Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket bioreactor for the production of carboxylates: effect of inocula on process performance and microbial communities.

This research investigated the acidogenic fermentation (AF) of sugar cane molasses in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the production of carboxylates. The first step was to assess the optimum process temperature (25, 35 or 55 ºC) using two different granular inocula, one from a brewery company (BGS) and other from a paper plant company (PGS). These experiments determined that the most suitable temperature for carboxylates production was 25 ºC, obtaining higher bioconversions (27.

Resolving spatiotemporal dynamics in bacterial multicellular populations: approaches and challenges.

SUMMARYThe development of multicellularity represents a key evolutionary transition that is crucial for the emergence of complex life forms. Although multicellularity has traditionally been studied in eukaryotes, it originates in prokaryotes. Coordinated aggregation of individual cells within the confines of a colony results in emerging, higher-level functions that benefit the population as a whole.

Eco-Friendly Hydrogels Loading Polyphenols-Composed Biomimetic Micelles for Topical Administration of Resveratrol and Rutin.

In this study, we describe the development of hydrogel formulations composed of micelles loading two natural antioxidants-resveratrol and rutin-and the evaluation of the effect of a by-product on the rheological and textural properties of the developed semi-solids. This approach aims to associate the advantages of hydrogels for topical administration of drugs and of lipid micelles that mimic skin composition for the delivery of poorly water-soluble compounds in combination therapy. Biomimetic micelles composed of L-α-phosphatidylcholine loaded with two distinct polyphenols (one non-flavonoid and one flavonoid) were produced using hot shear homogenisation followed by the ultrasonication method.

Fully biobased and robust antibacterial cellulose aerogel for uranium extraction.

Developing efficient adsorbent is imperative for the utilization of uranium resources in seawater. Marine microorganisms and bacteria play an important role in the process of adsorption of uranium. In this work, a completely bio-based antimicrobial aerogel (quaternary cellulose/chitosan aerogel-QCNF/CS) was prepared by cross-linking quaternary cellulose nanofibers (QCNF) and chitosan (CS) via citric acid (CA).

Hydrophobic driving fabrication of highly dispersed PtNi in Zr-doped 3D hollow flower-like MgAlO spheres with abundant O vacancies for enhanced dry reforming of methane.

The dry reforming of methane (DRM) could convert CH and CO into syngas, offering potential for greenhouse gas mitigation. However, DRM catalyst sintering and carbon deposition remain major obstacles. In this study, a highly dispersed PtNi alloy@Zr-doped 3D hollow flower-like MgAlO (AMO) spheres was prepared through a hydrophobic driving strategy.

A Contracted Channel Droplet Reinjection Chip-Based Simple Integrated ddpcr System for SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 Detection.

Droplet microfluidics is a powerful method for digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) applications. However, precise droplet control, bulky peripherals, and multistep operation usually required in droplet detection process hinder the broad application of ddPCR. Here, a contracted channel droplet reinjection chip is presented, where droplets can be self-separated and detected one by one at intervals.

A Comprehensive Review of the Diversity of Fungal Secondary Metabolites and Their Emerging Applications in Healthcare and Environment.

Fungi and their natural products, like secondary metabolites, have gained a huge demand in the last decade due to their increasing applications in healthcare, environmental cleanup, and biotechnology-based industries. The fungi produce these secondary metabolites (SMs) during the different phases of their growth, which are categorized into terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. These SMs exhibit significant biological activity, which contributes to the formulation of novel pharmaceuticals, biopesticides, and environmental bioremediation agents.

Strategic choices in bioprocessing of L(+)Lactic acid: Homo-fermentative monocultures with novel agro-residue combination enhances economic production.

Microbial fermentation of agro-industrial residues is gaining significant traction as a sustainable and economically viable approach in bioprocessing. This study explored lactic acid production from selected agro-industrial residues: pre-treated sugarcane waste, potato peel waste, or milk processing waste with alfalfa pellets using strains of organic origin. Five homo-fermentative strains (VITJ1, VITJ2, VITJ3, VITJ4, and VITJ5) were assessed for compatibility and formed into 15 consortia.

Beyond , Pharmaceutical Molecule Production in Cell-Free Systems and the Use of Noncanonical Amino Acids Therein.

Throughout history, we have looked to nature to discover and copy pharmaceutical solutions to prevent and heal diseases. Due to the advances in metabolic engineering and the production of pharmaceutical proteins in different host cells, we have moved from mimicking nature to the delicate engineering of cells and proteins. We can now produce novel drug molecules, which are fusions of small chemical drugs and proteins.

De novo biosynthesis of quercetin in Yarrowia Lipolytica through systematic metabolic engineering for enhanced yield.

Kaempferol and quercetin possess various biological activities, making them valuable in food and medicine. However, their production via traditional methods is often inefficient. This study aims to address this gap by engineering the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to achieve high yields of these flavonoids.

Semi-Confinement Effect Enhances CH and CH Production in CO Electrocatalytic Reduction.

Achieving fast conversion and precise regulation of product selectivity in electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) remains a challenge. The space confinement effect provides a theoretical basis for the design of catalysts of different morphology and sizes and reveals the physical phenomena caused by the confinement of electrons and other particles at the nanoscale. In this work, a semi-confinement concept is introduced and a mesoporous silica nanosphere supported Cu catalyst (Cu-MSN) is prepared as a typical example to realize CORR enhancement and product selectivity regulation (methane vs ethylene).

Collaborative management of severe periodontal-endodontic lesion with intense lip sucking: a case report.

Background: Lip behaviors can lead to maxillofacial developmental disorders such as anterior open bite, posterior crossbite, increased overjet, and a higher risk of developing a Class II malocclusion. However, lip-sucking, a behavior often underreported and overlooked, may adversely affect the periodontal health of permanent teeth in adolescents under extreme conditions if not promptly identified and managed.

Case Presentation: We report a unique case of an 11-year-old boy with a severe periodontal-endodontic lesion on tooth 32, caused by prolonged, high-frequency, and high-intensity lip sucking.

A Flexible Hybrid Site-Specific Integration-Based Expression System in CHO Cells for Higher-Throughput Evaluation of Monoclonal Antibody Expression Cassettes.

The implementation of site-specific integration (SSI) systems in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can alleviate concerns associated with production instability and reduce cell line development timelines. SSI cell line performance is driven by the interaction between genomic integration location, clonal background, and the transgene expression cassette, requiring optimization of all three parameters to maximize productivity. Systematic comparison of these parameters has been hindered by SSI platforms involving low-throughput enrichment strategies, such as cell sorting.

Multi-Vortex Regulation in a Simple Semicircular Microchannel with Ordered Micro-Obstacles for High-Throughput Buffer Exchange.

Microfluidics is an emerging technology for buffer exchange in bioprocessing applications. However, achieving buffer exchange with simplicity of operation and high throughput in a straightforward channel design remains a challenge. This study presents a novel semicircular microchannel design that allows for the deterministic regulation of helical and Dean vortices through geometric confinement.

Engineering of L-threonine and L-proline biosensors by directed evolution of transcriptional regulator SerR and application for high-throughput screening.

Amino acids are important bio-based products with a multi-billion-dollar market. The development of efficient high-throughput screening technologies utilizing biosensors is essential for the rapid identification of high-performance amino acid producers. However, there remains a pressing need for biosensors that specifically target certain critical amino acids, such as L-threonine and L-proline.

Diatomic "catalytic/co-catalytic" Fe/Mo catalysts promote Fenton-like reaction to treat organic wastewater through special interfacial reaction enhancement mechanism.

The full utilization of active sites and the effective Fe/Fecycling are the key problems that expand the application of iron-based Fenton-like reaction in water purification. In this paper, a novel diatomic Fe/Mo catalyst (Fe/Mo-DACs) was used to enhance the interfacial reaction mechanism with oxidant to achieve more stronger selective degradation of electron-donating organic pollutants. The availability of Fe sites during the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was enhanced by the adjacent atomic Mo sites, and the resulting special interfacial complex (Fe/Mo-DACs-PMS*) possessed higher activity, stability and selectivity (especially for electron-donating organics).

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced production of p-coumaric acid via L-phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway.

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA), an invaluable phytochemical, has novel bioactivities, including antiproliferative, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective effects, and is the main precursor of various flavonoids, such as caffeic acid, naringenin, and resveratrol. Herein, we report the engineering of Escherichia coli for de novo production of p-CA via the PAL-C4H pathway. As the base strain, we used the E.

Combining steric exclusion with anion exchange - development of a universal and scalable adeno-associated virus downstream process.

Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are among the leading vectors for in vivo gene therapy. The purification of AAV remains a bottleneck as it typically requires multiple individual process steps, often resulting in product loss and high costs. Current downstream processes are usually serotype-specific and rely primarily on expensive affinity resins.

The transcription factor GmFULc regulates soybean plant height by binding the promoter of a gibberellin-responsive gene.

Plant height is a crucial agronomic characteristic that substantially influences soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield.

A Paradigm of Computer Vision and Deep Learning Empowers the Strain Screening and Bioprocess Detection.

High-performance strain and corresponding fermentation process are essential for achieving efficient biomanufacturing. However, conventional offline detection methods for products are cumbersome and less stable, hindering the "Test" module in the operation of "Design-Build-Test-Learn" cycle for strain screening and fermentation process optimization. This study proposed and validated an innovative research paradigm combining computer vision with deep learning to facilitate efficient strain selection and effective fermentation process optimization.

Molecular Understanding of Activity Changes of Alcohol Dehydrogenase in Deep Eutectic Solvents.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as promising solvents for biocatalysis. While their impact on enzyme solvation and stabilization has been studied for several enzyme classes, their role in substrate binding is yet to be investigated. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of horse-liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH) are performed in choline chloride-ethylene glycol (ChCl-EG) and choline chloride-glycerol (ChCl-Gly) at varying water concentrations.

Towards a Platform Chromatography Purification Process for Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV).

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a versatile viral vector technology that can be engineered for specific functionality in vaccine and gene therapy applications. One of the major challenges in AAV production is the need for a GMP-ready platform-based approach to downstream processing, as this would lead to a standardized method for multiple products. Chromatography has huge potential in AAV purification, as it is a scalable method that would enable manufacturing to a high degree of purity, potency, and consistency.

Site-Specific for CO Photoreduction with Single-Atom Ni on Strained TiO Derived from Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The photocatalytic reduction of CO in water to produce fuels and chemicals is promising while challenging. However, many photocatalysts for accomplishing such challenging task usually suffer from unspecific catalytic active sites and the inefficient charge carrier's separation. Here, a site-specific single-atom Ni/TiO catalyst is reported by in situ topological transformation of Ni-Ti-EG bimetallic metal-organic frameworks.

Removal of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) from contaminated local park lake using mycelial pellets.

Eutrophication and hypereutrophication in lakes foster harmful blue-green algal blooms, which pose a significant threat to the ecological health of freshwater reservoirs. This study investigated the effectiveness of the bio-flocculation approach using the fungus strain BGF4A1 to remove these harmful blooms, specifically targeting cyanobacterial species like PCC-7914. Key flocculation parameters, cyanobacterial concentrations, adsorption kinetics, and pellet morphology were explored in this research.