פרסומים

Plants reduce transpiration through stomatal closure to avoid drought stress. While abscisic acid (ABA) has a central role in the regulation of stomatal closure under water-deficit conditions, we demonstrated in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) that a gibberellin response inhibitor, the DELLA protein PROCERA (PRO), promotes ABA-induced stomatal closure and gene transcription in guard cells. To study how PRO affects stomatal closure, we performed RNA-sequencing analysis of isolated guard cells and identified the ABA transporters ABA-IMPORTING TRANSPORTER1.1 (AIT1.1) and AIT1.2, also called NITRATE TRANSPORTER1/PTR TRANSPORTER FAMILY4.6 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), as being upregulated by PRO. Tomato has four AIT1 genes, but only AIT1.1 and AIT1.2 were upregulated by PRO, and only AIT1.1 exhibited high expression in guard cells. Functional analysis of AIT1.1 in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) confirmed its activity as an ABA transporter, possibly an importer. A clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas9–derived ait1.1 mutant exhibited an increased transpiration, a larger stomatal aperture, and a reduced stomatal response to ABA. Moreover, ait1.1 suppressed the promoting effects of PRO on ABA-induced stomatal closure and gene expression in guard cells, suggesting that the effects of PRO on stomatal aperture and transpiration are AIT1.1-dependent. Previous studies suggest a negative crosstalk between gibberellin and ABA that is mediated by changes in hormone biosynthesis and signaling. The results of this study suggest this crosstalk is also mediated by changes in hormone transport.

The wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites (Sh) has been used as a source for tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) resistance in a breeding program to generate a TYLCV-resistant tomato line. Susceptible (S) and resistant (R) lines have been developed through this program. We compared the behavior of R, S and Sh tomato plants upon infection to find out whether the resistant phenotype of R plants originated from Sh. Results showed that mechanisms involving sugar-signaling (i.e., LIN6/HT1), water channels (i.e., TIP1;1), hormone homeostasis (i.e., ABA and SA) and urea accumulation were shared by S. habrochaites and R plants, but not by S. habrochaites and S tomatoes. This finding supports the hypothesis that these mechanisms were introgressed in the R genotype from the wild tomato progenitor during breeding for TYLCV resistance. Hence, identification of genes contributing to resistance to biotic stress from wild tomato species and their introgression into domestic plants ensures tomato supply and food security.

Patent No.

Canada    2672517
China    2672525
Japan    2672555
Russian    2672565
USA    2672576
India    2678896
EP    2672534

Systemic cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy shows efficacy in the treatment of recalcitrant severe atopic dermatitis (AD) but elicits severe side-effects. Thus, a topical formulation of CsA nanocapsules (NCs), able to potentially bypass these drawbacks, was developed. CsA-NCs were shown to enhance drug penetration into the various layers of porcine ear skin. Furthermore, the encapsulated CsA was biologically active, as shown in vitro on mouse splenocytes, reflected by inhibition of both cell proliferation and of interleukin (IL)-2 secretion. Ex-vivo efficacy was demonstrated on human skin organ culture by markedly reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Finally, CsA-NCs topical formulation elicited improved efficacy in terms of better preservation of the skin barrier integrity, a decrease of the systemic pro-inflammation markers and reduced skin inflammation. The overall results suggest that this original topical platform may provide a novel therapeutic tool of clinical significance compared to the existing topical therapeutic drugs in AD. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Systemic cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy shows efficacy in the treatment of recalcitrant severe atopic dermatitis (AD) but elicits severe side-effects. Thus, a topical formulation of CsA nanocapsules (NCs), able to potentially bypass these drawbacks, was developed. CsA-NCs were shown to enhance drug penetration into the various layers of porcine ear skin. Furthermore, the encapsulated CsA was biologically active, as shown in vitro on mouse splenocytes, reflected by inhibition of both cell proliferation and of interleukin (IL)-2 secretion. Ex-vivo efficacy was demonstrated on human skin organ culture by markedly reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Finally, CsA-NCs topical formulation elicited improved efficacy in terms of better preservation of the skin barrier integrity, a decrease of the systemic pro-inflammation markers and reduced skin inflammation. The overall results suggest that this original topical platform may provide a novel therapeutic tool of clinical significance compared to the existing topical therapeutic drugs in AD.

Systemic cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy shows efficacy in the treatment of recalcitrant severe atopic dermatitis (AD) but elicits severe side-effects. Thus, a topical formulation of CsA nanocapsules (NCs), able to potentially bypass these drawbacks, was developed. CsA-NCs were shown to enhance drug penetration into the various layers of porcine ear skin. Furthermore, the encapsulated CsA was biologically active, as shown in vitro on mouse splenocytes, reflected by inhibition of both cell proliferation and of interleukin (IL)-2 secretion. Ex-vivo efficacy was demonstrated on human skin organ culture by markedly reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Finally, CsA-NCs topical formulation elicited improved efficacy in terms of better preservation of the skin barrier integrity, a decrease of the systemic pro-inflammation markers and reduced skin inflammation. The overall results suggest that this original topical platform may provide a novel therapeutic tool of clinical significance compared to the existing topical therapeutic drugs in AD.

Recent Qur'anic scholarship emphasises a distinction between a Meccan and a Medinan Qur'an. In addition to the doctrinal and literary particularities that set Medinan suras apart, scholars underline the failure of Muḥammad to convert his people and the despair exhibited by his followers in Later Meccan suras. In contrast, the Medinan suras depict a successful, socially and politically engaged leader of a growing and strong religious community. This paper approaches literary and content-related developments in Later Meccan suras and demonstrates that our perceptions of a passive messenger in Mecca and an active leader in Medina, and of the emergence of a self-assured community only in Medina, have to be reconsidered. Later Meccan suras depict a contest over the interpretative dominance of the empirical world which ultimately strengthens the authority of Muḥammad and consolidates the emerging group of Followers. They exhibit intertwined developments of literary strategies such as argumentation patterns or parabolic speech, and intensive reflections on notions such as perception and knowledge. Whereas the first part of this paper examines these processes, the second part focuses on the growing importance of the figure of Abraham, a decisive turn to local heritage and the development of liturgical formulas and ethical norms. The exploration and understanding of these textual dynamics are indispensable for understanding the genesis of both Meccan and Medinan suras.

Recent Qur'anic scholarship emphasises a distinction between a Meccan and a Medinan Qur'an. In addition to the doctrinal and literary particularities that set Medinan suras apart, scholars underline the failure of Muḥammad to convert his people and the despair exhibited by his followers in Later Meccan suras. In contrast, the Medinan suras depict a successful, socially and politically engaged leader of a growing and strong religious community. This paper addresses literary and content-related developments in Later Meccan suras and demonstrates that our perceptions of a passive messenger in Mecca and an active leader in Medina, and of the emergence of a self-assured community only in Medina, have to be reconsidered. Later Meccan suras depict a contest over the interpretative dominance of the empirical world which ultimately strengthens the authority of Muḥammad and consolidates the emerging group of Followers. They exhibit intertwined developments of literary strategies such as argumentation patterns or parabolic speech, and intensive reflections on notions such as perception and knowledge. Whereas the first part of this paper examines these processes, the second part focusses on the growing importance of the figure of Abraham, a decisive turn to local heritage and the development of liturgical formulas and ethical norms. The exploration and understanding of these textual dynamics are indispensable for understanding the genesis of both Meccan and Medinan suras.

Web search tools are widely used by the general public to obtain health-related information, and analysis of search data is often suggested for public health monitoring. We analyzed popularity of searches related to smell loss and taste loss, recently listed as symptoms of COVID-19. Searches on sight loss and hearing loss, which are not considered as COVID-19 symptoms, were used as control. Google Trends results per region in Italy or state in the US were compared to COVID-19 incidence in the corresponding geographical areas. The COVID-19 incidence did not correlate with searches for non-symptoms, but in some weeks had high correlation with taste and smell loss searches, which also correlated with each other. Correlation of the sensory symptoms with new COVID-19 cases for each country as a whole was high at some time points, but decreased (Italy) or dramatically fluctuated over time (US). Smell loss searches correlated with the incidence of media reports in the US. Our results show that popularity of symptom searches is not reliable for pandemic monitoring. Awareness of this limitation is important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread and to exhibit new clinical manifestations, and for potential future health threats.

Sesame is an important oil-crop worldwide. Complex tradeoffs between various yield components significantly affect the outcome yield. Our aims were to characterize the effect of genotype, environment and management, and their interactions, on yield components. Wild-type line, bearing a bicarpellate-capsule and three capsules per leaf axil, and its derived mutant-line, featuring one tetracarpellate-capsule per leaf axil, were analyzed under two irrigation regimes and three sowing-stands. Dissection of flower meristems and capsules showed larger placenta size and final capsule diameter in the mutant-line. Allelic segregation of F2 population revealed that the number of carpels per capsule demonstrates monogenic inheritance, whereas the number of capsules per leaf axil is a polygenic trait. A significant effect of genotype, irrigation and stand was observed on most yield components. While wild-type had more capsules per plant, the mutant-line compensated by increased seed number per capsule and consequently accumulated the same number of seeds per plant. Under either high intra-row or inter-row density, the branches number was reduced; however, the outcome yield was compensated by number of plants per area. While some yield components showed phenotypic-plasticity (branching), other traits were genetically stable (number of capsules per leaf axil and number of carpels per capsule). Our result shed-light on tradeoffs between yield components and on their underlying mechanisms.

Amid the devastation of the Schmalkaldic War (1546–47), Philip Melanchthon and his colleagues at Wittenberg hastily compiled a Latin edition of Sophocles from fifteen years of teaching materials and sent it to Edward VI of England within weeks of his coronation. Wittenberg tragedy reconciled Aristotelian technology, Reformation politics, and Lutheran theology, offering consolation in the face of events that themselves seemed to be unfolding on a tragic stage. A crucial but neglected source of English and Continental literary thought, the Wittenberg Sophocles shaped the reception of Greek tragedy, tragic poetics, and Neo-Latin and vernacular composition throughout the sixteenth century.