A new record of Percursaria percursa (Ulvaceae, Ulvales) on the North Island, New Zealand

The filamentous green alga Percursaria percursa (Ulvaceae, Ulvales) was recorded for the first time on the North Island of New Zealand at mokoroa Estuary, Tauranga Harbour. This species is previously known within New Zealand from only two records, both from the South Island. In Tauranga Harbour, this species was restricted to anoxic estuarine sediments where mangrove forests had been mulched, and mulchate left in situ. Percursaria percursa was found intertwined with Ulva spp. and Rhizoclonium spp. Surveys of other North and South Island estuaries suggest that this alga, although occurring as part of nuisance green algal blooms in Tauranga Harbour, has only colonized human-impacted locations, and has not yet been observed in natural' estuarine ecosystems in New Zealand. As this species was found intertwined with other mat-forming filamentous green algae, it can easily be misidentified in the field, leading to both over- and under-reporting of species occurrence

Recognition Sequences and Substrate Evolution in Cyanobactin Biosynthesis

Ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products are of broad interest because of their intrinsic bioactivities and potential for synthetic biology. The RiPP cyanobactin pathways <i>pat</i> and <i>tru</i> have been experimentally shown to be extremely tolerant of mutations. In nature, the pathways exhibit “substrate evolution”, where enzymes remain constant while the substrates of those enzymes are hypervariable and readily evolvable. Here, we sought to determine the mechanism behind this promiscuity. Analysis of a series of different enzyme–substrate combinations from five different cyanobactin gene clusters, in addition to engineered substrates, led us to define short discrete recognition elements within substrates that are responsible for directing enzymes. We show that these recognition sequences (RSs) are portable and can be interchanged to control which functional groups are added to the final natural product. In addition to the previously assigned N- and C-terminal proteolysis RSs, here we assign the RS for heterocyclization modification. We show that substrate elements can be swapped <i>in viv</i>o leading to successful production of natural products in <i>E. coli.</i> The exchangeability of these elements holds promise in synthetic biology approaches to tailor peptide products <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>

Associations between frequency of protective face mask usage and nasal carriage of MDRSA, <i>scn</i>-negative <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>, <i>and</i> tetracycline-resistant <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> among industrial hog operation workers in North Carolina, 2013–2014.

<p>Associations between frequency of protective face mask usage and nasal carriage of MDRSA, <i>scn</i>-negative <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>, <i>and</i> tetracycline-resistant <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> among industrial hog operation workers in North Carolina, 2013–2014.</p

Baseline characteristics of 183 industrial hog operation workers and household members participating in a cohort study of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage in North Carolina, 2013–2014.

<p>Baseline characteristics of 183 industrial hog operation workers and household members participating in a cohort study of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage in North Carolina, 2013–2014.</p

Prevalence and distribution of characteristics of baseline <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage among 183 industrial hog operation workers and household members in North Carolina, 2013–2014.^a

<p>Prevalence and distribution of characteristics of baseline <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage among 183 industrial hog operation workers and household members in North Carolina, 2013–2014.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0165713#t002fn002" target="_blank">^a</a></p

Characteristics of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> recovered from the anterior nares of industrial hog operation workers and minors who reported recent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in North Carolina, 2013–2014.^a

<p>Characteristics of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> recovered from the anterior nares of industrial hog operation workers and minors who reported recent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in North Carolina, 2013–2014.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0165713#t004fn002" target="_blank">^a</a></p

Association of baseline <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage patterns with recent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) among industrial hog operation workers and their child household members in North Carolina, 2013–2014.^a

<p>Association of baseline <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> nasal carriage patterns with recent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) among industrial hog operation workers and their child household members in North Carolina, 2013–2014.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0165713#t003fn002" target="_blank">^a</a></p