Aridity modulates belowground bacterial community dynamics in olive tree.

Aridity negatively affects the diversity and abundance of edaphic microbial communities and their multiple ecosystem services, ultimately impacting vegetation productivity and biotic interactions. Investigation about how plant-associated microbial communities respond to increasing aridity is of particular importance, especially in light of the global climate change predictions. To assess the effect of aridity on plant associated bacterial communities, we investigated the diversity and co-occurrence of bacteria associated with the bulk soil and the root system of olive trees cultivated in orchards located in higher, middle and lower arid regions of Tunisia.

The role of lung ultrasound as a frontline diagnostic tool in the era of COVID-19 outbreak.

The diffusion of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) worldwide prompted the World Health Organization to declare the status of pandemic. The molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is based on the detection of viral RNA on different biological specimens. Unfortunately, the test may require several hours to be performed.

Root bacterial endophytes confer drought resistance and enhance expression and activity of a vacuolar H -pumping pyrophosphatase in pepper plants.

It has been previously shown that the transgenic overexpression of the plant root vacuolar proton pumps H -ATPase (V-ATPase) and H -PPase (V-PPase) confer tolerance to drought. Since plant-root endophytic bacteria can also promote drought tolerance, we hypothesize that such promotion can be associated to the enhancement of the host vacuolar proton pumps expression and activity. To test this hypothesis, we selected two endophytic bacteria endowed with an array of in vitro plant growth promoting traits.

Serum CXCL12 levels on hospital admission predict mortality in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock.

Objectives: We evaluated serum levels of CXCL12 in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and controls.

Methods: We enrolled 27 patients admitted to our emergency department with severe sepsis/septic shock and 20 healthy controls. Complete blood count, serum levels of CXCL12, C-reactive protein, lactate, Charlson comorbidity index, sequential organ failure score on hospital admission, and inhospital mortality were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 24 hours (T24).