Evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of commercial Lactobacillus acidophilus against foodborne pathogens and the MCF-7 cell line

Background: Lactobacillus acidophilus, a key member of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group, contributes significantly to both human and animal health by enhancing the microbiome. This study explores the bioactive compounds produced by L. acidophilus isolated from the Synkromax probiotic, with a focus on their antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. Methodology: The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. acidophilus was subjected to solvent extraction to isolate secondary metabolites, while peptides, including bacteriocins, were partially purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation. Metabolite profiling was conducted using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was used for qualitative analysis. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the extracts were evaluated using the well diffusion method against pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. The cytotoxic potential of the partially purified bacteriocin extract (PPBE) was assessed using the MTT assay on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results and Discussion: GC-MS/MS analysis identified a diverse range of bioactive secondary metabolites. Both CFS and partially purified peptides demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antifungal activity. The PPBE also exhibited strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 72.3991 µg/mL, indicating promising anticancer potential. Conclusion: Lactobacillus acidophilus from Synkromax produces a variety of bioactive compounds with potent antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. These findings support its potential application in therapeutic development and enhancing food safety

Tricks and tracks in resource recovery from wastewater using bio-electrochemical systems (BES): A systematic review on recent advancements and future directions

Rapid industrialization and ameliorated lifestyle have vividly contributed to the release of huge quantity of wastewater into the environment. On the other hand, wastewater is enriched with resources like nutrients, metals, and chemicals that possess greater economic value. As a result, resource recovery from wastewater promoted ‘wastewater to wealth’ notion, thereby fostering the circular economy approach. In the recent years, bio-electrochemical systems (BES) emerged as versatile technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and resource recovery. While the technology offers numerous advantages, its widespread commercial application has been hindered by challenges in scaling up, economical aspects, operational aspects, etc. Over the past few years, substantial efforts have been made to enhance the efficiency of electrode materials, choice of biocatalysts and design improvisations of BES. These improvements have significantly increased the performance efficiency of BES. Nevertheless, further enhancements are still necessary for BES to become economically viable. This review provides a comprehensive over view of recent developments in BES, with a particular focus on their resource recovery applications. The article covers fundamental concepts, various BES types, and the mechanisms underlying electron transfer, with a specific focus on their role in resource recovery from wastewater. Furthermore, the article delves into the challenges of scaling up BES for practical applications and provides in-depth insights into real-world applications of BES technology. The future potential of integrating phototrophic options into BES is also discussed to further enhance resource recovery and the production of value-added products

Identification and Structural Characterization of a New Three-Finger Toxin Hemachatoxin from Hemachatus haemachatus Venom

10.1371/journal.pone.0048112PLoS ONE710

Crystal Structure of the Heteromolecular Chaperone, AscE-AscG, from the Type III Secretion System in Aeromonas hydrophila

10.1371/journal.pone.0019208PLoS ONE64

Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of a major group 7 allergen, Der f 7, from the dust mite <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i>

Der f 7 is a major group 7 allergen from the dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae that shows 86% sequence identity to the homologous allergen Der p 7 from D. pteronyssinus. Der f 7 was successfully overexpressed in an Escherichia coli expression system and purified to homogeneity using Ni–NTA affinity and size-exclusion column chromatography. SeMet-labelled Der f 7 was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using a reservoir solution consisting of 0.1 M bis-tris pH 7.4 and 28% polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether 2000 at 293 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.24 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic system, space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 50.19, b = 58.67, c = 123.81 Å. Based on the estimated Matthews coefficient (2.16 Å3 Da−1), two molecules of Der f 7 could be present in the asymmetric unit of the crystal lattice.</jats:p

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of hemextin A: a unique anticoagulant protein from Hemachatus haemachatus venom

Crystals of hemextin A, a three-finger toxin isolated and purified from African Ringhals cobra (H. haemachatus), are orthorhombic, space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 49.27, b = 49.51, c = 57.87 Å, and diffract to 1.5 Å resolution

Peripheral biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases

Neurological disorders are found to be influencing the peripheral tissues outside CNS. Recent developments in biomarkers for CNS have emerged with various diagnostic and therapeutic shortcomings. The role of central biomarkers including CSF-based and molecular imaging-based probes are still unclear for early diagnosis of major neurological diseases. Current trends show that early detection of neurodegenerative diseases with non-invasive methods is a major focus of researchers, and the development of biomarkers aiming peripheral tissues is in demand. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are known for the progressive loss in neural structures or functions, including the neural death. Various dysfunctions of metabolic and biochemical pathways are associated with early occurrence of neuro-disorders in peripheral tissues including skin, blood cells, and eyes. This article reviews the peripheral biomarkers explored for early detection of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases including blood cells, skin fibroblast, proteomics, saliva, olfactory, stomach and colon, heart and peripheral nervous system, and others.Ministry of Education (MOE)Nanyang Technological UniversityAccepted versionThe authors (BG and PP) acknowledges The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University MOE Start-Up Grant and MOE Tier-1 grants (2014-T1-001-229-1T1-04/14 and L0421160-1T1-06/15), Singapore

Misfolded protein linked strategies toward biomarker development for neurodegenerative diseases

The progressive loss of structure and function of neurons causes various neurodegenerative diseases which need to be examined using measurable indicators, known as biomarkers. Proteins are the building blocks for the cell and are essential as they participate in many processes in the cells. When biologically essential proteins are impaired, it leads to devastating consequences in humans and mammals among which the most prominent is neurodegenerative disease. Proteins conform to three-dimensional structures to enable their functions. Besides, some proteins have the tendency to form self-assembly structures. When these self-assembly proteins assume abnormal conformation, they accumulate and cause pathological conditions. The genetic and molecular origins of protein misfolding in association with their relationship with neurodegeneration and aging are being studied to better understand and develop treatments. Accumulations of these misfolded proteins form aggregates which is considered as the most prominent cause of many neurodegenerative diseases. This article reviews the misfolded proteins in various neurodegenerative diseases and analyzes the diverse aspects of protein misfolding as a potential agent of biomarkers with an approach for finding an inhibitor for misfolding.Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)Nanyang Technological UniversityAuthor SK, PP, and BG like to acknowledge the support from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Start-Up Grant. KN likes to thank Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, for funding. We would like to thank Ms. Suzanne Danley (Department of Orthopedics, West Virginia University) for editing the manuscript