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Di Sora N, Rossini L, Contarini M, Mastrandrea G, Speranza S. Toumeyella parvicornis versus endotherapic abamectin: three techniques, 1 year after. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:3676-3680. [PMID: 37183578 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toumeyella parvicornis is an invasive soft scale insect native to North America that is rapidly spreading in Italy and France, provoking severe infestations on Pinus pinea L. To date, the control of this pest is entrusted to three endotherapic techniques whose short-term efficacy is partially known. No information on long-term efficacy is currently available, although fundamental. This work aims to report on the long-term effect that abamectin-based insecticides, injected with the three different techniques, have on adult female populations. RESULTS The study was carried out in an infested P. pinea forest in the area of Rome, Italy. Results showed that the tested methods had a similar long-term effect, and only in one case there were differences with the untreated control. Multiresidue analysis reported a zero level of abamectin in plant tissues 14 months apart from injection, except for one treatment where pesticide concentration was just above the limit of quantification. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first long-term evaluation about endotherapic control strategy against T. parvicornis. In fact, the pest may quickly bring the death and fall of the stone pines, representing a concerning risk for citizens, however, control actions to manage it are still partially known and deserve more in-depth investigations. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Di Sora
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Luca Rossini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Service d'Automatique et d'Analyse des Systèmes, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mario Contarini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mastrandrea
- Segretariato Generale Della Presidenza della Repubblica-Servizio Tenuta di Castelporziano, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Speranza
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Dhanapal AR, Thandeeswaran M, Muthusamy P, Jayaraman A. Identification and structural prediction of the unrevealed amidohydrolase enzyme: Pterin deaminase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2023; 70:193-200. [PMID: 35352406 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Microbes make a remarkable contribution to the health and well-being of living beings all over the world. Interestingly, pterin deaminase is an amidohydrolase enzyme that exhibits antitumor, anticancer activities and antioxidant properties. With the existing evidence of the presence of pterin deaminase from microbial sources, an attempt was made to reveal the existence of this enzyme in the unexplored bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. After, the cells were harvested and characterized as intracellular enzymes and then partially purified through acetone precipitation. Subsequently, further purification step was carried out with an ion-exchange chromatogram (HiTrap Q FF) using the Fast-Protein Liquid Chromatography technique (FPLC). Henceforward, the approximate molecular weight of the purified pterin deaminase was determined through SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the purified protein was identified accurately by MALDI-TOF, and the sequence was explored through a Mascot search engine. Additionally, the three-dimensional structure was predicted and then validated, as well as ligand-binding sites, and the stability of this enzyme was confirmed for the first time. Thus, the present study revealed the selected parameters showing a considerable impact on the identification and purification of pterin deaminase from A. tumefaciens LBA4404 for the first time. The enzyme specificity makes it a favorable choice as a potent anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Raj Dhanapal
- Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India
| | - Murugesan Thandeeswaran
- Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | | | - Angayarkanni Jayaraman
- Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
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Frank K, Bernau C, Buyel J. Spherical nanoparticles can be used as non-penetrating tracers to determine the extra-particle void volume in packed-bed chromatography columns. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1675:463174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Di Sora N, Rossini L, Contarini M, Chiarot E, Speranza S. Endotherapic treatment to control Toumeyella parvicornis Cockerell infestations on Pinus pinea L. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:2443-2448. [PMID: 35306750 PMCID: PMC9321608 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pine tortoise scale, Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell, 1897), is a damaging insect pest native to North America. Its accidental introduction into Europe, where it was first reported in central-southern Italy, is leading to severe infestations among stone pine trees, Pinus pinea L. causing severe infestations and generating a major risk to the health and safety of the citizens as well. This preliminary study aimed at finding an effective low-impact control strategy against Toumeyella parvicornis. We evaluated the effect of endotherapic abamectin injected into infested stone pines in the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica (Rome). RESULTS Results showed that endotherapic abamectin significantly reduced the pine tortoise adult female populations and had a persistence into plants of approximately 60 days. The first trace of abamectin on the plant's crown was detected 1 month after the treatment. Moreover, the survey highlighted a higher presence of the pest on the twigs of the plants than on needles. CONCLUSIONS These findings offer an important tool in fighting the damaging activity of this phytophagous, especially in an urban context where interventions with treatments are strictly regulated by national laws. Endotherapy, in fact, would reduce the dispersion of active ingredients by drift, an aspect that could represent a valid alternative to manage plants in public areas. Given the actual lack of scientific information about other control solutions, abamectin endotherapic treatments would be the more effective strategy currently applicable. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Di Sora
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e ForestaliUniversità degli Studi della TusciaViterboItaly
| | - Luca Rossini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e ForestaliUniversità degli Studi della TusciaViterboItaly
| | - Mario Contarini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e ForestaliUniversità degli Studi della TusciaViterboItaly
| | - Enrico Chiarot
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e ForestaliUniversità degli Studi della TusciaViterboItaly
| | - Stefano Speranza
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e ForestaliUniversità degli Studi della TusciaViterboItaly
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Harnessing the Keratinolytic Activity of Bacillus licheniformis Through Random Mutagenesis Using Ultraviolet and Laser Irradiations. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2021; 194:1546-1565. [PMID: 34806139 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-021-03697-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Keratinase is one of the important proteases, which is widely used for converting keratin of the keratinaceous materials into various value-added products. In this study, a popular keratinase producer, Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1, was exposed to ultraviolet (UV) and He-Ne laser irradiations to develop high keratinase-producing mutants. Laser irradiation showed a higher lethality of cells (94%) than UV treatment (92%), whereas laser treatment required a longer time (75 min) than UV treatment (20 min). A total of 58 mutants were selected from 176 isolates to study protein and keratinase production capability of the mutants. The highest keratin-to-casein (K:C) ratio (1.43) was exhibited by LU11 mutant, which was obtained from the combined laser and UV irradiations. The purified keratinase (65 kDa) of LU11 showed 40% yield 1.7-fold purity, while the respective value for wild enzyme was 29% and 1.3-fold. Both enzymes showed optimal activity at 55 ℃ and pH 8, with a Z value of 15.78 ℃ for LU11 and 19.72 ℃ for wild strain. The Vmax and specific constant (Kcat/Km) of the mutant enzyme were 357.17 U/ml and 33.11 min-1 mM-1, respectively, which were significantly higher than the respective values of wild enzyme (102.04 U/ml and 28.36 min-1 mM-1).
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Gao X, Liu L, Cui L, Zheng T, Ji B, Liu K. Characterization of two β-galactosidases LacZ and WspA1 from Nostoc flagelliforme with focus on the latter's central active region. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18448. [PMID: 34531460 PMCID: PMC8445988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97929-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification and characterization of new β-galactosidases will provide diverse candidate enzymes for use in food processing industry. In this study, two β-galactosidases, Nf-LacZ and WspA1, from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, followed by purification and biochemical characterization. Nf-LacZ was characterized to have an optimum activity at 40 °C and pH 6.5, different from that (45 °C and pH 8.0) of WspA1. Two enzymes had a similar Michaelis constant (Km = 0.5 mmol/liter) against the substrate o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside. Their activities could be inhibited by galactostatin bisulfite, with IC50 values of 0.59 µM for Nf-LacZ and 1.18 µM for WspA1, respectively. Gel filtration analysis suggested that the active form of WspA1 was a dimer, while Nf-LacZ was functional as a larger multimer. WspA1 was further characterized by the truncation test, and its minimum central region was found to be from residues 188 to 301, having both the glycosyl hydrolytic and transgalactosylation activities. Finally, transgenic analysis with the GFP reporter protein found that the N-terminus of WspA1 (35 aa) might play a special role in the export of WspA1 from cells. In summary, this study characterized two cyanobacterial β-galactosidases for potential applications in food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Gao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China. .,School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Litao Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Lijuan Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Tao Zheng
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Boyang Ji
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ke Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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Wang R, Yang X, Cui L, Yin H, Xu S. Gels of Amyloid Fibers. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9060210. [PMID: 31151252 PMCID: PMC6628346 DOI: 10.3390/biom9060210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein self-assembly and formation of amyloid fibers is an early event of numerous human diseases. Continuous aggregation of amyloid fibers in vitro produces biogels, which led us to suspect that amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease are of biogels in nature. We applied atomic force microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry to elucidate the gel’s structure, kinetics of gel formation, and melting point. We found that (1) lysozyme gelation occurs when the protein concentration is above 5 mg/mL; (2) nonfibrous protein concentration decreases and plateaus after three days of gel synthesis reaction; (3) colloidal lysozyme aggregates are detectable by both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC); (4) the gels are a three-dimensional (3D) network crosslinked by fibers coiling around each other; (5) the gels have a high melting point at around around 110 °C, which is weakly dependent on protein concentration; (6) the gels are conductive under an electric field, and (7) they form faster in the presence than in the absence of salt in the reaction buffer. The potential role of the gels formed by amyloid fibers in amyloidosis, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease was thoroughly discussed, as gels with increased viscosity, are known to restrict bulk flow and then circulation of ions and molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhi Wang
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
| | - Lingwen Cui
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
| | - Hang Yin
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
| | - Shaohua Xu
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
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