Background Clostridium phytofermentans, an anaerobic soil bacterium, can directly convert plant biomass into biofuels. The genome of C. phytofermentans contains three loci with genes encoding shell proteins of bacterial microcompartments (BMC), organelles composed entirely of proteins.Methodology and Principal FindingsOne of the BMC loci has homology to a BMC-encoding locus implicated in the conversion of fucose to propanol and propionate in a human gut commensal, Roseburia inulinivorans. We hypothesized that it had a similar role in C. phytofermentans. When C. phytofermentans was grown on fucose, the major products identified were ethanol, propanol and propionate. Transmission electron microscopy of fucose- and rhamnose-grown cultures revealed polyhedral structures, presumably BMCs. Microarray analysis indicated that during growth on fucose, operons coding for the BMC locus, fucose dissimilatory enzymes, and an ATP-binding cassette transporter became the dominant transcripts. These data are consistent with fucose fermentation producing a 1,2-propanediol intermediate that is further metabolized in the microcompartment encoded in the BMC locus. Growth on another deoxyhexose sugar, rhamnose, resulted in the expression of the same BMC locus and similar fermentation products. However, a different set of dissimilatory enzymes and transport system genes were induced. Quite surprisingly, growth on fucose or rhamnose also led to the expression of a diverse array of complex plant polysaccharide-degrading enzymes.Conclusions/SignificanceBased on physiological, genomic, and microarray analyses, we propose a model for the fermentation of fucose and rhamnose in C. phytofermentans that includes enzymes encoded in the same BMC locus. Comparative genomic analysis suggests that this BMC may be present in other clostridial species.

Objective To determine the impact of the TEACH text message intervention as a pragmatic approach for patient engagement among adolescents with celiac disease (CD) as measured by gluten-free diet (GFD) adherence, patient activation, and quality of life (QOL). Study design Randomized controlled trial with patient recruitment at a pediatric, university-based hospital and through social media; 61 participants ages 12–24 with CD diagnosed at least one year were enrolled. The TEACH intervention cohort received 45 unique text messages over a 3 month study period while the control group received standard of care treatment. Primary outcome measures included objective markers of GFD adherence included serum Tissue Transglutaminase (TTG) IgA and Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA levels. Secondary patient-reported outcomes collected via online survey included the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT), NIH PROMIS Global Short Form measure of QOL, Celiac Symptom Index (CSI), and Patient Activation Measure (PAM). All measures were assessed at enrollment and after the three month study period. Statistical analysis performed using the two-tailed paired student t-test. Results Among the TEACH intervention group, there was significant improvement comparing enrollment scores with three month follow-up scores in patient activation (PAM score 63.1 vs 72.5, P=0.01) and QOL (NIH PROMIS Global Mental Health 50.8 vs 53.3, P=0.01 and NIH PROMIS Global Physical Health 50.8 vs 57.7, P=0.03). There was no statistically significant difference in patient-reported or objectively measured GFD adherence. Conclusions TEACH is an effective intervention among patients with CD to improve patient activation and QOL, even among a cohort with GFD adherence at baseline. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02458898

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An anaerobic, saccharolytic, spore-forming, butyrate-producing bacterium, strain KNHs209T, was isolated from a switchgrass microcosm seeded with forest soil. Cells were highly motile rods, often forming long filamentous chains which were easily observed moving under the microscope. Its closest phylogenetic relative was Eisenbergiella tayi (16S rRNA gene sequence identity 94.2 %), although it was easily distinguishable based on its morphology and physiology. Whole-genome sequencing enabled development of a minimal medium, and also suggested that the organism is capable of fixing nitrogen. Its wide variety of growth substrates was mirrored by a high number of encoded chemotaxis receptors (45, the highest in the family Lachnospiraceae). Strain KNHs209T utilized a wide variety of carbohydrates, but not cellulose or xylan. Fermentation products included formate, acetate and butyrate; sulfur compounds and nitrate were not reduced. Strain KNHs209T grew optimally at 35-40 °C and pH 7. The genomic DNA G+C content was 42.74 mol%; the major membrane fatty acids were C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. Based on phenotypic, genomic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, this organism represents a novel genus and species within the family Lachnospiraceae for which the name Kineothrix alysoides, gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KNHs209T (=ATCC TSD-26T=DSM 100556T).

Background Long-term immunosuppression in transplant patients has significant morbidity, poorer quality of life, and substantial economic costs. Operational tolerance, defined as graft acceptance without functional impairment in the absence of immunosuppression, has been achieved in some pediatric liver transplant recipients. Using mass cytometry, peripheral blood immunotyping was performed to characterize differences between tolerant patients and patients who are stable on single-agent immunosuppression. Methods Single-cell mass cytometry was performed using blood samples from a single-center pediatric liver transplant population of operationally tolerant patients to comprehensively characterize the immune cell populations in the tolerant state compared to patients on chronic low dose immunosuppression. Specific T cell populations of interest were confirmed by flow cytometry. Results This high dimensional phenotypic analysis revealed distinct immunoprofiles between transplant populations as well as a CD4+ T cell subset of Operational Tolerance (TOT; CD4+CD5+CD25+CD38−/loCD45RA) that correlates with tolerance in pediatric liver transplant recipients. In operationally tolerant patients the TOT was significantly increased as compared to patients stable on low levels of immunosuppression. This TOT cell was confirmed by flow cytometry and is distinct from classic T regulatory cells. Conclusion These results demonstrate the power of mass cytometry to discover significant immune cell signatures that have diagnostic potential.