Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions between a Probiotic Consortium and Its Coral Host.

Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) have been demonstrated to be effective probiotics to alleviate bleaching and mitigate coral mortality in vivo. The selection of putative BMCs is traditionally performed manually, using an array of biochemical and molecular tests for putative BMC traits. We present a comprehensive genetic survey of BMC traits using a genome-based framework for the identification of alternative mechanisms that can be used for future in silico selection of BMC strains. We identify exclusive BMC traits associated with specific strains and propose new BMC mechanisms, such as the synthesis of glycine betaine and ectoines. Our roadmap facilitates the selection of BMC strains while increasing the array of genetic targets that can be included in the selection of putative BMC strains to be tested as coral probiotics. IMPORTANCE Probiotics are currently the main hope as a potential medicine for corals, organisms that are considered the marine "canaries of the coal mine" and that are threatened with extinction. Our experiments have proved the concept that probiotics mitigate coral bleaching and can also prevent coral mortality. Here, we present a comprehensive genetic survey of probiotic traits using a genome-based framework. The main outcomes are a roadmap that facilitates the selection of coral probiotic strains while increasing the array of mechanisms that can be included in the selection of coral probiotics.

Inducing Polyp Bail-out in Coral Colonies to Obtain Individualized Micropropagates for Laboratory Experimental Use.

Corals are colonial animals formed by modular units called polyps. Coral polyps are physiologically linked and connected by tissue. The phenomenon of polyp bail-out is a process induced by acute stress, in which coral polyps digest the tissue connecting them to the rest of the colony and ultimately detach from the skeleton to continue living as separate individuals. Coral biologists have acknowledged the process of polyp bail-out for years, but only recently the micropropagates generated by this process have been recognized as a model system for coral biology studies. The use of polyp bail-out can create a high number of clonal units from a single coral fragment. Another benefit is that single polyps or patches of polyps can be easily visualized under a microscope and maintained in highly standardized low-cost environments such as Petri dishes, flasks, and microfluidic chips. The present protocol demonstrates reproducible methods capable of inducing coral micropropagation and different approaches for maintaining the single polyps alive in the long term. This methodology was capable of successfully cultivating polyps of the coral species Pocillopora verrucosa for up to 8 weeks after bail-out, exhibiting the practicality of using individual coral polyps for coral research.

Coral microbiome manipulation elicits metabolic and genetic restructuring to mitigate heat stress and evade mortality.

Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) ameliorate environmental stress, but whether they can prevent mortality and the underlying host response mechanisms remains elusive. Here, we conducted omics analyses on the coral Mussismilia hispida exposed to bleaching conditions in a long-term mesocosm experiment and inoculated with a selected BMC consortium or a saline solution placebo. All corals were affected by heat stress, but the observed "post-heat stress disorder" was mitigated by BMCs, signified by patterns of dimethylsulfoniopropionate degradation, lipid maintenance, and coral host transcriptional reprogramming of cellular restructuration, repair, stress protection, and immune genes, concomitant with a 40% survival rate increase and stable photosynthetic performance by the endosymbiotic algae. This study provides insights into the responses that underlie probiotic host manipulation. We demonstrate that BMCs trigger a dynamic microbiome restructuring process that instigates genetic and metabolic alterations in the coral host that eventually mitigate coral bleaching and mortality.

Emotional paths of professional experiences in transplant coordinators. / Rutas emocionales en las experiencias profesionales de los equipos de coordinación de trasplantes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To look at transplant coordinators' professional narratives and explore their emotional experiences, coping strategies, needs and demands in relation to the donation interview. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exploratory, transversal, multicenter design, using grounded theory, qualitative approach and content analysis of open-ended questionnaire and semistructured interviews with 22 transplant coordinators from the Andalusian Public Health System. Categories of analysis: Transplant coordination: perceptions, functions, impact and consequences; Positive/gratifying aspects and negative/ difficult aspects; Donation interview; Coping strategies; Needs, demands and suggestions. RESULTS: Transplant coordinators maintain a polarized perspective on their work, which they describe as a challenge and an opportunity. They highlight both their satisfaction and professional commitment as their work difficulties and requirements, which represent stress factors with an impact on professionals' perceptions, life styles, identity or physical and psychical life. Most gratifying work aspects refer to professional excellence, successful transplants and relationship with patients and their families. The donation interview is considered to be the most stressful moment, in response to which coordinators develop different emotional paths, conditioned by their experience, families' response to donation and its interpretation by the health team and professional (self) evaluation. Main professional demands are training strategies, group therapies and institutional support. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity and emotional intensiveness of transplant coordination require special interventions aiming to enable professionals towards an improvement of their emotional heath and management.

Emotional experiences of health professionals in organ procurement and transplantation. A systematic review. / Vivencias y emociones profesionales en el proceso de donación y trasplantes de órganos. Una revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to explore, discuss and synthesize the emotional experiences of health professionals during the process of organ procurement and transplantation. METHODS: A systematic review was made in Medline, Science Direct and the Virtual Library of the Andalusian Public Health System, selecting 16 original articles for inclusion in the review, with qualitative evaluation and narrative synthesis. RESULTS: The results revealed the main use of qualitative methodology, and 4emergent themes were identified: working in organ procurement and transplantation; the transition of professional roles; emotional experiences; and, coping strategies and emotional management. This systematic review revealed the complex and diverse character of professionals' emotional experiences as well as the importance of the interpersonal relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Intense emotional experiences related to the sense of responsibility, the work challenge and coping strategies based on reward searching explained important contradictions and tensions about professional roles and functions, especially during the donation interview.

Vivencias y emociones profesionales en el proceso de donación y trasplantes de órganos. Una revisión sistemática / Emotional experiences of health professionals in organ procurement and transplantation. A systematic review

Introducción: El objetivo de este artículo fue explorar, analizar y sintetizar las experiencias emocionales de profesionales sanitarios de donación y trasplantes. Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática cualitativa en Medline, Science Direct y la Biblioteca Virtual del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía. Se seleccionaron 16 artículos originales, realizando una evaluación cualitativa y síntesis narrativa. Resultados: Se identificó el uso mayoritario de métodos cualitativos y 4 temáticas emergentes: trabajar en donaciones y trasplantes; la transición de roles profesionales; vivencias emocionales, y afrontamiento y mejora de la gestión emocional. Se reflejaron la complejidad y la pluralidad de las vivencias emocionales y la centralidad del enfoque relacional. Conclusiones: Las intensas experiencias emocionales en torno a la responsabilidad vivida, la asunción del trabajo como un gran reto y la búsqueda de recompensas como principal estrategia de afrontamiento aparecieron como factores explicativos de importantes contradicciones y tensiones de roles y funciones, con especial relevancia durante la entrevista de donación

Introduction: The objective was to explore, discuss and synthesize the emotional experiences of health professionals during the process of organ procurement and transplantation. Methods: A systematic review was made in Medline, Science Direct and the Virtual Library of the Andalusian Public Health System, selecting 16 original articles for inclusion in the review, with qualitative evaluation and narrative synthesis. Results: The results revealed the main use of qualitative methodology, and 4emergent themes were identified: working in organ procurement and transplantation; the transition of professional roles; emotional experiences; and, coping strategies and emotional management. This systematic review revealed the complex and diverse character of professionals’ emotional experiences as well as the importance of the interpersonal relationship. Conclusions: Intense emotional experiences related to the sense of responsibility, the work challenge and coping strategies based on reward searching explained important contradictions and tensions about professional roles and functions, especially during the donation interview

Rutas emocionales en las experiencias profesionales de los equipos de coordinación de trasplantes / Emotional paths of professional experiences in transplant coordinators

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: Conocer las experiencias en la práctica profesional de equipos de coordinación de trasplantes y explorar sus vivencias emocionales, estrategias de afrontamiento, necesidades y demandas en relación con la entrevista de donación. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Diseño exploratorio, transversal, multicéntrico, con metodología cualitativa, basado en la teoría fundamentada y análisis de contenido de cuestionarios con preguntas abiertas y entrevistas semiestructuradas, realizado con 22 profesionales pertenecientes a equipos de coordinación de trasplantes del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía. Las categorías empleadas en el análisis fueron: trabajo de coordinación: percepciones, funciones, impacto y consecuencias; aspectos positivos/gratificantes y negativos/difíciles de la coordinación de trasplantes; la entrevista de donación; estrategias de afrontamiento; necesidades, demandas y propuestas. RESULTADOS: Los equipos de coordinación de trasplantes tienen una visión polarizada sobre su trabajo, que describen como reto y oportunidad, evidenciando, por una parte, su satisfacción y compromiso profesional y, por otra parte, las dificultades y exigencias que representan factores de estrés con impacto en sus percepciones, estilos de vida, identidad profesional o salud física y psíquica. Los aspectos más gratificantes se relacionan con la excelencia profesional, trasplantes exitosos y la relación con pacientes y familiares. La entrevista de donación es el momento de mayor estrés, ante el cual se generan diferentes rutas emocionales, condicionadas por la experiencia en la coordinación, la respuesta familiar y su interpretación y la autoevaluación profesional. Las principales demandas profesionales se orientan hacia estrategias formativas, terapia grupal y apoyo institucional. CONCLUSIONES: Ante la complejidad e intensidad emocional del trabajo de coordinación, se requieren intervenciones de capacitación para mejorar la salud y gestión emocional de sus profesionales

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To look at transplant coordinators professional narratives and explore their emotional experiences, coping strategies, needs and demands in relation to the donation interview. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exploratory, transversal, multicenter design, using grounded theory, qualitative approach and content analysis of open-ended questionnaire and semistructured interviews with 22 transplant coordinators from the Andalusian Public Health System. Categories of analysis: Transplant coordination: perceptions, functions, impact and consequences; Positive/gratifying aspects and negative/ difficult aspects; Donation interview; Coping strategies; Needs, demands and suggestions. RESULTS: Transplant coordinators maintain a polarized perspective on their work, which they describe as a challenge and an opportunity. They highlight both their satisfaction and professional commitment as their work difficulties and requirements, which represent stress factors with an impact on professionals' perceptions, life styles, identity or physical and psychical life. Most gratifying work aspects refer to professional excellence, successful transplants and relationship with patients and their families. The donation interview is considered to be the most stressful moment, in response to which coordinators develop different emotional paths, conditioned by their experience, families' response to donation and its interpretation by the health team and professional (self) evaluation. Main professional demands are training strategies, group therapies and institutional support. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity and emotional intensiveness of transplant coordination require special interventions aiming to enable professionals towards an improvement of their emotional heath and management