Image_3_Drifting marine plastics as new ecological habitats for harmful eukaryotic microbial communities in Jeju Strait, Korea.tif

Micro/macro plastics are ubiquitous and are emerging agents causing many ecological problems in marine environments. Plastics carry various fouling organisms, including harmful microorganisms, that could potentially have ecological impacts on the marine environment and eventually human health. In this study, marine micro/macro plastics drifting at multiple locations in the Jeju Strait and around Jeju Island, Korea, were collected and analyzed. DNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the species composition of the attached eukaryotic microbial communities, with a special emphasis on harmful or toxic dinoflagellates, fungi, and parasites. A total of 1,035 eukaryotic microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from plastics and surrounding seawater samples. Two types of samples shared half of the eukaryotic OTUs, and of which approximately 12% were unique to plastic samples. These included 68 Archaeplastida (54.0%), 45 Stramenopiles (35.7%), 12 Opisthokonta (9.5%), and 3 Alveolata (2.4%) OTUs. The harmful or toxic dinoflagellates observed on the plastic surface were Alexandrium, Coolia, Dinophysis, Heterocapsa, Karlodinium, Noctiluca, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, and Tripos. The most dominant parasite community of the plastisphere was represented by fungi (42% of all parasite OTUs), followed by Oomycota (33%), Stramenopiles (14%), and dinoflagellates (12%). Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that the eukaryotic communities are considerably shared between the plastisphere and seawater. This implies plastics serve as a new ecological habitat in the sea and could function as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of harmful eukaryotic species and parasites.</p

Image_2_Drifting marine plastics as new ecological habitats for harmful eukaryotic microbial communities in Jeju Strait, Korea.tif

Micro/macro plastics are ubiquitous and are emerging agents causing many ecological problems in marine environments. Plastics carry various fouling organisms, including harmful microorganisms, that could potentially have ecological impacts on the marine environment and eventually human health. In this study, marine micro/macro plastics drifting at multiple locations in the Jeju Strait and around Jeju Island, Korea, were collected and analyzed. DNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the species composition of the attached eukaryotic microbial communities, with a special emphasis on harmful or toxic dinoflagellates, fungi, and parasites. A total of 1,035 eukaryotic microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from plastics and surrounding seawater samples. Two types of samples shared half of the eukaryotic OTUs, and of which approximately 12% were unique to plastic samples. These included 68 Archaeplastida (54.0%), 45 Stramenopiles (35.7%), 12 Opisthokonta (9.5%), and 3 Alveolata (2.4%) OTUs. The harmful or toxic dinoflagellates observed on the plastic surface were Alexandrium, Coolia, Dinophysis, Heterocapsa, Karlodinium, Noctiluca, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, and Tripos. The most dominant parasite community of the plastisphere was represented by fungi (42% of all parasite OTUs), followed by Oomycota (33%), Stramenopiles (14%), and dinoflagellates (12%). Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that the eukaryotic communities are considerably shared between the plastisphere and seawater. This implies plastics serve as a new ecological habitat in the sea and could function as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of harmful eukaryotic species and parasites.</p

Table_1_Genetic Analyses of the rbcL and psaA Genes From Single Cells Demonstrate a Rhodophyte Origin of the Prey in the Toxic Benthic Dinoflagellate Ostreopsis.DOCX

<p>Phagotrophy of the harmful benthic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis has long been inferred based on observations of food particles present inside cells, but the prey has not yet been identified. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal dynamics of benthic dinoflagellates Ostreopsis spp. in temperate Korean coastal sites, with special emphasis on their phagotrophy. Further, prey species were identified by extracting the ingested food particles from single Ostreopsis cells and determining their rbcL and psaA gene sequences. High concentration of Ostreopsis cells was observed between June and October at all sites, when the water temperatures were higher than 19°C, exhibiting a marked temporal seasonality. The percentage of Ostreopsis cells containing ingested food particles exhibited large spatial and temporal variations among sampling sites, ranging from undetectable level to 29.5%, and was not always associated with Ostreopsis cell abundance. Phylogenetic analyses performed using both plastid-encoded rbcL and psaA genes revealed that all sequences obtained from the ingested food particles of Ostreopsis cells grouped within the class Florideophyceae, Rhodophyta. Our result clearly demonstrates that Ostreopsis species consume various macroalgae from Rhodophyta, but not protists, which have long been thought to be the potential prey. The results of this study provide a basis for better understanding the mixotrophic behavior and nutritional ecology of the harmful benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis species.</p

Image_1_Drifting marine plastics as new ecological habitats for harmful eukaryotic microbial communities in Jeju Strait, Korea.tif

Micro/macro plastics are ubiquitous and are emerging agents causing many ecological problems in marine environments. Plastics carry various fouling organisms, including harmful microorganisms, that could potentially have ecological impacts on the marine environment and eventually human health. In this study, marine micro/macro plastics drifting at multiple locations in the Jeju Strait and around Jeju Island, Korea, were collected and analyzed. DNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the species composition of the attached eukaryotic microbial communities, with a special emphasis on harmful or toxic dinoflagellates, fungi, and parasites. A total of 1,035 eukaryotic microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from plastics and surrounding seawater samples. Two types of samples shared half of the eukaryotic OTUs, and of which approximately 12% were unique to plastic samples. These included 68 Archaeplastida (54.0%), 45 Stramenopiles (35.7%), 12 Opisthokonta (9.5%), and 3 Alveolata (2.4%) OTUs. The harmful or toxic dinoflagellates observed on the plastic surface were Alexandrium, Coolia, Dinophysis, Heterocapsa, Karlodinium, Noctiluca, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, and Tripos. The most dominant parasite community of the plastisphere was represented by fungi (42% of all parasite OTUs), followed by Oomycota (33%), Stramenopiles (14%), and dinoflagellates (12%). Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that the eukaryotic communities are considerably shared between the plastisphere and seawater. This implies plastics serve as a new ecological habitat in the sea and could function as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of harmful eukaryotic species and parasites.</p

Table_1_Drifting marine plastics as new ecological habitats for harmful eukaryotic microbial communities in Jeju Strait, Korea.docx

Micro/macro plastics are ubiquitous and are emerging agents causing many ecological problems in marine environments. Plastics carry various fouling organisms, including harmful microorganisms, that could potentially have ecological impacts on the marine environment and eventually human health. In this study, marine micro/macro plastics drifting at multiple locations in the Jeju Strait and around Jeju Island, Korea, were collected and analyzed. DNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the species composition of the attached eukaryotic microbial communities, with a special emphasis on harmful or toxic dinoflagellates, fungi, and parasites. A total of 1,035 eukaryotic microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from plastics and surrounding seawater samples. Two types of samples shared half of the eukaryotic OTUs, and of which approximately 12% were unique to plastic samples. These included 68 Archaeplastida (54.0%), 45 Stramenopiles (35.7%), 12 Opisthokonta (9.5%), and 3 Alveolata (2.4%) OTUs. The harmful or toxic dinoflagellates observed on the plastic surface were Alexandrium, Coolia, Dinophysis, Heterocapsa, Karlodinium, Noctiluca, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, and Tripos. The most dominant parasite community of the plastisphere was represented by fungi (42% of all parasite OTUs), followed by Oomycota (33%), Stramenopiles (14%), and dinoflagellates (12%). Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that the eukaryotic communities are considerably shared between the plastisphere and seawater. This implies plastics serve as a new ecological habitat in the sea and could function as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of harmful eukaryotic species and parasites.</p

Image_4_Drifting marine plastics as new ecological habitats for harmful eukaryotic microbial communities in Jeju Strait, Korea.tif

Micro/macro plastics are ubiquitous and are emerging agents causing many ecological problems in marine environments. Plastics carry various fouling organisms, including harmful microorganisms, that could potentially have ecological impacts on the marine environment and eventually human health. In this study, marine micro/macro plastics drifting at multiple locations in the Jeju Strait and around Jeju Island, Korea, were collected and analyzed. DNA metabarcoding and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the species composition of the attached eukaryotic microbial communities, with a special emphasis on harmful or toxic dinoflagellates, fungi, and parasites. A total of 1,035 eukaryotic microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from plastics and surrounding seawater samples. Two types of samples shared half of the eukaryotic OTUs, and of which approximately 12% were unique to plastic samples. These included 68 Archaeplastida (54.0%), 45 Stramenopiles (35.7%), 12 Opisthokonta (9.5%), and 3 Alveolata (2.4%) OTUs. The harmful or toxic dinoflagellates observed on the plastic surface were Alexandrium, Coolia, Dinophysis, Heterocapsa, Karlodinium, Noctiluca, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, and Tripos. The most dominant parasite community of the plastisphere was represented by fungi (42% of all parasite OTUs), followed by Oomycota (33%), Stramenopiles (14%), and dinoflagellates (12%). Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that the eukaryotic communities are considerably shared between the plastisphere and seawater. This implies plastics serve as a new ecological habitat in the sea and could function as dispersal vectors that facilitate the spread of harmful eukaryotic species and parasites.</p

Image_1_Genetic Analyses of the rbcL and psaA Genes From Single Cells Demonstrate a Rhodophyte Origin of the Prey in the Toxic Benthic Dinoflagellate Ostreopsis.JPEG

<p>Phagotrophy of the harmful benthic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis has long been inferred based on observations of food particles present inside cells, but the prey has not yet been identified. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal dynamics of benthic dinoflagellates Ostreopsis spp. in temperate Korean coastal sites, with special emphasis on their phagotrophy. Further, prey species were identified by extracting the ingested food particles from single Ostreopsis cells and determining their rbcL and psaA gene sequences. High concentration of Ostreopsis cells was observed between June and October at all sites, when the water temperatures were higher than 19°C, exhibiting a marked temporal seasonality. The percentage of Ostreopsis cells containing ingested food particles exhibited large spatial and temporal variations among sampling sites, ranging from undetectable level to 29.5%, and was not always associated with Ostreopsis cell abundance. Phylogenetic analyses performed using both plastid-encoded rbcL and psaA genes revealed that all sequences obtained from the ingested food particles of Ostreopsis cells grouped within the class Florideophyceae, Rhodophyta. Our result clearly demonstrates that Ostreopsis species consume various macroalgae from Rhodophyta, but not protists, which have long been thought to be the potential prey. The results of this study provide a basis for better understanding the mixotrophic behavior and nutritional ecology of the harmful benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis species.</p

Additional file 3 of A multiplex guide RNA expression system and its efficacy for plant genome engineering

Additional file 3. Large deletions induced by pGG-3 in protoplasts and T0 plants. The sequences of representative large deletion products in protoplasts (a) and T0 plants (b). Wild type (WT) sequences of NaNEC1c are shown with gRNA-binding sequences (underlined) and protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) in red. Indels are presented in blue (insertion) and as dashes (deletion). Total Indel % is the sum of the frequency of small indels and large deletions. The DNA sequences of target locus are ranked with the large deletion frequency

Healthcare costs by procedure & approach.

The clipped boxplot trimmed extremely high values based on 20,000,000 KRW. (1 U.S. dollor = 1,150 Korean won) (A) The number of clipped patients in open anterior resection = 256; The number of clipped patients in laparoscopic anterior resection = 334; The number of clipped patients in open low anterior resection = 432; (B) The number of clipped patients in laparoscopic low anterior resection = 792; The number of clipped patients in open ultra-low anterior resection = 17; The number of clipped patients in laparoscopic ultra-low anterior resection = 76.</p

Additional file 8 of A multiplex guide RNA expression system and its efficacy for plant genome engineering

Additional file 8. List of primers used in this study