An ecological perspective of microbial secondary metabolism.

Curr Opin Biotechnol

M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada.

Published: August 2011

Bacteria and fungi produce a remarkable array of bioactive small molecules. Many of these have found use in medicine as chemotherapies to treat diseases ranging from infection and cancer to hyperlipidemia and autoimmune disorders. The applications may or may not reflect the actual targets for these compounds. Through careful studies of microbes, their associated molecules and their targets, a growing understanding of the ecology of microbial secondary metabolism is emerging that exposes the central role of secondary metabolites in many complex biological systems.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2011.03.010DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

microbial secondary
8
secondary metabolism
8
ecological perspective
4
perspective microbial
4
metabolism bacteria
4
bacteria fungi
4
fungi produce
4
produce remarkable
4
remarkable array
4
array bioactive
4

Similar Publications

Treated municipal wastewater effluent is an important pathway for Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) to enter aquatic ecosystems. As the aging wastewater infrastructure in many industrialized countries requires upgrades or replacement, assessing new treatment technologies in the context of CEC effects may provide additional support for science-based resource management. Here, we used three lines of evidence, analytical chemistry, fish exposure experiments, and fish and water microbiome analysis, to assess the effectiveness of membrane bioreactor treatment (MBR) to replace traditional activated sludge treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Effects of UVC doses on the removal of antimicrobial resistance elements from secondary treated sewage.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

January 2025

Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Saneamento, Meio Ambiente E Recursos Hídricos, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária E Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) currently face major challenges toward the removal of microcontaminants and/or microbial matrices and consequently play an important role in the potential dissemination of biological resistance in freshwater. The ultraviolet (UV) system is a tertiary treatment strategy increasingly applied worldwide, although many studies have shown that disinfected effluent can still contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. Therefore, to better understand the effects of UV radiation doses on the removal of all resistance elements (antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes), the present study was designed using a pilot-scale photoreactor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hyperoxaluria, including primary and secondary hyperoxaluria, is a disorder characterized by increased urinary oxalate excretion and could lead to recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis and eventually end stage renal disease. For secondary hyperoxaluria, high dietary oxalate (HDOx) or its precursors intake is a key reason. Recently, accumulated studies highlight the important role of gut microbiota in the regulation of oxalate homeostasis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) in rice, caused by the pathogen pv. , is a significant agricultural problem managed through chemical control and cultivating rice varieties with inherent resistance to the bacterial pathogen. Research has highlighted the potential of using antagonistic microbes which can suppress the BLB pathogen through the production of secondary metabolites like siderophores, rhamnolipids, and hydroxy-alkylquinolines offering a sustainable alternative for BLB management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cockroaches as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Potential Sentinels of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Ugandan Communities: A Retrospective Analysis.

Glob Health Epidemiol Genom

January 2025

Center for Comparative Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 736 Wilson Road, Room A109, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.

Cockroaches could play a role in the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) at variable interfaces in Ugandan communities, acting as both reservoirs and vectors. This study investigated the burden and diversity of ARB carried by cockroaches in human settlements in Uganda, so as to understand their role in the spread of these pathogens and their potential as sentinels in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programs. A retrospective analysis was conducted on two unpublished studies by Makerere University students.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!