Aggressive Pathogen Research Articles

Needle pathogens of Rhytismataceae: Current knowledge and research opportunities for conifer foliar diseases

AbstractNeedle diseases caused by pathogens within Rhytismataceae are increasing in frequency globally where pines are either a predominate species or are grown commercially, and yet remain poorly understood. Here, we provide background information on the current knowledge and management strategies of needle pathogens in the Rhytismataceae and discuss research opportunities using molecular tools to fill knowledge gaps. Many of the aggressive needle pathogens within this group lack morphological features to delimit species and are difficult to grow in axenic cultures, which complicates scientific investigations. Molecular research has greatly advanced knowledge of this unique group of pathogens. Nucleotide sequences from multiple gene loci identified greater diversity within this group of pathogens than previously thought, as new and cryptic species are being discovered in broader geographic regions. High throughput sequencing and analyses revealed that an endophytic lifestyle is a common trait among fastidious if not obligate needle pathogens within Rhytismataceae. Further, molecular analyses showed the impact these pathogens have on the diversity of endophytic microbiota is underestimated. Early detection in healthy‐looking needles using PCR‐based markers greatly improves capabilities for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Despite growing number of molecular studies on Rhytismataceae needle pathogens, fundamental questions on the taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and pathology of many Rhytismataceae needle pathogens remain unanswered. Nonetheless, with the projected changes in the occurrence and severity of Rhytismataceae pathogens, increased accessibility to molecular tools vastly expands the potential to gain more insights into understudied needle pathosystems to help define and address its impact under changing environments and consequently inform forest disease management more effectively.

The first host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: miscellaneous Tribes

Tribes Coriacephilini, Corthylini, Cryphalini, Ernoporini, Trypophloeini, Xyloctonini, and Xyloterini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) include spermophagous, phloeophagous, and xylomycetophagous species. Besides direct damage caused by burrowing into host plant tissues, some species are vectors of aggressive pathogens causing plant dieback and death, with consequent economic and ecological relevance. The international trade in plants and wood products is one of the main pathways for the introduction of non-native species worldwide. In this context, data availability on host plants and their economic uses is essential in pest risk assessment and for planning effective detection and monitoring strategies against invasive species. This paper provides a complete and updated list of host plants, with economic categorization, for 2139 scolytine species.

Epidemiological characterization of clinical isolates of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus through multilocus sequence typing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing in Northwest Iran.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is considered a potential and aggressive nosocomial pathogen. It accounts for 50% of S. aureus isolates in tertiary hospitals in Iran, however, there is no sufficient evolutionary and epidemiological investigation about this medically important bacterium. We aimed to study the lineage and evolution of MRSA in Northwest Iran during 2021-2022 based on the obtained phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Seventy-two non-duplicate MRSA isolates were collected from 3 referral hospitals in Tabriz, Ardebil, and Urmia cities. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined by disk diffusion test and micro broth dilution methods. Thereafter 4 virulence genes (eta, etb, pvl, tst) and 5 types of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) were detected by PCR. In the final step, representative isolates were selected to be studied by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The highest resistance was observed to erythromycin and clindamycin at a rate of 76.4%, followed by ciprofloxacin (61.1%), gentamicin (54.2%), rifampin (38.9%), and co-trimoxazole (27.8%). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. The virulence genes of etb, pvl, tst, and eta were detected in 50%, 29.2%, 21.8%, and 13.9% of isolates, respectively. SCCmec types III and I were the most prevalent types, followed by types IV, II, and V. MLST analysis revealed 6 sequence types: ST6854, ST5282, ST127, ST7804, ST1607, and ST7784. Two MLST-based clonal complexes (CC8, and CC97) were identified as well. The ST numbers were non-repetitive. CC8 as a pandemic clone and an individual lineage and clinically significant clade was reported as the most prevalent clonal complex. It is essential periodic evaluations of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and study the evolutionary characteristics of medical-challenging microorganisms in particular MRSA to effectively treat and restrict the outbreaks.

Anti-virulence potential of patuletin, a natural flavone, against Staphylococcus aureus: In vitro and In silico investigations

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly prevalent and aggressive human pathogen causing a wide range of infections. This study aimed to explore the potential of Patuletin, a rare natural flavone, as an anti-virulence agent against S. aureus. At a sub-inhibitory concentration (1/4 MIC), Patuletin notably reduced biofilm formation by 27 % and 23 %, and decreased staphyloxanthin production by 53 % and 46 % in Staphylococcus aureus isolate SA25923 and clinical isolate SA1, respectively. In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the in vitro findings, several in silico analyses were conducted. Initially, a 3D-flexible alignment study demonstrated a favorable structural similarity between Patuletin and B70, the co-crystallized ligand of CrtM, an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of staphyloxanthin. Molecular docking highlighted the strong binding of Patuletin to the active site of CrtM, with a high affinity of −20.95 kcal/mol. Subsequent 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations, along with MM-GBSA, ProLIF, PLIP, and PCAT analyses, affirmed the stability of the Patuletin-CrtM complex, revealing no significant changes in CrtM's structure upon binding. Key amino acids crucial for binding were also identified. Collectively, this study showcased the effective inhibition of CrtM activity by Patuletin in silico and its attenuation of key virulence factors in vitro, including biofilm formation and staphyloxanthin production. These findings hint at Patuletin's potential as a valuable therapeutic agent, especially in combination with antibiotics, to counter antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

ETHYLENE AND FATTY ACIDS AS MARKERS OF STRESS RESISTANCE IN WINTER WHEAT

There are a number of global problems in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, including environmental factors such as climate change, floods and droughts, which cause damage to plant tissues and significant losses of food crops. A significant obstacle to the development of agriculture and food security in Ukraine are biotic factors, in particular pathogenic bacteria, viruses and microfungi. Fusarium are the most widespread and aggressive pathogens to grain crops, especially to wheat. These obstacles can be overcome by introducing wheat varieties resistant to Fusarium into agronomic practice. However, selection of resistant wheat to fusariosis along the path of traditional centuries-old selection is a laborious and expensive road. However, selection of resistant wheat to fusariosis along the path of traditional centuries-old selection is a laborious and expensive road. Therefore, the search for new effective tools that will facilitate the selection of plants with desirable characteristics at the early stages of breeding programs is an urgent task. Methods. Wheat varieties of different resistance to abiotic and biotic factors in field conditions were used in laboratory studies: resistant, semi-resistant and non-resistant. Ethylene and fatty acids were determined by gas chromatographic methods. The results. Patterns of ethylene and fatty acid synthesis of winter wheat varieties with different resistance to biotic and abiotic factors were revealed. Resistant varieties are characterized by a significantly higher content of these compounds compared to non-resistant varieties. A similar regularity was found in relation to the lodging of plants: the higher the content of these compounds, the greater the resistance to lodging. Conclusions and perspectives. This article describes two methods of assessing the resistance of winter wheat to abiotic and biotic stresses, which can be implemented in breeding programs.

Calcium l-Malate and d-Tartarate Frameworks as Adjuvants for the Sustainable Delivery of a Fungicide.

Agrichemical adjuvants that combine a highly selective, efficient, and active mode of operation are critically needed to realize a more sustainable approach to their usage. Herein, we report the synthesis and full characterization of two new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), termed UPMOF-1 and UPMOF-2, that were constructed from eco-friendly Ca2+ ions and naturally occurring, low-molecular weight plant acids, l-malic and d-tartaric acid, respectively. Upon structural elucidation of both MOFs, a widely used fungicide, hexaconazole (Hex), was loaded on the structures, reaching binding affinities of -5.0 and -3.5 kcal mol-1 and loading capacities of 63% and 62% for Hex@UPMOF-1 and Hex@UPMOF-2, respectively, as a result of the formation of stable host-guest interactions. Given the framework chemistry of the MOFs and their predisposition to disassembly under relevant agricultural conditions, the sustained release kinetics were determined to show nearly quantitative release (98% and 95% for Hex@UPMOF-1 and Hex@UPMOF-2, respectively) after >500 h, a release profile drastically different than the control (>80% release in 24 h), from which the high efficiency of these new systems was established. To confirm their high selectivity and activity, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to illustrate the abilities of Hex@UPMOF-1 and Hex@UPMOF-2 to combat the known aggressive pathogen Ganoderma boninense that causes basal stem rot disease in oil palm. Accordingly, at an extremely low concentration of 0.05 μg mL-1, both Hex@UPMOF-1 and Hex@UPMOF-2 were demonstrated to completely inhibit (100%) G. boninense growth, and during a 26 week in vivo nursery trial, the progression of basal stem rot infection was completely halted upon treatment with Hex@UPMOF-1 and Hex@UPMOF-2 and seedling growth was accelerated given the additional nutrients supplied via the disassembly of the MOFs. This study represents a significant step forward in the design of adjuvants to support the environmentally responsible use of agrichemical crop protection.

Mycobiome Shifts in Ulmus minor Stems After Infection with Beneficial and Pathogenic Fungi

The assembly of plant microbial communities is a complex process orchestrated by plant physiology and microbial interactions under changing environmental conditions. In this work we aim to disentangle how an aggressive vascular pathogen, Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, affects the composition of the resident mycobiome of field elm ( Ulmus minor). We also aim to determine the extent to which the inoculation of beneficial endophytes buffers the changes induced by the pathogen in the resident mycobiome composition. Three U. minor genotypes, two resistant and one susceptible to O. novo-ulmi, were inoculated with (i) the pathogen, (ii) a consortium of three beneficial endophytes, or (iii) the endophyte consortium, followed by pathogen inoculation. Endophyte composition of stem samples was profiled by high-throughput sequencing of the first internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA. A total of 365 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were obtained, 61 of which were core members. Pathogen colonization reduced the ASV richness while endophyte inoculation increased the Shannon diversity. In most cases, the endophyte consortium inoculation prevented most of the changes in the mycobiome composition induced by the pathogen. At the genotype level, both alpha and beta diversity varied strongly, with latent pathogens being more abundant in the susceptible genotype. Overall, the results are evidence that inoculation of plant beneficial endophytes buffers the changes produced in the mycobiome by aggressive pathogens. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Distribution and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Soybean Root Rot in Northeast China

<i>Fusarium</i> root rot is an increasingly severe problem in soybean cultivation. Although several <i>Fusarium</i> species have been reported to infect soybean roots in Heilongjiang province, their frequency and aggressiveness have not been systematically quantified in the region. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and distribution of <i>Fusarium</i> species that cause soybean root rot in Heilongjiang province over two years. A total of 485 isolates belonging to nine <i>Fusarium</i> species were identified, with <i>F. oxysporum</i> and <i>F. solani</i> being the most prevalent. Pot experiments were conducted to examine the relative aggressiveness of different <i>Fusarium</i> species on soybean roots, revealing that <i>F. oxysporum</i> and <i>F. solani</i> were the most aggressive pathogens, causing the most severe root rot symptoms. The study also assessed the susceptibility of different soybean cultivars to <i>Fusarium</i> root rot caused by <i>F. oxysporum</i> and <i>F. solani</i>. The results indicated that the soybean cultivar DN51 exhibited the most resistance to both pathogens, indicating that it may possess genetic traits that make it less susceptible to <i>Fusarium</i> root rot. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of <i>Fusarium</i> species that cause soybean root rot and could facilitate the development of effective management strategies for this disease.

Evidence for antagonistic effects of climate change and exotic pathogens on regeneration of Mediterranean forests

Abstract Understanding the interactive effects of global change drivers on tree demography is fundamental for realistic predictions of future forest dynamics. Multiple studies have shown increasing drought and exotic pathogens to severely threaten forest persistence by increasing mortality and decreasing growth of adult trees. However, much less is known about their effects on regeneration, and how they might affect seedling performance in additive and non‐additive (synergistic or antagonistic) ways. Here we aimed to fill this gap by experimentally exploring the effects of increasing drought and soil‐borne pathogens on tree regeneration in two types of mixed oak forests (Quercus suber‐Q. canariensis and Q. suber‐Olea europaea) invaded by the exotic soil‐borne oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi, one of the most aggressive plant pathogens on earth. We conducted a seed sowing experiment with oomycete‐specific fungicide taking advantage of rainfall exclusion infrastructures that excluded 30% of the annual rainfall, simulating predictions of climate change models for Mediterranean systems. Seedling emergence, survival and growth of the three tree species were followed during 3 years. We found that neutral or positive drought effects on regeneration dominated over negative effects in the tree community. Moreover, most positive drought effects on the dominant species (Q. suber) were not direct, but indirectly mediated by soil‐borne pathogens. This was shown by the fact that positive drought effects disappeared with fungicide application. Synthesis: Overall, our results suggest that rainfall reductions predicted by climate change models for the Mediterranean region might have minor direct negative effects on early regeneration of tree species, but could play a major indirect role by limiting the negative effects of exotic pathogens on highly susceptible tree species. These findings highlight that antagonisms among global change drivers should be recognized as important forces that might slow down the current loss of tree health.

Characterisation of the mating-type loci in species of Elsinoe causing scab diseases

The genus Elsinoe includes many aggressive plant pathogens that infect various economically important agricultural, horticultural and forestry plants. Significant diseases include citrus scab caused by E. fawcettii and E. australis, grapevine spot anthracnose by E. ampelina, and the emerging Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation disease caused by the recently described E. necatrix. Despite their importance as plant pathogens, little is known regarding the biology of many Elsinoe spp. To gain insights into the reproductive biology of these fungi, we characterized the mating-type loci of seven species using whole genome sequence data. Results showed that the MAT1 locus organization and its flanking genes is relatively conserved in most cases. All seven species manifested a typical heterothallic mating system characterized by having either the MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorph present in an isolate. These idiomorphs were defined by the MAT1-1-1 or the MAT1-2-1 gene, respectively. A unique MAT1-1 idiomorph containing a truncated MAT1-2-1 gene, and a MAT1-1-1 gene, was identified in E. necatrix and E. fawcettii genomes. Additionally, two idiomorph-specific proteins were found in the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs of E. australis. Universal mating-type markers confirmed heterothallism across 21 Elsinoe spp., are poised to advance future studies regarding the biology of these fungi.

The influence of gut microbiota on immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer globally and the second deadliest cancer for both men and women. To change this situation, novel therapeutic approaches have been developed, with immunotherapy being one of the most promising. This technique employs the patient's immune system to identify and eradicate cancer cells. The intestinal microbiota is composed of various microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. This microbiome has vital functions for the human being, such as participation in digestion, vitamin production, protection against aggressive pathogens, and modulation of the immune system. Dysregulation of this homeostasis can generate injuries to the affected person, one of which is carcinogenesis. From this, the intestinal microbiota assumed a relevant role in this therapeutic process by acting in immunotherapy through its participation in blocking some immune checkpoints and, consequently, resulting in a greater efficiency in the cytotoxic activity of T cells. Therefore, this review aims to comprehend the mechanism by which the microbiota directly impacts the development of CRC and, especially, the mechanisms by which the microbiome generates better prognosis in cancer patients.

Comparative Analysis of Secondary Metabolites in Diplodia corticola Strains with Different Virulence Degrees Associated with Canker and Dieback of Quercus spp.

Diplodia corticola is one of the most aggressive fungal pathogens of Quercus species involved in the decline of Mediterranean oak forests. In this study, three strains of D. corticola associated with holm (Quercus ilex) and cork (Quercus suber) oak trees exhibiting dieback symptoms and cankers in Algeria were selected to investigate the production of secondary metabolites. Metabolomic analyses revealed the production of several known compounds, such as sphaeropsidins, diplopyrones and diplofuranones. Moreover, the comparative investigation of secondary metabolites produced by the analyzed strains with different degrees of virulence revealed possible implications of these compounds in the fungal virulence. In particular, sphaeropsidins seem to be the main phytotoxic compounds of D. corticola involved in the infections of Quercus species, with a possible synergistic influence of the less representative compounds in the fungal virulence.

Gibbsiella quercinecans, a pathogen with an increasing prevalence: A study on the causative agents of bacterial canker of Persian walnut and oak trees in central provinces of Iran

AbstractThe cultivation of Persian walnuts in Iran is concentrated in the mountainous regions of Zagros and Alborz, encompassing Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad, Isfahan and Fars provinces. Historically, these areas were renowned for their abundant growth of oak trees. However, due to environmental stressors, oak populations in the Zagros region have been declining, leading to an increased risk of diseases caused by new and aggressive pathogens, exacerbated by climate change. Understanding the distribution and association of pathogenic bacteria in the environment, especially for less common or uncommon species, has become crucial. In this study, 80 bacterial strains were isolated from 84 symptomatic walnut and 16 symptomatic oak trees to investigate bacterial canker agents in primary walnut cultivation regions of Iran. Following the hypersensitivity test and pathogenicity assays, 21 strains were classed as ‘Brenneria nigrifluens’ or ‘Brenneria‐like’, based on their similarities to the reference strain B. nigrifluens ICMP 20120 using phenotypic techniques and specific primers (F1/C3, B. nigrifluens). Varying biochemical characteristics were exhibited by the ‘Brenneria‐like’ group in comparison to the ‘B. nigrifluens’ group. Multilocus sequence analysis was performed using the gyrB, rpoB, infB and atpD genes to determine the taxonomic classification of this group, revealing that it belonged to Gibbsiella quercinecans. The increasing reports of this bacterium from different woodland tree hosts suggest its opportunistic role as an individual causative agent, necessitating monitoring of its host expansion and morbidity.

Pertinence of Streptococcus anginosus group in intracerebral abscesses in the era of extended antibiotic resistance

Aims• To study the incidence of Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) in pyogenic or community acquired intra cerebral abscess.• To understand the risk factors for the same.• To analyze the specific radiological features and clinical outcome after surgery and antibiotic therapy. MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study of case series over a period of one year. Patients diagnosed with intracerebral abscess were included in the study. Pus collected from were received in the laboratory and processed according to the standard protocols. Data regarding the clinical findings and demographics were collected from medical records. FindingsA total of 202 samples were studied. 103 were found to be pyogenic. SAG were isolated from 21 samples (20.38%) and all the isolates were sensitive to Penicillin. Age of the patients ranged from 18months to 68years. Male preponderance was noted with male to female ratio of 4:1. Otogenic infections were the most common predisposing factors and focus of infection could not be ascertained in 5 patients. All patients were treated with surgical intervention and antibiotics (Vancomycin, Amikacin and Metronidazole) for 6 weeks and recovery was remarkable. One patient succumbed to the illness. ConclusionSAG can be an aggressive pathogen with propensity for abscess formation. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is still a major cause of intracerebral abscess in developing country like India which is a benign and curable disease and should not be neglected. Injudicious use of antibiotics and negligence regarding the dose and duration of therapy from both patients and health care providers is the major cause for common infections to become more difficult to treat and succumbing to complications.

A robust disease scoring method to screen Eucalyptus for resistance against the aggressive leaf blight pathogen, Teratosphaeria destructans.

Shoot and leaf blight caused by Teratosphaeria destructans is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of Eucalyptus. Therefore, breeding for resistance to this disease is considered urgent. Differences in susceptibility to T. destructans have been observed in the field, but a robust inoculation protocol has, until recently, been unavailable and a disease scoring method for precise phenotyping has not been established. A first objective of this study was to determine the optimal conidial concentration for T. destructans inoculations on a susceptible Eucalyptus host. This concentration was then used to determine differences in susceptibility of six genotypes of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla to the pathogen by assessing the percentage of infected stomata using electron microscopy and the percentage of leaf area covered by lesions (PLACL) using image processing. In addition, we developed a disease susceptibility index (SI) of six categories ranging from highly resistant (SI= 0), to highly susceptible (SI= 1.5-2). The more resistant genotypes were moderately resistant with an SI value of 0.49 - 0.54 and a PLACL of 6.5 - 9%. In contrast, the more susceptible genotype scored an SI of 1.52 and PLACL of 48%. Host susceptibility was also assessed relative to the sporulation of the pathogen. This showed that the percentage of sporulation did significantly correlate with host resistance. Overall, the results provide the basis for rigorous screening and selection of resistant genotypes to the disease caused by T. destructans using artificial inoculation.

Rapid detection of Heterobasidion annosum using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay.

Heterobasidion annosum is one of the most aggressive pathogens of Pinus forests in Europe, causing considerable economic losses. To detect H. annosum for disease diagnosis and control, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction with a primer set designed from the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) DNA sequences of H. annosum. In our study, this LAMP assay was found to be capable of efficiently amplifying the target gene within 60min at 63°C. In specificity tests, H. annosum was positively detected, and other species were negative. The detection limit of this assay was found to be 100 pg·μL-1, and the assay was also successfully tested for use with basidiospore suspensions and wood samples. This study provides a rapid method for diagnosing root and butt rot caused by H. annosum, which will be of use in port surveillance of logs imported from Europe.

Systemic application of the immunological scheme for diagnosing <em>Alternaria</em> sp. and <em>Fusarium</em> sp.

About 6400 genera, including more than 64000 species, belong to ascomycotes. A significant part of ascomycetes are saprotrophs, the leading place belongs to the fungi pp. Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sр. Alternaria species are a very aggressive pathogenic genus that causes diseases in a large number of economically important crops. 300 species of the genus Alternaria have been identified worldwide, including A. dauci, A. radicinia, A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. brassicicola and A. solani. Crop losses from the genus Alternaria can reach from 40 to 90%. Leaves, petioles and stems are affected. The genus Fusarium includes a number of species that are the causes of various diseases on most agriculturally significant crops. The most common are: F. oxysporum, causing wilting diseases and affecting the vascular system of plants. F. avenaceum is a widespread species, and F. poae belongs to the section Sporotrichiella Wollenw. Fusarium is a common and dangerous fungal disease. Plants are affected at any age. The fungus is located in the soil and penetrates into the plant through the soil and wounds. In young plants, the disease manifests itself in the form of rotting of the roots and root neck. Based on the above pathogenesis, the purpose of our research was to monitor, identify pathogenic fungi pp. Fusarium sр. and Alternaria sрp and develop a scheme with the gradual inclusion of phytopathological methods in the breeding process. Thus, using phytopathological methods of isolating pathogens of alternariasis and fusariasis from different organs of plants and soil, a collection of the most aggressive pathogens pp. Fusarium and Alternaria has been created. Comparative analyses of the informativeness of various methods of immunological assessment of resistance depending on the type of pathogen allowed us to develop and test a scheme for the sequential inclusion in the selection process of various methods that are applicable at different stages of plant development in order to increase the effectiveness of selection for group resistance to pathogens pp. Fusarium and Alternaria. The applied selection and immunological system of methods made it possible to create new tolerant hybrids, as well as valuable starting material with complex resistance to A. radicina, A.dauci and F.oxysporum was obtained from various lines and variety populations.

Microbiological monitoring of nasal lavage fluid as a method for early detection and prevention of bacterial lung complications in a patient with cystic fibrosis

The severity of complications in cystic fibrosis are determined by microorganisms colonizing the lower airways. Paranasal sinuses can be a reservoir of aggressive pathogens. We have developed a method for collection and primary inoculation of nasal lavage fluid from cystic fibrosis patients for microbiological investigation. As a clinical case illustrating the feasibility of this technique, we describe the dynamics of the microflora composition in a patient with cystic fibrosis. The patient had a clinical and microbiological picture of P. aeruginosa eradication from the lung tissue, owing to which the antibacterial therapy was stopped. Six months later, the microflora in the nasal lavage fluid and sputum were assessed in parallel. The growth of P. aeruginosa (102 CFU/mL) but not P. aeruginosa in sputum was detected. To determine origin of this strain, the degree of genetic relationship between 5 strains obtained from the patient from 2008 to 2016 was assessed based on bacterial protein profiling. A typical strain of P. aeruginosa ATTS 27853 was used as a control. Strains isolated from the patient in 2009 and 2016 were identical suggesting that the antibacterial therapy led to eradication of P. aeruginosa in the lungs, but not in the upper airways. Four months later, the growth of P. aeruginosa was found in sputum. The patient was prescribed to use antibacterial drugs inhaled into paranasal sinuses. Repeated test performed 3 months later resulted in growth of P. aeruginosa 101 CFU/mL from nasal lavage fluid, but not from sputum. The patient was referred to a risk group on airway colonization by pathogen strains derived from the upper airway tract. The clinical example illustrates relevance of conducting a regular microbiological study of nasal lavage fluid in order to early identify clinically significant pathogens to prevent their spread to the lower airway tract.

Botryosphaeriaceae gene machinery: Correlation between diversity and virulence

The Botryosphaeriaceae family comprises numerous fungal pathogens capable of causing economically meaningful diseases in a wide range of crops. Many of its members can live as endophytes and turn into aggressive pathogens following the onset of environmental stress events. Their ability to cause disease may rely on the production of a broad set of effectors, such as cell wall-degrading enzymes, secondary metabolites, and peptidases. Here, we conducted comparative analyses of 41 genomes representing six Botryosphaeriaceae genera to provide insights into the genetic features linked to pathogenicity and virulence. We show that these Botryosphaeriaceae genomes possess a large diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes; 128 families) and peptidases (45 families). Botryosphaeria, Neofusicoccum, and Lasiodiplodia presented the highest number of genes encoding CAZymes involved in the degradation of the plant cell wall components. The genus Botryosphaeria also exhibited the highest abundance of secreted CAZymes and peptidases. Generally, the secondary metabolites gene cluster profile was consistent in the Botryosphaeriaceae family, except for Diplodia and Neoscytalidium. At the strain level, Neofusicoccum parvum NpBt67 stood out among all the Botryosphaeriaceae genomes, presenting a higher number of secretome constituents. In contrast, the Diplodia strains showed the lowest richness of the pathogenicity- and virulence-related genes, which may correlate with their low virulence reported in previous studies. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity and virulence in remarkable Botryosphaeriaceae species. Our results also support that Botryosphaeriaceae species could be used as an interesting biotechnological tool for lignocellulose fractionation and bioeconomy.

Rising global incidence of invasive group A streptococcus infection and scarlet fever in the COVID-19 era – our knowledge thus far

Rising global incidence of invasive group A streptococcus infection and scarlet fever in the COVID-19 era – our knowledge thus far