Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aya Takashima, Hibiki Kawano, Tomomi Ueda, Chiho Suzuki-Minakuchi, Kazunori Okada, Hideaki Nojiri
Summary: The study identified a TA system (prcA/T) that can improve the stability of unstable plasmids in P. resinovorans and E. coli strains.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Adriano Gennari, Renate Simon, Bruna Coelho de Andrade, Luis Fernando Saraiva Macedo Timmers, Vera Lucia Milani Martins, Gaby Renard, Jocelei Maria Chies, Giandra Volpato, Claucia Fernanda Volken de Souza
Summary: This study successfully produced and characterized a recombinant Kluyveromyces sp. beta-galactosidase fused to a cellulose-binding domain (CBD) for potential industrial applications. Expression assays and bioreactor scale cultures demonstrated optimal production conditions and results, highlighting the potential for sustainable industrial processes using low-cost inputs.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Stefano Camborda, Jan-Niklas Weder, Nadine Toepfer
Summary: CobraMod is a Python package for pathway-centric modification and extension of genome-scale metabolic networks. It integrates data from different metabolic pathway databases and user-curated information, and provides high quality metabolic reconstructions.
Article
Ecology
Ayush Pathak, Daniel C. Angst, Ricardo Leon-Sampedro, Alex R. Hall
Summary: Some bacterial resistance mechanisms can degrade antibiotics, potentially protecting neighboring susceptible cells. However, the effects of such mechanisms on bacterial communities of more than two species are not well understood. By conducting experiments on multispecies communities, we found that resistance in one species reduced antibiotic inhibition of other species, but the extent of benefit varied among species.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jun Feng, Huanyu Wu, Yuan Zhuang, Jiayuan Luo, Yong Chen, Yitong Wu, Jiayi Fei, Qi Shen, Zhengan Yuan, Min Chen
Summary: This study investigated the co-occurrence of colistin, ss-lactam, and carbapenem resistance in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates in Shanghai. The findings revealed the presence of a stable mcr-1.1-harboring plasmid in a colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strain, indicating a high risk of disseminating the extensively drug-resistant phenotype among Enterobacteriaceae.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shumei Huang, Shuang Wang, Yan Li, Ming Fang, Zengqiang Kou, Baoli Chen, Liuchen Xu, Zhenwang Bi, Hao Xu, Xiaohui Chi, Zhenqiang Bi
Summary: This study found that colistin-resistant Escherichia coli, most of which are multi-drug resistant strains, is common and highly transmissible among healthy residents in rural areas in China. Interventions should be implemented to prevent the spread of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli through health education and tighter regulation of antibiotics.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Julian Wichmann, Gerrich Behrendt, Simon Boecker, Steffen Klamt
Summary: This study systematically tested and characterized 15 promoter candidates that are induced upon oxygen depletion in Escherichia coli. Six of these promoters are particularly suited for dynamic metabolic engineering applications. The study also demonstrated the optimization of a two-stage lactate production process using these promoters.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aline I. Moser, Edgar I. Campos-Madueno, Vincent Perreten, Andrea Endimiani
Summary: This study investigated the structural changes and accumulation of core-genome single nucleotide variants (cgSNVs) in multidrug-resistant bacteria during a few propagation steps under laboratory conditions. It was found that some strains experienced structural changes and accumulated cgSNVs. This phenomenon could also occur in a short time in the clinical setting, especially under antibiotic treatment. Therefore, the researchers suggested that this phenomenon should be carefully considered in epidemiological genomic analyses.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Solveig Solverod Mo, Madelaine Norstrom, Jannice Schau Slettemeas, Anne Margrete Urdahl, Amar Anandrao Telke, Marianne Sunde
Summary: This study characterized extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from broiler farms and found various sequence types and resistance gene/plasmid combinations. The research indicated the potential coexistence of different STs and resistance gene/plasmid combinations on the same farm, as well as the persistence of strains and plasmids on farms. Further investigation is needed to understand the dynamics of strains, plasmids, and resistance genes within specific broiler flocks.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mustafa Sadek, Alaaeldin Mohamed Saad, Patrice Nordmann, Laurent Poirel
Summary: This article describes the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of an extensively drug-resistant E. coli strain isolated from the urine of a hospitalized patient in Switzerland. The strain is resistant to almost all beta-lactam antibiotics and carries multiple resistance genes. It is susceptible to tigecycline, colistin, and fosfomycin.
Article
Microbiology
Bejan Mahmud, Meghan A. Wallace, Kimberly A. Reske, Kelly Alvarado, Carol E. Muenks, David A. Rasmussen, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, Cristina Lanzas, Erik R. Dubberke, Gautam Dantas
Summary: ESBL-producing Escherichia coli is becoming increasingly prevalent, driven by the spread of ESBL-encoding plasmids. This study provides an in-depth genomic investigation of clinical ESBL-like E. coli isolates, revealing a comprehensive map of plasmid sharing across different boundaries. Through sequence-based network analysis, specific plasmid lineages responsible for disseminating major ESBLs have been identified. This work highlights the importance of plasmid-mediated spread in the dissemination of ESBLs and provides valuable insight into the factors underlying the increased prevalence of these genes in clinical settings.
Article
Microbiology
Yanyun Gao, Pengcheng Du, Pei Zhang, Juan Wang, Ziyi Liu, Seamus Fanning, Zhiqiang Wang, Ruichao Li, Li Bai
Summary: The evolutionary patterns of blaNDM-1-carrying fusion plasmids are largely unknown. A study reported a blaNDM-1-bearing fusion plasmid pZX35-269k, which exhibited structural instability and formed various daughter plasmids during conjugation and passage. The study confirmed the transmission and structural evolution of the plasmid in both laboratory and clinical settings, highlighting the potential risk for public health.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Puhua Niu, Maria J. Soto, Byung-Jun Yoon, Edward R. Dougherty, Francis J. Alexander, Ian Blaby, Xiaoning Qian
Summary: Extensive research has been done on predictive modeling of genome-scale metabolic reaction networks. Living systems involve complex stochastic processes, and for more accurate predictions, both metabolic reactions and genetic regulatory relationships should be modeled. TRIMER is a new modeling and simulation pipeline that integrates transcription regulation with metabolic regulation, demonstrating applicability to both simulated and experimental data.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jacqueline Findlay, Roberto Sierra, Otavio Hallal Ferreira Raro, Marta Aires-de-Sousa, Diego O. Andrey, Patrice Nordmann
Summary: This study analysed a collection of E. coli strains harbouring acquired fosA genes and found high-level resistance to fosfomycin. The strains also carried other antibiotic resistance genes and were capable of transmission through conjugation.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meril Massot, Pierre Chatre, Benedicte Condamine, Veronique Metayer, Olivier Clermont, Jean-Yves Madec, Erick Denamur, Marisa Haenni
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in veal calves, with calves being successively colonized by different clones leading to a decreasing carriage trend. The persistence of a clone in a farm was significantly associated with the number of colonized calves. Despite high diversity, few dominant bla(CTX-M) gene/plasmid/chromosomal backgrounds were identified, with the spread scenario depending on the farm. Interactions between resistance genes, plasmids, and bacterial clones contribute to fitness optimization in specific environments.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
D. Gomes, C. Goncalves, A. M. Goncalves, J. A. Queiroz, A. Sousa, L. A. Passarinha
Summary: This study demonstrates the direct extraction of hSCOMT from a complex lysate using different capture strategies, with the ionic strategy showing the most promising results in terms of bioactivity and purification degree. The versatility of gellan polysaccharide in microsphere application simplifies the biotechnological procedures for isolating hSCOMT.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Angela Sousa, Ana Margarida Almeida, Joana Valente, Joao Queiroz, Fani Sousa
Summary: Biopharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical industry and market due to their specific design for therapeutic conditions and ability to restore biological functions. Gene therapy products, in particular, are being studied and developed as promising alternatives for the treatment of incurable diseases and pandemics. The use of nonviral vectors, such as plasmid DNA, has shown great potential in gene therapy. Therefore, it is important to establish suitable analytical methods for the production and purification of these biomolecules in order to ensure their purity and homogeneity for therapeutic applications.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina C. Posso, Fernanda C. Domingues, Susana Ferreira, Samuel Silvestre
Summary: The molecular hybridization approach has been utilized to develop compounds with improved efficacy by combining pharmacophores of bioactive scaffolds. Hybridizing phenothiazine derivatives with various relevant pharmacophores has resulted in compounds with diverse biological activities, interacting with specific or multiple targets. The pharmacological actions of phenothiazine hybrids include antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, analgesic, and multi-drug resistance reversal properties.
Review
Microbiology
Igor Venancio, Angelo Luis, Fernanda Domingues, Monica Oleastro, Luisa Pereira, Susana Ferreira
Summary: This study used a systematic review and meta-analysis-based method to investigate the prevalence of Arcobacteraceae species in aquatic environments worldwide. The results revealed a high prevalence and wide distribution of Arcobacteraceae in different water bodies, posing a risk to human health. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying and managing sources of contamination and implementing preventive actions to reduce the burden of Arcobacteraceae family members.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Pedro Cruz-Vicente, Ana M. Goncalves, Octavio Ferreira, Joao A. Queiroz, Samuel Silvestre, Luis A. Passarinha, Eugenia Gallardo
Summary: A pharmacophore-based virtual screening method was utilized to discover new catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors for potential Parkinson's disease therapy. The study involved constructing pharmacophore models, screening in a database, molecular docking, ADMET property analysis, and in-vitro experiments. The compound ZIN27985035 showed promising results with strong MBCOMT inhibition and low cytotoxicity, indicating its potential as a new drug candidate for Parkinson's disease.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Pedro Cruz-Vicente, Ana M. Goncalves, Jorge Barroca-Ferreira, Samuel M. Silvestre, Maria J. Romao, Joao A. Queiroz, Eugenia Gallardo, Luis A. Passarinha
Summary: This review summarizes the role of COMT in several neurological disorders, the development of COMT inhibitors, the application of computer-aided design in novel molecule design, and the current methods for assessing COMT enzymatic activity.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana M. Goncalves, Angela Sousa, Augusto Q. Pedro, Maria J. Romao, Joao A. Queiroz, Eugenia Gallardo, Luis A. Passarinha
Summary: Membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MBCOMT) is a pharmacological target related to several types of human dementia, but its instability has hindered drug development. The addition of multi-component buffers and ionic liquids has shown promising results in enhancing the stability of MBCOMT and has important implications for drug development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nicolas Gracia-Valles, Fernando Ruiz-Torrubia, Scott G. Mitchell, Cristina Nerin, Filomena Silva
Summary: The widespread use of plastics has a negative impact on the environment, and replacing them with biodegradable alternatives is necessary. In this study, researchers found that complexing the antimicrobial surfactant ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE) with a polyoxometalate (POM) called K-8[SiW11O39] reduced its water solubility. The POM-LAE complex showed lower inhibitory concentrations against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli compared to LAE alone, and it was also effective in inhibiting and destroying biofilms. Furthermore, incorporating POM-LAE into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films showed promising results in reducing bacteria on cured ham.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana M. Goncalves, Augusto Q. Pedro, Diana M. Oliveira, Adriana E. Oliveira, Marino F. A. Santos, Marcia A. S. Correia, Joao A. Queiroz, Eugenia Gallardo, Maria J. Romao, Luis A. Passarinha
Summary: This study characterized the thermal stability of SCOMT and found potential conditions and additives that can increase its stability and activity recovery rate. By using an ionic liquid and other additives, protein solubility and melting temperature were significantly improved, paving the way for further research and therapeutic molecule design.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mariya Bilohan, Ana Ramos, Fernanda Domingues, Angelo Luis
Summary: Pullulan/paper/zein laminates were developed as food packaging materials with improved mechanical properties and barrier properties. The incorporation of rockrose essential oil enhanced the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and provided antimicrobial activity. The developed laminates showed great potential in replacing traditional synthetic polymer packaging and extending the shelf life of packaged food.
JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Ruperez, Nicolas Gracia-Valles, Eva Clavero, Filomena Silva, Cristina Nerin
Summary: This study aimed to scale up and ensure the safety of alpha-cyclodextrin nanosponges (alpha-CD-NS) for use as greener ethylene scavengers. By using solvent-free synthesis and optimizing washing in water, alpha-CD-NS showed the best ethylene scavenging activity, opening doors for safer, innovative, and eco-friendly ethylene removal active packaging.
Article
Microbiology
Rodrigo Martins, Cristiana Mateus, Fernanda Domingues, Roland Buecker, Monica Oleastro, Susana Ferreira
Summary: This study demonstrates that oxygen levels can modulate the potential pathogenicity of A. butzleri, but the response varies among different strains.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ines Martins, Cristiana Mateus, Fernanda Domingues, Monica Oleastro, Susana Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the role of the ABC efflux system (YbhFSR) on the resistance and virulence of Aliarcobacter butzleri. It was found that YbhFSR may influence the resistance to certain antimicrobial agents and potentially extrude toxic compounds from A. butzleri. However, no significant impact on the virulence properties of A. butzleri was observed. Further research is needed to understand the role of this efflux pump in the pathogenic mechanism of the bacterium.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Salome Pedro, Luisa Pereira, Fernanda Domingues, Ana Ramos, Angelo Luis
Summary: Petroleum-based plastics used in food packaging are not biodegradable, leading to environmental pollution and health problems. Whey protein can be used as a sustainable alternative for packaging materials due to its availability and good properties. Incorporating fennel essential oil into whey protein films enhances their mechanical properties and bioactive activities, making them suitable for food packaging.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cristiana Mateus, Claudio J. Maia, Fernanda Domingues, Roland Buecker, Monica Oleastro, Susana Ferreira
Summary: Aliarcobacter butzleri can survive in physiological concentrations of bile salts and exposure to bile salts can change its virulence mechanisms.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhi-Min Zhao, Zhi-Hua Liu, Tongtong Zhang, Rongqian Meng, Zhiqun Gong, Yibing Li, Jing Hu, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Bing-Zhi Li, Ying-Jin Yuan
Summary: Bioconversion of bioresources/wastes using Rhodococcus is a promising approach for producing lipid-derived bioproducts. However, bioconversion involves living cells and is a complex system that requires further understanding. This review highlights the potential of Rhodococcus for producing lipids from various wastes and presents genetic modifications using emerging tools for promoting bioconversion. Additionally, strategies for enhancing the bioaccessibility of lignin and its derived aromatics and synthesizing biodiesel and aviation fuels from lignin and lipids are discussed. The synergistic modification of microbial strains, substrates, and fermentation processes is proposed for sustainable biological lignin valorization.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2024)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maddy L. Newby, Joel D. Allen, Max Crispin
Summary: A key aspect of successful viral vaccine design is the elicitation of neutralizing antibodies targeting viral attachment and fusion glycoproteins. Glycosylation can influence the antigenicity and immunogenicity of vaccines, with native-like glycosylation potentially enhancing immunogenicity. Understanding viral glycosylation can guide the development of future vaccines in various enveloped viruses.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2024)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Uganeeswary Suparmaniam, Man Kee Lam, Jun Wei Lim, Inn Shi Tan, Bridgid Lai Fui Chin, Siew Hoong Shuit, Steven Lim, Yean Ling Pang, Peck Loo Kiew
Summary: Microalgae have the ability to synthesize high-value phytochemicals, and subjecting them to abiotic stress can enhance the accumulation of valuable metabolites within their cells. This study explores the effects of manipulating abiotic stress on microalgae yields and discusses approaches to increase HVPCs production using abiotic stress.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2024)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pei Zhou, Cong Gao, Wei Song, Wanqing Wei, Jing Wu, Liming Liu, Xiulai Chen
Summary: The engineering status of protein is crucial for the efficient bioproduction in microbial cell factories. Strategies such as protein engineering, protein modification, and protein assembly can effectively modify the protein status and enhance production efficiency.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2024)