Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to create and regularly update a database of host plant species of Xylella spp. In 2018, EFSA released a new Xylella spp. host plant database that was now updated with informative data extracted from 76 recent publications retrieved through an extensive literature search. This report is related to the third version of the database published in Zenodo in the EFSA Knowledge Junction community, covering articles selected from: a systematic literature review conducted up of 30 June 2019; Europhyt database up to 15 October 2019; and relevant articles identified by EFSA Horizon scanning and personal communications from experts. Some data on Xylella fastidiosa strains and geographical coordinates included in the already published database were updated or modified with the purpose of increasing the accuracy and consistency of the database itself. Thirty-seven new host plant species of X. fastidiosa, identified through the data extracted from the selected publications, have been added to the database. Those plant species were reported as naturally infected, artificially infected or infected under unspecified conditions by subsp. multiplex , pauca or unknown (i.e. not reported in the publication) subspecies of X. fastidiosa . No additional data were retrieved for Xylella taiwanensis . Six new Sequence Types (STs) have been identified in Brazil, Italy and the USA. Information on the tolerant/resistant response of plant species or varieties to X. fastidiosa infection are also reported in the database. The overall number of Xylella spp. host plants reaches now 343 plant species, 163 genera and 64 families determined with two different detection methods, till 595 plant species, 275 genera and 85 families regardless the detection method applied. The EFSA database on Xylella spp. host plants is updated regularly with the aim to provide information and scientific support to risk assessors, risk managers and researchers dealing with Xylella spp.

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Recent findings have shown great potential of alternative interventions such as immunotherapy and natural products for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aims to review the anti-AML effect of various natural compounds. Natural compounds were classified into five groups: alkaloids, carotenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, organosulfur compounds or phenolics based on each compound's chemical properties. Fifty-eight studies were collected and reviewed in this article. Phenolics are the most abundant group to have an apoptotic effect over AML cells, while other groups have also shown significant apoptotic effects. Some compounds induced apoptosis by regulating unique mechanism like human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) or laminin receptor (67LR), while others modified caspases, poly (adp-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and p53. Further study is required to identify side-effects of potent compounds and the synergistic effects of combination of two or more natural compounds or existing conventional anti-AML drugs to treat this dreadful disease.

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Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA periodically updates the database on the host plants of Xylella spp. While previous editions of the database (2015 and 2016) dealt with the species Xylella fastidiosa only, this database version addresses the whole genus Xylella , including therefore both species X. fastidiosa and Xylella taiwanensis . The database now includes information on host plants of Xylella spp. retrieved from scientific literature up to November 2017 and from EUROPHYT notifications up to May 2018. An extensive literature search was performed to screen the scientific and technical literature published between the previous database update conducted in December 2015 and December 2017. The literature screening was supported by the DistillerSR software platform. The applied protocol for the extensive literature review and extensive information search, together with examples of data extraction, are described in detail in this report. This report also includes published information on resistance or tolerance of plant varieties to Xylella spp. The current database includes 563 plant species reported to be infected by X. fastidiosa , of which for 312 plant species the infection has been determined with at least two different detection methods. These species cover hundreds of host plant genera in 82 botanical families (61 botanical families when considering only records with at least two different detection methods). The update of this database of host plants of Xylella spp. reported world-wide provides a key tool for risk management, risk assessment and research on this polyphagous bacterial plant pathogen.

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Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel updated its pest categorisation of Xylella fastidiosa , previously delivered as part of the pest risk assessment published in 2015. X. fastidiosa is a Gram-negative bacterium, responsible for various plant diseases, including Pierce's disease, phony peach disease, citrus variegated chlorosis, olive quick decline syndrome, almond leaf scorch and various other leaf scorch diseases. The pathogen is endemic in the Americas and is present in Iran. In the EU, it is reported in southern Apulia in Italy, on the island of Corsica and in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France, as well as in the Autonomous region of Madrid, the province of Alicante and the Balearic Islands in Spain. The reported status is 'transient, under eradication', except for the Balearic Islands, Corsica and southern of Apulia, where the status is 'present with a restricted distribution, under containment'. The pathogen is regulated under Council Directive 2000/29/EC and through emergency measures under http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015D0789 (as amended http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017D2352). The pest could enter the EU via host plants for planting and via infectious insect vectors. The host range includes hundreds of host species listed in the EFSA host plant database. In the EU, host plants are widely distributed and climatic conditions are favourable for its establishment. X. fastidiosa can spread by movement of host plants for planting and infectious insect vectors. X. fastidiosa is known to cause severe direct damage to major crops including almonds, citrus, grapevines, olives, stone fruits and also forest trees, landscape and ornamental trees, with high impacts. The criteria assessed by the Panel for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest are met (the pathogen is present in the EU, but it has a restricted distribution and is under official control). X. fastidiosa is not considered as a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) as the pathogen may spread also via insect vector transmission.

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Many traditional healing plants successfully passed several hundred years of empirical testing against specific diseases and thereby demonstrating that they are well tolerated in humans. Although quite a few ethno-pharmacological plants are applied against a variety of conditions there are still numerous plants that have not been cross-tested in diseases apart from the traditional applications. Herein we demonstrate the anti-neoplastic potential of two healing plants used by the Maya of the Guatemala/Belize area against severe inflammatory conditions such as neuritis, rheumatism, arthritis, coughs, bruises and tumours. Phlebodium decumanum and Pluchea odorata were collected, dried and freeze dried, and extracted with five solvents of increasing polarity. We tested HL-60 and MCF-7 cells, the inhibition of proliferation and the induction of cell death were investigated as hallmark endpoints to measure the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs. Western blot and FACS analyses elucidated the underlying mechanisms. While extracts of P. decumanum showed only moderate anti-cancer activity and were therefore not further analysed, particularly the dichloromethane extract of P. odorata inhibited the cell cycle in G2-M which correlated with the activation of checkpoint kinase 2, and down-regulation of Cdc25A and cyclin D1 as well as inactivation of Erk1/2. In HL-60 and MCF-7 cells this extract was a very strong inducer of cell death activating caspase-3 followed by PARP signature type cleavage. The initiating death trigger was likely the stabilization of microtubules monitored by the rapid acetylation of alpha-tubulin, which was even more pronounced than that triggered by taxol. The dichloromethane extract of P. odorata contains apolar constituents which inhibit inflammatory responses and exhibit anti-cancer activity. The strong proapoptotic potential warrants further bioassay-guided fractionation to discover and test the active principle(s).

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