Comparative genomics between Trichomonas tenax and Trichomonas vaginalis: CAZymes and candidate virulence factors

Introduction: The oral trichomonad Trichomonas tenax is increasingly 82 appreciated as a likely contributor to periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory 83 disease induced by dysbiotic microbiota, in humans and domestic animals and 84 is strongly associated with its worst prognosis. Our current understanding of 85 the molecular basis of T. tenax interactions with host cells and the microbiota 86 of the oral cavity are still rather limited. One laboratory strain of T. tenax (Hs- 87 4:NIH/ATCC 30207) can be grown axenically and two draft genome assemblies 88 have been published for that strain, although the structural and functional 89 annotation of these genomes is not available. 90Methods: GenSAS and Galaxy were used to annotate two publicly available 91 draft genomes for T. tenax, with a focus on protein-coding genes. A custom 92 pipeline was used to annotate the CAZymes for T. tenax and the human 93 sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, the most well-characterized 94 trichomonad. A combination of bioinformatics analyses was used to screen for 95 homologs of T. vaginalis virulence and colonization factors within the T. tenax 96 annotated proteins. 97Results: Our annotation of the two T. tenax draft genome sequences and their 98 comparison with T. vaginalis proteins provide evidence for several candidate 99 virulence factors. These include candidate surface proteins, secreted proteins 100 and enzymes mediating potential interactions with host cells and/or members 101 of the oral microbiota. The CAZymes annotation identified a broad range of 102 glycoside hydrolase (GH) families, with the majority of these being shared 103between the two Trichomonas species. 104 105 Discussion: The presence of candidate T. tenax virulence genes supports the 106hypothesis that this species is associated with periodontitis through direct and 107 indirect mechanisms. Notably, several GH proteins could represent potential new 108 virulence factors for both Trichomonas species. These data support a model 109 where T. tenax interactions with host cells and members of the oral microbiota 110 could synergistically contribute to the damaging inflammation characteristic of 111 periodontitis, supporting a causal link between T. tenax and periodontitis

Evaluation of the potential improvement in the environmental footprint of geopolymers using waste-derived activators

Geopolymers produced from an aluminosilicate precursor and an alkaline activating solution have emerged as low carbon alternative binders which can substitute for Portland cement (PC) in many applications. The presence of soluble silicate in the activating solution of a geopolymer is known to yield a denser and more compact material with higher mechanical strength compared to hydroxide-activated geopolymers. However, these silicate solutions are the most expensive component of geopolymer cements, as well as the highest contributors to their environmental impacts in most life cycle categories. Geopolymers are widely accepted as a more environmental friendly material due to their claimed lower CO2 emissions due to their synthesis from industrial by-products or wastes, as well the low energy demand during their production. However, the use of alkali-silicate activators can significantly increase other environmental impacts, leading to controversies regarding whether geopolymers can really be considered as a more sustainable material. Thus, this study evaluates the life cycle impacts of a geopolymer produced from a kaolin sludge residue from the Brazilian mining industry. Alkaline solutions derived from sodium hydroxide solutions and two different soluble silica sources were used as activators: a commercial sodium silicate (waterglass), and chemically modified rice husk ash (RHA). The processes which contribute the most to the life cycle impacts of geopolymers are thermal curing, waterglass production, and sodium hydroxide production. The use of RHA-derived sodium silicate may reduce environmental impacts by more than 60% in 6 of the 9 categories assessed, indicating that this is a favourable alternative where RHA is locally available. Although the binders evaluated here have differences in mechanical properties, those using RHA-derived activators exhibit impacts lower than PC for 4 of the 8 categories evaluated, and a reduction of more than 70% in global warming potential. RHA-based activators are identified as a promising alternative for impact reduction in geopolymer production, and more detailed assessments of the performance and reactivity of these activators should be conducted

Football fans in training: the development and optimization of an intervention delivered through professional sports clubs to help men lose weight, become more active and adopt healthier eating habits

<p>Background: The prevalence of obesity in men is rising, but they are less likely than women to engage in existing weight management programmes. The potential of professional sports club settings to engage men in health promotion activities is being increasingly recognised. This paper describes the development and optimization of the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) programme, which aims to help overweight men (many of them football supporters) lose weight through becoming more active and adopting healthier eating habits.</p> <p>Methods: The MRC Framework for the design and evaluation of complex interventions was used to guide programme development in two phases. In Phase 1, a multidisciplinary working group developed the pilot programme (p-FFIT) and used a scoping review to summarize previous research and identify the target population. Phase 2 involved a process evaluation of p-FFIT in 11 Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs. Participant and coach feedback, focus group discussions and interviews explored the utility/acceptability of programme components and suggestions for changes. Programme session observations identified examples of good practice and problems/issues with delivery. Together, these findings informed redevelopment of the optimized programme (FFIT), whose components were mapped onto specific behaviour change techniques using an evidence-based taxonomy.</p> <p>Results: p-FFIT comprised 12, weekly, gender-sensitised, group-based weight management classroom and ‘pitch-side’ physical activity sessions. These in-stadia sessions were complemented by an incremental, pedometer-based walking programme. p-FFIT was targeted at men aged 35-65 years with body mass index ≥ 27 kg/m2. Phase 2 demonstrated that participants in p-FFIT were enthusiastic about both the classroom and physical activity components, and valued the camaraderie and peer-support offered by the programme. Coaches appreciated the simplicity of the key healthy eating and physical activity messages. Suggestions for improvements that were incorporated into the optimized FFIT programme included: more varied in-stadia physical activity with football-related components; post-programme weight management support (emails and a reunion session); and additional training for coaches in SMART goal setting and the pedometer-based walking programme.</p> <p>Conclusions: The Football Fans in Training programme is highly acceptable to participants and SPL coaches, and is appropriate for evaluation in a randomised controlled trial.</p&gt

Vibro-Injection Pile Installation in Sand: Part I—Interpretation as Multi-material Flow

The installation of vibro-injection piles into saturated sand has a significant impact on the surrounding soil and neighboring buildings. It is generally characterized by a multi-material flow with large material deformations, non-stationary and new material interfaces, and by the interaction of the grain skeleton and the pore water. Part 1 in this series of papers is concerned with the mathematical and physical modeling of the multi-material flow associated with vibro-injection pile installation. This model is the backbone of a new multi-material arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (MMALE) numerical method presented in Part 2.DFG, 76838227, Numerische Modellierung der Herstellung von Rüttelinjektionspfähle

A Social Identity Approach to Sport Psychology: Principles, Practice, and Prospects.

Drawing on social identity theory and self-categorization theory, we outline an approach to sport psychology that understands groups not simply as features of sporting contexts but rather as elements that can be, and often are, incorporated into a person's sense of self and, through this, become powerful determinants of their sport-related behavior. The underpinnings of this social identity approach are outlined, and four key lessons for sport that are indicative of the analytical and practical power of the approach are presented. These suggest that social identity is the basis for sports group (1) behavior, (2) formation and development, (3) support and stress appraisal, and (4) leadership. Building on recent developments within sport science, we outline an agenda for future research by identifying a range of topics to which the social identity approach could fruitfully contribute

AtriplaR/anti-TB combination in TB/HIV patients. Drug in focus

Co-administration of anti-tuberculosis and antiretroviral therapy is often inevitable in high-burden countries where tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection associated with HIV/AIDS. Concurrent use of rifampicin and several antiretroviral drugs is complicated by pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction. Pubmed and Google search following the key words tuberculosis, HIV, emtricitabine, tenofovir efavirenz, interaction were used to find relevant information on each drug of the fixed dose combination AtriplaR RESULTS: Information on generic name, trade name, pharmacokinetic parameter, metabolism and the pharmacokinetic interaction with Anti-TB drugs of emtricitabine, tenofovir, and efavirenz was obtained. Fixed dose combination of emtricitabine/tenofovir/efavirenz (ATRIPLAR) which has been approved by Food and Drug Administration shows promising results as far as safety and efficacy is concerned in TB/HIV co-infection patients, hence can be considered effective and safe antiretroviral drug in TB/HIV management for adult and children above 3 years of age

Microsporidia::Why Make Nucleotides if You Can Steal Them?

Microsporidia are strict obligate intracellular parasites that infect a wide range of eukaryotes including humans and economically important fish and insects. Surviving and flourishing inside another eukaryotic cell is a very specialised lifestyle that requires evolutionary innovation. Genome sequence analyses show that microsporidia have lost most of the genes needed for making primary metabolites, such as amino acids and nucleotides, and also that they have only a limited capacity for making adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Since microsporidia cannot grow and replicate without the enormous amounts of energy and nucleotide building blocks needed for protein, DNA, and RNA biosynthesis, they must have evolved ways of stealing these substrates from the infected host cell. Providing they can do this, genome analyses suggest that microsporidia have the enzyme repertoire needed to use and regenerate the imported nucleotides efficiently. Recent functional studies suggest that a critical innovation for adapting to intracellular life was the acquisition by lateral gene transfer of nucleotide transport (NTT) proteins that are now present in multiple copies in all microsporidian genomes. These proteins are expressed on the parasite surface and allow microsporidia to steal ATP and other purine nucleotides for energy and biosynthesis from their host. However, it remains unclear how other essential metabolites, such as pyrimidine nucleotides, are acquired. Transcriptomic and experimental studies suggest that microsporidia might manipulate host cell metabolism and cell biological processes to promote nucleotide synthesis and to maximise the potential for ATP and nucleotide import. In this review, we summarise recent genomic and functional data relating to how microsporidia exploit their hosts for energy and building blocks needed for growth and nucleic acid metabolism and we identify some remaining outstanding questions

Exchange of functional domains between a bacterial conjugative relaxase and the integrase of the human adeno-associated virus

Endonucleases of the HUH family are specialized in processing single-stranded DNA in a variety of evolutionarily highly conserved biological processes related to mobile genetic elements. They share a structurally defined catalytic domain for site-specific nicking and strand-transfer reactions, which is often linked to the activities of additional functional domains, contributing to their overall versatility. To assess if these HUH domains could be interchanged, we created a chimeric protein from two distantly related HUH endonucleases, containing the N-terminal HUH domain of the bacterial conjugative relaxase TrwC and the C-terminal DNA helicase domain of the human adeno-associated virus (AAV) replicase and site-specific integrase. The purified chimeric protein retained oligomerization properties and DNA helicase activities similar to Rep68, while its DNA binding specificity and cleaving-joining activity at oriT was similar to TrwC. Interestingly, the chimeric protein could catalyse site-specific integration in bacteria with an efficiency comparable to that of TrwC, while the HUH domain of TrwC alone was unable to catalyze this reaction, implying that the Rep68 C-terminal helicase domain is complementing the TrwC HUH domain to achieve site-specific integration into TrwC targets in bacteria. Our results illustrate how HUH domains could have acquired through evolution other domains in order to attain new roles, contributing to the functional flexibility observed in this protein superfamily.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) grant MR/N022890/1 to EH and grant 1001764 to RML; National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RO1-GM09285 to CRE; Spanish Ministry of Economy and competitiveness (MINECO) grant BIO2013-46414-P to ML and AFM is supported by a Doc.Mobility fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript