Gene Order Phylogeny of the Genus Prochlorococcus

Using gene order as a phylogenetic character has the potential to resolve previously unresolved species relationships. This character was used to resolve the evolutionary history within the genus Prochlorococcus, a group of marine cyanobacteria.Orthologous gene sets and their genomic positions were identified from 12 species of Prochlorococcus and 1 outgroup species of Synechococcus. From this data, inversion and breakpoint distance-based phylogenetic trees were computed by GRAPPA and FastME. Statistical support of the resulting topology was obtained by application of a 50% jackknife resampling technique. The result was consistent and congruent with nucleotide sequence-based and gene-content based trees. Also, a previously unresolved clade was resolved, that of MIT9211 and SS120.This is the first study to use gene order data to resolve a bacterial phylogeny at the genus level. It suggests that the technique is useful in resolving the Tree of Life

An AFM study of solid-phase bilayers of unsaturated PC lipids and the lateral distribution of the transmembrane model peptide WALP23 in these bilayers

An altered lipid packing can have a large influence on the properties of the membrane and the lateral distribution of proteins and/or peptides that are associated with the bilayer. Here, it is shown by contact-mode atomic force microscopy that the surface topography of solid-phase bilayers of PC lipids with an unsaturated cis bond in their acyl chains shows surfaces with a large number of line-type packing defects, in contrast to the much smoother surfaces observed for saturated PC lipids. Di-n:1-PC (n = 20, 22, 24) and (16:0,18:1)-PC (POPC) were used. Next, the influence of an altered lipid environment on the lateral distribution of the single α-helical model peptide WALP23 was studied by incorporating the peptide in the bilayers of di-n:1-PC (n = 20, 22, 24) and (16:0,18:1)-PC unsaturated lipids. The presence of WALP23 leads to an increase in the number of packing defects but does not lead to the formation of the striated domains that were previously observed in bilayers of saturated PC lipids and WALP. This is ascribed to the less efficient lateral lipid packing of the unsaturated lipids, while the increase in packing defects is probably an indirect effect of the peptide. Finally, the fact that an altered lipid packing affects the distribution of WALP23 is also confirmed in an additional experiment where the solvent TFE (2,2,2-trifluorethanol) is added to bilayers of di-16:0-PC/WALP23. At 3.5 vol% TFE, the previous striated ordering of the peptide is abolished and replaced by loose lines

680-P: Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Shared Medical Appointments on Planned Self-Management Changes

Introduction: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures glucose up to 288 times per day allowing people with diabetes (PWD) to see in real-time how medications, food, exercise, and stress, affect glucose levels. Clinicians interpret this information to make lifestyle and medication recommendations. Objective: To identify common learning outcomes and planned self-management changes resulting from CGM shared medical appointments. Study Design: A two-part CGM Shared Medical Appointment was led by certified diabetes educators (pharmacists, nurses and dieticians). Professional CGM devices were inserted and participants returned the following week for removal, discussion and education in a group format. Inclusion criteria for this study were as follows: age &amp;gt; 18 years, &amp;gt;3 days of CGM data, and attendance of both classes. A post-course survey was given with structured interview questions asking (1) “What is one thing you learned from the CGM class experience?” and (2) “Which changes do you plan to make to your diabetes care?” Questions were answered in written format. After digital transcription entry, data were coded and analyzed using content analysis to devise themes by two reviewers. Findings: A total of 170 PWD participated in the CGM class and 140 (82.35%) completed the post-course survey. Class sizes ranged from 3-6 participants. The most common learning outcomes were nutrition self-management knowledge (35.77%), pattern interpretation (18.25%) and blood glucose awareness (13.87%). The most common planned self-management changes were nutrition related (56.82%), self-management behavioral goals (24.42%) (log patterns, increase monitoring frequency) and medication adjustments (23.48%) (basal rates, carbohydrate ratios, timing and consistency of medications). Conclusion: Continuous Glucose Monitoring Shared Medical Appointments are an innovative strategy to facilitate lifestyle changes and medication adjustments for people with diabetes. Disclosure J.E. Blanchette: Consultant; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Tandem Diabetes Care. D. Noe: None. N. Galloway: None. H. Sullivan: None. A. Ha: Consultant; Self; Tandem Diabetes Care. D. Isaacs: Advisory Panel; Self; BD, Sanofi-Aventis. </jats:sec