Cultivable fungi present in deep-sea sediments of Antarctica: taxonomy,diversity, and bioprospecting of bioactive compounds

Extremophiles - We accessed the culturable mycobiota present in marine sediments at different depths in Antarctica Ocean. Acremonium fusidioides, Penicillium allii-sativi, Penicillium chrysogenum,...     

Integrating management techniques to restore subtropical forests invaded by Hedychium coronarium J. Köenig (Zingiberaceae) in a biodiversity hotspot

The restoration of areas invaded by non‐native plants is challenging as invasive plants may affect both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, leading to impacts that constrain recolonization by native species after invaders are eliminated. In such a scenario, restoration techniques as topsoil transposition might accelerate colonization by native species in forests. Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig (Zingiberaceae) is a Himalayan herbaceous rhizomatous plant recognized as invasive in several countries. This study aimed to experimentally evaluate the response of plant assemblages to topsoil transposition on a site invaded by H. coronarium after chemical control. Four treatments were applied: chemical control integrated with topsoil transposition, chemical control of H. coronarium alone, topsoil transposition alone, and no intervention (control). Plots were evaluated prior to the application of treatments and then monthly for 11 months after treatments. Parameters were measured for H. coronarium (number of ramets, ramet height, and cover) and other species (species richness, abundance, and cover). Plots treated with chemical control (regardless of topsoil transposition) were similar in terms of all parameters measured and species composition, with dominance of herbs and shrubs. Plots managed solely with topsoil transposition had lower species richness, abundance, and cover, but more diverse life‐forms, being equally rich in climbers, trees, and herbs. Chemical control was effective to control invasion by H. coronarium and increase species richness and abundance on the managed site. Topsoil transposition promoted colonization by species that might accelerate restoration.     

Endozoochory of a dry‐fruited tree aids quarry passive restoration and seed soaking further increases seedling emergence

As practitioners promote passive restoration as a complementary approach to technical reclamation, it is imperative to know its drivers. Although the consequences of endozoochory can be crucial to passive restoration success, few experimental studies assess the use of heavily disturbed sites by seed dispersers such as carnivores and how the seeds they bring in emerge and survive. Using an indoor sowing experiment conducted in a quarry located within a natural park in Portugal, we examined for the first time how carnivore endozoochorous seeds collected in the quarry potentially influence its passive restoration, through effects on plant emergence and survival. Also, we tested whether sowing date and water soaking, relevant factors when sowings are to be carried out, would affect seedling emergence and mortality rates when compared with the effect of endozoochory. Our target species were included in the revegetation plan of the quarry, of which endozoochorous seeds of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) were collected in sufficient number for analysis. Irrespective of the carnivore species, endozoochorous carob seeds performed similarly to untreated seeds regarding emergence rates. Endozoochorous carob seedlings showed greater mortality rates but the net result for the plant can still be the colonization of recently vacant habitats by a large proportion of viable seeds. Concerning sowing date, the later carob seeds were sown over the fruit‐ripening season the faster seedlings emerged. Water soaking increased emergence rate by 6.5 times. Broadly, sowings with previous soaking and carnivore‐mediated seed dispersal of this dry‐fruited tree can jointly enhance quarry restoration.     

Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in clinical and environmental samples using serological analysis and PCR

Molecular Biology Reports - Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and persists as a serious public health problem in Brazil. This microorganism is inculturable,...     

Impacts of inter-basin water transfer on the water quality of receiving reservoirs in a tropical semi-arid region

Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) involves the transport of water from one geographically distinct basin to another to balance the distribution of water resources. Although the socio-economic benefits of implementing these projects are well recognized, little is known about the subsequent effects on the water quality of the receiving systems. We evaluated the effects of an IBWT on the water quality of three receiving reservoirs of an intermittent river in a semi-arid region. We compared the similarity among the reservoirs before and after the IBWT to assess how the reservoirs responded to the introduction of water. Although the last two reservoirs that have received water have become similar in terms of physical and chemical characteristics and algal biomass (chlorophyll-a), the first reservoir has not. The IBWT resulted in an improvement in the water quality of the first reservoir but a decrease in the water quality of the two successive reservoirs, along with a significant increase in algal biomass. Long river sections located upstream that were dry at the time of IBWT probably contributed nutrients to the water as it moved downstream and into the reservoirs. Significant differences in the water quality were observed for different sampling months after the IBWT, but not for different sampling depths. Before the IBWT, the predictor variables for algal biomass were basically transparency and non-algal turbidity, with which it established a positive relationship. After IBWT, however, algal biomass also showed a positive relationship with pH and temperature. We conclude that IBWT affects the water quality of receiving reservoirs and that the responses are reservoir specific. IBWT also increases the complexity of the correlations of physical and chemical variables with algal biomass.

     

The largest moss carpet transplant in Antarctica and its bryosphere cryptic biodiversity

Extremophiles - As part of the reconstruction of the Brazilian Antarctic Station on King George Island, three areas of moss carpet were transplanted to minimize the impact of the new facilities on...     

Meta-omics analysis indicates the saliva microbiome and its proteins associated with the prognosis of oral cancer patients

Saliva is a biofluid that maintains the health of oral tissues and the homeostasis of oral microbiota. Studies have demonstrated that Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients have different salivary microbiota than healthy individuals. However, the relationship between these microbial differences and clinicopathological outcomes is still far from conclusive. Herein, we investigate the capability of using metagenomic and metaproteomic saliva profiles to distinguish between Control (C), OSCC without active lesion (L0), and OSCC with active lesion (L1) patients. The results show that there are significantly distinct taxonomies and functional changes in L1 patients compared to C and L0 patients, suggesting compositional modulation of the oral microbiome, as the relative abundances of Centipeda, Veillonella, and Gemella suggested by metagenomics are correlated with tumor size, clinical stage, and active lesion. Metagenomics results also demonstrated that poor overall patient survival is associated with a higher relative abundance of Stenophotromonas, Staphylococcus, Centipeda, Selenomonas, Alloscordovia, and Acitenobacter. Finally, compositional and functional differences in the saliva content by metaproteomics analysis can distinguish healthy individuals from OSCC patients. In summary, our study suggests that oral microbiota and their protein abundance have potential diagnosis and prognosis value for oral cancer patients. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of uniquely detected metaproteins in the microbiota of healthy and OSCC patients as well as the crosstalk between saliva host proteins and the oral microbiome present in OSCC.