Protein nanoparticle vaccines induce potent neutralizing antibody responses against MERS-CoV.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a betacoronavirus that causes severe respiratory illness in humans. There are no licensed vaccines against MERS-CoV and only a few candidates in phase I clinical trials. Here, we develop MERS-CoV vaccines utilizing a computationally designed protein nanoparticle platform that has generated safe and immunogenic vaccines against various enveloped viruses, including a licensed vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Analysis of novel bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes from lignin-degrading microbial consortia.

Despite recent progress, bacterial degradation of lignin is not completely understood. To address the mechanisms that bacteria from unknown taxonomic groups use to perform lignin-monomer degradation, functional analysis of bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes from soil-derived consortia enriched for microorganisms capable of degrading lignin was performed. A total of 232 metagenome-assembled genomes were recovered.

Computational Advances in Ionic Liquid Applications for Green Chemistry: A Critical Review of Lignin Processing and Machine Learning Approaches.

The valorization and dissolution of lignin using ionic liquids (ILs) is critical for developing sustainable biorefineries and a circular bioeconomy. This review aims to critically assess the current state of computational and machine learning methods for understanding and optimizing IL-based lignin dissolution and valorization processes reported since 2022. The paper examines various computational approaches, from quantum chemistry to machine learning, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and recent advances in predicting and optimizing lignin-IL interactions.

Energy and nutrient recovery from municipal and industrial waste and wastewater-a perspective.

Unlabelled: This publication highlights the latest advancements in the field of energy and nutrient recovery from organics rich municipal and industrial waste and wastewater. Energy and carbon rich waste streams are multifaceted, including municipal solid waste, industrial waste, agricultural by-products and residues, beached or residual seaweed biomass from post-harvest processing, and food waste, and are valuable resources to overcome current limitations with sustainable feedstock supply chains for biorefining approaches. The emphasis will be on the most recent scientific progress in the area, including the development of new and innovative technologies, such as microbial processes and the role of biofilms for the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater, as well as the production of biofuels and value-added products from organic waste and wastewater streams.

Engineered reduction of S-adenosylmethionine alters lignin in sorghum.

Background: Lignin is an aromatic polymer deposited in secondary cell walls of higher plants to provide strength, rigidity, and hydrophobicity to vascular tissues. Due to its interconnections with cell wall polysaccharides, lignin plays important roles during plant growth and defense, but also has a negative impact on industrial processes aimed at obtaining monosaccharides from plant biomass. Engineering lignin offers a solution to this issue.

Methane to bioproducts: unraveling the potential of methanotrophs for biomanufacturing.

With the continuous increase in the world population, anthropogenic activities will generate more waste and create greenhouse gases such as methane, amplifying global warming. The biological conversion of methane into biochemicals is a sustainable solution to sequester and convert this greenhouse gas. Methanotrophic bacteria fulfill this role by utilizing methane as a feedstock while manufacturing various bioproducts.

Sustainable production of 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine at high titer in engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Unlabelled: The industrial amino acid production workhorse, Corynebacterium glutamicum naturally produces low levels of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a valuable flavor, fragrance, and commodity chemical. Here, we demonstrate TMP production (∼0.8 g L-1) in C.

Evaluation of airborne asbestos concentrations associated with the maintenance of brakes on an industrial overhead crane.

Objectives: To evaluate potential airborne asbestos exposures during brake maintenance and repair activities on a P&H overhead crane, and during subsequent handling of the mechanic's clothing.

Methods: Personal ( = 27) and area ( = 61) airborne fiber concentrations were measured during brake tests, removal, hand sanding, compressed air use, removal and reattachment of chrysotile-containing brake linings, and reinstallation of the brake linings. The mechanic's clothing was used to measure potential exposure during clothes handling.

Optimization of electroporation method and promoter evaluation for type-1 methanotroph, .

Methanotrophic bacteria are promising hosts for methane bioconversion to biochemicals or bioproducts. However, due to limitations associated with long genetic manipulation timelines and, lack of choice in genetic tools required for strain engineering, methanotrophs are currently not employed for bioconversion technologies. In this study, a rapid and reproducible electroporation protocol is developed for type 1 methanotroph, using common laboratory solutions, analyzing optimal electroshock voltages and post-shock cell recovery time.

Physics-Based Machine Learning Models Predict Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Chemically Reactive Deep Eutectic Solvents.

Carbon dioxide (CO) is a detrimental greenhouse gas and is the main contributor to global warming. In addressing this environmental challenge, a promising approach emerges through the utilization of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as an ecofriendly and sustainable medium for effective CO capture. Chemically reactive DESs, which form chemical bonds with the CO, are superior to nonreactive, physically based DESs for CO absorption.

Perspective on Lignin Conversion Strategies That Enable Next Generation Biorefineries.

The valorization of lignin, a currently underutilized component of lignocellulosic biomass, has attracted attention to promote a stable and circular bioeconomy. Successful approaches including thermochemical, biological, and catalytic lignin depolymerization have been demonstrated, enabling opportunities for lignino-refineries and lignocellulosic biorefineries. Although significant progress in lignin valorization has been made, this review describes unexplored opportunities in chemical and biological routes for lignin depolymerization and thereby contributes to economically and environmentally sustainable lignin-utilizing biorefineries.

Subungual melanoma with cartilaginous differentiation: Molecular insights.

Melanoma's rare capacity to undergo heterologous differentiation can create significant diagnostic challenges. The molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not well understood. We present an unusual case of subungual melanoma exhibiting extensive cartilaginous differentiation and provide insights into its molecular and cytogenomic features.

Sea stack plots: Replacing bar charts with histograms.

Graphs in research articles can increase the comprehension of statistical data but may mislead readers if poorly designed. We propose a new plot type, the sea stack plot, which combines vertical histograms and summary statistics to represent large univariate datasets accurately, usefully, and efficiently. We compare five commonly used plot types (dot and whisker plots, boxplots, density plots, univariate scatter plots, and dot plots) to assess their relative strengths and weaknesses when representing distributions of data commonly observed in biological studies.

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis: Poor clinical outcomes requiring revisiting management modalities.

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is the third most common cause of AP after gallstones and alcohol. Supportive measures, intravenous insulin, and plasmapheresis are possible treatment modalities for HTG-AP; however, definitive guidelines evaluating the best therapeutic approach are not clearly established. We present a rare case of a 42-year-old male without known comorbidities who was found to have HTG-AP.

FXR Agonism with Bile Acid Mimetic Reduces Pre-Clinical Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Burden.

Bariatric surgery is associated with improved outcomes for several cancers, including breast cancer (BC), although the mechanisms mediating this protection are unknown. We hypothesized that elevated bile acid pools detected after bariatric surgery may be factors that contribute to improved BC outcomes. Patients with greater expression of the bile acid receptor FXR displayed improved survival in specific aggressive BC subtypes.