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Challenges Faced by Highly Polyploid Bacteria with Limits on DNA Inheritance.

ABSTRACT: Most studies of bacterial reproduction have centered on organisms that undergo binary fission. In these models, complete chromosome copies are segregated with great fidelity into two equivalent offspring cells. All genetic material is passed on to offspring, including new mutations and horizontally acquired sequences. However, some bacterial lineages employ diverse reproductive patterns that require management and segregation of more than two chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp., and their close relatives within the Firmicutes phylum, are intestinal symbionts of surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae). Each of these giant (up to 0.6 mm long), cigar-shaped bacteria contains tens of thousands of chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp. do not use binary fission but instead produce multiple intracellular offspring. Only ∼1% of the genetic material in an Epulopiscium sp. type B mother cell is directly inherited by its offspring cells. And yet, even in late stages of offspring development, mother-cell chromosome copies continue to replicate. Consequently, chromosomes take on a somatic or germline role. Epulopiscium sp. type B is a strict anaerobe and while it is an obligate symbiont, its host has a facultative association with this intestinal microorganism. Therefore, Epulopiscium sp. type B populations face several bottlenecks that could endanger their diversity and resilience. Multilocus sequence analyses revealed that recombination is important to diversification in populations of Epulopiscium sp. type B. By employing mechanisms common to others in the Firmicutes, the coordinated timing of mother-cell lysis, offspring development and congression may facilitate the substantial recombination observed in Epulopiscium sp. type B populations.

SUBMITTER: Angert ER

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8245194 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundWorldwide, COVID-19 has exacerbated the vulnerability of migrants, impacting many facets of their lives. Nepalese make up one of the largest groups of migrants residing in Japan. Crises, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could disproportionately affect migrants from low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, widening health and economic inequalities. An in-depth, comprehensive assessment is needed to appraise the diverse problems they encounter. Drawing upon qualitative interviews, this study aimed to identify challenges faced by Nepalese migrants in Japan as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and to discuss their needs to counter these challenges.MethodsThis qualitative study employed an interpretivist approach to appraise the first-hand experience of Nepalese migrants living in Japan. Fourteen participants (8 males and 6 females, aged 21 to 47 years old) were recruited to participate in semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews (45-60 min) regarding: (a) their perceived current physical and mental health, (b) problems faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (c) perception of available and necessary support structures. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit the participants. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.ResultsSix themes were identified: 1) experiencing psychosomatic symptoms, 2) adoption of new healthy behaviors, 3) financial hardship, 4) family concerns, 5) reflections on discrimination and 6) reflections of existing support and expectations of support systems. The findings of our study illustrate the specific impact of COVID-19 among Nepalese migrants regarding their unstable employment conditions, perceived lack of social support, possible obligation to send money home, difficulty in accessing services due to the language barrier, and a lack of effective governmental support from Nepal. Pandemic-related adversity has negatively impacted migrants' mental well-being, exacerbating their vulnerability.ConclusionsComprehensive and timely support should be provided to the vulnerable migrant population. Effective coordination among relevant parties in both countries, including the governments concerned, should be facilitated.

Project description:BackgroundPatients with low socioeconomic status (low-SES) are at risk for poor outcomes during the post-hospital transition. Few prior studies explore perceived reasons for poor outcomes from the perspectives of these high-risk patients.ObjectiveWe explored low-SES patients' perceptions of hospitalization, discharge and post-hospital transition in order to generate hypotheses and identify common experiences during this transition.DesignWe conducted a qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviewing.ParticipantsWe interviewed 65 patients who were: 1) uninsured, insured by Medicaid or dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare; 2) residents of five low-income ZIP codes; 3) had capacity or a caregiver who could be interviewed as a proxy; and 4) hospitalized on the general medicine or cardiology services of two academically affiliated urban hospitals.ApproachOur interview guide investigated patients' perceptions of hospitalization, discharge and the post-hospital transition, and their performance of recommended post-hospital health behaviors related to: 1) experience of hospitalization and discharge; 2) external constraints on patients' ability to execute discharge instructions; 3) salience of health behaviors; and 4) self-efficacy to execute discharge instructions. We used a modified grounded theory approach to analysis.Key resultsWe identified six themes that low-SES patients shared in their narratives of hospitalization, discharge and post-hospital transition. These were: 1) powerlessness during hospitalization due to illness and socioeconomic factors; 2) misalignment of patient and care team goals; 3) lack of saliency of health behaviors due to competing issues; 4) socioeconomic constraints on patients' ability to perform recommended behaviors; 5) abandonment after discharge; and 6) loss of self-efficacy resulting from failure to perform recommended behaviors.ConclusionsLow-SES patients describe discharge goals that are confusing, unrealistic in the face of significant socioeconomic constraints, and in conflict with their own immediate goals. We hypothesize that this goal misalignment leads to a cycle of low achievement and loss of self-efficacy that may underlie poor post-hospital outcomes among low-SES patients.

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Challenges Faced by Highly Polyploid Bacteria with Limits on DNA Inheritance.

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