sp. nov. isolated from watermelon and muskmelon in Serbia.

Six strains isolated from muskmelon and watermelon seedlings affected by stem rot and wilting in Serbia were reported as based on pathogenicity, LOPAT and cell wall fatty acid analyses. Recent bacterial isolates from cucurbit crops displaying -like symptoms in Alabama, USA, were identified as , prompting polyphasic re-evaluation of the Serbian strains. All six strains were found to cause severe disease in watermelon and squash seedlings under greenhouse conditions.

sp. nov., and sp. nov., isolated from watermelon in Florida.

Three fluorescent bacterial strains, K1, K13 and K18, were obtained from watermelon () foliage symptomatic of bacterial leaf spot of cucurbits in Florida. The strains underwent phenotypic characterization, including LOPAT (levan production, oxidase activity, pectolytic activity on potato, arginine dihydrolase production and hypersensitive response (HR) on both tobacco and tomato) and pathogenicity testing on watermelon and squash seedlings. Whole-genome sequencing of the isolates was performed, and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) utilizing housekeeping genes , , and placed the isolates into two distinct clades within the genus.

Fecal microbiome composition in neonates with or without urinary tract infection.

Background: Most infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) do not have an underlying anatomical risk factor. Thus, other non-anatomical risk factors should be considered. Since the most common pathogens arise from the fecal microbiota, our aim was to investigate whether the gut microbiota composition differs between febrile infants younger than 2 months with or without UTI.

sp. nov., a novel bacterial species causing leaf spots on strawberry (×).

In Florida, angular leaf spot, caused by , was the only known bacterial disease in strawberry, which is sporadic and affects the foliage and calyx. However, from the 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 Florida strawberry seasons, unusual bacterial-like symptoms were observed in commercial farms, with reports of up to 30 % disease incidence. Typical lesions were water-soaked and angular in early stages that later became necrotic with a circular-ellipsoidal purple halo, and consistently yielded colonies resembling on culture media.

Effect of Hardwood Dust and Ammonia Gas on the Respiratory Integrity of Broiler Chickens.

Dust and ammonia gas (NH) are two of the most abundant pollutants suspended in the air of poultry houses. Chronic inhalation of poultry dust and NH causes damage to the airways and reduces performance in broilers. Poultry dust is a mixture of organic and inorganic matter from feed, bedding material, manure, feathers, skin debris, and microorganisms.

A Multiplex RT-qPCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Cucurbit Viruses from Individual Whitefly and Plant Samples.

Whiteflies () are a significant pest of cucurbits and vector many viruses, leading to substantial economic losses. Modern diagnostic tools offer the potential for early detection of viruses in the whiteflies before crop production. One such tool is the multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) probe-based technique, which can detect multiple targets in a single reaction and simultaneously quantify the levels of each target, with a detection limit of 100 copies per target.

Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity of Xanthomonads Isolated from Pepper ( spp.) in Taiwan from 1989 to 2019.

Bacterial spot caused by spp. is an economically important disease of pepper causing significant yield losses in Taiwan. Monitoring the pathogen population on a continuous basis is necessary for developing disease management strategies.

Urinary tract infections in young infants with a normal urine dipstick.

Aim: To assess missed urinary tract infections (UTI) in febrile infants ≤2 months when adhering to recent guidelines suggesting not to send a urine culture with a negative dipstick.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 308 infants ≤2 months with a positive urine culture admitted in 2013-2023, divided into subgroups without exposure to urine dipstick results: 'urosepsis' (UTI with bacteraemia), 'UTI' (positive urine culture, elevated inflammatory markers, no other cause of fever) and 'bacteriuria' (positive urine culture, not meeting the above-mentioned criteria). After retrieving the dipstick results, the 'missed UTI' group (UTI+ negative dipstick) was described.

TOMMicroNet: Convolutional Neural Networks for Smartphone-Based Microscopic Detection of Tomato Biotic and Abiotic Plant Health Issues.

The image-based detection and classification of plant diseases has become increasingly important to the development of precision agriculture. We consider the case of tomato, a high-value crop supporting the livelihoods of many farmers around the world. Many biotic and abiotic plant health issues impede the efficient production of this crop, and laboratory-based diagnostics are inaccessible in many remote regions.

Elucidating the Mode of Action of Hybrid Nanoparticles of Cu/Zn Against Copper-Tolerant .

The widespread presence of tolerance to copper in species has resulted in the need to develop alternative approaches to control plant diseases caused by xanthomonads. In recent years, nanotechnological approaches have resulted in the identification of novel materials to control plant pathogens. With many metal-based nanomaterials having shown promise for disease control, an important question relates to the mode of action of these new materials.

Non-coding deep learning models for tomato biotic and abiotic stress classification using microscopic images.

Plant disease classification is quite complex and, in most cases, requires trained plant pathologists and sophisticated labs to accurately determine the cause. Our group for the first time used microscopic images (×30) of tomato plant diseases, for which representative plant samples were diagnostically validated to classify disease symptoms using non-coding deep learning platforms (NCDL). The mean F1 scores (SD) of the NCDL platforms were 98.

Transcriptome profiling of type VI secretion system core gene mutant of highlights regulators controlling diverse functions ranging from virulence to metabolism.

T6SS has received attention due to its significance in mediating interorganismal competition through contact-dependent release of effector molecules into prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Reverse-genetic studies have indicated the role of T6SS in virulence in a variety of plant pathogenic bacteria, including the one studied here, . However, it is not clear whether such effect on virulence is merely due to a shift in the microbiome-mediated protection or if T6SS is involved in a complex virulence regulatory network.

Novel Magnesium-Copper Hybrid Nanomaterials for Management of Bacterial Spot of Tomato.

Bacterial spot of tomato (BST), predominantly caused by () in Florida, is one of the most devastating diseases in hot, humid environments. Bacterial resistance to copper-based bactericides and antibiotics makes disease management extremely challenging. This necessitates alternative new solutions to manage the disease.

Unexpected Diversity of Pseudomonads Associated with Bacterial Leaf Spot of Cucurbits in the Southeastern United States.

Bacterial leaf spot of cucurbits (BLS) is an emerging disease in the southeastern United States that is capable of causing widespread outbreaks under conducive conditions. Historically attributed solely to the bacterium pv. , recent studies have identified additional pathovars as causal agents of the disease.

Whole-Genome-Sequence-Based Classification of pv. and Computational Analysis of the Type III Secretion System.

spp. infect a wide range of annual and perennial plants. Bacterial blight in young seedlings of spp.

Development of a multiplex RT-RPA assay for simultaneous detection of three viruses in cucurbits.

Begomoviruses and criniviruses, vectored by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), are important threats to crops worldwide. In recent years, the spread of cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) and cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) on cucurbit crops has been reported to cause devastating crop losses in many regions of the world. In this study, a multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay, an isothermal technique for rapid and simultaneous detection of DNA and RNA viruses CuLCrV, CYSDV and CCYV was developed.

Improved Persistence of Bacteriophage Formulation with Nano -Acetylcysteine-Zinc Sulfide and Tomato Bacterial Spot Disease Control.

Bacteriophages are biocontrol agents used to manage bacterial diseases. They have long been used against plant pathogenic bacteria; however, several factors impede their use as a reliable disease management strategy. Short-lived persistence on plant surfaces under field conditions results mainly from rapid degradation by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.

Potential of Novel Magnesium Nanomaterials to Manage Bacterial Spot Disease of Tomato in Greenhouse and Field Conditions.

Bacterial spot of tomato is among the most economically relevant diseases affecting tomato plants globally. In previous studies, non-formulated magnesium oxide nanoparticles (nano-MgOs) significantly reduced the disease severity in greenhouse and field conditions. However, the aggregation of nano-MgO in liquid suspension makes it challenging to use in field applications.

First report of Watermelon Crinkle Leaf-Associated Virus (WCLaV) -1 and WCLaV-2 infecting straightneck squash in the United States.

Straightneck squash (Cucurbita pepo var. recticollis) is an important cucurbit crop in Florida. In early fall 2022, straightneck squash showing severe virus-like symptoms of yellowing, mild leaf crinkling (Supplementary Figure 1), unusual mosaic patterns and deformation on the surface of the fruit (Supplementary Figure 2), were observed in a ~15-ha straightneck squash field in Northwest FL with a disease incidence of ~ 30%.

Potential of nanobiosensor in sustainable agriculture: the state-of-art.

A rapid surge in world population leads to an increase in worldwide demand for agricultural products. Nanotechnology and its applications in agriculture have appeared as a boon to civilization with enormous potential in transforming conventional farming practices into redefined farming activities. Low-cost portable nanobiosensors are the most effective diagnostic tool for the rapid on-site assessment of plant and soil health including plant biotic and abiotic stress level, nutritional status, presence of hazardous chemicals in soil, etc.

Draft genome sequences of pv. pathotype strain DSM 105780 , isolated from Florida.

The pathogen that causes stem gall in was first identified in Florida and Alabama in 2018 and named pv. . We report the genome sequence of the pathotype strain of this pathogen, pv.

sp nov. and sp nov., isolated from ornamental crops in California.

Five bacterial strains were isolated from symptomatic leaves of , sp. and sp. in California.

Future of Bacterial Disease Management in Crop Production.

Bacterial diseases are a constant threat to crop production globally. Current management strategies rely on an array of tactics, including improved cultural practices; application of bactericides, plant activators, and biocontrol agents; and use of resistant varieties when available. However, effective management remains a challenge, as the longevity of deployed tactics is threatened by constantly changing bacterial populations.

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: What Do Pediatricians Need to Know?

Pediatricians and adolescent providers play an important role in the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults, including their sexual health. HIV remains an ongoing concern for young people, with 21% of new HIV diagnoses occurring in this age group. The use of antiretroviral therapy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent transmission of HIV to people who are not infected has been proven safe and effective.

Simulated Leaching of Foliar Applied Copper Bactericides on the Soil Microbiome Utilizing Various Beta Diversity Resemblance Measurements.

Copper bactericides are routinely used to control Xanthomonas perforans (XP), causal agent of bacterial spot of tomato. Given the widespread tolerance to copper in XP strains in FL, USA, nanotechnology-based elemental composites have gained interest for their potential applications in agriculture in part due to their enhanced antimicrobial properties and toxicity to copper-tolerant strains. However, little is known about the potential impact of conventional copper bactericides as well as nano-based elemental composites on soil microbial communities, as determined by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA.