{"title":"Citrus biotechnology: What has been done to improve disease resistance in such an important crop?","authors":"R. Caserta , N.S. Teixeira-Silva , L.M. Granato , S.O. Dorta , C.M. Rodrigues , L.K. Mitre , J.T.H. Yochikawa , E.R. Fischer , C.A. Nascimento , R.R. Souza-Neto , M.A. Takita , R.L. Boscariol-Camargo , M.A. Machado , A.A. De Souza","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Citrus cropping is widely distributed as an important economic activity worldwide. Amongst the major producers are Brazil, China, United States, Mexico and some European countries. Brazil is the largest sweet orange producer accounting for more than three-quarters of the orange juice exports around the world, followed by China and the United States (Foreign Agricultural Service/USDA, 2019). Although juice is the main commodity in many countries producing citrus, by-products like essential oils, molasses, dried pulp, pectin, blend syrup and others are also part of the citrus trade chain. Since citriculture is threatened by several pathogens and its control is mainly based on regular chemical applications both during plant development and post-harvest, management becomes a non-environmentally friendly strategy. Meanwhile, consumers are searching for sustainable products of great quality and high aggregated value pressuring the agricultural industry to crop in a sustainable manner. In this scenario, citriculture also needs innovative solutions to meet such demand. Although classic breeding programs succeeded over time, citrus narrow genetic base and long evaluation periods turns it difficult to demand faster solutions for emerging problems. Biotechnology rises as a source of innovative solutions since new varieties can be developed for specific problems. In this context, the use of biotechnology approaches involving genetic engineering that allow the development of more resistant varieties are the focus of many research groups. Here we show how biotechnology has been used to develop citrus plants more resistant to the main phytopathogens that impact citrus production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Pages 95-109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79363982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luis Herminio Chairez Tejeda, Vívian Ebeling Viana, Latóia Eduarda Maltzahn, Carlos Busanello, Lilian Moreira Barros, Luciano Carlos da Maia, Antonio Costa de Oliveira, Camila Pegoraro
{"title":"Abiotic stress and self-destruction: ZmATG8 and ZmATG12 gene transcription and osmotic stress responses in maize","authors":"Luis Herminio Chairez Tejeda, Vívian Ebeling Viana, Latóia Eduarda Maltzahn, Carlos Busanello, Lilian Moreira Barros, Luciano Carlos da Maia, Antonio Costa de Oliveira, Camila Pegoraro","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Water deficit is one of the most important stresses affecting the maize crop. Whilst the development of osmotic stress tolerant maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) genotypes is an effective approach for reducing yield losses, understanding of the basic mechanisms of response and tolerance is limited. Under normal conditions, autophagy works at baseline levels to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, under abiotic stress conditions, this process intensifies to remove damaged or unwanted cytoplasmic materials or to recycle materials to provide anabolic substrates and metabolites to cells. This process is mediated by <em>ATG</em> genes (AuTophaGy-related genes). Autophagosome expansion and maturation is mediated by ATG8 and ATG12 ubiquitin-like conjugation systems. In this sense, the aim of this study was to characterize the regulation and transcriptional profile of the <em>ZmATG8</em> gene and isoforms, together with the <em>ZmATG12</em> gene, in maize landrace seedlings under osmotic stress conditions. A difference in transcript profile was observed between two studied landraces, with higher transcript accumulation in landrace Argentino Amarelo, which was more affected by osmotic stress. Under the stress conditions, all <em>ZmATG</em> genes studied showed an increase in transcript accumulation in shoot tissues in this landrace. In contrast, for landrace Taquarão a reduction in gene expression was detected, with the exception of <em>ZmATG8b</em>. For root tissues under stress, landrace Argentino Amarelo showed an increase in transcript accumulation for the <em>ZmATG</em> genes, with the exception of <em>ZmATG8b</em>, whilst for landrace Taquarão an increase in expression of <em>ZmATG8e</em> and <em>ZmATG12</em> was observed, with a reduced expression of <em>ZmATG8c</em>. The <em>ZmATG</em> genes presented <em>cis</em>-regulatory elements involved in osmotic stress response via abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and ABA-independent signaling. As such, it is suggested that the known transcription factors involved in the osmotic stress signaling response may act in the regulation of <em>ZmATG</em> genes. This work provides evidence of autophagy transcriptional signaling in response to osmotic stress in maize.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Pages 1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2019.12.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75840208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rosiane A. Costa, Daniel B. Ortega, Débora L.A. Fulgêncio, Flávio S. Costa, Thiago F. Araújo, Cristine C. Barreto
{"title":"Checkerboard testing method indicates synergic effect of pelgipeptins against multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae","authors":"Rosiane A. Costa, Daniel B. Ortega, Débora L.A. Fulgêncio, Flávio S. Costa, Thiago F. Araújo, Cristine C. Barreto","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2018.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2018.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Multidrug resistant bacteria infections have motivated the search for new therapeutics. The synergic effect of conventional antibiotics and lipopeptides of the pelgipeptin family was evaluated by the Checkerboard method. Results indicate that the association of Pelgipeptin B and C or chloramphenicol has a synergic effect against a multidrug resistant bacteria strain; which may be may be due to the variations on hydrophobicity and mechanisms of action of the molecules tested.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 1","pages":"Pages 187-191"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2018.12.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85418924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Figueiredo, A. Vasconcellos, G. Prado, M. Grossi-de-Sa
{"title":"An overview of intellectual property within agricultural biotechnology in Brazil","authors":"L. Figueiredo, A. Vasconcellos, G. Prado, M. Grossi-de-Sa","doi":"10.1016/J.BIORI.2019.04.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORI.2019.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72777400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mário César Jucoski Bier , Adriane Bianchi Pedroni Medeiros , Norbert De Kimpe , Carlos Ricardo Soccol
{"title":"Evaluation of antioxidant activity of the fermented product from the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene in solid-state fermentation of orange waste by Diaporthe sp.","authors":"Mário César Jucoski Bier , Adriane Bianchi Pedroni Medeiros , Norbert De Kimpe , Carlos Ricardo Soccol","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Through solid-state fermentation, the endophytic fungus <em>Diaporthe</em> sp. biotransformed the compound R-(+)-limonene, a great quantity of which is present in orange waste. The fermented orange waste was evaluated to determine its antioxidant potential. Mass spectrometry identified several biotransformation products, which were quantified by gas chromatography. The fermentation process yielded compounds such as limonene-1,2-diol, α-terpineol, (−)-carvone, α-tocopherol, dihydrocarveol and valencene, most of which have already been associated with antioxidant activity. The highest concentration of limonene-1,2-diol produced was 3.02<!--> <!-->g/kg of dry substrate and 0.72<!--> <!-->g/kg of α-terpineol. The DPPH, ORAC and CUPRAC methods were employed to analyze the antioxidant activity comparing the orange waste and the fermented orange waste. According to the results obtained using the DPPH method, the fermented media extract represented 20.17% of antioxidant activity, compared to 12.1% of the orange waste extract, while from the ORAC method analysis the results were 24,011.39<!--> <!-->μmolTE/g, obtained from the fermented extract in comparison to 5226.45<!--> <!-->μmolTE/g from the orange waste. The results from the CUPRAC method analysis were 538.05<!--> <!-->mg TE/g of dry extract, from the fermented extract in comparison to 168.27<!--> <!-->TE/g of dry extract, from the orange waste. These results prove that the fermentation process increased the antioxidant potential of the orange waste.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 1","pages":"Pages 168-176"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78282295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biotechnological solutions for major cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) pathogens and pests","authors":"Roberto Tarazi , Jose Leonardo Santos Jimenez , Maite F.S. Vaslin","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2020.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2020.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cotton (<em>Gossypium</em> spp. L.) is the largest source of natural fibers in the world, with a planted area of more than 33 million hectares in 2019. Biotic stress caused by a variety of pathogens and pests has considerable negative impacts on cotton, and control measures increase global production costs. Among the most important diseases affecting cotton are bacteria and fungi that infect leaves, stems, roots and fruits. In addition, viruses, nematodes, insects and mites cause considerable losses. Here, we summarize the diversity of biotic stresses affecting the cotton crop and highlight present and future biotechnological solutions for disease control, including transgenes, RNAi, gene editing and bioagents. We demonstrate that “Ag Biotech” solutions help keep the cotton industry sustainable in cotton-producing countries.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Pages 19-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2020.01.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80629349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G. Suresh, H. Pakdel, T. Rouissi, S. Brar, S. Brar, I. Fliss, Christian Roy
{"title":"In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of pyroligneous acid from softwood mixture","authors":"G. Suresh, H. Pakdel, T. Rouissi, S. Brar, S. Brar, I. Fliss, Christian Roy","doi":"10.1016/J.BIORI.2019.02.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORI.2019.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"42 4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72984173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Goulart, C. Valadão, Eliete Caldeira, T. Bastos
{"title":"Brain signal evaluation of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the interaction with a social robot","authors":"C. Goulart, C. Valadão, Eliete Caldeira, T. Bastos","doi":"10.1016/J.BIORI.2018.11.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORI.2018.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77815860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brain signal evaluation of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the interaction with a social robot","authors":"Christiane Goulart , Carlos Valadão , Eliete Caldeira , Teodiano Bastos","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2018.11.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biori.2018.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work consists of a pilot study in which brain signals captured by electroencephalography (EEG) of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are evaluated during the interaction with a social robot. Social skills and interaction of children with ASD with the robot are proposed and assessed, using quantitative scale and images recorded by video cameras. During interaction with the robot, results show high activation of alpha and beta rhythms in brain regions important to social skills. Quantitative scales indicate a positive children–robot interaction and point out the social robot as a potential tool to stimulate social skills and facilitate the interaction with other people.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 1","pages":"Pages 60-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2018.11.003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91763731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda Hellström , Sara Nilsson , Mikael Andersson , Ulf Håkanson
{"title":"Intellectual property for generating value for start-up companies in key enabling technologies","authors":"Amanda Hellström , Sara Nilsson , Mikael Andersson , Ulf Håkanson","doi":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We have studied how start-up companies operating within key enabling technologies, KETs, manage formal and informal intellectual property (IP) protection for generating value. Six key aspects helping executives to create effective IP strategies for start-ups in these highly complex technologies have been identified. 15 start-ups defined as nanotechnology companies have been interviewed with open questions regarding value generated through protecting innovations. The start-ups operate in southern Sweden which currently is a KET heavy hub.</p><p>Our findings indicate six key aspects to help executives within KETs, specially within the nanotechnology start-up sector, to create effective IP strategies. First, it is important to <strong>map the technological environment and the commercial market</strong>. Most of the interviewed nanotechnology start-ups expressed that they want to increase in market share however, only four out of fifteen start-ups actually had set strategies for mapping the commercial market. Neglecting to focus on commercial market demands and merely on the innovation itself can present a future hindrance for nanotechnology start-ups. Second, it is beneficial for nanotechnology start-ups to consider and <strong>determine which actual values are important</strong> in order for them to thrive, and thereafter strategically plan formal and informal IP accordingly. Third, <strong>protecting different aspects of an innovation with different types of IP</strong> is beneficial for nanotechnology start-ups to effectively generate value. Important factors to consider when choosing how to protect different aspects of innovations are, what the market needs, the possibility to work around the solution, as well as risk of reverse engineering the innovation. Fourth, due to the complexity within nanotechnology, start-ups may benefit from treating <strong>aspects of an innovation that are difficult to reverse engineer as trade secrets</strong>. Such aspects include e.g. know-how related to the production process and other underlying know-how which add to the product's uniqueness but which not directly derivable from the product itself. Notably, only five out of fifteen nanotechnology start-ups have set strategies for how to manage their trade secrets. Fifth, to generate value, it is beneficial to <strong>formally protect aspects of an innovation that fulfill market demands</strong> as well as aspects that competitors likely would need to develop their products. Thus, aspects which are associated with sales arguments or which could form the basis for licensing agreements are beneficial to protect by patents for nanotechnology start-ups. All the studied nanotechnology start-ups have patents, but surprisingly only seven out of fifteen start-ups stated have patented aspects that generate commercial value on their market. Sixth, it is important for nanotechnology start-ups to have a <strong>plan for how the rights attained actually should generat","PeriodicalId":100187,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Research and Innovation","volume":"3 1","pages":"Pages 80-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.biori.2019.01.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89509379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}