The reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models and their applications represent a great advantage of systems biology. Through their use as metabolic flux simulation models, production of industrially-interesting metabolites can be predicted. Due to the growing number of studies of metabolic models driven by the increasing genomic sequencing projects, it is important to conceptualize steps of reconstruction and analysis. We have focused our work in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942, for which several analyses and insights are unveiled. A comprehensive approach has been used, which can be of interest to lead the process of manual curation and genome-scale metabolic analysis. The final model, iSyf715 includes 851 reactions and 838 metabolites. A biomass equation, which encompasses elementary building blocks to allow cell growth, is also included. The applicability of the model is finally demonstrated by simulating autotrophic growth conditions of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942.
Fusarium sudanense
is a novel fungus
recently isolated from asymptomatic samples of wheat grains in Argentina.
The fungus caused symptoms of seedling blight and seed rot on wheat
after artificial inoculations. It is known that the production of
mycotoxins by pathogens belonging to the
Fusarium
genus is harmful to human and animal health. Moreover, the warm
and humid conditions that are favorable for growth and mycotoxin production
of these species put the Argentinian wheat production area at a high
risk of mycotoxin contamination with this novel pathogen. The aim
of this work was to evaluate the antagonistic effect of
Trichoderma harzianum
against
F. sudanense
under
in vitro
tests at different environmental
conditions. Fungi were screened in dual culture at different water
activities (α
w
) (0.995, 0.98, 0.95, and 0.90) and
temperatures (25 and 15 °C). The growth rate of the fungi, interaction
types, and dominance index were evaluated. Also, the interaction between
T. harzianum
and
F. sudanense
was examined by light and cryo-scanning microscopy.
T. harzianum
suppressed the growth of
F. sudanense
at 0.995, 0.98, and 0.95 α
w
at 25 °C and 0.995 and 0.98 α
w
at 15
°C. Macroscopic study revealed different interaction types between
F. sudanense
and
T. harzianum
on dual culture. Dominance on contact where the colonies of
T. harzianum
overgrew the pathogen was the most common
interaction type determined. The competitive capacity of
T. harzianum
was diminished by decreasing the temperature
and α
w
. At 0.95 α
w
and 15 °C,
both fungi grew slowly, and interaction type “A” was
assigned. Microscopic analysis from the interaction zone of dual cultures
revealed an attachment of
T. harzianum
to the
F. sudanense
hyphae, penetration
with or without formation of appressorium-like structures, coiling,
plasmolysis, and a veil formation. According to our results,
T. harzianum
demonstrated capability to antagonize
F. sudanense
and could be a promising biocontrol
agent.
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