Life Sciences Commons^™

Investigation Of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Tetracycline Resistance In Thermophilic Campylobacter Spp. Suggests That Previous Reports Of Tet(A)-Mediated Resistance In These Bacteria Are Premature, Caoimhe Lynch, Kayleigh Hawkins, Helen Lynch, John Egan, Declan Bolton, Aidan Coffey, Brigid Lucey

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The true prevalence of tet(A), which codes for a tetracycline efflux pump, in thermophilic Camplyobacter spp. requires clarification after reports emerged in Iran (2014) and Kenya (2016) of the novel detection of tet(A) in Campylobacter. During our investigation of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in a sample of Irish thermophilic Campylobacter broiler isolates, it was determined that 100% of tetracycline-resistant isolates (n = 119) harboured tet(O). Accessory tetracycline-resistance mechanisms were considered as tetracycline minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 4 to ≥ 64 mg/L. Primers previously reported for the detection of tet(A) in Campylobacter failed to produce an amplicon using a positive control …

Liver Fluke In Irish Sheep: Prevalence And Associations With Management Practices And Co-Infection With Rumen Fluke, Maria Pia Munita, Rosemary Rea, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background

The present study aimed to identify the national prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in Irish sheep and to conduct a risk analysis assessment based on management and treatment practices in participating flocks. Also, co-infection with rumen fluke was quantified and its association with liver fluke and management practices was assessed.

Methods

A total of 305 sheep flocks were selected ensuring even national representation of the sheep population. Participating farms were asked to complete a survey questionnaire on farm management practices and submit faecal samples during the winter of 2014–2015. Pooled faecal samples were analysed for the presence of F. hepatica …

Feed Efficiency And Carcass Metrics In Growing Cattle, David N. Kelly, Craig Murphy, Roy D. Sleator, Michelle M. Judge, Stephen B. Conroy, Donagh P. Berry

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Some definitions of feed efficiency such as residual energy intake (REI) and residual gain (RG) may not truly reflect production efficiency. The energy sinks used in the derivation of the traits include metabolic live-weight; producers finishing cattle for slaughter are, however, paid on the basis of carcass weight, as opposed to live-weight. The objective of the present study was to explore alternative definitions of REI and RG which are more reflective of production efficiency, and quantify their relationship with performance, ultrasound, and carcass traits across multiple breeds and sexes of cattle. Feed intake and live-weight records were available on 5,172 …

Draft Genome Sequences Of Four Lactococcus Lactis Strains Isolated From Diverse Niches, Including Dairy Products, Grass, And Green Peas, Desirée Roman Naranjo, Michael Callanan, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Lactococcus lactis has been used for millennia as a starter organism in the production of many fermented dairy products. This announcement includes the draft genome sequences of four strains of Lactococcus lactis, two of dairy origin and two from nondairy sources.

Inhibition Of L. Monocytogenes Biofilm Formation By The Amidase Domain Of The Phage Vb_Lmos_293 Endolysin, Vincenzo Pennone, Marta Sanz-Gaitero, Paula O’Connor, Aidan Coffey, Kieran Jordan, Mark J. Van Raaij, Olivia Mcauliffe

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacterium that is a major concern for food business operators because of its pathogenicity and ability to form biofilms in food production environments. Bacteriophages (phages) have been evaluated as biocontrol agents for L. monocytogenes in a number of studies and, indeed, certain phages have been approved for use as anti-listerial agents in food processing environments (ListShield and PhageGuard Listex). Endolysins are proteins produced by phages in the host cell. They cleave the peptidoglycan cell wall, thus allowing release of progeny phage into the environment. In …

Gene Co-Expression Analysis Of The Human Substantia Nigra Identifies Bmp2 As A Neurotrophic Factor That Can Promote Neurite Growth In Cells Overexpressing Wild-Type Or A53t Α-Synuclein, Susan R. Goulding, Aideen M. Sullivan, Gerard W. O'Keeffe, Louise M. Collins

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Introduction: α-synuclein-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons has been proposed to be central to the early progression of Parkinson's disease. This highlights the need to identify factors that are neuroprotective or neuroregenerative against α-synuclein-induced degeneration. Due to their potent neurotrophic effects on nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, we hypothesized that members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family have potential to protect these cells against α-synuclein. Methods: To identify the most relevant BMP ligands, we used unbiased gene co-expression analysis to identify all BMP family members having a significant positive correlation with five markers of dopaminergic neurons in the human substantia nigra (SN). …

A Rapid Viability And Drug‑Susceptibility Assay Utilizing Mycobacteriophage As An Indicator Of Drug Susceptibilities Of Anti‑Tb Drugs Against Mycobacterium Smegmatis Mc2 155, Gillian Catherine Crowley, Jim O'Mahony, Aidan Coffey, Riona G. Sayers, Paul D. Cotter

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background: A rapid in-house TM4 mycobacteriophage-based assay, to identify multidrug resistance against various anti-tuberculosis drugs, using the fast-growing Mycobacterium smegmatis mc² 155 in a microtiter plate format was evaluated, based on phage viability assays. Methods: A variety of parameters were optimized before the study including the minimum incubation time for the drugs, phage and M. smegmatis mc² 155 to be in contact. An increase in phage numbers over 2 h was indicative that M. smegmatis mc² 155 is resistant to the drugs under investigation, however when phage numbers remained static, M. smegmatis mc² 155 found to …

Perspectives On Micrornas And Phased Small Interfering Rnas In Maize (Zea Mays L.): Functions And Big Impact On Agronomic Traits Enhancement, Zhanhui Zhang, Sachin Teotia, Jihua Tang, Guiliang Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Small RNA (sRNA) population in plants comprises of primarily micro RNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). MiRNAs play important roles in plant growth and development. The miRNA-derived secondary siRNAs are usually known as phased siRNAs, including phasiRNAs and tasiRNAs. The miRNA and phased siRNA biogenesis mechanisms are highly conserved in plants. However, their functional conservation and diversification may differ in maize. In the past two decades, lots of miRNAs and phased siRNAs have been functionally identified for curbing important maize agronomic traits, such as those related to developmental timing, plant architecture, sex determination, reproductive development, leaf morphogenesis, root development …

Whole Blueberry Protects Pancreatic Beta-Cells In Diet-Induced Obese Mouse, Weixiang Liu, Yiping Mao, Jacob Schoenborn, Zhihong Wang, Guiliang Tang, Xiaoqing Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background

Blueberry is rich in bioactive substances and possesses powerful antioxidant potential, which can protect against oxidant-induced and inflammatory cell damage and cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to determine how blueberry affects glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell proliferation in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

Methods

Wild type male mice at age of 4 weeks received two different kinds of diets: high-fat diet (HFD) containing 60% fat or modified HFD supplemented with 4% (wt:wt) freeze-dried whole blueberry powder (HFD + B) for 14 weeks. A separate experiment was performed in mice fed with low-fat diet (LFD) containing 10% …

Oil Hydrocarbon Degradation By Caspian Sea Microbial Communities, John Miller, Stephen Techtmann, Julian Fortney, Nagissa Mahmoudi, Dominique Joyner, Jiang Liu, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The Caspian Sea, which is the largest landlocked body of water on the planet, receives substantial annual hydrocarbon input from anthropogenic sources (e.g., industry, agriculture, oil exploration, and extraction) and natural sources (e.g., mud volcanoes and oil seeps). The Caspian Sea also receives substantial amounts of runoff from agricultural and municipal sources, containing nutrients that have caused eutrophication and subsequent hypoxia in the deep, cold waters. The effect of decreasing oxygen saturation and cold temperatures on oil hydrocarbon biodegradation by a microbial community is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oxic and …

Draft Genome Sequence Of Campylobacter Fetus Subsp. Fetus Citcf01, Isolated From A Patient With Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis, Eamonn P. Culligan, Caoimhe Lynch, Aidan Coffey, Roy D. Sleator, Brigid Lucey, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Campylobacter fetus is a Gram-negative, zoonotic pathogen and a member of the class Epsilonproteobacteria. We report the draft genome sequence of C. fetus subsp. fetus CITCf01, isolated from a patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis. CITCf01 grew under aerobic, microaerobic, and anaerobic conditions, and at 42°C, an unusual combination of growth conditions.

Urinary Ratio Of Sodium And Potassium In Irish Adults, Eoin James Morrissey, M. Giltinan, L. Kehoe, A. P. Nugent, B. Mcnulty, A. Flynn, Janette Walton

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world accounting for approximately one third of global deaths. A diet low in sodium (Na) and high in potassium (K) is widely recommended as a strategy to lower blood pressure and to reduce the risk of CVD. The independent roles that both sodium and potassium play in blood pressure have been long established, however in recent times increasing evidence has suggested that an individual’s Na:K ratio is a more important predictor of hypertension than either sodium or potassium intake alone. The Food Safety Authority of …

The Interaction Between Mir160 And Mir165/166 In The Control Of Leaf Development And Drought Tolerance In Arabidopsis, Tianxiao Yang, Yongyan Wan, Sachin Teotia, Zhaohui Wang, Chaonan Shi, Huwei Sun, Yiyou Gu, Zhanhui Zhang, Guiliang Tang

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in plant development and abiotic stresses. To date, studies have mainly focused on the roles of individual miRNAs, however, a few have addressed the interactions among multiple miRNAs. In this study, we investigated the interplay and regulatory circuit between miR160 and miR165/166 and its effect on leaf development and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis using Short Tandem Target Mimic (STTM). By crossing STTM160 Arabidopsis with STTM165/166, we successfully generated a double mutant of miR160 and miR165/166. The double mutant plants exhibited a series of compromised phenotypes in leaf development …

Global Patterns And Drivers Of Ecosystem Functioning In Rivers And Riparian Zones, Scott Tiegs, David Costello, Mark W. Isken, Guy Woodward, Peter B. Mcintyre, Mark O. Gessner, Amy Marcarelli, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

River ecosystems receive and process vast quantities of terrestrial organic carbon, the fate of which depends strongly on microbial activity. Variation in and controls of processing rates, however, are poorly characterized at the global scale. In response, we used a peer-sourced research network and a highly standardized carbon processing assay to conduct a global-scale field experiment in greater than 1000 river and riparian sites. We found that Earth’s biomes have distinct carbon processing signatures. Slow processing is evident across latitudes, whereas rapid rates are restricted to lower latitudes. Both the mean rate and variability decline with latitude, suggesting temperature constraints …