Biosynthesis of Polyhydroalkanoates Doped with Silver Nanoparticles Using and for Antibacterial Polymer Applications.

In this study, the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was carried out using putida and . These PHAs were produced using reagent-grade glycerol and crude glycerol as the carbon sources. The objective was to compare the production of PHAs and to functionalize these polymers with silver nanoparticles to provide antibacterial properties for potential biomedical applications.

PCR amplification of GC-rich DNA regions using the nucleotide analog N4-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate.

GC-rich DNA regions were PCR-amplified with Taq DNA polymerase using either the canonical set of deoxynucleoside triphosphates or mixtures in which the dCTP had been partially or completely replaced by its N4-methylated analog, N4-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate (N4me-dCTP). In the case of a particularly GC-rich region (78.9% GC), the PCR mixtures containing N4me-dCTP produced the expected amplicon in high yield, while mixtures containing the canonical set of nucleotides produced numerous alternative amplicons.

Hybridisation of N4-methylcytosine-containing amplicons on DNA microarrays.

5'-Cy5-labelled PCR amplicons containing the analogue base, N(4)-methylcytosine, instead of cytosines were compared in microarray hybridisation experiments with the corresponding amplicons containing the canonical set of bases, with respect to the intensity of the fluorescence signal obtained, and cross hybridisation to non-corresponding probes. In general, higher hybridisation temperatures resulted in reduced signal intensities, particularly in the case of the N(4)-methylcytosine containing amplicons. At the lower hybridisation temperatures tested (40 °C, 30 °C), these modified amplicons gave about equal or stronger fluorescence signal than the corresponding regular amplicons.

Chemically pretreating slaughterhouse solid waste to increase the efficiency of anaerobic digestion.

The combined effect of temperature and pretreatment of the substrate on the anaerobic treatment of the organic fraction of slaughterhouse solid waste was studied. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of pretreating the waste on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion. The effect was analyzed at two temperature ranges (the psychrophilic and the mesophilic ranges), in order to evaluate the effect of temperature on the performance of the anaerobic digestion process for this residue.

Capacity of N4-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate to sustain the polymerase chain reaction using various thermostable DNA polymerases.

The dCTP analog N4-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate (N4medCTP) was evaluated for its performance in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the HotStart Taq DNA polymerase with a standard thermal protocol, test segments 85 or 200 bp long were amplified equally well using dCTP or N4medCTP:dCTP mixtures ranging in molar ratio from 3:1 to 10:1, while complete replacement of dCTP by N4medCTP gave clearly lower amplicon yields and higher Cq values. Comparable yields with N4medCTP or dCTP were achieved only by using a slowdown protocol.