ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Few studies have focused on microbial diversity in indoor environments of ships, as well as the role of the microbiome and its ecological interconnections. In this study, we investigated the microbiome and virome present on the internal surfaces of a polar ship in different stages (beginning, during, and at the end) of the Brazilian Antarctic expedition in order to evaluate abundance of microorganisms in different periods. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS We used shotgun metagenomic analysis on pooled samples from sampling surfaces in the ship's interior to track the microbial diversity. FINDINGS Considering the total fraction of the microbiome, the relative abundance of bacteria, eukaryotes, viruses, and archaea was 83.7%, 16.2%, 0.04%, and 0.002%, respectively. Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial phyla, followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Concerning the virome, the greatest richness of viral species was identified during the middle of the trip, including ten viral families after de novo assembly: Autographiviridae, Chrysoviridae, Genomoviridae, Herelleviridae, Myoviridae, Partitiviridae, Podoviridae, Potyviridae, Siphoviridae, and Virgaviridae. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This study contributed to the knowledge of microbial diversity in naval transportation facilities, and variations in the abundance of microorganisms probably occurred due to factors such as the number of passengers and activities on the ship.
ABSTRACT
MOTIVAÇAO: Neste trabalho foi analisado o perfil de proteínas séricas de pacientes com doença de Hodgkin (DH) localizada e avançada em busca de novos e potenciais biomarcadores para o diagnóstico médico. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: O perfil de proteínas presentes no soro de 14 indivíduos saudáveis, 14 pacientes com DH avançada e 15 pacientes com DH localizada, assim como pools de soro dos respectivos grupos, foi analisado em gel desnaturante de poliacrilamida a 12 por cento corado pela prata. A densitometria e a intensidade média das bandas de interesse foram estudadas utilizando-se o Kodak 1D Scientific Imaging System. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: O perfil protéico apresentou acentuada variação entre os pacientes examinados; entretanto foi observada a indução predominante de determinadas proteínas (aproximadamente 26kDa e 18kDa), cuja expressão foi substancialmente diferente quando em comparação com os controles (p < 0,01). Estas proteínas podem potencialmente constituir-se em marcadores moleculares de acompanhamento da evolução e do tratamento da doença.
Subject(s)
Humans , Hodgkin Disease/diagnosis , Hodgkin Disease/blood , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysisABSTRACT
Thirty eight patients with indeterminate leprosy (HI), at least 4 to 6 years after discharge from multibacillary (MB) or paucibacillary (PB) schemes of anti leprosy multidrug therapy (MDT), were submitted to traditional diagnostic procedures for leprosy and to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of different clinical samples for detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA. No significant difference was observed for any of the parameters analyzed between PB or MB schemes of treatment and no indications were found for more efficient outcome of HI using the MB scheme. Remarkably, 18 (54.5 percent) of the individuals were PCR positive in at least one of the samples: positivity of PCR was highest in blood samples and four individuals were PCR positive in blood and some other sample. Upon comparison of PCR results with clinical and histopathological parameters, no correlation was found between PCR-positivity and eventual relapse. This is the first report on detection of M. leprae DNA in PB patients, more than half a decade after completion of MDT, suggesting that live bacilli are present and circulating much longer than expected, although reinfection of the individuals can not be excluded. Overall, we feel that because of the high sensitivity of the assay, extreme care should be taken about association of PCR results, efficacy of treatment and disease status