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Viruses Sep 2020Since the discovery of phages in 1915, these viruses have been studied mostly in aerobic systems, or without considering the availability of oxygen as a variable that... (Review)
Review
Since the discovery of phages in 1915, these viruses have been studied mostly in aerobic systems, or without considering the availability of oxygen as a variable that may affect the interaction between the virus and its host. However, with such great abundance of anaerobic environments on the planet, the effect that a lack of oxygen can have on the phage-bacteria relationship is an important consideration. There are few studies on obligate anaerobes that investigate the role of anoxia in causing infection. In the case of facultative anaerobes, it is a well-known fact that their shifting from an aerobic environment to an anaerobic one involves metabolic changes in the bacteria. As the phage infection process depends on the metabolic state of the host bacteria, these changes are also expected to affect the phage infection cycle. This review summarizes the available information on phages active on facultative and obligate anaerobes and discusses how anaerobiosis can be an important parameter in phage infection, especially among facultative anaerobes.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bacteria; Bacteriophages; Host Microbial Interactions; Oxygen; Virus Replication
PubMed: 32993161
DOI: 10.3390/v12101091 -
Nutrients Aug 2020Beta-alanine supplementation (BA) has a positive impact on physical performance. However, evidence showing a benefit of this amino acid in aerobic-anaerobic transition... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Beta-alanine supplementation (BA) has a positive impact on physical performance. However, evidence showing a benefit of this amino acid in aerobic-anaerobic transition zones is scarce and the results controversial. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the effects of BA supplementation on physical performance in aerobic-anaerobic transition zones. At the same time, the effect of different dosages and durations of BA supplementation were identified. The search was designed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and performed in Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and MEDLINE between 2010 and 2020. The methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The main variables were the Time Trial Test (TTT) and Time to Exhaustion (TTE) tests, the latter separated into the Limited Time Test (LTT) and Limited Distance Test (LDT). The analysis was carried out with a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) through Hedges' g test (95% CI). Nineteen studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, revealing a small effect for time in the TTT (SMD, -0.36; 95% CI, -0.87-0.16; I = 59%; = 0.010), a small effect for LTT (SMD, 0.25; 95% CI, -0.01-0.51; I = 0%; = 0.53), and a large effect for LDT (SMD, 4.27; 95% CI, -0.25-8.79; I = 94%; = 0.00001). BA supplementation showed small effects on physical performance in aerobic-anaerobic transition zones. Evidence on acute supplementation is scarce (one study); therefore, exploration of acute supplementation with different dosages and formats on physical performance in aerobic-anaerobic transition zones is needed.
Topics: Aerobiosis; Anaerobiosis; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Physical Functional Performance; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; beta-Alanine
PubMed: 32824885
DOI: 10.3390/nu12092490 -
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics Apr 2021The discovery of a new energy-coupling mechanism termed flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB) in 2008 revealed a novel field of application for flavins in biology.... (Review)
Review
The discovery of a new energy-coupling mechanism termed flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB) in 2008 revealed a novel field of application for flavins in biology. The key component is the bifurcating flavin endowed with strongly inverted one-electron reduction potentials (FAD/FAD• ≪ FAD•/FADH) that cooperatively transfers in its reduced state one low and one high-energy electron into different directions and thereby drives an endergonic with an exergonic reduction reaction. As energy splitting at the bifurcating flavin apparently implicates one-electron chemistry, the FBEB machinery has to incorporate prior to and behind the central bifurcating flavin 2e-to-1e and 1e-to-2e switches, frequently also flavins, for oxidizing variable medium-potential two-electron donating substrates and for reducing high-potential two-electron accepting substrates. The one-electron carriers ferredoxin or flavodoxin serve as low-potential (high-energy) electron acceptors, which power endergonic processes almost exclusively in obligate anaerobic microorganisms to increase the efficiency of their energy metabolism. In this review, we outline the global organization of FBEB enzymes, the functions of the flavins therein and the surrounding of the isoalloxazine rings by which their reduction potentials are specifically adjusted in a finely tuned energy landscape.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Electron Transport; Electrons; Energy Metabolism; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavodoxin
PubMed: 33609536
DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108796 -
Bioresource Technology Nov 2020
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bioreactors; Methane; Sewage
PubMed: 32799046
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123955 -
Bioresource Technology Jun 2021Nanobubble technology has significant potential to improve the anaerobic digestion (AD) process by ameliorating the rate-limiting steps of hydrolysis and methanogenesis,... (Review)
Review
Nanobubble technology has significant potential to improve the anaerobic digestion (AD) process by ameliorating the rate-limiting steps of hydrolysis and methanogenesis, as well as providing process stability by reducing sulfide and volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels. Nanobubbles (NB) can enhance substrate accessibility, digestibility, and enzymatic activity due to their minuscule size, high electrostatic interaction, and ability to generate reactive oxygen species. Air- and O-NB can create a microaerobic environment for higher efficiency of the electron transport system, thereby reducing VFAs through enhanced facultative bacterial activity. Additionally, H- and CO-NB can improve hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Recently, several studies have employed NB technology in the AD process. There is, however, a lack of concise, synthesized information on NB applications to the AD process. This review provides an in-depth discussion on the NB-integrated AD process and the putative mechanisms involved. General discussions on other potential applications and future research directions are also provided.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bioreactors; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Hydrolysis; Methane
PubMed: 33730622
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124916 -
Bioresource Technology Feb 2024Diverse factors influence biogas production, such as material properties, testing conditions, reporting methods and other additional processing techniques. This... (Review)
Review
Diverse factors influence biogas production, such as material properties, testing conditions, reporting methods and other additional processing techniques. This complexity makes it difficult to compare biochemical methane potential (BMP) data, replicate experiments' results, and improve efficiencies associated with engineering applications. This study has taken preliminary attempts to build a sliced and structured BMP database, but optimizing the organization of data information and collecting more comprehensive and manually checked data information to cope with the increasing richness of the BMP test content. The first-generation BMP database contains 746 sets of data, covering 7 major substrate categories, including 187 key indicators and 26 supplementary indicators. It offers functions including data screening, comparing, uploading, and visual display of BMP data. The application of the database in comparing different types of substrates and additives is shown. In the future, the BMP database will be regularly upgraded to become more comprehensive.
Topics: Methane; Anaerobiosis; Biofuels
PubMed: 38013033
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130111 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2023Anaerobic microorganisms (anaerobes) proliferate in diverse oxygen-free environments. They inhabit Earth's soils and aquatic sediments, the rumen and gut of mammals, and...
Anaerobic microorganisms (anaerobes) proliferate in diverse oxygen-free environments. They inhabit Earth's soils and aquatic sediments, the rumen and gut of mammals, and the gut of insects among many other oxygen-free environments. Anaerobes impact biotechnological, biomedical, ecological, and astrobiological fields. Sensitivity to oxygen is of prime consideration for successful culturing which is essential to understand function. Although cultivated for many years, the protocols and media components have been modified and adapted to the special needs of species, as well as conditions and variables for experimental evaluations. Here we describe a revised method used in our laboratories for the growth of methane-producing anaerobes (methanogenic archaea) which are among the most oxygen sensitive. The method is an example for the preparation of more specific media to cultivate a wide diversity of anaerobes.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bacteria, Anaerobic; Archaea; Methane; Biotechnology
PubMed: 37039994
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3080-8_14 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Oct 2019Early-branching anaerobic fungi are critical for hydrolyzing untreated lignocellulose in the digestive tracts of large herbivorous animals. While these fungi were... (Review)
Review
Early-branching anaerobic fungi are critical for hydrolyzing untreated lignocellulose in the digestive tracts of large herbivorous animals. While these fungi were discovered more than 40 years ago, they remain understudied and underexploited. Recent advances in -omics technologies, however, have enabled studies that reveal significant biosynthetic potential within anaerobic fungal genomes for diverse biotechnological applications. Applications range from enhanced second-generation bioenergy platforms to improved animal health. However, developing gut fungi for these applications will require significant advances in genome engineering technologies for these organisms. Here, we review the biotechnological abilities of anaerobic fungi and highlight challenges that must be addressed to develop them for a range of biotechnological applications.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Animals; Biotechnology; Fungi; Gastrointestinal Tract; Genome, Fungal
PubMed: 31005803
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.03.013 -
Microbial Biotechnology May 2021Microbial production of bulk chemicals and biofuels from carbohydrates competes with low-cost fossil-based production. To limit production costs, high titres,... (Review)
Review
Microbial production of bulk chemicals and biofuels from carbohydrates competes with low-cost fossil-based production. To limit production costs, high titres, productivities and especially high yields are required. This necessitates metabolic networks involved in product formation to be redox-neutral and conserve metabolic energy to sustain growth and maintenance. Here, we review the mechanisms available to conserve energy and to prevent unnecessary energy expenditure. First, an overview of ATP production in existing sugar-based fermentation processes is presented. Substrate-level phosphorylation (SLP) and the involved kinase reactions are described. Based on the thermodynamics of these reactions, we explore whether other kinase-catalysed reactions can be applied for SLP. Generation of ion-motive force is another means to conserve metabolic energy. We provide examples how its generation is supported by carbon-carbon double bond reduction, decarboxylation and electron transfer between redox cofactors. In a wider perspective, the relationship between redox potential and energy conservation is discussed. We describe how the energy input required for coenzyme A (CoA) and CO binding can be reduced by applying CoA-transferases and transcarboxylases. The transport of sugars and fermentation products may require metabolic energy input, but alternative transport systems can be used to minimize this. Finally, we show that energy contained in glycosidic bonds and the phosphate-phosphate bond of pyrophosphate can be conserved. This review can be used as a reference to design energetically efficient microbial cell factories and enhance product yield.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Electron Transport; Energy Metabolism; Fermentation; Metabolic Networks and Pathways
PubMed: 33438829
DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13746 -
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology Sep 2022Anaerobiosis has independently evolved in multiple lineages of ciliates, allowing them to colonize a variety of anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats. Anaerobic ciliates... (Review)
Review
Anaerobiosis has independently evolved in multiple lineages of ciliates, allowing them to colonize a variety of anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats. Anaerobic ciliates commonly form symbiotic relationships with various prokaryotes, including methanogenic archaea and members of several bacterial groups. The hypothesized functions of these ecto- and endosymbionts include the symbiont utilizing the ciliate's fermentative end products to increase the host's anaerobic metabolic efficiency, or the symbiont directly providing the host with energy by denitrification or photosynthesis. The host, in turn, may protect the symbiont from competition, the environment, and predation. Despite rapid advances in sampling, molecular, and microscopy methods, as well as the associated broadening of the known diversity of anaerobic ciliates, many aspects of these ciliate symbioses, including host specificity and coevolution, remain largely unexplored. Nevertheless, with the number of comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses targeting anaerobic ciliates and their symbionts on the rise, insights into the nature of these symbioses and the evolution of the ciliate transition to obligate anaerobiosis continue to deepen. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge regarding the complex nature of symbioses in anaerobic ciliates, the diversity of these symbionts, their role in the evolution of ciliate anaerobiosis and their significance in ecosystem-level processes.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Ciliophora; Ecosystem; Oxygen; Phylogeny; Symbiosis
PubMed: 35325496
DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12912