Search

Numerous fungicide applications are required to control Erysiphe necator, the causative agent of powdery mildew. This increased demand for cultivars with strong and long-lasting field resistance to diseases and pests. In comparison to the susceptible cultivar ‘Teroldego’, the current study provides information on some promising disease-resistant varieties (mono-locus) carrying one E. necator-resistant locus: BC4 and ‘Kishmish vatkana’, as well as resistant genotypes carrying several E. necator resistant loci (pyramided): ‘Bianca’, F26P92, F13P71, and NY42. A clear picture of the metabolites’ alterations in response to the pathogen is shown by profiling the main and secondary metabolism: primary compounds and lipids; volatile organic compounds and phenolic compounds at 0, 12, and 48 hours after pathogen inoculation. We identified several compounds whose metabolic modulation indicated that resistant plants initiate defense upon pathogen inoculation, which, while similar to the susceptible genotype in some cases, did not imply that the plants were not resistant, but rather that their resistance was modulated at different percentages of metabolite accumulation and with different effect sizes. As a result, we discovered ten up-accumulated metabolites that distinguished resistant from susceptible varieties in response to powdery mildew inoculation, three of which have already been proposed as resistance biomarkers due to their role in activating the plant defense response.

The coronally advanced flap technique is one of the most commonly used approaches for treating gingival recession. Several modifications of the technique have been proposed over the years, making it a highly predictable treatment option for gingival recession; however, as dental implants are structurally and biologically different from natural teeth, a further modification of the conventional coronally advanced flap technique has been suggested to overcome the challenges posed by the treatment of peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences. The present article aims to describe the state of the art of the technique at implant sites presenting with peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences, and highlight the main differences between this and the coronally advanced flap approach in natural teeth. The timing of crown removal and abutment modification/replacement are discussed, along with the different methods for management of the flap and connective tissue graft that are recommended at implant sites. The outcomes of this approach compared to the conventional coronally advanced flap technique, and other approaches are also presented.

The present study aimed to investigate plant defense related pathways during Plasmopara viticola infection in Vitis vinifera varieties. Plant material consisted of 'Chardonnay' (no Rpv), 'Regent' (Rpv3-1), 'Bronner' (Rpv3-3+Rpv10), 'Calardis Blanc' (Rpv3-1+Rpv3-2), and the breeding selection GF15 (Rpv1+Rpv3-1). Gene expression analysis was carried out for the varieties 'Regent', GF15, 'Bronner', and 'Chardonnay'. Hormonal quantification was performed for jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and trans-zeatin-ribose (tZR). The samples were collected from plants cultivated in vitro inoculated with Plasmopara viticola sporangia, and collected at 0, 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-days post inoculation (DPI) for gene expression; and 0, 3, 5, and 7 DPI for hormonal quantification. The results showed an interaction between genotype and time post inoculation in gene expression and hormonal pathways linked with pathogen recognition. Both jasmonate and salicylic acids were involved in the resistance response. The role of stilbenes acting against the pathogen at different times was also confirmed. Changes in the expression of genes linked to cell defense were observed in all evaluated genotypes; however, genotypes with R-loci responded more quickly than the variety without R-loci, activating mechanisms of cell death, resulting in symptoms of hypersensitivity., VITIS - Journal of Grapevine Research, Vol. 60 No. 4 (2021): Vitis

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of clinical arrhythmia, affecting roughly 1% of the population. While not fatal per se, it is associated with a signiFicant increase in the risk of stroke, accounting for around a quarter of all strokes. AF does not have a clear cause, but it appears to be a progressive remodelling of the atrial tissue characterised by extensive electrical and structural modiFications. Its main risk factors are age, hypertension, heart failure, obesity, diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction. The overall goal of this project is to shed light on the molecular mechanisms that promote the development of AF. The First part of the project focuses on the role of neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) and dystrophin in AF. Previous studies reported that both proteins are reduced in the atrial tissues of patients with persistent AF. In addition, nNOS-/- mice showed an increased propensity to develop AF in response to pacing. Given that nNOS is physically associated with dystrophin at the membrane in atrial myocytes, I investigated whether a mouse lacking dystrophin (mdx) could be used as a model for AF development. In the second part of the project, I investigated atrial samples from patients in sinus rhythm undergoing coronary revascularisation with the aim of identifying early changes linked to the development of post-operative AF (poAF). PoAF occurs in one-third of patients within a week of undergoing cardiac surgery. Although poAF is usually self-limiting, patients are more likely to develop persistent AF on follow-up. I adopted a whole-transcriptome approach, proFiling the mRNAs and microRNAs in samples of patients who developed poAF, and compared them to samples from patients who stayed in sinus rhythm postoperatively. Differences between the two groups may bring valuable insights on the atrial substrate that subtends the development of AF and uncover new therapeutic targets.