Publications by authors named "Yaw Akosah"
We present the findings from the genome-sequencing project of GM2, sourced from rhizospheric soil and renowned for its lipopeptide production. The genome spans 4,216,713 base pairs with an average G + C content of 43,6%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a polymer that consists of a series of orthophosphates connected by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds, like those found in ATP. In mammalian mitochondria, polyP has been linked to the activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). However, the details of this process are not completely understood.
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- Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is crucial for energy storage, gene expression regulation, and calcium signaling, but it also plays a lesser-known role in ion transport across cell membranes.
- Current research highlights three main mechanisms by which polyP mediates ion transport: non-protein channel complexes that involve calcium and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), modulation of PHB-related protein channel activity, and direct influence on voltage-gated ion channels independent of PHB.
- Understanding these mechanisms could enhance our knowledge of polyP’s diverse biological functions and potential applications in cellular processes.
The intestinal and respiratory tracts of healthy individuals serve as habitats for a diverse array of microorganisms, among which Klebsiella oxytoca holds significance as a causative agent in numerous community- and hospital-acquired infections, often manifesting in polymicrobial contexts. In specific circumstances, K. oxytoca, alongside other constituents of the gut microbiota, undergoes translocation to distinct physiological niches.
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- Anthropogenic pollution has worsened environmental issues despite efforts from the green revolution aimed at food security.
- The research focuses on the MGMM8 strain from winter wheat, highlighting its genome annotation and potential for bioremediation and antimicrobial applications.
- Gene analysis revealed clusters related to antibiotics, heavy metal resistance, and quorum-quenching, suggesting MGMM8 could be significant for biocontrol strategies and environmental remediation.
Article Synopsis
- Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a highly conserved ancient polymer found in all studied organisms, crucial for various metabolic functions, particularly in prokaryotes and simple eukaryotes.
- The physiological roles of polyP in mammalian cells are not well understood, mainly due to gaps in knowledge about its metabolism and lack of effective research models.
- This study develops genetically modified cellular models, focusing on mitochondrial polyP, revealing that its depletion disrupts mitochondrial gene expression, structure, and respiration, while excessive polyP is detrimental to cell viability.
is traditionally classified as a PGPR that colonizes plant roots through biofilm formation. The current study focused on investigating the influence of various factors on bacilli biofilm formation. In the course of the study, the levels of biofilm formation by the model strain WT 168 and on its basis created regulatory mutants, as well as strains of bacilli with deleted extracellular proteases under conditions of changes in temperature, pH, salt and oxidative stress and presence of divalent metals ions.
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- Preventing antifungal resistance and identifying the risk levels of pathogens to fungicides is vital for managing phytopathogens.
- Researchers examined how different potato wilt-related fungal isolates reacted to two fungicides, fludioxonil and penconazole.
- While penconazole was effective at stunting fungal growth, fludioxonil showed varying effects, sometimes even stimulating growth at low concentrations, indicating a potential risk of developing resistance over time.
- The study suggests that continuous use of fludioxonil may render it unsuitable for protecting potatoes due to increasing resistance.
Article Synopsis
- In recent years, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have gained traction as biofertilizers, prompting the need to discover new beneficial isolates.
- A new non-sporulating Gram-positive bacterium strain, MG-1, was isolated from potato rhizosphere and characterized genetically, showing optimal growth in specific pH and temperature conditions.
- MG-1 enhances plant growth, boosts biomass accumulation in various seeds, and mitigates salt stress, suggesting its potential application in agriculture, especially in saline soils.
Article Synopsis
- Fusarium oxysporum strains show host specificity, important for their classification and understanding in plant pathology.
- A specific strain (F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-cucumerinum V03-2 g) normally infecting cucumbers has developed a new ability to also infect tomatoes while still affecting cucumbers.
- This is the first documented case of such a change in host specificity within F. oxysporum, and the clonal derivatives can help identify the genetic factors responsible for these pathogenic changes.
In current times, the opportunistic pathogen Morganella morganii is increasingly becoming a cause of urinary tract infections. The condition has been further complicated by the multiple drug resistance of most isolates. Swimming motility plays an important role in the development of urinary tract infections, allowing bacteria to colonize the upper urinary tract.
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- The study examined how the probiotic strain GM5 affects growth and gut bacteria in broiler chickens compared to a control diet.
- On days 1, 10, and 42, microbial communities showed significant changes in composition, with distinct clusters between the control and probiotic groups observed through Principal Component Analysis.
- Chickens fed the GM5 probiotics had higher average daily weight gain and improved feed conversion, indicating that the probiotic enhances gut microbiota while supporting better growth and feed efficiency.
Structure and variation of root-associated microbiomes of potato grown in alfisol.
World J Microbiol Biotechnol
November 2019
Article Synopsis
- Root-associated fungi and bacteria significantly impact plant growth and immunity, and this study focused on analyzing the microbial diversity in potato plants grown in Tatarstan's Alfisol soil.
- Using advanced genetic techniques, researchers identified thousands of bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), finding greater biodiversity in the rhizosphere (RS) compared to the rhizoplane (RP), particularly among dominant bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes.
- Fungal analysis revealed a predominance of Ascomycota, with specific beneficial genera being more abundant in the potato rhizoplane, suggesting the potential for enhanced plant health through these microbial communities.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the experiences of baccalaureate nursing students in Ghana regarding intra-semester clinical practicums, highlighting their perceptions and challenges.
- Findings indicate that while students find the practicum beneficial for applying theoretical knowledge, they also face stress and are often assigned to menial tasks rather than nursing responsibilities.
- The authors suggest reevaluating the current "block" clinical schedule to improve the balance between clinical practice and academic learning.