Article
Infectious Diseases
Lara Serrano-Aguirre, Rodrigo Velasco-Bucheli, Begona Garcia-Alvarez, Ana Saborido, Miguel Arroyo, Isabel de la Mata
Summary: This study identified a novel N-acylhomoserine lactone acylase from Actinoplanes utahensis, which can hydrolyze and synthesize various natural compounds, showing potential as a quorum quenching agent. This enzyme inhibits quorum sensing processes and can efficiently synthesize AHLs, highlighting its potential for the development of new antimicrobials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shu-Ping Zou, Xin Han, Han-Yue Zhu, Qi Sheng, Heng Tang, Zhi-Qiang Liu, Yu-Guo Zheng
Summary: This study demonstrated the functional expression of Echinocandin B deacylase (ECBD) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) for the first time, using peptide tags to enhance solubility. Optimal pH and temperature conditions were determined through culture optimization. These results can serve as a reference for the high-level expression of other deacylases in a possible industrial application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chun-Yue Weng, Chao-Er Wang, Wei-Bang Xie, Shen-Yuan Xu, Ya-Jun Wang, Yu-Guo Zheng
Summary: This study compared the proteomics of Actinoplanes utahensis ZJB-03852 grown on various saccharides, highlighting the importance of key proteins in acarbose and its analogues formation. The abundance of acarbose synthesis proteins was highest in medium containing mixed glucose and maltose, and the cyclitol moiety of acarbose was derived from the pentose phosphate pathway. These findings provide fundamental data on the complexity of acarbose analogues formation.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Zhao, Wanqian Guo, Haichao Luo, Chuanming Xing, Huazhe Wang, Banghai Liu, Qishi Si, Denian Li, Lushi Sun, Nanqi Ren
Summary: The fate of antibiotics in activated sludge was studied in this research. Results show that removal mechanisms differ between sulfadiazine (SDZ) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs). Protein-like substance and P450 enzymes were found to play vital roles in the adsorption and degradation of sulfonamides, respectively. Additionally, different removal efficiencies of sulfonamides were analyzed based on steric and electronic effects, providing insights into self-protection mechanisms of activated sludge against chronic toxicities of antibiotics.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xin Pan, Lei Xu, Yaru Li, Sihua Wu, Yong Wu, Wenping Wei
Summary: This paper systematically reviews the strategies adopted in the past 20 years to improve the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics through adjusting enzymatic properties and manipulating the reaction system. These strategies include enzyme mining, protein engineering, solvent engineering, in situ product removal, and one-pot reaction cascade. These advances provide important guidelines for future industrial production of beta-lactam antibiotics using enzymatic synthesis.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amal M. Al-Mohaimeed, Arshad Mehmood Abbasi, M. Ajmal Ali, D. S. Deepa Dhas
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that Lactobacillus fermentum LA6 showed better degradation ability for oxytetracycline compared to other strains. By optimizing GST production and environmental conditions, the degradation efficiency of oxytetracycline was improved. Immobilized Lactobacillus fermentum LA6 was able to enhance the degradation of oxytetracycline in wastewater, providing an effective method for antibiotic removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ke Jing, Ying Li, Chi Yao, Chenxue Jiang, Jing Li
Summary: Antibiotics in natural surface waters have harmful effects on aquatic organisms. Stream biofilms, consisting of algae, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, can serve as biological indicators for detecting antibiotics in polluted aquatic environments. However, the potential of stream biofilms for antibiotic biotransformation has not been fully explored. Recent studies have shown that exposure to both high and sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics can promote the development of antibiotic resistance genes in stream biofilms. This review explores the distribution behavior of antibiotics in stream biofilms and their contribution to antibiotic resistance acquisition and spread.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
David M. Kennes-Veiga, Alba Trueba-Santiso, Valentina Gallardo-Garay, Sabela Balboa, Marta Carballa, Juan M. Lema
Summary: This study investigated the impact of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on microbial activities and enzymatic expression in activated sludge. Metaproteomic analysis showed that SMX slightly affected the microbial community structure, with an enhanced activity of the genus Corynebacterium at increased SMX concentrations. These findings suggest a potential role of Corynebacterium in mitigating SMX risks in bioreactors.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Heting Fang, Akashdeep Singh Oberoi, Zhiqing He, Samir Kumar Khanal, Hui Lu
Summary: A CIP-degrading bacterial strain, Paraclostridium sp., was isolated from SRB-enriched sludge and optimized for maximum CIP removal. The study investigated the pathway and kinetics of CIP removal, proposing biotransformation reactions catalyzed by cytochrome P450 and dehydrogenases. The findings could aid in developing bioaugmentation strategy for treating CIP-laden wastewater.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yuhao Chu, Shengnan Li, Peng Xie, Xi Chen, Xue Li, Shih-Hsin Ho
Summary: This study investigates the removal of tetracycline (TET), sulfathiazole (STZ), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) by Chlorella sorokiniana at different concentrations and finds that microalgae have a concentration-dependent effect on antibiotic removal. TET shows nearly 100% removal efficiency at any concentration. High concentrations of STZ inhibit microalgal photosynthesis and induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to antioxidant damage and reduced removal efficiency. On the other hand, CIP enhances the ability of microalgae to remove CIP by inducing a dual peroxidase and cytochrome P450 enzyme response. Economic analysis shows that microalgae treatment of antibiotics is cheaper compared to other microalgae water treatment processes.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xuemei Lin, Ulrich Kueck
Summary: Antibiotics are effective in inhibiting bacterial growth without harming the host. Beta-lactams, such as cephalosporins, play a crucial role in treating infections. However, the increasing antibiotic resistance crisis has prompted the pharmaceutical industry to search for new antibacterial drugs. This review provides an overview of the development and current status of therapeutic applications for beta-lactams, focusing on semi-synthetic cephalosporins.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qingxian Su, Shujuan Huang, Hui Zhang, Zongsu Wei, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study investigated the abiotic transformations of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by intermediates produced during biological nitrogen removal processes, including hydroxylamine (NH2OH), nitrite (NO2-), and nitric oxide (NO). The results showed that while NH2OH was not directly able to transform SMX, NO2- and NO could chemically transform SMX through various reactions. The study also determined the rate constants of SMX with NO2- and NO under different pH and oxygen conditions. The findings enhance our understanding of antibiotic fate during biological nitrogen removal and emphasize the role of reactive nitrogen species in antibiotic degradation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ismene Serino, Giuseppe Squillaci, Sara Errichiello, Virginia Carbone, Lidia Baraldi, Francesco La Cara, Alessandra Morana
Summary: This study reports on the production, characterization, and antioxidant power assessment of carotenoids from the haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis. The microorganism produced carotenoids under different growth conditions, with the highest yield observed in fructose medium. Bacterioruberin was identified as the main carotenoid, showing superior antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase activities. This research provides valuable resources for the search of natural antioxidants in the food and cosmetic industries.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claude Kiki, Azhar Rashid, Yiqing Zhang, Xi Li, Tian-Yuan Chen, Adenike Bernice Eloise Adeoye, Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Qian Sun
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between Chlorella vulgaris microalgae and four antibiotics. The results showed that the mixture of antibiotics inhibited algal growth, but had higher removal efficiency compared to single antibiotics. The study also found that C. vulgaris has the potential to be used in antibiotic removal.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhen Yan, Bin Huang, Kai Yang, Richmond Anaman, Charles Amanze, Jing Jin, Hongbo Zhou, Guanzhou Qiu, Weimin Zeng
Summary: In this study, a combinatorial directed evolution strategy was employed to obtain new Penicillin G acylase (PGA) mutants with outstanding performances. The best mutant 8F24G/8W154G showed a significant increase in specific activity and synthesis/hydrolysis ratio compared to the wild-type PGA. This mutant could efficiently synthesize amoxicillin, cefadroxil, and ampicillin with high conversion rates and minimal secondary hydrolysis byproducts. Molecular dynamics simulation and substrate pocket calculation revealed the structural basis for the improved performance of this mutant.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Rabuffetti, Pietro Cannazza, Martina Letizia Contente, Andrea Pinto, Diego Romano, Pilar Hoyos, Andres R. Alcantara, Ivano Eberini, Tommaso Laurenzi, Louise Gourlay, Flavio Di Pisa, Francesco Molinari
Summary: Through structural analysis and computational studies, the research revealed the excellent activity and stereoselectivity of KRED1-Pglu in monoreduction, providing new feasibility for its application as a biocatalyst. After identifying the interaction elements between KRED1-Pglu and bulky diketones, a proposed reaction mechanism and substrate reactivity predictions were made.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Francesca Annunziata, Alessandra Guaglio, Paola Conti, Lucia Tamborini, Raffaella Gandolfi
Summary: Immobilized whole cells of Rhodotorula rubra MIM147 were used in a packed bed flow reactor for enantioselective reduction of beta-ketonitriles and efficient production of a key building block for the synthesis of the antidepressant drug duloxetine. A choline chloride-glucose natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was employed as a co-solvent and glucose source for cofactor regeneration, with an in-line purification procedure developed. The optimized protocol allowed the obtainment of (S)-beta-hydroxynitriles with >95% conversion and excellent enantiomeric excess in 80 minutes of residence time.
Article
Polymer Science
Cesare Rovera, Simone Luti, Luigia Pazzagli, Ellen L. Heeley, Chaoying Wan, Diego Romano, Stefano Farris
Summary: The study investigated the effect of expansin-like cerato-platanin protein as a pre-treatment for enzymatic hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose. Higher concentrations of the protein hindered the hydrolysis process, leading to lower content of cellobiose and glucose. This anomalous behavior of cerato platanin family members contrasts with their positive effects on plant-derived cellulose.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andres Andreo-Vidal, Elisa Binda, Victor Fedorenko, Flavia Marinelli, Oleksandr Yushchuk
Summary: The global health security is challenged by the spread of antimicrobial resistance, affecting even glycopeptide antibiotics. Research has shown that GPA resistance determinants can be found not only in GPA producers, but also in non-producers, indicating a co-evolution of different vlgs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Raffaella Gandolfi, Giorgio Facchetti, Lucia Cavalca, Stefania Mazzini, Milena Colombo, Giulia Coffetti, Gigliola Borgonovo, Leonardo Scaglioni, Sarah Zecchin, Isabella Rimoldi
Summary: The recycling of heavy metal contaminants from wastewater as a source of valuable products perfectly fits with the principles of a Circular Economy system. Biosorption using EPSs produced by bacterial cells is a sustainable and efficient method for removing metal cations from wastewater. Different strains of bacteria were tested for their ability to sequester copper, and the copper chelates obtained were successfully used as catalysts in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oleksandr Yushchuk, Kseniia Zhukrovska, Francesca Berini, Victor Fedorenko, Flavia Marinelli
Summary: Glycopeptide antibiotics, such as dalbaheptides, are produced by soil-dwelling actinobacteria and are used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. The glycosylation of dalbaheptides is a crucial enzymatic modification process that confers specific biological activities. Understanding the genetics and enzymology behind this process may lead to the development of novel glycosylated antibiotics.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pilar Hoyos, Almudena Perona, Teodora Bavaro, Francesca Berini, Flavia Marinelli, Marco Terreni, Maria J. Hernaiz
Summary: Molecules with carbohydrate moieties are important in fighting bacterial and viral infections, making the design of new carbohydrate-containing drugs or vaccines a topic of great interest. Conventional chemical synthesis methods for these compounds face challenges, and the search for sustainable processes using biocatalysts and eco-friendly solvents is vital. Enzymes have become preferred catalysts in glycochemistry and glycobiology, and their use in synthesizing carbohydrate-based drugs has grown rapidly in recent years. This field represents an example of how biocatalysis can contribute to the development of glycan-based therapies and the fight against antibiotic resistance.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Francesca Berini, Viviana Orlandi, Rosalba Gornati, Giovanni Bernardini, Flavia Marinelli
Summary: The spread of antibiotic resistance poses a threat to human health, leading to increased research on alternative antibacterial treatments. This review surveys the use of nanoparticles as carriers for frontline antibiotics in combating multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, focusing on glycopeptide antibiotics and daptomycin. The study highlights the potential of nanoantibiotics in countering biofilm-associated infections and critically reviews the toxicity of these formulations.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Francesca Annunziata, Martina L. Contente, Valentina Anzi, Silvia Donzella, Paola Conti, Francesco Molinari, Piera Anna Martino, Gabriele Meroni, Valerio Massimo Sora, Lucia Tamborini, Andrea Pinto
Summary: This study synthesized a collection of nature-inspired lipophilic phenolic esters using immobilized lipase in cyclopentyl methyl ether. The obtained compounds showed enhanced lipophilicity compared to the parent non-esterified compounds, making them potential additives in the food industry.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Oleksandr Yushchuk, Elisa Binda, Victor Fedorenko, Flavia Marinelli
Summary: This study identified new classes of bacteria, including Erysipelotrichia, Ktedonobacteria, and Anaerolineae, that carry van genes, in addition to the Actinobacteria phylum. The discovery of these bacteria carrying van genes provides insights into the possible routes of van gene dissemination. The study also proposes a phylogeny-based scenario for the spread of van genes, revealing a network of horizontal gene transfer events.
Article
Entomology
Aurora Montali, Francesca Berini, Alessio Saviane, Silvia Cappellozza, Flavia Marinelli, Gianluca Tettamanti
Summary: The overuse of antibiotics has led to the widespread issue of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the importance of discovering new anti-infective molecules. Invertebrate models, such as the silkworm, show promise as alternatives for testing novel antibiotics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oleksandr Yushchuk, Kseniia Zhukrovska, Bohdan Ostash, Victor Fedorenko, Flavia Marinelli
Summary: Glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) are successful antimicrobials that inhibit cell-wall biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria. Self-resistance genes in GPA producers are the primary source of GPA resistance genes spreading among pathogenic bacteria. The role of Tei3 sensor histidine kinase in GPA resistance in Actinoplanes teichomyceticus has been intensively studied and a possible co-evolution scenario for GPA-resistance and biosynthetic genes in A. teichomyceticus has been proposed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Melissa Bisaccia, Elisa Binda, Elena Rosini, Gabriella Caruso, Ombretta Dell'Acqua, Maurizio Azzaro, Pasqualina Lagana, Gabriella Tedeschi, Elisa M. Maffioli, Loredano Pollegioni, Flavia Marinelli
Summary: Microbial communities in the Antarctic Ocean have adapted to cold and salty environments, producing enzymes with unique properties that can be used in biotechnology and bioremediation. These enzymes offer cost reduction, contaminant reduction, and simplified pretreatment. This study identified a laccase enzyme from a marine Antarctic bacterium that is tolerant to temperature, salt, and organic solvents.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andres Andreo-Vidal, Oleksandr Yushchuk, Flavia Marinelli, Elisa Binda
Summary: In this study, the cross-talk between CSRGs in tei and dbv was investigated by knocking out and heterologous expression in A. teichomyceticus and N. gerenzanensis. It was found that Tei15* and Dbv4 StrR-like PSRs, although orthologous, were not completely interchangeable. However, Tei16* and Dbv3 were able to complement each other. Additionally, heterologous expression of dbv3 in A. teichomyceticus led to a significant increase in teicoplanin production. These findings provide insights into the regulation of GPA biosynthesis and offer new biotechnological tools for improving their production.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pilar Hoyos, Almudena Perona, Teodora Bavaro, Francesca Berini, Flavia Marinelli, Marco Terreni, Maria J. Hernaiz
Summary: Molecules with carbohydrate moieties play essential roles in fighting bacterial and viral infections, driving the design of new carbohydrate-containing drugs or vaccines. Traditional methods to produce these compounds face challenges, highlighting the importance of finding sustainable production processes.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shibin Zhao, Julian Maceren, Mia Chung, Samantha Stone, Raphael Geiben, Melissa L. Boby, Bradley S. Sherborne, Derek S. Tan
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to public health, with Gram-negative bacteria presenting unique challenges due to their low permeability and efflux pumps. Limited understanding of the chemical rules for overcoming these barriers hinders antibacterial drug discovery. Efforts to address this issue, such as screening compound libraries and using cheminformatic analysis, have led to the design of sulfamidoadenosines with diverse substituents, showing potential utility in accumulation in Escherichia coli.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jichun Li, Qing Li, Shuai Xia, Jiahuang Tu, Longbo Zheng, Qian Wang, Shibo Jiang, Chao Wang
Summary: This study successfully developed a short peptide mimetic as a MERS-CoV fusion inhibitor by reproducing the key recognition features of the HR2 helix. The resulting 23-mer lipopeptide showed comparable inhibitory effect to the 36-mer HR2 peptide HR2P-M2. This has important implications for developing short peptide-based antiviral agents to treat MERS-CoV infection.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Krista Jaunsleine, Linda Supe, Jana Spura, Sten van Beek, Anna Sandstrom, Jessica Olsen, Carina Halleskog, Tore Bengtsson, Ilga Mutule, Benjamin Pelcman
Summary: Beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists can stimulate glucose uptake by skeletal muscle cells and are therefore potential treatments for type 2 diabetes. The chirality of compounds has a significant impact on the activity of these agonists. This study found that certain synthesized compounds showed higher glucose uptake activity. These findings provide important information for the design of novel beta(2)AR agonists for T2D treatment.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Xin Xu, Jia Chen, Guan Wang, Xiaojuan Zhang, Qiang Li, Xiaobo Zhou, Fengying Guo, Min Li
Summary: The study focuses on EZH2, a promising therapeutic target for various types of cancers. Researchers designed and synthesized a series of novel derivatives aiming to enhance the EZH2 inhibition activity. Among them, compound 28 displayed potent EZH2 inhibition activity and showed high anti-proliferative effects in lymphoma cell lines and xenograft mouse models. The study suggests that compound 28 has potential as a therapeutic candidate for EZH2-associated cancers.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Wei Zhang, Wei Liu, Ya-Dong Zhao, Li-Zi Xing, Ji Xu, Rui-Jun Li, Yun-Xiao Zhang
Summary: This study developed a series of aromatic amide derivatives based on Rhein and investigated their inhibitory activity against alpha-Syn aggregation. Two of these compounds showed promising potential in treating Parkinson's disease by stabilizing alpha-Syn's conformation and disassembling alpha-Syn oligomers and fibrils.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mani Sharma, S. S. S. S. Sudha Ambadipudi, Neeraj Kumar Chouhan, V. Lakshma Nayak, Srihari Pabbaraja, Sai Balaji Andugulapati, Ramakrishna Sistla
Summary: Therapeutically active lipids in drug delivery systems can enhance the safety and efficacy of treatment. The liposome formulation created using synthesized biologically active lipids showed additive anti-cancer effects and reduced tumorigenic potential.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2024)
