Non-treated Control Research Articles

Seedborne Fungal Detection Differs with Seed Assay Method, and Fungal Diversity and Abundance Are Impacted by Fungicide Treatment, Harvest Timing, and Storage Environment

Previous studies have shown that foliar fungicides increase the abundance of Diaporthe spp. in mature soybean seeds, thereby reducing seed quality and potentially increasing seedling, stem, and pod disease in subsequent plantings. To mitigate this, we examined a fungicide containing mefentrifluconazole, fluxapyroxad, and pyraclostrobin applied during the R3 growth stage. We compared the seedborne fungal community from soybeans harvested at full maturity and 2 to 3 weeks later to assess fungal colonization. Six trials were conducted in Iowa and South Dakota in 2021 and 2022. Asymptomatic, recently harvested seed was assayed using either an agar-plate or a seed-blotter test, and the results were compared. The agar-plate method involved disinfesting seeds in sodium hypochlorite and ethanol and then transferring them to acidified water agar plates. Fungal isolates were identified using morphology and DNA sequences. This method detected 562 fungal isolates from 25 species and 14 genera. Dry conditions reduced seed infection, but a 2-week delay in harvest increased the likelihood of Alternaria and Cercospora infection in nontreated controls. The seed-blotter test involved disinfesting seeds, placing them on blotter paper, and incubating them. This assay detected higher numbers of fungal infected seed, with Aspergillus as the dominant genus. Storage conditions significantly impacted fungal presence, with more Aspergillus in seeds stored in a shed than in the cooler. Both assay methods showed that the fungicide treatment reduced the number of seeds infected with Alternaria, Cercospora, and Aspergillus. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Axant™ Flex cotton response to topramezone applied early- or mid-postemergence

Abstract The continued development of herbicide-resistant weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, represents a growing concern across the United States Cotton Belt. To mitigate this issue, BASF Corporation developed Axant™ Flex cotton, the first quadruple-stacked herbicide resistance germplasm to improve the control of troublesome weed species in cotton. Field studies were conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the Texas Tech University Research Farm near New Deal, TX, to evaluate the response of Axant Flex cotton to topramezone applied alone or in combinations when applied to 3-leaf cotton (early-postemergence (EPOST)) or to 7-leaf cotton (mid-postemergence (MPOST)). No difference in cotton stand was observed between isoxaflutole or prometryn PRE treatments compared to the nontreated control. In 2022, no EPOST treatment caused greater than 6% crop response at 7 and 14 d after application (DAA). When treatments were made to 7-leaf cotton, crop response did not exceed 18% at 7 and 14 DAA. In 2023, crop response was ≤ 2% at 28 DAA regardless of application timing. No differences in lint yield were observed following any herbicide treatment when compared to the nontreated control in either year. Additionally, fiber length and strength were not adversely affected by treatments containing topramezone EPOST or MPOST in 2022 and 2023. These results support the potential use of topramezone in Axant Flex cotton to help manage troublesome weeds without detrimental effects on yield and fiber quality.

DDEL-17. INTRA-TUMORAL CONVECTION ENHANCED DELIVERY OF DEXAMETHASONE REDUCES INFLAMMATORY SIGNATURES AND EXTENDS SURVIVAL IN GBM MODEL

Abstract Dexamethasone is the most widely utilized drug for glioblastoma (GBM). However, systemic delivery of dexamethasone in GBM patients is associated with significant side effects and increasing doses with worse survival. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) can deliver high doses of immunotherapy directly into the tumor microenvironment (TME) while avoiding systemic toxicity. Here, we report that high doses of dexamethasone can be delivered locally by CED without side effects and increase survival in a GBM model along with reduced inflammatory myeloid signatures. We investigated CED of dexamethasone treatment on survival(n=40), adverse side effects, and the immunological TME through peripheral analyses, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and histology in a preclinical syngeneic mouse model. Additionally, we assessed the transcriptional responses of human GBM slices and stem-cell-derived human microglia after steroid treatment through bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that 7-day treatment with CED of dexamethasone produced a significant survival advantage in glioma-bearing mice compared to non-treated control(p=0.03). Systemic dexamethasone achieved low levels of drug in the TME and caused dysregulated blood glucose, blood counts, and peripheral organ weights, while high CED doses avoided these side effects(p< 0.05 each). Steroid treatment of acute GBM slices and lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia in-vitro both reversed inflammatory myeloid signatures associated with poor survival and recurrence on RNA sequencing analyses. We demonstrate the preclinical efficacy of delivering high local doses of dexamethasone in a GBM model through CED and observed prolonged survival along with reduced adverse inflammatory myeloid signatures. No side effects were demonstrated after chronic CED treatment of dexamethasone while systemic delivery achieved poor tumor penetration and caused known hematologic and metabolic side effects supporting the potential to optimize the clinical use of this therapy. CED of dexamethasone provides us a new treatment paradigm to locally control inflammatory signatures in the glioma TME in a controlled fashion.

Subsurface drainage and nitrogen management affects soil properties in upstate Missouri U.S.

Enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer management may reduce environmental N losses and increase grain yields. The effect of N fertilizer management practices on soil properties is uncertain. In this 5-year study, we evaluated different N fertilizer management [non-treated control (NTC), fall applied anhydrous ammonia (AA) 190 kg N ha−1 with nitrapyrin (fall AA + NI), preplant AA at 190 kg N ha−1 (spring AA), top-dressed urea (TD urea) as 42 kg N ha−1 SuperU and 126 kg N ha−1 ESN as a 25:75 % granular blend] practices in free drained (FD) and non-drained (ND) soils for their impact on soil properties. In FD soils, N fertilization significantly (P > 0.05) increased soil pH, CEC, cations, and Bray I P compared to the NTC. Improved soil aeration and increased plant growth with TD urea and spring AA fertilizer treatments in FD soils increased soil organic matter (OM) 10–13 % and total organic carbon (TOC) 27–35 % compared to the NTC. Increased clay content and reduced silt content were observed in FD soils with N fertilizer treatments compared to NTC. However, fertilizer applications in ND soils had no effect on soil properties. Increased crop production with FD and 4R N fertilizer applications can improve soil properties with increased soil OM and TOC content. This suggests that a synergetic effect of N fertilization and soil drainage can improve soil health by increasing soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), OM, and TOC content.

Herbicide Formulation Affects Weed Control and Crop Tolerance in Greenhouse Ornamentals

Weed control in container-grown ornamentals can be improved by careful herbicide selection. Four studies were conducted in greenhouses at Oregon State University to improve the understanding of how differences in the mode of action and formulation of herbicides can affect bryophyte control efficacy and crop safety. Granular (G) formulations of pendimethalin and indaziflam were compared with sprayable liquid (L) formulations of pendimethalin, indaziflam, and dimethenamid-p as well as with a nontreated control on four perennial container-grown ornamentals. Indaziflam in the L formulation performed better than that in the G formulations for controlling hairy bittercress up to 20 weeks after the initial treatment. Dimethenamid-p was more effective than indaziflam for liverwort and moss control. Pendimethalin in the G formulation less effectively controlled hairy bittercress than the L formulation did, but it performed better against moss during a second study. The L formulation of indaziflam injured Japanese pachysandra and boxwood and reduced root and shoot growth by 10% to 29%. Dimethenamid-p provided excellent control of the weed species tested and was safe for the crops, indicating its potential use as an alternative to hand-weeding in greenhouses.

Isatin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives: synthesis, molecular docking and evaluation against acute experimental toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis remains a challenge for both public health and animal husbandry which created a constant demand to develop novel compounds using innovative methods. To join this relentless quest for an ideal chemotherapeutic agent, herein, we developed newly synthesized isatin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives. Three compounds (5a, 5b and 5c) were synthesized, characterized, and loaded on chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) and then evaluated accordingly. Initially, a molecular docking study was carried out which revealed the effective interaction with the target enzymes; purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) and T. gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase-1 (TgCDPK1). This was further substantiated by in vivo evaluation of the three compounds (5a-c) and their nanoformulae (5a-CNPs, 5b-CNPs, and 5c-CNPs) against acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in murine model. It is worthy of note that all tested compounds and their nanoformulae produced a significant reduction of parasite burden in both peritoneal fluid and liver impression smear and profound ultrastructural alterations, detected by scanning electron microscopy, compared to the infected non-treated control. The nanoformula 5c-CNPs yielded the most outstanding results with the highest tachyzoite reduction percentage in both peritoneal fluid (98.1%) and liver impression smear (95.3%). Furthermore, the serum levels of liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), and renal function tests (urea and creatinine) in mice were within normal limits which makes them more appealing candidates with proven safety. To the best of our knowledge, the present work is the first in silico and in vivo study proving the anti-Toxoplasma effect of isatin-1,2,3- triazoles which paves the way for further development of isatin and triazole-based leads for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

Effect of Fall- and Spring-Planted Cover Crops and Residual Herbicide on Emergence Dynamics of Glyphosate-Resistant Kochia (Bassia scoparia)

Abstract Two separate field experiments were conducted during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 growing seasons at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS to understand the emergence dynamics of glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott] as influenced by fall- and spring-planted cover crops (CC) and residual herbicide. Study sites were under winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]-fallow rotation with a natural seedbank of GR B. scoparia. In experiment 1, fall-planted CC mixture (triticale/winter peas/radish/rapeseed) was planted after wheat harvest and terminated at triticale [xTriticosecale Wittm. Ex A. Camus [Secale x Triticum] heading stage (next spring before sorghum planting). In experiment 2, spring-planted CC mixture (oats/barley/spring peas) was planted in sorghum stubbles and terminated at oats (Avena sativa L.) heading stage. Four treatments were established in each experiment: (1) nontreated control (no CC and no herbicide), (2) chemical fallow (no CC but glyphosate + acetochlor/atrazine or flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone + dicamba were used to control weeds), (3) CC terminated with glyphosate, and (4) CC terminated with glyphosate plus residual herbicide (acetochlor/atrazine for fall-planted CC and flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone for spring-planted CC). Results indicated that fall-planted CC delayed GR B. scoparia emergence by 3 to 5 weeks whereas spring-planted CC delayed emergence by 0 to 2 weeks compared to nontreated. Fall-planted CC terminated with glyphosate plus acetochlor/atrazine reduced the cumulative emergence of GR B. scoparia by 90 to 95% compared to nontreated across both yrs. Similarly, spring-planted CC terminated with glyphosate plus flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone reduced the cumulative emergence of GR B. scoparia by 83 to 90% compared to nontreated. These results suggest that fall- or spring-planted CC in combination with residual herbicide at termination can be utilized for GR B. scoparia suppression. Results from this study will help in developing prediction models for GR B. scoparia emergence under different CC strategies.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma May Prevent Oral Mucositis-Related Candidemia in Chemotherapy-Treated Rats.

Oral mucositis associated with candidiasis can causes systemic candidemia, posing a risk to cancer patients administered antineoplastic therapy. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (CAPPJs) have antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the effects CAPPJs in preventing systemic fungal dissemination in a murine model of oral mucositis associated with candidiasis. Forty Wistar rats were divided into groups: CAPPJs (treated) and non-treated controls (for comparison), with subgroups subject to 24 and 72 h of treatment (n = 10 each). Four cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)) were administered, followed by oral inoculation of Candida albicans for 3 days. Mucosal damage was induced on the lateral side of tongue with 50% acetic acid. CAPPJ treatment was performed on the lesion for 5 min (2 days). Body weight was assessed daily. Fungal dissemination was conducted using organ macerates and plated on Sabouraud Agar with chloramphenicol. Blood samples were obtained for blood count tests. Chemotherapy affected the general health of the animals, as evidenced by body weight loss. Treatment with CAPPJs showed an inhibitory effect on C. albicans, with a significant reduction in fungal recovery from the tongue after 24 h (p < 0.05). Interestingly, systemic fungal dissemination was significantly reduced after 24 and 72 h of treatment when compared to control (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that CAPPJs have potential for clinical application in patients with oral mucositis at risk of candidemia.

Dimethyl trisulfide reduces postharvest anthracnose and enhances mango quality, and a potential molecular mechanism against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Mango anthracnose, mainly caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is the major destructive postharvest disease of mango during storage and transport. Dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), an organic volatile found in some microorganisms or plants, inhibited growth of C. gloeosporioides in vitro, but its effects on mango anthracnose and its molecular mechanisms of action have not been well characterized. In this study, the EC50 of DMTS against Colletotrichum spp. from mango mainly ranged from 2.3 to 20.0 μL/L. In vivo, the fumigation rates of 20 μL/L of DMTS for 24 h, or 80 μL/L for 3 h or 6 h could effectively reduce severity of anthracnose (natural inoculum) on postharvest mangoes with inhibitory effects of 61.7 %, 65.7 %, and 69.4 %, respectively, as observed 10 days after treatment. Furthermore, there was no detectable DMTS residue in mango skin or flesh, and an overall improvement in the quality of the fruit with higher soluble solids, total sugars, vitamin c, and β-carotene, and lower titratable acidity than the non-treated control. In addition, DMTS could significantly reduce ergosterol content in mycelia of C. gloeosporioides, and gene expression analysis showed DMTS significantly suppressed expression of ergosterol biosynthesis-related genes Cgerg6 and Cgerg11 after mycelia were exposed to DMTS. Knock-out mutants for each of these two genes showed reduced sensitivity to DMTS. After gene complementation in situ, the sensitivity of complementary transformants to DMTS was restored to that of the parental strain. Therefore, we concluded that the genes Cgerg6 and Cgerg11 are involved in an interaction with the antifungal activity of DMTS. This is the first study to demonstrate a control effect of DMTS on mango postharvest anthracnose resulting in reduced disease severity and enhanced fruit quality. Transformant studies also revealed some potential molecular mechanisms of the antifungal activity of DMTS that may lead to improved management of mango postharvest anthracnose.

Development of Brassica carinata A. Braun resistant to acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides

AbstractBrassica carinata A. Braun (carinata) has become an important oil crop for biofuel production in subtropical regions. Carinata is highly sensitive to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides, limiting its introduction into existing crop rotations. The objective of the study was to develop carinata lines resistant to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. A susceptible carinata line was crossed with a resistant Brassica napus L. line. Lines derived from those crosses were screened at high doses of imidazolinones, which allowed identifying five lines with high levels of resistance. Doses to reduce plant growth 50% (GR50) and cause 50% injury (ID50) were four to nine times greater than susceptible lines. Resistant lines exhibited cross resistance with halosulfuron (sulfonylurea). Resistance was confirmed under field conditions with doses 2X and 4X for imazethapyr and 4X–8X for halosulfuron of their respective label doses. While susceptible lines died, resistant lines exhibited no injury or growth reductions compared with nontreated controls. Sequencing of the ALS gene indicated that all resistant lines carried a Trp574Leu amino acid substitution, a mutation responsible for resistance in other species. Crosses between resistant lines and a susceptible line demonstrated that the inheritance of the mutation corresponded with the resistance phenotype in the F2. The resistance trait behaved as a single, fully dominant allele, which makes it easier to transfer it to carinata lines with desirable agronomic traits. The resistant lines developed here provide flexibility for use in multiple crop rotations and opens the possibility to use ALS‐inhibiting herbicides for weed control within this crop's growing season.

Investigating the Interactive Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Different Chelating Agents (EDTA and DTPA) with Different Plant Species on Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soil

Heavy metal (HM) contamination in soil poses a severe environmental threat, jeopardizing ecosystem health and potentially entering the food chain through plant uptake. Phytoremediation, a bioremediation technique utilizing plants to remove or immobilize contaminants, offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for HM remediation. This study investigated the interactive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and chelating agents (EDTA and DTPA) on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivated in metal-contaminated soil and their impact on HM uptake by these plants. The findings revealed that AMF and chelating agents have complex interactive effects on plant growth and metal accumulation. Maize (Zea mays L.) shoot dry matter increased with AMF and chelating agents at lower concentrations. Both plants generally showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in shoot dry matter with amendments, with AMF × EDTA (10 mmol/kg) being the most effective for alfalfa. DTPA and EDTA generally reduced the DTPA-extractable metals in soil, suggesting potential for metal removal. However, the effects of AMF on metal availability were variable. Metal concentrations in maize (Zea mays L.) shoots increased with increasing DTPA and EDTA concentrations, while the effects of AMF were more complex. The alfalfa shoot metal content showed varied responses, with EDTA (5 mmol/kg) effectively reducing the metal uptake. In general, treatments involving chelating agents (DTPA and EDTA) tend to result in higher bioaccumulation factor (BF) values compared to the non-treated controls for most HMs in both plant species. Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatment alone or in combination with chelating agents also showed that varied effects on HM uptake in both the alfalfa and maize treatments with chelating agents, especially at higher concentrations, generally promoted the greater translocation of HMs in both plant species. Both alfalfa and maize responded differently to treatments, with some treatments showing higher translocation factor (TF) values for certain HMs in one species compared to the other. Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatment alone or in combination with chelating agents also showed varied effects on HM uptake and translocation in both alfalfa and maize. Further research is required to optimize remediation strategies that balance plant health and metal mobilization.

Cold atmospheric plasma as a promising tool in treatment of Trichophyton rubrum-induced skin infection in a guinea pig model of experimental dermatophytosis

The emergence of high-resistance strains to known antifungal drugs has highlighted the urgency of developing novel therapies for chronic dermatophytosis as a global health problem. An experimental dermatophytosis model in guinea pigs was developed to investigate the in vivo wound healing effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on T. rubrum skin invasion. Guinea pigs were experimentally infected with T. rubrum and wound healing was evaluated at 1, 4, 8 and 12 days post infection in the CAP-treated, terbinafine-treated and non-treated controls. Our results showed that CAP strongly inhibited the fungal virulence in vitro in culture media and in vivo on the skin lesions of experimentally infected guinea pigs even more efficient than that of terbinafine, resulting in complete wound healing at 8 days post infection. These results indicate that CAP would be considered as a promising tool comparable to conventional chemical therapies, for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum.

TND1128, a 5-deazaflavin derivative with auto-redox ability, facilitates polarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and on-demand ATP synthesis in mice brain slices

TND1128, a 5-deazaflavin derivative, is a drug with self-redox ability. We examined the effect of TND1128 on the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), which is the most critical motive power for the biosynthesis of ATP. We prepared brain slices from mice pretreated with TND1128 (0.1–10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and detected ΔΨm level with JC-1, a fluorescence ΔΨm indicator. We further examined the depolarization of ΔΨm under 5-min exposure to 25 mM KCl-ACSF (25K-ACSF), which activated neuronal voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. We evaluated the effect of TND1128 by using the inverse number of the ΔΨm value as the ATP synthesis index (ASI). The level of ΔΨm increased significantly by 24-h pretreatment with TND1128 (10 mg/kg), and significantly higher depolarization of the ΔΨm was observed with 25K-ACSF exposure than in non-treated control. We found a significant decrease in 25K-ACSF induced [Ca2+]c and [Ca2+]m levels in the TND1128-pretreated preparations. We confirmed the dose and time-dependent facilitatory effects of TND1128 on the ASI. This study suggested that TND1128 could be incorporated into the TCA cycle and electron transfer chains to facilitate the polarization of ΔΨm and activate on-demand ATP synthesis. TND1128 might rescue neurons in various brain diseases caused by energy defects. (198)

Brassica juncea pre-season cover crops reduce soybean root colonization by Macrophomina phaseolina, the fungus causing charcoal rot

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a soilborne fungus that causes charcoal rot in numerous crop plants, reducing yield and profits. This study assessed the efficacy of pre-season mustard cover crops (Brassica juncea), a chemical fungicide seed treatment, a combination of both, and a non-treated control in a set of varieties that ranged in maturity. In 2016 and 2017, 'AG4135 RR2Y/SR' consistently yielded lower compared to other varieties. Early maturity varieties exhibited reduced yields relative to mid and late maturity pairs in 2016 and 2017. Root colonization was influenced by treatment, with the combined pre-season cover crop and seed treatment exhibiting the lowest colonization rates in 2015, while all treatments had significantly reduced colonization in 2017 compared to untreated controls. Additionally, differences in root colonization were observed among soybean varieties, suggesting genotype-specific responses to disease management strategies. M. phaseolina soil populations showed a marked increase from pre-cover crop to post-soybean harvest underscoring the pathogen's proliferation throughout the growing season. Correlation analyses revealed significant negative relationships between root colonization and yield for untreated controls, suggesting that higher root colonization adversely affected crop performance. These findings suggest that specific treatments may help mitigate M. phaseolina population build-up in roots and soil and indicate that the effectiveness of control measures may be influenced by pathogen variability in response to environmental conditions and management practices. These findings also contribute to our understanding of effective strategies for managing charcoal rot disease and highlights the importance of integrating chemical and biological control methods.

Engineering Triphasic Nanocomposite Coatings on Pretreated Mg Substrates for Biomedical Applications.

Biodegradable polymer-based nanocomposite coatings provide multiple advantages to modulate the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of magnesium (Mg) alloys for biomedical applications. Biodegradable poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a promising candidate used for medical implant applications. In this study, we synthesized a new PGS nanocomposite system consisting of hydroxyapatite (HA) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles and developed a spray coating process to produce the PGS nanocomposite layer on pretreated Mg substrates, which improved the coating adhesion at the interface and their cytocompatibility with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Prior to the spray coating process of polymer-based nanocomposites, the Mg substrates were pretreated in alkaline solutions to enhance the interfacial adhesion strength of the polymer-based nanocomposite coatings. The addition of HA and MgO nanoparticles (nHA and nMgO) to the PGS matrix, as well as the alkaline pretreatment of the Mg substrates, significantly enhanced the interfacial adhesion strength when compared with the PGS coating on the nontreated Mg control. The average BMSC adhesion densities were higher on the PGS/nHA/nMgO coated Mg than the noncoated Mg controls under direct contact conditions. Moreover, the addition of nHA and nMgO to the PGS matrix and coating the nanocomposite onto Mg substrates increased the average BMSC adhesion density when compared with the PGS/nHA/nMgO coated titanium (Ti) and PGS coated Mg controls under direct contact. Therefore, the spray coating process of PGS/nHA/nMgO nanocomposites on Mg substrates or other biodegradable metal substrates could provide a promising surface treatment strategy for biodegradable implant applications.

Assessing of sugar beet Seed adaptation under salt and drought stress conditions with coating technology based on Fuzzy inference system

Sustainability in crop production is highly dependent on favorable indicators of germination and seedling establishment. In this research seed coating different treatments data prepared and membership function defined in fuzzy inference system then used rule editor tool for determining parameters weight for achieved the best coating treatment in salinity and drought stress conditions. Seed coating formulations were investigated in laboratory and greenhouse experiments for their potential to increase maximum germination, germination rate, germination uniformity, and seedling growth of sugar beet seeds. Sugar beet seeds were coated with different compounds and combinations, including micro- (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Mo) and macro- (N, P, K) nutrients, humic acid, gibberellic acid, kaolin, and chitosan. Coated and non-coated sugar beet seeds were evaluated for germination and seedling growth after 10 and 21 days, respectively. In total, 30 different treatments were used to assess the effects of seed coating treatments. In laboratory experiments, sugar beet seeds were placed on paper in Petri dishes and maintained in a germinator at 25 °C. Sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol 8000 were used to apply salinity and drought stresses at three levels each and achieve the results of seed coatings on reducing the effects of salinity and drought stresses. To determine the indices related to emergence and establishment, cultivation trays were utilized with four replications for each treatment. The trays were kept inside a greenhouse. Coating treatments significantly improved total germination percentage, germination rate, seedling growth, and uniformity compared with the non-treated controls. In all treatments, polyvinylpyrrolidone was utilized as a binder. The best treatment with respect to germination and seedling growth indices was number 21 (micro and macronutrients, humic acid, gibberellic acid) in salinity and drought stress conditions. The results by fuzzy inference system illustrated that micronutrients, humic acid, and gibberellic acid create the best seed coating for sugar beet seeds, especially when combined at the specified amounts.

Mitigating impact of Glycyrrhiza glabra on virulent Newcastle disease virus challenge in chickens: clinical studies, histopathological alterations and molecular docking.

Newcastle disease (ND) is widely regarded as one of the most virulent and destructive viral infections that create chaos in the poultry industry and cause widespread epidemics and consequentially debilitating economic losses on a global scale in terms of chicken products. The current experiment evaluates the protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra ( G. glabra) against the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chickens. Ninety (90) 1-day-old SPF chicks were treated according to ethical approval (BUFVTM 05-02-22) as follows (1) non-treated non-challenged control group; (2) NDV group: Challenged with genotype VII ND virus; and (3) LE/NDV group: Challenged with the virus and intermittently treated with powdered extract of G. glabra roots (LE) in drinking water (0.5g/L) before and after viral challenge. The water medication of NDV-challenged chicks has resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of clinical symptoms, morbidity, and mortality rates, as well as the quantity of virus shed, compared with the NDV group. Treatment with LE has led to a significant reduction in serum ALT and AST activities, blood glucose level, urea, and creatinine, and significant restoration of serum proteins. In addition, the treatment has resulted in a decrease in MDA and NO levels, as well as an increase in T-SOD and catalase activities compared with untreated challenged chicks. LE decreased IFN-γ and TLR-3 gene expression in comparison with the NDV group. The treated challenged birds had fewer macroscopically detectable lesions in their respiratory, digestive, and lymphoid organs than the untreated challenged birds. Microscopically, the LE/NDV group exhibited mild to moderate pathological changes in the respiratory and digestive systems as well as lymphoid tissues, in contrast to the NDV group, which exhibited severe pathological changes. Furthermore, molecular docking assessment proved the efficacy of G. glabra against viral proliferation and invasion. We concluded that Glycyrrhiza glabra powdered extract at a dose of 0.5g/L drinking water can effectively mitigate the debilitating effects of Newcastle disease in chickens.

Sonodynamic Therapy for HER2+ Breast Cancer with Iodinated Heptamethine Cyanine-Trastuzumab Conjugate.

The first example of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) with a cyanine dye-antibody conjugate is reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sonodynamic efficacy of a trastuzumab-guided diiodinated heptamethine cyanine-based sensitizer, 2ICy7-Ab, versus its non-iodinated counterpart, Cy7-Ab, in a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) xenograft model. In addition, the combined sonodynamic and photodynamic (PDT) effects were investigated. A single intravenous injection of 2ICy7-Ab followed by sonication or combined sonication and photoirradiation in mice resulted in complete tumor growth suppression compared with the nontreated control and showed no detectable toxicity to off-target tissues. In contrast, Cy7-Ab provided only a moderate therapeutic effect (~1.4-1.6-fold suppression). SDT with 2ICy7-Ab resulted in a 3.5-fold reduction in tumor volume within 45 days and exhibited 13-fold greater tumor suppression than PDT alone. In addition, 2ICy7-Ab showed more durable sonostability than photostability. The sonotoxicity of the iodinated versus noniodinated counterparts is attributed to the increased generation of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, and singlet oxygen. We observed no significant contribution of PDT to the efficacy of the combined SDT and PDT, indicating that SDT with 2ICy7-Ab is superior to PDT alone. These new findings set the stage for the application of cyanine-antibody conjugates for fluorescently monitored targeted sonodynamic treatment of cancer.

Immunomodulatory activity of red algal galactans and their partially depolymerized derivatives in RAW264.7 macrophages

Funoran and furcellaran were isolated through a successive cascade extraction process, followed by the depolymerization of extracted polymers via an auto-hydrolysis process. The molecular weight and structural peculiarities of both native and partially depolymerized polysaccharides were investigated using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Immunotropic effects of the native and partially depolymerized polysaccharides were explored through various in vitro assays. Although both higher and lower molecular weight funoran exhibited anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells by significantly downregulating iNOS and COX-2 gene expression, as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, native funoran performed slightly better. Conversely, higher molecular weight furcellaran remarkably activated RAW264.7 cells compared to the non-treated control by inducing inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Lower molecular weight furcellaran was unable to activate the macrophages, showing a similar behavior pattern to funoran samples in LPS-treated cells. Furthermore, the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway appears to be modulated by sulfated polysaccharides, leading to both anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory responses in RAW264.7 cells through blocking and activating mechanisms. These findings indicate that sulfated polysaccharides could be promising therapeutic agents, and indeed, the molecular weight of polysaccharides plays a crucial role in the immune response of RAW264.7 macrophages.

Mitigation of almond leaf scorch by a peptide that inhibits the motility of Xylella fastidiosa.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited plant pathogenic bacterium that is a menace to the agriculture worldwide threating economically relevant crops such as almond. The pathogen presents a dual lifestyle in the plant xylem, consisting of sessile microbial aggregates and mobile independent cells that move by twitching motility. The latter is essential for the systemic colonization of the host and is mediated through type IV pili. In previous reports, it has been demonstrated that peptides can affect different key processes of X. fastidiosa, but their effect on motility has never been assessed. In the present work, peptides previously identified and newly designed analogs were studied for its effect in vitro on the motility of X. fastidiosa and their protective effect against almond leaf scorch was determined. By assessing the twitching fringe width in colonies and using microfluidic chambers, the inhibitory effect of BP100 on twitching motility was demonstrated. Interestingly, type IV pili of BP100-treated cells were similar in frequency and length, and presented no morphological differences when compared to the non-treated control. The application of BP100 by endotherapy in almond plants inoculated with X. fastidiosa under greenhouse conditions significantly reduced population levels and showed less affected xylem vessels, which correlated with decreased disease symptoms. Therefore, BP100 is a promising candidate to manage almond leaf scorch caused by X. fastidiosa.