Engineering Whole-Cell Biosensors for Enhanced Detection of Environmental Antibiotics Using a Synthetic Biology Approach.

Bacterial Two component systems have evolved with many intricate sensory apparatuses for external stimuli like light, temperature, oxygen, pH and chemical compounds. Recent studies have shown the potential of two-component regulatory systems (TCSs) of bacteria in creating synthetic regulatory circuits for several applications. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally in both developing and developed countries and it is one of the foremost global threats to public health.

Heterologous activation of the Hevea PEP16 promoter in the rubber-producing laticiferous tissues of Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

Hevea brasiliensis, the most abundant rubber crop, is used widely for the commercial production of natural rubber. To reduce the risk of a shortage in the supply of natural rubber that may arise from a single major rubber crop, rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) has been developed as an alternative rubber-producing crop by using a transgenic approach. However, it is necessary to identify a suitable promoter for the transfer of rubber biosynthesis-related genes to the species.

Gas-Sensing Transcriptional Regulators.

Gas molecules are ubiquitous in the environment and are used as nutrient and energy sources for living organisms. Many organisms, therefore, have developed gas-sensing systems to respond efficiently to changes in the atmospheric environment. In microorganisms and plants, two-component systems (TCSs) and transcription factors (TFs) are two primary mechanisms to sense gas molecules.

Enchancement of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Production by Co-Localization of Neurospora crassa OR74A Glutamate Decarboxylase with Escherichia coli GABA Transporter Via Synthetic Scaffold Complex.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a precursor of nylon-4, which is a promising heat-resistant biopolymer. GABA can be produced from the decarboxylation of glutamate by glutamate decarboxylase. In this study, a synthetic scaffold complex strategy was employed involving the Neurospora crassa glutamate decarboxylase (GadB) and GABA antiporter (GadC) to improve GABA production.

Construction of Methanol-Sensing by the Introduction of a MxaY-Based Chimeric Two-Component System.

was engineered to sense methanol by employing a chimeric two-component system (TCS) strategy. A chimeric MxaY/EnvZ (MxaYZ) TCS was constructed by fusing the MxaY with the EnvZ. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis and GFP-based fluorescence analysis showed maximum transcription of and the fluorescence at 0.

An integrated microfluidic PCR system with immunomagnetic nanoparticles for the detection of bacterial pathogens.

There is growing interest in rapid microbial pre-concentration methods to lower the detection limit of bacterial pathogens of low abundance in samples. Here, we report an integrated microfluidic PCR system that enables bacterial cells of interest in samples to be concentrated prior to PCR. It consists of two major compartments: a preconcentration chamber for the immunomagnetic separation of bacterial cells, and a PCR chamber for the DNA amplification of the concentrated cells.

Construction of a high efficiency copper adsorption bacterial system via peptide display and its application on copper dye polluted wastewater.

For the construction of an efficient copper waste treatment system, a cell surface display strategy was employed. The copper adsorption ability of recombinant bacterial strains displaying three different copper binding peptides were evaluated in LB Luria-Bertani medium (LB), artificial wastewater, and copper phthalocyanine containing textile dye industry wastewater samples. Structural characteristics of the three peptides were also analyzed by similarity-based structure modeling.

Evaluation of zraP gene expression characteristics and construction of a lead (Pb) sensing and removal system in a recombinant Escherichia coli.

A ZraP-based lead sensing and removal system was constructed in E. coli. It was regulated by the ZraS/ZraR two-component system.

Construction of malate-sensing Escherichia coli by introduction of a novel chimeric two-component system.

In an attempt to develop a high-throughput screening system for screening microorganisms which produce high amounts of malate, a MalKZ chimeric HK-based biosensor was constructed. Considering the sequence similarity among Escherichia coli (E. coli) MalK with Bacillus subtilis MalK and E.

Effects of stress hormone cortisol on the mRNA expression of myogenenin, MyoD, Myf5, PAX3 and PAX7.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of stress hormone cortisol on the myogenic markers in the C2C12 cells co-cultured with 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Co-culturing was achieved by transwell inserts with a 0.4 μm porous membrane.

Engineered fumarate sensing Escherichia coli based on novel chimeric two-component system.

DcuS/DcuR two component system (TCS) was firstly employed for the expression of the gfp gene under the dcuB gene promoter in aerobic condition to develop high throughput screening system able to screen microorganisms producing high amount of fumarate. However, the DcuS/DcuR TCS could not produce a signal strong enough to mediate the expression of the gfp gene responding fumarate concentration. Thus, DcuS/DucR TCS was engineered by recruiting the EnvZ/OmpR system, the most-studied TCS in E.