Efficient Inhibition of Bacterial Biofilm Through Interference of Protein-Protein Interaction of Master Regulator Proteins: a Proof of Concept Study with SinR- SinI Complex of Bacillus subtilis.

Biofilm-associated microbial growth is a major cause of environmental, industrial, and public health concern. Therefore, there is a pressing need to discover and develop efficient antibiofilm strategies. Regulatory proteins vital for biofilm formation might be ideal targets for developing novel antibiofilm therapeutics.

Genome Sequence of sp. Strain CUR1, Isolated from an Alkaline-Saline Lake in Rajasthan, India.

We report the complete genome sequence of sp. strain CUR1, which was isolated from Sambhar Lake (a soda lake) in Rajasthan, India. The whole-genome sequencing of this strain has been done to explore the industrially important hydrolytic and extracellular enzymes that can be active under high-salt and high-pH conditions.

Inhibition and disintegration of biofilm with small molecule inhibitors identified through virtual screening for targeting TasA, the major protein component of ECM.

Microbial biofilms have been recognized for a vital role in antibiotic resistance and chronic microbial infections for 2-3 decades; still, there are no 'anti-biofilm drugs' available for human applications. There is an urgent need to develop novel 'anti-biofilms' therapeutics to manage biofilm-associated infectious diseases. Several reports have suggested that targeting molecules involved in quorum sensing or biofilm-specific transcription may inhibit biofilm formation.

design of multi-epitope-based peptide vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 using its spike protein.

SARS-CoV-2 has been efficient in ensuring that many countries are brought to a standstill. With repercussions ranging from rampant mortality, fear, paranoia, and economic recession, the virus has brought together countries to look at possible therapeutic countermeasures. With prophylactic interventions possibly months away from being particularly effective, a slew of measures and possibilities concerning the design of vaccines are being worked upon.

Computational investigation for modeling the protein-protein interaction of TasA-TapA: a decisive process in biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis.

Biofilms have a significant role in microbial persistence, antibiotic resistance, and chronic infections; consequently, there is a pressing need for development of novel "anti-biofilm strategies." One of the fundamental mechanisms involved in biofilm formation is protein-protein interactions of "amyloid-like proteins" (ALPs) in the extracellular matrix. Such interactions could be potential targets for development of novel anti-biofilm strategies; therefore, assessing the structural features of these interactions could be of great scientific value.

Thrombin stimulates gene expression and secretion of IL-11 via protease-activated receptor-1 and regulates extravillous trophoblast cell migration.

Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) migration and invasion is the crucial step for normal placental development. IL-11 is a cytokine regulating cell migration and invasion in cells and is a critical factor for successful implantation of an embryo. Higher expression of thrombin receptor PAR-1 was reported in early pregnancy.

The mechanism of phosphatidylcholine-induced interference of PAP (248-286) aggregation.

Seminal amyloids are well known for their role in enhancing HIV infection. Among all the amyloidogenic peptides identified in human semen, PAP was found to be the most active and was termed as semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI). Although amyloidogenic nature of the peptide is mainly linked with enhancement of the viral infection, the most active physiological conformation of the aggregated peptide remains inconclusive.

Mammalian antimicrobial peptide protegrin-4 self assembles and forms amyloid-like aggregates: Assessment of its functional relevance.

Protegrin-4 (PG-4) is a member of the porcine leukocyte protegrins family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from Sus scrofa. It consists of 18 amino acid residues and works as a part of innate immune system. In this study, we examined the intrinsic aggregation propensity of this AMP using multiple computational algorithms, namely, TANGO, AGGRESCAN, FOLDAMYLOID, AMYLPRED, and ZYGGREGATOR, and found that the peptide is predicted to have a high propensity for the β sheet formation that disposes this peptide to be amyloidogenic.

Effect of Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the Aggregation of αA(66-80) Peptide, a Major Fragment of αA-crystallin Involved in Cataract Development.

Purpose: Crystallin is a major protein present in eye lens. Peptide fragment αA(66-80) derived from αA-crystallin possesses high aggregation propensity and forms amyloid-like structures. αA(66-80) aggregates are known to interact with soluble crystallins and destabilize native structures that subsequently undergo aggregation.

Identification of gefitinib off-targets using a structure-based systems biology approach; their validation with reverse docking and retrospective data mining.

Gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is used as FDA approved drug in breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer treatment. However, this drug has certain side effects and complications for which the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. By systems biology based in silico analysis, we identified off-targets of gefitinib that might explain side effects of this drugs.

Evidence for vital role of endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the resistance of Arthrobacter protophormiae RKJ100 towards elevated concentrations of o-nitrobenzoate.

Arthrobacter protophormiae RKJ100 was previously characterized for its ability to tolerate extremely high concentrations of o-nitrobenzoate (ONB), a toxic xenobiotic environmental pollutant. The physiological responses of strain RKJ100 to ≥30 mM ONB indicated towards a resistance mechanism manifested via alteration of cell morphology and cell wall structure. In this study, we aim to characterize gene(s) involved in the resistance of strain RKJ100 towards extreme concentrations (i.

Genes involved in degradation of para-nitrophenol are differentially arranged in form of non-contiguous gene clusters in Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98.

Biodegradation of para-Nitrophenol (PNP) proceeds via two distinct pathways, having 1,2,3-benzenetriol (BT) and hydroquinone (HQ) as their respective terminal aromatic intermediates. Genes involved in these pathways have already been studied in different PNP degrading bacteria. Burkholderia sp.

RETRACTED: Aerobic degradation of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) via novel degradation intermediates by Rhodococcus sp. strain FK48.

An aerobic strain, Rhodococcus sp. strain FK48, capable of growing on 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy has been isolated from enrichment cultures originating from contaminated soil samples. During growth studies with non- induced cells of FK48 catalyzed sequential denitrification (release of NO₂ substituent) and deamination (release of NH₂ substituent) of 4-NA.

Branching of the p-nitrophenol (PNP) degradation pathway in burkholderia sp. Strain SJ98: Evidences from genetic characterization of PNP gene cluster.

Aerobic microbial degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) has been classically shown to proceed via 'Hydroquinone (HQ) pathway' in Gram-negative bacteria, whereas in Gram-positive PNP degraders it proceed via 'Benzenetriol (BT) pathway'. These pathways are characterized by the ring cleavage of HQ and BT as terminal aromatic intermediates respectively. Earlier reports on PNP degradation have indicated these pathways to be mutually exclusive.

Chemotaxis of Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98 towards chloronitroaromatic compounds that it can metabolise.

Background: Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98 is known for its chemotaxis towards nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) that are either utilized as sole sources of carbon and energy or co-metabolized in the presence of alternative carbon sources. Here we test for the chemotaxis of this strain towards six chloro-nitroaromatic compounds (CNACs), namely 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol (2C4NP), 2-chloro-3-nitrophenol (2C3NP), 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol (4C2NP), 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoate (2C4NB), 4-chloro-2-nitrobenzoate (4C2NB) and 5-chloro-2-nitrobenzoate (5C2NB), and examine its relationship to the degradation of such compounds.

Reductive dehalogenation mediated initiation of aerobic degradation of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol (2C4NP) by Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98.

Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98 (DSM 23195) was previously isolated and characterized for degradation and co-metabolic transformation of a number nitroaromatic compounds. In the present study, we evaluated its metabolic activity on chlorinated nitroaromatic compounds (CNACs).

Degradation of dichloroaniline isomers by a newly isolated strain, Bacillus megaterium IMT21.

An efficient 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA)-mineralizing bacterium has been isolated from enrichment cultures originating from a soil sample with a history of repeated exposure to diuron, a major metabolite of which is 3,4-DCA. This bacterium, Bacillus megaterium IMT21, also mineralized 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,5-DCA as sole sources of carbon and energy. These five DCA isomers were degraded via two different routes.

A process optimization for bio-catalytic production of substituted catechols (3-nitrocatechol and 3-methylcatechol.

Background: Substituted catechols are important precursors for large-scale synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other industrial products. Most of the reported chemical synthesis methods are expensive and insufficient at industrial level. However, biological processes for production of substituted catechols could be highly selective and suitable for industrial purposes.

p-Nitrophenol degradation via 4-nitrocatechol in Burkholderia sp. SJ98 and cloning of some of the lower pathway genes.

Microbial degradation studies have pointed toward the occurrence of two distinct PNP catabolic pathways in Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The former involves 4-nitrocatechol (4-NC), 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT), and maleylacetate (MA) as major degradation intermediates, whereas the later proceeds via formation of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and hydroquinone (HQ). In the present study we identified a Gram negative organism viz.

Physiological adaptations and tolerance towards higher concentration of selenite (Se(+4)) in Enterobacter sp. AR-4, Bacillus sp. AR-6 and Delftia tsuruhatensis AR-7.

Environmental contamination with selenium is a major health concern. A few bacterial strains have been isolated that can transform toxic selenite to non-toxic elemental selenium only at low concentrations (0.001-150 mM) in recent past.

A case study for assessment of microbial community dynamics in genetically modified Bt cotton crop fields.

Bt cotton was the first genetically modified crop approved for use in India. However, only a few studies have been conducted to assess the feasibility of its commercial application. Bt cotton is genetically modified to express a proteinaceous endotoxin (Cry) encoded by cry gene of Bacillus thuringiensis that has specific insecticidal activity against bollworms.

Integrative approaches for assessing the ecological sustainability of in situ bioremediation.

Application of microbial metabolic potential (bioremediation) is accepted as an environmentally benign and economical measure for decontamination of polluted environments. Bioremediation methods are generally categorized into ex situ and in situ bioremediation. Although in situ bioremediation methods have been in use for two to three decades, they have not yet yielded the expected results.

Diversity of 'benzenetriol dioxygenase' involved in p-nitrophenol degradation in soil bacteria.

Ring hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDOs) are one of the most important classes of enzymes featuring in the microbial metabolism of several xenobiotic aromatic compounds. One such RHDO is benzenetriol dioxygenase (BtD) which constitutes the metabolic machinery of microbial degradation of several mono- phenolic and biphenolic compounds including nitrophenols. Assessment of the natural diversity of benzenetriol dioxygenase (btd) gene sequence is of great significance from basic as well as applied study point of view.