A novel lytic bacteriophage, ValSw3-3, which efficiently infects pathogenic strains of Vibrio alginolyticus, was isolated from sewage water and characterized by microbiological and in silico genomic analyses. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that ValSw3-3 has the morphology of siphoviruses. This phage can infect four species in the Vibrio genus and has a latent period of 15 min and a burst size of 95 ± 2 PFU/infected bacterium. Genome sequencing results show that ValSw3-3 has a 39,846-bp double-stranded DNA genome with a GC content of 43.1%. The similarity between the genome sequences of ValSw3-3 and those of other phages recorded in the GenBank database was below 50% (42%), suggesting that ValSw3-3 significantly differs from previously reported phages at the DNA level. Multiple genome comparisons and phylogenetic analysis based on the major capsid protein revealed that phage ValSw3-3 is grouped in a clade with five other phages, including Listonella phage phiHSIC (GenBank accession no. NC_006953.1), Vibrio phage P23 (MK097141.1), Vibrio phage pYD8-B (NC_021561.1), Vibrio phage 2E1 (KX507045.1), and Vibrio phage 12G5 (HQ632860.1), and is distinct from all known genera within the Siphoviridae family that have been ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). An in silico proteomic comparison of diverse phages from the Siphoviridae family supported this clustering result and suggested that ValSw3-3, phiHSIC, P23, pYD8-B, 2E1, and 12G5 should be classified as a novel genus cluster of Siphoviridae. A subsequent analysis of core genes also revealed the common genes shared within this new cluster. Overall, these results provide a characterization of Vibrio phage ValSw3-3 and support our proposal of a new viral genus within the family Siphoviridae.

IMPORTANCE Phage therapy has been considered a potential alternative to antibiotic therapy in treating bacterial infections. For controlling the vibriosis-causing pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus, well-documented phage candidates are still lacking. Here, we characterize a novel lytic Vibrio phage, ValSw3-3, based on its morphology, host range and infectivity, growth characteristics, stability under various conditions, and genomic features. Our results show that ValSw3-3 could be a potent candidate for phage therapy to treat V. alginolyticus infections due to its stronger infectivity and better pH and thermal stability than those of previously reported Vibrio phages. Moreover, genome sequence alignments, phylogenetic analysis, in silico proteomic comparison, and core gene analysis all support that this novel phage, ValSw3-3, and five unclassified phages form a clade distant from those of other known genera ratified by the ICTV. Thus, we propose a new viral genus within the Siphoviridae family to accommodate this clade, with ValSw3-3 as a representative member.

Aerosol–radiation interaction (ARI) plays a significant role in the accumulation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by stabilizing the planetary boundary layer and thus deteriorating air quality during haze events. However, modification of photolysis by aerosol scattering or absorbing solar radiation (aerosol–photolysis interaction or API) alters the atmospheric oxidizing capacity, decreases...

Legumes tend to be nodulated by competitive rhizobia that do not maximize nitrogen (N2) fixation, resulting in suboptimal yields. Rhizobial nodulation competitiveness and effectiveness at N2 fixation are independent traits, making their measurement extremely time-consuming with low experimental throughput. To transform the experimental assessment of rhizobial competitiveness and effectiveness, we...

Brian K. McNab and Kerry A. Weston

The thermal physiology of the endangered New Zealand rockwren (Xenicus gilviventris) is examined. It is a member of the Acanthisittidae, a family unique to New Zealand. This family, derived from Gondwana, is thought to be the sister taxon to all other passerines. Rockwrens permanently reside above the climatic timberline at altitudes from 1,000 to 2,900 meters in the mountains of South Island. They feed on invertebrates and in winter face ambient temperatures far below freezing and deep deposits of snow. Their body temperature and rate of metabolism are highly variable. Rockwrens regulate body temperature at ca. 36.4°C, which in one individual decreased to 33.1°C at an ambient temperature of 9.4°C. Its rate of metabolism decreased by 30%; body temperature spontaneously returned to 36°C. The rate of metabolism in a second individual twice decreased by 35%, nearly to the basal rate expected from mass without a decrease in body temperature. The New Zealand rockwren's food habits, entrance into torpor, and continuous residence in a thermally demanding environment suggest that it may hibernate. For that conclusion to be accepted, evidence of its use of torpor for extended periods is required. Those data are not presently available. Acanthisittids are distinguished from other passerines by the combination of their permanent temperate distribution, thermal flexibility, and a propensity to evolve a flightless condition. These characteristics may principally reflect their geographical isolation in a temperate environment isolated from Gondwana for 82 million years in the absence of mammalian predators.

Background

Fluid overload in patients undergoing hemodialysis contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is a global trend to lower dialysate sodium with the goal of reducing fluid overload.

Alemtuzumab is approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS and is used off-label for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and as induction and antirejection therapy in kidney transplant recipients.¹ Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) complicating alemtuzumab treatment was reported in 9 patients with hematologic malignancy or MS.^1–3 The risk of GBS or CIDP in solid organ transplant recipients treated with alemtuzumab is unknown.

The incidence of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors before intraventricular therapy has not been described. Methods: We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with primary or metastatic CNS tumors treated between 2003 and 2018 (15 y). Patients underwent ¹¹¹In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid injection into the CSF intraventricular space followed by nuclear medicine imaging at 90 min, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h (if required). CSF flow was classified as normal, delayed, asymmetric, or obstructed. Results: In total, 278 CSF flow studies were performed on 224 patients, 202 of whom (90%) were less than 18 y old. Of these, 116 patients (52%) had metastatic CNS neuroblastoma, 57 (25%) had medulloblastoma, and 51 (23%) had other histologic types of CNS tumors. Of the 278 studies, 237 (85%) were normal, 9 (3%) required neurosurgical intervention, 25 (9%) were delayed, and 7 (3%) were asymmetric. Conclusion: Abnormal CSF flow and the necessity for neurosurgical intervention must be considered when attempting to ensure appropriate intraventricular therapy in the pediatric population.

An aberrant bi-apical Follicucullus specimen (Albaillellaria, Radiolaria) has been discovered from an upper Guadalupian (Middle Permian) chert block of the Kamiaso Unit of the Mino terrane, central Japan. If this specimen was formed with double malformation, it would be the oldest record of this phenomenon in radiolarians and the first record of its kind in Albaillellaria.

Although treatment with the glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor–related protein (GITR) agonistic antibody (DTA-1) has shown antitumor activity in various tumor models, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that interleukin (IL)-21–producing follicular helper T (Tfh) cells play a crucial role in DTA-1–induced tumor inhibition. The administration of DTA-1 increased IL21 expression by Tfh cells in an antigen-specific manner, and this activation led to enhanced antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Mice treated with an antibody that neutralizes the IL21 receptor exhibited decreased antitumor activity when treated with DTA-1. Tumor growth inhibition by DTA-1 was abrogated in Bcl6^fl/flCd4^Cre mice, which are genetically deficient in Tfh cells. IL4 was required for optimal induction of IL21-expressing Tfh cells by GITR costimulation, and c-Maf mediated this pathway. Thus, our findings identify GITR costimulation as an inducer of IL21-expressing Tfh cells and provide a mechanism for the antitumor activity of GITR agonism.

The response to iron limitation of the Gram-positive soil bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum was analyzed with respect to secreted metabolites, the transcriptome, and the proteome. During growth in glucose minimal medium, iron limitation caused a shift from lactate to pyruvate as the major secreted organic acid complemented by l-alanine and 2-oxoglutarate. Transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed that a pronounced iron starvation response governed by the transcriptional regulators DtxR and RipA was detectable in the late, but not in the early, exponential-growth phase. A link between iron starvation and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) biosynthesis was uncovered by the strong upregulation of thiC. As phosphomethylpyrimidine synthase (ThiC) contains an iron-sulfur cluster, limiting activities of the TPP-dependent pyruvate–2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase supercomplex probably cause the excretion of pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate. In line with this explanation, thiamine supplementation could strongly diminish the secretion of these acids. The upregulation of thiC and other genes involved in thiamine biosynthesis and transport is presumably due to TPP riboswitches present at the 5' end of the corresponding operons. The results obtained in this study provide new insights into iron homeostasis in C. glutamicum and demonstrate that the metabolic consequences of iron limitation can be due to the iron dependency of coenzyme biosynthesis.

IMPORTANCE Iron is an essential element for most organisms but causes problems due to poor solubility under oxic conditions and due to toxicity by catalyzing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, bacteria have evolved complex regulatory networks for iron homeostasis aiming at a sufficient iron supply while minimizing ROS formation. In our study, the responses of the actinobacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum to iron limitation were analyzed, resulting in a detailed view on the processes involved in iron homeostasis in this model organism. In particular, we provide evidence that iron limitation causes TPP deficiency, presumably due to insufficient activity of the iron-dependent phosphomethylpyrimidine synthase (ThiC). TPP deficiency was deduced from the upregulation of genes controlled by a TPP riboswitch and secretion of metabolites caused by insufficient activity of the TPP-dependent enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase. To our knowledge, the link between iron starvation and thiamine synthesis has not been elaborated previously.

Chromosomal resistance islands containing the methicillin resistance gene mecD (McRI_mecD) have been reported in Macrococcus caseolyticus. Here, we identified novel macrolide resistance genes in Macrococcus canis on similar elements, called McRI_msr. These elements were also integrated into the 3' end of the 30S ribosomal protein S9 gene (rpsI), delimited by characteristic attachment (att) sites, and carried a related site-specific integrase gene (int) at the 5' end. They carried novel macrolide resistance genes belonging to the msr family of ABC subfamily F (ABC-F)-type ribosomal protection protein [msr(F) and msr(H)] and the macrolide efflux mef family [mef(D)]. Highly related mef(D)-msr(F) fragments were found on diverse McRI_msr elements in M. canis, M. caseolyticus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Another McRI_msr-like element identified in an M. canis strain lacked the classical att site at the 3' end and carried the msr(H) gene but no neighboring mef gene. The expression of the novel resistance genes in S. aureus resulted in a low-to-moderate increase in the MIC of erythromycin but not streptogramin B. In the mef(D)-msr(F) operon, the msr(F) gene was shown to be the crucial determinant for macrolide resistance. The detection of circular forms of McRI_msr and the mef(D)-msr(F) fragment suggested mobility of both the island and the resistance gene subunit. The discovery of McRI_msr in different Macrococcus species and S. aureus indicates that these islands have a potential for dissemination of antibiotic resistance within the Staphylococcaceae family.

Of four genotypes of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. cuniculi genotype II is considered to represent a parasite that occurs in many host species in a latent asymptomatic form, whereas E. cuniculi genotype III seems to be more aggressive, and infections caused by this strain can lead to the death of even immunocompetent hosts. Although albendazole has been considered suitable for treatment of Encephalitozoon species, its failure in control of E. cuniculi genotype III infection has been reported. This study determined the effect of a 100x recommended daily dose of albendazole on an Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III course of infection in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and compared the results with those from experiments performed with a lower dose of albendazole and E. cuniculi genotype II. The administration of the regular dose of abendazole during the acute phase of infection reduced the number of affected organs in all strains of mice and absolute counts of spores in screened organs. However, the effect on genotype III was minor. Surprisingly, no substantial effect was recorded after the use of a 100x dose of albendazole, with larger reductions seen only in the number of affected organs and absolute counts of spores in all strains of mice, implying variations in albendazole resistance between these Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotypes. These results imply that differences in the course of infection and the response to treatment depend not only on the immunological status of the host but also on the genotype causing the infection. Understanding how microsporidia survive in hosts despite targeted antimicrosporidial treatment could significantly contribute to research related to human health.

तीन बार के ओलंपिक स्वर्ण पदक विजेता महान हॉकी खिलाड़ी बलबीर सिंह सीनियर की तबीयत बिगड़ने के बाद उन्हें मोहाली के फोर्टिस अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया है..

John Deere, the nearly 200-year-old tractor manufacturer, now considers itself a software company

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on societies worldwide, given the pandemic's rapid, often deadly spread. In health care, the pandemic has raised the pressing question of how society should allocate scarce resources during a crisis.

New research finds that sleep problems in a baby's first 12 months may not only precede an autism diagnosis, but also may be associated with altered growth trajectory in a key part of the brain, the hippocampus.

Players at the back face an uphill struggle to win awards even before a ball has been kicked, according to the last defender to win the coveted prize

BRITONS flocked outside to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day yesterday, which caused major backlash online, especially against the BBC.

Debate over Earth’s oldest fossils fuels the search for our deepest origins

Coronavirus: The symptoms

A hospital among the worst-hit in the country by coronavirus has celebrated the discharge of its first survivor from intensive care.

A nurse from New Zealand who cared for Boris Johnson as he battled coronavirus says he "absolutely needed" intensive care treatment after his symptoms worsened.

Most are doing their best to avoid other people's germs right now. But for cleaners and those who get rid of that trash, they're coming into contact with COVID-19 every shift.

Being discriminated against in the health-care system is one factor, but not the only one. 

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Reflecting research-driven changes in clinical practice, a revised set of evidence-based recommendations for the medical and surgical treatment of left-sided colonic diverticulitis has been published in Diseases of the Colon & Rectum (DC&R), the official journal of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

More lives could be saved in intensive care units around the world if new antibiotic guidelines designed by The University of Queensland are adopted.

Many ICUs are very busy dealing with the pandemic these days, and a recent survey shows that clinicians in the ICU are feeling the stress.
Medscape Medical News

An Australian-made ventilator that costs a tenth of the price of existing models is brought to life in just four weeks, which could revolutionise intensive care capability in the fight against COVID-19.

There are 31,784 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Connecticut.

A federal district court in Connecticut has permanently barred Elda Sinani, a resident of that state, from preparing federal tax returns for others. Sinani consented to the civil injunction order.

A Newton, Conn., resident who was involved in operating three businesses in Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Mariusz Debowksi pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to conspiracy to aid another in filing false tax returns.

A Trumbull, Conn., resident who was involved in operating three businesses in Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Krzysztof Koczon pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to conspiracy to aid another in filing false tax returns.

A federal court has permanently barred Donald Morris of Bloomfield, Conn., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Morris consented to the permanent injunction order, which was entered by U.S. District Court Judge Jane C. Hall in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Frank P. DiMartino, an accountant from Orange, Conn., pleaded guilty today to charges of tax evasion.

A federal district court in Connecticut has permanently barred Wethersfield residents Deowraj Buddhu and his daughter, Sunita Buddhu, from preparing federal tax returns for others.

Frederic A. Bourke Jr., 63, was found guilty today by a federal jury in Manhattan of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the Travel Act, and making false statements to the FBI.

Frederic A. Bourke Jr., of Greenwich, Conn., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to one year and one day in prison.

The all-day workshops, which will begin in March 2010, will be held in Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin.

Atricure Inc., a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay the United States $3.76 million to resolve civil claims in connection with the alleged promotion of its surgical ablation devices.