Metabolic engineering of Aspergillus niger to enhance production of ethanol.

This work describes the genetic transformation of a strain of Aspergillus niger with five different constructs containing 16 different heterologous genes, coding for four oxidoreductases, two cellobiohydrolases, one endoglucanase, one β-glucosidase, six enzymes involved in xylose metabolism, and two enzymes involved in fermentation. The aim was to try and engineer a consolidated bioprocessing in A. niger.

Effect of Shock Waves on the Growth of Conidia: Evaluation of Germination and Preliminary Study on Gene Expression.

Shock waves, as used in medicine, can induce cell permeabilization, genetically transforming filamentous fungi; however, little is known on the interaction of shock waves with the cell wall. Because of this, the selection of parameters has been empirical. We studied the influence of shock waves on the germination of , to understand their effect on the modulation of four genes related to the growth of conidia.

Antifungal and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Photochemically Synthesized Heparin-Coated Gold and Silver Nanoparticles.

Heparin-based silver nanoparticles (AgHep-NPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuHep-NPs) were produced by a photochemical method using silver nitrate and chloroauric acid as metal precursors and UV light at 254 nm. UV-Vis spectroscopy graphs showed absorption for AgHep-NPs and AuHep-NPs at 420 nm and 530 nm, respectively. TEM revealed a pseudospherical morphology and a small size, corresponding to 10-25 nm for AgHep-NPs and 1.

Enhancing the yield of human erythropoietin in Aspergillus niger by introns and CRISPR-Cas9.

Aspergillus niger has been employed to produce heterologous proteins due to its high capacity for expression and secretion; nevertheless, expression levels of human proteins have been modest. We were interested in investigating whether A. niger can express and secret human erythropoietin (HuEPO) at high yields.

Shock Wave Application Increases the Antineoplastic Effect of Molecular Iodine Supplement in Breast Cancer Xenografts.

We evaluated the effect of oral molecular iodine supplementation and shock wave application under three different conditions on human MDA-MB231 cancer cell xenografts. After tumor volume reached 1 cm, mice were randomly assigned to groups and treated for 3 weeks. The results revealed that high-dose shock wave treatment (150 shock waves at a pressure of 21.

Dynamic light scattering: A fast and reliable method to analyze bacterial growth during the lag phase.

A comparison between plate counting (PC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) is reported. PC is the standard technique to determine bacterial population as a function of time; however, this method has drawbacks, such as the cumbersome preparation and handling of samples, as well as the long time required to obtain results. Alternative methods based on optical density are faster, but do not distinguish viable from non-viable cells.

Shock Wave-Induced Damage and Poration in Eukaryotic Cell Membranes.

Shock waves are known to permeabilize eukaryotic cell membranes, which may be a powerful tool for a variety of drug delivery applications. However, the mechanisms involved in shock wave-mediated membrane permeabilization are still poorly understood. In this study, the effects on both the permeability and the ultrastructural features of two human cell lineages were investigated after the application of underwater shock waves in vitro.

Shock waves and DNA-cationic lipid assemblies: a synergistic approach to express exogenous genes in human cells.

Cationic lipid/DNA complexes (lipoplexes) represent a powerful tool for cell transfection; however, their use is still limited by important concerns, including toxicity and poor internalization into deep tissues. In this work, we investigated the use of shock wave-induced acoustic cavitation in vitro for the transfection of lipoplexes in human embryo kidney 293 cells. We selected shock waves with the ability to internalize 10-kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran into cells while maintaining survival rates above 50%.

In situ TLR2 and TLR4 expression in a murine model of mycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis.

Actinomycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis is a common disease in tropical regions. This ailment is characterized by a localized chronic inflammation that mainly affects the lower limbs. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, inducing the production of proinflammatory mediators.

[Onychomycosis-causing yeasts in four Mexican dermatology centers and their antifungal susceptibility to azolic compounds].

Background: Yeasts represent the second cause of nail fungal infection in the world, and Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the two most common species.

Objectives: To determine the yeast species frequency and their in vitro antifungal susceptibility, obtained from patients with clinical features suggestive of onychomycosis.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out in four dermatological care centers in Mexico from 2004 to 2007.

[Resistance to azolic compounds in clinical Trichophyton spp. strains].

The increase of dermathophytosis in patients with poor therapeutic response leads us to study the antifungal susceptibility of 36 clinical isolates to itraconazole, ketoconazole and fluconazole by the E-test method. According to established parameters by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute, the resistance to one or more antifungal drugs was demonstrated in seven isolates (19.4%) as follows: three Trichophyton rubrum, three T.

[Effectiveness of imazalil to control the effect of fungal deterioration on mummies at the Mexico City Museum "El Carmen"].

We present a study on the control and elimination of the fungi affecting the mummies specifically at the museum "El Carmen", in San Angel, Mexico City. Twelve analysed mummies presented an important deterioration attributed to colonizing fungi. The degree of fungal contamination and the efficacy of imazalil were evaluated.

[Micosis among five highly underprivileged Mexican communities].

Background: In many small rural communities in Mexico, medical care is deficient, empirical or absent.

Objective: In order to improve health coverage in rural areas, the Mexican Institute of Social Security organizes Medical and Surgical Meetings of various specialties including Dermatology and Mycology (MSDM). These include visits to rural hospitals by dermatologists and a mycologist to care for underprivileged communities.