Extraction, separation and purification of fatty acid ethyl esters for biodiesel and DHA from Thraustochytrid biomass.

A novel approach for in situ transesterification, extraction, separation, and purification of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) for biodiesel and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from Thraustochytrid biomass has been developed. The downstream processing of Thraustochytrids oil necessitates optimization, considering the higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). While two-step methods are commonly employed for extracting and transesterifying oil from oleaginous microbes, this may result in oxidation/epoxidation of omega-3 oil due to prolonged exposure to heat and oxygen.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis methyltransferase Rv2067c manipulates host epigenetic programming to promote its own survival.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has evolved several mechanisms to counter host defense arsenals for its proliferation. Here we report that M. tuberculosis employs a multi-pronged approach to modify host epigenetic machinery for its survival.

Simultaneous production of high-value lipids in Schizochytrium sp. by synergism of chemical modulators.

The study focuses on the simultaneous improvement of biomass, lipid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) productivities in a single reactor using modulator control strategies. The efficacy of three different biochemical modulators, sesamol (Ses), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as potential stimulants in augmenting the biomass, lipid, and DHA production of Schizochytrium sp. MTCC 5890 was elucidated.

Effect of nano-metal doped calcium peroxide on biomass pretreatment and green hydrogen production from rice straw.

In this study, calcium peroxide was modified and doped with metal-based nanoparticles (NP) to enhance the efficiency of pretreatment and biohydrogen generation from RS. The findings revealed that the addition of MnO-CaO NPs (at a dosage of 0.02 g/g TS of RS) had a synergistic effect on the breakdown of biomass and the production of biohydrogen.

Homology Modeling of Antibody Variable Regions: Methods and Applications.

Adaptive immunity specifically protects us from antigenic challenges. Antibodies are key effector proteins of adaptive immunity, and they are remarkable in their ability to recognize a virtually limitless number of antigens. Fragment variable (F), the antigen-binding region of antibodies, can be split into two main components, namely, framework and complementarity determining regions.

Unrevealing the role of metal oxide nanoparticles on biohydrogen production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii.

The positive interaction between Clostridium sp. and lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus sp) is commonly seen in various high-rate hydrogen production systems. However, the exact role of the hydrogen production ability of Lactobacillus sp in a dark fermentation production system is rarely studied.

Morphologically favorable mutant of Trichoderma reesei for low viscosity cellulase production.

Metabolite production by filamentous fungi hampered because of high viscosity generated during growth. Low viscosity fermentation by mold is one of the preferred ways of large scale enzymes production. Cellulolytic enzymes play a key role during the process of lignocellulosic biomass conversion.

Synergistic integration of wastewaters from second generation ethanol plant for algal biofuel production: an industrially relevant option.

The present study provides an integrated method for utilizing the wastewaters from second generation (2G) ethanol pretreatment plant for microalgal biomass and lipid production. The study was conducted using a mixture of wastewaters (referred as MW; pH 4.3) generated after washing of acidic and alkaline-soaked lignocellulosic biomass prior to pretreatment process.

Fermentative reforming of crude glycerol to 1,3-propanediol using Clostridium butyricum strain L4.

Repurposed used cooking oil is a sustainable alternative to other feedstocks for biodiesel production offering enviro-economic benefits. Residual crude glycerol (RCG) from such biodiesel production plants is difficult to utilize due to presence of numerous toxic impurities with various inhibitory effects on biological fermentative reforming process. However, it is a new industrial feedstock for bio-based production of 1,3-propanediol.

Next generation applications of lignin derived commodity products, their life cycle, techno-economics and societal analysis.

The pulp and biorefining industries produce their waste as lignin, which is one of the most abundant renewable resources. So far, lignin has been remained severely underutilized and generally burnt in a boiler as a low-value fuel. To demonstrate lignin's potential as a value-added product, we will review market opportunities for lignin related applications by utilizing the thermo-chemical/biological depolymerization strategies (with or without catalysts) and their comparative evaluation.

Targeted Redesign of Suramin Analogs for Novel Antimicrobial Lead Development.

The emergence of new viral infections and drug-resistant bacteria urgently necessitates expedient therapeutic development. Repurposing and redesign of existing drugs against different targets are one potential way in which to accelerate this process. Suramin was initially developed as a successful antiparasitic drug but has also shown promising antiviral and antibacterial activities.

Carbon Nanoparticles of Varying Shapes as Additives in Mineral Oil Assessment of Comparative Performance Potential.

In this work, carbonaceous nanoparticles (NPs) of varying morphology, viz., multilayer graphene (lamellar, thickness ∼ 3-7 nm), graphite (spherical ∼70 nm), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (tubular), were selected to explore their tribo-potential in oil under identical operating conditions. A series of nano-oils were prepared using API group III mineral base oil with a dispersant (1%) and selected NPs in incremental concentration (0.

Comprehensive Lifestyle Improvement Program for Prostate Cancer (CLIPP) is associated with improvement in weight and components of metabolic syndrome in men exposed to androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer is associated with adverse effects, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome, which increase cardiovascular risk, the most common cause of non-cancer mortality in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Comprehensive Lifestyle Improvement Program for Prostate Cancer (CLIPP) was created to determine the feasibility of conducing a comprehensive lifestyle modification intervention in men on ADT for prostate cancer and determine its early efficacy in reducing obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Methods: A single-arm, open-label clinical trial was conducted by recruiting 31 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and exposed to ADT within the last 5 years.

Small Glycols Discover Cryptic Pockets on Proteins for Fragment-Based Approaches.

Cryptic pockets are visible in ligand-bound protein structures but are occluded in unbound structures. Utilizing these pockets in fragment-based drug-design provides an attractive option for proteins not tractable by classical binding sites. However, owing to their hidden nature, they are difficult to identify.

A novel approach to improve the oil miscibility and incorporate multifunctionality in ionic liquids as lubricant additives.

Recently ionic liquids (ILs) have shown promising tribological properties as additives in base oils; however their lack of miscibility is a problem, with very few ILs being compatible with lubricant oil formulation (non-polar base oils). This work shows the use of a surfactant which can increase the range of available ILs that are stable when added to these base oils. In this study a range of tetraalkylphosphonium based ILs were successfully blended with a PIBSA surfactant and these blends were all shown to be miscible in a non-polar base oil.

2G waste lignin to fuel and high value-added chemicals: Approaches, challenges and future outlook for sustainable development.

Lignin is produced as a byproduct in cellulosic biorefinery as well in pulp and paper industries and has the potential for the synthesis of a variety of phenolics chemicals, biodegradable polymers, and high value-added chemicals surrogate to conventional petro-based fuels. Therefore, in this critical review, we emphasize the possible scenario for lignin isolation, transformation into value addition chemicals/materials for the economic viability of current biorefineries. Additionally, this review covers the chemical structure of lignocellulosic biomass/lignin, worldwide availability of lignin and describe various thermochemical (homogeneous/heterogeneous base/acid-catalyzed depolymerization, oxidative, hydrogenolysis etc.

Interrogation of 3D-swapped structure and functional attributes of quintessential Sortase A from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The anchoring of the surface proteins to the cell wall in gram-positive bacteria involves a peptide ligation reaction catalyzed by transpeptidase sortase. Most bacterial genomes encode multiple sortases with dedicated functions. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) carries four sortases; a housekeeping sortase (SrtA), and three pilin specific sortases (SrtC1, C2, C3) dedicated to the biosynthesis of covalent pilus.

Recent advances in catalytic chain transfer polymerization of isobutylene: a review.

This review presents the development of highly reactive polyisobutylene (HRPIB), a major commercial intermediate toward fuel and lubricant additives. Recent years have witnessed very substantial advances in the catalytic chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) of isobutylene/industrial Raffinate-1 (C4 Raffinate) to produce HRPIB, particularly in nonpolar solvents at elevated temperatures. The main subjects of this review are cationic polymerization of isobutylene, progress in HRPIB research and existing challenges, and recent advances of CCTP.

Material-Microbe Interfaces for Solar-Driven CO Bioelectrosynthesis.

Sustainable production of solar-based chemicals is possible by mimicking the natural photosynthetic mechanism. To realize the full potential of solar-to-chemical production, the artificial means of photosynthesis and the biological approach should complement each other. The recently developed hybrid microbe-metal interface combines an inorganic, semiconducting light-harvester material with efficient and simple microorganisms, resulting in a novel metal-microbe interface that helps the microbes to capture energy directly from sunlight.

Structural basis for neutralization of cytotoxic abrin by monoclonal antibody D6F10.

Abrin, an extremely cytotoxic Type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), is a potential bio-warfare agent. Abrin A-chain (ABA) depurinates an adenosine of sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) from eukaryotic 28S rRNA, thereby arresting protein synthesis and leading to cell death. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) D6F10 is the only known antibody that neutralizes ABA's activity in cell-free systems as well as abrin's toxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Photosensitization of electro-active microbes for solar assisted carbon dioxide transformation.

Tandem bio-inorganic platform by combining efficient light harvesting properties of nano-inorganic semiconductor cadmium sulfide (CdS) with biocatalytic ability of electro-active bacteria (EAB) towards carbon dioxide (CO) conversion is reported. Sulfur was obtained from either cysteine (EAB-Cys-CdS) or hydrogen sulfide (EAB-HS-CdS) and experiments were carried out under similar conditions. Anchoring of the nano CdS cluster on the microbe surface was confirmed using electronic microscope.