scholarly journals Assessing the Risks of Potential Bacterial Pathogens Attaching to Different Microplastics during the Summer–Autumn Period in a Mariculture Cage

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1909
Author(s):  
Dandi Hou ◽  
Man Hong ◽  
Yanting Wang ◽  
Pengsheng Dong ◽  
Huangwei Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Autumn Period ◽  
Aquatic Product ◽  
In Situ Incubation ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Surrounding Seawater

As microplastic pollution continues to increase, an emerging threat is the potential for microplastics to act as novel substrates and/or carriers for pathogens. This is of particular concern for aquatic product safety given the growing evidence of microplastic ingestion by aquaculture species. However, the potential risks of pathogens associated with microplastics in mariculture remain poorly understood. Here, an in situ incubation experiment involving three typical microplastics including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) was conducted during the summer–autumn period in a mariculture cage. The identification of potential pathogens based on the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and a custom-made database for pathogenic bacteria involved in aquatic environments, was performed to assess the risks of different microplastics attaching potential pathogens. The enrichment of pathogens was not observed in microplastic-associated communities when compared with free-living and particle-attached communities in surrounding seawater. Despite the lower relative abundance, pathogens showed different preferences for three microplastic substrates, of which PET was the most favored by pathogens, especially potentially pathogenic members of Vibrio, Tenacibaculum, and Escherichia. Moreover, the colonization of these pathogens on microplastics was strongly affected by environmental factors (e.g., temperature, nitrite). Our results provide insights into the ecological risks of microplastics in mariculture industry.

scholarly journals Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early Microplastic-Associated Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected Microplastics

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Katharina Kesy ◽  
Matthias Labrenz ◽  
Brittan S. Scales ◽  
Bernd Kreikemeyer ◽  
Sonja Oberbeckmann
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Unit ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Incubation Experiment ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
In Situ Incubation ◽  
The Baltic

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus Vibrio, which includes potential pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) Vibrio has been widely discussed. We investigated Vibrio abundance and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition on polyethylene and polystyrene within the first 10 h of colonization during an in situ incubation experiment, along with those found on particles collected from the Baltic Sea. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and co-occurrence networks to elaborate the role of Vibrio within biofilms. Colonization of plastics with Vibrio was detectable after one hour of incubation; however, Vibrio numbers and composition were very dynamic, with a more stable population at the site with highest nutrients and lowest salinity. Likewise, Vibrio abundances on field-collected particles were variable but correlated with proximity to major cities. Vibrio was poorly connected within biofilm networks. Taken together, this indicates that Vibrio is an early colonizer of plastics, but that the process is undirected and independent of the specific surface. Still, higher nutrients could enhance a faster establishment of Vibrio populations. These parameters should be considered when planning studies investigating Vibrio on microplastics.

scholarly journals Bacteria from the Genus Arcobacter Are Abundant in Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jannie Munk Kristensen ◽  
Marta Nierychlo ◽  
Mads Albertsen ◽  
Per Halkjær Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Influent Wastewater

ABSTRACT Pathogenic bacteria in wastewater are generally considered to be efficiently removed in biological wastewater treatment plants. This understanding is almost solely based on culture-based control measures, and here we show, by applying culture-independent methods, that the removal of species in the genus Arcobacter was less effective than for many other abundant genera in the influent wastewater. Arcobacter was one of the most abundant genera in influent wastewater at 14 municipal wastewater treatment plants and was also abundant in the “clean” effluent from all the plants, reaching up to 30% of all bacteria as analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Metagenomic analyses, culturing, genome sequencing of Arcobacter isolates, and visualization by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed the presence of the human-pathogenic Arcobacter cryaerophilus and A. butzleri in both influent and effluent. The main reason for the high relative abundance in the effluent was probably that Arcobacter cells, compared to those of other abundant genera in the influent, did not flocculate and attach well to the activated sludge flocs, leaving a relatively large fraction dispersed in the water phase. The study shows there is an urgent need for new standardized culture-independent measurements of pathogens in effluent wastewaters, e.g., amplicon sequencing, and an investigation of the problem on a global scale to quantify the risk for humans and livestock. IMPORTANCE The genus Arcobacter was unexpectedly abundant in the effluent from 14 Danish wastewater treatment plants treating municipal wastewater, and the species included the human-pathogenic A. cryaerophilus and A. butzleri. Recent studies have shown that Arcobacter is common in wastewater worldwide, so the study indicates that discharge of members of the genus Arcobacter may be a global problem, and further studies are needed to quantify the risk and potentially minimize the discharge. The study also shows that culture-based analyses are insufficient for proper effluent quality control, and new standardized culture-independent measurements of effluent quality encompassing most pathogens should be considered.

scholarly journals Non-small cell lung cancer microbiota characterization: Prevalence of enteric and potentially pathogenic bacteria in cancer tissues

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249832
Author(s):  
Nathan Dumont-Leblond ◽  
Marc Veillette ◽  
Christine Racine ◽  
Philippe Joubert ◽  
Caroline Duchaine
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Healthy Tissue ◽  
Cancer Tissue ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Variable Degree ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Small Cancer ◽  
Cancer Tissues

Following recent findings linking the human gut microbiota to gastrointestinal cancer and its treatment, the plausible relationship between lung microbiota and pulmonary cancer is explored. This study aims at characterizing the intratumoral and adjacent healthy tissue microbiota by applying a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing protocol to tissue samples of 29 non-small cancer patients. Emphasis was put on contaminant management and a comprehensive comparison of bacterial composition between cancerous and healthy adjacent tissues of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is provided. A variable degree of similarity between the two tissues of a same patient was observed. Each patient seems to possess its own bacterial signature. The two types of cancer tissue do not have a distinct bacterial profile that is shared by every patient. In addition, enteric, potentially pathogenic and pro-inflammatory bacteria were more frequently found in cancer than healthy tissue. This work brings insights into the dynamic of bacterial communities in lung cancer and provides prospective data for more targeted studies.

scholarly journals Assessing the microbiota of recycled bedding sand on a Wisconsin dairy farm

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah E. Pilch ◽  
Andrew J. Steinberger ◽  
Donald C. Sockett ◽  
Nicole Aulik ◽  
Garret Suen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Recycling System ◽  
Core Microbiota ◽  
Relative Abundances

Abstract Background Sand is often considered the preferred bedding material for dairy cows as it is thought to have lower bacterial counts than organic bedding materials and cows bedded on sand experience fewer cases of lameness and disease. Sand can also be efficiently recycled and reused, making it cost-effective. However, some studies have suggested that the residual organic material present in recycled sand can serve as a reservoir for commensal and pathogenic bacteria, although no studies have yet characterized the total bacterial community composition. Here we sought to characterize the bacterial community composition of a Wisconsin dairy farm bedding sand recycling system and its dynamics across several stages of the recycling process during both summer and winter using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results Bacterial community compositions of the sand recycling system differed by both seasons and stage. Summer samples had higher richness and distinct community compositions, relative to winter samples. In both summer and winter samples, the diversity of recycled sand decreased with time drying in the recycling room. Compositionally, summer sand 14 d post-recycling was enriched in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the genera Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, relative to freshly washed sand and sand from cow pens. In contrast, no OTUs were found to be enriched in winter sand. The sand recycling system contained an overall core microbiota of 141 OTUs representing 68.45% ± 10.33% SD of the total bacterial relative abundance at each sampled stage. The 4 most abundant genera in this core microbiota included Acinetobacter, Psychrobacter, Corynebacterium, and Pseudomonas. Acinetobacter was present in greater abundance in summer samples, whereas Psychrobacter and Corynebacterium had higher relative abundances in winter samples. Pseudomonas had consistent relative abundances across both seasons. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential of recycled bedding sand as a bacterial reservoir that warrants further study.

scholarly journals Microbial Communities on Plastic Polymers in the Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Vaksmaa ◽  
Katrin Knittel ◽  
Alejandro Abdala Asbun ◽  
Maaike Goudriaan ◽  
Andreas Ellrott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Polymer Surfaces ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
The Mediterranean

Plastic particles in the ocean are typically covered with microbial biofilms, but it remains unclear whether distinct microbial communities colonize different polymer types. In this study, we analyzed microbial communities forming biofilms on floating microplastics in a bay of the island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the plastic particles mainly comprised polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) of which polyethylene and polypropylene particles were typically brittle and featured cracks. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and imaging by high-resolution microscopy revealed dense microbial biofilms on the polymer surfaces. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the bacterial communities on all plastic types consisted mainly of the orders Flavobacteriales, Rhodobacterales, Cytophagales, Rickettsiales, Alteromonadales, Chitinophagales, and Oceanospirillales. We found significant differences in the biofilm community composition on PE compared with PP and PS (on OTU and order level), which shows that different microbial communities colonize specific polymer types. Furthermore, the sequencing data also revealed a higher relative abundance of archaeal sequences on PS in comparison with PE or PP. We furthermore found a high occurrence, up to 17% of all sequences, of different hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria on all investigated plastic types. However, their functioning in the plastic-associated biofilm and potential role in plastic degradation needs further assessment.

scholarly journals Detection of pathogenic bacteria in the blood from sepsis patients using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. e0202049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Watanabe ◽  
Kirill Kryukov ◽  
So Nakagawa ◽  
Junko S. Takeuchi ◽  
Meiko Takeshita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Sequencing Analysis

scholarly journals Unveiling Concealed Functions of Endosymbiotic Bacteria Harbored in the AscomyceteStachylidium bicolor

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celso Almeida ◽  
Cristina Silva Pereira ◽  
Victor Gonzalez-Menendez ◽  
Gerald Bills ◽  
Javier Pascual ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Bacterial Metabolism ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Burkholderia Contaminans ◽  
Endosymbiotic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Endosymbionts ◽  
Endosymbiotic Origin

ABSTRACTAmong the plethora of unusual secondary metabolites isolated fromStachylidium bicolorare the tetrapeptidic endolides A and B. Both tetrapeptides contain 3-(3-furyl)-alanine residues, previously proposed to originate from bacterial metabolism. Inspired by this observation, we aimed to identify the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria inS. bicolorand to discover the true producer of the endolides. The endobacteriumBurkholderia contaminanswas initially detected by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from the fungal metagenome and was subsequently isolated. It was confirmed that the tetrapeptides were produced by the axenicB. contaminansonly when in latency. Fungal colonies unable to produce conidia and the tetrapeptides were isolated and confirmed to be free ofB. contaminans. A second endosymbiont identified as related toSphingomonas leidyiwas also isolated.In situimaging of the mycelium supported an endosymbiotic relationship betweenS. bicolorand the two endobacteria. Besides the technical novelty, ourin situanalyses revealed that the two endobacteria are compartmentalized in defined fungal cells, prevailing mostly in latency when in symbiosis. Within the emerging field of intracellular bacterial symbioses, fungi are the least studied eukaryotic hosts. Our study further supports the Fungi as a valuable model for understanding endobacterial symbioses in eukaryotes.IMPORTANCEThe discovery of two bacterial endosymbionts harbored inStachylidium bicolormycelium,Burkholderia contaminansandSphingomonas leidyi, is described here. Production of tetrapeptides inside the mycelium is ensured byB. contaminans, and fungal sporulation is influenced by the endosymbionts. Here, we illustrate the bacterial endosymbiotic origin of secondary metabolites in an Ascomycota host.

scholarly journals Low Global Diversity of Candidatus Microthrix, a Troublesome Filamentous Organism in Full-Scale WWTPs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Nierychlo ◽  
Caitlin M. Singleton ◽  
Francesca Petriglieri ◽  
Lisette Thomsen ◽  
Jette F. Petersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sugar Transporters ◽  
Filamentous Microorganisms

Candidatus Microthrix is one of the most common bulking filamentous microorganisms found in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the globe. One species, Ca. M. parvicella, is frequently observed, but global genus diversity, as well as important aspects of its ecology and physiology, are still unknown. Here, we use the MiDAS ecosystem-specific 16S rRNA gene database in combination with amplicon sequencing of Danish and global WWTPs to investigate Ca. Microthrix spp. diversity, distribution, and factors affecting their global presence. Only two species were abundant across the world confirming low diversity of the genus: the dominant Ca. M. parvicella and an unknown species typically present along with Ca. M. parvicella, although usually in lower abundances. Both species were mostly found in Europe at low-to-moderate temperatures and their growth was favored in municipal WWTPs with advanced process designs. As no isolate is available for the novel species, we propose the name “Candidatus Microthrix subdominans.” Ten high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes recovered from Danish WWTPs, including 6 representing the novel Ca. M. subdominans, demonstrated high genetic similarity between the two species with a likely preference for lipids, a putative capability to reduce nitrate and nitrite, and the potential to store lipids and poly-P. Ca. M. subdominans had a potentially more versatile metabolism including additional sugar transporters, higher oxygen tolerance, and the potential to use carbon monoxide as energy source. Newly designed fluorescence in situ hybridization probes revealed similar filamentous morphology for both species. Raman microspectroscopy was used to quantify the in situ levels of intracellular poly-P. Despite the observed similarities in their physiology (both by genomes and in situ), the two species showed different seasonal dynamics in Danish WWTPs through a 13-years survey, possibly indicating occupation of slightly different niches. The genomic information provides the basis for future research into in situ gene expression and regulation, while the new FISH probes provide a useful tool for further characterization in situ. This study is an important step toward understanding the ecology of Ca. Microthrix in WWTPs, which may eventually lead to optimization of control strategies for its growth in this ecosystem.

scholarly journals 72 PRELIMINARY DATA ON THE PRESENCE OF BACTERIA IN THE UTERUS OF PREGNANT COWS

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
H. G. Pedersen ◽  
L. R. V. Knudsen ◽  
J. S. Agerholm ◽  
T. K. Jensen ◽  
K. S. Klitgaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Bacterial Invasion ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Epithelial Surface ◽  
Pregnant Uterus ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing

Bacterial invasion of the uterus during the postpartum period has been well described. Recent papers using 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques suggest that the nonpregnant uterus contains a diverse flora of bacteria that are not necessarily pathogenic. In contrast, the pregnant uterus has until now been considered a sterile environment. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether bacteria were present in the uteri of pregnant cows. Uteri from pregnant, slaughtered animals (n = 47) were sampled. The surface of the uterus was wiped with alcohol, flame sterilized, and cut open with sterile scissors. Samples were taken from the endometrium and from the placentomes. The samples were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 3 microns, and prepared for fluorescence in situ hybridization using a probe targeting the 16S rRNA of the domain bacteria, so that all bacteria regardless of species were visualised. Using fluorescence microscopy, the presence of bacteria within or on the surface of the endometrium and within the placentomes was noted. The stage of pregnancy was estimated to range from 26 to 263 days by measuring the size of the embryo or fetus. The endometrial samples from 85.1% (40/47) of pregnant cows contained bacteria. In 22 cows, the bacteria were localised within the endometrial tissue, whereas in the remaining 18 cows, the bacteria were on the epithelial surface. Placental samples were obtained from 43 cows, and 76.7% (33/43) of these contained bacteria. The presence of bacteria in the pregnant uterus may suggest that a cow can carry a pregnancy despite the presence of few potentially pathogenic bacteria or that normal flora exist in the uterus as in, for example, the vagina. In conclusion, bacteria were present in the endometrium and placentomes of pregnant cows. Further analyses using rRNA gene sequencing techniques will aim to confirm the presence of bacteria in the bovine pregnant uterus and to investigate which species of bacteria are present in the uterus during pregnancy.

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