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Bioresources and Bioprocessing Nov 2023(+)-Neomenthylamine is an important industrial precursor used to synthesize high value-added chemicals. Here, we report a novel biocatalytic route to synthesize...
(+)-Neomenthylamine is an important industrial precursor used to synthesize high value-added chemicals. Here, we report a novel biocatalytic route to synthesize (+)-neomenthylamine by amination of readily available (-)-menthone substrate using ω-transaminase. By screening a panel of ω-transaminases, an ω-transaminase from Vibrio fluvialis JS17 was identified with considerable amination activity to (-)-menthone, and then characterization of enzymatic properties was conducted for the enzyme. Under optimized conditions, 10 mM (-)-menthone was transformed in a mild aqueous phase with 4.7 mM product yielded in 24 h. The biocatalytic route using inexpensive starting materials (ketone substrate and amino donor) and mild reaction conditions represents an easy and green approach for (+)-neomenthylamine synthesis. This method underscores the potential of biocatalysts in the synthesis of unnatural terpenoid amine derivatives.
PubMed: 38647910
DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00693-w -
Marine Pollution Bulletin Nov 2022Mangroves are often exposed to heavy metals that accumulate in the food chain, generate toxicity to mangrove plants and affect microbial diversity. This study determined...
Metagenomic and genomic characterization of heavy metal tolerance and resistance genes in the rhizosphere microbiome of Avicennia germinans in a semi-arid mangrove forest in the tropics.
Mangroves are often exposed to heavy metals that accumulate in the food chain, generate toxicity to mangrove plants and affect microbial diversity. This study determined the abundance of genes associated with resistance and tolerance to heavy metals in the rhizosphere microbiome of Avicennia germinans from a semi-arid mangrove of La Guajira-Colombia by metagenomics and genomics approach. Twenty-eight genes associated with tolerance and 49 genes related to resistance to heavy metals were detected. Genes associated with tolerance and resistance to Cu, especially cusA and copA, were the most abundant. The highest number of genes for tolerance and resistance were for Zn and Co, respectively. The isolate Vibrio fluvialis showed the ability to tolerate Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cd. This work used a complementary approach of metagenomics and genomics to characterize the potential of mangrove microorganisms to tolerate and resist heavy metals and the influence of salinity on their abundance.
Topics: Avicennia; Wetlands; Rhizosphere; Metagenomics; Cadmium; Metals, Heavy; Microbiota
PubMed: 36219973
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114204 -
Heliyon Oct 2022This study investigated the bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) African salads in Enugu metropolis, Enugu, Nigeria. A total of 10 samples of African salad were...
Culture-dependent examination of the bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat African salads in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria and antibiotic resistance profile of associated bacteria.
This study investigated the bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) African salads in Enugu metropolis, Enugu, Nigeria. A total of 10 samples of African salad were purchased from 10 different vendors in Enugu metropolis. The samples were purchased from Agbani Road, Ogbete, Mayor, Uwani, Kenyatta, Achara Layout, Obiagu and Timber. Isolation and enumeration of bacterial isolates were done using Nutrient agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar, Thiosulphate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar, Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA) and MacConkey agar, following standard methods. Identification of the bacterial isolates were done through biochemical tests and the Analytical Profile Index (API 20E) test kit. The antibiotic sensitivity of the bacterial isolates was also done using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Total culturable heterotrophic count was above 300 colonies across the samples. The highest bacterial counts recorded on EMB, SSA and TCBS across the samples were 6.3 × 10 CFU/g, 7.4 × 10 CFU/g and 1.21 × 10 CFU/g respectively. The identities of the organisms were; spp., , , , , and . The prevalent organism across the samples was spp. The antibiotic sensitivity test suggested that spp. was resistant to Ampiclox and Amoxycillin but sensitive to Erythromycin, Pefloxacin and Septrin. From this study, it was discovered that consumers of RTE African salad from majority of the vendors across Enugu metropolis are at risk of severe food poisoning.
PubMed: 36212018
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10782 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Despite an increasing appreciation in the importance of host-microbe interactions in ecological and evolutionary processes, information on the gut microbial communities...
Despite an increasing appreciation in the importance of host-microbe interactions in ecological and evolutionary processes, information on the gut microbial communities of some marine mammals is still lacking. Moreover, whether diet, environment, or host phylogeny has the greatest impact on microbial community structure is still unknown. To fill part of this knowledge gap, we exploited a natural experiment provided by an aquarium with belugas () affiliated with family Monodontidae, Pacific white-sided dolphins () and common bottlenose dolphin () affiliated with family Delphinidae, and Cape fur seals () affiliated with family Otariidae. Results show significant differences in microbial community composition of whales, dolphins, and fur seals and indicate that host phylogeny (family level) plays the most important role in shaping the microbial communities, rather than food and environment. In general, the gut microbial communities of dolphins had significantly lower diversity compared to that of whales and fur seals. Overall, the gut microbial communities were mainly composed of Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria, together with some from Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Epsilonbacteraeota. However, specific bacterial lineages were differentially distributed among the marine mammal groups. For instance, , , and were the dominant bacterial lineages in the gut of belugas, while for Cape fur seals, and were the main bacterial lineages. Moreover, gut microbial communities in both Pacific white-sided dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins were dominated by a number of pathogenic bacteria, including , , and , reflecting the poor health condition of these animals. Although there is a growing recognition of the role microorganisms play in the gut of marine mammals, current knowledge about these microbial communities is still severely lacking. Large-scale research studies should be undertaken to reveal the roles played by the gut microbiota of different marine mammal species.
PubMed: 34745077
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769012 -
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Dec 2019Nanoparticles have multiple applications, among which is their use as antimicrobial agents in aquaculture. The objective of this work was to determine the antibacterial...
Nanoparticles have multiple applications, among which is their use as antimicrobial agents in aquaculture. The objective of this work was to determine the antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Vibrio fluvialis in cultured angelfish Pterophyllum scalare. AgNPs were synthetized through chemical reduction and characterized by UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy. Particle size ranged from 60 to 170.8 nm, and scanning electron microscopy revealed cubic and spherical forms. A minimal inhibitory concentration of 222.5 ppm was determined, as well as inhibition halos between 8.66 and 14.3 mm. Inhibition of V. fluvialis growth was observed upon contact with AgNPs. An 88% survival of infected fish was obtained when treated with AgNPs, in contrast to 100% mortality of fish that were not treated. No damage to internal or external organs was observed in fish exposed to AgNPs. We conclude that AgNPs exert an antimicrobial effect against V. fluvialis, and thus represent a new alternative to control diseases caused by this microorganism in P. scalare culture.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts; Silver; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Vibrio
PubMed: 31802743
DOI: 10.3354/dao03423 -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2022Coastal tidal flats are intersection zones between terrestrial and marine environments and are considered repositories of pollutants from anthropogenic activities (e.g.,...
Coastal tidal flats are intersection zones between terrestrial and marine environments and are considered repositories of pollutants from anthropogenic activities (e.g., fishery and aquaculture). Specifically, the prevalence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in coastal aquaculture environments pose critical threats to estuarine ecosystems. However, the contribution of aquaculture to the occurrence and abundance of ARGs and community assemblies has not been fully explored in tidal flat zones. Thus, we investigated ARGs profiles, ARG-carrying host bacteria, and their associate microbial community in the Dongtai and Sheyang tidal flat aquaculture regions of Jiangsu, China using metagenomic assembly methods. The antibiotic concentrations in the sediment samples ranged from nd to 35.50 ng/g dw, and the antibiotic pollution in the Dongtai tidal flat was more severe than in the Sheyang tidal flats. Metagenomic assembly indicated that a total of 247 ARG subtypes associated with ARG 33 types were characterized across all samples and their abundance in the Dongtai region exceeded that in the Sheyang region. Meanwhile, 21 bacteria in the tidal flat aquaculture were identified as ARG-carrying pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Vibrio fluvialis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Using neutral and null modeling analysis to determine the community ecological processes, the results revealed bacterial and ARG communities were generally dominated by stochastic and deterministic processes, respectively. The above results suggested that aquaculture pollution was contributed to shape ARG profiles in tidal flats. The observed deterministic processes affecting the ARG community in tidal flat aquaculture also provides an effective foundation to control the risks of environmental antibiotic resistance through reducing aquaculture antibiotic usage.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Aquaculture; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Ecosystem; Genes, Bacterial
PubMed: 35421458
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155206 -
The FEBS Journal Oct 2019The biodegradation of the nylon-6 precursor caprolactam by a strain of Pseudomonas jessenii proceeds via ATP-dependent hydrolytic ring opening to 6-aminohexanoate. This...
The biodegradation of the nylon-6 precursor caprolactam by a strain of Pseudomonas jessenii proceeds via ATP-dependent hydrolytic ring opening to 6-aminohexanoate. This non-natural ω-amino acid is converted to 6-oxohexanoic acid by an aminotransferase (PjAT) belonging to the fold type I pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) enzymes. To understand the structural basis of 6-aminohexanoatate conversion, we solved different crystal structures and determined the substrate scope with a range of aliphatic and aromatic amines. Comparison with the homologous aminotransferases from Chromobacterium violaceum (CvAT) and Vibrio fluvialis (VfAT) showed that the PjAT enzyme has the lowest K values (highest affinity) and highest specificity constant (k /K ) with the caprolactam degradation intermediates 6-aminohexanoate and 6-oxohexanoic acid, in accordance with its proposed in vivo function. Five distinct three-dimensional structures of PjAT were solved by protein crystallography. The structure of the aldimine intermediate formed from 6-aminohexanoate and the PLP cofactor revealed the presence of a narrow hydrophobic substrate-binding tunnel leading to the cofactor and covered by a flexible arginine, which explains the high activity and selectivity of the PjAT with 6-aminohexanoate. The results suggest that the degradation pathway for caprolactam has recruited an aminotransferase that is well adapted to 6-aminohexanoate degradation. DATABASE: The atomic coordinates and structure factors P. jessenii 6-aminohexanoate aminotransferase have been deposited in the PDB as entries 6G4B (E∙succinate complex), 6G4C (E∙phosphate complex), 6G4D (E∙PLP complex), 6G4E (E∙PLP-6-aminohexanoate intermediate), and 6G4F (E∙PMP complex).
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Aminocaproic Acid; Bacterial Proteins; Caprolactam; Crystallography, X-Ray; Models, Molecular; Phylogeny; Pseudomonas; Pyridoxal Phosphate; Sequence Homology; Substrate Specificity; Transaminases
PubMed: 31162815
DOI: 10.1111/febs.14950 -
Computational and Structural... 2019Transaminases (TAs) reversibly catalyze the transfer reaction of an amino group between an amino group donor and an amino group acceptor, using pyridoxal 5'-phosphate... (Review)
Review
Transaminases (TAs) reversibly catalyze the transfer reaction of an amino group between an amino group donor and an amino group acceptor, using pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) as a cofactor. TAs are categorized according to the amino group position of the donor substrate and respective TAs recognize their own specific substrates. Over the past decade, a number of TA structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. On the basis of the structural information, the detailed mechanism of substrate recognition by TAs has also been elucidated. In this review, fold type I TAs are addressed intensively. Comparative studies on structural differences between the apo and holo forms of fold type I TAs have demonstrated that regions containing the active site exhibit structural plasticity in the apo form, facilitating PLP insertion into the active site. In addition, given that TAs recognize two different kinds of substrates, they possess dual substrate specificity. It is known that spatial rearrangements of active site residues occur upon binding of the substrates. Intriguingly, positively charged residues are predominantly distributed at the active site cavity. The electric field generated by such charge distributions may attract negatively charged molecules, such as PLP and amino group acceptors, into the active site. Indeed, TAs show remarkable dynamics in diverse aspects. In this review, we describe the comprehensive working mechanism of fold type I TAs, with a focus on conformational changes.
PubMed: 31452855
DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.07.007 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2015To alter the amine donor/acceptor spectrum of an (S)-selective amine transaminase (ATA), a library based on the Vibrio fluvialis ATA targeting four residues close to the...
To alter the amine donor/acceptor spectrum of an (S)-selective amine transaminase (ATA), a library based on the Vibrio fluvialis ATA targeting four residues close to the active site (L56, W57, R415 and L417) was created. A 3DM-derived alignment comprising fold class I pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes allowed identification of positions, which were assumed to determine substrate specificity. These positions were targeted for mutagenesis with a focused alphabet of hydrophobic amino acids to convert an amine:α-keto acid transferase into an amine:aldehyde transferase. Screening of 1200 variants revealed three hits, which showed a shifted amine donor/acceptor spectrum towards aliphatic aldehydes (mainly pentanal), as well as an altered pH profile. Interestingly, all three hits, although found independently, contained the same mutation R415L and additional W57F and L417V substitutions.
Topics: Amines; Catalytic Domain; Enzyme Activation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Keto Acids; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Protein Binding; Substrate Specificity; Transaminases; Vibrio
PubMed: 26569229
DOI: 10.3390/ijms161126007 -
BioMed Research International 2017Thirty-one mercury-resistant bacterial strains were isolated from the effluent discharge sites of the SIPCOT industrial area. Among them, only one strain (CASKS5) was...
Thirty-one mercury-resistant bacterial strains were isolated from the effluent discharge sites of the SIPCOT industrial area. Among them, only one strain (CASKS5) was selected for further investigation due to its high minimum inhibitory concentration of mercury and low antibiotic susceptibility. In accordance with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, the strain CASKS5 was identified as . The mercury-removal capacity of was analyzed at four different concentrations (100, 150, 200, and 250 g/ml). Efficient bioremediation was observed at a level of 250 g/ml with the removal of 60% of mercury ions. The interesting outcome of this study was that the strain had a high bioremediation efficiency but had a low antibiotic resistance. Hence, could be successfully used as a strain for the ecofriendly removal of mercury.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Mercury; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vibrio; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 28626761
DOI: 10.1155/2017/6509648