Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Raphael J. Baumgartner, Siyu Hu, Sven Petersen, Sheng-Ao Liu, Dandan Li, Marcus Kunzmann
Summary: This study investigates the zinc and copper stable isotope characteristics in metalliferous seafloor sediments from the Atlantis II Deep in the Red Sea. The results show enrichment of light stable isotopes in the sediments compared to the hydrothermal inputs, indicating sulfide deposition as the main driver of isotope fractionation. The study suggests that zinc and copper stable isotopes can provide valuable information about metal sourcing and accumulation processes in similar paleoenvironments.
Review
Microbiology
Dominik Renn, Lera Shepard, Alexandra Vancea, Ram Karan, Stefan T. Arold, Magnus Rueping
Summary: The deep-sea brine pools in the Red Sea harbor rich microbial communities with extremozymes, enzymes adapted to harsh environments, which have great biotechnological potential for various industrial applications.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barak Herut, Maxim Rubin-Blum, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yitzhak Jacobson, Or M. Bialik, Tal Ozer, Muhedeen Ajibola Lawal, Asaf Giladi, Mor Kanari, Gilad Antler, Yizhaq Makovsky
Summary: This study discovered new brine pools in the ultraoligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea using geophysical analysis and seafloor surveying. The composition of these pools, including salinity and chemical composition, was analyzed, and possible formation processes were proposed.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammed H. Aljahdali
Summary: The study demonstrates a general decline in coccolith abundance in deep brine pool sites in the northern Red Sea, potentially related to carbonate dissolution, suspended particles, and deep-sea flow currents. It also highlights areas with elevated nutrient conditions supporting diverse coccolith assemblages, contrasting with oligotrophic conditions in other regions.
ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Laila Ziko, Omnia AbdelRaheem, Marina Nabil, Ramy K. Aziz, Rania Siam
Summary: In this study, two clones with antibacterial and anticancer effects were identified through screening of DNA from marine environments. These clones showed promising antibacterial activity against challenging bacterial strains and also exhibited inhibitory effects on cancer cells. Additionally, potential proteases and biosynthetic genes were detected. Therefore, searching for new molecules in extreme marine environments is of great importance.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ali H. A. Elbehery, Elisabeth Beason, Rania Siam
Summary: This study reports antibiotic resistance in pristine Red Sea deep brine pools, with tetracycline and macrolide resistance being the most abundant. The abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) increased with the level of human impact, with the lowest levels in pristine Red Sea samples. Additionally, mobile antibiotic resistance genes were found in the Atlantis II brine pool.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sam J. Purkis, Hannah Shernisky, Peter K. Swart, Arash Sharifi, Amanda Oehlert, Fabio Marchese, Francesca Benzoni, Giovanni Chimienti, Gaelle Duchatellier, James Klaus, Gregor P. Eberli, Larry Peterson, Andrew Craig, Mattie Rodrigue, Juergen Titschack, Graham Kolodziej, Ameer Abdulla
Summary: The sedimentary signals of climatic and tectonic events are well-preserved in the hypersaline environment of brine pools discovered in the Gulf of Aqaba. These pools, famous for their extremophile microbes, provide a unique preservation environment for sedimentary sequences. By conducting bathymetric and geophysical observations, as well as sediment coring and brine sampling, researchers have identified a complex of brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba that can preserve stratigraphy spanning at least 1200 years and contain a combination of turbidites and tsunamigenic terrestrial sediment.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos Angulo-Preckler, Alexandra Steckbauer, Isabel Armelles, Susana Agusti, Mattie Rodrigue, Vincent Pieribone, Mohammad Qurban, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: Observations are crucial in exploring and understanding the ocean. The Red Sea Decade Expedition reported three observations of Firoloida desmarestia, a shell-less mollusk, for the first time in the Red Sea, indicating a global distribution for this species. The observations suggest a depth range expansion and raise questions about the species' behavior and vertical migrations. A literature search was conducted to understand the global distribution and ecological significance of this species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elin A. Thomas, Aoife Molloy, Nova B. Hanson, Monika Boehm, Mary Seddon, Julia D. Sigwart
Summary: The study shows that 62% of molluscs endemic to hydrothermal vents are under threat, with some species fully protected while others facing threats from deep-sea mining. The relative threat index highlights greater risks at vent fields in the Indian Ocean, while vent sites within established marine protected areas have a higher proportion of species assessed as Least Concern.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Naif S. Aljohani, Yasar N. Kavil, Puthuveetil Razak Shanas, Radwan K. Al-Farawati, Ibrahim I. Shabbaj, Nasser H. Aljohani, Adnan J. Turki, Mohamed Abdel Salam
Summary: This study examined the environmental impacts of brine and thermal discharge from seawater desalination plants in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and proposed strategies for better planning and management of desalination technologies. The study found that the dispersion of wastewater was rapid in the study region and that the current and wind caused the discharges to spread in certain directions during different seasons.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sofia Frappi, Collin Williams, Nicolas Pilcher, Mattie Rodrigue, Paul Marshall, Vincent Pieribone, Mohammed Qurban, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: Understanding the vertical distribution and ecological dynamics of elasmobranch species is crucial for effective conservation strategies. Previous studies focused on horizontal extent and movement patterns with limited knowledge of their vertical distribution. Advancements in technology now allow for direct observation of deep-sea animals, contributing to improved understanding of their ecological and trophic niches. This study reports new depth records for elasmobranch species in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea and provides evidence of feeding behavior.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
M. Clara Modenesi, J. Carlos Santamarina
Summary: This article focuses on the formation and properties of sediment accumulations in the central deeps of the Red Sea, with a particular emphasis on hydrothermal metalliferous sediments. These sediments exhibit unique characteristics and have significant implications in engineering and mining operations. The study highlights the need to carefully account for the extreme properties of hydrothermal sediments during field studies and resource assessment.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Pinte, Constance Coubris, Emma Jones, Jerome Mallefet
Summary: The study of deep-sea sharks' muscle metabolism revealed differences in aerobic enzyme activities between deep-sea and shallow-water sharks, potentially impacting their swimming speeds.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Barbara Speranza, Antonio Bevilacqua, Angela Racioppo, Daniela Campaniello, Milena Sinigaglia, Maria Rosaria Corbo
Summary: This study aimed to design marinated sea bream fillets inoculated with either Lactiplantibacillus plantarum or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, optimized the brine composition, and evaluated the viability of strains and sensory scores. Strains showed high viability throughout storage, while sensory scores peaked at 4 days, with a preference for oil conditioning solution. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis was slightly more preferred in sensory assessment.
Article
Oncology
Youssef T. Abdou, Sheri M. Saleeb, Khaled M. A. Abdel-Raouf, Mohamed Allam, Mustafa Adel, Asma Amleh
Summary: Drug resistance is a major problem in cancer treatment, and novel drugs with low toxicity and high selectivity are needed. Peptide-based drugs have shown promise in addressing these issues due to their specificity and anticancer activity. In this study, a novel 37-mer antimicrobial peptide was identified through a support vector machine model and further modified to enhance its anticancer activity. The modified peptide showed significant reduction in cell viability and morphology changes in hepatocellular and ovarian cancer cells, with minimal effect on cervical cancer cells. It also exhibited antimicrobial effects on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These findings highlight the potential of the novel peptide as a potent anticancer and antimicrobial agent.
Article
Microbiology
Liliam K. Harada, Erica C. Silva, Fernando P. N. Rossi, Basilio Cieza, Thais J. Oliveira, Carla Pereira, Geizecler Tomazetto, Bianca B. Silva, Fabio M. Squina, Marta M. D. C. Vila, Joao C. Setubal, Taekjip Ha, Aline M. da Silva, Victor M. Balcao
Summary: In this study, two lytic phages that infect multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and characterized. Increasing the multiplicity of infection (MOI) significantly improved phage efficiency and delayed bacterial regrowth. Neither of the phages carried toxin, virulence, antibiotic resistance, or integrase genes. These findings are highly relevant in the context of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Natalia Nakamura-Gouvea, Cicero Alves-Lima, Luiz Felipe Benites, Cintia Iha, Vinicius Maracaja-Coutinho, Victor Aliaga-Tobar, Marcella Carneiro, Nair S. Yokoya, Eliane Marinho-Soriano, Marcia A. S. Graminha, Jonas Collen, Mariana C. Oliveira, Joao C. Setubal, Pio Colepicolo
Summary: This study presents the de novo genome assembly and annotation of Gracilaria domingensis, a red macroalgae known for agar production. The nuclear genome has 78 Mbp with a total of 11,437 predicted coding genes, including 4,075 novel genes. Noncoding RNAs were also predicted, and the genome structures of plastid and mitochondrion were obtained. Genes related to agar synthesis and ascorbate synthesis were identified. This genome sequence of G. domingensis is the first of its kind in the tropical and Western Atlantic region, making it valuable for phycological and aquacultural research.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jose S. L. Patane, Leandro M. Moreira, Marcus de Melo Teixeira, Joaquim Martins Jr, Joao C. Setubal, Alessandro M. Varani
Summary: Plant natriuretic peptide-like (PNP) is a signaling molecule related to stress responses in plants, and it can also be found in plant pathogens and agricultural pests, playing important roles in inter-species transmission and interaction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vinicius Marquioni, Fernando Pacheco Nobre Rossi, Deborah Cezar Mendonca, Layla Farage Martins, Franklin Behlau, Joao Carlos Setubal, Aline Maria da Silva, Maria Teresa Marques Novo-Mansur
Summary: Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that affects citrus crops worldwide. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a new jumbo phage, LucasX, which can infect Xanthomonas citri and X. fuscans. LucasX has a large genome and shows potential as a biocontrol agent for citrus canker.
Article
Oncology
Vinicius Ferreira da Paixao, Omar Julio Sosa, Diogo Vieira da Silva Pellegrina, Bianca Dazzani, Thalita Bueno Correa, Ester Riserio Bertoldi, Luis Bruno da Cruz e Alves-de-Moraes, Diogo de Oliveira Pessoa, Victoria de Paiva Oliveira, Ricardo Alberto Chiong Zevallos, Lilian Cristina Russo, Fabio Luis Forti, Joao Eduardo Ferreira, Helano Carioca Freitas, Jose Jukemura, Marcel Cerqueira Cesar Machado, Maria Dirlei Begnami, Joao Carlos Setubal, Daniela Sanchez Basseres, Eduardo Moraes Reis
Summary: Transcriptome analysis of PDAC identified numerous lncRNAs, with some showing significant associations with patient outcomes. Knockdown of certain lncRNAs led to reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Gene co-expression network analysis revealed associations between deregulated lncRNAs and various biological processes, such as cell adhesion and DNA repair, with potential implications for therapeutic development.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luis Antonio Rodriguez Carnero, Andreia Kuramoto, Lea Campos de Oliveira, Jhonatas Sirino Monteiro, Joao Carlos Setubal, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Ester Cerdeira Sabino, Ricardo Jose Giordano
Summary: This study used the gPhage platform to compare antigens and antibodies before and after treatment in 20 patients with chronic Chagas disease. The results showed a decrease in antibody levels and recognition of specific antigens after treatment. The gPhage data correlated with patient PCR-status and could predict patient response to treatment. In conclusion, the use of the gPhage platform contributes to the development of novel diagnostic tools for Chagas disease.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nitin K. Singh, Jason M. Wood, Jose Patane, Livia Maria Silva Moura, Jonathan Lombardino, Joao Carlos Setubal, Kasthuri Venkateswaran
Summary: In this study, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were generated to analyze the microbial diversity and functional properties of the International Space Station (ISS) environment. The results showed that ISS samples contained 18 bacterial species and 4 fungal genomes. The study revealed evolution of microbes in space, enrichment of genes related to cell membranes, and higher prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in certain bacteria. Comparative analysis indicated that Pantoea/Kalamiella strains are more susceptible to microgravity changes. These findings contribute to understanding microbial evolution under microgravity and radiation pressure.
Article
Cell Biology
Myret Ghabriel, Ahmed El Hosseiny, Ahmed Moustafa, Asma Amleh
Summary: This study identified six members of the proteasome degradation system as potential stemness-related markers in mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) derived from different tissues. The gene expression profile of these markers accurately validated the identity of MSCs across various tissue sources. Furthermore, a possible connection between these markers and antioxidant enzymes in MSC antioxidant defense system suggests their potential role in prolonging the lifespan of MSCs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alex Inague, Lilian Costa Alecrim, Jhonatas Sirino Monteiro, Marcos Yukio Yoshinaga, Joao Carlos Setubal, Sayuri Miyamoto, Ricardo Jose Giordano
Summary: By analyzing the lipid composition of the mouse retina, this study found that pathological angiogenesis leads to lipid remodeling and affects retinal homeostasis. The identified lipid signature could contribute to a better understanding of retinal diseases that cause vision impairment or blindness.
Article
Microbiology
Bruno C. Boettger, Carlos M. Piroupo, Joao C. Setubal, Raquel Girardello, Antonio C. C. Pignatari
Summary: This study describes a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying multiple resistance genes and plasmids of different types. This strain poses a potential threat to hospital-acquired infections.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Marcele Laux, Carlos Morais Piroupo, Joao Carlos Setubal, Alessandra Giani
Summary: Two Raphidiopsis raciborskii metagenome-assembled genomes were recovered from Pampulha Lake in Brazil, and the analysis revealed differences in the presence of saxitoxin gene cluster and genome size between the two genomes. The study also found geographic origin to be a factor affecting the conservation level of essential gene repertoire, indicating distinct evolutionary history based on geographical isolation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Analia Carrau, Josefina Tano, Laura Moyano, Maria Belen Ripa, Silvana Petrocelli, Laura Piskulic, Leandro Marcio Moreira, Jose Salvatore Leister Patane, Joao Carlos Setubal, Elena Graciela Orellano
Summary: Plant-pathogen interaction is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and light. This study shows that the bluf2 gene in Xcc bacterium regulates various aspects of virulence processes, including motility, adhesion, exopolysaccharide production, and biofilm formation. It also regulates ROS detoxification, which plays a role in the plant's response to infection. This is the first report on BLUF-like receptors in plant pathogenic bacteria.
PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Momtchilo Russo, Maria Cassia Mendes-Correa, Bruna B. Lins, Victor Kersten, Paulo C. A. Pernambuco, Toni Ricardo Martins, Tania Regina Tozetto-Mendoza, Lucy Santos Vilas Boas, Brisa Moreira Gomes, Livia Mendonca Munhoz Dati, Amaro Nunes Duarte-Neto, Gustavo Roncoli Reigado, Ana Beatriz T. Frederico, Danielle R. de A. Cunha, Anderson Vicente de Paula, Jose Igor G. da Silva, Carlos F. Moreira Vasconcelos, Felipe S. Chambergo, Viviane Abreu Nunes, Ana Paula Dinis Ano Bom, Leda R. Castilho, Rodrigo A. P. Martins, Mario Hiroyuki Hirata, Luciana Mirotti, Ralph A. Tripp
Summary: Mucosal vaccination is effective in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intranasal administration of a liposomal vaccine containing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and an adjuvant showed no toxicity and provided efficient protection in mice. Intranasal vaccination induced higher levels of neutralizing antibodies and IgA titers, and demonstrated efficacy against different variants of concern. Compared to intramuscular vaccination, intranasal administration resulted in better lung clearance of the virus and higher antibody production. The intranasal liposomal formulation also enhanced heterologous immunity induced by previous vaccination.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Bruna Leticia de Freitas-Marchi, Jeniffer Farias dos Santos, Gustavo Roncoli Reigado, Myrian Thiago Pruschinski Fernandes, Felipe Santiago Chambergo Alcalde, Carla Roberta de Oliveira Carvalho, Viviane Abreu Nunes
Summary: The extract of Uncaria tomentosa exhibited cell protective effects against PA lipotoxicity and ROS generation in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Valeria Maia Oliveira, Fernando Dini Andreote, Patricia Cardoso Cortelo, Ian Castro-Gamboa, Leticia Costa-Lotufo, Maria de Lourdes T. M. Polizeli, Otavio H. Thiemann, Joao Carlos Setubal
Summary: This survey presents the results of projects funded by FAPESP under the BIOTA-Microorganisms program, including the discovery of novel antibacterial microorganisms and the characterization of microbial enzymes for industrial applications. The results highlight the importance of microorganisms in human activities and their potential in biotechnological applications in the 21st century.