The novel genus, 'Candidatus Phosphoribacter', previously identified as Tetrasphaera, is the dominant polyphosphate accumulating lineage in EBPR wastewater treatment plants worldwide.

The bacterial genus Tetrasphaera encompasses abundant polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) that are responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in wastewater treatment plants. Recent analyses of genomes from pure cultures revealed that 16S rRNA genes cannot resolve the lineage, and that Tetrasphaera spp. are from several different genera within the Dermatophilaceae. Here, we examine 14 recently recovered high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes from wastewater treatment plants containing full-length 16S rRNA genes identified as Tetrasphaera, 11 of which belong to the uncultured Tetrasphaera clade 3. We find that this clade represents two distinct genera, named here Ca. Phosphoribacter and Ca. Lutibacillus, and reveal that the widely used model organism Tetrasphaera elongata is less relevant for physiological predictions of this uncultured group. Ca. Phosphoribacter incorporates species diversity unresolved at the 16S rRNA gene level, with the two most abundant and often co-occurring species encoding identical V1-V3 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence variants but different metabolic capabilities, and possibly, niches. Both Ca. P. hodrii and Ca. P. baldrii were visualised using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), and PAO capabilities were confirmed with FISH-Raman microspectroscopy and phosphate cycling experiments. Ca. Phosphoribacter represents the most abundant former Tetrasphaera lineage and PAO in EPBR systems in Denmark and globally.

A double-blind comparison of aspirin and pirprofen in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Pirprofen (600 mg, 800 mg) and aspirin (3,600 mg) were compared in 30 outpatients (33-67 yr old) with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis. After 10 wk of treatment with either pirprofen dose, the number of painful joints, grip strength, and the duration of morning stiffness improved significantly. Only the number of painful joints improved significantly with aspirin. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate decreased with aspirin and 600 mg pirprofen but increased (significantly) with 800 mg pirprofen. The differences in improvement between the 3 treatment groups were not statistically significant. Gastrointestinal disturbances were the most frequently reported side-effects in each treatment group. Central nervous system effects and tinnitus were reported by more patients in the aspirin group than in either of the pirprofen groups.