Comparative Genomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Termitomyces Species Provides Insights into the Terpenome of the Fungal Cultivar and the Characteristic Odor of the Fungus Garden of Macrotermes natalensis Termites

mSystems ◽

10.1128/msystems.01214-21 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Nina B. Kreuzenbeck ◽

Elena Seibel ◽

Jan W. Schwitalla ◽

Janis Fricke ◽

Benjamin H. Conlon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Molecule ◽

Biomass Conversion ◽

Comparative Genomic ◽

Fungus Garden ◽

Metabolomic Analysis ◽

Old World

The symbiosis between macrotermitinae termites and Termitomyces is obligate for both partners and is one of the most important contributors to biomass conversion in the Old World tropic’s ecosystems. To date, research efforts have dominantly focused on acquiring a better understanding of the degradative capabilities of Termitomyces to sustain the obligate nutritional symbiosis, but our knowledge of the small-molecule repertoire of the fungal cultivar mediating interspecies and interkingdom interactions has remained fragmented.

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The Termite Fungal Cultivar Termitomyces Combines Diverse Enzymes and Oxidative Reactions for Plant Biomass Conversion

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.03551-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Felix Schalk ◽

Cene Gostinčar ◽

Nina B. Kreuzenbeck ◽

Benjamin H. Conlon ◽

Elisabeth Sommerwerk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Cycling ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Biomass Conversion ◽

Old World ◽

Oxidative Reactions ◽

Tripartite Symbiosis

Fungus-growing termites have optimized the decomposition of recalcitrant plant biomass to access valuable nutrients by engaging in a tripartite symbiosis with complementary contributions from a fungal mutualist and a codiversified gut microbiome. This complex symbiotic interplay makes them one of the most successful and important decomposers for carbon cycling in Old World ecosystems.

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Abstract T P74: Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Novel Small Molecule Plasma Markers of Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.45.suppl_1.tp74 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Wenjun Deng ◽

Chris Beecher ◽

Charles Burant ◽

Felice De Jong ◽

Mary Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Small Molecules ◽

Small Molecule ◽

Relative Concentration ◽

Ischemic Injury ◽

Principal Component ◽

Stroke Onset ◽

Metabolomic Analysis ◽

Stroke Patients

Background: As we conduct proteomic screening for blood biomarkers of acute ischemic injury, we find many accompanying small molecules and peptides to be better markers for hyperacute ischemic injury. Since these small metabolites can cross the blood-brain barrier more easily than larger proteins, brain-derived markers may potentially be better detected in blood as small molecules. Here we used a targeted approach to identify small molecule biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: Target small molecule (537) profiles of acute ischemic stroke (<6hr post stroke onset) and control blood were analysed by LC-MS followed by multivariate analysis. Results: Principal component analysis (PCA) shows stroke and controls can be very well distinguished by their composite metabolic profiles (Figure 1A). One-way ANOVA identified metabolites differentially expressed in plasma between stroke vs controls. Stroke patients had significantly reduced relative concentration (expressed as peak area) of citrate (control-c: 7.39 ± 0.08; stroke-s: 7.17 ± 0.12; p=0.0057), and elevated glutamate (Glu) (c: 4.28 ± 0.27; s: 5.12 ± 0.33; p=0.006), and plasma lactate (PLA) (c: 5.40 ± 0.19; s: 5.69 ± 0.10, p=0.0029) (Figure 1B-D). Other novel mediators were also identified (not shown due to space). Conclusions: Utilizing targeted metabolomic analysis, we found increased Glu and PLA and decreased citrate levels in acute ischemic stroke patients within 6 hours of stroke onset. Glu, an excitatory neurotransmitter, and PLA, a known apoptotic marker, are both found in CSF and in the peri-infarct ischemic zone. Citrate is not only important in energy metabolism (TCA cycle), but also binds calcium to prevent clot formation. Building on previous studies, this proof-of-concept analysis helps to understand the early metabolic landscape of hyperacute ischemic stroke in peripheral plasma. Further studies of sources, time profiles, and metabolomic-proteomic interactions are needed.

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Ultrastructure and analytical microprobe analysis of simian lung mite pigments

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100143249 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 324-325

Author(s):

R. W. Cole ◽

J. C. Kim

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Research ◽

Tissue Damage ◽

Microprobe Analysis ◽

Old World Monkeys ◽

Old World ◽

Experimental Animals ◽

The Past ◽

Lung Mite ◽

Mite Infestations ◽

Cardiopulmonary System

In recent years, non-human primates have become indispensable as experimental animals in many fields of biomedical research. Pharmaceutical and related industries alone use about 2000,000 primates a year. Respiratory mite infestations in lungs of old world monkeys are of particular concern because the resulting tissue damage can directly effect experimental results, especially in those studies involving the cardiopulmonary system. There has been increasing documentation of primate parasitology in the past twenty years.

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A privileged ternary blend enabling non-fullerene organic photovoltaics with over 14% efficiency

Journal of Materials Chemistry C ◽

10.1039/d0tc02778b ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (43) ◽

pp. 15135-15141

Author(s):

Jing Yan ◽

Yuan-Qiu-Qiang Yi ◽

Jianqi Zhang ◽

Huanran Feng ◽

Yanfeng Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Molecule ◽

Organic Photovoltaics ◽

Power Conversion ◽

Ternary Blend ◽

Conversion Efficiencies

Two non-fullerene small molecule acceptors, NT-4F and NT-4Cl, were designed and synthesized. Power conversion efficiencies of 11.44% and 14.55% were achieved for NT-4Cl-based binary and ternary devices, respectively.

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