Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a prevalent micronutrient insufficiency. Although the gut is a vital organ for Zn utilization, and Zn deficiency is associated with impaired intestinal permeability and a global decrease in gastrointestinal health, alterations in the gut microbial ecology of the host under conditions of Zn deficiency have yet to be studied. Using the broiler chicken (Gallus gallus) model, the aim of this study was to characterize distinct cecal microbiota shifts induced by chronic dietary Zn depletion. We demonstrate that Zn deficiency induces significant taxonomic alterations and decreases overall species richness and diversity, establishing a microbial profile resembling that of various other pathological states. Through metagenomic analysis, we show that predicted Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways responsible for macro- and micronutrient uptake are significantly depleted under Zn deficiency; along with concomitant decreases in beneficial short chain fatty acids, such depletions may further preclude optimal host Zn availability. We also identify several candidate microbes that may play a significant role in modulating the bioavailability and utilization of dietary Zn during prolonged deficiency. Our results are the first to characterize a unique and dysbiotic cecal microbiota during Zn deficiency, and provide evidence for such microbial perturbations as potential effectors of the Zn deficient phenotype.

We have generated noncollinear quasi-phase-matched second harmonic wave in an RbTiOPO(4) crystal that was poled using the high-voltage atomic force microscope (HV-AFM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic nonlinear frequency conversion study of samples produced by the HV-AFM method. The short poling period of 1.18 microm enabled us to observe second harmonic generation at very large angles with respect to the fundamental wave. The setup was used to optically explore the homogeneity of the poled area. The measurements are in a reasonable agreement with an analytic calculations.

BackgroundThe healthcare environment has been established as a reservoir for human pathogens and specifically multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). High touch surfaces and fomites in a patient’s room mediate transmission between infected and uninfected patients and personnel. Efforts to reduce hospital-associated infections due to MDROs often focus on room cleaning; however, adherence to and thoroughness of cleaning pose significant challenges.MethodsA crossover trial was implemented in January 2016 (for 15 months) at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center (Israel) in four identical medical units. Single-use wipes (Clinell®; universal wipes and sporicidal wipes for rooms of patients with C. difficile), were compared with common practices which consisted of reusable cloths and bleach (1,000–5,000 ppm). Six-month cleaning and intervention periods were used on units in alternating sequences, separated by washout periods. Cleaning was monitored twice a week (bedrail, bedside table, clinical binder, call button, and lamp switch), by a fluorescent marker system (Clinell®). Comparisons used GEE with clustering for room. Staff were surveyed on intervention feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction.ResultsComplete cleaning in all five test locations was found in 23% of 400 total assessments and was more common in the intervention group (34% vs. 12%; OR = 3.7; P < 0.001). Cleaning adherence was highest for the bed rail (71%) and lowest for the call button (38%). The use of wipes had the largest effect on adherence for the light switch (59% vs. 26%; OR = 4.2; P < 0.001). Intervention timing was not associated with overall adherence (P = 0.10). 94% of staff reported overall satisfaction of “very good” or “excellent,” and 90% of staff reported that use of the wipes shortened the cleaning process.ConclusionThe use of cleaning wipes resulted in greater adherence to room cleaning and the method was reported to be acceptable to staff. Future aims of this large study (over 10,000 patients were enrolled and data collection not yet completed) are to determine the impact of this intervention on rates of hospital-acquired infections, MDRO acquisitions, and mortality.Disclosures E. T. Martin, Clinell: Grant Investigator, Research grant. D. Marchaim, Clinell: Grant Investigator, Grant recipient.