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Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) produces systemic alterations that can be reflected in biochemical parameters beyond microbiological resolution. Early characterization of the biochemical response to treatment could provide additional criteria for following up with hospitalized patients. A retrospective observational study was conducted focusing on patients with pulmonary TB from a tertiary care hospital, based on biochemical parameters upon admission (“before”) and between 2 and 10 days after starting anti-tuberculosis treatment (“after”). The patients were grouped into three clusters according to the results of the clinical tests: mild (70.1%), inflammatory (26.7%), and severe (3.2%). After the start of treatment, 30% of the patients migrated toward the most biochemically compromised phenotype (Cluster 3). Sixty-one percent showed deterioration in at least one of the three key parameters; only 12.8% improved simultaneously. Significant associations were identified between unfavorable biochemical evolution and HIV (p = 0.004) or patients with public health coverage (p = 0.01). Overall, after antituberculous therapy, a reduction in CRP and leukocytes was observed (p < 0.001), and progressive anemia (ΔHb: −1.7 g/dL) and renal deterioration (ΔCr: +0.52 mg/dL) were identified. The identification of dynamic phenotypes in patients with pulmonary TB can be used to establish early risk markers and contribute to individualized clinical surveillance.

Purpose Bacterial and fungal communities represent key bioindicators of soil quality and are essential for the maintenance of nutrient availability. Our purpose was to characterize the bacterial and fungal biodiversity associated with different compost mixtures, comparing microbiological indicators regarding the soil quality. Methods Compost samples and mixtures were prepared (15:1 final ratio) with chemical fertilizer, animal manures (bovine, swine, and poultry) and green waste (such as tomato waste and leaves). Bacterial and fungal isolation and identification were performed through standard phenotypic methods. Statistical methods to assess differences between treatments included Shannon diversity, Chi-square tests, Bray-Curtis clustering, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Results Streptomyces species, Gram-positive bacteria, were commonly found in differing abundances in all samples. Gram-positive species were predominant in soils amended with vegetable green waste while Gram-negative bacteria were more abundant in samples with chemical fertilizer. Fungal abundance increased in poultry manure and chemical fertilizers. Conclusion Our findings suggested that organic matter recycling and composting resulted in the shifting of biodiversity in bacterial and fungal populations which might be associated with the availability of certain nutrient sources provided by the composting materials.

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and brucellosis are associated with devastating losses in the livestock sector in Colombia and even in developed countries. Real-time disease surveillance is a key strategy to control and eradicate infectious disease outbreaks. Objective: To design an epidemiological tool for monitoring BTB and brucellosis in Colombia. Methods: An interactive platform for disease mapping of BTB and brucellosis during an observation period between years 2004 and 2019 was designed. Results: Our analysis showed that the provinces of Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca are regions affected by BTB and brucellosis epidemics, respectively (p<0.001). Furthermore, increased case detection of BTB was reported in 2012 and brucellosis in 2019 (p<0.001). Conclusions: This epidemiological platform allows tracking BTB and tuberculosis hotspots, identifying trends over time, and provides useful information to animal health authorities for designing new strategies in control programs.

Hazardous practices regarding antibiotics misuse, unsanitary milking procedures, and the commercial sales of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products are currently being practiced by livestock farmers in the Sumapaz region (Colombia). The purpose of this study was to screen for food-borne and zoonotic pathogens associated with local livestock practices. We evaluated 1098 cows from 46 livestock farms in the Sumapaz region that were selected by random. Of the total population of cattle, 962 animals (88%) were tested for bovine TB using a caudal-fold tuberculin test and 546 (50%) for brucellosis by a competitive ELISA. In the population tested, 23 cows were positive for Brucella sp. representing a 4.2% seroprevalence and no cases of bovine tuberculosis were found. In addition, food-borne contamination with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed together with antibiotic susceptibility for ten different antibiotics in milk samples from 16 livestock farms. We found that 12 of the farms (75%) were contaminated with these food-borne pathogens. Noteworthy, all of the isolated pathogenic strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics, primarily to oxytetracycline and erythromycin. Our findings suggest that livestock products could be a source of exposure to Brucella and multidrug-resistant E. coli and S. aureus strains as a result of unhygienic livestock practices in the Sumapaz region. Training in good farming practices is the key to improving safety in food production.

Societal Impact Statement Colombia is a “megadiverse” country with vast natural resources. A history of recent conflict means that information is only now being collected on the natural capital of regions that were previously unexplored. Better access to data, tools, and expertise is required for evidence‐supported decisions on the conservation of these resources. The development of a bespoke cyberinfrastructure could help fulfill this need by providing access to digital resources in a collaborative cyberenvironment. We outline key priorities and develop a reference framework for building cyberinfrastructure in Colombia. This framework could be applied to other fields and countries to promote knowledge exchange, scientific innovation, and socioeconomic growth. Colombia is a “megadiverse” country with vast natural resources. A history of recent conflict means that information is only now being collected on the natural capital of regions that were previously unexplored. Better access to data, tools, and expertise is required for evidence‐supported decisions on the conservation of these resources. The development of a bespoke cyberinfrastructure could help fulfill this need by providing access to digital resources in a collaborative cyberenvironment. We outline key priorities and develop a reference framework for building cyberinfrastructure in Colombia. This framework could be applied to other fields and countries to promote knowledge exchange, scientific innovation, and socioeconomic growth.

ABSTRACTThe chemically mutagenized Escherichia coli strain AS19 was isolated on the basis of its enhanced sensitivity to different antibiotics, in particular to actinomycin. The strain was later modified to study rRNA modifications that confer antibiotic resistance. Here, we present the genome sequence of the variant E. coli AS19-RrmA-.

Background The TlyA protein has a controversial function as a virulence factor in Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tuberculosis ). At present, its dual activity as hemolysin and RNA methyltransferase in M. tuberculosis has been indirectly proposed based on in vitro results. There is no evidence however for TlyA relevance in the survival of tubercle bacilli inside host cells or whether both activities are functionally linked. A thorough analysis of structure prediction for this mycobacterial protein in this study shows the need for reevaluating TlyA's function in virulence. Results Bioinformatics analysis of TlyA identified a ribosomal protein binding domain (S4 domain), located between residues 5 and 68 as well as an FtsJ-like methyltranferase domain encompassing residues 62 and 247, all of which have been previously described in translation machinery-associated proteins. Subcellular localization prediction showed that TlyA lacks a signal peptide and its hydrophobicity profile showed no evidence of transmembrane helices. These findings suggested that it may not be attached to the membrane, which is consistent with a cytoplasmic localization. Three-dimensional modeling of TlyA showed a consensus structure, having a common core formed by a six-stranded β-sheet between two α-helix layers, which is consistent with an RNA methyltransferase structure. Phylogenetic analyses showed high conservation of the tlyA gene among Mycobacterium species. Additionally, the nucleotide substitution rates suggested purifying selection during tlyA gene evolution and the absence of a common ancestor between TlyA proteins and bacterial pore-forming proteins. Conclusion Altogether, our manual in silico curation suggested that TlyA is involved in ribosomal biogenesis and that there is a functional annotation error regarding this protein family in several microbial and plant genomes, including the M. tuberculosis genome.

Here, we characterized the structure of the two-component regulatory system, LisR/LisK, in Listeria monocytogenes. To predict the structure of both proteins and the relationship between them, we employed several bioinformatic tools and databases. Based on our results, LisK protein is embedded in the cell membrane and its modular composition (HAMP, histidine kinase and ATPase domains) is associated with its autophosphorylation (His-266). A stimulus-response likely determines the sequential signal propagation from the bacterial cell surface to its cytoplasmic components. According to our results, LisR is a cytoplasmic protein with a receptor domain (homologous to CheY) that comprises a phosphoacceptor residue (Asp-52) and a DNA-binding domain, which may allow the transmission of a specific transcriptional response. LisR/LisK has been experimentally characterized both biochemically and functionally in other Bacilli pathophysiology; our structure-function approach may facilitate the design of suitable inhibitors

Background: Fish-associated microbiota plays crucial roles in maintaining health and enhancing productivity. However, compared with those of mammals, the composition and functions of the fish microbiota remain less understood. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of the scientific literature was conducted to provide insights into diverse probiotic interactions and economically important fish species between Colombia and Hungary. Results: Improving growth performance, reflected by increased specific growth rates, increased weight gain, and increased feed conversion ratios, is closely linked to microbiota modulation. These growth benefits are accompanied by elevated immune responses, including increased lysozyme activity, upregulated complement and cytokine expression (e.g., IL-1β and TNF-α), and increased antioxidant enzyme activity (e.g., superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT]). Several trials also reported improvements in digestive enzyme activity (amylase, protease, and lipase) and intestinal morphology. Additionally, shifts in the gut microbiota composition characterized by a greater abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria) and a reduction in pathogenic populations correlate with the upregulation of metabolic pathways involved in carbohydrate utilization and antioxidant defenses. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of understanding the ability of the fish microbiota to distinguish beneficial from pathogenic phenotypes, ultimately paving the way for innovative dietary strategies in aquaculture.

Objetivo Determinar la prevalencia de tuberculosis (TB) infantil y los factores socio-demográficos asociados a esta población en el municipio de Armenia (Colombia). Metodología Se realizó un estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo en el cual se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de TB menores de 14 años que fueron notificados al programa de TB en el municipio de Armenia y que iniciaron esquema de Tratamiento Acortado Estrictamente Supervisado (TAES) entre el 2000-2009. Resultados Se notificaron un total de 58 casos de TB, el mayor número de casos ocurrió en el 2009 (12 casos) seguido del 2008 (8 casos) y 2006 (7 casos) respectivamente, representando una elevada tasa de prevalencia (16,6 casos/100 000 habitantes). Las formas pulmonares tuvieron mayor proporción con 74 %, de las cuales 34 % fueron positivas a la baciloscopia (BK). El nexo epidemiológico se configuró en el 21 % de los enfermos. En cuanto al egreso del programa de control de la TB el 5 % de los pacientes finalizó con criterio de curado, 17 % terminado, 4 % transferidos, 7 % fallecidos y en el 67 % de los casos se desconoció el resultado del tratamiento. Conclusión La TB representa en la actualidad una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad infantil. Dada la buena cobertura de vacunación con BCG y que la mayoría de casos son pulmonares en este municipio, la alta tasa de casos de TB infantil estaría indicando fallas en la oportunidad para interrumpir transmisión reciente a partir de casos bacilíferos. Palabras Clave: Tuberculosis, vacuna BCG, tuberculosis latente, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (fuente: DeCS, BIREME). Objective To determine the childhood tuberculosis prevalence and its socio-demographics factors associated to this population in Armenia (Colombia). Methodology A retrospective-descriptive study was carried out; TB patients under the age of 14 years were included and notified to the TB control program in Armenia, those who started a Directly Observed Treatment Supervised (DOTS) scheme among from 2000 to 2009 years. Results 58 TB cases were described, most cases have occurred in 2009 (12 cases) followed by the 2008 (8 cases) and 2006 (7 cases) respectively. Thus, Armenia has a high rate of prevalence (16.6 cases/100 000 inhabitants). Pulmonary forms had greater proportion with 74 %, of which 34 % were positive to sputum examination revealed Acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Epidemiological link allowed confirmation of 21 % of cases. TB treatment cohort revealed that 5 % of patients were cured, finished 17 %, transferred 4 %, dead 7% and in 67 % of cases the results were not documented. Conclusion Nowadays TB still an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. The good BCG vaccine covertures and the high prevalence of pulmonary forms in childhood TB indicates that the most plausible explanation for this high prevalence is a failure in early detection of bacilli positive patients to cut recent transmission in this municipality. Key Words: Tuberculosis, BCG vaccine, latent tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (source: MeSH, NLM).