Background: Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) causes economic losses in soybean crops by diminishing productivity, impacting grain size, oil content, and germination power. RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved gene regulation process initiated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), may be used as a safe technique in integrated pest management strategies. Conjugating dsRNA with cationic polymers, which protect dsRNA from degradation has shown to enhance this response.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a complementary tool for the monitoring of COVID-19 pandemic waves and for the circulation of viral variants. The selection, standardization, and dynamics of different SARS-CoV-2 RNA targets in wastewater requires further investigation. In the present study, 106 wastewater samples were collected over a 24-month period from the wastewater treatment plant of Sondrio, north Italy, and were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through the quantification of ORF1b, N1, and N3 gene targets via one-step real-time qPCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the detection of high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV) and seven other pathogens associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in matched clinician-collected cervical samples and self-taken vaginal and urine specimens collected from 342 asymptomatic women referred to colposcopy to evaluate (i) the concordance in the molecular detection of investigated pathogen in three different sample types; (ii) the analytical sensitivity and specificity of STIs detection on self-samples; and (iii) the distribution of STIs in hrHPV-positive and hrHPV-negative women. Pathogens detection was performed using Anyplex™II HR and Anyplex™II STI-7e, respectively. Good/substantial agreement was observed between cervical and self-taken samples in detecting hrHPV (κ = 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFL. is a genus of the Poaceae family, with many species serving as well-adapted forage plants in subtropical climates and continuous grazing systems. However, , an ascomycete of the order Hypocreales, represents a major threat to the species.
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