Gut and Gill-Associated Microbiota of the Flatfish European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa): Diversity, Metabolome and Bioactivity against Human and Aquaculture Pathogens.

Similar to other marine holobionts, fish are colonized by complex microbial communities that promote their health and growth. Fish-associated microbiota is emerging as a promising source of bioactive metabolites. Pleuronectes platessa (European plaice, plaice), a flatfish with commercial importance, is common in the Baltic Sea. Here we used a culture-dependent survey followed by molecular identification to identify microbiota associated with the gills and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of P. platessa, then profiled their antimicrobial activity and metabolome. Altogether, 66 strains (59 bacteria and 7 fungi) were isolated, with Proteobacteria being the most abundant phylum. Gill-associated microbiota accounted for higher number of isolates and was dominated by the Proteobacteria (family Moraxellaceae) and Actinobacteria (family Nocardiaceae), whereas Gram-negative bacterial families Vibrionaceae and Shewanellaceae represented the largest group associated with the GIT. The EtOAc extracts of the solid and liquid media cultures of 21 bacteria and 2 fungi representing the diversity of cultivable plaice-associated microbiota was profiled for their antimicrobial activity against three fish pathogens, human bacterial pathogen panel (ESKAPE) and two human fungal pathogens. More than half of all tested microorganisms, particularly those originating from the GIT epithelium, exhibited antagonistic effect against fish pathogens (Lactococcus garvieae, Vibrio ichthyoenteri) and/or human pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Proteobacteria represented the most active isolates. Notably, the solid media extracts displayed higher activity against fish pathogens, while liquid culture extracts were more active against human pathogens. Untargeted metabolomics approach using feature-based molecular networking showed the high chemical diversity of the liquid extracts that contained undescribed clusters. This study highlights plaice-associated microbiota as a potential source of antimicrobials for the control of human and the aquaculture-associated infections. This is the first study reporting diversity, bioactivity and chemical profile of culture-dependent microbiota of plaice.

Herptile gut microbiomes: a natural system to study multi-kingdom interactions between filamentous fungi and bacteria.

Reptiles and amphibians (herptiles) are some of the most endangered and threatened species on the planet and numerous conservation strategies are being implemented with the goal of ensuring species recovery. Little is known, however, about the gut microbiome of wild herptiles and how it relates to the health of these populations. Here, we report results from the gut microbiome characterization of both a broad survey of herptiles, and the correlation between the fungus Basidiobolus, and the bacterial community supported by a deeper, more intensive sampling of Plethodon glutinosus, known as slimy salamanders. We demonstrate that bacterial communities sampled from frogs, lizards, and salamanders are structured by the host taxonomy and that Basidiobolus is a common and natural component of these wild gut microbiomes. Intensive sampling of multiple hosts across the ecoregions of Tennessee revealed that geography and host:geography interactions are strong predictors of distinct Basidiobolus operational taxonomic units present within a given host. Co-occurrence analyses of Basidiobolus and bacterial community diversity support a correlation and interaction between Basidiobolus and bacteria, suggesting that Basidiobolus may play a role in structuring the bacterial community. We further the hypothesis that this interaction is advanced by unique specialized metabolism originating from horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to Basidiobolus and demonstrate that Basidiobolus is capable of producing a diversity of specialized metabolites including small cyclic peptides.IMPORTANCEThis work significantly advances our understanding of biodiversity and microbial interactions in herptile microbiomes, the role that fungi play as a structural and functional members of herptile gut microbiomes, and the chemical functions that structure microbiome phenotypes. We also provide an important observational system of how the gut microbiome represents a unique environment that selects for novel metabolic functions through horizontal gene transfer between fungi and bacteria. Such studies are needed to better understand the complexity of gut microbiomes in nature and will inform conservation strategies for threatened species of herpetofauna.

Evaluation of an urban phase of the specialized care program for diabetes in iran: providers' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: To develop and implement more effective programs of health care delivery to prevent and control diabetes, Iran has developed and implemented the urban phase of the specialized care program for diabetic's patients. Deeply understanding the views and experiences of various stakeholders in this program can assist policy makers to identify the program's strengths and weaknesses and enable them to develop action plans. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the planning and establishing of this program from the perspective of providers. METHODS: A qualitative study was applied using documents review and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the program leads and relevant executive managers of the local medical universities. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Three main themes and nine subthemes were explored, including program planning (the content and the strengths, weaknesses, and corrective measures), implementation (executive mechanisms at the university level, establishment of referral system, collaboration between deputies of health and treatment, information dissemination mechanisms, satisfaction measurement and strengths, weaknesses and corrective measures), and result (implementation results). CONCLUSIONS: The urban phase of the specialized care program for diabetic's patients has been a good base to improve continuity of care, which emphasizes on controlling and prevention of occurrence or progression of chronic complications of diabetes. This model can also be used for better management of other chronic disease. However, there are still issues that should be considered and improved such as allocation of guaranteed resources, more trained health professionals, and more evidence based guidelines and protocols, better collaboration among medical universities' deputies, clearer payment system for program evaluation and better information management system.