Metagenomics revolutionized the understanding of the relations among the human microbiome, health and diseases, but generated a countless number of sequences that have not been assigned to a known microorganism 1 . The pure culture of prokaryotes, neglected in recent decades, remains essential to elucidating the role of these organisms 2 . We recently introduced microbial culturomics, a culturing approach that uses multiple culture conditions and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight and 16S rRNA for identification 2 . Here, we have selected the best culture conditions to increase the number of studied samples and have applied new protocols (fresh-sample inoculation; detection of microcolonies and specific cultures of Proteobacteria and microaerophilic and halophilic prokaryotes) to address the weaknesses of the previous studies 3-5 . We identified 1,057 prokaryotic species, thereby adding 531 species to the human gut repertoire: 146 bacteria known in humans but not in the gut, 187 bacteria and 1 archaea not previously isolated in humans, and 197 potentially new species. Genome sequencing was performed on the new species. By comparing the results of the metagenomic and culturomic analyses, we show that the use of culturomics allows the culture of organisms corresponding to sequences previously not assigned. Altogether, culturomics doubles the number of species isolated at least once from the human gut.

BackgroundArtesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) are first- and second-line treatments for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Gabon. AL remains highly efficacious, but its widespread use has led to molecular selection of the NFD haplotype on Pfmdr1 and K76 in Pfcrt. In this study, plasmodial infection characteristics and the distribution of the Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt genotypes involved in reduced efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) were investigated in four Gabonese localities.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in the paediatric units of rural (Lastourville and Fougamou), semi-urban (Koula-Moutou) and urban (Franceville) areas. Malaria was diagnosed with the rapid diagnostic test Optimal-IT® and confirmed by blood smear. Pfmdr1 codons 86, 184 and 1246 and Pfcrt codon 76 were genotyped by PCR–RFLP and sequencing.ResultsAmong 1129 included children, the prevalence of plasmodial infection was 79.5 % at Lastourville, 53.6 % at Fougamou, 36.1 % at Koula-Moutou, and 21.2 % at Franceville. The prevalence was significantly higher among children over 60 months of age in both semi-urban (p = 0.01) and urban (p = 0.004) areas. The prevalence of Pfmdr1 wild-type N86 differed significantly between Lastourville (57.8 %) and Koula-Moutou (45.4 %) (p = 0.039). No difference in 184F-carrying parasites was found between Lastourville (73.8 %), Fougamou (81.6 %), Koula-Moutou (83.2 %), and Franceville (80.6 %) (p = 0.240). The prevalence of wild-type D1246 was significantly different between Lastourville (94.1 %), Koula-Moutou (85.6 %) and Franceville (87.3 %) (p = 0.01). The frequency of wild-type K76 was not significantly different across the four sites: Lastourville (16.5 %), Fougamou (27.8 %), Koula-Moutou (17.4 %), and Franceville (29.4 %) (p = 0.09). The mixed genotypes were only found in Lastourville and Franceville. The NFD, YFD and NYD haplotypes were mainly Lastourville (46.6, 25.8, 14.0 %), Fougamou (45.5, 9.1, 42.4 %), Koula-Moutou (35, 6.7, 40.4 %), and Franceville (40.0, 16.0, 32.0 %).ConclusionThis study shows an increase in the prevalence of childhood plasmodial infection in Gabon according to the low socio-economic level, and a high frequency of markers associated with AL treatment failure. Close monitoring of ACT use is needed.

Abstract. Large parts of African and American countries are colonized by Mansonella, a very common but poorly described filarial nematode. Bloodsucking flies of the genus Culicoides are suspected to be the vector of Mansonella perstans, but no study in Senegal has confirmed that Culicoides can transmit the parasite. Designed specific real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can be used to identify microfilaria in stained blood smears. This study was performed in July and December 2010 in the southeastern Senegal, which is known to be endemic for M. perstans. We analyzed 297 blood smears from febrile and afebrile resident people by qPCR. The global prevalence of M. perstans was approximately 14.5% in both febrile and afebrile individuals. The age group of > 30 years had the highest prevalence (22.0%). No Culicoides among 1,159 studied specimens was positive for M. perstans and its vector in Senegal still requires identification.

Abstract. Malaria was considered as the main cause of fever in Africa. However, with the roll back malaria initiative, the causes of fever in Africa may change. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of bacteria and Plasmodium spp. in febrile and afebrile (controls) children from Franceville, Gabon. About 793 blood samples from febrile children and 100 from controls were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with sequencing. Plasmodium spp. was the microorganism most detected in febrile (74.5%, 591/793) and controls (13%, 13/100), P 0.0001. Its coinfection with bacteria was found only in febrile children (P = 0.0001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacterium in febrile children (2.8%, 22/793) and controls (3%, 3/100). Eight cases of Salmonella spp. (including two Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi) and two of Streptococcus pneumoniae were found only among febrile children. Borrelia spp. was found in 2 controls while Rickettsia felis was detected in 10 children (in 8 febriles and 2 afebriles). No DNA of other targeted microorganisms was detected. Plasmodium spp. remains prevalent while Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were common bacteria in Gabon. Two fastidious bacteria, Rickettsia felis and Borrelia spp., were found. Inclusion of controls should improve the understanding of the causes of fever in sub-Saharan Africa.

BackgroundLike other tropical African countries, Gabon is afflicted by many parasitic diseases, including filariases such as loiasis and mansonellosis. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these two filarial diseases in febrile and afebrile children using quantitative real-time PCR and standard PCR assays coupled with sequencing.Methodology/Principal FindingsDNA from blood specimens of 1,418 Gabonese children (1,258 febrile and 160 afebrile) were analyzed. Overall, filarial DNA was detected in 95 (6.7%) children, including 67 positive for M. perstans (4.7%), which was the most common. M. perstans was detected in 61/1,258 febrile children (4.8%) and 6/160 afebrile children (3.8%, P = 0.6). Its prevalence increased statistically with age: 3.5%, 7.7% and 10.6% in children aged ≤5, 6–10 and 11–15 years, respectively. M. perstans prevalence was significantly higher in Koulamoutou and Lastourville (12% and 10.5%, respectively) than in Franceville and Fougamou (2.6% and 2.4%, respectively). Loa loa was detected in seven febrile children including one co-infection with M. perstans. Finally, 21 filarial DNA positive were negative for M. perstans and Loa loa, but ITS sequencing could be performed for 12 and allowed the identification of a potential new species of Mansonella provisionally called “DEUX”. Mansonella sp. “DEUX” was detected only in febrile children.Conclusions/SignificanceFurther study should be performed to characterize Mansonella sp. “DEUX” and evaluate the clinical significance of mansonellosis in humans.

Infection is widespread but most prevalent among young, rural residents with fever.

Abstract. Malaria is considered to be the most common etiology of fever in sub-Saharan Africa while bacteremias exist but are under assessed. This study aimed to assess bacteremias and malaria in children from urban and rural areas in Gabon. DNA extracts from blood samples of 410 febrile and 60 afebrile children were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Plasmodium spp. was the microorganism most frequently detected in febrile (78.8%, 323/410) and afebrile (13.3%, 8/60) children, (P < 0.001). DNA from one or several bacteria were detected in 15 febrile patients (3.7%) but not in the controls (P = 0.1). This DNA was more frequently detected as co-infections among febrile children tested positive for Plasmodium (4.6%, 15/323) than in those tested negative for Plasmodium (0%, 0/87; P = 0.04). The bacteria detected were Streptococcus pneumoniae 2.4% (10/410), Staphylococcus aureus 1.7% (7/410), Salmonella spp. 0.7% (3/410), Streptococcus pyogenes 0.2% (1/410) and Tropheryma whipplei 0.2% (1/410) only in febrile children. Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were not observed. This paper reports the first detection of bacteremia related to T. whipplei in Gabon and shows that malaria decreases in urban areas but not in rural areas. Co-infections in febrile patients are common, highlighting the need to improve fever management strategies in Gabon.

Microbial culturomics is a new field of omics sciences that examines the bacterial diversity of human gut coupled with a taxono-genomic strategy. Using microbial culturomics, we report here for the first time a novel Gram negative, catalase-and oxidase-negative, strict anaerobic bacilli named Beduini massiliensis gen. nov., sp nov. strain GM1 (= CSUR P1440 = DSM 100188), isolated from the stools of a female nomadic Bedouin from Saudi Arabia. With a length of 2,850,586 bp, the Beduini massiliensis genome exhibits a G + C content of 35.9%, and contains 2819 genes (2744 protein-coding and 75 RNA genes including 57 tRNA and 18 rRNA genes). It is composed of 6 scaffolds (composed of 6 contigs). A total of 1859 genes (67.75%) were assigned a putative function (by COGs or by NR blast). At least 1457 (53%) orthologous proteins were not shared with the closest phylogenetic species. 274 genes (10.0%) were identified as ORFans. These results show that microbial culturomics can dramatically improve the characterization of the human microbiota repertoire, deciphering new bacterial species and new genes. Further studies will clarify the geographic specificity and the putative role of these new microbes and their related functional genetic content in health and disease. Microbial culturomics is an emerging frontier of omics systems sciences and integrative biology and thus, warrants further consideration as part of the postgenomics methodology toolbox.