No abstract

Localized attack by a necrotizing pathogen induces systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to subsequent attack by a broad range of normally virulent pathogens. Salicylic acid accumulation is required for activation of local defenses, such as pathogenesis-related protein accumulation, at the initial site of attack, and for subsequent expression of SAR upon secondary, distant challenge. Although salicylic acid moves through the plant, it is apparently not an essential mobile signal. We screened Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfer DNA (tDNA) tagged lines of Arabidopsis thaliana for mutants specifically compromized in SAR. Here we show that Defective in induced resistance 1-1 (dir1-1) exhibits wild-type local resistance to avirulent and virulent Pseudomonas syringae, but that pathogenesis-related gene expression is abolished in uninoculated distant leaves and dir1-1 fails to develop SAR to virulent Pseudomonas or Peronospora parasitica. Petiole exudate experiments indicate that dir1-1 is defective in the production or transmission from the inoculated leaf of an essential mobile signal. DIR1 encodes a putative apoplastic lipid transfer protein and we propose that DIR1 interacts with a lipid-derived molecule to promote long distance signalling.

In this study, 352 women with infectious mastitis were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Women in groups A (n = 124) and B (n = 127]) ingested daily 9 log(10) colony-forming units (CFU) of L. fermentum CECT5716 or L. salivarius CECT5713, respectively, for 3 weeks, whereas those in group C (n =101) received the antibiotic therapy prescribed in their respective primary care centers. Results. On day 0, the mean bacterial counts in milk samples of the 3 groups were similar (4.35-4.47 log(10) CFU/mL), and lactobacilli could not be detected. On day 21, the mean bacterial counts in the probiotic groups (2.61 and 2.33 log(10) CFU/mL) were lower than that of the control group (3.28 log(10) CFU/mL). L. fermentum CECT5716 and L. salivarius CECT5713 were isolated from the milk samples of women in the probiotic groups A and B, respectively. Women assigned to the probiotic groups improved more and had lower recurrence of mastitis than those assigned to the antibiotic group. Conclusions. The use of L. fermentum CECT5716 or L. salivarius CECT5713 appears to be an efficient alternative to the use of commonly prescribed antibiotics for the treatment of infectious mastitis during lactation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier. NCT00716183.

In the present work, several experimental approaches were used to determine the presence of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and the biological actions of its ligand in the human brain. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed specific labelling for GLP-1 receptor mRNA in several brain areas. In addition, GLP-1R, glucose transporter isoform (GLUT-2) and glucokinase (GK) mRNAs were identified in the same cells, especially in areas of the hypothalamus involved in feeding behaviour. GLP-1R gene expression in the human brain gave rise to a protein of 56 kDa as determined by affinity cross-linking assays. Specific binding of amide to the GLP-1R was detected in several brain areas and was inhibited by unlabelled GLP-1(7-36) amide, exendin-4 and exendin (9-39). A further aim of this work was to evaluate cerebral-glucose metabolism in control subjects by positron emission tomography (PET), using 2-[F-18] deoxy-D-glucose (FDG). Statistical analysis of the PET studies revealed that the administration of GLP-1(7-36) amide significantly reduced (p < 0.001) cerebral glucose metabolism in hypothalamus and brainstem. Because FDG-6-phosphate is not a substrate for subsequent metabolic reactions, the lower activity observed in these areas after peptide administration may be due to reduction of the glucose transport and/or glucose phosphorylation, which should modulate the glucose sensing process in the GLUT-2-and GK-containing cells. The existence of specific subpopulations of neurones involved in energy homeostasis, and located in the so-called 'satiety and hunger centres' of the hypothalamus, is well established. These neuronal pathways, containing both orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides, generate integrated responses to afferent stimuli that are related to modifications in metabolites or in the storage of fuels. Feeding behaviour is controlled by the antagonist effects of both classes of molecules, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) being one of the components of the numerous groups of anorexigenic peptides. GLP-1(7-36) amide is a member of the glucagon-related peptide family. It is produced by posttranslational modification of GLP-1, which is encoded by the

In this study, 20 women with staphylococcal mastitis were randomly divided in two groups. Those in the probiotic group daily ingested 10 log 10 CFU of Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 and the same quantity of Lactobacillus gasseri CECT5714 for 4 weeks, while those in the control one only ingested the excipient. Both lactobacillus strains were originally isolated from breast milk. On day 0, the mean staphylococcal counts in the probiotic and control groups were similar (4.74 and 4.81 log 10 CFU/ml, respectively), but lactobacilli could not be detected. On day 30, the mean staphylococcal count in the probiotic group (2.96 log 10 CFU/ml) was lower than that of the control group (4.79 log 10 CFU/ml). L. salivarius CECT5713 and L. gasseri CECT5714 were isolated from the milk samples of 6 of the 10 women of the probiotic group. At day 14, no clinical signs of mastitis were observed in the women assigned to the probiotic group, but mastitis persisted throughout the study period in the control group women. In conclusion, L. salivarius CECT5713 and L. gasseri CECT5714 appear to be an efficient alternative for the treatment of lactational infectious mastitis during lactation.

Aims:  Breast milk has been described as a source of bacteria influencing the development of the infant gut microbiota. Up to the present, few studies have been focused on the application of culture‐independent techniques to study bacterial diversity in breast milk. In this context, the aim of this study was to characterize the breast milk microbiota of healthy women by applying the quantitative real‐time PCR technique (qRTi‐PCR). Methods and Results:  A total of 50 breast milk samples were analysed by qPCR to assess the presence of different bacterial genera or clusters, including the Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Clostridium cluster IV and Clostridium cluster XIVa–XIVb groups. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were the predominant groups and were detected in all the samples. Clostridium XIVa–XIVb and Enterococcus were detected in most of the samples in contrast to the Bacteroides and Clostridium cluster IV groups. Conclusions:  Our results confirm the abundance of bacterial DNA in breast milk samples and suggest that the qRTi‐PCR technique has a huge potential in the microbiological analysis of human milk. Significance and Impact of the study:  qRTi‐PCR allowed the detection of bacterial DNA of streptococci, staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in the samples of human milk, which confirms that breast milk can be an important source of bacteria and bacterial DNA to the infant gut.

a b s t r a c tBased on the presence of phospholipids in the extracellular fluids (EFs) of sunflower seeds, we have hypothesized on the existence of vesicles in the apoplastic compartment of plants. Ultracentrifugation of sunflower EF allowed the isolation of particles of 50-200 nm with apparent membrane organization. A small GTPase Rab was putatively identified in this vesicular fraction. Since Rab proteins are involved in vesicular traffic and their presence in exosomes from animal fluids has been demonstrated, evidence presented here supports the existence of exosome-like vesicles in apoplastic fluids of sunflower. Their putative contribution to intercellular communication in plants is discussed.

Background: Breast milk is an important source of staphylococci and other bacterial groups to the infant gut. The objective of this work was to analyse the bacterial diversity in feces of breastfed infants and to compare it with that of formula-fed ones. A total of 23 women and their respective infants (16 breast-fed and 7 formula-fed) participated in the study. The 16 women and their infants provided a sample of breast milk and feces, respectively, at days 7, 14, and 35. The samples were plated onto different culture media. Staphylococcal and enterococcal isolates were submitted to genetic profiling and to a characterization scheme, including detection of potential virulence traits and sensitivity to antibiotics.