Phenotypic responses to interspecies competition and commensalism in a naturally derived microbial co-culture

The fundamental question of whether different microbial species will co-exist or compete in a given environment depends on context, composition and environmental constraints. Model microbial systems can yield some general principles related to this question. In this study we employed a naturally occurring co-culture composed of heterotrophic bacteria, Halomonas sp. HL-48 and Marinobacter sp. HL- 58, to ask two fundamental scientific questions: 1) how do the phenotypes of two naturally co-existing species respond to partnership as compared to axenic growth? and 2) how do growth and molecular phenotypes of these species change with respect to competitive and commensal interactions? We hypothesized – and confirmed – that co-cultivation under glucose as the sole carbon source would result in competitive interactions. Similarly, when glucose was swapped with xylose, the interactions became commensal because Marinobacter HL-58 was supported by metabolites derived from Halomonas HL- 48. Each species responded to partnership by changing both its growth and molecular phenotype as assayed via batch growth kinetics and global transcriptomics. These phenotypic responses depended on nutrient availability and so the environment ultimately controlled how they responded to each other. This simplified model community revealed that microbial interactions are context-specific and different environmental conditions dictate how interspecies partnerships will unfold

Diversidad de rotiferos en fitotelmas de Aechmea nidularioides L.B.Sm. (BROMELIACEAE) en varillal alto seco de la reserva nacional Allpahuayo – Mishana, Iquitos

Con la finalidad de conocer la diversidad de rotíferos en las fitotelmas de Aechmea nidularioides L.B.Sm. (Bromeliaceae), se realizaron muestreos al azar desde diciembre de 2018 a marzo de 2019 en cinco parches de Varillal Alto Seco de la Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana (RNAM). En cada fitotelma se colectó 5 ml agua con detritus usando una pipeta de 10 ml y colocadas en tubos de ensayo y trasladados al laboratorio de Ecología y Fauna para su observación microscópica. Se identificaron cuatro especies que pertenecen a dos familias de rotíferos: Philodina sp., Rotaria sp. (Philodinidae), y Monostyla hamata y Lecane leontina (Lecanidae). Aunque el número la riqueza de rotíferos fue cubierta en su totalidad evidenciándose en los índices de Chao 2= 4 especies; Jacknife 1= 4.75 especies y Bootstrap = 4.3 especies y en la curva de Clench. Las especies Philodina sp., Rotaria sp. fueron las más abundantes en términos porcentuales y de densidad. Mientras que las otras especies tuvieron menor abundancia. Finalmente se reporta una baja riqueza especifica (Shannon:1.38, Simpson: 0.75 y Margalef: 2.164) de rotíferos en los fitotelmas de Aechmea nidularioides del Varillal Alto Seco de la RNAM.In order to know the diversity of rotifers in the phytotelms of Aechmea nidularioides L.B.Sm. (Bromeliaceae), random samples were taken from December 2018 to March 2019 in five patches of Varillal Alto Seco of the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve (RNAM). In each phytotelm, 5 ml of water with detritus was collected using a 10 ml pipette and placed in test tubes and transferred to the Ecology and Fauna laboratory for microscopic observation. Four species were identified that belong to two families of rotifers: Philodina sp., Rotaria sp. (Philodinidae), and Monostyla hamata and Lecane leontina (Lecanidae). Although the number, the richness of rotifers was covered in its entirety, being evidenced in the Chao indices 2 = 4 species; Jacknife 1 = 4.75 species and Bootstrap = 4.3 species and on the Clench curve. The species Philodina sp., Rotaria sp. were the most abundant in terms of percentage and density. While the other species had less abundance. Finally, a low specific richness (Shannon: 1.38, Simpson: 0.75 and Margalef: 2.164) of rotifers is reported in the phytotelms of Aechmea nidularioides from the Varillal Alto Seco of the RNAM

The pluripotency factor NANOG controls primitive hematopoiesis and directly regulates Tal1

Progenitors of the first hematopoietic cells in the mouse arise in the early embryo from Brachyury-positive multipotent cells in the posterior-proximal region of the epiblast, but the mechanisms that specify primitive blood cells are still largely unknown. Pluripotency factors maintain uncommitted cells of the blastocyst and embryonic stem cells in the pluripotent state. However, little is known about the role played by these factors during later development, despite being expressed in the postimplantation epiblast. Using a dual transgene system for controlled expression at postimplantation stages, we found that Nanog blocks primitive hematopoiesis in the gastrulating embryo, resulting in a loss of red blood cells and downregulation of erythropoietic genes. Accordingly, Nanog-deficient embryonic stem cells are prone to erythropoietic differentiation. Moreover, Nanog expression in adults prevents the maturation of erythroid cells. By analysis of previous data for NANOG binding during stem cell differentiation and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we found that Tal1 is a direct NANOG target. Our results show that Nanog regulates primitive hematopoiesis by directly repressing critical erythroid lineage specifiers.This work was supported by the Spanish government (grant BFU2014-54608-P and BFU2017-84914-P to MM; grants RYC-2011-09209 and BFU-2012-35892 to JI). The Gottgens and Nichols laboratories are supported by core funding from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. The CNIC is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MINECO) and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505)S

Phenotypic responses to interspecies competition and commensalism in a naturally derived microbial co-culture

The fundamental question of whether different microbial species will co-exist or compete in a given environment depends on context, composition and environmental constraints. Model microbial systems can yield some general principles related to this question. In this study we employed a naturally occurring co-culture composed of heterotrophic bacteria, Halomonas sp. HL-48 and Marinobacter sp. HL- 58, to ask two fundamental scientific questions: 1) how do the phenotypes of two naturally co-existing species respond to partnership as compared to axenic growth? and 2) how do growth and molecular phenotypes of these species change with respect to competitive and commensal interactions? We hypothesized – and confirmed – that co-cultivation under glucose as the sole carbon source would result in competitive interactions. Similarly, when glucose was swapped with xylose, the interactions became commensal because Marinobacter HL-58 was supported by metabolites derived from Halomonas HL- 48. Each species responded to partnership by changing both its growth and molecular phenotype as assayed via batch growth kinetics and global transcriptomics. These phenotypic responses depended on nutrient availability and so the environment ultimately controlled how they responded to each other. This simplified model community revealed that microbial interactions are context-specific and different environmental conditions dictate how interspecies partnerships will unfold

Implications for Financial Service Providers that Serve Low-Income People

Across the world, new measures are being introduced and existing measures tightened to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. All financial service providers, including those working with low-income communities, are-or will-be affected by these measures. This paper summarizes the implications of the international framework for anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) for financial service providers working with low-income people. The international AML/CFT standards developed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), generally requires financial service providers to enhance their internal controls to cater specifically for AML/CFT risks; undertake customer due diligence procedures on all new and existing clients; introduce heightened surveillance of suspicious transactions and keep transaction records for future verification; and report suspicious transactions to national authorities. These measures could bring additional costs of compliance to financial service providers; and customer due diligence rules may restrict formal financial services from reaching lower-income people. The introduction of new or tightened AML/CFT regulations may have the unintended and undesirable consequence of reducing the access of low-income people to formal financial services. As a means to avoid this outcome, this paper argues in favor of (1) gradual implementation of new measures; (2) the adoption of a risk-based approach to regulation; and (3) the use of exemptions for low-risk categories of transactions

Revue de l'efficacite de l'aide pour la microfinance : Madagascar

This Country-Level Effectiveness and Accountability Review (CLEAR) examines the efficacy of microfinance aid in Madagascar, based on an objective analysis of donor assistance for the sustainable development of financial systems targeting the poor. The three levels of the financial system are the micro level (e.g., retail institutions), the meso level (e.g., apex, technical service providers), and the macro level (e.g., regulations and policies). At the micro level, there is a large number of stakeholders, and an increasing interest of banks and private investors, including a predominant stake by the Decentralized Financial Systems (DFS), as well as major roles by the local Savings Institution and the Post Office. At the meso level, there is a supply of services such as auditing. Finally, at the macro level, coordination and supervision exist, and a specific legal framework on microfinance is in place. Notwithstanding, microfinance in Madagascar remains weak, and, concerns suggest DFSs carry structural weaknesses at various levels. Additionally, it is specified services in support of microfinance are still rare, and its quality it debatable. Professional organizations need to be strengthened, particularly as lack of reliable information on financial results is concerned. At the macro level, supervisory and coordinating agencies rely on limited means, whereas the legal framework is not fully supportive. Risks suggest potential market disruptions resulting from subsidies and interest rate hikes, an implication by which the Ministry of Agriculture not always agrees with the Microfinance National Strategy. Finally, the judicial system does not rely enough in favor of the development of the financial sector

The weak interdomain coupling observed in the 70 kDa subunit of human replication protein A is unaffected by ssDNA binding

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric, multi-functional protein that binds single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and is essential for eukaryotic DNA metabolism. Using heteronuclear NMR methods we have investigated the domain interactions and ssDNA binding of a fragment from the 70 kDa subunit of human RPA (hRPA70). This fragment contains an N-terminal domain (NTD), which is important for hRPA70–protein interactions, connected to a ssDNA-binding domain (SSB1) by a flexible linker (hRPA70 1–326 ). Correlation analysis of the amide 1 H and 15 N chemical shifts was used to compare the structure of the NTD and SSB1 in hRPA70 1–326 with two smaller fragments that corresponded to the individual domains. High correlation coefficients verified that the NTD and SSB1 maintained their structures in hRPA70 1–326 , indicating weak interdomain coupling. Weak interdomain coupling was also suggested by a comparison of the transverse relaxation rates for hRPA70 1–326 and one of the smaller hRPA70 fragments containing the NTD and the flexible linker (hRPA70 1–168 ). We also examined the structure of hRPA70 1–326 after addition of three different ssDNA substrates. Each of these substrates induced specific amide 1 H and/or 15 N chemical shift changes in both the NTD and SSB1. The NTD and SSB1 have similar topologies, leading to the possibility that ssDNA binding induced the chemical shift changes observed for the NTD. To test this hypothesis we monitored the amide 1 H and 15 N chemical shift changes of hRPA70 1–168 after addition of ssDNA. The same amide 1 H and 15 N chemical shift changes were observed for the NTD in hRPA70 1–168 and hRPA70 1–326 . The NTD residues with the largest amide 1 H and/or 15 N chemical shift changes were localized to a basic cleft that is important for hRPA70–protein interactions. Based on this relationship, and other available data, we propose a model where binding between the NTD and ssDNA interferes with hRPA70–protein interactions

Phenotypic responses to interspecies competition and commensalism in a naturally-derived microbial co-culture

Abstract The fundamental question of whether different microbial species will co-exist or compete in a given environment depends on context, composition and environmental constraints. Model microbial systems can yield some general principles related to this question. In this study we employed a naturally occurring co-culture composed of heterotrophic bacteria, Halomonas sp. HL-48 and Marinobacter sp. HL-58, to ask two fundamental scientific questions: 1) how do the phenotypes of two naturally co-existing species respond to partnership as compared to axenic growth? and 2) how do growth and molecular phenotypes of these species change with respect to competitive and commensal interactions? We hypothesized – and confirmed – that co-cultivation under glucose as the sole carbon source would result in competitive interactions. Similarly, when glucose was swapped with xylose, the interactions became commensal because Marinobacter HL-58 was supported by metabolites derived from Halomonas HL-48. Each species responded to partnership by changing both its growth and molecular phenotype as assayed via batch growth kinetics and global transcriptomics. These phenotypic responses depended on nutrient availability and so the environment ultimately controlled how they responded to each other. This simplified model community revealed that microbial interactions are context-specific and different environmental conditions dictate how interspecies partnerships will unfold