The Mobilome-Enriched Genome of the Competence-Deficient Streptococcus pneumoniae BM6001, the Original Host of Integrative Conjugative Element Tn5253, Is Phylogenetically Distinct from Historical Pneumococcal Genomes

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen causing both mild and severe diseases. In this work, we determined the complete genome sequence of the S. pneumoniae clinical isolate BM6001, which is the original host of the ICE Tn5253. The BM6001 genome is organized in one circular chromosome of 2,293,748 base pairs (bp) in length, with an average GC content of 39.54%; the genome harbors a type 19F capsule locus, two tandem copies of pspC, the comC1-comD1 alleles and the type I restriction modification system SpnIII. The BM6001 mobilome accounts for 15.54% (356,521 bp) of the whole genome and includes (i) the ICE Tn5253 composite; (ii) the novel IME Tn7089; (iii) the novel transposon Tn7090; (iv) 3 prophages and 2 satellite prophages; (v) 5 genomic islands (GIs); (vi) 72 insertion sequences (ISs); (vii) 69 RUPs; (viii) 153 BOX elements; and (ix) 31 SPRITEs. All MGEs, except for the GIs, produce excised circular forms and attB site restoration. Tn7089 is 9089 bp long and contains 11 ORFs, of which 6 were annotated and code for three functions: integration/excision, mobilization and adaptation. Tn7090 is 9053 bp in size, flanked by two copies of ISSpn7, and contains seven ORFs organized as a single transcriptional unit, with genes encoding for proteins likely involved in the uptake and binding of Mg2+ cations in the adhesion to host cells and intracellular survival. BM6001 GIs, except for GI-BM6001.4, are variants of the pneumococcal TIGR4 RD5 region of diversity, pathogenicity island PPI1, R6 Cluster 4 and PTS island. Overall, prophages and satellite prophages contain genes predicted to encode proteins involved in DNA replication and lysogeny, in addition to genes encoding phage structural proteins and lytic enzymes carried only by prophages. & phi;BM6001.3 has a mosaic structure that shares sequences with prophages IPP69 and MM1 and disrupts the competent comGC/cglC gene after chromosomal integration. Treatment with mitomycin C results in a 10-fold increase in the frequency of & phi;BM6001.3 excised forms and comGC/cglC coding sequence restoration but does not restore competence for genetic transformation. In addition, phylogenetic analysis showed that BM6001 clusters in a small lineage with five other historical strains, but it is distantly related to the lineage due to its unique mobilome, suggesting that BM6001 has progressively accumulated many MGEs while losing competence for genetic transformation

The roles of Tenascin C and Fibronectin 1 in adhesive capsulitis: a pilot gene expression study

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated mRNA expression levels of genes that encode TGF-β1; the TGF-β1 receptor; the collagen-modifying enzymes LOX, PLOD1, and PLOD2; and the extracellular matrix proteins COMP, FN1, TNC and TNXB in synovial/capsule specimens from patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. Possible associations between the measured mRNA levels and clinical parameters were also investigated. METHODS: We obtained glenohumeral joint synovium/capsule specimens from 9 patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis who had not shown improvement in symptoms after 5 months of physiotherapy. Adhesive capsulitis was confirmed in all patients by magnetic resonance imaging. We also obtained specimens from 8 control patients who had underwent surgery for acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation and who had radiological indication of glenohumeral capsule alteration based on arthroscopic evaluation. mRNA expression in the synovium/capsule specimens was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The B2M and HPRT1 genes were used as references to normalize target gene expression in the shoulder tissue samples. RESULTS: The synovium/capsule samples from the patients with adhesive capsulitis had significantly higher TNC and FN1 expression than those from the controls. Additionally, symptom duration directly correlated with expression of TGFβ1 receptor I. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of TNC and FN1 expression may be a marker of capsule injury. Upregulation of TGFβ1 receptor I seems to be dependent on symptom duration; therefore, TGFβ signaling may be involved in adhesive capsulitis. As such, TNC, FN1 and TGFβ1 receptor I may also play roles in adhesive capsulitis by contributing to capsule inflammation and fibrosis

Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain C-145, a Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobacterium Used as a Peanut Inoculant in Argentina

We present the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain C-145, one of the most widely used nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria for inoculating peanut crops in Argentina. The genome consists of 9.53 Mbp in a single circular chromosome and was determined using a hybrid long- and short-read assembly approach.Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMYZA)Fil: Nievas, Fiorela. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Revale, Santiago. University of Oxford. Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics; Reino UnidoFil: Foresto, Emiliano. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Cossovich, Sacha. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Puente, Mariana Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Laboratorio de Bacterias Promotoras del Crecimiento Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Alzari, Pedro. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Martínez, Mariano. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Ben-Assaya, Mathilde. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Mornico, Damien. Institut Pasteur. Département Biologie Computationnelle. Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique; FranciaFil: Santoro, Maricel. Max Planck for Chemical Ecology. Department of Biochemistry; FranciaFil: Martínez-Abarca, Francisco. Estación Experimental del Zaidín. Department of Plant and Soil Microbiology. Structure, Dynamics, and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes; EspañaFil: Giordano, Walter. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS-CONICET); ArgentinaFil: Bogino, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS-CONICET); Argentin

O que precisamos saber sobre Monkeypox em humanos: fatos, não fakes

The aim was to provide scientific reflections based on concepts and evidence presented by studies published on the subject in the current year. This is an integrative review, carried out during the month of July 2022. The search led us to 15 articles selected for meeting the precepts of the research question established as a guide. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it can be transmitted by close contact during sexual intercourse, when an active rash develops, regardless of the practitioners' sexual orientation. As with COVID-19, the use of masks, distancing and hand hygiene are ways to avoid contagion by monkeypox. Multimodal strategies, evidence-based discourses/publications, use of bundles and protocols, as well as articulations between academia, governments, services and civil society, should honor the diversity of compositions to strengthen actions and practices that preserve the autonomy of the individual and of society as a whole.Objetivou-se propiciar reflexões científicas baseadas em conceitos e evidências apresentadas por estudos publicados sobre o assunto no ano vigente. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, realizada ao longo do mês de julho de 2022. A busca nos levou a 15 artigos selecionados por atenderem aos preceitos da pergunta de pesquisa estabelecida como guia. A varíola dos macacos não é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível, embora possa ser transmitida por contato próximo durante a relação sexual, quando uma erupção cutânea ativa se desenvolve, independente da opção sexual dos praticantes. Assim como na COVID-19, o uso de máscaras, o distanciamento e a higienização das mãos são formas de evitar o contágio pela varíola dos macacos. Estratégias multimodais, discursos/publicações baseadas em evidência, utilização de bundles e protocolos, bem como articulações entre a academia, governos, serviços e sociedade civil, devem prestigiar a diversidade de composições para o fortalecimento de ações e práticas que preservem a autonomia do indivíduo e da sociedade como um todo

Genome sequence of Mesorhizobium mediterraneum strain R31, a nitrogen-fixing rhizobium used as an inoculant for chickpea in Argentina

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium mediterraneum R31, a rhizobial strain recommended and used as a commercial inoculant for chickpea in Argentina. The genome consists of 7.25 Mb, distributed into four circular replicons: a chromosome of 6.72 Mbp and three plasmids of 0.29, 0.17, and 0.07 Mbp.Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMYZA)Fil: Foresto, Emiliano. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud. Departamento de Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Revale, Santiago. University of Oxford. Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics; Reino UnidoFil: Nievas, Fiorela. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud. Departamento de Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Carezzano, María Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud. Departamento de Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Puente, Mariana Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Laboratorio de Bacterias Promotoras del Crecimiento Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Alzari, Pedro. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Martínez, Mariano. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Ben-Assaya, Mathilde. Université de Paris. Institut Pasteur. Unité de Microbiologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Mornico, Damien. Institut Pasteur. Département Biologie Computationnelle. Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique; FranciaFil: Santoro, Maricel. Max Planck for Chemical Ecology. Department of Biochemistry; FranciaFil: Martínez-Abarca, Francisco. CSIC. Estación Experimental Del Zaidín. Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizósfera; EspañaFil: Giordano, Walter. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS-CONICET). Departamento de Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Bogino, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS-CONICET). Departamento de Biología Molecular; Argentin

O que precisamos saber sobre Monkeypox em humanos: fatos, não fakes

The aim was to provide scientific reflections based on concepts and evidence presented by studies published on the subject in the current year. This is an integrative review, carried out during the month of July 2022. The search led us to 15 articles selected for meeting the precepts of the research question established as a guide. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it can be transmitted by close contact during sexual intercourse, when an active rash develops, regardless of the practitioners' sexual orientation. As with COVID-19, the use of masks, distancing and hand hygiene are ways to avoid contagion by monkeypox. Multimodal strategies, evidence-based discourses/publications, use of bundles and protocols, as well as articulations between academia, governments, services and civil society, should honor the diversity of compositions to strengthen actions and practices that preserve the autonomy of the individual and of society as a whole.Objetivou-se propiciar reflexões científicas baseadas em conceitos e evidências apresentadas por estudos publicados sobre o assunto no ano vigente. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, realizada ao longo do mês de julho de 2022. A busca nos levou a 15 artigos selecionados por atenderem aos preceitos da pergunta de pesquisa estabelecida como guia. A varíola dos macacos não é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível, embora possa ser transmitida por contato próximo durante a relação sexual, quando uma erupção cutânea ativa se desenvolve, independente da opção sexual dos praticantes. Assim como na COVID-19, o uso de máscaras, o distanciamento e a higienização das mãos são formas de evitar o contágio pela varíola dos macacos. Estratégias multimodais, discursos/publicações baseadas em evidência, utilização de bundles e protocolos, bem como articulações entre a academia, governos, serviços e sociedade civil, devem prestigiar a diversidade de composições para o fortalecimento de ações e práticas que preservem a autonomia do indivíduo e da sociedade como um todo

Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies of Shoulder Instability

Shoulder instability is a common shoulder injury, and patients present with plastic deformation of the glenohumeral capsule. Gene expression analysis may be a useful tool for increasing the general understanding of capsule deformation, and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become an effective method for such studies. Although RT-qPCR is highly sensitive and specific, it requires the use of suitable reference genes for data normalization to guarantee meaningful and reproducible results. in the present study, we evaluated the suitability of a set of reference genes using samples from the glenohumeral capsules of individuals with and without shoulder instability. We analyzed the expression of six commonly used reference genes (ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, TBP and TFRC) in the antero-inferior, antero-superior and posterior portions of the glenohumeral capsules of cases and controls. the stability of the candidate reference gene expression was determined using four software packages: NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper and DataAssist. Overall, HPRT1 was the best single reference gene, and HPRT1 and B2M composed the best pair of reference genes from different analysis groups, including simultaneous analysis of all tissue samples. GenEx software was used to identify the optimal number of reference genes to be used for normalization and demonstrated that the accumulated standard deviation resulting from the use of 2 reference genes was similar to that resulting from the use of 3 or more reference genes. To identify the optimal combination of reference genes, we evaluated the expression of COL1A1. Although the use of different reference gene combinations yielded variable normalized quantities, the relative quantities within sample groups were similar and confirmed that no obvious differences were observed when using 2, 3 or 4 reference genes. Consequently, the use of 2 stable reference genes for normalization, especially HPRT1 and B2M, is a reliable method for evaluating gene expression by RT-qPCR.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morfol & Genet, Disciplina Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Lab Interdisciplinar Neurociencia Clin, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morfol & Genet, Disciplina Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Lab Interdisciplinar Neurociencia Clin, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Estudio de un modelo hidrodinámico sobre arquitecturas multi-core

El Río de la Plata posee una gran importancia para nuestro país tanto desde el punto de vista económico como desde el punto de vista de manejo ambiental del ecosistema. En este sentido, hace varios años en la Facultad de Ingeniería se viene trabajando en el desarrollo de herramientas que permiten la simulación y predicción del comportamiento del mismo. Uno de los modelos numéricos base que se utiliza actualmente es el MOHID, que permite resolver las ecuaciones de movimiento mediante discretizaciones de volumenes finitos y el uso de técnicas de dominios encajados para aumentar la precisión en la simulación de zonas específicas. Uno de los problemas de este tipo de herramientas son los elevados costos computacionales. Teniendo en cuenta lo expresado anteriormente este trabajo presenta un estudio de las principales características del modelo hidrodinámico MOHID. En particular se evalúa con especial atención el uso en el modelo de técnicas de paralelismo de memoria compartida capaces de explotar arquitecturas de hardware multi-core

Alterações de linguagem na doença de Huntington

Language alterations in Huntington's disease (HD) are reported, but their nature and correlation with other cognitive impairments are still under investigation. This study aimed to characterize the language disturbances in HD and to correlate them to motor and cognitive aspects of the disease. We studied 23 HD patients and 23 controls, matched for age and schooling, using the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Boston Naming Test, the Token Test, Animal fluency, Action fluency, FAS-COWA, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Stroop Test and the Hooper Visual Organization Test (HVOT). HD patients performed poorer in verbal fluency (p&lt;0.0001), oral comprehension (p&lt;0.0001), repetition (p&lt;0.0001), oral agility (p&lt;0.0001), reading comprehension (p=0.034) and narrative writing (p&lt;0.0001). There was a moderate correlation between the Expressive Component and Language Competency Indexes and the HVOT (r=0.519, p=0.011 and r=0.450, p=0.031, respectively). Language alterations in HD seem to reflect a derangement in both frontostriatal and frontotemporal regions.Alterações de linguagem são descritas na doença de Huntington (DH), mas sua natureza exata e a correlação com outras funções cognitivas ainda estão em investigação. Os objetivos deste estudo foram caracterizar o prejuízo de linguagem na DH e correlacioná-lo aos aspectos motores e cognitivos da doença. Foram estudados 23 pacientes com DH e 23 controles, equiparados quanto à idade e escolaridade. Usamos os testes de Boston para Diagnóstico da Afasia, de Nomeação de Boston, Token, Modalidades de Símbolos e Dígitos, Stroop, Organização Visual de Hooper (TOVH), fluência de animais, fonêmica e verbos. Pacientes com DH apresentaram pior desempenho na fluência verbal (p<0,0001), compreensão oral (p<0,0001), repetição (p<0,0001), agilidade oral (p<0,0001), compreensão de leitura (p=0,034) e narrativa escrita (p<0,0001). Houve correlação moderada entre os índices Componente de Expressão e Competência de Linguagem e o TOVH (r=0,519, p=0,011 e r=0,450, p=0,031, respectivamente). Alterações de linguagem na DH parecem refletir prejuízos nas regiões frontostriatais e frontotemporais.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP - Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo [03/04048-6