Publications by authors named "J F Postma"

Recently we demonstrated that the seed microbiome of certain spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seed lots can confer disease suppression against Globisporangium ultimum damping-off (previously known as Pythium ultimum). We hypothesised that differences in the microbial community composition of spinach seed lots correlate with the levels of damping-off suppressiveness of each seed lot. Here, we show that a large proportion of variance in seed-associated bacterial (16S) and fungal (ITS1) amplicon sequences was explained by seed lot identity, while 9.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

RNA interference (RNAi) is a crucial mechanism in immunity against infectious microbes through the action of DICER-LIKE (DCL) and ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins. In the case of the taxonomically diverse fungal pathogen and the oomycete , plant DCL and AGO proteins have proven roles as negative regulators of immunity, suggesting functional specialization of these proteins. To address this aspect in a broader taxonomic context, we characterized the colonization pattern of an informative set of and loss-of-function mutants in upon infection with a panel of pathogenic microbes with different lifestyles, and a fungal mutualist.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Microtubule-dependent endosomal transport is essential for distributing cellular components like proteins and mRNAs, but the link between mRNAs and the endosomal surface is not fully understood.
  • The research focuses on the RNA-binding protein Rrm4 and reveals a novel form of the MademoiseLLE (MLLE) domain, characterized by a unique seven-helical bundle that enhances its binding capability.
  • The study also compares this new MLLE domain with the canonical one from poly(A)-binding protein Pab1, uncovering important structural differences that help predict and verify interactions with other proteins, including human MLLE domains like PABPC1 and UBR5, which aid mRNA attachment during transport.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the relationship between exposure to poor air quality (AQ) and self-reported symptoms among young adults with asthma during wildfire smoke season.

Methods: Sixty seven young adults (aged 18-26 years) completed the Asthma Control Test and reported asthma symptoms at three time points (baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks) during wildfire season as part of a clinical trial. Bivariate correlations between Asthma Control Test and AQ measures were examined followed by predictive linear regression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Major power outages have risen over the last two decades, largely due to more extreme weather conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the distribution of power outages and its relationship to social vulnerability and co-occurring hazards. We examined the associations between localized outages and social vulnerability factors (demographic characteristics), controlling for environmental factors (weather), in Washington State between 2018-2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF