A nanoscale visual exploration of the pathogenic effects of bacterial extracellular vesicles on host cells.

Background: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are pivotal mediators of intercellular communication and influence host cell biology, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of infections. Despite their significance, the precise effects of bacterial EVs on the host cells remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate ultrastructural changes in host cells upon infection with EVs derived from a pathogenic bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (S.

Bacteria detection and species identification at the single-cell level using super-resolution fluorescence imaging and AI analysis.

The skin microbiome is thought to play a critical role in maintaining skin health and protecting against infection. While most microorganisms that live on the skin are harmless or even beneficial, some can cause skin infections or other health problems, emphasizing the importance of diagnosis of the composition and diversity of the skin flora. However, conventional diagnostic methods for evaluation of the skin microbiome are not sensitive enough to detect bacteria at low concentrations and suffer from poor specificity, thus limiting early diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Visualizing extracellular vesicle biogenesis in gram-positive bacteria using super-resolution microscopy.

Background: Recently, bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been considered to play crucial roles in various biological processes and have great potential for developing cancer therapeutics and biomedicine. However, studies on bacterial EVs have mainly focused on outer membrane vesicles released from gram-negative bacteria since the outermost peptidoglycan layer in gram-positive bacteria is thought to preclude the release of EVs as a physical barrier.

Results: Here, we examined the ultrastructural organization of the EV produced by gram-positive bacteria using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) at the nanoscale, which has not been resolved using conventional microscopy.

Effect of the skincare product on facial skin microbial structure and biophysical parameters: A pilot study.

Daily use of cosmetics is known to affect the skin microbiome. This study aimed to determine the bacterial community structure and skin biophysical parameters following the daily application of a skincare product on the face. Twenty-five Korean women, who used the same skincare product for four weeks participated in the study.

Effective isopropanol-butanol (IB) fermentation with high butanol content using a newly isolated sp. A1424.

Background: Acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation has been studied for butanol production. Alternatively, to achieve acetone-free butanol production, use of clostridium strains producing butanol and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol, natural and engineered isopropanol-butanol-ethanol (IBE) producers has been attempted; however, residual 1,3-PDO and acetone, low IBE production by natural IBE producers, and complicated gene modification are limitations.

Results: Here, we report an effective isopropanol and butanol (IB) fermentation using a newly isolated sp.

Butyric acid production from softwood hydrolysate by acetate-consuming Clostridium sp. S1 with high butyric acid yield and selectivity.

The aim of this work was to study the butyric acid production from softwood hydrolysate by acetate-consuming Clostridium sp. S1. Results showed that Clostridium sp.

Preparation of eutectic substrate mixtures for enzymatic conversion of ATC to L-cysteine at high concentration levels.

High concentration eutectic substrate solutions for the enzymatic production of L-cysteine were prepared. Eutectic melting of binary mixtures consisting of D,L-2-amino-Δ(2)-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATC) as a substrate and malonic acid occurred at 39 °C with an ATC mole fraction of 0.5.

Effects of associated bacteria on the pathogenicity and reproduction of the insect-parasitic nematode Rhabditis blumi (Nematoda: Rhabditida).

Three bacteria, Alcaligenes faecalis , Flavobacterium sp., and Providencia vermicola , were isolated from dauer juveniles of Rhabditis blumi . The pathogenic effects of the bacteria against 4th instar larvae of Galleria mellonella were investigated.

Development of inhibitors against lipase and alpha-glucosidase from derivatives of monascus pigment.

New derivatives of monascus pigment were produced during Monascus fermentation by the addition of unnatural amino acids, and the inhibitory activities of the derivatives against diet-related lipase and alpha-glucosidase were tested. Derivatives with penicillamine (H-Pen), cyclohexylalanine (H-Cha), butylglycine (L-t-Bg), and norleucine (H-Nle) showed relatively high inhibitory activities against lipase. The H-Pen derivative exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, with an IC(50) (50% inhibition) value of 24.

Preparation of a nanoporous CaCO3-coated TiO2 electrode and its application to a dye-sensitized solar cell.

A nanoporous CaCO3 overlayer-coated TiO2 thick film was prepared by the topotactic thermal decomposition of Ca(OH)2, and its performance as an electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell was investigated. As compared to bare TiO2, nanoporous CaCO3-coated TiO2 provided higher specific surface area and, subsequently, a larger amount of dye adsorption; this in turn increased short-circuit current (Jsc). Furthermore, the CaCO3 coating demonstrated increased impedance at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface and increased the lifetime of the photoelectrons, indicating the improved retardation of the back electron transfer, which increases Jsc, open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (ff).

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sorbitol-fatty acid esters at extremely high substrate concentrations.

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sorbitol-fatty acid esters was performed in eutectic media with extremely high substrate concentrations. Homogeneous eutectic melts of sorbitol and fatty acids of C6-C16 were prepared using an adjuvant mixture. Enhanced homogeneity of mixtures was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Eutectic formation analysis of amino acid mixtures using molecular dynamics simulations.

The mechanism of eutectic formation was investigated via computer-aided molecular dynamics techniques based on experimental results. The CBZ group mixtures CBZ-l-Asp/d-AlaNH2 x HCl/methanol, CBZ-l-Asp/l-PheOMe x HCl/methanol, and CBZ-l-Tyr/l-ArgNH2 x 2HCl/methanol formed transparent eutectic melts. The non-CBZ group mixtures l-Asp/d-AlaNH2 x HCl/methanol, l-Asp/l-PheOMe x HCl/methanol, and l-Tyr/l-ArgNH2 x 2HCl/methanol did not form eutectic melts.