Phloroglucinol-enhanced whey protein isolate hydrogels with antimicrobial activity for tissue engineering.

Aging populations in developed countries will increase the demand for implantable materials to support tissue regeneration. Whey Protein Isolate (WPI), derived from dairy industry by-products, can be processed into hydrogels with the following desirable properties for applications in tissue engineering: (i) ability to support adhesion and growth of cells; (ii) ease of sterilization by autoclaving and (iii) ease of incorporation of poorly water-soluble drugs with antimicrobial activity, such as phloroglucinol (PG), the fundamental phenolic subunit of marine polyphenols. In this study, WPI hydrogels were enriched with PG at concentrations between 0 and 20% w/v.

Trehalose and α-glucan mediate distinct abiotic stress responses in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

An important prelude to bacterial infection is the ability of a pathogen to survive independently of the host and to withstand environmental stress. The compatible solute trehalose has previously been connected with diverse abiotic stress tolerances, particularly osmotic shock. In this study, we combine molecular biology and biochemistry to dissect the trehalose metabolic network in the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and define its role in abiotic stress protection.

Differential Regulation of Genes for Cyclic-di-GMP Metabolism Orchestrates Adaptive Changes During Rhizosphere Colonization by .

Bacteria belonging to the genus are highly successful colonizers of the plant rhizosphere. The ability of different species to live either commensal lifestyles or to act as agents of plant-growth promotion or disease is reflected in a large, highly flexible accessory genome. Nevertheless, adaptation to the plant environment involves a commonality of phenotypic outputs such as changes to motility, coupled with synthesis of nutrient uptake systems, stress-response molecules and adherence factors including exopolysaccharides.