IntroductionAlgal-microbiome interactions are considered pivotal for host health and development. Current understanding of the diversity and function of algal-associated microorganisms in aquaculture settings remains limited, preventing the development of microbiome-based solutions for sustainable algal growth.MethodsWe employed cultivation-dependent and -independent approaches to determine the structure of bacterial communities associated with farmed Atlantic Nori (Porphyra dioica and Porphyra umbilicalis) at early developmental stages. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and cultivation of bacterial symbionts were performed for algal and culturing water samples harvested from indoor photobioreactors at stages S1 (conchocelis cultures growing vegetatively), S2 (conchosporangia), and S3 (young blades).ResultsThe phyla Pseudomonadota (Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria classes) and Bacteroidota were dominant in algal samples, followed by Planctomycetota, Actinobacteriota, and Verrucomicrobiota. At the phylotype level, these communities were highly structured throughout the host’s life cycle. Uncultivated lineages Sva0996 (Actinomycetota), OM190 (Planctomycetota), Pir4 (Planctomycetota), and the genera Blastopirellula, Algoriphagus, Hyphomonas, and Marinobacter, among others, were enriched in algal samples and presented significantly different abundances across developmental stages. In some cases (e.g., genera Aquimarina, Sulfitobacter, Maribacter, and Nonlabens), those changes were also observed in culturing water. Moreover, the genera Ensifer (Rhizobiaceae), Paraglaciecola (Alteromonadaceae), and the uncultivated lineages DEV007 (Verrucomicrobiota) and Pir4 (Planctomycetota) were consistently present in P. dioica and P. umbilicalis samples at multiple developmental stages. Several Porphyra-associated bacterial genera and putative novel species, mostly belonging to the families Roseobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Alteromonadaceae were identified via cultivation. Many cultured members of the Porphyra microbiome produced the growth-promoting hormone auxin, particularly those belonging to the genera Alteromonas, Marinobacter, Sulfitobacter, Leucothrix, and Roseovarius.DiscussionThis study unveils complex, phylogenetically distinct, and temporally structured bacterial communities possessing algal morphogenesis-inducing capacities during early developmental stages of Porphyra spp., highlighting the potential of microbiome-based interventions for sustainable growth of marine algae in aquaculture.
BACKGROUND:The tumor-associated microbiome influences cancer development and progression, yet the microbial landscape of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unexplored. Given the absence of SCLC-specific microbiome studies, we conducted an exploratory analysis to describe the bacterial and fungal communities present in SCLC tissue. RESULTS:Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we profiled the bacteriome of lung specimens from SCLC and control cases and observed increased bacterial signal and reduced bacterial diversity in SCLC, accompanied by relative enrichment of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Actinobacteria were comparatively underrepresented, resulting in a higher Proteobacteria-to-Actinobacteria ratio, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. At the genus level, SCLC samples were dominated by Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Granulicatella, which together accounted for approximately half of the bacterial community. As a secondary, hypothesis-generating analysis, we examined the mycobiome using ITS sequencing and detected the unexpected presence of the biotrophic plant-pathogenic genus Taphrina in a subset (25%) of SCLC samples. Given the methodological constraints and contamination risks inherent to low-biomass FFPE tissues, this fungal signal is interpreted cautiously and framed strictly as preliminary. CONCLUSIONS:This study provides the first descriptive characterization of the lung bacteriome and mycobiome in SCLC using FFPE tissue. The observed alterations in microbial composition, including an unexpected fungal signal, offer hypothesis-generating insights that require validation in larger, prospectively collected cohorts incorporating more comprehensive contamination-control strategies.
Functional genomics studies address how genes, gene products, and noncoding sequences dictate phenotypes. Unlike traditional gene-by-gene approaches, functional genomics screens comprehensively interrogate genomes. Continuous advances in nucleic acid manipulation and gene-targeting tools, combined with the availability of complete genomes, the variety of phenotypes that can be screened, and the expanding capacity of omics data analysis, contribute to the lasting success of functional genomics in biological discovery. This chapter focuses on designing, implementing, and analyzing functional genetic screens in model organisms and human cells. It also reviews recent findings with profound impacts on biomedical research. Additionally, current limitations that still compromise the use of functional genomics screens across all model organisms and cells are examined, and future applications are anticipated. Given the extensive work presented in this chapter, there is little doubt that functional genomics screens will continue to be a powerful driving force in understanding how genomes regulate health and disease.
The centriole duplication cycle must be tightly controlled and coordinated with the chromosome cycle. Aberrations in centriole biogenesis can cause developmental disorders, ciliopathies and cancer, yet the molecular determinants controlling centriole numbers and the link between the two cycles remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that McIdas, previously implicated in cell cycle regulation and multiciliogenesis, plays a critical role in maintaining proper centriole numbers. McIdas localizes to centrioles, where it exhibits dynamic localization throughout the cell cycle, dependent upon a nuclear export signal (NES) in its coiled-coil domain. Overexpression of McIdas induces centriole overduplication, whereas its depletion perturbs daughter centriole biogenesis and SAS6 recruitment. An NES mutant of McIdas that fails to localize to centrioles does not induce centriole amplification. Moreover, McIdas depletion reduces PLK4-induced centriole amplification. McIdas interacts with and is phosphorylated by PLK4, which is critical for its role in centriole number control. Overall, our results demonstrate that in addition to its known nuclear localization, McIdas also localizes to centrioles, affecting centriole duplication. This novel, direct role of McIdas in centriole duplication connects its functions in cell cycle regulation and multiciliogenesis.
Obesity, particularly when it is centrally located, is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the relationship between waist circumference and the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. A community- based cross-sectional study was conducted as a sub-analysis of CardioBengo in the municipality of Dande, Bengo Province, involving 2,244 individuals aged 18– 84 years. The study included a structured questionnaire and the collection of sociodemographic, anthropometric, hemodynamic and biochemical data. Analyzes were carried out using correlation methods, the construction of ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves, and the determination of optimal cut- off points according to the Youden index. Waist circumference was positively associated with metabolic risk factors, particularly hypertension, in both sexes. It demonstrated moderate sensitivity and specificity (area under the curve (AUC): 0.725 in men and 0.612 in women). Waist circumference also proved to be a moderate predictor of diabetes mellitus (AUC: 0.648 in men and 0.596 in women) and hypercholesterolaemia (AUC: 0.673 in men and 0.612 in women), with cut-off points varying between 71.5 cm and 89 cm depending on gender. For hypertriglyceridaemia, however, the association was weak (AUC: 0.557 and 0.503). Waist circumference can be used as an indicator of the risk of developing metabolic factors, highlighting its usefulness in predicting hypertension in the Angolan population.
