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Healthcare-related transmission of mobile genetic elements co-carrying bla NDM and 16S rRNA methyltransferase genes in multiple Enterobacterales
No full textAminoglycosides are used in the treatment of serious infections with Gram-negative bacteria, especially those resistant to beta-lactams and carbapenems. 16S rRNA methyltransferases (16S-RMTase) are capable of conferring resistance to nearly all aminoglycosides. They are sometimes detected in combination with bla NDM. This study describes the mobile genetic elements associated with bla NDM and 16S-RMTase (co-)carriage in Enterobacterales from Ireland in the period 2019-2023. All isolates (n=58) carrying both bla NDM and a 16S-RMTase gene between 2019 and 2023 were obtained from the CPE National Reference Laboratory Service. Short-read sequences were generated for all isolates, and long-read sequences were generated for a subset of isolates (n=27). MOB-recon was used to distinguish plasmid-derived contigs from draft assemblies. The containment distance and DCJ-indel distance were used to find clusters of related plasmids. Isolates carrying bla NDM-1 were associated with armA (n=31) but also rmtC (n=6) carriage. These genes were co-localized most frequently on IncFIB/HI1B (n=12), IncM2 (n=10) and IncC (n=8) plasmids. Closely related plasmids were identified in multiple species (range: 2-5) and at different sites around Ireland; however, the IncM2 plasmids were largely associated with a single hospital. Isolates carrying bla NDM-5 were associated with rmtB1 (n=28) carriage. The majority (n=15) were carried on a diverse range of mosaic IncF-type plasmids. Two discrete clusters of IncM1 (n=3) and IncFII (n=4) type plasmids were also detected. The study highlights the diverse plasmids co-carrying carbapenem and aminoglycoside resistance genes in Ireland. Detection of plasmids across multiple species and hospitals suggests dissemination driven by antimicrobial selective pressure and environmental reservoirs within healthcare networks. The co-dissemination of these genes on highly mobile plasmids poses a significant public health concern and emphasizes the need for greater awareness that chains of transmission of antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare setting may involve multiple speciesResearch IrelandEuropean CommissionDepto. de Sanidad AnimalCentro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET)TRUEpu
Reduction-Induced C─C Cleavage and Site-Specific Hydrogenation of a Highly Strained Bilayer Spironanographene
No full textThe chemical reduction of a bilayer spironanographene, spiro-NG (C137H120), with Na and K metals in the presence of [2.2.2]cryptand to yield [Na+(2.2.2-cryptand)](C137H121−) (1) and [K+(2.2.2-cryptand)](C137H121−) (2), respectively, is reported. X-ray crystallography reveals the formation of a new “naked” anion (spiro-NGH−), in which spirocyclic ring cleavage and subsequent hydrogenation have occurred. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the generation of the radical anion of the parent nanographene (spiro-NG•−), upon electron acceptance from Na and K metals, induces the cleavage of the strained spirobifluorene core. The resulting spin density localizes on a particular carbon atom, previously attached to the spiranic sp3 carbon atom, facilitating a site-specific hydrogenation to afford (spiro-NGH−). The electrostatic potential map of this anion reveals electron density concentrated at the five-membered ring of the readily formed indenyl fragment, thus enhancing the aromaticity of the system. Furthermore, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy experiments allowed to follow the in situ reduction and hydrogenation processes in detail.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y UniversidadesComunidad de MadridEuropean UnionDepto. de Química OrgánicaFac. de Ciencias QuímicasTRUEpu
Fibroblasts enhance the growth and survival of adult feline small intestinal organoids
No full textAuthor Contributions:
Nicole D. Hryckowian, Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing | Katelyn Studener, Investigation, Writing – review and editing | Waneska S. Frizzarini, Investigation | David Arranz-Solís, Resources, Writing – review and editing | Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez, Resources, Writing – review and editing | Laura J. Knoll, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing – review and editingIntestinal Intestinal organoids are important cell culture models that complement live animal studies of many intestinal pathogens. Adult feline small intestinal organoids are needed for infectious disease research but are difficult to work with due to slow growth and premature senescence. We introduce a method of co-culturing adult feline small intestinal organoids with growth-inhibited human foreskin fibroblast feeder cells to enhance organoid proliferation and survival. With feeder cells, feline jejunal and ileal organoids survived at least 9 months in culture until cryopreservation. Fibroblast supplementation increased the maximum size of cat and mouse intestinal organoids as well. The increased longevity and size of these organoids are a significant improvement on current methods. These organoids also supported pre-sexual development of the medically important parasite Toxoplasma gondii, as evidenced by expression of the merozoite-specific marker GRA11b. This GRA11b positivity was higher in mature cat organoid-derived monolayers grown for 21 days prior to infection, compared with monolayers grown for 10 days. These methods have high potential to reduce the number of cats used for infectious disease research and may be applicable for intestinal cells from other animals that are difficult to culture.IMPORTANCEMany microbial pathogens are acquired orally through contaminated food or water. Being able to model these infections in cell culture has been greatly enhanced by the development of intestinal organoid technology. One of the species that hosts several infections is cats, but cat intestinal organoids have been notoriously difficult to grow. Here, we describe a co-culture method with fibroblast cells that dramatically improves the longevity of adult cat intestinal organoids. These cat organoid cells can support the pre-sexual development stages of the intestinal pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite whose sexual cycle is restricted to cats and is the reason that pregnant women are told not to change the litter box. These culture conditions will be a resource to study other cat intestinal pathogens and intestinal organoids from other animals that are difficult to cultureNational Institutes of HealthDepto. de Sanidad AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu
Hábitos estilísticos del primer Galdós: La Fontana de Oro
No full textEdiciones ComplutenseEdiciones ComplutenseTRUEpu
Clinical Manifestations of Temporomandibular Disorders and Their Relationship with Sleep Disturbances and Emotional Disorders in a Spanish Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textThe etiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) has been linked to various factors, including functional and psychological factors, which makes it difficult to identify associations between a single etiological factor and the signs and symptoms of TMDs.
Objectives: This study aimed to describe the presence of TMD symptoms and their relationship with sleep disturbances and emotional disorders in children and adolescents.
Methods: This observational study included Spanish children aged between 8 and 13 years. The measurement instruments consisted of the BRUNI survey for sleep disorders and the Educational-Clinical Questionnaire: Anxiety and Depression (CECAD) survey. A clinical examination was subsequently performed following the DC/TMD guidelines for diagnosing TMDs. Frequencies, means, and standard deviations were applied, along with the prevalence ratio as a measure of association and the chi-square test. The significance level was set at 5%.
Results: A total of 128 participants participated in the study with a mean age of 10.89 (±2.15) years. The prevalence of TMDs was 54%, while the most common symptoms were muscle pain at 26%, joint pain at 14%, and a combination of both at 14%. Children who presented muscle pain had a mean anxiety score of 44.87 (±11.85), whereas those without symptoms had a mean score of 36 (±10.78, and 0.03 p-value). The BRUNI index revealed that 78.13% of patients with TMDs had difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, with a prevalence ratio (PR) of 3.57 (p-value 0.041).
Conclusions: The present study reveals that temporomandibular disorders are common in children and adolescents, with 54% presenting at least one clinical sign or symptom. Emotional disturbances and sleep problems were also prevalent, affecting 41% and 56% of participants, respectively. Early interdisciplinary screening is essential to manage the co-occurrence of TMDs, emotional distress, and sleep problems in children.Depto. de Especialidades Clínicas OdontológicasFac. de OdontologíaTRUEpu
Climate characterization using microcontrollers
No full textEl presente trabajo realiza una prueba de concepto para una futura caracterización microclimática de una pequeña cuenca del macizo de Peñalara, un área situada en la Sierra de Guadarrama. Muestra las dificultades tecnológicas y conceptuales llegando a calcular unos resultados preliminares que muestran la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la región. La caracterización ha sido realizada mediante una red de medición fabricada con microcontroladores y sensores de bajo coste que han permitido la medición de la temperatura como variable meteorológica determinante. En el posterior análisis se ha hecho uso del método de interpolación geoestadístico kriging con deriva externa con la altitud como variable auxiliar, el cual ha permitido extrapolar a un dominio con una resolución de 2 metros. El método ha sido validado mediante una validación cruzada. Se ha concluido que la metodología seguida es válida para el estudio microclimático para futuras campañas de mayor alcance en las que debería contemplarse un estudio de medida más largo.This study presents a proof of concept for a future microclimatic characterization of a small basin on Pe˜nalara’s massif, an area located in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It highlights the technological and conceptual challenges encountered, and provides preliminary results that reveal the spatial and temporal variability of the region. The characterization was carried out using a measurement network built with low-cost microcontrollers and sensors, which enabled the recording of temperature as a key meteorological variable. The subsequent analysis em ployed the geostatistical interpolation method kriging with external drift, using altitude as an auxiliary variable, which allowed extrapolation over a domain with 2-meter resolution. The method was validated through cross-validation. It was concluded that the methodology is suitable for microclimatic studies and can be applied in future, more extensive campaigns, where longer measurement periods should be considered.Depto. de Física de la Tierra y AstrofísicaFac. de Ciencias FísicasTRUEunpu
