Article
Engineering, Chemical
Christoph Schwaller, Magdalena A. Knabl, Brigitte Helmreich, Jorg E. Drewes
Summary: This study investigated the infectivity of MS2 phages at high fluxes and associated transmembrane pressures (TMPs) during ceramic membrane ultrafiltration (UF). The results showed that the infectivity of MS2 phages was not significantly affected by high fluxes and TMPs. The retention of MS2 phages increased with increasing fluxes and TMPs in ceramic UF, likely due to enhanced aggregation.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiang Li, Qixin Hu, Xu Liu, Jianfang Liu, Nannan Wu, Feng Shen
Summary: The rise of antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern, and there is a need for new antimicrobial drugs and alternative therapies. Phage therapy has shown promising results as an alternative treatment for antimicrobial resistance. Researchers have developed a digital biosensing method on a microfluidic device for rapid quantification of infectious bacteriophages. This method provides a promising tool for phage quantification in clinical practice and can also be used for ultrasensitive and high-specificity bacteria detection.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Rui Wang, Hui-Da Li, Ying Cao, Zi-Yi Wang, Ting Yang, Jian-Hua Wang
Summary: Viruses, specifically M13 phage, are being utilized in biosensing and biomedicine due to their versatility, specific reactivities, and responsiveness to genetic modifications. M13 phages can be engineered and modified to create a multifunctional analysis platform, with different functional regions performing their tasks without interference. The unique filamentous morphology and flexibility of M13 phages enhance target affinity and signal amplification in analytical applications.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kaitlyn Ramsay, Jae Levy, Pierangelo Gobbo, Katherine S. Elvira
Summary: Researchers have designed a microfluidic platform for building bespoke prototissues from predetermined compositions of two types of protein-polymer protocells. They demonstrate control over the collective behaviors and endogenous biochemical reactivity of the biomaterial, offering a new route for high-throughput fabrication of tissue-like materials with programmable collective properties.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Mingming Xiao, Lulu Zheng, Xinlian Zhang, Xiaoxiao Duan, Tian Hang, Shijiao Lu, Sixiu Liu, Houwei Lin
Summary: Hydronephrosis, a common urological disease, was successfully simulated using a renal-on-chip platform with force-sensitive resistor microfluidics. This study identified potential biomarkers such as TGF-beta-related signaling pathways and arginine-related metabolism signaling pathways, with proteins and metabolisms dysregulated in clinical samples of UPJO. The correlation analysis suggested a significant relationship between biomarkers AGT and KLK1 with differential renal function, providing valuable insights for surgical biomarker determination in hydronephrosis.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guanju Wei, Judy Q. Yang
Summary: This article investigates the effects of flow fluctuations on the development of Pseudomonas putida biofilms through experimental and theoretical approaches. The study reveals that low-frequency flow fluctuations promote biofilm growth, while high-frequency fluctuations inhibit its development. The findings provide insights into controlling biofilm formation in diverse natural and engineered systems.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanna Chen, Cehui Mo, Ming Wu, Yanru Hao, Zhou Cheng, Guoping Lu, Qusheng Li, Bill X. Hu, Jianfeng Wu, Jichun Wu
Summary: By conducting adsorption experiments, column experiments, and numerical modeling, this study systematically investigates the impact of microplastics on the transport and retention of antibiotics in subsurface environments. The results show that polypropylene (PP) has a significant influence on the migration behavior and retention of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in porous media. The findings also suggest that flow velocity, initial concentration of CIP, and ionic strength play important roles in CIP mobility, with divalent cations having a stronger effect than monovalent cations. This research provides insights into the environmental behavior of antibiotics in groundwater systems and contributes to the accurate prediction and assessment of environmental risks caused by microplastics and antibiotics.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Angela B. Quach, Samuel R. Little, Steve C. C. Shih
Summary: A microfluidic method is developed for efficient generation and delivery of lentiviruses, enabling gene editing and targeted therapy for diseases such as breast cancer.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zhengkun Chen, Sina Kheiri, Albert Gevorkian, Edmond W. K. Young, Valerie Andre, Ted Deisenroth, Eugenia Kumacheva
Summary: Skin cell organotypic micrometre-size 3D aggregates, known as multicellular spheroids, have potential to replace animal models in testing skincare products. A microfluidic platform for dermal fibroblast spheroids (DFSs) growth has been developed to screen active ingredients (AIs) like vitamin C efficiently. The computational simulation suggests that DFSs can serve as a reliable in vitro dermal model for skincare product screening.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jesus Shrestha, Sean Thomas Ryan, Oliver Mills, Sareh Zhand, Sajad Razavi Bazaz, Philip Michael Hansbro, Maliheh Ghadiri, Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
Summary: Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that can cause narrowing or closure of the upper airway, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Continuous positive airway pressure is an effective treatment but can result in nasal side effects and low compliance rates.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
R. D. Allert, F. Bruckmaier, N. R. Neuling, F. A. Freire-Moschovitis, K. S. Liu, C. Schrepel, P. Schaetzle, P. Knittel, M. Hermans, D. B. Bucher
Summary: Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) applications have become important scientific tools, offering miniaturization, complex functionality, reproducibility, and high throughput. However, extensive sensor miniaturization is needed for full advantage, which has been challenging for quantum sensors. This study presents a fully integrated microfluidic platform for solid-state spin quantum sensors, enabling novel chemical analysis capabilities within LOC devices.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Emory M. Payne, Maryam Taraji, Bridget E. Murray, Daniel A. Holland-Moritz, Jeffrey C. Moore, Paul R. Haddad, Robert T. Kennedy
Summary: Droplet microfluidics allows high-throughput experimentation by encapsulating samples in aqueous droplets. However, small molecules can transport between droplets, limiting the results obtained using fluorescent molecules. This study used ESI-MS to measure the transport of low molecular weight compounds between droplets and developed a predictive tool based on the analytes tested. The transport was found to depend on carrier fluids, surfactants, and flow conditions, and can be reduced through experimental design and surfactant tailoring.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jing Du, Lin Zeng, Zitong Yu, Sihui Chen, Xi Chen, Yi Zhang, Hui Yang
Summary: In this study, a microfluidic negative magnetophoretic platform was developed to simulate microgravity conditions and investigate plant auxin responses. The results showed that auxin responses in Arabidopsis seeds were significantly repressed under simulated microgravity, and polar auxin transportation played a vital role in gravity-regulated auxin responses.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Jinho Kim, Hyungseok Cho, Junhyeong Kim, Joon Seong Park, Ki-Ho Han
Summary: This study introduces a disposable smart microfluidic platform called DIS mu Chip, which is fully automated and can be used for various applications. It integrates microfluidic flow sensors with a pressure control system, allowing for automatic control of fluid flow. The platform also includes a self-diagnosis function to monitor input and output flow rates, preventing biological cross-contamination.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2021)
Review
Virology
Kazuya Nagano, Yasuo Tsutsumi
Summary: Antibody drugs with high affinity and specificity are effective for intractable diseases, such as cancers and autoimmune diseases. The recent breakthrough in antibody drugs is largely due to the contribution of phage display technology.
Article
Ecology
Xin You, Rene Kallies, Ingolf Kuehn, Matthias Schmidt, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: The study found that lytic phages can co-transport with bacteria, promoting bacterial colonization of new habitats. This co-transport is analogous to invasion processes in macroecology. In water-unsaturated systems, hyphal transport of bacteria and associated phages plays a crucial role in regulating microbial population fitness and composition.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hieu Linh Duong, Sven Paufler, Hauke Harms, Thomas Maskow, Dietmar Schlosser
Summary: The study confirmed the suitability of biocalorimetry for monitoring fungal conversion of lignocellulosic agricultural by-products during solid-state fermentation by linking non-invasive measurement of metabolic heat fluxes with conventional invasive determination of fungal activity parameters. Different fungal species may exhibit different life history strategies during growth, as indicated by species-specific YQ/X values. These values can not only quantify fungal biomass during single-species SSF processes, but also aid in fungal ecology research by indicating different fungal life history strategies.
Article
Virology
Xin You, Niclas Klose, Rene Kallies, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: Recent studies have shown that phages can be transported with non-host bacteria, allowing them to invade biofilms and control their composition. A novel approach was developed to isolate non-host bacteria that can co-transport phages from soil. Five phage-carrying bacterial species were identified, and Viridibacillus sp. showed a higher phage adsorption efficiency.
Article
Microbiology
Hieu Linh Duong, Sven Paufler, Hauke Harms, Dietmar Schlosser, Thomas Maskow
Summary: This study investigated the functional traits of free-living saprotrophic decomposer fungi using a non-invasive metabolic heat flux analysis, and identified parameters related to fungal biomass production and ecological strategies. These parameters provide insights into the life history traits of fungi and their impacts on ecosystem processes.
Article
Ecology
Nelson Khan, Edward Muge, Francis J. Mulaa, Benson Wamalwa, Martin von Bergen, Nico Jehmlich, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: Fungi play a crucial role in the biodegradation of soil organochlorine pesticides by facilitating bacterial dispersal and nutrient release. Experimental results indicate that the transfer of nutrients from fungi to bacteria can enhance the degradation of organic pollutants, highlighting the importance of fungal-bacterial interactions.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Washington Logrono, Paul Kluge, Sabine Kleinsteuber, Hauke Harms, Marcell Nikolausz
Summary: The diversity of the inoculum significantly influences methane production and process stability, with higher diversity cultures producing more methane and accumulating fewer volatile fatty acids.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bin Liu, Heike Straeuber, Florian Centler, Hauke Harms, Ulisses Nunes da Rocha, Sabine Kleinsteuber
Summary: The effects of pH alterations on microbial chain elongation in anaerobic mixed cultures were investigated. The community composition shifted dramatically when the pH increased from 5.5 to 6.5, but the product range and yields returned to previous states after transient fluctuations. The study highlights the importance of pH in shaping the abundance of key players and community functioning in microbial chain elongation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Joyce Alvarez-Barragan, Cristiana Cravo-Laureau, Bijing Xiong, Lukas Y. Y. Wick, Robert Duran
Summary: This study advances our understanding of fungal-bacterial relationships, specifically the selection and dispersion of bacterial communities by fungi, which are essential for the organization and functioning of microbial communities in coastal PAH-contaminated sediments.
Article
Cell Biology
Juan Lopez-Galvez, Konstanze Schiessl, Michael D. Besmer, Carmen Bruckmann, Hauke Harms, Susann Mueller
Summary: Cell density is crucial in microbiome research and biotechnological processes. The traditional offline determination of cell density causes delays and hinders quick action. An online automated flow cytometry procedure is proposed to address this issue, enabling real-time high-resolution analysis of bacterial communities and differentiation between cell subsets. The method combines the OC-300 automation device with the CytoFLEX flow cytometer to perform automatic sampling, dilution, fixation, and staining before measurement. The method allows for reproducible measurement of cell density and fingerprint-like patterns, facilitating automated data analysis and correlation analysis.
Article
Microbiology
Daniela Becker, Denny Popp, Fabian Bonk, Sabine Kleinsteuber, Hauke Harms, Florian Centler
Summary: Analyzing microbial communities using metagenomes is a powerful approach to understand compositional structures and functional connections in anaerobic digestion (AD) microbiomes. The hybrid sequencing approach of combining short-read and long-read sequencing provides better assembly statistics and generates more high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). It is the preferable option for dealing with complex microbiomes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Breulmann, Rene Kallies, Katy Bernhard, Andrea Gasch, Roland Arno Mueller, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Manfred van Afferden
Summary: Wastewater-based monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 is a promising tool for tracking the potential spread of the virus. Recent studies have shown that passive samplers are effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 genome copies in wastewater and can provide timely data. This study evaluated the suitability of passive samplers for long-term detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at both city-scale and small-scale levels, and found that passive samplers can accurately indicate the level of positive infections in the population.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bruna Grosch Schroeder, Havva Betuel Istanbullu, Matthias Schmidt, Washington Logrono, Hauke Harms, Marcell Nikolausz
Summary: To mimic the lignocellulose pretreatment process in the gut system of Pachnoda marginata larvae, two wheat straw pretreatments were tested. The combination of size reduction and alkaline pretreatment resulted in the highest methane production. SEM analysis showed that alkaline pretreatment promoted biofilm formation and microbial growth on the wheat straw fibers. Mechanical and alkaline pretreatments led to increased methane yield, but the effects were not superimposed.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)