Microbial population dynamics and proteomics in membrane bioreactors with enzymatic quorum quenching.

Quorum sensing gives rise to biofilm formation on the membrane surface, which in turn causes a loss of water permeability in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. Enzymatic quorum quenching was reported to successfully inhibit the formation of biofilm in MBRs through the decomposition of signal molecules, N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of quorum quenching in more detail in terms of microbial population dynamics and proteomics.

Isolation and characterization of a neutralizing antibody specific to internalization domain of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type B.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the causative agents for life-threatening human disease botulism, have been recognized as biological warfare agents. In this study, a neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibody against botulinum neurotoxin serotype B (BoNT/B), named BTBH-N1, was developed from mice immunized with BoNT/B toxoid without non-toxic components, which are generally associated with the toxin. Western blot analysis, using recombinant toxin fragments containing light (L), N-terminal half of heavy (HN) and C-terminal half of heavy chains, indicated that BTBH-N1 recognizes linear epitopes located on the HN domain.