scholarly journals Microbial and Metabolic Succession on Common Building Materials Under High Humidity Conditions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lax ◽  
Cesar Cardona ◽  
Dan Zhao ◽  
Valerie J. Winton ◽  
Gabriel Goodney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Viral Particle ◽  
Medium Density Fiberboard ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Surface Material ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTDespite considerable efforts to characterize the ecology of bacteria and fungi in the built environment (BE), the metabolic mechanisms underpinning their colonization and successional dynamics remain unclear. Here, we applied bacterial/viral particle counting, qPCR, 16S and ITS rRNA amplicon sequencing, and metabolomics to longitudinally characterize the ecological dynamics of four commonly used building materials maintained at high humidity conditions (~94% RH). We varied the natural inoculum provided to each material by placing them in different occupied spaces, and we wet the surface of half of the samples of each material to simulate a flooding event. As expected, different materials showed different bacterial and viral particle abundance, with wet materials having higher growth rates and lower alpha diversity compared to non-wetted materials. Wetting described the majority of the variance in bacterial, fungal and metabolite structure, and material type only influenced bacterial and metabolic diversity, while location of inoculation was only weakly associated with bacterial and fungal beta diversity. Metabolites indicative of microbial activity were identified, as were those that were native to the surface material. Glucose-phosphate was abundant on all materials (except mold-free gypsum) and was correlated with Enterobacteriaceae, which could indicate a potential bacterial nutrient source. A compound consistent with scopoletin, a plant metabolite with antimicrobial activity, was significantly negatively correlated with Bacillus and positively correlated with Pseudomonas and enriched in medium density fiberboard (MDF) materials. In wet samples, the alkaloids nigragillin and fumigaclavine C, both with antimicrobial properties, were significantly positively correlated with the fungal phylum Ascomycota. Nigragillin, was also negatively correlated with Bacillus and Pseudomonas abundance. Thiabendazole and azoxystrobin (anti-fungal compounds) were highly abundant on mold-resistant gypsum wallboard and likely directly influenced the decreased fungal growth observed on this material. The mold-resistant gypsum material also showed a significant increase in bacterial alpha diversity, and bacterial and viral particle abundance, as well as a decrease in metabolite diversity, likely a result of reduced fungal growth. Penicillium taxa were positively correlated with thiabendazole, which suggested the persistence of resistant strains. Also, specific to the wet samples, Bacillus abundance was positively correlated with the azoxystrobin, suggesting bi-directional competitive adaptation, and positively correlated with metabolites known to interfere with Pseudomonas biofilm formation, which could explain the anti-correlation between these taxa. As expected, high moisture conditions enabled faster growth of inoculating microorganisms, whose composition, chemistry, and competition was shaped by surface material, suggesting that both fungal and bacterial growth need to be considered when determining the impact of dampness in built environments.

scholarly journals The Impact of Acne Treatment on Skin Bacterial Microbiota: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 120347542110379
Author(s):  
Megan Lam ◽  
Angie Hu ◽  
Patrick Fleming ◽  
Charles W. Lynde
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Cutibacterium Acnes ◽  
Acne Treatment ◽  
The Impact

Background Microbial strains such as Cutibacterium acnes have been examined as contributors to the pathogenesis of acne. Given the prevalence of the disease among adolescents and adults, the overutilization of antimicrobial agents may breed resistance and alter commensal microflora. Objectives To characterize the impact of acne treatment on the diversity and relative abundance of the cutaneous microbial community, particularly of the bacterial flora Methods An electronic search was conducted of Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on June 5, 2020. Interventional and observational studies examining patients receiving acne treatment with culture-independent, community-level analysis of the cutaneous microbiome were included. Results Nine studies with 170 treated acne patients were included. Five studies reported a significant change in alpha diversity following treatment, 3 of which examining systemic antibiotics reported significant increases in diversity. Two of 3 studies examining effects of benzoyl peroxide reported a decrease in diversity. However, trends in diversity were heterogeneous among studies. Conclusions While individual variability in microbiome composition, and study-level heterogeneity in study sampling techniques may limit quantitative synthesis, our results support findings that acne treatment, including those not considered to have antimicrobial properties, alters the composition of the cutaneous microbiome. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020190629

scholarly journals APOE Genetics Influence Murine Gut Microbiome

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana J. Zajac ◽  
Stefan J. Green ◽  
Lance A. Johnson ◽  
Steven Estus
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
Fecal Microbiome ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles impact pathogenesis and risk for multiple human diseases, making them primary targets for disease treatment and prevention. Previously, we and others reported an association between APOE alleles and the gut microbiome. Here, we tested whether these results are confirmed by using mice that were maintained under ideal conditions for microbiome analyses. Methods: To model human APOE alleles, this study used APOE targeted replacement (TR) mice on a C57Bl/6 background. To minimize genetic drift, APOE3 mice were crossed to APOE2 or APOE4 mice prior to the study, and the resulting heterozygous progeny crossed further to generate the study mice. To maximize environmental homogeneity, mice with mixed genotypes were housed together and used bedding from the cages was mixed and added back as a portion of new bedding. Fecal samples were obtained from mice at three-, five- and seven-months of age, and microbiota analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. APOE2/E2 and APOE2/E3 mice were categorized as APOE2, APOE3/E4 and APOE4/E4 mice were categorized as APOE4, and APOE3/E3 mice were categorized as APOE3. Linear discriminant analysis of Effect Size (LefSe) identified taxa associated with APOE status, depicted as cladograms to show phylogenetic relatedness. The influence of APOE status was tested onalpha-diversity (Shannon H index) and beta-diversity (principal coordinate analyses and PERMANOVA). Individual taxa associated with APOE status were identified by classical univariate analysis. Whether findings in the APOE mice were replicated in humans was evaluated by using published microbiome genome wide association data. Results: Cladograms revealed robust differences with APOE in male mice and limited differences in female mice. The richness and evenness (alpha-diversity) and microbial community composition (beta-diversity) of the fecal microbiome was robustly associated with APOE status in male but not female mice. Classical univariate analysis revealed individual taxa that were significantly increased or decreased with APOE, illustrating a stepwise APOE2-APOE3-APOE4 pattern of association. The Clostridia class, Clostridiales order, Ruminococacceae family and related genera increased with APOE2 status. The Erysipelotrichia phylogenetic branch increased with APOE4 status, a finding that extended to humans.Conclusions: In this study wherein mice were maintained in an ideal fashion for microbiome studies, gut microbiome profiles were strongly and significantly associated with APOE status in male APOE-TR mice. Erysipelotrichia in particular appears to increase with APOE4 in both mice and humans. Further evaluation of these findings in humans, as well as studies evaluating the impact of the APOE-associated microbiota on disease-relevant phenotypes, will be necessary to determine if alterations in the gut microbiome represents a novel mechanism whereby APOE alleles impact disease.

Material analysis techniques using the ion mill

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 1034-1035
Author(s):  
J. P. Benedict ◽  
R. M. Anderson ◽  
S. J. Klepeis
Keyword(s):  
Polished Surface ◽  
Surface Material ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Material Analysis ◽  
Optical Inspection ◽  
Electron Microscopy Analysis ◽  
Microscopy Analysis ◽  
Argon Ions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Scanning Electron

Ion mills equipped with flood guns can perform two important functions in material analysis; they can either remove material or deposit material. The ion mill holder shown in Fig. 1 is used to remove material from the polished surface of a sample for further optical inspection or SEM ( Scanning Electron Microscopy ) analysis. The sample is attached to a pohshing stud type SEM mount and placed in the ion mill holder with the polished surface of the sample pointing straight up, as shown in Fig 2. As the holder is rotating in the ion mill, Argon ions from the flood gun are directed down at the top of the sample. The impact of Argon ions against the surface of the sample causes some of the surface material to leave the sample at a material dependent, nonuniform rate. As a result, the polished surface will begin to develop topography during milling as fast sputtering materials leave behind depressions in the polished surface.

The Impact of Biochar on the Soil

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2197-2208
Author(s):  
Carmen Otilia Rusanescu ◽  
Erol Murad ◽  
Cosmin Jinescu ◽  
Marin Rusanescu
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Biomass Gasification ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Agricultural Ecosystems ◽  
Productive Potential ◽  
Co2 Balance ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Organic Resources

In the present paper are presented the experimental results of biomass gasification, the biochair was produced from vineyards by controlled pyrolysis at 750 �C, in order to increase the fertility of soils, it was found the increase of the fertility produced by the development of the vegetables in the soil to which was added biochar. Soil was added to soil 4 g/dm3 biochar, 8 g/dm3 biochar, the soil had no high humidity, was taken at a time when it had not rained for at least one week, the soil pH was 8, in the soil with 8 g/dm3 biochar the plants increased compared to the soil with 4 g/dm3 and the soil without biochar. The biochar resulting from pyrolysis and gasification processes is a valuable amendment to agricultural soils and an efficient and economical way to seize carbon. Using biochar it is possible to increase the diversity of agricultural land in an environmentally sound way in areas with depleted soils, limited organic resources and insufficient water for development. Helps to soil carbon sequestration with negative CO2 balance, increases the productive potential of agricultural ecosystems.

scholarly journals Gut microbiome composition in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is shaped by geographic relocation, environmental factors, and obesity

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Kaplan ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Mykhaylo Usyk ◽  
Daniela Sotres-Alvarez ◽  
Martha L. Daviglus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hispanic Community ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Background Hispanics living in the USA may have unrecognized potential birthplace and lifestyle influences on the gut microbiome. We report a cross-sectional analysis of 1674 participants from four centers of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), aged 18 to 74 years old at recruitment. Results Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene V4 and fungal ITS1 fragments from self-collected stool samples indicate that the host microbiome is determined by sociodemographic and migration-related variables. Those who relocate from Latin America to the USA at an early age have reductions in Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios that persist across the life course. Shannon index of alpha diversity in fungi and bacteria is low in those who relocate to the USA in early life. In contrast, those who relocate to the USA during adulthood, over 45 years old, have high bacterial and fungal diversity and high Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios, compared to USA-born and childhood arrivals. Low bacterial diversity is associated in turn with obesity. Contrasting with prior studies, our study of the Latino population shows increasing Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio with greater obesity. Taxa within Acidaminococcus, Megasphaera, Ruminococcaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Clostridiales, Christensenellaceae, YS2 (Cyanobacteria), and Victivallaceae are significantly associated with both obesity and earlier exposure to the USA, while Oscillospira and Anaerotruncus show paradoxical associations with both obesity and late-life introduction to the USA. Conclusions Our analysis of the gut microbiome of Latinos demonstrates unique features that might be responsible for health disparities affecting Hispanics living in the USA.

scholarly journals Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2414
Author(s):  
Laura Sanjulián ◽  
Alexandre Lamas ◽  
Rocío Barreiro ◽  
Alberto Cepeda ◽  
Cristina A. Fente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Maternal Body Mass Index ◽  
16S Rrna Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Spanish Women ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
Abundant Genus

The objective of this work was to characterize the microbiota of breast milk in healthy Spanish mothers and to investigate the effects of lactation time on its diversity. A total of ninety-nine human milk samples were collected from healthy Spanish women and were assessed by means of next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons and by qPCR. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Accordingly, Streptococcus was the most abundant genus. Lactation time showed a strong influence in milk microbiota, positively correlating with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while Firmicutes was relatively constant over lactation. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that the highest alpha-diversity was found in samples of prolonged lactation, along with wider differences between individuals. As for milk nutrients, calcium, magnesium, and selenium levels were potentially associated with Streptococcus and Staphylococcus abundance. Additionally, Proteobacteria was positively correlated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in breast milk, and Staphylococcus with conjugated linoleic acid. Conversely, Streptococcus and trans-palmitoleic acid showed a negative association. Other factors such as maternal body mass index or diet also showed an influence on the structure of these microbial communities. Overall, human milk in Spanish mothers appeared to be a complex niche shaped by host factors and by its own nutrients, increasing in diversity over time.

scholarly journals Multiple bacteria associated with the more dysbiotic genitourinary microbiomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Zha ◽  
Fengping Liu ◽  
Zongxin Ling ◽  
Kevin Chang ◽  
Jiezuan Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Beta Glucosidase

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) influences the human health and can cause significant illnesses. The genitourinary microbiome profiles in the T2DM patients remain poorly understood. In the current study, a series of bioinformatic and statistical analyses were carried out to determine the multiple bacteria associated with the more dysbiotic genitourinary microbiomes (i.e., those with lower dysbiosis ratio) in T2DM patients, which were sequenced by Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. All the genitourinary microbiomes from 70 patients with T2DM were clustered into three clusters of microbiome profiles, i.e., Cluster_1_T2DM, Cluster_2_T2DM and Cluster_3_T2DM, with Cluster_3_T2DM at the most dysbiotic genitourinary microbial status. The three clustered T2DM microbiomes were determined with different levels of alpha diversity indices, and driven by distinct urinalysis variables. OTU12_Clostridiales and OTU28_Oscillospira were likely to drive the T2DM microbiomes to more dysbiotic status, while OTU34_Finegoldia could play a vital role in maintaining the least dysbiotic T2DM microbiome (i.e., Cluster_1_T2DM). The functional metabolites K08300_ribonuclease E, K01223_6-phospho-beta-glucosidase and K00029_malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+) were most associated with Cluster_1_T2DM, Cluster_2_T2DM and Cluster_3_T2DM, respectively. The characteristics and multiple bacteria associated with the more dysbiotic genitourinary microbiomes in T2DM patients may help with the better diagnosis and management of genitourinary dysbiosis in T2DM patients.

scholarly journals Amplicon-sequencing of raw milk microbiota: impact of DNA extraction and library-PCR

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemarie Siebert ◽  
Katharina Hofmann ◽  
Lena Staib ◽  
Etienne V. Doll ◽  
Siegfried Scherer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Dna Extraction ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Dna ◽  
Microbiome Analysis ◽  
Eukaryotic Dna ◽  
Selective Lysis ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The highly complex raw milk matrix challenges the sample preparation for amplicon-sequencing due to low bacterial counts and high amounts of eukaryotic DNA originating from the cow. In this study, we optimized the extraction of bacterial DNA from raw milk for microbiome analysis and evaluated the impact of cycle numbers in the library-PCR. The selective lysis of eukaryotic cells by proteinase K and digestion of released DNA before bacterial lysis resulted in a high reduction of mostly eukaryotic DNA and increased the proportion of bacterial DNA. Comparative microbiome analysis showed that a combined enzymatic and mechanical lysis procedure using the DNeasy® PowerFood® Microbial Kit with a modified protocol was best suitable to achieve high DNA quantities after library-PCR and broad coverage of detected bacterial biodiversity. Increasing cycle numbers during library-PCR systematically altered results for species and beta-diversity with a tendency to overrepresentation or underrepresentation of particular taxa. To limit PCR bias, high cycle numbers should thus be avoided. An optimized DNA extraction yielding sufficient bacterial DNA and enabling higher PCR efficiency is fundamental for successful library preparation. We suggest that a protocol using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to resolve casein micelles, selective lysis of somatic cells, extraction of bacterial DNA with a combination of mechanical and enzymatic lysis, and restriction of PCR cycles for analysis of raw milk microbiomes is optimal even for samples with low bacterial numbers. Key points • Sample preparation for high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing of raw milk microbiota. • Reduction of eukaryotic DNA by enzymatic digestion. • Shift of detected microbiome caused by high cycle numbers in library-PCR.

scholarly journals The Influence of Diet and Sex on the Gut Microbiota of Lean and Obese JCR:LA-cp Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037
Author(s):  
Craig Resch ◽  
Mihir Parikh ◽  
J. Alejandro Austria ◽  
Spencer D. Proctor ◽  
Thomas Netticadan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Ground Flaxseed ◽  
The Impact

There is an increased interest in the gut microbiota as it relates to health and obesity. The impact of diet and sex on the gut microbiota in conjunction with obesity also demands extensive systemic investigation. Thus, the influence of sex, diet, and flaxseed supplementation on the gut microbiota was examined in the JCR:LA-cp rat model of genetic obesity. Male and female obese rats were randomized into four groups (n = 8) to receive, for 12 weeks, either (a) control diet (Con), (b) control diet supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (CFlax), (c) a high-fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet, or (d) HFHS supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (HFlax). Male and female JCR:LA-cp lean rats served as genetic controls and received similar dietary interventions. Illumine MiSeq sequencing revealed a richer microbiota in rats fed control diets rather than HFHS diets. Obese female rats had lower alpha-diversity than lean female; however, both sexes of obese and lean JCR rats differed significantly in β-diversity, as their gut microbiota was composed of different abundances of bacterial types. The feeding of an HFHS diet affected the diversity by increasing the phylum Bacteroidetes and reducing bacterial species from phylum Firmicutes. Fecal short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate-producing bacterial species were correspondingly impacted by the HFHS diet. Flax supplementation improved the gut microbiota by decreasing the abundance of Blautia and Eubacterium dolichum. Collectively, our data show that an HFHS diet results in gut microbiota dysbiosis in a sex-dependent manner. Flaxseed supplementation to the diet had a significant impact on gut microbiota diversity under both flax control and HFHS dietary conditions.

scholarly journals Fire Resistance Behaviour of Geopolymer Concrete:An Overview

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Salmabanu Luhar ◽  
Demetris Nicolaides ◽  
Ismail Luhar
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Flexural Behavior ◽  
Thermal Shrinkage ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Loss Of Strength

Even though, an innovative inorganic family of geopolymer concretes are eye-catching potential building materials, it is quite essential to comprehend the fire and thermal resistance of these structural materials at a very high temperature and also when experiencing fire with a view to make certain not only the safety and security of lives and properties but also to establish them as more sustainable edifice materials for future. The experimental and field observations of degree of cracking, spalling and loss of strength within the geopolymer concretes subsequent to exposure at elevated temperature and incidences of occurrences of disastrous fires extend an indication of their resistance against such severely catastrophic conditions. The impact of heat and fire on mechanical attributes viz., mechanical-compressive strength, flexural behavior, elastic modulus; durability—thermal shrinkage; chemical stability; the impact of thermal creep on compressive strength; and microstructure properties—XRD, FTIR, NMR, SEM as well as physico-chemical modifications of geopolymer composites subsequent to their exposures at elevated temperatures is reviewed in depth. The present scientific state-of-the-art review manuscript aimed to assess the fire and thermal resistance of geopolymer concrete along with its thermo-chemistry at a towering temperature in order to introduce this novel, most modern, user and eco-benign construction materials as potentially promising, sustainable, durable, thermal and fire-resistant building materials promoting their optimal and apposite applications for construction and infrastructure industries.

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