Mutational interference with oligomerization properties of OCP-related apo- and holoproteins studied by analytical ultracentrifugation.

In this study, the oligomerization pattern of apo- and holoforms of the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) was examined under different conditions such as photoactivation state, concentration, and carotenoid embedment using analytical ultracentrifugation. Furthermore, studies were conducted on OCP constructs carrying point mutations of amino acid residues affecting OCP oligomerization. Our findings reveal that the concentration-dependent dimerization of dark-adapted OCP holoprotein from Synechocystis sp.

Schlesneria sphaerica sp. nov., a neutrophilic, xylan-degrading planctomycete from a mountain wetland, and emended description of the genus Schlesneria.

Aerobic chemoorganotrophic planctomycetes of the genus Schlesneria colonize a wide spectrum of freshwater ecosystems. The only described species of this genus, S. paludicola, is represented by ellipsoid-shaped, moderately acidophilic bacteria isolated from acidic peat bogs.

Development of a Wine Yeast Strain Capable of Malolactic Fermentation and Reducing the Ethyl Carbamate Content in Wine.

In winemaking, malolactic fermentation (MLF), which converts L-malic acid to L-lactic acid, is often applied after the alcoholic fermentation stage to improve the sensory properties of the wine and its microbiological stability. MLF is usually performed by lactic acid bacteria, which, however, are sensitive to the conditions of alcoholic fermentation. Therefore, the development of wine yeast strains capable of both alcoholic fermentation and MLF is an important task.

Highly Sensitive Lateral Flow Immunodetection of the Insecticide Imidacloprid in Fruits and Berries Reached by Indirect Antibody-Label Coupling.

A highly sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, has been developed. The LFIA realizes the indirect coupling of anti-imidacloprid antibodies and gold nanoparticle (GNP) labels directly in the course of the assay. For this purpose, the common GNPs conjugate with anti-imidacloprid antibodies and are changed into a combination of non-modified, anti-imidacloprid antibodies, and the GNPs conjugate with anti-species antibodies.

Tuning chitosan properties to enhance blood coagulation.

The search for new hemostatic materials remains a priority for researchers, as the problem of uncontrolled hemorrhage during surgical interventions or traumatic injuries represents a significant challenge. The objective of the study was to identify novel polysaccharide structures with enhanced hemostatic properties based on chitosan. The number of chitosan derivatives with two substituents was synthesized and characterized by H NMR, FTIR.

Virus-like Particles Produced in Plants: A Promising Platform for Recombinant Vaccine Development.

The capsid proteins of many viruses are capable of spontaneous self-assembly into virus-like particles (VLPs), which do not contain the viral genome and are therefore not infectious. VLPs are structurally similar to their parent viruses and are therefore effectively recognized by the immune system and can induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses. The structural features of VLPs make them an attractive platform for the development of potential vaccines and diagnostic tools.

Molecular Decoration and Unconventional Double Bond Migration in Irumamycin Biosynthesis.

Irumamycin (Iru) is a complex polyketide with pronounced antifungal activity produced by a type I polyketide (PKS) synthase. Iru features a unique hemiketal ring and an epoxide group, making its biosynthesis and the structural diversity of related compounds particularly intriguing. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) to uncover the mechanisms underlying Iru formation.

Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Gatifloxacin Using Au@Ag Nanoparticles as a Signal-Enhancing Label.

Gatifloxacin (GAT), an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone (FQ) class, is a toxicant that may contaminate food products. In this study, a method of ultrasensitive immunochromatographic detection of GAT was developed for the first time. An indirect format of the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was performed.

SERS Sensors with Bio-Derived Substrates Under the Way to Agricultural Monitoring of Pesticide Residues.

Uncontrolled use of pesticides in agriculture leads to negative consequences for the environment, as well as for human and animal health. Therefore, timely detection of pesticides will allow application of measures to eliminate the excess of maximum residue limits and reduce possible negative consequences in advance. Common methods of pesticide analysis suffer from high costs, and are time consuming, and labor intensive.

Draft genome sequences of strain I-540 isolated from grape must.

is a non-Saccharomyces yeast that is widely used in winemaking due to its ability to ferment malic acid, thus improving organoleptic properties of wine. We report the draft genome sequence of strain I-540, isolated from grape must in Russia.

Draft genome sequences of strain U848 isolated from .

is a yeast widely used in the dairy industry and frequently isolated from vineyards and wineries. Its capacity to metabolize diverse sugars makes it highly promising for winemaking applications. We report the draft genome sequence of the strain U848.

A new mesophilic member of the Chloroflexota phylum 'Ca. Сhloroploca septentrionalis' from the meromictic lake Bol'shie Khruslomeny separated from the White Sea.

A new filamentous phototrophic bacterium Khr17 was isolated as an enrichment culture from the brackish polar lake Bol'shie Khruslomeny. The organism was a halotolerant, strictly anaerobic phototroph possessing photosystem II. Sulfide was required for phototrophic growth.

Near-atomic cryo-EM structure of the light-harvesting complex LH2 from the sulfur purple bacterium Ectothiorhodospira haloalkaliphila.

Bacteria with the simplest system for solar energy absorption and conversion use various types of light-harvesting complexes for these purposes. Light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2), an important component of the bacterial photosynthetic apparatus, has been structurally well characterized among purple non-sulfur bacteria. In contrast, so far only one high-resolution LH2 structure from sulfur bacteria is known.

Effect of Dihydroquercetin During Long-Last Growth of Yeast: Anti-Aging Potential and Hormetic Properties.

Polyphenols are powerful natural antioxidants with numerous biological activities. They change cell membrane permeability, interact with receptors, intracellular enzymes, and cell membrane transporters, and quench reactive oxygen species (ROS). yeast, being similar to mammalian cells, can be used as a model to study their survival ability upon long-lasting cultivation, assaying the effect of dihydroquercetin polyphenol (DHQ).

Menthol-Induced Chirality in Semiconductor Nanostructures: Chiroptical Properties of Atomically Thin 2D CdSe Nanoplatelets Capped with Enantiomeric L-(-)/D-(+)-Menthyl Thioglycolates.

Semiconductor colloidal nanostructures capped with chiral organic molecules are a research hotspot due to their wide range of important implications for photonic and spintronic applications. However, to date, the study of chiral ligands has been limited almost exclusively to naturally occurring chiral amino and hydroxy acids, which typically contain only one stereocenter. Here, we show the pronounced induction of chirality in atomically thin CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) by capping them with enantiopure menthol derivatives as multi-stereocenter molecules.

Leaf Spot Caused by spp. Is a New Disease of Grapevine.

In this study, we carried out large-scale leaf spot symptom observation on vineyards in the Krasnodar Krai of Russia and determined their distribution. The incidence and severity of leaf spot were higher on the Euro-American grapevine hybrids (Bianka, Levokumskij, Avgustin, Moldova, Pervenets Magaracha, Dunavski lazur). A total of 433 isolates that belonged to the genus were isolated from samples with leaf spot.

Potential of photodynamic therapy using polycationic photosensitizers in the treatment of lung cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and bacterial complications: Our recent experience.

The problem of treating cancer patients with lung cancer has become more difficult due to the SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and concomitant bacterial lesions. The analysis shows that the photodynamic effect of long-wavelength polycationic photosensitizers suppresses the tumor process (including the destruction of cancer stem cells), SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including those that can cause pneumonia. Therefore, the photodynamic approach using such photosensitizers is promising for the development of an effective treatment method for patients with lung cancer, including those with SARS-CoV-2 infection and bacterial complications.

Kinetic Profiling of Oxidoreductase-Mimicking Nanozymes: Impact of Multiple Activities, Chemical Transformations, and Colloidal Stability.

In contrast to homogeneous enzyme catalysis, nanozymes are nanosized heterogeneous catalysts that perform reactions on a rigid surface. This fundamental difference between enzymes and nanozymes is often overlooked in kinetic studies and practical applications. In this article, using 14 nanozymes of various compositions (core@shell, metal-organic frameworks, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles), we systematically demonstrate that nontypical features of nanozymes, such as multiple catalytic activities, chemical transformations, and aggregation, need to be considered in nanozyme catalysis.

Co-culture of postnatal mouse spinal cord and skeletal muscle explants as an experimental model of neuromuscular interactions.

The intercommunication between nerves and muscles plays an important role in the functioning of our body, and its failure leads to severe neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nerve-muscle interactions and mediating their mutual influence is an integral part of strategies aimed at curing neuromuscular diseases. Here, we propose a novel ex vivo experimental model for the spinal cord (SC) and skeletal muscle interactions which for the first time utilizes only fully formed (but not yet quite functional) postnatal tissues.

Chimeric Virus-like Particles of Physalis Mottle Virus as Carriers of M2e Peptides of Influenza a Virus.

Plant viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe for mammals and can be used as a carrier/platform for the presentation of foreign antigens in vaccine development. The aim of this study was to use the coat protein (CP) of Physalis mottle virus (PhMV) as a carrier to display the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 of influenza A virus (M2e). M2e is a highly conserved antigen, but to induce an effective immune response it must be linked to an adjuvant or carrier VLP.

Methyloraptor flagellatus gen. nov., sp. nov., novel Ancalomicrobiaceae-affiliated facultatively methylotrophic bacteria that feed on methanotrophs of the genus Methylococcus.

A morphologically conspicuous microbial association was detected in a bioreactor running in a continuous mode with methanotrophic bacteria of the genus Methylococcus and natural gas as a growth substrate. The association consisted of spherical Methylococcus cells colonized by elongated rods, which produced rosette-like aggregates and inhibited the cultivation process. An isolate of these bacteria, strain S20, was obtained and identified as belonging to the alphaproteobacterial family Ancalomicrobiaceae but displaying only a distant relationship (93.

The Key Enzymes of Carbon Metabolism and the Glutathione Antioxidant System Protect Yeast Against pH-Induced Stress.

In this study, we first thoroughly assayed the response of the key enzymes of energy metabolism and the antioxidant system in yeast at extreme pH. The activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, namely NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, aconitate hydratase, NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase, and fumarate hydratase, NADPH-producing enzymes of glucose-6-P dehydrogenase and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, and the enzymes of the glutathione system was assessed. All the enzymes that were tested showed a significant induction contrary to some decrease in the aconitate hydratase activity with acidic and alkaline stress.

Comparison of Conjugates Obtained Using DMSO and DMF as Solvents in the Production of Polyclonal Antibodies and ELISA Development: A Case Study on Bisphenol A.

When developing immunochemical test systems, it is necessary to obtain specific antibodies. Their quality depends, among other things, on the immunogen used. When preparing hapten-protein conjugates to obtain antibodies for low-molecular-weight compounds, the key factors are the structure of the hapten itself, the presence of a spacer, the size of the carrier protein and the degree of its modification by hapten molecules.