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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory. This is page number 32.

Application of stable isotope ratio analysis for biodegradation monitoring in groundwater.
Abstract Stable isotope ratio analysis is increasingly being applied as a tool to detect, understand, and quantify biodegradation of organic and inorganic contaminants in groundwater. An important feature of this approach is that it allows degradative losses of contaminants to be distinguished from those caused by non-destructive processes such as dilution, dispersion, and sorption. Recent advances in analytical techniques, and new approaches for interpreting stable isotope data, have expanded the utility of this method while also exposing complications and ambiguities that must be considered in data interpretation...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Hatzinger PB, Böhlke J, Sturchio NC Tags: Curr Opin Biotechnol Source Type: research

Production of bulk chemicals via novel metabolic pathways in microorganisms.
Abstract Metabolic engineering has been playing important roles in developing high performance microorganisms capable of producing various chemicals and materials from renewable biomass in a sustainable manner. Synthetic and systems biology are also contributing significantly to the creation of novel pathways and the whole cell-wide optimization of metabolic performance, respectively. In order to expand the spectrum of chemicals that can be produced biotechnologically, it is necessary to broaden the metabolic capacities of microorganisms. Expanding the metabolic pathways for biosynthesizing the target chemicals req...
Source: Biotechnology Advances - December 29, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Shin JH, Kim HU, Kim DI, Lee SY Tags: Biotechnol Adv Source Type: research

Knowledge Management and Process Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Processes in the Quality by Design Paradigm.
Abstract : Pharmaceutical processes are complex and highly variable in nature. The complexity and variability associated with these processes result in inconsistent and sometimes unpredictable process outcomes. To deal with the complexity and understand the causes of variability in these processes, in-depth knowledge and thorough understanding of the process and the various factors affecting the process performance become critical. This makes knowledge management and process monitoring an indispensable part of the process improvement efforts for any pharmaceutical organization. PMID: 23275947 [Pu...
Source: Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Rathore AS, Bansal A, Hans J Tags: Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol Source Type: research

Then and now: hypes and hopes of regenerative medicine.
PMID: 23280408 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Trends in Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Slingerland AS, Smits AI, Bouten CV Tags: Trends Biotechnol Source Type: research

Nanoproteomics: a new sprout from emerging links between nanotechnology and proteomics.
Abstract The complexity of proteomics challenges current methods to provide all peptide mass fingerprints in an ensemble measurement of various proteins at differing concentrations. To detect those low-abundance proteins, nanotechnology provides a technical platform to improve biocompatibility, specificity, reproducibility, and robustness of the current proteomic methods. Here, we comprehensively analyze the weaknesses of traditional proteomic methods and evaluate the importance of nanomaterials in significantly improving the quality of proteomic methods by manipulating individual proteins. We also illustrate how t...
Source: Trends in Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Jia L, Lu Y, Shao J, Liang XJ, Xu Y Tags: Trends Biotechnol Source Type: research

Expression pattern of recombinant organophosphorus hydrolase from Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551 in Escherichia coli.
Abstract Concerned with the influence of tagging system on the expression of heterogeneous protein in Escherichia coli, we attempted to express the organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) of Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551 in E. coli. Recombinant OPH was overproduced successfully in E. coli when modified without the use of a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage sequence. In addition, though there has never been a report on the extracellular secretion of recombinant OPH harboring native Tat signal peptides in E. coli, the produced protein was observed to be secreted extracellularly. Through the use of reverse transcrip...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kwak Y, Rhee IK, Shin JH Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Novel chiral tool, (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase, from Pichia finlandica: purification, gene cloning, and application for optically active α-haloalcohols.
Abstract A novel enantioselective alcohol dehydrogenase, (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase (PfODH), was discovered among methylotrophic microorganisms. The enzyme was purified from Pichia finlandica and characterized. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 83,000 and 30,000 by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The enzyme was an NAD(+)-dependent secondary alcohol dehydrogenase and showed a strict enantioselectivity, very broad substrate specificity, and high tolerance to SH reagents. A gene-encoding PfODH was cloned and sequenced. The gene consisted o...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yamamoto H, Kudoh M Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Activity and characterization of mixed organic compounds extracted from Rhodobacter sphaeroides as alternative materials to serum for mammalian cell growth.
In this study, mammalian HeLa cells were cultured in different culture media which were Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) with newborn calf serum (NCS), and DMEM including different types of physiologically activating compounds (PACs) extracted from Rhodobacter sphaeroides grown under various culture conditions. R. sphaeroides was grown under the following five different culture conditions: anaerobically in the light, anaerobically in the dark and treated with dimethyl sulfoxide, aerobically in the dark for 48 h, in the light for 48 h, and in the light for 24 h and changed after previous culturing in the dark for ...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Lee HJ, Park JY, Yoo KS, Yoon J, Kim YH, Min J Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Development of simple sequence repeat markers and diversity analysis in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).
The objective of this study was to enrich SSR markers directly from alfalfa expressed sequence tags (ESTs). A total of 12,371 alfalfa ESTs were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Total 774 SSR-containing ESTs were identified from 716 ESTs. On average, one SSR was found per 7.7 kb of EST sequences. Tri-nucleotide repeats (48.8 %) was the most abundant motif type, followed by di-(26.1 %), tetra-(11.5 %), penta-(9.7 %), and hexanucleotide (3.9 %). One hundred EST-SSR primer pairs were successfully designed and 29 exhibited polymorphism among 28 alfalfa accessions. The allele number per mar...
Source: Molecular Biology Reports - December 29, 2012 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Wang Z, Yan H, Fu X, Li X, Gao H Tags: Mol Biol Rep Source Type: research

Characterization of a Recombinant Flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain that Co-ferments Glucose and Xylose: I. Influence of the Ratio of Glucose/Xylose on Ethanol Production.
Abstract Glucose/xylose mixtures (90 g/L total sugar) were evaluated for their effect on ethanol fermentation by a recombinant flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae, MA-R4. Glucose was utilized faster than xylose at any ratio of glucose/xylose, although MA-R4 can simultaneously co-ferment both sugars. A high percentage of glucose can increase cell biomass production and therefore increase the rate of glucose utilization (1.224 g glucose/g biomass/h maximum) and ethanol formation (0.493 g ethanol/g biomass/h maximum). However, the best ratio of glucose/xylose for the highest xylose consumption rate (0.209 g xylose...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Matsushika A, Sawayama S Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Eplt4 Proteinaceous Elicitor Produced in Pichia pastoris Has a Protective Effect Against Cercosporidium sofinum Infections of Soybean Leaves.
Abstract A complementary DNA library was constructed from the mycelium of Trichoderma asperellum T4, and a highly expressed gene fragment named EplT4 was found. In order to find a more efficient and cost-effective way of obtaining EplT4, this study attempted to produce EplT4 using a Pichia pastoris expression system. The gene encoding EplT4, with an additional 6-His tag at the C-terminus, was cloned into the yeast vector pPIC9K and expressed in the P. pastoris strain GS115 to obtaining more protein for the further research. Transformants of P. pastoris were selected by PCR analysis, and the ability to secrete high ...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Wang Y, Song J, Wu Y, Odeph M, Liu Z, Howlett BJ, Wang S, Yang P, Yao L, Zhao L, Yang Q Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Review on the Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor Peptides from Marine Proteins.
Abstract Hypertension is now a major problem threatening people health in the world. Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important physiological role in regulation of blood pressure via conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Inhibition of ACE may have an antihypertensive effect as a consequence of a decrease in blood pressure. A number of terrestrial-derived peptides have been reviewed about their in vitro and in vivo ACE-inhibitory activities. Marine organisms are potentially an untapped source of drugs and value-added food production. The aim of this review is to discuss the marine-derived ACE-...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: He HL, Liu D, Ma CB Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Synthesis of Fructooligosaccharides from Aspergillus niger Commercial Inulinase Immobilized in Montmorillonite Pretreated in Pressurized Propane and LPG.
Abstract Commercial inulinase from Aspergillus niger was immobilized in montmorillonite and then treated in pressurized propane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Firstly, the effects of system pressure, exposure time, and depressurization rate, using propane and LPG, on enzymatic activity were evaluated through central composite design 2(3). Residual activities of 145.1 and 148.5 % were observed for LPG (30 bar, 6 h, and depressurization rate of 20 bar min(-1)) and propane (270 bar, 1 h, and depressurization rate of 100 bar min(-1)), respectively. The catalysts treated at these conditions in both fluids...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: de Oliveira Kuhn G, Rosa CD, Silva MF, Treichel H, de Oliveira D, Oliveira JV Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

In Silico and Experimental Characterization of Chimeric Bacillus thermocatenulatus Lipase with the Complete Conserved Pentapeptide of Candida rugosa Lipase.
Abstract Lipases are one of the highest value commercial enzymes as they have broad applications in detergent, food, pharmaceutical, and dairy industries. To provide chimeric Bacillus thermocatenulatus lipase (BTL2), the completely conserved pentapeptide ((112)Ala-His-Ser-Gln-Gly(116)) was replaced with similar sequences ((207)Gly-Glu-Ser-Ala-Gly(211)) of Candida rugosa lipase (CLR) at the nucleophilic elbow region. For this purpose, three mutations including A112G, H113E, and Q115A were inserted in the conserved pentapeptide sequence of btl2 gene. Based on the crystal structures of 2W22, the best structure of open...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Hosseini M, Karkhane AA, Yakhchali B, Shamsara M, Aminzadeh S, Morshedi D, Haghbeen K, Torktaz I, Karimi E, Safari Z Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Potential of Potassium Hydroxide Pretreatment of Switchgrass for Fermentable Sugar Production.
This study aimed at investigating the potential of potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a viable alternative alkaline reagent for lignocellulosic pretreatment based on its different reactivity patterns compared to NaOH. Performer switchgrass was pretreated at KOH concentrations of 0.5-2 % for varying treatment times of 6-48 h, 6-24 h, and 0.25-1 h at 21, 50, and 121 °C, respectively. The pretreatments resulted in the highest percent sugar retention of 99.26 % at 0.5 %, 21 °C, 12 h while delignification up to 55.4 % was observed with 2 % KOH, 121 °C, 1 h. Six pretreatment conditions were selected for subsequent enzy...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Sharma R, Palled V, Sharma-Shivappa RR, Osborne J Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Neuromodulation in the Service of Moral Enhancement.
Abstract Human enhancement is a much debated topic in the bioethical literature. Human beings have long tried to improve their capacities and their performances through training and with the aid of tools; but more recently new means have come to the fore, such as drugs and biotechnological devices, especially in the domain of bodily strength and cognitive powers. Moral enhancement has been more seldom discussed. However, this question has recently been hotly debated between two philosophers, Thomas Douglas and John Harris. Douglas claims that modulating certain ugly emotions directly would consist in moral progress...
Source: Brain Topography - December 29, 2012 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Baertschi B Tags: Brain Topogr Source Type: research

Continuous SSCF of AFEX™ pretreated corn stover for enhanced ethanol productivity using commercial enzymes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A (LNH‐ST)
Abstract High productivity processes are critical for commercial production of cellulosic ethanol. One high productivity process—continuous hydrolysis and fermentation—has been applied in corn ethanol industry. However, little research related to this process has been conducted on cellulosic ethanol production. Here, we report and compare the kinetics of both batch SHF (separate hydrolysis and co‐fermentation) and SSCF (simultaneous saccharification and co‐fermentation) of AFEX™ (Ammonia Fiber Expansion) pretreated corn stover (AFEX™‐CS). Subsequently, we designed a SSCF process to evaluate continuous hydroly...
Source: Biotechnology and Bioengineering - December 29, 2012 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Mingjie Jin, Christa Gunawan, Venkatesh Balan, Xiurong Yu, Bruce E. Dale Tags: Article Source Type: research

Effect of Signal Peptides on the Secretion of β-Cyclodextrin Glucanotransferase in Lactococcus lactis NZ9000
J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2012;22:361–372 (DOI:10.1159/000343921)
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Sunrise Senior Living expects to close sale, spinoff Jan. 9
Sunrise Senior Living Inc. executives expect to close two transactions to sell the company by Jan. 9, according to a Friday Securities and Exchange Commission filing. If shareholders approve a deal first made public in August at a Jan. 7 meeting, the company will finalize the sale of its real estate portfolio, in addition to the spinoff and sale of its assisted-living home management operations, before the market opens two days later. Sunrise, founded in 1981 by Paul Klaassen, agreed to sell its…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Ben Fischer Source Type: research

Patient asks for restraining order on Texas Women's Health Program
A Planned Parenthood patient appeared in a Travis County court Friday to ask a state judge to place a temporary restraining order on the Texas Women's Health Program, alleging the state program would hamper access to basic and preventative care. Planned Parenthood has spent the last several months fighting the launch of the state's version of the Women's Health Program that would ban the nonprofit because some of its affiliates provide abortions. Planned Parenthood care providers and patient Marcy…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Bayan Raji Source Type: research

CFO Awards — David Hadley
Note: This content was originally published June 22, 2012. Since David Hadley joined Via Christi Health as its chief financial officer in 2008, he has been closely involved in two huge initiatives. In 2009, Via Christi announced the sale of its long-time insurance subsidiary, Preferred Health Systems, to Coventry Health Care Inc. The next year, the health system acquired the Wichita metro area’s largest physician practice, Wichita Clinic PA. Hadley, who has worked in hospital administration…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Josh Heck Source Type: research

CFO Awards — Ken Johnson
Note: This content was originally published June 17, 2011. Those at Galichia say Ken Johnson is a hard worker — an in-early-and-stay-late kind of guy — who always is focused on the tasks at hand. His experience. they say, is unmatched, and his sense of humor helps mitigate stressful situations. As the hospital’s chief financial officer, Johnson essentially was second in command. He has been described as a “cornerstone” of Galichia Heart Hospital. “Ken’s financial statements are…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Josh Heck Source Type: research

Amerigroup loses appeal in Ohio Medicaid managed care dispute
A Franklin County appellate court has ruled in favor of the state in Amerigroup Corp.’s third bid to force reconsideration of new Medicaid managed care contracts with Ohio, allowing negotiations to proceed with the five declared winners. The Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision affirmed a lower court dismissal of the complaint, saying the insurer failed to prove the state Department of Job and Family Services abused its discretion even if it did make errors in scoring the bids. Virginia…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Carrie Ghose Source Type: research

Chicago’s new “hangover clinic” opens in time for New Year’s
New Year’s Eve revelers in Chicago can now see a doctor to get a hangover cure. Dubbed a “hydration clinic,” Revive Hydration Clinic, at 222 W. Ontario St., Suite 450, opened this month and is the first facility of its kind in the Chicago area. The clinic was started by Dr. Jack Dybis, a trauma and general surgeon at Evanston Hospital and also treats colds, flus, fatigue from athletic activity and even jetlag. The clinic’s web site says the treatments are geared toward the “busy professional”,…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research

JeffCo may reconfigure Cooper Green's CEO position
Sandral Hullett's job at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital will be titled differently next year, a top Jefferson County official said. Hullett, the embattled hospital's soon-to-be ex-CEO, is among the more than 200 hospital employees that were recently placed on administrative leave without pay. Jefferson County, which provides operating and indigent funds to the hospital, placed the employees on leave as part of plans to end the facility's inpatient and emergency room services at the end of this month. County…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Yann Ranaivo Source Type: research

Jeff Thompson challenges D.C. Medicaid solicitation
Troubled accountant and prolific political donor Jeffrey Thompson is demanding the District scrap its search for new Medicaid contractors, arguing that D.C. insurance regulators allowed his competitors' advisers to prevent his company, D.C. Chartered Health Plan, from bidding on the contract. In a brief filed at the city's Contract Appeals Board on Dec. 17 by Chartered's holding company, D.C. Healthcare Systems Inc., Thompson's attorneys said the company was "shocked" to learn Chartered had not…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Ben Fischer Source Type: research

Medford retirees settle dispute with retirement home operator
Residents of a Medford retirement facility with Portland connections have settled a case regarding whether the facility’s operator charged “excessive management and related fees” and improperly removed directors from the facility’s board. The settlement between Pacific Retirement Services and the Rogue Valley Manor Resident Steering Committee was announced on Dec. 22. Under terms of the deal, two new residents will become voting members of the Rogue Valley Manor Board of Directors, Pacific…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Andy Giegerich Source Type: research

Omeros Misses Target in Clinical Trial
BRIEF: Omeros Misses Target in Clinical Trial [the Seattle Times] From Seattle Times (WA) (December 28, 2012) Dec. 28--Omeros shares dropped 9.2 percent in light after-hours trading Thursday after the Seattle biotechnology company reported that a...
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - December 28, 2012 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Biased swimming cells do not disperse in pipes as tracers: A population model based on microscale behaviour
R. N. Bearon, M. A. Bees, and O. A. Croze There is much current interest in modelling suspensions of algae and other micro-organisms for biotechnological exploitation, and many bioreactors are of tubular design. Using generalized Taylor dispersion theory, we develop a population-level swimming-advection-diffusion model for suspensions of mi ... [Phys. Fluids 24, 121902 (2012)] published Thu Dec 27, 2012.
Source: Physics of Fluids - December 28, 2012 Category: Physics Source Type: research

Regenerative medicine research grants
The Emory/Georgia Tech Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center has awarded 11 seed grants, totaling $630,000, for new research in regenerative medicine. The seed grants focus on how the body — including bone, muscle, nerves, blood vessels and tissues — can harness its own potential to heal or regenerate following trauma or disease. “We looked for projects along the innovation spectrum, including early-stage projects for which the potential payoffs justified taking the risk and projects…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 28, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Urvaksh Karkaria Source Type: research

Facile Production and Rapid Purification of Functional Recombinant Qβ Replicase Heterotetramer Complex.
We describe an improved method for the production of recombinant Qβ replicase heterotetramer. The successful expression of the soluble Qβ RNA polymerase complex depends on the EF-Ts and EF-Tu subunits being co-expressed prior to β-subunit expression. Efficient co-expression requires two different inducible operons to co-ordinate the expression of the heterotrimer. The complete heterotetramer enzyme complex is achieved by production of the recombinant S1-subunit of Qβ replicase in a separate host. This approach represents a facile way for producing and purifying large amounts of soluble and active recombinant Qβ replic...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Gunasekaran K, Bergquist PL, Sunna A Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Use of Different Extracts of Coffee Pulp for the Production of Bioethanol.
Abstract Coffee is one of the most important agricultural products in Brazil. More than 50 % of the coffee fruit is not used for the production of commercial green coffee and is therefore discarded, usually ending up in the environment. The goal of this work was to select an efficient process for obtaining coffee pulp extract and to evaluate the use of this extract in bioethanol production. The effects of heat treatment and trituration on the yield and composition of the extract were investigated by measuring the amounts of reducing sugars, starch, pectin, and phenolic compounds. The extraction process was most ef...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Menezes EG, do Carmo JR, Menezes AG, Alves JG, Pimenta CJ, Queiroz F Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Decolorization of Synthetic Dyes by Crude and Purified Laccases from Coprinus comatus Grown Under Different Cultures: The Role of Major Isoenzyme in Dyes Decolorization.
Abstract Coprinus comatus laccase isoenzyme induction and its effect on decolorization were investigated. The C/N ratio, together with aromatic compounds and copper, significantly influenced laccase isoenzyme profile and enzyme activity. This fungus produced six laccase isoenzymes in high-nitrogen low-carbon cultures but much less in low-nitrogen high-carbon (LNHC) cultures. The highest laccase level (3.25 IU/ml), equivalent to a 12.6-fold increase compared with unsupplemented controls (0.257 IU/ml), was recorded after 13 days in LNHC cultures supplemented with 2.0 mM 2-toluidine. Decolorization of twelve synth...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jiang M, Ten Z, Ding S Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Expression of Cholera Toxin B-Lumbrokinase Fusion Protein in Pichia pastoris-The Use of Transmucosal Carriers in the Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins to Protect Rats Against Thrombosis.
Abstract Cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) has been widely used to facilitate antigen delivery by serving as an effective mucosal carrier molecule for the induction of oral tolerance. However, whether CTB can be used as a transmucosal carrier in the delivery of not only vaccines but also therapeutic proteins has not been widely studied. Thus, we investigate here the concept of receptor-mediated oral delivery of lumbrokinase (LK) proteins which is an important fibrinolytic enzyme derived from earthworm. CTB and LK, separated by a furin cleavage site, was expressed via Pichia pastoris. The activity and proper folding of ...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Chunfeng G, Xiaozhou L, Gang W, Jing J, Chao J, Josine TL Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

Short Hairpin RNA-Induced Myostatin Gene Silencing in Caprine Myoblast Cells In Vitro.
Abstract Myostatin (MSTN) belongs to the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily and is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and growth. Dysfunction of MSTN gene either by natural mutation or induced through genetic manipulation (knockout or knockdown) has been reported to increase the remarkable muscle mass in mammalian species. RNA interference (RNAi) is the most promising method for inhibition of gene expression that can be utilized for MSTN gene knockdown by developing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) construct against it. We utilized three antisense RNA expressing vectors with six constr...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tripathi AK, Ramani UV, Patel AK, Rank DN, Joshi CG Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

New Bacteria Bacillus nitroreducens PLC9 with Hydrogen Peroxide-Degrading Activity with High Survival Rate in Hydrogen Peroxide.
Abstract Bacteria were isolated from wastewater containing highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide that had been used to clean the pure water delivery system in a semiconductor plant. One bacterium was selected for its high hydrogen peroxide degradation activity. In the presence of 1 % hydrogen peroxide, it degraded 72.5 % in 5 min. It showed 100 % viability after 6 h at 1 % hydrogen peroxide. Even at 3 % hydrogen peroxide, it survived for more than 6 h. This bacterium was named as Bacillus nitroreducens PLC9 since its 16S rRNA showed 100 % similarity with the recently reported new species B. nitroreducens. ...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Hong H, Bae KS, Lee Y Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

An Extremely Simple and Effective Colony PCR Procedure for Bacteria, Yeasts, and Microalgae.
Abstract An extremely simple and effective colony PCR procedure is established for both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and microalgae. Among the four lysis buffers examined, Y-PER is observed to be more effective than Tris/EDTA, 0.2 % SDS, and 10 mM EDTA in the extraction of PCR-quality genomic DNA from those microorganisms. Vortexing or pipetting agitation of the cells in Y-PER for 5-10 s was sufficient to release genomic DNA for all the test bacteria and yeasts, and most microalgae. Additional incubation at 98 °C for 5 min for further cell disruption was essential only for Chlorella vulga...
Source: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Packeiser H, Lim C, Balagurunathan B, Wu J, Zhao H Tags: Appl Biochem Biotechnol Source Type: research

A low molecular mass cutinase of Thielavia terrestris efficiently hydrolyzes poly(esters).
Abstract A low molecular mass cutinase (designated TtcutA) from Thielavia terrestris was purified and biochemically characterized. The thermophilic fungus T. terrestris CAU709 secreted a highly active cutinase (90.4 U ml(-1)) in fermentation broth containing wheat bran as the carbon source. The cutinase was purified 19-fold with a recovery yield of 4.8 %. The molecular mass of the purified TtcutA was determined as 25.3 and 22.8 kDa using SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. TtcutA displayed optimal activity at pH 4.0 and 50 °C. It was highly stable up to 65 °C and in the broad pH range 2.5-10.5. Extreme...
Source: Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yang S, Xu H, Yan Q, Liu Y, Zhou P, Jiang Z Tags: J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Enhanced aerobic granulation and nitrogen removal by the addition of zeolite powder in a sequencing batch reactor.
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of zeolite powders on feasibility of rapid aerobic granulation in the column-type sequencing batch reactors. After 90 days' operation, aerobic granular sludge was formed in both reactors by altering influent chemical oxygen demand/nitrogen (COD/N) ratios. R1 with zeolite powders had better removal capabilities of COD and total nitrogen than R2, which was without zeolite powders. Mixed liquor volatile suspended solid concentrations of the two reactors were 7.36 and 5.45 g/L, while sludge volume index (SVI(30)) values were 34.9 and 47.9 mg/L, respectively. ...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Wei D, Xue X, Chen S, Zhang Y, Yan L, Wei Q, Du B Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

What do we know about the yeast strains from the Brazilian fuel ethanol industry?
Abstract The production of fuel ethanol from sugarcane-based raw materials in Brazil is a successful example of a large-scale bioprocess that delivers an advanced biofuel at competitive prices and low environmental impact. Two to three fed-batch fermentations per day, with acid treatment of the yeast cream between consecutive cycles, during 6-8 months of uninterrupted production in a nonaseptic environment are some of the features that make the Brazilian process quite peculiar. Along the past decades, some wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were isolated, identified, characterized, and eventually, reintroduced ...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Della-Bianca BE, Basso TO, Stambuk BU, Basso LC, Gombert AK Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Induction of gene expression in bacteria at optimal growth temperatures.
Abstract Traditional temperature-sensitive systems use either heat shock (40-42 °C) or cold shock (15-23 °C) to induce gene expression at temperatures that are not the optimal temperature for host cell growth (37 °C). This impacts the overall productivity and yield by disturbing cell growth and cellular metabolism. Here, we have developed a new system which controls gene expression in Escherichia coli at more permissive temperatures. The temperature-sensitive cI857-P (L) system and the classic lacI-P ( lacO ) system were connected in series to control the gene of interest. When th...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jiang X, Zhang H, Yang J, Liu M, Feng H, Liu X, Cao Y, Feng D, Xian M Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Reduction of palladium and production of nano-catalyst by Geobacter sulfurreducens.
Abstract The present study is the first report on the ability of Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA to reduce Pd(II) and produce Pd(0) nano-catalyst, using acetate as electron donor at neutral pH (7.0 ± 0.1) and 30 °C. The microbial production of Pd(0) nanoparticles (NPs) was greatly enhanced by the presence of the redox mediator, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) when compared with controls lacking AQDS and cell-free controls. A cell dry weight (CDW) concentration of 800 mg/L provided a larger surface area for Pd(0) NPs deposition than a CDW concentration of 400 mg/L. Sample analysis by transmission electron...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Pat-Espadas AM, Razo-Flores E, Rangel-Mendez JR, Cervantes FJ Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Radiation-resistant extremophiles and their potential in biotechnology and therapeutics.
This article aims to review the strategies by which microorganisms thrive in extreme radiation environments and discuss their potential uses in biotechnology and the therapeutic industry. The major challenges that lie ahead are also discussed. PMID: 23271672 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Gabani P, Singh OV Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Quantitative analysis of growth and volatile fatty acid production by the anaerobic ruminal bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii T81.
Abstract Megasphaera elsdenii T81 grew on either DL-lactate or D-glucose at similar rates (0.85 h(-1)) but displayed major differences in the fermentation of these substrates. Lactate was fermented at up to 210-mM concentration to yield acetic, propionic, butyric, and valeric acids. The bacterium was able to grow at much higher concentrations of D-glucose (500 mM), but never removed more than 80 mM of glucose from the medium, and nearly 60 % the glucose removed was sequestered as intracellular glycogen, with low yields of even-carbon acids (acetate, butyrate, caproate). In the presence of both substrates, gluco...
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 28, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Weimer PJ, Moen GN Tags: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

A thin‐walled polydimethylsiloxane bioreactor for high‐density hepatocyte sandwich culture
Abstract In vitro drug testing requires long‐term maintenance of hepatocyte liver specific functions. Hepatocytes cultured at a higher seeding density in a sandwich configuration exhibit an increased level of liver specific functions when compared to low density cultures due to the better cell to cell contacts that promote long term maintenance of polarity and liver specific functions. However, culturing hepatocytes at high seeding densities in a standard 24 well plate poses problems in terms of the mass transport of nutrients and oxygen to the cells. In view of this drawback, we have developed a Polydimethylsiloxane (PD...
Source: Biotechnology and Bioengineering - December 27, 2012 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Guo‐Dong Sean Tan, Guoyang William Toh, Erik Birgersson, Jeffrey Robens, Danny Van Noort, Hwa Liang Leo Tags: Article Source Type: research

Cambridge Major bought by American Capital
Cambridge Major Laboratories Inc. has new ownership after American Capital Ltd. bought out the previous private equity partner in a $212 million deal, the companies said Thursday. Cambridge Major Laboratories (CML), a Germantown-based supplier of pharmaceutical intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients and other fine organic chemicals to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, was previously owned by Arlington Capital Partners. “The management team at CML chose to partner with…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines - December 27, 2012 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Jeff Engel Source Type: research

First-year students at JABSOM display fundraising skills
The John A. Burns School of Medicine has received double the amount of donations needed to run the annual community health fair on Jan. 4. First-year medical student Lauren Oshima worked with 25 other students who are organizing the annual health fair. “We achieved our goal thanks to seven sponsors who donated money for us to put the event on,” she said. Event sponsors include HMSA, Pacific Medical Administrative Group, Hawaii Independent Physicians Association and TeamPraxis. The students…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 27, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Jenna Blakely Source Type: research

20 politically minded Austinites to know
This latest 20 Austinites to Know list is going political. The banisters at the Capitol are polished, lawmakers’ chairs are being warmed and the statehouse will soon be buzzing with activity as the 83rd Texas Legislature prepares to fire up on Jan. 8. Since it’s the season for state politics, I present to you 20 politically minded Austinites to know in this slideshow. This isn’t necessarily a list of the most powerful politicos. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst arguably carries the most weight in…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - December 27, 2012 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Colin Pope Source Type: research