Fructooligosaccharide Utilization by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research ScholarshipASM Undergraduate FellowshipStreptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, commonly colonizes the oronasopharynx asymptomatically but can on occasion progress beyond this site and cause disease. Pneumococcal colonization is a necessary precursor to disease and is dependent upon the ability of pneumococci to acquire and utilize carbohydrates. There are two main types of carbohydrate transporters encoded in the pneumococcal genome: the Phosphotranferase Systems (PTS) and the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters. There are two proposed sucrose transporters encoded within the pneumococcus genome, a PTS, ScrT, and an ABC transporter, SusT1T2X. As ABC transporters are less energetically favorable than the PTS and are predicted to be subjected to catabolite repression, we hypothesize the main substrate of the SusT1T2X is not sucrose. The presence of a gene encoding sucrose hydrolase in the same genomic locus as susT1T2X led us to believe the main substrate of this transporter is sucrose-containing. Inulin is a fructooligosaccharide (FOS) consisting of a long chain of fructose molecules with a terminal sucrose. Inulin is fermented by approximately 60% of pneumococcal strains yet the mechanism of utilization remained unknown. We have shown both inulin and shorter chains of FOS can support growth of the pneumococcal strain TIGR4 as a sole carbon source. An unmarked, nonpolar deletion of susT1T2X was created. This strain, TIGR4 ΔsusT1T2X, was unable to utilize FOS longer than a glucose linked to three fructose. A genetically reconstituted strain was able to restore growth on these FOS indicating the sus locus is required for import of FOS. Furthermore, it has previously been reported that pneumococcal strains encode one of two distinct ABC transporters at the sus locus. Data suggest that while both transporters encoded at the sus locus allow for the import of short chain FOS, only one of the transporters allow for the import of long chain FOS, or inulin.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease grant 5R01AI076341-02American Heart Association Predoctoral FellowshipNo embarg

AVALIAÇÃO DOS PARÂMETROS FÍSICO-QUÍMICOS E BIOLÓGICOS DA ÁGUA E DO CHORUME NA ÁREA DE INFLUÊNCIA DO LIXÃO DESATIVADO DO MUNICÍPIO DE LAGES-SC

O objetivo do presente estudo é a avaliação dos parâmetros físico-químicos e biológicos da água de corpos hídricos do entorno e chorume proveniente de um lixão desativado do município de Lages-SC. A metodologia utilizada nas amostragens e análises de água e chorume percolado foram realizadas através dos procedimentos padrões descritos APHA (1999). Em relação a fauna, foi realizada amostragem e análise dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos seguindo a metodologia do Comunicado Técnico N° 19 da Embrapa. Para análise dos resultados foram utilizadas as Resoluções n° 357/2005 e n° 430/2011 do CONAMA como referência, além do cálculo do IQA para análise da qualidade da água e o índice BMWP para análise dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos. Os resultados das análises de chorume permitiram aferir as principais características físico-químicas e o estágio de decomposição do lixão. Conforme o IQA, cinco pontos foram classificados como ruins na área do lixão, sendo um a montante, dois após o lançamento do efluente e dois a jusante das descargas. O índice BMWP classificou cinco pontos como águas críticas e dois como ambientes de águas duvidosas. Os resultados das análises de chorume indicam que a fase de decomposição do lixão é predominantemente metanogênica, tendo-se a necessidade de medidas de contenção e tratamento.

Efficacy and mechanisms underlying a gamified attention bias modification training in anxious youth: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Attention bias modification training (ABMT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) likely target different aspects of aberrant threat responses in anxiety disorders and may be combined to maximize therapeutic benefit. However, studies investigating the effect of ABMT in the context of CBT have yielded mixed results. Here, we propose an enhanced ABMT to target the attentional bias towards threat, in addition to classic CBT for anxiety disorders in youth. This enhanced ABMT integrates the modified dot-probe task used in previous studies, where a target is always presented at the previous location of the neutral and not the simultaneously presented threatening stimulus, with a visual search, where the targets are always presented distally of threatening distractors. These two training elements (modified dot-probe and visual search) are embedded in an engaging game to foster motivation and adherence. Our goal is to determine the efficacy of the enhanced ABMT in the context of CBT. Further, we aim to replicate two previous findings: (a) aberrant amygdala connectivity being the neurobiological correlate of the attentional bias towards threat at baseline; and (b) amygdala connectivity being a mediator of the ABMT effect. We will also explore moderators of treatment response (age, sex, depressive symptoms and irritability) on a behavioral and neuronal level. Methods One hundred and twenty youth (8–17 years old) with a primary anxiety disorder diagnosis all receive CBT and are randomized to nine weeks of either active or control ABMT and symptom improvement will be compared between the two study arms. We will also recruit 60 healthy comparison youth, who along with eligible anxious youth, will be assessed with the dot-probe task during fMRI (anxious youth: before and after training; healthy volunteers: second measurement twelve weeks after initial assessment). Discussion The present study will contribute to the literature by (1) potentially replicating that aberrant amygdala connectivity mediates the attentional bias towards threat in anxious youth; (2) determining the efficacy of enhanced ABMT; and (3) advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying ABMT. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03283930 Trial registration date: September 14th 2017. The trial registration took place retrospectively. Data acquisition started February 1st 2017

Influência de variáveis ambientais sobre o padrão estrutural e florístico do componente arbóreo, em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana em Lages, SC

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/198050985081This study aimed to characterize the floristic composition and structure of the tree component of a montane Araucaria Forest fragment and to assess the influence of environmental variables on the patterns observed. The study area was located in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina state, close to the margin of the Caveiras River. The vegetation and the environmental variables (physical and chemical soils characteristics, relief and canopy cover) were surveyed within 50, 20 x 10m, permanent plots allocated systematically stratified in the forest fragment. All trees with circumference at breast height (CBH) ³ 15,7 cm were measured (CBH and height) and identified. It was calculated the importance value (VI) of the species found, performed the ordination of plots according to the abundance of species through the analysis of NMDS (Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling) and plotted the "a posterior" the significant environmental variables in the ordination diagram. One thousand, eight hundred and forty-three (1,843) individuals were sampled, which added up to a total basal area of 36.45 m2, distributed in 37 botanical families, 63 genera and 92 species. The three species with the highest values of VI were Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand and Jacaranda puberula Cham. The variables that showed the higher correlation with the tree component structure and floristic composition were the pH, the plot highest declivity and the Mg content.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/198050985081O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a composição florística e a estrutura do componente arbóreo de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana e avaliar a influência de variáveis ambientais sobre os padrões encontrados. A área de estudo situa-se no município de Lages, SC, às margens do Rio Caveiras (27°51'19.20"S e 50°10'33,39"W). O levantamento da vegetação e das variáveis ambientais (características químicas e físicas dos solos, relevo e cobertura do dossel) foi realizado em 50 parcelas permanentes de 20x10 m, alocadas de forma sistemática estratificada no fragmento. Todas as árvores vivas com circunferência ≥ 15,7 cm (medidas a 1,30 m do solo - CAP) foram mensuradas (CAP e altura) e identificadas. Foi calculado o valor de importância (VI) das espécies encontradas, realizada a ordenação das parcelas em função da abundância das espécies, por meio da analise de NMDS (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling) e plotadas a posteriori as variáveis ambientais significativas no diagrama de ordenação. Foram amostrados 1.843 indivíduos, que totalizaram uma área basal de 36,45 m2/ha, distribuídos em 37 famílias botânicas, 63 gêneros e 92 espécies. As três espécies com os maiores valores de VI foram Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand e Jacaranda puberula Cham. As variáveis que apresentaram maior correlação com a estrutura e a composição florística do componente arbóreo foram o pH, o desnível máximo da parcela e o teor de Mg

INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON THE TREE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND FLORISTIC PATTERNS IN A MONTANE ARAUCARIA FOREST FRAGMENT IN LAGES, SANTA CATARINA STATE

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a composi\ue7\ue3o flor\uedstica e a estrutura do componente arb\uf3reo de um fragmento de Floresta Ombr\uf3fila Mista Montana e avaliar a influ\ueancia de vari\ue1veis ambientais sobre os padr\uf5es encontrados. A \ue1rea de estudo situa-se no munic\uedpio de Lages, SC, \ue0s margens do Rio Caveiras (27\ub051'19.20\u201dS e 50\ub010'33,39\u201dW). O levantamento da vegeta\ue7\ue3o e das vari\ue1veis ambientais (caracter\uedsticas qu\uedmicas e f\uedsicas dos solos, relevo e cobertura do dossel) foi realizado em 50 parcelas permanentes de 20x10 m, alocadas de forma sistem\ue1tica estratificada no fragmento. Todas as \ue1rvores vivas com circunfer\ueancia 65 15,7 cm (medidas a 1,30 m do solo - CAP) foram mensuradas (CAP e altura) e identificadas. Foi calculado o valor de import\ue2ncia (VI) das esp\ue9cies encontradas, realizada a ordena\ue7\ue3o das parcelas em fun\ue7\ue3o da abund\ue2ncia das esp\ue9cies, por meio da analise de NMDS (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling) e plotadas a posteriori as vari\ue1veis ambientais significativas no diagrama de ordena\ue7\ue3o. Foram amostrados 1.843 indiv\uedduos, que totalizaram uma \ue1rea basal de 36,45 m2/ha, distribu\ueddos em 37 fam\uedlias bot\ue2nicas, 63 g\ueaneros e 92 esp\ue9cies. As tr\ueas esp\ue9cies com os maiores valores de VI foram Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand e Jacaranda puberula Cham. As vari\ue1veis que apresentaram maior correla\ue7\ue3o com a estrutura e a composi\ue7\ue3o flor\uedstica do componente arb\uf3reo foram o pH, o desn\uedvel m\ue1ximo da parcela e o teor de Mg.This study aimed to characterize the floristic composition and structure of the tree component of a montane Araucaria Forest fragment and to assess the influence of environmental variables on the patterns observed. The study area was located in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina state, close to the margin of the Caveiras River. The vegetation and the environmental variables (physical and chemical soils characteristics, relief and canopy cover) were surveyed within 50, 20 x 10m, permanent plots allocated systematically stratified in the forest fragment. All trees with circumference at breast height (CBH) 65 15,7 cm were measured (CBH and height) and identified. The importance values (IV) of the found species were calculated, the plots and species were ordinated by an analysis of NMDS (Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling), according to the abundance of species, and the significant environmental variables plotted \u201ca posteriori\u201d in the ordination diagram. One thousand, eight hundred and forty-three (1,843) individuals were sampled, which added up to a total basal area of 36.45 m2, distributed in 37 botanical families, 63 genera and 92 species. The three species with the highest values of VI were Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand and Jacaranda puberula Cham. The variables that showed the higher correlation with the tree component structure and floristic composition were the pH, the plot highest declivity and the Mg content