bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mothers' postdivorce earnings in the context of welfare policy change
Authors: Herbst Anat , Kaplan Amit
Published: April 2016

We examined in this study the implications of divorce for mothers' earnings, comparing the 1990s and the 2000s, and illuminating developments in welfare policy for single‐parent families over those two decades. After the welfare reform of 2003, the economic autonomy of single mothers, established through a combination of welfare state‐based benefits and paid labour, was delegitimised, with a turn toward the marketplace. Using a unique data set created for this research by merging Israeli census files for 1995–2008, annual administrative employment records from the National Insurance Institute and the Tax Authority, and data from the Civil Registry of Divorce, we found that most mothers tended to increase their income from paid labor following divorce. However, they did so significantly more prior to the welfare cuts than after the cuts. The results can inform policy discussions about how mothers' postdivorce earnings might be affected by welfare policy shifts.
Association of clinical parameters with periodontal bacterial haemolytic activity
Authors: Wong Benedicta K. J. , McGregor Neil R. , Butt Henry L. , Knight Rachel , Liu Louise Ye , Darby Ivan B.
Published: April 2016

Aims

To determine whether haemolytic activity of subgingival bacteria is associated with periodontitis clinical parameters and to identify which bacteria produce the haemolysins.

Materials and Methods

Subgingival plaque samples from 22 untreated chronic periodontitis patients were investigated by culture and identified with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.

Results

Total aerobic and anaerobic bacterial viable counts, percentage distribution of α‐ and β‐haemolytic bacteria were significantly elevated in diseased sites in relation to healthy sites (p < 0.001). Periodontal pathogens were more frequently detected at diseased sites: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema sp., Prevotella sp., Parvimonas micra, Fusobacterium sp., Campylobacter sp., Capnocytophaga sp., and Selenomonas sp. Haemolytic unidentifiable species and Gram‐positive anaerobes such as Slackia exigua, Solobacterium moorei, and Bulledia extructa were also more frequently detected at diseased sites. In diseased sites, the presence of different haemolytic characteristics was more strongly correlated with clinical measures of disease than the mere absence or presence of specific species. The strongest correlation with probing pocket depth was observed for overall β‐haemolytic toxicity (r = 0.73, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

A strong association was observed between subgingival bacterial haemolytic activity and clinical parameters in patients with chronic periodontitis. Further investigations are warranted to delineate the role of haemolysins in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
Mechanical and chemical implant decontamination in surgical peri‐implantitis treatment: preclinical “in vivo” study
Authors: Carral Cristina , Muñoz Fernando , Permuy María , Liñares Antonio , Dard Michel , Blanco Juan
Published: April 2016

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a titanium brush and chemical agents following surgical treatment of experimental peri‐implantitis.

Material and Methods

Six implants were installed in the mandible of eight beagle dogs (unit of analysis) 3 months after tooth extraction. Experimental peri‐implantitis was induced 3 months later. The defects were randomly allocated in three treatment groups: (a) TiBrush™ + sodium hypochlorite + chlorhexidine (TBH), (b) TiBrush™ + chlorhexidine (TB), (c) an ultrasonic device + chlorhexidine (US). The distal implant in each hemimandible was used as control, and no treatment was done. Clinical and histological measurements were performed after 3 months of healing.

Results

All treatment procedures resulted in statistically significant improvements of all clinical parameters. Histomorphometrical analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between treatment groups in terms of woven bone height (primary outcome). However, there were differences between test and control groups in terms of inflammation, bone defect depth and bone refill without differences between TBH and TB groups.

Conclusions

Resolution of peri‐implantitis after access surgery and decontamination of peri‐implant surfaces with TiBrush™ with or without sodium hypochlorite is possible. However, the concomitant use of sodium hypochlorite has minor effect on treatment outcomes.
Delirium as a Predictor of Physical and Cognitive Function in Individuals Aged 80 and Older After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Eide Leslie S. P. , Ranhoff Anette H. , Fridlund Bengt , Haaverstad Rune , Hufthammer Karl Ove , Kuiper Karel K. J. , Nordrehaug Jan E. , Norekvål Tone M. ,   The Delirium in Octogenarians Undergoing Cardiac Surgery or Intervention–CARDELIR Investigators
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To determine how development of delirium after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) could predict activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADLs (IADL) disability, cognitive function, and self‐reported health in individuals aged 80 and older.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary university hospital.

Participants

Individuals aged 80 and older undergoing elective SAVR or TAVI (N = 136).

Measurements

Delirium was assessed for 5 days using the Confusion Assessment Method. The Barthel Index, Nottingham Extended ADL Scale, and SF‐12 were used to determine ADL and IADL ability and self‐reported health at baseline and 1‐ and 6‐month follow‐up. Cognition was assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

Participants had lower IADL scores 1 month after SAVR than at baseline (baseline 58, 1 month: delirium 42, no delirium 50, P ≤ .02), but scores had returned to baseline levels at 6 months. The Medical Outcomes Study 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐12) Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was higher at 6‐month follow‐up (48) than at baseline (39), especially in participants who did not develop delirium (P < .001). No differences in other outcomes were found. Regression models suggest that delirium may help predict IADL disability 1 month after baseline (P ≤ .07) but does not predict large differences in ADL disability, cognitive function, or SF‐12‐scores. Individuals who underwent TAVI and developed delirium had lower ADL (baseline 19, 1‐month 16, P < .001) and IADL (baseline 49, 1‐month 40, P = .003) scores at 1‐month follow‐up. SF‐12 PCS score (baseline 30) increased from baseline to 1‐ (35, P = .04) and 6‐ (35, P = .02) month follow‐up in individuals who underwent TAVI and did not develop delirium. Delirium after TAVI predicted greater ADL and IADL disability at 1‐month but not at 6‐month follow‐up.

Conclusion

Individuals who develop delirium after SAVR and TAVI have poorer short‐term IADL function but do not seem to have long‐term reductions in physical, mental, or self‐reported health.
Interventions for adults with mild intellectual disabilities and mental ill‐health: a systematic review
Authors: Osugo M. , Cooper S. ‐A.
Published: April 2016

Background

People with intellectual disabilities have very high rates of mental ill health. Standard psychosocial interventions designed for the general population may not be accessible for people with mild intellectual disabilities, and drug usage tends to be modified – ‘start low and go slow’. This systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence on psychological, pharmacological and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) interventions for adults with mild intellectual disabilities and mental ill health.

Method

PRISMA guidelines were followed. Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched, as was grey literature and reference lists of selected papers. Papers were selected based on pre‐defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A proportion of papers were double reviewed. Data was extracted using a structured table. Study registration: PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015015218.

Results

Initially, 18 949 records were identified. Sixteen studies were finally selected for inclusion; seven on psychological therapies, two on group exercise, five on antipsychotics and two on antidepressants. They do not provide definitive evidence for effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, nor address whether starting low and going slow is wise, or causes sub‐optimum therapy.

Conclusions

There are few evidence‐based interventions for people with mild intellectual disabilities and mental ill‐health; existing literature is limited in quantity and quality. Group cognitive‐behavioural therapies have some supporting evidence – however, further randomised control trials are required, with longer‐term follow‐up, and larger sample sizes.
To TACE or not to TACE: that is the question
Authors: Sherman Morris
Published: April 2016

See Article on Page 729
Chronic nausea and vomiting: insights into underlying mechanisms
Authors: Törnblom H. , Abrahamsson H.
Published: April 2016

Chronic nausea and vomiting are common and debilitating symptoms in adults. There are some fundamental problems that make our understanding of mechanisms difficult, diagnostic definitions of patient‐cohorts being central. As there is no unifying mechanism with a direct link to chronic nausea or vomiting, it is most likely that several mechanisms interact, e.g., pylorus function and its relation to gastric emptying, or gastric sensory and motor function. In this mini‐review, we highlight the roles and evidence for brain–gut interactions as well as gastrointestinal neurophysiologic, motor, sensory, and hormonal factors involved in the pathophysiology of chronic nausea and vomiting. There are factors not mentioned in the text, mostly as they are not well characterized in the setting of chronic symptoms or only in animal models.
A symbiosis‐dedicated SYNTAXIN OF PLANTS 13II isoform controls the formation of a stable host–microbe interface in symbiosis
Authors: Huisman Rik , Hontelez Jan , Mysore Kirankumar S. , Wen Jiangqi , Bisseling Ton , Limpens Erik
Published: April 2016

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobium bacteria are accommodated in specialized membrane compartments that form a host–microbe interface. To better understand how these interfaces are made, we studied the regulation of exocytosis during interface formation.

We used a phylogenetic approach to identify target soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor‐attachment protein receptors (t‐SNAREs) that are dedicated to symbiosis and used cell‐specific expression analysis together with protein localization to identify t‐SNAREs that are present on the host–microbe interface in Medicago truncatula. We investigated the role of these t‐SNAREs during the formation of a host–microbe interface.

We showed that multiple syntaxins are present on the peri‐arbuscular membrane. From these, we identified SYNTAXIN OF PLANTS 13II (SYP13II) as a t‐SNARE that is essential for the formation of a stable symbiotic interface in both AM and rhizobium symbiosis. In most dicot plants, the SYP13II transcript is alternatively spliced, resulting in two isoforms, SYP13IIα and SYP13IIβ. These splice‐forms differentially mark functional and degrading arbuscule branches.

Our results show that vesicle traffic to the symbiotic interface is specialized and required for its maintenance. Alternative splicing of SYP13II allows plants to replace a t‐SNARE involved in traffic to the plasma membrane with a t‐SNARE that is more stringent in its localization to functional arbuscules.
HIV–TB co‐infection: mechanisms that drive reactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV infection
Authors: Ahmed A , Rakshit S , Vyakarnam A
Published: April 2016

HIV infection predisposes the host to tuberculosis by impairing the hosts’ immune system principally by killing and altering CD4 T‐cell function. How HIV infection disrupts CD4 T‐cell function, which specifically compromises host immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is poorly understood and is a critical roadblock in developing better vaccine‐ or immune‐based strategies to control and monitor TB in HIV‐infected subjects. This review considers key pathways that are altered in HIV‐infected subjects that impair anti‐TB immunity.
The R2R3 MYB transcription factor PavMYB10.1 involves in anthocyanin biosynthesis and determines fruit skin colour in sweet cherry (Prunus aviumL.)
Authors: Jin Wanmei , Wang Hua , Li Maofu , Wang Jing , Yang Yuan , Zhang Xiaoming , Yan Guohua , Zhang Hong , Liu Jiashen , Zhang Kaichun
Published: April 2016

Sweet cherry is a diploid tree species and its fruit skin has rich colours from yellow to blush to dark red. The colour is closely related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level by transcription factors that regulate the expression of multiple structural genes. However, the genetic and molecular bases of how these genes ultimately determine the fruit skin colour traits remain poorly understood. Here, our genetic and molecular evidences identified the R2R3 MYB transcription factor PavMYB10.1 that is involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and determines fruit skin colour in sweet cherry. Interestingly, we identified three functional alleles of the gene causally leading to the different colours at mature stage. Meanwhile, our experimental results of yeast two‐hybrid assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that PavMYB10.1 might interact with proteins PavbHLH and PavWD40, and bind to the promoter regions of the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes PavANS and PavUFGT; these findings provided to a certain extent mechanistic insight into the gene's functions. Additionally, genetic and molecular evidences confirmed that PavMYB10.1 is a reliable DNA molecular marker to select fruit skin colour in sweet cherry.
Riluzole in augmentation of fluvoxamine for moderate to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder: Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Emamzadehfard Sahra , Kamaloo Atefeh , Paydary Koosha , Ahmadipour Ahmad , Zeinoddini Arefeh , Ghaleiha Ali , Mohammadinejad Payam , Zeinoddini Atefeh , Akhondzadeh Shahin
Published: April 2016

Aim

The aim of the present randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 8‐week trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of riluzole augmentation of fluvoxamine in treatment of patients with moderate to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder.

Methods

Patients were randomized into two parallel groups to receive fluvoxamine plus placebo or fluvoxamine plus riluzole (50 mg twice daily). All patients, regardless of their treatment group, received fluvoxamine at 100 mg/day for the initial 4 weeks of the study followed by 200 mg/day of fluvoxamine for the rest of the trial course. A total of 50 patients (25 in each group) were evaluated for response to treatment using the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y‐BOCS) at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 10. Side‐effects were recorded using predesigned checklists in each visit. Repeated‐measure analysis of variance showed a significant effect for time × treatment interaction in the Y‐BOCS total score and a significant effect for time × treatment interaction in the Y‐BOCS Compulsive subscale score between the two groups.

Results

Repeated‐measure analysis of variance showed a significant effect for time × treatment interaction (Greenhouse–Geisser corrected: F = 4.07, d.f. = 1.22, P = 0.04) in the Y‐BOCS total score and a significant effect for time × treatment interaction (Greenhouse–Geisser corrected: F = 4.45, d.f. = 1.33, P = 0.028) in the Y‐BOCS Compulsive subscale score between the two groups. Riluzole augmentation therapy demonstrated higher, partial or complete treatment response according to the Y‐BOCS total scores.

Conclusion

Riluzole may be of clinical use as an adjuvant agent to fluvoxamine in treatment of moderate to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Loss of function mutations in ATP2A2 and psychoses: A case report and literature survey
Authors: Nakamura Takumi , Kazuno An‐a , Nakajima Kazuo , Kusumi Ichiro , Tsuboi Takashi , Kato Tadafumi
Published: April 2016

Aim

Though genetic factors play a major role in the pathophysiology of psychoses including bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia, lack of well‐established causative genetic mutations hampers their neurobiological studies. Darier's disease, an autosomal dominant skin disorder caused by mutations of ATP2A2 on chromosome 12q23‐24.1, encoding sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium transporting ATPase 2 (SERCA2), reportedly cosegregates with BD. A recent genome‐wide association study showed an association of schizophrenia with ATP2A2.

Methods

We sequenced all coding regions of ATP2A2 in a newly identified patient with Darier's disease and BD. In addition, we performed a literature survey to examine whether likely gene disrupting (LGD) mutations are related to psychoses.

Results

We identified a rare heterozygous mutation, c.1288‐6A>G, at the 3′ end of intron 10 in the patient. A minigene splicing assay showed that this mutation introduces a new splice site causing a frameshift and premature stop codon. A literature survey of case reports of patients with Darier's disease and psychoses revealed that the rate of LGD mutations causing frameshift, altered splicing, gain of stop codon, or loss of start codon was significantly higher among the mutations harbored by these cases (9 of 11) than that of ATP2A2 mutations for which comorbidity of psychosis was not reported (107 of 237, P = 0.026). The only non‐LGD mutation (p.C560R) reported in patients with Darier's disease and BD caused decreased ATP2A2 protein expression.

Conclusion

These results suggest that psychoses in Darier's disease may be caused by a pleiotropic effect of loss‐of‐function mutations of ATP2A2.
Plant genotype affects the quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) for adults and larvae of the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus)
Authors: Hervé Maxime R. , Delourme Régine , Cortesero Anne Marie
Published: April 2016

Plant quality is one of the main factors influencing the fitness of phytophagous insects. Plant quality can vary not only among genotypes of the same host plant species, but also relative to the insect sex or its life stage. In the present study, the performance of larvae and adults of the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus F., Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a major insect pest of oilseed rape crops, is compared on six genotypes of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). All of the traits that are measured vary among genotypes, and comprise larval developmental duration, life span of unfed emerging adults and survival time of field‐sampled adults fed with pollen from the different genotypes. No correlation is found between insect performance and quantity of food available, showing that the quality of the food (i.e. pollen) is the fitness determinant for this insect species. Additionally, the performance of larvae and adults is also not correlated despite use of the same plant genotypes, suggesting that the determinants of pollen quality differ at least partially between both life stages. It is hypothesized that this may be a result of extensive differences in diet breadth between the life stages: larvae are specialists of brassicaceous plants, whereas adults are generalists. Finally, it is suggested that the manipulation of plant quality to increase pollen beetle development time may comprise a valuable strategy for favouring biological control by natural enemies of this pest; for example, as a result of extending the vulnerability window of larvae to attack by parasitoids.
Dealing with the sulfur part of cysteine: four enzymatic steps degrade l‐cysteine to pyruvate and thiosulfate in Arabidopsis mitochondria
Authors: Höfler Saskia , Lorenz Christin , Busch Tjorven , Brinkkötter Mascha , Tohge Takayuki , Fernie Alisdair R. , Braun Hans‐Peter , Hildebrandt Tatjana M.
Published: April 2016

Amino acid catabolism is essential for adjusting pool sizes of free amino acids and takes part in energy production as well as nutrient remobilization. The carbon skeletons are generally converted to precursors or intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In the case of cysteine, the reduced sulfur derived from the thiol group also has to be oxidized in order to prevent accumulation to toxic concentrations. Here we present a mitochondrial sulfur catabolic pathway catalyzing the complete oxidation of l‐cysteine to pyruvate and thiosulfate. After transamination to 3‐mercaptopyruvate, the sulfhydryl group from l‐cysteine is transferred to glutathione by sulfurtransferase 1 and oxidized to sulfite by the sulfur dioxygenase ETHE1. Sulfite is then converted to thiosulfate by addition of a second persulfide group by sulfurtransferase 1. This pathway is most relevant during early embryo development and for vegetative growth under light‐limiting conditions. Characterization of a double mutant produced from Arabidopsis thaliana T‐DNA insertion lines for ETHE1 and sulfurtransferase 1 revealed that an intermediate of the ETHE1 dependent pathway, most likely a persulfide, interferes with amino acid catabolism and induces early senescence.
Rural Second Homes: A Narrative of De‐Centralisation
Authors: Ellingsen Winfried
Published: April 2016

The dominant political narrative in Norway over the past half century maintains that the country is facing major challenges due to centralisation and urbanisation of the population. Responding to this assumption, this article argues that a significant segment of the population is in fact spending more time in rural areas when we consider the impact of second home mobility. This argument is based on a theoretical review of the ontological trajectories of settlement and mobility. Set in a rural‐urban perspective, it addresses key demographic trends contrasting the sedentarist perspective for the registration of the population with the alternative view of time spent in rural locations. Based on the scope of the demographic shift and the apparent limitations of registration, it is argued that second home mobility re‐assembles the rural in demographic as well as economic terms and should therefore be an integral part of studies of rural development.
Cadherin Trafficking for Tissue Morphogenesis: Control and Consequences
Authors: West Junior J. , Harris Tony J. C.
Published: April 2016

Cadherin‐based adherens junctions are critical for connecting cells in tissues. Regulated cadherin trafficking also makes these complexes amazingly dynamic, with permissive and instructive consequences on multicellular development. Here, we review how cadherin trafficking affects various forms of tissue morphogenesis from Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans to zebrafish, Xenopus and mouse. We describe how core trafficking machinery (such as clathrin, dynamin, Rab small G proteins and the exocyst complex) integrates with other molecular systems (transcriptional factors, signaling pathways, microtubules, actin networks, apico‐basal polarity proteins and planar cell polarity proteins) to control cadherin endocytosis, exocytosis and recycling. This control can occur at all cell–cell contacts or specific junctions for distinct effects on tissue morphogenesis during animal development.
Enteric glia: the most alimentary of all glia
Authors: Grubišić Vladimir , Gulbransen Brian D.
Published: April 2016

Glia (from Greek γλοία meaning ‘glue’) pertains to non‐neuronal cells in the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) that nourish neurons and maintain homeostasis. In addition, glia are now increasingly appreciated as active regulators of numerous physiological processes initially considered exclusively under neuronal regulation. For instance, enteric glia, a collection of glial cells residing within the walls of the intestinal tract, regulate intestinal motility, a well‐characterized reflex controlled by enteric neurons. Enteric glia also interact with various non‐neuronal cell types in the gut wall such as enterocytes, enteroendocrine and immune cells and are therefore emerging as important local regulators of diverse gut functions. The intricate molecular mechanisms that govern glia‐mediated regulation are beginning to be discovered, but much remains unknown about the functions of enteric glia in health and disease. Here we present a current view of the enteric glia and their regulatory roles in gastrointestinal (GI) (patho)physiology; from GI motility and epithelial barrier function to enteric neuroinflammation.

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Does rapid and physiological astrocyte–neuron signalling amplify epileptic activity?
Authors: Henneberger Christian
Published: April 2016

The hippocampus is a key brain region in the pathophysiology of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Long‐term changes of its architecture and function on the network and cellular level are well documented in epilepsy. Astrocytes can control many aspects of neuronal function and their long‐term alterations over weeks, months and years play an important role in epilepsy. However, a pathophysiological transformation of astrocytes does not seem to be required for astrocytes to contribute to epileptic activity. Some of the properties of physiological astrocyte–neuron communication could allow these cells to exacerbate or synchronize neuronal firing on shorter time scales of milliseconds to minutes. Therefore, these astrocyte–neuron interactions are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to epileptic activity. Fast and reciprocal communication between astrocytes and neurons is enabled by a diverse set of mechanisms that could both amplify and counteract epileptic activity. They may thus promote or cause development of epileptic activity or inhibit it. Mechanisms of astrocyte–neuron interactions that can quickly increase network excitability involve, for example, astrocyte Ca2+ and Na+ signalling, K+ buffering, gap junction coupling and metabolism. However, rapid changes of astrocyte neurotransmitter uptake and morphology may also underlie or support development of network hyperexcitability. The temporal characteristics of these interactions, their ability to synchronize neuronal activity and their net effect on network activity will determine their contribution to the emergence or maintenance of epileptic activity.

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Criterios para mejorar la gestión y comunicación ambiental en la administración pública. Una investigación mixta en la ciudad de Madrid (España)
Authors: Palavecinos Mireya , Piñeiro Concepción , Díaz María José , Ulloa Jorge
Published: April 2016

Se presentan dos estudios complementarios, que tienen como objetivo analizar la gestión ambiental del municipio de Madrid desde una perspectiva que considera diversas miradas: la ciudadana, desde los técnicos y la experta. Se ha utilizado el método mixto, que considera tanto técnicas cualitativas como cuantitativas para la recolección de datos. Entre otras, se recurrió al análisis documental, revisión de quejas ciudadanas presentadas al sistema de Sugerencias y Reclamaciones (SyR) del ayuntamiento (N= 932), y la realización de entrevistas a expertos y gestores locales. Los resultados entregan datos que permiten verificar problemas en la gestión y comunicación municipal, que mantienen los conflictos ambientales. En las conclusiones, se valora el rol de la educación ambiental como complemento de otros mecanismos inherentes a la administración (gestión, legislación, inversión). Se generan propuestas para mejorar la gestión ambiental desde la mayor participación y la comunicación con los ciudadanos, como forma de desarrollar acciones educativas y una gestión ambiental más eficiente desde la administración pública. X
An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth
Authors: Moura Rodrigo L. , Amado-Filho Gilberto M. , Moraes Fernando C. , Brasileiro Poliana S. , Salomon Paulo S. , Mahiques Michel M. , Bastos Alex C. , Almeida Marcelo G. , Silva Jomar M. , Araujo Beatriz F. , Brito Frederico P. , Rangel Thiago P. , Oliveira Braulio C. V. , Bahia Ricardo G. , Paranhos Rodolfo P. , Dias Rodolfo J. S. , Siegle Eduardo , Figueiredo Alberto G. , Pereira Renato C. , Leal Camille V. , Hajdu Eduardo , Asp Nils E. , Gregoracci Gustavo B. , Neumann-Leitão Sigrid , Yager Patricia L. , Francini-Filho Ronaldo B. , Fróes Adriana , Campeão Mariana , Silva Bruno S. , Moreira Ana P. B. , Oliveira Louisi , Soares Ana C. , Araujo Lais , Oliveira Nara L. , Teixeira João B. , Valle Rogerio A. B. , Thompson Cristiane C. , Rezende Carlos E. , Thompson Fabiano L.
Published: April 2016

A novel Amazonian reef biome was discovered, encompassing large rhodolith and sponge beds under low light, low oxygen, and high POC.
A checkpoint control orchestrates the replication of the two chromosomes of
Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Val Marie-Eve , Marbouty Martial , de Lemos Martins Francisco , Kennedy Sean P. , Kemble Harry , Bland Michael J. , Possoz Christophe , Koszul Romain , Skovgaard Ole , Mazel Didier
Published: April 2016

Replication of a specific site on the main chromosome of
V. cholerae
triggers the replication initiation of its secondary chromosome.
Genotypic and Phenotypic Markers of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC9 in Humans
Authors: Ye Xiaohua , Wang Xiaolin , Fan Yanping , Peng Yang , Li Ling , Li Shunming , Huang Jingya , Yao Zhenjiang , Chen Sidong
Published: April 2016

Use of antimicrobials in industrial food animal production is associated with the presence of multidrug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
among animals and humans. The livestock-associated (LA) methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA) clonal complex 9 (CC9) is associated with animals and related workers in Asia. This study aimed to explore the genotypic and phenotypic markers of LA-MRSA CC9 in humans. We conducted a cross-sectional study of livestock workers and controls in Guangdong, China. The study participants responded to a questionnaire and provided a nasal swab for
S. aureus
analysis. The resulting isolates were assessed for antibiotic susceptibility, multilocus sequence type, and immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes. Livestock workers had significantly higher rates of
S. aureus
CC9 (odds ratio [OR] = 30.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.06 to 236.39) and tetracycline-resistant
S. aureus
(OR = 3.26; 95% CI, 2.12 to 5.00) carriage than controls. All 19
S. aureus
CC9 isolates from livestock workers were MRSA isolates and also exhibited the characteristics of resistance to several classes of antibiotics and absence of the IEC genes. Notably, the interaction analyses indicated phenotype-phenotype (OR = 525.7; 95% CI, 60.0 to 4,602.1) and gene-environment (OR = 232.3; 95% CI, 28.7 to 1,876.7) interactions associated with increased risk for livestock-associated
S. aureus
CC9 carriage. These findings suggest that livestock-associated
S. aureus
and MRSA (CC9, IEC negative, and tetracycline resistant) in humans are associated with occupational livestock contact, raising questions about the potential for occupational exposure to opportunistic
S. aureus
.

IMPORTANCE
This study adds to existing knowledge by giving insight into the genotypic and phenotypic markers of LA-MRSA. Our findings suggest that livestock-associated
S. aureus
and MRSA (CC9, IEC negative, and tetracycline resistant) in humans are associated with occupational livestock contact. Future studies should direct more attention to exploring the exact transmission routes and establishing measures to prevent the spread of LA-MRSA.
Springing into Action: Reg2 Negatively Regulates Snf1 Protein Kinase and Facilitates Recovery from Prolonged Glucose Starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Maziarz Marcin , Shevade Aishwarya , Barrett LaKisha , Kuchin Sergei
Published: April 2016

Glucose is the preferred carbon source for the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Glucose limitation activates Snf1 protein kinase, a key regulator of energy homeostasis that promotes utilization of alternative carbon sources and enforces energy conservation. Snf1 activation requires phosphorylation of its T-loop threonine (Thr210) by upstream kinases. When glucose is abundant, Snf1 is inhibited by Thr210 dephosphorylation. This involves the function of the type 1 protein phosphatase Glc7, which is targeted to Snf1 by a regulatory subunit, Reg1. The
reg1
mutation causes increased Snf1 activity and mimics various aspects of glucose limitation, including slower growth. Reg2 is another Glc7 regulatory subunit encoded by a paralogous gene,
REG2
. Previous evidence indicated that the
reg2
mutation exacerbates the Snf1-dependent slow-growth phenotype caused by
reg1
, suggesting a link between Reg2 and Snf1. Here, we explore this link in more detail and present evidence that Reg2 contributes to Snf1 Thr210 dephosphorylation. Consistent with this role, Reg2 interacts with wild-type Snf1 but not with nonphosphorylatable Snf1-T210A. Reg2 accumulation increases in a Snf1-dependent manner during prolonged glucose deprivation, and glucose-starved cells lacking Reg2 exhibit delayed Snf1 Thr210 dephosphorylation and slower growth recovery upon glucose replenishment. Accordingly, cells lacking Reg2 are outcompeted by wild-type cells in the course of several glucose starvation/replenishment cycles. Collectively, our results support a model in which Reg2-Glc7 contributes to the negative control of Snf1 in response to glucose refeeding after prolonged starvation. The competitive growth advantage provided by Reg2 underscores the evolutionary significance of this paralog for
S. cerevisiae
.

IMPORTANCE
The ability of microorganisms to respond to stress is essential for their survival. However, rapid recovery from stress could be equally crucial in competitive environments. Therefore, a wise stress response program should prepare cells for quick recovery upon reexposure to favorable conditions. Glucose is the preferred carbon source for the yeast
S. cerevisiae
. Glucose depletion activates the stress response protein kinase Snf1, which functions to limit energy-consuming processes, such as growth. We show that prolonged glucose deprivation also leads to Snf1-dependent accumulation of Reg2 and that this protein helps to inhibit Snf1 and to accelerate growth recovery upon glucose replenishment. Cells lacking Reg2 are readily outcompeted by wild-type cells during glucose depletion/replenishment cycles. Thus, while prolonged glucose deprivation might seem to put yeast cells “on their knees,” concomitant accumulation of Reg2 helps configure the cells into a “sprinter's crouch start position” to spring into action once glucose becomes available.
Identification of a Polyketide Synthase Involved in Sorbicillin Biosynthesis by Penicillium chrysogenum
Authors: Salo Oleksandr , Guzmán-Chávez Fernando , Ries Marco I. , Lankhorst Peter P. , Bovenberg Roel A. L. , Vreeken Rob J. , Driessen Arnold J. M.
Published: April 2016

Secondary metabolism in
Penicillium chrysogenum
was intensively subjected to classical strain improvement (CSI), the resulting industrial strains producing high levels of β-lactams. During this process, the production of yellow pigments, including sorbicillinoids, was eliminated as part of a strategy to enable the rapid purification of β-lactams. Here we report the identification of the polyketide synthase (PKS) gene essential for sorbicillinoid biosynthesis in
P. chrysogenum
. We demonstrate that the production of polyketide precursors like sorbicillinol and dihydrosorbicillinol as well as their derivatives bisorbicillinoids requires the function of a highly reducing PKS encoded by the gene
Pc21g05080
(
pks13
). This gene belongs to the cluster that was mutated and transcriptionally silenced during the strain improvement program. Using an improved β-lactam-producing strain, repair of the mutation in
pks13
led to the restoration of sorbicillinoid production. This now enables genetic studies on the mechanism of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis in
P. chrysogenum
and opens new perspectives for pathway engineering.

IMPORTANCE
Sorbicillinoids are secondary metabolites with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities produced by filamentous fungi. This study identified the gene cluster responsible for sorbicillinoid formation in
Penicillium chrysogenum
, which now allows engineering of this diverse group of compounds.
Enhancing the Sweetness of Yoghurt through Metabolic Remodeling of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus
Authors: Sørensen Kim I. , Curic-Bawden Mirjana , Junge Mette P. , Janzen Thomas , Johansen Eric
Published: April 2016

Streptococcus thermophilusandLactobacillus delbrueckiisubsp.bulgaricusare used in the fermentation of milk to produce yoghurt. These species normally metabolize only the glucose moiety of lactose, secreting galactose and producing lactic acid as the main metabolic end product. We used multiple serial selection steps to isolate spontaneous mutants of industrial strains ofS. thermophilusandL. delbrueckiisubsp.bulgaricusthat secreted glucose rather than galactose when utilizing lactose as a carbon source. Sequencing revealed that theS. thermophilusstrains had mutations in thegalKTEMpromoter, the glucokinase gene, and genes encoding elements of the glucose/mannose phosphotransferase system (PTS). These strains metabolize galactose but are unable to phosphorylate glucose internally or via the PTS. TheL. delbrueckiisubsp.bulgaricusmutants had mutations in genes of the glucose/mannose PTS and in the pyruvate kinase gene. These strains cannot grow on exogenous glucose but are proficient at metabolizing internal glucose released from lactose by β-galactosidase. The resulting strains can be combined to ferment milk, producing yoghurt with no detectable lactose, moderate levels of galactose, and high levels of glucose. Since glucose tastes considerably sweeter than either lactose or galactose, the sweetness of the yoghurt is perceptibly enhanced. These strains were produced without the use of recombinant DNA technology and can be used for the industrial production of yoghurt with enhanced intrinsic sweetness and low residual levels of lactose.

IMPORTANCEBased on a good understanding of the physiology of the lactic acid bacteriaStreptococcus thermophilusandLactobacillus delbrueckiisubsp.bulgaricus, we were able, by selecting spontaneously occurring mutants, to change dramatically the metabolic products secreted into the growth medium. These mutants consume substantially more of the lactose, metabolize some of the galactose, and secrete the remaining galactose and most of the glucose back into the milk. This allows production of yoghurt with very low lactose levels and enhanced natural sweetness, because humans perceive glucose as sweeter than either lactose or galactose.
Virulence Gene Profiles and Clonal Relationships of Escherichia coli O26:H11 Isolates from Feedlot Cattle as Determined by Whole-Genome Sequencing
Authors: Gonzalez-Escalona Narjol , Toro Magaly , Rump Lydia V. , Cao Guojie , Nagaraja T. G. , Meng Jianghong
Published: April 2016

Escherichia coli
O26 is the second most important enterohemorrhagic
E. coli
(EHEC) serogroup worldwide. Serogroup O26 strains are categorized mainly into two groups: enteropathogenic (EPEC) O26, carrying a locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) and mostly causing mild diarrhea, and Shiga-toxigenic (STEC) O26, which carries the Shiga toxin (STX) gene (
stx
), responsible for more severe outcomes.
stx
-negative O26 strains can be further split into two groups. One O26 group differs significantly from O26 EHEC, while the other O26 EHEC-like group shows all the characteristics of EHEC O26 except production of STX. In order to determine the different populations of O26
E. coli
present in U.S. cattle, we sequenced 42 O26:H11 strains isolated from feedlot cattle and compared them to 37 O26:H11 genomes available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis by whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST) showed that O26:H11/H
−
strains in U.S. cattle were highly diverse. Most strains were sequence type 29 (ST29). By wgMLST, two clear lineages could be distinguished among cattle strains. Lineage 1 consisted of O26:H11 EHEC-like strains (ST29) (4 strains) and O26:H11 EHEC strains (ST21) (2 strains), and lineage 2 (36 strains) consisted of O26:H11 EPEC strains (ST29). Overall, our analysis showed U.S. cattle carried pathogenic (ST21;
stx
1
+
ehxA
+
toxB
+
) and also potentially pathogenic (ST29;
ehxA

+

toxB

+

) O26:H11
E. coli
strains. Furthermore,
in silico
analysis showed that 70% of the cattle strains carried at least one antimicrobial resistance gene. Our results showed that whole-genome sequence analysis is a robust and valid approach to identify and genetically characterize
E. coli
O26:H11, which is of importance for food safety and public health.

IMPORTANCE
Escherichia coli
O26 is the second most important type of enterohemorrhagic
E. coli
(EHEC) worldwide. Serogroup O26 strains are categorized into two groups: enteropathogenic (EPEC) carrying LEE, causing mild diarrhea, and Shiga toxigenic (STEC) carrying the
stx
gene, responsible for more severe outcomes. However, there are currently problems in distinguishing one group from the other. Furthermore, several O26
stx
-negative strains are consistently misidentified as either EHEC-like or EPEC. The use of whole-genome sequence (WGS) analysis of O26 strains from cattle in the United States (i) allowed identification of O26 strains present in U.S. cattle, (ii) determined O26 strain diversity, (iii) solved the misidentification problem, and (iv) screened for the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in the strains. This study provided a framework showing how to easily and rapidly use WGS information to identify and genetically characterize
E. coli
O26:H11, which is important for food safety and public health.
Biomagnetic Recovery and Bioaccumulation of Selenium Granules in Magnetotactic Bacteria
Authors: Tanaka Masayoshi , Knowles William , Brown Rosemary , Hondow Nicole , Arakaki Atsushi , Baldwin Stephen , Staniland Sarah , Matsunaga Tadashi
Published: April 2016

Using microorganisms to remove waste and/or neutralize pollutants from contaminated water is attracting much attention due to the environmentally friendly nature of this methodology. However, cell recovery remains a bottleneck and a considerable challenge for the development of this process. Magnetotactic bacteria are a unique group of organisms that can be manipulated by an external magnetic field due to the presence of biogenic magnetite crystals formed within their cells. In this study, we demonstrated an account of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria alongside and independent of magnetite crystal biomineralization when grown in a medium containing selenium oxyanion (SeO
3
2−
). Quantitative analysis shows that magnetotactic bacteria accumulate the largest amount of target molecules (Se) per cell compared with any other previously reported nonferrous metal/metalloid. For example, 2.4 and 174 times more Se is accumulated than Te taken up into cells and Cd
2+
adsorbed onto the cell surface, respectively. Crucially, the bacteria with high levels of Se accumulation were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. The biomagnetic recovery and the effective accumulation of target elements demonstrate the potential for application in bioremediation of polluted water.

IMPORTANCE
The development of a technique for effective environmental water remediation is urgently required across the globe. A biological remediation process of waste removal and/or neutralization of pollutant from contaminated water using microorganisms has great potential, but cell recovery remains a bottleneck. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize magnetic particles within their cells, which can be recovered by a magnetic field. Herein, we report an example of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria independent of magnetic particle synthesis. The cells were able to accumulate the largest amount of Se compared to other foreign elements. More importantly, the Se-accumulating bacteria were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. We believe magnetotactic bacteria confer unique advantages of biomagnetic cell recovery and of Se accumulation, providing a new and effective methodology for bioremediation of polluted water.
GamR, the LysR-Type Galactose Metabolism Regulator, Regulates
hrp
Gene Expression via Transcriptional Activation of Two Key
hrp
Regulators, HrpG and HrpX, in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Authors: Rashid M. Mamunur , Ikawa Yumi , Tsuge Seiji
Published: April 2016

Xanthomonas oryzae
pv. oryzae is the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight of rice. For the virulence of the bacterium, the
hrp
genes, encoding components of the type III secretion system, are indispensable. The expression of
hrp
genes is regulated by two key
hrp
regulators, HrpG and HrpX: HrpG regulates
hrpX
, and HrpX regulates other
hrp
genes. Several other regulators have been shown to be involved in the regulation of
hrp
genes. Here, we found that a LysR-type transcriptional regulator that we named GamR, encoded by
XOO_2767
of
X. oryzae
pv. oryzae strain MAFF311018, positively regulated the transcription of both
hrpG
and
hrpX
, which are adjacent to each other but have opposite orientations, with an intergenic upstream region in common. In a gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay, GamR bound directly to the middle of the upstream region common to
hrpG
and
hrpX
. The loss of either GamR or its binding sites decreased
hrpG
and
hrpX
expression. Also, GamR bound to the upstream region of either a galactose metabolism-related gene (
XOO_2768
) or a galactose metabolism-related operon (
XOO_2768
to
XOO_2771
) located next to
gamR
itself and positively regulated the genes. The deletion of the regulator gene resulted in less bacterial growth in a synthetic medium with galactose as a sole sugar source. Interestingly, induction of the galactose metabolism-related gene was dependent on galactose, while that of the
hrp
regulator genes was galactose independent. Our results indicate that the LysR-type transcriptional regulator that regulates the galactose metabolism-related gene(s) also acts in positive regulation of two key
hrp
regulators and the following
hrp
genes in
X. oryzae
pv. oryzae.

IMPORTANCE
The expression of
hrp
genes encoding components of the type III secretion system is essential for the virulence of many plant-pathogenic bacteria, including
Xanthomonas oryzae
pv. oryzae. It is specifically induced during infection. Research has revealed that in this bacterium,
hrp
gene expression is controlled by two key
hrp
regulators, HrpG and HrpX, along with several other regulators in the complex regulatory network, but the details remain unclear. Here, we found that a novel LysR-type transcriptional activator, named GamR, functions as an
hrp
regulator by directly activating the transcription of both
hrpG
and
hrpX
. Interestingly, GamR also regulates a galactose metabolism-related gene (or operon) in a galactose-dependent manner, while the regulation of
hrpG
and
hrpX
is independent of the sugar. Our finding of a novel
hrp
regulator that directly and simultaneously regulates two key
hrp
regulators provides new insights into an important and complex regulation system of
X. oryzae
pv. oryzae
hrp
genes.