Predictive risk factors before the onset of familial rheumatoid arthritis: the Tatarstan cohort study

BackgroundA familial history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) predisposes an individual to develop RA. This study aimed at investigating factors associated with this conversion from the Tatarstan cohort.MethodsA total of 144 individuals, referred to as pre-RA and at risk for familial RA, were selected 2 years (range: 2–21 years) before conversion to RA and compared to non-converted 328 first-degree relatives (FDR) from RA as assessed after ≥2 years follow-up, and 355 healthy controls were also selected (HC). Preclinical parameters and socio-demographic/individual/HLA genetic factors were analyzed when data were available at the time of enrollment.ResultsAs compared to FDR and HC groups, pre-RA individuals were characterized before conversion to RA by the presence of arthralgia, severe morning symptoms, a lower educational level, and rural location. An association with the HLA-DRB1 SE risk factor was also retrieved with symmetrical arthralgia and passive smoking. On the contrary, alcohol consumption and childlessness in women were protective and associated with the HLA-DRB1*07:01 locus.ConclusionBefore RA onset, a combination of individual and genetic factors characterized those who are at risk of progressing to RA among those with familial RA relatives

Draft genome sequence data and analysis of Brachybacterium sp. strain EE-P12 isolated from a laboratory-scale anaerobic reactor

The species of the genus Brachybacterium belonging to the family Dermabacteraceae within the phylum Actinobacteria are gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic or aerobic, nonmotile and nonsporeforming bacteria. Cells of Brachybacterium spp. vary in shape from coccoid forms (stationary phase) to rods (exponential phase). Brachybacterium species can be isolated from numerous sources such as poultry deep litter, human gut, soil, food products. Here we describe the draft genome sequence of Brachybacterium sp. EE-P12 that was isolated from a laboratory-scale anaerobic digester. The genome sequencing generated 3,964,988 bp, with a G+C content of 72.2%. This draft genome data has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession number QXCP00000000 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/QXCP00000000). Keywords: Draft genome, Actinobacteria, Brachybacterium sp., Chicken manure, Laboratory-scale biogas reacto

Draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus sp. EZ-P03 isolated from a mesophilic anaerobic digester

Abstract Objectives Staphylococcus species of the family Staphylococcaceae are facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive cocci growing in clusters, pairs and occasionally in short chains. Staphylococci can be detected in different environments. They are common commensals, but some can also cause infections in humans. Hence, their investigation is required to understand ecology and genetics and to create an opportunity for comparative studies. Data description In this study, we report the determination of a draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus sp. strain EZ-P03 which was isolated from anaerobically digested chicken waste materials. The draft genome of Staphylococcus sp. EZ-P03 constituted a total of 62 contigs (> 500 bp) amounting to 2,689,358 bp with a G+C content of 37.3% and a N50 contig size of 126,562 bp. The whole genome shotgun project of Staphylococcus sp. strain EZ-P03 has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession number QPMO00000000

Draft genome sequence of Brevibacterium epidermidis EZ-K02 isolated from nitrocellulose-contaminated wastewater environments

Brevibacterium spp. are aerobic, nonbranched, asporogenous, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria which may exhibit a rod-coccus cycle when cells get older and can be found in various environments. ​Several Brevibacterium species have industrial importance and are capable of biotransformation of various contaminants. Here we describe the draft genome sequence of Brevibacterium epidermidis EZ-K02 isolated from nitrocellulose-contaminated wastewater environments. The genome comprises 3,885,924 bp, with a G + C content of 64.2%. This whole genome shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession PDHL00000000. Keywords: Brevibacterium epidermidis, Draft genome, Wastewate

Fungal, Bacterial, and Archaeal Diversity in the Digestive Tract of Several Beetle Larvae (Coleoptera)

Interpretation of how partnerships between fungi, bacteria, archaea, and insects are maintained through the life of the hosts is a big challenge within the framework of symbiosis research. The main goal of this work was to characterize the gut microbiota in larvae of several Coleoptera species using sequencing of the bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Thus, larvae with various food preferences, including Amphimallon solstitiale, Oryctes nasicornis, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Schizotus pectinicornis, Rhagium mordax, and Rhagium inquisitor, were thoroughly investigated in this work. We revealed an association of these beetle species mainly with four bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, as well as with three fungal phyla, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, and Basidiomycota, but microbial communities varied depending on the beetle host, individual organism, and surrounding environment. Moreover, archaea within the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota in the hindgut content of O. nasicornis and A. solstitiale were additionally detected. The identified microbial communities suggest their potential role in the exploitation of various resources, providing nutritional needs for the host organism. These microorganisms can also represent a valuable source of novel metabolic capacities for their application in different biotechnologies

Comparative Genome Analysis of Two Bacillus pumilus Strains Producing High Level of Extracellular Hydrolases

Whole-genome sequencing of a soil isolate Bacillus pumilus, strain 7P, and its streptomycin-resistant derivative, B. pumilus 3-19, showed genome sizes of 3,609,117 bp and 3,609,444 bp, respectively. Annotation of the genome showed 3794 CDS (3204 with predicted function) and 3746 CDS (3173 with predicted function) in the genome of strains 7P and 3-19, respectively. In the genomes of both strains, the prophage regions Bp1 and Bp2 were identified. These include 52 ORF of prophage proteins in the Bp1 region and 38 prophages ORF in the Bp2 region. Interestingly, more than 50% of Bp1 prophage proteins are similar to the proteins of the phi105 in B. subtilis. The DNA region of Bp2 has 15% similarity to the DNA of the Brevibacillus Jimmer phage. Degradome analysis of the genome of both strains revealed 148 proteases of various classes. These include 60 serine proteases, 48 metalloproteases, 26 cysteine proteases, 4 aspartate proteases, 2 asparagine proteases, 3 threonine proteases, and 2 unclassified proteases. Likewise, three inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes were found. Comparative analysis of variants in the genomes of strains 7P and 3-19 showed the presence of 81 nucleotide variants in the genome 3-19. Among them, the missense mutations in the rpsL, comA, spo0F genes and in the upstream region of the srlR gene were revealed. These nucleotide polymorphisms may have affected the streptomycin resistance and overproduction of extracellular hydrolases of the 3-19 strain. Finally, a plasmid DNA was found in strain 7P, which is lost in its derivative, strain 3-19. This plasmid contains five coding DNA sequencing (CDS), two regulatory proteins and three hypothetical proteins

Comparison of the Microbiota and Inorganic Anion Content in the Saliva of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Free Individuals

The oral cavity is one of the most complex microbial environments; however, the complex nature of the salivary microbiota and the level of inorganic anions in the saliva of subjects with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are poorly understood. The primary goals of this pilot research were to assess differences in salivary bacterial community composition and inorganic anion concentrations between patients with GERD and GERD-free people. Thus, the salivary microbiota within both groups was dominated by these genera: Streptococcus, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Veillonella, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Rothia, and Leptotrichia. However, the relative abundances of the genera Actinomyces, Atopobium, Stomatobaculum, Ruminococcaceae_[G-2], Veillonella, and Leptotrichia were significantly higher in the saliva samples of patients with GERD, while the genera Porphyromonas, Gemella, Peptostreptococcus, and Neisseria were less abundant in this group. The concentrations of chloride, phosphate, and sulphate ions in the human saliva varied among all subjects and sampling time. These results broaden our knowledge of the salivary microbial community composition and chemistry of saliva of patients with GERD and GERD-free individuals

A bird’s-eye overview of molecular mechanisms regulating feed intake in chickens—with mammalian comparisons

In recent decades, a lot of research has been conducted to explore poultry feeding behavior. However, up to now, the processes behind poultry feeding behavior remain poorly understood. The review generalizes modern expertise about the hormonal regulation of feeding behavior in chickens, focusing on signaling pathways mediated by insulin, leptin, and ghrelin and regulatory pathways with a cross-reference to mammals. This overview also summarizes state-of-the-art research devoted to hypothalamic neuropeptides that control feed intake and are prime candidates for predictors of feeding efficiency. Comparative analysis of the signaling pathways that mediate the feed intake regulation allowed us to conclude that there are major differences in the processes by which hormones influence specific neuropeptides and their contrasting roles in feed intake control between two vertebrate clades