Geogenic factors as drivers of microbial community diversity in soils overlying polymetallic deposits

This study shows that the geogenic factors landform, lithology, and underlying mineral deposits (expressed by elevated metal concentrations in overlying soils) are key drivers of microbial community diversity in naturally metal-rich Australian soils with different land uses, i.e., agriculture versus natural bushland. One hundred sixty-eight soil samples were obtained from two metal-rich provinces in Australia, i.e., the Fifield Au-Pt field (New South Wales) and the Hillside Cu-Au-U rare-earth-element (REE) deposit (South Australia). Soils were analyzed using three-domain multiplex terminal-restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (M-TRFLP) and PhyloChip microarrays. Geogenic factors were determined using field-mapping techniques and analyses of >50 geochemical parameters. At Fifield, microbial communities differed significantly with geogenic factors and equally with land use (P 0.2 m) differed significantly with lithology and mineral deposit (P < 0.05). Across both sites, elevated metal contents in soils overlying mineral deposits were selective for a range of bacterial taxa, most importantly Acidobacteria, Bacilli, Betaproteobacteria, and Epsilonproteobacteria. In conclusion, long-term geogenic factors can be just as important as land use in determining soil microbial community diversity

Bacterial Deposition of Gold on Hair: Archeological, Forensic and Toxicological Implications

Trace metal analyses in hair are used in archeological, forensic and toxicological investigations as proxies for metabolic processes. We show metallophilic bacteria mediating the deposition of gold (Au), used as tracer for microbial activity in hair post mortem after burial, affecting results of such analyses. Methodology/Principal Findings Human hair was incubated for up to six months in auriferous soils, in natural soil columns (Experiment 1), soils amended with mobile Au(III)-complexes (Experiment 2) and the Au-precipitating bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans (Experiment 3), in peptone-meat-extract (PME) medium in a culture of C. metallidurans amended with Au(III)-complexes (Experiment 4), and in non-auriferous soil (Experiment 5). Hair samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In Experiments 1–4 the Au content increased with time (P = 0.038). The largest increase was observed in Experiment 4 vs. Experiment 1 (mean = 1188 vs. 161 µg Kg−1, Fisher's least significance 0.001). The sulfur content, a proxy for hair metabolism, remained unchanged. Notably, the ratios of Au-to-S increased with time (linear trend P = 0.02) and with added Au and bacteria (linear trend, P = 0.005), demonstrating that larger populations of Au-precipitating bacteria and increased availability of Au increased the deposition of Au on the hair. Conclusion/Significance Interactions of soil biota with hair post mortem may distort results of hair analyses, implying that metal content, microbial activities and the duration of burial must be considered in the interpretation of results of archeological, forensic and toxicological hair analyses, which have hitherto been proxies for pre-mortem metabolic processesGenevieve Phillips, Frank Reith, Clifford Qualls, Abdul-Mehdi Ali, Mike Spilde and Otto Appenzelle

A whole-cell biosensor for the detection of gold

Geochemical exploration for gold (Au) is becoming increasingly important to the mining industry. Current processes for Au analyses require sampling materials to be taken from often remote localities. Samples are then transported to a laboratory equipped with suitable analytical facilities, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Determining the concentration of Au in samples may take several weeks, leading to long delays in exploration campaigns. Hence, a method for the on-site analysis of Au, such as a biosensor, will greatly benefit the exploration industry. The golTSB genes from Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium are selectively induced by Au(I/III)-complexes. In the present study, the golTSB operon with a reporter gene, lacZ, was introduced into Escherichia coli. The induction of golTSB::lacZ with Au(I/III)-complexes was tested using a colorimetric β-galactosidase and an electrochemical assay. Measurements of the β-galactosidase activity for concentrations of both Au(I)- and Au(III)-complexes ranging from 0.1 to 5 µM (equivalent to 20 to 1000 ng g⁻¹ or parts-per-billion (ppb)) were accurately quantified. When testing the ability of the biosensor to detect Au(I/III)-complexes(aq) in the presence of other metal ions (Ag(I), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn, As(III), Pb(II), Sb(III) or Bi(III)), cross-reactivity was observed, i.e. the amount of Au measured was either under- or over-estimated. To assess if the biosensor would work with natural samples, soils with different physiochemical properties were spiked with Au-complexes. Subsequently, a selective extraction using 1 M thiosulfate was applied to extract the Au. The results showed that Au could be measured in these extracts with the same accuracy as ICP-MS (P<0.05). This demonstrates that by combining selective extraction with the biosensor system the concentration of Au can be accurately measured, down to a quantification limit of 20 ppb (0.1 µM) and a detection limit of 2 ppb (0.01 µM).Carla M. Zammit, Davide Quaranta, Shane Gibson, Anita J. Zaitouna, Christine Ta, Joël Brugger, Rebecca Y. Lai, Gregor Grass, Frank Reit

In situ recovery of uranium - the microbial influence

In situ recovery (ISR) has become an increasingly utilized technology worldwide for the economical extraction of uranium (U). Microorganisms play a significant role in U mobilization/immobilization and have therefore been used for the bioremediation of U contaminated sites. In natural environments a wide range of microorganisms has the ability to oxidize or reduce U compounds as part of their metabolism. Hence, microbiota is very likely to play an important role at all stages of U ISR; however the effect of resident microbial communities subject to ISR has not been investigated. Therefore, this review focuses on the interactions between microorganisms and U and the possible effects this could have on ISR operations. Microorganisms may affect ISR in either a positive or negative way, e.g. assisting in U mobilization via the oxidation of U or immobilizing U by reducing it into an insoluble form. The use of native microbial communities to influence the mobilization/immobilization of U during ISR could help to increase U recovery rates or speed-up post-mining remediation

Patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of gadolinium contrast agents: a European prospective cross-sectional multicentre observational study

Background: The EU gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) market has changed in recent years due to the European Medicines Agency decision to suspend the marketing authorisation of linear GBCA and the marketing authorisation of new generic macrocyclic GBCA. The study aims to understand the patterns of (GBCA) use, and to study the effectiveness and safety of GBCA in routine practice across Europe. Methods: Prospective, cross-sectional, multicentre, observational study in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance. Reported usage patterns included indication, referral and examination details. Assessment of effectiveness included changes in radiological diagnosis, diagnostic confidence and image quality. Safety data were collected by spontaneous patient adverse event (AE) reporting. Results: 2118 patients were included from 8 centres across 5 European countries between December 2018 and November 2019. Clariscan, Dotarem (gadoteric acid), Gadovist (gadobutrol) and ProHance (gadoteridol) were utilised in 1513 (71.4%), 356 (16.8%), 237 (11.2%) and 12 (0.6%) patients, respectively. Most were performed in CNS-related indications (46.2%). Mean GBCA doses were 0.10 mmol/kg body weight, except for Gadovist (mean 0.12 mmol/kg). GBCA use increased confidence in diagnosis in 96.2% of examinations and resulted in a change in radiological diagnosis in 73.9% of patients. Image quality was considered excellent or good in 96.1% of patients and across all GBCA. Four patients reported AEs (0.19%), with only 1 (0.05%) considered serious. Conclusions: This European study confirmed that GBCAs are used appropriately in Europe for a wide range of indications. The study demonstrated a significant increase in diagnostic confidence after GBCA use and confirmed the good safety profile of GBCAs, with comparable results for all agents used

DigitUS 1. Klausurtag | DigitUS Begleitmaterial. Handreichung für Lehrkräfte

Diese Handreichung für Lehrkräfte enthält Information zur Organisation der Lerngemeinschaften und zum Projekt DigitUS. Darüber hinaus werden die Struktur und die Inhalte des ersten Klausurtages aufgeführt

Effects of state-wide implementation of the Los Angeles Motor Scale for triage of stroke patients in clinical practice

Background: The prehospital identification of stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO), that should be immediately transported to a thrombectomy capable centre is an unsolved problem. Our aim was to determine whether implementation of a state-wide standard operating procedure (SOP) using the Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) is feasible and enables correct triage of stroke patients to hospitals offering (comprehensive stroke centres, CSCs) or not offering (primary stroke centres, PSCs) thrombectomy.Methods: Prospective study involving all patients with suspected acute stroke treated in a 4-month period in a state-wide network of all stroke-treating hospitals (eight PSCs and two CSCs). Primary endpoint was accuracy of the triage SOP in correctly transferring patients to CSCs or PSCs. Additional endpoints included the number of secondary transfers, the accuracy of the LAMS for detection of LVO, apart from stroke management metrics.Results: In 1123 patients, use of a triage SOP based on the LAMS allowed triage decisions according to LVO status with a sensitivity of 69.2% (95% confidence interval (95%-CI): 59.0-79.5%) and a specificity of 84.9% (95%-CI: 82.6-87.3%). This was more favourable than the conventional approach of transferring every patient to the nearest stroke-treating hospital, as determined by geocoding for each patient (sensitivity, 17.9% (95%-CI: 9.4-26.5%); specificity, 100% (95%-CI: 100-100%)). Secondary transfers were required for 14 of the 78 (17.9%) LVO patients. Regarding the score itself, LAMS detected LVO with a sensitivity of 67.5% (95%-CI: 57.1-78.0%) and a specificity of 83.5% (95%-CI: 81.0-86.0%).Conclusions: State-wide implementation of a triage SOP requesting use of the LAMS tool is feasible and improves triage decision-making in acute stroke regarding the most appropriate target hospital.</p

Carotid Artery Stenting Using a Novel Self-Expanding Braided Nickel–Titanium Stent: Feasibility and Safety Porcine Trial

We studied the deliverability and safety of a braided, self-expanding, closed-cell nickel–titanium (NiTi) stent (E-volution, Jotec GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) especially designed for the endovascular treatment of carotid artery bifurcation stenosis with special regard to in-stent stenosis and thrombosis compared with a laser-cut reference nitinol stent in a porcine model of percutaneous vascular interventions. We aimed to assess histopathologic response in minipig carotid and subclavian arteries. Eight minipigs received a total of 42 stents: 14 reference stents and 28 E-volution stents. Eleven of the E-volution stents were additionally coated with heparin. Control angiography was obtained immediately before and after vascular intervention as well as 4 weeks after the procedure. Primary endpoints were 28 days of angiographic analyses as well as histomorphometric analysis, including injury score, inflammation score, luminal diameter, vessel diameter, maximal neointimal thickness, and area of in-stent stenosis. Secondary end points were procedural success, 28-day mortality, and stent thrombosis. All stents could be delivered successfully without procedural complications, morbidity, or mortality during our observation time. As confirmed by histology, no in-stent thrombosis was observed. Compared with common carotid arteries, subclavian arteries are significantly more vulnerable to developing in-stent stenosis caused by neointima proliferation (p < 0.05). Compared with the use of 1 single stent/artery, serial application of two stents leads to a more excessive but not significantly different neointimal proliferation (p > 0.05). The E-volution stent, especially when heparin coated, is in line with the comparison to the laser-cut reference stent displaying similar results of angiographic, histologic, and histomorphometric analyses (p > 0.05). Compared with the reference laser-cut stent, the self-expanding nitinol stent (E-volution) with its advanced braiding technology is feasible and safe. In our opinion, the high radial resistive force and the advanced braided design with tight stent-strut interstices may be beneficial in terms of plaque stabilization. Further studies are necessary and warranted

Introducing BASE: the Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database

Background: Microbial inhabitants of soils are important to ecosystem and planetary functions, yet there are large gaps in our knowledge of their diversity and ecology. The 'Biomes of Australian Soil Environments' (BASE) project has generated a database of microbial diversity with associated metadata across extensive environmental gradients at continental scale. As the characterisation of microbes rapidly expands, the BASE database provides an evolving platform for interrogating and integrating microbial diversity and function. Findings: BASE currently provides amplicon sequences and associated contextual data for over 900 sites encompassing all Australian states and territories, a wide variety of bioregions, vegetation and land-use types. Amplicons target bacteria, archaea and general and fungal-specific eukaryotes. The growing database will soon include metagenomics data. Data are provided in both raw sequence (FASTQ) and analysed OTU table formats and are accessed via the project's data portal, which provides a user-friendly search tool to quickly identify samples of interest. Processed data can be visually interrogated and intersected with other Australian diversity and environmental data using tools developed by the 'Atlas of Living Australia'. Conclusions: Developed within an open data framework, the BASE project is the first Australian soil microbial diversity database. The database will grow and link to other global efforts to explore microbial, plant, animal, and marine biodiversity. Its design and open access nature ensures that BASE will evolve as a valuable tool for documenting an often overlooked component of biodiversity and the many microbe-driven processes that are essential to sustain soil function and ecosystem services