A Metabolomics-Based Toolbox to Assess and Compare the Metabolic Potential of Unexplored, Difficult-to-Grow Bacteria

Novel high-throughput cultivation techniques create a demand to pre-select strains for in-depth follow-up studies. We report a workflow to identify promising producers of novel natural products by systematically characterizing their metabolomes. For this purpose, 60 strains from four phyla (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes) comprising 16 novel species and six novel genera were cultivated from marine and terrestrial sources. Their cellular metabolomes were recorded by LC-MS/MS; data analysis comprised databases MS/MS matching, in silico compound assignment, and GNPS-based molecular networking. Overall, 1052 different molecules were identified from 6418 features, among them were unusual metabolites such as 4-methoxychalcone. Only a minor portion of the 755 features were found in all phyla, while the majority occurred in a single phylogroup or even in a single strain. Metabolomic methods enabled the recognition of highly talented strains such as AEG42_45, which had 107 unique features, among which a family of 28 potentially novel and related compounds according to MS/MS similarities. In summary, we propose that high-throughput cultivation and isolation of bacteria in combination with the presented systematic and unbiased metabolome analysis workflow is a promising approach to capture and assess the enormous metabolic potential of previously uncultured bacteria

Mixed carbon nanomaterial/epoxy resin for electrically conductive adhesives

The increasing complexity of printed circuit boards (PCBs) due to miniaturization, increased the density of electronic components, and demanding thermal management during the assembly triggered the research of innovative solder pastes and electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs). Current commercial ECAs are typically based on epoxy matrices with a high load (>60%) of silver particles, generally in the form of microflakes. The present work reports the production of ECAs based on epoxy/carbon nanomaterials using carbon nanotubes (single and multi-walled) and exfoliated graphite, as well as hybrid compositions, within a range of concentrations. The composites were tested for morphology (dispersion of the conductive nanomaterials), electrical and thermal conductivity, rheological characteristics and deposition on a test PCB. Finally, the ECA’s shelf life was assessed by mixing all the components and conductive nanomaterials, and evaluating the cure of the resin before and after freezing for a time range up to nine months. The ECAs produced could be stored at −18 °C without affecting the cure reaction.This research was funded by the Portugal Incentive System for Research and Technological Development,Project in Co-Promotion n◦039479/2019 (Factory of the Future: Smart Manufacturing 2019–202

The Mineralosphere Concept: Mineralogical Control of the Distribution and Function of Mineral-associated Bacterial Communities

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. Soil is composed of a mosaic of different rocks and minerals, usually considered as an inert substrata for microbial colonization. However, recent findings suggest that minerals, in soils and elsewhere, favour the development of specific microbial communities according to their mineralogy, nutritive content, and weatherability. Based upon recent studies, we highlight how bacterial communities are distributed on the surface of, and in close proximity to, minerals. We also consider the potential role of the mineral-associated bacterial communities in mineral weathering and nutrient cycling in soils, with a specific focus on nutrient-poor and acidic forest ecosystems. We propose to define this microbial habitat as the mineralosphere, where key drivers of the microbial communities are the physicochemical properties of the minerals

Bystander effectors of chondrosarcoma cells irradiated at different LET impair proliferation of chondrocytes

While the dose-response relationship of radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) is controversial at low and high linear energy transfer (LET), mechanisms and effectors of cell-to-cell communication stay unclear and highly dependent of cell type. In the present study, we investigated the capacity of chondrocytes in responding to bystander factors released by chondrosarcoma cells irradiated at different doses (0.05 to 8 Gy) with X-rays and C-ions. Following a medium transfer protocol, cell survival, proliferation and DNA damages were quantified in bystander chondrocytes. The bystander factors secreted by chondrosarcoma cells were characterized. A significant and major RIBE response was observed in chondrocyte cells (T/C-28a2) receiving conditioned medium from chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353) irradiated with 0.1 Gy of X-rays and 0.05 Gy of C-ions, resulting in cell survivals of 36% and 62%, respectively. Micronuclei induction in bystander cells was observed from the same low doses. The cell survival results obtained by clonogenic assays were confirmed using impedancemetry. The bystander activity was vanished after a heat treatment or a dilution of the conditioned media. The cytokines which are well known as bystander factors, TNF-alpha and IL-6, were increased as a function of doses and LET according to an ELISA multiplex analysis. Together, the results demonstrate that irradiated chondrosarcoma cells can communicate stress factors to non-irradiated chondrocytes, inducing a wide and specific bystander response related to both doses and LET

Nanofluid Based on Glucose‐Derived Carbon Dots Functionalized with [Bmim]Cl for the Next Generation of Smart Windows

The design of new advanced materials and technologies is essential for the development of smart windows for the next generation of energy‐efficient buildings. Here, it is demonstrated that the functionalization of glucose‐derived carbon dots with 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride results in a self‐standing, water‐soluble, viscous, reusable nanofluid with self‐improving conductivity, thermotropy around 30–40 °C, and ultraviolet blocking ability. Its synthesis is straightforward, clean, fast, and cheap. At 36 °C (hot summer day), a sun‐actuated thermotropic (TT) device incorporating a 95% w/w nanofluid aqueous solution exhibits a transmittance variation (ΔT ) of 9% at 550/1000 nm, which is amplified to 47/31% via the surface plasmon resonance effect. An integrated self‐healing system enabling independent sun‐actuated TT and voltage‐actuated electrochromic (EC) operation is also produced. The low‐energy EC device offers bright hot and dark cold modes (ΔT = 68/64%), excellent cycling stability, unprecedented coloration efficiency values (−1.73 × 106/−1.67 × 106 cm2 C−1 (coloring) and +1.12 × 107/+1.08 × 107 cm2 C−1 (bleaching) at ±2.5 V), and impressive memory effect. The disruptive design and sustainable synthesis of the new nanofluid proposed here will foster the agile development of novel products with improved ecological footprint.This research was funded by the National Funds by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and by the FEDER funds through POCI-COMPETE 2020-Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization in Axis I: Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (UID/QUI/00616/2013, UID/QUI/50006/2019, UID/Multi/00709/2013, UID/QUI/00313/2019, UID/CTM/50025, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007688, UID/CTM/50025, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016884, PTDC/CTM-NAN/0956/2014, SAICT/PAC/0032/2015, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422, and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-030858). R.F.P.P. acknowledges FCT-MCTES for SFRH/BPD/87759/2012 grant. R. Rego and M. Fernandes (UTAD, Vila Real) and E. Pereira (FCUP, Porto) are acknowledged for their assistance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determination of Geochemical Bio-Signatures in Mars-Like Basaltic Environments

Bio-signatures play a central role in determining whether life existed on early Mars. Using a terrestrial basalt as a compositional analog for the martian surface, we applied a combination of experimental microbiology and thermochemical modeling techniques to identify potential geochemical bio-signatures for life on early Mars. Laboratory experiments were used to determine the short-term effects of biota on the dissolution of terrestrial basalt, and the formation of secondary alteration minerals. The chemoorganoheterotrophic bacterium, Burkholderia sp. strain B_33, was grown in a minimal growth medium with and without terrestrial basalt as the sole nutrient source. No growth was detected in the absence of the basalt. In the presence of basalt, during exponential growth, the pH decreased rapidly from pH 7.0 to 3.6 and then gradually increased to a steady-state of equilibrium of between 6.8 and 7.1. Microbial growth coincided with an increase in key elements in the growth medium (Si, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe). Experimental results were compared with theoretical thermochemical modeling to predict growth of secondary alteration minerals, which can be used as bio-signatures, over a geological timescale. We thermochemically modeled the dissolution of the basalt (in the absence of biota) in very dilute brine at 25°C, 1 bar; the pH was buffered by the mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions. Preliminary results suggested that at the water to rock ratio of 1 × 107, zeolite, hematite, chlorite, kaolinite, and apatite formed abiotically. The biotic weathering processes were modeled by varying the pH conditions within the model to adjust for biologic influence. The results suggested that, for a basaltic system, the microbially-mediated dissolution of basalt would result in “simpler” secondary alteration, consisting of Fe-hydroxide and kaolinite, under conditions where the abiotic system would also form chlorite. The results from this study demonstrate that, by using laboratory-based experiments and thermochemical modeling, it is possible to identify secondary alteration minerals that could potentially be used to distinguish between abiotic and biotic weathering processes on early Mars. This work will contribute to the interpretation of data from past, present, and future life detection missions to Mars

Classical or inverted photovoltaic cells: On the importance of the morphology of the organic layers on their power conversion efficiency

Novel organic thiophene derivatives, (E)-Bis-1,2-(5,500-Dimethyl-(2,20:30,200-terthiophene)vinylene (BSTV) and (E)-Bis-1,2-(5,500-Dimethyl-(2,20:30,200:30,2000-tetrathiophene)vinylene (BOTV), with different numbers of thiophene units, have been synthesized. They are introduced into organic photovoltaic cells as electron donor. The both organic photovoltaic cell configurations are probed: classical, i.e. with the ITO used as anode, and inverted, i.e. with ITO used as cathode. Whatever the cell configuration, the best results are obtained when a double cathode buffer layer Alq3/Ca is used. Actually, such double cathode buffer layer allows cumulating the advantages of its both constituents. The Alq3 blocks the excitons and protects the organic electron acceptor from cathode diffusion during its deposition, while the low work function of Ca induces a good band matching at the interface electron acceptor/cathode. On the other hand, it is shown that the organic layer surface morphology is decisive whatever the cell efficiency. While the BSTV layers are homogeneous those of BOTV are not. It follows that, in the case of classical organic photovoltaic cells, leakage currents limits the performances of the cells using BOTV, and better performances are obtained with BSTV. This difficulty is overcome in the case of inverted organic photovoltaic cells. This configuration allows limiting the effect of the inhomogeneities of the donor layer and better efficiencies are obtained with BOTV, which was expected due to its smaller band gap value

Discovery pipelines for marine resources : an ocean of opportunity for biotechnology?

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No 645884. CABI is an international intergovernmental organisation, and we gratefully acknowledge the core financial support from our member countries (and lead agencies) including the United Kingdom (Department for International Development), China (Chinese Ministry of Agriculture), Australia (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research), Canada (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Netherlands (Directorate-General for International Cooperation),and Switzerland (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). See https://www.cabi.org/about-cabi/who-we-work-with/key-donors/ for full details.Marine microbial diversity offers enormous potential for discovery of compounds of crucial importance in healthcare, food security and bioindustry. However, access to it has been hampered by the difficulty of accessing and growing the organisms for study. The discovery and exploitation of marine bioproducts for research and commercial development requires state-of-the-art technologies and innovative approaches. Technologies and approaches are advancing rapidly and keeping pace is expensive and time consuming. There is a pressing need for clear guidance that will allow researchers to operate in a way that enables the optimal return on their efforts whilst being fully compliant with the current regulatory framework. One major initiative launched to achieve this, has been the advent of European Research Infrastructures. Research Infrastructures (RI) and associated centres of excellence currently build harmonized multidisciplinary workflows that support academic and private sector users. The European Marine Biological Research Infrastructure Cluster (EMBRIC) has brought together six such RIs in a European project to promote the blue bio-economy. The overarching objective is to develop coherent chains of high-quality services for access to biological, analytical and data resources providing improvements in the throughput and efficiency of workflows for discovery of novel marine products. In order to test the efficiency of this prototype pipeline for discovery, 248 rarely-grown organisms were isolated and analysed, some extracts demonstrated interesting biochemical properties and are currently undergoing further analysis. EMBRIC has established an overarching and operational structure to facilitate the integration of the multidisciplinary value chains of services to access such resources whilst enabling critical mass to focus on problem resolution.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mineral Type and Solution Chemistry Affect the Structure and Composition of Actively Growing Bacterial Communities as Revealed by Bromodeoxyuridine Immunocapture and 16S rRNA Pyrosequencing

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York. Understanding how minerals affect bacterial communities and their in situ activities in relation to environmental conditions are central issues in soil microbial ecology, as minerals represent essential reservoirs of inorganic nutrients for the biosphere. To determine the impact of mineral type and solution chemistry on soil bacterial communities, we compared the diversity, composition, and functional abilities of a soil bacterial community incubated in presence/absence of different mineral types (apatite, biotite, obsidian). Microcosms were prepared containing different liquid culture media devoid of particular essential nutrients, the nutrients provided only in the introduced minerals and therefore only available to the microbial community through mineral dissolution by biotic and/or abiotic processes. By combining functional screening of bacterial isolates and community analysis by bromodeoxyuridine DNA immunocapture and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, we demonstrated that bacterial communities were mainly impacted by the solution chemistry at the taxonomic level and by the mineral type at the functional level. Metabolically active bacterial communities varied with solution chemistry and mineral type. Burkholderia were significantly enriched in the obsidian treatment compared to the biotite treatment and were the most effective isolates at solubilizing phosphorous or mobilizing iron, in all the treatments. A detailed analysis revealed that the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the OTUs or isolated strains assigned as Burkholderia in our study showed high homology with effective mineral-weathering bacteria previously recovered from the same experimental site