Biodiversity of cultivable Burkholderia species in Argentinean soils under no-till agricultural practices

No-tillage crop production has revolutionized the agriculture worldwide. In our country more than 30 Mha are currently cultivated under no-till schemes, stressing the importance of this management system for crop production. It is widely recognized that soil microbiota is altered under different soil managements. In this regard the structure of Burkholderia populations is affected by soils management practices such as tillage, fertilization, or crop rotation. The stability of these structures, however, has not been evaluated under sustainable schemes where the impact of land practices could be less deleterious to physicochemical soils characteristics. In order to assess the structure of Burkholderia spp. populations in no-till schemes, culturable Burkholderia spp. strains were quantified and their biodiversity evaluated. Results showed that Burkholderia spp. biodiversity, but not their abundance, clearly displayed a dependence on agricultural managements. We also showed that biodiversity was mainly influenced by two soil factors: Total Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen. Results showed that no-till schemes are not per se sufficient to maintain a richer Burkholderia spp. soil microbiota, and additional traits should be considered when sustainability of productive soils is a goal to fulfil productive agricultural schemes.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia MolecularCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm matrix and cells are drastically impacted by gas discharge plasma treatment: A comprehensive model explaining plasma-mediated biofilm eradication

Biofilms are microbial communities encased in a protective matrix composed of exopolymeric substances including exopolysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and extracellular DNA. Biofilms cause undesirable effects such as biofouling, equipment damage, prostheses colonization, and disease. Biofilms are also more resilient than free-living cells to regular decontamination methods and therefore, alternative methods are needed to eradicate them. The use of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas is a good alternative as plasmas contain reactive species, free radicals, and UV photons well-known for their decontamination potential against free microorganisms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms colonize catheters, indwelling devices, and prostheses. Plasma effects on cell viability have been previously documented for P. aeruginosa biofilms. Nonetheless, the effect of plasma on the biofilm matrix has received less attention and there is little evidence regarding the changes the matrix undergoes. The aim of this work was to study the effect plasma exerts mostly on the P. aeruginosa biofilm matrix and to expand the existing knowledge about its effect on sessile cells in order to achieve a better understanding of the mechanism/s underlying plasma-mediated biofilm inactivation. We report a reduction in the amount of the biofilm matrix, the loss of its tridimensional structure, and morphological changes in sessile cells at long exposure times. We show chemical and structural changes on the biofilm matrix (mostly on carbohydrates and eDNA) and cells (mostly on proteins and lipids) that are more profound with longer plasma exposure times. We also demonstrate the presence of lipid oxidation products confirming cell membrane lipid peroxidation as plasma exposure time increases. To our knowledge this is the first report providing detailed evidence of the variety of chemical and structural changes that occur mostly on the biofilm matrix and sessile cells as a consequence of the plasma treatment. Based on our results, we propose a comprehensive model explaining plasma-mediated biofilm inactivation.Fil: Soler Arango, Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Fígoli, Cecilia Beatríz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Muraca, Giuliana Sabrina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Bosch, María Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Brelles Mariño, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentin

Biodiversity of cultivable Burkholderia species in Argentinean soils under no-till agricultural practices

No-tillage crop production has revolutionized the agriculture worldwide. In our country more than 30 Mha are currently cultivated under no-till schemes, stressing the importance of this management system for crop production. It is widely recognized that soil microbiota is altered under different soil managements. In this regard the structure of Burkholderia populations is affected by soils management practices such as tillage, fertilization, or crop rotation. The stability of these structures, however, has not been evaluated under sustainable schemes where the impact of land practices could be less deleterious to physicochemical soils characteristics. In order to assess the structure of Burkholderia spp. populations in no-till schemes, culturable Burkholderia spp. strains were quantified and their biodiversity evaluated. Results showed that Burkholderia spp. biodiversity, but not their abundance, clearly displayed a dependence on agricultural managements. We also showed that biodiversity was mainly influenced by two soil factors: Total Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen. Results showed that no-till schemes are not per se sufficient to maintain a richer Burkholderia spp. soil microbiota, and additional traits should be considered when sustainability of productive soils is a goal to fulfil productive agricultural schemes.Fil: Draghi, Walter Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Degrossi, Jose. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bialer, Magali Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Brelles Mariño, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Abdian, Patricia Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Soler Bistue, Alfonso Jc. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Wall, Luis Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zorreguieta, Ángeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Estado sanitario de poblaciones adultas jujeñas: variación regional y temporal

La población adulta masculina (PAM) jujeña, localizada sobre un gradiente altitudinal, se caracteriza por presentar una tendencia secular positiva de la talla. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la variación regional y temporal del estado sanitario de la PAM a través de la talla estandarizada (Pz). Los datos procedieron de los registros militares de 27168 soldados medidos entre 1840 y 1960. La información fue agrupada en: 1) tierras altas (2500-3500 m.s.n.m) y bajas (500-1200 m.s.n.m); 2) 13 períodos de tiempo. El Pz promedio fue siempre positivo en las tierras altas y negativo en las bajas. Se observaron diferencias entre períodos, pero en promedio los mayores porcentajes de población por debajo de -2z se presentaron en las tierras altas (5.16% vs 2.83%) y por encima de +2z en las bajas (3.1% vs. 0.85%). Los resultados: 1) demuestran que las poblaciones jujeñas de altura presentan un estado de salud menos favorable que aquellas situadas mas próximas al nivel del mar y que el mismo no ha variado en el extenso período de tiempo considerado; 2) son congruentes con las desigualdades socioeconómicas, ambientales y biológicas existentes entre las poblaciones examinadas y con la variación interregional de la tendencia secular de la talla que las caracteriza.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Prognostic impact of bone marrow fibrosis in primary myelodysplastic syndromes

La mielofibrosis (MF) se observa en el 10-20% de los pacientes con síndrome mielodisplásico (SMD). Su presencia es reconocida como un hallazgo histológico adverso asociado a curso agresivo, fallo medular temprano, sobrevida acortada y evolución leucémica.El objetivo fue examinar la influencia de la MF (MF ≥1) en la sobrevida global (SG) y su asociacióncon variables clínicas e histopatológicas.Se identificaron 468 pacientes con SMD incluidos en el Registro Argentino de SMD de 2007 a 2017.La mediana de SG del subgrupo MF ≥1 fue de 20,1 meses (IC 95%: 10,1-30,0) versus 67,6 meses (IC95% 45,1-90,3) del subgrupo MF-0 (p2 (HR 2,07, 95% IC 1,44-2,96; p5% (HR 2,94,IC 95% 2,06-4,20; p3 (HR 2,17; IC 95%: 1,48-3,19;p1000 ug/L (OR 3,41; p= 0,006) y la localización eritroide atípica (OR 2,65; p=0,004) se asociaron significativamente con la presencia de MF ≥1.Los resultados destacan la presencia de MF ≥1 como un factor pronóstico adverso para la supervivencia en SMD, asociado con hiperferritinemia y alteración de la localización de la progenie eritroide en la MO.Myelofibrosis (MF) is observed in 10-20% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The presence of MF has been recognized as an adverse histological finding associated with an aggressive course including early bone marrow (BM) failure, shortened survival and leukemic evolution. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the myelofibrosis (MF ≥1) in the overall survival (OS) and its association with clinical and histopathologic variables. We identified 468 MDS patients who were included in the Argentinian Registry of MDS from 2007 to 2017. The median OS for the MF≥1 subgroup was 20.1 months (95% CI 10.1-30.0) versus 67.6 months (95% CI 45.1-90.3) for the MF-0 subgroup (p2 (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.44-2.96; p5% (HR 2.94, 95% CI 2.06-4.20; p3 (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.48- 3.19; p 1000 ug/L (OR 3.41; p=0.006) and the atypical erythroid localization (OR 2.65; p=0.004) were significantly associated with the presence of MF ≥1. Our results highlight the presence of any grade of myelofibrosis as an independent adverse prognostic factor for survival in MDS, associated with higher ferritin level and abnormal erythroid localization in the BM.Fil: Russo, Maria Florencia. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos Paroissien (higa Paroissien); ArgentinaFil: Belli, Carolina Bárbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Enrico, Alicia. Hospital Italiano de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Arbelbide, Jorge. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Narbaitz, Marina. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: de Dios Soler, Marcela. Hospital Municipal de Oncologia Maria Curie ; Gobierno de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires;Fil: Garcia Rivello, Hernan Jorge. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Martin, Carlos. Hospital Italiano de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Iastrebner, Marcelo. Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Jacqueline. Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos Durand; ArgentinaFil: Rosenhain, Mariana. Hospital General de Agudos Dr. Enrique Tornú; ArgentinaFil: Alfonso, Graciela. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Kornblihtt, Laura Inés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Perusini, Agustina. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Lazzarino, Carolina. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos Paroissien (higa Paroissien); Argentin

Prospective individual patient data meta-analysis of two randomized trials on convalescent plasma for COVID-19 outpatients

Data on convalescent plasma (CP) treatment in COVID-19 outpatients are scarce. We aimed to assess whether CP administered during the first week of symptoms reduced the disease progression or risk of hospitalization of outpatients. Two multicenter, double-blind randomized trials (NCT04621123, NCT04589949) were merged with data pooling starting when = 50 years and symptomatic for <= 7days were included. The intervention consisted of 200-300mL of CP with a predefined minimum level of antibodies. Primary endpoints were a 5-point disease severity scale and a composite of hospitalization or death by 28 days. Amongst the 797 patients included, 390 received CP and 392 placebo; they had a median age of 58 years, 1 comorbidity, 5 days symptoms and 93% had negative IgG antibody-test. Seventy-four patients were hospitalized, 6 required mechanical ventilation and 3 died. The odds ratio (OR) of CP for improved disease severity scale was 0.936 (credible interval (CI) 0.667-1.311); OR for hospitalization or death was 0.919 (CI 0.592-1.416). CP effect on hospital admission or death was largest in patients with <= 5 days of symptoms (OR 0.658, 95%CI 0.394-1.085). CP did not decrease the time to full symptom resolution

Recent smell loss is the best predictor of COVID-19 among individuals with recent respiratory symptoms

In a preregistered, cross-sectional study we investigated whether olfactory loss is a reliable predictor of COVID-19 using a crowdsourced questionnaire in 23 languages to assess symptoms in individuals self-reporting recent respiratory illness. We quantified changes in chemosensory abilities during the course of the respiratory illness using 0-100 visual analog scales (VAS) for participants reporting a positive (C19+; n=4148) or negative (C19-; n=546) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome. Logistic regression models identified univariate and multivariate predictors of COVID-19 status and post-COVID-19 olfactory recovery. Both C19+ and C19- groups exhibited smell loss, but it was significantly larger in C19+ participants (mean±SD, C19+: -82.5±27.2 points; C19-: -59.8±37.7). Smell loss during illness was the best predictor of COVID-19 in both univariate and multivariate models (ROC AUC=0.72). Additional variables provide negligible model improvement. VAS ratings of smell loss were more predictive than binary chemosensory yes/no-questions or other cardinal symptoms (e.g., fever). Olfactory recovery within 40 days of respiratory symptom onset was reported for ~50% of participants and was best predicted by time since respiratory symptom onset. We find that quantified smell loss is the best predictor of COVID-19 amongst those with symptoms of respiratory illness. To aid clinicians and contact tracers in identifying individuals with a high likelihood of having COVID-19, we propose a novel 0-10 scale to screen for recent olfactory loss, the ODoR-19. We find that numeric ratings ≤2 indicate high odds of symptomatic COVID-19 (4&lt;10). Once independently validated, this tool could be deployed when viral lab tests are impractical or unavailable

More Than Smell—COVID-19 Is Associated With Severe Impairment of Smell, Taste, and Chemesthesis

Correction: Chemical Senses, Volume 46, 2021, bjab050, https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjab050 Published: 08 December 2021Recent anecdotal and scientific reports have provided evidence of a link between COVID-19 and chemosensory impairments, such as anosmia. However, these reports have downplayed or failed to distinguish potential effects on taste, ignored chemesthesis, and generally lacked quantitative measurements. Here, we report the development, implementation, and initial results of a multilingual, international questionnaire to assess self-reported quantity and quality of perception in 3 distinct chemosensory modalities (smell, taste, and chemesthesis) before and during COVID-19. In the first 11 days after questionnaire launch, 4039 participants (2913 women, 1118 men, and 8 others, aged 19-79) reported a COVID-19 diagnosis either via laboratory tests or clinical assessment. Importantly, smell, taste, and chemesthetic function were each significantly reduced compared to their status before the disease. Difference scores (maximum possible change +/- 100) revealed a mean reduction of smell (-79.7 +/- 28.7, mean +/- standard deviation), taste (-69.0 +/- 32.6), and chemesthetic (-37.3 +/- 36.2) function during COVID-19. Qualitative changes in olfactory ability (parosmia and phantosmia) were relatively rare and correlated with smell loss. Importantly, perceived nasal obstruction did not account for smell loss. Furthermore, chemosensory impairments were similar between participants in the laboratory test and clinical assessment groups. These results show that COVID-19-associated chemosensory impairment is not limited to smell but also affects taste and chemesthesis.The multimodal impact of COVID-19 and the lack of perceived nasal obstruction suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus strain 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may disrupt sensory-neural mechanisms.Peer reviewe