Bacillus subtilis as potential producer for polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes to overcome environmental stress. Commercial production of PHAs is limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. Another hindrance is the brittle nature and low strength of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most widely studied PHA. The needs are to produce PHAs, which have better elastomeric properties suitable for biomedical applications, preferably from inexpensive renewable sources to reduce cost. Certain unique properties of Bacillus subtilis such as lack of the toxic lipo-polysaccharides, expression of self-lysing genes on completion of PHA biosynthetic process – for easy and timely recovery, usage of biowastes as feed enable it to compete as potential candidate for commercial production of PHA

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Not AvailableDiscovery of plant growth regulators have materialized Haberlandt's concept of totipotency coined more than a century ago. A number of tissue culture based biotechniques are now possible due to the ability of growth regulators to influence morphogenesis. Physiological functions of most of the classical PGRs have been studied for decades, however, discovery of chemicals that interfere with synthesis, transport and action of endogenous growth regulators have further improved our knowledge regarding the role of these plant growth regulators in plant's growth and development. This review summarizes the role of such interfering and inhibiting compounds in in vitro growth and development of plantsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableA diverse array of growth regulators interact at the cellular level to produce physiological and morphological effects on plant growth, morphology and yield. The five conventional growth regulators viz. auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene are being used in plant cell, tissue and organ cultures for decades, while many of them, like non-purine cytokinins, polyamines, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, oligosaccharides, sterols, phosphoinositosides, salicylic acid and systemins, have recently been discovered and tested for their effects in vitro. However, many have not yet been examined for their effects on in vitro growth and development of plants. In this review, we attempted to summarize the progress that has been made over the past two decades towards understanding the role of non conventional PGRs in plant growth and development.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGrowth regulators, a diverse array of organic compounds, are critical components in determining developmental pathways in plants. They interact at the cellular level to produce physiological and morphological effects. Our understanding about transport, metabolism and mode of action of growth regulators in plants has considerably increased in the recent years. Discovery of the chemicals that interfere with synthesis, transport and action of endogenous growth regulators have further improved our knowledge regarding the role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in plant's growth and development. A number of PGRs are being used in plant cell, tissue and organ cultures for decades, while many of them have recently been discovered and tested for their effects in vitro. In this review, we attempted to summarize the remarkable progress that has been made over the past decades towards understanding PGRs. The progress is further improving our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of their action, and beginning to explain how PGRs not only have direct influence on cellular growth, but also control various aspects of plant's growth in vivo as well as in vitro.Not Availabl

Bacterial biofilm inhibitors: An overview

Bacteria that cause infectious diseases adopt biofilms as one of their most prevalent lifestyles. Biofilms enable bacteria to tolerate environmental stress and evade antibacterial agents. This bacterial defense mechanism has rendered the use of antibiotics ineffective for the treatment of infectious diseases. However, many highly drug-resistant microbes have rapidly emerged owing to such treatments. Different signaling mechanisms regulate bacterial biofilm formation, including cyclic dinucleotide (c-di-GMP), small non-coding RNAs, and quorum sensing (QS). A cell density-dependent phenomenon, QS is associated with c-di-GMP (a global messenger), which regulates gene expression related to adhesion, extracellular matrix production, the transition from the planktonic to biofilm stage, stability, pathogenicity, virulence, and acquisition of nutrients. The article aims to provide information on inhibiting biofilm formation and disintegrating mature/preformed biofilms. This treatment enables antimicrobials to target the free-living/exposed bacterial cells at lower concentrations than those needed to treat bacteria within the biofilm. Therefore, a complementary action of antibiofilm and antimicrobial agents can be a robust strategic approach to dealing with infectious diseases. Taken together, these molecules have broad implications for human health

Regulation of Plant Mineral Nutrition by Signal Molecules

Microbes operate their metabolic activities at a unicellular level. However, it has been revealed that a few metabolic activities only prove beneficial to microbes if operated at high cell densities. These cell density-dependent activities termed quorum sensing (QS) operate through specific chemical signals. In Gram-negative bacteria, the most widely reported QS signals are acylhomoserine lactones. In contrast, a novel QS-like system has been elucidated, regulating communication between microbes and plants through strigolactones. These systems regulate bioprocesses, which affect the health of plants, animals, and human beings. This mini-review presents recent developments in the QS and QS-like signal molecules in promoting plant health