Rubber Degrading Strains: Microtetraspora and Dactylosporangium

Rubber composed of highly unsaturated hydrocarbons, modified through addition of chemicals and vulcanization are widely used to date. However, the usage of rubber, faces many obstacles. These elastomeric materials are difficult to be re-used and recovered, leading to high post-consumer waste and vast environmental problems. Tyres, the major rubber waste source can take up to 80 years to naturally degrade. Experiments show that the latex clearing proteins (Lcp) found in Actinobacteria were reportedly critical for the initial oxidative cleavage of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene), the major polymeric unit of rubber. Although, more than 100 rubber degrading strains have been reported, only 8 Lcp proteins isolated from Nocardia (3), Gordonia (2), Streptomyces (1), Rhodococcus (1), and Solimonas (1) have been purified and biochemically characterized. Previous studies on rubber degrading strains and Lcp enzymes, implied that they are distinct. Following this, we aim to discover additional rubber degrading strains by randomly screening 940 Actinobacterial strains isolated from various locations in Sarawak on natural rubber (NR) latex agar. A total of 18 strains from 5 genera produced clearing zones on NR latex agar, and genes encoding Lcp were identified. We report here lcp genes from Microtetraspora sp. AC03309 (lcp1 and lcp2) and Dactylosporangium sp. AC04546 (lcp1, lcp2, lcp3), together with the predicted genes related to rubber degradation. In silico analysis suggested that Microtetraspora sp. AC03309 is a distinct species closely related to Microtetraspora glauca while Dactylosporangium sp. AC04546 is a species closely related to Dactylosporangium sucinum. Genome-based characterization allowed the establishment of the strains taxonomic position and provided insights into their metabolic potential especially in biodegradation of rubber. Morphological changes and the spectrophotometric detection of aldehyde and keto groups indicated the degradation of the original material in rubber samples incubated with the strains. This confirms the strains’ ability to utilize different rubber materials (fresh latex, NR product and vulcanized rubber) as the sole carbon source. Both strains exhibited different levels of biodegradation ability. Findings on tyre utilization capability by Dactylosporangium sp. AC04546 is of interest. The final aim is to find sustainable rubber treatment methods to treat rubber wastes.

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Characterization and risk association of polymorphisms in Aurora kinases A, B and C with genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer development

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-019-6133-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aner Mesic ◽

Marija Rogar ◽

Petra Hudler ◽

Nurija Bilalovic ◽

Izet Eminovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

In Silico ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Mitotic Kinases ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Silico Analysis ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding mitotic kinases could influence development and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Methods Case-control study of nine SNPs in mitotic genes was conducted using qPCR. The study included 116 GC patients and 203 controls. In silico analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of polymorphisms on transcription factors binding sites. Results The AURKA rs1047972 genotypes (CT vs. CC: OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.05–3.65; p = 0.033; CC + TT vs. CT: OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.04–3.60; p = 0.036) and rs911160 (CC vs. GG: OR, 5.56; 95% CI, 1.24–24.81; p = 0.025; GG + CG vs. CC: OR, 5.26; 95% CI, 1.19–23.22; p = 0.028), were associated with increased GC risk, whereas certain rs8173 genotypes (CG vs. CC: OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.36–0.99; p = 0.049; GG vs. CC: OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.18–0.79; p = 0.010; CC + CG vs. GG: OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25–0.98; p = 0.043) were protective. Association with increased GC risk was demonstrated for AURKB rs2241909 (GG + AG vs. AA: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01–2.56; p = 0.041) and rs2289590 (AC vs. AA: OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.47–3.98; p = 0.001; CC vs. AA: OR, 6.77; 95% CI, 2.24–20.47; p = 0.001; AA+AC vs. CC: OR, 4.23; 95% CI, 1.44–12.40; p = 0.009). Furthermore, AURKC rs11084490 (GG + CG vs. CC: OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.04–2.81; p = 0.033) was associated with increased GC risk. A combined analysis of five SNPs, associated with an increased GC risk, detected polymorphism profiles where all the combinations contribute to the higher GC risk, with an OR increased 1.51-fold for the rs1047972(CT)/rs11084490(CG + GG) to 2.29-fold for the rs1047972(CT)/rs911160(CC) combinations. In silico analysis for rs911160 and rs2289590 demonstrated that different transcription factors preferentially bind to polymorphic sites, indicating that AURKA and AURKB could be regulated differently depending on the presence of particular allele. Conclusions Our results revealed that AURKA (rs1047972 and rs911160), AURKB (rs2241909 and rs2289590) and AURKC (rs11084490) are associated with a higher risk of GC susceptibility. Our findings also showed that the combined effect of these SNPs may influence GC risk, thus indicating the significance of assessing multiple polymorphisms, jointly. The study was conducted on a less numerous but ethnically homogeneous Bosnian population, therefore further investigations in larger and multiethnic groups and the assessment of functional impact of the results are needed to strengthen the findings.

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2,2’4,4’-Tetrabromodiphenyl Ether (PBDE-47) Modulates the Intracellular miRNA Profile, sEV Biogenesis and Their miRNA Cargo Exacerbating the LPS-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Response in THP-1 Macrophages

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.664534 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Valeria Longo ◽

Alessandra Longo ◽

Giorgia Adamo ◽

Antonino Fiannaca ◽

Sabrina Picciotto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Inflammatory Response ◽

Innate Immune Response ◽

De Novo ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Macrophage Cell ◽

Intracellular Expression ◽

Different Levels ◽

Silico Analysis

The 2,2’4,4’-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-47) is one of the most prominent PBDE congeners detected in the environment and in animal and human tissues. Animal model experiments suggested the occurrence of PBDE-induced immunotoxicity leading to different outcomes and recently we demonstrated that this substance can impair macrophage and basophil activities. In this manuscript, we decided to further examine the effects induced by PBDE-47 treatment on innate immune response by looking at the intracellular expression profile of miRNAs as well as the biogenesis, cargo content and activity of human M(LPS) macrophage cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Microarray and in silico analysis demonstrated that PBDE-47 can induce some epigenetic effects in M(LPS) THP-1 cells modulating the expression of a set of intracellular miRNAs involved in biological pathways regulating the expression of estrogen-mediated signaling and immune responses with particular reference to M1/M2 differentiation. In addition to the cell-intrinsic modulation of intracellular miRNAs, we demonstrated that PBDE-47 could also interfere with the biogenesis of sEVs increasing their number and selecting a de novo population of sEVs. Moreover, PBDE-47 induced the overload of specific immune related miRNAs in PBDE-47 derived sEVs. Finally, culture experiments with naïve M(LPS) macrophages demonstrated that purified PBDE-47 derived sEVs can modulate macrophage immune response exacerbating the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response inducing the overexpression of the IL-6 and the MMP9 genes. Data from this study demonstrated that PBDE-47 can perturb the innate immune response at different levels modulating the intracellular expression of miRNAs but also interfering with the biogenesis, cargo content and functional activity of M(LPS) macrophage cell-derived sEVs.

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Co-existence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in new Klebsiella pneumoniae clones emerging in south of Italy

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-019-4565-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Teresa Fasciana ◽

Bernardina Gentile ◽

Maria Aquilina ◽

Andrea Ciammaruconi ◽

Chiara Mascarella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽

Virulence Factors ◽

In Silico ◽

Geographical Area ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

University Hospital ◽

Uptake System ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Silico Analysis

Abstract Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been due principally to the clonal expansion of CC258 isolates; however, recent studies suggest an ongoing epidemiological change in this geographical area. Methods 50 K. pneumoniae strains, 25 carbapenem-resistant (CR-Kp) and 25 susceptible (CS-Kp), collected from march 2014 to march 2016 at the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Paolo Giaccone Polyclinic University hospital of Palermo, Italy, were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility and fully sequenced by next generation sequencing (NGS) for the in silico analysis of resistome, virulome, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes Results MLST in silico analysis of CR-Kp showed that 52% of isolates belonged to CC258, followed by ST395 (12%), ST307 (12%), ST392 (8%), ST348 (8%), ST405 (4%) and ST101 (4%). In the CS-Kp group, the most represented isolate was ST405 (20%), followed by ST392 and ST15 (12%), ST395, ST307 and ST1727 (8%). The in silico β-lactamase analysis of the CR-Kp group showed that the most detected gene was blaSHV (100%), followed by blaTEM (92%), blaKPC (88%), blaOXA (88%) and blaCTX-M (32%). The virulome analysis detected mrk operon in all studied isolates, and wzi-2 was found in three CR-Kp isolates (12%). Furthermore, the distribution of virulence genes encoding for the yersiniabactin system, its receptor fyuA and the aerobactin system did not show significant distribution differences between CR-Kp and CS-Kp, whereas the Klebsiella ferrous iron uptake system (kfuA, kfuB and kfuC genes), the two-component system kvgAS and the microcin E495 were significantly (p < 0.05) prevalent in the CS-Kp group compared to the CR-Kp group. Core SNP genotyping, correlating with the MLST data, allowed greater strain tracking and discrimination than MLST analysis. Conclusions Our data support the idea that an epidemiological change is ongoing in the Palermo area (Sicily, Italy). In addition, our analysis revealed the co-existence of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in CR-Kp isolates; this characteristic should be considered for future genomic surveillance studies.

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In Silico Analysis of Regulatory cis-Elements in the Promoters of Genes Encoding Apoplastic Invertase and Sucrose Synthase in Silver Birch

Russian Journal of Developmental Biology ◽

10.1134/s1062360420050082 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 323-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. V. Tarelkina ◽

N. A. Galibina ◽

Yu. L. Moshchenskaya ◽

L. L. Novitskaya

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

Sucrose Synthase ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Cis Elements ◽

Apoplastic Invertase ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Silico Analysis

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Apple Proteins that Interact with DspA/E, a Pathogenicity Effector of Erwinia amylovora, the Fire Blight Pathogen

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-19-0053 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Xiangdong Meng ◽

Jean M. Bonasera ◽

Jihyun F. Kim ◽

Riitta M. Nissinen ◽

Steven V. Beer

Keyword(s):

Fire Blight ◽

Erwinia Amylovora ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Physical Interaction ◽

Susceptibility Factors ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Important Host ◽

Two Hybrid ◽

Silico Analysis

The disease-specific (dsp) gene dspA/E of Erwinia amylovora encodes an essential pathogenicity effector of 198 kDa, which is critical to the development of the devastating plant disease fire blight. A yeast two-hybrid assay and in vitro protein pull-down assay demonstrated that DspA/E interacts physically and specifically with four similar putative leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like serine/threonine kinases (RLK) from apple, an important host of E. amylovora. The genes encoding these four DspA/E-interacting proteins of Malus ×domestica (DIPM1 to 4) are conserved in all genera of hosts of E. amylovora tested. They also are conserved in all cultivars of apple tested that range in susceptibility to fire blight from highly susceptible to highly resistant. The four DIPMs have been characterized, and they are expressed constitutively in host plants. In silico analysis indicated that the DIPMs have similar sequence structure and resemble LRR RLKs from other organisms. Evidence is presented for direct physical interaction between DspA/E and the apple proteins encoded by the four identified clones, which may act as susceptibility factors and be essential to disease development. Knowledge of DIPMs and the interaction with DspA/E thus may facilitate understanding of fire blight development and lead to new approaches to control of disease.

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The role of mobile genetic elements in evolution of cyanobacteria

Ecological genetics ◽

10.17816/ecogen9452-62 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 52-62

Author(s):

Lidia E Mikheeva ◽

Elena A Karbysheva ◽

Sergey V Shestakov

Keyword(s):

Gene Regulation ◽

Significant Role ◽

In Silico ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Number Of Genes ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Adaptation Processes ◽

Silico Analysis

Possible pathways of cyanobacterial evolution are discussed on the basis of in silico analysis of fully sequenced genomes of 45 species/strains of cyanobacteria. The information on quantity and functions of different mobile elements (IS, MITE elements and group II introns) was reviewed. Positive correlation between whole genome sizes and number of genes, encoding transposases has been revealed. It is suggested that transpositions play significant role in genome rearrangements taking part in gene regulation and adaptation processes determining the directions of microevolution processes in cyanobacterial populations.

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A High-Resolution Comparative Chromosome Map of Cricetus cricetus and Peromyscus eremicus Reveals the Involvement of Constitutive Heterochromatin in Breakpoint Regions

Cytogenetic and Genome Research ◽

10.1159/000381840 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 145 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ana Vieira-da-Silva ◽

Sandra Louzada ◽

Filomena Adega ◽

Raquel Chaves

Keyword(s):

Constitutive Heterochromatin ◽

In Silico Analysis ◽

Cricetus Cricetus ◽

Evolutionary Breakpoint ◽

Comparative Maps ◽

Complex Structural ◽

Peromyscus Eremicus ◽

Intrachromosomal Rearrangements ◽

Different Levels ◽

Silico Analysis

Compared to humans and other mammals, rodent genomes, specifically Muroidea species, underwent intense chromosome reshuffling in which many complex structural rearrangements occurred. This fact makes them preferential animal models for studying the process of karyotype evolution. Here, we present the first combined chromosome comparative maps between 2 Cricetidae species, Cricetus cricetus and Peromyscus eremicus, and the index species Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus. Comparative chromosome painting was done using mouse and rat paint probes together with in silico analysis from the Ensembl genome browser database. Hereby, evolutionary events (inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements) that occurred in C. cricetus and P. eremicus since the putative ancestral Muroidea genome could be inferred, and evolutionary breakpoint regions could be detected. A colocalization of constitutive heterochromatin and evolutionary breakpoint regions in each genome was observed. Our results suggest the involvement of constitutive heterochromatin in karyotype restructuring of these species, despite the different levels of conservation of the C. cricetus (derivative) and P. eremicus (conserved) genomes.

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