Lei Tian, D. Luo, Rui Li, Pengrui Jiao, Zhiwei Zhou, Robert S Marks, Qun Sun
{"title":"The metabolic mechanism of growth inhibition by co-culture of Bacteroides xylanisolvens Y-11 and Bifidobacterium longum y37","authors":"Lei Tian, D. Luo, Rui Li, Pengrui Jiao, Zhiwei Zhou, Robert S Marks, Qun Sun","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2023-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2023-0008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Bacteroides xylanisolvens Y-11 and Bifidobacterium longum y37 isolated from human gut were found to inhibit each other's growth after co-culturing in previous studies. To further reveal the potential mechanism of mutual inhibition between them, ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to investigate the metabolic changes of the strains after monoculture and co-culture, and the key differential metabolites were subject to the validation. The results showed that the types and amounts of metabolites were significantly changed during co-culture, with hydrocarbons and their derivatives, organic acids and esters being the main differential metabolites, which posed a greater influence on the metabolism of B. xylanisolvens Y-11 than on B. longumy y37. Further studies suggest that cycloserine and succinic acid may be the main metabolites that inhibit the growth of both strains, and the decrease of pH may be the main reason for succinic acid to inhibit the growth of the two strains. Moreover, B. longum y37 played a dominant role in the co-culture and its metabolites influenced the growth of B. xylanisolvens Y-11 to a greater extent. This study provides a new perspective for further understanding of the interaction between intestinal microbes and the influence of intestinal microecology on the occurrence and development of diseases.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"121 - 131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45239946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insilico Screening for Identification of Hits against SARS-Cov-2 Variant of Concern B.1.617 and NSP12 Mutants by Molecular Docking and Simulation Studies","authors":"Vinuthna Vani Madishetti, Sudhakar Reddy, S. Kalagara, Ashish Garg, Sreenivas Enaganti, Sardar Hussain","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2023-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2023-0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), also known as SARS-CoV-2, have caused global epidemics with high morbidity and mortality. Active research on finding effective drugs against 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 is going on. In silico screening represents the best approach for hits identification and could shorten the time and reduce cost compared to de novo drug discovery. Recently, CoV2 mutations have been a big concern in India, particularly on non-structural proteins (NSPs) and Spike Protein (B.1.617) which are the key targets that play a pivotal role in mediating viral replication and transcription. Herein, this study analyzed the NSPs and spike’s structural aspects of mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2. The three-dimensional structures of NSPs and S Spike proteins were retrieved from the protein data bank or modeled. And a dataset of an antiviral compound library containing 490,000 drug-like ligands and structurally diverse biologically active scaffolds was used for our studies. Initially, the molecular alignment was performed for library compounds with the reference drug molecule to find targets that match the field points. Antiviral compounds having a similarity score >0.6; were selected for further docking studies with wild and mutant NSPs and S Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617. The docking studies identified a potent analog MA-11, which exhibited the highest binding affinity towards wild and mutant proteins. Further, molecular dynamics simulation studies of selected compounds confirmed their perfect fitting into NSP12 and spike active sites and offer direction for further lead optimization and rational drug design.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"132 - 143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47006932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biotechnological Approaches to Generate Biogenic Solvents and Energy Carriers from Renewable Resources","authors":"M. Koller","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2023-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2023-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background: Current threats connected to the ongoing depletion of fossil resources and elevated levels of greenhouse gases accelerating climate change and global warming provoke a renaissance of biotechnological production of various organic bulk chemicals, which, particularly during the second half of the 20th century, were almost exclusively produced from fossil resources via chemosynthetic processes. Scope: Besides the manufacture of bioethanol, a product obtained by microbial fermentation, biogenic production of solvents and energy carriers like acetone, isopropanol, 2,3-butanediol, or 1-butanol, hence, processes known since the beginning of the last century, experiences now a substantial revival. Summary of new synthesis and conclusions reached in the review: The review illustrates how to produce these products by resorting to fossil raw materials instead of petrochemical production processes, and how this can be accomplished by the cultivation of anaerobic organisms, namely facultatively anaerobic yeasts and bacteria (production of ethanol or 2,3-butanediol), and strictly anaerobic Clostridia (1-butanol, acetone, or isopropanol) on renewable resources. Moreover, novel methods for producing biodiesel-like methyl-esters of aerobically produced bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolyester building blocks combine the synthesis of microbial biopolyesters from wastewater with the progress of innovative renewable energy carriers. The biochemical background, the current state of research and development, and the status of industrialization of these processes are reviewed. Conclusion: Challenges to make these bioprocesses, based on inexpensive renewable resources, competitive with or even superior to petrochemical production routes in terms of sustainability, scalability, and economic feasibility still exist: however, they can be overcome by the concerted action of various scientific disciplines.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"96 - 120"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46527641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y. Kang, Deuk‐Su Kim, Kibum Kim, S. Myung, Y. J. Oh, Sungsu Park, P. Hinterdorfer, K. Ko
{"title":"Structure of PAP-IgM FcK fusion protein with J-chain expressed in transgenic plant","authors":"Y. Kang, Deuk‐Su Kim, Kibum Kim, S. Myung, Y. J. Oh, Sungsu Park, P. Hinterdorfer, K. Ko","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2023-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2023-0006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Transgenic plants expressing immunoglobulin (Ig) M Fc-fused Prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) antigenic proteins (PAP-IgM FcK) and J-chain proteins were generated by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The Fc region was tagged with the ER retention motif (KDEL) to make PAP-IgM FcK. Two transgenic plants were crossed together to generate F1 expressing both PAP-IgM FcK and J-chain proteins (PAP-IgM FcK × J-chain). PCR and RT-PCR analyses confirmed the transgene insertion and mRNA transcription of PAP-IgM FcK and J-chain in leaf tissue of PAP-IgM FcK × J-chain F1 plant. Western blot confirmed the expression of PAP-IgM FcK × J-chain protein. Size exclusion (SEC)-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Bio-transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses were performed to show the size and shape of the PAP- IgM FcK × J-chain fusion proteins. These results suggest that PAP-IgM FcK with J-chain can be produced in plant expression system with plant crossing.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"87 - 95"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49542025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Ciabattini, V. Raggi, L. Valentini, A. Morabito
{"title":"Silk Fibroin Hybrids for Biological Scaffolds with Adhesive Surface and Adaptability to the Target Tissue Change","authors":"S. Ciabattini, V. Raggi, L. Valentini, A. Morabito","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2023-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2023-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background Regenerative Medicine (RM) is a branch of medicine that aims to regenerate tissues and organs to overcome the problems transplants entail (poor availability, risk of rejection and intense immunosuppression). To do this, RM makes use of tissue engineering (TE). This fundamental branch deals with creating biological scaffolds capable of performing the role that physiologically belongs to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this review, we report how specific characteristics of the scaffolds (bio-compatibility, biodegradability and mechanical and conformal properties) can be obtained using 3D printing, which facilitates the emulation of physiological tissues and organs. Purpose and scope This review reports recent advances in the fabrication method of bioactive scaffolds that can be used clinically, providing support for cell seeding and proliferation. To this end, silk fibroin, tannin and graphene were used to improve the scaffold’s electro-bio-mechanical properties. These materials in different compositions are studied to demonstrate their potential use as bio-ink in bioadhesives and cellularized and implantable 3D-printed scaffolds. Summary of new synthesis and conclusions reached in the review Silk fibroin is a natural biopolymer; tannin, on the other hand, is a biological polyphenol, highly reactive with other molecules by nature and with promising antioxidant capabilities. Finally, graphene is nothing more than a monolayer of graphite that has been shown to implement the mechanics and electrical conductivity of the compounds in which it is inserted; it also has excellent biocompatibility and surface area, qualities that promote cell adhesion and growth. Conclusion Polyphenols and graphene have been shown to work in synergy in improving the electro-mechanical properties of silk fibroin scaffolds. We reported optimal and potentially market-competitive bioadhesives, but above all, the proliferation of neuronal precursor cells in vitro was successfully demonstrated.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"75 - 86"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48612361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Javier S Martinez de Aragon, J. Villada, J. Ruiz-Moreno
{"title":"Ocular Biocompatibility of a Nitinol Capsular Tension Ring (CTR)","authors":"Javier S Martinez de Aragon, J. Villada, J. Ruiz-Moreno","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2022-0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2022-0016","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Introduction: The biocompatibility of nitinol in the human body has extensively been demonstrated. Although nitinol is already being used for intraocular surgeries such as lens fragmentation and foreign body extraction, little is known about its intracapsular, long-term behavior. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term uveal and capsular biocompatibility of a nitinol CTR placed in the capsular bag after cataract surgery in an animal model. Method: After approval of the study by the Institutional Animal Care and the Ethics Committee, bilateral phacoemulsification was performed in 6 rabbits; 1 eye received a nitinol CTR and the other a control polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) open-ended ring. Ophthalmic evaluation for the presence of infections in all 12 eyes was performed after 7 days, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months follow-up period. After a follow-up period of 6 months, the eyes were enucleated, and a histopathologic evaluation was performed. Results: Neither of the groups showed any clinical signs of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) or inflammation. The nitinol group showed slightly less inflammation during histopathologic examination compared to the PMMA group. No biocompatibility issues have been observed in this animal study. Conclusions: There were no histological differences between eyes implanted with nitinol and eyes implanted with PMMA rings. Nitinol has proven to show high biocompatibility when implanted in the capsular bag of the rabbit eye.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"167 - 173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42290663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Microbially Extended Phenotype of Plants, a Keystone against Abiotic Stress","authors":"Mario X. Ruiz-González, Ó. Vicente","doi":"10.2478/ebtj-2022-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2022-0017","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background: Climate change affects every region across the globe with heterogeneous effects on local temperatures and precipitation patterns. In plants, sessile organisms, climate change imposes more drastic effects leading to loss of yield or even death. However, plants establish mutualistic interactions with microorganisms that boost plant tolerance against abiotic stresses or strengthen the plant immune system against pathogens, thus, enhancing their survival and fitness. Moreover, in the wild, microbial endophytes provide important ecosystem services. Purpose and scope: Little we know about the mechanisms of response against the adverse effects of climate change on natural populations of wild plants and even less about the potential role played by microbial biostimulants. In this article, we review the effects of biostimulants on plant responses against abiotic stresses, with a particular focus on the role of mycorrhizas and leaf endophytes. Results: We have reviewed the effects of the main abiotic stresses in plants, the mechanisms that plants use to face these abiotic challenges, and the interaction plant-biostimulant-abiotic stress, highlighting the primary responses and parameters to evaluate different plant responses. Conclusion: Abiotic stresses can check the phenotypic plasticity of plants and also trigger a complex and heterogeneous array of responses to face different abiotic stresses, and beneficial microorganisms do play an essential role in enhancing such responses. Our laboratory has initiated a project to characterise microbial populations associated with plants from wild areas and analyse their potential role in aiding the plants to cope with abiotic stresses.","PeriodicalId":22379,"journal":{"name":"The EuroBiotech Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"174 - 182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45959030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}