Ptychanthoideae (subfam. of Lejeuneaceae, Hepaticae) from Vanuatu : with the description of Caudalejeunea streimannii Gyarmati sp. n.

A list of 18 Lejeuneaceae (subfam. Ptychanthoideae) species of Vanuatu is given based on the collection of the late Heinar Streimann, identified by the Author. 12 species are new to Vanuatu, and one out of them is new to science

Records on the distribution of Ptychanthoideae (subfam. of Lejeuneaceae, Hepaticae) in Australia

Three species are new for the Northern Territory of Australia: Acrolejeunea securifolia (Nees) Steph. ex Watts ssp. securifolia, Archilejeunea planiuscula (Mitt.) Steph. and Mastigolejeunea ligulata (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Schiffn., and one for Queensland: Thysananthus australis (Steph.) B. Thiers & Gradst. New records of species are given, which were previously known only from one or very few localities, including: Caudalejeunea cristiloba (Steph.) Gradst. and Lopholejeunea plicatiscypha (Taylor) Steph

Identification of small RNAs abundant in Burkholderia cenocepacia biofilms reveal putative regulators with a potential role in carbon and iron metabolism

Small RNAs play a regulatory role in many central metabolic processes of bacteria, as well as in developmental processes such as biofilm formation. Small RNAs of Burkholderia cenocepacia, an opportunistic pathogenic beta-proteobacterium, are to date not well characterised. To address that, we performed genome-wide transcriptome structure analysis of biofilm grown B. cenocepacia J2315. 41 unannotated short transcripts were identified in intergenic regions of the B. cenocepacia genome. 15 of these short transcripts, highly abundant in biofilms, widely conserved in Burkholderia sp. and without known function, were selected for in-depth analysis. Expression profiling showed that most of these sRNAs are more abundant in biofilms than in planktonic cultures. Many are also highly abundant in cells grown in minimal media, suggesting they are involved in adaptation to nutrient limitation and growth arrest. Their computationally predicted targets include a high proportion of genes involved in carbon metabolism. Expression and target genes of one sRNA suggest a potential role in regulating iron homoeostasis. The strategy used for this study to detect sRNAs expressed in B. cenocepacia biofilms has successfully identified sRNAs with a regulatory function

BRYOFLORISTICAL DATA FROM THE GUTÂI MOUNTAINS (ROMANIAN EASTERN CARPATHIAN, TRANSYLVANIA)

Abstract: The main aim of this study was to explore the bryophyte diversity and distribution patterns in the Gutâi Mountains. From our collections hitherto 52 bryophyte species were identified. The 12 Marchantiophyta and 40 Bryophyta species belong to 45 genera of 27 families. Nardia scalaris is new for the whole Gutâi Mountains. Among them the vulnerable Grimmia muehlenbeckii and the very rare Riccardia palmata are worth to be mentioned

Why digital medicine depends on interoperability

Digital data are anticipated to transform medicine. However, most of today's medical data lack interoperability: hidden in isolated databases, incompatible systems and proprietary software, the data are difficult to exchange, analyze, and interpret. This slows down medical progress, as technologies that rely on these data - artificial intelligence, big data or mobile applications - cannot be used to their full potential. In this article, we argue that interoperability is a prerequisite for the digital innovations envisioned for future medicine. We focus on four areas where interoperable data and IT systems are particularly important: (1) artificial intelligence and big data; (2) medical communication; (3) research; and (4) international cooperation. We discuss how interoperability can facilitate digital transformation in these areas to improve the health and well-being of patients worldwide

Transcriptional response of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 sessile cells to treatments with high doses of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite

Background: Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, which can cause severe respiratory tract infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). As treatment of infected CF patients is problematic, multiple preventive measures are taken to reduce the infection risk. Besides a stringent segregation policy to prevent patient-to-patient transmission, clinicians also advise patients to clean and disinfect their respiratory equipment on a regular basis. However, problems regarding the efficacy of several disinfection procedures for the removal and/or killing of B. cepacia complex bacteria have been reported. In order to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance of biofilm-grown Burkholderia cenocepacia cells against high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the present study focussed on the transcriptional response in sessile B. cenocepacia J2315 cells following exposure to high levels of H2O2 or NaOCl. Results: The exposure to H2O2 and NaOCl resulted in an upregulation of the transcription of 315 (4.4%) and 386 (5.4%) genes, respectively. Transcription of 185 (2.6%) and 331 (4.6%) genes was decreased in response to the respective treatments. Many of the upregulated genes in the NaOCl- and H2O2-treated biofilms are involved in oxidative stress as well as general stress response, emphasizing the importance of the efficient neutralization and scavenging of ROS. In addition, multiple upregulated genes encode proteins that are necessary to repair ROS-induced cellular damage. Unexpectedly, a prolonged treatment with H2O2 also resulted in an increased transcription of multiple phage-related genes. A closer inspection of hybridisation signals obtained with probes targeting intergenic regions led to the identification of a putative 6S RNA. Conclusion: Our results reveal that the transcription of a large fraction of B. cenocepacia J2315 genes is altered upon exposure of sessile cells to ROS. These observations have highlighted that B. cenocepacia may alter several pathways in response to exposure to ROS and they have led to the identification of many genes not previously implicated in the stress response of this pathogen

Low iron-induced small RNA BrrF regulates central metabolism and oxidative stress responses in Burkholderia cenocepacia

Regulatory small RNAs play an essential role in maintaining cell homeostasis in bacteria in response to environmental stresses such as iron starvation. Prokaryotes generally encode a large number of RNA regulators, yet their identification and characterisation is still in its infancy for most bacterial species. Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen with high innate antimicrobial resistance, which can cause the often fatal cepacia syndrome in individuals with cystic fibrosis. In this study we characterise a small RNA which is involved in the response to iron starvation, a condition that pathogenic bacteria are likely to encounter in the host. BrrF is a small RNA highly upregulated in Burkholderia cenocepacia under conditions of iron depletion and with a genome context consistent with Fur regulation. Its computationally predicted targets include iron-containing enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle such as aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase, as well as iron-containing enzymes responsible for the oxidative stress response, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. Phenotypic and gene expression analysis of BrrF deletion and overexpression mutants show that the regulation of these genes is BrrF-dependent. Expression of acnA, fumA, sdhA and sdhC was downregulated during iron depletion in the wild type strain, but not in a BrrF deletion mutant. TCA cycle genes not predicted as target for BrrF were not affected in the same manner by iron depletion. Likewise, expression of sodB and katB was dowregulated during iron depletion in the wild type strain, but not in a BrrF deletion mutant. BrrF overexpression reduced aconitase and superoxide dismutase activities and increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. All phenotypes and gene expression changes of the BrrF deletion mutant could be complemented by overexpressing BrrF in trans. Overall, BrrF acts as a regulator of central metabolism and oxidative stress response, possibly as an iron-sparing measure to maintain iron homeostasis under conditions of iron starvation

Complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain AA2 (LMG 27630), an early isolate recovered from the airway of a German cystic fibrosis patient

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is able to cause various infections, including airway infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Here, we present the complete closed and annotated genome sequence of P. aeruginosa AA2, an isolate obtained early during infection of the respiratory tract of a German cystic fibrosis patient

Occupational Exposure To Styrene: Contribution To Hearing Loss

Prolonged significant noise exposures are well known to result in permanent hearing loss. However, little is known of the contribution of industrial chemical exposures to hearing loss. Information available, both from animal and human studies, raises the possibility that certain aromatic hydrocarbons are ototoxic. The purpose of this study was to assess whether occupational styrene exposure causes hearing loss in a group of workers in the fibre reinforced plastics manufacturing industry. The hearing acuity of 299 subjects was determined, using pure tone screening audiometry, at the beginning of a single workshift and again at the end of the shift. On the same day, the personal, time-weighted average exposures of each subject to both styrene and noise were measured. In addition, information was obtained from each participant on factors including: previous work history, including exposures to noise and chemicals; use of personal protective equipment for noise or solvents; personal and family history of hearing problems; and, smoking history. Current exposures, together with work histories were used to construct lifetime noise and styrene exposure indices.;No important relationships were observed between styrene exposures and changes in hearing acuity over the course of the workshift. Therefore, styrene does not appear to exert an acute effect on hearing, at exposure levels which were generally within the current standards. Similarly, no conclusive evidence was found for a chronic styrene-induced effect on hearing acuity, when both noise and styrene exposures were taken into account. As expected, age and noise exposures were highly important variables, both positively associated with hearing loss. In addition, the detrimental effect of noise exposure on hearing acuity was found to be strengthened with increased age, suggesting a synergistic effect. Noise and styrene exposures were highly correlated, clearly illustrating the importance of considering all associated variables in analysis of such data. No conclusive evidence was found for a relationship between smoking, recreational noise, other solvent exposures and hearing loss. Further, the study highlighted the difficulties in constructing retrospective exposure indices when actual, historical measurements are lacking and reliance must be placed on alternative methods such as questionnaire responses from individual subjects

BRYOFLORISTICAL DATA FROM THE APUSENI MOUNTAINS (ROMANIAN WESTERN CARPATHIANS, TRANSILVANIA)

The main aim of this study was to explore the bryophyte diversity and distribution patterns in the Apuseni Mountains. From our collections hitherto 108 bryophyte species were identified. The 31 Marchantiophyta and 77 Bryophyta species belong to 74 genera of 40 families. Among them the endangered Campylium protensum, Didymodon cordatus and the critically endangered Ditrichum gracile and Schistidium robustum are to be mentioned