Genome sequence of Corynebacterium amycolatum ICIS 99 isolated from human vagina reveals safety and beneficial properties.

Corynebacterium amycolatum ICIS 99 was isolated from vaginal smears of healthy women and showed promising results in antimicrobial screenings. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain and analyze its main features to assess its safety and useful properties. The genome is 2,532,503 bp long and contains 2186 CDSs with an average G + C content of 59.0%. Analyses of the ICIS 99 genome revealed the absence of true virulence factors. The genome contains genes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites and bacteriocins of the class sactipeptide. In the genome of ICIS 99, we identified a large number of genes responsible for adaptation and survival in the vaginal environment, including acid and oxidative stress resistance genes. The genomic information of ICIS 99 provides a basis for understanding the safety and useful properties of ICIS 99 and for considering it as a potential probiotic strain. The whole genome shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession number JAIUSU000000000.

Elemental composition of the hair and milk of black-spotted cows and its relationship with intestinal microbiome reorganization.

Background and Aim: The cattle breeding system is facing severe problems associated with the increased negative impact of various human activity areas on the environment and the bodies of farm animals. The use of heavy metals in different production areas leads to their accumulation in the environment due to the ingestion of animals and humans through animal products. This study aimed to assess the elemental composition of the hair and milk of black-spotted cows and to identify the relationship between the content of toxic and essential elements and the state of the intestinal microbiome. Materials and Methods: The element status was estimated by studying the chemical composition of the biosubstrates using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Based on the analysis of hair, the elemental composition, and the use of the coefficient of toxic load, two groups of animals were formed: Group I, which included cows with a lower load factor, and Group II, which included cows with a higher load factor. Results: An increase in the heavy metal concentrations in the hair and milk of animals in Group II was observed. The As, Fe, Pb, Al, Co, Ni, and V concentrations in the hair of cows from Group II increased relative to Group I by 19%, 29%, 24.5%, 32.3%, 35.6%, 21.5%, and 18.2%, respectively. There was a significant increase in the level of Fe by 11.5%, Cr by 8.25%, Mn by 17.6%, Pb by 46.1%, and Cd by 25% in Group II compared with Group I in the assessment of elemental milk composition. There were no apparent changes in the intestinal microbiome of Group II. Conclusion: Some heavy metals were accumulated in the bodies and milk of animals. This shows a high probability of heavy metals causing harm to the health of animals and humans.

Genome Characterization and Probiotic Potential of Corynebacterium amycolatum Human Vaginal Isolates.

The vaginal microbiome of healthy women contains nondiphtheria corynebacteria. The role and functions of nondiphtheria corynebacteria in the vaginal biotope are still under study. We sequenced and analysed the genomes of three vaginal C. amycolatum strains isolated from healthy women. Previous studies have shown that these strains produced metabolites that significantly increased the antagonistic activity of peroxide-producing lactic acid bacteria against pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms and had strong antimicrobial activity against opportunistic pathogens. Analysis of the C. amycolatum genomes revealed the genes responsible for adaptation and survival in the vaginal environment, including acid and oxidative stress resistance genes. The genes responsible for the production of H2O2 and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, essential amino acids and vitamins were identified. A cluster of genes encoding the synthesis of bacteriocin was revealed in one of the annotated genomes. The obtained results allow us to consider the studied strains as potential probiotics that are capable of preventing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and supporting colonisation resistance in the vaginal biotope.

Macrophage Phenotype in Combination with Tumor Microbiome Composition Predicts RCC Patients' Survival: A Pilot Study.

The identification of new prognostic markers of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an urgent problem in oncourology. To investigate the potential prognostic significance of tumor microbiome and stromal inflammatory markers, we studied a cohort of 66 patients with RCC (23 clear cell RCC, 19 papillary RCC and 24 chromophobe RCC). The microbiome was analyzed in tumor and normal tissue by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Characterization of the tumor stroma was performed using immunohistochemistry. A significant difference in alpha diversity was demonstrated between normal kidney tissue and all types of RCC. Further, we demonstrated that the bacterial burden was higher in adjacent normal tissue than in a tumor. For the first time, we demonstrated a significant correlation between bacterial burden and the content of PU.1+ macrophages and CD66b+ neutrophils in kidney tumors. Tumors with high content of PU.1+ cells and CD66b+ cells in the stroma were characterized by a lower bacterial burden. In the tumors with high bacterial burden, the number of PU.1+ cells and CD66b+ was associated with a poor prognosis. The identified associations indicate the great prognostic potential of a combined tumor microbiome and stromal cell analysis.

Structure and genetics of the O-antigen of Enterobacter cloacae K7 containing di-N-acetylpseudaminic acid.

The O-antigen (O-polysaccharide) is an essential component of lipopolysaccharide on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria and plays an important role in interaction with host organisms. In this study, we investigated the chemical structure and characterized the gene cluster of Enterobacter cloacae K7 O-antigen. As judged by sugar analyses along with NMR spectroscopy data, E. cloacae K7 antigen has a tetrasaccharide O-unit with the following structure: →8)-ß-Psep5Ac7Ac-(2 â†’ 2)-ß-l-Rhap-(1 â†’ 4)-α-l-Rhap-(1 â†’ 3)-α-d-Galp-(1→ The O-antigen gene cluster of E. cloacae K7 between conserved genes galF and gnd was sequenced. Most genes necessary for the O-antigen synthesis were found in the cluster and their functions were tentatively assigned by comparison with sequences in the available databases.

Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium Strain ICIS 96 Demonstrating Intermicrobial Antagonism Associated with Bacteriocin Production.

We report here the complete genome sequence of Enterococcus faecium strain ICIS 96, which was isolated from the feces of a horse. Bacteriological characterization of strain ICIS 96 revealed the absence of pathogenicity factors, while its spectrum of antagonistic activity was found to be broad, having activities associated with both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of the E. faecium ICIS 96 genome revealed five genes associated with antimicrobial activity (enterocin [ent] A, ent B, lactobin A/cerein 7b, and ent L50 A/B). No genes that correlate with human pathogenicity were identified.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Vaginal Isolate Corynebacterium amycolatum ICIS 9.

Corynebacterium amycolatum ICIS 9 was isolated from a vaginal smear of a healthy woman. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of C. amycolatum ICIS 9, which will be useful for further studies of specific genetic features of this strain and for understanding its probiotic properties.

Draft Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium amycolatum Strain ICIS 53 Isolated from a Female Urogenital Tract.

This report describes the draft genome sequence of Corynebacterium amycolatum strain ICIS 53, isolated from the reproductive tract of a healthy woman. The size of the genome was 2,460,257 bp (58.98% G+C content). Annotation revealed 2,173 coding sequences, including 2,076 proteins, 7 rRNA genes, and 53 tRNA genes.