Performance of RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 in unextracted nasopharyngeal samples using the Seegene Allplex 2019-nCoV protocol.

The rapid spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led the world to a pandemic. Therefore, rapid, sensitive, and reproducible diagnostic tests are essential to indicate which measures should be taken during pandemics. We retrospectively tested unextracted nasopharyngeal samples from consecutive patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 334), and compared two different Ct cut-off values for interpretation of results using a modified Allplex protocol.

Marine probiotics: increasing coral resistance to bleaching through microbiome manipulation.

Although the early coral reef-bleaching warning system (NOAA/USA) is established, there is no feasible treatment that can minimize temperature bleaching and/or disease impacts on corals in the field. Here, we present the first attempts to extrapolate the widespread and well-established use of bacterial consortia to protect or improve health in other organisms (e.g.

Coral Bacterial-Core Abundance and Network Complexity as Proxies for Anthropogenic Pollution.

Acclimatization via changes in the stable (core) or the variable microbial diversity and/or abundance is an important element in the adaptation of coral species to environmental changes. Here, we explored the spatial-temporal dynamics, diversity and interactions of variable and core bacterial populations associated with the coral and the surrounding water. This survey was performed on five reefs along a transect from the coast (Reef 1) to offshore (Reef 5), representing a gradient of influence of the river mouth, for almost 12 months (4 sampling times), in the dry and rainy seasons.

Specific plasmid patterns and high rates of bacterial co-occurrence within the coral holobiont.

Despite the importance of coral microbiomes for holobiont persistence, the interactions among these are not well understood. In particular, knowledge of the co-occurrence and taxonomic importance of specific members of the microbial core, as well as patterns of specific mobile genetic elements (MGEs), is lacking. We used seawater and mucus samples collected from colonies on two reefs located in Bahia, Brazil, to disentangle their associated bacterial communities, intertaxa correlations, and plasmid patterns.

Broadcast Spawning Coral Can Vertically Transfer its Associated Bacterial Core.

The hologenome theory of evolution (HTE), which is under fierce debate, presupposes that parts of the microbiome are transmitted from one generation to the next [vertical transmission (VT)], which may also influence the evolution of the holobiont. Even though bacteria have previously been described in early life stages of corals, these early life stages (larvae) could have been inoculated in the water and not inside the parental colony (through gametes) carrying the parental microbiome. How is transmitted to offspring is also not clear, as only one study has described this mechanism in spawners.

Herpesvirus in the oral cavity of children with leukaemia and its impact on the oral bacterial community profile.

Aims: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between eight herpesviruses and the bacterial community profiles from the oral cavity of children with and without leukaemia.

Methods: Sixty participants (aged 3-13), divided into the leukaemia group (LG) and healthy group (HG), were evaluated. Collection of medical data, intraoral examination and collection of clinical specimens were carried out.

Microbial diversity and anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation potential in an oil-contaminated mangrove sediment.

Background: Mangrove forests are coastal wetlands that provide vital ecosystem services and serve as barriers against natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes and tropical storms. Mangroves harbour a large diversity of organisms, including microorganisms with important roles in nutrient cycling and availability. Due to tidal influence, mangroves are sites where crude oil from spills farther away can accumulate.

Physical-chemical and microbiological changes in Cerrado Soil under differing sugarcane harvest management systems.

Background: Sugarcane cultivation plays an important role in Brazilian economy, and it is expanding fast, mainly due to the increasing demand for ethanol production. In order to understand the impact of sugarcane cultivation and management, we studied sugarcane under different management regimes (pre-harvest burn and mechanical, unburnt harvest, or green cane), next to a control treatment with native vegetation. The soil bacterial community structure (including an evaluation of the diversity of the ammonia oxidizing (amoA) and denitrifying (nirK) genes), greenhouse gas flow and several soil physicochemical properties were evaluated.