The colonization process of the infant gut microbiome has been called chaotic, but this view could reflect insufficient documentation of the factors affecting the microbiome. We performed a 2.5-y ...case study of the assembly of the human infant gut microbiome, to relate life events to microbiome composition and function. Sixty fecal samples were collected from a healthy infant along with a diary of diet and health status. Analysis of >300,000 16S rRNA genes indicated that the phylogenetic diversity of the microbiome increased gradually over time and that changes in community composition conformed to a smooth temporal gradient. In contrast, major taxonomic groups showed abrupt shifts in abundance corresponding to changes in diet or health. Community assembly was nonrandom: we observed discrete steps of bacterial succession punctuated by life events. Furthermore, analysis of almost equal to500,000 DNA metagenomic reads from 12 fecal samples revealed that the earliest microbiome was enriched in genes facilitating lactate utilization, and that functional genes involved in plant polysaccharide metabolism were present before the introduction of solid food, priming the infant gut for an adult diet. However, ingestion of table foods caused a sustained increase in the abundance of Bacteroidetes, elevated fecal short chain fatty acid levels, enrichment of genes associated with carbohydrate utilization, vitamin biosynthesis, and xenobiotic degradation, and a more stable community composition, all of which are characteristic of the adult microbiome. This study revealed that seemingly chaotic shifts in the microbiome are associated with life events; however, additional experiments ought to be conducted to assess how different infants respond to similar life events.
Abstract
Streams provide a physical linkage between land and downstream river networks, delivering solutes derived from multiple catchment sources. We analyzed high‐frequency time series of stream ...solutes to characterize the timing and magnitude of major ion, nutrient, and organic matter transport over event, seasonal, and annual timescales as well as to assess whether nitrate (
) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) transport are coupled in catchments, which would be expected if they are subject to similar biogeochemical controls throughout the watershed. Our data set includes in situ observations of
, fluorescent dissolved organic matter (DOC proxy), and specific conductance spanning 2–4 years in 10 streams and rivers across New Hampshire, including observations of nearly 700 individual hydrologic events. We found a positive response of
and DOC to flow in forested streams, but watershed development led to a negative relationship between
and discharge, and thus a decoupling of the overall
and DOC responses to flow. On event and seasonal timescales,
and DOC consistently displayed different behaviors. For example, in several streams, FDOM yield was greatest during summer storms while
yield was greatest during winter storms. Most streams had generalizable storm
and DOC responses, but differences in the timing of
and DOC transport suggest different catchment sources. Further, certain events, including rain‐on‐snow and summer storms following dry antecedent conditions, yielded disproportionate
responses. High‐frequency data allow for increased understanding of the processes controlling solute variability and will help reveal their responses to changing climatic regimes.
Key Points
Concentration‐discharge relationships did not fully explain solute variation but sensor data may provide insight into other sources of temporal variability
The timing of solute variability differed for nitrate and dissolved organic carbon on seasonal and event timescales, suggesting different catchment sources
Most streams had generalizable nitrate, dissolved organic carbon, and major ion responses to stormflow that were modified by season and antecedent conditions
Introduction
Adolescent transitions to adulthood are a vulnerable phase for the development of mental illnesses. Additionally, there are often disruptions in psychiatric care delivery during the ...transition phase, potentially leading to a considerable treatment delay with a high risk of early chronification. Thus, the health care system and professionals in both child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry should give greater consideration to the transition phase.
Objectives
An online-course addressing health care professionals was developed to give in-depth knowledge of “transition psychiatry”, practical guidance and to sensitize for the special challenges and needs of young adults with mental illness. Evaluation focuses on the gain of competences, benefit for practical work and user satisfaction.
Methods
Participants´ estimations and opinions on quality of the online-course, on impact of course participation to their practical work and on their competences regarding transition psychiatry are assessed with an online-survey before starting (t1) and after finishing (t2) the online-course. T1-assessment is already completed with 1924 datasets, t2-assessmend will take place 02/2022.
Results
Analyses of t1-assessment show a high heterogeneity of participants regarding their work background and setting. Special knowledge about mental illnesses during transition and about transition psychiatry, as well as feeling confident in accompanying transition processes is on a medium level. Results of t2-assessment and comparing analyses are expected in March 2022 and will be presented.
Conclusions
There was high interest of the target group in participating in the online-course. Evaluation will show if the online-course is a helpful measure in delievering the necessary education of professionals in transition psychiatry.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Macrosystems ecology is the study of diverse ecological phenomena at the scale of regions to continents and their interactions with phenomena at other scales. This emerging subdiscipline addresses ...ecological questions and environmental problems at these broad scales. Here, we describe this new field, show how it relates to modern ecological study, and highlight opportunities that stem from taking a macrosystems perspective. We present a hierarchical framework for investigating macrosystems at any level of ecological organization and in relation to broader and finer scales. Building on well-established theory and concepts from other subdisciplines of ecology, we identify feedbacks, linkages among distant regions, and interactions that cross scales of space and time as the most likely sources of unexpected and novel behaviors in macrosystems. We present three examples that highlight the importance of this multiscaled systems perspective for understanding the ecology of regions to continents.
River networks regulate carbon and nutrient exchange between continents, atmosphere, and oceans. However, contributions of riverine processing are poorly constrained at continental scales. Scaling ...relationships of cumulative biogeochemical function with watershed size (allometric scaling) provide an approach for quantifying the contributions of fluvial networks in the Earth system. Here we show that allometric scaling of cumulative riverine function with watershed area ranges from linear to superlinear, with scaling exponents constrained by network shape, hydrological conditions, and biogeochemical process rates. Allometric scaling is superlinear for processes that are largely independent of substrate concentration (e.g., gross primary production) due to superlinear scaling of river network surface area with watershed area. Allometric scaling for typically substrate-limited processes (e.g., denitrification) is linear in river networks with high biogeochemical activity or low river discharge but becomes increasingly superlinear under lower biogeochemical activity or high discharge, conditions that are widely prevalent in river networks. The frequent occurrence of superlinear scaling indicates that biogeochemical activity in large rivers contributes disproportionately to the function of river networks in the Earth system.
While type 2 immunity has been conventionally viewed as beneficial against helminths, venoms, and poisons, and harmful in allergy, contemporary research has uncovered its critical role in the ...maintenance of homeostasis. The initiation of a type 2 immune response involves an intricate crosstalk between structural and immune cells. Structural cells react to physical and chemical tissue perturbations by secreting alarmins, which signal the innate immune system to restore homeostasis. This pathway acts autonomously in the context of sterile injury and in the presence of foreign antigen initiates an adaptive Th2 response that is beneficial in the context of venoms, toxins, and helminths, but not food allergens. The investigation of the triggers and mechanisms underlying food allergic sensitization in humans is elusive because sensitization is a silent process. Therefore, the central construct driving food allergy modeling is based on introducing perturbations of tissue homeostasis along with an allergen which will result in an immunological and clinical phenotype that is consistent with that observed in humans. The collective evidence from multiple models has revealed the pre-eminent role of innate cells and molecules in the elicitation of allergic sensitization. We posit that, with the expanding use of technologies capable of producing formidable datasets, models of food allergy will continue to have an indispensable role to delineate mechanisms and establish causal relationships.
Background
The generation of IgE‐mediated food allergy in humans is silent and only diagnosed upon manifestation of clinical symptoms. While experimental models have been used to investigate some ...mechanisms of allergic sensitization, the generation of humoral immunity and memory remains to be elucidated. Here, we defined the evolution of allergen‐specific B‐cell responses during epicutaneous sensitization to foods.
Methods
Wild‐type and genetic knockout animals, and drug or antibody strategies for cell depletion and immunoglobulin signaling blockade were used to investigate epicutaneous sensitization and disease progression; we analyzed allergen‐specific germinal centers and IgG1+ memory B cells by flow cytometry, evaluated humoral responses, and determined clinical reactivity (anaphylaxis).
Results
Epicutaneous sensitization caused microscopic skin damage, inflammation, and recruitment of activated dendritic cells to the draining lymph nodes. This process generated allergen‐specific IgG1+ germinal center B cells, serum IgG1, and anaphylaxis that was mediated by the alternative pathway. Whether we used peanut and/or ovalbumin from the egg white for sensitization, the allergen‐specific IgG1+ memory compartment predominantly exhibited an immature, pro‐germinal center phenotype (PDL‐2−CD80−CD35+CD73+). Subsequent subclinical exposures to the allergen induced IgE+ germinal center B cells, serum IgE, and likely activated the classical pathway of anaphylaxis.
Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that IgG1+ B‐cell immunity against food allergens in epicutaneous sensitization precedes the generation of IgE responses. Therefore, the assessment of allergen‐specific cellular and humoral IgG1+ immunity may help to identify individuals at risk of developing IgE‐mediated food allergy and hence provide a window for therapeutic interventions.
IgG1+ B‐cell immunity against food allergens in epicutaneous sensitization precedes the generation of IgE responses. Immature, pro‐germinal centre, allergen‐specific IgG1+ memory B cells are formed at the incipient stages of skin sensitization to foods. The assessment of allergen‐specific cellular and humoral IgG1+ immunity may help to identify individuals at risk of developing IgE‐mediated food allergy.
In this investigation, we use variation in wing morphology, echolocation behaviour, patterns of habitat use and molecular diet analysis to demonstrate that six species of sympatric insectivorous bats ...in Jamaica show significant differences that could explain resource partitioning among the species. High‐intensity echolocating species that used shorter, broadband signals and had shorter, broader wings (Pteronotus macleayii, Pteronotus quadridens, Mormoops blainvillii) foraged most in edge habitats, but differed in timing of peak activity. P. macleayii and M. blainvillii differed in diet, but low sample size precluded diet analysis for P. quadridens. High‐intensity echolocating species that used longer, more narrowband signals and had longer, narrower wings (Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis) foraged most in open areas and differed in diet from the other species. Two disparate species were most active in clutter (dense vegetation). Pteronotus parnellii used high‐duty‐cycle echolocation apparently specialized for detecting fluttering targets in clutter. Macrotus waterhousii used low‐intensity, broadband echolocation calls and presumably uses prey‐generated sounds when foraging. These two species also differed in diet. Our data show that differences in morphology and echolocation behaviour coincide with differences in habitat use and diet, resulting in minimal overlap in resource use among species.
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