gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic methanotroph isolated from an oil sands tailings pond.

An aerobic methane oxidizing bacterium, designated XLMV4, was isolated from the oxic surface layer of an oil sands tailings pond in Alberta, Canada. Strain XLMV4 is capable of growth on methane and methanol as energy sources. NHCl and sodium nitrate are nitrogen sources.

Highly porous, soft, and flexible vapor-phase polymerized polypyrrole-styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene hybrid scaffold as ammonia and strain sensor.

Herein, vapor-phase polymerization (VPP) of pyrrole on an oxidant-impregnated styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) matrix comprising a three-dimensional sugar particle assembly was used to produce a soft and porous polypyrrole (PPy)-SEBS hybrid scaffold. Characterization of the PPy-SEBS hybrid scaffold using field-effect scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and micro-computerized tomography confirmed the successful uniform and homogenous polymerization of PPy onto the SEBS matrix with a porous morphology. The performance of the hybrid scaffold of different pore sizes as an ammonia sensor under different temperature conditions was evaluated in terms of resistance change.

Synergistic improvement in the performance of insect odorant receptor based biosensors in the presence of Orco.

Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are believed to be a complex of an odorant binding subunit, OrX, and an ion channel forming subunit, Orco. In our previous study, we showed that the OrX subunit on its own in liposomes could detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ultrasensitively using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). In this study, we investigated the effect of the presence of Orco on the response of the OrX subunit to detect the VOCs.

Novel copper-containing membrane monooxygenases (CuMMOs) encoded by alkane-utilizing Betaproteobacteria.

Copper-containing membrane monooxygenases (CuMMOs) are encoded by xmoCAB(D) gene clusters and catalyze the oxidation of methane, ammonia, or some short-chain alkanes and alkenes. In a metagenome constructed from an oilsands tailings pond we detected an xmoCABD gene cluster with <59% derived protein sequence identity to genes from known bacteria. Stable isotope probing experiments combined with a specific xmoA qPCR assay demonstrated that the bacteria possessing these genes were incapable of methane assimilation, but did grow on ethane and propane.

Prevalence and determinants of poor sleep quality and depression among postpartum women: a community-based study in Ramechhap district, Nepal.

Background: Due to the limited number of studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of postpartum poor maternal sleep and depression.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 380 women who were 2-12 months postpartum in March and April 2017 in Ramechhap district, Nepal. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors.

Data on preparation and characterization of an insect odorant receptor based biosensor.

Insect Odorant receptors (OrXs) can be used as the recognition element in a biosensor as they demonstrate high levels of sensitivity and selectivity towards volatile organic compounds. Herein, we describe a method to express and purify insect odorant receptors and reconstitute them into artificial lipid bilayers (liposomes). These OrX/liposomes were covalently attached to a gold surface and characterized using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D).

Evolutionary History of Copper Membrane Monooxygenases.

Copper membrane monooxygenases (CuMMOs) oxidize ammonia, methane and some short-chain alkanes and alkenes. They are encoded by three genes, usually in an operon of . We aligned operons from 66 microbial genomes, including members of the -, -, and and the candidate phylum NC10.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical impedance-based biosensor using insect odorant receptors to detect odorants.

Herein, we present that insect odorant receptors reconstituted into the lipid bilayers of liposomes can be successfully immobilized onto a gold surface and selectively and sensitively detect odorant molecules. The odorant receptors (OrXs) Or10a, Or22a, and Or71a from the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, were recombinantly expressed, purified and integrated into nano-liposomes (100-200 nm). These liposomes were covalently attached to the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a 6-mercaptohexanoic acid (MHA)-modified gold surface.

Distribution and diversity of Verrucomicrobia methanotrophs in geothermal and acidic environments.

Recently, methanotrophic members of the phylum Verrucomicrobia have been described, but little is known about their distribution in nature. We surveyed methanotrophic bacteria in geothermal springs and acidic wetlands via pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Putative methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia were found in samples covering a broad temperature range (22.