Identification of European species of <i>Maja</i> (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae): RFLP analyses of COI mtDNA and morphological considerations

Four species of crabs of the genus Maja have been described along the European coast: M. brachydactyla, M. squinado, M. goltziana and M. crispata. The commercially important species M. brachydactyla and M. squinado achieve the largest body sizes and are the most similar in morphology, and are therefore easily confused. The four species of Maja were identified using a novel morphometric index and a polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP). The relationship between carapace length and the distance between the tips of antorbital spines was used to distinguish adults of M. brachydactyla and M. squinado. PCR-RFLP analysis of a partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase type I (COI) revealed that the four species of the genus Maja can be unambiguously discriminated using the combination of restriction endonucleases enzymes HpyCH4V and Ase I. The molecular identification may be particularly useful in larvae, juvenile and young crabs, when the morphological differences found in adults are not applicable

Using global team science to identify genetic parkinson's disease worldwide.

No abstract available

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three genomic nomenclature systems to all sequence data from the World Health Organization European Region available until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation, compare the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

Adjunctive rifampicin for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (ARREST): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is a common cause of severe community-acquired and hospital-acquired infection worldwide. We tested the hypothesis that adjunctive rifampicin would reduce bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death, by enhancing early S aureus killing, sterilising infected foci and blood faster, and reducing risks of dissemination and metastatic infection. METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults (≥18 years) with S aureus bacteraemia who had received ≤96 h of active antibiotic therapy were recruited from 29 UK hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated sequential randomisation list to receive 2 weeks of adjunctive rifampicin (600 mg or 900 mg per day according to weight, oral or intravenous) versus identical placebo, together with standard antibiotic therapy. Randomisation was stratified by centre. Patients, investigators, and those caring for the patients were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was time to bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death (all-cause), from randomisation to 12 weeks, adjudicated by an independent review committee masked to the treatment. Analysis was intention to treat. This trial was registered, number ISRCTN37666216, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between Dec 10, 2012, and Oct 25, 2016, 758 eligible participants were randomly assigned: 370 to rifampicin and 388 to placebo. 485 (64%) participants had community-acquired S aureus infections, and 132 (17%) had nosocomial S aureus infections. 47 (6%) had meticillin-resistant infections. 301 (40%) participants had an initial deep infection focus. Standard antibiotics were given for 29 (IQR 18-45) days; 619 (82%) participants received flucloxacillin. By week 12, 62 (17%) of participants who received rifampicin versus 71 (18%) who received placebo experienced treatment failure or disease recurrence, or died (absolute risk difference -1·4%, 95% CI -7·0 to 4·3; hazard ratio 0·96, 0·68-1·35, p=0·81). From randomisation to 12 weeks, no evidence of differences in serious (p=0·17) or grade 3-4 (p=0·36) adverse events were observed; however, 63 (17%) participants in the rifampicin group versus 39 (10%) in the placebo group had antibiotic or trial drug-modifying adverse events (p=0·004), and 24 (6%) versus six (2%) had drug interactions (p=0·0005). INTERPRETATION: Adjunctive rifampicin provided no overall benefit over standard antibiotic therapy in adults with S aureus bacteraemia. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment

High genetic variability of Alexandrium catenella directly detected in environmental samples from the Southern Austral Ecosystem of Chile

Chilean waters are often affected by Alexandrium catenella, one of the leading organisms behind Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs). Genetic variability for this species are commonly carried out from cultured samples, approach that may not accurately quantify genetic variability of this organism in the water column. In this study, genetic variability of A. catenella was determined by sequencing the rDNA region, in water samples from the Canal Puyuhuapi (South Austral Ecosystem of Chile). A. catenella was detected in 8,8% of samples analysed. All sequences obtained were A. catenella (Tamara complex group I), with three highly frequent haplotypes (34%), and twenty new haplotypes. These haplotypes increase the genetic variability from 2.8% to 3.14% in this area. Through this new method, genetic determination of A. catenella can accurately be monitored and ecological studies of this species can be implemented.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Vibrio aestuarianus associated to Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas mortality in the Ebro Delta, in the Catalan Mediterranean Coast

AQUA 2018, #WeRAquaculture we are the producers and investors, the scientists and technical advisors, the legislators and educators, the students, civil society organizations and consumers of farmed aquatic products, 25-29 August 2018, Montpellier, FranceThe presence of Vibrio aestuarianus has been associated to mortality events in pre-commercial and commercial Crassostrea gigas Pacific Oyster in recent years in France and Ireland. However, no mortality events associated to this pathogen has been detected in the Mediterranean. In May 2017, when temperatures were around 20 ºC, C. gigas cultures in the Ebro bays (Alfacs and Fangar) experimented for the first time a massive mortality event of commercial size oyster. Different analyses for detecting the presence of pathogens (qPCR Saulnier et al. 2009 V. aestuarianus/ V. splendidus; qPCR Webb et al. 2007 herpesvirus OsHv-1), as well as presence of contaminants, were performed. Retrospective samples from 2016 were also studied. Results regarding presence of pathogens pointed out the detection of 22+/30 V. aestuarianus positive individuals for oysters with 50% mortality collected in April 2016 (EFCgAbr16), as well as 9+/30 positive individuals in May 2017 adult oyster mass mortality (FmCgMa17). Furthermore, in this last sample the presence of V. splendidus clade was also observed, however similar results were also observed in oyster with no mortality. The V. aestuarinus presence was corroborated by the Spanish National Reference Laboratory (CSIC-Vigo) on samples with mortalities collected from the same bay one month later. Results on contaminant analysis revealed the presence of metolachlor (organitrogen pesticide), bentazone (insecticide), methylparaben (endocrine disruptors), with levels ranging from less than 1 ng/g dry weight (dw) to 10 ng/g dw for both oysters experiencing mortality and with no mortality. Furthermore, esterase activities indicative of OP pesticide exposure did not suggest neurotoxicity signs caused by these compounds. Those results do not support association of contaminants with the studied mortality events and the cause seems of pathogenic aetiology. Present results indicate the first detection of Vibrio aestuarianus associated to commercial Crassostrea gigas mortality in the Ebro Delta shellfish culture site, at the Catalan Mediterranean coast, as well as for Mediterranean oyster culture in general. First sample detected positive dates from April 2016 and had been immersed in the Ebro Delta two weeks earlier, coming from French Atlantic waters. Those samples are now being further studied by histology to discard other potential pathogens involved to the mortality episodes. In the case of commercial adult oyster mortality in May 2017 (FmCgMa17), the potential influence of a pathogenic V. splendidus strain being also involved cannot be discardedThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's H2020 Framework Programme under grant agreement no 678589 (VIVALDI project) and from the Spanish Government with the INIA E-RTA2015-00004-00-00 project (EMERGER). As well with the project XENOMETABOLOMIC (CTM2015-73179-JIN) (AEI/FEDER/UE) and AimCost project (CGL2016-76332-R MINECO/FEDER, UE)Peer Reviewe