scholarly journals Interactive Analysis of Biosurfactants in Fruit-Waste Fermentation Samples using BioSurfDB and MEGAN

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Fiori Silva ◽  
Anupam Gautam ◽  
Iolanda Cristina Silveira Duarte ◽  
Tiago Palladino Delforno ◽  
Valeria Maia Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Core ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Analysis Pipeline ◽  
Interactive Analysis ◽  
Agroindustrial Waste ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Fruit Waste ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

Microbial biosurfactants are of major interest due to their multifunctional properties, biodegradable nature and low toxicity. Agroindustrial waste, such as fruit waste, can be used as substrates for producing bacteria.In this study, six samples of fruit waste, from oranges, mangoes and mixed fruits, were self-fermented,and then subjected to short-read metagenomic sequencing, so as to allow assessment of thepotential of the associated microbiota for biosurfactant production.Taxonomic analysis using the DIAMOND+MEGAN analysis pipeline shows that all six samples are dominatedby Proteobacteria, in particular, a common core consisting of the genera Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter and Escherichia. To support the interactive visualization and exploration of the surfactant-related genes in such samples,we have integrated the BiosurfDB classification into MEGAN and make this available.Functional analysis indicates high similarity among samples and that a significant number of reads map to genes that are involved in the biosynthesis of lipopeptide-class biosurfactants. Gene-centric analysis reveals Klebsiella as the main assignment for genes related to putisolvins biosynthesis.This suggests that fruit waste is a promising substrate for fermentative processes because the associated microbiota may be able to produce biosurfactants that are potentially useful for the agricultural, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries.

scholarly journals Mini Review on Antimicrobial Peptides, Sources, Mechanism and Recent Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaspreet Kaur Boparai ◽  
Pushpender Kumar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
New Era ◽  
Therapeutic Drugs ◽  
Therapeutic Peptides ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
Micro Organisms

Antimicrobial peptides in recent years have gained increased interest among scientists, health professionals and the pharmaceutical companies owing to their therapeutic potential. These are low molecular weight proteins with broad range antimicrobial and immuno modulatory activities against infectious bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), viruses and fungi. Inability of micro-organisms to develop resistance against most of the antimicrobial peptide has made them as an efficient product which can greatly impact the new era of antimicrobials. In addition to this these peptides also demonstrates increased efficacy, high specificity, decreased drug interaction, low toxicity, biological diversity and direct attacking properties. Pharmaceutical industries are therefore conducting appropriate clinical trials to develop these peptides as potential therapeutic drugs. More than 60 peptide drugs have already reached the market and several hundreds of novel therapeutic peptides are in preclinical and clinical development. Rational designing can be used further to modify the chemical and physical properties of existing peptides. This mini review will discuss the sources, mechanism and recent therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides in treatment of infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Harmonization of Reproductive Guidelines: Perspective from the International Federation of Teratology Societies

1992 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mildred S. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Period ◽  
International Federation ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Dose Selection ◽  
International Regulation ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

The International Federation of Teratology Societies (IFTS) consists of the Australian, European, Japanese, and American Teratology Societies. A Committee on International Regulation was designated to interact with the European Economic Community (EEC) on development of the document “Guideline on Detection of Toxicity to Reproduction for Medicinal Products (Draft 11).” Professor Rolf Bass (BGA) coordinated input from multiple international regulatory agencies and professional organizations. The 1991 IFTS Scientific Program held in June 1991, was designated as a focus for distribution and discussion. Presentations were given by representatives of EEC; FDA; academia; and American, Japanese, and European pharmaceutical industries. Key points in the proposed draft are: (1) flexibility in protocol designs based on scientific justification; (2) mutual acceptance of scientifically justified protocol designs; (3) use of pharmacokinetic data to justify dose selection; and (4) potential protocol designs including: (a) a multigeneration design (agents of low toxicity); (b) the Japanese Segment I combined with EEC Segments II and III; and (c) current EEC, Japanese or U.S. guidelines. Behavioral evaluations may be included in a multigeneration test, a combined Segments II and III test, or in separate Segment II and III tests. Potential reduction of the male exposure period depends upon the design selected. The male Segment I exposure period may be shortened to two weeks, if subchronic data identify no adverse effects on the testes (histopathology) or sperm parameters (motility, morphology, concentration). The need to use noninvestigator-biased automated behavioral tests of learning and memory and elimination of physical landmark tests was emphasized.

scholarly journals Assessment of Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity Potential of Clementine Extract Obtained by Microwave Assisted Extraction Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-785
Author(s):  
Hanane Azzouzi ◽  
Loubna Elhajji ◽  
Mouad Achchoub ◽  
Mohammed Benbati ◽  
Kaoutar El-Fazazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Total Phenolic Content ◽  
Extraction Method ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Microwave Assisted Extraction ◽  
Microwave Assisted ◽  
Assisted Extraction ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

Citrus peels are known as rich source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the establishment of an appropriate and innovative extraction method is a major interest to the food processing industry. The aim of this work is to assess the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of peels extracts prepared from five Moroccan clementine varieties. Extracts were prepared with microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique using acetone and methanol solvents. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH and ABTS- free radical scavenging. The extraction conditions had significant effects on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA). In fact, the highest TPC amount of clementine varieties (730.850±0.004mg GAE/100g DM) was obtained with acetone solvent for the Sidi Aissa variety. Regarding antioxidant activity, results with DPPH method showed an important antiradical and antioxidant activities for Sidi Aissa variety with methanol solvent (46.30± 1.01%) . However, ABTS method showed a good antioxidant activity for Ain Taoujdat with methanol solvent (3.02 mg/100g DM). This work provided to study the biochemical quality of Moroccan clementine extracts obtained by two microwave-assisted extraction processes in order to investigate further industrial potential uses in agro-food and pharmaceutical industries

scholarly journals Using AnnoTree to get more assignments, faster, in DIAMOND+MEGAN microbiome analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupam Gautam ◽  
Hendrik Felderhoff ◽  
Caner Bagci ◽  
Daniel H Huson
Keyword(s):  
Reference Database ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Ncbi Taxonomy ◽  
Protein Database ◽  
Analysis Pipeline ◽  
Main Approach ◽  
Microbiome Analysis

In microbiome analysis, one main approach is to align metagenomic sequencing reads against a protein-reference database such as NCBI-nr, and then to perform taxonomic and functional binning based on the alignments. This approach is embodied, for example, in the standard DIAMOND+MEGAN analysis pipeline, which first aligns reads against NCBI-nr using DIAMOND and then performs taxonomic and functional binning using MEGAN. Here we propose the use of the AnnoTree protein database, rather than NCBI-nr, in such alignment-based analyses to determine the prokaryotic content of metagenomic samples. We demonstrate a 2-fold speedup over the usage of the prokaryotic part of NCBI-nr, and increased assignment rates, in particular, assigning twice as many reads to KEGG. In addition to binning to the NCBI taxonomy, MEGAN now also bins to the GTDB taxonomy.

scholarly journals The Multiple and Versatile Roles of Aureobasidium pullulans in the Vitivinicultural Sector

Fermentation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Despina Bozoudi ◽  
Dimitrios Tsaltas
Keyword(s):  
Aureobasidium Pullulans ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Cell Protein ◽  
Heavy Oils ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

The saprophytic yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans has been well documented for over 60 years in the microbiological literature. It is ubiquitous in distribution, being found in a variety of environments (plant surfaces, soil, water, rock surfaces and manmade surfaces), and with a worldwide distribution from cold to warm climates and wet/humid regions to arid ones. Isolates and strains of A. pullulans produce a wide range of natural products well documented in the international literature and which have been regarded as safe for biotechnological and environmental applications. Showing antagonistic activity against plant pathogens (especially post-harvest pathogens) is one of the major applications currently in agriculture of the fungus, with nutrient and space competition, production of volatile organic compounds, and production of hydrolytic enzymes and antimicrobial compounds (antibacterial and antifungal). The fungus also shows a positive role on mycotoxin biocontrol through various modes, with the most striking being that of binding and/or absorption. A. pullulans strains have been reported to produce very useful industrial enzymes, such as β-glucosidase, amylases, cellulases, lipases, proteases, xylanases and mannanases. Pullulan (poly-α-1,6-maltotriose biopolymer) is an A. pullulans trademark product with significant properties and biotechnological applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Poly (β-l-malic acid), or PMA, which is a natural biopolyester, and liamocins, a group of produced heavy oils and siderophores, are among other valuable compounds detected that are of possible biotechnological use. The fungus also shows a potential single-cell protein source capacity with high levels of nucleic acid components and essential amino acids, but this remains to be further explored. Last but not least, the fungus has shown very good biocontrol against aerial plant pathogens. All these properties are of major interest in the vitivinicultural sector and are thoroughly reviewed under this prism, concluding on the importance that A. pullulans may have if used at both vineyard and winery levels. This extensive array of properties provides excellent tools for the viticulturist/farmer as well as for the oenologist to combat problems in the field and create a high-quality wine.

A standard for transmission electron spectroscopy

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 530-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Maher ◽  
David Joy ◽  
Peggy Mochel
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Electron Spectroscopy ◽  
Host Lattice ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Multicomponent Systems ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Standard Specimens ◽  
Forms Of Carbon ◽  
Electron Energy Loss

A variety of standard specimens is needed in order to systematically investigate the instrumentation, specimen, data reduction and quantitation variables in electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Pure single element specimens (e.g. various forms of carbon) have received considerable attention to date but certain elements of interest cannot be prepared directly as thin films. Since studies of the first and second row elements in two- or multicomponent systems will be of considerable importance in microanalysis using EELS, there is a need for convenient standards containing these species. For many investigations a standard should contain the desired element, or elements, homogeneously dispersed through a suitable matrix and at an accurately known concentration. These conditions may be met by the technique of implantation.Silicon was chosen as the host lattice since its principal ionization energies, EL23 = 98 eV and Ek = 1843 eV, are well removed from the K-edges of most elements of major interest such as boron (Ek = 188 eV), carbon (Ek = 283 eV), nitrogen (Ek = 400 eV) and oxygen (Ek = 532 eV).

Digital x-ray mapping of nanometer-size supported bimetallic catalysts

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 530-531
Author(s):  
L. T. Germinario
Keyword(s):  
Background Radiation ◽  
Metal Cluster ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Beam Diameter ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Induced Changes

Understanding the role of metal cluster composition in determining catalytic selectivity and activity is of major interest in heterogeneous catalysis. The electron microscope is well established as a powerful tool for ultrastructural and compositional characterization of support and catalyst. Because the spatial resolution of x-ray microanalysis is defined by the smallest beam diameter into which the required number of electrons can be focused, the dedicated STEM with FEG is the instrument of choice. The main sources of errors in energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) are: (1) beam-induced changes in specimen composition, (2) specimen drift, (3) instrumental factors which produce background radiation, and (4) basic statistical limitations which result in the detection of a finite number of x-ray photons. Digital beam techniques have been described for supported single-element metal clusters with spatial resolutions of about 10 nm. However, the detection of spurious characteristic x-rays away from catalyst particles produced images requiring several image processing steps.

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