Screening and Isolation of Bacterial Strains with the Biotechnological Potential to Destruct Cyanide-Bearing Compounds under the Conditions of Extreme Continental Climate

The methods of biodegradation are of special interest because they help solving environmental problems of wastes detoxification from gold-mining operations. The use of bacterial strains is a promising approach in the field of biotechnology to destruct cyanide-bearing compounds. The diversity of microbial communities both in heap in situ and in the enriched cultures was studied with molecular genetic methods. The differences in representation of bacteria, cultivated in unexploitable and operating heaps, are territory, site and heap specific. The strains of Pseudomonas sp. and Methylobacterium sp. possess the biotechnological potential and might be used in biodegradation of heap leaching wastes in extreme continental climate.

Download Full-text

Bacterial Diversity and Bioremediation Potential of the Highly Contaminated Marine Sediments at El-Max District (Egypt, Mediterranean Sea)

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/981829 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ranya A. Amer ◽

Francesca Mapelli ◽

Hamada M. El Gendi ◽

Marta Barbato ◽

Doaa A. Goda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Biotechnological Potential ◽

Degrading Bacteria ◽

Successional Stages ◽

Bacterial Assemblages

Coastal environments worldwide are threatened by the effects of pollution, a risk particularly high in semienclosed basins like the Mediterranean Sea that is poorly studied from bioremediation potential perspective especially in the Southern coast. Here, we investigated the physical, chemical, and microbiological features of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contaminated sediments collected at El-Max bay (Egypt). Molecular and statistical approaches assessing the structure of the sediment-dwelling bacterial communities showed correlations between the composition of bacterial assemblages and the associated environmental parameters. Fifty strains were isolated on mineral media supplemented by 1% crude oil and identified as a diverse range of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria involved in different successional stages of biodegradation. We screened the collection for biotechnological potential studying biosurfactant production, biofilm formation, and the capability to utilize different hydrocarbons. Some strains were able to grow on multiple hydrocarbons as unique carbon source and presented biosurfactant-like activities and/or capacity to form biofilm and owned genes involved in different detoxification/degradation processes. El-Max sediments represent a promising reservoir of novel bacterial strains adapted to high hydrocarbon contamination loads. The potential of the strains for exploitation forin situintervention to combat pollution in coastal areas is discussed.

Download Full-text

Diversity of Biodeteriorative Bacterial and Fungal Consortia in Winter and Summer on Historical Sandstone of the Northern Pergola, Museum of King John III’s Palace at Wilanow, Poland

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11020620 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 620

Author(s):

Magdalena Dyda ◽

Agnieszka Laudy ◽

Przemyslaw Decewicz ◽

Krzysztof Romaniuk ◽

Martyna Ciezkowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Changes ◽

Microbial Community Composition ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Microbial Biodiversity ◽

Acidophilic Bacteria ◽

Almost All ◽

Generation Sequencing ◽

King John

The aim of the presented investigation was to describe seasonal changes of microbial community composition in situ in different biocenoses on historical sandstone of the Northern Pergola in the Museum of King John III’s Palace at Wilanow (Poland). The microbial biodiversity was analyzed by the application of Illumina-based next-generation sequencing methods. The metabarcoding analysis allowed for detecting lichenized fungi taxa with the clear domination of two genera: Lecania and Rhinocladiella. It was also observed that, during winter, the richness of fungal communities increased in the biocenoses dominated by lichens and mosses. The metabarcoding analysis showed 34 bacterial genera, with a clear domination of Sphingomonas spp. across almost all biocenoses. Acidophilic bacteria from Acidobacteriaceae and Acetobacteraceae families were also identified, and the results showed that a significant number of bacterial strains isolated during the summer displayed the ability to acidification in contrast to strains isolated in winter, when a large number of isolates displayed alkalizing activity. Other bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation and hydrocarbon utilization (including aromatic hydrocarbons) as well as halophilic microorganisms were also found. The diversity of organisms in the biofilm ensures its stability throughout the year despite the differences recorded between winter and summer.

Download Full-text

Metagenomic Characterization of Microbial Communities In Situ Within the Deeper Layers of the Ileum in Crohn’s Disease

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology ◽

10.1016/j.jcmgh.2016.05.011 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

pp. 563-566.e5 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Chandra Sekhar Pedamallu ◽

Ami S. Bhatt ◽

Susan Bullman ◽

Sharyle Fowler ◽

Samuel S. Freeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Microbial Communities

Download Full-text

Phytoplankton of the Curonian Lagoon as a New Interesting Source for Bioactive Natural Products. Special Impact on Cyanobacterial Metabolites

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11081139 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1139

Author(s):

Donata Overlingė ◽

Anna Toruńska-Sitarz ◽

Marta Cegłowska ◽

Agata Błaszczyk ◽

Karolina Szubert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Serine Proteases ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Breast Adenocarcinoma ◽

Curonian Lagoon ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Biotechnological Potential ◽

Bioactive Natural Products ◽

Field Samples ◽

Sample Component

The bioprospecting of marine and brackish water systems has increased during the last decades. In this respect, microalgae, including cyanobacteria, and their metabolites are one of the most widely explored resources. Most of the bioactive compounds are isolated from ex situ cultures of microorganisms; however, analysis of field samples could also supply valuable information about the metabolic and biotechnological potential of microalgae communities. In this work, the activity of phytoplankton samples from the Curonian Lagoon was studied. The samples were active against antibiotic resistant clinical and environmental bacterial strains as well as against serine proteases and T47D human breast adenocarcinoma cells. No significant effect was found on Daphnia magna. In addition, using LC-MS/MS, we documented the diversity of metabolites present in field samples. A list of 117 detected cyanopeptides was presented. Cyanopeptolins constituted the largest class of cyanopeptides. As complex bloom samples were analyzed, no link between the observed activity and a specific sample component can be established. However, the results of the study showed a biotechnological potential of natural products from the Curonian Lagoon.

Download Full-text

A Biphasic Pleural Tumor with Features of an Epithelioid and Small Cell Mesothelioma: Morphologic and Molecular Findings

Case Reports in Pathology ◽

10.1155/2016/1532424 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Sarah Hackman ◽

Richard D. Hammer ◽

Lester Layfield

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Cavity ◽

Molecular Genetic ◽

Genetic Alterations ◽

Small Cell ◽

Comparative Genomic ◽

Cell Nuclei ◽

Pleural Tumor ◽

Young Males ◽

Round Cell Tumors

Malignant mesotheliomas are generally classified into epithelioid, sarcomatoid, desmoplastic, and biphasic types with rare reports of a small cell form. These small cell variants display some morphologic overlap with desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) which generally occur within the abdominal cavity of young males and are defined by a characteristic t(11;22)(p13;q12) translocation. However, there are rare reports of DSRCTs lacking this translocation. We present a 78-year-old man with a pleura-based biphasic neoplasm with features of both epithelioid mesothelioma and a small cell blastema-like neoplasm. The epithelioid portion showed IHC reactivity for pan cytokeratin, CK5/6, D2-40, and calretinin and the small cell portion marked with CD99, pan cytokeratin, WT1, FLI1, S100, CD200, MyoD1, and CD15. Fluorescence in situ hybridization testing for the t(11;22)(p13;q12) translocation disclosed loss of theEWSR1gene in 94% of tumor cell nuclei, but there was no evidence of the classic translocation. Array based-comparative genomic hybridization (a-CGH) confirmed the tumor had numerous chromosome copy number losses, including 11p15.5-p11.12 and 22q12.1-q13.33, with loss of theEWSR1andWT1gene regions. Herein, we report novel complex CGH findings in a biphasic tumor and review the molecular genetic alterations in both mesothelioma and DSRCTs.

Download Full-text

Enzymatic Degradation of Phenazines Can Generate Energy and Protect Sensitive Organisms from Toxicity

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01520-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Kyle C. Costa ◽

Megan Bergkessel ◽

Scott Saunders ◽

Jonas Korlach ◽

Dianne K. Newman

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Cell Types ◽

Redox Activity ◽

Mycobacterium Fortuitum ◽

Active Metabolites ◽

Content Type ◽

Phenazine Production ◽

Physiological Benefits

ABSTRACTDiverse bacteria, including severalPseudomonasspecies, produce a class of redox-active metabolites called phenazines that impact different cell types in nature and disease. Phenazines can affect microbial communities in both positive and negative ways, where their presence is correlated with decreased species richness and diversity. However, little is known about how the concentration of phenazines is modulatedin situand what this may mean for the fitness of members of the community. Through culturing of phenazine-degrading mycobacteria, genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and molecular analysis, we identified several conserved genes that are important for the degradation of threePseudomonas-derived phenazines: phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN), and pyocyanin (PYO). PCA can be used as the sole carbon source for growth by these organisms. Deletion of several genes inMycobacterium fortuitumabolishes the degradation phenotype, and expression of two genes in a heterologous host confers the ability to degrade PCN and PYO. In cocultures with phenazine producers, phenazine degraders alter the abundance of different phenazine types. Not only does degradation support mycobacterial catabolism, but also it provides protection to bacteria that would otherwise be inhibited by the toxicity of PYO. Collectively, these results serve as a reminder that microbial metabolites can be actively modified and degraded and that these turnover processes must be considered when the fate and impact of such compounds in any environment are being assessed.IMPORTANCEPhenazine production byPseudomonasspp. can shape microbial communities in a variety of environments ranging from the cystic fibrosis lung to the rhizosphere of dryland crops. For example, in the rhizosphere, phenazines can protect plants from infection by pathogenic fungi. The redox activity of phenazines underpins their antibiotic activity, as well as providing pseudomonads with important physiological benefits. Our discovery that soil mycobacteria can catabolize phenazines and thereby protect other organisms against phenazine toxicity suggests that phenazine degradation may influence turnoverin situ. The identification of genes involved in the degradation of phenazines opens the door to monitoring turnover in diverse environments, an essential process to consider when one is attempting to understand or control communities influenced by phenazines.

Download Full-text

De novo adult acute myeloid leukemia with two new mutations in juxtatransmembrane domain of the FLT3 gene: a case report

Journal of Medical Case Reports ◽

10.1186/s13256-020-02587-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ismael F. Alarbeed ◽

Abdulsamad Wafa ◽

Faten Moassass ◽

Bassel Al-Halabi ◽

Walid Al-Achkar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

De Novo ◽

Chromosomal Abnormalities ◽

Molecular Genetic ◽

Type A ◽

Chemotherapeutic Treatment ◽

Acute Myeloid ◽

New Mutations

Abstract Background Approximately 30% of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) acquire within fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) internal tandem duplications (FLT3/ITDs) in their juxtamembrane domain (JMD). FLT3/ITDs range in size from three to hundreds of nucleotides, and confer an adverse prognosis. Studies on a possible relationship between of FLT3/ITDs length and clinical outcomes in those AML patients were inconclusive, yet. Case presentation Here we report a 54-year-old Arab male diagnosed with AML who had two FLT3-ITD mutations in addition to NPM1 mutation. Cytogenetic approaches (banding cytogenetics) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific probes to detect translocations t(8;21), t(15;17), t(16;16), t(12;21), and deletion del(13q)) were applied to exclude chromosomal abnormalities. Molecular genetic approaches (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Sanger sequencing) identified a yet unreported combination of two new mutations in FLT3-ITDs. The first mutation induced a frameshift in JMD, and the second led to a homozygous substitution of c.1836T>A (p.F612L) also in JMD. Additionally a NPM1 type A mutation was detected. The first chemotherapeutic treatment was successful, but 1 month after the initial diagnosis, the patient experienced a relapse and unfortunately died. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, a combination of two FLT3-ITD mutations in JMD together with an NPM1 type A mutation were not previously reported in adult AML. Further studies are necessary to prove or rule out whether the size of these FLT3-ITDs mutations and potential other double mutations in FLT3-ITD are correlated with the observed adverse outcome.

Download Full-text

Gold, timber, war and parks : A history of the Rushworth Forest in central Victoria

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ◽

10.1071/rs10022 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 122 (2) ◽

pp. 130 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ruth E. Lawrence ◽

Marc P. Bellette

Keyword(s):

World War Ii ◽

Gold Mining ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Resource Utilisation ◽

World War ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Prisoner Of War ◽

Central Victoria ◽

History Of

The Rushworth Forest is a Box and Ironbark open sclerophyll forest in central Victoria that has been subject to a long history of gold mining activity and forest utilisation. This paper documents the major periods of land use history in the Rushworth Forest and comments on the environmental changes that have occurred as a result. During the 1850s to 1890s, the Forest was subject to extensive gold mining operations, timber resource use, and other forest product utilisation, which generated major changes to the forest soils, vegetation structure and species cover. From the 1890s to 1930s, concern for diminishing forest cover across central Victoria led to the creation of timber reserves, including the Rushworth State Forest. After the formation of a government forestry department in 1919, silvicultural practices were introduced which aimed at maximising the output of tall timber production above all else. During World War II, the management of the Forest was taken over by the Australian Army as Prisoner of War camps were established to harvest timber from the Forest for firewood production. Following the War, the focus of forestry in Victoria moved away from the Box and Ironbark forests, but low value resource utilisation continued in the Rushworth Forest from the 1940s to 1990s. In 2002, about one-third of the Forest was declared a National Park and the other two-thirds continued as a State Forest. Today, the characteristics of the biophysical environment reflect the multiple layers of past land uses that have occurred in the Rushworth Forest.

Download Full-text