Yeasts are unicellular fungi that occur in a wide range of ecological niches, where they perform numerous functions. Furthermore, these microorganisms are used in industrial processes, food production, and bioremediation. Understanding the physiological and adaptive characteristics of yeasts is of great importance from ecological, biotechnological, and industrial perspectives. In this context, we evaluated the abilities to assimilate and ferment different carbon sources, to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, and to tolerate salt stress, heavy metal stress, and UV-C radiation of two isolates of Eremothecium coryli, isolated from Momordica indica fruits. The two isolates were molecularly identified based on sequencing of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Our isolates were able to assimilate nine carbon sources (dextrose, galactose, mannose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, melezitose, and pectin) and ferment three (glucose, maltose, and sucrose). The highest values of cellular dry weight were observed in the sugars maltose, sucrose, and melezitose. We observed the presence of hyphae and pseudohyphae in all assimilated carbon sources. The two isolates were also capable of producing amylase, catalase, pectinase, and proteases, with the highest values of enzymatic activity found in amylase. Furthermore, the two isolates were able to grow in media supplemented with copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc and to tolerate saline stress in media supplemented with 5% NaCl. However, we observed a decrease in CFU at higher concentrations of these metals and NaCl. We also observed morphological changes in the presence of metals, which include changes in cell shape and cellular dimorphisms. The isolates were sensitive to UV-C radiation in the shortest exposure time (1 min). Our findings reinforce the importance of endophytic yeasts for biotechnological and industrial applications and also help to understand how these microorganisms respond to environmental variations caused by human activities.
- MeSH
- Endophytes * isolation & purification genetics metabolism physiology classification radiation effects MeSH
- Fermentation MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Stress, Physiological * MeSH
- Carbohydrate Metabolism * MeSH
- Fruit * microbiology MeSH
- Saccharomycetales * isolation & purification genetics physiology metabolism radiation effects classification MeSH
- Metals, Heavy toxicity MeSH
- Ultraviolet Rays MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The soil microbiota exhibits an important function in the ecosystem, and its response to climate change is of paramount importance for sustainable agroecosystems. The macronutrients, micronutrients, and additional constituents vital for the growth of plants are cycled biogeochemically under the regulation of the soil microbiome. Identifying and forecasting the effect of climate change on soil microbiomes and ecosystem services is the need of the hour to address one of the biggest global challenges of the present time. The impact of climate change on the structure and function of the soil microbiota is a major concern, explained by one or more sustainability factors around resilience, reluctance, and rework. However, the past research has revealed that microbial interventions have the potential to regenerate soils and improve crop resilience to climate change factors. The methods used therein include using soil microbes' innate capacity for carbon sequestration, rhizomediation, bio-fertilization, enzyme-mediated breakdown, phyto-stimulation, biocontrol of plant pathogens, antibiosis, inducing the antioxidative defense pathways, induced systemic resistance response (ISR), and releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the host plant. Microbial phytohormones have a major role in altering root shape in response to exposure to drought, salt, severe temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity and also have an impact on the metabolism of endogenous growth regulators in plant tissue. However, shelf life due to the short lifespan and storage time of microbial formulations is still a major challenge, and efforts should be made to evaluate their effectiveness in crop growth based on climate change. This review focuses on the influence of climate change on soil physico-chemical status, climate change adaptation by the soil microbiome, and its future implications.
BACKGROUND: Observational data on composite scores often comes with missing component information. When a complete-case (CC) analysis of composite scores is unbiased, preferable approaches of dealing with missing component information should also be unbiased and provide a more precise estimate. We assessed the performance of several methods compared to CC analysis in estimating the means of common composite scores used in axial spondyloarthritis research. METHODS: Individual mean imputation (IMI), the modified formula method (MF), overall mean imputation (OMI), and multiple imputation of missing component values (MI) were assessed either analytically or by means of simulations from available data collected across Europe. Their performance in estimating the means of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) in cases where component information was set missing completely at random was compared to the CC approach based on bias, variance, and coverage. RESULTS: Like the MF method, IMI uses a modified formula for observations with missing components resulting in modified composite scores. In the case of an unbiased CC approach, these two methods yielded representative samples of the distribution arising from a mixture of the original and modified composite scores, which, however, could not be considered the same as the distribution of the original score. The IMI and MF method are, thus, intrinsically biased. OMI provided an unbiased mean but displayed a complex dependence structure among observations that, if not accounted for, resulted in severe coverage issues. MI improved precision compared to CC and gave unbiased means and proper coverage as long as the extent of missingness was not too large. CONCLUSIONS: MI of missing component values was the only method found successful in retaining CC's unbiasedness and in providing increased precision for estimating the means of BASDAI, BASFI, and ASDAS-CRP. However, since MI is susceptible to incorrect implementation and its performance may become questionable with increasing missingness, we consider the implementation of an error-free CC approach a valid and valuable option. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable as study uses data from patient registries.
- MeSH
- Spondylitis, Ankylosing MeSH
- Axial Spondyloarthritis * MeSH
- C-Reactive Protein analysis MeSH
- Data Interpretation, Statistical MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Severity of Illness Index MeSH
- Research Design MeSH
- Bias MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a six-week visual training protocol, based on the Science Vision Training Academy (SVTA) method, on reaction times and executive functions in high-ranking fencers. Methods: Twenty-seven fencers, aged 17.34 ± 3.63 years, were randomly assigned to an experimental Visual Training Group (VTG = 16) and a Control Group (CG = 11). The VTG, in addition to regular fencing training, underwent SVTA training two times per week using six different visual modules, while the CG followed only their traditional fencing training. Simple and complex reaction times and movement times were assessed before and after the intervention using the Fit-Light System. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in all four reaction time tests: simple reaction time with and without a weapon and complex reaction time ability (motor inhibition ability) with and without a weapon (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the groups. A significant Time* Group interaction was found in the short reaction time and movement time (p < 0.001). This trend suggests that, although genetically determined and difficult to significantly improve through training, short reaction time can be stimulated through SVTA protocols. Conclusions: Training in realistic conditions is always preferable to non-ecological protocols; however, the SVTA method may be beneficial to enhance simple reaction time in elite fencers.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
We investigated neural correlates of Emotion Recognition Accuracy (ERA) using the Assessment of Contextualized Emotions (ACE). ACE infuses context by presenting emotion expressions in a naturalistic group setting and distinguishes between accurately perceiving intended emotions (signal), and bias due to perceiving additional, secondary emotions (noise). This social perception process is argued to induce perspective taking in addition to pattern matching in ERA. Thirty participants were presented with an fMRI-compatible adaptation of the ACE consisting of blocks of neutral and emotional faces in single and group-embedded settings. Participants rated the central character's expressions categorically or using scalar scales in consequent fMRI scans. Distinct brain activations were associated with the perception of emotional vs. neutral faces in the four conditions. Moreover, accuracy and bias scores from the original ACE task performed on another day were associated with brain activation during the scalar (vs. categorical) condition for emotional (vs. neutral) faces embedded in group. These findings suggest distinct cognitive mechanisms linked to each type of emotional rating and highlight the importance of considering cognitive bias in the assessment of social emotion perception.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Emotions * physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
- Brain Mapping * MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Brain * physiology diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Facial Recognition physiology MeSH
- Social Perception * MeSH
- Photic Stimulation methods MeSH
- Facial Expression * MeSH
- Bias MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Závěrečná zpráva o řešení grantu Agentury pro zdravotnický výzkum MZ ČR
nestr.
Epidemiologická situace tuberkulózy je díky funkčnímu systému kontroly a diagnostiky v České republice příznivá. S vážnými nedostatky se však v současné klinické praxi potýkáme na všech úrovních řešení stále aktuálnějších mykobakterióz. Incidence skutečných případů onemocnění je jednoznačně v České R. podhlášená. Současně chybí ucelená koncepce prevence a hodnocení nálezů mykobakterií u různě predisponovaných osob, zejm. dětí. Zároveň se vzrůstem rezistence k antituberkulotikům vyvstávají rozpaky související s případnou dispenzarizací či vhodností terapie. Hlavní náplní projektu je zhodnotit veškeré poznatky získané podrobným vyšetřováním pacientů na klinické, laboratorní a socio-demografické úrovni a zároveň objasnit epidemiologické souvislosti výzkumem přítomnosti netuberkulózních mykobakterií a jejich vlastností ve vnějším prostředí a v bezprostředním okolí člověka.; The epidemiological situation of tuberculosis is favourable in the Czech Republic thanks to a functional control and diagnosis system. However, we are facing serious shortcomings in today's clinical practice at all levels of the emerging issue of mycobacterioses. Incidence of current cases of disease is strongly underestimated in the Czech R. A comprehensive concept of prevention and evaluation of mycobacterial findings in variously predisposed persons, especially children, is missing. At the same time, due to the increasing antituberculotic drug resistance, dilemmas arise associated with the long-term medical follow-up care and suitability of therapy. The main focus of the project is to evaluate all the findings obtained by detailed examinations of patients on clinical, laboratory and the demographic level, and at the same time to clarify the epidemiological context by researching the presence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and their properties in the environment and the immediate vicinity of humans.
- Keywords
- cystická fibróza, cystic fibrosis, mykobakteriózy, mycobacterioses, molekulární epidemiologie, molecular epidemiology, COPD, CHOPN, Mycobacterium avium, MDR, mykobakteriální lymfadenitida, kvantitativní PCR, BCG, ekologie NTM, Mycobacterium avium, mycobacterial lymphadenitis, MDR, quantitative PCR, BCG, NTM ecology,
- NML Publication type
- závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR
UNLABELLED: Lyme disease, caused by spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato clade within the Borrelia genus, is transmitted by Ixodes ticks and is currently the most prevalent and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in Europe and North America. We report complete genome sequences of 47 isolates that encompass all established species in this clade while highlighting the diversity of the widespread human pathogenic species B. burgdorferi. A similar set of plasmids has been maintained throughout Borrelia divergence, indicating that they are a key adaptive feature of this genus. Phylogenetic reconstruction of all sequenced Borrelia genomes revealed the original divergence of Eurasian and North American lineages and subsequent dispersals that introduced B. garinii, B. bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. valaisiana, and B. afzelii from East Asia to Europe and B. burgdorferi and B. finlandensis from North America to Europe. Molecular phylogenies of the universally present core replicons (chromosome and cp26 and lp54 plasmids) are highly consistent, revealing a strong clonal structure. Nonetheless, numerous inconsistencies between the genome and gene phylogenies indicate species dispersal, genetic exchanges, and rapid sequence evolution at plasmid-borne loci, including key host-interacting lipoprotein genes. While localized recombination occurs uniformly on the main chromosome at a rate comparable to mutation, lipoprotein-encoding loci are recombination hotspots on the plasmids, suggesting adaptive maintenance of recombinant alleles at loci directly interacting with the host. We conclude that within- and between-species recombination facilitates adaptive sequence evolution of host-interacting lipoprotein loci and contributes to human virulence despite a genome-wide clonal structure of its natural populations. IMPORTANCE: Lyme disease (also called Lyme borreliosis in Europe), a condition caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia, transmitted by hard-bodied Ixodes ticks, is currently the most prevalent and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe. Borrelia interspecies and intraspecies genome comparisons of Lyme disease-related bacteria are essential to reconstruct their evolutionary origins, track epidemiological spread, identify molecular mechanisms of human pathogenicity, and design molecular and ecological approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These Lyme disease-associated bacteria harbor complex genomes that encode many genes that do not have homologs in other organisms and are distributed across multiple linear and circular plasmids. The functional significance of most of the plasmid-borne genes and the multipartite genome organization itself remains unknown. Here we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed whole genomes of 47 Borrelia isolates from around the world, including multiple isolates of the human pathogenic species. Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary origins, historical migration, and sources of genomic variability of these clinically important pathogens. We have developed web-based software tools (BorreliaBase.org) to facilitate dissemination and continued comparative analysis of Borrelia genomes to identify determinants of human pathogenicity.
- MeSH
- Borrelia burgdorferi Group genetics classification MeSH
- Borrelia burgdorferi genetics classification MeSH
- Borrelia genetics classification MeSH
- Phylogeny * MeSH
- Genetic Variation MeSH
- Genome, Bacterial * MeSH
- Host Microbial Interactions genetics MeSH
- Ixodes microbiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Lipoproteins * genetics MeSH
- Lyme Disease * microbiology transmission MeSH
- Evolution, Molecular MeSH
- Plasmids genetics MeSH
- Recombination, Genetic * MeSH
- Whole Genome Sequencing MeSH
- Selection, Genetic * MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
- North America MeSH
Ve výživě se často setkáváme s potřebou nahradit konzumované potraviny jinými, a to z různých důvodů. Například s ohledem na nutriční hodnoty, složení, aktuálně také ve vztahu k ceně a náročnosti úpravy. Neméně často se řeší náhrada potravin (i samotných pokrmů) z důvodů ekologických, etických či náboženských. Náhrady potravin pak dostávají velký prostor v rámci dietních doporučení. V této souvislosti jsou používány různé pojmy, jako jsou náhrada, alternativa či imitace. Na první pohled se může zdát, že se jedná o výrazy totožné, ale není tomu tak, i když se s tím v rámci interpretace často setkáváme.
In nutrition, we often encounter the need to replace consumed foods with others, for various reasons. For example, with regard to nutritional values, composition or currently also in relation to the price and difficulty of processing. The replacement of foodstuff (and the meals, too) for ecological, ethical or religious reasons is no less oftenconsidered. Food substitutes then receive a large space within dietary recommendations. Various concepts are used in this context, such as replacement, alternative or imitation. At first glance, it may seem that these expressions are identical, but this is not the case, although we often encounter this in the context of interpretation.
BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome is integral to host health, hosting complex interactions between the host and numerous microbial species in the gastrointestinal tract. Key among the molecular mechanisms employed by gut bacteria are transportomes, consisting of diverse transport proteins crucial for bacterial adaptation to the dynamic, nutrient-rich environment of the mammalian gut. These transportomes facilitate the movement of a wide array of molecules, impacting both the host and the microbial community. SUMMARY: This communication explores the significance of transportomes in gut bacteria, focusing on their role in nutrient acquisition, competitive interactions among microbes, and potential pathogenicity. It delves into the transportomes of key gut bacterial species like E. coli, Salmonella, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Clostridia, and Bifidobacterium, examining the functions of predicted transport proteins. The overview synthesizes recent research efforts, highlighting how these transportomes influence host-microbe interactions and contribute to the microbial ecology of the gut. KEY MESSAGES: Transportomes are vital for the survival and adaptation of bacteria in the gut, enabling the import and export of various nutrients and molecules. The complex interplay of transport proteins not only supports bacterial growth and competition but also has implications for host health, potentially contributing to pathogenic processes. Understanding the pathogenic potential of transportomes in major gut bacterial species provides insights into gut health and disease, offering avenues for future research and therapeutic strategies.
- MeSH
- Bacteria * metabolism pathogenicity MeSH
- Bacterial Proteins metabolism MeSH
- Biological Transport MeSH
- Gastrointestinal Tract microbiology MeSH
- Host Microbial Interactions physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome * physiology MeSH
- Carrier Proteins metabolism MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Crocosphaera watsonii is a unicellular N2-fixing (diazotrophic) cyanobacterium observed in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic oceans. As a diazotroph, it can be a source of bioavailable nitrogen (N) to the microbial community in N-limited environments, and this may fuel primary production in the regions where it occurs. Crocosphaera watsonii has been the subject of intense study, both in culture and in field populations. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the phylogenetic and physiological diversity of C. watsonii, its distribution, and its ecological niche. Analysis of the relationships among the individual Crocosphaera species and related free-living and symbiotic lineages of diazotrophs based on the nifH gene have shown that the C. watsonii group holds a basal position and that its sequence is more similar to Rippkaea and Zehria than to other Crocosphaera species. This finding warrants further scrutiny to determine if the placement is related to a horizontal gene transfer event. Here, the nifH UCYN-B gene copy number from a recent synthesis effort was used as a proxy for relative C. watsonii abundance to examine patterns of C. watsonii distribution as a function of environmental factors, like iron and phosphorus concentration, and complimented with a synthesis of C. watsonii physiology. Furthermore, we have summarized the current knowledge of C. watsonii with regards to N2 fixation, photosynthesis, and quantitative modeling of physiology. Because N availability can limit primary production, C. watsonii is widely recognized for its importance to carbon and N cycling in ocean ecosystems, and we conclude this review by highlighting important topics for further research on this important species.
- MeSH
- Nitrogen Fixation * MeSH
- Phylogeny * MeSH
- Cyanobacteria * genetics metabolism physiology MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
