Comparison of Storage Conditions for Human Vaginal Microbiome Studies

BACKGROUND: The effect of storage conditions on the microbiome and metabolite composition of human biological samples has not been thoroughly investigated as a potential source of bias. We evaluated the effect of two common storage conditions used in clinical trials on the bacterial and metabolite composition of the vaginal microbiota using pyrosequencing of barcoded 16S rRNA gene sequencing and (1)H-NMR analyses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Eight women were enrolled and four mid-vaginal swabs were collected by a physician from each woman. The samples were either processed immediately, stored at -80°C for 4 weeks or at -20°C for 1 week followed by transfer to -80°C for another 4 weeks prior to analysis. Statistical methods, including Kolmogorovo-Smirnov and Wilcoxon tests, were performed to evaluate the differences in vaginal bacterial community composition and metabolites between samples stored under different conditions. The results showed that there were no significant differences between samples processed immediately after collection or stored for varying durations. (1)H-NMR analysis of the small molecule metabolites in vaginal secretions indicated that high levels of lactic acid were associated with Lactobacillus-dominated communities. Relative abundance of lactic acid did not appear to correlate with relative abundance of individual Lactobacillus sp. in this limited sample, although lower levels of lactic acid were observed when L. gasseri was dominant, indicating differences in metabolic output of seemingly similar communities. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings benefit large-scale, field-based microbiome and metabolomic studies of the vaginal microbiota

A review of the properties and processes determining the fate of engineered nanomaterials in the aquatic environment

Proper understanding of the basic processes and specific properties of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) that modify the fate and effects of NMs is crucial for NM-tailored risk assessment. This in turn requires developers of NMs and for regulators to consider the most important parameters governing the properties, behaviour and toxicity of NMs. As fate and effect studies are commonly performed in laboratory settings, mimicking to a varying extent realistic exposure conditions, it is important to be able to extrapolate results of fate and effect studies in synthetic media to realistic environmental conditions. This requires detailed understanding of the processes controlling the fate and behaviour of NMs in terrestrial and aquatic media, as dependent on the composition of the medium. It is the aim of this contribution to provide background reading to the NM and media specific properties and processes that affect the fate and behaviour of NMs in aquatic environments, focussing on the specific properties of NMs that modulate the interactions in the aquatic environment. A general introduction on the dominant fate determining processes of NMs is supplemented by case studies on specific classes of NMs: metal NMs, stable oxides, iron oxides, and carbon nanotubes. Based upon the synthesis of the current knowledge base towards essential data and information needs, the review provides a description of the particle specific properties and the water characteristics that need monitoring in order to allow for future quantification and extrapolation of fate and behaviour properties of NMs in freshwater compartments of varying composition

"SCCS ADDENDUM to the scientific Opinions on Climbazole (P64) - ref. SCCS/1506/13 and SCCS/1590/17" SCCS/1600/18 - Final version

International audienc

"SCCS OPINION ON Styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano) and Sodium styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano)"SCCS/1595/18 Final

International audienc

"SCCS OPINION ON the safety of cosmetic ingredients HEMA and Di-HEMA Trimethylhexyl Dicarbamate (CAS 41137-60-4 / 72869-86-4) - Submission I - (Sensitisation only)"SCCS/1592/17 - Final version

International audienc

"Opinion on fragrance ingredient Acetylated Vetiver Oil (AVO) - submission III" - SCCS/1599/18 - Preliminary Opinion

International audience"Opinion on fragrance ingredient Acetylated Vetiver Oil (AVO) - submission III"SCCS/1599/18 - Preliminary OpinionScientific Committee Members : Bernauer, U. ; Bodin, L. ; Chaudry, Q. ; Coenraads, P.J. ; Dusinka, M. ; Ezendam, J. ; Gaffet, E. ; Galli, C.L. ; Granum, B., Panteri, E. ; Rogiers, V. ; Rousselle, Ch. ; Stepnik, M. ; Vanhaecke, T. ; Wijnhoven, S. ; Simonnard, A. ; Kousodimou, A.The SCCS adopted this Opinion at its plenary meeting on 21-22 June 2018 (45 pages)https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_221.pd

"Opinion on hair dye 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (1,2,4-THB) - A33 (CAS 533-73-3) - Submission VI"SCCS/1598/18 - Preliminary version

International audience"Opinion on hair dye 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (1,2,4-THB) - A33 (CAS 533-73-3) - Submission VI"SCCS/1598/18 - Preliminary versionScientific Committee Members : Bernauer, U. ; Bodin, L. ; Chaudry, Q. ; Coenraads, P.J. ; Dusinka, M. ; Ezendam, J. ; Gaffet, E. ; Galli, C.L. ; Granum, B. ; Panteri, E. ; Rogiers, V. ; Rousselle, Ch. ; Stepnik, M. ; Vanhaecke, T. ; Wijnhoven, S. ; Simonnard, A. ; Kousodimou, A.The SCCS adopted this Opinion at its plenary meeting on 21-22 June 2018 (41 pages)https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_222.pd

"Opinion on hair dye 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (1,2,4-THB) - A33 (CAS 533-73-3) - Submission VI" - SCCS/1598/18 - Final version

"Opinion on hair dye 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (1,2,4-THB) - A33 (CAS 533-73-3) - Submission VI" - SCCS/1598/18 - Final versionScientific Committee Members : Bernauer, U. ; Bodin, L. ; Chaudry, Q. ; Coenraads, P.J. ; Dusinka, M. ; Ezendam, J. ; Gaffet, E. ; Galli, C.L. ; Granum, B. ; Panteri, E. ; Rogiers, V. ; Rousselle, Ch. ; Stepnik, M. ; Vanhaecke, T. ; Wijnhoven, S. ; Simonnard, A. ; Kousodimou, A., Uter, W.The SCCS adopted this Opinion at its plenary meeting on 20 - 21 June 2019 (56 pages)Mise en ligne le 25 Juin 201