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ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of intraocular pressure reduction between micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in patients with refractory primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: We included patients with primary open angle glaucoma with at least 12 months of follow-up. We collected and analyzed data on the preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes. The primary outcomes were a reduction of ≥20% of the baseline value (criterion A) and/or intraocular pressure between 6 and 21 mmHg (criterion B). Results: We included 128 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. The preoperative mean intraocular pressure was 25.53 ± 6.40 and 35.02 ± 12.57 mmHg in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups, respectively (p<0.001). The mean intraocular pressure was reduced significantly to 14.33 ± 3.40 and 15.37 ± 5.85 mmHg in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups at the last follow-up, respectively (p=0.110). The mean intraocular pressure reduction at 12 months was 11.20 ± 11.46 and 19.65 ± 13.22 mmHg in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups, respectively (p<0.001). The median preoperative logMAR visual acuity was 0.52 ± 0.69 and 1.75 ± 1.04 in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups, respectively (p<0.001). The mean visual acuity variation was −0.10 ± 0.35 and −0.074 ± 0.16 in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, respectively (p=0.510). Preoperatively, the mean eye drops were 3.44 ± 1.38 and 2.89 ± 0.68 drugs in the micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups, respectively (p=0.017), but those were 2.06 ± 1.42 and 1.02 ± 1.46 at the end of the study in the "slow cook" and micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation groups, respectively (p<0.001). The success of criterion A was not significant between both groups. Compared with 11 eyes (17.74%) in the "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation group, 19 eyes (28.78%) in the micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation group showed complete success (p=0.171). For criterion B, 28 (42.42%) and 2 eyes (3.22%) showed complete success after micropulse- and "slow cook" transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: Both techniques reduced intraocular pressure effectively.
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Testudines possess a rigid shell that influences the mechanics of the respiratory system. We studied respiratory mechanics in the terrestrial red-footed tortoise Chelonoidis carbonarius (Cryptodira), comparing juvenile individuals with a less ossified and more flexible carapace with adults with a well-ossified rigid shell. Combined with these ontogenetic differences, we analyzed respiratory system mechanics with animals in a supine and a prone position, as well as in the isolated lungs, to evaluate the impact of the viscera on breathing mechanics. To do so, we used established protocols to measure pulmonary volume (i.e. resting, VLr; and maximum, VLm), static (Cstat) and dynamic (Cdyn) compliance, and the work of breathing (W). We observed that isolated lungs displayed increased VLr, VLm, Cstat and Cdyn and decreased W. Additionally, pulmonary volume, compliance and W were affected by evaluated position, such as a smaller VLr in a supine position. Cdyn and W showed a volume dependency while frequency had less influence on these variables. At similar levels of ventilation, juveniles showed a lower W than adults when standardized by body mass, but similar W when standardized by VLr. Clear ontogenetic changes could be observed in breathing mechanics between juvenile and adult C. carbonarius. While these differences might largely be explained by variation in shell ossification, other explanations such as differences in visceral proportions or developmental degree of the post-pulmonary septum should also be taken into account.
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Pulmão , Mecânica Respiratória , Tartarugas , Animais , Pulmão/fisiologia , Pulmão/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Tartarugas/fisiologia , Tartarugas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Mecânica Respiratória/fisiologia , MasculinoRESUMO
Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant health threat because of its frequent implications in hospital outbreaks and multidrug resistance (MDR). Here, we studied four A. baumannii isolates recovered during a hospital outbreak of severe or fatal cases to elucidate their diversity and factors contributing to their increased virulence and antibiotic resistance. The isolates were identified using MALDI-ToF and characterized using comparative genomics, PCR, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. They were classified as ST126 and exhibited fewer than five chromosomal single-nucleotide variants and the same extrachromosomal content, indicating that they are a single strain (A. baumannii AB01). A. baumannii AB01 showed an MDR phenotype that could be linked to the carriage of parC and gyrA mutations, efflux transporters, aminoglycoside resistance genes, a class C beta-lactamase, and three carbapenemases, some of which are encoded on a 72 kb plasmid. ST126 is infrequent and has not been reported in Latin America, and our genomic data indicate a plausible origin for A. baumannii AB01 within the Pan Pacific region.
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Infecções por Acinetobacter , Acinetobacter baumannii , Proteínas de Bactérias , Surtos de Doenças , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Plasmídeos , beta-Lactamases , beta-Lactamases/genética , Humanos , Infecções por Acinetobacter/microbiologia , Infecções por Acinetobacter/epidemiologia , Acinetobacter baumannii/genética , Acinetobacter baumannii/efeitos dos fármacos , Acinetobacter baumannii/enzimologia , Acinetobacter baumannii/isolamento & purificação , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/genética , Plasmídeos/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Masculino , Feminino , Infecção Hospitalar/microbiologia , Infecção Hospitalar/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Purpose: Using an intersectionality framework, we compared stigma and HIV care and treatment outcomes across transgender and cisgender women sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic (DR). Methods: In 2018-2019, data were collected in Santo Domingo, DR, using interviewer-administered surveys among 211 cisgender women and 100 transgender women. We used t-tests and chi-square tests to examine differences in sex work stigma, HIV stigma, and HIV care and treatment. Results: Transgender participants reported more anticipated HIV stigma (mean=13.61, standard deviation [SD]=2.39) than cisgender participants (mean=12.96, SD=2.21; p=0.018), but there were no statistically significant differences for internalized or enacted HIV stigma. Cisgender participants reported more anticipated sex work stigma (cisgender: mean=50.00, SD=9.22; transgender: mean=44.02, SD=9.54; p<0.001), but transgender women reported more enacted (cisgender: mean=49.99, SD=9.11; transgender: mean=59.93, SD=4.89; p<0.001) and internalized sex work stigma (cisgender: mean=50.00, SD=8.80; transgender: mean=57.84, SD=8.34; p<0.001), with no significant differences in resistance to sex work stigma. Cisgender women were significantly more likely to have received HIV care (cisgender: 99.53%, transgender: 91.00%, p<0.001), be currently taking antiretroviral therapy (cisgender: 96.21%, transgender: 84.00%, p<0.001), and be virally suppressed (cisgender: 76.19%, transgender: 64.00%, p=0.025). Conclusions: Transgender participants consistently had poorer HIV care and treatment outcomes compared with cisgender participants. Differences in stigma experiences between transgender and cisgender participants depended on the type of stigma. Findings reflect the intersectional nature of distinct types and forms of stigma among sex workers. Understanding the shared and unique experiences of transgender and cisgender women will improve HIV care engagement and viral suppression.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced governments across the world to consider how to prioritize resource allocation. Most countries produced pandemic preparedness plans that guide and coordinate healthcare, including how to allocate scarce resources such as ventilators, human resources, and therapeutics. The objective of this study was to compare and contrast the extent to which established parameters for effective priority setting (PS) were incorporated into COVID-19 pandemic response planning in several countries around the world. Methods: We used the Kapriri and Martin framework for effective priority setting and performed a quantitative descriptive analysis to explore whether and how countries' type of health system, political, and economic contexts impacted the inclusion of those parameters in their COVID-19 pandemic plans. We analyzed 86 country plans across six regions of the World Health Organization. Results: The countries sampled represent 40% of nations in AFRO, 54.5% of EMRO, 45% of EURO, 46% of PAHO, 64% of SEARO, and 41% of WPRO. They also represent 39% of all HICs in the world, 39% of Upper-Middle, 54% of Lower-Middle, and 48% of LICs. No pattern in attention to parameters of PS emerged by WHO region or country income levels. The parameters: evidence of political will, stakeholder participation, and use of scientific evidence/ adoption of WHO recommendations were each found in over 80% of plans. We identified a description of a specific PS process in 7% of the plans; explicit criteria for PS in 36.5%; inclusion of publicity strategies in 65%; mention of mechanisms for appealing decisions or implementing procedures to improve internal accountability and reduce corruption in 20%; explicit reference to public values in 15%; and a description of means for enhancing compliance with the decisions in 5%. Conclusion: The findings provide a basis for policymakers to reflect on their prioritization plans and identify areas that need to be strengthened. Overall, there is little consideration for explicit prioritization processes and tools and restricted attention to equity considerations; this may be a starting point for policymakers interested in improving future preparedness and response planning. Although the study focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, priority setting remains one of the policymakers' most prominent challenges. Policymakers should consider integrating systematic priority setting in their routine decision-making processes.
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BACKGROUND: By addressing physical and psychosocial needs, group care (GC) improves health-related behaviours, peer support, parent-provider interactions and may improve birth outcomes. Hence, global implementation of GC is encouraged. Context analyses prior to implementation are vital to elucidate which local factors may support or hinder implementation. METHODS: Contextual analyses conducted in the Netherlands and Suriname were compared to identify the factors relevant to the implementability of GC as perceived by healthcare professionals (HCPs). 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dutch and Surinamese healthcare professionals. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and coded using the Framework approach. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the development of the interview guide and of the coding tree. RESULTS: Outer setting: Concerns regarding funding surfaced in both countries. Due to limited health insurance coverage, additional fees would limit accessibility in Suriname. In the Netherlands, midwives dreaded lower revenue due to reimbursement policies that favour one-on-one care. Inner setting: Appropriate space for GC was absent in one Dutch and three Surinamese facilities. Role division regarding GC implementation was clearer in the Netherlands than in Suriname. INNOVATION: HCPs from both countries expected increased social support, health knowledge among women, and continuity of care(r). Individuals/innovation deliverers: Self-efficacy and motivation emerged as intertwined determinants to GC implementation in both countries. Individuals/innovation recipients: Competing demands can potentially lower acceptability of GC in both countries. While Dutch HCPs prioritised an open dialogue with mothers, Surinamese HCPs encouraged the inclusion of partners. PROCESS: Campaigns to raise awareness of GC were proposed. Language barriers were a concern for Dutch but not for Surinamese HCPs. CONCLUSIONS: While the most striking differences between both countries were found in the outer setting, they trickle down and affect all layers of context. Ultimately, at a later stage, the process evaluation will show if those outer setting barriers we identified prior to implementation actually hindered GC implementation. Changes to the health care systems would ensure sustained implementation in both countries, and this conclusion feeds into a more general discussion: how to proceed when contextual analyses reveal barriers that cannot be addressed with the time and resources available.
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Pesquisa Qualitativa , Humanos , Suriname/etnologia , Países Baixos , Feminino , Gravidez , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Adulto , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Tocologia , Pessoal de Saúde/psicologia , Apoio SocialRESUMO
The ultimate consequence of Darwin's theory of common descent implies that all life on earth descends ultimately from a common ancestor. Biochemistry and molecular biology now provide sufficient evidence of shared ancestry of all extant life forms. However, the nature of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) has been a topic of much debate over the years. This review offers a historical perspective on different attempts to infer LUCA's nature, exploring the debate surrounding its complexity. We further examine how different methodologies identify sets of ancient protein that exhibit only partial overlap. For example, different bioinformatic approaches have identified distinct protein subunits from the ATP synthetase identified as potentially inherited from LUCA. Additionally, we discuss how detailed molecular evolutionary analysis of reverse gyrase has modified previous inferences about an hyperthermophilic LUCA based mainly on automatic bioinformatic pipelines. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of developing a database dedicated to studying genes and proteins traceable back to LUCA and earlier stages of cellular evolution. Such a database would house the most ancient genes on earth.
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Evolução Molecular , Filogenia , Biologia Computacional/métodos , Evolução Biológica , Origem da VidaRESUMO
In the present work, we carried out a comparative genomic analysis to trace the evolutionary trajectory of the bacterial species that make up the Liquorilactobacillus genus, from the identification of genes and speciation/adaptation mechanisms in their unique characteristics to the identification of the pattern grouping these species. We present phylogenetic relationships between Liquorilactobacillus and related taxa such as Bacillus, basal lactobacilli and Ligilactobacillus, highlighting evolutionary divergences and lifestyle transitions across different taxa. The species of this genus share a core genome of 1023 genes, distributed in all COGs, which made it possible to characterize it as Liquorilactobacillus sensu lato: few amino acid auxotrophy, low genes number for resistance to antibiotics and general and specific cellular reprogramming mechanisms for environmental responses. These species were divided into four clades, with diversity being enhanced mainly by the diversity of genes involved in sugar metabolism. Clade 1 presented lower (< 70%) average amino acid identity with the other clades, with exclusive or absent genes, and greater distance in the genome compared to clades 2, 3 and 4. The data pointed to an ancestor of clades 2, 3 and 4 as being the origin of the genus Ligilactobacillus, while the species of clade 1 being closer to the ancestral Bacillus. All these traits indicated that the species of clade 1 could be soon separated in a distinct genus.
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Fermentação , Genoma Bacteriano , Filogenia , Adaptação Fisiológica/genética , Evolução Molecular , Bacillus/genética , Bacillus/metabolismoRESUMO
We present new genomes from the bacterial symbiont Candidatus Dactylopiibacterium carminicum obtained from non-domesticated carmine cochineals belonging to the scale insect Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae). As Dactylopiibacterium has not yet been cultured in the laboratory, metagenomes and metatranscriptomics have been key in revealing putative symbiont functions. Dactylopiibacterium is a nitrogen-fixing beta-proteobacterium that may be vertically transmitted and shows differential gene expression inside the cochineal depending on the tissue colonized. Here we found that all cochineal species tested had Dactylopiibacterium carminicum which has a highly conserved genome. All Dactylopiibacterium genomes analyzed had genes involved in nitrogen fixation and plant polymer degradation. Dactylopiibacterium genomes resemble those from free-living plant bacteria, some found as endophytes. Notably, we found here a new putative novel function where the bacteria may protect the insect from viruses, since all Dactylopiibacterium genomes contain CRISPRs with a spacer matching nucleopolyhedrovirus that affects insects.
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Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Genoma Bacteriano , Hemípteros , Simbiose , Hemípteros/microbiologia , Hemípteros/virologia , Animais , Genoma Bacteriano/genética , Genômica , Filogenia , Fixação de NitrogênioRESUMO
Platyhelminthes, also known as flatworms, is a phylum of bilaterian invertebrates infamous for their parasitic representatives. The classes Cestoda, Monogenea, and Trematoda comprise parasitic helminths inhabiting multiple hosts, including fishes, humans, and livestock, and are responsible for considerable economic damage and burden on human health. As in other animals, the genomes of flatworms have a wide variety of paralogs, genes related via duplication, whose origins could be mapped throughout the evolution of the phylum. Through in-silico analysis, we studied inparalogs, i.e., species-specific duplications, focusing on their biological functions, expression changes, and evolutionary rate. These genes are thought to be key players in the adaptation process of species to each particular niche. Our results showed that genes related with specific functional terms, such as response to stress, transferase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and peptidases, are overrepresented among inparalogs. This trend is conserved among species from different classes, including free-living species. Available expression data from Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite from the trematode class, demonstrated high conservation of expression patterns between inparalogs, but with notable exceptions, which also display evidence of rapid evolution. We discuss how natural selection may operate to maintain these genes and the particular duplication models that fit better to the observations. Our work supports the critical role of gene duplication in the evolution of flatworms, representing the first study of inparalogs evolution at the genome-wide level in this group.
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Evolução Molecular , Duplicação Gênica , Platelmintos , Animais , Platelmintos/genética , Platelmintos/classificação , Genoma Helmíntico , Especificidade da Espécie , FilogeniaRESUMO
Exploring the intricate relationships between plants and their resident microorganisms is crucial not only for developing new methods to improve disease resistance and crop yields but also for understanding their co-evolutionary dynamics. Our research delves into the role of the phyllosphere-associated microbiome, especially Actinomycetota species, in enhancing pathogen resistance in Theobroma grandiflorum, or cupuassu, an agriculturally valuable Amazonian fruit tree vulnerable to witches' broom disease caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa. While breeding resistant cupuassu genotypes is a possible solution, the capacity of the Actinomycetota phylum to produce beneficial metabolites offers an alternative approach yet to be explored in this context. Utilizing advanced long-read sequencing and metagenomic analysis, we examined Actinomycetota from the phyllosphere of a disease-resistant cupuassu genotype, identifying 11 Metagenome-Assembled Genomes across eight genera. Our comparative genomic analysis uncovered 54 Biosynthetic Gene Clusters related to antitumor, antimicrobial, and plant growth-promoting activities, alongside cutinases and type VII secretion system-associated genes. These results indicate the potential of phyllosphere-associated Actinomycetota in cupuassu for inducing resistance or antagonism against pathogens. By integrating our genomic discoveries with the existing knowledge of cupuassu's defense mechanisms, we developed a model hypothesizing the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between plant and identified Actinomycetota during plant-pathogen interactions. This model offers a framework for understanding the intricate dynamics of microbial influence on plant health. In conclusion, this study underscores the significance of the phyllosphere microbiome, particularly Actinomycetota, in the broader context of harnessing microbial interactions for plant health. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.
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Doenças das Plantas , Folhas de Planta , Folhas de Planta/microbiologia , Folhas de Planta/genética , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia , Doenças das Plantas/genética , Resistência à Doença/genética , Microbiota/genética , Ecossistema , Actinobacteria/genética , Actinobacteria/isolamento & purificação , Metagenômica/métodos , Metagenoma/genética , Filogenia , Brassicaceae/microbiologia , Brassicaceae/genéticaRESUMO
The evolution, survival, and adaptation of microbes are consequences of gene duplication, acquisition, and divergence in response to environmental challenges. In this context, enzymes play a central role in the evolution of organisms, because they are fundamental in cell metabolism. Here, we analyzed the enzymatic repertoire in 6,467 microbial genomes, including their abundances, and their associations with metabolic maps. We found that the enzymes follow a power-law distribution, in relation to the genome sizes. Therefore, we evaluated the total proportion enzymatic classes in relation to the genomes, identifying a descending-order proportion: transferases (EC:2.-), hydrolases (EC:3.-), oxidoreductases (EC:1.-), ligases (EC:6.-), lyases (EC:4.-), isomerases (EC:5.-), and translocases (EC:7-.). In addition, we identified a preferential use of enzymatic classes in metabolism pathways for xenobiotics, cofactors and vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids, glycans, and energy. Therefore, this analysis provides clues about the functional constraints associated with the enzymatic repertoire of functions in Bacteria and Archaea.
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Escalating biodiesel production led to a surplus of glycerol, prompting its exploration as a valuable resource in industrial applications. Electrochemical systems have been studied, specifically employing noble metal catalysts like palladium for glycerol electrooxidation. Despite numerous studies on Pd-based catalysts for glycerol electrooxidation, a comprehensive analysis addressing critical questions related to the economic feasibility, global sourcing of Pd, and the thematic cohesion of publications in this field is lacking. Moreover, a standardized framework for comparing the results of various studies is absent, hindering progress on glycerol technologies. This critical overview navigates the evolution of Pd-based catalysts for glycerol electrooxidation, examining catalytic activity, stability, and potential applications. It critically addresses the geographical sources of Pd, the motivation behind glycerol technology exploration, thematic coherence in existing publications, and the meaningful comparison of results. It correlates the use of Pd-based catalysts with the natural source of Pd and the origin of glycerol derived from biodiesel. The proposed standardized approach for comparing electrochemical parameters and establishing experimental protocols provides a foundation for meaningful study comparisons. This critical overview underscores the need to address fundamental questions to accelerate the transition of glycerol technologies from laboratories to practical applications.
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen that causes healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) worldwide. It is unclear whether P. aeruginosa isolated from the natural environment has the same pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance potential as clinical strains. In this study, virulence- and resistance-associated genes were compared in 14 genomic sequences of clinical and environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa using the VFDB, PATRIC, and CARD databases. All isolates were found to share 62% of virulence genes related to adhesion, motility, secretion systems, and quorum sensing and 72.9% of resistance genes related to efflux pumps and membrane permeability. Our results indicate that both types of isolates possess conserved genetic information associated with virulence and resistance mechanisms regardless of the source. However, none of the environmental isolates were associated with high-risk clones (HRCs). These clones (ST235 and ST111) were found only in clinical isolates, which have an impact on human medical epidemiology due to their ability to spread and persist, indicating a correlation between the clinical environment and increased virulence. The genomic variation and antibiotic susceptibility of environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa suggest potential biotechnological applications if obtained from sources that are under surveillance and investigation to limit the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant strains.
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Products from stingless bees are rich reservoirs of microbial diversity, including yeasts with fermentative potential. Previously, two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, JP14 and IP9, were isolated from Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula) and Iraí (Nannotrigona testaceicornis) bees, respectively, aiming at mead production. Both strains presented great osmotic and sulfite tolerance, and ethanol production, although they have a high free amino nitrogen demand. Herein, their genomes were sequenced, assembled, and annotated, and the variants were compared to the S. cerevisiae S288c reference strain. The final assembly of IP9 and JP14 presented high N50 and BUSCO scores, and more than 6430 protein-coding genes. Additionally, nQuire predicted the ploidy of IP9 as diploid, but the results were not enough to determine the ploidy of JP14. The mitochondrial genomes of IP9 and JP14 presented the same gene content as S288c but the genes were rearranged and fragmented in different patterns. Meanwhile, the genes with mutations of high impact (e.g., indels, gain of stop codon) for both yeasts were enriched for transmembrane transport, electron transfer, oxidoreductase, heme binding, fructose, mannose, and glucose transport, activities related to the respiratory chain and sugar metabolism. The IP9 strain presented copy number gains in genes related to sugar transport and cell morphogenesis; in JP14, genes were enriched for disaccharide metabolism and transport, response to reactive oxygen species, and polyamine transport. On the other hand, IP9 presented copy number losses related to disaccharide, thiamine, and aldehyde metabolism, while JP14 presented depletions related to disaccharide, oligosaccharide, asparagine, and aspartate metabolism. Notably, both strains presented a killer toxin gene, annotated from the assembling of unmapped reads, representing a potential mechanism for the control of other microorganisms population in the environment. Therefore, the annotated genomes of JP14 and IP9 presented a high selective pressure for sugar and nitrogen metabolism and stress response, consistent with their isolation source and fermentative properties.
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Genoma Fúngico , Pólen , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Animais , Abelhas/microbiologia , Abelhas/genética , Pólen/genética , Genoma MitocondrialRESUMO
Sessile organisms, such as plants, developed various ways to sense and respond to external and internal stimuli to maximize their fitness through evolutionary time. Transcripts and protein regulation are, among many, the main mechanisms that plants use to respond to environmental changes. SKIP protein is one such, presenting an SNKW interacting domain, which is highly conserved among eukaryotes, where SKI interacting protein acts in regulating key processes. In the present work, many bioinformatics tools, such as phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, physical-chemical properties, conserved motifs, prediction of regulatory cis-elements, chromosomal localization, and protein-protein interaction network, were used to better understand the genome-wide SNW/SKIP domain-containing proteins. In total, 28 proteins containing the SNW/SKIP domain were identified in different plant species, including plants of agronomic interest. Two main protein clusters were formed in phylogenetic analysis, and gene structure analysis revealed that, in general, the coding region had no introns. Also, expression of these genes is possibly induced by abiotic stress stimuli. Primary structure analysis of the proteins revealed the existence of an evolutionarily conserved functional unit. But physicochemical properties show that proteins containing the SNW/SKIP domain are commonly unstable under in vivo conditions. In addition, the protein network, demonstrated that SKIP homologues could act by modulating plant fitness through gene expression regulation at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This could be corroborated by the expression number of gene copies of SKIP proteins in many species, highlighting it's crucial role in plant development and tolerance through the course of evolution.
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Genoma de Planta , Filogenia , Proteínas de Plantas , Plantas , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Plantas/genética , Plantas/metabolismo , Domínios Proteicos , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de PlantasRESUMO
We report the draft genome sequence of three marine bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas and Stutzerimonas genera, with hydrocarbonoclastic metabolism for oil and monoaromatic hydrocarbon degradation. The genomic information of these organisms contributes to the knowledge of natural and polluted marine environments with ubiquitous presence of hydrocarbons as a selective pressure.
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Salmonella enterica serovar Derby causes foodborne disease (FBD) outbreaks worldwide, mainly from contaminated pork but also from chickens. During a major epidemic of FBD in Uruguay due to S. enteritidis from poultry, we conducted a large survey of commercially available eggs, where we isolated many S. enteritidis strains but surprisingly also a much larger number (ratio 5:1) of S. Derby strains. No single case of S. Derby infection was detected in that period, suggesting that the S. Derby egg strains were impaired for human infection. We sequenced fourteen of these egg isolates, as well as fifteen isolates from pork or human infection that were isolated in Uruguay before and after that period, and all sequenced strains had the same sequence type (ST40). Phylogenomic analysis was conducted using more than 3,500 genomes from the same sequence type (ST), revealing that Uruguayan isolates clustered into four distantly related lineages. Population structure analysis (BAPS) suggested the division of the analyzed genomes into nine different BAPS1 groups, with Uruguayan strains clustering within four of them. All egg isolates clustered together as a monophyletic group and showed differences in gene content with the strains in the other clusters. Differences included variations in the composition of mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, insertion sequences, transposons, and phages, between egg isolates and human/pork isolates. Egg isolates showed an acid susceptibility phenotype, reduced ability to reach the intestine after oral inoculation of mice, and reduced induction of SPI-2 ssaG gene, compared to human isolates from other monophyletic groups. Mice challenge experiments showed that mice infected intraperitoneally with human/pork isolates died between 1-7 days p.i., while all animals infected with the egg strain survived the challenge. Altogether, our results suggest that loss of genes functions, the insertion of phages and the absence of plasmids in egg isolates may explain why these S. Derby were not capable of producing human infection despite being at that time, the main serovar recovered from eggs countrywide.
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Objective: To compare effectiveness of Dynesys and hybrid system in treating patients with multi-segmental lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). Methods: Patients involved in this retrospective study were divided into Dynesys (n = 22) and Hybrid (n = 13) groups. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Radiologic evaluations included X-ray, MRI, and CT. Furthermore, different complications were analyzed. Results: At the last follow-up, ODI and VAS of each group were improved (p < 0.05), and the range of motion (ROM) of operating segments decreased. However, Dynesys group preserved a larger extent of ROM at the final follow-up (p < 0.05). ROM of the upper adjacent segment was increased in both groups (p < 0.05), while the disc heights were decreased at the final follow-up (p < 0.05). Besides, Dynesys group had a more obvious decrease in the disc height of dynamic segments (p < 0.05). No significant difference existed in complications between both groups (p > 0. 05). Conclusion: In our study, similar satisfactory results were obtained in both groups. Both surgical procedures can be employed as effective treatments for middle-aged and physically active patients with multi-segmental LDD. Level of Evidence III; Retrospective Comparative Study.
Objetivo: Comparar a eficácia do Dynesys e do sistema híbrido no tratamento de pacientes com doença degenerativa lombar multissegmentar (DLD). Métodos: Os pacientes envolvidos neste estudo retrospectivo foram divididos em grupos Dynesys (n = 22) e Híbrido (n = 13). Os desfechos clínicos foram avaliados por meio do Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) e da Escala Visual Analógica (EVA). As avaliações radiológicas incluíram radiografia, ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) e tomografia computadorizada. Ademais, diferentes complicações foram analisadas. Resultados: No acompanhamento final, o ODI e a EVA de todos os grupos melhoraram (p < 0,05), e houve diminuição da amplitude de movimento (ADM) dos segmentos operacionais. No entanto, o grupo Dynesys preservou uma maior extensão da ADM no acompanhamento final (p < 0,05). A ADM do segmento superior adjacente foi ampliada em ambos os grupos (p < 0,05), enquanto as alturas dos discos foram reduzidas no acompanhamento final (p < 0,05). No entanto, o grupo Dynesys apresentou uma redução mais evidente na altura do disco dos segmentos dinâmicos (p < 0,05). Não houve diferença significativa nas complicações entre esses dois grupos (p > 0,05). Conclusão: Neste estudo, resultados satisfatórios semelhantes foram obtidos em ambos os grupos. Ambos os procedimentos cirúrgicos podem ser empregados como tratamentos eficazes para pacientes de meia-idade e fisicamente ativos com LDD multissegmentar. Nível de Evidência III; Estudo Retrospectivo Comparativo.
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The genus Argentina Hill belongs to the tribe Potentilleae Sweet and contains approximately 75 species predominantly distributed in the Sino-Himalayan region and the Malesian archipelago. So far we have less knowledge on the phylogenetic relationships within Argentina owing to limited sampling of Argentina taxa or gene fragments in previous studies. Moreover, to date there is no phylogenetic study on Argentina from the perspective of comparative chloroplast (cp) genomics. Here we performed comparative genomic analyses on the cp genomes of 39 accessions representing 18 taxa of Argentina. The Argentina cp genomes presented the typical quadripartite structure, with the sizes ranging from 155 096 bp to 157 166 bp. The 39 Argentina cp genomes contained a set of 112 unique genes, comprising four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, as well as 78 protein-coding genes (PCGs). The cp genome organization, gene content and order in Argentina were highly conserved, but some visible divergences were present in IR/SC boundary regions. Ten regions (trnH-GUG-psbA, trnG-GCC-trnfM-CAU, trnD-GUC-trnY-GUA, rpl32-trnL-UAG, atpH-atpI, rps16-trnQ-UUG, trnS-GCU-trnG-UCC, ndhF-rpl32, trnR-UCU-atpA, and accD-psaI) were identified as excellent candidate DNA markers for future studies on species identification, population genetics and phylogeny of Argentina. Our results indicated that Argentina is monophyletic. In the current sampling, the A. smithiana - A. anserina clade was sister to the remainder of Argentina. Our results corroborated the previous taxonomic treatments to transfer A. phanerophlebia and A. micropetala from the genus Sibbaldia L. to Argentina. Our results showed close relationships among A. stenophylla, A. microphylla, A. taliensis, and A. tatsienluensis, congruent with previous studies based on the morphology of these species. Twenty-six genes (rps3, rps15, rps16, rps19, rpl16, rpl20, rpl22, rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1, rpoC2, atpA, atpF, psbB, psbF, ndhA, ndhB, ndhC, ndhD, ndhF, rbcL, accD, ccsA, matK, ycf1, ycf2) were with sites under positive selection, and adaptive evolution of these genes might have played crucial roles in Argentina species adaptation to the harsh mountain environment. This study will facilitate future work on taxonomy, phylogenetics, and adaptive evolution of Argentina.