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Special Issue: “Microbial Enzymes for Biotechnological Applications”
Full text linkMicrobial biocatalysts are at the forefront of modern biotechnology, offering sustainable
solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental and industrial
challenges [1]. These powerful tools represent about 90% of the enzyme market, driven by
their rapid growth, ease of manipulation, and versatile application potential compared to
biocatalysts from plant and animal sources [2]. As the global push towards a circular economy
accelerates, microbial enzymes are emerging as critical players for the transformation
of the agricultural, chemical, energy, and pharmaceutical sectors. This Special Issue delves
into the latest advancements and applications of microbial biocatalysts, shedding light on
groundbreaking research that bridges fundamental science with practical innovations
Harnessing the dual nature of W. coagulans for sustainable production of biomaterials and development of functional food
Full text link: Bacillus coagulans, recently renamed Weizmannia coagulans, is a spore-forming bacterium that has garnered significant interest across various research fields, ranging from health to industrial applications. The probiotic properties of W. coagulans enhance intestinal digestion, by releasing prebiotic molecules including enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of not-digestible carbohydrates. Notably, some enzymes from W. coagulans extend beyond digestive functions, serving as valuable biotechnological tools and contributing to more sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the homofermentative thermophilic nature of W. coagulans renders it an exceptional candidate for fermenting foods and lignocellulosic residues into L-(+)-lactic acid. In this review, we provide an overview of the dual nature of W. coagulans, in functional foods and for the development of bio-based materials
Advances in Extremophile Research: Biotechnological Applications through Isolation and Identification Techniques
Full text linkExtremophiles, organisms thriving in extreme environments such as hot springs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and hypersaline ecosystems, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable adaptability and biotechnological potential. This review presents recent advancements in isolating and characterizing extremophiles, highlighting their applications in enzyme production, bioplastics, environmental management, and space exploration. The unique biological mechanisms of extremophiles offer valuable insights into life’s resilience and potential uses in industry and astrobiology
Thermophilic Hemicellulases Secreted by Microbial Consortia Selected from an Anaerobic Digester
Full text linkThe rise of agro-industrial activities over recent decades has exponentially increased lignocellulose biomasses (LCB) production. LCB serves as a cost-effective source for fermentable sugars and other renewable chemicals. This study explores the use of microbial consortia, particularly thermophilic consortia, for LCB deconstruction. Thermophiles produce stable enzymes that retain activity under industrial conditions, presenting a promising approach for LCB conversion. This research focused on two microbial consortia (i.e., microbiomes) that were analyzed for enzyme production using a cheap medium, i.e., a mixture of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and digestate. The secreted xylanolytic enzymes were characterized in terms of temperature and pH optima, thermal stability, and hydrolysis products from LCB-derived polysaccharides. These enzymes showed optimal activity aligning with common biorefinery conditions and outperformed a formulated enzyme mixture in thermostability tests in the digestate. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses highlighted the genetic diversity and metabolic potential of these microbiomes. Bacillus licheniformis was identified as a key species, with two distinct strains contributing to enzyme production. The presence of specific glycoside hydrolases involved in the cellulose and hemicellulose degradation underscores these consortia's capacity for efficient LCB conversion. These findings highlight the potential of thermophilic microbiomes, isolated from an industrial environment, as a robust source of robust enzymes, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective bioconversion processes in biofuel and biochemical production and other biotechnological applications
A standardized protocol for the UV induction of Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1
No full textThe Fuselloviridae prototype member Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 is a model of UV-inducible viruses infecting Crenarchaeota. Previous works on SSV1 UV induction were bases on empirically determined parameters that have not yet been standardized. Thus, in many peer reviewed literature, it is not clear how the fluence and irradiance have been determined. Here, we describe a protocol for the UV induction of SSV1 replication, which is based on the combination of the following instrumentally monitored parameters: (1) the fluence; (2) the irradiance; (3) the exposure time, and (4) the exposure distance. With the aim of finding a good balance between the viral replication induction and the host cells viability, UV-irradiated cultures were monitored for their ability to recover in the aftermath of the UV exposure. This UV irradiation procedure has been set up using the well-characterized Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 strain as model system to study host-virus interaction
The Undeniable Potential of Thermophiles in Industrial Processes
Full text linkExtremophilic microorganisms play a key role in understanding how life on Earth originated and evolved over centuries. Their ability to thrive in harsh environments relies on a plethora of mechanisms developed to survive at extreme temperatures, pressures, salinity, and pH values. From a biotechnological point of view, thermophiles are considered a robust tool for synthetic biology as well as a reliable starting material for the development of sustainable bioprocesses. This review discusses the current progress in the biomanufacturing of high-added bioproducts from thermophilic microorganisms and their industrial applications
Exploring the lysogenic state of Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1: the regulative role of the Ribbon-Helix-Helix viral protein F55
No full textSulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1) is the prototype and the most characterized member of the Fuselloviridae family (1). Upon infection, this fusellovirus establish a steady lysogenic state into the host cells. In particular, one copy of the viral genome site-specifically integrates into the host genome at an arginyl-tRNA gene, whereas 4-6 copies of the viral genome are maintained as episomal DNA. SSV1 is so far the only member of the Fuselloviridae family to show an UV-inducible life cycle, indeed, its replication is strongly enhanced by UV-light irradiation (1). The physical map of all the SSV1 transcripts (T1-9, Tx and Tind) has been determined (2) and their expression profile has been investigated before and after UV-irradiation (3), Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulation of the viral life cycle are still poorly understood.
Recently, a genome-wide microarray analysis led to the identification of a novel SSV1 transcript expressed in the lysogenic host cells and termed Tlys (4). This transcript is expressed from a region lying nearby the UV-inducible Tind, whose expression is, in turn, shut off in lysogenic cells. Interestingly, Tlys encodes for a 6.3-kDa protein (F55) which has been predicted to adopt the Ribbon-Helix-Helix fold (RHH). This fold is a hallmark of negative transcription regulators that forms two-fold symmetric dimers (RHH)2 capable to bind at multiple operators arranged as inverted or tandem repeats.
Noteworthy, tandem-repeated sequences have been identified in the promoters of T5, T6, Tind and Tlys transcripts. EMSA assays confirmed that F55 is able to bind these targets showing a concentration-dependent affinity, which reflects their sequence conservation in respect of a consensus. In particular, F55 showed high affinity towards targets of T5 and T6 that are overall identical to the consensus, whilst displayed a lower affinity for the target of Tind and Tlys. Consequently, a regulation mode for F55 has been proposed to explain its involvement in controlling the SSV1 lysogeny (4)
Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP) confirmed the in vivo interaction of F55 with these regulative sequences in SSV1-lysogenic cells. Moreover, it has been revealed that, soon after the UV irradiation, an apparent degradation of Tlys is induced and a consequently drop in the F55 concentration has been observed. This is consistent with the dissociation this regulator from its relative targets, thus allowing the expression of the UV-inducible transcript Tind as well as of the early transcripts T5 and T6. The physiological role of F55 in the maintenance of the SSV1 lysogeny will be discussed.
References:
1. Martin A., (1984) EMBO J. 3, 2165-2168.
2. Reiter W.D., (1987) Mol Gen Genet 209, 270-275.
3. Fröls S., (2007) Virology 365, 48-59.
4. Fusco S., et al. (2013) J. Virol 87(10):5926-3
Thermophilic Hemicellulases Secreted by Microbial Consortia Selected from an Anaerobic Digester
Full text linkThe rise of agro-industrial activities over recent decades has exponentially increased lignocellulose biomasses (LCB) production. LCB serves as a cost-effective source for fermentable sugars and other renewable chemicals. This study explores the use of microbial consortia, particularly thermophilic consortia, for LCB deconstruction. Thermophiles produce stable enzymes that retain activity under industrial conditions, presenting a promising approach for LCB conversion. This research focused on two microbial consortia (i.e., microbiomes) that were analyzed for enzyme production using a cheap medium, i.e., a mixture of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and digestate. The secreted xylanolytic enzymes were characterized in terms of temperature and pH optima, thermal stability, and hydrolysis products from LCB-derived polysaccharides. These enzymes showed optimal activity aligning with common biorefinery conditions and outperformed a formulated enzyme mixture in thermostability tests in the digestate. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses highlighted the genetic diversity and metabolic potential of these microbiomes. Bacillus licheniformis was identified as a key species, with two distinct strains contributing to enzyme production. The presence of specific glycoside hydrolases involved in the cellulose and hemicellulose degradation underscores these consortia’s capacity for efficient LCB conversion. These findings highlight the potential of thermophilic microbiomes, isolated from an industrial environment, as a robust source of robust enzymes, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective bioconversion processes in biofuel and biochemical production and other biotechnological applications
Whole-Genome Sequence of Brevibacillus borstelensis SDM, Isolated from a Sorghum-Adapted Microbial Community
Full text link: The isolation of novel microbes from environmental samples continues to be a key strategy for the discovery of new metabolic capacities for the degradation and transformation of lignocellulose. We report the draft genome sequence of a new strain of Brevibacillus borstelensis isolated from a sorghum-adapted microbial community derived from a compost sample
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