Mariculture of the Asian kelp Undaria pinnatifida and the native kelp Saccharina lattisima along the Atlantic coast of southern Europe: An overview

Preprin

X chromosome variants are associated with male fertility traits in two bovine populations

BACKGROUND: Twenty-five phenotypes were measured as indicators of bull fertility (1099 Brahman and 1719 Tropical Composite bulls). Measurements included sperm morphology, scrotal circumference, and sperm chromatin phenotypes such as DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency. We estimated the heritability of these phenotypes and carried out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) within breed, using the bovine high-density chip, to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL). RESULTS: Our analyses suggested that both sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm protamine deficiency are heritable (h2 from 0.10 to 0.22). To confirm these first estimates of heritability, further studies on sperm chromatin traits, with larger datasets are necessary. Our GWAS identified 12 QTL for bull fertility traits, based on at least five polymorphisms (P

Tailor-made exopolysaccharides—CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing in Paenibacillus polymyxa

Application of state-of-the-art genome editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 drastically increase the number of undomesticated micro-organisms amenable to highly efficient and rapid genetic engineering. Adaptation of these tools to new bacterial families can open up entirely new possibilities for these organisms to accelerate as biotechnologically relevant microbial factories, also making new products economically competitive. Here, we report the implementation of a CRISPR-Cas9 based vector system in Paenibacillus polymyxa, enabling fast and reliable genome editing in this host. Homology directed repair allows for highly efficient deletions of single genes and large regions as well as insertions. We used the system to investigate the yet undescribed biosynthesis machinery for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in P. polymyxa DSM 365, enabling assignment of putative roles to several genes involved in EPS biosynthesis. Using this simple gene deletion strategy, we generated EPS variants that differ from the wild-type polymer not only in terms of monomer composition, but also in terms of their rheological behavior. The developed CRISPR-Cas9 mediated engineering approach will significantly contribute to the understanding and utilization of socially and economically relevant Paenibacillus species and extend the polymer portfolio

Diminished neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation is a novel innate immune deficiency induced by acute ethanol exposure in polymicrobial sepsis, which can be rescued by CXCL1

<div><p>Polymicrobial sepsis is the result of an exaggerated host immune response to bacterial pathogens. Animal models and human studies demonstrate that alcohol intoxication is a key risk factor for sepsis-induced mortality. Multiple chemokines, such as CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL5 are critical for neutrophil recruitment and proper function of neutrophils. However, it is not quite clear the mechanisms by which acute alcohol suppresses immune responses and whether alcohol-induced immunosuppression can be rescued by chemokines. Thus, we assessed whether acute ethanol challenge via gavage diminishes antibacterial host defense in a sepsis model using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and whether this immunosuppression can be rescued by exogenous CXCL1. We found acute alcohol intoxication augments mortality and enhances bacterial growth in mice following CLP. Ethanol exposure impairs critical antibacterial functions of mouse and human neutrophils including reactive oxygen species production, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, and NET-mediated killing in response to both Gram-negative (<i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>) and Gram-positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus)</i> pathogens. As compared with WT (C57Bl/6) mice, CXCL1 knockout mice display early mortality following acute alcohol exposure followed by CLP. Recombinant CXCL1 (rCXCL1) in acute alcohol challenged CLP mice increases survival, enhances bacterial clearance, improves neutrophil recruitment, and enhances NET formation (NETosis). Recombinant CXCL1 (rCXCL1) administration also augments bacterial killing by alcohol-treated and <i>E</i>. <i>coli-</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>-infected neutrophils. Taken together, our data unveils novel mechanisms underlying acute alcohol-induced dysregulation of the immune responses in polymicrobial sepsis, and CXCL1 is a critical mediator to rescue alcohol-induced immune dysregulation in polymicrobial sepsis.</p></div