MyxoPortal: a database of myxobacterial genomic features.

Myxobacteria are predatory bacteria with antimicrobial activity, utilizing complex mechanisms to kill their prey and assimilate their macromolecules. Having large genomes encoding hundreds of secondary metabolites, hydrolytic enzymes and antimicrobial peptides, these organisms are widely studied for their antibiotic potential. MyxoPortal is a comprehensive genomic database hosting 262 genomes of myxobacterial strains. Datasets included provide genome annotations with gene locations, functions, amino acids and nucleotide sequences, allowing analysis of evolutionary and taxonomical relationships between strains and genes. Biosynthetic gene clusters are identified by AntiSMASH, and dbAMP-generated antimicrobial peptide sequences are included as a resource for novel antimicrobial discoveries, while curated datasets of CRISPR/Cas genes, regulatory protein sequences, and phage associated genes give useful insights into each strain's biological properties. MyxoPortal is an intuitive open-source database that brings together application-oriented genomic features that can be used in taxonomy, evolution, predation and antimicrobial research. MyxoPortal can be accessed at http://dicsoft1.physics.iisc.ac.in/MyxoPortal/. Database URL:  http://dicsoft1.physics.iisc.ac.in/MyxoPortal/. Graphical Abstract.

Feasibility, acceptability and equity of a mobile intervention for Upscaling Participatory Action and Videos for Agriculture and Nutrition (m-UPAVAN) in rural Odisha, India.

Addressing undernutrition requires strategies that remove barriers to health for all. We adapted an intervention from the 'UPAVAN' trial to a mobile intervention (m-UPAVAN) during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Odisha, India. In UPAVAN, women's groups viewed and discussed participatory videos on nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive agricultural (NSA) topics. In m-UPAVAN, weekly videos and audios on the same topics were disseminated via WhatsApp and an interactive voice response system. We assessed feasibility, acceptability, and equity of m-UPAVAN using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. m-UPAVAN ran from Mar-Sept 2021 in 133 UPAVAN villages. In Feb-Mar 2021, we invited 1000 mothers of children aged 0-23 months to participate in a sociodemographic phone survey. Of those, we randomly sampled 200 mothers each month for five months for phone surveys to monitor progress against targets. Feasibility targets were met if >70% received videos/audios and >50% watched/listened at least once. Acceptability targets were met if >75% of those watching/listening liked the videos/audios and <20% opted out of the intervention. We investigated mothers' experiences of the intervention, including preferences for m-UPAVAN versus UPAVAN, using in-person, semi-structured interviews (n = 38). Of the 810 mothers we reached, 666 provided monitoring data at least once. Among these mothers, feasibility and acceptability targets were achieved. m-UPAVAN engaged whole families, which facilitated family-level discussions around promoted practices. Women valued the ability to access m-UPAVAN content on demand. This advantage did not apply to many mothers with limited phone access. Mothers highlighted that the UPAVAN interventions' in-person participatory approaches and longer videos were more conducive to learning and inclusive, and that mobile approaches provide important complementarity. We conclude that mobile NSA interventions are feasible and acceptable, can engage families, and reinforce learning. However, in-person participatory approaches remain essential for improving equity of NSA interventions. Investments are needed in developing and testing hybrid NSA interventions.

Corallococcus senghenyddensis sp. nov., a myxobacterium with potent antimicrobial activity.

AIM: Corallococcus species are diverse in the natural environment with 10 new Corallococcus species having been characterized in just the last 5 years. As well as being an abundant myxobacterial genus, they produce several secondary metabolites, including Corallopyronin, Corramycin, Coralmycin, and Corallorazine. We isolated a novel strain Corallococcus spp RDP092CA from soil in South Wales, UK, using Candida albicans as prey bait and characterized its predatory activities against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. METHODS AND RESULTS: The size of the RDP092CA genome was 8.5 Mb with a G + C content of 71.4%. Phylogenetically, RDP092CA is closely related to Corallococcus interemptor, C. coralloides, and C. exiguus. However, genome average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values are lower than 95% and 70% when compared to those type strains, implying that it belongs to a novel species. The RDP092CA genome harbours seven types of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and 152 predicted antimicrobial peptides. In predation assays, RDP092CA showed good predatory activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, and Staphylococcus aureus but not against Enterococcus faecalis. It also showed good antibiofilm activity against all five bacteria in biofilm assays. Antifungal activity against eight Candida spp. was variable, with particularly good activity against Meyerozyma guillermondii DSM 6381. Antimicrobial peptide RDP092CA_120 exhibited potent antibiofilm activity with >50% inhibition and >60% dispersion of biofilms at concentrations down to 1 µg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that strain RDP092CA represents a novel species with promising antimicrobial activities, Corallococcus senghenyddensis sp. nov. (=NBRC 116490T =CCOS 2109T), based on morphological, biochemical, and genomic features.

Micronutrient status in children aged 6-59 months with severe wasting and/or nutritional edema: implications for nutritional rehabilitation formulations.

Undernutrition remains a global struggle and is associated with almost 45% of deaths in children younger than 5 years. Despite advances in management of severe wasting (though less so for nutritional edema), full and sustained recovery remains elusive. Children with severe wasting and/or nutritional edema (also commonly referred to as severe acute malnutrition and part of the umbrella term "severe malnutrition") continue to have a high mortality rate. This suggests a likely multifactorial etiology that may include micronutrient deficiency. Micronutrients are currently provided in therapeutic foods at levels based on expert opinion, with few supportive studies of high quality having been conducted. This narrative review looks at the knowledge base on micronutrient deficiencies in children aged 6-59 months who have severe wasting and/or nutritional edema, in addition to highlighting areas where further research is warranted (See "Future Directions" section).

Hidden in plain sight: hyperspectral documentation of complex biofluorescence produced by the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis).

Biofluorescence in echinoderms is largely unexplored, and even though the green sea urchinStrongylocentrotus droebachiensisis a well-studied species, the presence and/or function of fluorescence remains very poorly understood. Hyperspectral imaging was conducted on adult sea urchins (N = 380) while fluorospectrometric analysis was conducted on sea urchin coelomic fluid (N = 30). Fluorescence was documented in both the spines and coelomic fluid ofS. droebachiensis. Intact spines exhibited a low intensity green emission (∼550-600 nm), while broken spines averaged a high emission peak in the green spectrum (∼580 nm). Sea urchins produce a red exudate with a pronounced emission peak (∼680 nm) with a shoulder peak (∼730 nm). The sampled coelomic fluid exhibited high variability, with a majority exhibiting a low-level green fluorescence while pronounced emission peaks (N = 5) were found in the red spectrum (∼680 nm). The complex fluorescence produced byS. droebachiensiswarrants further investigation on its applicability for monitoring welfare of sea urchins in aquaculture facilities.

Social Distance Approximation on Public Transport Using Stereo Depth Camera and Passenger Pose Estimation.

In order to effectively balance enforced guidance/regulation during a pandemic and limit infection transmission, with the necessity for public transportation services to remain safe and operational, it is imperative to understand and monitor environmental conditions and typical behavioural patterns within such spaces. Social distancing ability on public transport as well as the use of advanced computer vision techniques to accurately measure this are explored in this paper. A low-cost depth-sensing system is deployed on a public bus as a means to approximate social distancing measures and study passenger habits in relation to social distancing. The results indicate that social distancing on this form of public transport is unlikely for an individual beyond a 28% occupancy threshold, with an 89% chance of being within 1-2 m from at least one other passenger and a 57% chance of being within less than one metre from another passenger at any one point in time. Passenger preference for seating is also analysed, which clearly demonstrates that for typical passengers, ease of access and comfort, as well as seats having a view, are preferred over maximising social-distancing measures. With a highly detailed and comprehensive set of acquired data and accurate measurement capability, the employed equipment and processing methodology also prove to be a robust approach for the application.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Associated Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor in the Nasal Cavity.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft tissue sarcomas, with 50% of cases associated with type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1). A 27-year-old male patient was referred to our department with an extended right nasal cavity MPNST. The lesion extended to the skull base, intracranial, parapharyngeal space, and infratemporal fossa. NF-1 was also confirmed by a neurologist. The patient was negative for distant metastases. Due to the tumor's proximity to vital structures, it was decided to treat it with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nasal cavity MPNSTs are particularly uncommon, with few reported cases. They should be included in the differential diagnosis of nasal masses or recurrent nosebleeds, particularly in patients with NF-1. Careful follow-up is essential to detect early recurrence, which contributes to a better prognosis.

Jugulotympanic Paraganglioma With Preoperative Embolization That Led to Facial Nerve Paralysis and Surgical Rerouting of the Nerve.

Paragangliomas are mostly benign, slow-growing, hypervascular tumors originating from neural crest derivatives. Head and neck (H&N) paragangliomas represent <1% of all H&N tumors and <5% are malignant. They are mostly non-secreting tumors that originate from autonomous parasympathetic paraganglia. We present a case of right middle ear jugulotympanic paraganglioma, a subtype of H&N paragangliomas, which had been misdiagnosed as otosclerosis for about 10 years. The patient was suffering from worsening tinnitus along with hearing impairment. High clinical suspicion of jugular paraganglioma prevented us from taking a biopsy. Complete surgical excision after preoperative embolization was decided. Embolization resulted in facial nerve paralysis, however, facial nerve rerouting was performed during the complete surgical excision of the tumor. The patient remains disease-free three years postoperatively, with House-Brackmann III facial nerve paralysis.

Observations from the Hydrolysis of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis).

There is a large amount of coproduct generated by the sea urchin fisheries around the world as well as a growing interest in removing large quantities of undersize and low value sea urchins from barren areas in the northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as other areas around the world. The authors believe there is scope to develop a hydrolysate product from this and this study gives preliminary observations on the characteristics of hydrolysate from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. The biochemical composition for S. droebachiensis is moisture 64.1%, protein 3.4%, oil 0.9%, and ash 29.8%. Amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, lipid-class, and fatty acid composition are also presented. The authors suggest a sensory-panel mapping be undertaken on future sea urchin hydrolysates. Possible uses for the hydrolysate are unclear at this stage but the combination of amino acids and the relatively high levels of glycine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid should be further investigated.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis to the Tonsil: A Case Report of a Rare Entity.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most dominant malignant neoplasm of the liver and constitutes the majority of all primary malignancies. Most reported cases of HCC occur in the developing world and are mainly associated with chronic hepatitis B and C viruses. Both hematogenous and lymphatic spreading is common in HCC. Patients with HCC might manifest extra-hepatic metastases and the lungs are the most common potential site of metastatic deposits. Rare sites of metastatic disease have also been described. Oropharyngeal metastases of HCC are rare and there are few reports available in the literature. We report a rare case of extra-hepatic metastasis of HCC to the right tonsil in an 84-year-old patient. The clinical appearance of metastatic oral lesions could be easily underestimated, and diagnosis of the primary tumor might delay. A biopsy of the oral lesion is important for an accurate diagnosis. Metastasis in the oral cavity and oropharynx of an HCC is usually evidence of widespread disease and predisposes to an ominous prognosis.

The Landscape of Fear as a Safety Eco-Field: Experimental Evidence.

In a development of the ecosemiotic vivo-scape concept, a 'safety eco-field' is proposed as a model of a species response to the safety of its environment. The safety eco-field is based on the ecosemiotic approach which considers environmental safety as a resource sought and chosen by individuals to counter predatory pressure. To test the relative safety of different locations within a landscape, 66 bird feeders (BF) were deployed in a regular 15 × 15 m grid in a rural area, surrounded by shrubs, small trees, hedgerows, and buildings. On each of 48 days in November 2021 and February and March 2022, dried mealworms were placed on each BF and counts of larvae at each BF were made at noon and dusk. The European robin (Erithacus rubecula) and the great tit (Parus major) were the most regular visitors to the BFs. Land cover at each BF was recorded. Bird behaviour at the BFs was noted from direct video recordings of the birds at nine selected BFs, totalling 32 daily sessions in March. The different behaviours of the European robin and the great tit were observable. The safety eco-field changed according to the month and the time of day. The distance of the BF from the woodland edges seemed to be important only in the morning. In the afternoon, BFs that were more distant from the woodland edges received the highest number of visits. Weather conditions were found to influence the number of mealworms removed, but this requires further investigation. A significant relationship between land cover and the number of mealworm larvae removed from the BFs was observed. Within the grid of BF, three regions were distinguishable which were related to land cover in the safety eco-field process. The experimental framework confirms the adequacy, at least for birds that have cryptic predators, to map the landscape as a proxy of safety resource. From the video recordings it was noted that the European robin visits were distributed throughout the day without apparent temporal preferences, while the great tit visits were concentrated in the central part of the day. This result has the limitation of the short period of observation (March) and should be extended to the entire period of the experiment to eventually capture seasonal variation. The experimental evidence obtained confirms that the ecosemiotic-based models of safety eco-field are an efficient approach to explain bird feeding preferences and behaviours. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12304-023-09522-1.

Extended Scalp Reconstruction With a Free Supraclavicular Graft: A Case Report.

Skin restoration after tumor excision, trauma, or burns may be achieved with full or split-thickness skin grafts or local flaps. The success rate of a skin graft depends on several independent factors. The supraclavicular region is considered a reliable donor site for head and neck skin defects because of its easy access. We present a case of a supraclavicular skin graft harvested to cover a skin deficit after the excision of a squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp. The postoperative course was uneventful regarding graft survival, the healing procedure, and the cosmetic outcome.

A Case of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Larynx.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a common malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. While quite common in the oral cavity, it is rare in the larynx. A middle-aged male patient presented to the otolaryngology clinic of our institution with the chief complaint of hoarseness. A supraglottic subepithelial mass was detected on the left laryngeal ventricle after a comprehensive clinical examination. Eventually, the diagnosis was established with a biopsy after a direct laryngoscopy. The multidisciplinary team of our institution suggested total laryngectomy without adjuvant modalities. An uneventful procedure followed and the patient remains free of disease and up to date. Mucoepidermoid tumors of the larynx are rare and surgical treatment is strongly indicated as the treatment of choice.

Middle Ear Adenomatous Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Rare Entity.

Middle ear adenomatous neuroendocrine tumors (MEANT) are rare, mainly benign neoplasms and account for less than 2% of the middle and inner ear neoplasms. There are no specific radiological or clinical findings; therefore, the diagnosis is often difficult. Biopsy prior to surgery is often proposed. The definite treatment is the complete surgical resection. We present an uncommon clinical report of a MEANT, which was treated successfully with surgical excision.

Integrating knowledge on green infrastructure, health and well-being in ageing populations: Principles for research and practice.

Ageing and urbanisation pose significant challenges for public health and urban planning. Ageing populations are at particular risk from hazards arising from urbanisation processes, some of which are in turn exacerbated by climate change. One approach for mitigating the negative effects of urbanisation on ageing populations is the leveraging of the beneficial effects of urban green infrastructure as a public health intervention in the planning process. We assessed the potential of available theoretical frameworks to provide the context for such leverage. This involved active engagement with academics and practitioners specialising in ageing, green infrastructure and health and well-being through a knowledge-brokering approach. We concluded that an integrated and comprehensive framework on the socio-cultural-ecological determinants of health is lacking. To address this, we present a set of principles for overcoming challenges to knowledge integration when working at the intersection of green infrastructure, ageing, health and well-being. Our findings-and the co-production process used to generate them-have wider significance for trans-disciplinary research into the benefits of the natural environment to human health and well-being as well as other complex and interconnected topics associated with global grand challenges.

How Can Nutrition Research Better Reflect the Relationship Between Wasting and Stunting in Children? Learnings from the Wasting and Stunting Project.

Childhood wasting and stunting affect large numbers of children globally. Both are important risk factors for illness and death yet, despite the fact that these conditions can share common risk factors and are often seen in the same child, they are commonly portrayed as relatively distinct manifestations of undernutrition. In 2014, the Wasting and Stunting project was launched by the Emergency Nutrition Network. Its aim was to better understand the complex relationship and associations between wasting and stunting and examine whether current separations that were apparent in approaches to policy, financing, and programs were justified or useful. Based on the project's work, this article aims to bring a wasting and stunting lens to how research is designed and financed in order for the nutrition community to better understand, prevent, and treat child undernutrition. Discussion of lessons learnt focuses on the synergy and temporal relationships between children's weight loss and linear growth faltering, the proximal and distal factors that drive diverse forms of undernutrition, and identifying and targeting people most at risk. Supporting progress in all these areas requires research collaborations across interest groups that highlight the value of research that moves beyond a focus on single forms of undernutrition, and ensures that there is equal attention given to wasting as to other forms of malnutrition, wherever it is present.

In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Reveal Promising Antimicrobial Peptides from Myxobacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, and as soon as new antibiotics are introduced, resistance to those agents emerges. Therefore, there is an increased appetite for alternative antimicrobial agents to traditional antibiotics. Here, we used in silico methods to investigate potential antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from predatory myxobacteria. Six hundred seventy-two potential AMP sequences were extracted from eight complete myxobacterial genomes. Most putative AMPs were predicted to be active against Klebsiella pneumoniae with least activity being predicted against Staphylococcus aureus. One hundred seventeen AMPs (defined here as 'potent putative AMPs') were predicted to have very good activity against more than two bacterial pathogens, and these were characterized further in silico. All potent putative AMPs were predicted to have anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, but none was predicted to be active against viruses. Twenty six (22%) of them were predicted to be hemolytic to human erythrocytes, five were predicted to have anticancer properties, and 56 (47%) were predicted to be biofilm active. In vitro assays using four synthesized AMPs showed high MIC values (e.g. So_ce_56_913 250 µg/ml and Coral_AMP411 125 µg/ml against E. coli). However, antibiofilm assays showed a substantial reduction in numbers (e.g. Coral_AMP411 and Myxo_mac104 showed a 69% and 73% reduction, respectively, at the lowest concentration against E. coli) compared to traditional antibiotics. Fourteen putative AMPs had high sequence similarity to proteins which were functionally associated with proteins of known function. The myxobacterial genomes also possessed a variety of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that can encode antimicrobial secondary metabolites, but their numbers did not correlate with those of the AMPs. We suggest that AMPs from myxobacteria are a promising source of novel antimicrobial agents with a plethora of biological properties.

Assessing food-based strategies to address anaemia in pregnancy in rural plains Nepal: a mixed methods study.

Anaemia in pregnancy is a persistent health problem in Nepal and could be reduced through nutrition counselling and strengthened iron folic acid supplementation programmes. We analysed 24-hour diet recall data from 846 pregnant women in rural plains Nepal, using linear programming to identify the potential for optimised food-based strategies to increase iron adequacy. We then conducted qualitative research to analyse how anaemia was defined and recognised, how families used food-based strategies to address anaemia, and the acceptability of optimised food-based strategies. We did 16 interviews of recently pregnant mothers, three focus group discussions with fathers, three focus group discussions with mothers-in-law and four interviews with key informants. Dietary analyses showed optimised diets did not achieve 100 % of recommended iron intakes, but iron intakes could be doubled by increasing intakes of green leaves, egg and meat. Families sought to address anaemia through food-based strategies but were often unable to because of the perceived expense of providing an 'energy-giving' diet. Some foods were avoided because of religious or cultural taboos, or because they were low status and could evoke social consequences if eaten. There is a need for counselling to offer affordable ways for families to optimise iron adequacy. The participation of communities in tailoring advice to ensure cultural relevance and alignment with local norms is necessary to enable its effectiveness.