De Novo Mutations in SLC25A24 Cause a Disorder Characterized by Early Aging, Bone Dysplasia, Characteristic Face, and Early Demise.

A series of simplex cases have been reported under various diagnoses sharing early aging, especially evident in congenitally decreased subcutaneous fat tissue and sparse hair, bone dysplasia of the skull and fingers, a distinctive facial gestalt, and prenatal and postnatal growth retardation. For historical reasons, we suggest naming the entity Fontaine syndrome. Exome sequencing of four unrelated affected individuals showed that all carried the de novo missense variant c.649C>T (p.Arg217Cys) or c.650G>A (p.Arg217His) in SLC25A24, a solute carrier 25 family member coding for calcium-binding mitochondrial carrier protein (SCaMC-1, also known as SLC25A24). SLC25A24 allows an electro-neutral and reversible exchange of ATP-Mg and phosphate between the cytosol and mitochondria, which is required for maintaining optimal adenine nucleotide levels in the mitochondrial matrix. Molecular dynamic simulation studies predict that p.Arg217Cys and p.Arg217His narrow the substrate cavity of the protein and disrupt transporter dynamics. SLC25A24-mutant fibroblasts and cells expressing p.Arg217Cys or p.Arg217His variants showed altered mitochondrial morphology, a decreased proliferation rate, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased ATP-linked mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The results suggest that the SLC25A24 mutations lead to impaired mitochondrial ATP synthesis and cause hyperpolarization and increased proton leak in association with an impaired energy metabolism. Our findings identify SLC25A24 mutations affecting codon 217 as the underlying genetic cause of human progeroid Fontaine syndrome.

The functional capacity of plantaricin-producing Lactobacillus plantarum SF9C and S-layer-carrying Lactobacillus brevis SF9B to withstand gastrointestinal transit.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the functional capacity of plantaricin-producing Lactobacillus plantarum SF9C and S-layer-carrying Lactobacillus brevis SF9B to withstand gastrointestinal transit and to compete among the gut microbiota in vivo. Considering the probiotic potential of Lb. brevis SF9B, this study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity of Lb. plantarum SF9C and their potential for in vivo colonisation in rats, which could be the basis for the investigation of their synergistic functionality. RESULTS: A plantaricin-encoding cluster was identified in Lb. plantarum SF9C, a strain which efficiently inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC® 19111™ and Staphylococcus aureus 3048. Homology-based three-dimensional (3D) structures of SF9C plantaricins PlnJK and PlnEF were predicted using SWISS-MODEL workspace and the helical wheel representations of the plantaricin peptide helices were generated by HELIQUEST. Contrary to the plantaricin-producing SF9C strain, the S-layer-carrying SF9B strain excluded Escherichia coli 3014 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium FP1 from the adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Finally, PCR-DGGE analysis of the V2-V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed the transit of the two selected lactobacilli through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Microbiome profiling via the Illumina MiSeq platform revealed the prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. in the gut microbiota of the Lactobacillus-treated rats, even on the 10th day after the Lactobacillus application, compared to the microbiota of the healthy and AlCl3-exposed rats before Lactobacillus treatment. CONCLUSION: The combined application of Lb. plantarum SF9C and Lb. brevis SF9B was able to influence the intestinal microbiota composition in rats, which was reflected in the increased abundance of Lactobacillus genus, but also in the altered abundances of other bacterial genera, either in the model of healthy or aberrant gut microbiota of rats. The antibacterial activity and capacity to withstand in GIT conditions contributed to the functional aspects of SF9C and SF9B strains that could be incorporated in the probiotic-containing functional foods with a possibility to positively modulate the gut microbiota composition.

Metagenomic profiles of different types of Italian high-moisture Mozzarella cheese.

The microbiota of different types of Italian high-moisture Mozzarella cheese produced using cow or buffalo milk, acidified with natural or selected cultures, and sampled at the dairy or at the mass market, was evaluated using a Next Generation Sequencing approach, in order to identify possible drivers of the bacterial diversity. Cow Mozzarella and buffalo Mozzarella acidified with commercial cultures were dominated by Streptococcus thermophilus, while buffalo samples acidified with natural whey cultures showed similar prevalence of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. helveticus and S. thermophilus. Moreover, several species of non-starter lactic acid bacteria were frequently detected. The diversity in cow Mozzarella microbiota was much higher than that of water buffalo samples. Cluster analysis clearly separated cow's cheeses from buffalo's ones, the former having a higher prevalence of psychrophilic taxa, and the latter of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. A higher prevalence of psychrophilic species and potential spoilers was observed in samples collected at the mass retail, suggesting that longer exposures to cooling temperatures and longer production-to-consumption times could significantly affect microbiota diversity. Our results could help in detecting some kind of thermal abuse during the production or storage of mozzarella cheese.

Heterozygous reelin mutations cause autosomal-dominant lateral temporal epilepsy.

Autosomal-dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE) is a genetic epilepsy syndrome clinically characterized by focal seizures with prominent auditory symptoms. ADLTE is genetically heterogeneous, and mutations in LGI1 account for fewer than 50% of affected families. Here, we report the identification of causal mutations in reelin (RELN) in seven ADLTE-affected families without LGI1 mutations. We initially investigated 13 ADLTE-affected families by performing SNP-array linkage analysis and whole-exome sequencing and identified three heterozygous missense mutations co-segregating with the syndrome. Subsequent analysis of 15 small ADLTE-affected families revealed four additional missense mutations. 3D modeling predicted that all mutations have structural effects on protein-domain folding. Overall, RELN mutations occurred in 7/40 (17.5%) ADLTE-affected families. RELN encodes a secreted protein, Reelin, which has important functions in both the developing and adult brain and is also found in the blood serum. We show that ADLTE-related mutations significantly decrease serum levels of Reelin, suggesting an inhibitory effect of mutations on protein secretion. We also show that Reelin and LGI1 co-localize in a subset of rat brain neurons, supporting an involvement of both proteins in a common molecular pathway underlying ADLTE. Homozygous RELN mutations are known to cause lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia. Our findings extend the spectrum of neurological disorders associated with RELN mutations and establish a link between RELN and LGI1, which play key regulatory roles in both the developing and adult brain.

Novel insights on microbiome dynamics during a gill disease outbreak in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The generic term "Gill disease" refers to a wide range of disorders that affect the gills and severely impact salmonid aquaculture systems worldwide. In rainbow trout freshwater aquaculture, various etiological agents causing gill diseases have been described, particularly Flavobacterium and Amoeba species, but research studies suggest a more complex and multifactorial aetiology. Here, a cohort of rainbow trout affected by gill disease is monitored both through standard laboratory techniques and 16S rRNA Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis during a natural disease outbreak and subsequent antibiotic treatment with Oxytetracycline. NGS results show a clear clustering of the samples between pre- and post-treatment based on the microbial community of the gills. Interestingly, the three main pathogenic bacteria species in rainbow trout (Yersinia ruckeri, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, and Flavobacterium branchiophilum) appear to be weak descriptors of the diversity between pre-treatment and post-treatment groups. In this study, the dynamics of the gill microbiome during the outbreak and subsequent treatment are far more complex than previously reported in the literature, and environmental factors seem of the utmost importance in determining gill disease. These findings present a potential novel perspective on the diagnosis and management of gill diseases, showing the limitations of conventional laboratory methodologies in elucidating the complexity of this disease in rainbow trout. To the authors' knowledge, this work is the first to describe the microbiome of rainbow trout gills during a natural outbreak and subsequent antibiotic treatment. The results of this study suggest that NGS can play a critical role in the analysis and comprehension of gill pathology. Using NGS in future research is highly recommended to gain deeper insights into such diseases correlating gill's microbiome with other possible cofactors and establish strong prevention guidelines.

Assessment of residual plant DNA in bulk milk for Grana Padano PDO production by a metabarcoding approach.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of DNA metabarcoding, by rbcl as barcode marker, to identify and classify the small traces of plant DNA isolated from raw milk used to produce Grana Padano (GP) cheese. GP is one of the most popular Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) produced in Italy in accordance with the GP PDO specification rules that define which forage can be used for feeding cows. A total of 42 GP bulk tank milk samples were collected from 14 dairies located in the Grana Padano production area. For the taxonomic classification, a local database with the rbcL sequences available in NCBI on September 2020/March 2021 for the Italian flora was generated. A total of 8,399,591 reads were produced with an average of 204,868 per sample (range 37,002-408,724) resulting in 16, 31 and 28 dominant OTUs at family, genus and species level, respectively. The taxonomic analysis of plant species in milk samples identified 7 families, 14 genera and 14 species, the statistical analysis conducted using alpha and beta diversity approaches, did not highlight differences among the investigated samples. However, the milk samples are featured by a high plant variability and the lack of differences at multiple taxonomic levels could be due to the standardisation of the feed rationing, as requested by the GP rules. The results suggest that DNA metabarcoding is a valuable resource to explore plant DNA traces in a complex matrix such as milk.

Environmental DNA: The First Snapshot of the Vertebrate Biodiversity in Three Sicilian Lakes.

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem.

Genetic dissection of barley morphology and development.

Since the early 20th century, barley (Hordeum vulgare) has been a model for investigating the effects of physical and chemical mutagens and for exploring the potential of mutation breeding in crop improvement. As a consequence, extensive and well-characterized collections of morphological and developmental mutants have been assembled that represent a valuable resource for exploring a wide range of complex and fundamental biological processes. We constructed a collection of 881 backcrossed lines containing mutant alleles that induce a majority of the morphological and developmental variation described in this species. After genotyping these lines with up to 3,072 single nucleotide polymorphisms, comparison to their recurrent parent defined the genetic location of 426 mutant alleles to chromosomal segments, each representing on average <3% of the barley genetic map. We show how the gene content in these segments can be predicted through conservation of synteny with model cereal genomes, providing a route to rapid gene identification.

Growth fitness, heme uptake and genomic variants in mutants of oxygen-tolerant Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains.

Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) is a powerful tool to improve the fitness of industrially relevant microorganisms, because it circumvents some of the problems related to the use of genetically modified strains. In this study, we used an ALE strategy involving serial batch cultivations in aerobic and respiratory conditions to generate spontaneous mutants from the respiration-competent strain Lacticaseibacillus casei N87. Genotypic changes in selected mutants were investigated using whole genome sequencing (WGS). The O2-tolerant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum C17 and its mutant C17-m58 (obtained from a previous ALE study) were included in heme uptake experiments and in WGS and variant calling analyses. Several Lcb. casei N87 mutants cultivated under aerobic and respiratory conditions showed improved biomass production, O2 uptake and oxidative stress tolerance compared to the parental strain. Mutants of Lcb. casei and Lpb. plantarum differed from the parental strains in the ability to use heme and menaquinone. High heme concentrations (> 10 mg/L), however, were toxic for all strains. Single nucleotide modifications (SNPs) were detected in some genes encoding for proteins and transcriptional regulators involved in carbon metabolism, oxidative stress, redox balance, and cell wall properties, but their role in the evolved phenotypes needs further investigations. We conclude that prolonged adaptation to aerobic and respiratory life-style may be used as natural strategy to generate strains with improved O2-consuming ability and oxidative stress tolerance, two important features to develop robust cultures and to reduce oxidative processes in foods.

Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity in RNA-Seq-based detection of grapevine viral pathogens.

Virus detection is a crucial step for the implementation of clean stock programs that preserve healthy crop species. Viral infections in grapevine, a vegetatively propagated perennial crop, cannot be eradicated from the vineyards by the application of agrochemicals and must be curtailed at the stage of nursery production during the propagation of planting material. Viral detection is routinely performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-qPCR). High throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches have the potential to detect all viral pathogens in a plant specimen. However, to date, no published HTS-based study has used threshold selection based on ROC curves for discriminating positive from negative samples. To fill this gap, we assessed the specificity and sensitivity of different sequencing and bioinformatics approaches for nine common viruses, which were tested in the same specimens using ELISA and/or RT-qPCR. The normalized detection thresholds giving the best results were 19.28 Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads (FPKM) for alignment-based total RNA-Seq approaches, 386 Reads Per Million mapped reads (RPM) for metagenomics-based total RNA-Seq, 1572 FPKM for alignment-based small RNA-Seq analysis and 0.97 % of contigs for de novo analysis of small RNA-Seq data. Validation of the proposed thresholds using independent specimens collected over time from the same stocks and other specimens collected from nearby stocks that had derived from the same propagating material showed that HTS approaches are accurate, with RNA-Seq approaches showing better performance than small RNA-Seq.

First detection of an Italian human-to-cat outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant - lineage B.1.1.7.

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and their rapid spread pose a threat to both human and animal health and may conceal unknown risks. This report describes an Italian human-to-cat outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 (the Alpha variant) . On March 7th, 2021, approximately ten days after COVID-19 appeared in the family, the onset of respiratory signs in a cat by COVID-19-affected owners led to an in-depth diagnostic investigation, combining clinical and serological data with rt-qPCR-based virus detection and whole genome sequencing. The Alpha variant was confirmed first in the owners and a few days later in the cat that was then monitored weekly: the course was similar with one-week lag time in the cat. In addition, based on comparative analysis of genome sequences from our study and from 200 random Italian cases of Alpha variant, the familial cluster was confirmed. The temporal sequence along with the genomic data support a human-to-animal transmission. Such an event emphasizes the importance of studying the circulation and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in humans and animals to better understand and prevent potential spillover risks or unwarranted alerts involving our pet populations.

Lynch syndrome and Muir-Torre phenotype associated with a recurrent variant in the 3'UTR of the MSH6 gene.

A MSH6 3'UTR variant (c.*23_26dup) was found in 13 unrelated families consulted for Lynch/Muir-Torre Syndrome. This variant, which is very rare in the genomic databases, was absent in healthy controls and strongly segregated with the disease in the studied pedigrees. All tumors were defective for MSH2/MSH6/MSH3 proteins expression, but only MSH2 somatic pathogenic mutations were found in 5 of the 12 sequenced tumors. Moreover, we had no evidence of MSH6 transcript decrease in carriers, whereas MSH2 transcript was downregulated. Additional evaluations performed in representative carriers, including karyotype, arrayCGH and Linked-Reads whole genome sequencing, failed to evidence any MSH2 germline pathogenic variant. Posterior probability of pathogenicity for MSH6 c.*23_26dup was obtained from a multifactorial analysis incorporating segregation and phenotypic data and resulted >0.999, allowing to classify the variant as pathogenic (InSiGHT Class 5). Carriers shared a common haplotype involving MSH2/MSH6 loci, then a cryptic disease-associated variant, linked with MSH6 c.*23_26dup, cannot be completely excluded. Even if it is not clear whether the MSH6 variant is pathogenic per se or simply a marker of a disease-associated MSH2/MSH6 haplotype, all data collected on patients and pedigrees prompted us to manage the variant as pathogenic and to offer predictive testing within these families.

Asymmetric allele-specific expression in relation to developmental variation and drought stress in barley hybrids.

In the present study, we analysed allele-specific expression (ASE) in the selfing species barley to assess the frequency of cis-acting regulatory variation and the effects of genetic background, developmental differences and drought stress on allelic expression levels. We measured ASE ratios in 30 genes putatively involved in stress responses in five hybrids and their reciprocals, namely Hordeum spontaneum 41-1/Alexis (HAl), Hordeum spontaneum 41-1/Arta (HAr), Sloop/WI3408 (SW), Tadmor/Sloop (TS) and Tadmor/WI3408 (TW). In order to detect cis-acting variation related to drought and developmental changes, the barley hybrids were grown under control and water-limited conditions, and leaf tissue was harvested at two developmental stages. The analysis demonstrated that more than half of the genes measured (63%) showed allelic differences in expression of up to 19-fold due to cis-regulatory variation in at least one cross by treatment/stage combination. Drought stress induced changes in allelic expression ratios, indicating differences between drought responsive cis-elements. In addition, ASE differences between developmental stages suggested the presence of cis-acting elements interacting with developmental cues. We were also able to demonstrate that the levels and frequency of allelic imbalance and hence differences in cis-regulatory elements are correlated with the genetic divergence between the parental lines, but may also arise as an adaptation to diverse habitats. Our findings suggest that cis-regulatory variation is a common phenomenon in barley, and may provide a molecular basis of transgression. Differential expression of near-isogenic members of the same gene family could potentially result in hybrid lines out performing their parents in terms of expression level, timing and response to developmental and environmental cues. Identification and targeted manipulation of cis-regulatory elements will assist in breeding improved crops with a better adaptation to changing environments.

Exploiting induced variation to dissect quantitative traits in barley.

The identification of genes underlying complex quantitative traits such as grain yield by means of conventional genetic analysis (positional cloning) requires the development of several large mapping populations. However, it is possible that phenotypically related, but more extreme, allelic variants generated by mutational studies could provide a means for more efficient cloning of QTLs (quantitative trait loci). In barley (Hordeum vulgare), with the development of high-throughput genome analysis tools, efficient genome-wide identification of genetic loci harbouring mutant alleles has recently become possible. Genotypic data from NILs (near-isogenic lines) that carry induced or natural variants of genes that control aspects of plant development can be compared with the location of QTLs to potentially identify candidate genes for development--related traits such as grain yield. As yield itself can be divided into a number of allometric component traits such as tillers per plant, kernels per spike and kernel size, mutant alleles that both affect these traits and are located within the confidence intervals for major yield QTLs may represent extreme variants of the underlying genes. In addition, the development of detailed comparative genomic models based on the alignment of a high-density barley gene map with the rice and sorghum physical maps, has enabled an informed prioritization of 'known function' genes as candidates for both QTLs and induced mutant genes.

Quick MLPA test for quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 copy numbers.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease caused in about 95% of SMA patients by homozygous deletion of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene or its conversion to the highly homologous SMN2 gene. In the majority of cases, disease severity correlates inversely with increased SMN2 copy number. Because of the comparatively high incidence of healthy carriers and severity of the disease, detection of sequence alterations and quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 copy numbers are essential for exact diagnosis and genetic counselling. Several assays have been developed for this purpose. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) is a versatile technique for relative quantification of different nucleic acid sequences in a single reaction. Here, we establish a quick MLPA-based assay for the detection of SMN1 and SMN2 copy numbers with high specificity and low complexity.

The miRNA Content of Exosomes Released from the Glioma Microenvironment Can Affect Malignant Progression.

Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are infiltrative primary brain tumors that in 70% of the cases undergo anaplastic transformation, deeply affecting prognosis. However, the timing of progression is heterogeneous. Recently, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has gained much attention either as prognostic factor or therapeutic target. Through the release of extracellular vesicles, the TME contributes to tumor progression by transferring bioactive molecules such as microRNA. The aim of the study was to take advantage of glioma-associated stem cells (GASC), an in vitro model of the glioma microenvironment endowed with a prognostic significance, and their released exosomes, to investigate the possible role of exosome miRNAs in favoring the anaplastic transformation of LGG. Therefore, by deep sequencing, we analyzed and compared the miRNA profile of GASC and exosomes obtained from LGG patients characterized by different prognosis. Results showed that exosomes presented a different signature, when compared to their cellular counterpart and that, although sharing several miRNAs, exosomes of patients with a bad prognosis, selectively expressed some miRNAs possibly responsible for the more aggressive phenotype. These findings get insights into the value of TME and exosomes as potential biomarkers for precision medicine approaches aimed at improving LGG prognostic stratification and therapeutic strategies.

Transposable elements and the plant pan-genomes.

The comparative sequencing of several grass genomes has revealed that transposable elements are largely responsible for extensive variation in both intergenic and local genic content, not only between closely related species but also among individuals within a species. These observations indicate that a single genome sequence might not reflect the entire genomic complement of a species, and prompted us to introduce the concept of the plant pan-genome, which includes core genomic features that are common to all individuals and a dispensable genome composed of partially shared and/or non-shared DNA sequence elements. Uncovering the intriguing nature of the dispensable genome, namely its composition, origin and function, represents a step forward towards an understanding of the processes that generate genetic diversity and phenotypic variation. The developing view of transcriptional regulation as a complex and modular system, in which long-range interactions and the involvement of transposable elements are frequently observed, lends support to the possibility of an important functional role for the dispensable genome and could make it less dispensable than previously thought.

Do you cov me? Effect of coverage reduction on metagenome shotgun sequencing studies.

Shotgun metagenomics sequencing is a powerful tool for the characterization of complex biological matrices, enabling analysis of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and viruses in a single experiment, with the possibility of reconstructing de novo the whole metagenome or a set of genes of interest. One of the main factors limiting the use of shotgun metagenomics on wide scale projects is the high cost associated with the approach. However, we demonstrate that-for some applications-it is possible to use shallow shotgun metagenomics to characterize complex biological matrices while reducing costs. We measured the variation of several summary statistics simulating a decrease in sequencing depth by randomly subsampling a number of reads. The main statistics that were compared are alpha diversity estimates, species abundance, detection threshold, and ability of reconstructing the metagenome in terms of length and completeness. Our results show that a classification of prokaryotic, eukaryotic and viral communities can be accurately performed even using very low number of reads, both in mock communities and in real complex matrices. With samples of 100,000 reads, the alpha diversity estimates were in most cases comparable to those obtained with the full sample, and the estimation of the abundance of all the present species was in excellent agreement with those obtained with the full sample. On the contrary, any task involving the reconstruction of the metagenome performed poorly, even with the largest simulated subsample (1M reads). The length of the reconstructed assembly was smaller than the length obtained with the full dataset, and the proportion of conserved genes that were identified in the meta-genome was drastically reduced compared to the full sample. Shallow shotgun metagenomics can be a useful tool to describe the structure of complex matrices, but it is not adequate to reconstruct-even partially-the metagenome.

The microbiota of hematophagous ectoparasites collected from migratory birds.

Arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of human pathogens worldwide. Several arthropod species are bird ectoparasites, however, no study to date has characterized their microbiota as a whole. We sampled hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on migratory birds and performed 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to characterize their microbial community. A total of 194 ectoparasites were collected from 115 avian hosts and classified into three groups: a) Hippoboscidae diptera; b) ticks; c) other arthropods. Metabarcoding showed that endosymbionts were the most abundant genera of the microbial community, including Wolbachia for Hippoboscidae diptera, Candidatus Midichloria for ticks, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus for the other arthropod group. Genera including pathogenic species were: Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Francisella, Bartonella, Anaplasma. Co-infection with Borrelia-Rickettsia and Anaplasma-Rickettsia was also observed. A global overview of the microbiota of ectoparasites sampled from migratory birds was obtained with the use of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. A novel finding is the first identification of Rickettsia in the common swift louse fly, Crataerina pallida. Given their possible interaction with pathogenic viruses and bacteria, the presence of endosymbionts in arthropods merits attention. Finally, molecular characterization of genera, including both pathogenic and symbiont species, plays a pivotal role in the design of targeted molecular diagnostics.

An NF-κB signature predicts low-grade glioma prognosis: a precision medicine approach based on patient-derived stem cells.

Background: While recent genome-wide association studies have suggested novel low-grade glioma (LGG) stratification models based on a molecular classification, we explored the potential clinical utility of patient-derived cells. Specifically, we assayed glioma-associated stem cells (GASC) that are patient-derived and representative of the glioma microenvironment. Methods: By next-generation sequencing, we analyzed the transcriptional profile of GASC derived from patients who underwent anaplastic transformation either within 48 months (GASC-BAD) or ≥7 years (GASC-GOOD) after surgery. Gene set enrichment and pathway enrichment analyses were applied. The prognostic role of a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signature derived from GASC-BAD was tested in 530 newly diagnosed diffuse LGG patients comprised within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The prognostic value of the GASC upstream regulator p65 NF-κB was assessed, by univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, in a single center case study, including 146 grade II LGGs. Results: The key elements differentiating the transcriptome of GASC isolated from LGG with different prognoses were mostly related to hallmarks of cancer (eg, inflammatory/immune process, NF-κB activation). Consistently, the NF-κB signature extrapolated from the GASC study was prognostic in the dataset of TCGA. Finally, the nuclear expression of the NF-kB-p65 protein, assessed using an inexpensive immunohistochemical method, was an independent predictor of both overall survival and malignant progression-free survival in 146 grade II LGGs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates for the first time the independent prognostic role of NF-kB activation in LGG and outlines the role of patient-based stem cell models as a tool for precision medicine approaches.