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A set of 31 isolates were obtained from apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) orchards showing symptoms of blast and gummosis in orchards located in north-eastern Italy, mostly during three subsequent growing seasons (2014–2016). These isolates were identified by means of their colony morphology, pathogenicity (hypersensitive reaction in tobacco leaves and the detection of both syringomycin and coronatine coding genes), genetic features (BLASTn analysis of the rpoD gene) and physiological tests (GATTa) as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and P. syringae pv. morsprunorum race 1 and race 2 strains, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the rpoD gene sequence showed that the two pathovars and two races are well separated and highlighted high intrapathovar/race variation for both P. syringae pv. syringae and P. syringae pv. morsprunorum race 2. Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum race 1 formed a unique clade that had high sequence homology. Repetitive element-based polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting analysis using the ERIC, REP and BOX primers again showed both high intra-pathovar variation within the P. syringae pv. syringae isolates, which grouped into six distinct clusters, and notable intra-race genetic diversity within both P. syringae pv. morsprunorum races. All 31 strains showed tolerance to copper at 200 ppm in vitro. Among these isolates, 13 were highly resistant (up to 500 ppm) and revealed the presence of the cusCBA gene cluster. All P. syringae pv. syringae strains showed ice nucleation activity, and nine were markedly active (up −3 °C) and characterised by the presence of the INAz gene. Finally, this study is the first report of the isolation of P. syringae pv. morsprunorum race 2 strains from apricot in Italy.

The genus Streptomyces (Actinomycetota) is known to contain strains that are very prospective biocontrol agents, but limited research focused on their ability to enhance plant defence after foliar treatments, thus posing technical limits to their potential use. In this study, the Streptomyces sp. DLS2013 was able to epiphytically colonise tomato leaves under controlled conditions. Following plant colonisation by DLS2013, RNA-Seq analysis was conducted on tomato leaves for up to 24 h after treatment to investigate possible changes in the transcriptome and to identify new putative marker genes associated with enhanced plant disease resistance. RNA-Seq data suggested that a DLS2013 treatment triggers plant defence by up-regulating, in a time course manner, defence pathways dependent on salicylic and jasmonic acids, and promoting the synthesis of antimicrobial metabolites, like polyamines (i.e. putrescine and spermidine) and phenolic compounds (i.e. stilbenoids and phenylpropanoids). Conversely, the down-regulation of genes involved in photosynthesis metabolic pathways was highlighted, as a “compensation marker” for the triggered defence response. Additionally, the ability of DLS2013 to elicit resistance in tomato against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato was investigated by assessing the transcription kinetics of six genes associated with distinct defence response pathways, highlighting the key role of PR-1 and JAZ 25 repressor in the tomato resistance to bacterial speck. Finally, our results propose JAZ 25 gene as additional benchmark for defence priming.

Background: Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is the type of stroke associated with the highest death rate, and about 30% of ICH occurs in patients on antithrombotic treatment. This study relates clinical presentations and outcome of ICH patients on oral anticoagulant (OA) or antiplatelet (AP) therapy admitted to 33 Italian emergency departments (ED). Methods: Consecutive patients were enrolled after cranial computed tomography (CT). Primary outcome was the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) score at 3 months of follow-up. Common descriptive statistics were computed after stratification for traumatic or spontaneous ICH and identification of the anatomical location of bleeding. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors of death. Results: We recruited 434 patients on AP therapy and 232 on OA. There were 432 spontaneous and 234 traumatic ICH patients. The proportions of AP and OA patients undergoing neurosurgery were 21.8and 19.4%, respectively, while <30% underwent procoagulant medical treatment. At the 3-month follow-up, the case fatality rate was 42.0%, while disability or death (MRS 3–6) was 68.1%. The odds ratio for death in OA versus AP patients was 2.63 (95% CI 1.73–4.00) in the whole population and 2.80 (95% CI 1.77–4.41) in intraparenchymal event patients. Glasgow Coma Scale, age, spontaneous event and anticoagulant use were found to be predictors of death both in traumatic and spontaneous events. Conclusion: This study confirms the high prevalence of death or disability in OA and AP patients with ICH. As far as the determinants of mortality and disability are concerned, the results of this study might be useful in the clinical management and allocation of resources in the ED setting. The observed low use of procoagulant therapy highlights the need for ED educational programmes to heighten the awareness of available and effective haemostatic treatments.

According to published data, 3 patients with PSI scores of 90 points or lower are recommended for outpatient treatment while those with higher scores are recommended for hospital admission.

The bacterial spot of pepper is a destructive disease and its causal agent was formerly known as Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, later reclassified in four different species: X. vesicatoria, X. euvesicatoria, X. perforans and X. gardneri. All four species are seed-borne and regulated. Xanthomonas euvesicatoria is particularly aggressive on pepper and its detection and identification, particularly In seed lots, is the key for a safe pepper production. We compared a conventional serological detection method (ELISA) with The direct isolation and identification of the pathogen, and with a specific molecular detection (simplex-PCR), but following two different DNA extraction and purification procedures in parallel:1) treatment of the seed concentrate by a heat shock or 2) use of the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit columns (Qiagen). Thirteen ELISA positive samples were found: from those seed samples, 5000 seeds for each extraction method were taken and extracted according the two procedures mentioned above. Results highlighted that ELISA performed quite well, but the most sensitive and reliable pathogen detection was done by seed extraction with the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit, followed by simplex-PCR. Direct isolation and simplex-PCR Following heat shock gave several false negative results. Genotyping of a X. euvesicatoria isolate collection was attempted through rep-PCR, using the BOX, REP and ERIC primers to specifically amplify repetitive elements dispersed throughout the bacterial genome.Results highlighted that X. euvesicatoria is quite a uniform population, taxonomically not so distant from X. perforans, but clearly distinguished from the other two xanthomonads. Analysis of BOX-PCR profiles supports the fact that a possible X. euvesicatoria subgroup is present in the main population, which might be Related to a different geographical origin of seeds.

The bacterial blight of walnut caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Xaj) is an emerging disease, which can severely affect walnut orchards. Symptoms are visible on all aerial parts of the host, particularly on leaves and nuts. The disease develops more rapidly in spring, causing spots on the leaves and immature fruits, followed by the formation of small cankers on leaf petioles and twigs. Affected fruits fall down throughout the growing season, with a peak within mid-May and mid-June. The primary source of the inoculum is available very early in spring, since evasion is likely to occur from small overwintering cankers present on twigs as soon as the new vegetation busts. The primary inoculum is spread by wind-driven rain droplets and pollen. Our study confirms the spread by pollen, but catkins seems to become infected during their spring development from bacteria oozing from small twig cankers. Female flowers are not contaminated before pollination, and become infected during pollination and/or during spring rain. Copper resistance has been studied on a collection of over 150 strains isolated in Romagna during 2007-2009. A high percentage (83%) of the collection proved tolerant to copper, whereas 36% was highly resistant. Control strategies are difficult to implement and are based on the timely and effective use of copper compounds with emphasis on spring treatments. In order to bypass copper resistance the use of alternative molecules as resistance inducers is under evaluation, coupled with a reduced use of copper.