Comparative modeling of DszC, an enzyme in biodesulfurization, and performing in silico point mutation for increasing tendency to oil

Desulfurization protein named DszC from Rhodococcus erythropolis is the key enzyme for biodesulforization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in 4S pathway, which is a pathway with four enzymes. DszC enzyme biodesulfurizes DBT and its derivatives in oil components and biphasic systems. It functions well at the oil- water interface. In this study point mutation performed in DszC enzyme regarding to increase protein hydrophobicity and stability for application in immobilized form. 3D model of DszC predicted using Phyre2, SAM-T08 and M4t servers. I-Mutant 2 server used to determine potential spots for point mutation, and Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) used for performing point mutation on 3D model. Hydrophobicity plots generated by Bioedit version 7.0.8.0 in Kyte-Doolittle scale indicated that protein hydrophobicity is increased after mutation. Also protein stability increased 26.11 units in scale of DDC2

Characteristics of dibenzothiophene desulfurization by Rhodococcus erythropolis R1 and its Dsz-negative mutant

Introduction: Biodesulfurization is used as a selective method for lowering the sulfur content of petroleum products. Materials and methods: A sulfur-oxidation bacterial strain named Rhodococcus erythropolis R1 (NCBI GenBank Accession No. GU570564) was used in this study for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Results: The induced culture of strain R1 was able to produce 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2- HBP) from DBT followed 4S pathway without further degrading carbon backbone. This process confirmed by gas chromatography (GC) analysis. The specific activity of DBT desulfurization by R1 was 45 µM (g dry wt)-1 h-1. The addition of Tween 80 as surfactant and glycerol as carbon source determines a 100% rate of DBT-desulfurization during 3 days. The heavy plasmid detected in R1 strain carries dsz genes responsible for biodesulfurization of DBT that was shown by PCR reaction. The mutant strains which had lost this plasmid also had lost desulfurization phenotype. Both mutant and wild strain were sensitive to high concentration of 2-HBP and some antibiotics. Discussion and conclusion: Strain R1 desulfurize DBT through the sulfur-specific degradation pathway or 4S pathway with the selective cleavage of carbon-sulfur (C-S) bonds without reducing the energy content. Addition of surfactant enhanced the desulfurization of DBT by increasing its bioavailability and also could improve the growth and desulfurization rate. The location of desulfurization genes was on a heavy plasmid in strain R1. Based on the results of this study, R. erythropolis R1 could serve as a model system for efficient biodesulfurization of petroleum oil without reducing the energy value

Bacillales: From Taxonomy to Biotechnological and Industrial Perspectives

first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessReview Bacillales: From Taxonomy to Biotechnological and Industrial Perspectives by Sharareh Harirchi 1 [ORCID] , Taner Sar 1 [ORCID] , Mohaddaseh Ramezani 2, Habibu Aliyu 3 [ORCID] , Zahra Etemadifar 4 [ORCID] , Seyed Ali Nojoumi 5,6 [ORCID] , Fatemeh Yazdian 7, Mukesh Kumar Awasthi 8 [ORCID] and Mohammad J. Taherzadeh 1,* [ORCID] 1 Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden 2 Microorganisms Bank, Iranian Biological Resource Centre (IBRC), Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran 3 Institute of Process Engineering in Life Science II: Technical Biology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany 4 Department of Cell and Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 8174673441, Iran 5 Microbiology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran 6 Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran 7 Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439957131, Iran 8 College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3#, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2355; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122355 Received: 26 October 2022 / Revised: 18 November 2022 / Accepted: 21 November 2022 / Published: 28 November 2022 (This article belongs to the Section Microbial Biotechnology) Download Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract For a long time, the genus Bacillus has been known and considered among the most applicable genera in several fields. Recent taxonomical developments resulted in the identification of more species in Bacillus-related genera, particularly in the order Bacillales (earlier heterotypic synonym: Caryophanales), with potential application for biotechnological and industrial purposes such as biofuels, bioactive agents, biopolymers, and enzymes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the taxonomy, growth requirements and physiology, genomics, and metabolic pathways in the highly diverse bacterial order, Bacillales, will facilitate a more robust designing and sustainable production of strain lines relevant to a circular economy. This paper is focused principally on less-known genera and their potential in the order Bacillales for promising applications in the industry and addresses the taxonomical complexities of this order. Moreover, it emphasizes the biotechnological usage of some engineered strains of the order Bacillales. The elucidation of novel taxa, their metabolic pathways, and growth conditions would make it possible to drive industrial processes toward an upgraded functionality based on the microbial nature

Hemiballismus, Hyperphagia, and Behavioral Changes following Subthalamic Infarct

The function of subthalamic nucleus (STN) which is a part of the basal ganglia system is not clear, but it is hypothesized that this component might be involved in action selection. Unilateral damage to STN, which can commonly occur due to the small vessel stroke mainly, causes hemiballismus and sometimes hemichorea-hemiballismus. This paper deals with a 60-year-old patient with sudden onset of abnormal movements in his right limbs. He had increased appetite and hyperphagia and also developed mood and behavioral changes (aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, and sometimes obscene speech). The magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarct area in left subthalamus. In our case, hemiballismus is caused by infarction in left subthalamic area. Occurrence of irritability, anxiety, and some behavioral changes such as aggressiveness and obscene speech can be explained by impairment of STN role in nonmotor behavior and cognitive function as a result of infarct

Therapeutic effects of Ventolin versus hypertonic saline 3% for acute bronchiolitis in children.

BACKGROUND Complications of Ventolin as the most common drug used for bronchiolitis are widely known. The present study was conducted to determine the efficacy of hypertonic saline 3%, compared with Ventolin, for treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children. METHODS This double-blinded clinical trial study was conducted in Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord, Iran, from 2011 to 2012. A total of 70 patients under the age of two years with bronchiolitis were divided into two groups of 35 each. Ventolin nebulizer and hypertonic saline 3% nebulizer three times per day were administered in the first (Ventolin) and second (Hypersaline) group, respectively. The length of recovery was compared between the two groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) using chi-square, t-test, paired t-test, and Mann-Whitney. RESULTS The mean±SD length of recovery was 4.14±0.9 and 3.06±0.6 in the Ventolin and hypersaline groups, respectively. The mean duration of recovery was significantly lower in the hypersaline group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Hypertonic saline 3% nebulizer has more pleasant therapeutic effects on acute bronchiolitis than Ventolin. Therefore, use of hypertonic saline 3% nebulizer is recommended for the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children under two years old

Effects of a Designed Discharge Plan on Anxiety and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Replacement

Background & Objective: Anxiety is the most common issue in the candidates of surgical heart valve replacement. The length of hospital stay in these patients is economically and organizationally important as a predictor of their recovery from acute physical conditions. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a designed discharge plan on anxiety and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing heart valve replacement. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 65 candidates of heart valve replacement in Chamran Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, who were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, the designed discharge plan was implemented and continued one month after discharge via phone follow-up. Length of hospital stay and anxiety were analyzed before the intervention and one and three months after discharge in both groups in SPSS. Results: ANOVA indicated that the mean anxiety in the study groups was significantly different at different times (P0.05). Conclusion: The designed discharge plan reduced anxiety in the patients, while its effect on the length of hospital stay requires further investigation. Therefore, it is recommended that the discharge program be used as an effective approach to maintaining care in patients undergoing heart valve replacement. Keywords: Discharge Plan, Anxiety, Hospitalization, Heart Valve Replacemen

Solid-State Fermentation from Dried Sweet Sorghum Stalk for Bioethanol Production

Abstract: Due to depletion of global crude oil, countries are interested to alternate fuel energy resources. Presently bioethanol as a source of energy has been a subject of great interest for the industrialized countries. Therefore, there is a need for efficient bioethanol production with low cost raw material and production process. Among energy crops, sweet sorghum is the best candidate for bioethanol production. It has been identified as having higher drought tolerance, lower input cost and higher biomass yield than other energy crops. In addition it has a wide adaptability and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Water requirement of sweet sorghum is one third of sugarcane and one half of corn that are currently used for bioethanol production. Moreover due to the shortage of water in dry and hot countries, there is a need to reduce water requirements for bioethanol production and solid state fermentation could be the best process for making bioethanol in these countries. The purpose of this study was to achieve the highest ethanol yield with lowest amount of water in solid state fermentation using dry sweet sorghum stalks. Fermentation medium were: dry sweet sorghum powder with nutrient media, active yeast powder and different moisture contents. The fermentation medium was incubated for 48 to 96 hr.at 35 ºC temperature. The results showed sweet sorghum powder (15% w/w) fermented in medium containing 0.5% yeast inoculums, 60% moisture content and 72 hr. incubation period produced the highest ethanol yield of 12.16% w/w dry sweet sorghum powder

Effects of the surfactant Tween 80 on the growth and dibenzothiophene utilization by Exophiala spinifera isolated from oil- contaminated soil

Introduction: Oil is one of the most important energy sources that contain variety of organosulfur compounds that are combustible and can produce sulfur dioxide which will cause pollution over the atmosphere and the soil. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) is often used as a model for biodesulfurization studies and surfactant Tween80 increases the solubility of DBT in water that leads to higher consumption by microorganisms. Materials and methods: DBT specific UV spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 323 nm was used to evaluate the ability of isolated Exophiala spinifera fungus in removal of DBT. The effect of various concentrations of surfactant Tween80 on the growth of the fungus and DBT utilization was studied. Results: Exophiala spinifera was able to remove 100% DBT after 7 days of incubation at 30 &deg; C and 180 rpm shaking. The effect of different concentrations of surfactant Tween80 on growth and DBT utilization by this fungus was examined and it was observed that the presence of surfactant in the culture medium increased the growth and removal of DBT, therefore the amount of DBT utilized with 0.4% concentration of the surfactant was about 30% more than that utilized without surfactant. However, higher concentrations of surfactant Tween80 decreased the growth and consumption of DBT by fungi. Discussion and conclusion: Exophiala spinifera was isolated from oil contaminated soil and able to utilize toxic compound DBT as a sulfur source in the presence of other carbon sources such as glucose. So this isolated strain could be a good candidate for the petroleum desulfurization and it is the first report about desulfurization of DBT by fungus Exophiala spinifera. Growth and removal of DBT by fungus increased in the presence of surfactant Tween80. It can be concluded that the surfactant increases the total DBT transfer between the organic and aqueous phases and has a potential application in DBT bioremediation system by the studied fungus biocatalyst

Study of accosiation between male infertility and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma urealyticum infection

Background and Aim: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma urealyticum are the main cause of genital infections and infertility in both genders. However, there are few studies regarding N. gonorrhoeae in semen samples of infertile men. Therefore, the aim of this study was the prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae and U. urealyticum infection in infertile men. Materials and Methods: 100 samples were collected from two groups. The first group was 50 samples from men with abnormal semen analysis tests In Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center and the second was 50 samples from men with normal semen analysis tests in private laboratories. After analysis of semen quality, DNA was extracted from each sample by DNA MAX kit, then Samples were evaluated for these two pathogens by PCR. Results were statistically analyzed. Results: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and U. urealyticum was detected by around 2% and 26% in samples of infertile men, respectively. The rate of infection were 0% and 8% in control group, respectively. Our data revealed that there was a significant association between male infertility and U. urealyticum infection (p=0.031). However, there was not a significant relationship between male infertility and N. gonorrhoeae infection (p=1). There was also no significant relationship between age groups (p=0.38). Conclusions: Regarding the high frequency of N. gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in infertile men compared with the control samples, screening test seems to be valuable to detect U. urealyticum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection and prevent infertility in men