Control of malodorous hydrogen sulfide compounds using microbial fuel cell

In this study, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used to control malodorous hydrogen sulfide compounds generated from domestic wastewaters. The electricity production demonstrated a distinct pattern of a two-step increase during 170 h of system run: the first maximum current density was 118.6 ± 7.2 mA m^?2 followed by a rebound of current density increase, reaching the second maximum of 176.8 ± 9.4 mA m^?2. The behaviors of the redox potential and the sulfate level in the anode compartment indicated that the microbial production of hydrogen sulfide compounds was suppressed in the first stage, and the hydrogen sulfide compounds generated from the system were removed effectively as a result of their electrochemical oxidation, which contributed to the additional electricity production in the second stage. This was also directly supported by sulfur deposits formed on the anode surface, which was confirmed by analyses on those solids using a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy as well as an elemental analyzer. To this end, the overall reduction efficiencies for HS^? and H₂S_(g) were as high as 67.5 and 96.4 %, respectively. The correlations among current density, redox potential, and sulfate level supported the idea that the electricity signal generated in the MFC can be utilized as a potential indicator of malodor control for the domestic wastewater system.     

Hyaluronan synthesis in cultured tobacco cells (BY‐2) expressing a chlorovirus enzyme: Cytological studies

Extraction of hyaluronan from animals or microbial fermentation has risks including contamination with pathogens and microbial toxins. In this work, tobacco cultured‐cells (BY‐2) were successfully transformed with a chloroviral hyaluronan synthase (cvHAS) gene to produce hyaluronan. Cytological studies revealed accumulation of HA on the cells, and also in subcellular fractions (protoplasts, miniplasts, vacuoplasts, and vacuoles). Transgenic BY‐2 cells harboring a vSPO‐cvHAS construct containing the vacuolar targeting signal of sporamin connected to the N‐terminus of cvHAS accumulated significant amounts of HA in vacuoles. These results suggested that cvHAS successfully functions on the vacuolar membrane and synthesizes/transports HA into vacuoles. Efficient synthesis of HA using this system provides a new method for practical production of HA. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1174–1179. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Novel p16 binding peptide development for p16‐overexpressing cancer cell detection using phage display

Protein p^16INK4a (p16) is a well‐known biomarker for diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers. In this work, we identify novel p16 binding peptides by using phage display selection method. A random heptamer phage display library was screened on purified recombinant p16 protein‐coated plates to elute only the bound phages from p16 surfaces. Binding affinity of the bound phages was compared with each other by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence imaging technique, and bioinformatic computations. Binding specificity and binding selectivity of the best candidate phage‐displayed p16 binding peptide were evaluated by peptide blocking experiment in competition with p16 monoclonal antibody and fluorescence imaging technique, respectively. Five candidate phage‐displayed peptides were isolated from the phage display selection method. All candidate p16 binding phages show better binding affinity than wild‐type phage in ELISA test, but only three of them can discriminate p16‐overexpressing cancer cell, CaSki, from normal uterine fibroblast cell, HUF, with relative fluorescence intensities from 2.6 to 4.2‐fold greater than those of wild‐type phage. Bioinformatic results indicate that peptide ‘Ser‐His‐Ser‐Leu‐Leu‐Ser‐Ser’ binds to p16 molecule with the best binding score and does not interfere with the common protein functions of p16. Peptide blocking experiment shows that the phage‐displayed peptide ‘Ser‐His‐Ser‐Leu‐Leu‐Ser‐Ser’ can conceal p16 from monoclonal antibody interaction. This phage clone also selectively interacts with the p16 positive cell lines, and thus, it can be applied for p16‐overexpressing cell detection. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Activity of crude and fractionated extracts by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from local dairy,meat, and fermented products against Staphylococcus aureus

This study aimed to evaluate anti-staphylococcal properties of crude and fractionated extracts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from local meat, dairy, and fermented products. A total of 36 LAB isolates were obtained and identified via 16S rDNA sequencing. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) of all isolates exhibiting a statistically significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (ρ < 0.05), with six LAB isolates exhibiting a more prevalent inhibition. The inhibition effects of cell wall and intracellular extracts from the six prevalent isolates were evaluated. Lactobacillus plantarum USM8613 was the most prominent isolate with both CFS and cell wall extract exhibiting the most prevalent inhibition against S. aureus. Scanning electron micrographs showed alteration of S. aureus membrane morphology upon CFS treatment, suggesting an anti-staphylococcal effect via membrane destruction. Confocal laser scanning micrographs showed inhibition against biofilm formations by S. aureus in porcine skins upon CFS treatment. The CFS from L. plantarum USM8613 was separated into protein, lipid, and polysaccharide fractions for evaluation of anti-staphylococcal activity and chemical characterization. All fractions inhibited growth of S. aureus (ρ < 0.05), with protein fractions exhibiting stronger inhibition effect. Data from our present study showed that extracts from LAB could be applied as biopreservatives in the food industries and/or as an antimicrobial agent against bacterial infections for cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical uses.