Article
Microbiology
Jiang Li, Xiaoqian Gu, Qian Zhang, Liping Fu, Jiaojiao Tan, Luying Zhao
Summary: A new carrageenase gene, car1383, was found from the metagenome of Antarctic macroalgae-associated bacteria. The recombinant Car1383 showed activity in degrading carrageenan into neocarrabiose and neocarratetraose. The study also identified the optimal activity conditions and important structural sites of Car1383. This research provides a new candidate for the industrial production of bioactive algal oligosaccharides.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Sumit Kumar Verma, Prakash Chand Sharma
Summary: Metagenomics was used to isolate a novel serine protease, Prt1SU, from solid tannery waste metagenome. The enzyme showed promising activity and stability for potential industrial applications.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sea On Lee, Stephen D. Fried
Summary: An improved error-prone PCR protocol using a Touchdown approach and commercially available components is reported, which can efficiently concentrate mutations into a small region of plasmid DNA and achieve very high mutational loads on a standard-sized amplicon.
ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zahra Hamidzadeh, Payam Ghorbannezhad, Mohammad Reza Ketabchi, Bijan Yeganeh
Summary: This article reviews the preparation, analysis techniques, and application of biochar as a sustainable resource for agriculture. The important role of biochar in agriculture and related industries is highlighted, especially its impact on soil enrichment, protection of microorganisms, soil pH, and microbial community activity.
Review
Biology
Soren Thiele-Bruhn
Summary: Healthy soils play a crucial role in providing ecosystem services and supporting human health. They act as hotspots of biodiversity, providing biochemical resources and medicinal services. Microorganisms and enzymes in soils help enhance natural soil functions, promote plant growth, biodegrade pollutants, and produce enzymes and chemicals for industrial use.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Qian Huang, Yimei Huang, Baorong Wang, Michaela A. Dippold, Haohao Li, Na Li, Penghui Jia, Haixing Zhang, Shaoshan An, Yakov Kuzyakov
Summary: CO2-fixing microorganisms play a crucial role in carbon sequestration in vegetation restricted areas. This study identified the genes responsible for eight CO2 fixation pathways in semiarid soil microorganisms and found that CO2 fixation rates increased along the precipitation gradient. The study also revealed that different pathways had varying effects on soil organic matter under different precipitation conditions.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yinan Peng, Ze Ye, Peng Xi, Hongshan Qi, Bin Ji, Zhiye Wang
Summary: This paper studies the influence of soil biodiversity and angelica planting in the context of big data by focusing on the soil microorganisms of angelica planting. It proposes a soil optimization method based on big data analysis of soil microorganisms for angelica planting. Experimental results show that this method can increase the survival rate and growth rate of Angelica sinensis.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Wisnu Adi Wicaksono, Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Christian Berg, Maximilian Mora, Peter Kusstatscher, Tomislav Cernava, Gabriele Berg
Summary: The desiccation of the Aral Sea is one of the largest human-made environmental disasters, which provides a natural laboratory for studying ecosystem functioning and rhizosphere assembly. By studying the rhizosphere communities of a native pioneer plant, researchers observed changes in archaea-bacteria ratio, replacement of archaeal indicator taxa, and the presence of specific biosynthetic pathways, highlighting the importance of rhizosphere assembly for plant growth under extreme conditions.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jing Peng, Wenxian Liu, Shizhe Tang, Sini Zou, Yuling Zhu, Haina Cheng, Yuguang Wang, Wolfgang R. Streit, Zhu Chen, Hongbo Zhou
Summary: Using metagenomic technology, a highly active beta-mannanase, Man113Ali9, belonging to the underexplored GH113 family, was identified from acid mine drainage. Man113Ali9 showed optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 50 celcius, with enhanced activity in the presence of K+ and Tween 80. It exhibited hydrolytic and transglycosylation activity towards mannan substrates. The study highlights the potential of the metagenomic approach for discovering novel polymer-degrading enzymes from AMD.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yi-Rui Yin, Lei Li, Run-Feng Yang, Xin-Wei Li, Hong-Yan Liu, Peng Sang, Li-Quan Yang
Summary: A novel xylanase gene, xynDRTY1, was identified from Tengchong hot spring using a metagenomic approach. The gene was codon-optimized, synthesized, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The purified XynDRTY1 showed activity with various natural glycosides, exhibited optimal pH and temperature, and demonstrated stability, making it potentially useful for biotechnological applications.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martynas Bagdonas, Kamile Cerepenkaite, Aurelija Mickeviciute, Ruta Kananaviciute, Birute Grybaite, Kazimieras Anusevicius, Audrone Ruksenaite, Tautvydas Kojis, Marius Gedgaudas, Vytautas Mickevicius, Daumantas Matulis, Asta Zubriene, Jurgita Matuliene
Summary: In this study, seven aromatic disulfide compounds were found to efficiently inhibit the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 protease PLpro, with two compounds showing higher potency against PLpro compared to the protease Mpro. These findings are important for the development of new drugs against COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hongguan Xing, Pingping Wang, Xing Yan, Yi Yang, Xinliang Li, Rui Liu, Zhihua Zhou
Summary: Directed evolution was used to enhance the thermostability of phytase, resulting in the generation of five mutants with higher residual activities and catalytic efficiencies. The substitution of C75 residue was identified as the main reason for the improved thermostability, indicating the crucial role of this amino acid in the stability and catalytic efficiency of phytase.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sivan Gelley, Hodaya Lankry, Jovana Glusac, Ayelet Fishman
Summary: Results suggest that yeast-derived patatin properties are comparable to those from potatoes, indicating potential use in various plant-based products.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gustavo Duarte Bocayuva Tavares, Claudia Alessandra Fortes Aiub, Israel Felzenszwalb, Eduardo Kennedy Carrao Dantas, Carlos Fernando Araujo-Lima, Cesar Luis Siqueira Junior
Summary: The study investigated the in vitro toxicity profile of protein extract of S. saponaria, revealing cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in bacterial models and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a serine protease and a cysteine protease inhibitor were partially isolated from the protein extract, suggesting potential biological uses of the plant as an insecticide and larvicide despite its toxic effects.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mengmeng Liu, Qiu Li, Xiaoxiao Liu, Pengpai Zhang, Haiyan Zhang
Summary: Through two rounds of random mutagenesis PCR, an improved starch debranching enzyme with higher catalytic activity and thermostability was screened from Bacillus thermoliquefaciens. The mutant enzyme G250P/T252S/G253T/N255K showed a 1.9-fold increase in specific activity, 22.7% decrease in Km, 28.7% increase in kcat, and 68.4% increase in kcat/Km compared to the parent enzyme. The thermostability of the mutant enzyme was significantly enhanced, with a half-life extended to 7.5 hours at 60 degrees C, which was 87.5% higher than that of the parent enzyme. The mutation sites were concentrated in the 250-255 region, indicating its importance in affecting catalytic activity and thermostability. The reasons for the change in enzymatic properties were preliminarily analyzed through three-dimensional simulation.
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Saif Ullah, Kai Ji, Jun Li, Yongchang Xu, Chengjian Jiang, Huimin Zhang, Man Huang, Youjun Feng
Summary: MCR-4 and MCR-8 are new members of the ongoing MCR family of colistin resistance, while NMCR-2 is identified as a possible progenitor of MCR-8 with similar actions and mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sohail Khan, Fuzhi Lu, Qiong Jiang, Chengjian Jiang, Muhammad Kashif, Peihong Shen
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xueyan Mo, Xinghua Cai, Qinyan Hui, Huijie Sun, Ran Yu, Ru Bu, Bing Yan, Qian Ou, Quanwen Li, Sheng He, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: A novel aroma-producing probiotics Meyerozymaguilliermondii GXDK6 with high multi-stress-tolerant properties was identified successfully by whole genome sequencing and metabolomics technology. GXDK6 showed broad pH tolerance, salt tolerance, and heavy-metal tolerance. The mechanism of nerol production in GXDK6 was also revealed, indicating the great potential value of aroma-producing M. guilliermondii GXDK6 in the fermentation industry.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiqing Nie, Zufan Zhang, Shuming Mo, Jinhui Li, Sheng He, Muhammad Kashif, Zhengwu Liang, Peihong Shen, Bing Yan, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: The mangrove ecosystem can efficiently alleviate nitrogen pollution, especially through nitrate reduction by Desulfobacterales. Nitrogen metabolism activities are significantly higher in the wet season compared to the dry season, with Desulfobacterales playing a key role in nitrogen cycling. Furthermore, environmental factors such as total phosphorus, available iron, and total organic carbon influence the distribution of nitrogen cycling genes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Shuming Mo, Sheng He, Yimeng Sang, Jinhui Li, Muhammad Kashif, Zufan Zhang, Guijiao Su, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: This study explores the co-biotransformation mechanism of phosphorus and sulfur in subtropical marine mangrove ecosystems with Spartina alterniflora invasion. The results show that in the mangrove ecosystems, the abundance of sulfate reduction genes, sulfur oxidation genes, and polyphosphate kinase (ppk) increase with the invasion of S. alterniflora, and there is a strong positive correlation between ppk, sulfate reduction, sulfur oxidation, sulfur metabolizing microorganisms, and sulfide content. Desulfobacterales is identified as the dominant microbial group driving the co-biotransformation of phosphorus and sulfur cycling.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuming Mo, Jinhui Li, Bin Li, Muhammad Kashif, Shiqing Nie, Jianping Liao, Guijiao Su, Qiong Jiang, Bing Yan, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: This study used metagenomic sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis to accurately evaluate the biotransformation of sulfides in the subtropical mangrove ecosystem. The research found that total phosphorus was the dominant environmental factor driving the sulfur cycle and microbial communities, while mangrove soils enhanced metabolism related to sulfate reduction compared to non-mangrove soils. The taxonomic assignment of dissimilatory sulfate-reducing genes revealed Desulfobacterales and Chromatiales as key players in sulfate reduction, with Chromatiales being particularly sensitive to environmental factors.
Article
Microbiology
Ru Bu, Bing Yan, Huijie Sun, Mengcheng Zhou, Huashan Bai, Xinghua Cai, Xueyan Mo, Guijiao Su, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: This study demonstrates that Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 can enhance copper tolerance through the regulation of multiple genes and related metabolic pathways, thereby reducing intracellular copper concentration, decreasing oxidative stress responses, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, reducing protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and cell death induced by copper, and improving copper tolerance through the use of the metabolite D-mannose under harsh conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Huijie Sun, Xinghua Cai, Bing Yan, Huashan Bai, Duotao Meng, Xueyan Mo, Sheng He, Guijiao Su, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: This study used integrated omics technology to reveal the lipid metabolism mechanism of marine microorganism Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 under high salt stress. The results showed that lipid metabolism affected cell membrane budding and proliferation, and salt stress induced intracellular glycerol accumulation. Additionally, salt stress increased the sensitivity of the microorganism to the antifungal drug fluconazole.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Muhammad Kashif, Zhaomei Lu, Yimeng Sang, Bing Yan, Syed Jalil Shah, Sohail Khan, Muhammad Azhar Hussain, Hongzhen Tang, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: Sulfur, organosulfur compounds, and sulfides are essential parts of life. Microbial sulfate assimilation is one of the most active and ancient metabolic activities in the sulfur cycle. This study analyzed the molecular basis of bacterial characterization and provided a scientific foundation for further research and application of bacteria in mangrove rehabilitation and ecological treatment.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
JinHui Li, Yimeng Sang, Sen Zeng, Shuming Mo, Zufan Zhang, Sheng He, Xinying Li, Guijiao Su, Jianping Liao, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: In this study, we developed a real-time interactive visualization tool called MicrobioSee based on web technologies, which can visualize microbial multi-omics data. The tool simplifies plotting methods in multi-omics studies and provides a concise, time-saving, cross-platform, and open-source toolkit for researchers, especially microbiologists without coding experience.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Zufan Zhang, Shiqing Nie, Yimeng Sang, Shuming Mo, Jinhui Li, Muhammad Kashif, Guijiao Su, Bing Yan, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: This study revealed the efficient nutrient cycling mechanism of mangroves and showed that the invasion of Spartina alterniflora enhanced the coupling effects of NF and PS processes, positively impacting sediment quality and turnover of nutrients. The research provides insights into the effects of S. alterniflora invasion on subtropical mangrove ecosystems and offers theoretical guidance for mangrove protection, restoration, and soil management, as well as potential development of marine biological fertilizers.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiqing Nie, Shuming Mo, Tingwei Gao, Bing Yan, Peihong Shen, Muhammad Kashif, Zufan Zhang, Jinhui Li, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: The mangrove ecosystem has a high capacity for nitrate reduction, which can effectively alleviate nitrogen pollution. However, research on nitrate reduction mechanisms in this ecosystem is currently limited. Furthermore, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora has disrupted the balance of the mangrove ecosystem, and its effect on nitrate reduction has not been fully understood.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhaomei Lu, Sheng He, Muhammad Kashif, Zufan Zhang, Shuming Mo, Guijiao Su, Linfang Du, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: In this study, the effect of ammonium stress on phosphorus solubilization of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) was investigated. The results showed that the soluble phosphate concentration in culture supernatant reached a maximum under certain ammonium conditions. Whole-genome and transcriptome analysis revealed the genes and metabolic pathways involved in ammonium stress response and phosphorus solubilization. The accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate and the inhibition of glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway played a key role in ammonium detoxification, while the secretion of protons, formic acid and acetic acid was related to phosphorus solubilization under ammonium stress.
Article
Microbiology
Huan Du, Jie Pan, Cuijing Zhang, Xilan Yang, Cheng Wang, Xiaolan Lin, Jinhui Li, Wan Liu, Haokui Zhou, Xiaoli Yu, Shuming Mo, Guoqing Zhang, Guoping Zhao, Wu Qu, Chengjian Jiang, Yun Tian, Zhili He, Yang Liu, Meng Li
Summary: The study compares the microbial features of mangrove ecosystems in China and South America, finding analogous assembly patterns and key functional guilds. The entire communities exhibit significant distance-decay patterns and are strongly influenced by stochastic processes, while the assembly of specialists may be related to the behaviors of organisms in the mangrove ecosystems. Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes dominate the mangrove microbiomes and play important roles in maintaining community structure and functions.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yanmei Li, Xueyan Mo, Jianwen Xiong, Kunmei Huang, Minglei Zheng, Qiong Jiang, Guijiao Su, Qian Ou, Hongping Pan, Chengjian Jiang
Summary: HJ2, a novel marine multi-stress-tolerant aromatic yeast, shows efficient cholesterol removal, strong antioxidant capacity, and potential in disease prevention and treatment. It is considered safe and a promising probiotic candidate for further clinical trials.