Posttraumatic Growth Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China and Its Relationship to Family Function and Mental Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the posttraumatic growth (PTG) of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the association among family function, mental resilience and PTG. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 205 parents of children with ASD in the clinical department of a university-affiliated hospital in Guangzhou from January to October 2019. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Family Assessment Device, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were employed for data collection. RESULTS: The mean PTG score of parents was 59.56±18.46; and 24.63%, 43.84%, and 32.51% of parents exhibited a high level, moderate level and low level, respectively, of PTG. The problem-solving dimension of family function (p = 0.005) and the strength dimension of mental resilience (p ≤0.001) were positively related to PTG. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children with ASD experienced moderate PTG overall. The problem-solving dimension of family function and the strength dimension of mental resilience were significant predictors of PTG. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Interventions to improve family function and the mental resilience of parents with ASD children could contribute to improving the PTG of parents.

Pleionea sediminis sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment and emendation of the description of the genus Pleionea.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain S1-5-21T, was isolated from coastal sediment in Quanzhou Bay, PR China, and subjected to taxonomic characterization. Growth of strain S1-5-21T was observed at 15-40 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C), NaCl tolerance of 0.5-10 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 1 %), and pH range of 5-8 (optimum, pH 7). Catalase activity and oxidase activity were found to be positive. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain S1-5-21T shows maximum sequence similarity to Pleionea mediterranea MOLA115T (95.7 %), followed by Kangiella chungangensis CAU 1040T (90.4 %) and Aliikangiella marina GYP-15T (90.1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S1-5-21T forms a distinct monophyletic branch affiliated to the genus Pleionea. The ANI value between strain S1-5-21T and close relative P. mediterranea MOLA115T was estimated to be 70.8 %. The respiratory quinone was found to be Q-8. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were identified as iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl) and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two aminolipids, three phospholipids and five unidentified polar lipids. The draft genome size of strain S1-5-21T is 5.2 Mb with genomic G+C content of 40.1 mol%. Based on these results, strain S1-5-21T is concluded to represent a novel species within the genus Pleionea, for which the name Pleioneasediminis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain S1-5-21T (=MCCC 1K03814T=KCTC 72149T).

Acidimangrovimonas sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment and reclassification of Defluviimonas indica as Acidimangrovimonas indica comb. nov. and Defluviimonas pyrenivorans as Acidimangrovimonas pyrenivorans comb. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, short-rod bacterium, strain MS2-2T, was isolated from mangrove sediment sampled at Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian province, PR China. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain MS2-2T was most closely related to Defluviimonas indica 20V17T (97.41 %) and Defluviimonas pyrenivorans PrR001T (96.18 %). Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA genes and genome sequences both revealed that strain MS2-2T formed a distinct cluster with D. indica 20V17T and D. pyrenivorans PrR001T within family Rhodobacteracea, quite separate from other type species in the genus Defluviimonas. The average nucleotide identity value between strain MS2-2T and D. indica 20V17T was 78.35 %. Growth of strain MS2-2T was observed at 16-41 °â€ŠC (optimum, 34 °â€ŠC), pH 3.6-7.5 (pH 6.0) and 0.5-10.0 % (w/v) NaCl (4.0 %). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C18 : 0. Ubiquinone 10 was the sole quinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 67.9 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain MS2-2T represents a novel species of a novel genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Acidimangrovimonassediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain MS2-2T (=MCCC 1K02682T=NBRC 112978T). We also propose the reclassification of Defluviimonas indica as Acidimangrovimonas indica comb. nov. and Defluviimonas pyrenivorans as Acidimangrovimonas pyrenivorans comb. nov.

Altererythrobacter flavus sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated MS1-4T, was isolated from mangrove sediment of the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian Province, China. The isolate formed yellow colonies on ZB 2216E agar. Optimal growth was observed at pH 6.0, at 34 °C and in the presence of 4 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain MS1-4T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.7 % with Altererythrobacter mangrovi C9-11T, followed by Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis JPCCMB0017T (97.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain MS1-4T formed a clade with A. mangrovi C9-11T within the genus Altererythrobacter. The main cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and the sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The main polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids. The G+C content of the DNA was 60.4 mol%. Based on data from this polyphasic characterization, strain MS1-4T should be classified as representing a novel species in the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MS1-4T (=MCCC 1K02683T=NBRC 112977T).

Dynamics of size-fractionated bacterial communities during the coastal dispersal of treated municipal effluents.

Everyday huge amount of treated municipal wastewater is discharged into the coastal seawater. However, microbial biomarkers for the municipal effluent instead of the fecal species from raw sewage have not been proposed. Meanwhile, bacterial taxa for degrading large amounts of input organics have not been fully understood. In this study, raw effluent and serial water samples were collected from the coastal dispersal of two sewage treatment plants in Xiamen, China. Free-living (FL) and particle-associated (PA) bacterial communities were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and quantitative PCR to measure bacterial abundance. The PA bacterial communities in our samples exhibited higher cell abundance, alpha diversity, and population dynamics than the FL bacterial communities, which supports greater environmental significance of the PA bacterial communities. Two non-fecal but typical genera in activated sludge, Zoogloea and Dechloromonas, exhibited decreased but readily detectable abundance along the effluent dispersal distance. Furthermore, the dominating microbial species near the outfalls were related to well-known marine indigenous taxa, such as SAR11 clade, OM60 clade, low-GC Actinobacteria, and unclassified Flavobacteriales, as well as the less understood taxa like Pseudohongiella and Microbacteriaceae. It is interesting that these taxa exhibited two types of correlation patterns with COD concentration. Our study suggested Zoogloea as a potential indicator of municipal effluents and also proposed potential utilizers of residual effluent COD in marine environments.

Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans sp. nov., a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium from an oil port water sample.

A bacterial strain (B2-7(T)) capable of degrading a wide range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (2-4 rings) was isolated from a water sample taken from Botan Oil Port in Xiamen, China. The isolate was Gram-negative, short-rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile and formed yellow-pigmented colonies on LB medium. Cells of strain B2-7(T) were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Optimal growth of strain B2-7(T) was observed at pH 7.0, at 26 °C and in 0.5 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain B2-7(T) grouped with members of the genus Sphingomonas and it showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.40 % to Sphingomonas yunnanensis YIM 003(T). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingoglycolipid. Q-10 and sym-homospermidine were the predominant ubiquinone and polyamine components, respectively. The major fatty acids were C(18:1)ω7c (67.2 %), C(14:0) 2-OH (10.0 %) and C(16:0) (9.6 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 61.8 mol%. Based on phenotypic properties, and phylogenetic and genomic data, strain B2-7(T) represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas within the class Alphaproteobacteria, for which the name Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B2-7(T) ( = KCCM 42951(T) = JCM 16711(T)).

[Biodegradation of Polyethylene Microplastic: A Review].

Over the recent decades, global plastic production has grown dramatically due to the huge demands of consumption. As a consequence, large amounts of plastic waste have accumulated in the environment and will be cleaved into microplastics. Due to the low bioavailability, the microplastics will exist in the environment persistently and cause massive environmental stress. Plastic pollution is currently one of the biggest environmental concerns. Recent studies have shown the possibility to obtain degrading microorganisms of microplastics from the natural environment. Some microorganisms can break down microplastics into water and carbon dioxide. This paper reviewed the current research on biodegradation of polyethylene (PE), which is the most abundant microplastic type in the environment, and discussed the quantification methods of the degradation effect. Given that current biodegradation efficiency is relatively limited, further research is required.

Estuarine salinity gradient governs sedimentary bacterial community but not antibiotic resistance gene profile.

Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) pollution in estuarine environment has drawn great attention, and it is not clear if the physical and chemical parameters such as salinity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and antibiotics affects the distribution of ARGs. Herein, we deciphered the ARG profiles and microbial community compositions in sediments from Jiulong River Estuary (JRE) and Min River Estuary (MRE) of China using high-throughput sequencing-based metagenomics analysis. Furthermore, we explored the influence of salinity on bacterial community and ARG profiles. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla in these two estuaries. The abundance of ARGs ranged from 1.05 × 10-1 to 2.93 × 10-1 copy of ARG per copy of 16S rRNA gene in all the sediment samples and the profiles of ARGs presented similar patterns in two estuaries. Multidrug resistance genes were the dominant ARG types in both estuaries, with an overall abundance of 2.39 × 10-2-1.07 × 10-1 copy of ARG per copy of 16S rRNA gene, followed by genes conferring resistance to bacitracin and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin. Salinity was an important influencing factor on the bacterial community but not on the ARG profiles. Instead, stochastic processes exerted the main influence on the distribution of ARGs. The comparison of ARG profiles among estuary sediments, marine sediments, and samples from anthropogenic pollution environments revealed remarkable similarity of ARG profiles between samples from estuary sediments and those from municipal wastewater treatment plants. These results suggested that the complex emission of anthropogenic pollution could cause the stochastic ecological pattern of ARGs.

Contamination and potential biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mangrove sediments of Xiamen, China.

Five stations were established in the Fenglin mangrove area of Xiamen, China to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the numbers of PAH-degrading bacteria in surface sediments. Assessing the biodegradation potential of indigenous microorganisms and isolating the high molecule weight (HMW)-PAH degrading bacteria was also one of the aims of this work. The results showed that the total PAH concentration of sediments was 222.59 ng g(-1) dry weight, whereas the HMW-PAH benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) had the highest concentration among 16 individual PAH compounds. The variation in the numbers of PAH-degrading bacteria was 2.62 x 10(2)-5.67 x 10(4)CFU g(-1) dry weight. The addition of PAHs showed a great influence in increasing the microbial activity in mangrove sediments. A bacterial consortium, which could utilize BaP as the sole source of carbon and energy, and which was isolated from mangrove sediments and enriched in liquid medium for nearly one year degraded 32.8% of BaP after 63 days incubation.