Controlled interkingdom cell-cell communication between and using quorum-sensing peptides.

Understanding communication among microorganisms through the array of signal molecules and establishing controlled signal transfer between different species is a major goal of the future of biotechnology, and controlled multispecies bioreactor cultivations will open a wide range of applications. In this study, we used two quorum-sensing peptides from - namely, the competence and sporulation factor (CSF) and (PhrF)-to establish a controlled interkingdom communication system between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For this purpose, we engineered as a reporter capable of detecting the CSF and PhrF peptides heterologously produced by the yeast .

Genetic modules for α-factor pheromone controlled growth regulation of .

is a commonly used microorganism in the biotechnological industry. For the industrial heterologous production of compounds, it is of great advantage to work with growth-controllable yeast strains. In our work, we utilized the natural pheromone system of and generated a set of different strains possessing an α-pheromone controllable growth behavior.

Feasibility, efficacy, and safety of animal-assisted activities with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology.

Background: Childhood cancer entails a heavy burden for patients and their families. Recent advances in overall survival rates have increasingly brought long-term quality of life into focus. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) have long been hypothesized to alleviate the burden on pediatric patients and their peers in the hospital setting.

Nested Formation of Calcium Carbonate Polymorphs in a Bacterial Surface Membrane with a Graded Nanoconfinement: An Evolutionary Strategy to Ensure Bacterial Survival.

It is the intention of this study to elucidate the nested formation of calcium carbonate polymorphs or polyamorphs in the different nanosized compartments. With these observations, it can be concluded how the bacteria can survive in a harsh environment with high calcium carbonate supersaturation. The mechanisms of calcium carbonate precipitation at the surface membrane and at the underlying cell wall membrane of the thermophilic soil bacterium DSM 13240 have been revealed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Biomimetic estrogen sensor based on soft colloidal probes.

An increasing number of reports substantiate the link between emerging estrogenic pollutants and a variety of adverse effects including developmental disorders, infertility, cancer and neurological disorders, threatening public health as well as environment. The detection of the diverse classes of estrogenic and antiestrogenic substances is still challenging due to analytics which needs to cover the whole range of compounds acting on estrogen receptors and the complex estrogen pathways. In this proof-of-concept study, we report a novel biomimetic detection scheme based on the specific recognition of estrogenic ligands by estrogen sulfotransferase 1E1 (SULT1E1), which acts as one of the key enzymes in estrogen homeostasis.