Supplementary Material for: Comparative Analyses of Transport Proteins Encoded within the Genomes of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 and Bdellovibrio exovorus JSS

<p><i>Bdellovibrio</i>, δ-proteobacteria, including <i>B. bacteriovorus</i> (Bba) and <i>B. exovorus</i> (Bex), are obligate predators of other Gram-negative bacteria. While Bba grows in the periplasm of the prey cell, Bex grows externally. We have analyzed and compared the transport proteins of these 2 organisms based on the current contents of the Transporter Classification Database (TCDB; www.tcdb.org). Bba has 103 transporters more than Bex, 50% more secondary carriers, and 3 times as many MFS carriers. Bba has far more metabolite transporters than Bex as expected from its larger genome, but there are 2 times more carbohydrate uptake and drug efflux systems, and 3 times more lipid transporters. Bba also has polyamine and carboxylate transporters lacking in Bex. Bba has more than twice as many members of the Mot-Exb family of energizers, but both may have energizers for gliding motility. They use entirely different types of systems for iron acquisition. Both contain unexpectedly large numbers of pseudogenes and incomplete systems, suggesting that they are undergoing genome size reduction. Interestingly, all 5 outer-membrane receptors in Bba are lacking in Bex. The 2 organisms have similar numbers and types of peptide and amino acid uptake systems as well as protein and carbohydrate secretion systems. The differences observed correlate with and may account, in part, for the different lifestyles of these 2 bacterial predators.</p

Nanotechnology applications in biodiesel processing and production:A comprehensive review

The wide application of diesel engines globally and the resulting exhaust emissions have been the driving force behind producing eco-friendly alternatives to fossil diesel. Biodiesel derived from triglycerides is a promising replacement for fossil diesel due to less contribution to greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions. Transesterification is a widely adopted production method for converting triglycerides into alkyl esters, primarily owing to its superior conversion efficiency. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, as well as enzymes, can be utilized to catalyze this process. However, commonly used catalysts often exhibit significant technical, economic, and environmental challenges, which can compromise the sustainability aspects of biodiesel production. Consequently, efforts are being directed towards developing sustainable catalysts in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Among the proposed solutions, the application of nanomaterials has emerged as a promising avenue to address the limitations of conventional catalysts in the transesterification reaction. Compared with conventional catalysts, nanocatalysts have a substantially higher surface-to-volume ratio, amplifying the catalytic activity and eliminating many intrinsic limitations. In addition to their increased surface-to-volume ratio, nanocatalysts provide enhanced activity, stability, and reusability, along with greater resistance to saponification. Moreover, nanomaterials can enhance lipid extraction from feedstocks, especially from third-generation resources, due to the lack of toxicity and, subsequently, less environmental concern. While achieving promising outcomes, advancing nanotechnology as an environmentally friendly and economical approach to processing feedstocks and biodiesel production necessitates continued scrutiny. This issue is due to the potential for nanomaterials to infiltrate living systems, giving rise to various safety concerns. Thus, this review summarizes the opportunities and limitations of the mainstream applications of nanotechnology in biodiesel research.</p