Santiago Santana, J. M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2021

Spatial-temporal targeted and non-targeted surveys to assess microbiological composition of drinking water in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

Loss of basic utilities, such as drinking water and electricity distribution, were sustained for months in the aftermath of Hurricane Marias (HM) landfall in Puerto Rico (PR) in September 2017. The goal of this study was to assess if there was deterioration in biological quality of drinking water due to these disruptions. This study characterized the microbial composition of drinking water following HM across nine drinking water systems (DWSs) in PR and utilized an extended temporal sampling campaign to determine if changes in the drinking water microbiome were indicative of HM associated disturbance followed by recovery. In addition to monitoring water chemistry, the samples were subjected to culture independent targeted and non-targeted microbial analysis including quantitative PCR (qPCR) and genome-resolved metagenomics. The qPCR results showed that residual disinfectant was the major driver of bacterial concentrations in tap water with marked decrease in concentrations from early to late sampling timepoints. While Mycobacterium avium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not detected in any sampling locations and timepoints, genetic material from Leptospira and Legionella pneumophila were transiently detected in a few sampling locations. The majority of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) recovered from these samples were not associated with pathogens and were consistent with bacterial community members routinely detected in DWSs. Further, whole metagenome-level comparisons between drinking water samples collected in this study with samples from other full-scale DWS indicated no significant deviation from expected community membership of the drinking water microbiome. Overall, our results suggest that disruptions due to HM did not result in significant and sustained deterioration of biological quality of drinking water at our study sites. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=86 SRC="FIGDIR/small/442998v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (29K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@100c1e9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@bae402org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cf41bborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e46105_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in a Rat Model of Co-Morbid Obesity and Psychogenic Stress

BackgroundThere is growing recognition for a reciprocal, bidirectional link between anxiety disorders and obesity. Although the mechanisms linking obesity and anxiety remain speculative, this bidirectionality suggests shared pathophysiological processes. Neuroinflammation and oxidative damage are implicated in both pathological anxiety and obesity. This study investigates the relative contribution of comorbid diet-induced obesity and stress-induced anxiety to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. MethodsThirty-six (36) male Lewis rats were divided into four groups based on diet type and stress exposure: 1) control diet unexposed (CDU) and 2) exposed (CDE), 3) Western-like high-saturated fat diet unexposed (WDU) and 4) exposed (WDE). Neurobehavioral tests were performed to assess anxiety-like behaviors. The catalytic concentrations of glutathione peroxidase and reductase were measured from plasma samples, and neuroinflammatory/oxidative stress biomarkers were measured from brain samples using Western blot. Correlations between behavioral phenotypes and biomarkers were assessed with Pearsons correlation procedures. ResultsWe found that WDE rats exhibited markedly increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (185%), catalase protein (215%), and glutathione reductase (GSR) enzymatic activity (418%) relative to CDU rats. Interestingly, the brain protein levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase were positively associated with body weight and behavioral indices of anxiety. ConclusionsTogether, our results support a role for neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in heightened emotional reactivity to obesogenic environments and psychogenic stress. Uncovering adaptive responses to obesogenic environments characterized by high access to high-saturated fat/high-sugar diets and toxic stress has the potential to strongly impact how we treat psychiatric disorders in at-risk populations. HighlightsO_LIPredatory odor stress heightens footshock reactivity and anxiety-like behaviors in Lewis rats. C_LIO_LIWD intake increases glutathione reductase activity in plasma. C_LIO_LIWD intake and PS exposure acted synergistically to increase the brain protein levels of catalase and the glial fibrillary acidic protein. C_LIO_LIThe protein levels and activities of some redox/neuroinflammatory biomarkers are closely associated with behavioral proxies related to fear and anxiety in rats. C_LI

neuroscience↗