An efficient ribitol-specific dehydrogenase from Enterobacter aerogenes.

An NAD(+)-dependent ribitol dehydrogenase from Enterobacter aerogenes KCTC 2190 (EaRDH) was cloned and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. The complete 729-bp gene was amplified, cloned, expressed, and subsequently purified in an active soluble form using nickel affinity chromatography. The enzyme had an optimal pH and temperature of 11.

Insights into the Origin of Clostridium botulinum Strains: Evolution of Distinct Restriction Endonuclease Sites in rrs (16S rRNA gene).

Diversity analysis of Clostridium botulinum strains is complicated by high microheterogeneity caused by the presence of 9-22 copies of rrs (16S rRNA gene). The need is to mine genetic markers to identify very closely related strains. Multiple alignments of the nucleotide sequences of the 212 rrs of 13 C.

A highly efficient recombinant laccase from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and its application in the hydrolysis of biomass.

A modified thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction was performed to obtain the first yeast laccase gene (YlLac) from the isolated yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. The 1557-bp full-length cDNA of YlLac encoded a mature laccase protein containing 519 amino acids preceded by a signal peptide of 19 amino acids, and the YlLac gene was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. YlLac is a monomeric glycoprotein with a molecular mass of ~55 kDa as determined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Lack of detectable allergenicity in genetically modified maize containing "Cry" proteins as compared to native maize based on in silico & in vitro analysis.

Background: Genetically modified, (GM) crops with potential allergens must be evaluated for safety and endogenous IgE binding pattern compared to native variety, prior to market release.

Objective: To compare endogenous IgE binding proteins of three GM maize seeds containing Cry 1Ab,1Ac,1C transgenic proteins with non GM maize.

Methods: An integrated approach of in silico & in vitro methods was employed.

Dark fermentative bioconversion of glycerol to hydrogen by Bacillus thuringiensis.

Biodiesel manufacturing units discharge effluents rich in glycerol. The need is to convert crude glycerol (CG) into useful products such as hydrogen (H2). Under batch culture, Bacillusthuringiensis EGU45 adapted on pure glycerol (PG, 2% v/v) resulted in an H2 yield of 0.

Per a 10 activates human derived epithelial cell line in a protease dependent manner via PAR-2.

Background: Protease activity of Per a 10 has been shown to modulate dendritic cells toward Th-2 polarization and to induce airway inflammation.

Objective: To elucidate the role of serine protease activity of Per a 10 in inducing biochemical responses in epithelial cells.

Methods: Per a 10 was inactivated by heat treatment (ΔPer a 10) or AEBSF (iPer a 10).

Integrative approach to produce hydrogen and polyhydroxybutyrate from biowaste using defined bacterial cultures.

Biological production of hydrogen (H2) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from pea-shell slurry (PSS) was investigated using defined mixed culture (MMC4, composed of Enterobacter, Proteus, Bacillus spp.). Under batch culture, 19.

Ecobiotechnological Approach for Exploiting the Abilities of Bacillus to Produce Co-polymer of Polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Ecobiotechnological approach is an attractive and economical strategy to enrich beneficial microbes on waste biomass for production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Here, six strains of Bacillus spp. were used to produce co-polymers of PHA from pea-shells.

Reduction in acute ecotoxicity of paper mill effluent by sequential application of xylanase and laccase.

In order to reduce the ecotoxicity of paper mill, four different enzymatic pretreatment strategies were investigated in comparison to conventional chemical based processes. In strategy I, xylanase-aided pretreatment of pulp was carried out, and in strategy II, xylanase and laccase-mediator systems were used sequentially. Moreover, to compare the efficiency of Bacillus stearothermophilus xylanase and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora laccase in the reduction of ecotoxicity and pollution, parallel strategies (III and IV) were implemented using commercial enzymes.

Ecobiotechnological strategy to enhance efficiency of bioconversion of wastes into hydrogen and methane.

Vegetable wastes (VW) and food wastes (FW) are generated in large quantities by municipal markets, restaurants and hotels. Waste slurries (250 ml) in 300 ml BOD bottles, containing 3, 5 and 7 % total solids (TS) were hydrolyzed with bacterial mixtures composed of: Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Exiguobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Sphingobacterium species. Each of these bacteria had high activities for the hydrolytic enzymes: amylase, protease and lipase.

Synthesis and evaluation of tetramethylguanidinium-polyethylenimine polymers as efficient gene delivery vectors.

Previously, we demonstrated that 6-(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylguanidinium chloride)-hexanoyl-polyethylenimine (THP) polymers exhibited significantly enhanced transfection efficiency and cell viability. Here, in the present study, we have synthesized a series of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylguanidinium-polyethylenimine (TP1-TP5) polymers via a single-step reaction involving peripheral primary amines of bPEI and varying amounts of 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU). These polymers were found to interact efficiently with negatively charged pDNA and formed stable complexes in the size range of ~240-450 nm.

O-hexadecyl-dextran entrapped berberine nanoparticles abrogate high glucose stress induced apoptosis in primary rat hepatocytes.

Nanotized phytochemicals are being explored by researchers for promoting their uptake and effectiveness at lower concentrations. In this study, O-hexadecyl-dextran entrapped berberine chloride nanoparticles (BC-HDD NPs) were prepared, and evaluated for their cytoprotective efficacy in high glucose stressed primary hepatocytes and the results obtained compared with bulk berberine chloride (BBR) treatment. The nanotized formulation treated primary hepatocytes that were exposed to high glucose (40 mM), showed increased viability compared to the bulk BBR treated cells.

Development of Genomic Tools for the Identification of Certain Pseudomonas up to Species Level.

Pseudomonas is a highly versatile bacterium at the species level with great ecological significance. These genetically and metabolically diverse species have undergone repeated taxonomic revisions. We propose a strategy to identify Pseudomonas up to species level, based on the unique features of their 16S rDNA (rrs) gene sequence, such as the frame work of sequences, sequence motifs and restriction endonuclease (RE) digestion patterns.

Cross-Species Induction and Enhancement of Antimicrobial Properties in Response to Gamma Irradiation in Exiguobacterium sp. HKG 126.

A gram positive, extreme haloalkaliphilic, radioresistant bacterium was isolated from mangrove region of Kerala (India) which was characterized as Exiguobacterium sp. HKG-126 using morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular characterization. Present investigation was undertaken to examine Exiguobacterium sp.

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Co-polymer by Bacillus thuringiensis.

Integrative processes for the production of bioenergy and biopolymers are gaining importance in recent years as alternatives to fossil fuels and synthetic plastics. In the present study, Bacillus thuringiensis strain EGU45 has been used to generate hydrogen (H2), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and new co-polymers (NP). Under batch culture conditions with 250 ml synthetic media, B.

Integrative biological hydrogen production: an overview.

Biological hydrogen (H2) production by dark and photo-fermentative organisms is a promising area of research for generating bioenergy. A large number of organisms have been widely studied for producing H2 from diverse feeds, both as pure and as mixed cultures. However, their H2 producing efficiencies have been found to vary (from 3 to 8 mol/mol hexose) with physiological conditions, type of organisms and composition of feed (starchy waste from sweet potato, wheat, cassava and algal biomass).

Selective blocking of primary amines in branched polyethylenimine with biocompatible ligand alleviates cytotoxicity and augments gene delivery efficacy in mammalian cells.

Recently, polyethylenimines (PEIs) have emerged as efficient vectors for nucleic acids delivery. However, inherent cytotoxicity has limited their in vivo applications. To address this concern as well as to incorporate hydrophobic domains for improving interactions with the lipid bilayers in the cell membranes, we have tethered varying amounts of amphiphilic pyridoxyl moieties onto bPEI to generate a small series of pyridoxyl-PEI (PyP) polymers.

Evolution of resistance to quorum-sensing inhibitors.

The major cause of mortality and morbidity in human beings is bacterial infection. Bacteria have developed resistance to most of the antibiotics primarily due to large-scale and "indiscriminate" usage. The need is to develop novel mechanisms to treat bacterial infections.

Extending the limits of Bacillus for novel biotechnological applications.

Bacillus, generally regarded as safe, has emerged as a robust organism that can withstand adverse environmental conditions and grows easily to very high densities. Bacillus has been recognized for its biotechnological applications on an industrial scale. Recent efforts have shown the potential of Bacillus to generate biofuels (hydrogen), biopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates), and bioactive molecules (acyl-homoserine lactonases).

Hydrophobic and membrane permeable polyethylenimine nanoparticles efficiently deliver nucleic acids in vitro and in vivo.

Conjugation through primary amines is one of the most commonly used methods to modify cationic vectors for efficient gene delivery. Here, dimethyl suberimidate, a commercially available homobifunctional reagent bearing imidoesters at the termini, has been used to crosslink branched polyethylenimine (bPEI) into its nanoparticles (crosslinked PEI nanoparticles, CLP NPs) specifically through primary amines without altering the total charge on the resulting NPs for interaction with biomolecules and cell membranes. By varying the degree of crosslinking, a small series of CLP NPs was prepared and evaluated for their capability to deliver nucleic acids in vitro and in vivo.

Synthesis and characterization of N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-guanidinyl-polyethylenimine polymers and investigation of their capability to deliver DNA and siRNA in mammalian cells.

Recent advancements in polymeric gene delivery have raised the potential of gene therapy as treatment for various acquired and inherited diseases. Here, we report on the synthesis and characterization of N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-guanidinyl-polyethylenimine (sGP) polymers and investigation of their capability to carry DNA and siRNA in vitro. Zinc triflate-mediated activation of primary amines of branched polyethylenimine (bPEI) followed by reaction with varying amounts of N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDAC) resulted in the generation of a small series of trisubstituted guanidinyl-modified polyethylenimine polymers.

Amphiphilic polyethylenimine polymers mediate efficient delivery of DNA and siRNA in mammalian cells.

Recently, non-viral gene delivery vectors have shown promising results in the treatment of inherited as well as infectious diseases. Among various cationic polymers, branched polyethylenimine (bPEI, 25 kDa) has been the most widely used vector and is known as a gold standard in gene delivery. However, in vivo applications of PEI have been hampered by its charge-associated toxicity.