Introduction Mycobacterium caprae is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) not routinely identified to species level. It lacks specific clinical features of presentation and may therefore not be identified as the causative agent of tuberculosis. Use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the investigation of a family microepidemic of tuberculosis in Almería, Spain, unexpectedly identified the involvement of M. caprae. Aim We aimed to evaluate the presence of additional unidentified M. caprae cases and to determine the magnitude of this occurrence. Methods First-line characterisation of the MTBC isolates was done by MIRU-VNTR, followed by WGS. Human and animal M. caprae isolates were integrated in the analysis. Results A comprehensive One Health strategy allowed us to (i) detect other 11 M. caprae infections in humans in a period of 18 years, (ii) systematically analyse M. caprae infections on an epidemiologically related goat farm and (iii) geographically expand the study by including 16 M. caprae isolates from other provinces. Integrative genomic analysis of 41 human and animal M. caprae isolates showed a high diversity of strains. The animal isolates’ diversity was compatible with long-term infection, and close genomic relationships existed between isolates from goats on the farm and recent cases of M. caprae infection in humans. Discussion Zoonotic circulation of M. caprae strains had gone unnoticed for 18 years. Systematic characterisation of MTBC at species level and/or extended investigation of the possible sources of exposure in all tuberculosis cases would minimise the risk of overlooking similar zoonotic events.

Laundry sector consumes a huge amount of water which is usually discharged as wastewater instead of being reused. The application of biological treatment of laundry wastewater coupled with post-treatment utilizing advanced oxidation processes creates a possibility to recycle water to the washing process. However, the investigations on such systems are very limited. In the present work, a novel approach of post-treatment of laundry wastewater utilizing solar photo-Fenton operated at a pilot scale in a compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactor is proposed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a representative of surfactants applied in the laundry system. The effect of feed matrix was investigated using distilled water as a reference matrix and synthetic wastewater simulating the composition of biologically pre-treated laundry wastewater. Different concentrations of H2O2 (50–400 mg/L) and ferrous iron (2.75–10 mg/L) were assayed. For comparison purpose, experiments at neutral pH using ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as an iron complexing agent were carried out. A high SDS removal efficiency was obtained under both neutral and acidic pH, reaching 89% and 96%, respectively, in just 8 min. However, the remaining organic load originating from EDDS needs application of further post-treatment steps. Therefore, the solar photo-Fenton operated under acidic pH was found to be a more promising approach of post-treatment of laundry wastewater aimed at its reuse.

Virtual laboratories have successfully proven to be very versatile and intuitive when simulating experiments in science, biotechnology, and engineering.These tools must complement the experiments carried out in real labs or pilot plants. This study describes the creation of a virtual laboratory through the Easy JavaScript Simulation platform. A web-based simulation of an enzymatic stirred-tank bioreactor has been built using a dynamic model. This simulation reproduces the behavior of a continuous bioreactor, including the deviations of ideal mixing conditions as by the use of an in tanks-in-series model for nonideal flow. This article describes the continuous dynamic model in a stirred tank bioreactor, as well as the operation of a tool capable of carrying out virtual practice with students. Practice scripts have been developed that should be used by students during the practical classes. This interactive tool is powerful and useful to develop many experiments by varying the different input parameters, saving time and resources. In addition, the tool allows following teaching sessions in specific situations such as the health situation derived from the pandemic caused by COVID-19.