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Topic Review
Microbial Production Potential of Pantoea ananatis
Pantoea ananatis, a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Erwiniaceae family, is a well-known phytopathogen isolated from many ecological niches and plant hosts. However, this bacterium also provides us with various beneficial characteristics, such as the growth promotion of their host plants and increased crop yield. 
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Pigments Production from Potential Microbes in Submerged Fermentation
Pigments from bacteria, fungi, yeast, cyanobacteria, and microalgae have been gaining more demand in the food, leather, and textile industries due to their natural origin and effective bioactive functions. Mass production of microbial pigments using inexpensive and ecofriendly agro-industrial residues is gaining more demand in the current research due to their low cost, natural origin, waste utilization, and high pigment stimulating characteristics. A wide range of natural substrates has been employed in submerged fermentation as carbon and nitrogen sources to enhance the pigment production from these microorganisms to obtain the required quantity of pigments. Submerged fermentation is proven to yield more pigment when added with agro-waste residues.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Active Compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea
Antrodia cinnamomea is a precious and popular edible and medicinal mushroom. It has attracted increasing attention due to its various and excellent bioactivities, such as hepatoprotection, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and gut microbiota regulation properties. To elucidate its bioactivities and develop novel functional foods or medicines, numerous studies have focused on the isolation and identification of the bioactive compounds of A. cinnamomea. 
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Oct 2022
Topic Review
S-Layer Ultrafiltration Membranes
Surface layers (S-layers) are the most common outermost cell envelope components of prokaryotic organisms (bacteria and archaea). The lattice formed by S-layer proteins are highly porous structures with identical pores in the nm-range. This feature can be utilized to fabricate ultrafiltration membranes with a very sharp specific molecular weight cut off. Moreover, S-layer lattices reveal an intrinsic antifouling characteristics, which results in a negligible clogging of the filter.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Lattice Boltzmann Method
Biofilm growth and evolution are very complex interactions among physicochemical and biological processes. Mathematical models are critical to modern biotechnology—both in research and in the engineering practice. Thus, many models of biofilms have been developed to include various biofilm reactor modules. However, considerable challenges exist in modelling microbial processes where mesoscopic dynamics of nutrient transport must be coupled with microscopic bacteria growth and their elementary biochemical reactions at reactive or enzymatic interfaces, in addition to the microbiological and/or ecological aspects of the “micro” organisms involved in biofilms. Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) treats flows in terms of fictive parcels of particles which reside on a mesh and conduct translation according to collision steps entailing overall fluid-like behavior. The goal of this review is to discuss and identify the opportunities of applying different LBM-based models to specific areas of biofilm research as well as unique challenges that LBM-based models must overcome.
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Saporin as a Commercial Reagent
Saporin is a ribosome-inactivating protein that can cause inhibition of protein synthesis and causes cell death when delivered inside a cell. Development of commercial Saporin results in a technology termed ‘molecular surgery’, with Saporin as the scalpel. Its low toxicity (it has no efficient method of cell entry) and sturdy structure make Saporin a safe and simple molecule for many purposes. The most popular applications use experimental molecules that deliver Saporin via an add-on targeting molecule. These add-ons come in several forms: peptides, protein ligands, antibodies, even DNA fragments that mimic cell-binding ligands. Cells that do not express the targeted cell surface marker will not be affected.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Structure and Properties of Glucansucrase
Glucansucrase (GS) belongs to the GH70 family, which not only can synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPSs) with different physicochemical properties through glucosyl transglycosylation (by hydrolyzing sucrose) but can also produce oligosaccharides. 
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Rhizobial Type 3 Secretion System
Rhizobia are soil bacteria that can establish a symbiotic association with legumes. As a result, plant nodules are formed on the roots of the host plants where rhizobia differentiate to bacteroids capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. This ammonia is transferred to the plant in exchange of a carbon source and an appropriate environment for bacterial survival. This process is subjected to a tight regulation with several checkpoints to allow the progression of the infection or its restriction. The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) is a secretory system that injects proteins, called effectors (T3E), directly into the cytoplasm of the host cell, altering host pathways or suppressing host defense responses. The final effect of the different effectors can be neutral, beneficial or detrimental for symbiosis, depending on the host plants and the cocktail of effectors secreted. Whereas, in some cases, several T3SS effectors can induce the formation of nodules in the absence of Nod factors, in other cases the recognition of specific effectors by specific plant receptors can block nodulation. 
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Marine Natural Products from Tunicates and Associated Microbes
Marine tunicates are identified as a potential source of marine natural products (MNPs), demonstrating a wide range of biological properties, like antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The symbiotic relationship between tunicates and specific microbial groups has revealed the acquisition of microbial compounds by tunicates for defensive purpose. For instance, yellow pigmented compounds, “tambjamines”, produced by the tunicate, Sigillina signifera (Sluiter, 1909), primarily originated from their bacterial symbionts, which are involved in their chemical defense function, indicating the ecological role of symbiotic microbial association with tunicates.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Teleorthodontics
Teleorthodontics generally refers to any orthodontic care delivered through information technology. A common and relevant example could be that of colleagues being able to discuss the digital records of clinical cases over the Internet and to exchange advice and share experience. However, the primary aim set of dental teleassistance in orthodontics is to reduce patients’ office visits whilst maintaining regular monitoring, without compromising the results. Teleorthodontics can manage most orthodontic emergencies, reassuring and following patients remotely. It can also become a cutting-edge screening system able to reduce patients’ waiting time for specialist advice.Although teleorthodontics is just at its beginnings, it appears to be worthy of further investigations to objectively evaluate the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and long-term results. It is capable of improving service and working conditions and may even reduce costs. Teleorthodontics will have a role to play in the near future.
  • 1.4K
  • 31 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Marine Glycoconjugates
From 2012 to 2016 a special issue was edited in the journal Marine Drugs dedicated to marine glycoconjugates with the idea that from the end of the decade 1980-1990 increasing advances of analytical techniques boosted the field of glycobiology contributing to its growth with better recognition of structures and roles of complex molecules such as saccharides, glycoproteins, glycan, glycolipids, and proteoglycans (all defined as glycoconjugates). Tremendous impact in biomedical and biotechnological applications of glycoconjugates, like in terrestrial counterparts and the addition of more significance to the current –omic revolution toward a possible marine glycocode, generally based the hope of these studies. 
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Application of CRISPR/Cas Systems in Fungal Genetic Engineering
Fungi represent an important source of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs), which have wide applications in many fields, including medicine, agriculture, human health, and many other industries. The genes involved in SM biosynthesis are usually clustered adjacent to each other into a region known as a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). The advanced CRISPR/Cas system has revolutionized fungal genetic engineering and enabled the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Ascorbic Acid Applications
Ascorbic acid (AA), or vitamin C, is one of the most important vitamins consumed through the diet due to its critical role in many biological processes. Although the human body cannot synthesize it, AA is essential in maintaining healthy bodily structure, acting as a cofactor of many enzymes involved in collagen synthesis and an efficient immune system. At the same time, AA is used in the cosmetic field for its antioxidant and antipigmentary properties, in the food industry as additive, and in chemical synthesis as reducing agent. AA can be chemically synthesized, produced by the oxidative fermentation of bacteria, or extracted from natural sources.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Nov 2023
Topic Review
CRISPR-Cas9 Innovations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been for a long time a common model for fundamental biological studies and a popular biotechnological engineering platform to produce chemicals, fuels, and pharmaceuticals due to its peculiar characteristics. Both lines of research require an effective editing of the native genetic elements or the inclusion of heterologous pathways into the yeast genome. Although S. cerevisiae is a well-known host with several molecular biology tools available, a more precise tool is still needed. The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats–associated Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system is a current, widespread genome editing tool. The implementation of a reprogrammable, precise, and specific method, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to edit the S. cerevisiae genome has revolutionized laboratory practices.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Optical Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria
The optical detection of pathogenic bacteria is a growing area of ongoing research for clinically-focused applications. Different modalities, like vibrational spectroscopy, fluorescence, scattering- and polarization-based systems, have the potential to provide information about the biomolecular and morphological characteristics of a species for sample identification and differentiation. Additionally, growth pattern recognition, single-cell versus biofilm formations, cell motility and viability, cell mutation, and antibiotic resistance status can be studied with various optical modalities, providing great potential for rapid characterization of disease-causing pathogens.
  • 1.4K
  • 03 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Molybdenum to Molybdenum Blue
Molybdenum (Mo) microbial bioreduction is a phenomenon that is beginning to be recognized globally as a tool for the remediation of molybdenum toxicity.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Enterocin as a Biopreservative for Raw Meat Products
Food preservation is a method used to handle and treat food products to slow down food spoilage and subsequently reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Nowadays, the demand for natural preservatives over chemical preservatives in food is increasing due to the awareness of consuming healthy food products without the risk of harmful side effects. Thus, the research and development of preservation techniques, referred to as biopreservation, is growing rapidly. In biopreservation methods, microorganisms that are known as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their antimicrobial substances are used to extend shelf life and maintain the nutritional value of foods. Among the most studied LAB are from the genus Enterococcus, which produces a bacteriocin called enterocin. Bacteriocins are ribosomal-synthesized antimicrobial peptides that are capable of inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria that cause spoilage in food. LAB is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for human consumption. 
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Therapeutic Applications of Nano-Phytopharmaceuticals
Phytopharmaceuticals have been widely used globally since ancient times and acknowledged by healthcare professionals and patients for their superior therapeutic value and fewer side effects compared to modern medicines. Dose reduction, improved bioavailability, receptor-selective binding, and targeted delivery of phytopharmaceuticals can be likely achieved by molding them into specific nano-formulations. 
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Affibody- and DARPin-Conjugated Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy
Affibodies and designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are synthetic proteins originally derived from the Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor protein A and the human ankyrin repeat proteins, respectively. The use of these molecules in healthcare has been recently proposed as they are endowed with biochemical and biophysical features heavily demanded to target and fight diseases, as they have a strong binding affinity, solubility, small size, multiple functionalization sites, biocompatibility, and are easy to produce; furthermore, impressive chemical and thermal stability can be achieved, especially when using affibodies. In this sense, several examples reporting on affibodies and DARPins conjugated to nanomaterials have been published, demonstrating their suitability and feasibility in nanomedicine for cancer therapy.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Fungal Endophytes and Agricultural Plant Protection
Virtually all examined plant species harbour fungal endophytes which asymptomatically infect or colonize living plant tissues, including leaves, branches, stems and roots. Endophyte-host interactions are complex and span the mutualist–pathogen continuum. Notably, mutualist endophytes can confer increased fitness to their host plants compared with uncolonized plants, which has attracted interest in their potential application in integrated plant health management strategies.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Feb 2022
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