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Microorganisms Sep 2023The review provides an overview of the current status of the solvent-producing clostridia. The origin and development of industrial clostridial species, as well as the... (Review)
Review
The review provides an overview of the current status of the solvent-producing clostridia. The origin and development of industrial clostridial species, as well as the history of the industrial Acetone Butanol Ethanol fermentation process, is reexamined, and the recent resurgence of interest in the production of biobutanol is reviewed. Over 300 fully sequenced genomes for solvent-producing and closely related clostridial species are currently available in public databases. These include 270 genomes sourced from the David Jones culture collection. These genomes were allocated arbitrary DJ codes, and a conversion table to identify the species and strains has now been provided. The expanded genomic database facilitated new comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis. A synopsis of the common features, molecular taxonomy, and phylogeny of solvent-producing clostridia and the application of comparative phylogenomics are evaluated. A survey and analysis of resident prophages in solvent-producing clostridia are discussed, and the discovery, occurrence, and role of novel R-type tailocins are reported. Prophage genomes with R-type tailocin-like features were detected in all 12 species investigated. The widespread occurrence of tailocins in Gram-negative species is well documented; this survey has indicated that they may also be widespread in clostridia.
PubMed: 37764097
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092253 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official... Nov 2023Tissue perfusion can be affected by physiology or disease. With the advent of total-body PET, quantitative measurement of perfusion across the entire body is possible....
Tissue perfusion can be affected by physiology or disease. With the advent of total-body PET, quantitative measurement of perfusion across the entire body is possible. [C]-butanol is a perfusion tracer with a superior extraction fraction compared with [O]-water and [N]-ammonia. To develop the methodology for total-body perfusion imaging, a pilot study using [C]-butanol on the uEXPLORER total-body PET/CT scanner was conducted. Eight participants (6 healthy volunteers and 2 patients with peripheral vascular disease [PVD]) were injected with a bolus of [C]-butanol and underwent 30-min dynamic acquisitions. Three healthy volunteers underwent repeat studies at rest (baseline) to assess test-retest reproducibility; 1 volunteer underwent paired rest and cold pressor test (CPT) studies. Changes in perfusion were measured in the paired rest-CPT study. For PVD patients, local changes in perfusion were investigated and correlated with patient medical history. Regional and parametric kinetic analysis methods were developed using a 1-tissue compartment model and leading-edge delay correction. Estimated baseline perfusion values ranged from 0.02 to 1.95 mL·min·cm across organs. Test-retest analysis showed that repeat baseline perfusion measurements were highly correlated (slope, 0.99; Pearson = 0.96, < 0.001). For the CPT subject, the largest regional increases were in skeletal muscle (psoas, 142%) and the myocardium (64%). One of the PVD patients showed increased collateral vessel growth in the calf because of a peripheral stenosis. Comorbidities including myocardial infarction, hypothyroidism, and renal failure were correlated with variations in organ-specific perfusion. This pilot study demonstrates the ability to obtain reproducible measurements of total-body perfusion using [C]-butanol. The methods are sensitive to local perturbations in flow because of physiologic stressors and disease.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Butanols; Positron-Emission Tomography; Reproducibility of Results; Kinetics; Pilot Projects; Perfusion Imaging; Perfusion; Coronary Circulation; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
PubMed: 37652544
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.265659 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023Cellulose is produced industrially by the kraft and sulfite processes. The evolution of these technologies in biorefineries is driven by the need to obtain greater added... (Review)
Review
Cellulose is produced industrially by the kraft and sulfite processes. The evolution of these technologies in biorefineries is driven by the need to obtain greater added value through the efficient use of raw materials and energy. In this field, organosolv technologies (and within them, those using liquid phases made up of water and one partly miscible organic solvent, known as "biphasic fractionation" in reference to the number of liquid phases) represent an alternative that is receiving increasing interest. This study considers basic aspects of the composition of lignocellulosic materials, describes the fundamentals of industrial cellulose pulp production processes, introduces the organosolv methods, and comprehensively reviews published results on organosolv fractionation based on the use of media containing water and an immiscible solvent (1-butanol, 1-pentanol or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran). Special attention is devoted to aspects related to cellulose recovery and fractionation selectivity, measured through the amount and composition of the treated solids.
Topics: Cellulose; Lignin; Solvents; Water; Technology; Biomass
PubMed: 37569779
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512404 -
Biomolecules & Biomedicine Nov 2023Current research supports the evidence that the gut microbiome (GM), which consist of gut microbiota and their biologically active metabolites, is associated with... (Review)
Review
Current research supports the evidence that the gut microbiome (GM), which consist of gut microbiota and their biologically active metabolites, is associated with atherosclerosis development. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite produced by the GM through trimethylamine (TMA) oxidation, significantly enhances the formation and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques. TMAO promotes inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells, leading to vascular dysfunction and plaque formation. Dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB), iodomethylcholine (IMC) and fluoromethylcholine (FMC) have been recognized for their ability to reduce plasma TMAO by inhibiting trimethylamine lyase, a bacterial enzyme involved in the choline cleavage anaerobic process, thus reducing TMA formation. Conversely, indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and trigonelline inhibit TMA oxidation by inhibiting flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 (FMO3), resulting in reduced plasma TMAO. The combined use of inhibitors of choline trimethylamine lyase and flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 could provide novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention by stabilizing existing atherosclerotic plaques. This review aims to present the current evidence of the roles of TMA/TMAO in atherosclerosis as well as its potential therapeutic prevention aspects.
Topics: Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Endothelial Cells; Atherosclerosis; Lyases; Choline; Oxides
PubMed: 37337893
DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.8893 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2023Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness with a high mortality rate of 40-60%. It is characterised by systemic inflammatory processes and oxidative stress....
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness with a high mortality rate of 40-60%. It is characterised by systemic inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. Gram-negative bacterial infections are the major cause of ALI, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major stimulus for the release of inflammatory mediators. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies which ameliorate ALI and prevent its serious consequences. The Middle Eastern native plant Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb) Bunge belongs to the family Tamaricaceae, which exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, the current work aimed to ensure the plausible beneficial effects of T. nilotica different fractions on LPS-induced acute lung injury after elucidating their phytochemical constituents using LC/MS analysis. Mice were randomly allocated into six groups: Control saline, LPS group, and four groups treated with total extract, DCM, EtOAc and n-butanol fractions, respectively, intraperitoneal at 100 mg/kg doses 30 min before LPS injection. The lung expression of iNOS, TGF-β1, NOX-1, NOX-4 and GPX-1 levels were evaluated. Also, oxidative stress was assessed via measurements of MDA, SOD and Catalase activity, and histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation of TNF-α in lung tissues were performed. T. nilotica n-butanol fraction caused a significant downregulation in iNOS, TGF-β1, TNF-α, NOX-1, NOX-4, and MDA levels (p ˂ 0.05), and significantly elevated GPX-1 expression levels, SOD, and catalase activity (p ˂ 0.05), and alleviated all histopathological abnormalities confirming its advantageous role in ALI. The antibacterial activities of T. nilotica and its different fractions were investigated by agar well diffusion method and broth microdilution method. Interestingly, the n-butanol fraction exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates. It also significantly reduced exopolysaccharide quantity, cell surface hydrophobicity, and biofilm formation.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Lipopolysaccharides; Tamaricaceae; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Catalase; 1-Butanol; Acute Lung Injury; Lung; Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Superoxide Dismutase
PubMed: 37820564
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115678 -
Open Veterinary Journal Sep 2023Malaria is still one of the most severe public health problems worldwide. The development of treatment, prevention, and control of malaria is one of the substantial...
BACKGROUND
Malaria is still one of the most severe public health problems worldwide. The development of treatment, prevention, and control of malaria is one of the substantial problems in the world.
AIMS
To investigate the antimalarial activity of methanol fruit fraction.
METHODS
L fruit powder was macerated with methanol (PA) and the extract obtained was fractionated using the liquid-liquid partition method with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, chloroform, methanol, and water solvents. antimalarial assay was conducted using the culture of 3D7 strain culture that had reached >5% growth and was examined for IC values using a 24-well microplate in duplicate. Each treatment and control well contained 1,080 μl of complete media. Well, number 1 was added with 120 μl fraction, and then the solution was diluted until it reached 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/ml the final concentration in the microtiter well. The control only contained complete media and infected erythrocytes without the addition of anti-malarial drugs. The microplate was incubated for 48 hours. After 48 hours, a thin blood smear was made fixed with methanol and stained with 20% Giemsa for 20 minutes to determine the IC value by plotting sample concentrations and percentage of parasitemia in Excel.
RESULTS
The IC values of ethyl acetate fraction, n.hexane fraction, butanol fraction, and water fraction were 1.189, 76.996, 1,769, and 15.058 μg/ml, respectively. Whereases the IC values of C1 fraction (mix fraction from chloroform: methanol 100:0 and 90:10) and C4 fraction (mix fraction from chloroform: methanol 20:80, 10:90, and 0:100) were 100.126 and 1.015 μg/ml, respectively. The results showed that the IC value of ethyl acetate, butanol, and C4 fraction were lower than 10μg/ml and were considered as good activity (strong antimalarial activity).
CONCLUSION
The ethyl acetate, butanol and C4 subfraction from fruit have the potential to be developed as an antimalarial agent.
Topics: Animals; Antimalarials; Syzygium; Fruit; Methanol; Chloroform; Plant Extracts; Malaria; Water; Butanols
PubMed: 37842099
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i9.7 -
Clinical Epigenetics Oct 2023Cigarette smoking and aging are the main risk factors for pulmonary diseases, including cancer. Epigenetic aging may explain the relationship between smoking, electronic...
BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoking and aging are the main risk factors for pulmonary diseases, including cancer. Epigenetic aging may explain the relationship between smoking, electronic cigarette vaping, and pulmonary health. No study has examined smoking and vaping-related epigenetic aging in relation to lung biomarkers.
METHODS
Lung epigenetic aging measured by DNA methylation (mAge) and its acceleration (mAA) was assessed in young (age 21-30) electronic cigarette vapers (EC, n = 14, including 3 never-smoking EC), smokers (SM, n = 16), and non-EC/non-SM (NS, n = 39). We investigated relationships of mAge estimates with chronological age (Horvath-mAge), lifespan/mortality (Grim-mAge), telomere length (TL-mAge), smoking/EC history, urinary biomarkers, lung cytokines, and transcriptome.
RESULTS
Compared to NS, EC and SM had significantly older Grim-mAge, shorter TL-mAge, significantly accelerated Grim-mAge and decelerated TL-mAge. Among SM, Grim-mAA was associated with nicotine intake and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). For EC, Horvath-mAA was significantly correlated with puffs per day. Overall, cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) and 759 transcripts (651 unique genes) were significantly associated with Grim-mAA. Grim-mAA-associated genes were highly enriched in immune-related pathways and genes that play a role in the morphology and structures of cells/tissues.
CONCLUSIONS
Faster lung mAge for SM is consistent with prior studies of blood. Faster lung mAge for EC compared to NS indicates possible adverse pulmonary effects of EC on biological aging. Our findings support further research, particularly on epigenetic markers, on effects of smoking and vaping on pulmonary health. Given that most EC are former smokers, further study is needed to understand unique effects of electronic cigarettes on biological aging.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Smokers; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Non-Smokers; Smoking; DNA Methylation; Inflammation; Cytokines; Lung; Biomarkers; Gene Expression; Epigenesis, Genetic
PubMed: 37821974
DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01577-8 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology Nov 2023Motion plays an essential role in sensory acquisition. From changing the position in which information can be acquired to fine-scale probing and active sensing, animals...
Motion plays an essential role in sensory acquisition. From changing the position in which information can be acquired to fine-scale probing and active sensing, animals actively control the way they interact with the environment. In olfaction, movement impacts the time and location of odour sampling as well as the flow of odour molecules around the olfactory organs. Employing a detailed spatiotemporal analysis, we investigated how insect antennae interact with the olfactory environment in a species with a well-studied olfactory system - the American cockroach. Cockroaches were tested in a wind-tunnel setup during the presentation of odours with different attractivity levels: colony extract, butanol and linalool. Our analysis revealed significant changes in antennal kinematics when odours were presented, including a shift towards the stream position, an increase in vertical movement and high-frequency local oscillations. Nevertheless, the antennal shifting occurred predominantly in a single antenna while the overall range covered by both antennae was maintained throughout. These findings hold true for both static and moving stimuli and were more pronounced for attractive odours. Furthermore, we found that upon odour encounter, there was an increase in the occurrence of high-frequency antennal sweeps and vertical strokes, which were shown to impact the olfactory environment's statistics directly. Our study lays out a tractable system for exploring the tight coupling between sensing and movement, in which antennal sweeps, in parallel to mammalian sniffing, are actively involved in facilitating odour capture and transport, generating odour intermittency in environments with low air movement where cockroaches dwell.
Topics: Animals; Smell; Periplaneta; Odorants; Cockroaches; Sense Organs; Arthropod Antennae; Mammals
PubMed: 37750327
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245337