Draft Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Strain 13-13613, Isolated from a Case of Canine Pyoderma

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strain 13-13613, isolated from a case of canine pyoderma. The draft genome contains 2,533,486 bp in 570 contigs

Design Recommendations for Web-based Career Guidance Platforms - Let Young Women Experience IT Careers!

Despite a variety of intervention programs in the western society over the last decades, still too few young women are interested in an information technology (IT) career. While looking for career information and guidance, young women consult family and friends but also the internet. Although there is already a plethora of career information websites, those are seldom tailored to the interests of young women. To address the IT-gender gap with the design of a platform that appeals to the needs of the target group, we firstly analyzed existing German websites for career information and guidance. The analysis was framed by literature on women’s IT career choice barriers. Secondly, we evaluated selected websites with focus groups of female students. Finally, we present design recommendations to enhance web-based career information and guidance platforms for young women to raise their interest in IT-related careers

Effects of a Four-Week High-Dosage Zinc Oxide Supplemented Diet on Commensal Escherichia coli of Weaned Pigs

Strategies to reduce economic losses associated with post-weaning diarrhea in pig farming include high-level dietary zinc oxide supplementation. However, excessive usage of zinc oxide in the pig production sector was found to be associated with accumulation of multidrug resistant bacteria in these animals, presenting an environmental burden through contaminated manure. Here we report on zinc tolerance among a random selection of intestinal Escherichia coli comprising of different antibiotic resistance phenotypes and sampling sites isolated during a controlled feeding trial from 16 weaned piglets: In total, 179 isolates from “pigs fed with high zinc concentrations” (high zinc group, [HZG]: n = 99) and a corresponding “control group” ([CG]: n = 80) were investigated with regard to zinc tolerance, antimicrobial- and biocide susceptibilities by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In addition, in silico whole genome screening (WGSc) for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as well as biocide- and heavy metal tolerance genes was performed using an in-house BLAST-based pipeline. Overall, porcine E. coli isolates showed three different ZnCl2 MICs: 128 μg/ml (HZG, 2%; CG, 6%), 256 μg/ml (HZG, 64%; CG, 91%) and 512 μg/ml ZnCl2 (HZG, 34%, CG, 3%), a unimodal distribution most likely reflecting natural differences in zinc tolerance associated with different genetic lineages. However, a selective impact of the zinc-rich supplemented diet seems to be reasonable, since the linear mixed regression model revealed a statistically significant association between “higher” ZnCl2 MICs and isolates representing the HZG as well as “lower ZnCl2 MICs” with isolates of the CG (p = 0.005). None of the zinc chloride MICs was associated with a particular antibiotic-, heavy metal- or biocide- tolerance/resistance phenotype. Isolates expressing the 512 μg/ml MIC were either positive for ARGs conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, or harbored no ARGs at all. Moreover, WGSc revealed a ubiquitous presence of zinc homeostasis and – detoxification genes, including zitB, zntA, and pit. In conclusion, we provide evidence that zinc-rich supplementation of pig feed selects for more zinc tolerant E. coli, including isolates harboring ARGs and biocide- and heavy metal tolerance genes – a putative selective advantage considering substances and antibiotics currently used in industrial pork production systems

Reviewing Magnetic Particle Preparation: Exploring the Viability in Biosensing

Kappe D, Bondzio L, Swager J, et al. Reviewing Magnetic Particle Preparation: Exploring the Viability in Biosensing. Sensors. 2020;20(16): 4596.In this review article, we conceptually investigated the requirements of magnetic nanoparticles for their application in biosensing and related them to example systems of our thin-film portfolio. Analyzing intrinsic magnetic properties of different magnetic phases, the size range of the magnetic particles was determined, which is of potential interest for biosensor technology. Different e-beam lithography strategies are utilized to identify possible ways to realize small magnetic particles targeting this size range. Three different particle systems from 500 μm to 50 nm are produced for this purpose, aiming at tunable, vertically magnetized synthetic antiferromagnets, martensitic transformation in a single elliptical, disc-shaped Heusler Ni50Mn32.5Ga17.5 particle and nanocylinders of Co2MnSi-Heusler compound. Perspectively, new applications for these particle systems in combination with microfluidics are addressed. Using the concept of a magnetic on–off ratchet, the most suitable particle system of these three materials is validated with respect to magnetically-driven transport in a microfluidic channel. In addition, options are also discussed for improving the magnetic ratchet for larger particles

Elizabethkingia miricolainfection in multiple anuran species

This report describes an outbreak of Elizabethkingia miricola in northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) and three other species of frogs and toads held in captivity in Germany. The authors examine several treatment options and underline the difficulties in treating larger numbers of individuals with antimicrobials applied through bathing. Whole genome sequencing of three bacterial isolates emphasizes their relatedness to other frog isolates and leads us to conclude that E. miricola is an emerging and difficult to treat pathogen with a broad host range across anuran species. Moreover, ambiguities in identification of flavobacteria associated with disease in frogs reported in the literature make it seem possible that E. miricola has been overlooked as an anuran pathogen in the past

Quantifying activities of daily living impairment in Parkinson’s disease using the Functional Activities Questionnaire

Objective Cognitive-driven activity of daily living (ADL) impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasingly discussed as prodromal marker for dementia. Diagnostic properties of assessments for this specifc ADL impairment are sparsely investigated in PD. The ability of the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) for diferentiating between PD patients with normal cognition and with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), according to informant and self-reports, was examined. Global cognitive function in groups with and without mild ADL impairment was compared according to diferent cut-ofs. Methods Multicenter data of 589 patients of an international cohort (CENTRE-PD) were analyzed. Analyses were run separately for informant-rated and self-rated FAQ. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to defne the optimal FAQ cut-of for PD-MCI (≥1), and groups were additionally split according to reported FAQ cut-ofs for PD-MCI in the literature (≥3,≥5). Binary logistic regressions examined the efect of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in PD patients with and without mild ADL impairment. Results Two hundred and twenty-fve (38.2%) patients were classifed as PD-MCI. For all three cut-of values, sensitivity was moderate to low (0.54) with a tendency of higher values for self-reported defcits. For the self-report, the cut-of≥3 showed a signifcant efect of the MoCA (B= −0.31, p=0.003), where FAQ≥3 patients had worse cognition. No efect for group diferences based on informant ratings was detected. Conclusion Our data argue that self-reported ADL impairments assessed by the FAQ show a relation to the severity of cognitive impairment in PD