VISCARDI, SHARON
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Proteomic response to phosphorus deficiency and aluminum stress of three aluminum-tolerant phosphobacteria isolated from acidic soils
Aluminum (Al)-tolerant phosphobacteria enhance plant growth in acidic soils by improving Al complexing and phosphorus (P) availability. However, the impact of Al stress and P deficiency on bacterial biochemistry and physiology remains unclear. We investigated the single and mutual effects of Al stress (10 mM) and P deficiency (0.05 mM) on the proteome of three aluminum-tolerant phosphobacteria: Enterobacter sp. 198, Enterobacter sp. RJAL6, and Klebsiella sp. RCJ4. Cultivated under varying conditions, P deficiency upregulated P metabolism proteins while Al exposure downregulated ironsulfur and heme-containing proteins and upregulated iron acquisition proteins. This demonstrated that Al influence on iron homeostasis and bacterial central metabolism. This study offers crucial insights into bacterial behavior in acidic soils, benefiting the development of bioinoculants for crops facing Al toxicity and P deficiency. This investigation marks the first proteomic study on the interaction between high Al and P deficiency in acid soils-adapted bacteria.
How Stressors and Facilitators of Work Family Dynamics Interrelate and Affect Psychological Outcomes in Farming Women: A Mixed-Methods Approach in Chile
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore how stressors and facilitators within the work family interface (WFI) influence mental health outcomes among farming women in rural Chile. The research sought to identify key relational patterns and contextual determinants shaping psychological well-being in this population. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods design was employed, involving 41 semi-structured interviews analyzed using grounded theory. Qualitative themes were quantified by calculating the percentage of occurrence per interview, allowing for comparative analysis. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to examine associations among WFI dimensions and mental health-related variables. Results: Strong and statistically significant correlations emerged between institutional and community facilitators (r = 0.664, p < 0.01) and between gender facilitators and family workload stressors (r = 0.609, p < 0.01). PCA revealed two distinct patterns: women who rely on institutional support often resist traditional family roles, while others find balance through familial support systems. The gendered distribution of caregiving and productive tasks was a key factor in psychological well-being, with some women reporting physical discomfort linked to triple workloads. Conclusions: The dynamics of the WFI in rural contexts are shaped by both sociocultural and institutional factors. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive mental health policies that acknowledge and respond to the lived experiences of farming women. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Engineering multigenerational host-modulated microbiota against soilborne pathogens in response to global climate change
Crop migration caused by climatic events has favored the emergence of new soilborne diseases, resulting in the colonization of new niches (emerging infectious diseases, EIDs). Soilborne pathogens are extremely persistent in the environment. This is in large part due to their ability to reside in the soil for a long time, even without a host plant, using survival several strategies. In this regard, disease-suppressive soils, characterized by a low disease incidence due to the presence of antagonist microorganisms, can be an excellent opportunity for the study mechanisms of soil-induced immunity, which can be applied in the development of a new generation of bioinoculants. Therefore, here we review the main effects of climate change on crops and pathogens, as well as the potential use of soil-suppressive microbiota as a natural source of biocontrol agents. Based on results of previous studies, we also propose a strategy for the optimization of microbiota assemblages, selected using a host-mediated approach. This process involves an increase in and prevalence of specific taxa during the transition from a conducive to a suppressive soil. This strategy could be used as a model to engineer microbiota assemblages for pathogen suppression, as well as for the reduction of abiotic stresses created due to global climate change. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.