1. Molecular screening for cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxin potential in diverse habitats : research data underlying the articleMaša Jablonska, Tina Eleršek, Polona Kogovšek, Sara Skok, Andreea Oarga-Mulec, Janez Mulec, 2026, raziskovalni podatki Povzetek: Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and niches remain underexplored. We collected 61 samples of: (i) biofilms from springs, (ii) aerial microbial mats from buildings and subaerial mats from caves, and (iii) water from borehole wells, caves, alkaline, saline, sulphidic, thermal, and iron springs, rivers, seas, and melted cave ice from five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia). We used (q)PCR to detect cyanobacteria (phycocyanin intergenic spacer—PC-IGS and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene) and cyanotoxin genes (microcystins—mcyE, saxitoxins—sxtA, cylindrospermopsins—cyrJ), as well as amplicon sequencing and morphological observations for taxonomic identification. Cyanobacteria were detected in samples from caves, a saline spring, and an alkaline spring. While mcyE or sxtA genes were not observed in any sample, cyrJ results showed the presence of a potential cylindrospermopsin producer in a biofilm from a sulphidic spring in Slovenia. This study contributes to our understanding of cyanobacteria occurrence in diverse habitats, including rare and extreme ones, and provides relevant methodological considerations for future research in such environments. Ključne besede: extreme environments, cylindrospermopsin, sulphidic springs, caves, qPCR, PC-IGS Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.09.2026; Ogledov: 84; Prenosov: 70
Celotno besedilo (9,28 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... Gradivo je zbirka in zajema 1 gradivo! |
2. Data for: Spider webs as efficient passive samplers of airborne fungal eDNA in forests: a case study with Hymenoscyphus fraxineusPolona Kogovšek, Nikica Ogris, Maja Ferle, Janko Šet, Barbara Piškur, Tjaša Lokovšek, Denis Kutnjak, Matjaž Gregorič, 2026, raziskovalni podatki Povzetek: Monitoring airborne inoculum of pathogens is important for plant disease surveillance. Here, we evaluate spider webs as passive environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers for detecting the pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of ash dieback, in a forest environment. In a temperate mixed forest, we compared two types of spider webs (orb and sheet webs) with a conventional passive sampler (filter paper) over matched day (orb) and week (sheet) deployments. Laboratory validation confirmed that webs exposed to airborne spores from apothecia yield positive qPCR signals. Across seven field sampling campaigns, both a species‑specific qPCR (Hfrax) and a broad fungal assay (FQ) detected fungal eDNA on spider webs more reliably and at higher relative quantities than on filter paper. In daily and weekly pairs, orb and sheet web vs filters, the median ΔCq (filter − web) was above 4 for both qPCR assays (Wilcoxon paired, p < 0.05), which corresponds to more than a 10-fold difference in the amount of target DNA. This study provides proof of concept for using spider webs as scalable, low-cost tools suitable for targeted (qPCR) surveillance to complement aerobiological networks. Ključne besede: airborne eDNA, ash dieback, forest pathogens, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, passive sampling, qPCR, spider webs, forest health Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.06.2026; Ogledov: 371; Prenosov: 287
Celotno besedilo (2,07 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Spider Webs as Efficient Passive Samplers for Airborne Fungal eDNA in Forests: A Case Study With Hymenoscyphus fraxineusPolona Kogovšek, Nikica Ogris, Maja Ferle, Janko Šet, Barbara Piškur, Tjaša Lokovšek, Denis Kutnjak, Matjaž Gregorič, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Monitoring airborne inoculum of pathogens is important for plant disease surveillance. Here, we evaluate spider webs as passive environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers for detecting the pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of ash dieback, in a forest environment. In a temperate mixed forest, we compared two types of spider webs (orb and sheet webs) with a conventional passive sampler (filter paper) over matched day (orb) and week (sheet) deployments. Laboratory validation confirmed that webs exposed to airborne spores from apothecia yield positive qPCR signals. Across seven field sampling campaigns, both a species-specific qPCR (Hfrax) and a broad fungal assay (FQ) detected fungal eDNA on spider webs more reliably and at higher relative quantities than on filter paper. In daily and weekly pairs, orb and sheet web vs. filters, the median ΔCq (filter − web) was above 4 for both qPCR assays (Wilcoxon paired, p < 0.05), which corresponds to more than a 10-fold difference in the amount of target DNA. This study provides proof of concept for using spider webs as scalable, low-cost tools suitable for targeted (qPCR) surveillance to complement aerobiological networks. Ključne besede: airborne eDNA, ash dieback, forest pathogens, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, passive sampling, qPCR, spider webs, forest health Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.06.2026; Ogledov: 364; Prenosov: 452
Celotno besedilo (626,95 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. PPIA, HRPT1, and PGK1 genes as the appropriate combination for RT-qPCR normalization in alveolar and femoral bone remodeling in olanzapine-treated ratsSaranda Disha Ibrahimi, Gorazd Drevenšek, Martina Drevenšek, Janja Marc, Irena Prodan Žitnik, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Reliable gene expression analysis in bone remodeling studies requires an appropriate selection of internal controls, i.e. stable reference genes for the normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), the most common method used for quantifying gene expression measurements. Even the most widely used reference genes can have variable expression under different experimental conditions, or in different tissue types or treatment regimes, so selecting appropriate controls is a key step in ensuring reliable results. The aim of this research was to identify the most stable reference gene(s) for the study of olanzapine modulated bone remodeling in rats. RNA was isolated from the maxillary alveolar and femoral bones of olanzapine or placebo-treated Wistar rats and transcribed to cDNA. The expression of 12 candidate reference genes was assessed by RT‐qPCR. Their expressions were analysed using GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and delta Ct algorithms, and by the comprehensive ranking method. PPIA, HRPT1 and PGK1 were the most stably expressed reference genes and the combination of the three genes was optimal for normalization. This study is the first to identify the optimal reference genes for research in olanzapine-exposed rats, which serve as a pivotal benchmark for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of future RT-qPCR expression in bone studies. Ključne besede: reference genes, alveolar bone, RT-qPCR, rat, olanzapine Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.06.2026; Ogledov: 190; Prenosov: 136
Celotno besedilo (1,27 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Epidemiological insights into water and soil-mediatedtransmission of tomato mottle mosaic virusAna Vučurović, Jakob Brodarič, Irena Bajde, Miha Kitek, Nataša Mehle, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) poses a growing threat to tomato and pepper crops, yet its epidemiology remains largelyunexplored. This study aimed to investigate water- and soil-mediated transmission of ToMMV under controlled conditions. Theexperiment involved mechanical inoculation of tomato plants, which demonstrated that infectious ToMMV particles remainedviable in water up to 27 weeks at a 10−2 dilution. In hydroponic systems, ToMMV present in the nutrient solution caused systemicinfection in bait plants within 5–17 weeks, depending on the severity of root injury, while infection was not observed in plantswith intact roots even after 38 weeks of exposure. The transmission of the pathogen via irrigation was also confirmed in an ex-periment where seedlings and seed-derived plants grown in substrate (roots were not deliberately injured) were irrigated withToMMV-contaminated water, resulting in infection 6 and 10 weeks after the start of exposure, respectively. The soil-mediatedtransmission process was further verified by planting healthy seedlings and seeds into previously contaminated substrate, re-sulting in infection within a period of 3–18 weeks. These findings emphasise the need for upgrading integrated managementstrategies, including water quality monitoring and reliable, rapid diagnostics, to mitigate the spread of ToMMV in greenhouseproduction systems. To support the development of effective monitoring strategies, the study also assessed the performance oftwo isothermal amplification assays for potential on-site detection of ToMMV in water. A recombinase-polymerase amplification(RPA) assay exhibited sensitivity comparable to that of reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and reliably detected ToMMV incrude water samples without RNA extraction. Ključne besede: RPA assay, RT- qPCR, survival, tomato, tomato mottle mosaic virus, water-linked epidemiology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 22.01.2026; Ogledov: 629; Prenosov: 475
Celotno besedilo (2,02 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Irrigation systems as reservoirs of diverse and pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strains endangering crop healthMarina Anteljević, Iva Rosić, Olja Medić, Tamara Ranković, Karolina Sunjog, Margareta Kračun-Kolarević, Stoimir Kolarević, Tanja Dreo, Aleksander Benčič, Tanja Berić, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Pseudomonas syringae (Psy) is a widely distributed bacterial species complex primarily recognized as a foliar pathogen but also inhabits diverse environments, including water habitats, where strains closely related to agricultural pathogens have been identified. The connection between Psy-caused epidemics and its potential presence in nearby irrigation systems remains underexplored. This study comprehensively examined the Psy complex in the Danube-Tisa-Danube Hydrosystem (DTD) in Serbia, assessing its abundance, phylogenetic diversity, and pathogenic potential. To reduce the reliance on the time-consuming steps of isolation and identification, we developed novel high-specific primers and probes for precise detection of strains belonging to phylogroup 2 within Psy complex. Our results demonstrated that dPCR, coupled with highly specific and sensitive primers, outperformed both traditional plating and qPCR in detecting the Psy complex and phylogroup 2 in irrigation waters, making Psy diagnostics more effective. Phylogenetic analysis indicated high strain diversity within the DTD, identifying phylogroups 1, 2, 7, 12, and 13 and haplotypes linked to strains previously encountered in epidemics on sugar beet in Serbia. Notably, 66.67% of the isolates from the DTD were capable of inducing disease. Phylogroup 2 isolates displayed a broad host range, suggesting that the dissemination of Psy from DTD through irrigation, poses a substantial threat to crop health and agricultural productivity. Ključne besede: phytopathogen detection, irrigation, qPCR, dPCR Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.09.2025; Ogledov: 829; Prenosov: 507
Celotno besedilo (6,95 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. An international comparability study on quantification of mRNA gene expression ratios: CCQM-P103.1Alison S. Devonshire, Tina Demšar, Jana Žel, Andrej Blejec, Mojca Milavec, 2016, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Measurement of RNA can be used to study and monitor a range of infectious and non-communicable diseases, with profiling of multiple gene expression mRNA transcripts being increasingly applied to cancer stratification and prognosis. An international comparison study (Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM)-P103.1) was performed in order to evaluate the comparability of measurements of RNA copy number ratio for multiple gene targets between two samples. Six exogenous synthetic targets comprising of External RNA Control Consortium (ERCC) standards were measured alongside transcripts for three endogenous gene targets present in the background of human cell line RNA. The study was carried out under the auspices of the Nucleic Acids (formerly Bioanalysis) Working Group of the CCQM. It was coordinated by LGC (United Kingdom) with the support of National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) and results were submitted from thirteen National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes. The majority of laboratories performed RNA measurements using RT-qPCR, with datasets also being submitted by two laboratories based on reverse transcription digital polymerase chain reaction and one laboratory using a next-generation sequencing method. In RT-qPCR analysis, the RNA copy number ratios between the two samples were quantified using either a standard curve or a relative quantification approach. In general, good agreement was observed between the reported results of ERCC RNA copy number ratio measurements. Measurements of the RNA copy number ratios for endogenous genes between the two samples were also consistent between the majority of laboratories. Some differences in the reported values and confidence intervals (‘measurement uncertainties’) were noted which may be attributable to choice of measurement method or quantification approach. This highlights the need for standardised practices for the calculation of fold change ratios and uncertainties in the area of gene expression profiling.
Ključne besede: RNA copy number ratio, RT-qPCR, gene expression, normalisation, standardisation, molecular diagnostic, transcriptomics, cancer, diagnostics, biomarker identification and validation Objavljeno v DiRROS: 04.03.2025; Ogledov: 1248; Prenosov: 673
Celotno besedilo (1,78 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. A new quantitative PCR assay for detection of potentially anatoxin-producing cyanobacteriaMaša Jablonska, Tina Eleršek, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Anatoxins (ATX) are globally occurring toxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria in aquatic habitats. They can cause acute poisoning in animals, leading to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure, and might also pose a long-term health risk to humans. Thanks to advances in molecular methods and genomic knowledge, it is now possible to rapidly detect and quantify the genes associated with cyanotoxin production for most major groups of cyanotoxins except ATX. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for general detection of all potential ATX producers in the environment. After specificity testing in silico and in vitro with 16 cyanobacterial strains (endpoint PCR, amplicon sequencing and qPCR), two assays targeting the anaC gene were thoroughly validated for linearity, amplification efficiency, sensitivity, dynamic range, inter-assay and intra-assay variability, and the influence of background DNA. The assays were then applied to 144 environmental samples of plankton and biofilm from lakes and rivers whose ATX content had previously been measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Amplification efficiency of the two designed assays was between 94% and 103%, and the limits of quantification and detection were up to, but mostly below, 322 and 32 cells/mL, respectively. Both assays showed better or equal specificity in cyanobacterial cultures than currently available PCR assays and were able to predict the presence of ATX detected by LC-MS/MS in most environmental samples (83 % in plankton and 52–62% in biofilm). A higher number of discrepancies between qPCR and LC-MS/MS results in biofilm than in plankton samples indicates limited knowledge and sparse genomic data on benthic cyanobacteria. These assays are the first published general qPCR assays targeting all ATX producers and could provide water managers with a rapid and cost-effective risk assessment to better protect human and animal health. Ključne besede: anatoxins (ATX), cyanobacteria, qPCR assay, anaC gene, LC-MS/MS, environmental microbiology, environmental science, toxicology, molecular biology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 17.12.2024; Ogledov: 1351; Prenosov: 732
Celotno besedilo (1,49 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Poročilo o preskusu št.: LVG 2024-105 : vzorec št. 2024/00649Barbara Piškur, Patricija Podkrajšek, Špela Hočevar, 2024, izvedensko mnenje, arbitražna odločba Ključne besede: varstvo gozdov, morfološke analize, Geosmithia morbida, bolezen tisočerih rakov, qPCR, Juglans, program preiskav Objavljeno v DiRROS: 30.08.2024; Ogledov: 1288; Prenosov: 0 Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. Poročilo o preskusu št.: LVG 2024-102 : vzorec št. 2024/00610Tine Hauptman, Patricija Podkrajšek, Špela Hočevar, Barbara Piškur, 2024, izvedensko mnenje, arbitražna odločba Ključne besede: varstvo gozdov, morfološke analize, Geosmithia morbida, bolezen tisočerih rakov, qPCR, Juglans, program preiskav Objavljeno v DiRROS: 30.08.2024; Ogledov: 1256; Prenosov: 0 Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |