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Nutrients Apr 2024Beneficial health effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (-3 PUFA) are partly attributed to specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), which promote... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Beneficial health effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (-3 PUFA) are partly attributed to specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), which promote inflammation resolution. Strategies to improve -3 PUFA conversion to SPMs may, therefore, be useful to treat or prevent chronic inflammatory disorders. Here, we explored a synbiotic strategy to increase circulating SPM precursor levels. Healthy participants (n = 72) received either SynΩ3 (250 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) lysine salts; two billion CFU Bacillus megaterium; n = 23), placebo (n = 24), or fish oil (300 mg EPA plus DHA; N = 25) capsules daily for 28 days in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled parallel 3-group design. Biomarkers were assessed at baseline and after 2 and 28 days of intervention. The primary analysis involved the comparison between SynΩ3 and placebo. In addition, SynΩ3 was compared to fish oil. The synbiotic SynΩ3 comprising Bacillus megaterium DSM 32963 and -3 PUFA salts significantly increased circulating SPM precursor levels, including 18-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) plus 5-HEPE, which was not achieved to this extent by fish oil with a similar -3 PUFA content. Omega-3 indices were increased slightly by both SynΩ3 and fish oil. These findings suggest reconsidering conventional -3 PUFA supplementation and testing the effectiveness of SynΩ3 particularly in conditions related to inflammation.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Bacillus megaterium; Adult; Double-Blind Method; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Synbiotics; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Young Adult; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Middle Aged; Biomarkers; Healthy Volunteers; Fish Oils
PubMed: 38732601
DOI: 10.3390/nu16091354 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Jun 2024With the aim of reintroducing wheat grains naturally contaminated with mycotoxins into the food value chain, a decontamination strategy was developed in this study. For...
A new physical and biological strategy to reduce the content of zearalenone in infected wheat kernels: the effect of cold needle perforation, microorganisms, and purified enzyme.
With the aim of reintroducing wheat grains naturally contaminated with mycotoxins into the food value chain, a decontamination strategy was developed in this study. For this purpose, in a first step, the whole wheat kernels were pre-treated using cold needle perforation. The pore size was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and the accessibility of enzymes and microorganisms determined using fluorescent markers in the size range of enzymes (5 nm) and microorganisms (10 μm), and fluorescent microscopy. The perforated wheat grains, as well as non-perforated grains as controls, were then incubated with selected microorganisms (Bacillus megaterium Myk145 and B. licheniformis MA572) or with the enzyme ZHD518. The two bacilli strains were not able to significantly reduce the amount of zearalenone (ZEA), neither in the perforated nor in the non-perforated wheat kernels in comparison with the controls. In contrast, the enzyme ZHD518 significantly reduced the initial concentration of ZEA in the perforated and non-perforated wheat kernels in comparison with controls. Moreover, in vitro incubation of ZHD518 with ZEA showed the presence of two non-estrogenic degradation products of ZEA: hydrolysed zearalenone (HZEA) and decarboxylated hydrolysed ZEA (DHZEA). In addition, the physical pre-treatment led to a reduction in detectable mycotoxin contents in a subset of samples. Overall, this study emphasizes the promising potential of combining physical pre-treatment approaches with biological decontamination solutions in order to address the associated problem of mycotoxin contamination and food waste reduction.
Topics: Zearalenone; Triticum; Food Contamination; Bacillus megaterium; Decontamination; Food Microbiology; Food Handling; Bacillus; Seeds; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
PubMed: 38729726
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114364 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024The potential of PulY103A (a moderate amylopullulanase originating from ) for resistant starch production under moderate conditions (40 °C; a pH of 6.5) was...
The potential of PulY103A (a moderate amylopullulanase originating from ) for resistant starch production under moderate conditions (40 °C; a pH of 6.5) was investigated. PulY103A was much more suitable for pea resistant starch production with a high growth rate of 3.63. The pea resistant starch (PSpa) produced with PulY103A had lower levels of swelling power and solubility and a better level of thermostability than native pea starch (PSn) and autoclaved PS (PSa). The starch crystallinity pattern was B + V, which indicated that the PSpa belonged to RS types III + V. In addition, PSpa was used for breadmaking. The results showed that the bread quality was not significantly influenced compared to the control group when the content of PSpa was under 10% ( > 0.05). The bread supplemented with 10% PSpa had a significantly increased TDF content compared to that of the control ( < 0.05). Moreover, the in vitro mineral bioavailability of the bread sample was influenced gently compared to other dietary fibers, and the bread sample changed from a high-glycemic-index (GI) food to a medium-GI food corresponding to white bread at the same concentration of PSpa. These results indicated that PSpa is a good candidate for the production of dietary foods.
PubMed: 38672923
DOI: 10.3390/foods13081251 -
Bioresources and Bioprocessing Jul 2023Proteolysis is the rate-limiting step in the mineralization of organic nitrogen into ammonium (NH) and thereby the ammonia (NH) released during the composting. However,...
Proteolysis is the rate-limiting step in the mineralization of organic nitrogen into ammonium (NH) and thereby the ammonia (NH) released during the composting. However, the dynamics of bacterial proteolytic communities related to NH emissions during the composting systems are mostly unknown. This study aimed to examine and compare the effects of hyperthermophilic pretreatment composting (HPC) and traditional composting (TC) methods on (i) the difference of NH loss and nitrogenous compounds; (ii) the dynamics of the proteolytic bacterial community involved in the proteolysis and (iii) the correlation between the proteolytic bacterial community, biophysiochemical characteristics and NH loss. Results revealed that the HPC decreased NH loss by 42% as compared to TC during 60-day composting period. This was accompanied with an inhibitory effect on protease activity in the HPC where the relative abundances of the proteolytic bacteria (Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus cohnii) were reduced significantly as compared to TC. Partial least-squares path modeling suggested that various physicochemical properties such as higher temperature as well as lower C/N ratio during composting played a dominant role in affecting the abundance of proteolytic bacteria, which may have been an important factor contributing to the lower NH loss in HPC. All these findings lead us to conclude that the HPC can significantly reduce NH loss by inhibiting the proteolytic bacteria and protease activity responsible for NH release.
PubMed: 38647615
DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00659-y -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Nature utilizes three distinct pathways to synthesize the essential enzyme cofactor heme. The coproporphyrin III-dependent pathway, predominantly present in , employs an...
Nature utilizes three distinct pathways to synthesize the essential enzyme cofactor heme. The coproporphyrin III-dependent pathway, predominantly present in , employs an oxygen-dependent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase (CgoX) that converts coproporphyrinogen III into coproporphyrin III. In this study, we report the bioinformatic-based identification of a gene called , encoding a putative oxygen-independent counterpart, which we propose to term CgoN, from () . The recombinantly produced, purified, and monomeric YtpQ (CgoN) protein is shown to catalyze the oxygen-independent conversion of coproporphyrinogen III into coproporphyrin III. Minimal non-enzymatic conversion of coproporphyrinogen III was observed under the anaerobic test conditions employed in this study. FAD was identified as a cofactor, and menadione served as an artificial acceptor for the six abstracted electrons, with a value of 3.95 μmol/L and a of 0.63 per min for the substrate. The resulting coproporphyrin III, in turn, acts as an effective substrate for the subsequent enzyme of the pathway, the coproporphyrin III ferrochelatase (CpfC). Under aerobic conditions, oxygen directly serves as an electron acceptor, but is replaced by the more efficient action of menadione. An AlphaFold2 model of the enzyme suggests that YtpQ adopts a compact triangular shape consisting of three domains. The N-terminal domain appears to be flexible with respect to the rest of the structure, potentially creating a ligand binding site that opens and closes during the catalytic cycle. A catalytic mechanism similar to the oxygen-independent protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase PgoH1 (HemG), based on the flavin-dependent abstraction of six electrons from coproporphyrinogen III and their potential quinone-dependent transfer to a membrane-localized electron transport chain, is proposed.
PubMed: 38544863
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1378989 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024is particularly known for its abundance in soils and its plant growth promotion. To characterize the metabolites excreted by this specie, we performed successive...
is particularly known for its abundance in soils and its plant growth promotion. To characterize the metabolites excreted by this specie, we performed successive liquid/liquid extractions from bacteria culture medium with different polarity solvents (cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol) to separate the metabolites in different polarity groups. The extracts were characterized regarding their total phenolic content, the amount of reducing sugar, the concentration of primary amines and proteins, their chromatographic profile by HPLC-DAD-ELSD and their chemical identification by GC-MS. Among the 75 compounds which are produced by the bacteria, 19 identifications were for the first time found as metabolites of and 23 were described for the first time as metabolites in genus. The different extracts containing metabolites showed interesting agronomic activity, with a global inhibition of seed germination rates of soya, sunflower, corn and ray grass, but not of corn, compared to culture medium alone. Our results suggest that can produce various metabolites, like butanediol, cyclic dipeptides, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons, with diverse effects and sometimes with opposite effects in order to modulate its response to plant growth and adapt to various environmental effects. These findings provide new insight into bioactive properties of this species for therapeutic uses on plants.
Topics: Bacillus megaterium; Antioxidants; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38542209
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063235 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Many studies have been conducted on the microbial reduction of Pd (II) to palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) due to the environmental friendliness, low cost, and the...
Many studies have been conducted on the microbial reduction of Pd (II) to palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) due to the environmental friendliness, low cost, and the decreased toxicity of Pd (II) ions. In this study, we investigate the reduction mechanism of Pd (II) by Y-4 through proteomics. The data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD049711. Our results revealed that Y-4 may use the endogenous electron donor (NAD(P)H) generated by nirB, tdh, and fabG and reductase to reduce Pd (II) to Pd-NPs. The expression levels of fabG, tdh, gudB, and rocG that generate NAD(P)H were further increased, and the number of reduced Pd-NPs was further increased with the exogenous electron donor sodium formate. Endogenous electron mediators such as quinones and flavins in Y-4 can further enhance Pd (II) reduction. The findings provided invaluable information regarding the reduction mechanism of Pd (II) by Y-4 at the proteome level.
PubMed: 38535660
DOI: 10.3390/nano14060512 -
Journal of Biosciences 2024Snake venom L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs) are flavoenzymes with diverse physiological and pharmacological effects. These enzymes are found to showcase anticoagulant,...
Snake venom L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs) are flavoenzymes with diverse physiological and pharmacological effects. These enzymes are found to showcase anticoagulant, antiplatelet, cytotoxicity and other biological effects in bite victims. However, the exact mechanism through which they exhibit several biological properties is not yet fully understood. The current study focussed on the purification of cobra venom LAAO and the functional characterization of purified LAAO. A novel L-amino acid oxidase NNLAAO70 with a molecular weight ~70 kDa was purified from the venom of an Indian spectacled cobra (). NNLAAO70 showed high substrate specificity for L-His, L-Leu, and L-Arg during its LAAO activity. It inhibited adenosine di-phosphate (ADP) and collagen-induced platelet aggregation process in a dosedependent manner. About 60% inhibition of collagen-induced and 40% inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was observed with a 40 μg/ml dose of NNLAAO70. NNLAAO70 exhibited bactericidal activity on and . NNLAAO70 also showed cytotoxicity on A549 cells . It showed severe bactericidal activity on and lysed 55% of cells. NNLAAO70 also exhibited drastic cytotoxicity on A549 cells. At 1 lg/ml dosage, it demonstrated a 60% reduction in A549 viability and induced apoptosis upon 24-h incubation. HO released during oxidative deamination reactions played a major role in NNLAAO70-induced cytotoxicity. NNLAAO70 significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in A549 cells by six fold when compared to untreated cells. Oxidative stress-mediated cell injury is the primary cause of NNLAAO70-induced apoptosis in A549 cells and prolonged oxidative stress caused DNA fragmentation and activated cellular secondary necrosis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Elapidae; Naja naja; L-Amino Acid Oxidase; Hydrogen Peroxide; Elapid Venoms; Apoptosis; Necrosis; Collagen; Lung; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38516910
DOI: No ID Found -
Life Sciences May 2024Substance use disorder (SUD) affects over 48 million Americans aged 12 and over. Thus, identifying novel chemicals contributing to SUD will be critical for developing...
Substance use disorder (SUD) affects over 48 million Americans aged 12 and over. Thus, identifying novel chemicals contributing to SUD will be critical for developing efficient prevention and mitigation strategies. Considering the complexity of the actions and effects of these substances on human behavior, a high-throughput platform using a living organism is ideal. We developed a quick and easy screening assay using Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans prefers high-quality food (Escherichia coli HB101) over low-quality food (Bacillus megaterium), with a food preference index of approximately 0.2, defined as the difference in the number of worms at E. coli HB101 and B. megaterium over the total worm number. The food preference index was significantly increased by loperamide, a μ-opioid receptor (MOPR) agonist, and decreased by naloxone, a MOPR antagonist. These changes depended on npr-17, a C. elegans homolog of opioid receptors. In addition, the food preference index was significantly increased by arachidonyl-2'-chloroethylamide, a cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) agonist, and decreased by rimonabant, a CB1R inverse agonist. These changes depended on npr-19, a homolog of CB1R. These results suggest that the conserved opioid and endocannabinoid systems modulate the food preference behaviors of C. elegans. Finally, the humanoid C. elegans strains where npr-17 was replaced with human MOPR and where npr-19 was replaced with human CB1R phenocopied the changes in food preference by the drug treatment. Together, the current results show that this method can be used to rapidly screen the potential effectors of MOPR and CB1R to yield results highly translatable to humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Caenorhabditis elegans; Food Preferences; Escherichia coli; Drug Inverse Agonism; Substance-Related Disorders; Analgesics, Opioid
PubMed: 38514005
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122580 -
Open Life Sciences 2024The study focused on the contribution of effective microorganisms (EM) and their consortia, used in commercial biological preparations and formulations for soil...
The study focused on the contribution of effective microorganisms (EM) and their consortia, used in commercial biological preparations and formulations for soil revitalization, to the degradation of a mixture of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) commonly found in the soil environment. PAHs, diverse forms of which are present in the environment, never occur individually but always as a part of a chemical mixture. Therefore, the research presented in this article, focusing on the EM impact on the mixture of PAHs, reflects the conditions most similar to natural ones. On Day 35 of the experiment, PAH levels decreased by 75.5-95.5%. The highest PAHs degradation efficiency was achieved for fluorene, with a preparation containing eight bacteria strains from the genus: and . All tested preparations containing bacterial consortia and a preparation with the yeast intensified the PAHs degradation more effectively than formulations including only the yeast or a mixture of and . The designed and proposed research will contribute to the development of biotechnological methods - bioremediation by microorganisms that are safe for the human and environment health.
PubMed: 38415204
DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0831