Identification of unknown filamentous fungi from willow wood and sorghum chips

Molecular biological methods are generally applied in the identification processes of microorganisms. We aimed to isolate numerous cellulolytic filamentous fungi strains from willow wood and sorghum chips, and attempted to identify them with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Modified Czapek-Dox medium was used with the addition of microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a source of carbon, in order to isolate cellulolytic filamentous fungi strains. Through sequence-based identification, representatives of the genera Trichoderma, Aspergillus and Fusarium were identified

Happy marriage across the evolution: co-operation of methanogenic archaea and anaerobic fungi

Four anaerobic fungi (AF) strains, isolated from faeces of anoa, giraffe, bison and moose, were assessed for their ability to degrade lignocellulosic biomass. The effects on biogas production of anaerobic fungi from these animal species were determined in two step batch experiments. The hydrolysis process during the AF incubation led to an initial increase of biogas production, an accelerated degradation of dry matter and an increased concentration of volatile fatty acids. Thus, a separate hydrolytic pre-treatment phase with anaerobic fungi, represents a feasible strategy to improve biogas production from lignocellulosic substrates

Evolutionarily conserved role and physiological relevance of a STX17/Syx17 (syntaxin 17)-containing SNARE complex in autophagosome fusion with endosomes and lysosomes.

Phagophores engulf cytoplasmic material and give rise to autophagosomes, double-membrane vesicles mediating cargo transport to lysosomes for degradation. The regulation of autophagosome fusion with endosomes and lysosomes during autophagy has remained poorly characterized. Two recent papers conclude that STX17/syntaxin 17 (Syx17 in Drosophila) has an evolutionarily conserved role in autophagosome fusion with endosomes and lysosomes, acting in one SNARE complex with SNAP29 (ubisnap in Drosophila) and the endosomal/lysosomal VAMP8 (CG1599/Vamp7 in Drosophila). Surprisingly, a third report suggests that STX17 might also contribute to proper phagophore assembly. Although several experiments presented in the two human cell culture studies yielded controversial results, the essential role of STX17 in autophagic flux is now firmly established, both in cultured cells and in an animal model. Based on these data, we propose that genetic inhibition of STX17/Syx17 may be a more specific tool in autophagic flux experiments than currently used drug treatments, which impair all lysosomal degradation routes and also inactivate MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), a major negative regulator of autophagy. Finally, the neuronal dysfunction and locomotion defects observed in Syx17 mutant animals point to the possible contribution of defective autophagosome clearance to various human diseases

Improving methane production from lignocellulosic biomass pre-treated with anaerobic fungi

Two anaerobic fungi (AF) strains, isolated from faeces of an elephant and of a sheep, were assessed for their ability to degrade lignocellulosic biomass. The effects on biogas production of anaerobic fungi from both animal species were determined in two step batch experiments. The hydrolysis process during the AF incubation led to an initial increase of biogas production, an accelerated degradation of dry matter and an increased concentration of volatile fatty acids. Thus, a separate hydrolytic pre-treatment phase with anaerobic fungi, represents a feasible strategy to improve biogas production from lignocellulosic substrates

Non‐Invasive Assessment of the Embryo Viability via the Analysis of the Culture Media

Infertility in recent years is a growing public health issue throughout the developed world. Assisted reproductive techniques, especially in vitro fertilization, have the potential to partially overcome the low natural reproductive ratio. Nowadays, single embryo transfer gains grounds in clinical practice, urging the development of more reliable methods for selecting the best embryo. In the traditional clinical practice, embryos are selected for transfer based on morphological evaluation. In vitro culturing of embryos also provides a very important material for further non‐invasive evaluation by means of examining a biomarker in the spent culture medium (SEC). Current measure methods concentrate on the metabolomic activity of the developing embryos none compounds. These studies are mainly utilizing the tools of modern analytics and proteomics. In a paper published by Montskó et al. in 2015, the alpha‐1 chain of the human haptoglobin molecule was described as a quantitative biomarker of embryo viability. In a series of retrospective, blind experiments achieved more than 50% success rate. This chapter summarizes the currently available metabolomic and proteomic approaches as the non‐invasive molecular assessment of embryo viability

Synthesis of Shape-Tailored WO3 Micro-/Nanocrystals and the Photocatalytic Activity of WO3/TiO2 Composites

A traditional semiconductor (WO3) was synthesized from different precursors via hydrothermal crystallization targeting the achievement of three different crystal shapes (nanoplates, nanorods and nanostars). The obtained WO3 microcrystals were analyzed by the means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). These methods contributed to the detailed analysis of the crystal morphology and structural features. The synthesized bare WO3 photocatalysts were totally inactive, while the P25/WO3 composites were efficient under UV light radiation. Furthermore, the maximum achieved activity was even higher than the bare P25's photocatalytic performance. A correlation was established between the shape of the WO3 crystallites and the observed photocatalytic activity registered during the degradation of different substrates by using P25/WO3 composites