Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the Gene Family in Reveals Functions in Various Stress Conditions.

The plant-specific SHI-related sequence (SRS) family of transcription factors plays a vital role in growth regulation, plant development, phytohormone biosynthesis, and stress response. However, the genome-wide identification and role in the abiotic stress-related functions of the SRS gene family were not reported in white sweet clover (Melilotus albus). In this study, nine M.

Influence of biochar and microorganism co-application on stabilization of cadmium (Cd) and improved maize growth in Cd-contaminated soil.

Cadmium (Cd) is one the leading environmental contaminants. The Cd toxicity and its potential stabilization strategies have been investigated in the recent years. However, the combined effects of biochar and microorganisms on the adsorption of Cd and maize plant physiology, still remained unclear.

Biochar application for the remediation of trace metals in contaminated soils: Implications for stress tolerance and crop production.

In modern agriculture and globalization, the release of trace metals from manufacturing effluents hinders crop productivity by polluting the atmosphere and degrading food quality. Sustaining food safety in polluted soils is critical to ensure global food demands. This review describes the negative effects of trace metals stress on plant growth, physiology, and yield.

Genome-wide identification of ABA receptor PYL/RCAR gene family and their response to cold stress in L.

Unlabelled: Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone involved in plant growth, plant development, and the protection of plants against abiotic stresses. PYL/RCAR (pyrabactin resistance/pyr1-like/regulatory components of ABA receptor) is the receptor protein of ABA and the core component of the ABA signal transduction network. The PYL gene family has been identified and analyzed in many species, however, there is no report about the research on the whole genome-wide identification of the alfalfa ( L.

Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry fingerprinting to characterize Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolates.

Unlabelled: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a faster and more accurate method to identify intact bacteria than conventional microbiology and/or molecular biology methods. The MALDI-TOF MS method is potentially applicable in diagnostic laboratories to characterize commensal bacterial species, some of which are major pathogens, from human or animal gastrointestinal tracts. The aim of this study was to analyze at the cluster and statistical level the capacity of MALDI-TOF MS to distinguish between previously characterized enterococci and Escherichia coli isolated from wild birds of the Azores archipelago.

Different impact of heat-inactivated and viable lactic acid bacteria of aquatic origin on turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) head-kidney leucocytes.

In aquaculture, several criteria should be considered to select an appropriate probiotic, including the aquatic origin and safety of the strain and its ability to modulate the host immune response. The properties and effects of probiotics are strain-specific and some factors such as viability, dose and duration of diet supplementation may regulate their immunomodulatory activities. In this study, we assessed the in vitro effect of eight heat-inactivated and viable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of aquatic origin belonging to the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus and Weissella on the viability and innate immune response of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.

Inhibition of fish pathogens by the microbiota from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) and rearing environment.

This work reports the isolation and taxonomic identification of the cultivable total microbiota (TM) and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) and rearing environment from selected stages of the life-cycle, and the evaluation of the LAB antimicrobial activity against the main fish pathogens. TM and LAB isolates were randomly selected and identified by 16S rRNA and/or superoxide dismutase gene sequencing. Although a great diversity in the TM was observed, Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonadaceae were clearly prevalent, while the genus Lactococcus was the predominant LAB.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of lactic acid bacteria of aquatic origin as probiotics for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) farming.

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) is an important commercial marine flatfish. Its production may be affected by bacterial diseases that cause severe economical losses, mainly tenacibaculosis and vibriosis, provoked by Tenacibaculum maritimum and Vibrio splendidus, respectively.

Next-generation sequencing and comparative analysis of Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax and Pyrrhocorax graculus (Passeriformes: Corvidae) mitochondrial genomes.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Yellow-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) were sequenced using the Ion Torrent PGM platform. These mitogenomes contain 16,889 bp (Red-billed Chough) and 16,905 bp (Yellow-billed Chough), including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (D-loop). The gene content, orientation, and structure are similar to a wide range of other vertebrate species and the nucleotide composition is very similar to other Passeriformes.

Taxonomic and ecological discrimination of Fagaceae species based on internal transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA has been used to confirm taxonomic classifications and define phylogenies in several plant species following sequencing or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques. In this study, co-dominant ITS PCR-RFLP molecular markers were produced in 30 Fagaceae individuals belonging to the Castanea, Fagus and Quercus genera in order to assess the potential of this technique for taxonomic discrimination and determination of phylogenies. The complete ITS region (ITS1-5.

Molecular instability induced by aluminum stress in Plantago species.

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant metals on earth's crust and Al toxicity represents one of the major factors that limit plant growth and productivity in acid soils (with a pH≤5.0). In this study the mutagenic/genotoxic effects of Al were evaluated in roots and leaves of two Plantago, species, Plantago almogravensis and Plantago lagopus, using ISSRs markers.

Azorean wild rabbits as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an increasing problem that is not only constrained to the clinical setting but also to other environments that can lodge antibiotic resistant bacteria and therefore they may serve as reservoirs of genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance. One hundred and thirty-six faecal samples from European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) were collected on São Jorge Island in Azores Archipelago, and analysed for Escherichia coli isolates. Seventy-seven isolates (56.

Complete proteome of a quinolone-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium phage type DT104B clinical strain.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common and widely distributed foodborne diseases. The emergence of Salmonella strains that are resistant to a variety of antimicrobials is a serious global public health concern. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium definitive phage type 104 (DT104) is one of these emerging epidemic multidrug resistant strains.

Validation of a high performance liquid chromatography method for the stabilization of epigallocatechin gallate.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a green tea catechin with potential health benefits, such as anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. In general, EGCG is highly susceptible to degradation, therefore presenting stability problems. The present paper was focused on the study of EGCG stability in HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid) medium regarding the pH dependency, storage temperature and in the presence of ascorbic acid a reducing agent.

Developmental toxicity of endocrine disruptors in early life stages of zebrafish, a genetic and embryogenesis study.

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are capable of interfering with the endocrine system and are increasingly widespread in the aquatic environments. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae were used to assess how EDCs may interfere with embryogenesis. Therefore, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2: 0.

LINE-1 retrotransposons: from 'parasite' sequences to functional elements.

Long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (LINE-1) are the most abundant and active retrotransposons in the mammalian genomes. Traditionally, the occurrence of LINE-1 sequences in the genome of mammals has been explained by the selfish DNA hypothesis. Nevertheless, recently, it has also been argued that these sequences could play important roles in these genomes, as in the regulation of gene expression, genome modelling and X-chromosome inactivation.

Nanoemulsions (NEs), liposomes (LPs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for retinyl palmitate: effect on skin permeation.

The aim of this study was to develop biocompatible lipid-based nanocarriers for retinyl palmitate (RP) to improve its skin delivery, photostability and biocompatibility, and to avoid undesirable topical side effects. RP loaded nanoemulsions (NEs), liposomes (LPs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were characterized in terms of size, surface electrical charge, pH, drug encapsulation efficiency and morphology. Spherical-shaped nanocarriers with a negatively charged surface (>|40|mV) and mean size lower than 275 nm were produced with adequate skin compatibility.

In vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of resveratrol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for brain delivery.

Resveratrol is a potent anticancer. However, because of its low half-life (<0.25 h) the molecule is difficult to achieve the therapeutic concentration at the site of action.

Preparation and characterization of PEG-coated silica nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery.

The present study reports the production and characterization of PEG-coated silica nanoparticles (SiNP-PEG) containing insulin for oral administration. High (PEG 20,000) and low (PEG 6000) PEG molecular weights were used in the preparations. SiNP were produced by sol-gel technology followed by PEG adsorption and characterized for in vitro release by Franz diffusion cells.

Biodegradation of ochratoxin A by Pediococcus parvulus isolated from Douro wines.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a promising solution to reduce exposure to dietary mycotoxins because of the unique mycotoxin decontaminating characteristic of some LAB. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most prominent mycotoxins found in agricultural commodities. The present work reports on the ability of Pediococcus parvulus strains that were isolated from Douro wines that spontaneously underwent malolactic fermentation to detoxify OTA.

Surface modified PLGA nanoparticles for brain targeting of Bacoside-A.

The present paper focuses on the development and in vitro/in vivo characterization of nanoparticles composed of poly-(D,L)-Lactide-co-Glycolide (PLGA) loading Bacoside-A, as a new approach for the brain delivery of the neuroprotective drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer Disease).