Exploring the presence of oral bacteria in non-oral sites of patients with cardiovascular diseases using whole metagenomic data.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) encompass various conditions affecting the heart and its blood vessels and are often linked with oral microbes. Our data analysis aimed to identify oral bacteria from other non-oral sites (i.e.

Top-Down Effect of Arthropod Predator Chinese Mitten Crab on Freshwater Nutrient Cycling.

Aquatic litter decomposition is highly dependent on contributions and interactions at different trophic levels. The invasion of alien aquatic organisms like the channeled apple snail () might lead to changes in the decomposition process through new species interactions in the invaded wetland. However, it is not clear how aquatic macroinvertebrate predators like the Chinese mitten crab () will affect the nutrient cycle in freshwater ecosystems in the face of new benthic invasion.

pH-Responsive Hybrid Nanoassemblies for Cancer Treatment: Formulation Development, Optimization, and In Vitro Therapeutic Performance.

Current needs for increased drug delivery carrier efficacy and specificity in cancer necessitate the adoption of intelligent materials that respond to environmental stimuli. Therefore, we developed and optimized pH-triggered drug delivery nanoassemblies that exhibit an increased release of doxorubicin (DOX) in acidic conditions typical of cancer tissues and endosomal vesicles (pH 5.5) while exhibiting significantly lower release under normal physiological conditions (pH 7.

Expression of Yarrowia lipolytica acetyl-CoA carboxylase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its effect on in-vivo accumulation of Malonyl-CoA.

Malonyl-CoA is an energy-rich molecule formed by the ATP-dependent carboxylation of acetyl coenzyme A catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase. This molecule is an important precursor for many biotechnologically interesting compounds such as flavonoids, polyketides, and fatty acids. The yeast remains one of the preferred cell factories, but has a limited capacity to produce malonyl-CoA compared to oleaginous organisms.

Towards engineered yeast as production platform for capsaicinoids.

Capsaicinoids are bioactive alkaloids produced by the chili pepper fruit and are known to be the most potent agonists of the human pain receptor TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily V Member 1). They are currently produced by extraction from chili pepper fruit or by chemical synthesis. Transfer of the biosynthetic route to a microbial host could enable more efficient capsaicinoid production by fermentation and may also enable the use of synthetic biology to create a diversity of new compounds with potentially improved properties.

A novel D-xylose isomerase from the gut of the wood feeding beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus efficiently expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Carbohydrate rich substrates such as lignocellulosic hydrolysates remain one of the primary sources of potentially renewable fuel and bulk chemicals. The pentose sugar D-xylose is often present in significant amounts along with hexoses. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can acquire the ability to metabolize D-xylose through expression of heterologous D-xylose isomerase (XI).

Lipid-based Nanocarriers for siRNA Delivery: Challenges, Strategies and the Lessons Learned from the DODAX: MO Liposomal System.

The possibility of using the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms in gene therapy was one of the scientific breakthroughs of the last century. Despite the extraordinary therapeutic potential of this approach, the need for an efficient gene carrier is hampering the translation of the RNAi technology to the clinical setting. Although a diversity of nanocarriers has been described, liposomes continue to be one of the most attractive siRNA vehicles due to their relatively low toxicity, facilitated siRNA complexation, high transfection efficiency and enhanced pharmacokinetic properties.

Value of pH regulators in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer.

Altered metabolism, associated with acidification of the extracellular milieu, is one of the major features of cancer. As pH regulation is crucial for the maintenance of all biological functions, cancer cells rely on the activity of lactate exporters and proton transporters to regulate their intracellular pH. The major players in cancer pH regulation are proton pump ATPases, sodium-proton exchangers (NHEs), monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and anion exchangers (AEs), which have been shown to be upregulated in several human malignancies.

Integrated approach for selecting efficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae for industrial lignocellulosic fermentations: Importance of yeast chassis linked to process conditions.

In this work, four robust yeast chassis isolated from industrial environments were engineered with the same xylose metabolic pathway. The recombinant strains were physiologically characterized in synthetic xylose and xylose-glucose medium, on non-detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysates of fast-growing hardwoods (Eucalyptus and Paulownia) and agricultural residues (corn cob and wheat straw) and on Eucalyptus hydrolysate at different temperatures. Results show that the co-consumption of xylose-glucose was dependent on the yeast background.

Counter ions and constituents combination affect DODAX : MO nanocarriers toxicity and .

Liposomes have received extensive attention as nanocarriers for bioactive compounds due to their good biocompatibility, possibility of targeting and incorporation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. Although generally considered as safe, detailed knowledge of the effects induced in cells and tissues with which they interact is still underexplored. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the toxicity profile of dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODAX) : monoolein(MO) liposomes (X is bromide or chloride), previously validated for gene therapy, by evaluating the effect of the counter ions Br or Cl, and of the cationic : neutral lipid molar fraction, both and .

Clinicopathologic significance of BubR1 and Mad2 overexpression in oral cancer.

Objectives: BubR1 and Mad2 are central components of the mitotic checkpoint complex that inhibits anaphase onset until all chromosomes are correctly aligned at the metaphase plate. We propose to analyse the combined expression of BubR1 and Mad2 and assess its significance to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnosis and prognosis.

Materials And Methods: BubR1 and Mad2 expression was assessed by real-time PCR in OSCC cell lines and in normal human oral keratinocytes, and by immunohistochemistry in 65 patients with OSCC.

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ethanol strains PE-2 and CAT-1 for efficient lignocellulosic fermentation.

In this work, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains PE-2 and CAT-1, commonly used in the Brazilian fuel ethanol industry, were engineered for xylose fermentation, where the first fermented xylose faster than the latter, but also produced considerable amounts of xylitol. An engineered PE-2 strain (MEC1121) efficiently consumed xylose in presence of inhibitors both in synthetic and corn-cob hydrolysates. Interestingly, the S.

Monocarboxylate transporters as targets and mediators in cancer therapy response.

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) belong to a family of transporters, encoded by the SLC16 gene family, which is presently composed by 14 members, but only MCT1 to 4 have been biochemically characterized. They have important functions in healthy tissues, being involved in the transmembrane transport of lactic acid and other monocarboxylic acids in human cells. One of the recently recognized hallmarks of cancer is altered metabolism, with high rates of glucose consumption and consequent lactate production.

Dioctadecyldimethylammonium:monoolein nanocarriers for efficient in vitro gene silencing.

This study describes a novel liposomal formulation for siRNA delivery, based on the mixture of the neutral lipid monoolein (MO) and cationic lipids of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODA) family. The cationic lipids dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and chloride (DODAC) were compared in order to identify which one will most efficiently induce gene silencing. MO has a fluidizing effect on DODAC and DODAB liposomes, although it was more homogeneously distributed in DODAC bilayers.

Draft genome sequences of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates with different antibiotic susceptibilities.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a primary cause of opportunistic infections. We have sequenced and annotated the genomes of two P. aeruginosa clinical isolates evidencing different antibiotic susceptibilities.