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Aims: To explore the relationship between severe hypoglycemia (SH) and hypoglycemia awareness with preclinical atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Materials and Methods: Cross‐sectional study in patients with T1D without cardiovascular disease (CVD), and with ≥1 of the following: ≥40 years, diabetic kidney disease, or ≥10 years of T1D duration with another risk factor. CVD risk was estimated with the Steno T1 Risk Engine (Steno‐Risk). Carotid plaque was evaluated using standardised ultrasonography protocol. Logistic regression models adjusted for CVD risk factors were constructed to test the independent associations with SH or hypoglycemia awareness assessed by the Clarke questionnaire (Clarke). The inclusion of SH and Clarke in Steno‐Risk was further evaluated. Results: We included 634 patients (52.4% men, age 48.3 ± 10.8 years, T1D duration 27.4 ± 11.1 years, 39.9% harbouring plaque). A stepped increase in the presence of plaque according to Steno‐Risk was observed (13.5%, 37.7%, and 68.7%, for low, moderate, and high risk, respectively; p < 0.001). SH history (OR 4.4 [1.3–14.6]) and Clarke score (OR 1.7 [1.2–2.2]) were associated with plaque in low‐risk patients (n = 192). Clarke score was also associated with plaque burden in low‐moderate‐risk participants (n = 436; ≥2 plaques: OR 1.2 [1.0–1.5], p = 0.031; ≥3 plaques: OR 1.4 [1.1–2.0], p = 0.025). The inclusion of SH and Clarke scores in Steno‐Risk significantly improved the identification of low‐risk individuals with atherosclerosis (area under the curve: 0.658 vs. 0.576; p = 0.036). Conclusions: In patients with T1D without an estimated high CVD risk, SH and hypoglycemia awareness assessment score were independently associated with preclinical atherosclerosis and improved identification of patients who would benefit from an intensive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced CVD; however, the evidence in T1D is scarce. We aimed to analyse the relationships between adherence to the energy‐restricted Mediterranean diet (erMEDd) and carotid atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods: We included subjects with T1D without CVD, with ≥1 of the following: age ≥40 years, diabetic kidney disease, or ≥10 years of disease duration with another risk factor. Plaque presence (intima‐media thickness ≥1.5 mm) was determined by ultrasonography. The PREDIMED‐Plus 17‐item questionnaire (PP‐17) was used to assess adherence to the erMEDd. Results: Four hundred one individuals were included (48% males, age 48.3 ± 11 years, diabetes duration 26.8 ± 11.4 years). Those harbouring plaques (42%) showed lower adherence to the erMEDd (PP‐17: 8.9 ± 2.3 of a maximum of 17 vs. 9.8 ± 2.5, p < 0.001). Greater adherence to the erMEDd was correlated with an overall better metabolic profile. After adjusting for multiple confounders, adherence to the erMEDd was independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis (OR 0.86 [0.77–0.95] for plaque presence and OR 0.85 [0.75–0.97] for ≥2 plaques). The consumption of fruit and nuts and preference of white over red meat was higher in individuals without atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Fruit and nut consumption was associated with lower plaque prevalence in the fully adjusted models (OR 0.38 [0.19–0.73] and 0.51 [0.29–0.93]). Conclusions: Greater adherence to the erMEDd is associated with less carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with T1D at high risk of CVD. Strategies to improve and implement healthy dietary patterns in this population should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A synthetic circuit in a biological system involves the designed assembly of genetic elements, biomolecules, or cells to create a defined function. These circuits are central in synthetic biology, enabling the reprogramming of cellular behavior and the engineering of cells with customized responses. In cancer therapeutics, engineering T cells with circuits have the potential to overcome the challenges of current approaches, for example, by allowing specific recognition and killing of cancer cells. Recent advances also facilitate engineering integrated circuits for the controlled release of therapeutic molecules at specified locations, for example, in a solid tumor. In this review, we discuss recent strategies and applications of synthetic receptor circuits aimed at enhancing immune cell functions for cancer immunotherapy. We begin by introducing the concept of circuits in networks at the molecular and cellular scales and provide an analysis of the development and implementation of several synthetic circuits in T cells that have the goal to overcome current challenges in cancer immunotherapy. These include specific targeting of cancer cells, increased T‐cell proliferation, and persistence in the tumor microenvironment. By harnessing the power of synthetic biology, and the characteristics of certain circuit architectures, it is now possible to engineer a new generation of immune cells that recognize cancer cells, while minimizing off‐target toxicities. We specifically discuss T‐cell circuits for antigen density sensing. These circuits allow targeting of solid tumors that share antigens with normal tissues. Additionally, we explore designs for synthetic circuits that could control T‐cell differentiation or T‐cell fate as well as the concept of synthetic multicellular circuits that leverage cellular communication and division of labor to achieve improved therapeutic efficacy. As our understanding of cell biology expands and novel tools for genome, protein, and cell engineering are developed, we anticipate further innovative approaches to emerge in the design and engineering of circuits in immune cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a rare, but potentially life‐threatening, adverse event of immune checkpoint inhibitors that requires prompt recognition and treatment. It usually occurs in the first 3 months of treatment and is typically related to programmed cell death‐1 antibodies, alone or in combined therapy. It has rarely been described developing after immunotherapy cessation. We present a 51‐year‐old man with metastatic melanoma, who developed acute‐onset diabetes 52 days after combined immunotherapy cessation with nivolumab and ipilimumab, and 25.6 months after receiving the first dose. He presented with acute hyperglycemic symptoms, ketosis, complete insulin depletion and negative autoimmunity, fulfilling the criteria of fulminant type 1 diabetes. The patient had previously developed hypophysitis with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency during immunotherapy. We describe a case of late‐onset fulminant type 1 diabetes developing after immunotherapy cessation. Patient education and active follow up after immunotherapy discontinuation are crucial to warrant a timely intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Although insulin resistance (IR) is a growing trait among type 1 diabetes (T1D) population, its relationship with atherosclerosis has been scarcely studied. We assessed the association between IR indexes and carotid atherosclerosis in T1D, a population at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 191 participants with T1D and no prior CVD with at least one of the following criteria: ≥40 years old; diabetic nephropathy; or T1D duration ≥10 years harbouring ≥1 additional CVD risk factor. IR was assessed with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) harmonized definition proposed in 2009 and the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a T1D-specific IR surrogate marker (lower values indicating higher IR). Standardized carotid ultrasonography was performed, recording intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque presence and maximum height of plaque. Comparisons between patients according to their MetS status as well as concerning eGDR values were performed.Results: The participants' median age was 47.4 (41.1-53.3) years and diabetes duration 25.7 (21.6-32.5) years. Plaque prevalence was higher in patients with greater IR (49.1%, 29.1% and 20%, P = .001, for any plaque according to decreasing eGDR tertiles). Conversely, no statistically significant higher plaque prevalence was found in participants with MetS. In multivariate analyses (adjusted for general- and T1D-specific risk factors, and statin treatment), MetS was associated with neither IMT nor plaque. On the contrary, eGDR was independently related to ≥2 plaques (P = .018) and maximum plaque height (P < .01).Conclusions: In T1D, IR assessed through eGDR but not by MetS definition was independently associated with plaque burden, a predictor of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Several important bacterial characteristics, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate deaminase activity and production of siderophores and phytohormones, can be assessed as plant growth promotion traits. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fixing and indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) producing endophytes in two Oryza sativa cultivars (Baldo and Vialone Nano). Three bacteria, Herbaspirillum huttiense RCA24, Enterobacter asburiae RCA23 and Staphylococcus sp. 377, producing different IAA levels, were tested for their ability to enhance nifH gene expression and nitrogenase activity in Enterobacter cloacae RCA25. Results showed that H. huttiense RCA24 performed best. Improvement in nitrogen fixation and changes in physiological parameters such as chlorophyll, nitrogen content and shoot dry weight were observed for plants co‐inoculated with strains RCA25 and RCA24 in a 10:1 ratio. Based on confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis, strain RCA24 was the best colonizer of the root interior and the only IAA producer located in the same root niche occupied by RCA25 cells. This work shows that the choice of a bio‐inoculum having the right composition is one of the key aspects to be considered for the inoculation of a specific host plant cultivar with microbial consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO) is one of the most serious biotic constraints for this tree crop. Our knowledge of the genetics of the tolerance/resistance to this disease is very limited. Here we show that tolerance of the cv Frantoio relies on both basal and early pathogen-induced differential transcriptomic responses. * A comparative transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) was conducted in root tissues of cvs Frantoio (VWO-tolerant) and Picual (VWO-susceptible). RNA samples originated from roots of inoculated olive plants during the early infection stages by Verticillium dahliae (highly virulent, defoliating pathotype). * A huge number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found between 'Frantoio' and 'Picual' (27 312 unigenes) in the absence of the pathogen. Upon infection with V. dahliae, 'Picual' and 'Frantoio' plants responded differently too. In the early infection stages, four clusters of DEGs could be identified according to their time-course expression patterns. Among others, a pathogenesis-related protein of the Bet v I family and a dirigent-like protein involved in lignification, and several BAK1, NHL1, reactive oxygen species stress response and BAM unigenes showed noticeable differences between cultivars. * Tolerance of 'Frantoio' plants to VWO is a consequence of a complex and multifaceted process which involves many plant traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P seudomonas fluorescens PICF7 is an indigenous inhabitant of olive ( O lea europaea L.) rhizosphere, able to display endophytic lifestyle in roots, to induce a wide range of defence responses upon colonization of this organ and to exert effective biological control against Verticillium wilt of olive ( VWO) ( V erticillium dahliae). We aimed to evaluate the involvement of specific PICF7 phenotypes in olive root colonization and VWO biocontrol effectiveness by generating mutants impaired in swimming motility ( fliI) or siderophore pyoverdine production ( pvdI). Besides, the performance of mutants with diminished in vitro growth in potato dextrose agar medium ( gltA) and cysteine ( Cys) auxotrophy was also assessed. Results showed that olive root colonization and VWO biocontrol ability of the fliI, pvdI and gltA mutants did not significantly differ from that displayed by the parental strain PICF7. Consequently, altered in vitro growth, swimming motility and pyoverdine production contribute neither to PICF7 VWO suppressive effect nor to its colonization ability. In contrast, the Cys auxotroph mutant showed reduced olive root colonization capacity and lost full biocontrol efficacy. Moreover, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that all mutants tested were able to endophytically colonize root tissue to the same extent as wild-type PICF7, discarding these traits as relevant for its endophytic lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) with 3D antiferromagnetic ordering has been synthetized and characterized. The information obtained from magnetic characterization was supplemented by analysis of DFT calculations and the magneto-structural correlations. The result gives no evidence for direct iron-iron interactions, corroborating that the 3D magnetic ordering in MILs takes place via super-exchange coupling containing two diamagnetic atoms intermediaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive knot disease, caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, is one of the most important biotic constraints for olive cultivation. Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7, a natural colonizer of olive roots and effective biological control agent ( BCA) against Verticillium wilt of olive, was examined as potential BCA against olive knot disease. Bioassays using in vitro-propagated olive plants were carried out to assess whether strain PICF7 controlled knot development either when co-inoculated with the pathogen in stems or when the BCA (in roots) and the pathogen (in stems) were spatially separated. Results showed that PICF7 was able to establish and persist in stem tissues upon artificial inoculation. While PICF7 was not able to suppress disease development, its presence transiently decreased pathogen population size, produced less necrotic tumours, and sharply altered the localization of the pathogen in the hyperplasic tissue, which may pose epidemiological consequences. Confocal laser scanning microscopy combined with fluorescent tagging of bacteria revealed that when PICF7 was absent the pathogen tended to be localized at the knot surface. However, presence of the BCA seemed to confine P. savastanoi at inner regions of the tumours. This approach has also enabled to prove that the pathogen can moved systemically beyond the hypertrophied tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonization process of Olea europaea by the defoliating pathotype of Verticillium dahliae, and the in planta interaction with the endophytic, biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7 were determined. Differential fluorescent protein tagging was used for the simultaneous visualization of P. fluorescens PICF7 and V. dahliae in olive tissues. Olive plants were bacterized with PICF7 and then transferred to V. dahliae-infested soil. Monitoring olive colonization events by V. dahliae and its interaction with PICF7 was conducted using a non-gnotobiotic system, confocal laser scanner microscopy and tissue vibratoming sections. A yellow fluorescently tagged V. dahliae derivative (VDAT-36I) was obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Isolate VDAT-36I quickly colonized olive root surface, successfully invaded root cortex and vascular tissues via macro- and micro-breakages, and progressed to the aerial parts of the plant through xylem vessel cells. Strain PICF7 used root hairs as preferred penetration site, and once established on/in root tissues, hindered pathogen colonization. For the first time using this approach, the entire colonization process of a woody plant by V. dahliae is reported. Early and localized root surface and root endophytic colonization by P. fluorescens PICF7 is needed to impair full progress of verticillium wilt epidemics in olive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spreading of highly virulent isolates of Verticillium dahliae, causing Verticillium wilt of olive, is one of the most threatening concerns for olive cultivation. Using an isolate collection from infected olive trees in southern Spain, the morphology of microsclerotia (MS) produced on water agar was correlated with their molecular characteristics by a PCR-based pathotyping. Defoliating isolates (D) produced MS with a significantly higher length/width ratio than non-defoliating (ND) ones. These parameters were correlated using the logistic model log ( y/1 − y) = 3.73 L/ W − 6.95, when the pathotype was regressed on length/width ratio of the propagules. Inflection point of the logistic curve corresponded to length/width = 1.86. This morphological differentiation of virulence groups could be a simple and useful tool at commercial laboratories for the assignation of the pathotype of V. dahliae isolates during routine microbiological-based diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374r produces several iron-regulated metabolites, including the fluorescent siderophore pseudobactin (Psb374), salicylic acid (SA), and pseudomonine (Psm), a siderophore that contains a SA moiety. After purification of Psb374 from culture supernatant of WCS374r, its structure was determined following isoelectrofocusing and tandem mass spectrometry, and found to be identical to the fluorescent siderophore produced by P. fluorescens ATCC 13525. To study the role of SA and Psm production in colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana roots and in induced systemic resistance (ISR) against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) by strain WCS374r, mutants disrupted in the production of these metabolites were obtained by homologous recombination. These mutants were further subjected to transposon Tn5 mutagenesis to generate mutants also deficient in Psb374 production. The mutants behaved similar to the wild type in both their Arabidopsis rhizosphere-colonizing capacity and their ability to elicit ISR against Pst. We conclude that Psb374, SA, and Psm production by P. fluorescens WCS374r are not required for eliciting ISR in Arabidopsis.