Ultrasonic elastography for the prevention of breast implant rupture: Detection of an increase with stiffness over implantation time.

Breast implants are widely used after breast cancer resection and must be changed regularly to avoid a rupture. To date, there are no quantitative criteria to help this decision. The mechanical evolution of the gels and membranes of the implants is still underinvestigated, although it can lead to early rupture. In this study, 35 breast explants having been implanted in patients for up to 17 years were characterized by ex vivo measurements of their mechanical properties. Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) ultrasound elastography, an imaging method for non-destructive mechanical characterization, an increase in the stiffness of the explants has been observed. This increase was correlated with the implantation duration, primarily after 8 years of implantation. With an increase of the shear modulus of up to a factor of nearly 3, the loss of flexibility of the implants is likely to lead to a significant increase of their risk of rupture. A complementary analysis of the gel from the explants by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) confirms the presence of metabolites of cholesterol originating from the breast tissues, which most likely crossed the membrane of the implants and most likely degrades the gel. By observing the consequences of the physical-chemical mechanisms at work within patients, this study shows that ultrasound elastography could be used in vivoas a quantitative indicator of the risk of breast implant rupture and help diagnose their replacement.

Comparison of nocturnal and diurnal metabolomes of rose flowers and leaves.

INTRODUCTION: Roses are one of the most essential ornamental flowers and are commonly used in perfumery, cosmetics, and food. They are rich in bioactive compounds, which are of interest for therapeutic effects. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to understand the kinds of changes that occur between the nocturnal and diurnal metabolism of rose and to suggest hypotheses. METHODS: Reversed-phase ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry or triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (TQ MS/MS) was used for nontargeted metabolomics and hormonal profiling respectively. For metabolite annotation, accurate mass spectra were compared with those in databases. RESULTS: The hormonal profile of flowers showed an increase in jasmonate at night, while that of leaves indicated an increase in the salicylic acid pathway. Nontargeted analyses of the flower revealed a switch in the plant's defense mechanisms from glycosylated metabolites during the day to acid metabolites at night. In leaves, a significant decrease in flavonoids was observed at night in favor of acid metabolism to maintain a level of protection. Moreover, it might be possible to place back some of the annotated molecules on the shikimate pathway. CONCLUSION: The influence of day and night on the metabolome of rose flowers and leaves has been clearly demonstrated. The hormonal modulations occurring during the night and at day are consistent with the plant circadian cycle. A proposed management of the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway may explain these changes in the flower. In leaves, the metabolic differences may reflect night-time regulation in favor of the salicylic acid pathway.

Mechanistic insights into sulfur source-driven physiological responses and metabolic reorganization in the fuel-biodesulfurizing Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8.

Comparative proteomics and untargeted metabolomics were combined to study the physiological and metabolic adaptations of Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8 under biodesulfurization conditions. After growth in a chemically defined medium with either dibenzothiophene (DBT) or MgSO4 as the sulfur source, many differentially produced proteins and metabolites associated with several metabolic and physiological processes were detected including the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, vitamins, protein synthesis, transcriptional regulation, cell envelope biogenesis, and cell division. Increased production of the redox cofactor mycofactocin and associated proteins was one of the most striking adaptations under biodesulfurization conditions. While most central metabolic enzymes were less abundant in the presence of DBT, a key enzyme of the glyoxylate shunt, isocitrate lyase, was up to 26-fold more abundant. Several C1 metabolism and oligotrophy-related enzymes were significantly more abundant in the biodesulfurizing culture. R. qingshengii IGTS8 exhibited oligotrophic growth in liquid and solid media under carbon starvation. Moreover, the oligotrophic growth was faster on the solid medium in the presence of DBT compared to MgSO4 cultures. In the DBT culture, the cell envelope and phospholipids were remodeled, with lower levels of phosphatidylethanolamine and unsaturated and short-chain fatty acids being the most prominent changes. Biodesulfurization increased the biosynthesis of osmoprotectants (ectoine and mannosylglycerate) as well as glutamate and induced the stringent response. Our findings reveal highly diverse and overlapping stress responses that could protect the biodesulfurizing culture not only from the associated sulfate limitation but also from chemical, oxidative, and osmotic stress, allowing efficient resource management. IMPORTANCE Despite decades of research, a commercially viable bioprocess for fuel desulfurization has not been developed yet. This is mainly due to lack of knowledge of the physiology and metabolism of fuel-biodesulfurizing bacteria. Being a stressful condition, biodesulfurization could provoke several stress responses that are not understood. This is particularly important because a thorough understanding of the microbial stress response is essential for the development of environmentally friendly and industrially efficient microbial biocatalysts. Our comparative systems biology studies provide a mechanistic understanding of the biology of biodesulfurization, which is crucial for informed developments through the rational design of recombinant biodesulfurizers and optimization of the bioprocess conditions. Our findings enhance the understanding of the physiology, metabolism, and stress response not only in biodesulfurizing bacteria but also in rhodococci, a precious group of biotechnologically important bacteria.

Mass spectrometry imaging for biosolids characterization to assess ecological or health risks before reuse.

Biosolids are byproducts of wastewater treatment. With the increasing global population, the amounts of wastewater to be treated are expanding, along with the amounts of biosolids generated. The reuse of biosolids is now accepted for diversified applications in fields such as agriculture, engineering, agro-forestry. However, biosolids are known to be potential carriers of compounds that can be toxic to living beings or alter the environment. Therefore, biosolid reuse is subject to regulations, mandatory analyses are performed on heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants or pathogens. Conventional methods for the analysis of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants are demanding, lengthy, and sometimes unsafe. Here, we propose mass spectrometry imaging as a faster and safer method using small amounts of material to monitor heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in different types of biosolids, allowing for ecological and health risk assessment before reuse. Our methodology can be extended to other soil-like matrices.

Both age and social environment shape the phenotype of ant workers.

Position within the social group has consequences on individual lifespans in diverse taxa. This is especially obvious in eusocial insects, where workers differ in both the tasks they perform and their aging rates. However, in eusocial wasps, bees and ants, the performed task usually depends strongly on age. As such, untangling the effects of social role and age on worker physiology is a key step towards understanding the coevolution of sociality and aging. We performed an experimental protocol that allowed a separate analysis of these two factors using four groups of black garden ant (Lasius niger) workers: young foragers, old foragers, young nest workers, and old nest workers. We highlighted age-related differences in the proteome and metabolome of workers that were primarily related to worker subcaste and only secondarily to age. The relative abundance of proteins and metabolites suggests an improved xenobiotic detoxification, and a fuel metabolism based more on lipid use than carbohydrate use in young ants, regardless of their social role. Regardless of age, proteins related to the digestive function were more abundant in nest workers than in foragers. Old foragers were mostly characterized by weak abundances of molecules with an antibiotic activity or involved in chemical communication. Finally, our results suggest that even in tiny insects, extended lifespan may require to mitigate cancer risks. This is consistent with results found in eusocial rodents and thus opens up the discussion of shared mechanisms among distant taxa and the influence of sociality on life history traits such as longevity.

The Arabidopsis thaliana-Streptomyces Interaction Is Controlled by the Metabolic Status of the Holobiont.

How specific interactions between plant and pathogenic, commensal, or mutualistic microorganisms are mediated and how bacteria are selected by a plant are important questions to address. Here, an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant called chs5 partially deficient in the biogenesis of isoprenoid precursors was shown to extend its metabolic remodeling to phenylpropanoids and lipids in addition to carotenoids, chlorophylls, and terpenoids. Such a metabolic profile was concomitant to increased colonization of the phyllosphere by the pathogenic strain Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. A thorough microbiome analysis by 16S sequencing revealed that Streptomyces had a reduced colonization potential in chs5. This study revealed that the bacteria-Arabidopsis interaction implies molecular processes impaired in the chs5 mutant. Interestingly, our results revealed that the metabolic status of A. thaliana was crucial for the specific recruitment of Streptomyces into the microbiota. More generally, this study highlights specific as well as complex molecular interactions that shape the plant microbiota.

Large-Scale Interlaboratory DI-FT-ICR MS Comparability Study Employing Various Systems.

Ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (UHR-MS) coupled with direct infusion (DI) electrospray ionization offers a fast solution for accurate untargeted profiling. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometers have been shown to produce a wealth of insights into complex chemical systems because they enable unambiguous molecular formula assignment even if the vast majority of signals is of unknown identity. Interlaboratory comparisons are required to apply this type of instrumentation in quality control (for food industry or pharmaceuticals), large-scale environmental studies, or clinical diagnostics. Extended comparisons employing different FT-ICR MS instruments with qualitative direct infusion analysis are scarce since the majority of detected compounds cannot be quantified. The extent to which observations can be reproduced by different laboratories remains unknown. We set up a preliminary study which encompassed a set of 17 laboratories around the globe, diverse in instrumental characteristics and applications, to analyze the same sets of extracts from commercially available standard human blood plasma and Standard Reference Material (SRM) for blood plasma (SRM1950), which were delivered at different dilutions or spiked with different concentrations of pesticides. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the outputs of differently tuned FT-ICR mass spectrometers, with different technical specifications, are comparable for setting the frames of a future DI-FT-ICR MS ring trial. We concluded that a cluster of five laboratories, with diverse instrumental characteristics, showed comparable and representative performance across all experiments, setting a reference to be used in a future ring trial on blood plasma.

Carissa edulis Vahl (Apocynaceae) extract, a medicinal plant of Benin pharmacopoeia, induces potent endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary artery rings involving nitric oxide.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that affects most countries including those of Africa. Although Carissa edulis Vahl, Diodia scandens Sw. and Cleome gynandra L. are traditionally used in Benin as antihypertensive treatments with some efficacy mentioned by the local population, their biological activity on the cardiovascular system remains poorly studied. AIM: The study investigated the vasoreactivity of the plants and assessed the underlying mechanisms using isolated arteries. STUDY DESIGN: Aqueous-ethanolic extracts of aerial parts of C. edulis, D. scandens and C. gynandra were prepared by maceration before being subjected to multi-step liquid-liquid fractionation with solvents of increasing polarity. The vasoreactivity of the extracts and fractions were assessed on isolated porcine coronary artery and rat aorta using organ chambers, the role of nitric oxide (NO) using NG-nitro-L-arginine (NO synthase inhibitor), prostanoids using indomethacin (cyclooxygenases inhibitor) and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization using TRAM-34 plus UCL 1684 (inhibitors of calcium-dependent K+ channels), and the vascular uptake of polyphenols using Neu reagent. RESULTS: The aqueous-ethanolic crude extract of C. edulis (CECE) induced potent relaxations that were exclusively endothelium-dependent and more pronounced than those to D. scandens and C. gynandra. The n-butanolic fraction of C. edulis (CEBF) was more active than the cyclohexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions. The relaxation induced by CECE and CEBF were inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine and affected neither by TRAM-34 plus UCL 1684 nor by indomethacin. CEBF induced sustained endothelium-dependent relaxations for at least 60 min, and inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, contractions to KCl, CaCl2, U46619 and serotonin in rings with endothelium. Analysis of CEBF by LCHRMS indicated the presence of polyphenols, terpenes, and alkaloids. Exposure of coronary artery and aorta rings to CEBF caused the accumulation of polyphenols predominantly in the endothelium. CONCLUSION: C. edulis leaf extract induced pronounced endothelium-dependent relaxations and inhibited contractile responses by stimulating the endothelial formation of NO. LCHRMS analysis of the most active fraction, the butanolic fraction, revealed the presence of numerous compounds including polyphenols, terpenes, and alkaloids. The polyphenols of CEBF accumulated preferentially in the endothelium of the arterial wall. Thus, these observations support the folkloric use of C. edulis in hypertension.

Response of Poplar and Associated Fungal Endophytic Communities to a PAH Contamination Gradient.

Microbial populations associated to poplar are well described in non-contaminated and metal-contaminated environments but more poorly in the context of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. This study aimed to understand how a gradient of phenanthrene (PHE) contamination affects poplar growth and the fungal microbiome in both soil and plant endosphere (roots, stems and leaves). Plant growth and fitness parameters indicated that the growth of Populus canadensis was impaired when PHE concentration increased above 400 mg kg-1. Values of alpha-diversity indicators of fungal diversity and richness were not affected by the PHE gradient. The PHE contamination had a stronger impact on the fungal community composition in the soil and root compartments compared to that of the aboveground organs. Most of the indicator species whose relative abundance was correlated with PHE contamination decreased along the gradient indicating a toxic effect of PHE on these fungal OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units). However, the relative abundance of some OTUs such as Cadophora, Alternaria and Aspergillus, potentially linked to PHE degradation or being plant-beneficial taxa, increased along the gradient. Finally, this study allowed a deeper understanding of the dual response of plant and fungal communities in the case of a soil PAH contamination gradient leading to new perspectives on fungal assisted phytoremediation.

A rice tubulin tyrosine ligase like 12 regulates phospholipase D activity and tubulin synthesis.

All plant α-tubulins encode a C-terminal tyrosine. An elusive tubulin tyrosine carboxypeptidase can cleave off, and a tubulin tyrosine ligase (TTL) re-ligate this tyrosine. The biological function of this cycle remains unclear but may correlate with microtubule stability. To get insight into the functional context of this phenomenon, we used cold-induced elimination of microtubules as experimental model. In previous work, we had analysed a rice TTL-like 12 (OsTTLL12), the only potential candidate of plant TTL. To follow the effect of OsTTLL12 upon microtubule responses in vivo, we expressed OsTTLL12-RFP into tobacco BY-2 cells stably overexpressing NtTUA3-GFP. We found that overexpression of OsTTLL12-RFP made microtubules disappear faster in response to cold stress, accompanied with more rapid Ca2+ influx, culminating in reduced cold tolerance. Treatment with different butanols indicated that α-tubulin detyrosination/tyrosination differently interacts with phospholipase D (PLD) dependent signalling. In fact, rice PLDα1 decorated microtubules and increased detyrosinated α-tubulin. Unexpectedly, overexpression of the two proteins (OsTTLL12-RFP, NtTUA3-GFP) mutually regulated the accumulation of their transcripts, leading us to a model, where tubulin detyrosination feeds back upon tubulin transcripts and defines a subset of microtubules for interaction with PLD dependent stress signalling.

Broad-spectrum stress tolerance conferred by suppressing jasmonate signaling attenuation in Arabidopsis JASMONIC ACID OXIDASE mutants.

Jasmonate signaling for adaptative or developmental responses generally relies on an increased synthesis of the bioactive hormone jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile), triggered by environmental or internal cues. JA-Ile is embedded in a complex metabolic network whose upstream and downstream components strongly contribute to hormone homeostasis and activity. We previously showed that JAO2, an isoform of four Arabidopsis JASMONIC ACID OXIDASES, diverts the precursor jasmonic acid (JA) to its hydroxylated form HO-JA to attenuate JA-Ile formation and signaling. Consequently, JAO2-deficient lines have elevated defenses and display improved tolerance to biotic stress. Here we further explored the organization and regulatory functions of the JAO pathway. Suppression of JAO2 enhances the basal expression of nearly 400 JA-regulated genes in unstimulated leaves, many of which being related to biotic and abiotic stress responses. Consistently, non-targeted metabolomic analysis revealed the constitutive accumulation of several classes of defensive compounds in jao2-1 mutant, including indole glucosinolates and breakdown products. The most differential compounds were agmatine phenolamides, but their genetic suppression did not alleviate the strong resistance of jao2-1 to Botrytis infection. Furthermore, jao2 alleles and a triple jao mutant exhibit elevated survival capacity upon severe drought stress. This latter phenotype occurs without recruiting stronger abscisic acid responses, but relies on enhanced JA-Ile signaling directing a distinct survival pathway with MYB47 transcription factor as a candidate mediator. Our findings reveal the selected spectrum of JA responses controlled by the JAO2 regulatory node and highlight the potential of modulating basal JA turnover to pre-activate mild transcriptional programs for multiple stress resilience.

Eusociality is linked to caste-specific differences in metabolism, immune system, and somatic maintenance-related processes in an ant species.

The social organization of many primate, bird and rodent species and the role of individuals within that organization are associated with specific individual physiological traits. However, this association is perhaps most pronounced in eusocial insects (e.g., termites, ants). In such species, genetically close individuals show significant differences in behavior, physiology, and life expectancy. Studies addressing the metabolic changes according to the social role are still lacking. We aimed at understanding how sociality could influence essential molecular processes in a eusocial insect, the black garden ant (Lasius niger) where queens can live up to ten times longer than workers. Using mass spectrometry-based analysis, we explored the whole metabolome of queens, nest-workers and foraging workers. A former proteomics study done in the same species allowed us to compare the findings of both approaches. Confirming the former results at the proteome level, we showed that queens had fewer metabolites related to immunity. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find any metabolite linked to reproduction in queens. Among the workers, foragers had a metabolic signature reflecting a more stressful environment and a more highly stimulated immune system. We also found that nest-workers had more digestion-related metabolites. Hence, we showed that specific metabolic signatures match specific social roles. Besides, we identified metabolites differently expressed among behavioral castes and involved in nutrient sensing and longevity pathways (e.g., sirtuins, FOXO). The links between such molecular pathways and aging being found in an increasing number of taxa, our results confirm and strengthen their potential universality.

Biodesulfurization Induces Reprogramming of Sulfur Metabolism in Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8: Proteomics and Untargeted Metabolomics.

Sulfur metabolism in fuel-biodesulfurizing bacteria and the underlying physiological adaptations are not understood, which has impeded the development of a commercially viable bioprocess for fuel desulfurization. To fill these knowledge gaps, we performed comparative proteomics and untargeted metabolomics in cultures of the biodesulfurization reference strain Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8 grown on either inorganic sulfate or the diesel-borne organosulfur compound dibenzothiophene as a sole sulfur source. Dibenzothiophene significantly altered the biosynthesis of many sulfur metabolism proteins and metabolites in a growth phase-dependent manner, which enabled us to reconstruct the first experimental model for sulfur metabolism in a fuel-biodesulfurizing bacterium. All key pathways related to assimilatory sulfur metabolism were represented in the sulfur proteome, including uptake of the sulfur sources, sulfur acquisition, and assimilatory sulfate reduction, in addition to biosynthesis of key sulfur-containing metabolites such as S-adenosylmethionine, coenzyme A, biotin, thiamin, molybdenum cofactor, mycothiol, and ergothioneine (low-molecular weight thiols). Fifty-two proteins exhibited significantly different abundance during at least one growth phase. Sixteen proteins were uniquely detected and 47 proteins were significantly more abundant in the dibenzothiophene culture during at least one growth phase. The sulfate-free dibenzothiophene-containing culture reacted to sulfate starvation by restricting sulfur assimilation, enforcing sulfur-sparing, and maintaining redox homeostasis. Biodesulfurization triggered alternative pathways for sulfur assimilation different from those operating in the inorganic sulfate culture. Sulfur metabolism reprogramming and metabolic switches in the dibenzothiophene culture were manifested in limiting sulfite reduction and biosynthesis of cysteine, while boosting the production of methionine via the cobalamin-independent pathway, as well as the biosynthesis of the redox buffers mycothiol and ergothioneine. The omics data underscore the key role of sulfur metabolism in shaping the biodesulfurization phenotype and highlight potential targets for improving the biodesulfurization catalytic activity via metabolic engineering. IMPORTANCE For many decades, research on biodesulfurization of fossil fuels was conducted amid a large gap in knowledge of sulfur metabolism and its regulation in fuel-biodesulfurizing bacteria, which has impeded the development of a commercially viable bioprocess. In addition, lack of understanding of biodesulfurization-associated metabolic and physiological adaptations prohibited the development of efficient biodesulfurizers. Our integrated omics-based findings reveal the assimilatory sulfur metabolism in the biodesulfurization reference strain Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8 and show how sulfur metabolism and oxidative stress response were remodeled and orchestrated to shape the biodesulfurization phenotype. Our findings not only explain the frequently encountered low catalytic activity of native fuel-biodesulfurizing bacteria but also uncover unprecedented potential targets in sulfur metabolism that could be exploited via metabolic engineering to boost the biodesulfurization catalytic activity, a prerequisite for commercial application.

Hibernating brown bears are protected against atherogenic dyslipidemia.

To investigate mechanisms by which hibernators avoid atherogenic hyperlipidemia during hibernation, we assessed lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolisms of free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos). In winter- and summer-captured bears, we measured lipoprotein sizes and sub-classes, triglyceride-related plasma-enzyme activities, and muscle lipid composition along with plasma-levels of antioxidant capacities and inflammatory markers. Although hibernating bears increased nearly all lipid levels, a 36%-higher cholesteryl-ester transfer-protein activity allowed to stabilize lipid composition of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Levels of inflammatory metabolites, i.e., 7-ketocholesterol and 11ß-prostaglandin F2α, declined in winter and correlated inversely with cardioprotective HDL2b-proportions and HDL-sizes that increased during hibernation. Lower muscle-cholesterol concentrations and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity in winter suggest that hibernating bears tightly controlled peripheral-cholesterol synthesis and/or release. Finally, greater plasma-antioxidant capacities prevented excessive lipid-specific oxidative damages in plasma and muscles of hibernating bears. Hence, the brown bear manages large lipid fluxes during hibernation, without developing adverse atherogenic effects that occur in humans and non-hibernators.

Synthetic biological circuit tested in spaceflight.

Synthetic biology has potential spaceflight applications yet few if any studies have attempted to translate Earth-based synthetic biology tools into spaceflight. An exogenously inducible biological circuit for protein production in Arabidopsis thaliana, pX7-AtPDSi (Guo et al. 2003), was flown to ISS and functionally investigated. Seedlings were grown in a custom built 1.25 U plant greenhouse. Images recorded during the experiment show that leaves of pX7-AtPDSi seedlings photobleached as designed while wild type Col-0 leaves did not, which reveals that the synthetic circuit led to protein production during spaceflight. Polymerase chain reaction analysis post-flight also confirms that the Cre/LoxP (recombination system) portions of the circuit were functional in spaceflight. The subcomponents of the biological circuit, estrogen-responsive transcription factor XVE, Cre/LoxP DNA recombination system, and RNAi post-transcriptional gene silencing system now have flight heritage and can be incorporated in future designs for space applications. To facilitate future plant studies in space, the full payload design and manufacturing files are made available.

Acute-onset delirium in intensive care COVID patients: association of imperfect brain repair with foodborne micro-pollutants.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: COVID-19 affects the brain in various ways, amongst which delirium is worrying. An assessment was made of whether a specific, long-lasting, COVID-19-related brain injury develops in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients after life-saving re-oxygenation. METHODS: Ten COVID+ patients (COVID+) with unusual delirium associated with neuroimaging suggestive of diffuse brain injury and seven controls with non-COVID encephalopathy were studied. The assessment took place when the intractable delirium started at weaning off ventilation support. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed followed by standard cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses and assessment of CSF erythropoietin concentrations (as a marker for the assessment of tissue repair), and of non-targeted CSF metabolomics using liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Patients were similar as regards severity scores, but COVID+ were hospitalized longer (25 [11.75; 25] vs. 9 [4.5; 12.5] days, p = 0.03). On admission, but not at MRI and lumbar puncture performance, COVID+ were more hypoxic (p = 0.002). On MRI, there were leptomeningeal enhancement and diffuse white matter haemorrhages only in COVID+. In the latter, CSF erythropoietin concentration was lower (1.73 [1.6; 2.06] vs. 3.04 [2.9; 3.91] mIU/ml, p = 0.01), and CSF metabolomics indicated (a) increased compounds such as foodborne molecules (sesquiterpenes), molecules from industrialized beverages and micro-pollutants (diethanolamine); and (b) decreased molecules such as incomplete breakdown products of protein catabolism and foodborne molecules (glabridin). At 3-month discharge, fatigue, anxiety and depression as well as MRI lesions persisted in COVID+. CONCLUSIONS: Some COVID+ are at risk of a specific delirium. Imperfect brain repair after re-oxygenation and lifestyle factors might influence long-lasting brain injuries in a context of foodborne micro-pollutants.

Distribution and degradation trend of micropollutants in a surface flow treatment wetland revealed by 3D numerical modelling combined with LC-MS/MS.

Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat micropollutants; thus, for 20 years, several complementary treatment systems, such as surface flow wetlands have been used to address this issue. Previous studies demonstrate that higher residence time and low global velocities promote nutrient removal rates or micropollutant photodegradation. Nevertheless, these studies were restricted to the system limits (inlet/outlet). Therefore, detailed knowledge of water flow is crucial for identifying areas that promote degradation and optimise surface flow wetlands. The present study combines 3D water flow numerical modelling and liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). Using this numerical model, validated by tracer experimental data, several velocity areas were distinguished in the wetland. Four areas were selected to investigate the waterflow influence and led to the following results: on the one hand, the number and concentration of micropollutants are independent of the waterflow, which could be due to several assumptions, such as the chronic exposure associated with a low Reynolds number; on the other hand, the potential degradation products (metabolites) were also assessed in the sludge to investigate the micropollutant biodegradation processes occurring in the wetland; micropollutant metabolites or degradation products were detected in higher proportions (both number and concentration) in lower flow rate areas. The relation to higher levels of plant and microorganism metabolites suggests higher biological activity that promotes degradation.

Comparative patterns of modified nucleotides in individual tRNA species from a mesophilic and two thermophilic archaea.

To improve and complete our knowledge of archaeal tRNA modification patterns, we have identified and compared the modification pattern (type and location) in tRNAs of three very different archaeal species, Methanococcus maripaludis (a mesophilic methanogen), Pyrococcus furiosus (a hyperthermophile thermococcale), and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (an acidophilic thermophilic sulfolobale). Most abundant isoacceptor tRNAs (79 in total) for each of the 20 amino acids were isolated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by in-gel RNase digestions. The resulting oligonucleotide fragments were separated by nanoLC and their nucleotide content analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Analysis of total modified nucleosides obtained from complete digestion of bulk tRNAs was also performed. Distinct base- and/or ribose-methylations, cytidine acetylations, and thiolated pyrimidines were identified, some at new positions in tRNAs. Novel, some tentatively identified, modifications were also found. The least diversified modification landscape is observed in the mesophilic Methanococcus maripaludis and the most complex one in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Notable observations are the frequent occurrence of ac4C nucleotides in thermophilic archaeal tRNAs, the presence of m7G at positions 1 and 10 in Pyrococcus furiosus tRNAs, and the use of wyosine derivatives at position 37 of tRNAs, especially those decoding U1- and C1-starting codons. These results complete those already obtained by others with sets of archaeal tRNAs from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii and Haloferax volcanii.

Large scale micropollutants and lipids screening in the sludge layers and the ecosystem of a vertical flow constructed wetland.

Wastewater is one of the major sources of micropollutant release into the environment. In order to reduce the impact of wastewater, wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have been set up, in the instance of vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs). Besides, micropollutants could represent a vast diversity of compounds and compound's choice could bias studies focused on their fate. To overcome this bias, non-targeted screening approaches can be performed. Therefore, the diffusion of micropollutants from raw wastewater in the VFCW compartments (wastewater, plants and sludge) as well as their fate have been investigated using this non-target approach with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry. To help the operators in their sludge management, this study will be focused on the following question: Is there a specific distribution of micropollutants according to sludge layers? To eliminate the background contamination found both inside the CW and in the surrounding environment, a control coring was performed in bank. A specific distribution could be observed in the top (191 compounds) and bottom layers (38 compounds). However, a distribution over the whole depth for xenobiotics was observed. Micropollutants classes and the main microbial productivity were preferably found in the top layer. The micropollutants fate could however not be restricted to the sludge compartment. Therefore, the specific micropollutants distribution was analyzed in the outputs of the system in their interactions with wastewater (effluent, sludge, and reed rhizomes) to understand their fate. In our study, the results highlighted a consistent part of compounds found in at least two or three of these compartments, with a similar trend in each compartment. These results underline the interactions between the compartments and the global issues of micropollutants distribution as well as its wide spreading in the whole CW ecosystem.