Microbiome shifts and the inhibition of quorum sensing by Black Band Disease cyanobacteria.

Disruption of the microbiome often correlates with the appearance of disease symptoms in metaorganisms such as corals. In Black Band Disease (BBD), a polymicrobial disease consortium dominated by the filamentous cyanobacterium Roseofilum reptotaenium displaces members of the epibiotic microbiome. We examined both normal surface microbiomes and BBD consortia on Caribbean corals and found that the microbiomes of healthy corals were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, in particular Halomonas spp., and were remarkably stable across spatial and temporal scales. In contrast, the microbial community structure in black band consortia was more variable and more diverse. Nevertheless, deep sequencing revealed that members of the disease consortium were present in every sampled surface microbiome of Montastraea, Orbicella and Pseudodiploria corals, regardless of the health status. Within the BBD consortium, we identified lyngbic acid, a cyanobacterial secondary metabolite. It strongly inhibited quorum sensing (QS) in the Vibrio harveyi QS reporters. The effects of lyngbic acid on the QS reporters depended on the presence of the CAI-1 receptor CqsS. Lyngbic acid inhibited luminescence in native coral Vibrio spp. that also possess the CAI-1-mediated QS. The effects of this naturally occurring QS inhibitor on bacterial regulatory networks potentially contribute to the structuring of the interactions within BBD consortia.

Estrategias globales de salud en el lugar de trabajo: ubicar programas adecuados, factor clave para el éxito / Global workplace wellness strategies:localizing programs is key ingredient for success

Las empresas, están pagando un costo elevado por las enfermedades crónicas que afectan a sus empleados. En el pasado esto se encontró limitado al mundo industrializado, sin embargo las enfermedades no transmisibles se encuentran en aumento en forma global. Los programas de bienestar son soluciones a esta situación. Durante el año 2003, la Organización Mundial de la Salud inició una revisión para evaluar los resultados de las intervenciones relativas al estilo de vida en los lugares de trabajo. Se observaron resultados con reducción de un 25-30% de del ausentismo laboral y en costos médicos en 3 años y medio. El programa Unilever Lamplighter arrojó un 40% de descenso en el número de empleados de alto riesgo en algunas regiones y mejoró las actitudes de los empleados hacia el trabajo, menor predisposición a tomarse más tiempo de reposo durante sus problemas de salud , mejoras en el rendimiento laboral, menor susceptibilidad de afectarse por las presiones del trabajo y más dispuestos a practicar conductas saludables. El Programa IC Health en India, reclutó a 20000 empleados de 10 compañías en 10 regiones. La intervención se realizó durante 4 años e incluyó monitoreo clínico y programas de estilo de vida. Los resultados mostraron una reducción en los factores de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares en tanto que en el grupo control incrementaron. Pensando hacia el futuro, los programas deben incluir pruebas en el retorno de la inversión, información localizada, uso de la tecnología y apoyo ambiental para realizar una diferencia en la salud de los empleados globales(AU)

Global employers are paying a steep cost for the chronic conditions afflicting their employees. Once limited to only industrialized nations, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers are global. Workplace wellness programs are a key solution and corporations are taking notice. In 2003, the World Health Organization conducted a review to determine the outcomes of physical activity and diet-related workplace interventions. Comprehensive programs resulted in a 25-30% reduction in medical and absenteeism costs in approximately three and a half years. Two examples demonstrate effective programs on local and global level. The Unilever Lamplighter program saw a 40 percent drop in the number of high-risk employees in some regions, and improved attitude as employees felt more engaged in their work, less likely to take time off work due to health problems, able to perform better in their job, less likely to be adversely affected by pressure at work and more likely to practice healthy behaviors at work. The IC Health program in India engaged 20,000 employees of ten different companies in ten different regions. The intervention lasted four years and included clinical monitoring and lifestyle programs. Results showed it worked with risk factors including body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum cholesterol and glucose levels decreasing in the intervention group while the same risk factors in the control group increased. Moving forward, key program elements must include proof of return on investment (ROI), localized information, use of technology and environmental support to make a difference in the health of global employees(AU)