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Commercially produced cyanobacteria preparations sold under the name spirulina are widely consumed, due to their traditional use as a nutrient-rich foodstuff and subsequent marketing as a superfood. Despite their popularity, the microbial composition of ponds used to cultivate these bacteria is understudied. A total of 19 pond samples were obtained from small-scale spirulina farms and subjected to metagenome and/or virome sequencing, and the results were analysed. A remarkable level of prokaryotic and viral diversity was found to be present in the ponds, with Limnospira sp. and Arthrospira sp. sometimes being notably scarce. A detailed breakdown of prokaryotic and viral components of 15 samples is presented. Twenty putative Limnospira sp.-infecting bacteriophage contigs were identified, though no correlation between the performance of these cultures and the presence of phages was found. The high diversity of these samples prevented the identification of clear trends in sample performance over time, between ponds or when comparing successful and failed fermentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinct conjugation machineries encoded by plasmids pNP40 and pUC11B represent the most prevalent plasmid transfer systems among lactococcal strains. In the current study, we identified genetic determinants that underpin pNP40‐ and pUC11B‐mediated, high‐frequency mobilisation of other, non‐conjugative plasmids. The mobilisation frequencies of the smaller, non‐conjugative plasmids and the minimal sequences required for their mobilisation were determined, owing to the determination of the oriT sequences of both pNP40 and pUC11B, which allowed the identification of similar sequences in some of the non‐conjugative plasmids that were shown to promote their mobilisation. Furthermore, the auxiliary gene mobC, two distinct functional homologues of which are present in several plasmids harboured by the pNP40‐ and pUC11B‐carrying host strains, was observed to confer a high‐frequency mobilisation phenotype. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how lactococcal conjugative plasmids achieve conjugation and promote mobilisation of non‐conjugative plasmids. Ultimately, these insights would be harnessed to optimise conjugation and mobilisation strategies for the rapid and predictable development of robust and technologically improved strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical empathy has been studied in a number of health-care disciplines suggesting that higher practitioner empathy leads to improved patient health and wellness and improved patient outcomes. While some aspects of the physical therapist-patient relationship have been described, evidence of quantitative assessment of clinical empathy in physical therapists is scarce. To investigate the level of self-reported clinical empathy in physical therapists and its relationship to practice environment and workplace engagement, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Provider version (JSE-HP) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) were used. Study participants were 123 physical therapists working full time at either an acute care setting, a rehabilitation hospital, or an outpatient clinic. These physical therapists demonstrated a mean JSE-HP score of 118.5 (9.1) and a mean OLBI score of 15.63 (3.5). This mean empathy score was found to be higher than reported empathy level of some health disciplines such as nursing and pharmacy yet lower than others such as mental health workers, psychiatrists, and pediatricians. Practice setting was not found to be a significant factor regarding empathy levels in physical therapists. As reported in previous studies, there was a positive correlation between being female and having higher empathy levels. A positive correlation was found between age and work disengagement. Finally, our hypothesis regarding a negative correlation between empathy and work disengagement was confirmed, suggesting that workplace disengagement may diminish a physical therapist's empathy, which may then negatively affect patient clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brian McDonnell of Deloitte Ireland provides an overview of grant and tax incentives that can be used to help fund investments to meet new carbon targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until the late 2000s, lactococci substantially contributed to the discovery of various plasmid-borne phage defence systems, rendering these bacteria an excellent antiphage discovery resource. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in identifying novel antiphage systems in lactic acid bacteria owing to recent reports of so-called 'defence islands' in diverse bacterial genera. Here, 321 plasmid sequences from 53 lactococcal strains were scrutinized for the presence of antiphage systems. Systematic evaluation of 198 candidates facilitated the discovery of seven not previously described antiphage systems, as well as five systems, of which homologues had been described in other bacteria. All described systems confer resistance against the most prevalent lactococcal phages, and act post phage DNA injection, while all except one behave like abortive infection systems. Structure and domain predictions provided insights into their mechanism of action and allow grouping of several genetically distinct systems. Although rare within our plasmid collection, homologues of the seven novel systems appear to be widespread among bacteria. This study highlights plasmids as a rich repository of as yet undiscovered antiphage systems., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Bacteriocins are broad or narrow-spectrum antimicrobial compounds that have received significant scientific attention due to their potential to treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. The genome of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum MM0196, an antimicrobial-producing, fecal isolate from a healthy pregnant woman, was shown to contain a gene cluster predicted to encode Pseudocin 196, a novel lantibiotic, in addition to proteins involved in its processing, transport and immunity. Following antimicrobial assessment against various indicator strains, protease-sensitive Pseudocin 196 was purified to homogeneity from cell-free supernatant. MALDI TOF mass spectrometry confirmed that the purified antimicrobial compound corresponds to a molecular mass of 2679 Da, which is consistent with that deduced from its genetic origin. Pseudocin 196 is classified as a lantibiotic based on its similarity to lacticin 481, a lanthionine ring-containing lantibiotic produced by Lactococcus lactis . Pseudocin 196, the first reported bacteriocin produced by a B. pseudocatenulatum species of human origin, was shown to inhibit clinically relevant pathogens, such as Clostridium spp. and Streptococcus spp. thereby highlighting the potential application of this strain as a probiotic to treat and prevent bacterial infections.

Bifidobacteria are important early colonizers of the human intestinal tract. The relative abundance of bifidobacterial species may be modulated, in part, by bacteriophage activity. Metagenomic studies of these populations is a crucial step in understanding this important interaction. This chapter outlines the technical instructions required to analyze the virome of a bifidobacteria-rich sample, for example, an infant fecal sample.