Exploration of Chemical Diversity in Intercellular Quorum Sensing Signalling Systems in Prokaryotes.

Quorum sensing (QS) serves as a vital means of intercellular signalling in a variety of prokaryotes, which enables single cells to act in multicellular configurations. The potential to control community-wide responses has also sparked numerous recent biotechnological innovations. However, our capacity to utilize intercellular communication is hindered due to a scarcity of complementary signalling systems and a restricted comprehension of interconnections between these systems caused by variations in their dynamic range.

A Minispidroin Guides the Molecular Design for Cellular Condensation Mechanisms in .

Structural engineering of molecules for condensation is an emerging technique within synthetic biology. Liquid-liquid phase separation of biomolecules leading to condensation is a central step in the assembly of biological materials into their functional forms. Intracellular condensates can also function within cells in a regulatory manner to facilitate reaction pathways and to compartmentalize interactions.

Repurposing host-guest chemistry to sequester virulence and eradicate biofilms in multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.

The limited diversity in targets of available antibiotic therapies has put tremendous pressure on the treatment of bacterial pathogens, where numerous resistance mechanisms that counteract their function are becoming increasingly prevalent. Here, we utilize an unconventional anti-virulence screen of host-guest interacting macrocycles, and identify a water-soluble synthetic macrocycle, Pillar[5]arene, that is non-bactericidal/bacteriostatic and has a mechanism of action that involves binding to both homoserine lactones and lipopolysaccharides, key virulence factors in Gram-negative pathogens. Pillar[5]arene is active against Top Priority carbapenem- and third/fourth-generation cephalosporin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, suppressing toxins and biofilms and increasing the penetration and efficacy of standard-of-care antibiotics in combined administrations.

Controlled communication between physically separated bacterial populations in a microfluidic device.

The engineering of microbial systems increasingly strives to achieve a co-existence and co-functioning of different populations. By creating interactions, one can utilize combinations of cells where each population has a specialized function, such as regulation or sharing of metabolic burden. Here we describe a microfluidic system that enables long-term and independent growth of fixed and distinctly separate microbial populations, while allowing communication through a thin nano-cellulose filter.

Quantitative and sensitive RNA based detection of Bacillus spores.

The fast and reliable detection of bacterial spores is of great importance and still remains a challenge. Here we describe a direct RNA-based diagnostic method for the specific detection of viable bacterial spores which does not depends on an enzymatic amplification step and therefore is directly appropriate for quantification. The procedure includes the following steps: (i) heat activation of spores, (ii) germination and enrichment cultivation, (iii) cell lysis, and (iv) analysis of 16S rRNA in crude cell lysates using a sandwich hybridization assay.

Modification of buffered peptone water for improved recovery of heat-injured Salmonella Typhimurium.

Rapid detection of Salmonella in foods is often limited by the high demand for the sensitivity of detection, poor physiological conditions of the target cells, and high concentration of background flora. In this study, the conditions of nonselective enrichment cultivation were modified in order to improve the quantitative detection of heat-injured Salmonella in minced meat. The effect of the modifications on the recovery was observed by means of RNA-based sandwich hybridization, which was adjusted for the quantification of Salmonella enterica 23S rRNA in crude cell extracts.

Sandwich ELISA for quantitative detection of human collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase.

Background: We describe a method for specific, quantitative and quick detection of human collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase (C-P4H), the key enzyme for collagen prolyl-4 hydroxylation, in crude samples based on a sandwich ELISA principle. The method is relevant to active C-P4H level monitoring during recombinant C-P4H and collagen production in different expression systems. The assay proves to be specific for the active C-P4H alpha2beta2 tetramer due to the use of antibodies against its both subunits.