The Flagellar Transcriptional Regulator FtcR Controls Brucella melitensis 16M Biofilm Formation via a betI-Mediated Pathway in Response to Hyperosmotic Stress

Genome Sequencing Analysis of a Rare Case of Blood Infection Caused by Flavonifractor plautii

BACKGROUND Flavonifractor plautii belongs to the clostridium family, which can lead to local infections as well as the bloodstream infections. Flavonifractor plautii caused infection is rarely few in the clinic. To understand better Flavonifractor plautii, we investigated the drug sensitivity and perform genome sequencing of Flavonifractor plautii isolated from blood samples in China and explored the drug resistance and pathogenic mechanism of the bacteria. CASE REPORT The Epsilometer test method was used to detect the sensitivity of flavonoid bacteria to antimicrobial agents. PacBio sequencing technology was employed to sequence the whole genome of Flavonifractor plautii, and gene prediction and functional annotation were also analyzed. Flavonifractor plautii displayed sensitivity to most drugs but resistance to fluoroquinolones and tetracycline, potentially mediated by tet (W/N/W). The total genome size of Flavonifractor plautii was 4,573,303 bp, and the GC content was 59.78%. Genome prediction identified 4,506 open reading frames, including 9 ribosomal RNAs and 66 transfer RNAs. It was detected that the main virulence factor-coding genes of the bacteria were the capsule, polar flagella and FbpABC, which may be associated with bacterial movement, adhesion, and biofilm formation. CONCLUSIONS The results of whole-genome sequencing could provide relevant information about the drug resistance mechanism and pathogenic mechanism of bacteria and offer a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Multi-omics analysis to reveal key pathways involved in low C/N ratio stress response in Pseudomonas sp. LW60 with superior nitrogen removal efficiency

In practical engineering, nitrogen removal at low temperatures or low C/N ratios is difficult. Although strains can remove nitrogen well at low temperatures, there is no research on the performance and deep mechanism of strains under low C/N ratio stress. In this study, Pseudomonas sp. LW60 with superior nitrogen removal efficiency under low C/N ratio stress was isolated at 4 °C. With a C/N ratio of 2-10, the NH4+-N removal efficiency was 40.02 %-100 % at 4 °C. Furthermore, the resistance mechanism of Pseudomonas sp. LW60 to low C/N ratio stress was deeply investigated by multi-omics. The results of transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome revealed that the resistance of strain LW60 to low C/N ratio stress was attributed to enhanced central carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ABC transporters, rather than nitrogen removal pathways. This study isolated a strain with low C/N ratio tolerance and deeply explored its tolerance mechanism by multi-omics.

Risk perception and preventive behaviors related to brucellosis among Iranian livestock farmers

Background and Aims

Brucellosis is one of the zoonotic diseases that endanger the health of the population, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to assess risk perception and behaviors of livestock farmers on brucellosis based on PRECEDE model in a rural area in the northwest of Iran.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 365 livestock farmers in rural areas of Germi, Iran. Participants were selected random sampling method. Data were gathered using a PRECEDE model based questionnaire consisted of five sections including demographic characteristics, predisposing factors (knowledge and attitudes), reinforcing factors, enabling factors, and brucellosis preventive behaviors.

Results

The mean ± SD of age of participants was 47.1 ± 14.7 years. The state of knowledge about preventive behaviors and ways of disease transmission was evaluated as appropriate (with 87% and 81% of the maximum score, respectively). Three aspects of attitude in participants were desirable. Predisposing factors including knowledge of prevention ways, knowledge of transmission ways, and attitudes toward prevention, reinforcing factors, as well as education were significant predictors of brucellosis preventive behaviors. R 2 and adjusted R 2 were 0.312 and 0.310, respectively, according to which, about 31% of the changes in the brucellosis preventive behaviors explained by significant dependent variables.

Conclusions

Given that farmers are at particular high risk of exposing brucellosis, improving their knowledge and desirable attitudes of brucellosis is crucial to increasing control the disease.