More Like this

1. Characterization of Dinophysis spp. (Dinophyceae, Dinophysiales) from the mid‐Atlantic region of the United States 1

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12966  

   Wolny, Jennifer L. ; Egerton, Todd A. ; Handy, Sara M. ; Stutts, Whitney L. ; Smith, Juliette L. ; Whereat, Edward B. ; Bachvaroff, Tsvetan R. ; Henrichs, Darren W. ; Campbell, Lisa ; Deeds, Jonathan R. ( February 2020 , Journal of Phycology)

   Due to the increasing prevalence ofDinophysisspp. and their toxins on everyUScoast in recent years, the need to identify and monitor for problematicDinophysispopulations has become apparent. Here, we present morphological analyses, using light and scanning electron microscopy, andrDNAsequence analysis, using a ~2‐kb sequence of ribosomalITS1, 5.8S,ITS2, andLSU DNA, ofDinophysiscollected in mid‐Atlantic estuarine and coastal waters from Virginia to New Jersey to better characterize local populations. In addition, we analyzed for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins in water and shellfish samples collected during blooms using liquid‐chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and an in vitro protein phosphatase inhibition assay and compared this data to a toxin profile generated from a mid‐AtlanticDinophysisculture. Three distinct morphospecies were documented in mid‐Atlantic surface waters:D. acuminata,D. norvegica, and a “smallDinophysissp.” that was morphologically distinct based on multivariate analysis of morphometric data but was genetically consistent withD. acuminata. While mid‐AtlanticD. acuminatacould not be distinguished from the other species in theD. acuminata‐complex (D. ovumfrom the Gulf of Mexico andD. sacculusfrom the western Mediterranean Sea) using the molecular markers chosen, it could be distinguished based on morphometrics. Okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin 1, and pectenotoxin 2 were found in filtered water and shellfish samples duringDinophysisblooms in the mid‐Atlantic region,as well as in a locally isolatedD. acuminataculture. However,DSPtoxins exceeded regulatory guidance concentrations only a few times during the study period and only in noncommercial shellfish samples.

    

   more » « less
2. In vitro plant regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens –mediated transformation of Datura stramonium (Solanaceae)

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1220  

   Rajewski, Alex C. ; Elkins, Kevan B. ; Henry, Ashley ; Van Eck, Joyce ; Litt, Amy ( February 2019 , Applications in Plant Sciences)

   Datura stramoniumis a pharmacologically and evolutionarily important plant species in the family Solanaceae. Stable transformation methodology of this species would be advantageous for future genetic studies.

   In vitro plant regeneration andAgrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated transformation techniques were developed forD. stramoniumbased on methods reported for tomato. A binary vector containingpAtUBQ10::erGFPwas used for transformation.

   We recovered primary transformants harboring the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene that resulted in expression of fluorescence in all tissues analyzed. Transformants were allowed to self‐pollinate, and two of five progeny contained theGFPtransgene and displayed fluorescence identical to the primary transformants.

   We have demonstrated the first stable transformation in the genusDatura. This is a key first step to study the genetic basis of traits in this evolutionarily interesting species.

    

   more » « less
3. Effects of water turbidity on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus in environmental fresh and brackish waters

   https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.10923  

   Steadmon, Maria ; Ngiraklang, Kebang ; Nagata, Macy ; Masga, Keanu ; Frank, Kiana L. ( September 2023 , Water Environment Research)

   Staphylococcus aureusis an opportunistic pathogen frequently detected in environmental waters and commonly causes skin infections to water users.S. aureusconcentrations in fresh, brackish, and marine waters are positively correlated with water turbidity. To reduce the risk ofS. aureusinfections from environmental waters,S. aureussurvival (stability and multiplication) in turbid waters needs to be investigated. The aim of this study was to measureS. aureusin turbid fresh and brackish water samples and compare the concentrations over time to determine which conditions are associated with enhancedS. aureussurvival. Eighteen samples were collected from fresh and brackish water sources from two different sites on the east side of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.S. aureuswas detected in microcosms for up to 71 days with standard microbial culturing techniques. On average, the greatest environmental concentrations ofS. aureuswere in high turbidity fresh waters followed by high turbidity brackish waters. Models demonstrate that salinity and turbidity significantly predict environmentalS. aureusconcentrations.S. aureuspersistence over the extent of the experiment was the greatest in high turbidity microcosms with T₉₀'s of 147.8 days in brackish waters and 80.8 days in freshwaters. This study indicates that saline, turbid waters, in the absence of sunlight, provides suitable conditions for enhanced persistence ofS. aureuscommunities that may increase the risk of exposure in environmental waters.

   Staphylococcus aureusconcentrations, survival, and persistence were assessed in environmental fresh and brackish waters.

   Experimental design preserved in situ conditions to measureS. aureussurvival.

   Higher initialS. aureusconcentrations were observed in fresh waters with elevated turbidity, while sustained persistence was greater in brackish waters.

   Water turbidity and salinity were both positively associated withS. aureusconcentrations and persistence.

   Climate change leads to more intense rainfall events which increase water turbidity and pathogen loading, heightening the exposure risk toS. aureus.

    

   more » « less
4. A Tunisian family with a novel mutation in the gene CYP4F22 for lamellar ichthyosis and co‐occurrence of hearing loss in a child due to mutation in the SLC26A4 gene

   https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14452  

   Sayeb, Marwa ; Riahi, Zied ; Laroussi, Nadia ; Bonnet, Crystel ; Romdhane, Lilia ; Mkaouar, Rahma ; Zaouak, Anissa ; Marrakchi, Jihene ; Abdessalem, Ghaith ; Messaoud, Olfa ; et al ( April 2019 , International Journal of Dermatology)

   Co‐occurrence of two genetic diseases is challenging for accurate diagnosis and genetic counseling. The recent availability of whole exome sequencing (WES) has dramatically improved the molecular diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in particular in consanguineous populations.

   We report here on a consanguineous family from Southern Tunisia including three members affected with congenital ichthyosis. The index case had a hearing loss (HL) and ichthyosis and was primarily suspected as suffering from keratitis‐ichthyosis‐deafness (KID) syndrome.WESwas performed for the index case, and all members of the nuclear family were sequenced (Sanger method).

   TheWESapproach allowed the identification of two strong candidate variants in two different genes; a missense mutation c.1334T>G (p.Leu445Trp) in exon 11 ofSLC26A4gene, associated with isolatedHLand a novel missense mutation c.728G>T (p.Arg243Leu) in exon 8 ofCYP4F22gene likely responsible for ichthyosis. These two mutations were predicted to be pathogenic by three pathogenicity prediction softwares (Scale‐Invariant Feature Transform [SIFT], Polymorphism Phenotyping [PolyPhen], Mutation Taster) to underlie theHLand ichthyosis, respectively.

   The present study raises awareness about the importance of familial history for accurate diagnosis of syndromic genetic diseases and differential diagnosis with co‐occurrence of two distinct clinical entities. In addition, in countries with limited resources,WESsequencing for a single individual provides a cost effective tool for molecular diagnosis confirmation and genetic counseling.

    

   more » « less
5. Analysis of condensed tannins in Populus spp. using reversed phase UPLC‐PDA‐(−)esi‐MS following thiolytic depolymerisation

   https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2810  

   Rubert‐Nason, Kennedy F. ; Lindroth, Richard L. ( December 2018 , Phytochemical Analysis)

   Condensed tannins (CTs) are proanthocyanidin heteropolymers that are widely distributed among plants. Their biochemical properties are determined by molecular structure (e.g. polymer size, hydroxylation, stereochemistry). InPopulus, genetically and environmentally‐determined CT concentrations have been related to ecological effects, while the potential role of CT molecular structure has received little attention.

   Evaluate CT polymerisation, major constituent monomers, stereochemistry and overall content inPopulus tremuloidesfoliage using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and mass spectrometry (UPLC‐PDA‐(−)esi‐MS) detection following thiolytic depolymerisation of the CTs.

   CTs were extracted from dried foliage of sixP. tremuloidesgenotypes into methanol and thiolytically depolymerised into constituent monomers. Calibration standards were prepared by thiolysis of CT mixtures isolated fromP. tremuloidesfoliage on Sephadex LH‐20, followed by preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

   Populus tremuloidesCTs contained predominantly repeating subunits of three putative stereoisomers each of catechin and gallocatechin. Linear calibrations for standards of these subunits and their thioethers (purities 44–87%, UPLC‐(−)esi‐MS) were generally stable over the course of 10 months. CT polymer size, hydroxylation, stereochemistry and concentrations differed among genotypes.

   This thiolysis‐UPLC‐PDA‐(−)esiMS method was optimised for analysis of CT polymer size, hydroxylation, stereochemistry, and total concentration inPopulusfoliage. It revealed significant variation in each of these properties amongP. tremuloidesgenotypes, and will facilitate evaluation of how environmental factors affect CT molecular structures.

    

   more » « less