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How to design experiments that accelerate knowledge discovery on complex biological landscapes remains a tantalizing question. We present an optimal experimental design method (coined OPEX) to identify informative omics experiments using machine learning models for both experimental space exploration and model training. OPEX-guided exploration of Escherichia coli's populations exposed to biocide and antibiotic combinations lead to more accurate predictive models of gene expression with 44% less data. Analysis of the proposed experiments shows that broad exploration of the experimental space followed by fine-tuning emerges as the optimal strategy. Additionally, analysis of the experimental data reveals 29 cases of cross-stress protection and 4 cases of cross-stress vulnerability. Further validation reveals the central role of chaperones, stress response proteins and transport pumps in cross-stress exposure. This work demonstrates how active learning can be used to guide omics data collection for training predictive models, making evidence-driven decisions and accelerating knowledge discovery in life sciences.

The mechanisms of the bacterial response to biocides are poorly understood, despite their broad application. To identify the genetic basis and pathways implicated in the biocide stress response, we exposed Escherichia coli populations to 10 ubiquitous biocides. By comparing the transcriptional responses between a short-term exposure (30 min) and a long-term exposure (8 to 12 h) to biocide stress, we established the common gene and pathway clusters that are implicated in general and biocide-specific stress responses. Our analysis revealed a temporal choreography, starting from the upregulation of chaperones to the subsequent repression of motility and chemotaxis pathways and the induction of an anaerobic pool of enzymes and biofilm regulators. A systematic analysis of the transcriptional data identified a zur-regulated gene cluster to be highly active in the stress response against sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid, presenting a link between the biocide stress response and zinc homeostasis. Susceptibility assays with knockout mutants further validated our findings and provide clear targets for downstream investigation of the implicated mechanisms of action.IMPORTANCE Antiseptics and disinfectant products are of great importance to control and eliminate pathogens, especially in settings such as hospitals and the food industry. Such products are widely distributed and frequently poorly regulated. Occasional outbreaks have been associated with microbes resistant to such compounds, and researchers have indicated potential cross-resistance with antibiotics. Despite that, there are many gaps in knowledge about the bacterial stress response and the mechanisms of microbial resistance to antiseptics and disinfectants. We investigated the stress response of the bacterium Escherichia coli to 10 common disinfectant and antiseptic chemicals to shed light on the potential mechanisms of tolerance to such compounds.

The mechanisms of the bacterial response to biocides are poorly understood, despite their broad application. To identify the genetic basis and pathways implicated in the biocide stress response, we exposed Escherichia coli populations to 10 ubiquitous biocides. By comparing the transcriptional responses between a short-term exposure (30 min) and a long-term exposure (8 to 12 h) to biocide stress, we established the common gene and pathway clusters that are implicated in general and biocide-specific stress responses. Our analysis revealed a temporal choreography, starting from the upregulation of chaperones to the subsequent repression of motility and chemotaxis pathways and the induction of an anaerobic pool of enzymes and biofilm regulators. A systematic analysis of the transcriptional data identified a zur-regulated gene cluster to be highly active in the stress response against sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid, presenting a link between the biocide stress response and zinc homeostasis. Susceptibility assays with knockout mutants further validated our findings and provide clear targets for downstream investigation of the implicated mechanisms of action.IMPORTANCE Antiseptics and disinfectant products are of great importance to control and eliminate pathogens, especially in settings such as hospitals and the food industry. Such products are widely distributed and frequently poorly regulated. Occasional outbreaks have been associated with microbes resistant to such compounds, and researchers have indicated potential cross-resistance with antibiotics. Despite that, there are many gaps in knowledge about the bacterial stress response and the mechanisms of microbial resistance to antiseptics and disinfectants. We investigated the stress response of the bacterium Escherichia coli to 10 common disinfectant and antiseptic chemicals to shed light on the potential mechanisms of tolerance to such compounds.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the family structure on the oral health status of socially vulnerable children in the Federal District of Brazil. A total of 471 schoolchildren with a mean age of 8.12 (± 0.90) years were examined for dental caries using the CAST instrument. Dental biofilm and oral pain were also registered. Children’s guardians were interviewed about socioeconomic variables and oral hygiene habits. The association between oral pain in the previous 30 days and the child’s maximum CAST score were analyzed using the Pearson chi-squared test. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to determine the predictors of presence of biofilm, oral pain, and caries severity. The prevalence of cavitated dentin lesions was 43.74% and, both dentin and enamel lesions, 52.87%; for both dentitions. An association between pain and severe nontreated carious lesions was found (p < 0.0001). The family structure was not related to the presence of dental caries, but a significant association was found between low maternal education and severe carious lesions (PR = 1.41; p = 0.0077) and oral pain (PR = 1.47; p = 0. 0335); not owning a residence and frequency of toothbrushing were also associated with the substantial presence of biofilm (PR = 1.13, p = 0.0493 and PR = 1.18, p = 0.0470; respectively). For socially vulnerable children, variables related to the socioeconomic status of the families were more relevant than the family structure in relation to their oral health status.

Este artigo tem por objetivo evidenciar a formação continuada como lugar que movimenta experiências e possibilidades, no entrelaçamento entre universidade e escola. Intenciona colaborar na premissa da possibilidade de organizar um processo formativo através de comunidade de aprendizagem, por meio de aportes digitais. Argumenta-se que é necessário pensar a formação continuada enquanto um “lugar” mobilizador da docência, de compartilhar experiências, produzir saberes e de profissionalização contínua, com o propósito de fomentar novas práticas, vivências e aprendizagens. Ainda, reflete e indica que esse movimento é possível de ser realizado por meio de aportes tecnológicos, considerando que, se a pandemia nos trouxe lições de isolamento e solidão, as respostas a ela nos ensinaram novas formas e aparatos de comunicação, evidenciando o diálogo e o aprender em comunidade. Este estudo é de cunho bibliográfico, tendo âncora em autores como Candau (1999), Fiorentini (2009, 2010), Imbernón (2009, 2010), Lévy (1999, 2007), Nóvoa (1997, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2022), Sacristán (1999), Tardif (2002) e Veiga (2008). Pode-se afirmar que a formação continuada, a partir de comunidade de aprendizagem, contribui na apropriação e reelaboração de saberes pensados e refletidos no coletivo.

A Educação Infantil é a etapa humana de um processo crescente e determinante de aprendizagens e desenvolvimento do indivíduo. Assim, o docente desse nível de escolarização necessita de saberes e conhecimentos que corroboram significativamente no trabalho pedagógico. Este artigo bibliográfico intenciona refletir sobre a criança da primeira infância e analisar as mobilizações de saberes que elas provocam na atuação e no desenvolvimento profissional dos professores. Considerando esses elementos, apresenta algumas concepções da infância e os saberes necessários ao professor da Educação infantil. Nessa perspectiva, é possível afirmar a necessidade de entender a infância e a singularidade da criança, produtora de conhecimentos, de sonhos e de culturas, bem como apreender as concepções que elas trazem para o cotidiano escolar da educação infantil. Em decorrência, passam a ser atores na construção da identidade do professor, na reflexão e reelaboração de foregrounds.

Food and human health are inextricably linked. As such, revolutionary impacts on health have been derived from advances in the production and distribution of food relating to food safety and fortification with micronutrients. During the past two decades, it has become apparent that the human microbiome has the potential to modulate health, including in ways that may be related to diet and the composition of specific foods. Despite the excitement and potential surrounding this area, the complexity of the gut microbiome, the chemical composition of food, and their interplay in situ remains a daunting task to fully understand. However, recent advances in high-throughput sequencing, metabolomics profiling, compositional analysis of food, and the emergence of electronic health records provide new sources of data that can contribute to addressing this challenge. Computational science will play an essential role in this effort as it will provide the foundation to integrate these data layers and derive insights capable of revealing and understanding the complex interactions between diet, gut microbiome, and health. Here, we review the current knowledge on diet-health-gut microbiota, relevant data sources, bioinformatics tools, machine learning capabilities, as well as the intellectual property and legislative regulatory landscape. We provide guidance on employing machine learning and data analytics, identify gaps in current methods, and describe new scenarios to be unlocked in the next few years in the context of current knowledge.

Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are chemicals with widespread applications due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review provides an overview of the market for BACs, as well as regulatory measures and available data on safety, toxicity, and environmental contamination. We focus on the effect of frequent exposure of microbial communities to BACs and the potential for cross-resistant phenotypes to emerge. Toward this goal, we review BAC concentrations in consumer products, their correlation with the emergence of tolerance in microbial populations, and the associated risk potential. Our analysis suggests that the ubiquitous and frequent use of BACs in commercial products can generate selective environments that favor microbial phenotypes potentially cross-resistant to a variety of compounds. An analysis of benefits versus risks should be the guidepost for regulatory actions regarding compounds such as BACs.