Novel Feruloyl Esterase for the Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Screened from the Gut Microbiome of Plastic-Degrading Mealworms ( Larvae).

Mealworms () larvae can degrade both plastics and lignocellulose through synergistic biological activities of their gut microbiota because they share similarities in chemical and physical properties. Here, a total of 428 genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes were screened from the gut microbiome of larvae to identify poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-degrading activities. Five genes were successfully expressed in , among which a feruloyl esterase-like enzyme named Fae-PETase demonstrated the highest PET degradation activity, converting PET into MHET (0.

Biochar immobilized hydrolase degrades PET microplastics and alleviates the disturbance of soil microbial function via modulating nitrogen and phosphorus cycles.

Microplastics (MPs) pose an emerging threat to soil ecological function, yet effective solutions remain limited. This study introduces a novel approach using magnetic biochar immobilized PET hydrolase (MB-LCC-FDS) to degrade soil polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs). MB-LCC-FDS exhibited a 1.

A Review of the Use of Native and Engineered Probiotics for Colorectal Cancer Therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious global health concern, and researchers have been investigating different strategies to prevent, treat, or support conventional therapies for CRC. This review article comprehensively covers CRC therapy involving wild-type bacteria, including probiotics and oncolytic bacteria as well as genetically modified bacteria. Given the close relationship between CRC and the gut microbiota, it is crucial to compile and present a comprehensive overview of bacterial therapies used in the context of colorectal cancer.

Enhancing tumor-specific recognition of programmable synthetic bacterial consortium for precision therapy of colorectal cancer.

Probiotics hold promise as a potential therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC), but encounter obstacles related to tumor specificity, drug penetration, and dosage adjustability. In this study, genetic circuits based on the E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) chassis were developed to sense indicators of tumor microenvironment and control the expression of therapeutic payloads.

Fermented lily bulbs by "Jiangshui" probiotics improves lung health in mice.

Limited application in protecting lung health is attributed to the low levels of active compounds in lily plant bulbs. This study focused on enhancing the active compounds by fermenting Lilium davidii (Lanzhou Lily) bulbs with Limosilactobacillus fermentum GR-3, isolated from Jiangshui. Lily fermented bulbs with strain GR-3 (LFB+GR-3) increased the bioavailability of hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 22-tetrahydroxy-5alpha-cholestan-6-one-3-O-beta-d-allopyranoside, 22-O-(6-deoxy-Alpha-l-mannopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-pregn-5-en-20-one, 1-O-trans-feruloylglycerol, and 3,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid.

A gluten degrading probiotic Bacillus subtilis LZU-GM relieve adverse effect of gluten additive food and balances gut microbiota in mice.

Gluten accumulation damages the proximal small intestine and causes celiac disease (CeD) which has not been effectively treated except by using a gluten-free diet. In this study, strain Bacillus subtilis LZU-GM was isolated from Pakistani traditional fermented sourdough and could degrade 73.7% of gluten in 24 h in vitro.

Gut microbiome of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor Larvae) show similar responses to polystyrene and corn straw diets.

Background: Some insects can degrade both natural and synthetic plastic polymers, their host and gut microbes play crucial roles in this process. However, there is still a scientific gap in understanding how the insect adapted to the polystyrene (PS) diet from natural feed. In this study, we analyzed diet consumption, gut microbiota responses, and metabolic pathways of Tenebrio molitor larvae exposed to PS and corn straw (CS).

Tumor-targeting engineered probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 inhibits colorectal tumorigenesis and modulates gut microbiota homeostasis in mice.

Aims: Preliminary studies have identified the use of probiotics as a potential treatment strategy against colorectal cancer (CRC). However, natural probiotics lack direct tumor-targeting and tumor-killing activity in the intestine. This study aimed to construct a tumor-targeting engineered probiotic to combat CRC.

Transcriptome analysis reveals self-redox mineralization mechanism of azo dyes and novel decolorizing hydrolases in Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M.

Bio-degradation is the most affordable method of azo dye decontamination, while its drawbacks such as aromatic amines accumulation and low degradation efficiency must be overcome. In this study, a novel mechanism of azo dye degradation by a fungus was discovered. At a concentration of 400 mg/L, the decolorization efficiency of Acid Red 73 (AR73) by Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M was 90.

Reduction of metronidazole in municipal wastewater and protection of activated sludge system using a novel immobilized Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M.

Metronidazole (MNZ) accumulation inhibits municipal wastewater treatment bio-systems, and an effective solution to augment anaerobic activated sludge (AAS) is required. This research discovered that Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M could degrade 77.39% of MNZ at 5 mg/L.

High altitude Relieves transmission risks of COVID-19 through meteorological and environmental factors: Evidence from China.

Existing studies reported higher altitudes reduce the COVID-19 infection rate in the United States, Colombia, and Peru. However, the underlying reasons for this phenomenon remain unclear. In this study, regression analysis and mediating effect model were used in a combination to explore the altitudes relation with the pattern of transmission under their correlation factors.

SARS-CoV-2 triggered oxidative stress and abnormal energy metabolism in gut microbiota.

Specific roles of gut microbes in COVID-19 progression are critical. However, the circumstantial mechanism remains elusive. In this study, shotgun metagenomic or metatranscriptomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples collected from 13 COVID-19 patients and controls.

Biochar from pyrolyzed Tibetan Yak dung as a novel additive in ensiling sweet sorghum: An alternate to the hazardous use of Yak dung as a fuel in the home.

Yak dung is used as fuel in Tibetan homes; however, this use is hazardous to health. An alternative use of the dung that would be profitable and offset the loss as a fuel would be very beneficial. Sweet sorghum silage with yak dung biochar as an additive was compared with a control silage with no additives and three silages with different commercial additives, namely Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus plantarum and Acremonium cellulase.

Cu(II) nonspecifically binding chromate reductase NfoR promotes Cr(VI) reduction.

Cu(II)-enhanced microbial Cr(VI) reduction is common in the environment, yet its mechanism is unknown. The specific activity of chromate reductase, NfoR, from Staphylococcus aureus sp. LZ-01 was augmented 1.

A copper-specific microbial fuel cell biosensor based on riboflavin biosynthesis of engineered Escherichia coli.

Copper pollution poses a serious threat to the aquatic environment; however, in situ analytical methods for copper monitoring are still scarce. In the current study, Escherichia coli Rosetta was genetically modified to express OprF and ribB with promoter P and P , respectively, which could synthesize porin and senses Cu to produce riboflavin. The cell membrane permeability of this engineered strain was increased and its riboflavin production (1.

Tibet plateau probiotic mitigates chromate toxicity in mice by alleviating oxidative stress in gut microbiota.

Heavy metal contamination in food endangers human health. Probiotics can protect animals and human against heavy metals, but the detoxification mechanism has not been fully clarified. Here, mice were supplemented with Pediococcus acidilactici strain BT36 isolated from Tibetan plateau yogurt, with strong antioxidant activity but no chromate reduction ability for 20 days to ensure gut colonization.

Recent advances in the recovery of metals from waste through biological processes.

Wastes containing critical metals are generated in various fields, such as energy and computer manufacturing. Metal-bearing wastes are considered as secondary sources of critical metals. The conventional physicochemical methods of metals recovery are energy-intensive and cause further pollution.

A critical review of clay-based composites with enhanced adsorption performance for metal and organic pollutants.

Adsorption techniques offer unique advantages owing to the use of synthetic (e.g., nanosized metal oxides and polymer-functionalized nanocomposites) and natural (e.

Improvements of thermophilic enzymes: From genetic modifications to applications.

Thermozymes (from thermophiles or hyperthermophiles) offer obvious advantages due to their excellent thermostability, broad pH adaptation, and hydrolysis ability, resulting in diverse industrial applications including food, paper, and textile processing, biofuel production. However, natural thermozymes with low yield and poor adaptability severely hinder their large-scale applications. Extensive studies demonstrated that using genetic modifications such as directed evolution, semi-rational design, and rational design, expression regulations and chemical modifications effectively improved enzyme's yield, thermostability and catalytic efficiency.

Co-expression of YieF and PhoN in Deinococcus radiodurans R1 improves uranium bioprecipitation by reducing chromium interference.

Overexpression of the enzyme phosphatase (PhoN/PhoK) in the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans could be an efficient strategy for uranium remediation. However, the presence of other metals in nuclear wastes often interferes with uranium bioprecipitation. In our study, the uranium-precipitating ability of the PhoN-expressing D.

Lignin depolymerization and utilization by bacteria.

Lignin compound wastes are generated as a result of agricultural and industrial practices. Microorganism-mediated bio-catalytic processes can depolymerize and utilize lignin eco-friendly. Although fungi have been studied since several decades for their ability to depolymerize lignin, strict growth conditions of fungus limit it's industrial application.

Copper (II) binding of NAD(P)H- flavin oxidoreductase (NfoR) enhances its Cr (VI)-reducing ability.

Microbes can reduce hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) to the less toxic and soluble trivalent Cr (III). Copper stimulates microbial reduction of Cr (VI) by the Bacillus, Ochrobactrum, and Gluconobacter species; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In our study, the rate of Cr (VI) reduction by Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01 was increased by 210 % when supplemented with 60 μM Cu (II).