Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals a Possible Novel Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium Species with High Pathogenic Potential

Mycobacteria have been reported to cause a wide range of human diseases. We present the first whole-genome study of a Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium, Mycobacterium sp. UM_CSW (referred to hereafter as UM_CSW), isolated from a patient diagnosed with bronchiectasis. Our data suggest that this clinical isolate is likely a novel mycobacterial species, supported by clear evidence from molecular phylogenetic, comparative genomic, ANI and AAI analyses. UM_CSW is closely related to the Mycobacterium avium complex. While it has characteristic features of an environmental bacterium, it also shows a high pathogenic potential with the presence of a wide variety of putative genes related to bacterial virulence and shares very similar pathogenomic profiles with the known pathogenic mycobacterial species. Thus, we conclude that this possible novel Mycobacterium species should be tightly monitored for its possible causative role in human infections.     

Discovery and functional interrogation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-host protein interactions

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Reproducibility of non-fasting plasma metabolomics measurements across processing delays

Introduction

Processing delays after blood collection is a common pre-analytical condition in large epidemiologic studies. It is critical to evaluate the suitability of blood samples with processing delays for metabolomics analysis as it is a potential source of variation that could attenuate associations between metabolites and disease outcomes.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of metabolites over extended processing delays up to 48 h. We also aimed to test the reproducibility of the metabolomics platform.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 18 healthy volunteers. Blood was stored in the refrigerator and processed for plasma at 0, 15, 30, and 48 h after collection. Plasma samples were metabolically profiled using an untargeted, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) platform. Reproducibility of 1012 metabolites over processing delays and reproducibility of the platform were determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with variance components estimated from mixed-effects models.

Results

The majority of metabolites (approximately 70% of 1012) were highly reproducible (ICCs?≥?0.75) over 15-, 30- or 48-h processing delays. Nucleotides, energy-related metabolites, peptides, and carbohydrates were most affected by processing delays. The platform was highly reproducible with a median technical ICC of 0.84 (interquartile range 0.68–0.93).

Conclusion

Most metabolites measured by the UPLC–MS/MS platform show acceptable reproducibility up to 48-h processing delays. Metabolites of certain pathways need to be interpreted cautiously in relation to outcomes in epidemiologic studies with prolonged processing delays.

     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of four small fishes from the Atrai River,Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Length‐weight (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) were determined for four fish species collected from the Atari River in Dinajpur of Bangladesh. Sampling took place monthly between January and June 2016, using seine nets of commercial fishermen (mesh size 4 mm). In LWRs (r² > .927, p < .05), slope (b) was estimated as 3.191, 2.992, 3.217 and 3.109 for Acanthocobitis botia, Botia lohachata, Canthophrys gongota and Chanda nama, respectively. In LLRs (r² > .812, p < .05), lengths i.e. TL, SL, HL and FL were highly correlated. The present study on these species would be the baseline for FishBase dataset.     

Gamma radiation and interspecific hybridization in jute ( Corchorus capsularis L. and C. olitorius L.)

Although numerous attempts have been made during the last five decades, no hybrids combining the qualities of the two commercially most important species have been released so far. Dry seeds of Corchorus capsularis L. var. D-154 and Corchorus olitorius L. var. C.G. were irradiated with gamma rays of various intensities from 70 Kr. to 100 Kr. and were sown in the field. Abnormal plants of the first generation showing bilobed and crinkled characters in their leaves induced by gamma rays were chosen as male parents. 300 crosses of different combinations were made. In all 120 fruits developed into maturity. All the seeds failed to germinate except those from the crosses ♀ C.G. (0 Kr.) × ♂ D-154 (80 Kr.) and ♀ D-154 (0 Kr.) × ♂ C.G. (70 Kr.). F₁ plants from the cross ♀ C.G. (0 Kr.) × ♂ D-154 (80 Kr.) inherited the bilobed character of the male parent whereas the plants from the other cross failed to show any sign of inheritance of the male parent. This indicated that the plants from the cross ♀ C.G. (0 Kr.) × ♂ D-154 (80 Kr.) were hybrids. These hybrids attained a greater height than the controls and were highly fertile.     

Sulfonamidolactam inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa

As part of an effort to identify novel backups for previously reported pyrazole-based coagulation Factor Xa inhibitors, the pyrazole 5-carboxamide moiety was replaced by 3-(sulfonylamino)-2-piperidone. This led to the identification of a structurally diverse chemotype that was further optimized to incorporate neutral or weakly basic aryl and heteroaryl P1 groups while maintaining good potency versus Factor Xa. Substitution at the sulfonamide nitrogen provided further improvements in potency and as did introduction of alternate P4 moieties.     

Antifouling activity of the sponge metabolite agelasine D and synthesised analogs on Balanus improvisus

This study reports a screening study for antifouling (AF) activity of the natural compound agelasine D isolated from marine sponges of the genus Agelas and 20 synthesised analogs of agelasines and agelasimines. Agelasine D, together with two of the analogs, ie AV1003A and AKB695, displayed a strong inhibitory effect on settlement of Balanus improvisus cypris larvae. Agelasine D had an EC50 value of 0.11 microM while the two analogs AV1033A and AKB695 had EC50 values of 0.23 and 0.3 microM, respectively. None of these three compounds affected larval mortality as was the case with several of the analogs tested. Moreover, the effect of AV1033A and AKB695 was reversible. When cyprids after 24 h exposure to the compounds were transferred to fresh seawater, the settlement frequency compared with the controls was completely recovered. The properties of the agelasine D analogs AV1003A and AKB695 make them highly attractive candidates as AF agents in future marine coatings.