Simptomatologia i microorganismes associats a la necrosi bruna apical de la noguera (Juglans regia)

La Necrosi Apical Bruna (BAN, brown apical necrosis, segons les sigles en anglès)Es va detectar per primer cop l’any 1997 a Extremadura degut a la severa caiguda defruits. Avui dia la malaltia és present a quasi totes les zones productores de lamediterrània. Els símptomes difereixen dels provocats per Xanthomonas arboricola pv.juglandis i Gnomonia leptsostyla.. S’observa que els fruits afectats presenten una tacabruna a la zona apical i necrosi dels teixits interiors. El grup de Patologia Vegetal de laUniversitat de Girona participa i dirigeix la tasca sobre l’etiologia de la BAN dins laxarxa europea d’investigació en bacteris patògens de fruiters ,COST873. Hi ha una certacontrovèrsia en la definició dels símptomes i agents causals. Tots els grups coincideixenen afirmar que es tracta d’una malaltia complexa amb diferents organismes implicats

Sorting mechanisms regulating membrane protein traffic in the apical transcytotic pathway of polarized MDCK cells.

The transcytotic pathway followed by the polymeric IgA receptor (pIgR) carrying its bound ligand (dIgA) from the basolateral to the apical surface of polarized MDCK cells has been mapped using morphological tracers. At 20 degreesC dIgA-pIgR internalize to interconnected groups of vacuoles and tubules that comprise the endosomal compartment and in which they codistribute with internalized transferrin receptors (TR) and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). Upon transfer to 37 degreesC the endosome vacuoles develop long tubules that give rise to a distinctive population of 100-nm-diam cup-shaped vesicles containing pIgR. At the same time, the endosome gives rise to multivesicular endosomes (MVB) enriched in EGFR and to 60-nm-diam basolateral vesicles. The cup-shaped vesicles carry the dIgA/pIgR complexes to the apical surface where they exocytose. Using video microscopy and correlative electron microscopy to study cells grown thin and flat we show that endosome vacuoles tubulate in response to dIgA/pIgR but that the tubules contain TR as well as pIgR. However, we show that TR are removed from these dIgA-induced tubules via clathrin-coated buds and, as a result, the cup-shaped vesicles to which the tubules give rise become enriched in dIgA/pIgR. Taken together with the published information available on pIgR trafficking signals, our observations suggest that the steady-state concentrations of TR and unoccupied pIgR on the basolateral surface of polarized MDCK cells are maintained by a signal-dependent, clathrin-based sorting mechanism that operates along the length of the transcytotic pathway. We propose that the differential sorting of occupied receptors within the MDCK endosome is achieved by this clathrin-based mechanism continuously retrieving receptors like TR from the pathways that deliver pIgR to the apical surface and EGFR to the lysosome.

Transapical aortic valve replacement through a chronic apical aneurysm.

Transapical aortic valve replacement through an apical aneurysm is traditionally contraindicated because of the risk of severe systemic embolization when thrombi are present. However, a chronic fibrotic aneurysm without apical thrombi carries a low risk of distal embolization and can be safely employed for a transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement in case of absence of an alternative access site (severe vascular disease, small vascular sizes and diseased calcified aorta). We illustrate our experience with a 73-year-old patient suffering from symptomatic aortic valve stenosis, coronary artery disease with occluded left anterior descending artery, left ventricular apical aneurysm and severe peripheral vascular disease, who successfully underwent a transapical 26 mm Sapien? XT stent-valve implantation through the fibrotic thin akinetic apical wall.

Abnormal apical-to-basal transport of dietary ovalbumin by secretory IgA stimulates a mucosal Th1 response.

In celiac disease, enhanced permeability to gliadin peptides can result from their apico-basal transport by secretory immunoglobulin A1 (SIgA1) binding to the CD71 receptor ectopically expressed at the gut epithelial surface. Herein, we have established a mouse model in which there is apico-basal transport of the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) by specific SIgA1 and have analyzed local T-cell activation. Transgenic DO11.10 mice were grafted with a hybridoma-secreting OVA-specific humanized IgA1, which could bind mouse CD71 and which were released in the intestinal lumen as SIgA. CD71 expression was induced at the gut apical surface by treating the mice with tyrphostin A8. Following gavage of the mice with OVA, OVA-specific CD4(+) T cells isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes displayed higher expression of the activation marker CD69 and produced more interferon gamma in mice bearing the hybridoma-secreting OVA-specific IgA1, than in ungrafted mice or in mice grafted with an irrelevant hybridoma. These results indicate that the protective role of SIgA1 might be jeopardized in human pathological conditions associated with ectopic expression of CD71 at the gut surface.

A new training set-up for trans-apical aortic valve replacement.

Trans-apical aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a new and rapidly growing therapy. However, there are only few training opportunities. The objective of our work is to build an appropriate artificial model of the heart that can replace the use of animals for surgical training in trans-apical AVR procedures. To reduce the necessity for fluoroscopy, we pursued the goal of building a translucent model of the heart that has nature-like dimensions. A simplified 3D model of a human heart with its aortic root was created in silico using the SolidWorks Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program. This heart model was printed using a rapid prototyping system developed by the Fab@Home project and dip-coated two times with dispersion silicone. The translucency of the heart model allows the perception of the deployment area of the valved-stent without using heavy imaging support. The final model was then placed in a human manikin for surgical training on trans-apical AVR procedure. Trans-apical AVR with all the necessary steps (puncture, wiring, catheterization, ballooning etc.) can be realized repeatedly in this setting.

The apical localization of transcribing RNA polymerases on supercoiled DNA prevents their rotation around the template.

The interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with supercoiled DNA was visualized by cryo-electron microscopy of vitrified samples and by classical electron microscopy methods. We observed that when E. coli RNA polymerase binds to a promoter on supercoiled DNA, this promoter becomes located at an apical loop of the interwound DNA molecule. During transcription RNA polymerase shifts the apical loop along the DNA, always remaining at the top of the moving loop. This relationship between RNA polymerase and the supercoiled template precludes circling of the RNA polymerase around the DNA and prevents the growing RNA transcript from becoming entangled with the template DNA.

Feasibility of transapical aortic valve replacement through a left ventricular apical diverticulum.

ABSTRACT: Transapical aortic valve replacement is an established technique performed in high-risk patients with symptomatic aortic valve stenosis and vascular disease contraindicating trans-vascular and trans-aortic procedures. The presence of a left ventricular apical diverticulum is a rare event and the treatment depends on dimensions and estimated risk of embolisation, rupture, or onset of ventricular arrhythmias. The diagnosis is based on standard cardiac imaging and symptoms are very rare. In this case report we illustrate our experience with a 81 years old female patient suffering from symptomatic aortic valve stenosis, respiratory disease, chronic renal failure and severe peripheral vascular disease (logistic euroscore: 42%), who successfully underwent a transapical 23 mm balloon-expandable stent-valve implantation through an apical diverticulum of the left ventricle. Intra-luminal thrombi were absent and during the same procedure were able to treat the valve disease and to successfully exclude the apical diverticulum without complications and through a mini thoracotomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a transapical procedure is successfully performed through an apical diverticulum.

Role of the GNOM gene in Arabidopsis apical-basal patterning--From mutant phenotype to cellular mechanism of protein action.

How the apical-basal axis of polarity is established in embryogenesis is still a mystery in plant development. This axis appeared specifically compromised by mutations in the Arabidopsis GNOM gene. Surprisingly, GNOM encodes an ARF guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (ARF-GEF) that regulates the formation of vesicles in membrane trafficking. In-depth functional analysis of GNOM and its closest relative, GNOM-LIKE 1 (GNL1), has provided a mechanistic explanation for the development-specific role of a seemingly mundane trafficking regulator. The current model proposes that GNOM is specifically involved in the endosomal recycling of the auxin-efflux carrier PIN1 to the basal plasma membrane in provascular cells, which in turn is required for the accumulation of the plant hormone auxin at the future root pole through polar auxin transport. Thus, the analysis of GNOM highlights the importance of cell-biological processes for a mechanistic understanding of development.

Simple-sugar meals target GLUT2 at enterocyte apical membranes to improve sugar absorption: a study in GLUT2-null mice.

The physiological significance of the presence of GLUT2 at the food-facing pole of intestinal cells is addressed by a study of fructose absorption in GLUT2-null and control mice submitted to different sugar diets. Confocal microscopy localization, protein and mRNA abundance, as well as tissue and membrane vesicle uptakes of fructose were assayed. GLUT2 was located in the basolateral membrane of mice fed a meal devoid of sugar or containing complex carbohydrates. In addition, the ingestion of a simple sugar meal promoted the massive recruitment of GLUT2 to the food-facing membrane. Fructose uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles from GLUT2-null mice was half that of wild-type mice and was similar to the cytochalasin B-insensitive component, i.e. GLUT5-mediated uptake. A 5 day consumption of sugar-rich diets increased fructose uptake fivefold in wild-type tissue rings when it only doubled in GLUT2-null tissue. GLUT5 was estimated to contribute to 100 % of total uptake in wild-type mice fed low-sugar diets, falling to 60 and 40 % with glucose and fructose diets respectively; the complement was ensured by GLUT2 activity. The results indicate that basal sugar uptake is mediated by the resident food-facing SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters, whose mRNA abundances double in long-term dietary adaptation. We also observe that a large improvement of intestinal absorption is promoted by the transient recruitment of food-facing GLUT2, induced by the ingestion of a simple-sugar meal. Thus, GLUT2 and GLUT5 could exert complementary roles in adapting the absorption capacity of the intestine to occasional or repeated loads of dietary sugars.

Remorins form a novel family of coiled coil-forming oligomeric and filamentous proteins associated with apical, vascular and embryonic tissues in plants.

Remorins form a superfamily of plant-specific plasma membrane/lipid-raft-associated proteins of unknown structure and function. Using specific antibodies, we localized tomato remorin 1 to apical tissues, leaf primordia and vascular traces. The deduced remorin protein sequence contains a predicted coiled coil-domain, suggesting its participation in protein-protein interactions. Circular dichroism revealed that recombinant potato remorin contains an alpha-helical region that forms a functional coiled-coil domain. Electron microscopy of purified preparations of four different recombinant remorins, one from potato, two divergent isologs from tomato, and one from Arabidopsis thaliana , demonstrated that the proteins form highly similar filamentous structures. The diameters of the negatively-stained filaments ranged from 4.6-7.4 nm for potato remorin 1, 4.3-6.2 nm for tomato remorin 1, 5.7-7.5 nm for tomato remorin 2, and 5.7-8.0 nm for Arabidopsis Dbp. Highly polymerized remorin 1 was detected in glutaraldehyde-crosslinked tomato plasma membrane preparations and a population of the protein was immunolocalized in tomato root tips to structures associated with discrete regions of the plasma membrane.

Ácidos graxos da gema e composição do ovo de poedeiras alimentadas com rações com farelo de coco

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão do farelo de coco (FC) na ração e do tempo de alimentação de poedeiras comerciais, sobre os ácidos graxos da gema e os componentes do ovo. O delineamento foi em esquema fatorial 5x2, com cinco níveis de inclusão do FC (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) e dois tempos de alimentação (14 e 28 dias). Foram avaliados o peso e as porcentagens de albúmen, gema e casca dos ovos, bem como os sólidos e lipídios totais e o perfil de ácidos graxos das gemas. A inclusão do FC e o tempo de alimentação influenciaram apenas a proporção de ácido mirístico na gema, que aumentou com a inclusão do FC aos 28 dias de alimentação. Os ácidos esteárico e oléico variaram somente com o tempo de alimentação, e as maiores concentrações foram obtidas aos 28 dias. A relação de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados para ácidos graxos saturados da gema diminuiu a partir de 10% de inclusão e aumentou com o tempo de alimentação das aves. O uso de farelo de coco, na ração de poedeiras comerciais, não influencia a proporção dos componentes do ovo, apenas altera a concentração do ácido mirístico da gema.

Época apropriada para a poda apical do algodoeiro para o controle de pragas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a época apropriada para a realização da poda apical em algodoeiro. O trabalho foi realizado durante as safras de 2008 e 2009 (maio a novembro) em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em dois ambientes, com as variedades: BRS 201, de fibra branca, e BRS Rubi, BRS Safira e BRS Verde, de fibra colorida, em Paudalho, PE; e BRS 201 e BRS Rubi, em Surubim, PE. A poda apical consistiu na retirada dos ápices das plantas com estruturas vegetativas e reprodutivas, em duas idades fenológicas: com 50% das maçãs maduras (poda I) e no surgimento dos primeiros capulhos (poda II). A poda I resultou em maior retirada de botões florais do que a poda II. Em ambas as podas, houve a retirada de cinco nós dos ponteiros. A produção e a qualidade de fibra não diferiram entre plantas podadas ou não. Um número significativo de estruturas atacadas foi eliminado pela poda. A poda apical é recomendada para reduzir o número de estruturas não produtivas, ao final da safra, que são utilizadas como hospedeiras de pragas

ENRAIZAMENTO DE MINIESTACAS DE AMEIXEIRA

Com este trabalho, objetivou-se maximizar o rendimento do número de estacas enraizadas por ramo. Foram utilizados ramos do ano de duas cultivares de ameixeira (Reubennel e Pluma 7) eliminando-se a porção apical de cada ramo, com diâmetro inferior a 2 mm. As miniestacas foram obtidas fazendo-se um corte em bisel distante no mínimo 0,5 cm acima da gema e outro junto à gema subseqüente. Em seguida, foram mergulhadas em uma solução de ácido indolbutírico (AIB) 2000 mg.L¹, por cinco segundos, e utilizou-se, como testemunha, uma solução composta de água destilada misturada ao mesmo volume de álcool utilizado para diluir o AIB. As miniestacas foram colocadas para enraizar em bandejas de isopor contendo, como substrato, uma mistura de cinza de casca de arroz e vermiculita (2:1 v/v), obedecendo-se à seqüência em que foram retiradas dos ramos. Parte das estacas permaneceram em substrato coberto com plástico transparente com espessura de 20 micra e parte em substrato descoberto. O delineamento experimental foi completamente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2x2x2 (cultivares, soluções, plástico), com quatro repetições, utilizando-se de 15 miniestacas por parcela. Após 39 dias, foram avaliados o enraizamento (%), o comprimento e o número de raízes. A cultivar Pluma 7 apresenta maior potencial de enraizamento e maior sensibilidade ao AIB. Estacas de gema única possuem capacidade de formar raízes. Toda a extensão do ramo, de cultivares de ameixeiras que respondam ao ácido indolbutírico, pode ser utilizada como estaca na formação de mudas. O plástico reduz o enraizamento de estacas. O AIB aumenta o enraizamento, o número e o comprimento de raízes dos cultivares estudadas.

MULTIPLICAÇÃO E ACLIMATIZAÇÃO DA MACIEIRA INFLUENCIADA PELO TIPO DE EXPLANTE E PELO TEMPO DE PERMANÊNCIA EM MEIO DE CULTURA DE ENRAIZAMENTO

O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a influência do uso de segmentos de origem basal ou apical na multiplicação in vitro da macieira e do tempo de permanência das brotações em meio de enraizamento na sobrevivência das plantas na aclimatização. Explantes de macieira dos porta-enxertos 'M.111' e 'Marubakaido' de origem basal e apical, com uma gema axilar, foram inoculados em meio de cultura MS, suplementado com 1,0 mg.L-1 de BAP. Após seis semanas, avaliaram-se o número e tamanho de brotações, bem como a formação de gemas. Em seguida, brotações da cv. Marubakaido foram separadas em explantes de 2 a 2,5 cm de comprimento e inoculadas em meio de enraizamento, constituído por ½ MS suplementado com 0,2 mg.L-1 de AIB, onde permaneceram por: 12; 15; 21 e 30 dias. Ao final de cada tratamento, as plântulas foram transplantadas para casa de vegetação onde, após um mês, avaliaram-se a sobrevivência e o peso da matéria seca das raízes e a parte aérea das plantas. Observou-se a formação de brotações em maior número e tamanho quando se utilizaram explantes basais para a cultivar Marubakaido e maior formação de gemas nos explantes da cultivar M.111. Na aclimatização, as plantas apresentaram taxas de sobrevivência superiores a 90%, independentemente do tempo de permanência em meio de enraizamento. Os maiores períodos de permanência das brotações em meio de enraizamento proporcionaram maior peso de matéria seca das raízes e parte-aérea das plantas em casa de vegetação.