Following publication of the original article (Kher et al. 2020), the authors identified following mistake in the author affiliation.

In the original publication of the article, it was published under the title ‘Applied microbiology and biotechnology uncovering the biosynthetic pathway of polysaccharide-based microbial flocculant in Agrobacterium tumefaciens F2’.

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms contribute heavily to chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients, leading to morbidity and mortality. Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to disperse P. aeruginosa biofilms in vitro, ex vivo and in clinical trials as a promising anti-biofilm agent. Traditional NO donors such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) have been extensively employed in different studies

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is an important zoonotic agent, which seriously impacts the pig industry and human health in various countries. Biofilm formation is likely contributing to the virulence and drug resistance in S. suis. A better knowledge of biofilm formation as well as to biofilm-dependent drug resistance mechanisms in S. suis can be of great significance for the prevention and treatment

Abstract Dunaliella salina (D. salina) has been widely applied in various fields because of its inherent advantages, such as the study of halotolerant mechanism, wastewater treatment, recombinant proteins expression, biofuel production, preparation of natural materials, and others. However, owing to the existence of low yield or in the laboratory exploration stage, D. salina system has been greatly

Abstract Photoautotrophic microalgae offer a great potential as novel hosts for efficient recombinant protein production. Nannochloropsis oceanica produces an extraordinarily high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and its robust growth characteristics, published genome sequence and efficient nuclear transformation make N. oceanica a promising candidate for biotechnological applications. To establish

Abstract KP-43, a 43-kDa alkaline serine protease, is resistant to chemical oxidants and surfactants, making it suitable for use in laundry detergents. An amino acid residue at position 195, in a unique flexible loop that binds a Ca2+ ion, dramatically affects the proteolytic activity and thermal stability of KP-43. In the present study, we obtained 20 variants with substitutions at position 195 and

Substrate amendments composed of crab shell (CS) waste materials have been shown to significantly improve the longevity and performance of acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems containing spent mushroom compost (SMC), yet the development of key microbial populations within these systems has not been investigated. To better understand the effects of CS on microbial dynamics in these systems, clone

Abstract Aspergillus niger is featured with its copious amount of extracellular β-glucosidase which is generally used to balance the cellulolytic enzyme cocktails for lignocellulose saccharification. However, whether or not A. niger produces any intracellular β-glucosidase remains obscure. In this study, we analyzed a total of fifteen putative β-glucosidase genes (bgls) in A. niger CBS 513.88 genome

Abstract Within the marine sphere, host-associated microbiomes are receiving growing attention as prolific sources of novel biocatalysts. Given the known biocatalytic potential of poriferan microbial inhabitants, this review focuses on enzymes from the sponge microbiome, with special attention on their relevant properties and the wide range of their potential biotechnological applications within various

Abstract Since the first discovery of old yellow enzyme 1 (OYE1) from Saccharomyces pastorianus in 1932, biocatalytic asymmetric reduction of activated alkenes by OYEs has become a valuable reaction in organic synthesis. To access stereocomplementary C=C-bond bioreduction, the mining of novel OYEs and especially the protein engineering of existing OYEs have been performed, which successfully achieved

Abstract Cold-adapted (CA) microorganisms (= psychrophiles or psychrotolerants) are key players of many ecological interactions in natural ecosystems. Some of them can colonize the rhizosphere of plants and cause damage to their hosts; others, on the contrary, protect plants from their pathogens through direct and indirect mechanisms, thus promoting plant growth and development. These “protective”

Abstract Double-promoter expression system (DPES) design as de novo metabolic engineering strategy enables fine-tuned and enhanced gene expression. We constructed a collection of monodirectional hybrid-architectured DPESs with engineered promoter variants PADH2-Cat8-L2 and PmAOX1 and with the naturally occurring promoter PGAP to enhance and upregulate-deregulated gene expressions in Pichia pastoris

Abstract Because of their function of catalyzing the rearrangement of the carbon chains, thiolases have attracted increasing attentions over the past decades. The 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT) is a member of the thiolase, which is capable of catalyzing the Claisen condensation reaction between the two acyl-CoAs, thereby achieving carbon chain elongation. In this way, diverse value-added compounds might

Here, we characterize two novel GH5 endoglucanases (GH5CelA and GH5CelB) from an uncultured bacterium identified in termite gut microbiomes. Both genes were codon-optimized, synthetized, cloned, and expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli for subsequent purification. Both enzymes showed activity on the pNPC and barley β-glucan substrates, whereas GH5CelB also showed low activity on carboxymethyl

Abstract Coupling elemental mercury (Hg0) oxidation, autotrophic denitrifying sulfur oxidation, and sulfur disproportionation offers technological potential for simultaneous Hg0 and nitric oxide (NO) removal. This study shed light on simultaneous demercuration and denitration of flue gas by a sulfur-oxidizing membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). Removal efficiency of Hg0 and NO attained 92% and 83%, respectively in

Abstract The translation initiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) occurs at two alternative initiation sites (Lab AUG and Lb AUG). Usually, the Lb AUG is more favorably used to initiate protein synthesis than the Lab AUG. To explore the effect of Lb AUG on FMDV replication and obtain FMDV with restricted replication, this initiation codon was mutated to a variety of non-AUG codons (UGG, AUC

Abstract Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a member of genus gamma-coronavirus in the family Coronaviridae, causing serious economic losses to the poultry industry. Reverse genetics is a common technique to study the biological characteristics of viruses. So far, there is no BAC reverse genetic system available for rescue of IBV infectious clone. In the present study, a new strategy for the construction

Abstract Flagellar motility in bacteria is a highly regulated and complex cellular process that requires high energy investment for movement and host colonization. Motility plays an important role in the lifestyle of Vibrio spp. in the aquatic environment and during host colonization. Flagellar motility in vibrios is associated with several cellular processes, such as movement, colonization, adhesion

Leishmaniasis is a set of complex and multifaceted syndromes, with different clinical manifestations, caused by different species of the genus Leishmania spp. that can be characterized by at least four syndromes: visceral leishmaniasis (VL, also known as kala-azar), post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). Among the most serious

Abstract Lipopeptides are a group of second metabolites of Bacillus and have multiple activities such as inhibiting fungi, bacteria, viruses, and tumors, showing a great potential application in agricultural and biomedical fields. However, low production severely restrained their application in practice. Deeply understanding the key elements of lipopeptide synthesis and the regulatory strategies is

Abstract Arabinanases from glycoside hydrolase family GH93 are enzymes with exo-activity that hydrolyze the α-1,5 bonds between arabinose residues present on arabinan. Currently, several initiatives aiming to use byproducts rich in arabinan such as pectin and sugar beet pulp as raw material to produce various compounds of interest are being developed. However, it is necessary to use robust enzymes

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus causes severe infections and among all methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) remains a great challenge in spite of decade research of antibacterial compounds. Even though some synthetic antibiotics have been developed, they are not effective against MRSA, and hence, there is a search for natural, alternative and plant-based antibacterial compound. In this connection

Abstract Single-cell genomics and transcriptomics can provide reliable context for assembled genome fragments and gene expression activity on the level of individual prokaryotic genomes. These methods are rapidly emerging as an essential complement to cultivation-based, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and microbial community-focused research approaches by allowing direct access to information from

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins whose biological function is believed to be facilitating olfaction by assisting the transport of volatile chemicals in both vertebrate and insect sensory organs, where they are secreted. Their capability to interact with a broad range of hydrophobic compounds combined with interesting features such as being small, stable, and easy to produce

Abstract The determination of bacteriophage growth parameters, such as adsorption constant, latent period, and burst size, is essential for the proper design of bacteriophage production and the estimation of the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy. As they are dependent on the physiological state and cultivation conditions bacteria, they should be preferably determined in a non-invasive way. We propose

Background The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinesis) is a rising experimental animal and has been used for studying a variety of human diseases, such as metabolic and viral infectious diseases. Methods In this study, we established an immortalized tree shrew hepatic cell line, ITH6.1, by introducing the simian virus 40 large T antigen gene into primary tree shrew hepatocytes (PTHs). Results

Abstract Arabinofuranose substitutions on xylan are known to interfere with enzymatic hydrolysis of this primary hemicellulose. In this work, two novel α-l-arabinofuranosidases (ABFs), TtABF51A from Thielavia terrestris and EpABF62C from Eupenicillium parvum, were characterized and functionally analyzed. From sequences analyses, TtABF51A and EpABF62C belong to glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 51 and

Abstract The halophilic lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus has been widely used in high-salinity fermentation processes of food. Previous studies have indicated that the catabolism of arginine may contribute to the osmotic stress adaptation of T. halophilus. Unusually, in the chromosome of T. halophilus, preceding the arginine deiminase (ADI) operon, locate two co-transcribed genes, both

Abstract Gluten is a cereal protein that is incompletely digested by human proteolytic enzymes that create immunogenic peptides that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Although both environmental and human bacteria have been shown to expedite gluten hydrolysis, gluten intolerance is a growing concern. Here we hypothesize that together with food, we acquire environmental bacteria that could

Abstract The probiotic bacteria are helpful for nutritional and therapeutic purposes, and they are commercially available in various forms, such as capsules or powders. Increasing pieces of evidence indicate that different growth conditions and variability in manufacturing processes can determine the properties of probiotic products. In recent years, the lipidomic approach has become a useful tool

Abstract Numerous studies have reported the stimulation of plant growth following inoculation with an IAA-producing PGPB. However, the specific mode of IAA production by the PGPB is rarely elucidated. In part, this is due to the overwhelming complexity of IAA biosynthesis and regulation. The promiscuity of the enzymes implicated in IAA biosynthesis adds another element of complexity when attempting

Abstract Mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL) are glycolipids mainly produced by pseudo-yeasts. These molecules present remarkable biological activities widely explored in many fields, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This review presents the main biological activity of MEL on the HL60, K562, B16, PC12, and skin cells. There is strong evidence that MEL changes the levels of glycosphingolipids

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important tropical neglected diseases according to the World Health Organization. Even after more than a century, we still have few drugs for the disease therapy and their great toxicity and side effects put in check the treatment control program around the world. Moreover, the emergence of strains resistant to conventional drugs, co-infections such as HIV/Leishmania

We evaluated the ventilation ability of two types (plug-type and cap-type) of culture-stoppers having standard air permeability. The culture-stoppers were evaluated using the circulation direct monitoring and sampling system with CO2 concentration in the gas phase of a shake-flask culture as an index. The half-lives of CO2 in the headspace of the shake flask with the plug-type and cap-type stoppers

BACKGROUND Xylanase with high specific activity plays a crucial role in hemicellulose biodegradation and has important industrial application. The amino acids located in the active site determine the enzyme biological characterization. In this study, structure bioinformatics analysis and alanine screening experiments were performed to explore the roles of amino acids at each subsite of the GH11 xylanase

The gut microbiota has an extremely important role within the body and it is necessary for the regulation of the metabolism of the host and also for the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity. Here, we show several different factors leading to obesity such as epigenetic changes and how they result in differences to occur in the gut microbiota, along with gut dysbiosis which is caused by

In previous studies, we isolated a novel β-glucosidase from Penicillium oxalicum 16 (16BGL), which is useful for producing cellulosic ethanol. However, 16BGL has a relatively low enzyme activity and product tolerance; besides, a huge gap exists between the optimum temperature of 16BGL (70 °C) and the fermentation temperature for producing cellulosic ethanol (40 °C). Here, we present a directed evolution-based

Dietary glycerol supplementation in aquaculture feed is seen as an alternative and inexpensive way to fuel fish metabolism, attenuate metabolic utilization of dietary proteins and, subsequently, reduce nitrogen excretion. In this study, we evaluated the impact of dietary glycerol supplementation on nitrogen excretion of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and its effects on metabolite profile and

Abstract The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel β-coronavirus, is the main pathogenic agent of the rapidly spreading pneumonia called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects much more people, especially the elder population, around the world than other coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which is challenging current global public health system

Abstract Oleaginous filamentous fungi grown under the nitrogen limitation, accumulate high amounts of lipids in the form of triacylglycerides (TAGs) with fatty acid profiles similar to plant and fish oils. In this study, we investigate the effect of six phosphorus source concentrations combined with two types of nitrogen substrate (yeast extract and ammonium sulphate), on the biomass formation, lipid

Abstract In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mitochondrial branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) aminotransferase Bat1 plays an important role in the synthesis of BCAAs (valine, leucine, and isoleucine). Our upcoming study (Large et al. bioRχiv. 10.1101/2020.06.26.166157, Large et al. 2020) will show that the heterozygous tetraploid beer yeast strain, Wyeast 1056, which natively has a variant causing

Abstract This study investigated the impact of oxygen partial pressure on yeast growth. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were exposed to various hyperbaric air conditions from 1 bar to 9 bar absolute pressure (A). Batch cultures were grown under continuous airflow in a 750 mL (500 mL culture) bioreactor and monitored through growth rate and specific yields of ethanol and glycerol. In addition, the concentrations

Abstract Pernisine is a subtilisin-like serine proteinase secreted by the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix. The significant properties of this proteinase are remarkable stability and ability to degrade the infectious prion proteins. Here we show the production of pernisine in the periplasm of Escherichia coli. This strategy prevented the aggregation of pernisine in the cytoplasm and increased

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a worrisome superbug, due to its wide distribution and multidrug resistance. To characterize effects of a newly identified plantaricin GZ1-27 on MRSA, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of MRSA strain ATCC43300 was performed in response to sub-MIC (16 μg/mL) plantaricin GZ1-27 stress. In total, 1090 differentially expressed genes (padj < 0

Standardized parts can be efficiently assembled into novel biological systems using the three antibiotic (3A) system, ensuring the reusability of components and repeatability of experiments. In this study, we created the 3A expression system for easy construction of gene expression cassettes in Corynebacterium glutamicum (C. glutamicum), which was applied to screen combinations of promoters and signal

Plant virus-based expression systems are an alternative expression platform for the production of clinically and industrially useful recombinant proteins. Nonetheless, due to a lack of viral vector with the commercial potentials, it is urgent to design and develop new, versatile, and efficient plant virus vectors. The genome of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) offers an attractive alternative to being

In order to maintain the reservoir pressure during secondary oil production large volumes of seawater are injected into reservoirs. This practice introduces high concentrations of sulfate into the reservoir promoting the growth of sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) and results in the production of an increasing volume of produced water (PW) that needs to be discharged. SRM reduce sulfate to sulfide

Candida tropicalis has recently emerged as a valuable yeast species with respect to lipid metabolism, not only for its oleaginous characteristics but also for its ability to utilize diverse range of substrates. Hence, it can be explored as an ideal host for lipid metabolic engineering, although inadequate genetic transformation system for developing the stable transformant has limited this scope. To

Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy is characterized by viruses which specifically target cancer cells and cause their cytolysis. They provide a unique and promising new tool for the eradication of cancer as they interact with and affect the tumor microenvironment (TME), vasculature, and immune system. Advancements of genetic engineering have allowed for these viruses to be armed in such a way to have

Cellodextrins are non-digestible oligosaccharides that have attracted interest from the food industry as potential prebiotics. They are typically produced through the partial hydrolysis of cellulose, resulting in a complex mixture of oligosaccharides with a varying degree of polymerisation (DP). Here, we explore the defined synthesis of cellotriose as product since this oligosaccharide is believed

The green alga Chlorella vulgaris has potential as a source of clean bioenergy with abundant metabolites and a high oil content, and antibiotics are often applied to remove bacteria from culture to obtain axenic algal strains. In this work, ceftazidime and gentamicin sulphate (GS) were added separately and in combination in the aseptic processing of C. vulgaris, and gene expression and metabolites

Bacteria are versatile living systems that enhance our understanding of nature and enable biosynthesis of valuable chemicals. Long fragment editing techniques are of great importance for accelerating bacterial genome engineering to obtain desirable and genetically stable strains. However, the existing genome editing methods cannot meet the needs of engineers. We herein report an efficient long fragment