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Efficient conversion of hexoses and pentoses into value-added chemicals represents one core step for establishing economically feasible biorefineries from lignocellulosic material. While extensive research efforts have recently provided advances in the overall process performance, the quest for new microbial cell factories and novel enzymes sources is still open. As demonstrated recently the yeast Sugiyamaella lignohabitans (formerly Candida lignohabitans) represents a promising microbial cell factory for the production of organic acids from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. We report here the de novo genome assembly of S. lignohabitans using the Single Molecule Real-Time platform, with gene prediction refined by using RNA-seq. The sequencing revealed a 15.98 Mb genome, subdivided into four chromosomes. By phylogenetic analysis, Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans and Yarrowia lipolytica were found to be close relatives of S. lignohabitans Differential gene expression was evaluated in typical growth conditions on glucose and xylose and allowed a first insight into the transcriptional response of S. lignohabitans to different carbon sources and different oxygenation conditions. Novel sequences for enzymes and transporters involved in the central carbon metabolism, and therefore of potential biotechnological interest, were identified. These data open the way for a better understanding of the metabolism of S. lignohabitans and provide resources for further metabolic engineering., (© FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Biorefinery applications require microbial cell factories for the conversion of various sugars derived from lignocellulosic material into value-added chemicals. Here, the capabilities of the yeast Candida lignohabitans to utilize a range of such sugars is characterized. Substrates efficiently converted by this yeast include the pentoses xylose and arabinose. Genetic engineering of C. lignohabitans with the isolated endogenous GAP promoter and GAP terminator was successful. GFP expression was used as a proof of functionality for the isolated transcription elements. Expression of lactate dehydrogenase and cis-aconitate decarboxylase resulted in stable and reproducible production of lactic acid and itaconic acid, respectively. The desired organic acids were accumulated converting pure sugars as well as lignocellulosic hydrolysates. C. lignohabitans proved therefore to be a promising reliable microbial host for production of organic acids from lignocellulosic material.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and persistence of bacteremia in children undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy for different medical reasons., Methods: We enrolled 130 children scheduled for adenoidectomy because of recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM, 15) or persistent otitis media with effusion (pOME, 33), or for adenotonsillectomy because of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS, 41) or recurrent tonsillopharyngitis (rTF, 41). Nasopharyngeal aspirates taken just before surgery, swabs of the ablated central adenoidal and tonsillar tissues, and blood samples taken within the first 30s of beginning the operation and 20min after its end were used for bacterial cultures., Results: The incidence of positive blood cultures after the beginning of the operation was significantly higher in the children who underwent adenotonsillectomy than in those who underwent adenoidectomy, and in those with rAOM or rTF than in those with pOME or OSAS. Children with nasopharyngeal colonisation were significantly more likely to have a positive blood culture than those without. Twenty of the 25 children with a positive blood culture (80.0%), had the same bacteria in their nasopharyngeal and adenoidal/tonsillar tissues., Conclusions: Our results show that bacteremia is significantly more frequently associated with adenotonsillectomy than with adenoidectomy, and significantly more frequent in patients with a history of rAOM or rTF.

Between 1 September and 8 October 2006, we used a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire in order to evaluate knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV disease and its prevention in a nationally representative sample of Italian pediatricians. Three hundred and eleven of the 400 enrolled physicians (175 primary care pediatricians, 160 hospital pediatricians and 65 residents in pediatrics) returned completed surveys (227 females; mean age+/-standard deviation, 45.3+/-11.61 years). The results showed a lack of knowledge concerning HPV disease and its prevention, with marginal differences between the subgroups, even though the majority would recommend HPV vaccination. These findings highlight an urgent need to improve pediatrician information in order to ensure the optimal implementation of HPV vaccination, and the adequate acceptability of HPV vaccines to adolescents and their parents.

This cross-sectional study of 340 obstetrics/gynecology, 123 neonatology, and 244 pediatric health care workers (HCWs) was designed to evaluate compliance with recommendations concerning the use of influenza vaccine during pregnancy and among pediatric subjects. The results clearly show that only a marginal number of the HCWs in all three fields currently recommend vaccine use for pregnant women and healthy young children. Moreover, all of the HCWs were seriously deficient in terms of their general knowledge of influenza prevention and their own personal vaccination coverage was low. Extensive and sustained efforts to overcome cultural limitations concerning influenza and its prevention are urgently required among HCWs caring for women and children in order to ensure effective compliance with the current recommendations.

Rationale: There is increasing interest in the potential influence of fetal and early life conditions on childhood wheezing., Objectives: To investigate the associations between maternal complications and procedures in pregnancy and at birth and the risk of various wheezing phenotypes in young children., Methods: We studied 15,609 children, aged 6-7 yr, enrolled in a population-based study. Standardized questionnaires were completed by the children's mothers., Results: Of the children, 9.5% (1,478) had transient early wheezing, 5.4% (884) had persistent wheezing, and 6.1% (948) had late-onset wheezing. Maternal hypertension or preeclampsia was associated with an increased risk of all three wheezing phenotypes (for transient early wheezing: odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.08-1.82; for persistent wheezing: OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.15-2.19; and for late-onset wheezing: OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.06-2.01). Use of antibiotics for urinary tract infections was associated with transient early wheezing (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.16-2.00), whereas antibiotic administration at delivery was associated with both transient early wheezing (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.46) and persistent wheezing (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.10-1.75). Children who had a mother with diabetes were also more likely to have persistent wheezing (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 0.99-3.00). Neither amniocentesis/chorionic villus sampling, nor weight gain in pregnancy, nor cesarean section was associated with the subsequent development of wheezing. Maternal asthma or atopy was not an effect modifier of the associations found., Conclusions: Some maternal complications during pregnancy and at delivery may increase the risk of developing different phenotypes of wheezing in childhood.

This study evaluated the natural history of acute tonsillopharyngitis associated with atypical bacterial infections, showing that Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae organisms are frequently found in children with acute tonsillopharyngitis. The study also demonstrated, for what we believe to be the first time, that, unless adequately treated, acute tonsillopharyngitis associated with infection with M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae may have a negative outcome with a high risk of recurrence of respiratory illness.

Bronchial asthma represents the most frequent chronic illness in the paediatric age. Although a number of guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease exist, some studies have shown that their application on a large scale is still lacking, in this way leading to the inadequate treatment of symptoms and the frequent use of emergency visits and hospitalization. Within the scope of the SIDRIA-2 project, this article describes the main aspects of diagnosis, management and treatment of asthma in children (6/7 years old) and adolescents (13/14 years old). The information was obtained from the SIDRIA questionnaire completed by the parents. The analysis of data demonstrated some relevant differences between the actual management of asthma in the paediatric age in Italy and the suggestions available from the guidelines and the literature. Moreover, some choices in the management of asthma were associated to the socio-economic level of families of children and adolescents, such as a lower use of spirometry and a higher frequency of hospitalization in disadvantaged subjects.

In recent years some studies have focused attention on the contribution of early life risk factors in the pathogenesis of asthma and wheezing. In our study we tested the hypothesis that wheezing in childhood is not a single disorder and that different wheezing phenotypes (called transient early wheezing, persistent wheezing and late-onset wheezing) are associated with different risk factors. We evaluated the association between pre, perinatal and early life (1st year) risk factors and different wheezing phenotypes in children 6-7 years old enrolled in the SIDRIA-2 project. Maternal smoking in pregnancy is associated with early and persistent wheezing; prematurity, child's admission to hospital shortly after birth for respiratory problems, indicators of respiratory infections during the child's first year of life are associated with early wheezing. An increase in childhood infections from contact with siblings or day care attendance is a risk factor for early wheezing but protective against late-onset wheezing, while an opposite pattern was observed for breastfeeding. Finally, mould or dampness in the child's bedroom during his first year of life is associated with all wheezing phenotypes. The risk factors studied are differently associated with different wheezing phenotypes.