Publications by authors named "Lina Bird"

sp. CBR-F is a bacterial species isolated from a water treatment plant targeting for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a difficult-to-degrade family of anthropogenic compounds. Here, we report a complete genome for sp.

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sp. B1 is a bacterial species isolated from soil highly impacted by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of biopersistent contaminants colloquially known as "forever chemicals." Here, we report the genome of sp.

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The terrestrial serpentinite-hosted ecosystem known as "The Cedars" is home to a diverse microbial community persisting under highly alkaline (pH ~ 12) and reducing (Eh < -550 mV) conditions. This extreme environment presents particular difficulties for microbial life, and efforts to isolate microorganisms from The Cedars over the past decade have remained challenging. Herein, we report the initial physiological assessment and/or full genomic characterization of three isolates: sp.

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Article Synopsis
  • Engineered electroactive bacteria can be used for various applications like sensing and biosynthesis, particularly in non-freshwater environments.
  • The study focused on a marine bacterium's ability to produce electric current during biofilm growth in artificial seawater through an induced electron transfer pathway.
  • Key findings included the necessity of adding menaquinone for effective electron transfer and the ability to control electron transfer reversibly, highlighting the potential for environmental sensing and response.
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The junction of bioelectrochemical systems and synthetic biology opens the door to many potentially groundbreaking technologies. When developing these possibilities, choosing the correct chassis organism can save a great deal of engineering effort and, indeed, can mean the difference between success and failure. Choosing the correct chassis for a specific application requires a knowledge of the metabolic potential of the candidate organisms, as well as a clear delineation of the traits, required in the application.

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Electromicrobiology can be used to understand extracellular electron uptake in previously undescribed chemolithotrophs. Enrichment and characterization of the uncultivated electroautotroph " Tenderia electrophaga" using electromicrobiology led to the designation of the order Representative metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) have been identified in a number of environmental surveys, yet a comprehensive characterization of conserved genes for extracellular electron uptake has thus far not been conducted. Using comparative genomics, we identified conserved orthologous genes within the and nearest-neighbor orders important for extracellular electron uptake based on a previously proposed pathway from " Tenderia electrophaga.

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Biofilms growing aerobically on conductive substrates are often correlated with a positive, sustained shift in their redox potential. This phenomenon has a beneficial impact on microbial fuel cells by increasing their overall power output but can be detrimental when occurring on stainless steel by enhancing corrosion. The biological mechanism behind this potential shift is unresolved and a metabolic benefit to cells has not been demonstrated.

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Bin/Amphiphysin/RVS (BAR) domain proteins belong to a superfamily of coiled-coil proteins influencing membrane curvature in eukaryotes and are associated with vesicle biogenesis, vesicle-mediated protein trafficking, and intracellular signaling. Here, we report a bacterial protein with BAR domain-like activity, BdpA, from MR-1, known to produce redox-active membrane vesicles and micrometer-scale outer membrane extensions (OMEs). BdpA is required for uniform size distribution of membrane vesicles and influences scaffolding of OMEs into a consistent diameter and curvature.

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Electroactive bacteria produce or consume electrical current by moving electrons to and from extracellular acceptors and donors. This specialized process, known as extracellular electron transfer, relies on pathways composed of redox active proteins and biomolecules and has enabled technologies ranging from harvesting energy on the sea floor, to chemical sensing, to carbon capture. Harnessing and controlling extracellular electron transfer pathways using bioengineering and synthetic biology promises to heighten the limits of established technologies and open doors to new possibilities.

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Three highly alkaliphilic bacterial strains designated as A1, H1 and B1 were isolated from two highly alkaline springs at The Cedars, a terrestrial serpentinizing site. Cells from all strains were motile, Gram-negative and rod-shaped. Strains A1, H1 and B1 were mesophilic (optimum, 30 °C), highly alkaliphilic (optimum, pH 11) and facultatively autotrophic.

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Bacterial extracellular electron transfer (EET) is envisioned for use in applied biotechnologies, necessitating electrochemical characterization of natural and engineered electroactive biofilms under conditions similar to the target application, including small-scale biosensing or biosynthesis platforms, which is often distinct from standard 100 mL-scale stirred-batch bioelectrochemical test platforms used in the laboratory. Here, we adapted an eight chamber, nanoliter volume (500 nL) electrochemical flow cell to grow biofilms of both natural (Biocathode MCL community, Marinobacter atlanticus, and Shewanella oneidensis MR1) or genetically modified (S. oneidensis ΔMtr and S.

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Microbes that form biofilms on electrodes and generate electrical current responses could be integrated into devices to perform sensing, conduct signals, or act as living microprocessors. A challenge in working with these species is the ability to visualize biofilm formation and protein expression in real-time while also measuring current, which is not possible with typical bio-electrochemical reactors. Here, we present a three-dimensional-printed flow cell for simultaneous electrochemistry and fluorescence imaging.

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Here, we present the complete genome sequence of R2C4, isolated from the electroautotrophic microbial consortium biocathode MCL (--). As an isolate of a current-producing system, the genome sequence of will yield insights regarding electrode-associated microorganisms and communities. A dark pigment is also observed during cultivation.

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Here, we report on the development of a genetic system for sp. strain CP1, previously isolated from the Biocathode MCL community and shown to oxidize iron and grow as a cathodic biofilm. Sequence analysis of the small and large subunits of the 16S rRNA gene of CP1, as well as comparison of select conserved proteins, indicate that it is most closely related to HP15 and sp.

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A taxonomic and physiologic characterization was carried out on Thioclava strain ElOx9, which was isolated from a bacterial consortium enriched on electrodes poised at electron donating potentials. The isolate is Gram-negative, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive; the cells are motile short rods. The bacterium is facultatively anaerobic with the ability to utilize nitrate as an electron acceptor.

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Article Synopsis
  • Serpentinization is a geologic process that generates hydrogen-rich fluids, creating an environment for microbial life under high pH conditions, such as those found at 'The Cedars'.
  • Research showed that microbial communities in this area produced oscillating electric currents during daylight, with specific bacteria types (like Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes) becoming more common in lab experiments.
  • A key finding was the successful isolation of a Firmicutes strain (Paenibacillus sp.) that can reduce minerals at a lower pH, indicating the significant role of community dynamics in microbial survival and activity in these extreme conditions.
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  • The purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 expresses various redox proteins, including two high-potential iron-sulfur proteins (PioC and Rpal_4085) and cytochrome c2, crucial for its photosynthetic process.
  • Deleting the cytochrome c2 gene led to a complete loss of photosynthetic ability, highlighting its essential role in cyclic electron flow, which neither HiPIP protein can substitute.
  • PioC functions in electron transfer from iron at a lower efficiency compared to cytochrome c2, while Rpal_4085, although structurally similar, may be involved in metal sensing or oxidation rather than electron transfer.
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Transition metals are known to cause toxic effects through their interaction with oxygen, but toxicity under anoxic conditions is poorly understood. Here we investigated the effects of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) on the anaerobic growth and gene expression of the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. We found that Fe(II) and Cu(II) act synergistically to delay anaerobic growth at environmentally relevant metal concentrations.

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the historical role of redox cycles, particularly the iron cycle, in sustaining microbial life before the advent of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria.* -
  • It highlights the significance of iron as a nutrient and its use in energy-yielding pathways, specifically focusing on ferrous iron (Fe(II)) as an electron donor and ferric iron (Fe(III)) as an electron acceptor.* -
  • The review covers the mechanisms of electron transfer in bacteria that oxidize Fe(II) and reduce Fe(III), while also pointing out areas in their bioenergetic processes that require further research.*
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