Exploring the Influence of Small-Scale Geographical and Seasonal Variations Over the Microbial Diversity in a Poly-extreme Athalosaline Wetland.

Microorganisms are the most diverse life form on the planet and are critical for maintaining the geochemical cycles, especially in extreme environments. Bacterial communities are dynamic and respond directly to changes in abiotic conditions; among these communities, poly-extremophiles are particularly sensitive to perturbations due to their high specialization. Salar de Huasco is a high-altitude wetland located on the Chilean Altiplano exhibiting several conditions considered extreme for life, including negative water balance, extreme variations in temperature and pH values, high UV radiation, and the presence of various toxic metal(oids). However, previous reports have revealed a diverse bacterial community that has adapted to these conditions, here, we aimed to determine whether microbial community diversity and composition changed in response to geographical and seasonal variations. We found that there are significant differences in diversity, abundance, and composition in bacterial taxa that could be attributed to local geographical and seasonal variations, which in turn, can be associated with microbial traits. In conclusion, in this poly-extreme environment, small-scale changes can trigger significant changes in the microbial communities that maintain basic biogeochemical cycles. Further in depth analysis of microbial functionality and geo-ecological dynamics are necessary to better understand the relationships between seasonal changes and bacterial communities.

Spatially and Temporally Explicit Metagenomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes from the Comau Fjord (42°S), Patagonia.

Microbes play an important role in coastal and estuarine waters. We present 93 metagenomes and 677 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from Comau Fjord, Patagonia (42°S), to further understand the microbial dynamics and their response to anthropogenic disturbances. These data represent a spatially (35-km transect) and temporally (2016 to 2019) explicit data set.

A First Insight into the Microbial and Viral Communities of Comau Fjord-A Unique Human-Impacted Ecosystem in Patagonia (42∘ S).

While progress has been made in surveying the oceans to understand microbial and viral communities, the coastal ocean and, specifically, estuarine waters, where the effects of anthropogenic activity are greatest, remain partially understudied. The coastal waters of Northern Patagonia are of interest since this region experiences high-density salmon farming as well as other disturbances such as maritime transport of humans and cargo. Here, we hypothesized that viral and microbial communities from the Comau Fjord would be distinct from those collected in global surveys yet would have the distinctive features of microbes from coastal and temperate regions. We further hypothesized that microbial communities will be functionally enriched in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in general and in those related to salmon farming in particular. Here, the analysis of metagenomes and viromes obtained for three surface water sites showed that the structure of the microbial communities was distinct in comparison to global surveys such as the Tara Ocean, though their composition converges with that of cosmopolitan marine microbes belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. Similarly, viral communities were also divergent in structure and composition but matched known viral members from North America and the southern oceans. Microbial communities were functionally enriched in ARGs dominated by beta-lactams and tetracyclines, bacitracin, and the group macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) but were not different from other communities from the South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Similarly, viral communities were characterized by exhibiting protein clusters similar to those described globally (Tara Oceans Virome); however, Comau Fjord viromes displayed up to 50% uniqueness in their protein content. Altogether, our results indicate that microbial and viral communities from the Comau Fjord are a reservoir of untapped diversity and that, given the increasing anthropogenic impacts in the region, they warrant further study, specifically regarding resilience and resistance against antimicrobials and hydrocarbons.

Fecal Metagenomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes from the South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) from the Comau Fjord (42°S), Patagonia.

Environmental disturbances can be monitored using sentinel species. We present 30 temporally explicit metagenomes and 166 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the gut of the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) to further understanding of whether variations in the gut microbiome composition and gene content might reflect environmental disturbances from salmon farming.

Seasonal and Spatially Distributed Viral Metagenomes from Comau Fjord (42°S), Patagonia.

Viruses are key players in marine environments, affecting food webs and biogeochemical cycles. We present 48 viral metagenomes and 5,656 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) from Comau Fjord, Patagonia (42°S), to understand viral-mediated processes in coastal and estuarine waters. These data represent a spatial (35-km transect, two depths) and seasonal (winter and fall) data set.

Embedding Executive Function Training Into Early Literacy Instruction for Dual Language Learners: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: Early literacy skills are key indicators of future reading development for young dual language learners (DLLs). Additionally, emerging evidence indicates that young children's executive function (EF) skills are uniquely associated with elementary school reading outcomes (Ribner et al., 2017). Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the potential for embedding strategies to support EF development within evidence-based early language and literacy instruction for young DLLs. METHOD: Sixty-nine preschool DLLs were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: a business-as-usual control group (BAU), a group that received early literacy instruction only (EL group), and a group that received early literacy instruction with embedded EF strategies (EL + EF group). The intervention focused on improving children's early literacy skills, including letter-name knowledge, phonological awareness, and oral language. Children completed assessments of early literacy and EF immediately before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The EL and EL + EF groups significantly outperformed the BAU control group for two early literacy outcomes, and effects of evidence-based early literacy instruction were strongest for children with poor EF skills. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between the EL + EF and EL groups. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicated that there was no significant benefit to adding supports for EF skills within evidence-based early literacy instruction. Additional research is needed with larger samples to replicate observed effects. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21834465.

Global phylogenomic novelty of the Cas1 gene from hot spring microbial communities.

The Cas1 protein is essential for the functioning of CRISPR-Cas adaptive systems. However, despite the high prevalence of CRISPR-Cas systems in thermophilic microorganisms, few studies have investigated the occurrence and diversity of Cas1 across hot spring microbial communities. Phylogenomic analysis of 2,150 Cas1 sequences recovered from 48 metagenomes representing hot springs (42-80°C, pH 6-9) from three continents, revealed similar ecological diversity of Cas1 and 16S rRNA associated with geographic location. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Cas1 sequences exposed a broad taxonomic distribution in thermophilic bacteria, with new clades of Cas1 homologs branching at the root of the tree or at the root of known clades harboring reference Cas1 types. Additionally, a new family of casposases was identified from hot springs, which further completes the evolutionary landscape of the Cas1 superfamily. This ecological study contributes new Cas1 sequences from known and novel locations worldwide, mainly focusing on under-sampled hot spring microbial mat taxa. Results herein show that circumneutral hot springs are environments harboring high diversity and novelty related to adaptive immunity systems.

Diagnóstico prenatal de enfermedad de canal atrio-ventricular, análisis epidemiológico y experiencia CERPO entre 2003 y 2021 / Prenatal diagnosis of atrio-ventricular canal disease, epidemiological analysis and CERPO experience between 2003 and 2021

Antecedentes: En Chile, la mitad de los casos de mortalidad perinatal son atribuibles a anomalías congénitas, y un tercio de estas corresponde a cardiopatías congénitas. Aproximadamente un 35% de estos últimos requerirán cirugía antes del año de vida, por lo que la pesquisa prenatal impacta profundamente en el pronóstico. Objetivo: Dar a conocer los resultados perinatales de pacientes con diagnóstico prenatal de canal atrio-ventricular controlados en el Centro de Referencia Perinatal Oriente (CERPO) entre los años 2003 y 2021, su asociación a otras anomalías, características demográficas y pronóstico a un año. Métodos: En este estudio se puede apreciar que tanto el pronóstico como el plan terapéutico posnatal dependerán de la presencia de otras alteraciones morfológicas y del estudio genético. De los factores estudiados, se puede concluir que tanto la presencia de anomalías cardiacas asociadas, como el grado de insuficiencia valvular y el tipo de canal no son predictores de la sobrevida perinatal. Conclusiones: Finalmente, en relación con la sobrevida posnatal, en este estudio, la sobrevida a un año de los recién nacidos vivos fue de un 52%, pero al desglosarlo en los niños con cariotipo euploide y trisomía 21, estos valores se tornan muy distintos, 44 y 81% respectivamente.

Background: In Chile, half of the perinatal mortality cases are attributable to congenital anomalies, and one third of these correspond to congenital heart disease. Approximately 35% of the later will require surgery before one year of life, so prenatal screening has a profound impact on the prognosis. Objective: To present the perinatal results of patients with a prenatal diagnosis of atrio-ventricular canal controlled at Centro de Referencia Perinatal Oriente CERPO) between 2003 and 2021, its association with other anomalies, demographic characteristics, and 1-year prognosis. Methods: In this study it can be seen that both the prognosis and the postnatal therapeutic plan will depend on the presence of other morphological alterations and the genetic study. From the factors studied, it can be concluded that the presence of associated cardiac anomalies, the degree of valvular insufficiency, and the type of canal are not predictors of perinatal survival. Conclusions: Finally, in relation to postnatal survival, in this study, the 1-year survival of live newborns was 52%, but when broken down into children with euploid karyotype and trisomy 21, these values become very different, 44 and 81% respectively.

Source and acquisition of rhizosphere microbes in Antarctic vascular plants.

Rhizosphere microbial communities exert critical roles in plant health, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility. Despite the essential functions conferred by microbes, the source and acquisition of the rhizosphere are not entirely clear. Therefore, we investigated microbial community diversity and potential source using the only two native Antarctic plants, Deschampsia antarctica (Da) and Colobanthus quitensis (Cq), as models. We interrogated rhizosphere and bulk soil microbiomes at six locations in the Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Antarctica, both individual plant species and their association (Da.Cq). Our results show that host plant species influenced the richness and diversity of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. Here, the Da rhizosphere showed the lowest richness and diversity of bacteria compared to Cq and Da.Cq rhizospheres. In contrast, for rhizosphere fungal communities, plant species only influenced diversity, whereas the rhizosphere of Da exhibited higher fungal diversity than the Cq rhizosphere. Also, we found that environmental geographic pressures (i.e., sampling site, latitude, and altitude) and, to a lesser extent, biotic factors (i.e., plant species) determined the species turnover between microbial communities. Moreover, our analysis shows that the sources of the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere were local soils that contributed to homogenizing the community composition of the different plant species growing in the same sampling site. In contrast, the sources of rhizosphere fungi were local (for Da and Da.Cq) and distant soils (for Cq). Here, the host plant species have a specific effect in acquiring fungal communities to the rhizosphere. However, the contribution of unknown sources to the fungal rhizosphere (especially in Da and Da.Cq) indicates the existence of relevant stochastic processes in acquiring these microbes. Our study shows that rhizosphere microbial communities differ in their composition and diversity. These differences are explained mainly by the microbial composition of the soils that harbor them, acting together with plant species-specific effects. Both plant species acquire bacteria from local soils to form part of their rhizosphere. Seemingly, the acquisition process is more complex for fungi. We identified a significant contribution from unknown fungal sources due to stochastic processes and known sources from soils across the Byers Peninsula.

Colgajo libre antebraquial radial para reconstrucción microvascular en cáncer de cavidad oral localmente avanzado. Reporte de caso

Introducción: El cáncer de cavidad oral es la malignidad más frecuente dentro de los tumores de cabeza y cuello. El tratamiento estándar curativo corresponde a la cirugía radical cuyo resultado puede impactar de manera significativa la función y morfología del subsitio resecado. La transferencia de colgajos libres mediante técnicas quirúrgicas microvasculares permite expandir la capacidad de resección oncológica de manera segura con adecuada tasa de éxito limitando las secuelas. Caso clínico: Varón de 48 años con cáncer de lengua oral localmente avanzado tratado quirúrgicamente con hemiglosectomía izquierda extendida, disección ganglionar cervical bilateral y reconstrucción microvascularizada con un colgajo libre antebraquial radial. Discusión: Entre un 30% a 35% de las neoplasias de cavidad oral se presentan como enfermedad localmente avanzada. La reconstrucción intraoral suele ser un reto. La planificación quirúrgica del defecto anatómico y funcional son importantes para elegir la opción de reconstrucción y valorar el riesgo de complicaciones posoperatorias. Conclusión: La utilización de colgajos microvasculares libres en la reconstrucción oncológica es fundamental para restaurar el volumen y función de los tejidos afectados por la resección radical. El colgajo libre antebraquial radial es una herramienta versátil debido a sus características físicas y baja tasa de complicaciones en el sitio donante. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Introduction: Oral cavity cancer is the most frequent malignancy within head and neck tumors. The standard curative treatment corresponds to radical surgery whose outcome can significantly impact the function and morphology of the resected subsite. The transfer of free flaps by means of microvascular surgical techniques allows to expand the capacity of oncologic resection in a safe way with an adequate success rate limiting the sequelae. Case report: 48-year-old male with locally advanced oral tongue cancer treated surgically with extended left hemi glossectomy, bilateral cervical lymph node dissection and micro vascularized reconstruction with a radial antebrachial free flap. Discussion: 30% to 35% of oral cavity neoplasms present as locally advanced disease. Intraoral reconstruction is often a challenge. Surgical planning of the anatomic and functional defect are important in choosing the reconstruction option and assessing the risk of postoperative complications. Conclusion: The use of microvascular free flaps in oncologic reconstruction is essential to restore the volume and function of tissues affected by radical resection. The radial antebrachial free flap is a versatile tool due to its physical characteristics and low rate of complications at the donor site. (provided by Infomedic International)

Unveiling Ecological and Genetic Novelty within Lytic and Lysogenic Viral Communities of Hot Spring Phototrophic Microbial Mats.

Viruses exert diverse ecosystem impacts by controlling their host community through lytic predator-prey dynamics. However, the mechanisms by which lysogenic viruses influence their host-microbial community are less clear. In hot springs, lysogeny is considered an active lifestyle, yet it has not been systematically studied in all habitats, with phototrophic microbial mats (PMMs) being particularly not studied. We carried out viral metagenomics following in situ mitomycin C induction experiments in PMMs from Porcelana hot spring (Northern Patagonia, Chile). The compositional changes of viral communities at two different sites were analyzed at the genomic and gene levels. Furthermore, the presence of integrated prophage sequences in environmental metagenome-assembled genomes from published Porcelana PMM metagenomes was analyzed. Our results suggest that virus-specific replicative cycles (lytic and lysogenic) were associated with specific host taxa with different metabolic capacities. One of the most abundant lytic viral groups corresponded to cyanophages, which would infect the cyanobacteria Fischerella, the most active and dominant primary producer in thermophilic PMMs. Likewise, lysogenic viruses were related exclusively to chemoheterotrophic bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. These temperate viruses possess accessory genes to sense or control stress-related processes in their hosts, such as sporulation and biofilm formation. Taken together, these observations suggest a nexus between the ecological role of the host (metabolism) and the type of viral lifestyle in thermophilic PMMs. This has direct implications in viral ecology, where the lysogenic-lytic switch is determined by nutrient abundance and microbial density but also by the metabolism type that prevails in the host community. IMPORTANCE Hot springs harbor microbial communities dominated by a limited variety of microorganisms and, as such, have become a model for studying community ecology and understanding how biotic and abiotic interactions shape their structure. Viruses in hot springs are shown to be ubiquitous, numerous, and active components of these communities. However, lytic and lysogenic viral communities of thermophilic phototrophic microbial mats (PMMs) remain largely unexplored. In this work, we use the power of viral metagenomics to reveal changes in the viral community following a mitomycin C induction experiment in PMMs. The importance of our research is that it will improve our understanding of viral lifestyles in PMMs via exploring the differences in the composition of natural and induced viral communities at the genome and gene levels. This novel information will contribute to deciphering which biotic and abiotic factors may control the transitions between lytic and lysogenic cycles in these extreme environments.

Ecogenomics and Adaptation Strategies of Southern Ocean Viral Communities.

The Southern Ocean (SO) represents up to one-fifth of the total carbon drawdown worldwide. Intense selective pressures (low temperature, high UV radiation, and strong seasonality) and physical isolation characterize the SO, serving as a "natural" laboratory for the study of ecogenomics and unique adaptations of endemic viral populations. Here, we report 2,416 novel viral genomes from the SO, obtained from newly sequenced viral metagenomes in combination with mining of publicly available data sets, which represents a 25% increase in the SO viral genomes reported to date. They comprised 567 viral clusters (defined as approximately genus-level groups), with 186 genera endemic to the SO, demonstrating that the SO viral community is predominantly constituted by a large pool of genetically divergent viral species from widespread viral families. The predicted proteome from SO viruses revealed that several protein clusters related to cold-shock-event responses and quorum-sensing mechanisms involved in the lysogenic-lytic cycle shift decision were under positive selection, which is ultimately important for fine adaptation of viral populations in response to the strong selective pressures of the SO. Finally, changes in the hydrophobicity patterns and amino acid frequencies suggested marked temperature-driven genetic selection of the SO viral proteome. Our data provide valuable insights into how viruses adapt and remain successful in this extreme polar marine environment. IMPORTANCE Viruses are the most abundant biologic entities in marine systems and strongly influence the microbial community composition and diversity. However, little is known about viral communities' adaptation and diversification in the ocean. In this work, we take advantage of the geographical isolation and the intense selective pressures of the SO, to which viruses are exposed, to identify potential viral adaptations due to positive environmental selection and dispersal limitation. To that end, we recovered more than two thousand novel viral genomes, revealing a high degree of divergence in these SO endemic communities. Furthermore, we describe remarkable viral adaptations in amino acid frequencies and accessory proteins related to cold shock response and quorum sensing that allow them to thrive at lower temperatures. Consequently, our work greatly expands the understanding of the diversification of the viral communities of the SO and their particular adaptations to low temperatures.

Metagenomic Insights into the Sewage RNA Virosphere of a Large City.

Sewage-associated viruses can cause several human and animal diseases, such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and respiratory infections. Therefore, their detection in wastewater can reflect current infections within the source population. To date, no viral study has been performed using the sewage of any large South American city. In this study, we used viral metagenomics to obtain a single sample snapshot of the RNA virosphere in the wastewater from Santiago de Chile, the seventh largest city in the Americas. Despite the overrepresentation of dsRNA viruses, our results show that Santiago's sewage RNA virosphere was composed mostly of unknown sequences (88%), while known viral sequences were dominated by viruses that infect bacteria (60%), invertebrates (37%) and humans (2.4%). Interestingly, we discovered three novel genogroups within the Picobirnaviridae family that can fill major gaps in this taxa's evolutionary history. We also demonstrated the dominance of emerging Rotavirus genotypes, such as G8 and G6, that have displaced other classical genotypes, which is consistent with recent clinical reports. This study supports the usefulness of sewage viral metagenomics for public health surveillance. Moreover, it demonstrates the need to monitor the viral component during the wastewater treatment and recycling process, where this virome can constitute a reservoir of human pathogens.

Revision of the family Carabodidae (Acari: Oribatida) XVII. Redescription of Diplobodes africanus Mahunka, 1987 from Kenia. Description of Diplobodes thailande sp. nov. from Thailand and Rwandabodes kayoveae gen. nov., sp. nov. from Rwanda.

Diplobodes africanus Mahunka, 1987, is redescribed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to complement optical microscopy. Diplobodes thailande sp. nov. from Thailand is described. For both species we include inclined views, to permit detailed analysis of ventral regions and to aid understanding of the complex relationships between elevated and depressed zones. Diplobodes thailande sp. nov. presents previously undescribed structures on legs III, which are involved in the leg folding process. Rwandabodes kayoveae gen. nov., sp. nov. presents a series of particular characteristics, such as: elevated interlamellar process on prodorsum, composed of a triangular structure, externally delimited by a low lamellar furrow; in setae inserted on elevated interlamellar process; large free lamellar tip; notogaster lacking ridges; anterior genital furrow extends into an oblique lateral depression; depressed area anterior to anal zone; both zones clearly delimited. These characteristics permit easy differentiation from related genera.

Twenty four years of oral and maxillofacial surgery malpractice claims in Spain: patient safety lessons to learn.

PURPOSE: Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) malpractice risk is of special interest due to both the aesthetic component of some procedures and the complexity of the pathologies involved. This study aims to identify relevant factors involved in OMS professional liability (PL) claims to help achive better management of risks and improve patient safety. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 315 OMS claims opened between 1990 and 2014 from the database of the PL Department of the Catalonian Council of Medical Colleges, and identified their clinical, economical and juridical characteristics. RESULTS: OMS showed a high rate of compensation (33.8%). Dental implant surgery, third molar surgery and rhinoplasty presented the greatest exposure to claims, and in these cases, lack of osteointegration of dental implants, neurologic injury of inferior dentoalveolar/lingual nerves and a poor aesthetic result were the most frequently compensated sequelae. Statistically, significant association was found between this perioperative complications group and the presence of PL. Poorly documented patient information (informed consent document) was also significantly related with PL outcome. CONCLUSIONS: OMS is a specialty of medium risk for claims, especially oral surgery cases. Surgical complications, such as neurologic damage after oral/head and neck procedures and poor aesthetic results, do occur and deserve special attention to improve patient safety, as well as patient-information procedure.

Elucidating Viral Communities During a Phytoplankton Bloom on the West Antarctic Peninsula.

In Antarctic coastal waters where nutrient limitations are low, viruses are expected to play a major role in the regulation of bloom events. Despite this, research in viral identification and dynamics is scarce, with limited information available for the Southern Ocean (SO). This study presents an integrative-omics approach, comparing variation in the viral and microbial active communities on two contrasting sample conditions from a diatom-dominated phytoplankton bloom occurring in Chile Bay in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) in the summer of 2014. The known viral community, initially dominated by Myoviridae family (∼82% of the total assigned reads), changed to become dominated by Phycodnaviridae (∼90%), while viral activity was predominantly driven by dsDNA members of the Phycodnaviridae (∼50%) and diatom infecting ssRNA viruses (∼38%), becoming more significant as chlorophyll a increased. A genomic and phylogenetic characterization allowed the identification of a new viral lineage within the Myoviridae family. This new lineage of viruses infects Pseudoalteromonas and was dominant in the phage community. In addition, a new Phycodnavirus (PaV) was described, which is predicted to infect Phaeocystis antarctica, the main blooming haptophyte in the SO. This work was able to identify the changes in the main viral players during a bloom development and suggests that the changes observed in the virioplankton could be used as a model to understand the development and decay of blooms that occur throughout the WAP.

Revision of the family Carabodidae (Acari: Oribatida) XVI. Synkrotima tsalakpmenoi sp. nov. from Zimbabwe and Kenya, and Congocepheus thailandae sp. nov. from Thailand, including a complementary study of Cavaecarabodes hauseri (Mahunka 1989).

Synkrotima tsalakpmenoi sp. nov. is described from material collected in Zimbabwe and Kenya. This species presents the following characteristics: notogastral integument formed by longitudinally aligned cuticular cords; thick, lanceolate notogastral setae; and genital neotrichy. Synkrotima tsalakpmenoi sp. nov. is compared to S. zimbabwae. Congocepheus thailandae sp. nov. is the first species of this genus described from Thailand, with the following present: large finger-like notogastral projection; notogastral setae c1, c2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h1, h2 situated on promontories; setae c1, c2 located adjacent and parallel.        A complementary study of Cavaecarabodes hauseri, making use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), allows for clarification of particularities regarding complex setae as well as some aspects of the integument, and provides a more detailed diagnosis.

Two new species of the family Nippobodidae (Acari, Oribatida), including a description of the leg-folding process.

Nippobodespanemorfis sp. n. and Leobodestrypasis sp. n. are described by means of optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and compared to other congeners. The leg-folding process is described and illustrated. Nippobodespanemorfis sp. n. is characterised by interlocking, double hook-shaped, posterior prodorsal condyle and anterior zone humeral apophysis; posterior prodorsal depression present. Tutorium a large lamina defining a pocket-shaped structure; bothridial opening ovoid, situated at the bottom of a U-shaped structure; deep, rounded-ovoid anterior notogastral depression present; ten pairs of notogastral setae; c setae looped, dentate, sharply tipped. Marginal setae h3 , p3 on large promontories, followed by deep V-shaped incision; notogaster completely surrounded by circumgastric depression; lateral genital zone with locking structure constituted by longitudinal cuticular elevation, with promontories and a parallel furrow involved in the leg-folding process; genital plate smaller than anal plate. Leobodestrypasis sp. n. is characterised by: the presence of posterior prodorsal depression and anterior notogastral depression; bridge-shaped anterior prodorsal condyles; heart-shaped frontal prodorsal orifice; ten pairs of notogastral setae; posterior prodorsal condyle and humeral condyle interlocked, forming double hook-like structure; circumgastric furrow surrounding entire notogaster; setae lp, h2, h1 situated on shallow medial furrow; notogastral setae lm, lp, h1 , h2 medially aligned; p1, p2, p3, h3 marginally situated. Legs I-IV, tutorium, pedotectum I, and pedotectum II involved in leg folding which is inferred to be a protection mechanism.

Active Crossfire Between Cyanobacteria and Cyanophages in Phototrophic Mat Communities Within Hot Springs.

Cyanophages are viruses with a wide distribution in aquatic ecosystems, that specifically infect Cyanobacteria. These viruses can be readily isolated from marine and fresh waters environments; however, their presence in cosmopolitan thermophilic phototrophic mats remains largely unknown. This study investigates the morphological diversity (TEM), taxonomic composition (metagenomics), and active infectivity (metatranscriptomics) of viral communities over a thermal gradient in hot spring phototrophic mats from Northern Patagonia (Chile). The mats were dominated (up to 53%) by cosmopolitan thermophilic filamentous true-branching cyanobacteria from the genus Mastigocladus, the associated viral community was predominantly composed of Caudovirales (70%), with most of the active infections driven by cyanophages (up to 90% of Caudovirales transcripts). Metagenomic assembly lead to the first full genome description of a T7-like Thermophilic Cyanophage recovered from a hot spring (Porcelana Hot Spring, Chile), with a temperature of 58°C (TC-CHP58). This could potentially represent a world-wide thermophilic lineage of podoviruses that infect cyanobacteria. In the hot spring, TC-CHP58 was active over a temperature gradient from 48 to 66°C, showing a high population variability represented by 1979 single nucleotide variants (SNVs). TC-CHP58 was associated to the Mastigocladus spp. by CRISPR spacers. Marked differences in metagenomic CRISPR loci number and spacers diversity, as well as SNVs, in the TC-CHP58 proto-spacers at different temperatures, reinforce the theory of co-evolution between natural virus populations and cyanobacterial hosts. Considering the importance of cyanobacteria in hot spring biogeochemical cycles, the description of this new cyanopodovirus lineage may have global implications for the functioning of these extreme ecosystems.