Gene-centered metagenome analysis of Vulcano Island soil (Aeolian archipelago, Italy) reveals diverse microbial key players in methane, hydrogen and sulfur cycles.

The Aeolian archipelago is known worldwide for its volcanic activity and hydrothermal emissions, of mainly carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide are minor components of these emissions which together can feed large quantities of bacteria and archaea that do contribute to the removal of these notorious greenhouse gases. Here we analyzed the metagenome of samples taken from the Levante bay on Vulcano Island, Italy.

Active coexistence of the novel gammaproteobacterial methanotroph 'Ca. Methylocalor cossyra' CH1 and verrucomicrobial methanotrophs in acidic, hot geothermal soil.

Terrestrial geothermal ecosystems are hostile habitats, characterized by large emissions of environmentally relevant gases such as CO , CH , H S and H . These conditions provide a niche for chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms. Methanotrophs of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, which inhabit these ecosystems, can utilize these gases and grow at pH levels below 1 and temperatures up to 65°C.

Engineering a scalable and orthogonal platform for synthetic communication in mammalian cells.

The rational design and implementation of synthetic mammalian communication systems can unravel fundamental design principles of cell communication circuits and offer a framework for engineering of designer cell consortia with potential applications in cell therapeutics. Here, we develop the foundations of an orthogonal, and scalable mammalian synthetic communication platform that exploits the programmability of synthetic receptors and selective affinity and tunability of diffusing coiled-coil peptides. Leveraging the ability of coiled-coils to exclusively bind to a cognate receptor, we demonstrate orthogonal receptor activation and Boolean logic operations at the receptor level.

" Hydrogenisulfobacillus filiaventi" strain R50 gen. nov. sp. nov., a highly efficient producer of extracellular organic compounds from H and CO.

Production of organic molecules is largely depending on fossil fuels. A sustainable alternative would be the synthesis of these compounds from CO and a cheap energy source, such as H, CH, NH, CO, sulfur compounds or iron(II). Volcanic and geothermal areas are rich in CO and reduced inorganic gasses and therefore habitats where novel chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms for the synthesis of organic compounds could be discovered.

Complete Genome Sequence of 347, Isolated from the Black Sea.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Nitrospina watsonii 347, a nitrite-oxidizing bacterium isolated from the Black Sea at a depth of 100 m. The genome has a length of 3,011,914 bp with 2,895 predicted coding sequences. Its predicted metabolism is similar to that of Nitrospina gracilis with differences in defense against reactive oxygen species.

Precision and Accuracy of Receptor Quantification on Synthetic and Biological Surfaces Using DNA-PAINT.

Characterization of the number and distribution of biological molecules on 2D surfaces is of foremost importance in biology and biomedicine. Synthetic surfaces bearing recognition motifs are a cornerstone of biosensors, while receptors on the cell surface are critical/vital targets for the treatment of diseases. However, the techniques used to quantify their abundance are qualitative or semi-quantitative and usually lack sensitivity, accuracy, or precision.

Metascan: METabolic Analysis, SCreening and ANnotation of Metagenomes.

Large scale next generation metagenomic sequencing of complex environmental samples paves the way for detailed analysis of nutrient cycles in ecosystems. For such an analysis, large scale unequivocal annotation is a prerequisite, which however is increasingly hampered by growing databases and analysis time. Hereto, we created a hidden Markov model (HMM) database by clustering proteins according to their KEGG indexing.

Microbial paracetamol degradation involves a high diversity of novel amidase enzyme candidates.

Pharmaceuticals are relatively new to nature and often not completely removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Consequently, these micropollutants end up in water bodies all around the world posing a great environmental risk. One exception to this recalcitrant conversion is paracetamol, whose full degradation has been linked to several microorganisms.

The effect of an informative 360-degree virtual reality video on anxiety for women visiting the one-stop clinic for abnormal uterine bleeding: A randomized controlled trial (VISION-trial).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an informative 360-degree virtual reality (VR) video on preoperative anxiety before visiting a one-stop clinic for abnormal uterine bleeding.

Study Design: A randomized controlled trial was performed in a teaching hospital in the Netherlands. A total of 83 women scheduled for a first consultation at the one-stop clinic between April 2017 and September 2017 were included in the analysis.

Longitudinal training models for entrusting students with independent patient care?: A systematic review.

Objective: The participation of students from both undergraduate medical education (UGME) and postgraduate medical education (PGME) in independent patient care contributes to the development of knowledge, skills and the professional identity of students. A continuing collaboration between students and their preceptor might contribute to opportunities for students to independently provide patient care. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate whether longitudinal training models facilitate the independent practice of students and what characteristics of longitudinal training models contribute to this process.

Determinants of Ligand-Functionalized DNA Nanostructure-Cell Interactions.

Synthesis of ligand-functionalized nanomaterials with control over size, shape, and ligand orientation facilitates the design of targeted nanomedicines for therapeutic purposes. DNA nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool to rationally construct two- and three-dimensional nanostructures, enabling site-specific incorporation of protein ligands with control over stoichiometry and orientation. To efficiently target cell surface receptors, exploration of the parameters that modulate cellular accessibility of these nanostructures is essential.

Ammonia oxidation at pH 2.5 by a new gammaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacterium.

Ammonia oxidation was considered impossible under highly acidic conditions, as the protonation of ammonia leads to decreased substrate availability and formation of toxic nitrogenous compounds. Recently, some studies described archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidizers growing at pH as low as 4, while environmental studies observed nitrification at even lower pH values. In this work, we report on the discovery, cultivation, and physiological, genomic, and transcriptomic characterization of a novel gammaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacterium enriched via continuous bioreactor cultivation from an acidic air biofilter that was able to grow and oxidize ammonia at pH 2.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Novel Methylobacterium brachiatum Strain Isolated from Human Skin.

MBRA is an aerobic alphaproteobacterium isolated from the human skin on methanol-containing minimal medium. The genome was sequenced using Illumina and Nanopore technology, and the genome was assembled using Unicycler. MBRA possesses two genes, one gene pair, and , and a complete serine pathway.

Geothermal Gases Shape the Microbial Community of the Volcanic Soil of Pantelleria, Italy.

Volcanic and geothermal environments are characterized by low pH, high temperatures, and gas emissions consisting of mainly CO and varied CH, HS, and H contents which allow the formation of chemolithoautotrophic microbial communities. To determine the link between the emitted gases and the microbial community composition, geochemical and metagenomic analysis were performed. Soil samples of the geothermic region Favara Grande (Pantelleria, Italy) were taken at various depths (1 to 50 cm).

Long-term enriched methanogenic communities from thermokarst lake sediments show species-specific responses to warming.

Thermokarst lakes are large potential greenhouse gas (GHG) sources in a changing Arctic. In a warming world, an increase in both organic matter availability and temperature is expected to boost methanogenesis and potentially alter the microbial community that controls GHG fluxes. These community shifts are, however, challenging to detect by resolution-limited 16S rRNA gene-based approaches.

Metagenomic profiling of ammonia- and methane-oxidizing microorganisms in two sequential rapid sand filters.

Elevated concentrations of ammonium and methane in groundwater are often associated with microbiological, chemical and sanitary problems during drinking water production and distribution. To avoid their accumulation, raw water in the Netherlands and many other countries is purified by sand filtration. These drinking water filtration systems select for microbial communities that mediate the biodegradation of organic and inorganic compounds.

Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide-Utilizing Species From Pantelleria Island, Italy.

Volcanic and geothermal areas are hot and often acidic environments that emit geothermal gasses, including H, CO and CO. Geothermal gasses mix with air, creating conditions where thermoacidophilic aerobic H- and CO-oxidizing microorganisms could thrive. Here, we describe the isolation of two strains, which can grow autotrophically by oxidizing H and CO with oxygen.

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Acidophilic, Mesophilic Verrucomicrobial Methanotrophs Contain Only One Operon.

3B and 4AC are Gram-negative rod-shaped mesophilic methanotrophs isolated from soil samples with low pH at the Solfatara Crater, near Naples, Italy. The genomes of these extremophilic verrucomicrobia were sequenced using Illumina technology, and both species possess one operon and two genes.

Effectiveness and Acceptability of Low-intensity Psychological Interventions on the Well-being of Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

: Growth in the older adult population and healthcare inequities mean there is a global need to increase access to early intervention in mental healthcare for older adults. This systematic review synthesized the evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of low-intensity psychological interventions (self-help, psychoeducation, bibliotherapy, internet cognitive-behavioral therapy: iCBT) for older adults with mild-to-moderate mental health problems.: Ovid, EBSCOhost and ProQuest were searched for articles describing low-intensity psychological interventions.

Efficient Small-Scale Conjugation of DNA to Primary Antibodies for Multiplexed Cellular Targeting.

The combination of the specificity of antibodies and the programmability of DNA nanotechnology has provided the scientific community with a powerful tool to label and unambiguously distinguish a large number of subcellular targets using fluorescence-based read-out methods. Whereas primary antibodies are commercially available for a large class of targets, a general stoichiometric site-selective DNA labeling strategy for this affinity reagent is lacking. Here we present a universal, site-selective conjugation method using a small photo-cross-linkable protein G adaptor that allows labeling of antibodies of different host species with a controlled number of short oligonucleotides (ODNs).

Response of the Anaerobic Methanotroph " Methanoperedens nitroreducens" to Oxygen Stress.

" Methanoperedens nitroreducens" is an archaeon that couples the anaerobic oxidation of methane to nitrate reduction. In natural and man-made ecosystems, this archaeon is often found at oxic-anoxic interfaces where nitrate, the product of aerobic nitrification, cooccurs with methane produced by methanogens. As such, populations of " Methanoperedens nitroreducens" could be prone to regular oxygen exposure.

Development and testing of an online community care platform for frail older adults in the Netherlands: a user-centred design.

Background: Recent transitions in long-term care in the Netherlands have major consequences for community-dwelling older adults. A new paradigm expects them to manage and arrange their own care and support as much as possible. Technology can support this shift.

Bioreactor virome metagenomics sequencing using DNA spike-ins.

With the emergence of Next Generation Sequencing, major advances were made with regard to identifying viruses in natural environments. However, bioinformatical research on viruses is still limited because of the low amounts of viral DNA that can be obtained for analysis. To overcome this limitation, DNA is often amplified with multiple displacement amplification (MDA), which may cause an unavoidable bias.