Critical analysis of polycyclic tetramate macrolactam biosynthetic gene cluster phylogeny and functional diversity.

Polycyclic tetramate macrolactams (PTMs) are bioactive natural products commonly associated with certain actinobacterial and proteobacterial lineages. These molecules have been the subject of numerous structure-activity investigations since the 1970s. New members continue to be pursued in wild and engineered bacterial strains, and advances in PTM biosynthesis suggest their outwardly simplistic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) belie unexpected product complexity.

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Polycyclic Tetramate Macrolactam Producers, sp. Strains JV180 and SP18CM02.

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two related sp. strains, JV180 and SP18CM02. Despite their isolation from soils in Connecticut and Missouri (USA), respectively, they are strikingly similar in gene content.

The role of policy in social-ecological interactions of nitrogen management in the Mississippi River basin.

Excess nitrogen (N) loading in the Mississippi River basin is a major water quality issue, encompassing large spatial scales and feedbacks between social and biophysical entities. Effective management depends on reductions in agricultural N loading, mainly from the Corn Belt region in the upper reaches of the basin. In this study, we evaluated the role of federal Nutrient Task Force policy on N management from 2000 to 2015.

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in greywater reuse systems and pond water used for agricultural irrigation in the West Bank, Palestinian Territories.

Treating and reusing greywater for agricultural irrigation is becoming increasingly prevalent in water-scarce regions such as the Middle East. However, the potential for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to be introduced into food systems or the environment via greywater reuse is a potential area of concern. It is known that off-grid treated greywater often has elevated levels of bacteria, however, little is known regarding the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in this water source.

A multi-institutional analysis of intraoperative radiotherapy for early breast cancer: Does age matter?

Background: Single-session intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) minimizes treatment demands associated with traditional whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) but outcomes on local disease control and morbidity among the elderly is limited.

Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective registry was established from 19 centers utilizing IORT from 2007 to 2013. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were analyzed for ages <70 and ≥70.