Microfluidic droplet platform for ultrahigh-throughput single-cell screening of biodiversity

© 2017, National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.Ultrahigh-throughput screening (uHTS) techniques can identify unique functionality from millions of variants. To mimic the natural selection mechanisms that occur by compartmentalization in vivo, we developed a technique based on single-cell encapsulation in droplets of a monodisperse microfluidic double water-in-oil-in-water emulsion (MDE). Biocompatible MDE enables in-droplet cultivation of different living species. The combination of droplet-generating machinery with FACS followed by next-generation sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the secretomes of encapsulated organisms yielded detailed genotype/phenotype descriptions. This platform was probed with uHTS for biocatalysts anchored to yeast with enrichment close to the theoretically calculated limit and cell-to-cell interactions. MDE-FACS allowed the identification of human butyrylcholinesterase mutants that undergo self-reactivation after inhibition by the organophosphorus agent paraoxon. The versatility of the platform allowed the identification of bacteria, including slow-growing oral microbiota species that suppress the growth of a common pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, and predicted which genera were associated with inhibitory activity

Taking stock : sustainability in engineering teaching : case of CES EduPack -- software for teaching

The paper presents the results of a survey of academics about teaching sustainable development topics in engineering, design and materials science courses, with particular emphasis on materials aspects of the problem. Over 200 responses were analysed, complemented with the outcome of a multi-national workshop on the subject, and the main findings were summarised. Key findings were the need for well-documented case studies for project-based learning, and the need for a more global perspective in teaching this topic. A recently published ‘5-step methodology’ provides a framework for individual or group student work on a diverse range of problems: from substitution of sustainable materials into products, energy-using devices, to renewable energy and storage technologies. The diversity of potential case studies, and the breadth of knowledge that could be required to address the dominant issues in a given problem, presents a particular educational challenge to help students to navigate with confidence through a meaningful analysis. The paper discusses some refinements to the new methodology that could improve its rigour, and its ease-of-use by undergraduate or graduate students.Non UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe

Innovation and use policies required to realize investment and emission reductions in the materials sector

Contains fulltext : 167551.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)27 p

Gut microbiome signature of Viliuisk encephalomyelitis in Yakuts includes an increase in microbes linked to lean body mass and eating behaviour

© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Viliuisk encephalomyelitis (VE) is a rare endemic neurodegenerative disease occurring in the Yakut population of Northeastern Siberia. The main clinical features of VE are spasticity, dysarthria, dementia, central paresis and paralysis, and cortical atrophy observed via MRI. Many hypotheses have been proposed regarding its etiology, including infectious agents, genetics, environmental factors, and immunopathology. Each of these hypotheses has been supported to some extent by epidemiological and experimental data. Nevertheless, none of them has been decisively proven. Gut microbiome is one of the factors that might be involved in VE pathogenesis. Results: Here we performed a pilot survey of the stool microbiomes of Yakut subjects with VE (n = 6) and without VE (n = 11). 16S rRNA sequencing showed that in comparison with the control group, the Yakuts with VE had increased proportions of Methanobrevibacter and Christensenella, which are reported to be linked to body mass index, metabolism, dietary habits and potentially to neurodegenerative disorders. The identified associations suggest that the microbiome may be involved in VE. Overall, the Yakut microbiome was quite specific in comparison with other populations, such as metropolitan Russians and native inhabitants of the Canadian Arctic. Conclusions: Describing the gut microbiome of indigenous human populations will help to elucidate the impact of dietary and environmental factors on microbial community structure and identify risks linked to the lifestyles of such groups as well as endemic diseases

Analysis of gut microbiota in patients with parkinson’s disease

Gut microbiota of patients with Parkinson’s disease and healthy volunteers was analyzed by the method of high throughput 16S rRNA sequencing of bacterial genomes. In patients with Parkinson’s diseases, changes in the content of 9 genera and 15 species of microorganisms were revealed: reduced content of Dorea, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides massiliensis, Stoquefichus massiliensis, Bacteroides coprocola, Blautia glucerasea, Dorea longicatena, Bacteroides dorei, Bacteroides plebeus, Prevotella copri, Coprococcus eutactus, and Ruminococcus callidus, and increased content of Christensenella, Catabacter, Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, Bifidobacterium, Christensenella minuta, Catabacter hongkongensis, Lactobacillus mucosae, Ruminococcus bromii, and Papillibacter cinnamivorans. This microbiological pattern of gut microflora can trigger local inflammation followed by aggregation of a-synuclein and generation of Lewy bodies. © 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New York