Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Olga Martzoukou, Diomi Mamma, Dimitris G. Hatzinikolaou
Summary: Microbial desulfurization is being extensively studied as a promising alternative to chemical desulfurization process, and an optimized culture medium has been reported here to alleviate the repression of catalytic activity caused by ubiquitous sulfur sources, thus making biodesulfurization more economically sustainable. This work represents a step towards the development of a more viable commercial biodesulfurization process.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Agustina Meringer, Andres S. Liffourrena, Romina M. Heredia, Gloria I. Lucchesi, Paola S. Boeris
Summary: The biosorbent composed of non-viable Pseudomonas putida trapped in agar beads showed good adsorption capacities for Cu2+ and Zn2+, with even better performance when biomass was present. The adsorption of metals varied in mixed-metal solutions with different ratios, with higher adsorption for the metal in greater proportion. The removal percentage remained around 60% under all conditions, and the column could be reused without significant alterations in adsorption capacity throughout multiple cycles.
JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cholpisit Kiattisewee, Chen Dong, Jason Fontana, Widianti Sugianto, Pamela Peralta-Yahya, James M. Carothers, Jesse G. Zalatan
Summary: This study successfully transferred the CRISPRa system to P. putida by optimizing the expression levels of CRISPRa system components and applying rules based on systematic characterization of promoter features, enabling regulation of biosynthesis in the biopterin and mevalonate pathways. Multiple genes can be activated simultaneously by targeting multiple promoters or a single promoter in a multi-gene operon, paving the way for new metabolic engineering strategies in P. putida and other bacterial species.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Igor Martinez, Magdy El-Said Mohamed, Jose Luis Garcia, Eduardo Diaz
Summary: A synthetic DBT mineralization pathway has been engineered in recombinant cells, enabling efficient biodesulfurization of thiophenic compounds and crude oil. This novel approach overcomes the inhibitory effect of 2HBP and shows a significant increase in DBT removal, making it a promising candidate for future bioremediation and bioconversion strategies for oil-contaminated sites.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Olga Martzoukou, Sotiris Amillis, Panayiotis D. D. Glekas, Dimitra Breyanni, Margaritis Avgeris, Andreas Scorilas, Dimitris Kekos, Michalis Pachnos, George Mavridis, Diomi Mamma, Dimitris G. G. Hatzinikolaou
Summary: In this study, an advanced biocatalyst with three genetic modifications was constructed, which showed high biodesulfurization activities and could be produced in a simple and low-cost medium without the need for antibiotics. Transcript level quantification confirmed the effects of genetic engineering approaches on the mRNA ratios of recombinant strains and revealed a gene-specific differential increase in mRNA levels. These findings can potentially pave the way for economically viable biodesulfurization processes through further strain and process optimization.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yunxia Li, Wei Zhu, Yan Jiang, Duncan James Lessing, Weihua Chu
Summary: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease caused by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota. This study suggests using synthetic bacterial consortia transplantation (SBCT) as a potential treatment for BV induced by Gardnerella vaginalis. The results showed that SBCT reduced tissue damage, restored the vaginal microbiota, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and suppressed inflammation-related gene expression. However, vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) was more effective in suppressing G. vaginalis-induced inflammation. Overall, synthetic bacterial consortia have the potential to be used as a biotherapeutic agent for the treatment of G. vaginalis-induced BV.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. J. Toribio, F. Suarez-Estrella, M. M. Jurado, J. A. Lopez-Gonzalez, M. R. Martinez-Gallardo, M. J. Lopez
Summary: This study focused on the establishment of consortia using heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria and their effectiveness in the development of tomato seedlings. The results showed that certain microbial combinations can promote plant growth, with a particularly significant effect on aerial development.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Ion Santra, Urna Basu, Sanjib Sabhapandit
Summary: This study investigates four distinct dynamical regimes of active Brownian motion in two dimensions, characterized by the presence of two timescales set by the rotational diffusion constant and the reversal rate. Analytical computation of position distribution and persistence exponents reveals that in regime II, the position distribution orthogonal to the initial orientation can be described using a scaled variable, showing nontrivial scaling behavior with a special scaling function. The exact first-passage time distribution computation demonstrates the emergence of a persistence exponent of 1 due to direction reversal in this regime.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tengfei Liu, Lixiao Ning, Chengyu Mei, Shuang Li, Lianbao Zheng, Pei Qiao, Haixia Wang, Tong Hu, Weihong Zhong
Summary: A synthetic bacterial consortium capable of efficiently degrading six priority phthalate esters (PAEs) was designed and constructed. This consortium showed efficient degradation of PAEs in both minimal inorganic salt medium (MSM) and soil. Therefore, this microbial consortium is a strong candidate for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with mixed PAE pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rafael Villar-Moreno, Sandra Tienda, Jose A. Gutierrez-Barranquero, Victor J. Carrion, Antonio de Vicente, Francisco M. Cazorla, Eva Arrebola
Summary: This study investigated the interactions between rhizospheric Pc strains and plant roots, focusing on their effects on root performance. The researchers found that PCL1606 has a better adaptation to nutrient-rich environments and forms biofilms. Additionally, PCL1601 and PCL1606 strains were well adapted to avocado roots and showed biocontrol activity against a fungal pathogen. These findings suggest that these strains could be used to construct a beneficial microbial community associated with avocado plant roots.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Antonin Cros, Gabriela Alfaro-Espinoza, Alberto De Maria, Nicolas T. Wirth, Pablo I. Nikel
Summary: We suggest that deploying synthetic metabolism tailored for biohalogenation presents a unique opportunity for economically attractive and environmentally friendly organohalide production.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ziwei Bian, Zena Zhi, Xiangchun Zhang, Yiqian Qu, Lusha Wei, Hanning Wu, Yifei Wu
Summary: In this study, six strains were combined to verify the effect of consortium strains, and it was found that consortium B showed higher emulsification and viscosity degradation ability with almost no wall adhesion. This research confirms the enhanced effect of consortium bacteria on single bacteria, facilitating the implementation of microbial enhanced oil recovery technology in the future.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria Martin-Pascual, Christos Batianis, Lyon Bruinsma, Enrique Asin-Garcia, Luis Garcia-Morales, Ruud A. Weusthuis, Richard van Kranenburg, Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos
Summary: Pseudomonas putida is a microbial chassis with great potential for industrial and environmental biotechnology, but the lack of standardization and convergence in tools and methods has led to compartmentalization and inefficient use of resources in biotechnological applications.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maria Belen Ceretta, Jose Matias Irazoqui, Maria Marta Persico, Debora Nercessian, Erika A. Wolski
Summary: Wastewater produced by textile industries is difficult to treat due to its large volume, toxicity, and variable composition. In this comprehensive study, two native bacterial consortia were found to degrade pure textile effluent without pre-treatment or the addition of nutritional sources, reducing TOC, COD, and pH. One consortium was more efficient in decolorization and COD reduction, while the other showed better performance in reducing toxicity. Diversity analysis revealed no significant loss of diversity during degradation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Enrique Asin-Garcia, Christos Batianis, Yunsong Li, James D. Fawcett, Ivar de Jong, Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos
Summary: The inclusion of biosafety strategies in strain engineering pipelines is crucial for safe-by-design bioprocesses. We developed a biocontainment strategy in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 by creating a synthetic dependency on phosphite, which enabled the strain to grow using phosphite as the sole phosphorous source. This strategy not only enhanced biosafety, but also allowed for the cultivation of P. putida under non-sterile conditions, reducing the risk of contamination.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tobias Goris, Alvaro Perez-Valero, Igor Martinez, Dong Yi, Luis Fernandez-Calleja, David San Leon, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Patricia Magadan-Corpas, Felipe Lombo, Juan Nogales
Summary: This study reviews the antiviral activity of flavonoids specific for coronaviruses and the results of computational studies targeting specific coronaviral proteins. It aims to use synthetic biology to enable the fast and customized production of valuable antiviral flavonoids by applying the latest concepts of division of labor in microbial community approaches.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Carmen Felpeto-Santero, Beatriz Galan, Jose Luis Garcia
Summary: This study successfully developed new recombinant bacteria capable of producing 11 alpha-hydroxylated steroid synthons in a single fermentation step using cholesterol or phytosterols as feedstock. This approach improves yield and simplifies the production process.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Helga Fernandez-Llamosas, Eduardo Diaz, Manuel Carmona
Summary: Efficient crop production is crucial for feeding the growing global population, with the association of bacteria with plants playing a significant role in plant health and agricultural productivity. Endophytic bacteria are commonly found in plants and often have plant growth promotion properties, although the genetic factors involved in plant colonization by these bacteria are not well understood. This study demonstrates the important role of the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP in plant colonization by the endophytic bacterium Azoarcus sp. CIB, paving the way for potential strategies to modulate the interaction between endophytes and their plant hosts.
Article
Microbiology
Dina Kacar, Librada M. Canedo, Pilar Rodriguez, Elena G. Gonzalez, Beatriz Galan, Carmen Schleissner, Stefan Leopold-Messer, Joern Piel, Carmen Cuevas, Fernando de la Calle, Jose L. Garcia
Summary: Glutarimide-containing polyketides are potent antitumoral and antimetastatic agents. New sesbanimides D, E, and F were isolated from marine alphaproteobacteria, showing strong antitumor activity. Genome sequencing revealed the presence of the sbn gene cluster responsible for sesbanimide biosynthesis.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jesus Torres-Bacete, Jose Luis Garcia, Juan Nogales
Summary: An automata regulatory system based on cell-stress mechanisms was engineered to overcome the limitations of existing gene expression systems. A synthetic phosphate-depletion library of promoters inspired by bacterial PHO starvation system was developed, showing interesting host-dependent performance and a wide strength spectrum. By fine-tuning the initial concentration of phosphate, growth phase-dependent expression of these promoters could be achieved.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alberto Rodriguez, Natalia Hernandez-Herreros, Jose L. Garcia, M. Auxiliadora Prieto
Summary: Rhodospirillum rubrum can produce H-2 from water using CO as the electron donor in a dark fermentation process. The optimal CO partial pressure for H-2 production was found to be 0.60 atm, and CO dose adaptation to bacterial growth increased productivity. A kinetic model was developed to describe the reaction under various CO partial pressure conditions.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Carmen Felpeto-Santero, Beatriz Galan, Jose Luis Garcia
Summary: A synthetic bacterial operon containing the cytochrome P450 CYP103168 and the reductase CPR64795 of the fungus Cochliobolus lunatus has been engineered into a shuttle plasmid, which was then used to transform Mycolicibacterium smegmatis mutants for efficient expression of the hydroxylating CYP system and production of hydroxylated steroids. This new approach allows for direct synthesis of hydroxylated steroidal products from cholesterol and phytosterols in a single fermentation step, offering a potential avenue for industrial-scale production of these compounds.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jose L. Garcia, Beatriz Galan
Summary: The valorisation of C1 carbon sources is a key challenge for the circular economy, whether obtained from natural or anthropogenic origins.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
David Sanz, Eduardo Diaz
Summary: In this study, it was found that the alicyclic compound cyclohexane carboxylate (CHC) is degraded through a different pathway in denitrifying bacteria compared to Rhodopseudomonas palustris. The bad-ali genes are involved in both anaerobic and aerobic degradation of CHC and are present in the genomes of various bacteria. A synthetic catabolic module was engineered to confer CHC degradation abilities to different bacterial hosts.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jose L. Garcia
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Gonzalo Durante-Rodriguez, Manuel Carmona, Eduardo Diaz
Summary: This article introduces a promising alternative, semiconductor nanoparticles (SNs), as microbial energization systems. The excited photoelectrons generated by illuminated SNs have strong reducing properties and can drive cell reduction processes and energy generation. However, the operational mechanisms of these hybrid systems are still poorly understood, and there are challenges in studying the material-microbe interface.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gabriel Hernandez-Fernandez, Miguel G. Acedos, Jose L. Garcia, Beatriz Galan
Summary: In this study, a gene called MSMEG_6561 was identified, which encodes an aldolase responsible for the transformation of 22-OH-BCN-CoA into 4-HBC precursor 3-OPA. Deletion of this gene increased the production yield of AD and avoided the production of 4-HBC as by-product. The molar yield of AD production significantly improved compared to the previously described strain.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dina Kacar, Librada M. Canedo, Pilar Rodriguez, Carmen Schleissner, Fernando de la Calle, Jose Luis Garcia, Beatriz Galan
Summary: Pederin-family polyketides, known for their extreme cytotoxic activity, are produced by various microorganisms. Research on the modification enzymes in the Lab gene cluster has led to the production of different tailored analogs of Labrenzin, contributing to the understanding of Pederin-family polyketides biosynthesis and providing tools for modifying and overproducing these anticancer drugs.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dina Kacar, Carmen Schleissner, Librada M. Canedo, Pilar Rodriguez, Fernando de la Calle, Carmen Cuevas, Beatriz Galan, Jose Luis Garcia
Summary: Pederin is a potent polyketide toxin that can cause severe skin lesions in humans after contact with certain insects. Despite extensive studies, the bacterial endosymbiont responsible for pederin production has not been isolated and cultivated. However, a marine bacterium, Labrenzia sp. PHM005, has been found to produce a similar analog of pederin called labrenzin. By cloning a synthetic pedO gene into Labrenzia sp. PHM005, pederin has been successfully produced for the first time through fermentation in the recombinant strain.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pedro Dorado-Morales, Igor Martinez, Virginia Rivero-Buceta, Eduardo Diaz, Heike Bahre, Inigo Lasa, Cristina Solano
Summary: Bacterial biofilms provide high cell density and superior adaptation, making them a promising approach for bioremediation. By promoting biofilm formation through heterologous expression of a diguanylate cyclase, Rhodococcus shows increased DBT desulfurization activity. This improved biocatalyst has potential for efficient removal of sulfur pollutants from fossil fuels.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nicolas Huber, Edgar Alberto Alcala-Orozco, Thomas Rexer, Udo Reichl, Steffen Klamt
Summary: Cell-free production systems are commonly used for synthesizing industrial chemicals and biopharmaceuticals. This study presents a model-based optimization framework for cell-free enzyme cascades, taking into account parameter uncertainties. The approach was exemplified using the synthesis of GDP-fucose, resulting in significant improvements in the process.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2024)