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Topic Review
Cyanobacteria and Microalgae Antibacterial Peptides
Cyanobacteria and microalgae are oxygen-producing photosynthetic unicellular organisms encompassing a great diversity of species, which are able to grow under all types of extreme environments and exposed to a wide variety of predators and microbial pathogens. The antibacterial compounds described for these organisms include organic compounds such as  alkaloids, fatty acids, indoles, macrolides, phenols, pigments and terpenes, among others, but the peptides have an special pharmacological appeal, due to their broad chemical space, achieved by their dual biosynthetic alternatives in cyanobacteria, the ribosomal synthesis, or a polypeptide assembly through the non-ribosomal peptide synthases. This diversity ensures a broad range of biological properties with a large pharmacological potential.   
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Biomass-Based Biohydrogen Production
Biohydrogen is a sustainable energy form and a preferable substitute for fossil fuel. Biohydrogen production is eco-friendly compared to other methods of hydrogen production. It has the potential to replace conventional fossil fuels without releasing greenhouse gases. Hydrogen production from biomass depends upon the type of feedstock utilized.
  • 1.3K
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
MIRRI-IT: Italian Culture Collections
Microorganisms represent most of the biodiversity of living organisms in every ecological habitat. They have profound effects on the functioning of any ecosystem and, therefore, on the health of our planet and of human beings. Moreover, microorganisms are the main protagonists in food, medical and biotech industries, and have several environmental applications.Accordingly, the characterization and preservation of microbial biodiversity are essential not only for the maintenance of natural ecosystems but also for research purposes and biotechnological exploitation. In this context, culture collections (CCs) and microbial biological resource centres (mBRCs) are crucial for the safeguarding and circulation of biological resources, as well as for the progress of life sciences.
  • 1.3K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Human Microbiota
The human microbiota is the aggregate of microorganisms that resides on or within any of a number of human tissues and biofluids, including the skin, mammary glands, placenta, seminal fluid, uterus, ovarian follicles, lung, saliva, oral mucosa, conjunctiva, biliary and gastrointestinal tracts. They include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists and viruses. Though micro-animals can also live on the human body, they are typically excluded from this definition. The human microbiome refers specifically to the collective genomes of resident microorganisms. Humans are colonized by many microorganisms; the traditional estimate is that the average human body is inhabited by ten times as many non-human cells as human cells, but more recent estimates have lowered that ratio to 3:1 or even to approximately the same number. Some microorganisms that colonize humans are commensal, meaning they co-exist without harming humans; others have a mutualistic relationship with their human hosts.:700 Conversely, some non-pathogenic microorganisms can harm human hosts via the metabolites they produce, like trimethylamine, which the human body converts to trimethylamine N-oxide via FMO3-mediated oxidation. Certain microorganisms perform tasks that are known to be useful to the human host but the role of most of them is not well understood. Those that are expected to be present, and that under normal circumstances do not cause disease, are sometimes deemed normal flora or normal microbiota. The Human Microbiome Project took on the project of sequencing the genome of the human microbiota, focusing particularly on the microbiota that normally inhabit the skin, mouth, nose, digestive tract, and vagina. It reached a milestone in 2012 when it published its initial results.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Mats: Extraterrestrial Life Models
Extant microbial mats already present on Earth provide useful working analog models for the exploration of life in extraterrestrial hydrospheres.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Sep 2021
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure on Fungal Spores and Plant Bioactive Compounds
Fungi, and their spores, are responsible for the spoilage of several foods and plants and are susceptible to contamination with mycotoxins, which have associated health hazards. In this context, proper methodologies for inactivating such fungi and controlling mycotoxin production are critical. High-pressure processing (HPP) has recently become popular as a nonthermal alternative to conventional thermal pasteurization processes. Even though HPP can effectively eliminate some fungal spores, some species, such as those from the genera Byssochlamys, Talaromyces, and Aspergillus, are quite resistant to this treatment. Additionally, high pressure can also be used as a cold extraction technique for bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and other matrices (termed high pressure-assisted extraction, HPE). With this method, safe use for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications is guaranteed. This method simultaneously works (depending on the applied pressure level) as an extraction technique and induces the pasteurization effect on the extracts. This encyclopedia entry aims to highlight the effects of nonthermal HPP on fungal spores, the prevalence of mycotoxins in plant materials and how high pressure can be used as an extraction technique to produce high-value cold pasteurized extracts with biological activity.
  • 1.3K
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Acinetobacter Baumannii Infections
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest challenges for the clinical sector and industry, environment and societal development. One of the most important pathogens responsible for severe nosocomial infections is Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-negative bacterium from the Moraxellaceae family, due to its various resistance mechanisms. The enormous adaptive capacity of A. baumannii and the acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants contribute to the ineffectiveness of most current therapeutic strategies, including last-line or combined antibiotic therapy. In this review, we will present the current progress in developing innovative strategies for combating multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) infections.
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Resistance in the Pseudomonas fluorescens Complex
Pseudomonas spp. are ubiquitous microorganisms that exhibit intrinsic and acquired resistance to many antimicrobial agents. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most studied species of this genus due to its clinical importance. In contrast, the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex consists of environmental and, in some cases, pathogenic opportunistic microorganisms. The P. fluorescens complex comprises eight groups occupying various ecological niches, namely P. fluorescens, P. gessardii, P. fragi, P. mandelii, P. koreensis, P. jessenii, P. corrugata, and P. chlororaphis.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Aug 2022
Topic Review
the Major Facilitator Superfamily
Bacterial pathogens are serious causative agents of infectious disease. Such microorganisms are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, thereby compromising the therapeutic efficacy of treatment.  Multidrug-resistant pathogens harbor antimicrobial efflux pumps, many transporters of which are members of the extensive major facilitator superfamily of proteins. These bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are good molecular targets for modulation and possible inhibition.  This entry briefly discusses several current developments for drug efflux pump modulation. 
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cellular Communication
Cellular communication is an umbrella term used in biology and more in depth in biophysics, biochemistry and biosemiotics to identify different types of communication methods between living cellulites. Some of the methods include cell signaling among others. This process allows millions of cells to communicate and work together to perform important bodily processes that are necessary for survival. Both multicellular and unicellular organisms heavily rely on cell-cell communication.
  • 1.3K
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Hepacivirus C
Hepacivirus C (HCV) is a small (55–65 nm in size), enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. The Hepacivirus C is the cause of hepatitis C and some cancers such as liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, abbreviated HCC) and lymphomas in humans.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Aeromonas
It is well known that correct identification of recovered Aeromonas strains at the genus and species level is a complex process.  Biochemical or phenotypic identification tests and specially those included in miniaturized and/or semi-automatic commercial identification systems (API, Vitek, BBLCrystal, MicroScan etc) produce confusion with the Vibrio genus and an erroneous overestimation of the species Aeromonas hydrophila. Correct identification requires the use of molecular techniques, like the detection of the gene that encode for the GCAT (glycerophospholopid-cholesterol acyltransferase) that can discriminate the genus or the analysis of the sequences of housekeeping genes (gyrB, rpoD, etc) to correctly identifying the species. The latter genes are necessary because the 16S rRNA gene does not show enough resolution to discriminate closely related species (i.e. A. salmonicida from A. bestiarum). In fact many new species were discovered thanks to the use of gyrB and rpoD genes for identification, and the construction of a multilocus phylogenetic analysis with the concatenated sequences of five housekeeping genes was used as a tool in their descriptions. The progress in the techniques used to obtain bacteria genomes had an spectacular impact on the genus Aeromonas  because the genome of the type strain of the different species are available at the GenBank. Tools developed for bacterial identification based on the comparison of genomes like the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) and the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) provides objective criteria to define if two genomes belong or not to the same species. This review aims to guide microbiologists in the correct identification of the Aeromonas spp.
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Secondary Metabolites of Endophytic Fungi
Plant–microbe interactions range from symbiotic to pathogenic; in the symbiotic relationship, microbes are called ‘endophytes’. Endophytes are conventionally known as microbes existing in all plant endospheric tissues (roots, shoots, fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, etc.) without causing harmful consequences to the host plant. These microorganisms are usually more abundant in roots and they can be transferred horizontally and vertically. Particularly, endophytic fungi constitute an extremely large community, reaching up to three million species worldwide. These eukaryotic organisms are known to harbor a large variety of secondary metabolites valuable to mankind, plants and the environment. They constitute an excellent substitute for exploring whole plants, thereby gaining time, facilitating the process of isolation and protecting the ecosystem. The scientific community has approved the excellent roles of the fungal bioactive compounds in several vital fields including medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, industry and bioremediation.
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Fusarium graminearum Pigments and Compounds
Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph: Gibberella zeae) is a pathogen of maize, wheat, rice, and barley responsible for the disease known as Fusarium head blight (FHB) and mycotoxin contamination. Several studies have explored in depth the biochemistry and genetics of the pigments present in Fusarium graminearum. Still, there is a need to discuss their relationship with the mold’s observable surface color pattern variation throughout its lifecycle. 
  • 1.3K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Brettanomyces bruxellensis
The Brettanomyces bruxellensis species plays various roles in both the industrial and food sectors. At the biotechnological level, B. bruxellensis is considered to be a promising species for biofuel production. Its presence in alcoholic beverages can be detrimental or beneficial to the final product; B. bruxellensis can contribute to spoilage of wine and beer, but can also produce good aromas.
  • 1.3K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms
Phosphorus (P) is a vital element in biological molecules, and one of the main limiting elements for biomass production as plant-available P represents only a small fraction of total soil P. Increasing global food demand and modern agricultural consumption of P fertilizers could lead to excessive inputs of inorganic P in intensively managed croplands, consequently rising P losses and ongoing eutrophication of surface waters. Despite phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are widely accepted as eco-friendly P fertilizers for increasing agricultural productivity, a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the role of PSMs in P geochemical processes for managing P deficiency has received inadequate attention. In this review, we summarize the basic P forms and their geochemical and biological cycles in soil systems, how PSMs mediate soil P biogeochemical cycles, and the metabolic and enzymatic mechanisms behind these processes. We also highlight the important roles of PSMs in the biogeochemical P cycle and provide perspectives on several environmental issues to prioritize in future PSM applications.
  • 1.3K
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Biobeneficiation of PGMs
Conventional beneficiation of the Platinum Group of Metals (PGMs) relies on the use of inorganic chemicals. With the depreciation of high grade deposits, these conventional processes are becoming less economically viable. Furthermore, the use of chemicals has serious negative impacts on the environment. To address the challenges of conventional PGM beneficiation, biobeneficiation has been proposed. Bio-beneficiation is the concentration of mineral species by employing microorganisms that interact with either the gangue or the valuable mineral species. Bio-beneficiation can also be described as the use of microorganisms to interact with minerals to subsequently induce processes such as magnetic separation, flotation, and flocculation.
  • 1.3K
  • 19 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Aspergillus oryzae
Aspergillus oryzae is a powerful heterologous expression host for the production of polyketides and terpenoids.
  • 1.3K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Carotenoids from Fungi and Yeasts
Carotenoids are an essential group of compounds that may be obtained by microbiological synthesis. They are instrumental in various areas of industry, medicine, agriculture, and ecology.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Fungal Endophytes and Their Benefits for Plants
Plant pathogens are responsible for causing economic and production losses in several crops worldwide, thus reducing the quality and quantity of agricultural supplies. To reduce the usage of chemically synthesized pesticides, strategies and approaches using endophytic microorganisms are being used in plant disease management. Although the term “endophyte” was originally introduced by de Bary in 1866, the most used definition of endophytes was proposed by Petrini in 1991. It refers to a group of organisms “inhabiting plant organs that at some time in their life can colonize internal plant tissues without causing apparent harm to the host”. These endophytes are usually fungi or bacteria that are present in the phyllosphere, endosphere or rhizosphere. These microorganisms live in the tissues of plants without causing any symptoms of disease, leading to beneficial effects for the hosts.
  • 1.3K
  • 21 Dec 2022
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