bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
pH dependencies of glycolytic enzymes of yeast under in vivo‐like assay conditions
Authors: Luzia Laura , Lao‐Martil David , Savakis Philipp , van Heerden Johan , van Riel Natal , Teusink Bas
Published: April 2022

Under carbon source transitions, the intracellular pH of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is subject to change. Dynamics in pH modulate the activity of the glycolytic enzymes, resulting in a change in glycolytic flux and ultimately cell growth. To understand how pH affects the global behavior of glycolysis and ethanol fermentation, we measured the activity of the glycolytic and fermentative enzymes in S. cerevisiae under in vivo‐like conditions at different pH. We demonstrate that glycolytic enzymes exhibit differential pH dependencies, and optima, in the pH range observed during carbon source transitions. The forward reaction of GAPDH shows the highest decrease in activity, 83%, during a simulated feast/famine regime upon glucose removal (cytosolic pH drop from 7.1 to 6.4). We complement our biochemical characterization of the glycolytic enzymes by fitting the Vmax to the progression curves of product formation or decay over time. The fitting analysis shows that the observed changes in enzyme activities require changes in Vmax, but changes in Km cannot be excluded. Our study highlights the relevance of pH as a key player in metabolic regulation and provides a large set of quantitative data that can be explored to improve our understanding of metabolism in dynamic environments.
The carbohydrate tail of landomycin A is responsible for its interaction with the repressor protein LanK
Authors: Tsugita Atsushi , Uehara Shiro , Matsui Takashi , Yokoyama Takeshi , Ostash Iryna , Deneka Maksym , Yalamanchili Subbarao , Bennett Clay S. , Tanaka Yoshikazu , Ostash Bohdan
Published: April 2022

Landomycin A (LaA) is the largest member of the landomycin group of angucyclic polyketides. Its unusual structure and strong anticancer properties have attracted great interest from chemists and biologists alike. This, in particular, has led to a detailed picture of LaA biosynthesis inStreptomyces cyanogenusS136, the only known LaA producer. LanK is a TetR family repressor protein that limits the export of landomycins from S136 cells until significant amounts of the final product, LaA, have accumulated. Landomycins carrying three or more carbohydrate units in their glycosidic chain are effector molecules for LanK. Yet, the exact mechanism that LanK uses to distinguish the final product, LaA, from intermediate landomycins and sense accumulation of LaA was not known. Here, we report crystal structures of LanK, alone and in complex with LaA, and bioassays of LanK’s interaction with synthetic carbohydrate chains of LaA (hexasaccharide) and LaE (trisaccharide). Our data collectively suggest that the carbohydrate moieties are the sole determinants of the interaction of the landomycins with LanK, triggering the latter’s dissociation from thelanK–lanJintergenic region via structure conversion of the helices in the C‐terminal ligand‐binding domain. Analysis of the available literature suggests that LanK represents an unprecedented type of TetR family repressor that recognises the carbohydrate portion of a natural product, and not an aglycon, as it is the case, for example, with the SimR repressor involved in simocyclinone biosynthesis.
A new approach for fatigue damage detection in adhesive joints modified with nanoparticles under different temperatures
Authors: Khashaba Usama A. , Najjar Ismail M. R.
Published: April 2022

Scarf adhesive joints (SAJs) in carbon fiber composites were fabricated with 5° taper angle and bondline thickness of 0.17 mm. The joints are modified with SiC‐nanoparticles and characterized through tensile and fatigue loading at room temperature (RT) and 50°C. The analysis of the hysteresis loop in terms of loss and storage moduli, potential and dissipated energies, and damping factor is a quite new topic and one of the important goals of this study. At RT, the fatigue limit of the SAJs was improved by 55% when the bondline thickness decreased from 0.25 to 0.17 mm and further enhanced by 22% with SiC incorporation. For the first time, the evolution of the potential energy versus fatigue cycles of the SAJs can be modeled for early predicting joint life and hence helps in preventing their sudden failure. At 50°C, the fatigue strength of the SiC‐SAJ is approximately equal to the unmodified joint at RT.
Resource selection and species interactions between native and non‐native fishes in a simulated stream system
Authors: Branigan Philip R. , Quist Michael C. , Shepard Bradley B. , Ireland Susan C.
Published: April 2022

Effective fishery management necessitates understanding of resource partitioning by fishes that inhabit complex systems composed of biotic and abiotic features. Evaluations of non‐native species introductions have continually demonstrated adverse effects associated with abundance and distribution of native fishes. Therefore, understanding resource selection and interactions between native and non‐native species is important for recovery efforts. Habitat use by two native fish species (largescale sucker Catostomus macrocheilus [Girard] and mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni [Girard]) and one non‐native fish species (pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus [Linnaeus]) of the Kootenai River, Idaho, were evaluated in a laboratory stream system. Trials were conducted in allopatry and in sympatry with and without the presence of wood to describe habitat selection in the context of on‐going habitat rehabilitation efforts. Interactions were evident between native largescale sucker and non‐native pumpkinseed concerning use of a woody structure and current velocity. Mountain whitefish used low‐velocity habitats and selected locations that were further from wood when in sympatry with pumpkinseed. Our research suggests that habitat use of native, large‐river fishes may be influenced by the presence of a non‐native species, and that considering such interactions is critical when designing and implementing habitat rehabilitation efforts in river ecosystems.
Short‐term exposure to heatwave‐like temperatures affects learning and memory in bumblebees
Authors: Gérard Maxence , Amiri Anahit , Cariou Bérénice , Baird Emily
Published: April 2022

Global warming has been identified as a key driver of bee declines around the world. While it is clear that elevated temperatures during the spring and summer months—the principal activity period of many bee species—is a factor in this decline, exactly how temperature affects bee survival is unknown. In vertebrates, there is clear evidence that elevated ambient temperatures impair cognition but whether and how heat affects the cognitive abilities of invertebrates remains unclear. Cognitive skills in bees are essential for their survival as, to supply the hive with nutrition, workers must be able to learn and remember the location of the most rewarding floral resources. Here, we investigate whether temperature‐related cognitive impairments could be a driver of bee declines by exploring the effect of short‐term increases in ambient temperature on learning and memory. We found that, in comparison to bees that were tested at 25°C (a temperature that they would typically experience in summer), bees that were exposed to 32°C (a temperature that they will becoming increasingly exposed to during heatwave events) were significantly worse at forming an association between a coloured light and a sucrose reward and that their capacity to remember this association after just 1 h was abolished. This study provides novel experimental evidence that even just a few hours of exposure to heatwave‐like temperatures can severely impair the cognitive performance of insects. Such temperature‐induced cognitive deficits could play an important role in explaining recent and future bee population declines.
Managing for the unexpected: Building resilient forest landscapes to cope with global change
Authors: Mina Marco , Messier Christian , Duveneck Matthew J. , Fortin Marie‐Josée , Aquilué Núria
Published: April 2022

Natural disturbances exacerbated by novel climate regimes are increasing worldwide, threatening the ability of forest ecosystems to mitigate global warming through carbon sequestration and to provide other key ecosystem services. One way to cope with unknown disturbance events is to promote the ecological resilience of the forest by increasing both functional trait and structural diversity and by fostering functional connectivity of the landscape to ensure a rapid and efficient self‐reorganization of the system. We investigated how expected and unexpected variations in climate and biotic disturbances affect ecological resilience and carbon storage in a forested region in southeastern Canada. Using a process‐based forest landscape model (LANDIS‐II), we simulated ecosystem responses to climate change and insect outbreaks under different forest policy scenarios—including a novel approach based on functional diversification and network analysis—and tested how the potentially most damaging insect pests interact with changes in forest composition and structure due to changing climate and management. We found that climate warming, lengthening the vegetation season, will increase forest productivity and carbon storage, but unexpected impacts of drought and insect outbreaks will drastically reduce such variables. Generalist, non‐native insects feeding on hardwood are the most damaging biotic agents for our region, and their monitoring and early detection should be a priority for forest authorities. Higher forest diversity driven by climate‐smart management and fostered by climate change that promotes warm‐adapted species, might increase disturbance severity. However, alternative forest policy scenarios led to a higher functional and structural diversity as well as functional connectivity—and thus to higher ecological resilience—than conventional management. Our results demonstrate that adopting a landscape‐scale perspective by planning interventions strategically in space and adopting a functional trait approach to diversify forests is promising for enhancing ecological resilience under unexpected global change stressors.
Using nitrification inhibitors and deep placement to tackle the trade‐offs between NH3 and N2O emissions in global croplands
Authors: Zhang Chong , Song Xiaotong , Zhang Yaqian , Wang Dan , Rees Robert M. , Ju Xiaotang
Published: April 2022

Ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are two important air pollutants that have major impacts on climate change and biodiversity losses. Agriculture represents their largest source and effective mitigation measures of individual gases have been well studied. However, the interactions and trade‐offs between NH3 and N2O emissions remain uncertain. Here, we report the results of a two‐year field experiment in a wheat‐maize rotation in the North China Plain (NCP), a global hotspot of reactive N emissions. Our analysis is supported by a literature synthesis of global croplands, to understand the interactions between NH3 and N2O emissions and to develop the most effective approaches to jointly mitigate NH3 and N2O emissions. Field results indicated that deep placement of urea with nitrification inhibitors (NIs) reduced both emissions of NH3 by 67% to 90% and N2O by 73% to 100%, respectively, in comparison with surface broadcast urea which is the common farmers’ practice. But, deep placement of urea, surface broadcast urea with NIs, and application of urea with urease inhibitors probably led to trade‐offs between the two gases, with a mitigation potential of −201% to 101% for NH3 and −112% to 89% for N2O. The literature synthesis showed that deep placement of urea with NIs had an emission factor of 1.53%‐4.02% for NH3 and 0.22%‐0.36% for N2O, which were much lower than other fertilization regimes and the default values recommended by IPCC guidelines. This would translate to a reduction of 3.86–5.47 Tg N yr−1 of NH3 and 0.41–0.50 Tg N yr−1 of N2O emissions, respectively, when adopting deep placement of urea with NIs (relative to current practice) in global croplands. We conclude that the combination of NIs and deep placement of urea can successfully tackle the trade‐offs between NH3 and N2O emissions, therefore avoiding N pollution swapping in global croplands.
Ecology of medical care for 90+ individuals: An exhaustive cross‐sectional survey in an ageing city
Authors: Kaneko Makoto , Shimizu Sayuri , Kuroki Makoto , Nakagami Sachiko , Chiba Taiga , Goto Atsushi
Published: April 2022

Aim

Urbanization and ageing are worldwide issues for healthcare providers. In particular, older adults aged 90 years and older have increased cognitive impairment and lower daily functioning than younger adults. However, the healthcare use of the oldest old remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the healthcare use of the oldest old compared with younger older adults in a city using the ecology of medical care model.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study. This study targeted all residents aged 75 years and older registered in a city in Japan for one year. We described healthcare use per 1000 inhabitants over a 1‐month period and included: outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, home visits, home care services, and facility services. We also compared healthcare use among older adults aged 75–89 years and 90 years and older.

Results

We described the healthcare use of 454 366 (male/female: 186 177/268 189) older adults. The numbers of persons per 1000 residents who used healthcare resources at least once in 1 month (75–89 years/90 years and older) were: outpatient clinic visits, 622/570; hospital outpatient visits, 300/263; advanced treatment hospital outpatient visits, 16/6; emergency department visits, 10/27; hospitalizations, 45/96; advanced treatment hospital hospitalizations, 2/1; planned home visits, 36/228; urgent home visits, 6/38; home care services, 173/533; and facility services, 32/178.

Conclusions

The results revealed that older adults over 90 years had more hospitalizations, emergency department visits and home visits, and used facility/home care services more compared with older adults aged 75–89 years. The results provide a useful benchmark for healthcare use estimation. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 483–489.
The California GeoTracker Database: A Unique Public Resource for Understanding Contaminated Sites
Authors: Beckley Lila , McMasters Steven , Cohen Matthew , Cordano Dayna , Rauch Sharon , McHugh Thomas
Published: April 2022

Data mining as a research tool requires access to high quality datasets. Investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites yield large amounts of monitoring data; however, historically, these data have not been available in large, consolidated datasets. The California GeoTracker web site and database is a public repository for a wide variety of information related to investigation and remediation of cleanup sites in California. Under California regulations, responsible parties must submit laboratory analytical results for environmental samples in electronic form along with reports and other information. The GeoTracker website also supports public access to the entire database of laboratory analytical results, which, for some sites, date back to 2001. This database includes approximately 285,000,000 analytical records for more than 50,000 contaminated and formerly contaminated sites in California. Because of the large volume of publicly‐available data, GeoTracker has been used as the primary data source for a number of data mining studies in the last 10 years. This article describes the GeoTracker origin story and how it has evolved to account for changes in regulatory priorities such as understanding vapor intrusion mechanisms and distribution of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, while maintaining database continuity. Finally, we review data mining projects that have utilized GeoTracker to better understand various aspects of contaminated site management. This review illustrates how long‐term commitment to collection and sharing of environmental data can support the general public and the regulatory and research communities.
lncRNA MIAT targets miR‐411‐5p/STAT3/PD‐L1 axis mediating hepatocellular carcinoma immune response
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxia , Pan Banglun , Qiu Jiacheng , Ke Xiaoling , Shen Shuling , Wang Xiaoqian , Tang Nanhong
Published: April 2022

Emerging evidences have shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in the immune escape of cancer cells. Our previous study has demonstrated that lncRNA MIAT is associated with the immune infiltration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanism of MIAT regulating the PD‐L1‐mediated immune escape of HCC is poorly understood. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was used to detect the expression of MIAT and PD‐L1 mRNA in HCC. The relationship between MIAT, miR‐411‐5p, STAT3 and PD‐L1 was explored by dual‐luciferase reporter assay, cytotoxicity assay, Western blot and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). In addition, the xenograft model was established to determine the effect of MIAT on PD‐L1 expression in vivo. We found that MIAT and PD‐L1 were significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and the expression of PD‐L1 was regulated by MIAT. The knockdown of MIAT enhanced the cytotoxicity of T cells on HCC cells. MIAT negatively regulated miR‐411‐5p expression, upregulated STAT3 and ultimately increased PD‐L1 expression from the transcription level. The inhibition of miR‐411‐5p reversed STAT3 and PD‐L1 expression inhibited by MIAT knockdown in HCC cells. This study suggests a novel lncRNA‐mediated mechanism for HCC cells to evade the immune response; MIAT/miR‐411‐5p/STAT3/PD‐L1 may be a novel therapeutic target for HCC.
The effect of the Corynebacterium glutamicum on the shortening of fermentation time, physicochemical and sensory properties of soy sauce
Authors: Gao Rui , Sun‐Waterhouse Dongxiao , Xiang Huan , Cui Chun , Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N.
Published: April 2022

This study for the first time explores the possibility of using Corynebacterium glutamicum Ⅲ (C. glutamicum) to shorten the soy sauce fermentation period without compromising product quality. C. glutamicum was added to soy sauce that had been fermented with Aspergillus oryzae for 30 days (SS30) to initiate a further 3‐day fermentation (yielding SS33). The 3‐day fermentation exerted similar impacts on SS30 as the standard fermentation for further 60 days (yielding SS90): that is, increased the contents of total nitrogen, total free amino acids (FAAs), umami FAAs, acids, esters, ketones, furans and sulphur‐containing compounds, whilst decreasing the contents of alcohols and phenols. This explained the similarities in taste, aroma and overall liking between SS33 and SS90. The SS90 was the darkest among the three soy sauces. Compared with SS90, SS33 was less salty and smoky, more umami and kokumi, softer and more mellow, higher overall liking, with more 0.5–1 kDa peptides and fewer peptides <0.5 kDa. Therefore, a 3‐day fermentation with C. glutamicum after an initial 30 days of a normal soy sauce fermentation represents a simple and effective way to shorten the soy sauce production time from 90 to 33 days whilst increasing greatly the umami taste and mellow sensation. This approach enhances product competitiveness via lowering manufacturing cost.
Effect of malting regimen on diastatic power, cold and hot water extracts of malts from sorghum
Authors: Ofoedu Chigozie E. , Iwouno Jude O. , Ojimba Nnamdi C. , Chacha James S. , Okafor Damaris C. , Anwaegbu Ogechukwu M.
Published: April 2022

In this study, sorghum grains were malted using different malting regimens and the malt qualities were analysed for cold water extract (CWE), hot water extract (HWE) and diastatic power (DP). Results showed that malting regimen produced sorghum malts with peak CWE, HWE and DP within the pre‐determined limits of malting regimen. From this, predictive models of sorghum malt quality were developed and tested. Whilst steeping duration interacts significantly with the germination period to cause variations in CWE and HWE, only the germination period significantly influenced the DP of sorghum malts. However, the kilning temperature showed no significant impact on the parameters studied. Besides CWE, HWE and DP correlating positively with each other, the developed predictive models were significant (P < 0.05) and satisfy the quality of fit (R2 > 0.70) of the proposed models. The result demonstrated that wort for different purposes can be obtained by varying the malting operational conditions in the predictive model, thus saving time, resources, preliminary studies and research designs. Besides the promotion of a cheaper local alternative material for industrial wort production and brewing purpose, this research provides valuable insight on the brilliant prospect of variable malting regimen in predicting and adjusting the quality characteristics of sorghum malt and wort. Future studies are required to develop models for wort produced from peak CWE, HWE and DP, for predicting wort quality characteristics.
Generating and testing the efficacy of transgenic Cas9 in Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Rylee Johnathan C. , Nin‐Velez Alexandra , Mahato Simpla , Helms Kennedy J. , Wade Michael J. , Zentner Gabriel E. , Zelhof Andrew C.
Published: April 2022

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has now expanded to many insect species, including Tribolium castaneum. However, compared to Drosophila melanogaster, the CRISPR toolkit of T. castaneum is limited. A particularly apparent gap is the lack of Cas9 transgenic animals, which generally offer higher editing efficiency. We address this by creating and testing transgenic beetles expressing Cas9. We generated two different constructs bearing basal heat shock promoter‐driven Cas9, two distinct 3′ UTRs, and one containing Cas9 fused to EGFP by a T2A peptide. Analyses of Cas9 activity in each transgenic line demonstrated that both designs are capable of inducing CRISPR‐ mediated changes in the genome in the absence of heat induction. Overall, these resources enhance the accessibility of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for the Tribolium research community and provide a benchmark against which to compare future transgenic Cas9 lines.
The NDT80-like transcription factor CmNdt80a affects the conidial formation and germination, mycoparasitism, and cell wall integrity of Coniothyrium minitans
Authors: Yang Xiaoxiang , Huang Xiaoqin , Zhang Lei , Du Lei , Liu Yong
Published: April 2022

Aims

NDT80, a known transcriptional factor, regulates various targets, including regulation of meiosis, stress responses, filamentous growth, sexual development, biofilm formation, drug resistance, and virulence. But the numbers and roles of Ndt80-like genes in different fungi are highly variable. This study aims to address the numbers and functions of Ndt80-like genes in Coniothyrium minitans, a well-known biocontrol agent against Sclerotinia diseases.

Methods and Results

Here, two genes (CmNdt80a and CmNdt80b) encoding NDT80-like proteins were obtained by searching the genomic sequence of C. minitans. RT-PCR analysis showed that both CmNdt80 genes were constitutively expressed in C. minitans from the hyphal growth stage (48 hpi) to the pycnidial maturation stage (120 hpi). The roles of CmNdt80a and CmNdt80b in C. minitans were verified through gene knockout and complementation experiments. The results showed that the ΔCmNdt80a mutants exhibited a lighter colour and normal growth rate on potato dextrose agar plates. The ability of the ΔCmNdt80a mutants to produce conidia and parasitize the colony and sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was markedly diminished compared with the wild-type strain and complemented strain. Interestingly, the ΔCmNdt80a mutant showed less sensitivity to cell wall stressors and cell wall-degrading enzymes, and had thicker cell walls than the wild-type strain and complemented strain. However, no phenotypic consequences were discovered for the deletion of CmNdt80b.

Conclusions

Two Ndt80-like genes, CmNdt80a and CmNdt80b, were present in C. minitans. CmNdt80a, but not CmNdt80b, plays a crucial role in conidiogenesis, mycoparasitism, and cell wall integrity.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the conidiation and parasitism of C. minitans could help us to more efficiently utilize this biological control agent and advance our knowledge of fungal biology.
Lactobacillus derived from breast milk facilitates intestinal development in IUGR rats
Authors: Lyu Linzheng , Zhou Xiaohong , Zhang Meng , Liu Li , Liu Tongjie , Niu Haiyue , Wu Yifan , Liang Cong , Han Xue , Zhang Lanwei
Published: April 2022

Aim

The intestinal microbiota contributes to infant's intestine homeostasis. This study aimed to analyse how probiotics derived from breast milk promote infant intestinal development in rat pups.

Methods and results

The effect of potential probiotics derived from breast milk on development of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn rats' intestine was investigated. Limosilactobacillus oris ML-329 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ML-446 exhibited good hydrophobicity percentages (p < 0.05). ML-446 showed a significant effect on intestinal length and weight (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the villus height of the IUGR newborn rats fed with ML-329 was significantly higher compared with those fed with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (p < 0.05). Moreover, ML-329 and ML-446 both significantly stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells by increasing the number of ki67-positive cells, goblet cells, and lysozyme-positive Paneth cells (p < 0.05) through Wnt and Notch pathway.

Conclusions

The proliferation and differentiation stimulating effects of ML-329 and ML-446 on IECs in the jejunum, ileum, and colon were mediated by activating the Wnt pathway with increased expression of wnt, lrp5, and β-catenin genes and accumulation of β-catenin, and by downregulating the Notch signalling pathway with decreased expression of the activated notch protein.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Lactobacillus could facilitate IUGR rat pups' intestinal development and enhance the proliferation of Paneth cells and goblet cells. These findings provide further insights into promotion of the intestinal development by breast milk-derived beneficial microbes in early life of the IUGR newborn rats.
Characterization of oxaliplatin removal by multispecies bacterial populations in moving bed biofilm and suspended-biomass reactors
Authors: Garakouei Seyed Reza , Issazadeh Khosro , Zamani Hojjatolah , Rakhshaee Roohan , Shahriarinour Mahdi
Published: April 2022

Aims

This work aimed to characterize the oxaliplatin removal potential of multispecies microbial populations using the suspended-biomass (SB) and moving bed biofilm (MBB) reactors.

Methods and Results

Bacterial strains were isolated from pharmaceutical wastewater, their oxaliplatin degrading potential was screened and oxaliplatin removal efficacy in multispecies bacterial populations was investigated using HPLC. Five bacterial strains able to degrade oxaliplatin with an oxaliplatin removal efficacy of 21%–52% were isolated. The synthetic consortium including Xenorhabdus spp., Pantoea agglomerans and Bacillus licheniformis showed the highest potential with an oxaliplatin removal efficacy of 88.6% and 94.0% using the SB and MBB reactors, respectively. Also, the consortium reduced the chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 91.6 and 33% in MBB and SB reactors, respectively. A kinetic study showed a faster oxaliplatin removal in MBB (0.134 kg−1) than in the SB reactor (0.101 kg−1). Based on the GS/MS analysis, the overall biochemical pathway of oxaliplatin degradation was hypothesized to be initiated through the oxygenation of diamino–dicyclohexan–platinium complex and the cleavage of the aromatic ring.

Conclusion

Microbial removal of oxaliplatin using MBB and SB reactors seems to be an efficient and promising approach for oxaliplatin removal in pharmaceutical and hospital wastewater treatment plants.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Employing bacterial populations using the MBB reactor is a promising way to treat pharmaceutical wastewater to reduce the discharge of anticancer drugs into the environment.
Airborne dermatophyte propagules concentration in cowsheds as an underestimated reservoir of potential zoonoses
Authors: Gnat Sebastian , Łagowski Dominik , Dyląg Mariusz , Osińska Marcelina , Nowakiewicz Aneta
Published: April 2022

Aims

Indoor air quality in stables, cowsheds or henhouses has recently become in interest due to the potential risks of zoonotic infections. Cowsheds are commonly known to have high fungal loads, particularly if insufficient attention is paid to the monitoring and control of the indoor microclimate around three elements, that is heating, ventilation and lighting. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations and spectrum of dermatophyte propagules in the indoor air of cowsheds.

Methods and results

Air samples were collected on five farms, and the dermatophyte species were identified using MALDI-TOF MS analysis. The quantitative analysis of the fungal pollutants showed an average of 0.084 dermatophyte propagules (CFU) per m3 of flowing air in spring and 0.0239 CFU/m3 in the summer. Dermatophyte species were identified in case of 64.6% of the obtained colonies. Trichophyton verrucosum as dominant species was isolated on all five farms. In turn, Nannizzia gypsea was isolated on four farms and Trichophyton mentagrophytes as well as Paraphyton cookei were isolated on two farms.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that indoor aerosol appears to be one of the underestimated risks of dermatophyte infections. Moreover, the risk of zoonotic infections is posed by airborne zoophilic dermatophytes, especially T. verrucosum, whose prevalence of infections has been increasing in recent years.

Significance and impact of the study

The ability of dermatophytes to infect animals and humans is thought to be a consequence of not only their adaptation to new ecological niches but also occurring as an aerosol component, which we demonstrate for the first time in this study. The microclimate of the cowshed may be an underestimated reservoir of zoophilic dermatophytes, which pose a zoonotic threat to farmers, animal breeders and veterinarians.
Container material dictates stability of bacteriophage suspensions: Light scattering and infectivity measurements reveal mechanisms of infectious titre decay
Authors: O'Connell Larry , Roupioz Yoann , Marcoux Pierre R.
Published: April 2022

Aims

To measure the infectious titre (IT) decay rate for various bacteriophages as a function of storage container material. Additionally, parallel light scattering and infectious titre measurements reveal distinct mechanisms for IT loss, depending on phage.

Methods and Results

Suspensions of bacteriophages 44AHJD, P68 and gh-1 were stored in various labware. IT of each suspension was repeatedly measured over the course of 2 weeks. Large variability in IT decay was observed, with >4 log10 loss in glass and low-binding polypropylene. Incubation of polymer containers with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) resulted in a consistent reduction in IT decay. Aggregation state of phage suspensions was studied by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), revealing highest aggregation in glass-stored suspensions and lowest after storage in BSA-treated containers.

Conclusions

Glass and ‘low-binding’ containers may aggravate IT decay while BSA treatment may present an easy mitigation strategy. IT versus NTA titre diagrams highlight the importance of phage inactivation in combination with aggregation.

Significance and impact of the study

Container material is a significant determinant of bacteriophage IT decay. It is therefore essential to confirm IT following storage and tailor choice of phage storage containers accordingly. Aggregation of phages and adsorption onto labware surfaces are not only the mechanisms accounting for IT loss but also biological instability.
Prevalence and factors associated with pre‐frailty and frailty among Korean older adults with heart failure
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , Kim Sang‐Wook , Lee Wang‐Soo , Shin Seung Yong , Won Hoyoun , Cho Jun Hwan , Kim Hyue Mee , Hong Joonhwa , Choi JiYeon
Published: April 2022

Aim

To describe the prevalence and associated factors of pre‐frailty and frailty in older patients with heart failure.

Design

Secondary analysis of data collected across two cross‐sectional surveys on self‐care behaviours of patients with heart failure.

Methods

We analysed the data of patients with heart failure who were 60 years or older (n = 407) in cardiovascular outpatient clinics at two tertiary medical centres in South Korea between 2018 and 2019. Frailty was evaluated using the Korean version of the 5‐item fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses and loss of weight (FRAIL) scale. Frailty status was categorized as robust, pre‐frail and frail. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associations between sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and frailty status.

Results

In our sample, the prevalence of pre‐frailty and frailty was 45.6% and 28.3% respectively. Patients aged 80 years or older had a higher prevalence of pre‐frailty and frailty than those younger than 80 years. Advanced age and the worst category in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification were significantly associated with the risk of pre‐frailty and frailty. Additionally, having more comorbid conditions was associated with an increased risk of frailty.

Conclusion

Our study identified advanced age, the NYHA functional classification, and the number of comorbidities as the major characteristics associated with the risk of frailty in older patients with heart failure.

Impact

The findings of this study highlight the prevalence and associated characteristics of pre‐frailty and frailty in older adults with heart failure in South Korea. Most older adults with heart failure were either pre‐frail or frail. Advanced age, the NYHA functional classification, and the number of comorbidities were the major characteristics associated with frailty risk. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating frailty screening into routine assessments in older patients with heart failure.
Snacking among shiftwork nurses related to non‐optimal dietary intake
Authors: Lin Ting‐Ti , Guo Yue Leon , Gordon Christopher James , Chen Yi‐Chuan , Wu Hsueh‐Ching , Cayanan Elizabeth , Ouyang Chung‐Mei , Shiao Judith Shu‐Chu
Published: April 2022

Aims

To compare nurses’ non‐optimal eating behaviours across different shifts, to examine whether non‐day shifts were related to deviation from optimal dietary behaviours compared with day shifts and whether such deviation was related to non‐optimal macronutrient intake.

Design

This is a 4‐day intensive longitudinal study.

Methods

A convenience sample of hospital nurses was recruited in Taiwan. From September 2018 through January 2019, 120 participants completed 4‐days of 24‐h dietary recalls. One‐way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to compare differences in energy and macronutrient intake and frequency of meals and snacking, respectively. Generalized linear regressions examined (1) the associations between shiftwork schedules and non‐optimal eating behaviours and (2) associations between non‐optimal eating and high energy contribution of non‐optimal macronutrients.

Results

Nurses consumed less energy on evening and night shifts compared with day shifts. However, energy intake from snacking was higher on evening and night shifts relative to day shifts. Nurses consumed less meals but had higher snacking frequency on non‐day shifts. In addition, high energy intake from snacking was positively associated with high energy intake from saturated fat.

Conclusions

Nurses were more likely to have non‐optimal eating behaviours on non‐day shifts, which may contribute to an increased intake of saturated fat; thus, increasing their risk of chronic diseases. Strategies to improve non‐day shift nurses' non‐optimal eating behaviours may be beneficial to their health.

Impact

Shiftwork is known to affect nurses' eating behaviours; however, which shift is associated with unhealthy eating remains inconclusive. Despite lower energy intakes, nurses had higher intake by snacking on evening and night shifts. High snacking intake was associated with a high intake of saturated fat. Hospitals can increase the availability of healthy foods on evening or night shifts, which may improve non‐day shift nurses' non‐optimal eating behaviours.
Crosstalk between dihydroceramides produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis and host lysosomal cathepsin B in the promotion of osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Duarte Carolina , Yamada Chiaki , Garcia Christopher , Akkaoui Juliet , Ho Anny , Nichols Frank , Movila Alexandru
Published: April 2022

Emerging studies indicate that intracellular eukaryotic ceramide species directly activate cathepsin B (CatB), a lysosomal‐cysteine‐protease, in the cytoplasm of osteoclast precursors (OCPs) leading to elevated RANKL‐mediated osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory osteolysis. However, the possible impact of CatB on osteoclastogenesis elevated by non‐eukaryotic ceramides is largely unknown. It was reported that a novel class of phosphoglycerol dihydroceramide (PGDHC), produced by the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis upregulated RANKL‐mediated osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate a crosstalk between host CatB and non‐eukaryotic PGDHC on the promotion of osteoclastogenesis. According to a pulldown assay, high affinity between PGDHC and CatB was observed in RANKL‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells in vitro. It was also demonstrated that PGDHC promotes enzymatic activity of recombinant CatB protein ex vivo and in RANKL‐stimulated osteoclast precursors in vitro. Furthermore, no or little effect of PGDHC on the RANKL‐primed osteoclastogenesis was observed in male and female CatB‐knock out mice compared with their wild type counterparts. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that bacterial dihydroceramides produced by P. gingivalis elevate RANKL‐primed osteoclastogenesis via direct activation of intracellular CatB in OCPs.
LRP5 regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation and neonatal heart regeneration by the AKT/P21 pathway
Authors: Zhou Huixing , Zhang Fulei , Wu Yahan , Liu Hongyu , Duan Ran , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Yan , He Xiaoyu , Zhang Yuemei , Ma Xiue , Guan Yi , Liu Yi , Liang Dandan , Zhou Liping , Chen Yi‐Han
Published: April 2022

The neonatal heart can efficiently regenerate within a short period after birth, whereas the adult mammalian heart has extremely limited capacity to regenerate. The molecular mechanisms underlying neonatal heart regeneration remain elusive. Here, we revealed that as a coreceptor of Wnt signalling, low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 5 (LRP5) is required for neonatal heart regeneration by regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation. The expression of LRP5 in the mouse heart gradually decreased after birth, consistent with the time window during which cardiomyocytes withdrew from the cell cycle. LRP5 downregulation reduced the proliferation of neonatal cardiomyocytes, while LRP5 overexpression promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation. The cardiac‐specific deletion of Lrp5 disrupted myocardial regeneration after injury, exhibiting extensive fibrotic scars and cardiac dysfunction. Mechanistically, the decreased heart regeneration ability induced by LRP5 deficiency was mainly due to reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation. Further study identified AKT/P21 signalling as the key pathway accounting for the regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation mediated by LRP5. LRP5 downregulation accelerated the degradation of AKT, leading to increased expression of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor P21. Our study revealed that LRP5 is necessary for cardiomyocyte proliferation and neonatal heart regeneration, providing a potential strategy to repair myocardial injury.
Fluorescence immunoassay based on phage mimotope for nontoxic detection of Zearalenone in maize
Authors: Zhou Jingming , Wang Xueli , Li Yanghui , Chen Yumei , Liu Yankai , Liu Hongliang , Liang Chao , Zhu Xifang , Qi Yanhua , Wang Aiping
Published: April 2022

Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most common mycotoxin contaminants worldwide. In this study, a phage‐based direct competitive fluorescence immunosorbent assay (P‐dcFLISA) was developed for the detection of ZEN. In this P‐dcFLISA, phage mimotope was used to replace chemically synthesized antigens to improve the safety of experiments. Furthermore, ZnCdSe/ZnS (core/shell) quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescent labeling material replaced chromogenic substrate, which are used in traditional ELISA. The 50% inhibition value (IC50) of P‐dcFLISA was 0.301 ng/ml, which was approximately 12‐fold lower than that of phage‐based indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (P‐icELISA). The limit of detection (LOD) of P‐dcFLISA was 0.023 ng/ml and the detection range was 0.060–1.531 ng/ml. In the added recovery assay, recovery rate was 93.18–105.52%, with the coefficient variation (CV) ranging from 8.39% to 10.55%. The establishment of P‐icFLISA not only save time, but also avoid the use of mycotoxins in the detection process, providing a safe method for the detection of mycotoxins. In conclusion, phage‐based fluorescence immunoassay method has great potential application in ZEN detection and agricultural monitoring.
Comparison of coronary revascularization strategies in older adults presenting with acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Shah Ahmed Ijaz , Alabaster Amy , Dontsi Makdine , Rana Jamal S. , Solomon Matthew D. , Krishnaswami Ashok
Published: April 2022

Background

The optimal coronary revascularization strategy to maximize the patient‐centered outcome of days alive and out of hospital (DAOH), in multimorbid older (≥65‐years) adults after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is incompletely understood.

Methods

Using Kaiser Permanente Northern California Health Plan databases, we identified 3871 patients ≥65‐years presenting with ACS between 1/1/2010–3/1/2018 who underwent coronary revascularization with either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, N = 1575) or multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, N = 2296). Selection bias was accounted for through propensity score modeling techniques and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to evaluate the association of revascularization type with outcomes.

Primary Outcomes

Absolute DAOH and the relative risk of achieving ≥90%DAOH during three time intervals.

Secondary Outcomes

All‐cause mortality, recurrent MI, stroke, rehospitalization, repeat revascularization, and dialysis initiation.

Results

CABG (compared to PCI) was associated with greater absolute number of DAOH, significant after the first year (mean difference at 1‐year: +5.8 days, 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.6 to 13 days; 3‐years: +56 days, 95%CI, +25 to +88 days; 5‐years: + 131 days, 95%CI, +57 to +205 days). The relative risk of achieving ≥90% DAOH significantly favored CABG after the first year (1‐year:1.02, 95%CI, 0.98–1.05; 3‐years:1.06, 95%CI 1.002–1.11, 5‐years:1.12, 95%CI, 1.03–1.22), and was related to lower incidences of all‐cause mortality, repeat revascularization, rehospitalization, incident dialysis, and nonfatal MI with CABG.

Conclusions

In older adults with multivessel or left main coronary artery disease who presented with ACS, CABG, after the first year, was associated with a greater absolute number of DAOH—a geriatric and patient‐centered outcome, compared to PCI. CABG patients also had a higher probability of achieving ≥90%DAOH—with lower all‐cause mortality, recurrent MI, repeat revascularization, new dialysis, and rehospitalization rates. Future randomized trials should study the impact of optimal revascularization strategies on the quality of life of older adults with multimorbidity.
Structural abnormalities of retinal pigment epithelial cells in a light‐inducible, rhodopsin mutant mouse
Authors: Napoli Debora , Strettoi Enrica
Published: April 2022

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a specialized pigmented monolayer dedicated to retinal support and protection. Given the fact that photoreceptor outer segments are the primary energy resource of RPE metabolism, it follows that, when photoreceptor function is compromised, RPE cells are impaired and vice versa. In retinitis pigmentosa (RP), genetic mutations lead to a massive degeneration of photoreceptors but only few studies have addressed systematically the consequences of rod and cone death on RPE cells, which, among others, undergo an abnormal organization of tight junctions (TJs) and a compromised barrier function. The biological mechanisms driving these barrier reorganizations are largely unknown. Studies aimed at addressing general and mutation‐independent changes of the RPE in RP are relevant to reveal new pathogenic mechanisms of this heterogeneous family of diseases and prospectively develop effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we take advantage of a mouse model of RP in which retinal degeneration is spatially restricted to investigate a possible involvement of inflammatory responses in RPE remodeling. By immunostaining for Zona Occludens‐1 (ZO‐1), a structural and functional marker of TJs with pleiotropic functions, we found a partial rescue of TJs organization following local restoration of retinal organization, revealing that TJs structure can recover. Since lack of ZO‐1 from TJs can alter cell density, we counted RPE cells without finding any differences between degenerated and controls animals, indicating preservation of RPE cells. However, we found an increased number of immune cells adhering to the RPE apical surface and a spatial correlation with areas of abnormal ZO‐1 distribution. This suggests that inflammatory processes following photoreceptor degeneration can be responsible for TJs alterations during RP progression and deserve further investigation.
Origins ofantiminingresistance in the life of a grassroots American Indian leader: Prospects for Indigenizing psychobiography
Authors: Gone Joseph P.
Published: April 2022

American Indian communities have long been subject to environmental degradation, but successful “grassroots” struggles to end such exploitation are exceedingly rare. How is it that Joseph William Azure—my father and an unsung hero of social change—came to “notice” in 1985 that “our entire [reservation] mountain range was at risk” from destructive gold mining and, in response, to form “a small grassroots traditional society” that created “a lot of local and national publicity for our cause to save” these mountains? To address this question, I adopted and adapted the approaches and methods of psychobiography to trace shifts in his sense of self in response to midlife socialization into Indigenous traditional spirituality. In developing this brief account of his development as a social change agent, I propose that psychobiography may require “Indigenization” if it is to better represent American Indian lives. Specifically, some Indigenous life stories will perhaps require tellings that center on collective endeavors rather than individual ones, reconstruction of life experiences based on comparably limited (material) archives, deeper preservation of the conventions of orality, and curation by close kin rather than by “distanced” analysts.