Perseus (Belgium)

Abstract Microbial abundance profiling is rapidly becoming an essential method in biomedical research, though it is often costly and time intensive. We present DynaMAP, a rapid approach for microbiome profiling that uses single-molecule imaging to develop an optical map of metagenomic DNA. DynaMAP achieves strain-level taxonomic profiling without requiring base-by-base sequencing and with a one-day turnaround time. In doing so, it delivers microbiome profiling that is comparable to shotgun sequencing but operates more efficiently, strongly expanding the possibility for microbiome analysis.

When biosafety for contained use is addressed in international fora and discussions, often the topic is limited to working with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in facilities such as laboratories, animal facilities, and greenhouses. However, the scope of biosafety in containment encompasses many other types of biological materials, such as human, animal and plant pathogens, nucleic acids, proteins, human samples, animals or plants, or by-products thereof, and overlaps often with the topic of biosecurity. This is also reflected in the regulations that apply for activities with biological materials in contained facilities. The common denominator of these regulations is the focus on protection of people and environment, while applying the key principles of risk assessment and risk management. This review provides an overview of regulatory frameworks for biosafety and biosecurity in containment around the globe, as well as points out overlap with other regulatory frameworks, such as the Nagoya Protocol, or Plant and Animal Health regulations.

An inflammatory response is a key event for endothelial dysfunction. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an inflammatory protein produced at inflammation sites such as leukocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Here, we compared the relationships between endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and the levels of plasma PTX3 and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), another inflammatory protein of the pentraxin family. Levels of FMD, PTX3 and hsCRP were measured twice within 6 to 8 months and retrospectively analyzed in 36 patients with coronary artery disease. We examined the associations between the values of FMD and the levels of PTX3 and hsCRP at the first measurement, and between the change ratios (second value/first value) of these parameters. Univariate linear regression analysis showed significantly negative correlations between FMD values and PTX3 and hsCRP levels at the first measurement, and significant associations with taking statins or calcium antagonists. Multivariate linear stepwise regression analysis identified PTX3 levels and taking statins and calcium antagonists as independent factors for endothelial function. The change ratio of FMD correlated more closely with that of PTX3 than of hsCRP (r = -0.446, P = 0.006 versus r = -0.330, P = 0.050). Significantly more patients with decreased FMD values had increased levels of PTX3 than those of hsCRP at the second measurement compared with the fi rst measurement. Furthermore, the ratio of patients with increased PTX3, but not increased hsCRP, was significantly reduced among those with increased, rather than decreased, FMD values. Endothelial dysfunction might be more accurately predicted by plasma PTX3 levels than by serum hsCRP levels.