College students' perceptions of positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences.

Objective: During young adulthood, drinking and sexual behaviors are both normative and inextricably linked. While this association is well documented, little is known about how students define positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences. Methods: Thirty-five undergraduates participated in a focus group about sexual experiences in the context of drinking. Thematic analysis was utilized to identify themes in the data. Results: Students' descriptions of positive drinking-related sexual encounters included having a good time, feeling safe, maintaining control over alcohol, as well as feeling safe in drinking contexts where sexual partners are located. Students' perceptions of negative experiences included specific consequences such as a damaged reputation, loss of control due to alcohol, and concern of engagement in sex when they or a partner was too intoxicated to consent. Conclusion: Gaining a better understanding of how college students view positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences could inform interventions aimed at promoting student well-being.

Looking out for You and Me: College students' Strategies for Preventing Sexual Assault in Drinking Contexts.

Background: Sexual assault and heavy alcohol use are prevalent and interrelated public health concerns on university campuses. Surprisingly, however, few alcohol harm reduction interventions address this intersection to help students reduce both personal and community risks for sexual assault in college drinking contexts. Objectives: In the current study, students (ages 18-24) shared strategies they use to protect themselves and others from sexual assault in college drinking contexts, as well as challenges to implementing these strategies. A series of six focus groups were conducted across two universities in the U.S. (N = 35). Participants responded to open-ended questions focused on drinking and sexual assault (e.g., What are some of the things students might do to avoid or address situations where they feel pressured of coerced to hook up or have sex when they do not want to?). Results: Thematic analyses demonstrated students' awareness of protective behavioral and bystander intervention strategies that could help reduce vulnerability to experience sexual assault for themselves or others in drinking contexts. Perceived barriers to using bystander intervention strategies included student's own and friends' heavy drinking (decreased inhibitions, loss of autonomy), ambiguity in deciphering risk (lack of familiarity, minimization, diffusion of responsibility), and gender (gender norms, power imbalances). Conclusions: This study informs the development of interventions that help students identify strategies and overcome barriers to reduce risks for sexual assault in college drinking contexts.

(Mis)Perceptions of bystander behaviors and approval: The role of gender-specific perceived norms.

Objective: The current study examines college students' perceptions of same-gender and opposite gender peer norms for bystander behaviors in drinking contexts, as well as the association between perceived norms and participants' willingness to intervene and actual behavior. Method: Participants completed an online survey assessing bystander-related perceived norms, willingness, and behavior. A subset of participants also completed a measure of bystander behavior 4-months later. Results: The results indicated a divergent pattern of normative misperceptions for descriptive and injunctive norms, in which participants overestimated descriptive norms and underestimated injunctive norms. Further, participants who perceived greater perceived injunctive norms reported greater willingness to intervene in the future. While those who perceived that their peers intervened more frequently were more likely to have engaged in bystander behavior at baseline and the four-month follow-up. Conclusions: Results also suggest that the role of gender-specific norms is complex and dependent on participants' own gender. The results indicate the potential value of developing norms-based interventions addressing bystander behaviors and implications for the types of normative misperceptions to target.

CAZymes in Maribacter dokdonensis 62-1 From the Patagonian Shelf: Genomics and Physiology Compared to Related Flavobacteria and a Co-occurring Alteromonas Strain.

Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are an important feature of bacteria in productive marine systems such as continental shelves, where phytoplankton and macroalgae produce diverse polysaccharides. We herein describe Maribacter dokdonensis 62-1, a novel strain of this flavobacterial species, isolated from alginate-supplemented seawater collected at the Patagonian continental shelf. M. dokdonensis 62-1 harbors a diverse array of CAZymes in multiple polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL). Two PUL encoding polysaccharide lyases from families 6, 7, 12, and 17 allow substantial growth with alginate as sole carbon source, with simultaneous utilization of mannuronate and guluronate as demonstrated by HPLC. Furthermore, strain 62-1 harbors a mixed-feature PUL encoding both ulvan- and fucoidan-targeting CAZymes. Core-genome phylogeny and pangenome analysis revealed variable occurrence of these PUL in related Maribacter and Zobellia strains, indicating specialization to certain "polysaccharide niches." Furthermore, lineage- and strain-specific genomic signatures for exopolysaccharide synthesis possibly mediate distinct strategies for surface attachment and host interaction. The wide detection of CAZyme homologs in algae-derived metagenomes suggests global occurrence in algal holobionts, supported by sharing multiple adaptive features with the hydrolytic model flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans. Comparison with Alteromonas sp. 76-1 isolated from the same seawater sample revealed that these co-occurring strains target similar polysaccharides but with different genomic repertoires, coincident with differing growth behavior on alginate that might mediate ecological specialization. Altogether, our study contributes to the perception of Maribacter as versatile flavobacterial polysaccharide degrader, with implications for biogeochemical cycles, niche specialization and bacteria-algae interactions in the oceans.

Pseudooceanicola algae sp. nov., isolated from the marine macroalga Fucus spiralis, shows genomic and physiological adaptations for an algae-associated lifestyle.

The genus Pseudooceanicola from the alphaproteobacterial Roseobacter group currently includes ten validated species. We herein describe strain Lw-13eT, the first Pseudooceanicola species from marine macroalgae, isolated from the brown alga Fucus spiralis abundant at European and North American coasts. Physiological and pangenome analyses of Lw-13eT showed corresponding adaptive features. Adaptations to the tidal environment include a broad salinity tolerance, degradation of macroalgae-derived substrates (mannitol, mannose, proline), and resistance to several antibiotics and heavy metals. Notably, Lw-13eT can degrade oligomeric alginate via PL15 alginate lyase encoded in a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL), rarely described for roseobacters to date. Plasmid localization of the PUL strengthens the importance of mobile genetic elements for evolutionary adaptations within the Roseobacter group. PL15 homologs were primarily detected in marine plant-associated metagenomes from coastal environments but not in the open ocean, corroborating its adaptive role in algae-rich habitats. Exceptional is the tolerance of Lw-13eT against the broad-spectrum antibiotic tropodithietic acid, produced by Phaeobacter spp. co-occurring in coastal habitats. Furthermore, Lw-13eT exhibits features resembling terrestrial plant-bacteria associations, i.e. biosynthesis of siderophores, terpenes and volatiles, which may contribute to mutual bacteria-algae interactions. Closest described relative of Lw-13eT is Pseudopuniceibacterium sediminis CY03T with 98.4% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. However, protein sequence-based core genome phylogeny and average nucleotide identity indicate affiliation of Lw-13eT with the genus Pseudooceanicola. Based on phylogenetic, physiological and (chemo)taxonomic distinctions, we propose strain Lw-13eT (=DSM 29013T=LMG 30557T) as a novel species with the name Pseudooceanicola algae.

'Mama Don't Preach': Young Adults' Perceptions of Maternal Messages about Underage Drinking.

College students commonly report that their parents provide advice about how to drink safely; however, there is very little research exploring the content of parent-child harm-reduction conversations. The present study explores the types of advice mothers provide underage college students about drinking. A random sample of college students (ages 18 to 20) completed an online survey about their alcohol use and conversations they had with their mother about alcohol. Students' perceptions of mother-child harm-reduction conversations include the themes of: specific protective behavioral strategies, ambiguous behavioral advice, decision making advice, value-based advice, warning-based advice, and advice conveying approval. Discussion of specific protective behavioral strategies was most common for female students and students who reported binge drinking. Mothers did not typically address how to implement harm-reduction strategies effectively. The findings have implications for the assessment of harm-reduction communication between parents and emerging adult children.

Frischella japonica sp. nov., an anaerobic member of the Orbales in the Gammaproteobacteria, isolated from the gut of the eastern honey bee, Apis cerana japonica Fabricius.

The gut of honey bees is characterized by a stable and relatively simple community of bacteria, consisting of seven to ten phylotypes. Two closely related honey bees, Apis mellifera (western honey bee) and Apis cerana (eastern honey bee), show a largely comparable occurrence of those phylotypes, but a distinct set of bacterial species and strains within each bee species. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of Ac13T, a new species within the rare proteobacterial genus Frischella from A. cerana japonica Fabricius. Description of Ac13T as a new species is supported by low identity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (97.2 %), of the average nucleotide identity based on orthologous genes (77.5 %) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness (24.7 %) to the next but far related type strain Frischella perrara PEB0191T, isolated from A. mellifera. Cells of Ac13T are mesophilic and have a mean length of 2-4 µm and a width of 0.5 µm. Optimal growth was achieved in anoxic conditions, whereas growth was not observed in oxic conditions and strongly reduced in microaerophilic environment. Strain Ac13T shares several features with other members of the Orbaceae, such as the major fatty acid profile, the respiratory quinone type and relatively low DNA G+C content, in accordance with its evolutionary relationship. Unlike F. perrara, strain Ac13T is susceptible to a broad range of antibiotics, which could be indicative for an antibiotic-free A. cerana bee keeping. In conclusion, we propose strain Ac13T as a novel species for which we propose the name Frischella japonica sp. nov. with the type strain Ac13T (=NCIMB 15259=JCM 34075).

N-Acylated amino acid methyl esters from marine Roseobacter group bacteria.

Bacteria of the Roseobacter group (Rhodobacteraceae) are important members of many marine ecosystems. Similar to other Gram-negative bacteria many roseobacters produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) for communication by quorum sensing systems. AHLs regulate different traits like cell differentiation or antibiotic production. Related N-acylalanine methyl esters (NAMEs) have been reported as well, but so far only from Roseovarius tolerans EL-164. While screening various roseobacters isolated from macroalgae we encountered four strains, Roseovarius sp. D12_1.68, Loktanella sp. F13, F14 and D3 that produced new derivatives and analogs of NAMEs, namely N-acyl-2-aminobutyric acid methyl esters (NABME), N-acylglycine methyl esters (NAGME), N-acylvaline methyl esters (NAVME), as well as for the first time a methyl-branched NAME, N-(13-methyltetradecanoyl)alanine methyl ester. These compounds were detected by GC-MS analysis, and structural proposals were derived from the mass spectra and by derivatization. Verification of compound structures was performed by synthesis. NABMEs, NAVMEs and NAGMEs are produced in low amounts only, making mass spectrometry the method of choice for their detection. The analysis of both EI and ESI mass spectra revealed fragmentation patterns helpful for the detection of similar compounds derived from other amino acids. Some of these compounds showed antimicrobial activity. The structural similarity of N-acylated amino acid methyl esters and similar lipophilicity to AHLs might indicate a yet unknown function as signalling compounds in the ecology of these bacteria, although their singular occurrence is in strong contrast to the common occurrence of AHLs. Obviously the structural motif is not restricted to Roseovarius spp. and occurs also in other genera.

An Unprecedented Medium-Chain Diunsaturated N-acylhomoserine Lactone from Marine Roseobacter Group Bacteria.

N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), bacterial signaling compounds involved in quorum-sensing, are a structurally diverse group of compounds. We describe here the identification, synthesis, occurrence and biological activity of a new AHL, N-((2E,5Z)-2,5-dodecadienoyl)homoserine lactone (11) and its isomer N-((3E,5Z)-3,5-dodecadienoyl)homoserine lactone (13), occurring in several Roseobacter group bacteria (Rhodobacteraceae). The analysis of 26 strains revealed the presence of 11 and 13 in six of them originating from the surface of the macroalgae Fucus spiralis or sediments from the North Sea. In addition, 18 other AHLs were detected in 12 strains. Compound identification was performed by GC/MS. Mass spectral analysis revealed a diunsaturated C12 homoserine lactone as structural element of the new AHL. Synthesis of three likely candidate compounds, 11, 13 and N-((2E,4E)-2,4-dodecadienoyl)homoserine lactone (5), revealed the former to be the natural AHLs. Bioactivity test with quorum-sensing reporter strains showed high activity of all three compounds. Therefore, the configuration and stereochemistry of the double bonds in the acyl chain seemed to be unimportant for the activity, although the chains have largely different shapes, solely the chain length determining activity. In combination with previous results with other Roseobacter group bacteria, we could show that there is wide variance between AHL composition within the strains. Furthermore, no association of certain AHLs with different habitats like macroalgal surfaces or sediment could be detected.

Rhodobacteraceae on the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis are abundant and show physiological adaptation to an epiphytic lifestyle.

Macroalgae harbour specific microbial communities on their surface that have functions related to host health and defence. In this study, the bacterial biofilm of the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based analysis and isolation of bacteria. Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria) were the predominant family constituting 23% of the epibacterial community. At the genus level, Sulfitobacter, Loktanella, Octadecabacter and a previously undescribed cluster were most abundant, and together they comprised 89% of the Rhodobacteraceae. Supported by a specific PCR approach, 23 different Rhodobacteraceae-affiliated strains were isolated from the surface of F. spiralis, which belonged to 12 established and three new genera. For seven strains, closely related sequences were detected in the 16S rRNA gene dataset. Growth experiments with substrates known to be produced by Fucus spp. showed that all of them were consumed by at least three strains, and vitamin B12 was produced by 70% of the isolates. Since growth of F. spiralis depends on B12 supplementation, bacteria may provide the alga with this vitamin. Most strains produced siderophores, which can enhance algal growth under iron-deficient conditions. Inhibiting properties against other bacteria were only observed when F. spiralis material was present in the medium. Thus, the physiological properties of the isolates indicated adaption to an epiphytic lifestyle.

Homoserine Lactones, Methyl Oligohydroxybutyrates, and Other Extracellular Metabolites of Macroalgae-Associated Bacteria of the Roseobacter Clade: Identification and Functions.

Twenty-four strains of marine Roseobacter clade bacteria were isolated from macroalgae and investigated for the production of quorum-sensing autoinducers, N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). GC/MS analysis of the extracellular metabolites allowed us to evaluate the release of other small molecules as well. Nineteen strains produced AHLs, ranging from 3-OH-C10:0-HSL (homoserine lactone) to (2E,11Z)-C18:2-HSL, but no specific phylogenetic or ecological pattern of individual AHL occurrence was observed when cluster analysis was performed. Other identified compounds included indole, tropone, methyl esters of oligomers of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and various amides, such as N-9-hexadecenoylalanine methyl ester (9-C16:1-NAME), a structural analogue of AHLs. Several compounds were tested for their antibacterial and antialgal activity on marine isolates likely to occur in the habitat of the macroalgae. Both AHLs and 9-C16:1-NAME showed high antialgal activity against Skeletonema costatum, whereas their antibacterial activity was low.