Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three most essential micronutrients which play major roles in plant survivability by being a structural or non-structural component of the cell. Plants acquire these nutrients from soil in the fixed (NO3 ̄, NH4+) and solubilized forms (K+, H2PO4- and HPO42-). In soil, the fixed and solubilized forms of nutrients are unavailable or available in bare minimum amounts; therefore, agrochemicals were introduced. Agrochemicals, mined from the deposits or chemically prepared, have been widely used in the agricultural farms over the decades for the sake of higher production of the crops. The excessive use of agrochemicals has been found to be deleterious for humans, as well as the environment. In the environment, agrochemical usage resulted in soil acidification, disturbance of microbial ecology, and eutrophication of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. A solution to such devastating agro-input was found to be substituted by macronutrients-availing microbiomes. Macronutrients-availing microbiomes solubilize and fix the insoluble form of nutrients and convert them into soluble forms without causing any significant harm to the environment. Microbes convert the insoluble form to the soluble form of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) through different mechanisms such as fixation, solubilization, and chelation. The microbiomes having capability of fixing and solubilizing nutrients contain some specific genes which have been reported in diverse microbial species surviving in different niches. In the present review, the biodiversity, mechanism of action, and genomics of different macronutrients-availing microbiomes are presented.
- MeSH
- Bacteria * metabolism genetics classification MeSH
- Biodiversity * MeSH
- Biotechnology * MeSH
- Potassium metabolism MeSH
- Nitrogen metabolism MeSH
- Phosphorus metabolism MeSH
- Microbiota * MeSH
- Soil chemistry MeSH
- Soil Microbiology MeSH
- Crops, Agricultural MeSH
- Agriculture MeSH
- Nutrients * metabolism MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic organisms characterised by their complex structures and a wide range of pigments. With their ability to fix CO2, cyanobacteria are interesting for white biotechnology as cell factories to produce various high-value metabolites such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, pigments, or proteins. White biotechnology is the industrial production and processing of chemicals, materials, and energy using microorganisms. It is known that exposing cyanobacteria to low levels of stressors can induce the production of secondary metabolites. Understanding of this phenomenon, known as hormesis, can involve the strategic application of controlled stressors to enhance the production of specific metabolites. Consequently, precise measurement of cyanobacterial viability becomes crucial for process control. However, there is no established reliable and quick viability assay protocol for cyanobacteria since the task is challenging due to strong interferences of autofluorescence signals of intercellular pigments and fluorescent viability probes when flow cytometry is used. We performed the screening of selected fluorescent viability probes used frequently in bacteria viability assays. The results of our investigation demonstrated the efficacy and reliability of three widely utilised types of viability probes for the assessment of the viability of Synechocystis strains. The developed technique can be possibly utilised for the evaluation of the importance of polyhydroxyalkanoates for cyanobacterial cultures with respect to selected stressor-repeated freezing and thawing. The results indicated that the presence of polyhydroxyalkanoate granules in cyanobacterial cells could hypothetically contribute to the survival of repeated freezing and thawing.
Yeasts are unicellular fungi that occur in a wide range of ecological niches, where they perform numerous functions. Furthermore, these microorganisms are used in industrial processes, food production, and bioremediation. Understanding the physiological and adaptive characteristics of yeasts is of great importance from ecological, biotechnological, and industrial perspectives. In this context, we evaluated the abilities to assimilate and ferment different carbon sources, to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, and to tolerate salt stress, heavy metal stress, and UV-C radiation of two isolates of Eremothecium coryli, isolated from Momordica indica fruits. The two isolates were molecularly identified based on sequencing of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Our isolates were able to assimilate nine carbon sources (dextrose, galactose, mannose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, melezitose, and pectin) and ferment three (glucose, maltose, and sucrose). The highest values of cellular dry weight were observed in the sugars maltose, sucrose, and melezitose. We observed the presence of hyphae and pseudohyphae in all assimilated carbon sources. The two isolates were also capable of producing amylase, catalase, pectinase, and proteases, with the highest values of enzymatic activity found in amylase. Furthermore, the two isolates were able to grow in media supplemented with copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc and to tolerate saline stress in media supplemented with 5% NaCl. However, we observed a decrease in CFU at higher concentrations of these metals and NaCl. We also observed morphological changes in the presence of metals, which include changes in cell shape and cellular dimorphisms. The isolates were sensitive to UV-C radiation in the shortest exposure time (1 min). Our findings reinforce the importance of endophytic yeasts for biotechnological and industrial applications and also help to understand how these microorganisms respond to environmental variations caused by human activities.
- MeSH
- Endophytes * isolation & purification genetics metabolism physiology classification radiation effects MeSH
- Fermentation MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Stress, Physiological * MeSH
- Carbohydrate Metabolism * MeSH
- Fruit * microbiology MeSH
- Saccharomycetales * isolation & purification genetics physiology metabolism radiation effects classification MeSH
- Metals, Heavy toxicity MeSH
- Ultraviolet Rays MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The circular economy of animal by-products rich in collagen focuses on converting collagen into peptides with a defined molecular weight. Collagen hydrolysates prepared by biotechnological methods from chicken gizzards, deer tendons, and Cyprinus carpio skeletons can be an alternative source of collagen for cosmetic products that traditionally use bovine or porcine collagen hydrolysates. Collagen hydrolysates were characterized by antioxidant activity, surface tension, solution contact angle, and other parameters (dry weight, ash content, and solution clarity). Furthermore, the vibrational characterization of functional groups and their molecular weight was performed using the GPC-RID method. Subsequently, emulsion and gel cosmetic matrices were prepared with 0.5% and 1.5% collagen hydrolysates. Microbiological stability, organoleptic properties, and viscosity were investigated. Verification of the biophysical parameters of the topical formulations was performed in vivo on a group of volunteers by measuring skin hydration and pH and determining trans-epidermal water loss. Fish collagen hydrolysate was the most suitable for cosmetic applications in the parameters investigated. Moreover, it also effectively reduces wrinkles in the periorbital region when used in a gel matrix.
- MeSH
- Antioxidants chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Administration, Topical MeSH
- Carps metabolism MeSH
- Collagen * chemistry MeSH
- Cosmetics * chemistry MeSH
- Chickens MeSH
- Skin metabolism drug effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Protein Hydrolysates * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Skin Aging drug effects MeSH
- Viscosity MeSH
- Deer MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The inherent carbohydrate-binding specificities of human galectins can serve as recognition elements in both biotechnological and biomedical applications. The combination of the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of galectins fused to peptides or proteins for purification, immobilization, and imaging enables multifunctional utilization within a single protein. We present here a library of color-coded galectin fusion proteins that incorporate a His6-tag, a fluorescent protein, and a SpyCatcher or SpyTag unit to enable immobilization procedures. These galectin fusion proteins exhibit similar binding properties to the non-fused galectins with micromolar apparent binding affinities. N- and C-terminal fusion partners do not interfere with the SpyCatcher/SpyTag immobilization. By applying SpyCatcher/SpyTag-mediated SC-ST-Gal-3 conjugates, we show the stepwise formation of a three-layer ECM-like structure in vitro. Additionally, we demonstrate the SpyCatcher/SpyTag-mediated immobilization of galectins in microgels, which can serve as a transport platform for localized targeting applications. The proof of concept is provided by the galectin-mediated binding of microgels to colorectal cancer cells.
- MeSH
- Color MeSH
- Biocompatible Materials chemistry MeSH
- Galectins * chemistry metabolism MeSH
- Gels chemistry MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins * chemistry metabolism genetics MeSH
- Protein Binding MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Microbial selenium (Se) supplementation is an essential area of biotechnological research due to differences in the bioavailability and toxicity of different forms of selenium. To date, research has focused mainly on the use of selenized yeast. However, in recent years, scientific interest has also increased in other microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which have several unique properties that can affect the quality and bioavailability of selenium. LAB, unlike yeast, can also act as probiotics, which may bring additional health benefits related to improving the intestinal microbiota and supporting the health of the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: This study investigates the in vitro bioaccessibility and bioavailability of Se from two lactic acid bacterial strains, Streptococcus thermophilus CCDM 144 and Enterococcus faecium CCDM 922 A. We evaluated Se accumulation, speciation, and stability during simulated gastrointestinal digestion and Se permeation through a Caco-2 cell monolayer model. RESULTS: Both strains accumulated Se, metabolizing it predominantly into selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs, 64-77 % of total Se), with only a minor fraction (<5 % of total Se) of organic Se species. Experiments revealed that while organic Se species had high bioavailability (up to 90 %), their bioaccessibility during digestion was very low (<0.1 % of total Se). In contrast, SeNPs showed high bioaccessibility (∼90 %) and moderate transport efficiency through the intestinal model (16-19 % after 4 hours). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the potential of SeNPs produced by lactic acid bacteria as a bioaccessible form of Se for dietary supplementation. Further research is required to explore the behavior of SeNPs within the human body to fully understand how they can be used safely and effectively in nutrition or other applications.
- MeSH
- Biological Availability * MeSH
- Models, Biological MeSH
- Caco-2 Cells MeSH
- Intestinal Barrier Function MeSH
- Lactobacillales metabolism MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Permeability MeSH
- Selenium * metabolism MeSH
- Streptococcus thermophilus metabolism MeSH
- Digestion MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Telomeres, essential for maintaining genomic stability, are typically preserved through the action of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein complex that synthesizes telomeric DNA. One of its two core components, telomerase RNA (TR), serves as the template for this synthesis, and its evolution across different species is both complex and diverse. This review discusses recent advancements in understanding TR evolution, with a focus on plants (Viridiplantae). Utilizing novel bioinformatic tools and accumulating genomic and transcriptomic data, combined with corresponding experimental validation, researchers have begun to unravel the intricate pathways of TR evolution and telomere maintenance mechanisms. Contrary to previous beliefs, a monophyletic origin of TR has been demonstrated first in land plants and subsequently across the broader phylogenetic megagroup Diaphoretickes. Conversely, the discovery of plant-type TRs in insects challenges assumptions about the monophyletic origin of TRs in animals, suggesting evolutionary innovations coinciding with arthropod divergence. The review also highlights key challenges in TR identification and provides examples of how these have been addressed. Overall, this work underscores the importance of expanding beyond model organisms to comprehend the full complexity of telomerase evolution, with potential applications in agriculture and biotechnology.
- MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Evolution, Molecular * MeSH
- RNA * genetics metabolism MeSH
- Plants genetics MeSH
- Telomerase * genetics metabolism MeSH
- Telomere * metabolism genetics MeSH
- Viridiplantae genetics metabolism MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Ectoine is an important natural secondary metabolite in halophilic microorganisms. It protects cells against environmental stressors, such as salinity, freezing, drying, and high temperatures. Ectoine is widely used in medical, cosmetic, and other industries. Due to the commercial market demand of ectoine, halophilic microorganisms are the primary method for producing ectoine, which is produced using the industrial fermentation process "bacterial milking." The method has some limitations, such as the high salt concentration fermentation, which is highly corrosive to the equipment, and this also increases the difficulty of downstream purification and causes high production costs. The ectoine synthesis gene cluster has been successfully heterologously expressed in industrial microorganisms, and the yield of ectoine was significantly increased and the cost was reduced. This review aims to summarize and update microbial production of ectoine using different microorganisms, environments, and metabolic engineering and fermentation strategies and provides important reference for the development and application of ectoine.
- MeSH
- Amino Acids, Diamino * metabolism MeSH
- Biotechnology MeSH
- Fermentation MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The application of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) is becoming a promising tool for application in biotechnology, and the food industry. However, real-time monitoring of the efficiency of PEF treatment conditions is challenging, especially at the industrial scale and in continuous production conditions. To overcome this challenge, we have developed a straightforward setup capable of real-time detection of yeast biological autoluminescence (BAL) during pulsing. Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture was exposed to 8 pulses of 100 μs width with electric field strength magnitude 2-7 kV cm-1. To assess the sensitivity of our method in detecting yeast electroporation, we conducted a comparison with established methods including impedance measurements, propidium iodide uptake, cell growth assay, and fluorescence microscopy. Our results demonstrate that yeast electroporation can be instantaneously monitored during pulsing, making it highly suitable for industrial applications. Furthermore, the simplicity of our setup facilitates its integration into continuous liquid flow systems. Additionally, we have established quantitative indicators based on a thorough statistical analysis of the data that can be implemented through a dedicated machine interface, providing efficiency indicators for analysis.
- MeSH
- Electroporation * methods MeSH
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae * growth & development MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The bacterial secretome represents a comprehensive catalog of proteins released extracellularly that have multiple important roles in virulence and intercellular communication. This study aimed to characterize the secretome of an environmental isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa S-8 by analyzing trypsin-digested culture supernatant proteins using nano-LC-MS/MS tool. Using a combined approach of bioinformatics and mass spectrometry, 1088 proteins in the secretome were analyzed by PREDLIPO, SecretomeP 2.0, SignalP 4.1, and PSORTb tool for their subcellular localization and further categorization of secretome proteins according to signal peptides. Using the gene ontology tool, secretome proteins were categorized into different functional categories. KEGG pathway analysis identified the secreted proteins into different metabolic functional pathways. Moreover, our LC-MS/MS data revealed the secretion of various CAZymes into the extracellular milieu, which suggests its strong biotechnological applications to breakdown complex carbohydrate polymers. The identified immunodominant epitopes from the secretome of P. aeruginosa showed the characteristic of being non-allergenic, highly antigenic, nontoxic, and having a low risk of triggering autoimmune responses, which highlights their potential as successful vaccine targets. Overall, the identification of secreted proteins of P. aeruginosa could be important for both diagnostic purposes and the development of an effective candidate vaccine.
- MeSH
- Bacterial Proteins * genetics metabolism immunology MeSH
- Chromatography, Liquid MeSH
- Metals metabolism MeSH
- Proteomics MeSH
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa * immunology metabolism genetics MeSH
- Secretome * metabolism immunology MeSH
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry * MeSH
- Computational Biology * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
