Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Adithi Somayaji, Soumodeep Sarkar, Shravan Balasubramaniam, Ritu Raval
Summary: The increase in population leads to a higher demand for natural resources and energy, resulting in pollution of soil, water, and air, including heavy metals. Synthetic biology, using modular and interchangeable biological parts, is a popular approach to address global issues like heavy metal poisoning. While it is cost-effective, accessible, and efficient, there are technological and ethical concerns that need to be addressed.
SYNTHETIC AND SYSTEMS BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kumari Uma Mahto, Vandana Vandana, Monika Priyadarshanee, Devi P. Samantaray, Surajit Das
Summary: The bacterial biofilm and EPS play a crucial role in the removal of toxic pollutants from contaminated environments. Understanding their interaction mechanisms can aid in the development of field-scale applications for pollutant removal.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thi Duc Thai, Wonseop Lim, Dokyun Na
Summary: Toxic heavy metal accumulation is a major environmental pollution caused by human activities, posing risks to both human health and ecological systems. Conventional remediation methods for heavy metals are expensive and generate additional toxic waste products. In contrast, microbial bioremediation has emerged as a promising and cost-effective alternative, but the genetic complexity of microorganisms and lack of suitable genetic engineering technologies have hindered their development. However, recent advancements in synthetic biology have provided new tools and strategies for constructing bacteria with enhanced capabilities, such as rapid detection and degradation of heavy metals, along with increased tolerance to toxic heavy metals. Additionally, synthetic biology offers solutions to meet biosafety regulations concerning genetically modified microorganisms. This review highlights the use of synthetic biology-based microorganisms for heavy metal detection and detoxification, as well as the technical strategies developed to address biosafety requirements.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Monika Priyadarshanee, Surajit Das, Vandana
Summary: Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are highly hydrated matrices produced by bacteria, containing various polymers such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and DNA. EPS contributes to physical stability and nutrition acquisition for bacteria. Specific glycosyltransferases, polymerase, and transporter proteins encoded by operons regulate the biosynthesis of different EPS in bacteria. EPS can interact with environmental pollutants through functional groups, such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, phosphoryl, and amide, and bind pollutants through hydrophobic interactions and coordinate bonds. EPS can enhance the degradation of organic compounds and bind heavy metals via complexation, surface adsorption, precipitation, and ion exchange mechanisms. The biodegradability and nontoxicity of EPS make it a promising biopolymer for environmental pollutant decontamination.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shweta Jaiswal, Guddu Kumar Gupta, Kusum Panchal, Mandeep, Pratyoosh Shukla
Summary: The article discusses the pollution of natural reservoirs by SOCs from pulp and paper industries, as well as various biotechnological interventions and strategies for managing and eliminating SOCs pollution in waste effluent. It also highlights ways to restrict SOCs release in natural reservoirs and approaches for SOCs bioremediation using engineered microbial methods.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sultana Razia, Tony Hadibarata, Sie Yon Lau
Summary: Acidophiles are microorganisms that can survive in highly acidic environments, which are normally inhospitable to other organisms. This review article discusses the roles of acidophiles in removing heavy metals, radioactive pollutants, and acidic organic pollutants from acidic environments. It provides valuable insights for further research in the field of acidic pollutants remediation using acidophilic microorganisms.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Saravanan, Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar, Pham Anh Duc, Gayathri Rangasamy
Summary: Heavy metals pose hazardous risks to humans and animals, even at low concentrations. Microbial bioremediation offers a promising approach to removing these pollutants from contaminated water. This review focuses on the sources, occurrence, and human exposure risk of toxic heavy metals, as well as the role of microbial bioremediation in mitigating water pollution. Factors affecting microbial bioremediation, the interaction between microorganisms and pollutants, and emerging strategies and technologies, such as genetically engineered microorganisms and microorganism-aided nanotechnology, are also discussed as critical tools for water pollutant elimination.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Annika Vaksmaa, Simon Guerrero-Cruz, Pooja Ghosh, Emna Zeghal, Victor Hernando-Morales, Helge Niemann
Summary: Advancements in chemical, medical, cosmetic, and plastic producing industries have led to improved agricultural yields, health, and overall human life. However, the release of numerous chemicals into terrestrial and aquatic environments has resulted in devastating effects for ecosystems. Bioremediation, particularly mycoremediation by fungi, is a promising strategy to address this pollution. Fungi possess metabolic capabilities to break down complex molecules, making them effective degraders of organic matter. This article focuses on mycoremediation of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments, discussing the ability of fungi to break down pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and mitigate heavy metal pollution. Enzyme-based mycoremediation strategies are also highlighted.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Syed Zaghum Abbas, Mohd Rafatullah
Summary: Soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are cost-effective and eco-friendly technologies for soil remediation. They offer a clean and inexhaustible source of electron donors or acceptors, which can be easily controlled by adjusting parameters, attracting increasing interest in environmental remediation.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Soumya Ghosh, Iryna Rusyn, Olena V. Dmytruk, Kostyantyn V. Dmytruk, Helen Onyeaka, Marieka Gryzenhout, Yusufjon Gafforov
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest research in bioremediation with filamentous fungi, with a focus on pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metal treatment, and oil hydrocarbons mycoremediation. It discusses the various cellular mechanisms and processes involved in bioremediation, including bio-adsorption, bio-surfactant production, and enzymatic processes. The review also presents the species diversity of filamentous fungi used in pollutant removal and the beneficial byproducts they produce, and mentions the challenges, future prospects, and innovative technologies for enhancing fungi's abilities in wastewater remediation.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Madineh Khoshmanesh, Ali Mohammad Sanati, Bahman Ramavandi
Summary: This review collected reports of simultaneous analysis of microplastic and organic/inorganic contaminant abundance in aquatic organisms in the natural environment. Factors affecting microplastic absorption by organisms were discussed. The majority of microplastics were identified as fibrous and black particles with a small size (<500 μm). Positive correlations were found between microplastic numbers and organic/inorganic contaminants in the tissue of some species. Controlling microplastic contamination is necessary to protect biodiversity and reduce the risks of transfer to aquatic organisms and humans.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Aammar Tufail, Jawaria Iltaf, Tahreem Zaheer, Leeza Tariq, Muhammad Bilal Amir, Rida Fatima, Ayesha Asbat, Tahira Kabeer, Muhammad Fahad, Hamna Naeem, Usama Shoukat, Hazrat Noor, Muhammad Awais, Wajid Umar, Muhaimen Ayyub
Summary: Heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants have detrimental effects on the environment. Bioremediation, combined with nanotechnology, could be a breakthrough in cleaning the environment by degrading these pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hao Tang, Jiaqi Wang, Shu Zhang, Hongwei Pang, Xiangxue Wang, Zhongshan Chen, Ming Li, Gang Song, Muqing Qiu, Shujun Yu
Summary: This paper introduces the potential of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) in environmental purification and explores modified NZVI, removal behaviors of heavy metal ions, radionuclides, and organic pollutants, as well as factors influencing pollutants removal and its implications to the environment.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaolong Duan, Jiake Li, Yuxing Li
Summary: This study quantified the elimination processes of POPs in bioretention systems using stable carbon isotope analysis techniques and found that the modified media bioretention column removed more than 90% of Pyrene, PCB169, and p,p'-DDT through media adsorption and plant uptake.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingtan Dong, Wei Chen, Xu Chen, Xinli Xing, Mingying Shao, Xiong Xiong, Zejiao Luo
Summary: Through analyzing 454 data points, this study found that heavy metals are not suitable as stratigraphic markers of the Anthropocene, while POPs show more global consistency in trends.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rukhnoor Malik, Jonathan R. Abbas, Ceyon Jayarajah, Iain A. Bruce, Neil Tolley
Summary: This study investigated the value of enhancing traditional remote case-based teaching with the HoloLens2. The results showed that HoloLens2 enhanced teaching could improve student performance and increase student engagement and question asking compared to conventional remote teaching. Students were satisfied with the teaching using HoloLens2 and believed it helped concept demonstration and student engagement.
Article
Rheumatology
Ian N. Bruce, Ronald F. van Vollenhoven, Eric F. Morand, Richard A. Furie, Susan Manzi, William B. White, Gabriel Abreu, Raj Tummala
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of sustained glucocorticoid tapering in patients with SLE. The results showed that sustained glucocorticoid tapering is associated with reduced glucocorticoid dosage, improved patient-reported outcomes, and fewer adverse events. Treatment with anifrolumab has the potential to reduce disease activity and glucocorticoid exposure.
Article
Economics
Sean P. Gavan, Ian N. Bruce, Katherine Payne
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the value of health gain for patients with a multisystem disease using specific composite response endpoints. Data from a national register were used to compare health utility values and quality-adjusted life-years for responders and nonresponders. The study found that bespoke composite response endpoints can be used to assess treatment response for multisystem diseases and provide valuable evidence for health technology assessment, decision making, and economic evaluation.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Marta Tibiletti, James A. Eaden, Josephine H. Naish, Paul J. C. Hughes, John C. Waterton, Matthew J. Heaton, Nazia Chaudhuri, Sarah Skeoch, Ian N. Bruce, Stephen Bianchi, Jim M. Wild, Geoff J. M. Parker
Summary: This study aimed to compare imaging biomarkers from hyperpolarised 129Xe ventilation MRI and dynamic oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) with standard pulmonary function tests (PFT) in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The results showed that the ventilation biomarkers were not able to differentiate between ILD subtypes and had limited correlation with PFT changes.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Sarah Dyball, John A. Reynolds, Ariane L. Herrick, Sahena Haque, Hector Chinoy, Ellen Bruce, Sophia Naz, Ben Parker, Ian N. Bruce
Summary: This study aimed to determine different subgroups of patients with CTD and their associated patient-level characteristics related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The results showed the existence of different HRQoL patterns and these subgroups were not primarily driven by specific diagnoses or autoantibody profiles. Black background, Indo-Asian background, concomitant fibromyalgia, sicca symptoms, and multimorbidity were associated with poor HRQoL.
Article
Rheumatology
Ann E. Clarke, John G. Hanly, Murray B. Urowitz, Yvan St. Pierre, Caroline Gordon, Sang-Cheol Bae, Juanita Romero-Diaz, Jorge Sanchez-Guerrero, Sasha Bernatsky, Daniel J. Wallace, David A. Isenberg, Anisur Rahman, Joan T. Merrill, Paul R. Fortin, Dafna D. Gladman, Ian N. Bruce, Michelle Petri, Ellen M. Ginzler, Mary Anne Dooley, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, Susan Manzi, Andreas Jonsen, Graciela S. Alarcon, Ronald F. Van Vollenhoven, Cynthia Aranow, Meggan Mackay, Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza, S. Sam Lim, Murat Inanc, Kenneth C. Kalunian, Soren Jacobsen, Christine A. Peschken, Diane L. Kamen, Anca Askanase, Vernon Farewell
Summary: The objective of this study was to estimate the costs associated with neuropsychiatric events in SLE. The study found that new/ongoing SLE or non-SLE NP events incurred higher direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs exceeded direct costs by 3.0 to 5.2 fold.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
May Yee Choi, Irene Chen, Ann Elaine Clarke, Marvin J. Fritzler, Katherine A. Buhler, Murray Urowitz, John Hanly, Yvan St-Pierre, Caroline Gordon, Sang-Cheol Bae, Juanita Romero-Diaz, Jorge Sanchez-Guerrero, Sasha Bernatsky, Daniel J. Wallace, David Alan Isenberg, Anisur Rahman, Joan T. Merrill, Paul R. Fortin, Dafna D. Gladman, Ian N. Bruce, Michelle Petri, Ellen M. Ginzler, Mary Anne Dooley, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, Susan Manzi, Andreas Jonsen, Graciela S. Alarcon, Ronald F. van Vollenhoven, Cynthia Aranow, Meggan Mackay, Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza, Sam Lim, Murat Inanc, Kenneth Kalunian, Soren Jacobsen, Christine Peschken, Diane L. Kamen, Anca Askanase, Jill P. Buyon, David Sontag, Karen H. Costenbader
Summary: A novel longitudinal clustering technique was used to analyze comprehensive autoantibody data from a large, well-characterised, multinational inception SLE cohort, in order to determine predictive profiles of clinical outcomes.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Michelle Petri, Ian N. Bruce, Thomas Doerner, Yoshiya Tanaka, Eric F. Morand, Kenneth C. Kalunian, Mario H. Cardiel, Maria E. Silk, Christina L. Dickson, Gabriella Meszaros, Lu Zhang, Bochao Jia, Youna Zhao, Conor J. McVeigh, Marta Mosca
Summary: Baricitinib, an oral inhibitor of Janus kinase 1 and 2, was evaluated as a treatment for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a 52-week phase 3 study. The study found that baricitinib did not significantly improve SLE disease activity compared with placebo, and there were no new safety concerns.
Article
Rheumatology
M. L. Barraclough, J. P. Diaz-Martinez, A. Knight, K. Bingham, J. Su, M. Kakvan, C. Munoz Grajales, M. C. Tartaglia, L. Ruttan, J. Wither, M. Y. Choi, D. Bonilla, N. Anderson, S. Appenzeller, B. Parker, P. Katz, D. Beaton, R. Green, I. N. Bruce, Z. Touma
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, our longitudinal study on cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had to adapt and switch from in-person to virtual administration. We found that the method of administration had an impact on cognitive performance and classification. Approximately 42% of the tests in the battery encountered issues when moved from in-person to virtual administration, highlighting the need for caution when comparing results.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Callum Andrew Shields, Mark Sladen, Azita Rajai, Hannah Guest, Iain Bruce, Karolina Kluk, Jaya Nichani
Summary: This study aims to explore the use of existing questionnaire-based outcome instruments to evaluate listening effort (LE) and its associated consequences in children and young people with and without hearing loss. Participants will complete online questionnaires and a hearing test, and the data will be analyzed to identify correlations between LE and other outcomes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Behram Khan, Trixy David, Jon Sussman, Louise Simcox, Clare Tower, Calvin Soh, Ian N. Bruce
Summary: This case report describes a patient with extensive Takayasu's arteritis who was treated with TCZ during pregnancy. The patient was closely monitored and TCZ was continued due to the perceived benefits outweighing the risks. The case also highlights the importance of accurate blood pressure monitoring in patients with extensive disease. The patient's disease remained stable throughout pregnancy and postpartum, with a successful outcome and no maternal or fetal complications.
OXFORD MEDICAL CASE REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Babatunde Oremule, Jonathan Abbas, Gabrielle Saunders, Karolina Kluk, Rachel Isba, Sebastian Bate, Iain Bruce
Summary: This systematic review examined the options available for mobile audiometry (MA), assessed their accuracy in measuring hearing thresholds, and explored factors that might influence their accuracy. The findings suggest that MA compares favorably to conventional audiometry (CA) in measuring hearing thresholds and has a role in providing access to hearing assessment in situations where CA is not available or feasible.
CLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Mia Rodziewicz, Sarah Dyball, Mark Lunt, Stephen McDonald, Emily Sutton, Ben Parker, Ian N. Bruce
Summary: This study investigated the frequency and risk factors for serious infections in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with rituximab, belimumab, and standard therapies. The study found that rituximab, belimumab, and standard therapy had similar risks for serious infections. Key risk factors for serious infections included multimorbidity, hypogammaglobulinemia, and increased glucocorticoid doses. These findings are important for guiding the treatment and management of SLE patients.
LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Ian N. Bruce, Joy Buie, Lauren Bloch, Sang-Cheol Bae, Karen Costenbader, Roger A. Levy, Victoria P. Werth, Ashley Marion, Sanjyot Sangodkar, Susan Manzi
Summary: Lupus, a complex disease, poses challenges in diagnosis due to non-specific symptoms and a lack of diagnostic criteria and referral pathways. To address these issues, virtual meetings were held with experts in lupus care, including physicians, treatment developers, and patient advocacy group representatives. The discussions highlighted the need for a clearer understanding of lupus, advancements in biotechnology, and potential development of a lupus spectrum to support timely and accurate diagnosis.
LUPUS SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Letter
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ian N. Bruce, Sarowar Golam, Jason Steenkamp, Pearl Wang, Evelyn Worthington, Barnabas Desta, Konstantina Psachoulia, Wilma Erhardt, Raj Tummala
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH
(2023)
