In nature, microorganisms can present several mechanisms for setting intercommunication and defense. One of these mechanisms is related to the production of bacteriocins, which are peptides with antimicrobial activity. Bacteriocins can be found in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Nevertheless, bacteriocins produced by Gram-positive bacteria are of particular interest due to the industrial use of several strains that belong to this group, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which have the status of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) microorganisms. In this work, we will review recent tendencies in the field of invention and state of art related to bacteriocin production by Gram-positive microorganism. Hundred-eight patents related to Gram-positive bacteriocin producers have been disclosed since 1965, from which 57% are related bacteriocins derived from Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Pediococcus strains. Surprisingly, patents regarding heterologous bacteriocins production were mainly presented just in the last decade. Although the major application of bacteriocins is concerned to food industry to control spoilage and foodborne bacteria, during the last years bacteriocin applications have been displacing to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and plant disease resistance and growth promotion.

The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria has emerged as a plausible key component of summer mortalities in mussels. In the current research, four bacterial isolates retrieved from moribund Greenshell࣪ mussels, Perna canaliculus, from a previous summer mortality event, were tentatively identified as Vibrio and Photobacterium species using morpho-biochemical characterisation and MALDI-TOF MS and confirmed as V. celticus, P. swingsii, P. rosenbergii and P. proteolyticum using whole genome sequencing. These isolates were utilised in a laboratory challenge where mussels were injected with cell concentrations ranging from 105 to 109 CFU/mussel. Of the investigated isolates, P. swingsii induced the highest mortality. Additionally, results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, focusing on known virulence genes were detected in all isolates grown under laboratory conditions. P. rosenbergii and P. swingsii showed the highest expression levels of these virulence determinants. These results indicate that Photobacterium spp. could be a significant pathogen of P. canaliculus, with possible importance during summer mortality events. By implementing screening methods to detect and monitor Photobacterium concentrations in farmed mussel populations, a better understanding of the host-pathogen relationship can be obtained, aiding the development of a resilient industry in a changing environment.

Kaimoana (shellfish, seafood) is an important food source and a significant social and cultural component of many New Zealand communities, especially the indigenous Māori. Over the past decade a decline has been detected in shellfish health and an increase in mortality events around New Zealand. Intracellular bacteria termed Rickettsia-like organisms (RLOs) have been observed in New Zealand bivalve molluscs during shellfish mortality events. Affected bivalves include cockles Austrovenus stutchburyi, ringed dosinia Dosinia anus, green-lipped mussels Perna canaliculus, pipi Paphies australis, toheroa Paphies ventricosa, tuatua Paphies subtriangulata, deepwater tuatua Paphies donacina and scallops Pecten novaezelandiae. RLOs are an informal morphology-based classification of intracellular bacteria, with the exact identification often unknown. Using shellfish collected during mortality events from 2014 to 2019 and apparently healthy samples collected in 2018 and 2019, we aimed to identify RLOs in New Zealand shellfish. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from RLO-infected shellfish showed >95% identity to published Endozoicomonas species. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of the sequenced gene in the gill epithelium and digestive epithelium of all study species. A genus-specific quantitative PCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene was developed to detect Endozoicomonas spp. in shellfish tissue. Prevalence of Endozoicomonas spp. in samples from mortality events and healthy shellfish analysed by quantitative PCR was high. Samples collected from mortality events, however, had a significantly higher load of Endozoicomonas spp. than the healthy samples. These results give us a greater understanding of these intracellular bacteria and their presence in populations of New Zealand shellfish.

Abstract-This article explores a tactile interface prototype made to recreate simulated textures using tactile sensations. The device works with vibration patterns found in a small area of the hand. It was tested on 30 people who evaluated the difference between 3 artificial surfaces presented to them and found similarities with known textures. Using a grading system of 1 to 10, considering 5 as the mean value, the difference between texture 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3 was valued at an average of 7, with a p-value < 0.01. An average of 9 was given to the difference between texture 1 and 3 with a p-value < 0.01. The above results indicates that the three textures were distinguishable from each other. Additionally, the majority of the participants interpreted the first texture as a corrugated or gravel surface (70%), the second texture as a wavy texture similar to uneven paving (64%), and the third texture was interpreted as a smooth surface like that of fabric or a very fine granite (60%). A development of this type has multiple applications of different areas of Bioengineering since it increases the effect of immersion in a virtual environment of simulation and it can be linked to kinesthetic interfaces to compliment the force feedback with the effect of superficial texture in the interaction with a virtual object.

Currently, technological progress has allowed health-related issues to be worked on collaboratively, expanding their learning, managing to provide health services in remote places, guaranteeing one of the fundamental rights of every human being, among these technological advances are Telemedicine stands out, which has been playing a leading role especially in these times of pandemic. For this reason, the objective of this research is to design an information system that integrates multiple technologies to support the provision of primary health care services. The research is descriptive and technological development in scope. As a final result, block diagrams and flow diagrams were obtained to represent the set of technologies to be used and the information data flow of the proposed system. It is concluded that the proposed system would facilitate the provision of health services in areas with or without internet connectivity, as well as support decision-making by executives of health organizations, in addition, telemedicine is a new technological trend for what projects like this allow Colombia to be at the forefront in health and technology issues.