The overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana of a Trichoderma harzianum gene that modulates glucosidase activity, and enhances tolerance to salt and osmotic stresses.

Using the TrichoEST database, generated in a previous functional genomics project from the beneficial filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum, a gene named Thkel1, which codes for a putative kelch-repeat protein, was isolated and characterized. Silencing of this gene in T. harzianum leads to a reduction of glucosidase activity and mycelial growth under abiotic stress conditions.

Importance and limitations of chemotherapy among the available treatments for gastrointestinal tumours.

Gastrointestinal tumours constitute one of the worldwide leading causes of death. One important limitation in the battle against these types of cancer is their lack of sensitivity to currently available chemotherapy and the development of drug resistance during treatment. The mechanisms responsible for this refractivity include a reduction in drug uptake, enhanced drug export, intracellular inactivation of the effective agent, alteration of the molecular target, an increase in the activity of the target route to be inhibited or the appearance or stimulation of alternative routes, enhanced repair of drug-induced modification in the target molecules, and activation/inhibition of intracellular signalling pathways, which leads to a negative balance between apoptosis/survival of tumour cells.

Specific PCR assays for the detection and quantification of DNA from the biocontrol strain Trichoderma harzianum 2413 in soil.

Strain identification in situ is an important factor in the monitoring of microorganisms used in the field. In this study, we demonstrated the use of sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to detect genomic DNA from Trichoderma harzianum 2413 from soil. Two primers (SCAR A1/SCAR A1c) were tested against DNA of 27 isolates of Trichoderma spp.

Genetic diversity shown in Trichoderma biocontrol isolates.

Genetic variability within 69 biocontrol isolates of Trichoderma, obtained from different geographical locations and culture collections and selected as biocontrol agents, was studied. Sequence data, obtained from the ITS1 region of rDNA and a fragment of the translation elongation factor 1 (tef1) gene, were used in a phylogenetic analysis. Phylograms showing similar topologies were generated using alignments containing the ITS1 region or a portion of the tef1 gene.