Assessing the faecal source sensitivity and specificity of ruminant and human genetic microbial source tracking markers in the central Ethiopian highlands.

This study tested genetic microbial source tracking (MST) methods for identifying ruminant- (BacR) and human-associated (HF183/BacR287, BacHum) bacterial faecal contaminants in Ethiopia in a newly created regional faecal sample bank (n = 173). BacR performed well, and its marker abundance was high (100% sensitivity (Sens), 95% specificity (Spec), median log 8·1 marker equivalents (ME) g ruminant faeces). Human-associated markers tested were less abundant in individual human samples (median: log 5·4 and 4·2 (ME + 1) g ) and were not continuously detected (81% Sens, 91% Spec for BacHum; 77% Sens, 91% Spec for HF183/BacR287).

Variation in IgE binding potencies of seven Artemisia species depending on content of major allergens.

Background: Artemisia weed pollen allergy is important in the northern hemisphere. While over 350 species of this genus have been recorded, there has been no full investigation into whether different species may affect the allergen diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the variations in amino acid sequences and the content of major allergens, and how these affect specific IgE binding capacity in representative Artemisia species.

Large-Scale Metagenome Assembly Reveals Novel Animal-Associated Microbial Genomes, Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, and Other Genetic Diversity.

Large-scale metagenome assemblies of human microbiomes have produced a vast catalogue of previously unseen microbial genomes; however, comparatively few microbial genomes derive from other vertebrates. Here, we generated 5,596 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the gut metagenomes of 180 predominantly wild animal species representing 5 classes, in addition to 14 existing animal gut metagenome data sets. The MAGs comprised 1,522 species-level genome bins (SGBs), most of which were novel at the species, genus, or family level, and the majority were enriched in host versus environment metagenomes.

Molecular IgE sensitization profiles of urban and rural children in South Africa.

Background: Allergens can act as disease-triggering factors in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The aim of the study was to elucidate the molecular IgE sensitization profile in children with and without AD living in urban and rural areas of South Africa.

Methods: Specific IgE reactivity was assessed in 166 Black South African children aged 9-38 months using a comprehensive panel of microarrayed allergens.

IgE-reactivity profiles to allergen molecules in Russian children with and without symptoms of allergy revealed by micro-array analysis.

Background: The analysis of longitudinal birth cohorts with micro-arrayed allergen molecules has provided interesting information about the evolution of IgE sensitization in children. However, so far no cross-sectional study has been performed comparing IgE sensitization profiles in children with and without symptoms of allergy. Furthermore, no data are available regarding molecular IgE sensitization profiles in children from Russia.

Power to the voice hearer - The German version of the voice power differential scale.

Voice power is an important concept in daily life of voice hearers and in the support and therapy for voice hearers who seek help. Therefore, the ability to examine voice power differentials between a voice and a voice hearer is essential. The present study aimed to collect data on voice power differentials and to further validate the Voice Power Differential Scale (VPD).

Host diet and evolutionary history explain different aspects of gut microbiome diversity among vertebrate clades.

Multiple factors modulate microbial community assembly in the vertebrate gut, though studies disagree as to their relative contribution. One cause may be a reliance on captive animals, which can have very different gut microbiomes compared to their wild counterparts. To resolve this disagreement, we analyze a new, large, and highly diverse animal distal gut 16 S rRNA microbiome dataset, which comprises 80% wild animals and includes members of Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, and Actinopterygii.

Age-related course of visual acuity obtained with ETDRS 2000 charts in persons with healthy eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the age-related course of best-corrected visual acuity in healthy eyes.

Methods: Two hundred participants (400 eyes) 25 to 74 years of age (114 females, 86 males) were investigated, 20 per 5-year age group. Best-corrected visual acuity was measured monocularly with the ETDRS 2000 charts at a distance of 4 m (Precision Vision, Woodstock, IL, USA).

Influence of processing parameters on mechanical properties of a 3D-printed trabecular bone microstructure.

Natural bone microstructure has shown to be the most efficient choice for the bone scaffold design. However, there are several process parameters involved in the generation of a microCT-based 3D-printed (3DP) bone. In this study, the effect of selected parameters on the reproducibility of mechanical properties of a 3DP trabecular bone structure is investigated.

Spatiotemporal resolved sampling for the interpretation of micropollutant removal during riverbank filtration.

Riverbank filtration (RBF) systems along rivers are widely used as public water supplies. In these systems, many organic micropollutants (OMPs) are attenuated, but some compounds have shown to be rather persistent. Their fate and transport has been studied in RBF sites along lakes and small rivers, but not extensively along large and dynamic rivers.

Hotspots and main drivers of fecal pollution in Neusiedler See, a large shallow lake in Central Europe.

To minimize the risk of negative consequences for public health from fecal pollution in lakes, the continuous surveillance of microbiological water quality parameters, alongside other environmental variables, is necessary at defined bathing sites. Such routine surveillance may prove insufficient to elucidate the main drivers of fecal pollution in a complex lake/watershed ecosystem, and it may be that more comprehensive monitoring activities are required. In this study, the aims were to identify the hotspots and main driving factors of fecal pollution in a large shallow Central European lake, the Neusiedler See, and to determine to what degree its current monitoring network can be considered representative spatially.

Spatiotemporal analysis of bacterial biomass and activity to understand surface and groundwater interactions in a highly dynamic riverbank filtration system.

Characterization of surface water - groundwater interaction in riverbank filtration (RBF) systems is of decisive importance to drinking water utilities due to the increasing microbial and chemical contamination of surface waters. These interactions are commonly assessed by monitoring changes in chemical water quality, but this might not be indicative for microbial contamination. The hydrological dynamics of the infiltrating river can influence these interactions, but seasonal temperature fluctuations and the supply of oxygen and nutrients from the surface water can also play a role.

Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter spp. Isolates from the River Danube: Susceptibility Stays High.

spp. occur naturally in many different habitats, including food, soil, and surface waters. In clinical settings, poses an increasing health problem, causing infections with limited to no antibiotic therapeutic options left.