Wheat Space Odyssey: “From Seed to Seed”. Kernel Morphology

The long-term autonomous existence of man in extraterrestrial conditions is associated with the need to cultivate plants—the only affordable and effective means for both providing oxygen and CO2 utilization, and providing one of the most habitual and energetically valuable products: plant food. In this study, we analyzed the results of the space odyssey of wheat and compared the morphological features of parental grains harvested from soil grown wheat plants, the grains obtained from plants grown in a specialized device for plant cultivation—the “Lada” space greenhouses during space flight in the ISS, and the grains obtained from plants in the same device on Earth. The seeds obtained under various conditions were studied using scanning electron microscopy. We studied the mutual location of the surface layers of the kernel cover tissues, the structural features of the tube and cross cells of the fruit coat (pericarp), and the birsh hairs of the kernels. It was found that the grains obtained under wheat plants cultivation on board of the ISS in near space had some specific differences from the parental, original grains, and the grains obtained from plants grown in the “Lada” greenhouse in ground conditions. These changes were manifested in a shortening of the birsh hairs, and a change in the size and relative arrangement of the cells of the kernel coat. We suggest that such changes are a manifestation of the sensitivity of the cytoskeleton reorganization systems and water exchange to the influence of particular physical conditions of space flight (microgravity, increased doses of radiation, etc.). Thus, the revealed changes did not hinder the wheat grains production “from seed to seed”, which allows the cultivation of this crop in stable life support systems in near earth orbit

Deep Functional Profiling Facilitates the Evaluation of the Antibacterial Potential of the Antibiotic Amicoumacin

The global spread of antibiotic resistance is forcing the scientific community to find new molecular strategies to counteract it. Deep functional profiling of microbiomes provides an alternative source for the discovery of novel antibiotic producers and probiotics. Recently, we implemented this ultrahigh-throughput screening approach for the isolation of Bacillus pumilus strains efficiently producing the ribosome-targeting antibiotic amicoumacin A (Ami). Proteomics and metabolomics revealed essential insight into the activation of Ami biosynthesis. Here, we applied omics to boost Ami biosynthesis, providing the optimized cultivation conditions for high-scale production of Ami. Ami displayed a pronounced activity against Lactobacillales and Staphylococcaceae, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, which was determined using both classical and massive single-cell microfluidic assays. However, the practical application of Ami is limited by its high cytotoxicity and particularly low stability. The former is associated with its self-lactonization, serving as an improvised intermediate state of Ami hydrolysis. This intramolecular reaction decreases Ami half-life at physiological conditions to less than 2 h, which is unprecedented for a terminal amide. While we speculate that the instability of Ami is essential for Bacillus ecology, we believe that its stable analogs represent attractive lead compounds both for antibiotic discovery and for anticancer drug development

Deep Functional Profiling of Wild Animal Microbiomes Reveals Probiotic <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> Strains with a Common Biosynthetic Fingerprint

The biodiversity of microorganisms is maintained by intricate nets of interactions between competing species. Impaired functionality of human microbiomes correlates with their reduced biodiversity originating from aseptic environmental conditions and antibiotic use. Microbiomes of wild animals are free of these selective pressures. Microbiota provides a protecting shield from invasion by pathogens in the wild, outcompeting their growth in specific ecological niches. We applied ultrahigh-throughput microfluidic technologies for functional profiling of microbiomes of wild animals, including the skin beetle, Siberian lynx, common raccoon dog, and East Siberian brown bear. Single-cell screening of the most efficient killers of the common human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus resulted in repeated isolation of Bacillus pumilus strains. While isolated strains had different phenotypes, all of them displayed a similar set of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding antibiotic amicoumacin, siderophore bacillibactin, and putative analogs of antimicrobials including bacilysin, surfactin, desferrioxamine, and class IId cyclical bacteriocin. Amicoumacin A (Ami) was identified as a major antibacterial metabolite of these strains mediating their antagonistic activity. Genome mining indicates that Ami BGCs with this architecture subdivide into three distinct families, characteristic of the B. pumilus, B. subtilis, and Paenibacillus species. While Ami itself displays mediocre activity against the majority of Gram-negative bacteria, isolated B. pumilus strains efficiently inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli in coculture. We believe that the expanded antagonistic activity spectrum of Ami-producing B. pumilus can be attributed to the metabolomic profile predetermined by their biosynthetic fingerprint. Ultrahigh-throughput isolation of natural probiotic strains from wild animal microbiomes, as well as their metabolic reprogramming, opens up a new avenue for pathogen control and microbiome remodeling in the food industry, agriculture, and healthcare

Особенности статистического учета аллергических болезней у детей на примере г. Москвы

Background. The emergence of new functional capabilities of statistical accounting made it possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the morbidity of allergic pathologies according to the registers of allergists and pediatricians from the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System (UMIAS) of Moscow with data from the Form of Federal Statistical Observation No. 12 (FSO No. 12). The aim of the study is to investigate the potential of using UMIAS for assessing/monitoring the morbidity of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma in children, using the example of several outpatient clinics (OPCs) in Moscow. Methods. A study of combined design has been carried out. The data of children of several OPCs in Moscow were analyzed — data from UMIAS (observation registers of pediatricians and allergist-immunologists) and from the reporting forms of the FSO No. 12. Results. For a comparative analysis of statistical data from UMIAS and FSO No. 12, we studied the information of 60,851 children under 18 years of age. It was revealed that out of 60,851 children: allergic rhinitis according to FSO No. 12 and UMIAS was established in 1001 and 1059 patients; atopic dermatitis — in 142 and 345; urticaria — in 363 and 33; angioedema — in 4 and 16, respectively; food allergy — in 233 children according (to FSO No. 12) and in none of the children (according to UMIAS). Out of 60,851 children, 619 children were diagnosed with bronchial asthma according to the annual report (FSO No. 12) and 537 according to the pediatrician’s observation registers (UMIAS). At the same time, it was found that the diagnosis of bronchial asthma is not available as a separate nosology in the registry of an allergist-immunologist, and information about children with bronchial asthma is available to this specialist only when analyzing the uploaded information about children with other allergic diseases. Conclusion. A adequate sample ensured a high representativeness of the results obtained. The differences in the incidence rates of allergic diseases revealed by a comparative analysis of data from various sources — UMIAS and FSO No. 12 — indicate the need to improve both the system of statistical registration of incidence and the development of modern algorithms for early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of children with allergies.Обоснование. Появление новых функциональных возможностей статистического учета позволило провести сравнительный анализ заболеваемости аллергическими патологиями по реестрам аллергологов и педиатров из единой медицинской информационно-аналитической системы (ЕМИАС) г. Москвы и данным из формы федерального статистического наблюдения № 12 (ФСН № 12). Цель исследования — изучить потенциал использования ЕМИАС для оценки/ мониторинга заболеваемости аллергическими патологиями, в том числе и бронхиальной астмой, у детей на примере нескольких амбулаторно-поликлинических центров (АПЦ) г. Москвы. Методы. Проведено исследование комбинированного дизайна. Были проанализированы данные детей нескольких АПЦ г. Москвы — сведения из ЕМИАС (реестров наблюдения педиатров и аллергологов-иммунологов) и из отчетных форм ФСН № 12. Результаты. Для сравнительного анализа статистических данных из ЕМИАС и ФСН № 12 изучили сведения 60 851 ребенка в возрасте до 18 лет. Выявлено, что из 60 851 ребенка аллергический ринит, по данным ФСН № 12 и ЕМИАС, был установлен у 1001 и 1059 пациентов, атопический дерматит — у 142 и 345, крапивница — у 363 и 33; ангиоотек — у 4 и 16 соответственно, пищевая аллергия — у 233 детей (по ФСН № 12) и ни у кого из детей (по данным ЕМИАС). Диагноз бронхиальной астмы из 60 851 ребенка имели 619 детей по данным годового отчета (ФСН № 12) и 537 — по реестрам наблюдения педиатра (ЕМИАС). При этом установлено, что диагноз бронхиальной астмы отсутствует как отдельная нозология в реестре аллерголога-иммунолога, и сведения о детях с астмой доступны этому специалисту только при проведении анализа выгруженных сведений о детях с другими аллергическими болезнями. Заключение. Достаточная выборка обеспечила высокую репрезентативность полученных результатов. Выявленные при сравнительном анализе данных из различных источников — ЕМИАС и ФСН № 12 — отличия в показателях заболеваемости аллергическими болезнями указывают на необходимость как совершенствования системы статистического учета, так и разработки современных алгоритмов ранней диагностики и динамического наблюдения детей с аллергией

Toward personalization of asthma treatment according to trigger factors

International audienceAsthma is a severe and chronic disabling disease affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Although in the past few drugs for the treatment of asthma were available, new treatment options are currently emerging, which appear to be highly effective in certain subgroups of patients. Accordingly, there is a need for biomarkers that allow selection of patients for refined and personalized treatment strategies. Recently, serological chip tests based on microarrayed allergen molecules and peptides derived from the most common rhinovirus strains have been developed, which may discriminate 2 of the most common forms of asthma, that is, allergen- and virus-triggered asthma. In this perspective, we argue that classification of patients with asthma according to these common trigger factors may open new possibilities for personalized management of asthma

Alirocumab and cardiovascular outcomes after acute coronary syndrome

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Alirocumab and Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndrome

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