Metabolic engineering of Aspergillus niger to enhance production of ethanol.

This work describes the genetic transformation of a strain of Aspergillus niger with five different constructs containing 16 different heterologous genes, coding for four oxidoreductases, two cellobiohydrolases, one endoglucanase, one β-glucosidase, six enzymes involved in xylose metabolism, and two enzymes involved in fermentation. The aim was to try and engineer a consolidated bioprocessing in A. niger.

Effect of Shock Waves on the Growth of Conidia: Evaluation of Germination and Preliminary Study on Gene Expression.

Shock waves, as used in medicine, can induce cell permeabilization, genetically transforming filamentous fungi; however, little is known on the interaction of shock waves with the cell wall. Because of this, the selection of parameters has been empirical. We studied the influence of shock waves on the germination of , to understand their effect on the modulation of four genes related to the growth of conidia.

Short Disordered Epitope of CRTAM Ig-Like V Domain as a Potential Target for Blocking Antibodies.

Class-I Restricted T Cell-Associated Molecule (CRTAM) is a protein that is expressed after T cell activation. The interaction of CRTAM with its ligand, nectin-like 2 (Necl2), is required for the efficient production of IL-17, IL-22, and IFNγ by murine CD4 T cells, and it plays a role in optimal CD8 T and NK cell cytotoxicity. CRTAM promotes the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile; therefore, it may take part in the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes type 1 or colitis.

Expression of the Biologically Active Insulin Analog SCI-57 in .

Diabetes mellitus is a growing problem worldwide; however, only 23% of low-income countries have access to insulin, and ironically it costs higher in such countries than high-income ones. Therefore, new strategies for insulin and insulin analogs production are urgently required to improve low-cost access to therapeutic products, so as to contain the diabetes epidemic. SCI-57 is an insulin analog with a greater affinity for the insulin receptor and lower thermal degradation than native insulin.

Immunization with an HPV-16 L1-based chimeric virus-like particle containing HPV-16 E6 and E7 epitopes elicits long-lasting prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in an HPV-16 tumor mice model.

HPV L1-based virus-like particles vaccines (VLPs) efficiently induce temporary prophylactic activity through the induction of neutralizing antibodies; however, VLPs that can provide prophylactic as well as therapeutic properties for longer periods of time are needed. For this purpose, we generated a novel HPV 16 L1-based chimeric virus-like particle (cVLP) produced in plants that contains a string of T-cell epitopes from HPV 16 E6 and E7 fused to its C-terminus. In the present study, we analyzed the persistence of specific IgG antibodies with neutralizing activity induced by immunization with these cVLPs, as well as their therapeutic potential in a tumor model of C57BL/6 mice.

Transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants over-expressing a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gene from Xenopus laevis (xPPARα) show increased susceptibility to infection by virulent Pseudomonas syringae pathogens.

Transgenic tobacco plants capable of over-expressing Xenopus PPARα (xPPARα), a transcription factor known to be required for peroxisome proliferation in animals, were recently generated. These plants (herewith referred to as PPAR-OE) were found to have increased peroxisome abundance, higher peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase and catalase activity and modified fatty acid metabolism. Further characterization of PPAR-OE plants revealed a higher susceptibility to virulent and a partial loss of resistance to avirulent Pseudomonas syringae pathogens, whereas the basal resistance response remained unaffected.

An HPV 16 L1-based chimeric human papilloma virus-like particles containing a string of epitopes produced in plants is able to elicit humoral and cytotoxic T-cell activity in mice.

Background: Even though two prophylactic vaccines against HPV are currently licensed, infections by the virus continue to be a major health problem mainly in developing countries. The cost of the vaccines limits wide-scale application in poor countries. A promising strategy for producing affordable and efficient vaccines involves the expression of recombinant immunogens in plants.

Ripening in papaya fruit is altered by ACC oxidase cosuppression.

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a very important crop in many tropical countries but it is highly susceptible to parasitic diseases, physiological disorders, mechanical damage and fruit overripening. Here we report a study on ACC oxidase cosuppression and its effects on papaya fruit ripening. Papaya ACC oxidase was isolated using PCR and embriogenic cells transformed by biolistic using the CaMV 35S promoter to drive the expression of the PCR fragment in sense orientation.

Expression of the rabies virus nucleoprotein in plants at high-levels and evaluation of immune responses in mice.

Transgenic plants have been employed successfully as a low-cost system for the production of therapeutically valuable proteins including antibodies, antigens and hormones. Here, we report expression of a full-length nucleoprotein gene of rabies virus in transgenic tomato plants. The nucleoprotein was also transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by agroinfiltration.

Fruit-specific expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat gene in tomato plants and its immunogenic potential in mice.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein is considered a potential candidate vaccine antigen. In an effort to design a strategy for noninvasive vaccination against HIV-1, we developed transgenic tomatoes expressing the Tat protein. Two independent plants testing positive in transgene detection analysis were selected and grown to maturity.

Identification of genes differentially expressed during ripening of banana.

The banana (Musa acuminata, subgroup Cavendish 'Grand Nain') is a climacteric fruit of economic importance. A better understanding of the banana ripening process is needed to improve fruit quality and to extend shelf life. Eighty-four up-regulated unigenes were identified by differential screening of a banana fruit cDNA subtraction library at a late ripening stage.

Expression of the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein in transgenic maize and immunological studies.

Transgenic plants have been employed successfully as a low-cost system for the production of therapeutically valuable proteins, including antibodies, antigens and hormones. Here, we report the expression of the fusion (F) gene of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in transgenic maize plants. The expression of the transgene, driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter, caused accumulation of the F protein in maize kernels.

Expression of functional interleukin-12 from mouse in transgenic tomato plants.

Transgenic plants have been employed successfully as a low-cost system for the production of therapeutically valuable proteins, including antibodies, antigens and hormones. Here, we report the expression of a cytokine with immunomodulatory function, mouse interleukin-12 (IL-12), in transgenic tomato plants. Single-chain mouse IL-12 driven by the CaMV 35S promoter, accumulates to high levels in leaves and fruits (up to 7.

Expression of a single-chain human interleukin-12 gene in transgenic tobacco plants and functional studies.

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a key heterodimeric cytokine produced by a variety of antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. It displays a potent array of biological activities affecting natural killer (NK) and T cells. These activities include promotion of cell-mediated or type 1 T helper cell responses (Th1).

Identification of a genomic clone to ACC oxidase from papaya (Carica papaya L.) and expression studies.

In this paper are presented structural analysis and expression studies of one genomic clone encoding a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACC oxidase) from papaya. Using RT-PCR amplification of ACC oxidase cDNAs from ripe papaya, a product of 800 bp was obtained, which after sequence analysis was found to code for a protein highly homologous to ACC oxidase proteins. This PCR product was used as a probe for screening a genomic library, and two different groups of clones were obtained as indicated by restriction mapping.