Marichromatium bheemlicum sp. nov., a non-diazotrophic photosynthetic gammaproteobacterium from a marine aquaculture pond

A rod-shaped, phototrophic, purple sulfur bacterium, strain JA124(T), was isolated in pure culture from a marine aquaculture pond, located near Bhimunipatnam, in a medium that contained 3 % NaCl (w/v). Strain JA124(T) is a Gram-negative, motile rod with a single polar flagellum. Strain JA124(T) has a requirement for NaCl, with optimum growth at 1.5-8.5 %, and tolerates up to 11 % NaCl. Intracellular photosynthetic membranes are of the vesicular type. Bacteriochlorophyll a and probably carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series are present as photosynthetic pigments. Strain JA124(T) was able to utilize sulfide, sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite, thioglycollate and cysteine as sulfur sources. Strain JA124(T) was able to grow photolithoautotrophically, photolithoheterotrophically and photo-organoheterotrophically. Chemotrophic and fermentative growth could not be demonstrated. Strain JA124(T) lacks diazotrophic growth and acetylene reduction activity. Pyridoxal phosphate is required for growth. During growth on reduced sulfur sources as electron donors, sulfur is deposited intermediately as a number of small granules within the cell. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA124(T) clusters with species of the genus Marichromatium belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria. The highest sequence similarities of strain JA124(T) were found with the type strains of Marichromatium indicum (98 %), Marichromatium purpuratum (95 %) and Marichromatium gracile (93 %). However, DNA-DNA hybridization with Marichromatium indicum DSM 15907(T) revealed relatedness of only 65 % with strain JA124(T). The DNA base composition of strain JA124(T) was 67 mol% G+C (by HPLC). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, morphological and physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization studies, strain JA124(T) (=ATCC BAA-1316(T)=JCM 13911(T)) is sufficiently different from other Marichromatium species to merit its description as the type strain of a novel species, Marichromatium bheemlicum sp. nov

Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus sp.nov., an aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading purple betaproteobacterium

A brown-coloured bacterium was isolated from photoheterotrophic (benzoate) enrichments of flooded paddy soil from Andhra Pradesh, India. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JA2(T) was shown to belong to the class Betaproteobacteria, related to Rubrivivax gelatinosus (99 % sequence similarity). Cells of strain JA2(T) are Gram-negative, motile rods with monopolar single flagella. The strain contained bacteriochlorophyll a and most probably the carotenoids spirilloxanthin and sphaeroidene, but did not have internal membrane structures. Intact cells had absorption maxima at 378, 488, 520, 590, 802 and 884 nm. No growth factors were required. Strain JA2(T) grew on benzoate, 2-aminobenzoate (anthranilate), 4-aminobenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, phthalate, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamate, benzamide, salicylate, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol and cyclohexane-2-carboxylate as carbon sources and/or electron donors. The DNA G+C content was 74.9 mol%. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA2(T) is different from representatives of other photosynthetic species of the Betaproteobacteria and was recognised as representing a novel species, for which the name Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA2(T) (=ATCC BAA-35(T)=JCM 13220(T)=MTCC 7087(T))

Rhodovulum marinum sp. nov., a novel phototrophic purple non-sulfur alphaproteobacterium from marine tides of Visakhapatnam, India

A yellowish-brown bacterium was isolated from enrichment cultures inoculated with seawater samples from the eastern coast of India (Visakhapatnam) under photoheterotrophic conditions. Enrichment and isolation in a medium containing 2 % NaCl (w/v) yielded strain JA128T, which has ovoid to rod-shaped cells, also forms chains and is non-motile. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA128T clusters with the Alphaproteobacteria and the sequence similarity with its closest relatives, Rhodovulum iodosum and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, was 95 %. Strain JA128T contained vesicular intracytoplasmic membranes, bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series. Strain JA128T was mesophilic, slightly acidophilic, slightly halophilic and grew photoheterotrophically with a number of organic compounds as carbon source and electron donor. It was unable to grow photoautotrophically, chemoautotrophically or by fermentative modes. It did not utilize sulfide, thiosulfate or hydrogen as electron donors. Thiamine was required as a growth factor. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA128T was significantly different from other species of the genus Rhodovulum and was recognized as a novel species for which the name Rhodovulum marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA128T (=ATCC BAA 1215T=CCUG 52183T=JCM 13300T)

<em>Marichromatium indicum</em> sp. nov., a new purple sulfur Gammaproteobacterium from mangroves of Goa, India

A reddish-brown bacterium was isolated from photoheterotrophic enrichments of mangrove soil from the western coast of India, in a medium that contained 10 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA100T clusters with species of the genus Marichromatium of the class ‘Gammaproteobacteria’. Cells of strain JA100T are Gram-negative, motile rods with monopolar single flagella; they require NaCl, the optimum concentration being 1–4 %, and tolerate concentrations up to 13 %. The strain has vesicular internal membrane structures, bacteriochlorophyll a and, most probably, carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series. No growth factors are required. A reduced sulfur source is required for growth, and, during growth on reduced sulfur sources as electron donors, sulfur is intermediately deposited as a single large granule within the cell. Strain JA100T could not grow at the expense of other tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, except malate. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and its morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA100T is sufficiently different from other Marichromatium species to justify its designation as a novel species, for which the name Marichromatium indicum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA100T (=DSM 15907T=ATCC BAA-741T=JCM 12653T)

The same or different psychiatrists for in- and out-patient treatment? A multi-country natural experiment - ADDENDUM.

ADDENDU

Predictors of personal continuity of care of patients with severe mental illness: A comparison across five European countries.

BACKGROUND: In Europe, at discharge from a psychiatric hospital, patients with severe mental illness may be exposed to one of two main care approaches: personal continuity, where one clinician is responsible for in- and outpatient care, and specialisation, where various clinicians are. Such exposure is decided through patient-clinician agreement or at the organisational level, depending on the country's health system. Since personal continuity would be more suitable for patients with complex psychosocial needs, the aim of this study was to identify predictors of patients' exposure to care approaches in different European countries. METHODS: Data were collected on 7302 psychiatric hospitalised patients in 2015 in Germany, Poland, and Belgium (patient-level exposure); and in the UK and Italy (organisational-level exposure). At discharge, patients were exposed to one of the care approaches according to usual practice. Putative predictors of exposure at patients' discharge were assessed in both groups of countries. RESULTS: Socially disadvantaged patients were significantly more exposed to personal continuity. In all countries, the main predictor of exposure was the admission hospital, except in Germany, where having a diagnosis of psychosis and a higher education status were predictors of exposure to personal continuity. In the UK, hospitals practising personal continuity had a more socially disadvantaged patient population. CONCLUSION: Even in countries where exposure is decided through patient-clinician agreement, it was the admission hospital, not patient characteristics, that predicted exposure to care approaches. Nevertheless, organisational decisions in hospitals tend to expose socially disadvantaged patients to personal continuity.European Commission’s 7th Framework Programm.e Grant agreement number 602645

The same or different psychiatrists for in- and out-patient treatment? A multi-country natural experiment.

AimsA core question in the debate about how to organise mental healthcare is whether in- and out-patient treatment should be provided by the same (personal continuity) or different psychiatrists (specialisation). The controversial debate drives costly organisational changes in several European countries, which have gone in opposing directions. The existing evidence is based on small and low-quality studies which tend to favour whatever the new experimental organisation is.We compared 1-year clinical outcomes of personal continuity and specialisation in routine care in a large scale study across five European countries. METHODS: This is a 1-year prospective natural experiment conducted in Belgium, England, Germany, Italy and Poland. In all these countries, both personal continuity and specialisation exist in routine care. Eligible patients were admitted for psychiatric in-patient treatment (18 years of age), and clinically diagnosed with a psychotic, mood or anxiety/somatisation disorder.Outcomes were assessed 1 year after the index admission. The primary outcome was re-hospitalisation and analysed for the full sample and subgroups defined by country, and different socio-demographic and clinical criteria. Secondary outcomes were total number of inpatient days, involuntary re-admissions, adverse events and patients' social situation. Outcomes were compared through mixed regression models in intention-to-treat analyses. The study is registered (ISRCTN40256812). RESULTS: We consecutively recruited 7302 patients; 6369 (87.2%) were followed-up. No statistically significant differences were found in re-hospitalisation, neither overall (adjusted percentages: 38.9% in personal continuity, 37.1% in specialisation; odds ratio = 1.08; confidence interval 0.94-1.25; p = 0.28) nor for any of the considered subgroups. There were no significant differences in any of the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Whether the same or different psychiatrists provide in- and out-patient treatment appears to have no substantial impact on patient outcomes over a 1-year period. Initiatives to improve long-term outcomes of psychiatric patients may focus on aspects other than the organisation of personal continuity v. specialisation.European Commission Seventh Framework Programme. Grant agreement 60264

Female sexual preferences toward conspecific and hybrid male mating calls in two species of polygynous deer, Cervus elaphus and C. nippon

The behavioral processes at the basis of hybridization and introgression are understudied in terrestrial mammals. We use a unique model to test the role of sexual signals as a reproductive barrier to introgression by investigating behavioral responses to male sexual calls in estrous females of two naturally allopatric but reproductively compatible deer species, red deer and sika deer. Previous studies demonstrated asymmetries in acoustic species discrimination between these species: most but not all female red deer prefer conspecific over sika deer male calls while female sika deer exhibit no preference differences. Here, we extend this examination of acoustic species discrimination to the role of male sexual calls in introgression between parent species and hybrids. Using two-speaker playback experiments, we compared the preference responses of estrous female red and sika deer to male sexual calls from conspecifics versus red × sika hybrids. These playbacks simulate early secondary contact between previously allopatric species after hybridization has occurred. Based on previous conspecific versus heterospecific playbacks, we predicted that most female red deer would prefer conspecific calls while female sika deer would show no difference in their preference behaviors toward conspecific and hybrid calls. However, results show that previous asymmetries did not persist as neither species exhibited more preferences for conspecific over hybrid calls. Thus, vocal behavior is not likely to deter introgression between these species during the early stages of sympatry. On a wider scale, weak discrimination against hybrid sexual signals could substantially contribute to this important evolutionary process in mammals and other taxa

Variability of Female Responses to Conspecific vs. Heterospecific Male Mating Calls in Polygynous Deer: An Open Door to Hybridization?

Males of all polygynous deer species (Cervinae) give conspicuous calls during the reproductive season. The extreme interspecific diversity that characterizes these vocalizations suggests that they play a strong role in species discrimination. However, interbreeding between several species of Cervinae indicates permeable interspecific reproductive barriers. This study examines the contribution of vocal behavior to female species discrimination and mating preferences in two closely related polygynous deer species known to hybridize in the wild after introductions. Specifically, we investigate the reaction of estrous female red deer (Cervus elaphus) to playbacks of red deer vs. sika deer (Cervus nippon) male mating calls, with the prediction that females will prefer conspecific calls. While on average female red deer preferred male red deer roars, two out of twenty females spent more time in close proximity to the speaker broadcasting male sika deer moans. We suggest that this absence of strict vocal preference for species-specific mating calls may contribute to the permeability of pre-zygotic reproductive barriers observed between these species. Our results also highlight the importance of examining inter-individual variation when studying the role of female preferences in species discrimination and intraspecific mate selection

Desulfuribacillus alkaliarsenatis gen. nov. sp. nov., a deep-lineage, obligately anaerobic, dissimilatory sulfur and arsenate-reducing, haloalkaliphilic representative of the order Bacillales from soda lakes

An anaerobic enrichment culture inoculated with a sample of sediments from soda lakes of the Kulunda Steppe with elemental sulfur as electron acceptor and formate as electron donor at pH 10 and moderate salinity inoculated with sediments from soda lakes in Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) resulted in the domination of a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium strain AHT28. The isolate is an obligate anaerobe capable of respiratory growth using elemental sulfur, thiosulfate (incomplete reduction) and arsenate as electron acceptor with H2, formate, pyruvate and lactate as electron donor. Growth was possible within a pH range from 9 to 10.5 (optimum at pH 10) and a salt concentration at pH 10 from 0.2 to 2 M total Na+ (optimum at 0.6 M). According to the phylogenetic analysis, strain AHT28 represents a deep independent lineage within the order Bacillales with a maximum of 90 % 16S rRNA gene similarity to its closest cultured representatives. On the basis of its distinct phenotype and phylogeny, the novel haloalkaliphilic anaerobe is suggested as a new genus and species, Desulfuribacillus alkaliarsenatis (type strain AHT28T = DSM24608T = UNIQEM U855T)