Search Results (8)

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), remains a major public health concern. This study reports the antimicrobial resistance profiles and molecular characteristics of 31 S. aureus isolated during 2017–2018 from inpatient and outpatient clinical specimens from Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital (QSH) in Chonburi province, Thailand. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, Panton–Valentine leukocidin (pvl) toxin, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing were performed. Twenty-seven isolates were confirmed to be MRSA and exhibited resistance to up to seven antibiotics classes. The main MLST type was SCCmec type II (51.9%) and ST764 (55.6%). Five spa types were identified with t045 (55.6%) as the major type. All 31 S. aureus isolates were grouped into seven types using PFGE with the SCCmecII-ST764-t045 clone being the most prevalent. Overall, our findings reveal that the S. aureus isolates in this study differ from previous reports in Thailand, indicating a potential shift in local strains, highlighting the need for ongoing molecular surveillance of multidrug resistance patterns of MRSA in Southeast Asia. Full article

The growing consumer interest in healthy and convenient food has led to an increased demand for fresh-cut vegetables, including artichokes, which are known for their bioactive compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols. However, artichokes are highly susceptible to browning, as their high phenol content complicates processing into ready-to-eat products. This study evaluated the suitability of three artichoke cultivars (‘Lorca’, ‘Tupac’, and ‘Green Queen’) for fresh-cut processing, focusing on flower head order (main, secondary, tertiary). Artichokes were processed as fresh-cut hearth slices, stored for 7 days at 2 °C and 85% relative humidity, and assessed for total phenolic content (day 0) and browning index (days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7). Sensory analysis was performed until day 3. Results revealed that tertiary heads, especially from the ‘Green Queen’ cultivar, exhibited the highest phenolic content but also greater susceptibility to browning, whereas main heads, lower in polyphenols (particularly from the ‘Lorca’ and ‘Tupac’ cultivars), showed minor browning indices and higher consumer acceptability. These parameters displayed a strong negative correlation coefficient (>−0.9), indicating that an increase in browning directly impacts sensory rejection. This study highlights the importance of cultivar and flower head order selection, providing valuable insights to enhance the quality and commercial viability of minimally processed artichoke products. Full article

Pineapples are highly susceptible to “Wilt disease”, caused by the biotrophic insect Dysmicoccus brevipes that also transmits several Wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). Conventional farms manage mealybugs and Wilt disease using chemicals. However, many of these chemicals have been banned in Europe due to safety concerns, leading to a critical need for studies on pesticide-free control methods. During their evolution, plants have developed natural defences, such as systemic acquired resistance (SAR), against pathogens and pests. In this study, salicylic acid (10⁻³ M) was applied to MD2 and Queen Victoria pineapple plants as a foliar spray or soil drench, followed by mealybug infestation. This treatment enhanced defences, assessed through mealybug multiplication rates, and biochemical and molecular responses of tissue-cultured plantlets under controlled conditions. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) was measured as a potential SAR signalling enzymatic marker. Additionally, the expression levels of four genes were analyzed, which included AcPAL and AcICS2, both linked to salicylic acid synthesis; AcMYB-like, a transcription factor regulating salicylic acid biosynthesis; and AcCAT, which is involved in H₂O₂ level control in plants. SA elicitation reduced the mealybug multiplication rate by 70% on pineapples compared to untreated plants. In this study, the biochemical marker (PAL) and three molecular markers (AcPAL, AcICS2, and AcCAT) showed significant differences between primed and unprimed plants, indicating SAR induction and its role in the pineapple–mealybug interaction. In MD2 and Queen Victoria, PAL increased by 2.3 and 1.5, respectively, while AcPAL increased by 4 and more than 10. The other molecular markers, AcICS2, AcCAT, and AcMYB-like (a transcription factor), increased by 3, except for the last one in Queen Victoria. The reduction in mealybug populations with SAR is less effective than with pesticides, but it provides a valuable alternative on Réunion Island, where the only remaining insecticide will soon be banned. In addition, SAR priming offers a promising, eco-friendly strategy for managing mealybug populations and reducing Wilt disease in pesticide-free pineapple cropping systems. Full article

The colonies of honey bees are mostly sessile organisms. Consequently, the type of nest boxes that beekeepers provide to their bees should impact a colony’s ability to maintain homeostasis, which is a key determinant of performance and fitness. Here, we used European honey bees (Apis mellifera) and provided them with two hive setups widely used and known as Langstroth and Warré. We compared colony performance in a Mediterranean climate for five months from late spring to early autumn, which covered the most active time of bees and included periods of heat and drought. We found that irrespective of hive type or season, honey bees kept hive temperature and humidity within a remarkably narrow range. Nevertheless, the hive type impacted the daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In Warré hives, where bees have more autonomy to build and maintain their combs, we found that bees were able to reduce daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity and kept both measures closer to the overall average. This increase in colony homeostasis found in Warré hives negatively correlated with other hive performance indicators, such as immunocompetence. We conclude that different hive types affect key areas, such as the central part of the colony with frames of developing brood or the queen, which are the most susceptible individuals. This implies that climatic changes resulting in extreme weather events are expected to impact colony performance and fitness, especially in non-managed honey bees that are limited by available nesting sites. For managed bees, adaptations to existing hive setups could be provided to help bees minimize the effects of abiotic stress. Full article

Nectarines have remarkable nutritional value, low caloric content, and are rich in antioxidants. However, despite substantial local and global demand, their susceptibility to rapid spoilage during peak summer harvest is limited. To address this issue, the current study investigated the potential benefits of using melatonin (MLT), an antioxidant biomolecule, in combination with edible hydrocolloid coatings like carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and gum Arabic (G.A.) on ‘Snow Queen’ nectarine fruits. The nectarines were treated with various combinations of coatings, including 1% and 1.5% CMC, 8% and 10% G.A., and 0.1 mM melatonin. These coated and non-coated samples were stored under standard supermarket conditions (18 ± 1 °C, 85–90% R.H.) for 16 days. The outcomes demonstrated that the most effective treatment was the combination of 1% CMC with 0.1 mM melatonin. This treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced the rate of respiration, curbed fruit decay by approximately 95%, minimized weight loss by around 42%, and maintained approximately 39% higher levels of total phenol content and roughly 30% greater antioxidant (AOX) activity. These positive effects were accompanied by preserved firmness and overall quality attributes. Moreover, the treatment extended the shelf life to 16 days through retarding senescence and suppressing the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX) and pectin methylesterase (PME), all without compromising the functional qualities of the nectarine. Full article

During the winter of 2018, leaf blight on florist’s daisy (Chrysanthemum morifolium L.) was noticed in Egypt. The disease, which was identified as caused by Alternaria alternata, was widely spread and led to serious damage for the exportation sector of this crop. Therefore, a study was conducted to better understand what can be conducted to minimize the problem in the future. Isolates were gathered and evaluated on five chrysanthemum cultivars (i.e., ‘Feeling Green Dark’, ‘Talitha’, ‘Chrystal Regan’, ‘Arctic queen’, and ‘Podolsk Purple’) grown in a greenhouse. The objectives were to isolate and identify the phytopathogen and detect the resistant degree of these cultivars with emphasis on the early growth stages of the crop. The results showed that ‘Podolsk Purple’ was the most resistant cultivar against the different isolates during the rooting and seedling growth stages. ‘Chrystal Regan’ was very susceptible to the different isolates. In addition, the isolate from ‘Feeling Green Dark’ was the strongest, which negatively affected the chlorophyll content and its fluorescence parameters besides other measured vegetative and anatomical features. The findings indicated that the best anatomical characters of the stem and leaf, like the thickness of cuticle and cortex, stem diameter, xylem vessel diameter, and thickness of epidermis as well as lamina thickness were recorded in the ‘Podolsk Purple’ cultivar. This study highlighted that by using the right cultivars, chrysanthemum can be cultivated during the winter season under Egyptian conditions. These results can be a part of solution to overcome the leaf blight caused by A. alternata on chrysanthemum during the early growing stages. Full article

This study aims to investigate the effects of the three potassium channel genes KCNA1, KCNA2, and KCNV2 on increased susceptibility to epilepsy as well as on responsiveness to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The pharmacogenetic and case-control cohort (n = 595) consisted of 296 epileptic patients and 299 healthy individuals. Epileptic patients were recruited from the Pediatric Neurology clinic at the Queen Rania Al Abdullah Hospital (QRAH) in Amman, Jordan. A custom platform array search for genetic association in Jordanian-Arab epileptic patients was undertaken. The MassARRAY system (iPLEX GOLD) was used to genotype seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within three candidate genes (KCNA1, KCNA2, and KCNV2). Only one SNP in KCNA2, rs3887820, showed significant association with increased risk of susceptibility to generalized myoclonic seizure (p-value < 0.001). Notably, the rs112561866 polymorphism of the KCNA1 gene was non-polymorphic, but no significant association was found between the KCNA1 (rs2227910, rs112561866, and rs7974459) and KCNV2 (rs7029012, rs10967705, and rs10967728) polymorphisms and disease susceptibility or drug responsiveness among Jordanian patients. This study suggests that a significant association exists between the KCNA2 SNP rs3887820 and increased susceptibility to generalized myoclonic seizure. However, the present findings indicate that the KCNA1 and KCNV2 SNPs do not influence disease susceptibility and drug responsiveness in epileptic patients. Pharmacogenetic and case-control studies involving a multicenter and multiethnic approach are needed to confirm our results. To improve the efficacy and safety of epilepsy treatment, further studies are required to identify other genetic factors that contribute to susceptibility and treatment outcome. Full article

Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is known as a disease of worker honey bees. To investigate pathogenesis of the CBPV on the queen, the sole reproductive individual in a colony, we conducted experiments regarding the susceptibility of queens to CBPV. Results from susceptibility experiment showed a similar disease progress in the queens compared to worker bees after infection. Infected queens exhibit symptoms by Day 6 post infection and virus levels reach 10¹¹ copies per head. In a transmission experiment we showed that social interactions may affect the disease progression. Queens with forced contact to symptomatic worker bees acquired an overt infection with up to 10¹¹ virus copies per head in six days. In contrast, queens in contact with symptomatic worker bees, but with a chance to receive food from healthy bees outside the cage appeared healthy. The virus loads did not exceed 10⁷ in the majority of these queens after nine days. Symptomatic worker bees may transmit sufficient active CBPV particles to the queen through trophallaxis, to cause an overt infection. Full article