Deterioration of Organ Function As a Hallmark in Sepsis: The Cellular Perspective.

Development of organ dysfunction discriminates sepsis from uncomplicated infection. The paradigm shift implicated by the new sepsis-3 definition holds that initial impairment of any organ can pave the way for multiple organ dysfunction and death. Moreover, the role of the systemic inflammatory response, central element in previous sepsis definitions, has been questioned.

Robotic mechanical wounding (MecWorm) versus herbivore-induced responses: early signaling and volatile emission in Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.).

Insect herbivory on plants is a complex incident consisting of at least two different aspects, mechanical damage and chemical factors. Only the combination of both is able to induce the respective plant defenses. Thus, diverse plant species emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in response to herbivory (HW), whereas mechanical damage inflicted as single wounding event (MD) does not induce increased VOC emissions.

NO signals in the haze: nitric oxide signalling in plant defence.

Nitric oxide (NO) is gaining increasing attention as a regulator of diverse (patho-)physiological processes in plants. Although this molecule has been described as playing a role in numerous conditions, its production, turnover and mode of action are poorly understood. Recent studies on NO production have tended to highlight the questions that still remain unanswered rather than telling us more about NO metabolism.

Does mycorrhization influence herbivore-induced volatile emission in Medicago truncatula?

Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi substantially impacts secondary metabolism and defensive traits of colonised plants. In the present study, we investigated the influence of mycorrhization (Glomus intraradices) on inducible indirect defences against herbivores using the model legume Medicago truncatula. Volatile emission by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants was measured in reaction to damage inflicted by Spodoptera spp.

Microbial oligosaccharides differentially induce volatiles and signalling components in Medicago truncatula.

Plants perceive biotic stimuli by recognising a multitude of different signalling compounds originating from the interacting organisms. Some of these substances represent pathogen-associated molecular patterns, which act as general elicitors of defence reactions. But also beneficial microorganisms like rhizobia take advantage of compounds structurally related to certain elicitors, i.

Herbivore-induced terpenoid emission in Medicago truncatula: concerted action of jasmonate, ethylene and calcium signaling.

Plant volatiles emitted by Medicago truncatula in response to feeding larvae of Spodoptera exigua are composed of a complex blend of terpenoids. The cDNAs of three terpene synthases (TPSs), which contribute to the blend of terpenoids, were cloned from M. truncatula.

Direct and indirect defences induced by piercing-sucking and chewing herbivores in Medicago truncatula.

Direct and indirect defences against feeding induced by chewing (Spodoptera littoralis) and piercing-sucking (Tetranychus urticae) herbivores, as well as components of signal transduction, were investigated in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Emitted volatiles, representing a mechanism of indirect defence, were measured and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As elements of direct defence, the accumulation of phenolic compounds and of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed using microscopic techniques.