Bacteriology - Science topic

Background There is a gap between tuberculosis (TB) infection and the onset of clinical TB disease, which makes identifying TB transmission dynamics a prominent challenge. Different reports were made on the concordance of drug-resistance profiles between the household contact and the purported index case. This study investigated the drug-resistance...

WHO recommends computer-aided detection (CAD) in chest X-ray (CXR) for systematic screening of TB. Increased detection of individuals with high CAD score but without bacteriologically confirmed TB can be expected, requiring guidance on their clinical management. We followed participants of a TB prevalence survey (TBPS) in Zambia and South Africa wi...

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis among children aged 0-15 years, the bacterial types involved, the age-range mostly affected and the bacterial load in the children sampled. This study was carried out in selected primary schools in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. The study population comprises of one hund...

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of lactation number, lactation stage and somatic cell count (SCC) on the presence of pathogenic or opportunistic pathogens in cow milk. A total of 1712 milk samples were collected from the udder quarters of 428 lactating Holstein breed cows for bacteriological examination. Somatic cell count was taken...

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease prevalent in Indonesia caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also invade other organs. It is essential to gather information on the patient's medical history, close contact with TB patients, environmental conditions, and occupation as a healthcare worker to assess t...

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), traditionally dominated by Gram-negative pathogens, are increasingly complicated by antimicrobial-resistant Enterococcus spp. in hospital settings, particularly during the use of indwelling catheters. This study screened urine samples from 210 catheterized intensive care unit patients at Uppsala University Hospital...

Background and purpose Safe and hygienic drinking water is crucial for public health. Secondary bacterial contamination, often caused by improper transport and distribution conditions, poses a significant threat. This study aimed to investigate the physical and chemical factors influencing the microbial status of drinking water in Babol’s distribut...

Objectif. Cette étude avait pour objectif de déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs liés aux infections associées aux soins dans les hôpitaux nationaux de Conakry. Méthodes. la collecte des données et des prélèvements a été réalisée pendant trois jours du dans les hôpitaux nationaux. Vingt-deux services ont été choisies pour le sondage ; les pati...

The performance of direct tests, such as bacteriological culture and qPCR, for the diagnosis of brucellosis has been evaluated in a limited number of studies, often based on small sample sizes. Moreover, the absence of a gold standard makes this assessment even more challenging. A potential alternative for evaluating the performance of direct tests...

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a causative microorganism of febrile neutropenia (FN), accounts for approximately 15% of bloodstream infections and is associated with a high mortality rate. Therefore, antibiotics with anti- P. aeruginosa activity should be administered appropriately during the initial treatment of FN. While other countries have...

The aim of the study – to evaluate the clinical effi cacy of the combined phytoprostateprotector «Voger» in the complex treatment of patients with chronic calculous prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CCP/CPPS). Materials and methods. 76 patients with CCP and CPPS aged 28 to 45 years were examined (mean age was 34.3±6.8 years), the duration o...

Honey produced by Melipona subnitida has a high moisture content and is susceptible to deterioration process, requiring greater care in its conservation or aplication or conservation methods. Thus, in this work, we tested the effect of dehumidifying carried out in refrigerator, microbiological stabilization carried out in bacteriological incubator,...

This study investigated the bacteriological quality of water stored in tanks across Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria, with the aim of assessing potential health risks associated with microbial contamination. Water samples were collected from various household and commercial storage tanks and analyzed for the presence of key bacterial indicators....

Three distinct localities experiencing different dynamics in peri-urban zones where there is coexistence of significant demographic growth, intense agricultural activity and absence of drinking water supply for populations have been investigated. In these sites, the populations rely informally on groundwater and rivers to meet their daily needs. Ba...

Background Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) remains a formidable global health challenge. Host-directed therapies (HDTs) offer the potential to mitigate tissue damage, reduce treatment duration, and improve clinical outcomes by modulating immune responses. We assessed the safety and potential efficacy of adjunctive ibuprofen, an inexpensive, well t...

Background Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic and of zoonotic importance in Ethiopia. Despite this, there is limited recent information on the prevalence of bTB in cattle slaughtered at abattoirs. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bTB in cattle slaughtered at Addis Ababa municipality abattoir based on tuberculous lesions and region o...

Bacteria is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on bacteriology published quarterly online by MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/bacteria

The importance of geopolymeric materials has increased in recent years due to their high effectiveness in water treatment by multiple techniques such as adsorption and filtration. Therefore, research has increased related to the preparation of geopolymers from different raw materials. In this research geopolymeric membranes were prepared from Syria...

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, contributing to a considerable TB burden in developing countries like Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical profile and diagnostic procedures in childhood TB cases in the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital. Method...

In 2024, Poland experienced severe flooding linked to the Genoa low. Flooding can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases and other public health risks, associated with shifts in bacterial communities. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial community in the topsoil layer one week after the floodwaters receded in recreational areas of the...

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Dashen brewery effluent on the bacteriological and some physicochemical qualit ies of Shinta River, Gondar town. Bacteriological and physicochemical quality assessments were carried out on samples co llected at 13 different sampling stations; upstream, effluent, effluent discharge and 10...

Introduction: Urinary tract infections are very common in the community and are one of the most common reasons for antibiotic prescription. Our objective was to identify the most frequent microorganisms present in urine cultures in Primary Health Care, at a Local Health Unit and their sensitivity profile to some antibiotics.Methods: Observational a...

742 cerebrio-spinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken from suspected cases of bacterial meningitis at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu state, Nigeria. The patients were of various ages and sexes. The samples were analyzed bacteriologically to determine the various causative bacteria associated with these cases of sus...

Introduction : La résistance aux antibiotiques constitue aujourd’hui l’une des plus graves menaces pesant sur la santé mondiale, la sécurité alimentaire et le développement socio-économique des pays. L’objectif de notre étude était d’étudier l’antibiorésistance des entérobactéries isolées au laboratoire de bactériologie du Centre Hospitalier et Uni...

This research paper describes a test of association of sire with susceptibility to mastitis, using a custom-bred population of dairy cattle. We hypothesised that sire daughters ranked as more resistant to intramammary infections in their first two lactations would be more resistant to an intramammary challenge in their third lactation. Mastitis phe...

Highlights Human genome editing methods (“genetic scissors“) may be possibly used for biological attacks of various biological targets, including humans. We should set up an international surveillance scheme to control the use of this method and to detect cases of hidden use of these destructive agents created on its basis. Relevance. Human genome...

Access to clean and safe drinking water remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, where millions lack improved water sources. This study assessed the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of water from selected government intervention boreholes in Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State. Water samples were collected from five boreholes and anal...

Objectives: To determine prevalence of HIV co-infection in children with TB visiting Tb center Children Hospital, PIMS. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. from March 2022 to February 2024 after approval from ethical review board. 170 participants were select...

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis, a serious threat to the world’s health, especially in areas with limited resources, remains among the most challenging infectious diseases of our century. Radiological signs often point into the direction of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, bacteriological confirmation through Sputum Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear...

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic ability of automated simultaneous amplification and testing (AutoSAT) method in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) by comparing with Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) method against the composite reference standard. Method Patients with suspected PTB or EPTB were enrolled...

Background Delays in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) lead to more severe disease progression and sustained transmission within communities. This study aimed to assess trends and identify risk factors associated with PTB diagnosis delays, especially among migrants, in Guangzhou from 2014 to 2022. Methods Demographic and clinical information...

Introdução: As queimaduras e suas sequelas implicam em alto impacto socioeconômico na saúde pública. Materiais e métodos: Apresentação de uma série de casos de pacientes com queimaduras do tipo ABB no Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica Parque de la Salud em Posadas, Misiones devido a vários agentes causais na fase aguda que necessitaram de escacerectomia...

Arib treatment plant is crucial for supplying drinking water to the population of the Ain Defla cities. The process consists of conventional units as Aeration and Pre-chlorination, Coagulation, Flocculation, Lamellar sedimentation, Sand filtration and chlorine disinfection, The objectives of this study are to evaluate the operational performance of...

Background Individuals with asymptomatic tuberculosis are considered a significant risk to the disease burden and transmission. However, the progression and treatment for asymptomatic tuberculosis remain incompletely described. Methods This prospective cohort study was embedded within a prevalence survey conducted in 2021 and 2022 in Lanxi County,...

Introduction: Despite the introduction 40 years ago of effective and low-cost treatment for tuberculosis, morbidity and mortality from this disease remain substantial worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10.6 million people contracted tuberculosis, with 1.3 million deaths in 2022. In Morocco, 35,000 new cases of tuberculosi...

Author: Djaafar Yayouche Abstract This study presents one of the most prominent medical scholars of Al-Andalus who played a pivotal role in the advancement of medicine in the region: the physician Ibn Zuhr. The research is approached in a distinct manner, diverging from the traditional historical presentation commonly found in studies on the histo...

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Data are very scarce on the burden of TB in HIV patients in Sub-saharan African populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and associated factors among people living wit...

Effective medical waste management is crucial for minimizing environmental contamination, protecting occupational health, and advancing sustainability goals in healthcare systems. However, microbiology laboratories remain underexplored in waste characterization studies, despite their potential to contribute to sustainable healthcare operations. Thi...

This study was conducted aiming to investigate impacts of experimentally induced endometritis on the vascular perfusion and echogenicity of the endometrium in dairy cows. Following estrus synchronization and applying cytological and bacteriological examinations, Holstein cows (n = 9) were enrolled in the experiment. The endometrial blood flow and e...

This study assessed the microbiological quality of potable water from dispensers located at LORMA Colleges – Campus for Health Sciences (CHS) in Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union. The objective was to evaluate bacteriological indicators such as total coliforms, heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), and fecal/thermotolerant coliforms to determine th...

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)‑secreted antigen Ag85B in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and to explore its utility as a supplemental etiological test. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 104 PTB patients who underwent fibre‑optic bronchoscopy at the Affili...

In January of 1906 in the northeastern Japanese city of Sendai, China's most famous modern writer, Lu Xun (Zhou Shuren 1881-1936), claimed to have experienced a life-changing epiphany that led him to abandon his medical studies and “devote himself to the creation of a literature that would minister to the ailing Chinese psyche.” The now famous “mag...

Canned foods provide year-round access to nutrient-dense options; however, concerns about microbial contamination persist, raising potential health risks for consumers. This study assessed the bacteriological load in commonly purchased canned foods in Cape Coast, Ghana, focusing on Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli contamination. Microbial anal...

To optimize the management of groundwater resources in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (BFC, France) region, data from the Size-Eaux database were cross-referenced with the French Reference Framework for Groundwater Bodies (GWB). The information contained in this dataset was synthesized using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), followed by Agglomerativ...

This study addresses the limited research on Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) infections in horses in Baghdad, Iraq, a highly contagious disease known as strangles. The objective was to investigate the clinical, bacteriological, and molecular characteristics of these infections. A total of 115 samples were collected from 100 racehorses, con...

This study aims to deliver a comprehensive summary, classification, and analysis of recent research on microbial-arbitrated biodegradation of MPs, including an examination of the related features and mechanism of MPs degradation. This chapter summarizes the findings of various recent papers investigating diverse groups, such as biofilms and fungi t...

Pyogenic infections, also known as purulent infections or pus-producing infections result in the production of pus. Pyogenic bacteria usually cause these infections. The widespread and inappropriate use of antibiotics has resulted in antibiotic resistance, which has compromised the effectiveness and consistency of these agents. The aim of the curre...

The persistence and transmission of the egg-associated pathogen Salmonella Enteritidis in laying flocks are significantly influenced by the poultry housing environment. The present study assessed environmental contamination and horizontal transmission of S. Enteritidis within groups of layer pullets in cage-free housing after infection just before...

Background: Malnutrition significantly contributes to mortality among people with tuberculosis (TB). However, evidence on factors associated with the specific forms of malnutrition, specifically underweight and overweight/obesity beyond clinical determinants, remains limited in many settings. We investigated the prevalence and determinants of under...

Objective: To practice and apply laboratory safety rules and aseptic techniques when handling bacterial cultures to prevent contamination and ensure a safe working environment. Materials Required:  Lab coat, gloves, and safety goggles  Disinfectant (e.g., 70% ethanol)  Bunsen burner  Sterile inoculating loop  Test tubes with bacterial cultures...

A Gram-positive coccus-shaped bacterium, which could not be identified by classical determinative bacteriology approaches, was isolated from the liver of two pigs in the United Kingdom. Initial testing based on cellular morphology and biochemical characteristics tentatively assigned the isolates to the genus Streptococcus but did not match any prev...

Objective: To prepare and sterilize culture media using proper techniques to ensure sterility and prevent contamination in bacteriological studies. Materials Required:  Nutrient agar or broth powder  Distilled water  pH meter or pH strips  Magnetic stirrer and hot plate  Measuring cylinder  Conical flask or beaker (500 ml or 1000 ml)

Background It is unclear whether coexisting septic arthritis and osteomyelitis (CSAO) differs from septic arthritis (SA) alone in terms of susceptible age groups, clinical and paraclinical presentations, and prevalence. This study aimed to compare patients with isolated SA with those presenting with CSAO, determine the efficacy of different paramet...

Introduction: Bacterial keratitis, accounting for 90% of microbial keratitis cases globally, poses a serious threat to vision and is a leading cause of corneal blindness globally. This study provides novel insight and integrated analysis of bacterial keratitis at the National Eye Center, providing epidemiological insight in a tertiary eye center, w...

Due to infrequent detection and reporting of enteric infections caused by Aeromonas species compared to other enteric bacteria, this report describes a case of enteric infection caused by Aeromonas species in a child girl after eating fresh fish and drinking from a river near her village in southern Fars province, Iran. In this case, a rectal swab...

Objective: To prepare and sterilize culture media using proper techniques to ensure sterility and prevent contamination in bacteriological studies. Materials Required:  Nutrient agar or broth powder  Distilled water  pH meter or pH strips  Magnetic stirrer and hot plate  Measuring cylinder  Conical flask or beaker (500 ml or 1000 ml)

Background Prior studies that used Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO)-trained African giant pouched rats reported an annual average of 40% increase in sputum-smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) detection. Sputum-smear microscopy (smear) is being replaced by Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert)-based diagnostic algorithms in many countries....

Background There is a need to evaluate evolving trends in tuberculosis (TB) patient profiles and treatment success determinants, which this study assessed over a five-year period (2019–2023). Methods We conducted a cohort study, retrospectively reviewing records of 1,051 TB patients. Descriptive statistics summarised demographics and clinical chara...

Thyroid tuberculosis is a rare disease. Diagnosis can be difficult because the clinical course is not very specific in most cases. Ziehl-Neelsen staining is frequently negative. Epithelioid granulomas and necrosis are the main biopsy findings. The diagnosis can be confirmed using polymerase chain reaction, detection of acid-fast bacilli, or bacteri...

One factor that affects the efficient development of rabbits in Mexico is the high mortality rate in rabbit farms (SAGARPA, 2012). Pasteurella multocida is responsible for the most economically important diseases in animals in both developed and developing countries (Dziva, et al., 2008). The objective of this study is to perform molecular identifi...

Background Adherence to tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) remains a significant challenge in high-burden countries like Bangladesh, where approximately 44 million people are infected with latent tuberculosis. Methods/Design This study protocol describes a mixed-methods observational study to evaluate “iDOTS,” a locally developed digital adhe...

Since its founding in January 1920, the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) has played a fundamental role supporting microbiological research in Britain and globally. NCTC is an international repository for authenticated bacterial strains of medical and veterinary significance, making many available to researchers. Among the oldest collecti...

Masa, a popular traditional fermented rice cake, is widely consumed as a ready-toeat (RTE) food in Nigeria. This study was aimed at investigating the bacteriological quality of Masa sold at Gwako Market. Twelve (12) different samples were aseptically collected from four different vendors in a sterile container and plated on agar using spread plate...

Background: HIV advance disease and tuberculosis (TB) are still frequent in Gabon.Objectives: This study described the clinical and radiological features of bacteriologically confirmed TB among hospitalised persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and in-hospital death-associated factors.Methods: Patients older than 18 years old, with a diagnosis of TB betw...

Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern, particularly in high-burden countries where early detection is essential but often limited by insufficient radiological expertise. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a computer-aided detection system, CAD4TB, in interpreting chest X-ray images of suspected tuberculosis cases in a h...

Antimicrobial host defense peptides are promising alternatives to resistance prone small molecule antibiotics. To overcome the poor physiologic stability of these therapeutic candidates it is common to prepare proteolytically resistant retro-inverso analogues, where sequence backbone direction and amino acid chirality are reversed. However, in many...

Infection in general, and surgical (wound) infection in particular, is one of the most complex and most urgent problems of our time. At the beginning of the antibiotic era, it seemed that the open class of antimicrobial drugs would finally solve this problem. But, after 20-30 years, it turned out that microbes have a very advanced system of protect...

Objective A ‘cluster’ is an area with a higher occurrence of tuberculosis (TB) than would be expected in an average random distribution of that area. Tuberculosis clustering is commonly reported in Ethiopia, but most studies rely on registered data, which may miss patients who do not visit health facilities or those who attend but are not identifie...

Sphingomonas spp. are ubiquitously distributed free-living microorganisms in the natural environment. One of the representatives of the family called Sphingomonas paucimobilis is known as an opportunistic pathogen in humans responsible for bone and soft tissue infections. Proven bacterial infections in animals are relatively rare and the bacterium...

The objective of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of water from wells and boreholes in Shkodra city by analyzing bacteria indicative of fecal contamination, such as Escherichia coli and Intestinal enterococci, as well as opportunistic bacteria, such as Klebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 15 water samples we...

Objectives To determine the risk factors in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and clinical characteristics related to unfavorable anti-TB treatment outcomes. Methods Among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) visited West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2008 to November 2023, we analyzed the differences of cl...

Background Although randomized controlled trials are the gold standard design for cause-effect analysis, high costs and challenges around practicability, feasibility, and ethics may limit their use. In such situations, causal inference methods can improve the rigor of cause-effect analysis using observational data but such methods have infrequently...

Background: Leprosy, a major public health concern in middle-income countries, presents complex diagnostic and management challenges. Despite a decline in prevalence due to multidrug therapy, delayed diagnosis remains prevalent. Current diagnostic approaches rely on clinical evaluation, but molecular diagnostics offer promise. Management involves a...

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe and common infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Early identification and understanding of causative organisms are crucial for targeted therapy and better patient outcomes. Objective: To assess the frequency of sponta...

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with childhood TB posing unique diagnostic challenges due to its pauci bacillary nature. The World Health Organization emphasizes that these diagnostic difficulties hinder early detection, contributing to delays in treatment initiation, disease progression, and increased m...

Subscapular abscesses are rare, and delayed diagnosis is common. Diagnosis is difficult as it often presents with mild symptoms like stiffness and muscular pain, mimicking other more common pathologies. Delayed diagnosis can lead to the spread of infection and increased morbidity and mortality. A high index of suspicion, prompt imaging, and early s...

Mammalian tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, caused mostly by Mycobacterium bovis, has a significant impact on veterinary public health, animal welfare, trade, and farming economies. Diagnosis and laboratory confirmation are crucial for disease surveillance and effective control strategies in animals. The relatively low sensitivity of current ante- and p...

Open defaecation (OD) has been strongly linked to high prevalence of cholera and other sanitation-related diseases. This study was conducted to assess the effect of community-led total sanitation (CLTS) on sanitation facilities and the bacteriological quality of natural water sources in Cross River State. The study design was a community-based rand...

Dairy herds around the world are undergoing several changes. Herd sizes are increasing, as are both milk yield and quality. The implementation of new technologies in various domains of dairy production is leading to an increase in the quantity of data available. This, in turn, creates a need to extract useful information from these data to improve...

A total of 100 random samples of meat products represented by luncheon, frozen minced meat, kofta, and sausage (25 of each) were collected from different supermarket’s shops in Tanta city These products subjected to bacteriological examination as Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Coliform Count, Staph. aureus count and isolation and identification of S...

Water filtration plants are a main source of drinking water for local populations in almost all big cities of Pakistan but these filtration plants are ineffective in eliminating contaminants from water. This study was conducted to evaluate water quality with specific focus on physicochemical parameters and bacterial contamination including occurren...

Sixty random samples (15 of each) were collected from different restaurants to evaluate their bacteriological quality The mean values of APC, Enterobacteriaceae, coliform counts(cfu/g) were 6.03×103 ± 1.45×103 , 3.16×103 ± 0.72×103 , 7.43×102 ± 1.05×102 for meat, 8.58×103 ± 1.65×103 ,6.53×103 ± 1.24×103 , 9.18×102 ± 2.07×103 for chicken, 9.91×10...

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) presents a significant challenge to clinical treatment and environmental risks. This review delves into the complex mechanisms underlying MDR development in P. aeruginosa, such as genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and the interaction between virulence fact...

Objective. To study the antibacterial effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, as well as the synergistic effect of its combination with systemic antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus in chronic osteomyelitis in rats. Materials and methods. The antibacterial effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and the synergistic effect of its combinatio...

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in rural areas of high-burden countries like China. Active case finding (ACF) and timely treatment have been proven effective in reducing TB prevalence, but the impact on the TB epidemic when employing new technologies in ACF is still unknown. This study aims t...

Objective. To find out the features of the course of gram–negative sepsis in purulent inflammatory processes of soft tissues. Materials and methods. The study included 362 patients with gram–negative sepsis who were examined and treated at the purulent–septic center in Zaporizhzhia in 1991–2024 (main group). All patients had out–of–hospital sepsis....

Brucellosis poses a severe threat to public health in Northwest China; however, the genome phylogeny and transmission pattern of Brucella melitensis from sheep and yaks in this region remain unclear. In this study, bacteriology, conventional biototyping, and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (WGS-SNP) were applied to depict the phylogenet...