Tag Archives: bacteria
Chaperones’ seduction
Molecular chaperones are a very special class of proteins found in all organisms from bacteria to humans. Like their name suggests, they accompany and supervise the correct folding of all the other proteins in cells. This process
A potential harmless food bio-preservative — pediocin PA-1
Food safety issues are always around us for food-borne pathogen and spoilage bacteria exist in many kinds of food. Chemical preservatives are added to prevent food spoilage, however, most of them are cancerogen and unsafe for us.
Participation of secreted protein L5 in formation of outer membrane vesicles produced by Lysobacter sp. XL1
Formation of outer membrane vesicles is a physiological feature of Gram-negative bacteria. Vesicles formation is result of splitting off the evagination of bacterial outer membrane. Its size varies from 20 to 300 nm. During formation of vesicles,
A variant RNA polymerase controls bacterial pathogenicity and stress responses
In order for cells to carry out normal functions, the genetic information stored in DNA needs to be first converted to RNA. This conversion – known as transcription – is carried out by a class of enzymes
How do microorganisms survive in extreme conditions?
You may have taught how extreme regions like glaciers, mountains, and deep oceans are habitats for many organisms including bacteria, archaea, algae, and yeasts as well as glaciers ice worms, plants and animals. These organisms survive in
Detecting anthrax in the palm of your hand: applications of a smartphone microscope
Bacillus anthracis is a bacterial pathogen that causes the disease anthrax. In 2001, B. anthracis was used in a bioterrorism attack in the United States that resulted in 22 individuals becoming infected, 5 of whom died as
Modulation of immunity and gut microbiota
Animal bodies have many bacterial cells and a large part of them live in our digestive system. The relationship of gut bacteria to many aspects of wellness and health including immunity it is known. Regrettably, the current diet is
Exploring the amazing capacity of many bacteria to swim towards specific chemicals
Many bacteria possess flagella, which are flexible filaments attached to the bacterial surface. These filaments can rotate which in turn propels the bacterium forward and enables them to swim. However, this swimming behavior does not simply occur
New role of microbes in the construction industry
Such well-established areas of Biotechnology as Medical, Agricultural, and Environmental Biotechnology have thousands of valuable applications but Construction Biotechnology, which is science and engineering of using of microorganisms in construction industry, is just arising. Before that, microbes
Killing microbes with red light
Photosensitization is a process in which a chemical compound (photosensitizer) that absorbs energy from light is able to transfer that energy to oxygen molecules. As a consequence, reactive oxygen species (ROS), highly toxic to living cells, are
Bio-coordination of bismuth in Helicobacter pylori tells the inhibitory mechanisms of metallodrugs
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the dominant bacterial pathogen in human stomach, is the leading risk factor for the development of gastric cancer and is now infecting over half of the worlds’ population. Bismuth compounds have been used
Infections in wild primates
Some of the most common parasitic infections in wildlife are caused by intestinal worms. Unlike bacterial or viral infections, however, worm infections rarely lead to death, and may not even cause overt clinical symptoms. In this research,
Increased microbial butanol tolerance
One exciting frontier in biofuel research is boosting production yields. Biofuels are produced using biological processes, usually from agricultural raw materials such as sugar, starch or oil. Currently the biofuel industry is dominated by ethanol production, but
The Keepers of the Ring
Just imagine that you are driving and have a flat tire. Would you find it logical that the design of your car does not allow you to place the jack inside the car trunk? This is exactly
Use of antibiotics in animals and people – resistance transfer
There is a great debate going on in the European Union and the United States, regarding the effects of the use of antibiotics in animals and the potential transfer of resistance to man, primarily via the consumption
The growing number of resistance traits may limit the number of efficient antibiotics
Antibiotics are one of the major medical innovations of the 20th century. However, due to the escalation of multi- and even pandrug resistance in human clinical isolates, mainly in bacteria such as community-acquired Enterobacteriaceae and nosocomial Gram-negative
Mucosal immunoglobulins define a healthy gut
The microbiota is the complex community of microorganisms inhabiting all the surfaces that are exposed to the external world, including the oral and gut mucosa, the skin, etc. A highly diverse microbiota has been associated with a
