Effect of quorum quenchers on virulence factors production and quorum sensing signalling pathway of non-mucoid, mucoid, and heavily mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Quorum quenching (QQ), a mechanism which inhibits, interferes or inactivates quorum sensing, has been investigated for control of biofilms instigated by quorum sensing process. Application of quorum quenchers (QQs) provides the possibility to investigate how different phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid, mucoid, and heavily mucoid strains) modulate their gene expression to form biofilms, their quorum sensing (QS) mediated biofilm to be formed, and their virulence expressed. The mRNA expression of the AHL-mediated QS circuit and AHL-mediated virulence factors in P. aeruginosa was investigated in presence of QQs. qPCR analysis showed that farnesol and tyrosol actively reduce the expression of the synthase protein, LasI and RhlI, and prevent production of 3OC12-HSL and C4-HSL, respectively. Also, the use of farnesol and tyrosol significantly moderated gene expression for exo-proteins toxA, aprA, LasB, as well as rhlAB, which are responsible for rhamnolipid production. Our findings were promising, identifying several suppressive regulatory effects of furanone and Candida albicans QS signal molecules, tyrosol, and farnesol on the AHL-mediated P. aeruginosa QS network and related virulence factors.

Antifungal effect of triclosan on Aspergillus fumigatus: quorum quenching role as a single agent and synergy with liposomal amphotericin-B.

The purpose of this research was to determine Aspergillus fumigatus conidial viability and its biofilm formation upon treatment with triclosan and amphotericin-B loaded liposomes. A. fumigatus was treated with the antimicrobials, triclosan and liposomal amphotericin-B (L-AMB), in single and combined supplementation. To quantify the cells' viability upon treatments, resazurin-based viability assay was performed. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was done by applying FUN-1 stain to screen the role of the agents on extracellular polymeric substances. Total A. fumigatus biomass upon treatments was estimated by using crystal violet-based assay. To study the agents' effect on the conidial viability, flow cytometry analysis was performed. Expression levels of A. fumigatus genes encoding cell wall proteins, α-(1,3)-glucans and galactosaminogalactan were analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. A synergistic interaction occurred between triclosan and L-AMB when they were added sequentially (triclosan + L-AMB) at their sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations, the triclosan and L-AMB MICs were dropped to 0.6 and 0.2 mg/L, respectively, from 2 to 1 mg/L. Besides, L-AMB and triclosan contributed to the down-regulation of α-(1,3)-glucan and galactosaminogalactan in A. fumigatus conidia and resulted in less conidia aggregation and mycelia adhesion to the biotic/abiotic surfaces; A. fumigatus conidia-became hydrophilic upon treatment, as a result of rodlet layer being masked by a hydrophilic layer or modified by the ionic strength of the rodlet layer. In A. fumigatus, the potential mechanisms of action for L-AMB might be through killing the cells and for triclosan through interrupting the cells' development as a consequence of quorum quenching.

Fungal Enzymes as Catalytic Tools for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Degradation.

The ubiquitous persistence of plastic waste in diverse forms and different environmental matrices is one of the main challenges that modern societies are facing at present. The exponential utilization and recalcitrance of synthetic plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), results in their extensive accumulation, which is a significant threat to the ecosystem. The growing amount of plastic waste ending up in landfills and oceans is alarming due to its possible adverse effects on biota. Thus, there is an urgent need to mitigate plastic waste to tackle the environmental crisis of plastic pollution. With regards to PET, there is a plethora of literature on the transportation route, ingestion, environmental fate, amount, and the adverse ecological and human health effects. Several studies have described the deployment of various microbial enzymes with much focus on bacterial-enzyme mediated removal and remediation of PET. However, there is a lack of consolidated studies on the exploitation of fungal enzymes for PET degradation. Herein, an effort has been made to cover this literature gap by spotlighting the fungi and their unique enzymes, e.g., esterases, lipases, and cutinases. These fungal enzymes have emerged as candidates for the development of biocatalytic PET degradation processes. The first half of this review is focused on fungal biocatalysts involved in the degradation of PET. The latter half explains three main aspects: (1) catalytic mechanism of PET hydrolysis in the presence of cutinases as a model fungal enzyme, (2) limitations hindering enzymatic PET biodegradation, and (3) strategies for enhancement of enzymatic PET biodegradation.

Quorum quenchers affect the virulence regulation of non-mucoid, mucoid and heavily mucoid biofilms co-cultured on cell lines.

Biofilm formation conferring pathogenicity is a survival strategy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa's virulence may differ due to differences in host-microbe interactions and the growth environment. The epithelial cell line within the respiratory system and the keratinocytes on the skin form the first physical barrier of defence. P. aeruginosa spp. biofilm formation and virulence factor secretion with and without quorum quenching (QQ) treatment was studied in co-culture using A549 and HaCaT cell lines; pyocyanin and rhamnolipid productions and elastolytic activity as virulence factors were quantified by independent assays. Biofilm formation was evaluated under dynamic conditions by quantifying total carbohydrates, alginate, proteins and eDNA. A sandwich ELISA was performed to study IL-8 secretion by the epithelial cells. The difference in gene expression of the quorum sensing (QS) and virulence factors between strains during individual and combination treatments was analysed by qPCR. Combination treatment by farnesol and tyrosol was more effective against P. aeruginosa biofilms when grown in co-cultures. The strain RBHi was found to be 3 to 4 times more virulent compared to PAO1 and NCTC 10,662, respectively, and combination treatment was more effective against RBHi strain when grown in co-culture with A549 cell line. The addition of quorum quenchers (QQs) individually and in combination reduced IL-8 secretion by A549 cells. Relative mRNA expression showed upregulation of the QS genes and virulence factors. Co-culture of P. aeruginosa and HaCaT cell line showed a general decrease in gene expression, especially in the case of P. aeruginosa RBHi when treated with farnesol and tyrosol combination.Key points• Differentiating the interactions of biofilm formed by different phenotypes of P. aeruginosa, NCTC 10,662 (non-mucoid), PAO1 (semi mucoid) and RBHi (heavily mucoid).• Biofilm formed by these P. aeruginosa strains on two commonly afflicted tissues represented by A549 (lung) and HaCaT (skin) cell lines.• Anti-biofilm/anti-virulence roles of quorum quenchers, tyrosol and farnesol in co-cultures.

Characterization of a biosurfactant producing electroactive Bacillus sp. for enhanced Microbial Fuel Cell dye decolourisation.

A biosurfactant producing Gram positive bacterium isolated from anodic biofilm of textile wastewater fed MFC was identified as Bacillus sp. MFC (Accession number: MT322244). Scanning Electron Microscopy of the bacterium showed appendages, the bacterium forms biofilm on Congo red agar medium. The obtained results showed that the addition of 5 mg/l endogenous biosurfactant to the bacterial cells resulted in 19-fold increase in bacterial surface-bound exopolysaccharides (EPS) and 1.94-fold increase in biofilm. However, when the biosurfactant concentration increased to 20 and 40 mg/l, EPS and biofilm decreased and the cells lost their colony forming ability. The dielectric properties of the bacterial cells showed increase in conductivity and relative permittivity with increasing biosurfactant concentrations. The shape of the voltammogram currents peak, their location and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) suggest the involvement of biofilm as direct electron transfer pathway. The average voltage obtained was 0.65 V as compared to 0.45 V for the control MFC. Decolourization was tested for Congo red in a double chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), the results showed 2-fold increase in decolourization when biosurfactant is added post biofilm formation. The results confirm that Bacillus sp. MFC possess electrogenic properties and that adding low concentrations of endogenous biosurfactant to 24 h biofilm accelerates electron transfer by inducing perforations in the cell wall and increasing EPS as an electron transfer transient medium. Therefore, MFC performance can be enhanced.

Role of quorum sensing and chemical communication in fungal biotechnology and pathogenesis.

Microbial cells do not live in isolation in their environment, but rather they communicate with each other using chemical signals. This sophisticated mode of cell-to-cell signalling, known as quorum sensing, was first discovered in bacteria, and coordinates the behaviour of microbial population behaviour in a cell-density-dependent manner. More recently, these mechanisms have been described in eukaryotes, particularly in fungi, where they regulate processes such as pathogenesis, morphological differentiation, secondary metabolite production and biofilm formation. In this manuscript, we review the information available to date on these processes in yeast, dimorphic fungi and filamentous fungi. We analyse the diverse chemical 'languages' used by different groups of fungi, their possible cross-talk and interkingdom interactions with other organisms. We discuss the existence of these mechanisms in multicellular organisms, the ecophysiological role of QS in fungal colonisation and the potential applications of these mechanisms in biotechnology and pathogenesis.

Laccase from Aspergillus niger: A novel tool to graft multifunctional materials of interests and their characterization.

In the present study, we propose a green route to prepare poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [(P(3HB)] grafted ethyl cellulose (EC) based green composites with novel characteristics through laccase-assisted grafting. P(3HB) was used as a side chain whereas, EC as a backbone material under ambient processing conditions. A novel laccase obtained from Aspergillus niger through its heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a green catalyst for grafting purposes without the use of additional initiator and/or cross-linking agents. Subsequently, the resulting P(3HB)-g-EC composites were characterized using a range of analytical and imagining techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra showed an increase in the hydrogen-bonding type interactions between the side chains of P(3HB) and backbone material of EC. Evidently, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a decrease in the crystallinity of the P(3HB)-g-EC composites as compared to the pristine individual polymers. A homogeneous P(3HB) distribution was also achieved in case of the graft composite prepared in the presence of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) as a mediator along with laccase as compared to the composite prepared using pure laccase alone. A substantial improvement in the thermal and mechanical characteristics was observed for grafted composites up to the different extent as compared to the pristine counterparts. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the grafted composites were better than those of the pristine counterparts.

A novel antifungal property for the Bacillus licheniformis ComX pheromone and its possible role in inter-kingdom cross-talk.

Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) regulate, through a chemical communication process, multiple complex systems in bacterial and some fungal populations on the basis of cell density. The bacterial QSMs involved in inter-kingdom cross-talk may exhibit antagonistic activity against fungi. This provides an important opportunity for biocontrol of fungal invasion in plants. It has been shown that cultures of Bacillus spp. inhibit fungal growth. Here, we explore the inhibitory potential of the industrial workhorse Bacillus licheniformis NCIMB-8874 and its QSM (ComX pheromone) on the growth of Aspergillus flavus, a cereal, legume, and nut crop pathogen. Our studies show that ComX filtered extracts from cultures of B. licheniformis can cause a significant reduction in the growth of A. flavus NRRL 3357 and ESP 15 at a concentration as low as 13 µg ml-1. This work evidences, for the first time, the inter-kingdom utility of the bacterial quorum sensing ComX pheromone indicating potential antifungal food security against A. flavus.

Drug Delivery and Cosmeceutical Applications of Poly- Lactic Acid Based Novel Constructs - A Review.

BACKGROUND: Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) based novel constructs have been engineered for targeted applications in various biomedical sectors of the modern world. In this context, a special focus has been given to pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. METHODS: In this review, we extensively reviewed, analyzed and compiled salient information from the authentic bibliographic sources including PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, Bentham Science and other scientific databases. A focused review question and inclusion/exclusion criterion were adopted to appraise the quality of retrieved peer-reviewed research literature. RESULTS: Recently, bio-based constructs are being engineered for target applications in different bio- and non-bio sectors of the modern world to address the growing human health-related serious concerns. The utilization of properly designed and structured materials thus allows the creation of a well-defined environment that induces a series of directed measures, and so on. Over the last few years, PLA-based novel constructs have received exceptional attention as potential candidates for various biotechnological and biomedical applications at large and drug delivery in particular. Owing to their unique characteristics including biocompatibility, together with the adjustable thermomechanical and tunable control drug release, PLA has raised interesting applications in many sectors of the medical world. So far, many of such PLA-based bio-constructs have been exploited in drug delivery systems, cosmeceutical products, and therapeutic uses. In recent years, many new applications have been reported for PLA-based materials at the micro- and nano- level, resulting in novel requests for specific drug delivery and cosmeceutical sectors. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this review summarizes recent research on different aspects of PLA and PLA-based novel constructs and their potential biomedical applications. Moreover, with the aid of nanotechnology, PLA has made a positive impact in emerging sectors such as cosmetics, drug delivery technologies, and healthcare advances.

Reply to the Comment on "Melanisation of Aspergillus terreus-Is Butyrolactone I Involved in the Regulation of Both DOPA and DHN Types of Pigments in Submerged Culture? Microorganisms 2017, 5, 22".

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Melanisation of Aspergillus terreus-Is Butyrolactone I Involved in the Regulation of Both DOPA and DHN Types of Pigments in Submerged Culture?

Pigments and melanins of fungal spores have been investigated for decades, revealing important roles in the survival of the fungus in hostile environments. The key genes and the encoded enzymes for pigment and melanin biosynthesis have recently been found in Ascomycota, including Aspergillus spp. In Aspergillus terreus, the pigmentation has remained mysterious with only one class of melanin biogenesis being found. In this study, we examined an intriguing, partially annotated gene cluster of A. terreus strain NIH2624, utilizing previously sequenced transcriptome and improved gene expression data of strain MUCL 38669, under the influence of a suggested quorum sensing inducing metabolite, butyrolactone I. The core polyketide synthase (PKS) gene of the cluster was predicted to be significantly longer on the basis of the obtained transcriptional data, and the surrounding cluster was positively regulated by butyrolactone I at the late growth phase of submerged culture, presumably during sporulation. Phylogenetic analysis of the extended PKS revealed remarkable similarity with a group of known pigments of Fusarium spp., indicating a similar function for this PKS. We present a hypothesis of this PKS cluster to biosynthesise a 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-type of pigment during sporulation with the influence of butyrolactone I under submerged culture.

Genomic and molecular characterization of a novel quorum sensing molecule in Bacillus licheniformis.

Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) are involved in the regulation of complicated processes helping bacterial populations respond to changes in their cell-density. Although the QS gene cluster (comQXPA) has been identified in the genome sequence of some bacilli, the QS system B. licheniformis has not been investigated in detail, and its QSM (ComX pheromone) has not been identified. Given the importance of this antagonistic bacterium as an industrial workhorse, this study was aimed to elucidate B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 QS. The results obtained from bioinformatics studies on the whole genome sequence of this strain confirmed the presence of essential quorum sensing-related genes. Although polymorphism was verified in three proteins of this cluster, ComQ, precursor-ComX and ComP, the transcription factor ComA was confirmed as the most conserved protein. The cell-cell communication of B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 was investigated through further elucidation of the ComX pheromone as 13-amino acid peptide. The peptide sequence of the pheromone has been described through biochemical characterisation.

Transcriptomic Complexity of Aspergillus terreus Velvet Gene Family under the Influence of Butyrolactone I.

Filamentous fungi of the Ascomycota phylum are known to contain a family of conserved conidiation regulating proteins with distinctive velvet domains. In Aspergilli, this velvet family includes four proteins, VeA, VelB, VelC and VosA, and is involved in conidiation and secondary metabolism along with a global regulator LaeA. In A. terreus, the overexpression of LaeA has been observed to increase the biogenesis of the pharmaceutically-important secondary metabolite, lovastatin, while the role of the velvet family has not been studied. The secondary metabolism and conidiation of A. terreus have also been observed to be increased by butyrolactone I in a quorum-sensing manner. An enlightenment of the interplay of these regulators will give potential advancement to the industrial use of this fungus, as well as in resolving the pathogenic features. In this study, the Aspergillus terreus MUCL 38669 transcriptome was strand-specifically sequenced to enable an in-depth gene expression analysis to further investigate the transcriptional role of butyrolactone I in these processes. The sequenced transcriptome revealed intriguing properties of the velvet family transcripts, including the regulator laeA, and uncovered the velC gene in A. terreus. The reliability refining microarray gene expression analysis disclosed a positive regulatory role for butyrolactone I in laeA expression, as well as an influence on the expression of the canonical conidiation-regulating genes under submerged culture. All of this supports the suggested regulative role of butyrolactone I in A. terreus secondary metabolism, as well as conidiation.

The role of riboflavin in decolourisation of Congo red and bioelectricity production using Shewanella oneidensis-MR1 under MFC and non-MFC conditions.

Dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria can exchange electrons extracellularly and hold great promise for their use in simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity production. This study investigated the role of riboflavin, an electron carrier, in the decolourisation of Congo red in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model organism. The contribution of the membrane-bound protein MtrC to the decolourisation process was also investigated. Within the range of riboflavin concentrations tested, 20 µM was found to be the best with >95% of the dye (initial concentration 200 mg/L) decolourised in MFCs within 50 h compared to 90% in the case where no riboflavin was added. The corresponding maximum power density was 45 mW/m2. There was no significant difference in the overall decolourisation efficiencies of Shewanela oneidensis MR-1 ΔMtrC mutants compared to the wild type. However, in terms of power production the mutant produced more power (Pmax 76 mW/m2) compared to the wild type (Pmax 46 mW/m2) which was attributed to higher levels of riboflavin secreted in solution. Decolourisation efficiencies in non-MFC systems (anaerobic bottles) were similar to those under MFC systems indicating that electricity generation in MFCs does not impair dye decolourisation efficiencies. The results suggest that riboflavin enhances both decolourisation of dyes and simultaneous electricity production in MFCs.

Development of bio-composites with novel characteristics: Evaluation of phenol-induced antibacterial, biocompatible and biodegradable behaviours.

This paper describes a laccase-assisted grafting of gallic acid (GA) and thymol (T) as functional entities onto the previously developed P(3HB)-g-EC composite. GA-g-P(3HB)-g-EC and T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC bio-composites were prepared by laccase-assisted free radical-induced graft polymerisation of GA and T onto the P(3HB)-g-EC based composite using surface dipping and incorporation technique. The results of the antibacterial evaluation for the prepared composites indicated that 15GA-g-P(3HB)-g-EC, 15T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC and 20T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC composites possessed the strongest bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis NCTC 3610 and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 and Gram-negative Escherichia coli NTCT 10418 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10662 strains. In this study, we have also tested GA-g-P(3HB)-g-EC and T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC bio-composites for their ability to support and maintain multilineage differentiation of human keratinocyte-like (HaCaT) skin cells in-vitro. From the cytotoxicity results, the tested composites showed 100% viability and did not induce any adverse effect on a HaCaT's morphology. Finally, in soil burial evaluation, a progressive increase in the degradation rate of GA-g-P(3HB)-g-EC and T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC bio-composites was recorded with the passage of time up to 6 weeks. In summary, our current findings suggest that GA-g-P(3HB)-g-EC and T-g-P(3HB)-g-EC bio-composites are promising candidates for biomedical type applications such as skin regeneration, multiphasic tissue engineering and/or medical implants.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-ethyl cellulose based bio-composites with novel characteristics for infection free wound healing application.

A series of bio-composites including poly3-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)] grafted ethyl cellulose (EC) stated as P(3HB)-EC were successfully synthesised. Furthermore, natural phenols e.g., p-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and ferulic acid (FA) were grafted onto the newly developed P(3HB)-EC-based bio-composites under laccase-assisted environment without the use of additional initiators or crosslinking agents. The phenol grafted bio-composites were critically evaluated for their antibacterial and biocompatibility features as well as their degradability in soil. In particular, the results of the antibacterial evaluation for the newly developed bio-composites indicated that 20HBA-g-P(3HB)-EC and 15FA-g-P(3HB)-EC bio-composites exerted strong bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity against Gram(-)E. coli NTCT 10418 as compared to the Gram(+)B. subtilis NCTC 3610. This study shows further that at various phenolic concentrations the newly synthesised bio-composites remained cytocompatible with human keratinocyte-like HaCaT skin cells, as 100% cell viability was recorded, in vitro. As for the degradation, an increase in the degradation rate was recorded during the soil burial analyses over a period of 42 days. These findings suggest that the reported bio-composites have great potential for use in wound healing; covering the affected skin area which may favour tissue repair over shorter periods.

Dual production of biopolymers from bacteria.

Rapid depletion of natural resources with continued demands of an increasing population and high consumption rates of today's world will cause serious problems in the future. This, along with environmental concerns, has directed research towards finding alternatives in variety of sectors including sustainable and environmentally friendly consumer goods. Biopolymers of bacterial origin, with their vast range of applications, biodegradability and eco-friendly manufacturing processes, are one of the alternatives for a more sustainable future. However, the cost of their production is a drawback. Simultaneous production processes have always been an option for researchers in order to reduce cost, but the variable requirements of microorganisms to produce both different and valuable products are a hindering factor. This review will look at some examples and identify ideas towards developing a successful strategy for simultaneous production of bio-products.

The effect of salinity, redox mediators and temperature on anaerobic biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in microbial fuel cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) need to be robust if they are to be applied in the field for bioremediation. This study investigated the effect of temperature (20-50°C), salinity (0.5-2.5% (w/v) as sodium chloride), the use of redox mediators (riboflavin and anthraquinone-2-sulphonate, AQS) and prolonged fed-batch operation (60 days) on biodegradation of a petroleum hydrocarbon mix (i.e. phenanthrene and benzene) in MFCs. The performance criteria were degradation efficiency, % COD removal and electrochemical performance. Good electrochemical and degradation performance were maintained up to a salinity of 1.5% (w/v) but deteriorated by 35-fold and 4-fold respectively as salinity was raised to 2.5%w/v. Degradation rates and maximum power density were both improved by approximately 2-fold at 40°C compared to MFC performance at 30°C but decreased sharply by 4-fold when operating temperature was raised to 50°C. The optimum reactor performance obtained at 40°C was 1.15 mW/m(2) maximum power density, 89.1% COD removal and a degradation efficiency of 97.10%; at moderately saline (1% w/v) conditions the maximum power density was 1.06 mW/m(2), 79.1% COD removal and 91.6% degradation efficiency. This work suggests the possible application of MFC technology in the effective treatment of petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated site and refinery effluents.

Laccase-assisted grafting of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) onto the bacterial cellulose as backbone polymer: development and characterisation.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits high purity, mechanical strength and an ultra-fine fibrous 3-D network structure with bio-compatible and bio-degradable characteristics, while P(3 HB) are a bio-degradable matrix material derived from natural resources. Herein, we report a mild and eco-friendly fabrication of indigenously isolated P(3 HB) based novel composites consisting of BC (a straight-chain polysaccharide) as a backbone polymer and laccase was used as a grafting tool. The resulting composites were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) and water contact angle analyser (WCA). The FTIR spectra of the pure P(3 HB) and P(3 HB) containing graft composites [P(3 HB)-g-BC] showed their strong characteristic bands at 3358 cm(-1), 1721 cm(-1) and 1651 cm(-1), respectively. A homogenous dispersion of P(3 HB) in the backbone polymer of BC was achieved as evident by the SEM micrographs. XRD pattern for P(3 HB) showed distinct peaks at 2θ values that represent the crystalline nature of P(3 HB). While, in comparison with those of neat P(3 HB), the degree of crystallinity for P(3 HB)-g-BC decreased and this reduction is mainly because of the new cross-linking of P(3 HB) within the backbone polymer that changes the morphology and destroys the crystallites. Laccase-assisted graft composite prepared from P(3 HB) and BC was fairly flexible and strong, judged by the tensile strength (64.5 MPa), elongations at break (15.7%), and Young's modulus (0.98 GPa) because inherently high strength of BC allowed the mechanical properties of P(3 HB) to improve in the P(3 HB)-g-BC composite. The hydrophilic property of the P(3 HB)-g-BC was much better than that of the individual counterparts which is also a desired characteristic to enhance the biocompatibility of the materials for proper cell adhesion and proliferation.

Proteomics analysis of Bacillus licheniformis in response to oligosaccharides elicitors.

The role of oligosaccharides as biotic elicitors has been recognised in the enhanced production of antibiotics from fungal and bacterial cultures. The yield of bacitracin A in cultures of Bacillus licheniformis was increased after supplementation with oligoguluronate (OG), and mannan oligosaccharides (MO) and its mechanism at transcription level been established already. However, the elicitation mechanism at post transcriptional level has not been reported so far. In this paper we investigate changes in proteomics of B. licheniformis in presence of the oligosaccharide elicitors OG and MO. Differentially expressed proteins were examined using 2D-PAGE stained with colloidal Coomassie and were further identified by LC-MS/MS. We identified 19 differentially expressed proteins including those involved in carbon metabolism, energy generation, amino acid biosynthesis, oxidative and general stress response. The novel findings of this work, together with previous reports, contribute to the unravelling of the overall mechanism of elicitation in B. licheniformis cultures and reliability of the use of these elicitors for potential industrial application.