Dredging Land Reclamation Causing Mucus Development in Massive Spherical Corals in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea: The Effects on China’s Fishing Industry

Images from Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative depicted huge masses of white coral mucus secreted from coral reefs in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, an area where several land reclamation projects are occurring. The purpose of this research was to understand how increased sedimentation levels from the dredging land reclamation method affects mucus development in massive corals, such as Acropora, located in these reefs. Journal articles that focused on the biology of coral mucus, bacterial communities associated with coral tissue, mucus, and seawater, coral mortality from different environment impacts, coral coverage of reefs in Spratly Islands, and symbiotic relationships between reef fishes and corals were studied. The results showed that massive corals produce excess mucus to counteract the high sedimentation levels in the water column caused by dredging activity. Highly active heterotopic microbial communities are then attracted to the mucus’s dissolved organic carbon and perform respiration that rapidly consumes the oxygen and causes the coral to become stressed. Corals are important in the reef ecosystem, so the death of corals would affect fish higher up in the food chain. The South China Sea mainly supports the fishing industry in China. However, recent studies have shown that number of fish species has declined within the past eight years. The findings suggested that despite China’s two-month annual ban on fishery in the South China Sea, populations of fish will continue to decline as more land reclamation projects are implemented in the Spratly Islands, which would significantly impact the fishing economy.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1266/thumbnail.jp

Worldwide Distribution of the Human Apolipoprotein E Gene - The Association between APOE, Subsistence, and Latitude

The human apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) plays an important role in metabolizing lipids, regulating plasma cholesterol, and maintaining biological function. Structural differences in APOE variants impact cholesterol absorption and health risk, so that alleles serve as biomarkers for numerous cardiovascular and neurological diseases (Lai 2015). Variant differences are determined by changes in two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs429358 and rs7412. Distribution of alleles varies across populations. Allele frequencies in populations have been shown to be associated with cultural and environmental factors, including subsistence strategy and latitude (Eisenberg 2010). This study aims to provide a cross-population, genetic association study between APOE, subsistence strategy, and latitude. The objective of the study is to examine the roles that subsistence and latitude have in shaping APOE allele frequencies within populations. The study hypothesizes that E3 correlates with agriculture / post-agriculture and low latitude, and E4 correlates with non-agricultural and high latitude. The study further predicts that E2 is not linked to either subsistence or latitude. To test these hypotheses, genotype data on 124 APOE SNPs, and subsistence and latitude data was compiled for 26 populations. The data were adjusted for population stratification, and remaining SNPs were tested for significance based on linkage between loci. Afterward, subsistence and latitude were first tested as independent variables for an association with each SNP / haplotype, then as covariates. Results on the associations between APOE and subsistence and latitude were mixed. SNPs rs429358 and rs7412 were confirmed to be significant in determining APOE variation. Association results on each SNP showed a link between rs429358 and subsistence, and latitude, as well as between rs7412 and latitude – but not between rs7412 and subsistence. Association results on haplotypes confirmed the hypothesis that subsistence and latitude each play a role in APOE distribution – although this role lessened when considering the other variable. When subsistence and latitude were treated as independent variables, E3 showed an association with both subsistence and latitude. Yet, the correlation between E3 and subsistence disappeared when latitude was a covariate. Further, while E4 was confirmed to be associated with subsistence, this association decreased when latitude was a covariate. The study also confirmed the subsistence hypotheses, with E3 linked to post-agriculture (when subsistence was an independent variable) and E4 linked to non-agriculture. However, the study refuted the latitude hypotheses by showing a reverse association than predicted, with E3 being associated with high latitude and E4 being associated with low latitude. Also, contrary to the hypotheses, E2 was shown to be associated with both subsistence and latitude. In summary, results from the study support an association between APOE, subsistence, and latitude; however, the results do not support the direction of association between specific APOE alleles and these variables

Risk Factors Associated with First-Year College Dropout

Previous research has shown that a variety of factors can impact college student’s academic performance, including healthy nutrition, physical activity, substance use, smoking, early sexual activity, bullying, excessive television watching, internet use, and playing video games. The purpose of the current study was to explore possible predictors of dropout in students after their first year of college. Data came from the Spit for Science sample and were limited to individuals in the first three cohorts that answered the survey during the fall of their freshmen year (N=6105). Logistic regression was used to test a variety of risk factors, including mental/behavior risk factors, familial risk factors, stress/trauma exposure, and personality factors, in order to see whether or not there was a correlation between risk factors and dropout rates. Initially, multiple risk factors were found to be significantly associated with dropout. However, depression (OR = 1.04, p \u3c 0.05) was the only factor associated with dropout after we included GPA (OR = 0.395, p \u3c 0.001) as a covariate. Supplementary analyses revealed that many of the factors that were found to be significantly associated with dropout rates were significantly related to GPA, suggesting that these risk factors may influence dropout through their effect on GPA.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1203/thumbnail.jp

Genetic Suppression of Basement Membrane Defects in Caenorhabditis elegans by Gain of Function in Extracellular Matrix and Cell-Matrix Attachment Genes.

Basement membranes are extracellular matrices essential for embryonic development in animals. Peroxidasins are extracellular peroxidases implicated in the unique sulfilimine cross-links between type IV basement membrane collagens. Loss of function in the Caenorhabditis elegans peroxidasin PXN-2 results in fully penetrant embryonic or larval lethality. Using genetic suppressor screening, we find that the requirement for PXN-2 in development can be bypassed by gain of function in multiple genes encoding other basement membrane components, or proteins implicated in cell-matrix attachment. We identify multiple alleles of let-805, encoding the transmembrane protein myotactin, which suppress phenotypes of pxn-2 null mutants and of other basement membrane mutants such as F-spondin/spon-1 These let-805 suppressor alleles cause missense alterations in two pairs of FNIII repeats in the extracellular domain; they act dominantly and have no detectable phenotypes alone, suggesting they cause gain of function. We also identify suppressor missense mutations affecting basement membrane components type IV collagen (emb-9, let-2) and perlecan (unc-52), as well as a mutation affecting spectraplakin (vab-10), a component of the epidermal cytoskeleton. These suppressor alleles do not bypass the developmental requirement for core structural proteins of the basement membrane such as laminin or type IV collagen. In conclusion, putative gain-of-function alterations in matrix proteins or in cell-matrix receptors can overcome the requirement for certain basement membrane proteins in embryonic development, revealing previously unknown plasticity in the genetic requirements for the extracellular matrix

Dermatologic Manifestations of Rheumatic Disease: Cutaneous Manifestations of Vasculitides

Cutaneous Manifestations of Vasculitides is a Powerpoint based learning module that begins with the definition of terms and findings often found in vasculitis, followed by a review of several systemic vasculitides, highlighting how characteristic cutaneous lesions may be predictive of the vessel of involvement as well as the associated histologic changes. Moreover, significant clinical and laboratory findings utilized to make the correct diagnosis will be emphasized. This module is not meant to be an exhaustive review of vasculitis, but to serve as an introduction to understanding disease processes and how systemic vasculitis and skin findings interrelate. It is part of the Dermatologic Manifestations of Rheumatic Disease project, which provides overviews of the identification, diagnosis, and workup for different rheumatologic diseases, with a focus on providing examples from persons of color (POC). The project is a tailored resource for medical learners that addresses a longstanding educational deficit in diverse representation. The OERs will enable us to train future physicians who are not only clinically astute, but also knowledgeable of and sensitive to inequities in healthcare. Ultimately, it is our hope that these OER will aid in fostering a generation of physicians who are truly patient-advocates

GbdR Regulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa plcH and pchP Transcription in Response to Choline Catabolites

Pseudomonas aeruginosa hemolytic phospholipase C, PlcH, can degrade phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin in eukaryotic cell membranes and extracellular PC in lung surfactant. Numerous studies implicate PlcH in P. aeruginosa virulence. The phosphorylcholine released by PlcH activity on phospholipids is hydrolyzed by a periplasmic phosphorylcholine phosphatase, PchP. Both plcH gene expression and PchP enzyme activity are positively regulated by phosphorylcholine degradation products, including glycine betaine. Here we report that the induction of plcH and pchP transcription by glycine betaine is mediated by GbdR, an AraC family transcription factor. Mutants that lack gbdR are unable to induce plcH and pchP in media containing glycine betaine or choline and in phosphatidylcholine-rich environments, such as lung surfactant or mouse lung lavage fluid. In T broth containing choline, the gbdR mutant exhibited a 95% reduction in PlcH activity. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, a GbdR-maltose binding protein fusion bound specifically to both the plcH and pchP promoters. Promoter mapping, alignment of GbdR-regulated promoter sequences, and analysis of targeted promoter mutants that lack GbdR-dependent induction of transcription were used to identify a region necessary for GbdR-dependent transcriptional activation. GbdR also plays a significant role in plcH and pchP regulation within the mouse lung. Our studies suggest that GbdR is the primary regulator of plcH and pchP expression in PC-rich environments, such as the lung, and that pchP and other genes involved in phosphorylcholine catabolism are necessary to stimulate the GbdR-mediated positive feedback induction of plcH

Absence of the KhpA and KhpB (JAG/EloR) RNA-Binding Proteins Suppresses the Requirement for PBP2b by Overproduction of FtsA in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39

Suppressor mutations were isolated that obviate the requirement for essential PBP2b in peripheral elongation of peptidoglycan from the midcells of dividing Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 background cells. One suppressor was in a gene encoding a single KH-domain protein (KhpA). ΔkhpA suppresses deletions in most, but not all (mltG), genes involved in peripheral PG synthesis and in the gpsB regulatory gene. ΔkhpA mutations reduce growth rate, decrease cell size, minimally affect shape, and induce expression of the WalRK cell-wall stress regulon. Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitations show that KhpA forms a complex in cells with another KH-domain protein (KhpB/JAG/EloR). ΔkhpA and ΔkhpB mutants phenocopy each other exactly, consistent with a direct interaction. RNA-immunoprecipitation showed that KhpA/KhpB bind an overlapping set of RNAs in cells. Phosphorylation of KhpB reported previously does not affect KhpB function in the D39 progenitor background. A chromosome duplication implicated FtsA overproduction in Δpbp2b suppression. We show that cellular FtsA concentration is negatively regulated by KhpA/B at the post-transcriptional level and that FtsA overproduction is necessary and sufficient for suppression of Δpbp2b. However, increased FtsA only partially accounts for the phenotypes of ΔkhpA mutants. Together, these results suggest that multimeric KhpA/B may function as a pleiotropic RNA chaperone controlling pneumococcal cell division

Optimism and Risk of Incident Hypertension: A Target for Primordial Prevention

Aims Optimism is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk; however, few prospective studies have considered optimism in relation to hypertension risk specifically. We investigated whether optimism was associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension in U.S. service members, who are more likely to develop high blood pressure early in life. We also evaluated race/ethnicity, sex and age as potential effect modifiers of these associations. Methods Participants were 103 486 hypertension-free U.S. Army active-duty soldiers (mean age 28.96 years, 61.76% White, 20.04% Black, 11.01% Hispanic, 4.09% Asian, and 3.10% others). We assessed optimism, sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, health behaviours and depression status at baseline (2009–2010) via self-report and administrative records, and ascertained incident hypertension over follow-up (2010–2014) from electronic health records and health assessments. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and adjusted models for a broad range of relevant covariates. Results Over a mean follow-up of 3.51 years, 15 052 incident hypertension cases occurred. The highest v. lowest optimism levels were associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing hypertension, after adjusting for all covariates including baseline blood pressure (HR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.74–0.83). The difference in hypertension risk between the highest v. lowest optimism was also maintained when we excluded soldiers with hypertension in the first two years of follow-up and, separately, when we excluded soldiers with prehypertension at baseline. A dose–response relationship was evident with higher optimism associated with a lower relative risk (p \u3c 0.001). Higher optimism was consistently associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension across sex, age and most race/ethnicity categories. Conclusions In a diverse cohort of initially healthy male and female service members particularly vulnerable to developing hypertension, higher optimism levels were associated with reduced hypertension risk independently of sociodemographic and health factors, a particularly notable finding given the young and healthy population. Results suggest optimism is a health asset and a potential target for public health interventions