degreesC arising the pH similar to 4. The compound was crystallized in ethanol at low-temperature and filtered to eliminate the chloride ions, obtaining the heptacoordinated chelate with the composition H2SnH2O(CH2N(CH2COO)(2))(2).0.5H(2)O.Results from TG, DTG and DSC curves under inert and oxidizing atmospheres indicate the presence of water coordinated to the metal and that the ethylenediamine fraction is thermally more stable than carboxylate groups. The final residue from thermal decomposition was the SnO2 characterized by X-ray as a tetragonal rutile phase.Applying the isoconversional Wall-Flynn-Ozawa method on the DSC curves, average activation energy: E-a = 183.7 +/- 12.7 and 218.9 +/- 2.1 kJ mol(-1), and pre-exponential factor: log A = 18.85 +/- 0.27 and 19.10 +/- 0.27 min(-1), at 95% confidence level, could be obtained, regarding the loss of coordinated water and thermal decomposition of the carboxylate groups, respectively. The E-a and logA also could be obtained applying isoconventional Wall-Flynn method on the TG curves.From E-a and log A values, Dollimore and Malek procedures could be applied suggesting R3 (contracting volume) and SB (two-parameter model) as the kinetic model to the loss of coordinated water (177-244degreesC) and thermal decomposition of the carboxylate groups (283-315degreesC), respectively. Simulated and experimental normalized DTG and DSC curves besides analysis of residuals check these kinetic models. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent research developments in SnO2-based varistors

This paper discusses some advances in research conducted on SnO2-based electroceramics. The addition of different dopants, as well as several thermal treatments in oxidizing and inert atmospheres, were found to influence the microstructure and electrical properties of SnO2-based varistor ceramics. Measurements taken by impedance spectroscopy revealed variations in the height and width of the potential barrier resulting from the atmosphere in which thermal treatments were performed. High nonlinear coefficient values, which are characteristic of high-voltage and commercial ZnO varistors, were obtained for these SnO2-based systems. All the systems developed here have potentially promising varistor applications. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of La2O3 addition and O-2 atmosphere on the electric properties of SnO2TiO2

The electric properties of (Sn, Ti)O-2 doped with 1.00 mol% CoO, 0.05 mol% Nb2O5 and xmol% La2O3 (0.25 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1.00) have been studied. Sn0.25Ti0.75Co0.01Nb0.005 doped with 0.50 mol% La2O3 has a nonlinearity coefficient of 6. An increase in the concentration of La2O3 raised its resistivity, thereby altering the electric properties of the material. A thermal treatment in oxygen atmosphere increased the nonlinearity coefficient to a value of 9. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Solubilization profiles of metal ions from bioleaching of sewage sludge as a function of pH

Two patterns of solubilization of metal ions resulting from bioleaching of sewage sludge by sulphur-oxidizing Thiobacillus spp. were established as a function of pH. Chromium and copper ions required a pH of 2-3 to initiate their solubilization, whereas nickel and zinc ions had their solubilization initiated at pH 6-6.5. The patterns obtained were independent of the sludge solids concentrations investigated (10, 17, 25, 32.5 and 40 g l(-1)).

Effect of atmosphere on the electrical properties of TiO2-SnO2 varistor systems

This work illustrates the advancement of research on TiO2-based electroceramics. In this work will be presented that the addition of different dopants, as well as thermal treatments at oxidizing and inert atmosphere, influences of the densification, the mean grain size and the electrical properties of the TiO2-based varistor ceramics. Dopants like Ta2O5, Nb2O5, and Cr2O3 have an especial role in the barrier formation at the grain boundary in the TiO2 varistors, increasing the nonlinear coefficient and decreasing the breakdown electric field. The influence of Cr'(Ti) is to increase the O' and O'(2) adsorption at the grain boundary interface and to promote a decrease in the conductivity by donating electrons to O-2 adsorbed at the grain boundary. In this paper, TiO2 and (Sn,Ti)O-2-based studies of polycrystalline ceramics, which show a non-linear I-V electrical response typical of low voltage varistor systems are also presented. All these systems are potentially promising for varistor applications. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Jarosite pseudomorph formation from arsenopyrite oxidation using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

In this work, the oxidizing action of a native strain type A. ferrooxidans on a sulphide containing a predominance of arsenopyrite and pyrite has been evaluated. Incubation of the A. ferrooxidans strain in flasks containing 200 mL of T&K medium with the ore (particle size of 106 mu m) at pulp density 8% (w/v) at 35 degrees C on a rotary shaker at 200 rpm resulted in preferential oxidation of the arsenopyrite and the mobilization of 88% of the arsenic in 25 days. Mineralogical characterization of the residue after biooxidation was carried out with FTIR. XRD and SEM/XEDS techniques. An in situ oxidation of the arsenopyrite is suggested on the basis of the frequent appearance of jarosite pseudomorph replacing arsenopyrite, in which the transformations Fe(2+) -> Fe(3+), S(-2) -> S(+6) and As(-1) -> As(+3) -> As(+5) occur for the most part without formation of soluble intermediates, resulting in a type of jarosite that typically contains high concentrations of arsenic (type A-jarosite). However, during pyrite oxidation, dissolution of the constituent Fe and S predominates, which is evidenced by corrosion of pyrite particles with formation of pits, generating a type of jarosite with high quantities of K (type B-jarosite). Lastly, a third type of jarosite (type C-jarosite) also precipitated forming a thin film that covered the grains of pyrite principally. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oral microbiota of Brazilian captive snakes

The present work aimed to determine the oral microbiotic composition of snakes from Sao Jose do Rio Preto city, São Paulo State, Brazil. Ten snake species, comprising the families Boidae, Colubridae, Elapidae and Viperidae, were submitted to microbiological examination of their oral cavity, which indicated positivity for all buccal samples. Gram-negative bacilli, gram-negative cocci bacilli, gram-positive bacilli and gram-positive cocci were isolated from the snakes. Among isolated bacterium species, the occurrence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the buccal cavity of Crotalus durissus (Viperiade), Eunectes murinus (Boidae), Mastigodryas bifossatus (Colubridae) and Bacillus subtilis, common to oral cavity of Bothrops alternatus (Viperidae) and Phalotris mertensi (Colubridae), was detected. It was observed higher diversity of isolated bacteria from the oral cavity of Micrurus frontalis (Elapidae) and Philodryas nattereri (Colubridae), as well as the prevalence of gram-positive baccillus and gram-positive cocci. The composition of the oral microbiota of the studied snakes, with or without inoculating fangs, is diverse and also related to the formation of abscesses at the bite site in the victims of the ophidian accidents, and to pathogenic processes in the snakes that host these microorganisms.

Dehydromonocrotaline induces cyclosporine A-insensitive mitochondrial permeability transition/cytochrome c release

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Copper resistance of biofilm cells of the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is a phytopathogen that causes diseases in different plant species. The development of disease symptoms is associated to the blockage of the xylem vessels caused by biofilm formation. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity of biofilm and planktonic cells to copper, one of the most important antimicrobial agents used in agriculture. We measured the exopolysaccharides (EPS) content in biofilm and planktonic cells and used real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression of the genes encoding proteins involved in cation/multidrug extrusion (acrA/B, mexE/czcA, and metI) and others associated with different copper resistance mechanisms (copB, cutA1, cutA2, and cutC) in the X. fastidiosa biofilm formed in two different media. We confirmed that biofilms are less susceptible to copper than planktonic cells. The amount of EPS seems to be directly related to the resistance and it varies according to the media where the cells are grown. The same was observed for gene expression. Nevertheless, some genes seem to have a greater importance in biofilm cells resistance to copper. Our results suggest a synergistic effect between diffusion barriers and other mechanisms associated with bacterial resistance in this phytopathogen. These mechanisms are important for a bacterium that is constantly under stress conditions in the host.

PLANT-TO-SEED TRANSMISSION of CURTOBACTERIUM FLACCUMFACIENS pv. FLACCUMACIENS IN A DRY BEAN CULTIVAR

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Expression, purification and spectroscopic analysis of an HdrC: An iron-sulfur cluster-containing protein from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cloning, expression, purification and characterization of recombinant glutathione-S-transferase from Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is an important pathogen bacterium transmitted by xylem-feedings leafhoppers that colonizes the xylem of plants and causes diseases on several important crops including citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) in orange and lime trees. Glutathione-S-transferases (GST) form a group of multifunctional isoenzymes that catalyzes both glutathione (GSH)-dependent conjugation and reduction reactions involved in the cellular detoxification of xenobiotic and endobiotic compounds. GSTs are the major detoxification enzymes found in the intracellular space and mainly in the cytosol from prokaryotes to mammals, and may be involved in the regulation of stress-activated signals by suppressing apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1. In this study, we describe the cloning of the glutathione-S-transferase from X. fastidiosa into pET-28a(+) vector, its expression in Escherichia coli, purification and initial structural characterization. The purification of recombinant xfGST (rxfGST) to near homogeneity was achieved using affinity chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). SEC demonstrated that rxfGST is a homodimer in solution. The secondary and tertiary structures of recombinant protein were analyzed by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The enzyme was assayed for activity and the results taken together indicated that rxfGST is a stable molecule, correctly folded, and highly active. Several members of the GST family have been extensively studied. However, xfGST is part of a less-studied subfamily which yet has not been structurally and biochemically characterized. In addition, these studies should provide a useful basis for future studies and biotechnological approaches of rxfGST. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pathogenicity of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens to several plant species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)