Towards the optimization of standardized assays for sampling and detection of citrus huanglongbing-associated bacteria.

Morphological and molecular characterization of distinct species of fungi with potential medicinal interest collected in Sicily

Medicinal mushrooms are very interesting for their pharmacological effects as well as for their nutritional value, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial activities. Antitumor activities of mushrooms have been extensively investigated due to recent chemotherapeutic application of some drugs derived from natural sources.The aim of this study was the morphological and molecular characterization of nine species of fungi with potential medicinal interest. In particular, we focused our attention on: Bjerkandera adusta (Willd) P. Karst., Ganoderma resinaceum Boud.,Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers., Pleurotus eryngii var elaeoselini Venturella, Zervakis and La Rocca, P. eryngii var. eryngii (DC.) Quél…

INVESTIGATIONS ON ‘CANDIDATUS PHYTOPLASMA SOLANI’ IN WESTERN SICILY, SOUTHERN ITALY

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, belonging to the 16SrXII-A subgroup, is associated with grapevine Bois Noir (BN). It is usually transmitted by Hyalesthes obsoletus from a wide range of weeds to grapevine, which is considered a dead-end host. Moreover, other alternative vectors can play a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In Sicily, the presence of BN was reported in 1996, both on typical and on newly introduced cultivars. Furthermore, high BN incidence was observed on native grape cultivars grown close to ‘Chardonnay’ vineyards. In summer 2014 and 2015, the spread and the severity of BN were recorded in a 10 year-old vineyard located in San Giuseppe Jato (PA, Western Sicily), grown …

IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS FROM THE DESERT TRUFFLES TIRMANIA PINOYI AND TERFEZIA CLAVERYI AGAINST PLANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Investigations on Tirmania pinoyi and Terfezia claveryi, collected in winter 2013 in Northern Borders Province of Saudi Arabia, were carried out in order to test the potential in vitro antagonistic activity of their extracts against plant pathogenic bacteria. The collected desert truffles were firstly identified in laboratory according to their macro- and micro-morphological features and then characterized by molecular analysis. Total DNA extracted from truffle tissue was amplified by polymerase chain reaction targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) with the following primer: TS1F (CTTGGTCATTTAGAGGAAGTAA)[1] and ITS4 (TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC)[2]. PCR products obtained were sequenced in…

P260 Adaptation of TECCU App based on patients’ perceptions for telemonitoring inflammatory bowel disease: A qualitative study using focus groups

Abstract Background Despite the continuous adaptation of eHealth systems for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a significant disconnection persists between users and developers. Since non-adherence remains high, it is necessary to better understand the patients’ perspectives on telemonitoring for IBD. The aim of this study was to adapt the TECCU app to the preferences and needs of IBD patients. Methods A qualitative study was carried out using successive focus groups of IBD patients. Meetings were audio-recorded and a thematic analysis approach was employed until data saturation was achieved. The first group included patients who had used the TECCU app in a pilot clinical tria…