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Herbivores can gain indirect access to recalcitrant carbon present in plant cell walls through symbiotic associations with lignocellulolytic microbes. A paradigmatic example is the leaf-cutter ant (Tribe: Attini), which uses fresh leaves to cultivate a fungus for food in specialized gardens. Using a combination of sugar composition analyses, metagenomics, and whole-genome sequencing, we reveal that the fungus garden microbiome of leaf-cutter ants is composed of a diverse community of bacteria with high plant biomass-degrading capacity. Comparison of this microbiome's predicted carbohydrate-degrading enzyme profile with other metagenomes shows closest similarity to the bovine rumen, indicating evolutionary convergence of plant biomass degrading potential between two important herbivorous animals. Genomic and physiological characterization of two dominant bacteria in the fungus garden microbiome provides evidence of their capacity to degrade cellulose. Given the recent interest in cellulosic biofuels, understanding how large-scale and rapid plant biomass degradation occurs in a highly evolved insect herbivore is of particular relevance for bioenergy.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the frequency and barriers to use of ultrasound guidance for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion by physicians specializing in critical care and hospital medicine. A national cross-sectional electronic survey of intensivists and hospitalists was administered from November 2014 to January 2015. The survey response rate was 5.9% (1013/17 233). Moderate to very frequent use of ultrasound guidance varied by site: internal jugular vein (80%), subclavian vein (31%), and femoral vein (45%). Nearly all physicians (99%) who insert internal jugular CVCs daily use ultrasound guidance, whereas only 46% of physicians who insert subclavian CVCs daily use ultrasound guidance. Use of real-time ultrasound guidance varied by insertion site: internal jugular vein (73%), subclavian vein (28%), and femoral vein (42%). Most physicians (59%) reported not being comfortable with real-time needle tracking at the subclavian site. The most frequently reported barriers to use of ultrasound guidance were (1) limited availability of ultrasound equipment (28%), (2) perception of increased total procedure time (22%), and (3) concern for loss of landmark skills (13%). Most intensivists routinely use ultrasound guidance to insert internal jugular CVCs but not subclavian CVCs. The most commonly reported barrier to ultrasound use was limited access to an ultrasound machine.

Human aging presents an evolutionary paradox: while aging rates remain constant, healthspan and lifespan vary widely. We address this conundrum via salutogenesis—the active production of health—through immune resilience (IR), the capacity to resist disease despite aging and inflammation. Analyzing ~17,500 individuals across lifespan stages and inflammatory challenges, we identified a core salutogenic mechanism: IR centered on TCF7, a conserved transcription factor maintaining T‐cell stemness and regenerative potential. IR integrates innate and adaptive immunity to counter three aging and mortality drivers: chronic inflammation (inflammaging), immune aging, and cellular senescence. By mitigating these aging mechanisms, IR confers survival advantages: At age 40, individuals with poor IR face a 9.7‐fold higher mortality rate—a risk equivalent to that of 55.5‐year‐olds with optimal IR—resulting in a 15.5‐year gap in survival. Optimal IR preserves youthful immune profiles at any age, enhances vaccine responses, and reduces burdens of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and serious infections. Two key salutogenic evolutionary themes emerge: first, female‐predominant IR, including TCF7, likely reflects evolutionary pressures favoring reproductive success and caregiving; second, midlife (40–70 years) is a critical window where optimal IR reduces mortality by 69%. After age 70, mortality rates converge between resilient and non‐resilient groups, reflecting biological limits on longevity extension. TNFα‐blockers restore salutogenesis pathways, indicating IR delays aging‐related processes rather than altering aging rates. By reframing aging as a salutogenic‐pathogenic balance, we establish TCF7‐centered IR as central to healthy longevity. Targeted midlife interventions to enhance IR offer actionable strategies to maximize healthspan before biological constraints limit benefits. Human aging shows puzzling diversity: similar aging rates yet vastly different health outcomes. Our study of ~17,500 people revealed a health‐promoting trait (more common in women) linked to strong immune resilience and high expression of TCF7, a key immune gene. This trait enables individuals to fight infections like COVID‐19 more effectively, respond better to vaccines, avoid comorbidities, and live longer. Its decline after age 70 may explain lifespan limits. These findings redefine aging as a tug‐of‐war between health‐promoting (salutogenic) and disease‐driving (pathogenic) processes, opening new treatment paths.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity, places substantial time and cost burden on the health care system, and is now the third leading cause of death in the US. Many interventions are available to appropriately manage patients with COPD; however, fully implementing these strategies to help improve outcomes may be difficult. Collaboration between an interprofessional team of health care professionals (which includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, and many others) and COPD patients and caregivers is necessary to optimally manage these patients and to truly impact outcomes in this devastating disease. Prescribing evidence-based non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies is an important start, but a true team-based approach is critical to successfully implement comprehensive care in patients with COPD. The goal of this review is to employ a case-based approach to provide practical information regarding the roles of the interprofessional team in implementing strategies to optimally manage COPD patients.

About half a billion people worldwide are infected with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). Prolonged treatment with acyclovir (ACV) and its analogs leads to the development of resistant strains. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiviral potential of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from Camellia sinensis and a stable analog EGCG-stearate (EGCG-S) against HSV-2 in cultured Vero cells. Cell viability and cell proliferation assays were used to determine the non-cytotoxic concentrations on cultured Vero cells. HSV-2 with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein of VP26 virions were treated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of EGCG and EGCG-S. The effects on infectivity and mechanisms were determined by plaque assay, attachment and penetration assays, confocal microscopy, qPCR, and in silico modeling analysis. Our results demonstrate that treatment of HSV-2 virions with EGCG and EGCG-S at a concentration of 75 µM showed greater than 99.9% inhibition by inhibiting the attachment of HSV-2 virions to host cells. The bioinformatic analysis indicated high binding affinity of EGCG-S for glycoprotein D; thus EGCG-S may block fusion of HSV-2 and the cell membrane, preventing entry of HSV-2 into the cell.

Herbivores gain access to nutrients stored in plant biomass largely by harnessing the metabolic activities of microbes. Leaf-cutter ants of the genus Atta are a hallmark example; these dominant neotropical herbivores cultivate symbiotic fungus gardens on large quantities of fresh plant forage. As the external digestive system of the ants, fungus gardens facilitate the production and sustenance of millions of workers. Using metagenomic and metaproteomic techniques, we characterize the bacterial diversity and physiological potential of fungus gardens from two species of Atta . Our analysis of over 1.2 Gbp of community metagenomic sequence and three 16S pyrotag libraries reveals that in addition to harboring the dominant fungal crop, these ecosystems contain abundant populations of Enterobacteriaceae , including the genera Enterobacter, Pantoea , Klebsiella , Citrobacter and Escherichia . We show that these bacterial communities possess genes associated with lignocellulose degradation and diverse biosynthetic pathways, suggesting that they play a role in nutrient cycling by converting the nitrogen-poor forage of the ants into B-vitamins, amino acids and other cellular components. Our metaproteomic analysis confirms that bacterial glycosyl hydrolases and proteins with putative biosynthetic functions are produced in both field-collected and laboratory-reared colonies. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fungus gardens are specialized fungus–bacteria communities that convert plant material into energy for their ant hosts. Together with recent investigations into the microbial symbionts of vertebrates, our work underscores the importance of microbial communities in the ecology and evolution of herbivorous metazoans.

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) causes a wide range of infections from mild to life-threatening in the human population. There are effective treatments for HSV-1 infections that are limited due HSV-1 latency and development of resistance to current therapeutics. The goal of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and antiviral effects of embelin on HSV-1 in cultured Vero cells. Oxidative stress was verified by an extensive production of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) H2O2. Vero cells were infected with a recombinant strain of HSV-1 and antiviral assays, time course attachment, penetration, and post penetration assays, confocal microscopy, qPCR, and antioxidant assays were conducted. Our results lead to the conclusion that embelin is noncytotoxic at concentrations tested ranging from 20 to 70 µM. Treatment of HSV-1 virions with embelin resulted in 98.7–100% inhibition and affected the early stage of HSV-1 infection of Vero cells, by inhibiting the attachment and penetration of HSV-1 virions to host cells. Treatment of virions with concentrations of embelin ranging from 35 to 60 µM significantly reduced the production of H2O2. In conclusion, embelin reduces oxidative damage caused by HSV-1 infection and is an effective antiviral to reduce the infection of HSV-1 in cultured Vero cells. Further studies are needed to explore the possibility of embelin as a medicinal agent.

Abstract Rationale One of the limitations associated with lung transplantation is the lack of available organs. Objective To determine whether a lung donor–management protocol could increase the number of lungs for transplantation without affecting the survival rates of the recipients. Methods We implemented the San Antonio Lung Transplant protocol for managing potential lung donors according to modifications of standard criteria for donor selection and strategies for donor management. We then compared information gathered during a 4-yr period, during which the protocol was used with information gathered during a 4-yr period before protocol implementation. Primary outcome measures were the procurement rate of lungs and the 30-d and 1-yr survival rates of recipients. Main Results We reviewed data from 711 potential lung donors. The mean rate of lung procurement was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) during the protocol period (25.5%) than during the pre-protocol period (11.5%), with an estimated risk ratio of 2.2 in favor of the protocol period. More patients received transplants during the protocol period (n = 121) than during the pre-protocol period (n = 53; p < 0.0001). Of 98 actual lung donors during the protocol period, 53 (54%) had initially been considered poor donors; these donors provided 64 (53%) of the 121 lung transplants. The type of donor was not associated with significant differences in recipients' 30-d and 1-yr survival rates or any clinical measures of adequate graft function. Conclusions The protocol was associated with a significant increase in the number of lung donors and transplant procedures without compromising pulmonary function, length of stay, or survival of the recipients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) in patients with stable moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted an exploratory mixed methods analysis of data from participants in a longitudinal observational study of depression in COPD. We measured depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which includes an item on SI. We compared participants with and without SI in relation to sociodemographics, symptoms, anxiety, and healthcare resource use with independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Content analysis was performed on qualitative data gathered during a structured SI safety assessment. Of 202 participants, 121 (60%) had depressive symptoms (PHQ ≥6); 51 (25%) had a PHQ-9 ≥10, indicating a high likelihood of current major depression; and 22 (11%) reported SI. Compared to the 99 depressed participants without SI, those with SI were more likely to be female (59% vs 27%, P=0.004); had worse dyspnea (P=0.009), depression (P<0.001), and anxiety (P=0.003); and were also more likely to have received treatment for depression and/or anxiety (82% vs 40%, P<0.001) and more hospitalizations for COPD exacerbations (P=0.03) but had similar levels of airflow obstruction and functioning than participants without SI. Themes from the qualitative analysis among those with SI included current or prior adverse life situations, untreated or partially treated complex depression, loss of a key relationship, experience of illness and disability, and poor communication with providers. Our findings suggest that current SI is common in COPD, may occur disproportionately in women, can persist despite mental health treatment, and has complex relationships with both health and life events. Adequate management of SI in COPD may therefore require tailored, comprehensive treatment approaches that integrate medical and mental health objectives.

Background The salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis , is an ectoparasitic copepod which feeds on the mucus, skin and blood of salmonid fish species. The parasite can persist on the surface of the fish without any effective control being exerted by the host immune system. Other ectoparasitic invertebrates produce compounds in their saliva, excretions and/or secretions which modulate the host immune responses allowing them to remain on or in the host during development. Similarly, compounds are produced in secretions of L. salmonis which are thought to be responsible for immunomodulation of the host responses as well as other aspects of crucial host-parasite interactions. Methods In this study we have identified and characterised the proteins in the excretory/secretory (E/S) products of L. salmonis using LC-ESI-MS/MS. Results In total 187 individual proteins were identified in the E/S collected from adult lice and pre-adult sea lice. Fifty-three proteins, including 13 serine-type endopeptidases, 1 peroxidase and 5 vitellogenin-like proteins were common to both adult and pre-adult E/S products. One hundred and seven proteins were identified in the adult E/S but not in the pre-adult E/S and these included serine and cysteine-type endopeptidases, vitellogenins, sphingomyelinase and calreticulin. A total of 27 proteins were identified in pre-adult E/S products but not in adult E/S. Conclusions The assigned functions of these E/S products and the potential roles they play in host-parasite interaction is discussed.