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Latest recommendations
Id▲ | Title | Authors | Abstract | Picture | Thematic fields | Recommender | Reviewers | Submission date | |
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10 May 2024
Molybdate delays sulphide formation in the sediment and transfer to the bulk liquid in a model shrimp pondFunda Torun, Barbara Hostins, Peter De Schryver, Nico Boon, Jo De Vrieze https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.16.567380Addition of molybdate to shrimp ponds is a promising new technique to delay the accumulation of toxic H2SRecommended by Roey Angel based on reviews by 2 anonymous reviewersShrimp aquaculture ponds are an established technology that helps answer the demand for high-protein food while reducing the impact of fishing on the oceans. However, as a closed system, high in organic matter, aquaculture ponds in general and those used for shrimp in particular tend to develop anoxic sediments and favour sulfate reduction to H2S. The development of hydrogen sulphide, in return, is toxic to the shrimp and can lead to lower yields. A standard solution to the problem is to inject air into the sediments. However, this solution requires additional infrastructure, is costly to operate, and can also disturb other essential life forms in the pond, such as benthic plants. In this work by Torun et al. (2024), the authors used a carefully designed lab model of shrimp ponds to show that the addition of molybdate at concentrations as low as 5 mg/l delayed the accumulation of H2S and pushed the zone rich in sulphide deeper into the sediment. The postulated mechanism for the inhibition in H2S production is that molybdate binds to the ATP sulfurylase in sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and together with ATP, they generate adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) that cannot be used as an electron acceptor. Surprisingly, however, the growth of SRB was stimulated rather than inhibited in this experiment. While the exact cause remains unknown, the authors postulate that SRB resorted to alternative metabolic pathways such as fermentation. Overall, while this work was done on a model system in the lab, adding molybdate to shrimp aquaculture ponds is a promising technique and should be tested on a larger scale. Reference Torun F, Hostins B, Schryver PD, Boon N, Vrieze JD. (2024). Molybdate delays sulphide formation in the sediment and transfer to the bulk liquid in a model shrimp pond. bioRxiv, ver.3, peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.16.567380 | Molybdate delays sulphide formation in the sediment and transfer to the bulk liquid in a model shrimp pond | Funda Torun, Barbara Hostins, Peter De Schryver, Nico Boon, Jo De Vrieze | <p>Shrimp are commonly cultured in earthen aquaculture ponds where organic-rich uneaten feed and faeces accumulate on and in the sediment to form anaerobic zones. Since the pond water is rich in sulphate, these anaerobic conditions eventually lead... | Microbial biotechnology, Microbial ecology and environmental microbiology, Microbiomes | Roey Angel | 2023-11-20 12:08:51 | View | ||
12 Apr 2024
Bacterial pathogens dynamic during multi-species infectionsMarie-Anne Barny, Sylvia Thieffry, Christelle Gomes de Faria, Elisa Thebault, Jacques Pedron https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.06.570389Unraveling disease ecology: insights from soft rot Pectobacteriaceae co-infectionsRecommended by Clara Torres-Barceló based on reviews by 2 anonymous reviewersFew studies deal with the understanding of disease ecology, especially in the agricultural domain. Soft rot Pectobacteriaceae are major plant pathogens that frequently co-infect potato tubers. Exploring their ecological relationships can provide valuable insights for effective monitoring and preventing disease. The study of Barny et al (2024) explores the dynamics of synthetic communities of soft rot Pectobacterium species (SRP) following in vitro and in vivo inoculations, focusing on the implications for disease development. To delve into co-infection dynamics, the authors constructed mixed populations comprising six strains, with three strains from each of two species. Through inoculations of both liquid cultures and potatoes, they observed outcomes using amplicon sequencing targeting the gapA gene, along with monitoring bacterial population sizes and symptoms on potato tubers. Results reveal intriguing patterns: competition among strains of the same species, cooperation through trophic interactions, and interference due to toxicity. Thanks to a modelling approach, they suggest that the presence of a cheater strain may be favoured when it is associated with an aggressive strain. This finding is crucial for field sampling strategies, as there is a risk that during an outbreak, only the cheater strain may be detected, potentially overlooking the problematic aggressive strain. While the study conducted by Barny et al. (2024) provides valuable insights into strain interactions, it also highlights areas for further exploration to enhance understanding. First, the extent to which different species occupy similar niches in real agricultural scenarios remains unclear. Additionally, comparative genomics analysis on strains and investigating specific gene candidates could offer valuable mechanistic insights into strain dynamics. These areas for future research offer chances to build up our knowledge base in this field and improve how we understand the interactions between bacteria in nature. The implications of the study extend beyond plant pathogens like SRP. Similar scenarios of complex diseases involving closely related species or strains competing within the same niche are observed in human pathogens as well. Reference Barny, M.-A., Thieffry, S., Gomes de Faria, C., Thebault, E., Pedron, J. (2024). Bacterial pathogens dynamic during multi-species infections. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.06.570389
| Bacterial pathogens dynamic during multi-species infections | Marie-Anne Barny, Sylvia Thieffry, Christelle Gomes de Faria, Elisa Thebault, Jacques Pedron | <p>Soft rot Pectobacteriacea (SRP) gathers more than 30 bacterial species that collectively rot a wide range of plants by producing and secreting a large set of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). Worldwide potato field surveys identified ... | Microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions, Microbial ecology and environmental microbiology | Clara Torres-Barceló | 2023-12-12 17:54:07 | View |
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