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Journal of Advanced Research Dec 2023Transcription of biological nitrogen fixation (nif) genes is activated by the NifA protein which recognizes specific activating sequences upstream of σ-dependent nif...
INTRODUCTION
Transcription of biological nitrogen fixation (nif) genes is activated by the NifA protein which recognizes specific activating sequences upstream of σ-dependent nif promoters. The large quantities of nitrogenase which can make up 20% of the total proteins in the cell indicates high transcription activating efficiency of NifA and high transcription level of nifHDK nitrogenase genes.
OBJECTIVES
Development of an efficient gene transcription activating strategy in bacteria based on positive transcription regulatory proteins and their regulating DNA sequences.
METHODS
We designed a highly efficient gene transcription activating strategy in which the nifA gene was placed directly downstream of its regulating sequences. The NifA protein binds its regulating sequences and stimulates transcription of itself and downstream genes. Overexpressed NifA causes transcription activation by positive reinforcement.
RESULTS
When this gene transcription activating strategy was used to overexpress NifA in Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM4166 containing the nif gene cluster, the nitrogenase activity was increased by 368 folds which was 16 times higher than that obtained by nifA driven by the strongest endogenous constitutive promoter. When this strategy was used to activate transcription of exogenous biosynthetic genes for the plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid and the antitumor alkaloid pigment prodigiosin in DSM4166, both of them resulted in better performance than the strongest endogenous constitutive promoter and the highest reported productions in heterologous hosts to date. Finally, we demonstrated the universality of this strategy using the positive transcriptional regulator of the psp operon, PspF, in E. coli and the pathway-specific positive transcription regulator of the polyene antibiotic salinomycin biosynthesis, SlnR, in Streptomyces albus.
CONCLUSION
Many positive transcription regulatory proteins and their regulating DNA sequences have been identified in bacteria. The gene transcription activating strategy developed in this study will have broad applications in molecular biology and biotechnology.
PubMed: 38123018
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.12.015 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jan 2024Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in daily life and industry because of their excellent antibacterial properties. AgNPs can exist in wastewater in various...
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in daily life and industry because of their excellent antibacterial properties. AgNPs can exist in wastewater in various forms, such as Ag, AgSO, AgCO, AgS, AgO, and AgCl. To assess the potential environmental risk of AgNPs and various forms of Ag, their toxic effects were investigated using the common denitrifier species Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri). The inhibitory effect of AgNPs and various forms of Ag on P. stutzeri growth and its denitrification performance occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. The denitrification efficiency of P. stutzeri decreased from 95%∼97% to 89∼95%, 74∼95%, and 56∼85% under low, medium, and high exposure doses, respectively, of AgNPs and various forms of Ag. The changes in cell membrane morphology and increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release indicated that AgNPs and various forms of Ag damaged the cell membrane of P. stutzeri. Oxidative stress caused by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and decreased glutathione (GSH) levels. Overall, this study will help elucidate the impact of AgNPs and their transformation products on nitrogen removal efficiency in wastewater biological treatment systems.
Topics: Silver; Pseudomonas stutzeri; Metal Nanoparticles; Denitrification; Wastewater; Nitrogen; Antioxidants
PubMed: 38056119
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115785 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2023Acetate is a low-cost feedstock for the production of different bio-chemicals. Electrochemical reduction of CO into acetate and subsequent acetate fermentation is a...
Acetate is a low-cost feedstock for the production of different bio-chemicals. Electrochemical reduction of CO into acetate and subsequent acetate fermentation is a promising method for transforming CO into value-added chemicals. However, the significant inhibitory effect of acetate on microbial growth remains a barrier for acetate-based biorefinery. In this study, the deletion of genes involved in L-leucine degradation was found to be beneficial for the growth of A1501 in acetate. (Δ), in which the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase catalyzing -hydroxy--methylglutaryl-CoA into acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate was deleted, grew faster than other mutants and exhibited increased tolerance to acetate. Then, the genes from H16 for poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis were overexpressed in (∆) and the recombinant strain (∆-) can accumulate 0.11 g L PHB from commercial acetate. Importantly, (∆-) can also use CO-derived acetate to produce PHB and the accumulated PHB accounted for 5.42% (w/w) of dried cell weight of (∆-).
PubMed: 38026858
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1297431 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Feb 2024Ibuprofen (IBP) is a widely used drug of environmental concern as emerging contaminant due to its low elimination rates by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), leading...
Ibuprofen (IBP) is a widely used drug of environmental concern as emerging contaminant due to its low elimination rates by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), leading to the contamination of the environment, where IBP is introduced mainly from wastewater discharge and sewage sludge used as fertilizer. This study describes the application of a consortium from sewage sludge and acclimated with ibuprofen (consortium C7) to accelerate its biodegradation both in solution and sewage sludge. 500 mg L IBP was degraded in solution in 28 h, and 66% mineralized in 3 days. IBP adsorbed in sewage sludge (10 mg kg) was removed after bioaugmentation with C7 up to 90% in 16 days, with a 5-fold increase in degradation rate. This is the first time that bioaugmentation with bacterial consortia or isolated bacterial strains have been used for IBP degradation in sewage sludge. The bacterial community of consortium C7 was significantly enriched in Sphingomonas wittichii, Bordetella petrii, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Bosea genosp. after IBP degradation, with a special increase in abundance of S. wittichii, probably the main potential bacterial specie responsible for IBP mineralization. Thirteen bacterial strains were isolated from C7 consortium. All of them degraded IBP in presence of glucose, especially Labrys neptuniae. Eight of these bacterial strains (B. tritici, L. neptuniae, S. zoogloeoides, B. petrii, A. denitrificans, S. acidaminiphila, P. nitroreducens, C. flaccumfaciens) had not been previously described as IBP-degraders. The bacterial community that makes up the indigenous consortium C7 appears to have a highly efficient biotic degradation potential to facilitate bioremediation of ibuprofen in contaminated effluents as well as in sewage sludge generated in WWTPs.
Topics: Sewage; Biodegradation, Environmental; Ibuprofen; Microbial Consortia; Wastewater; Bacteria
PubMed: 37976863
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132970 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2023The healing properties of silver have been used since ancient times. The main aim of the study was to collect and review the literature on the clinical potential of... (Review)
Review
The healing properties of silver have been used since ancient times. The main aim of the study was to collect and review the literature on the clinical potential of silver, its salts and complex compounds. The second goal was to present an outline of the historical use of silver in medicine and pharmacy, taking into account the possibility of producing pharmaceutical drug forms on the premises of pharmacies. In the context of the growing resistance of microorganisms to available, widely used antibiotics, silver plays a key role. There is only one known case of bacterial resistance to silver-the strain, which naturally occurs in silver mines. The development of research in the field of coordination chemistry offers great opportunities in the design of new substances in which silver ions can be incorporated. These substances exhibit increased potency and often an extended antimicrobial spectrum. Silver-based compounds are, however, only limited to external applications, as opposed to their historic oral administration. Advanced studies of their physicochemical, microbiological, cytotoxic and genotoxic properties are ongoing and full of challenges. The improvement of the methods of synthesis gives the possibility of applying the newly synthesized compounds , as was the case with the complex of metronidazole with silver (I) nitrate. Some of these experimental efforts performed in vitro are followed with clinical trials. The third and final goal of this study was to present the possibility of obtaining an ointment under the conditions of an actual pharmacy using silver (I) salts and a ligand, both of which are active substances with antimicrobial properties.
Topics: Silver; Salts; Pharmacies; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Silver Compounds; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pharmacy
PubMed: 37958707
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115723 -
Biofilm Dec 2023Biofilms are complex microbial communities embedded in extracellular matrix. Pathogens within the biofilm become more resistant to the antibiotics than planktonic...
Biofilms are complex microbial communities embedded in extracellular matrix. Pathogens within the biofilm become more resistant to the antibiotics than planktonic counterparts. Novel strategies are required to encounter biofilms. Exopolysaccharides are one of the major components of biofilm matrix and play a vital role in biofilm architecture. In previous studies, a glycosyl hydrolase, PslG, from was found to be able to inhibit biofilm formation by disintegrating exopolysaccharide in biofilms. Here, we investigate the potential spectrum of PslG homologous protein with anti-biofilm activity. One glycosyl hydrolase from , PslG, exhibits anti-biofilm activities and the key catalytic residues of PslG are conserved with those of PslG. PslG at concentrations as low as 50 nM efficiently inhibits the biofilm formation of and disassemble its preformed biofilm. Furthermore, PslG exhibits anti-biofilm activity on a series of , including and pv. . PslG stays active under various temperatures. Our findings suggest that glycosyl hydrolase PslG has potential to be a broad spectrum inhibitor on biofilm formation of a wide range of .
PubMed: 37928620
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100155 -
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology Dec 2023A1501 is a non-fluorescent denitrifying bacteria that belongs to the gram-negative bacterial group. As a prominent strain in the fields of agriculture and...
A1501 is a non-fluorescent denitrifying bacteria that belongs to the gram-negative bacterial group. As a prominent strain in the fields of agriculture and bioengineering, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding its metabolic capabilities, specifically in terms of central metabolism and substrate utilization. Therefore, further exploration and extensive studies are required to gain a detailed insight into these aspects. This study reconstructed a genome-scale metabolic network model for A1501 and conducted extensive curations, including correcting energy generation cycles, respiratory chains, and biomass composition. The final model, iQY1018, was successfully developed, covering more genes and reactions and having higher prediction accuracy compared with the previously published model iPB890. The substrate utilization ability of 71 carbon sources was investigated by BIOLOG experiment and was utilized to validate the model quality. The model prediction accuracy of substrate utilization for A1501 reached 90 %. The model analysis revealed its new ability in central metabolism and predicted that the strain is a suitable chassis for the production of Acetyl CoA-derived products. This work provides an updated, high-quality model of A1501for further research and will further enhance our understanding of the metabolic capabilities.
PubMed: 37927897
DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2023.10.001 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023The fermented liquid sector is developing all over the world due to its contribution to health. Our study has contributed to the debate about whether industrially...
The fermented liquid sector is developing all over the world due to its contribution to health. Our study has contributed to the debate about whether industrially manufactured fermented liquids live up to their claims by analyzing pathogens and beneficial bacteria using a 16S rRNA sequencing technique called metagenomic analysis. , , , , , and were the most abundant bacterial genera observed as potential probiotics. , , and , which have plant-growth-promoting traits, were also detected. The fact that we encounter biocontroller bacteria that promote plant growth demonstrates that these organisms are widely used in foods and emphasizes the necessity of evaluating them in terms of public health. Their potential applications in agriculture may pose a danger to food hygiene and human health in the long term, so our data suggest that this should be evaluated.
PubMed: 37835192
DOI: 10.3390/foods12193538 -
IScience Oct 2023Emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 VOCs jeopardize global vaccine and herd immunity safeguards. VOCs interactions with host microbiota might affect clinical course and outcome....
Emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 VOCs jeopardize global vaccine and herd immunity safeguards. VOCs interactions with host microbiota might affect clinical course and outcome. This longitudinal investigation involving Pre-VOC and VOCs (Delta & Omicron) holo-transcriptome based nasopharyngeal microbiome at taxonomic levels followed by metabolic pathway analysis and integrative host-microbiome interaction. VOCs showed enrichment of with dominance of . Interestingly with superiority of and , were highlights of Delta VOC rather than Omicron. Common species comprising the core microbiome across all variants, reiterated the significance of in Delta, and its association with metabolic pathways enhancing inflammation in patients. Microbe-host gene correlation network revealed , , and modulating immune pathways, which might augment clinical severity in Delta. Importantly, opportunistic species of , , , and were abundant in Delta-mortality. The study establishes a functional association between elevated nasal pathobionts and dysregulated host response, particularly for Delta.
PubMed: 37701571
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107779 -
Analytical Chemistry Aug 2023Small proteins of around 50 aa in length have been largely overlooked in genetic and biochemical assays due to the inherent challenges with detecting and characterizing...
Small proteins of around 50 aa in length have been largely overlooked in genetic and biochemical assays due to the inherent challenges with detecting and characterizing them. Recent discoveries of their critical roles in many biological processes have led to an increased recognition of the importance of small proteins for basic research and as potential new drug targets. One example is CcoM, a 36 aa subunit of the -type oxidase that plays an essential role in adaptation to oxygen-limited conditions in , a model for the clinically relevant, opportunistic pathogen . However, as no comprehensive data were available in , we devised an integrated, generic approach to study small proteins more systematically. Using the first complete genome as basis, we conducted bottom-up proteomics analyses and established a digest-free, direct-sequencing proteomics approach to study cells grown under aerobic and oxygen-limiting conditions. Finally, we also applied a proteogenomics pipeline to identify missed protein-coding genes. Overall, we identified 2921 known and 29 novel proteins, many of which were differentially regulated. Among 176 small proteins 16 were novel. Direct sequencing, featuring a specialized precursor acquisition scheme, exhibited advantages in the detection of small proteins with higher (up to 100%) sequence coverage and more spectral counts, including sequences with high proline content. Three novel small proteins, uniquely identified by direct sequencing and not conserved beyond , were predicted to form an operon with a conserved protein and may represent genes. These data demonstrate the power of this combined approach to study small proteins in and show its potential for other prokaryotes.
Topics: Pseudomonas stutzeri; Proteomics; Proteogenomics; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Oxygen
PubMed: 37535005
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00676