Genome comparison between clinical and environmental strains of Herbaspirillum seropedicae reveals a potential new emerging bacterium adapted to human hosts

Abstract Background Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an environmental β-proteobacterium that is capable of promoting the growth of economically relevant plants through biological nitrogen fixation and phytohormone production. However, strains of H. seropedicae have been isolated from immunocompromised patients and associated with human infections and deaths. In this work, we sequenced the genomes of two clinical strains of H. seropedicae, AU14040 and AU13965, and compared them with the genomes of strains described as having an environmental origin. Results Both genomes were closed, indicating a single circular chromosome; however, strain AU13965 also carried a plasmid of 42,977 bp, the first described in the genus Herbaspirillum. Genome comparison revealed that the clinical strains lost the gene sets related to biological nitrogen fixation (nif) and the type 3 secretion system (T3SS), which has been described to be essential for interactions with plants. Comparison of the pan-genomes of clinical and environmental strains revealed different sets of accessorial genes. However, antimicrobial resistance genes were found in the same proportion in all analyzed genomes. The clinical strains also acquired new genes and genomic islands that may be related to host interactions. Among the acquired islands was a cluster of genes related to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Although highly conserved in environmental strains, the LPS biosynthesis genes in the two clinical strains presented unique and non-orthologous genes within the genus Herbaspirillum. Furthermore, the AU14040 strain cluster contained the neuABC genes, which are responsible for sialic acid (Neu5Ac) biosynthesis, indicating that this bacterium could add it to its lipopolysaccharide. The Neu5Ac-linked LPS could increase the bacterial resilience in the host aiding in the evasion of the immune system. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the lifestyle transition from environment to opportunist led to the loss and acquisition of specific genes allowing adaptations to colonize and survive in new hosts. It is possible that these substitutions may be the starting point for interactions with new hosts.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152201/1/12864_2019_Article_5982.pd

Drogas em áreas de risco: o que dizem os jovens Drugs in risk areas: what young people say

A pesquisa teve como ponto de partida um planejamento comunitário para discussão da situação de saúde de uma das principais áreas de risco de Fortaleza-Ceará, no qual o tema das drogas ganhou destaque. Pretendeu-se entrar em contato com o que os adolescentes da área percebiam como fatores de risco e de proteção para consumo de drogas em sua comunidade. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo em que foi usado o grupo focal como técnica para obtenção de informações. O tratamento dos dados foi o de sistematizar temas comuns, dividindo-os em duas categorias de análise: fatores de risco e de proteção para o envolvimento com drogas. Nas falas dos adolescentes, percebeu-se que coexistem múltiplos fatores que se relacionam, ora aparecendo como aspectos de influência, ora como protetores, entre eles: família, grupo social, escola, vida em área de risco e mídia. Por outro lado, as redes sociais de apoio apareceram essencialmente como protetoras. Também percebeu-se que alguns assuntos foram levantados de forma transversal aos temas centrais, como as perspectivas de vida desses jovens e a necessidade de políticas públicas, importantes no apoio às redes sociais, à família e na atuação em áreas de risco. Assim, o que se põe em questão é a impossibilidade de consenso sobre os fatores exclusivos de risco ou de proteção. A partir disso, destaca-se a importância de potencializar a discussão e provocar reflexões a respeito da possibilidade de modos de vida fora do circuito das drogas.<br>The research has as starting point a community planning to discuss the health status of one of the key risk areas of Fortaleza, Ceará state, in which the theme of drugs was highlighted. It was intended to get in touch with what young people perceive as factors of risk and protection for drug abuse in their community. It is a qualitative study in which the focus group was used as technique for obtaining information. Data processing systematized common themes, dividing them into two categories of analysis: risk factors and protection factors for involvement with drugs. In the speech of adolescents, it was noted that multiple related factors coexist, sometimes as aspects of influence, sometimes as protectors, such as: family, social group, school, life in the danger zone and the media. On the other hand, the social support networks appeared essentially as protective. We also realized that some issues were raised transversely to the central theme, as life chances of those young people and the need for public policies that are important in supporting social networks, family and work in hazardous areas. So what is put into question is the impossibility of consensus on the unique factors of risk or protection. From this, we highlight the importance of enhancing the discussion and provoking thoughts about possible ways of life outside the circuit of drugs

Noise and Fluctuations in Fully Depleted Silicon-On-Insulator MOSFETs

International audienc