Insights into the Naso-Oropharyngeal Bacterial Composition in Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Cases.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While research on COVID-19 has mainly focused on its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment, studies on the naso-oropharyngeal microbiota have emerged in the last few years as an overlooked area of research. Here, we analyzed the bacterial community composition of the naso-oropharynx in 50 suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases (43 detected, 7 not detected) from Veraguas province (Panama) distributed across five age categories.

Assessment of populations in a transect of in Punta Galeta, Panamá: culture-dependent analyses reveal biotechnological applications.

Introduction: is considered an ecological niche for microorganisms with potentially novel and complex degrading enzymes.

Objective: To characterize populations using culture-dependent methods, using samples collected from sediments and water along a red mangrove transect composed of three sites.

Methods: Strains were characterized according to their distribution, capacity to degrade of organic matter and other environmental parameters.

Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by the Octocoral-Associated Bacteria sp. BO53 and sp. GA327.

The present research aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by octocoral-associated bacteria sp. BO53 and sp. GA327.

Genome Mining, Microbial Interactions, and Molecular Networking Reveals New Dibromoalterochromides from Strains of of Coiba National Park-Panama.

The marine bacterial genus is known for their ability to produce antimicrobial compounds. The metabolite-producing capacity of has been associated with strain pigmentation; however, the genomic basis of their antimicrobial capacity remains to be explained. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome of six strains (three pigmented and three non-pigmented), with the purpose of identifying biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated to compounds we detected via microbial interactions along through MS-based molecular networking.

Antimicrobial-producing Pseudoalteromonas from the marine environment of Panama shows a high phylogenetic diversity and clonal structure.

Pseudoalteromonas is a genus of marine bacteria often found in association with other organisms. Although several studies have examined Pseudoalteromonas diversity and their antimicrobial activity, its diversity in tropical environments is largely unexplored. We investigated the diversity of Pseudoalteromonas in marine environments of Panama using a multilocus phylogenetic approach.

Imaging mass spectrometry of a coral microbe interaction with fungi.

Fungal infections are increasing worldwide, including in the aquatic environment. Microbiota that coexist with marine life can provide protection against fungal infections by secretion of metabolites with antifungal properties. Our laboratory has developed mass spectrometric methodologies with the goal of improving our functional understanding of microbial metabolites and guiding the discovery process of anti-infective agents from natural sources.

MS/MS networking guided analysis of molecule and gene cluster families.

The ability to correlate the production of specialized metabolites to the genetic capacity of the organism that produces such molecules has become an invaluable tool in aiding the discovery of biotechnologically applicable molecules. Here, we accomplish this task by matching molecular families with gene cluster families, making these correlations to 60 microbes at one time instead of connecting one molecule to one organism at a time, such as how it is traditionally done. We can correlate these families through the use of nanospray desorption electrospray ionization MS/MS, an ambient pressure MS technique, in conjunction with MS/MS networking and peptidogenomics.