Bipyrimidine Signatures as a Photoprotective Genome Strategy in G+C-rich Halophilic Archaea

Halophilic Archaea • Experience high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in their environments • Demonstrate high resistance to UV • Are protected by pigmentation and efficient DNA repair • Have high genomic G+C conten

Microbial communities in salt lakes: Phylogenetic diversity, metabolic diversity, and in situ activities

A roundtable discussion was held on Monday, 12 May 2008, following the sessions on \u27Microorganisms in Hypersaline Environments\u27 at the 10th Conference on Salt Lake Research & 2008 FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake Issues Forum, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Among the aspects discussed were: 1. The gap between our knowledge of the microorganisms isolated in culture and the true microbial diversity as apparent when using culture-independent techniques, in most cases based on the characterization of small subunit ribosomal RNA genes; 2. The metabolic diversity of the microorganisms inhabiting saline and hypersaline lakes and the lack of information to what extent the metabolic potential of the microbiota as apparent from culture studies or detection of functional genes is realized in the environment; 3. The limited understanding of the diversity of algae, bacteriophages and protozoa in hypersaline lakes and their relative importance of such microbial predators and grazing animals on the regulation of the microbial community sizes in such lakes; 4. The impact of high throughput -omics technologies for assessing the diversity and metabolism of hypersaline environments. In recent years a number of comprehensive studies were performed in selected hypersaline environments. In recent years a number of comprehensive studies were performed in selected hypersaline environments by large interdisciplinary teams of scientists. Such studies contribute invaluable information to define the nature and function of the microbial communities in such environments. However, the inability to independently grow specific organisms compared to the genetic diversity revealed by non-cultivation techniques indicates that additional work is needed to develop and define in vitro cultivation conditions. More of such studies are needed, with the appropriate funding, to solve the basic questions relating to the importance of microorganisms in saline lakes and other hypersaline ecosystems

Great Salt Lake Halophilic Archaea: A Model for Mineral Entrapment of Life

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, found veins of gypsum and layer of salt deposited by water in 2011(Figure 7). Gypsum has been detected on Mars as early as 2005 by the ESA’s Mars Express Orbiter, which later found evidence of chloride salts in 2008. On Earth, gypsum is formed in hypersaline environments, in minerals left behind when water evaporates. During evaporation, gypsum deposits and salt crystals can trap microorganisms in fluid inclusions. Gypsum obtained from Great Salt Lake, along with salt crystals collected from the salt glands of pelicans, were used to develop a method to extract halophilic archaea and culture it in the lab. Our studies show that gypsum was difficult to dissolve in aqueous microbiological media. Various methods of dissolution involving mechanical crushing and different solvents including microbiological media were tested. We also employed a variety of cultivation methods. We will present data on best practices for obtaining halophilic microorganisms from gypsum and salt crystal samples. The method obtained could be used to isolate potential microorganisms present in these minerals from Mars

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

No. 724 Bonnie Baxter

Transcript (28 pages) of interview by Greg Smoak with Westminster College biology professor Bonnie K. Baxter on 9 December 2013. Part of the Great Salt Lake oral history project, tape U-3240Bonnie Baxter is a professor of biology at Westminster College in Salt Lake City and the director of the Great Salt Lake Institute. Fascinated by science from a young age, she pursued work in genetics and DNA. Her interest has always been in liberal arts education, which is how she found Westminster College and in turn began her relationship with Great Salt Lake. She studies halophiles (salt loving bacteria) and works with people of widely divergent backgrounds who are also interested in the Lake. Through the Great Salt Lake Institute she has encouraged interdisciplinary relationships between people all over the world. Dr. Baxter discusses her work with the Lake at some length, and shares her favorite areas. She also emphasizes the importance of interaction with the ecosystem and believes strongly that children need to be involved with that interaction. Project: Great Salt Lake Oral History Project. Interviewer: Greg Smoak

Euhalothece: The Story of a Primary Producer and the Great Salt Lake Benthic Food Chain

Euhalothece is a genus of cyanobacteria that thrive in hypersaline lacustrine and marine environments, including Great Salt Lake, where it dominates primary production in the benthic zone. This occurs primarily through its role as a major architect of microbialite structures. The ongoing rapid decline of GSL subjects these structures to desiccation and elevated salinity, threatening Euhalothece and the benthic ecosystem at large. The purpose of this research was to first review Euhalothece and its role in the GSL benthic food web, then to isolate Euhalothece from GSL microbial mats in an attempt to characterize this species. Additionally, microbialite mats can mineralize and leave a signature in the rock record. The Perseverance rover is currently looking for such biosignatures on the surface of Mars, and the living mats at GSL and their bacterial architects may provide insight into an ancient habitable Mars environment