Comparative Analysis of Three Trypanosomatid Catalases of Different Origin

Most trypanosomatid flagellates do not have catalase. In the evolution of this group, the gene encoding catalase has been independently acquired at least three times from three different bacterial groups. Here, we demonstrate that the catalase of Vickermania was obtained by horizontal gene transfer from Gammaproteobacteria, extending the list of known bacterial sources of this gene. Comparative biochemical analyses revealed that the enzymes of V. ingenoplastis, Leptomonas pyrrhocoris, and Blastocrithidia sp., representing the three independent catalase-bearing trypanosomatid lineages, have similar properties, except for the unique cyanide resistance in the catalase of the latter species.

Sequencing and characterization of an L-asparaginase gene from a new species of Penicillium section Citrina isolated from Cerrado

The enzyme L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is used in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The preparations of this enzyme for clinical use are derived from bacterial sources and its use is associated with serious adverse reactions. In this context, it is important to find new sources of L-ASNase. In this work, the Placket-Burman Experimental Design (PBD) was used to determine the influence of the variables on the L-ASNase production then it was followed by a 28–4 Factorial Fractional Design (FFD). The results obtained from PBD have shown a range of L-ASNase activity, from 0.47 to 1.77 U/gcell and the results obtained from FFD have showed a range of L-ASNase activity, from 1.10 to 2.36 U/gcell. L-proline and ammonium sulfate were identified as of significant positive variables on this production enzyme by Penicillium cerradense sp. nov. The precise identification of this new species was confirmed by morphological characteristics and sequence comparisons of the nuclear 18S-5.8S-28S partial nrDNA including the ITS1 and ITS2 regions, RNA polymerase II, β-tubulin and calmodulin genomic regions. The genetic sequence coding for the L-ASNase was obtained after carrying out a full genome sequencing. The L-ASNase expressed by P. cerradense sp. nov may have promising antineoplastic properties.

Genomic screening of antimicrobial resistance markers in UK and US Campylobacter isolates highlights stability of resistance over an 18 year period

ABSTRACTCampylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are important bacterial sources of human foodborne illness. Despite several years of reduced antibiotics usage in livestock production in the UK and US, high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persists in Campylobacter. Both countries have instigated genome sequencing-based surveillance programs for Campylobacter, and here we have identified AMR genes in 32,256 C. jejuni and 8,776 C. coli publicly available genome sequences to compare the prevalence and trends of AMR in Campylobacter isolated in the UK and US between 2001-2018. AMR markers were detected in 68% of C. coli and 53% of C. jejuni, with 15% of C. coli being multi-drug resistant (MDR) compared to only 2% of C. jejuni. The prevalence of aminoglycoside, macrolide, quinolone and tetracycline resistance remained fairly stable from 2001-2018 in both C. jejuni and C. coli, but statistically significant differences were observed between the UK and US. There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of aminoglycoside and tetracycline resistance for US C. coli and C. jejuni, and macrolide resistance for US C. coli. In contrast, UK C. coli and C. jejuni showed a significantly higher prevalence of quinolone resistance. Specific MLST clonal complexes (e.g. ST-353/464) showed >95% quinolone resistance. This large-scale comparison of AMR prevalence has shown that the prevalence of AMR remains stable for Campylobacter in the UK and the US. This suggests that antimicrobial stewardship and restricted antibiotic usage may help contain further expansion of AMR prevalence in Campylobacter, but are unlikely to reduce it in the short term.

Coinoculaton of endophytic diazotroph with PGPR and AM fungi for enhancing sugarcane production

The field experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore during 2010 – 2012, to evaluate the response of sugarcane variety CoC 24 to the application of bioinoculants viz., Gluconoacetobacter diazotrophicus, AM fungi and Azophos (Azospirillum and phosphobacteria), under different levels of N, P2O5 and K2O inorganic fertilizer in plant and ratoon crop. The results revealed that the application of mycorrhizae, G. diazotrophicus, Azospirillum and phosphobacteria significantly produced higher cane yield in plant crop. The application of Gluconoacetobacter diazotrophicus @10 kg + AM fungi + Azophos @10 kg + 75 % NPK recorded the maximum germination and tiller population and also maximum mean millable cane population of 1.32 lakhs /ha, cane yield (137.45 t/ha) and sugar yield (16.96 t/ha). Similar results were recorded with the ratoon crop. The population of Azospirillum and Pseudomonas are higher compared to that of Glucanoacetobacter diazotrophicus and phosphobacteria. The application of bioinoculants improves soil microbial biomass and their by enhancing soil organic matter content. The applied bacterial sources helps in nitrogen fixation and also in continuous mobilizing and solubilisation of nutrients and their persistence and colonization in soil is an added advantage and also enhances the soil fertility. The usage of these bioinoculants inturn reduces the inorganic fertilizer input and thereby reduces the cost of cultivation.

Computational Study on Temperature Driven Structure–Function Relationship of Polysaccharide Producing Bacterial Glycosyl Transferase Enzyme

Glycosyltransferase (GTs) is a wide class of enzymes that transfer sugar moiety, playing a key role in the synthesis of bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS) biopolymer. In recent years, increased demand for bacterial EPSs has been observed in pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. The application of the EPSs largely depends upon their thermal stability, as any industrial application is mainly reliant on slow thermal degradation. Keeping this in context, EPS producing GT enzymes from three different bacterial sources based on growth temperature (mesophile, thermophile, and hyperthermophile) are considered for in silico analysis of the structural–functional relationship. From the present study, it was observed that the structural integrity of GT increases significantly from mesophile to thermophile to hyperthermophile. In contrast, the structural plasticity runs in an opposite direction towards mesophile. This interesting temperature-dependent structural property has directed the GT–UDP-glucose interactions in a way that thermophile has finally demonstrated better binding affinity (−5.57 to −10.70) with an increased number of hydrogen bonds (355) and stabilizing amino acids (Phe, Ala, Glu, Tyr, and Ser). The results from this study may direct utilization of thermophile-origin GT as best for industrial-level bacterial polysaccharide production.

Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates Granules: An Approach Targeting Biopolymer for Medical Applications and Developing Bone Scaffolds

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are proteinaceous storage granules ranging from 100 nm to 500 nm. Bacillus sp. serve as unique bioplastic sources of short-chain length and medium-chain length PHA showcasing properties such as biodegradability, thermostability, and appreciable mechanical strength. The PHA can be enhanced by adding functional groups to make it a more industrially useful biomaterial. PHA blends with hydroxyapatite to form nanocomposites with desirable features of compressibility. The reinforced matrices result in nanocomposites that possess significantly improved mechanical and thermal properties both in solid and melt states along with enhanced gas barrier properties compared to conventional filler composites. These superior qualities extend the polymeric composites’ applications to aggressive environments where the neat polymers are likely to fail. This nanocomposite can be used in different industries as nanofillers, drug carriers for packaging essential hormones and microcapsules, etc. For fabricating a bone scaffold, electrospun nanofibrils made from biocomposite of hydroxyapatite and polyhydroxy butyrate, a form of PHA, can be incorporated with the targeted tissue. The other methods for making a polymer scaffold, includes gas foaming, lyophilization, sol–gel, and solvent casting method. In this review, PHA as a sustainable eco-friendly NextGen biomaterial from bacterial sources especially Bacillus cereus, and its application for fabricating bone scaffold using different strategies for bone regeneration have been discussed.

Anticancer Potential of L-Asparaginase: An Overview

Asparaginase, derived from microbial origin hydrolyses L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid. The enzyme finds principal use in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during childhood that primarily occurs between two to ten years of age. L-Asparaginase finds its use in management of haemopoietic disorders especially in pediatrics that is caused due to proliferation and enlargement of lymphoblast in bone marrow and in blood as well as other part of the body. L- Asparaginase from bacterial sources exhibit quaternary and tertiary structural forms. However for using it in therapeutic and clinical application it should not generate any fatal allergic reaction to the patient. Such effects can occur due to the enzyme associated L-Glutaminase activity and also due to the endotoxins from bacteria in enzyme preparations. Therefore, with the recent development in biotechnology with respect to production and purification techniques it is possible to get pure L- asparaginase from microbial origin. The present article provides an insight into the mechanism of action of L-Asparaginase as an anticancer agent and its industrial applications.