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Astrobiology Aug 2023To support NASA's Mars 2020 mission, bioassays were performed to ensure the biological cleanliness of the spacecraft, instruments, and hardware assembly areas. Bioassays...
To support NASA's Mars 2020 mission, bioassays were performed to ensure the biological cleanliness of the spacecraft, instruments, and hardware assembly areas. Bioassays began in May 2014, as the first components were assembled, and continued until their launch in July 2020. Over this 6-year period, 1811 bioassay sampling sessions were conducted. To understand the nature of microbiological presence on and around the spacecraft, an archive of organisms resulting from the bioassays was assembled. This archive included 4232 microbial specimens preserved as frozen stocks. To date, more than 3489 microbial isolates have been tested by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis. Identifications were based on high confidence level matches to known microorganisms in the reference spectra database where 39 distinct genera were identified. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated almost exclusively. Most, but not all, were spore-forming genera. The most prevalent genera isolated in order of frequency were and . Within the largely represented like genera, the five most prevalent species were and
Topics: Spacecraft; Bacillus; Mars
PubMed: 37584746
DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0052 -
Experimental Dermatology Dec 2022Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that occurs in body areas that contain profuse sebaceous glands. Skin microbiota are diverse across...
Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that occurs in body areas that contain profuse sebaceous glands. Skin microbiota are diverse across ethnic groups and its dysbiosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of SD. Here, we reported the contribution of cutaneous bacterial microbiota to SD in the Thai population. Healthy individuals and patients with scalp SD were recruited into the study. Normal skin, scalp skin lesion (SL) and non-lesion sites (SNL) samples were collected using a tape stripping method and next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA for microbiome analysis. Although bacterial diversity in all sample groups was not statistically different, a population of bacteria commonly found on skin of scalp showed signs of dysbiosis. Apart from the reduction of Corynebacterium spp., SD-specific microbiota was dominated by Firmicutes at taxa level and Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. at genus level. The dysbiosis of the skin microbiota in SD was specifically described as an alteration of bacteria populations commonly found on scalp skin, implying that managing and controlling the cutaneous bacterial microbiome can alleviate and prevent SD and pave the way for the development of new SD treatments.
Topics: Humans; Dermatitis, Seborrheic; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Dysbiosis; Thailand; Microbiota; Skin; Bacteria
PubMed: 36076320
DOI: 10.1111/exd.14674 -
Biology Aug 2022Bacterial pigments (e.g., melanin and carotenoids) are considered to be among the most important secondary metabolites due to their various pharmacological activities...
Bacterial pigments (e.g., melanin and carotenoids) are considered to be among the most important secondary metabolites due to their various pharmacological activities against cancer and microbial resistance. Different pigmented bacterial strains were isolated from soil samples from El Mahmoudiyah governance and screened for their antimicrobial activity. The most promising pigment producer was identified as MW407006; furthermore, the produced pigment was identified as echinenone (β-carotene pigment). The pigment production was optimized through a central composite statistical design to maximize the biomass production, pigment concentration, and the antimicrobial activity. It was revealed that the most significant fermentation parameters were the glucose (as a carbon source) and asparagine (as a nitrogen source) concentrations. Nano-echinenone was synthesized using the ball milling technique, characterized, and finally assessed for potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. The data revealed that the synthesized nano-echinenone had higher antimicrobial activity than the crude pigment. The cytotoxic potency of echinenone and nano-echinenone was investigated in different cell lines (normal and cancer cells). The inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death was observed in Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cells. The data proved that nano-echinenone is a suitable candidate for use as a safe antimicrobial and anti-hepatocellular-carcinoma agent.
PubMed: 36009797
DOI: 10.3390/biology11081171 -
Ozone disinfection efficiency against airborne microorganisms in hospital environment: a case study.Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju Dec 2022Even though ozone has shown its potential for air disinfection in hospital environment, its more frequent use has earned attention only with the COVID-19 pandemic due to...
Even though ozone has shown its potential for air disinfection in hospital environment, its more frequent use has earned attention only with the COVID-19 pandemic due to its proven antimicrobial effect and low cost of production. The aim of this study was to determine its antimicrobial efficiency against the most common bacterial species in a real-life setting, that is, in the air of one postoperative room of the General Hospital Dr Ivo Pedišić (Sisak, Croatia). Air was sampled for aiborne bacteria before and after treatment with the ozone concentration of 15.71 mg/m for one hour. The most dominant Gram-positive bacteria of the genera , and were reduced by 33 %, 58 %, and 61 %, respectively. The genus proved to be the most resistant. Considering our findings, we recommend longer air treatment with higher ozone concentrations in combination with mechanical cleaning and frequent ventilation.
Topics: Humans; Ozone; Disinfection; Pandemics; Air Microbiology; COVID-19; Bacteria; Hospitals
PubMed: 36607720
DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3651 -
Microorganisms Nov 2023This work investigated the antimicrobial potential of 10.1.1. The culture fluid of the strain was found to contain antimicrobial agents active against , , and . was...
This work investigated the antimicrobial potential of 10.1.1. The culture fluid of the strain was found to contain antimicrobial agents active against , , and . was first shown to be capable of forming outer membrane vesicles, which have a bacteriolytic effect against not only Gram-positive bacteria but also against the Gram-negative pathogen . Transcriptomic analysis revealed the genes of almost all known bacteriolytic enzymes of , as well as the genes of enzymes with putative bacteriolytic activity. Also identified were genes involved in the biosynthesis of a number of secondary metabolites for which antimicrobial activities are known. This research is indicative of the relevance of isolating and studying antimicrobial agents.
PubMed: 38137997
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122853 -
International Journal of Cancer Apr 2021The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC) are still not well understood. Our goal was to investigate the composition...
The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC) are still not well understood. Our goal was to investigate the composition of the endometrial microbiota and the association with inflammatory cytokines in EC. Endometrial microbiota profiles of women with EC (n = 25) and benign uterine lesions (BUL, n = 25) were assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) mRNA and protein in the endometrial tissues of the two groups were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. There were significant differences in alpha diversity based on the observed operational taxonomic units (P = .002), Pielou evenness (P = .001), and Shannon index (P < .001) between EC and BUL groups. Significant differences were also found in Bray-Curtis (P = .001) and unweighted UniFrac (P = .001) beta diversity measures between the two groups. At the genus level, Micrococcus was more abundant in the EC group. Pseudoramibacter_Eubacterium, Rhodobacter, Vogesella, Bilophila, Rheinheimera, and Megamonas were enriched in the BUL group. There were no differences in IL-8 and IL-17 protein levels between the two groups, except IL-6 protein levels. However, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17 were significantly different. Moreover, the relative abundances of Micrococcus was positively correlated with IL-6, and IL-17 mRNA levels. In conclusion, our results suggested that dysbiosis of endometrial microbiota and the inflammatory cytokines were associated with Micrococcus in EC patients, which might be useful for exploration of the mechanism between the endometrial microbiota and inflammatory responses in future studies.
Topics: Bilophila; Correlation of Data; Cytokines; Dysbiosis; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Firmicutes; Humans; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Microbiota; Micrococcus; Middle Aged; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rhodobacter
PubMed: 33285000
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33428 -
Natural Product Research Dec 2022Soft corals and associated microorganisms are known to produce leads for anticancer drugs. Keeping this in mind, sp.; a Red Sea soft coral was investigated for the...
Soft corals and associated microorganisms are known to produce leads for anticancer drugs. Keeping this in mind, sp.; a Red Sea soft coral was investigated for the first time using the OSMAC approach. Two isolates, sp. UR63 and sp. UR67 were identified. Their extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, macrolides, quinones, fatty acids and terpenoids. Further comparison through a set of multivariate data analyses revealed their unique chemical profiles. The extracts displayed inhibitory potencies against HepG-2, Caco-2 and MCF-7 tumor cell lines with IC values ranging from 11.4 to 38.7 μg/mL when compared with the positive control, doxorubicin. The study not only highlights the cytotoxic potential of soft coral-associated actinomycetes but also shows the advantage of using the OSMAC approach in this regard.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Actinobacteria; Actinomyces; Caco-2 Cells; Anthozoa; Antineoplastic Agents
PubMed: 35175884
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2039650 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Termite-associated BYF-112 was found as a potential source for yellow and green pigments, which were stable under the tested temperature, light and metal ions. Eight...
Termite-associated BYF-112 was found as a potential source for yellow and green pigments, which were stable under the tested temperature, light and metal ions. Eight metabolites (-), including four new natural yellow pigments aminophenoxazinones (-), and two rarely iron dependent green pigments viridomycin A and F (-) were isolated from BYF-112 cultured in YMS and YMS treated with FeSO, respectively. The metabolites - displayed a significant safety performance on the normal liver cell line L-02, while the metabolite showed weak cytotoxicity against the L-02 and several cancer cells. Especially, in the filter paper disc tests, the compound possessed strong antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant (MRSA) with the zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 15.3 mm, which was equal to that of referenced levofloxacin (ZOI = 15.2 mm). And the metabolite also showed moderate antibacterial activities against and , with the ZOI values of 15.3 and 17.2 mm. In addition, by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, the compound 1 displayed potential antibacterial activities against , and MRSA, with the MIC values of 12.5, 12.5, and 25.0 μg/ml, respectively. The present results indicate that BYF-112 may be a promising source for safe and bioactive pigments, which can be used for further development and industrial applications.
PubMed: 36726576
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1110811 -
Journal of Wildlife Diseases Oct 2021The Lake Titicaca frog is endangered due to threats such as water pollution, introduced species, and overharversting for markets, where people consume them as frog...
The Lake Titicaca frog is endangered due to threats such as water pollution, introduced species, and overharversting for markets, where people consume them as frog juice. This study, conducted June to November 2012, aimed to determinate the bacteria microflora living on the skin of frogs confiscated from the La Parada market, Lima, Peru, and housed individually in the Laboratory of Wildlife at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnic of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. Samples collected with sterile swabs and cultured on blood, tryptic soy, and MacConkey agars were investigated using commercially available test kits, to investigate the commonly encountered bacterial and potentially zoonotic microorganisms associated with their consumption. We found three species of zoonotic concern in the genus Vibro: Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibro cholerae, and Vibro fluvialis. Other Gram-negative species cultured included two different colonies of Aeromonas hydrophila, or Aeromonas caviae or Aeromonas sobria; Pseudomona luteola; one example of Weeksella virosa or Empedobacter brevis; and Citrobacter freundii. Gram-positive bacteria detected were Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. We recommend against the consumption of this frog due to the pathogens it may carry that could cause serious illness among consumers and in vendors who handle animals.
Topics: Aeromonas hydrophila; Animals; Anura; Humans; Lakes; Peru; Staphylococcus
PubMed: 34424988
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-20-00076 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2020Bacteriolytic enzymes are promising antimicrobial agents for developing new-generation drugs. Recently, we have isolated a β-lytic protease (BlpLc) from the culture...
Bacteriolytic enzymes are promising antimicrobial agents for developing new-generation drugs. Recently, we have isolated a β-lytic protease (BlpLc) from the culture liquid of VKM B-2533. This BlpLc possesses a valuable property, not described for β-lytic proteases (Blps) earlier, of hydrolyzing living cells of 55 MRSA clinical isolate. This work phylogenetically characterized the BlpLc and investigated its properties. Analysis revealed a variability of pre-/pro-parts of Blp precursors. The mature BlpLc is the closest to the earlier annotated but not isolated Blp from sp. Root690. The biochemical characterization found conditions for the BlpLc general bacteriolytic activity relative to autoclaved 209P cells to differ from that of earlier isolated Blp. Unexpected was the effect of serine (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)) and cysteine (p-chloromercuribenzoate (p-CMB)) protease inhibitors on BlpLc bacteriolytic and proteolytic activities. The specificity of BlpLc proteolytic action relative to hemoglobin, elastin, gelatin, collagen, azofibrin, myoglobin, ovalbumin, and ovamucoid was found. New types of peptide bonds-Gly-X, Ser-X, Lys-X, Ala-X, Val-X, Glu-X, and Phe-X-hydrolyzed by the enzyme in protein substrates were first revealed using MALDI-TOF. Turbidimetrically, the BlpLc was found to lyze living cells of 209P, B1819, and B1236, which is important for expanding the enzyme's applied properties.
PubMed: 33126447
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9110744