Occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis and trypanosomatids in Vespa orientalis linneus 1771.

Vespa orientalis is spreading across the Italian and European territories leading to new interactions among species, which could lead to the transmission of pathogens between species. Detection of honey bee viruses in V. orientalis has already been revealed in both adults and larvae, while no information is available regarding parasitic occurrence. Sixty adult hornets collected across apiaries in the South of Italy were subjected to cytological, histopathological and biomolecular examination to evaluate the occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, and Crithidia bombi. Cytological examination revealed the presence of Nosema spores in 38.33% of individuals while histopathological analysis showed the presence of L. passim-like elements in the rectum of two examined specimens and the presence of fungal hyphae in the small intestine of another hornet. Biomolecular investigation revealed that N. ceranae was the most prevalent pathogen (50.0%), followed by A. apis (6.66%), L. passim (6.66%) and C. bombi (6.0%).

Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a polyphagous and damaging pest, presenting several resistant populations worldwide. Among new and more environmentally friendly control tools, botanical pesticides represent a valuable alternative to synthetic ones within integrated pest management strategies. Accordingly, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide isolated from Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) roots on T. urticae and its natural enemy, the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor). RESULTS: Carlina oxide (98.7% pure compound) was used for acaricidal tests on eggs, nymphs, and adult females of T. urticae (concentrations of 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 µL L-1 ), and eggs and females of N. californicus (1250 and 5000 µL L-1 on eggs and females, respectively). Behavioral two-choice tests were also conducted on phytoseiid females. Carlina oxide toxicity was higher on T. urticae females than nymphs (median lethal dose 1145 and 1825 µL L-1 , respectively), whereas egg mortality and mean hatching time were significantly affected by all tested concentrations. A decreasing daily oviposition rate for T. urticae was recorded with concentrations ranging from 625 to 5000 µL L-1 , whereas negative effects on the population growth rate were recorded only with the three higher concentrations (1250, 2500 and 5000 µL L-1 ). No toxic effect on N. californicus females was found, but a strong repellent activity lasting for 48 h from application was recorded. CONCLUSION: Carlina oxide reduced longevity and fecundity of T. urticae adults, but not of N. californicus. This selective property allows us to propose it as a novel active ingredient of ecofriendly acaricides for T. urticae management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Heitt Mjölnir: a heated miniature triaxial apparatus for 4D synchrotron microtomography.

Third- and fourth-generation synchrotron light sources with high fluxes and beam energies enable the use of innovative X-ray translucent experimental apparatus. These experimental devices access geologically relevant conditions whilst enabling in situ characterization using the spatial and temporal resolutions accessible at imaging beamlines. Here, Heitt Mjölnir is introduced, a heated miniature triaxial rig based on the design of Mjölnir, but covering a wider temperature range and larger sample volume at similar pressure capacities. This device is designed to investigate coupled thermal, chemical, hydraulic and mechanical processes from grain to centimetre scales using cylindrical samples of 10 mm × 20 mm (diameter × length). Heitt Mjölnir can simultaneously reach confining (hydraulic) pressures of 30 MPa and 500 MPa of axial stress with independently controlled sample pore fluid pressure < 30 MPa. This internally heated apparatus operates to temperatures up to 573 K with a minimal vertical thermal gradient in the sample of <0.3 K mm-1. This new apparatus has been deployed in operando studies at the TOMCAT (Swiss Light Source), I12 JEEP (Diamond Light Source) and PSICHÉ (Synchrotron SOLEIL) beamlines for 4D X-ray microtomography with scan intervals of a few minutes. Heitt Mjölnir is portable and modular, allowing a wide range of 4D characterizations of low-grade metamorphism and deformational processes. It enables spatially and temporally resolved fluid-rock interaction studies at conditions of crustal reservoirs and is suitable for characterization of material properties in geothermal, carbonation or subsurface gas storage applications. Technical drawings and an operation guide are included in this publication.

Microscopy and modelling investigations on the morphology of the biofilm exopolysaccharide produced by Burkholderia multivorans strain C1576.

Bacteria form very often biofilms where they embed in a self-synthesized matrix exhibiting a gel-like appearance. Matrices offer several advantages, including defence against external threats and the easiness of intercellular communication. In infections, biofilm formation enhances bacteria resistance against antimicrobials, causing serious clinical problems for patients' treatments. Biofilm matrices are composed of proteins, extracellular DNA, and polysaccharides, the latter being the major responsible for matrix architecture. The repeating unit of the biofilm polysaccharide synthesized by Burkholderia multivorans strain C1576 contains two mannoses and two sequentially linked rhamnoses, one of them 50 % methylated on C-3. Rhamnose, a 6-deoxysugar, has lower polarity than other common monosaccharides and its methylation further reduces polarity. This suggests a possible role of this polysaccharide in the biofilm matrix; in fact, computer modelling and atomic force microscopy studies evidenced intra- and inter-molecular non-polar interactions both within polysaccharides and with aliphatic molecules. In this paper, the polysaccharide three-dimensional morphology was investigated using atomic force microscopy in both solid and solution states. Independent evidence of the polymer conformation was obtained by transmission electron microscopy which confirmed the formation of globular compact structures. Finally, data from computer dynamic simulations were used to model the three-dimensional structure.

Mandibular metastasis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma: How unexpected could it be?

OBJECTIVE: Metastatic tumours of bone must be considered in all patients with unexplained bone pain and particularly in patients who present with a known cancer, localised pain at multiple sites, and radiographic findings suggestive of metastasis. The purpose of this report was to present a case of a pathological fracture of the mandible as a consequence of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In July 2018 a 68-year-old male patient was hospitalised because of pulmonary adenocarcinoma and attended our department for an oral maxillo-facial evaluation. He complained of pain and swelling in the right temporomandibular region resulting in a reported functional limitation. An Orthopantomogram (OPG) demonstrated a right intracapsular condylar compound fracture associated with an osteolytic lesion at the condyle base with jagged margins. Subsequently, a CT scan with contrast of the maxillo-facial complex and a fine-needle aspiration of the lesion was performed. RESULTS: CT images showed the presence of a right mandibular condyle fracture associated with a large osteolytic lesion which confirmed the pathological nature of the fracture. Fine-needle aspiration of the lesion confirmed its metastatic nature. It was not possible to proceed with a mandibular resection due to the critical clinical condition of the patient who died in September 2018. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer frequently produces lytic-type metastasis, sometimes even in the jaw. In patients with an established diagnosis of lung cancer, any radiolucent lesion of the jaw or an unexplained painful symptomatology to the oro-maxillo facial complex should be placed in differential diagnosis with metastasis of the primary tumour.

Epidemiological aspects of dental trauma associated with maxillofacial injures: Ten years of clinical experience in Trieste, Italy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of dental injuries in patients with facial fractures is relevant. Epidemiologically, dental trauma in association with facial fractures generally affects the age group between 20 and 40 years old, with a higher prevalence in males. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the incidence and etiology of dental trauma associated with facial fractures over a 10-year period. METHODS: From January 2009 to April 2019, among 381 patients with facial fractures, 353 were included in this study. Age, gender, trauma etiology, injured teeth and dental treatment were investigated. RESULTS: From 353 patients, with a mean age of 49.7 ± 19.9 years, 247 (70%) were males and 106 (30%) were females. Accidental falls were the most common type of injury (n = 118, 33.4%), followed by road accidents (n = 90, 25.5%), assaults (n = 60, 17%) and sports trauma (n = 37, 10.5%). Fifty-five subjects (15.60%) had dental injuries associated with facial fractures. Of the 145 teeth involved, 48 (33.1%) were diagnosed with luxation, 22 teeth (15.2%) were avulsed, 11 teeth (7.5%) suffered a concussion and there were 10 (6.8%) alveolar wall fractures.Uncomplicated enamel-dentin fracture was the more frequent hard tissue injury (n = 21, 14.5%), followed by complicated crown-root fracture (n = 10, 6.9%), infraction (n = 8, 5.5%), enamel fracture (n = 3, 2%) and complicated enamel-dentin fracture (n = 3, 2%). There was a peak in incidence between 21 and 40 years (42%). Males had a significantly higher risk of facial fractures with dental injury (75%). Maxillary incisors and canines (62.8%) were the most affected teeth. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of dental injuries associated with facial fractures. Maxillary incisors were the most injured teeth, with a higher prevalence in males.

Lethal and sublethal effects of synthetic and bioinsecticides toward the invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus.

BACKGROUND: Exotic ambrosia beetles are emerging widespread pests of several wild and managed trees and shrubs. Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is one of the most invasive species causing damage to a broad range of host plants. Little information is available on its control, including the impact of insecticides. Bioassays were conducted to evaluate the potential of four bioinsecticides and seven synthetic insecticides in controlling X. compactus. Beetle mortality and sublethal effects on tunneling, cultivation of the mutualist fungus and reproduction were assessed. RESULTS: Concentration-mortality curves were determined for all tested insecticides. Lambda-cyhalothrin was the most toxic insecticide, showing the lowest estimated 90% and 50% lethal concentrations (LC90 and LC50 ), followed by deltamethrin and thiamethoxam. Acetamiprid caused the highest levels of mortality and brood size reduction under extended laboratory conditions. Moreover, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin caused the greatest mortality and, together with deltamethrin, strongly affected progeny occurrence inside infested galleries and beetle brood size. Among the bioinsecticides, pyrethrins significantly affected beetle survival under laboratory conditions, but not brood size in extended laboratory bioassays. Some of the tested insecticides had significant lethal and sublethal effects only when beetles were exposed to fresher residues, highlighting differences in toxicity persistence. CONCLUSION: This study provides first baseline toxicity data for synthetic insecticides and bioinsecticides with different modes of action and origin toward X. compactus, and the first evidence that several insecticides can cause multiple sublethal effects on this pest. These findings can help in building suitable integrated pest management packages against this pest. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The Bep gene cluster in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 codes for a water-insoluble exopolysaccharide essential for biofilm formation.

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen isolated from cystic fibrosis patients where it causes infections that are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics, and sometimes have a fatal outcome. Biofilm is a virulence trait of B. cenocepacia, and is associated with infection persistence and increased tolerance to antibiotics. In biofilms exopolysaccharides have an important role, conferring mechanical stability and antibiotic tolerance. Two different exopolysaccharides were isolated from B. cenocepacia H111 biofilms: a water-soluble polysaccharide rich in rhamnose and containing an L-Man residue, and a water-insoluble polymer made of glucose, galactose and mannose. In the present work, the product encoded by B. cenocepacia H111 bepA-L gene cluster was identified as the water-insoluble exopolysaccharide, using mutant strains and NMR spectroscopy of the purified polysaccharides. It was also demonstrated that the B. cenocepacia H111 wild type strain produces the water-insoluble exopolysaccharide in pellicles, thus underlining its potential importance in in vivo infections.

Seismic events miss important kinematically governed grain scale mechanisms during shear failure of porous rock.

Catastrophic failure in brittle, porous materials initiates when smaller-scale fractures localise along an emergent fault zone in a transition from stable crack growth to dynamic rupture. Due to the rapid nature of this critical transition, the precise micro-mechanisms involved are poorly understood and difficult to image directly. Here, we observe these micro-mechanisms directly by controlling the microcracking rate to slow down the transition in a unique rock deformation experiment that combines acoustic monitoring (sound) with contemporaneous in-situ x-ray imaging (vision) of the microstructure. We find seismic amplitude is not always correlated with local imaged strain; large local strain often occurs with small acoustic emissions, and vice versa. Local strain is predominantly aseismic, explained in part by grain/crack rotation along an emergent shear zone, and the shear fracture energy calculated from local dilation and shear strain on the fault is half of that inferred from the bulk deformation.

Impact of Super-High Density Olive Orchard Management System on Soil Free-Living and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Central and South Italy.

The soil nematode community plays an important role in ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Super-high density (SHD) olive orchards on the nematode community in five sites with different soils, climates, and cultivars. At each site, the SHD management system was compared to the adjacent olive orchard traditional (TRAD) system, in which the same soil management and phytosanitary measures were applied. Soil management was assessed by total organic carbon content (TOC), while the soil nematode community was evaluated using the nematode taxa abundances and soil nematode indicators. TOC was significantly decreased in the SHD olive orchard system compared to TRAD in the sites characterized by conventional tillage and mineral fertilization. The two-way ANOSIM analysis on nematode abundance showed no difference between the two olive management methods, instead showing only a significant difference per site mainly due to variabilities in plant-parasitic nematode assemblage. However, a negative impact of SHD management was evident in environments stressed by summer droughts and conventional tillage: the ratio of obligate plant-parasites to bacterivores and fungivores (Pp/(B+F)) was significantly higher in SHD than in the TRAD olive orchard system, and the prey-to-predator θ mass ratio showed the lowest values in the sites under organic fertilization or green manure. The canonical correspondence analysis showed that the free-living nematodes were only slightly affected by SHD olive orchards; instead, the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes families such as Telotylenchidae, Paratylenchidae, Meloidogynidae, and Criconematidae was favored, in comparison to Longidoridae, Heteroderidae, and Pratylenchidae.

Characterisation of a new cell wall teichoic acid produced by Listeria innocua ZM39 and analysis of its biosynthesis genes.

Listeria innocua is genetically closely related to the foodborne human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. However, as most L. innocua strains are non-pathogenic, it has been proposed as a surrogate organism for determining the efficacy of antimicrobial strategies against L. monocytogenes. Teichoic acids are one of the three major cell wall components of Listeria, along with the peptidoglycan backbone and cell wall-associated proteins. The polymeric teichoic acids make up the majority of cell wall carbohydrates; the type of teichoic acids directly attached to the peptidoglycan are termed wall teichoic acids (WTAs). WTAs play vital physiological roles, are important virulence factors, antigenic determinants, and phage-binding ligands. The structures of the various WTAs of L. monocytogenes are well known, whereas those of L. innocua are not. In the present study, the WTA structure of L. innocua ZM39 was determined mainly by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and it was found to be the following: [→4)-[α-D-GlcpNAc-(1→3)]-ß-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-D-Rbo-(1P→]n This structure is new with respect to all currently known Listeria WTAs and it shares structural similarities with type II WTA serovar 6a. In addition, the genome of strain L. innocua ZM39 was sequenced and the majority of putative WTA synthesis genes were identified.

Lethal and behavioural effects of a green insecticide against an invasive polyphagous fruit fly pest and its safety to mammals.

Plant essential oil-based insecticides, with special reference to those that may be obtained from largely available biomasses, represent a valuable tool for Integrated Pest Management. However, the sublethal effects and the potential effects on aggressive insect traits of these green insecticides are understudied. Herein, the lethal and sub-lethal effects of the carlina oxide, constituting more than 97% of the whole Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) root essential oil (EO), were determined against an invasive polyphagous tephritid pest, Ceratitis capitata (medfly). The carlina oxide was formulated in a mucilaginous solution containing carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt, sucrose, and hydrolysed proteins, showing high ingestion toxicity on medfly adults. The behavioural effects of carlina oxide at LC10 and LC30 were evaluated on the medfly aggressive traits, which are crucial for securing reproductive success in both sexes. Insecticide exposure affected the directionality of aggressive actions, but not the aggression escalation intensity and duration. The EO safety to mammals was investigated by studying its acute toxicity on the stomach, liver, and kidney of rats after oral administration. Only the highest dose (1000 mg/kg) of the EO caused modest neurological signs and moderate effects on the stomach, liver, and kidney. The other doses, which are closer to the practical use of the EO when formulated in protein baits, did not cause side effects. Overall, C. acaulis-based products are effective and safe to non-target mammals, deserving further consideration for eco-friendly pesticide formulations.

Bioactivity of Carlina acaulis Essential Oil and Its Main Component towards the Olive Fruit Fly, Bactrocera oleae: Ingestion Toxicity, Electrophysiological and Behavioral Insights.

Among botanical insecticides based on essential oils (EOs) or their main components, Carlina acaulis EO and the aromatic polyacetylene carlina oxide, constituting more than 90% of its EO, were recently proven to be effective against the larvae and adults of some insect vectors and pests. In this study, the toxicity of C. acaulis EO and carlina oxide were tested on Bactrocera oleae adults using a protein bait formulation. The LC50 values of the C. acaulis EO and carlina oxide were 706 ppm and 1052 ppm, respectively. Electroantennographic (EAG) tests on B. oleae adults showed that both carlina EO and oxide elicited EAG dose-dependent responses in male and female antennae. The responses to the EO were significantly higher than those to carlina oxide, indicating that other compounds, despite their lower concentrations, can play a relevant role. Moreover, Y-tube assays carried out to assess the potential attractiveness or repellency of carlina oxide LC90 to B. oleae adults showed that it was unattractive to both males and females of B. oleae, and the time spent by both sexes in either the control or the treatment arm did not differ significantly. Overall, this study points out the potential use of C. acaulis EO and carlina oxide for the development of green and effective "lure-and-kill" tools.

Toxics or Lures? Biological and Behavioral Effects of Plant Essential Oils on Tephritidae Fruit Flies.

The family Tephritidae (Diptera) includes species that are highly invasive and harmful to crops. Due to globalization, international trade, and human displacement, their spread is continuously increasing. Unfortunately, the control of tephritid flies is still closely linked to the use of synthetic insecticides, which are responsible for detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Recently, research is looking for alternative and more eco-friendly tools to be adopted in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. In this regard, essential oils (EOs) and their main compounds represent a promising alternative to chemical insecticides. EOs are made up of phytoconstituents formed from the secondary metabolism of many plants and can act as attractants or toxics, depending on the dose. Because of this unique characteristic, EOs and their main constituents are promising tools that can be used both in Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs and in the "lure and kill" technique, exploiting the attractiveness of the product in the former case and its toxicity in the latter. In this article, current knowledge on the biological and behavioral effects of EOs and their main constituents on tephritid fruit flies is reviewed, mainly focusing on species belonging to the Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Ceratitis, and Zeugodacus genera. The mechanisms of action of EOs, their real-world applications, and challenges related to their use in IPM are critically discussed.

Multifrequency STD NMR Unveils the Interactions of Antibiotics With Burkholderia multivorans Biofilm Exopolysaccharide.

Biofilms confine bacterial cells within self-produced matrices, offering advantages such as protection from antibiotics and entrapment of nutrients. Polysaccharides are major components in these macromolecular assemblies, and their interactions with other chemicals are of high relevance for the benefits provided by the biofilm 3D molecular matrix. NMR is a powerful technique for the study and characterization of the interactions between molecules of biological relevance. In this study, we have applied multifrequency saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR and DOSY NMR approaches to elucidate the interactions between the exopolysaccharide produced by Burkholderia multivorans C1576 (EpolC1576) and the antibiotics kanamycin and ceftadizime. The NMR strategies presented here allowed for an extensive characterization at an atomic level of the mechanisms behind the implication of the EpolC1576 in the recalcitrance phenomena, which is the ability of bacteria in biofilms to survive in the presence of antibiotics. Our results suggest an active role for EpolC1576 in the recalcitrance mechanisms toward kanamycin and ceftadizime, though through two different mechanisms.

Oligosaccharides Derived from Tramesan: Their Structure and Activity on Mycotoxin Inhibition in Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus carbonarius.

Food and feed safety are of paramount relevance in everyday life. The awareness that different chemicals, e.g., those largely used in agriculture, could present both environmental problems and health hazards, has led to a large limitation of their use. Chemicals were also the main tool in a control of fungal pathogens and their secondary metabolites, mycotoxins. There is a drive to develop more environmentally friendly, "green", approaches to control mycotoxin contamination of foodstuffs. Different mushroom metabolites showed the potential to act as control agents against mycotoxin production. The use of a polysaccharide, Tramesan, extracted from the basidiomycete Trametes versicolor, for controlling biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, has been previously discussed. In this study, oligosaccharides obtained from Tramesan were evaluated. The purified exopolysaccharide of T. versicolor was partially hydrolyzed and separated by chromatography into fractions from disaccharides to heptasaccharides. Each fraction was individually tested for mycotoxin inhibition in A. flavus and A. carbonarius. Fragments smaller than seven units showed no significant effect on mycotoxin inhibition; heptasaccharides showed inhibitory activity of up to 90% in both fungi. These results indicated that these oligosaccharides could be used as natural alternatives to crop protection chemicals for controlling these two mycotoxins.

The biofilm of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 contains an exopolysaccharide composed of l-rhamnose and l-mannose: Structural characterization and molecular modelling.

Burkholderia cenocepacia belongs to the Burkholderia Cepacia Complex, a group of 22 closely related species both of clinical and environmental origin, infecting cystic fibrosis patients. B. cenocepacia accounts for the majority of the clinical isolates, comprising the most virulent and transmissible strains. The capacity to form biofilms is among the many virulence determinants of B. cenocepacia, a characteristic that confers enhanced tolerance to some antibiotics, desiccation, oxidizing agents, and host defenses. Exopolysaccharides are a major component of biofilm matrices, particularly providing mechanical stability to biofilms. Recently, a water-insoluble exopolysaccharide produced by B. cenocepacia H111 in biofilm was characterized. In the present study, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide was extracted from B. cenocepacia H111 biofilm, and its structure was determined by GLC-MS, NMR and ESI-MS. The repeating unit is a linear rhamno-tetrasaccharide with 50% replacement of a 3-α-L-Rha with a α-3-L-Man. [2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-L-[Rhap or Manp]-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→]n Molecular modelling was used to obtain information about local structural motifs which could give information about the polysaccharide conformation.

Evaluating the stability of extended-pour alginate impression materials by using an optical scanning and digital method.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The dimensional stability of alginate dental impressions is a key factor for the reliability of delayed gypsum pouring and digital scanning. However, studies of the dimensional stability of alginates with conventional methods that consider the dimensional variations of large impressions are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate and compare 2 digital methods for the analysis of dimensional stability of large impressions made with 5 different extended-pour alginates and to assess dimensional stability up to 5 days. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Impressions of a simplified master maxillary model were made with Alginoplast, Blueprint, Hydrogum 5, Orthoprint, and Phase Plus and then analyzed at different time points. Digital scans of the alginate impression surfaces were obtained with a desktop scanner and analyzed by evaluating the linear measurements between reference points and by using a novel method that consists of the analysis of the entire scanned surface to evaluate the expansion and contraction of the impressions. RESULTS: The first method revealed that the dimensional changes did not exceed 0.5%, with the exception of Phase Plus at day 3 (-0.6 ±0.7%), and the average dimensional variation was always lower than or equal to 0.2 mm. Blueprint was the most stable material (-0.2 ±0.6%). The second method revealed dimensional variations always lower than 0.03 mm and confirmed Blueprint as the best performing material (0.001 ±0.006 mm) and Phase Plus the worst (-0.019 ±0.006 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Both the methods used to evaluate alginate stability showed that the analyzed materials remain stable over time; the dimensional variations showed a similar trend, with differences in the absolute values depending on the applied method. Linear measurements are affected by the operator and choice of reference points; however, by evaluating the average variations of the entire structure surfaces, local variations should be minimized. The evaluation of the average variations with the second method offers the advantage of a rapid visual representation of these variations.

Can Mating Disruption Be a Possible Route to Control Plum Fruit Moth in Mediterranean Environments?

Control of the plum fruit moth, Grapholita funebrana Treitschke (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has been mainly based on the use of chemical insecticides, which can cause undesirable side effects, leading to a growing interest towards alternative sustainable strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the mating disruption technique on G. funebrana infestation in plum orchards, by comparing the number of male captures in pheromone-baited traps, and evaluating the damage to fruits in plots treated with the pheromone dispersers and in control plots. The study was carried out in 2012 and 2014 in three organic plum orchards, on the cultivars Angeleno, Friar, President and Stanley. To evaluate the pheromone emission curve of the dispensers from the openings to the end of the trials, a chemical analysis was carried out by solid phase micro-extraction followed by gas chromatography, followed by mass spectrometry. In all years and orchards the mean number of males caught in traps placed in the treatment plots was always significantly lower than untreated plots. Pheromone emission from the dispensers was highest at the opening, and was still considerable at 54 days of field exposure, while it significantly decreased after 72 days of field exposure. Cultivar was confirmed to be an essential factor in determining the fruit infestation level. Pheromone treatment significantly reduced fruit infestation, but not economic damage.

Determination of the capsular polysaccharide structure of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ST512 representative strain KPB-1 and assignments of the glycosyltransferases functions.

Klebsiella pneumoniae strain KPB-1 was isolated in early 2011 from the pleural fluid of an inpatient admitted at an Italian hospital. It was characterized to produce the KPC-3 carbapenemase and to belong to sequence type 512, a derivative of sequence type 258 clade II characterized by the cps-2 gene cluster. The K-antigen of K. pneumoniae KPB-1 was purified and its structure determined by using GLC-MS of appropriate carbohydrate derivatives and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy of the native polysaccharide. All the collected data demonstrated the following repeating unit for the K. pneumoniae KPB-1 capsular polysaccharide: The reactions catalysed by each glycosyltransferase in the cps-2 gene cluster were assigned on the basis of structural homology with other Klebsiella K antigens.