Using Network Analysis and Predictive Functional Analysis to Explore the Fluorotelomer Biotransformation Potential of Soil Microbial Communities.

Microbial transformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including fluorotelomer-derived PFAS, by native microbial communities in the environment has been widely documented. However, few studies have identified the key microorganisms and their roles during the PFAS biotransformation processes. This study was undertaken to gain more insight into the structure and function of soil microbial communities that are relevant to PFAS biotransformation.

COVID-19 and brain-heart-lung microbial fingerprints in Italian cadavers.

The fact that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that caused COVID-19, can translocate within days of infection to the brain and heart and that the virus can survive for months is well established. However, studies have not investigated the crosstalk between the brain, heart, and lungs regarding microbiota that simultaneously co-inhabit these organs during COVID-19 illness and subsequent death. Given the significant overlap of cause of death from or with SARS-CoV-2, we investigated the possibility of a microbial fingerprint regarding COVID-19 death.

Cervicovaginal Microbiota Profiles in Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer among Ethiopian Women.

Although high-risk human papillomavirus infection is a well-established risk factor for cervical cancer, other co-factors within the local microenvironment may play an important role in the development of cervical cancer. The current study aimed to characterize the cervicovaginal microbiota in women with premalignant dysplasia or invasive cervical cancer compared with that of healthy women. The study comprised 120 Ethiopian women (60 cervical cancer patients who had not received any treatment, 25 patients with premalignant dysplasia, and 35 healthy women).

HPV-related anal cancer is associated with changes in the anorectal microbiome during cancer development.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is a rare gastrointestinal cancer. Factors associated with progression of HPV infection to anal dysplasia and cancer are unclear and screening guidelines and approaches for anal dysplasia are less clear than for cervical dysplasia. One potential contributing factor is the anorectal microbiome.

Assessing aerobic biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted soils: Pathways and microbial community dynamics.

Production of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) for industrial and consumer products, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used for firefighting, has resulted in its widespread occurrence in the environment. However, the fate of 8:2 FTOH at AFFF-impacted sites remains largely unknown. Using AFFF-impacted soils from two United States Air Force Bases, microcosm experiments evaluated the aerobic biotransformation of 8:2 FTOH (extent and byproduct formation) and the dose-response on microbial communities due to 8:2 FTOH exposure.

Assessment of a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program in El Paso, Texas, from November 2020 to June 2022.

The border city of El Paso, Texas, and its water utility, El Paso Water, initiated a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program to assess virus trends and the appropriateness of a wastewater monitoring program for the community. Nearly weekly sample collection at four wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), serving distinct regions of the city, was analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 genes using the CDC 2019-Novel coronavirus Real-Time RT-PCR diagnostic panel. Virus concentrations ranged from 86.

Biotransformation of 8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol in Soil from Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFFs)-Impacted Sites under Nitrate-, Sulfate-, and Iron-Reducing Conditions.

The environmental fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) remains largely unknown, especially under the conditions representative of natural subsurface systems. In this study, the biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH), a component of new-generation AFFF formulations and a byproduct in fluorotelomer-based AFFFs, was investigated under nitrate-, iron-, and sulfate-reducing conditions in microcosms prepared with AFFF-impacted soils. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) were employed to identify biotransformation products.

Metagenomes of rectal swabs in larger, advanced stage cervical cancers have enhanced mucus degrading functionalities and distinct taxonomic structure.

Background: Gut microbiome community composition differs between cervical cancer (CC) patients and healthy controls, and increased gut diversity is associated with improved outcomes after treatment. We proposed that functions of specific microbial species adjoining the mucus layer may directly impact the biology of CC.

Method: Metagenomes of rectal swabs in 41 CC patients were examined by whole-genome shotgun sequencing to link taxonomic structures, molecular functions, and metabolic pathway to patient's clinical characteristics.

Microbiome Dynamics During Chemoradiation Therapy for Anal Cancer.

Purpose: Patients with localized squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) who experience treatment toxicity or recurrences have few therapeutic options. Investigation into the microbiome's influence on treatment toxicity and its potential use as a predictive biomarker could improve these patients' outcomes. Our study presents the first longitudinal characterization of the SCCA tumor microbiome and its associations with treatment-related toxicities.

Diversity and composition of gut microbiome of cervical cancer patients: Do results of 16S rRNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing approaches align?

Background: Next generation sequencing has progressed rapidly, characterizing microbial communities beyond culture-based or biochemical techniques. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (16S) produces reliable taxonomic classifications and relative abundances, while shotgun metagenome sequencing (WMS) allows higher taxonomic and functional resolution at greater cost. The purpose of this study was to determine if 16S and WMS provide congruent information for our patient population from paired fecal microbiome samples.

Gut Microbiome Profiles and Associated Metabolic Pathways in HIV-Infected Treatment-Naïve Patients.

The normal composition of the intestinal microbiota is a key factor for maintaining healthy homeostasis, and accordingly, dysbiosis is well known to be present in HIV-1 patients. This article investigates the gut microbiota profile of antiretroviral therapy-naive HIV-1 patients and healthy donors living in Latin America in a cohort of 13 HIV positive patients (six elite controllers, EC, and seven non-controllers, NC) and nine healthy donors (HD). Microbiota compositions in stool samples were determined by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA, and functional prediction was inferred using PICRUSt.

A prospective study of the adaptive changes in the gut microbiome during standard-of-care chemoradiotherapy for gynecologic cancers.

Background: A diverse and abundant gut microbiome can improve cancer patients' treatment response; however, the effect of pelvic chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on gut diversity and composition is unclear. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify changes in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome during and after pelvic CRT.

Materials And Methods: Rectal swabs from 58 women with cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancer from two institutions were prospectively analyzed before CRT (baseline), during CRT (weeks 1, 3, and 5), and at first follow-up (week 12) using 16Sv4 rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA marker gene.

Gut microbiome diversity is an independent predictor of survival in cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiation.

Diversity of the gut microbiome is associated with higher response rates for cancer patients receiving immunotherapy but has not been investigated in patients receiving radiation therapy. Additionally, current studies investigating the gut microbiome and outcomes in cancer patients may not have adjusted for established risk factors. Here, we sought to determine if diversity and composition of the gut microbiome was independently associated with survival in cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiation.

Effect of Antibiotics on Gut and Vaginal Microbiomes Associated with Cervical Cancer Development in Mice.

Antibiotics affect microbial diversity in the gut, leading to dysbiosis and impaired immunity. However, the impact of antibiotics on microbial communities at other sites, such as vagina is less understood. It is also not clear whether changes induced by antibiotics in both microbiomes affect the development of cervical cancer.

Tumor microbial diversity and compositional differences among women in Botswana with high-grade cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.

Introduction: We characterized the cervical 16S rDNA microbiome of patients in Botswana with high-grade cervical dysplasia and locally advanced cervical cancer.

Methods: This prospective study included 31 patients: 21 with dysplasia and 10 with cancer. The Shannon diversity index was used to evaluate alpha (intra-sample) diversity, while the UniFrac (weighted and unweighted) and Bray-Curtis distances were employed to evaluate beta (inter-sample) diversity.

Impact of DNA Extraction Method on Variation in Human and Built Environment Microbial Community and Functional Profiles Assessed by Shotgun Metagenomics Sequencing.

Both the host microbiome and the microbiome of the built environment can have profound impacts on human health. While prior studies have suggested that the variability introduced by DNA extraction method is less than typical biologic variation, most studies have focused on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing or on high biomass fecal samples. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing provides advantages over amplicon sequencing for surveying the microbiome, but is a challenge to perform in lower microbial biomass samples with high human DNA content such as sputum or vacuumed dust.

Microbial Diversity and Composition Is Associated with Patient-Reported Toxicity during Chemoradiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: Patients receiving pelvic radiation for cervical cancer experience high rates of acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. The association of changes in the gut microbiome with bowel toxicity from radiation is not well characterized.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-five patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation therapy (CRT) underwent longitudinal sampling (baseline and weeks 1, 3, and 5) of the gut microbiome and prospective assessment of patient-reported GI toxicity.

Intermittent fasting from dawn to sunset for 30 consecutive days is associated with anticancer proteomic signature and upregulates key regulatory proteins of glucose and lipid metabolism, circadian clock, DNA repair, cytoskeleton remodeling, immune system and cognitive function in healthy subjects.

Murine studies showed that disruption of circadian clock rhythmicity could lead to cancer and metabolic syndrome. Time-restricted feeding can reset the disrupted clock rhythm, protect against cancer and metabolic syndrome. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that intermittent fasting for several consecutive days without calorie restriction in humans would induce an anticarcinogenic proteome and the key regulatory proteins of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Residual sugar from microalgae biomass harvested from phycoremediation of swine wastewater digestate.

The present study assessed the carbohydrate and sugar production from Chlorella spp. biomass harvested from a field scale reactor simulating phycoremediation of swine wastewater. The microalgae biomass was mainly composed by (%): carbohydrates (41 ± 0.

Enrichment and acclimation of an anaerobic mesophilic microorganism's inoculum for standardization of BMP assays.

Appropriate enrichment of anaerobic microorganism's consortium is crucial for accurate biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays. An alternative method to produce and maintain a mesophilic methanogenic inoculum was demonstrated. Three sources of inoculum were mixed and acclimated for 857days in order to reach steady conditions (pH=7.

Methane production from a field-scale biofilter designed for desulfurization of biogas stream.

The development of a simple and low maintenance field-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) for desulfurization of swine wastewater-derived biogas stream that was also capable of increasing biomethane concentrations was investigated. BTF was continuously fed with wastewater effluent from an air sparged nitrification-denitrification bioreactor installed downgradient from an UASB-type digester. BTF maximum removal efficiency (RE) of 99.

Enhancement of nutrient removal from swine wastewater digestate coupled to biogas purification by microalgae Scenedesmus spp.

This work investigated the effects of swine wastewater-derived biogas on microalgae biomass production and nutrient removal rates from piggery wastewater concomitantly with biogas filtration. Photobioreactors with dominant Scenedesmus spp. were prepared using non-sterile digestate and exposed to different photoperiods.

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Biochemical Composition of Microalgae Polyculture Harvested from Phycoremediation of Piggery Wastewater Digestate.

The effects of nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) starvation on the biochemical composition of native microalgae Chlorella spp. polyculture obtained from the phycoremediation of swine wastewaters were investigated. Microalgae-specific growth rate of 1.

Assessment of bacterial and archaeal community structure in Swine wastewater treatment processes.

Microbial communities from two field-scale swine wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were assessed by pyrosequencing analyses of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) fragments. Effluent samples from secondary (anaerobic covered lagoons and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket [UASB]) and tertiary treatment systems (open-pond natural attenuation lagoon and air-sparged nitrification-denitrification tank followed by alkaline phosphorus precipitation process) were analyzed. A total of 56,807 and 48,859 high-quality reads were obtained from bacterial and archaeal libraries, respectively.