Evaluation of the Robustness Under Alkanol Stress and Adaptability of Members of the New Genus .

Many species of the genus are known to be highly tolerant to solvents and other environmental stressors. Based on phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses, several species were recently transferred to a new genus named . Because of their unique enzymatic machinery, these strains are being discussed as novel biocatalysts in biotechnology.

Improving Bioprocess Conditions for the Production of Prodigiosin Using a Marine Strain.

The enormous potential attributed to prodigiosin regarding its applicability as a natural pigment and pharmaceutical agent justifies the development of sound bioprocesses for its production. Using a strain isolated from a shallow-water hydrothermal vent, optimization of the growth medium composition was carried out. After medium development, the bacterium temperature, light and oxygen needs were studied, as was growth inhibition by product concentration.

Isolation and Characterization of a from a Shallow Water Hydrothermal Vent.

Microbial life present in the marine environment has to be able to adapt to rapidly changing and often extreme conditions. This makes these organisms a putative source of commercially interesting compounds since adaptation provides different biochemical routes from those found in their terrestrial counterparts. In this work, the goal was the identification of a marine bacterium isolated from a sample taken at a shallow water hydrothermal vent and of its red product.

Biocatalysis of Steroids by Mycobacterium sp. in Aqueous and Organic Media.

Mycobacterium sp. can convert steroids such as β-sitosterol, campesterol, and cholesterol, by selective side-chain cleavage and oxidation of the C3 hydroxyl group to a ketone, into key intermediates that can be easily functionalized to yield commercially interesting pharmaceutical products. In aqueous systems, the biocatalysis is limited by the low solubility of the steroids in water.

Up-Regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Antioxidant Pathway in Macrophages by an Extract from a New Halophilic Archaea Isolated in Odiel Saltworks.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the progression of many inflammatory diseases. The search for antioxidants with the ability for scavenging free radicals from the body cells that reduce oxidative damage is essential to prevent and treat these pathologies. Haloarchaea are extremely halophilic microorganisms that inhabit hypersaline environments, such as saltworks or salt lakes, where they have to tolerate high salinity, and elevated ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiations.

Marine Bioprospecting, Biocatalysis and Process Development.

Oceans possess tremendous diversity in microbial life. The enzymatic machinery that marine bacteria present is the result of extensive evolution to assist cell survival under the harsh and continuously changing conditions found in the marine environment. Several bacterial cells and enzymes are already used at an industrial scale, but novel biocatalysts are still needed for sustainable industrial applications, with benefits for both public health and the environment.

Adaptation of Bacteria to Antineoplastic Agents Involves Persister Cells and Increases Resistance to Antibiotics.

The increasing number of life-threatening infections observed in cancer patients has been ascribed to chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and to invasive medical procedures such as surgery and the application of catheters. In this study, it was questioned if the infections could also be favored by an increased resistance of bacteria due to the adaptation to antineoplastic agents used in chemotherapy. After exposure to several antineoplastic agents, it was observed that cells of , , and changed the fatty acid profile of their cellular membranes, produced exopolymeric substances, and formed aggregates that adhered to surfaces.

Edible flowers of Helichrysum italicum: Composition, nutritive value, and bioactivities.

Helichrysum italicum (H. italicum) is a halophyte shrub with bright yellow flowers with a strong curry-like aroma. The essential oils of H.

Process Development for Benzyl Alcohol Production by Whole-Cell Biocatalysis in Stirred and Packed Bed Reactors.

The ocean is an excellent source for new biocatalysts due to the tremendous genetic diversity of marine microorganisms, and it may contribute to the development of sustainable industrial processes. A marine bacterium was isolated and selected for the conversion of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, which is an important chemical employed as a precursor for producing esters for cosmetics and other industries. Enzymatic production routes are of interest for sustainable processes.

Detection of Gene in Undefined Species Isolated from Clams.

The increase of antimicrobial resistant strains is leading to an emerging threat to public health. Pathogenic are responsible for human and animal illness. The Enterobacteriaceae family includes microorganisms that affect humans, causing several infections.

Impact of PrsA on membrane lipid composition during daptomycin-resistance-mediated β-lactam sensitization in clinical MRSA strains.

Background: The cyclic anionic lipopeptide daptomycin is used in the treatment of severe infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA. Daptomycin resistance, although rare, often results in treatment failure. Paradoxically, in MRSA, daptomycin resistance is usually accompanied by a concomitant decrease in β-lactam resistance in what is known as the 'see-saw effect'.

Optimization of Multiparameters for Increased Yields of Cytochrome B5 in Bioreactors.

The production of recombinant proteins is gaining increasing importance as the market requests high quality proteins for several applications. However, several process parameters affect both the growth of cells and product yields. This study uses high throughput systems and statistical methods to assess the influence of fermentation conditions in lab-scale bioreactors.

Adaptation to Disinfectants and Hand Sanitisers, and Evaluation of Cross-Tolerance with Antimicrobials.

is being considered as an adjuvant to antituberculosis therapy, tested for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and as an anti-depressive agent. This bacterium is ubiquitous in the environment and the widespread use of disinfectants and sanitisers may lead to its adaptation to these compounds. In the present study, cells adapted to these compounds mainly by making adjustments in their lipid composition and net surface charge.

Determining transaminase activity in bacterial libraries by time-lapse imaging.

Transaminase activity was determined by time-lapse imaging using a colourimetric reaction and image analysis. A correlation between the benzaldehyde conversion and relative luminance was determined, allowing the identification of the most promising biocatalysts, the determination of kinetic parameters, and the assessment of the effect of the substrate concentration on activity.

Production and Purification of Therapeutic Enzymes.

The use of therapeutic enzymes embraces currently a vast array of applications, abridging from diggestive disorders to cancer therapy, cardiovascular and lysosomal storage diseases. Enzyme drugs bind and act on their targets with great affinity and specificity, converting substrates to desired products in a reduced time frame with minimal side reactions. These characteristics have resulted in the development of a multitude of enzyme biopharmaceuticals for a wide range of human disorders.

Phenotypic Adaptations Help Rhodococcus erythropolis Cells during the Degradation of Paraffin Wax.

During crude oil extraction, the reduction in temperature and pressure results in the precipitation of paraffin wax that contains 20-40 carbon chain hydrocarbons. The paraffin wax may accumulate inside production tubes, pipelines, and processing facilities, and also in tankers during petroleum transportation. There are few bacterial strains that are able to degrade solid substrates.

The Various Roles of Fatty Acids.

Lipids comprise a large group of chemically heterogeneous compounds. The majority have fatty acids (FA) as part of their structure, making these compounds suitable tools to examine processes raging from cellular to macroscopic levels of organization. Among the multiple roles of FA, they have structural functions as constituents of phospholipids which are the "building blocks" of cell membranes; as part of neutral lipids FA serve as storage materials in cells; and FA derivatives are involved in cell signalling.

Biofilms: Microbial Strategies for Surviving UV Exposure.

Biofilm communities are an ingenious form of protection of microbial cells which have been evolving for billion of years. In general, ultraviolet (UV) radiation presents poor penetration in the matrix of biofilms and only the first few top layers of microbial cells are exposed to its deleterious effects. For further protection against UV radiation, exposed cells can produce specialized compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids and carotenoid pigments.

Burkholderia puraquae sp. nov., a novel species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex isolated from hospital settings and agricultural soils.

Bacteria from the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are capable of causing severe infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). These opportunistic pathogens are also widely distributed in natural and man-made environments. After a 12-year epidemiological surveillance involving Bcc bacteria from respiratory secretions of Argentinean patients with CF and from hospital settings, we found six isolates of the Bcc with a concatenated species-specific allele sequence that differed by more than 3 % from those of the Bcc with validly published names.

Using Biotechnology to Solve Engineering Problems: Non-Destructive Testing of Microfabrication Components.

In an increasingly miniaturised technological world, non-destructive testing (NDT) methodologies able to detect defects at the micro scale are necessary to prevent failures. Although several existing methods allow the detection of defects at that scale, their application may be hindered by the small size of the samples to examine. In this study, the application of bacterial cells to help the detection of fissures, cracks, and voids on the surface of metals is proposed.

Biocatalysis of Steroids with Mycobacterium sp. in Aqueous and Organic Media.

Mycobacterium sp. can convert steroids such as β-sitosterol, campesterol, and cholesterol into commercially interesting products. In aqueous systems, the biocatalysis is limited by the low solubility of the steroids in water.