scholarly journals Wolffia globosa–Mankai Plant-Based Protein Contains Bioactive Vitamin B12 and Is Well Absorbed in Humans

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3067
Author(s):  
Ilan Sela ◽  
Anat Yaskolka Meir ◽  
Alexander Brandis ◽  
Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown ◽  
Lydia Zeibich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Meat Substitute ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Meat Diet ◽  
Extreme Groups ◽  
Different Seasons

Background: Rare plants that contain corrinoid compounds mostly comprise cobalamin analogues, which may compete with cobalamin (vitamin B12 (B12)) metabolism. We examined the presence of B12 in a cultivated strain of an aquatic plant: Wolffia globosa (Mankai), and predicted functional pathways using gut-bioreactor, and the effects of long-term Mankai consumption as a partial meat substitute, on serum B12 concentrations. Methods: We used microbiological assay, liquid-chromatography/electrospray-ionization-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and anoxic bioreactors for the B12 experiments. We explored the effect of a green Mediterranean/low-meat diet, containing 100 g of frozen Mankai shake/day, on serum B12 levels during the 18-month DIRECT-PLUS (ID:NCT03020186) weight-loss trial, compared with control and Mediterranean diet groups. Results: The B12 content of Mankai was consistent at different seasons (p = 0.76). Several cobalamin congeners (Hydroxocobalamin(OH-B12); 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin(Ado-B12); methylcobalamin(Me-B12); cyanocobalamin(CN-B12)) were identified in Mankai extracts, whereas no pseudo B12 was detected. A higher abundance of 16S-rRNA gene amplicon sequences associated with a genome containing a KEGG ortholog involved in microbial B12 metabolism were observed, compared with control bioreactors that lacked Mankai. Following the DIRECT-PLUS intervention (n = 294 participants; retention-rate = 89%; baseline B12 = 420.5 ± 187.8 pg/mL), serum B12 increased by 5.2% in control, 9.9% in Mediterranean, and 15.4% in Mankai-containing green Mediterranean/low-meat diets (p = 0.025 between extreme groups). Conclusions: Mankai plant contains bioactive B12 compounds and could serve as a B12 plant-based food source.

scholarly journals Consuming Different Structural Parts of Bamboo Induce Gut Microbiome Changes in Captive Giant Pandas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Yan ◽  
Qin Xu ◽  
Walter H. Hsu ◽  
Stephan Schmitz Esser ◽  
James Ayala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
Bamboo Shoots ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Structural Parts ◽  
And Function

AbstractGiant pandas consume different structural parts of bamboo (shoots, leaves and culms) during different seasons. Previous research showed different bamboo parts have varying nutritional content and that a long-term diet consisting of a single part of bamboo resulted in remarkable metabolic changes within captive giant pandas. However, the effects on the gut microbiome of giant pandas, as a result of a single bamboo part diet, have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the changes in gut microbial communities based on single bamboo part diets and their potential implications by using 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing and metagenome shotgun sequencing. We found that the composition and function of the gut microbiome from captive giant pandas fed exclusively culms were significantly different from that of individuals fed shoots or leaves. During the culm feeding period, the gut microbiome showed strongest digestive capabilities for cellulose, hemicellulose and starch, and had the highest potential abilities for the biosynthesis of bile acids, fatty acids and amino acids. This suggests the microbiome aids in breaking down culm, which is more difficult for giant pandas to digest, as a means to compensate for the nutrient poor content of the culm. Genes related to fatty acid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes were more abundant during the leaf stage diet than that in the shoot and culm stages. Thus, the microbiome may help giant pandas, which typically have low lipase levels, with fat digestion. These results illustrate that adaptive changes in the gut microbiome community and function may be an important mechanism to aid giant panda digestion when consuming different structural parts of bamboo.

scholarly journals The mutL Gene as a Genome-Wide Taxonomic Marker for High Resolution Discrimination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Its Closely Related Taxa

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1570
Author(s):  
Chien-Hsun Huang ◽  
Chih-Chieh Chen ◽  
Yu-Chun Lin ◽  
Chia-Hsuan Chen ◽  
Ai-Yun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Discrimination Power ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

The current taxonomy of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum group comprises of 17 closely related species that are indistinguishable from each other by using commonly used 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In this study, a whole-genome-based analysis was carried out for exploring the highly distinguished target genes whose interspecific sequence identity is significantly less than those of 16S rRNA or conventional housekeeping genes. In silico analyses of 774 core genes by the cano-wgMLST_BacCompare analytics platform indicated that csbB, morA, murI, mutL, ntpJ, rutB, trmK, ydaF, and yhhX genes were the most promising candidates. Subsequently, the mutL gene was selected, and the discrimination power was further evaluated using Sanger sequencing. Among the type strains, mutL exhibited a clearly superior sequence identity (61.6–85.6%; average: 66.6%) to the 16S rRNA gene (96.7–100%; average: 98.4%) and the conventional phylogenetic marker genes (e.g., dnaJ, dnaK, pheS, recA, and rpoA), respectively, which could be used to separat tested strains into various species clusters. Consequently, species-specific primers were developed for fast and accurate identification of L. pentosus, L. argentoratensis, L. plantarum, and L. paraplantarum. During this study, one strain (BCRC 06B0048, L. pentosus) exhibited not only relatively low mutL sequence identities (97.0%) but also a low digital DNA–DNA hybridization value (78.1%) with the type strain DSM 20314T, signifying that it exhibits potential for reclassification as a novel subspecies. Our data demonstrate that mutL can be a genome-wide target for identifying and classifying the L. plantarum group species and for differentiating novel taxa from known species.

scholarly journals Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Terrabacter humi sp. nov. and Their Antibacterial Application against Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9746
Author(s):  
Shahina Akter ◽  
Sun-Young Lee ◽  
Muhammad Zubair Siddiqi ◽  
Sri Renukadevi Balusamy ◽  
Md. Ashrafudoulla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Strictly Aerobic ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
A Genome ◽  
The Fourier Transform

It is essential to develop and discover alternative eco-friendly antibacterial agents due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacterium named Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T, utilized for the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the synthesized AgNPs were used to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. The novel strain was Gram stain positive, strictly aerobic, milky white colored, rod shaped and non-motile. The optimal growth temperature, pH and NaCl concentration were 30 °C, 6.5 and 0%, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MAHUQ-38T belongs to the genus Terrabacter and is most closely related to several Terrabacter type strains (98.2%–98.8%). Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T had a genome of 5,156,829 bp long (19 contigs) with 4555 protein-coding genes, 48 tRNA and 5 rRNA genes. The culture supernatant of strain MAHUQ-38T was used for the eco-friendly and facile synthesis of AgNPs. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed the spherical shape of AgNPs with a size of 6 to 24 nm, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong anti-bacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations against E. coli and P. aeruginosa were 6.25/50 and 12.5/50 μg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs altered the cell morphology and damaged the cell membrane of pathogens. This study encourages the use of Terrabacter humi for the ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms.

scholarly journals Long-Term Iron and Vitamin B12 Deficiency Are Present after Bariatric Surgery, Despite the Widespread Use of Supplements

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4541
Author(s):  
Mauro Lombardo ◽  
Arianna Franchi ◽  
Roberto Biolcati Rinaldi ◽  
Gianluca Rizzo ◽  
Monica D’Adamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽  
Ideal Body Weight ◽  
Excess Weight ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Average Percentage ◽  
Nutritional Studies

There are few long-term nutritional studies in subjects undergoing bariatric surgery that have assessed weight regain and nutritional deficiencies. In this study, we report data 8 years after surgery on weight loss, use of dietary supplements and deficit of micronutrients in a cohort of patients from five centres in central and northern Italy. The study group consisted of 52 subjects (age: 38.1 ± 10.6 y, 42 females): 16 patients had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), 25 patients had sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and 11 subjects had adjustable gastric banding (AGB). All three bariatric procedures led to sustained weight loss: the average percentage excess weight loss, defined as weight loss divided by excess weight based on ideal body weight, was 60.6% ± 32.3. Despite good adherence to prescribed supplements, 80.7% of subjects (72.7%, AGB; 76.7%, SG; 93.8 %, RYGB) reported at least one nutritional deficiency: iron (F 64.3% vs. M 30%), vitamin B12 (F 16.6% vs. M 10%), calcium (F 33.3% vs. M 0%) and vitamin D (F 38.1% vs. M 60%). Long-term nutritional deficiencies were greater than the general population among men for iron and among women for vitamin B12.

scholarly journals A Clinical Study of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Combined With Autologous High-Density Fat Transplantation in Augmentation Rhinoplasty

2021 ◽  
pp. 014556132110169
Author(s):  
Dan Yan ◽  
Shuai-Hua Li ◽  
An-Li Zhang ◽  
Yao Xiao ◽  
Ze-Chun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Retention Rate ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
High Density ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Fat Transplantation ◽  
Augmentation Rhinoplasty ◽  
Platelet Rich Fibrin ◽  
Autologous Fat

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical effect of autologous fat-granule transplantation in augmentation rhinoplasty and explore methods to improve the fat retention rate. Methods: A total of 70 enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) combined with high-density fat transplantation group (combined group) and the conventional fat-granule transplantation group (control group; n = 35 in each group). In the combined group, an appropriate amount of autologous fat was extracted and centrifuged, and the lower layer of high-density fat was taken and mixed with PRF isolated from whole blood for autotransplantation. In the control group, only fat was extracted and centrifuged for transplantation. The patients were followed up with for more than one year to observe the short- and long-term effects, complications, safety, and patient satisfaction. Results: Six months after the operation, the nasal shape was stable, the contour was higher and more stereoscopic than before, the average increase of nasal height was 3.0 mm in the combined group and 2.0 mm in the control group. No complications, such as fat embolism, infection, or necrosis occurred during the 1-year follow-up. The satisfaction rate between the 2 groups has statistical significance ( P < .05). Conclusion: Overall, PRF combined with autologous high-density fat transplantation is simple to perform, has a significantly increased fat-retention rate than the control group, and has stable long-term effects without obvious adverse reactions. A sufficient amount of fat and PRF transplantation can achieve a good orthopedic effect. Thus, this method can be widely used in clinical augmentation rhinoplasty.

scholarly journals Impact of Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Respiratory Pseudomonas on VAP and VAE During Long-Term Acute Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s258-s259
Author(s):  
James Harrigan ◽  
Ebbing Lautenbach ◽  
Emily Reesey ◽  
Magda Wernovsky ◽  
Pam Tolomeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Background: Clinically diagnosed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is common in the long-term acute-care hospital (LTACH) setting and may contribute to adverse ventilator-associated events (VAEs). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common causative organism of VAP. We evaluated the impact of respiratory P. aeruginosa colonization and bacterial community dominance, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, on subsequent P. aeruginosa VAP and VAE events during long-term acute care. Methods: We enrolled 83 patients on LTACH admission for ventilator weaning, performed longitudinal sampling of endotracheal aspirates followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina HiSeq), and bacterial community profiling (QIIME2). Statistical analysis was performed with R and Stan; mixed-effects models were fit to relate the abundance of respiratory Psa on admission to clinically diagnosed VAP and VAE events. Results: Of the 83 patients included, 12 were diagnosed with P. aeruginosa pneumonia during the 14 days prior to LTACH admission (known P. aeruginosa), and 22 additional patients received anti–P. aeruginosa antibiotics within 48 hours of admission (suspected P. aeruginosa); 49 patients had no known or suspected P. aeruginosa (unknown P. aeruginosa). Among the known P. aeruginosa group, all 12 patients had P. aeruginosa detectable by 16S sequencing, with elevated admission P. aeruginosa proportional abundance (median, 0.97; IQR, 0.33–1). Among the suspected P. aeruginosa group, all 22 patients had P. aeruginosa detectable by 16S sequencing, with a wide range of admission P. aeruginosa proportional abundance (median, 0.0088; IQR, 0.00012–0.31). Of the 49 patients in the unknown group, 47 also had detectable respiratory Psa, and many had high P. aeruginosa proportional abundance at admission (median, 0.014; IQR, 0.00025–0.52). Incident P. aeruginosa VAP was observed within 30 days in 4 of the known P. aeruginosa patients (33.3%), 5 of the suspected P. aeruginosa patients (22.7%), and 8 of the unknown P. aeruginosa patients (16.3%). VAE was observed within 30 days in 1 of the known P. aeruginosa patients (8.3%), 2 of the suspected P. aeruginosa patients (9.1%), and 1 of the unknown P. aeruginosa patients (2%). Admission P. aeruginosa abundance was positively associated with VAP and VAE risk in all groups, but the association only achieved statistical significance in the unknown group (type S error <0.002 for 30-day VAP and <0.011 for 30-day VAE). Conclusions: We identified a high prevalence of unrecognized respiratory P. aeruginosa colonization among patients admitted to LTACH for weaning from mechanical ventilation. The admission P. aeruginosa proportional abundance was strongly associated with increased risk of incident P. aeruginosa VAP among these patients.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Do initial concentration and activated sludge seasonality affect pharmaceutical biotransformation rate constants?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara J. H. M. van Bergen ◽  
Ana B. Rios-Miguel ◽  
Tom M. Nolte ◽  
Ad M. J. Ragas ◽  
Rosalie van Zelm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Initial Concentration ◽  
Different Seasons

Abstract Pharmaceuticals find their way to the aquatic environment via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Biotransformation plays an important role in mitigating environmental risks; however, a mechanistic understanding of involved processes is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential relationships between first-order biotransformation rate constants (kb) of nine pharmaceuticals and initial concentration of the selected compounds, and sampling season of the used activated sludge inocula. Four-day bottle experiments were performed with activated sludge from WWTP Groesbeek (The Netherlands) of two different seasons, summer and winter, spiked with two environmentally relevant concentrations (3 and 30 nM) of pharmaceuticals. Concentrations of the compounds were measured by LC–MS/MS, microbial community composition was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and kb values were calculated. The biodegradable pharmaceuticals were acetaminophen, metformin, metoprolol, terbutaline, and phenazone (ranked from high to low biotransformation rates). Carbamazepine, diatrizoic acid, diclofenac, and fluoxetine were not converted. Summer and winter inocula did not show significant differences in microbial community composition, but resulted in a slightly different kb for some pharmaceuticals. Likely microbial activity was responsible instead of community composition. In the same inoculum, different kb values were measured, depending on initial concentration. In general, biodegradable compounds had a higher kb when the initial concentration was higher. This demonstrates that Michealis-Menten kinetic theory has shortcomings for some pharmaceuticals at low, environmentally relevant concentrations and that the pharmaceutical concentration should be taken into account when measuring the kb in order to reliably predict the fate of pharmaceuticals in the WWTP. Key points • Biotransformation and sorption of pharmaceuticals were assessed in activated sludge. • Higher initial concentrations resulted in higher biotransformation rate constants for biodegradable pharmaceuticals. • Summer and winter inocula produced slightly different biotransformation rate constants although microbial community composition did not significantly change. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Adalimumab Accounts for Long-Term Control of Noninfectious Uveitis Also in the Absence of Concomitant DMARD Treatment: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Bitossi ◽  
Alessandra Bettiol ◽  
Elena Silvestri ◽  
Gerardo Di Scala ◽  
Daniela Bacherini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retention Rate ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
World Population ◽  
Corrected Visual Acuity ◽  
Drug Retention ◽  
Sparing Effect ◽  
Retrospective Multicenter Study ◽  
Drug Retention Rate

Objective. This study was aimed at assessing the long-term ocular control of adalimumab (ADA) in a large real-world population with noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis, focusing on the steroid-sparing effect and on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) cotreatment. Methods. In this retrospective, multicenter study, the efficacy of ADA was evaluated in terms of ocular control, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate, overall and stratified according to DMARD cotreatment. Results. 106 patients were included. 88.7% had an associated systemic disease. After 6 and 12 months, proportions of patients with effective ocular control were 83.7% and 83.3%, respectively. At last the follow-up, 94.6% of patients had satisfactory ocular control. No difference in terms of ocular control at all time points emerged among patients starting ADA for ocular vs. systemic involvements. Patients with poor baseline BCVA remained stable or improved, while those with good BCVA hardly worsened. At 6 and 12 months, the median dose of prednisone significantly reduced to 5 mg/day (0-5) and 2.5 mg/day (0-5) (p<0.001). Over a median follow-up of 36 months, 38 subjects discontinued ADA treatment. Mild to moderate side effects were reported in 7 patients (6.6%). ADA ocular control, corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate were not influenced by the concomitant use of DMARDs. Conclusion. The long-term ocular control of ADA in noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis is confirmed, also for BCVA preservation. Concomitant use of DMARDs does not provide additional benefits to ADA alone in terms of ocular control, steroid spare, and drug retention rate.

scholarly journals Accumulation of mutations in sexual and asexual populations

1987 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pekka Pamilo ◽  
Masatoshi Nei ◽  
Wen-Hsiung Li
Keyword(s):  
Weak Selection ◽  
Population Variance ◽  
Asexual Population ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Analytical Formulae ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Asexual Populations ◽  
Mutant Genes

SummaryThe accumulation of beneficial and harmful mutations in a genome is studied by using analytical methods as well as computer simulation for different modes of reproduction. The modes of reproduction examined are biparental (bisexual, hermaphroditic), uniparental (selfing, automictic, asexual) and mixed (partial selfing, mixture of hermaphroditism and parthenogenesis). It is shown that the rates of accumulation of both beneficial and harmful mutations with weak selection depend on the within-population variance of the number of mutant genes per genome. Analytical formulae for this variance are derived for neutral mutant genes for hermaphroditic, selfing and asexual populations; the neutral variance is largest in a selfing population and smallest in an asexual population. Directional selection reduces the population variance in most cases, whereas recombination partially restores the reduced variance. Therefore, biparental organisms accumulate beneficial mutations at the highest rate and harmful mutations at the lowest rate. Selfing organisms are intermediate between biparental and asexual organisms. Even a limited amount of outcrossing in largely selfing and parthenogenetic organisms markedly affects the accumulation rates. The accumulation of mutations is likely to affect the mean population fitness only in long-term evolution.

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