bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Origin and Effect of Alpha 2.2 Acetobacteraceae in Honey Bee Larvae and Description of Parasaccharibacter apium gen. nov., sp. nov
Authors: Corby-Harris Vanessa , Snyder Lucy A. , Schwan Melissa R. , Maes Patrick , McFrederick Quinn S. , Anderson Kirk E. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

The honey bee hive environment contains a rich microbial community that differs according to niche.
Acetobacteraceae
Alpha 2.2 (Alpha 2.2) bacteria are present in the food stores, the forager crop, and larvae but at negligible levels in the nurse and forager midgut and hindgut. We first sought to determine the source of Alpha 2.2 in young larvae by assaying the diversity of microbes in nurse crops, hypopharyngeal glands (HGs), and royal jelly (RJ). Amplicon-based pyrosequencing showed that Alpha 2.2 bacteria occupy each of these environments along with a variety of other bacteria, including
Lactobacillus kunkeei
. RJ and the crop contained fewer bacteria than the HGs, suggesting that these tissues are rather selective environments. Phylogenetic analyses showed that honey bee-derived Alpha 2.2 bacteria are specific to bees that “nurse” the hive's developing brood with HG secretions and are distinct from the
Saccharibacter
-type bacteria found in bees that provision their young differently, such as with a pollen ball coated in crop-derived contents.
Acetobacteraceae
can form symbiotic relationships with insects, so we next tested whether Alpha 2.2 increased larval fitness. We cultured 44 Alpha 2.2 strains from young larvae that grouped into nine distinct clades. Three isolates from these nine clades flourished in royal jelly, and one isolate increased larval survival
in vitro
. We conclude that Alpha 2.2 bacteria are not gut bacteria but are prolific in the crop-HG-RJ-larva niche, passed to the developing brood through nurse worker feeding behavior. We propose the name
Parasaccharibacter apium
for this bacterial symbiont of bees in the genus
Apis
.
Enzymatic Biosynthesis of Novel Resveratrol Glucoside and Glycoside Derivatives
Authors: Pandey Ramesh Prasad , Parajuli Prakash , Shin Ju Yong , Lee Jisun , Lee Seul , Hong Young-Soo , Park Yong Il , Kim Joong Su , Sohng Jae Kyung 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

A UDP glucosyltransferase from
Bacillus licheniformis
was overexpressed, purified, and incubated with nucleotide diphosphate (NDP)
d
- and
l
-sugars to produce glucose, galactose, 2-deoxyglucose, viosamine, rhamnose, and fucose sugar-conjugated resveratrol glycosides. Significantly higher (90%) bioconversion of resveratrol was achieved with α-
d
-glucose as the sugar donor to produce four different glucosides of resveratrol: resveratrol 3-
O
-β-
d
-glucoside, resveratrol 4′-
O
-β-
d
-glucoside, resveratrol 3,5-
O
-β-
d
-diglucoside, and resveratrol 3,5,4′-
O
-β-
d
-triglucoside. The conversion rates and numbers of products formed were found to vary with the other NDP sugar donors. Resveratrol 3-
O
-β-
d
-2-deoxyglucoside and resveratrol 3,5-
O
-β-
d
-di-2-deoxyglucoside were found to be produced using TDP-2-deoxyglucose as a donor; however, the monoglycosides resveratrol 4′-
O
-β-
d
-galactoside, resveratrol 4′-
O
-β-
d
-viosaminoside, resveratrol 3-
O
-β-
l
-rhamnoside, and resveratrol 3-
O
-β-
l
-fucoside were produced from the respective sugar donors. Altogether, 10 diverse glycoside derivatives of the medically important resveratrol were generated, demonstrating the capacity of YjiC to produce structurally diverse resveratrol glycosides.
Fungal Community Responses to Past and Future Atmospheric CO
2
Differ by Soil Type
Authors: Procter Andrew C. , Ellis J. Christopher , Fay Philip A. , Polley H. Wayne , Jackson Robert B. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Soils sequester and release substantial atmospheric carbon, but the contribution of fungal communities to soil carbon balance under rising CO
2
is not well understood. Soil properties likely mediate these fungal responses but are rarely explored in CO
2
experiments. We studied soil fungal communities in a grassland ecosystem exposed to a preindustrial-to-future CO
2
gradient (250 to 500 ppm) in a black clay soil and a sandy loam soil. Sanger sequencing and pyrosequencing of the rRNA gene cluster revealed that fungal community composition and its response to CO
2
differed significantly between soils. Fungal species richness and relative abundance of Chytridiomycota (chytrids) increased linearly with CO
2
in the black clay (
P
< 0.04,
R
2
> 0.7), whereas the relative abundance of Glomeromycota (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) increased linearly with elevated CO
2
in the sandy loam (
P
= 0.02,
R
2
= 0.63). Across both soils, decomposition rate was positively correlated with chytrid relative abundance (
r
= 0.57) and, in the black clay soil, fungal species richness. Decomposition rate was more strongly correlated with microbial biomass (
r
= 0.88) than with fungal variables. Increased labile carbon availability with elevated CO
2
may explain the greater fungal species richness and Chytridiomycota abundance in the black clay soil, whereas increased phosphorus limitation may explain the increase in Glomeromycota at elevated CO
2
in the sandy loam. Our results demonstrate that soil type plays a key role in soil fungal responses to rising atmospheric CO
2
.
The Intimin-Like Protein FdeC Is Regulated by H-NS and Temperature in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Authors: Easton Donna M. , Allsopp Luke P. , Phan Minh-Duy , Moriel Danilo Gomes , Goh Guan Kai , Beatson Scott A. , Mahony Timothy J. , Cobbold Rowland N. , Schembri Mark A. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) is a Shiga-toxigenic pathogen capable of inducing severe forms of enteritis (e.g., hemorrhagic colitis) and extraintestinal sequelae (e.g., hemolytic-uremic syndrome). The molecular basis of colonization of human and animal hosts by EHEC is not yet completely understood, and an improved understanding of EHEC mucosal adherence may lead to the development of interventions that could disrupt host colonization. FdeC, also referred to by its IHE3034 locus tag ECOK1_0290, is an intimin-like protein that was recently shown to contribute to kidney colonization in a mouse urinary tract infection model. The expression of FdeC is tightly regulated
in vitro
, and FdeC shows promise as a vaccine candidate against extraintestinal
E. coli
strains. In this study, we characterized the prevalence, regulation, and function of
fdeC
in EHEC. We showed that the
fdeC
gene is conserved in both O157 and non-O157 EHEC and encodes a protein that is expressed at the cell surface and promotes biofilm formation under continuous-flow conditions in a recombinant
E. coli
strain background. We also identified culture conditions under which FdeC is expressed and showed that minor alterations of these conditions, such as changes in temperature, can significantly alter the level of FdeC expression. Additionally, we demonstrated that the transcription of the
fdeC
gene is repressed by the global regulator H-NS. Taken together, our data suggest a role for FdeC in EHEC when it grows at temperatures above 37°C, a condition relevant to its specialized niche at the rectoanal junctions of cattle.
Rhizobia Indigenous to the Okavango Region in Sub-Saharan Africa: Diversity, Adaptations, and Host Specificity
Authors: Grönemeyer Jann L. , Kulkarni Ajinkya , Berkelmann Dirk , Hurek Thomas , Reinhold-Hurek Barbara 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

The rhizobial community indigenous to the Okavango region has not yet been characterized. The isolation of indigenous rhizobia can provide a basis for the formulation of a rhizobial inoculant. Moreover, their identification and characterization contribute to the general understanding of species distribution and ecology. Isolates were obtained from nodules of local varieties of the pulses cowpea, Bambara groundnut, peanut, hyacinth bean, and common bean. Ninety-one of them were identified by BOX repetitive element PCR (BOX-PCR) and sequence analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA internally transcribed spacer (ITS) and the
recA
,
glnII
,
rpoB
, and
nifH
genes. A striking geographical distribution was observed.
Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi
dominated at sampling sites in Angola which were characterized by acid soils and a semihumid climate. Isolates from the semiarid sampling sites in Namibia were more diverse, with most of them being related to
Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense
and
Bradyrhizobium daqingense
. Host plant specificity was observed only for hyacinth bean, which was nodulated by rhizobia presumably representing yet-undescribed species. Furthermore, the isolates were characterized with respect to their adaptation to high temperatures, drought, and local host plants. The adaptation experiments revealed that the Namibian isolates shared an exceptionally high temperature tolerance, but none of the isolates showed considerable adaptation to drought. Moreover, the isolates' performance on different local hosts showed variable results, with most Namibian isolates inducing better nodulation on peanut and hyacinth bean than the Angolan strains. The local predominance of distinct genotypes implies that indigenous strains may exhibit a better performance in inoculant formulations.
Spatially Organized Films from Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Prey Lysates
Authors: Ferguson Megan A. , Núñez Megan E. , Kim Hyeong-Jin , Goffredi Shana , Shamskhou Elya , Faudree Leanna , Chang Evan , Landry Rebecca M. , Ma Andrew , Choi Da-Eun , Thomas Nicholas , Schmitt Jaclyn , Spain Eileen M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
is a Gram-negative predator of other Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly,
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
109J cells grown in coculture with
Escherichia coli
ML-35 prey develop into a spatially organized two-dimensional film when located on a nutrient-rich surface. From deposition of 10 μl of a routine cleared coculture of
B. bacteriovorus
and
E. coli
cells, the cells multiply into a macroscopic community and segregate into an inner, yellow circular region and an outer, off-white region. Fluorescence
in situ
hybridization and atomic force microscopy measurements confirm that the mature film is spatially organized into two morphologically distinct
Bdellovibrio
populations, with primarily small, vibroid cells in the center and a complex mixture of pleomorphic cells in the outer radii. The interior region cell population exhibits the hunting phenotype while the outer region cell subpopulation does not. Crowding and high nutrient availability with limited prey appear to favor diversification of the
B. bacteriovorus
population into two distinct, thriving subpopulations and may be beneficial to the persistence of
B. bacteriovorus
in biofilms.
The
sps
Gene Products Affect the Germination, Hydrophobicity, and Protein Adsorption of Bacillus subtilis Spores
Authors: Cangiano Giuseppina , Sirec Teja , Panarella Cristina , Isticato Rachele , Baccigalupi Loredana , De Felice Maurilio , Ricca Ezio 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

The multilayered surface of the
Bacillus subtilis
spore is composed of proteins and glycans. While over 70 different proteins have been identified as surface components, carbohydrates associated with the spore surface have not been characterized in detail yet. Bioinformatic data suggest that the 11 products of the
sps
operon are involved in the synthesis of polysaccharides present on the spore surface, but an experimental validation is available only for the four distal genes of the operon. Here, we report a transcriptional analysis of the
sps
operon and a functional study performed by constructing and analyzing two null mutants lacking either all or only the promoter-proximal gene of the operon. Our results show that both
sps
mutant spores apparently have normal coat and crust but have a small germination defect and are more hydrophobic than wild-type spores. We also show that spores lacking all Sps proteins are highly adhesive and form extensive clumps. In addition,
sps
mutant spores have an increased efficiency in adsorbing a heterologous enzyme, suggesting that hydrophobic force is a major determinant of spore adsorption and indicating that a deep understanding of the surface properties of the spore is essential for its full development as a surface display platform.
Ultrastructure and Composition of the Nannochloropsis gaditana Cell Wall
Authors: Scholz Matthew J. , Weiss Taylor L. , Jinkerson Robert E. , Jing Jia , Roth Robyn , Goodenough Ursula , Posewitz Matthew C. , Gerken Henri G. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Marine algae of the genus
Nannochloropsis
are promising producers of biofuel precursors and nutraceuticals and are also harvested commercially for aquaculture feed. We have used quick-freeze, deep-etch electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and carbohydrate analyses to characterize the architecture of the
Nannochloropsis gaditana
(strain CCMP 526) cell wall, whose recalcitrance presents a significant barrier to biocommodity extraction. The data indicate a bilayer structure consisting of a cellulosic inner wall (∼75% of the mass balance) protected by an outer hydrophobic algaenan layer. Cellulase treatment of walls purified after cell lysis generates highly enriched algaenan preparations without using the harsh chemical treatments typically used in algaenan isolation and characterization.
Nannochloropsis
algaenan was determined to comprise long, straight-chain, saturated aliphatics with ether cross-links, which closely resembles the cutan of vascular plants. Chemical identification of >85% of the isolated cell wall mass is detailed, and genome analysis is used to identify candidate biosynthetic enzymes.
Characterization of Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Like Proteins in Francisella tularensis and Identification of a Novel Locus Required for Virulence
Authors: Dankova Vera , Balonova Lucie , Straskova Adela , Spidlova Petra , Putzova Daniela , Kijek Todd , Bozue Joel , Cote Christopher , Mou Sherry , Worsham Patricia , Szotakova Barbora , Cerveny Lukas , Stulik Jiri 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Francisella tularensis
is a highly infectious bacterium that causes the potentially lethal disease tularemia. This extremely virulent bacterium is able to replicate in the cytosolic compartments of infected macrophages. To invade macrophages and to cope with their intracellular environment,
Francisella
requires multiple virulence factors, which are still being identified. Proteins containing tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-like domains seem to be promising targets to investigate, since these proteins have been reported to be directly involved in virulence-associated functions of bacterial pathogens. Here, we studied the role of the
FTS_0201
,
FTS_0778
, and
FTS_1680
genes, which encode putative TPR-like proteins in
Francisella tularensis
subsp.
holarctica
FSC200. Mutants defective in protein expression were prepared by TargeTron insertion mutagenesis. We found that the locus
FTS_1680
and its ortholog
FTT_0166c
in the highly virulent
Francisella tularensis
type A strain SchuS4 are required for proper intracellular replication, full virulence in mice, and heat stress tolerance. Additionally, the
FTS_1680
-encoded protein was identified as a membrane-associated protein required for full cytopathogenicity in macrophages. Our study thus identifies FTS_1680/FTT_0166c as a new virulence factor in
Francisella tularensis
.
Socioeconomic disadvantage and onset of childhood chronic disabling conditions: a cohort study
Authors: Spencer Nick , Strazdins Lyndall 
Published: September 2014

ObjectiveTo study the temporal relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and onset of chronic disabling conditions in childhood.MethodUsing parent reported data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we compared children who developed a chronic disabling condition between the ages of 6/7 and 10/11 years with children without a chronic disabling condition at either age. Logistic regression models assessed association between onset of chronic disabling condition and household income quintiles at 6/7 years, adjusting for confounders. To study the consequences of chronic disabling condition onset for family finances, a linear regression model was fitted on change in household income adjusted for income at 6/7. We compared prevalence of family material hardship in the two groups between 6/7 and 10/11.ResultsOf 4010 children present in both waves, complete data were available for 3629 of whom 233 (6.4%) developed a chronic disabling condition between 6/7 and 10/11. After adjustment for confounding, the children from the lowest income quintile were more than twice as likely to develop a chronic disabling condition as those from the highest income quintile. Onset of a chronic disabling condition was associated with a relatively smaller increase in household income over time, but no change in hardship prevalence.ConclusionsFamily socioeconomic disadvantage when children are aged 6/7 is associated with their development of a chronic disabling condition over the next 4 years and with adverse effects on household income.
Major health-related behaviours and mental well-being in the general population: the Health Survey for England
Authors: Stranges Saverio , Samaraweera Preshila Chandimali , Taggart Frances , Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin , Stewart-Brown Sarah 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundMajor behavioural risk factors are known to adversely affect health outcomes and be strongly associated with mental illness. However, little is known about the association of these risk factors with mental well-being in the general population. We sought to examine behavioural correlates of high and low mental well-being in the Health Survey for England.MethodsParticipants were 13 983 adults, aged 16 years and older (56% females), with valid responses for the combined 2010 and 2011 surveys. Mental well-being was assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). ORs of low and high mental well-being, compared to the middle-range category, were estimated for body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking habits, and fruit and vegetable intake.ResultsORs forlow mental well-beingwere increased in obese individuals (up to 1.72, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.36 in BMI 40+ kg/m2). They increased in a linear fashion with increasing smoking (up to 1.98, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.53, >20 cigarettes/day) and with decreasing fruit and vegetable intake (up to 1.53, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.90, <1 portion/day); whereas ORs were reduced for sensible alcohol intake (0.78, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.91, ≤4 units/day in men, ≤3 units/day in women). ORs forhigh mental well-beingwere not correlated with categories of BMI or alcohol intake. ORs were reduced among ex-smokers (0.81, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.92), as well as with lower fruit and vegetable intake (up to 0.79, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.92, 1 to <3 portions/day).ConclusionsAlong with smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption was the health-related behaviour most consistently associated with mental well-being in both sexes. Alcohol intake and obesity were associated with low, but not high mental well-being.
Improving junior doctor handover between jobs
Authors: Hayes Laura 
Published: September 2014

AbstractPatient safety is one of the most important issues in healthcare. In recent years there has been much focus on “Black Wednesday”; the day that Foundation doctors start their first jobs. Great efforts have been made to ensure that patient safety on this day has improved, with the main example being that newly qualified doctors now use some of their free time between medical school and starting their first job to shadow their outgoing counterparts.However, because Foundation doctors start a brand new job approximately every four months for two years, subsequent job changeovers were identified as a time of potential problems and increased patient risk. It is not practical to shadow prior to every job because junior doctors are needed in their current post right up until changeover day, so a simple way to smooth this transition was needed.A handover lunch seemed to be a feasible solution. The day before Foundation doctors change jobs, an hour is dedicated for Foundation Year 1 doctors (F1’s) to sit down together over lunch (provided by the mess) and take a formal handover of all relevant information about their forthcoming job and discuss current inpatients.Results showed that 100% of those surveyed mentioned face to face handover as essential, 93.75% said it was either helpful or extremely helpful to have a dedicated time for F1’s to handover, and 12.5% said they would not have sought a face to face handover otherwise. Apart from being extremely simple and cheap, it was very popular with the F1’s in the trust. It enables effective working from day one and is a great team building activity.
Improving mid stream urine sampling: reducing labelling error and laboratory rejection
Authors: Jakes Adam , McCue Eleanor , Cracknell Alison 
Published: September 2014

AbstractA urine sample is vital in older patients with pyrexia or acute confusion, and commonly directs clinicians towards a source of infection. Not only can the organism be identified, but sensitivities to antibiotics can also guide prescribing. A high number of urine samples were not being processed on the medicine for older people wards at St. James’s Hospital due to incomplete hand-written request forms not complying with trust policy. Previous attempts to re-educate staff had failed to improve acceptance rates. Rejected samples delay diagnosis, identification of organisms and subsequent sensitivities, as well as increasing staff workload.A total of 72 urine samples were audited from our wards in March 2013; 12 (17%) rejected. Clinicians were notified of rejected samples within one to four days. An electronic-requesting system was implemented in April 2013. Once implemented, a further two data collection cycles of 72 urine samples were completed from the same wards. In December 2013, 55 (76%) were electronically requested and 17 (24%) hand-written. Four (5%) samples were rejected and were all hand-written. In August 2014, 61 (85%) were electronically requested and 11 (15%) hand-written. No samples were rejected.The electronic-requesting system has effectively reduced the number of rejected urine samples. No electronically requested samples were rejected, therefore 100% sample acceptance is achievable. It is more effective than re-educating staff alone and ensures requests meet trust policy. Clinicians were notified of a samples rejection after one to four days. By this time patients may have started antibiotic therapy, decreasing the likelihood of isolating the causative organism in subsequent samples.All urine samples requested must meet a high standard and comply with trust policy in order to be processed. An electronic-requesting system removes errors of omission and ensures policy compliance, ultimately leading to improved patient care. Now our processes are reliable we will go onto measure changes at patient level, e.g. confirmed diagnoses of urine infection, outcomes of earlier narrow spectrum antibiotics, and length of stay.