Management of biofloc concentrations as an ecological strategy for microbial control in intensive shrimp culture

This study investigated if the intensity of sedimentation through settling tanks modifies the bacterial community composition of biofloc systems and affects performance of shrimp. A 50-day trial, which was conducted with Pacific White Shrimp juveniles (2.6 g ± 0.0 g) stocked at a density of 906 shrimp m−3, evaluated two different biofloc concentrations, i.e., total suspended solids: T500 (~ 500 mg L−1) and T700 (~ 700 mg L−1). To characterize the bacterial community, 40 water samples were taken for high throughput 16S-rDNA amplicon sequencing. Water quality variables were statistically similar among treatments and remained within the appropriate range for shrimp growth. No significant difference in the performance of animals was observed between treatments. Shrimp survival was high in both treatments (~ 90%), but the coefficient of the variation was 5.5 times higher in T500 (11.5%) than that observed in the T700 (2.1%). Bacterial richness was higher in T700, and composition of the bacterial community was different from that of the T500. We argue that a higher intensity of sedimentation, which decreased the TSS level in the T500, promoted changes in the microenvironment of these tanks. This, in turn, affected the ecological state of the system by destabilizing the bacterial community and promoting proliferation of opportunistic species (e.g., Vibrio) in tanks with lower floc levels. The higher presence of opportunists is likely related to a reduction in microbial carrying capacity (CC) and an increase in substrate supply per microbial cell promoted by the higher floc removal. Under such conditions, fast-growing opportunistic r-strategists are favoured because they perform better in uncrowded environments with high resource availability per cell. Conversely, tanks with higher floc levels, closer to the CC, and thus with scarcer resources per cell, result in strong competition and selection of slow-growing competition specialists - the K-strategists. In conclusion, our results show that the control of floc levels can be an important strategy to obtain bacterial control and should be considered in management practices.acceptedVersio

Isolamento de bacteriófago lítico para Staphylococcus aureus e estudos preliminares em fagoterapia da mastite estafilocócica bovina

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Sistema Automatizado de Estacionamiento para Patentes Argentinas

The global market for smart parking solutions is booming. Nowadays, this market is highly competitive due mainly to the increase in car ownership and the number of vehicles circulating the roads. However, there is a technological gap between Argentina and other countries. This work presents the Automated LPR Parking System for Argentinian Plates SAE (in Spanish, Sistema Automatizado de Estacionamiento) designed and developed in its prototype version for a private company, to control and manage the entry, stay and exit of vehicles in parking lots. The system is composed by two main modules: the automatic license plate recognition system and the Principal System Board. This board allows the connection of the central unit with peripherals such as magnetic field sensors, access barriers and infrared barriers. In addition, the system manages a database that stores the necessary information for the parking management. Registered users that pay monthly and ocasinal users are considered. Furthermore, the system implements a mechanism for vehicle size detection to determine the value of the parking fees. SAE handles both hardware and system failures and exceptional situations. In addition, the entry and exit of vehicles are handled simultaneously.El mercado global de soluciones inteligentes para estacionamiento está en auge siendo altamente competitivo debido principalmente al crecimiento del parque automotor. En Argentina aún prevalece la operatoria manual. Este trabajo presenta el Sistema Automatizado de Estacionamiento (SAE), diseñado y desarrollado en su versión prototipo para una empresa privada, para controlar y gestionar el ingreso, egreso y estadía de vehículos en playas de estacionamiento. El sistema cuenta con un módulo de reconocimiento de patentes vigentes en Argentina, la placa principal que permite conectar la unidad central del sistema con los periféricos como detectores magnéticos, barreras de acceso y barreras infrarrojas, y una base de datos que almacena información necesaria para la gestión del estacionamiento. Se contemplan usuarios abonados y no abonados y tarifas para distintos tipos de vehículo, para lo cual se implementa un sistema para la detección de tamaño. El SAE maneja casos de fallo tanto de hardware como del sistema y situaciones de excepción. Se contemplan además vías de ingreso y egreso con entrada y salida de vehículos en simultáneo

Marine viruses discovered via metagenomics shed light on viral strategies throughout the oceans

Marine viruses are key drivers of host diversity, population dynamics and biogeochemical cycling and contribute to the daily flux of billions of tons of organic matter. Despite recent advancements in metagenomics, much of their biodiversity remains uncharacterized. Here we report a data set of 27,346 marine virome contigs that includes 44 complete genomes. These outnumber all currently known phage genomes in marine habitats and include members of previously uncharacterized lineages. We designed a new method for host prediction based on co-occurrence associations that reveals these viruses infect dominant members of the marine microbiome such as Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter. A negative association between host abundance and the virus-to-host ratio supports the recently proposed Piggyback-the-Winner model of reduced phage lysis at higher host densities. An analysis of the abundance patterns of viruses throughout the oceans revealed how marine viral communities adapt to various seasonal, temperature and photic regimes according to targeted hosts and the diversity of auxiliary metabolic genes.CAPESCNPqFAPERJCiencia sem fronteiras programUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, IB, BR-21944970 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRadboud Univ Nijmegen, Radboud Inst Mol Life Sci, CMBI, Med Ctr, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, NetherlandsUniv Utrecht, Theoret Biol & Bioinformat, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, NetherlandsSan Diego State Univ, Dept Biol, San Diego, CA 92182 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Baixada Santista, BrazilNIOZ Royal Netherlands Inst Sea Res, Dept Marine Microbiol & Biogeochem, POB 59, NL-1790 AB Den Burg, NetherlandsUniv Utrecht, POB 59, NL-1790 AB Den Burg, NetherlandsUniv Amsterdam, Dept Aquat Microbiol, IBED, NL-1090 GE Amsterdam, NetherlandsUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, COPPE, SAGE, BR-21941950 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Baixada Santista, BrazilCAPESCNPqFAPERJCiencia sem fronteiras program: 864.14.004Web of Scienc

Gestational malaria associated to Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum placental mixed-infection followed by foetal loss: a case report from an unstable transmission area in Brazil

Gestational malaria is a multi-factorial syndrome leading to poor outcomes for both the mother and foetus. Although an unusual increasing in the number of hospitalizations caused by Plasmodium vivax has been reported in Brazil, mortality is rarely observed. This is a report of a gestational malaria case that occurred in the city of Manaus (Amazonas State, Brazil) and resulted in foetal loss. The patient presented placental mixed-infection by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum after diagnosis by nested-PCR, however microscopic analysis failed to detect P. falciparum in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, as the patient did not receive proper treatment for P. falciparum and hospitalization occurred soon after drug treatment, it seems that P. falciparum pathology was modulated by the concurrent presence of P. vivax. Collectively, this case confirms the tropism towards the placenta by both of these species of parasites, reinforces the notion that co-existence of distinct malaria parasites interferes on diseases' outcomes, and opens discussions regarding diagnostic methods, malaria treatment during pregnancy and prenatal care for women living in unstable transmission areas of malaria, such as the Brazilian Amazon

Prevalence and characterization of vaginal lactobacillus species in women at reproductive age without vulvovaginitis

PURPOSE: to identify species of lactobacillus isolated from the vaginal contents of healthy and asymptomatic women, determining the most prevalent species and characterizing them phenotypically. METHODS: lactobacillus have been isolated in selective milieu from samples of the vaginal contents of 135 women without complaints of vaginal secretion, and with negative laboratorial diagnosis of vaginal infection, followed up at an outpatient clinic. After being identified by multiplex PCR, the isolates have been submitted to RNAr 16S gene sequencing, when necessary. They have also been evaluated concerning the production of lactic acid, H2O2, bacteriocins and the ability to adhere to epithelial cells. RESULTS: eight-three lactobacillus strains were isolated and identified, L. crispatus (30.1%), L. jensenii (26.5%), L. gasseri (22.9%) e L. vaginalis (8.4%), being the prevalent species. Only 20 of those isolates did not present H2O2 production, in detectable amounts. From the 37 strains selected for the test of adhesion to the epithelial cells, 12 presented 50 to 69% of adhesion, 10 presented 70% or more, and the remaining, little or no adhesion at all. None of the tested strains produced bacteriocins. CONCLUSIONS: the lactobacillus species more prevalent in women without vulvovaginitis, isolated in selective culture milieu and identified by molecular methods were L. crispatus, L. jensenii and L. gasseri. Besides the fact of being more prevalent, these strains also presented better production of H2O2, and reached lower pH values in the culture milieu.OBJETIVO: identificar espécies de lactobacilos isolados do conteúdo vaginal de mulheres saudáveis e assintomáticas; determinar as espécies mais prevalentes e caracterizá-las fenotipicamente. MÉTODOS: lactobacilos foram isolados em meio seletivo a partir de amostras de conteúdo vaginal de 135 mulheres, sem queixa de corrimento e com diagnóstico laboratorial negativo para infecções vaginais, acompanhadas em um ambulatório de Planejamento Familiar. Os isolados foram identificados por PCR multiplex e, quando necessário, submetidos ao sequenciamento do gene RNAr 16S. Foram também avaliados quanto à acidificação do meio de cultura, à produção de ácido láctico, de H2O2, bacteriocinas e a capacidade de adesão às células epiteliais. RESULTADOS: oitenta e três cepas de lactobacilos foram isoladas e identificadas, sendo as espécies predominantes L. crispatus (30,1%), L. jensenii (26,5%), L. gasseri (22,9%) e L. vaginalis (8,4%). Apenas 20 destes isolados não produziram H2O2 em quantidades detectáveis. Das 37 linhagens selecionadas para teste de adesão a células epiteliais, 12 apresentaram adesão entre 50 a 69%, 10 apresentaram 70% ou mais, e as restantes pouca ou nenhuma adesão. Nenhum dos isolados produziu bacteriocinas. CONCLUSÕES: as espécies de lactobacilos mais prevalentes em mulheres sem vulvovaginites, isoladas em meio de cultura seletivo e identificadas por métodos moleculares, foram L. crispatus, L. jensenii e L. gasseri. Além de mais frequentes, tais linhagens também apresentaram melhor produção de H2O2 e atingiram menores valores de pH em meio de cultura.18919

Genomic and phenotypic attributes of novel salinivibrios from stromatolites, sediment and water from a high altitude lake

Background: Salinivibrios are moderately halophilic bacteria found in salted meats, brines and hypersaline environments. We obtained three novel conspecific Salinivibrio strains closely related to S. costicola, from Socompa Lake, a high altitude hypersaline Andean lake (approx. 3,570 meters above the sea level).Results: The three novel Salinivibrio spp. were extremely resistant to arsenic (up to 200 mM HAsO42-), NaCl (up to 15%), and UV-B radiation (19 KJ/m2, corresponding to 240 minutes of exposure) by means of phenotypic tests. Our subsequent draft genome ionsequencing and RAST-based genome annotation revealed the presence of genes related to arsenic, NaCl, and UV radiation resistance. The three novel Salinivibrio genomes also had the xanthorhodopsin gene cluster phylogenetically related to Marinobacter and Spiribacter. The genomic taxonomy analysis, including multilocus sequence analysis, average amino acid identity, and genome-to-genome distance revealed that the three novel strains belong to a new Salinivibrio species.Conclusions: Arsenic resistance genes, genes involved in DNA repair, resistance to extreme environmental conditions and the possible light-based energy production, may represent important attributes of the novel salinivibrios, allowing these microbes to thrive in the Socompa Lake. © 2014 Gorriti et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Fil: Gorriti, Marta Fabiana. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; ArgentinaFil: Dias, Graciela M.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Chimetto, Luciane A.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Trindade-Silva, Amaro E.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Silva, Bruno S.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Mesquita, Milene M.A.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Gregoracci, Gustavo B.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; ArgentinaFil: Thompson, Cristiane C.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; BrasilFil: Thompson, Fabiano L.. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ; Brasi

Structuring of Bacterioplankton Diversity in a Large Tropical Bay

Structuring of bacterioplanktonic populations and factors that determine the structuring of specific niche partitions have been demonstrated only for a limited number of colder water environments. In order to better understand the physical chemical and biological parameters that may influence bacterioplankton diversity and abundance, we examined their productivity, abundance and diversity in the second largest Brazilian tropical bay (Guanabara Bay, GB), as well as seawater physical chemical and biological parameters of GB. The inner bay location with higher nutrient input favored higher microbial (including vibrio) growth. Metagenomic analysis revealed a predominance of Gammaproteobacteria in this location, while GB locations with lower nutrient concentration favored Alphaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria. According to the subsystems (SEED) functional analysis, GB has a distinctive metabolic signature, comprising a higher number of sequences in the metabolism of phosphorus and aromatic compounds and a lower number of sequences in the photosynthesis subsystem. The apparent phosphorus limitation appears to influence the GB metagenomic signature of the three locations. Phosphorus is also one of the main factors determining changes in the abundance of planktonic vibrios, suggesting that nutrient limitation can be observed at community (metagenomic) and population levels (total prokaryote and vibrio counts)

An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth

Large rivers create major gaps in reef distribution along tropical shelves. The Amazon River represents 20% of the global riverine discharge to the ocean, generating up to a 1.3 x 10(6)-km(2) plume, and extensive muddy bottoms in the equatorial margin of South America. As a result, a wide area of the tropical North Atlantic is heavily affected in terms of salinity, pH, light penetration, and sedimentation. Such unfavorable conditions were thought to imprint a major gap in Western Atlantic reefs. We present an extensive carbonate system off the Amazon mouth, underneath the river plume. Significant carbonate sedimentation occurred during lowstand sea level, and still occurs in the outer shelf, resulting in complex hard-bottom topography. A permanent near-bottom wedge of ocean water, together with the seasonal nature of the plume's eastward retroflection, conditions the existence of this extensive (similar to 9500 km(2)) hard-bottom mosaic. The Amazon reefs transition from accretive to erosional structures and encompass extensive rhodolith beds. Carbonate structures function as a connectivity corridor for wide depth-ranging reef-associated species, being heavily colonized by large sponges and other structure-forming filter feeders that dwell under low light and high levels of particulates. The oxycline between the plume and subplume is associated with chemoautotrophic and anaerobic microbial metabolisms. The system described here provides several insights about the responses of tropical reefs to suboptimal and marginal reef-building conditions, which are accelerating worldwide due to global changes.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERS)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)BrasoilMCTIBrazilian NavyU.S. NSFGordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF)Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro UFRJ, Inst Biol, BR-21941599 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, COPPE, Inst Alberto Luiz Coimbra Posgrad & Pesquisa Engn, Lab Sistemas Avancados Gestao Prod, BR-21941972 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilInst Pesquisas Jardim Bot Rio de Janeiro, BR-22460030 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Oceanog, BR-29199970 Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniv Estadual Norte Fluminense, Lab Ciencias Ambientais, Ctr Biociencias & Biotecnol, BR-28013602 Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Inst Geociencias, BR-24210346 Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Inst Biol, BR-24210130 Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museo Nacl, BR-20940040 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilFed Univ Para, Inst Estudos Costeiros, BR-68600000 Braganca, PA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Oceanog, BR-50670901 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Georgia, Dept Marine Sci, Athens, GA 30602 USAUniv Fed Paraiba, BR-58297000 Rio Tinto, PB, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-45650000 Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilU.S. NSF: OCE-0934095GBMF: 2293GBMF: 2928Web of Scienc