Publications by authors named "I L Black"

Global healthcare systems are under tremendous strain due to the increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Growing data suggested that overconsumption of high-fat/high-carbohydrates diet (HFHCD) is associated with enhanced incidence of metabolic alterations, neurodegeneration, and cognitive dysfunction. Functional foods have gained prominence in curbing metabolic and neurological deficits.

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Streptococcus mutans, the causative agent of human dental caries, expresses a cell wall attached Serotype c-specific Carbohydrate (SCC) that is critical for cell viability. SCC consists of a polyrhamnose backbone of →3)α-Rha(1 → 2)α-Rha(1→ repeats with glucose (Glc) side-chains and glycerol phosphate (GroP) decorations. This study reveals that SCC has one predominant and two more minor Glc modifications.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pectin is a complex substance in plant cell walls, crucial for breaking down in animal feed to enhance nutrient absorption.
  • Significant amounts of pectin are found in soybean meal, a common poultry feed, but its structure and the necessary enzymes for degradation are not well understood.
  • The study developed and tested various combinations of fungal enzymes, identifying 10 effective ones for breaking down soybean meal pectin, mainly from the fungus Talaromyces versatilis, and proposes a new structural model for understanding pectin in feed.
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Unlabelled: is considered one of the most challenging, drug-resistant, opportunistic pathogens partly due to its ability to synthesize robust biofilms. Biofilm is a mixture of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that encapsulates microbial cells, leading to immune evasion, antibiotic resistance, and thus higher risk of infection. In the cystic fibrosis lung environment, undergoes a mucoid transition, defined by overproduction of the exopolysaccharide alginate.

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