Genome-Inferred Correspondence between Phylogeny and Metabolic Traits in the Wild Drosophila Gut Microbiome.

Annotated genome sequences provide valuable insight into the functional capabilities of members of microbial communities. Nevertheless, most studies on the microbiome in animal guts use metagenomic data, hampering the assignment of genes to specific microbial taxa. Here, we make use of the readily culturable bacterial communities in the gut of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to obtain draft genome sequences for 96 isolates from wild flies. These include 81 new de novo assembled genomes, assigned to three orders (Enterobacterales, Lactobacillales, and Rhodospirillales) with 80% of strains identified to species level using average nucleotide identity and phylogenomic reconstruction. Based on annotations by the RAST pipeline, among-isolate variation in metabolic function partitioned strongly by bacterial order, particularly by amino acid metabolism (Rhodospirillales), fermentation, and nucleotide metabolism (Lactobacillales) and arginine, urea, and polyamine metabolism (Enterobacterales). Seven bacterial species, comprising 2-3 species in each order, were well-represented among the isolates and included ≥5 strains, permitting analysis of metabolic functions in the accessory genome (i.e., genes not present in every strain). Overall, the metabolic function in the accessory genome partitioned by bacterial order. Two species, Gluconobacter cerinus (Rhodospirillales) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lactobacillales) had large accessory genomes, and metabolic functions were dominated by amino acid metabolism (G. cerinus) and carbohydrate metabolism (La. plantarum). The patterns of variation in metabolic capabilities at multiple phylogenetic scales provide the basis for future studies of the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the diversity of microorganisms associated with natural populations of Drosophila.

B-vitamin nutrition in the pea aphid-Buchnera symbiosis.

Various insects that utilize vitamin-deficient diets derive a supplementary supply of these micronutrients from their symbiotic microorganisms. Here, we tested the inference from genome annotation that the symbiotic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum provides the insect with vitamins B2 and B5 but no other B-vitamins. Contrary to expectation, aphid survival over five days of larval development on artificial diets individually lacking each B-vitamin not synthesized by Buchnera was not significantly reduced, despite significantly lower carcass B1, B3, B6 and B7 concentrations in the aphids on diets lacking each of these B-vitamins than on the vitamin-complete diet. Aphid survival was, however, significantly reduced on diet containing low concentrations (≤0.2 mM) or no pantothenate (B5). Complementary transcriptome analysis revealed low abundance of the sense-transcript, but high abundance of the antisense transcript, of the Buchnera gene panC encoding the enzyme mediating the terminal reaction in pantothenate synthesis. We hypothesize that metabolic constraints or antisense transcripts may reduce Buchnera-mediated production of pantothenate, resulting in poor aphid performance on pantothenate-free diets. The discrepancy between predictions from genome data and empirical data illustrates the need for physiological study to test functional inferences made from genome annotations.

Host determinants of among-species variation in microbiome composition in drosophilid flies.

The taxonomic composition of microbial communities in animals varies among animal species, but the contribution of interspecific differences in filtering of the microbial pool by the animal host to this variation is uncertain. Here, we demonstrate significant interspecific variation in microbial community composition among laboratory-reared Drosophila species that was not related to host phylogeny. Complementary reciprocal transfer experiments yielded different microbial communities for a single microbiota administered to homologous and heterologous hosts (i.e., the same and different Drosophila species from which the microbiota was derived), indicative of among-host species differences in traits that shape microbiota composition. The difference in microbiota composition between homologous and heterologous hosts was not greater for distantly related than for closely related host species pairs. Furthermore, Drosophila survival to adulthood was significantly reduced in heterologous associations relative to homologous associations and microbiologically sterile flies, suggesting that microbial taxa that are advantageous for their homologous host species can be deleterious for other host species. We conclude that drosophilid flies display robust among-host species variation in host controls over microbiota composition that has diversified in response to selection pressures which are not tracked by host phylogeny.

Response of Wild Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) to Microbial Volatiles.

The olfactory cues used by various animals to detect and identify food items often include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by food-associated microorganisms. Microbial VOCs have potential as lures to trap animal pests, including insect crop pests. This study investigated microorganisms whose VOCs are attractive to natural populations of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive insect pest of ripening fruits. The microorganisms readily cultured from wild SWD and SWD-infested fruits included yeasts, especially Hanseniaspora species, and various bacteria, including Proteobacteria (especially Acetobacteraceae and Enterobacteriaceae) and Actinobacteria. Traps in a raspberry planting that were baited with cultures of Hanseniaspora uvarum, H. opuntiae and the commercial lure Scentry trapped relatively high numbers of both SWD and non-target drosophilids. The VOCs associated with these baits were dominated by ethyl acetate and, for yeasts, other esters. By contrast, Gluconobacter species (Acetobacteraceae), whose VOCs were dominated by acetic acid and acetoin and lacked detectable ethyl acetate, trapped 60-75% fewer SWD but with very high selectivity for SWD. VOCs of two other taxa tested, the yeast Pichia sp. and Curtobacterium sp. (Actinobacteria), trapped very few SWD or other insects. Our demonstration of among-microbial variation in VOCs and their attractiveness to SWD and non-pest insects under field conditions provides the basis for improved design of lures for SWD management. Further research is required to establish how different microbial VOC profiles may function as reliable cues of habitat suitability for fly feeding and oviposition, and how this variation maps onto among-insect species differences in habitat preference.

Información, autoayuda y creación de identidades: las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) y las asociaciones de discapacitados físicos. El ejemplo de la poliomielitis / Information, self-help and identity creation: information and communication technologies (ICTs) and associations for the physically disabled. The example of poliomyelitis

El objetivo del trabajo es estudiar la calidad de las páginas web de asociaciones de personas afectadas por poliomielitis y síndrome postpolio, como uno de los sistemas de intercambio de información y de visibilidad social de las personas con discapacidades físicas. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de carácter transversal; fueron evaluadas 375 páginas web que cumplían los criterios de inclusión, encontradas a través del motor de búsqueda Google. La calidad fue estudiada a través de 22 variables, 8 de las cuales conforman el "Indicador de Credibilidad". Ninguna de las páginas cumplió con todos los criterios de calidad ni con los 8 puntos del Indicador de Credibilidad. Se observa una correlación positiva entre las variables de calidad y los criterios de credibilidad (r de Pearson = 0,81, p<0,001), por lo que se sugiere el Indicador de Credibilidad como una herramienta útil para determinar la calidad de las páginas web. Su uso debe complementarse con otro tipo de acercamientos cualitativos que exploren el contexto de las relaciones expertos-legos y las funciones que dichas páginas cumplen.

The aim of this paper is to study the quality of the websites of associations for people with polio and post-polio syndrome as an example of an important method for exchanging information and promoting the social visibility of physically disabled people. A descriptive cross-sectional study of 375 sites that met inclusion criteria, found using of the Google search engine, was carried out. The quality was studied through 22 variables, 8 of which make up the "Credibility Indicator". None of the websites met all the quality criteria nor all 8 items in the Credibility Index. A positive correlation between the variables of quality and credibility criteria (Pearson r = 0.81, p<0.001) was observed, therefore the Credibility Index is suggested as a useful tool for determining the quality of the websites. However, this tool must be supplemented with other qualitative approaches that explore both the contexts of lay-expert relationships and the function these sites serve.

Vendendo saúde: a história da propaganda de medicamentos no Brasil / Selling health: a history of drug advertising in Brazil

O livro é um passeio por registros históricos carregados de um tal poder de sedução que o livro deu cor e vida a uma saga pouco conhecida por nós brasileiros: a relação, nem sempre harmoniosa, entre a propaganda e a saúde. O livro conta como um povo se formou junto com o mercado. Mercado este voltado a atrair clientes para suas fórmulas, suas práticas e suas promessas de saúde perfeita. E como se trata de História, ela começa com a instalação da corte portuguesa no Brasil. Naquele século XIX, no ano de 1851, nasce a 'ancestral' da Anvisa, a Junta Central de Higiene. Sua missão: combater a febre amarela e encampar a briga dos médicos contra os anúncios dos curandeiros que lhes faziam concorrência.

Vendendo saúde: a história da propaganda de medicamentos no Brasil

O livro é um passeio por registros históricos carregados de um tal poder de sedução que o livro deu cor e vida a uma saga pouco conhecida por nós brasileiros: a relação, nem sempre harmoniosa, entre a propaganda e a saúde. O livro conta como um povo se formou junto com o mercado. Mercado este voltado a atrair clientes para suas fórmulas, suas práticas e suas promessas de saúde perfeita. E como se trata de História, ela começa com a instalação da corte portuguesa no Brasil. Naquele século XIX, no ano de 1851, nasce a 'ancestral' da Anvisa, a Junta Central de Higiene. Sua missão: combater a febre amarela e encampar a briga dos médicos contra os anúncios dos curandeiros que lhes faziam concorrência. [AU]

À sua saúde: a vigilância sanitária na História do Brasil / Your health: health surveillance in the History of Brazil

Propõe-se a contar a história da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, fruto de um longo processo político, administrativo e econômico, cujas raízes retrocedem à chegada de D.João VI ao Rio de Janeiro em 1808.

À sua saúde: a vigilância sanitária na História do Brasil / Your health: health surveillance in the History of Brazil

Propõe-se a contar a história da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, fruto de um longo processo político, administrativo e econômico, cujas raízes retrocedem à chegada de D.João VI ao Rio de Janeiro em 1808.(AU)