Microbial transmission through mucosal-mediated mechanisms is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. One example of this occurs with Hirudo verbana, the medicinal leech, where host attraction to shed conspecific mucus facilitates horizontal transmission of a predominant gut symbiont, the Gammaproteobacterium Aeromonas veronii. However, whether this mucus may harbor other bacteria has not been examined. Here, we characterize the microbiota of shed leech mucus through Illumina deep sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) typing with subsequent Sanger Sequencing of a 16S rRNA gene clone library provided qualitative confirmation of the microbial composition. Phylogenetic analyses of full-length 16S rRNA sequences were performed to examine microbial taxonomic distribution. Analyses using both technologies indicate the dominance of the Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla within the mucus microbiota. We determined the presence of other previously described leech symbionts, in addition to a number of putative novel leech-associated bacteria. A second predominant gut symbiont, the Rikenella-like bacteria, was also identified within mucus and exhibited similar population dynamics to A. veronii, suggesting persistence in syntrophy beyond the gut. Interestingly, the most abundant bacterial genus belonged to Pedobacter, which includes members capable of producing heparinase, an enzyme that degrades the anticoagulant, heparin. Additionally, bacteria associated with denitrification and sulfate cycling were observed, indicating an abundance of these anions within mucus, likely originating from the leech excretory system. A diverse microbiota harbored within shed mucus has significant potential implications for the evolution of microbiomes, including opportunities for gene transfer and utility in host capture of a diverse group of symbionts.

Costal cartilage grafting is a commonly used reconstruction procedure, particularly in rhinoplasty. Although costal cartilage is broadly used in reconstructive surgery, there are differing opinions regarding which costal cartilage levels provide the most ideal grafts. Grafts are typically designed to match the shape of the recipient site. The shapes of costal cartilage grafts have been described as “boat-shaped,” “C-shaped,” “canoe-shaped,” “U-shaped,” “crescent-shaped,” “L-shaped,” “semilunar,” “straight,” and “Y-shaped.” The shapes of costal cartilages are thought to lend themselves to the shapes of certain grafts; however, there has been little study of the shapes of costal cartilages, and most reports have been anecdotal. Therefore, this study is aimed to detail the average shapes of the most commonly grafted cartilages (i.e., the fifth to seventh cartilages). A total of 96 cadaveric costal cartilages were analyzed through geometric morphometric analysis. The fifth costal cartilage was determined to have the straightest shape and would therefore be particularly suitable for nasal dorsum onlay grafting. The lateral portions of the sixth and, particularly, the seventh costal cartilages have the most acute curvature. Therefore, they would lend themselves to the construction of an en bloc “L”-shaped or hockey stick-shaped nasal dorsum-columellar strut graft.

The vallate papillae, commonly referred to as circumvallate papillae, are gustatory papillae located at the posterior dorsum of the tongue that house approximately half of the taste buds located within the tongue. Recently, twelve different gross morphotypes of vallate papillae were identified. Morphological variation of the vallate papillae could be involved with the pathogenesis of oral cancer into the base of the tongue. At present, there has not been histological assessment of the identified twelve vallate papillae morphotypes. This study assessed 30 cadaveric tongues containing approximately 300 vallate papillae by stereoscopic microscopy. The vallate papillae were identified through gross physical inspection, confirmed with the aid of loupes, and then again with a dissecting microscope with an attached digital camera interfaced with a high definition television. Images were taken of each papilla alongside digital calipers fixed to a known distance of 5.00mm, held flush to the papilla. The resulting digital pictures were then be measured with ImageJ software (NIH) by using the 5.00mm calibration as a reference. Papillae were classified based upon their morphology, and then the papillae were resected and processed for histological inspection. This project presents a qualitative gross anatomical and histological analysis of unique vallate papillae morphotypes. The results of this study may aid in differentiating normal tissues from pathological tissues and may translate into an easy, safe, and inexpensive screening tool for identifying morphological variation of the vallate papillae, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of oral cancer into the base of the tongue.Support or Funding InformationWVU Initiation to Research Opportunities (INTRO) ProgramThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

The vallate papillae, commonly referred to as circumvallate papillae, are lingual papillae located at the posterior dorsum of the tongue, which form a V‐shaped row immediately anterior to the sulcus terminalis. As the name suggests, vallate papillae are normally surrounded by a vallum, a small mound of tissues, which creates a sulcus (or trench) around the papilla. The inner surface of the vallum houses approximately half of the taste buds located within the tongue. Therefore, vallate papillae are important anatomical structures in gustation; however, little data exists regarding the gross morphology of the vallate papillae. In this study, 103 human cadaveric tongues were dissected at West Virginia University, with approval of the West Virginia Anatomical Board, to identify and photograph individual vallate papillae. A total of 1,069 individual vallate papillae were identified and characterized into thirteen separate categories, based upon their morphology and associated anatomical features. Categorization was largely based upon the presence of a vallum (691 of 1069; 64.6%), and whether the vallum fully encompassed the papilla or partly encompassed the papilla. Other categorization included whether the papilla itself was fully formed or segmented. The results of this study demonstrate a wide variety of morphological categories of vallate papillae. Because vallate papillae are important in gustation, the anatomical differences may partly explain physiological differences in taste function.Support or Funding InformationResearch by Holmes JS and Rickards AA funded by the WVU Initiation to Research Opportunities (INTRO) Summer Research program. Research by Russell ML, Bliss KN, Lynch HL, and Ganoe MR funded by WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13].

Costal cartilage grafting is a commonly used procedure in reconstructive surgery. The decision regarding which cartilage to select is often a question of the volume of material necessary to shape the graft. However, there is little information regarding the depth (superficial‐to‐deep) of commonly grafted costal cartilages. Therefore, this cadaveric study sought to determine the average depth of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th costal cartilages at the medial, lateral, and intermediate locations along the cartilages. Results revealed the thickest cartilage is found at the medial portion of the 6th cartilage while the thinnest cartilage is found at the medial aspect of the 8th cartilage. The average thickness of each cartilage near its respective rib did not differ much between cartilage levels; however, the thickness of cartilage closest to the sternum differed widely. Moreover, any location along the 6th costal cartilage is, on average, thicker than any part of the 5th, 7th, and 8th cartilages.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13] andWVU Initiation to Research Opportunities (INTRO) Summer Research Program