Cummins, T. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2024

Multi-conflict islands are a widespread trend within Serratia spp

Bacteria carry numerous anti-phage systems in defence islands or hotspots. Recent studies have delineated the content and boundaries of these islands in various species, revealing instances of islands that encode additional factors, including antibiotic resistance, stress genes, Type VI Secretion System (T6SS)-dependent effectors, and virulence factors. Our study identifies three defence islands in the Serratia genus with a mixed cargo of anti-phage systems, virulence factors and different types of anti-bacterial modules, revealing a widespread trend of co-accumulation that extends beyond T6SS-dependent effectors to colicins and contact-dependent inhibition systems. We report the identification of four distinct anti-phage system/subtypes, including a previously unreported Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR)-domain-containing system with population-wide immunity, and two loci co-opting a predicted T6SS-related protein for phage defence. This study enhances our understanding of the protein domains that can be co-opted for phage defence and of the diverse combinations in which known anti-phage proteins can be assembled, resulting in a highly diversified anti-phage arsenal.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Age, experience, social goals, and engagement with research scientists may promote innovation in ecological restoration

Innovation in ecological restoration is necessary in order to achieve the ambitious targets established in United Nations conventions and other global restoration initiatives. Innovation is also crucial for navigating uncertainties in repairing and restoring ecosystems, and thus practitioners often develop innovations at project design and implementation stages. However, innovation in ecological restoration can be hindered by many factors (e.g., time and budget constraints, project complexity, and others). Theory and research on innovation has been formally applied in many fields, yet explicit study of innovation in ecological restoration remains nascent. In order to assess the use of innovation in restoration projects, including its drivers and inhibitors, we conducted a social survey of restoration practitioners in the United States. Specifically, we assessed relationships between project-based innovation and traits of: the individual practitioner (including, for example, age, gender, experience); company (including, for example, company size and companys inclusion of social goals); project (including, for example, complexity and uncertainty); and project outcomes (such as completing the project on time/on budget and personal satisfaction with the work). We found positive relationships between project-based innovation and practitioner traits (age, gender, experience, engagement with research scientists), one company trait (companys inclusion of social goals in their portfolio), and project traits (project complexity and length). In contrast, two practitioner traits, risk aversion and the use of industry-specific information, were negatively related to project-based innovation. Satisfaction with work outcomes was positively correlated with project-based innovation. Collectively, the results provide insights into the drivers and inhibitors of innovation in restoration and suggest opportunities for research and application.

ecology↗