Transcriptome Profiling of Cardiac Glycoside Treatment Reveals EGR1 and Downstream Proteins of MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) constitute a group of steroid-like compounds renowned for their effectiveness in treating cardiovascular ailments. In recent times, there has been growing recognition of their potential use as drug leads in cancer treatment. In our prior research, we identified three highly promising CG compounds, namely lanatoside C (LC), peruvoside (PS), and strophanthidin (STR), which exhibited significant antitumor effects in lung, liver, and breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic response of these CGs, with a particular focus on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. We conducted transcriptomic profiling and further validated the gene and protein expression changes induced by treatment through qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemical analysis. Additionally, we demonstrated the interactions between the ligands and target proteins using the molecular docking approach. The transcriptome analysis revealed a cluster of genes with potential therapeutic targets involved in cytotoxicity, immunomodulation, and tumor-suppressor pathways. Subsequently, we focused on cross-validating the ten most significantly expressed genes, EGR1, MAPK1, p53, CCNK, CASP9, BCL2L1, CDK7, CDK2, CDK2AP1, and CDKN1A, through qRT-PCR, and their by confirming the consistent expression pattern with RNA-Seq data. Notably, among the most variable genes, we identified EGR1, the downstream effector of the MAPK signaling pathway, which performs the regulatory function in cell proliferation, tumor invasion, and immune regulation. Furthermore, we substantiated the influence of CG compounds on translational processes, resulting in an alteration in protein expression upon treatment. An additional analysis of ligand-protein interactions provided further evidence of the robust binding affinity between LC, PS, and STR and their respective protein targets. These findings underscore the intense anticancer activity of the investigated CGs, shedding light on potential target genes and elucidating the probable mechanism of action of CGs in breast cancer.

Rhizosphere impacts bacterial community structure in the tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze.) estates of Darjeeling, India.

India contributes 28% of the world's tea production, and the Darjeeling tea of India is a world-famous tea variety known for its unique quality, flavour and aroma. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of bacterial communities in the tea rhizosphere of six different tea estates at different altitudes. The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphate were higher in the rhizosphere soils than the bulk soils, irrespective of the sites. Alpha and beta diversities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the bulk soil than in the rhizosphere. Among the identified phyla, the predominant ones were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria. At the genus level, only four out of 23 predominant genera (>1% relative abundance) could be classified, viz., Candidatus Solibacter (5.36 ± 0.36%), Rhodoplanes (4.87 ± 0.3%), Candidatus Koribacter (2.3 ± 0.67%), Prevotella (1.49 ± 0.26%). The rhizosphere effect was prominent from the significant depletion of more ASVs (n = 39) compared to enrichment (n = 11). The functional genes also exhibit a similar trend with the enrichment of N2 fixation genes, disease suppression and Acetoin synthesis. Our study reports that the rhizobiome of tea is highly selective by reducing the alpha and beta diversity while enriching the significant functional genes.

Attenuation of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formation by Rhodethrin: A combinatorial study with an antibiotic.

The nosocomial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis critically implicated in the hospital environment. Its major virulence attributes biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. The novel therapeutics are required to inhibit E. faecalis biofilm formation and virulence. Thus combinatorial and drug repurposing has been promising approaches to tackling biofilm-associated infections. Here, we have used a bacterium that produced indole terpenoid Rhodethrin (Rdn) with a combination of known antibiotic chloramphenicol (Chpl) against E. faecalis (ATCC 19433). The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values showed between 0.25 and 0.33 synergistic activities. The exopolysaccharides (EPSs) production significant decrease with Rdn (34.6 ± 4.6%), Chpl (31.0 ± 5.2%), and combination (Rdn-Chpl) (76.0 ± 4.5%) (p > 0.05). However, the biofilm interruption can attenuate of total biofilm was shown with Rdn (39.7 ± 5.1%), Chpl (32.6 ± 4.7%), and Rdn-Chpl (69.0 ± 5.3%), (p > 0.05). The microscopic observations reveal that the gradually unstructured biofilm architecture in E. faecalis. Furthermore, in silico, studies on biofilm-associated proteins (GelE, LuxS), virulence regulating (SprE), and cell division (FtsZ) have resulted in high and reasonable binding affinity, respectively. Thus, our results suggested that the synergism of Rdn-Chpl has the potential to function as a combinatorial antibiotic accelerates in treating vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis infections.

Bioprospecting of microbial enzymes: current trends in industry and healthcare.

Microbial enzymes have an indispensable role in producing foods, pharmaceuticals, and other commercial goods. Many novel enzymes have been reported from all domains of life, such as plants, microbes, and animals. Nonetheless, industrially desirable enzymes of microbial origin are limited. This review article discusses the classifications, applications, sources, and challenges of most demanded industrial enzymes such as pectinases, cellulase, lipase, and protease. In addition, the production of novel enzymes through protein engineering technologies such as directed evolution, rational, and de novo design, for the improvement of existing industrial enzymes is also explored. We have also explored the role of metagenomics, nanotechnology, OMICs, and machine learning approaches in the bioprospecting of novel enzymes. Overall, this review covers the basics of biocatalysts in industrial and healthcare applications and provides an overview of existing microbial enzyme optimization tools. KEY POINTS: • Microbial bioactive molecules are vital for therapeutic and industrial applications. • High-throughput OMIC is the most proficient approach for novel enzyme discovery. • Comprehensive databases and efficient machine learning models are the need of the hour to fast forward de novo enzyme design and discovery.

Alantolactone modulates the production of quorum sensing mediated virulence factors and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients and accounts for mortality worldwide. Quorum sensing (QS) and QS mediated biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa increase the severity of infection in the host. New and effective therapeutics are in high demand to eliminate Pseudomonas infections. The current study investigated the quorum quenching and biofilm inhibition properties of alantolactone (ATL) against P. aeruginosa PAO1. The production of key virulence factors and biofilm components were affected in bacteria when treated with sub-MIC of ATL and further validated by qRT-PCR studies. The anti-infective potential of ATL was corroborated in an in vivo model with improved survival of infected Caenorhabditis elegans and reduced bacterial colonization. In silico studies suggested the molecular interactions of ATL to QS proteins as stable. Finally, ATL was explored in the present study to inhibit QS pathways and holds the potential to develop into an effective anti-infective agent against P. aeruginosa.

Bioactive Microbial Metabolites in Cancer Therapeutics: Mining, Repurposing, and Their Molecular Targets.

The persistence and resurgence of cancer, characterized by abnormal cell growth and differentiation, continues to be a serious public health concern critically affecting public health, social life, and the global economy. Hundreds of putative drug molecules of synthetic and natural origin were approved for anticancer therapy in the last few decades. Although conventional anticancer treatment strategies have promising aspects, several factors such as their limitations, drug resistance, and side effects associated with them demand more effort in repositioning or developing novel therapeutic regimens. The rich heritage of microbial bioactive components remains instrumental in providing novel avenues for cancer therapeutics. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and fungi have a plethora of bioactive compounds, which received attention for their efficacy in cancer treatment targeting different pathways responsible for abnormal cell growth and differentiation. Yet the full potential remains underexplored to date, and novel compounds from such microbes are reported regularly. In addition, the advent of computational tools has further augmented the mining of microbial secondary metabolites and identifying their molecular targets in cancer cells. Furthermore, the drug-repurposing strategy has facilitated the use of approved drugs of microbial origin in regulating cancer cell growth and progression. The wide diversity of microbial compounds, different mining approaches, and multiple modes of action warrant further investigations on the current status of microbial metabolites in cancer therapeutics. Hence, in this review, we have critically discussed the untapped potential of microbial products in mitigating cancer progression. The review also summarizes the impact of drug repurposing in cancer therapy and discusses the novel avenues for future therapeutic drug development against cancer.

Biosynthesis of Silver Chloride Nanoparticles (AgCl-NPs) from Extreme Halophiles and Evaluation of Their Biological Applications.

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has gained an overwhelming interest due to their biological applications. However, NPs synthesis by pigmented extreme halophiles remains underexplored. The NPs synthesis using pigmented halophiles is inexpensive and less toxic than other processes. In this study, pigmented halophilic microorganisms (n = 77) were screened to synthesize silver chloride nanoparticles (AgCl-NPs) with silver nitrate as metal precursors, and their biological applications were assessed. The synthesis of AgCl-NPs was possible using the crude extract from cellular lysis (CECL) of six extreme halophiles. Two of the AgCl-NPs viz. AK2-NPs and MY6-NPs synthesized by the CECL of Haloferax alexandrinus RK_AK2 and Haloferax lucentense RK_MY6, respectively, exhibited antimicrobial, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. The surface plasmon resonance of the AgCl-NPs was determined with UV spectroscopy. XRD analysis of AK2-NPs and MY6-NPs confirmed the presence of silver in the form of chlorargyrite (silver chloride) having a cubic structure. The crystallite size of AK2-NPs and MY6-NPs, estimated with the Scherrer formula, was 115.81 nm and 137.50 nm. FTIR analysis verified the presence of diverse functional groups. Dynamic light-scattering analysis confirmed that the average size distribution of NPs was 71.02 nm and 117.36 nm for AK2-NPs and MY6-NPs, respectively, with monodisperse nature. The functional group in 1623-1641 cm-1 indicated the presence of protein ß-sheet structure and shifting of amino and hydroxyl groups from the pigmented CECL, which helps in capping and stabilizing nanoparticles. The study provides evidence that CECL of Haloferax species can rapidly synthesize NPs with unique characteristics and biological applications.

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station.

Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re-adaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long-term exposure to space/Mars-like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions.

Identification of Multi-Potent Protein Subtilisin A from halophilic bacterium Bacillus firmus VE2.

Screening of halophiles with antimicrobial activity in saltpan soil samples from Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, revealed isolate VE-2 as the most potent, identified as Bacillus firmus strain VE-2 through 16s rRNA gene sequencing. It had an optimum growth condition (OD 3.1) and antimicrobial protein (AMP) production (450 µg/mL) at 37 °C, pH 8, 25% NaCl, and 36 h incubation. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified AMP showed the molecular weight of 36 kDa. HPLC analysis of the purified AMP showed different amino acids, such as asparagines, alanine, lysine, proline, threonine, glycine, cysteine, serine, aspartic acid leucine, and valine. Further characterization and identification using FT-IR, 2D-PAGE, MALDI-TOF, and in-silico analysis showed that the isolated AMP had the highest similarity to Subtilisin-A. It showed antibacterial activity against clinical bacterial pathogens like S. aureus, S. pyogenes, C. diphtheria, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration of 2.5 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL and also against various fungal pathogens such as A. niger, A. flavus, C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis with the MIC and minimum fungicidal concentrations of 1.25-80 µg/mL. The purified AMP had excellent antioxidant potential, showed a scavenging effect against DPPH and Nitric oxide radicals, and displayed anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines with the IC50 values 53 µg/mL. Hence, the purified bioactive antimicrobial peptides (AMP) could also be used in anticancer therapies.

Sesamin and sesamolin rescues Caenorhabditis elegans from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection through the attenuation of quorum sensing regulated virulence factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen emerging as a public health threat owing to their multidrug resistance profiles. The quorum sensing systems of P. aeruginosa play a pivotal role in the regulation of virulence and act as the target for the development of alternative therapeutics. The study discussed about anti-quorum sensing and antibiofilm properties of lignans (sesamin and sesamolin) found in Sesamum indicum (L.) against P. aeruginosa. The effect of lignans, sesamin and sesamolin on LasR/RhlR mediated virulence factor production, biofilm formation and bacterial motility were studied. To elucidate the mechanism of action of lignans on QS pathways, QS gene expression and in depth in silico analysis were performed. Both the lignans exerted anti-quorum sensing activity at 75 µg/ml without affecting the growth of bacteria. SA and SO exhibited decreased production of virulence factors such as pyocyanin, proteases, elastase and chitinase. The important biofilm constituents of P. aeruginosa including alginate, exopolysaccharides and rhamnolipids were strongly affected by the lignans. Likewise, plausible mechanism of action of lignans were determined through the down regulation of QS regulated gene expression, molecular docking and molecular simulation studies. The in vitro analysis was supported by C. elegans infection model. SA and SO rescued pre-infected worms within 8 days of post infection and reduced the colonization of bacteria inside the intestine due to the anti-infective properties of lignans. The lignans exhibited profound action on Las pathway rather than Rhl which was elucidated through in vitro and in silico assays. In silico pharmacokinetic analysis portrayed the opportunities to employ ligands as potential therapeutics for human use. The deep insights into the anti-QS, anti-biofilm and mechanism of action of lignans can contribute to the development of novel anti-infectives against pseuodmonal infections.

Ubiquitousness of Haloferax and Carotenoid Producing Genes in Arabian Sea Coastal Biosystems of India.

This study presents a comparative analysis of halophiles from the global open sea and coastal biosystems through shotgun metagenomes (n = 209) retrieved from public repositories. The open sea was significantly enriched with Prochlorococcus and Candidatus pelagibacter. Meanwhile, coastal biosystems were dominated by Marinobacter and Alcanivorax. Halophilic archaea Haloarcula and Haloquandratum, predominant in the coastal biosystem, were significantly (p < 0.05) enriched in coastal biosystems compared to the open sea. Analysis of whole genomes (n = 23,540), retrieved from EzBioCloud, detected crtI in 64.66% of genomes, while cruF was observed in 1.69% Bacteria and 40.75% Archaea. We further confirmed the viability and carotenoid pigment production by pure culture isolation (n = 1351) of extreme halophiles from sediments (n = 410 × 3) sampling at the Arabian coastline of India. All red-pigmented isolates were represented exclusively by Haloferax, resistant to saturated NaCl (6 M), and had >60% G + C content. Multidrug resistance to tetracycline, gentamicin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol were also observed. Our study showed that coastal biosystems could be more suited for bioprospection of halophiles rather than the open sea.

Rhodethrin and Rubrivivaxin as potential source of anti-biofilm agents against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 19443).

Enterococcus faecalis is frequently present in the hospital environment and readily forms a biofilm that protects from antibiotics and resistance against environmental stress conditions, thereby increasing nosocomial chronic infections. This study aims to assess antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of two novel terpenoid derivatives Rhodethrin (Rdn) and Rubrivivaxin (Rbn) against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis strain (ATCC19443). Both terpenoids effectively prevent biofilm formation with >75% attenuation in cell biomass and significantly decrease the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) (p = 0.005) and besides their expansion on different surface media. The findings provide new evidence that such terpenoid derivatives could be developed as novel antibacterial drugs.

Metagenomic insights into the fungal assemblages of the northwest Himalayan cold desert.

Psychrophilic fungi are a critical biotic component in cold deserts that serves a central role in nutrient recycling and biogeochemical cycles. Despite their ecological significance, culture-independent studies on psychrophilic mycobiome are limited. In the present study, the fungal diversity patterns across the Drass, an Indian cold desert in the Himalaya, were indexed by targeted amplicon pyrosequencing (ITS). In the Drass dataset, Ascomycota was represented by 92 genera, while 22 genera represented Basidiomycota. The most abundant genus was Conocybe (20.46%). Most of the identified genera were reported in the literature to be prolific extracellular hydrolytic enzyme producers. To identify whether the Drass fungal assemblages share similarities to other cold deserts, these were further compared to Antarctic and Arctic cold deserts. Comparative analysis across the three cold deserts indicated the dominance of Dikarya (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). The observed alpha diversity, Shannon index as well as Pielou's evenness was highest in the Antarctic followed by Drass and Arctic datasets. The genera Malassezia, Preussia, Pseudogymnoascus, Cadophora, Geopora, Monodictys, Tetracladium, Titaea, Mortierella, and Cladosporium were common to all the cold deserts. Furthermore, Conocybe was represented predominantly in Drass. Interestingly, the genus Conocybe has not been previously reported from any other studies on Antarctic or Arctic biomes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fungal metagenome study in Drass soil. Our analysis shows that despite the similarities of low temperature among the cold deserts, a significant differential abundance of fungal communities prevails in the global cold deserts.

Anticancer and Antiviral Properties of Cardiac Glycosides: A Review to Explore the Mechanism of Actions.

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) have a long history of treating cardiac diseases. However, recent reports have suggested that CGs also possess anticancer and antiviral activities. The primary mechanism of action of these anticancer agents is by suppressing the Na+/k+-ATPase by decreasing the intracellular K+ and increasing the Na+ and Ca2+. Additionally, CGs were known to act as inhibitors of IL8 production, DNA topoisomerase I and II, anoikis prevention and suppression of several target genes responsible for the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, CGs were reported to be effective against several DNA and RNA viral species such as influenza, human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, coronavirus, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and Ebola virus. CGs were reported to suppress the HIV-1 gene expression, viral protein translation and alters viral pre-mRNA splicing to inhibit the viral replication. To date, four CGs (Anvirzel, UNBS1450, PBI05204 and digoxin) were in clinical trials for their anticancer activity. This review encapsulates the current knowledge about CGs as anticancer and antiviral drugs in isolation and in combination with some other drugs to enhance their efficiency. Further studies of this class of biomolecules are necessary to determine their possible inhibitory role in cancer and viral diseases.

Mosloflavone attenuates the quorum sensing controlled virulence phenotypes and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1: In vitro, in vivo and in silico approach.

Quorum sensing (QS) is the cell density dependent communication network which coordinates the production of pathogenic determinants in majority of pathogenic bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes hospital-acquired infections by virtue of its well-defined QS network. As the QS regulatory network in P. aeruginosa regulates the virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance, attenuating the QS system seems to be influential in developing next-generation anti-infective agents. In the current study, the QS attenuation potential of a flavonoid, mosloflavone was investigated against P. aeruginosa virulence and biofilm formation. Mosloflavone inhibited the pyocyanin production, LasB elastase and chitinase by 59.52 ±â€¯2.74, 35.90 ±â€¯4.34 and 61.18 ±â€¯5.52% respectively. The QS regulated biofilm formation and development was also reduced when supplemented with sub-MIC of mosloflavone. The gene expression studies of mosloflavone using RT-PCR depicted its ability to down-regulate the expression levels of QS regulated virulence genes such as lasI (60.64%), lasR (91.70%), rhlI (57.30%), chiC (90.20%), rhlA (47.87%), rhlR (21.55%), lasB (37.80%), phzM (42.40%), toxA (61.00%), aprA (58.4%), exoS (78.01%), algD (46.60%) and pelA (50.45%). The down-regulation of QS virulence phenotypes by mosloflavone could be attributed to its binding affinity with the QS regulatory proteins, LasR and RhlR by competitively inhibiting the binding of natural autoinducers as evidenced from simulation studies. Mosloflavone also exhibited promising potential in controlling bacterial infection in Caenorhabditis elegans model system, in vivo. The anti-biofilm and anti-QS potential of mosloflavone in the current study illustrated the candidature of mosloflavone as a promising biocide.

Effects of gut microbiome and obesity on the development, progression and prevention of cancer (Review).

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and it is estimated that the mortality rate of cancer will increase in the coming years. The etiology of the development and progression of cancer is multifactorial. Insights have been gained on the association between the human microbiome and tumor cell malignancy. A number of commensal microbe species are present in the human gut. They serve pivotal roles in maintaining several health and disease conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and diabetes. Known major factors involved in cancer development include age, hormone levels, alcohol consumption, diet, being overweight, obesity, and infections, regardless of the type of cancer. Therefore, the present review aims to discuss the relationship between the gut microbiome and obesity­associated malignancies, including colorectal, gastric and liver cancer. Obesity has been reported to contribute to the development of numerous types of cancer primarily caused by high fatty food intake. In addition, obesity­associated microbiome alterations can lead to cancer and its progression. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can alter the metabolite profile, whilst increasing the levels of toxins, such as Bacteroides fragilis toxin and colibactin and cytolethal distending toxin, which are responsible for oncogenesis. The present review provides insights into the impact of gut microbiome dysbiosis on the progression of different types of cancers associated with obesity. It also discusses possible strategies for preserving a healthy gut microbiome. Different pre­clinical and clinical models are available for studying cancer development downstream of gut microbiome dysbiosis. Furthermore, the role of metabolites or drugs employed in colorectal, gastric and liver cancer therapy would be discussed.

Transcriptome analysis revealed the synergism of novel rhodethrin inhibition on biofilm architecture, antibiotic resistance and quorum sensing inEnterococcus faecalis.

Enterococcus sp. emerged as an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen with the highest antibiotic resistance and mortality rate. Biofilm is problematic primarily since it is regulated by the global bacterial cell to cell communication mediated by the quorum sensing signaling system. Thus, potential natural antagonists in a novel drug formulation against biofilm-forming Enterococcus faecalis is critical. We used RNA-Seq to evaluate the effects of the novel molecule rhodethrin with chloramphenicol induced on Enterococcus faecalis and DEGs were identified. In transcriptome sequence analysis, a total of 448 with control Vs rhodethrin, 1591 were in control Vs chloramphenicol, 379 genes were DEGs from control Vs synergies, in rhodethrin with chloramphenicol, 379 genes were differentially expressed, whereas 264 genes were significantly downregulated, indicating that 69.69% ofE. faecaliswas altered. The transcriptional sequence data further expression analysis qRT-PCR, and the results shed that the expression profiles of five significant biofilm formation responsible genes such as, Ace, AtpB, lepA, bopD, and typA, 3 genes involved in quorum sensing are sylA, fsrC and camE, and 4 genes involved in resistance were among including liaX, typA, EfrA, and lepA, were significantly suppressed expressions of the biofilm, quorum sensing, and resistance that are supported by transcriptome analysis.

Bioactive molecules from haloarchaea: Scope and prospects for industrial and therapeutic applications.

Marine environments and salty inland ecosystems encompass various environmental conditions, such as extremes of temperature, salinity, pH, pressure, altitude, dry conditions, and nutrient scarcity. The extremely halophilic archaea (also called haloarchaea) are a group of microorganisms requiring high salt concentrations (2-6 M NaCl) for optimal growth. Haloarchaea have different metabolic adaptations to withstand these extreme conditions. Among the adaptations, several vesicles, granules, primary and secondary metabolites are produced that are highly significant in biotechnology, such as carotenoids, halocins, enzymes, and granules of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Among halophilic enzymes, reductases play a significant role in the textile industry and the degradation of hydrocarbon compounds. Enzymes like dehydrogenases, glycosyl hydrolases, lipases, esterases, and proteases can also be used in several industrial procedures. More recently, several studies stated that carotenoids, gas vacuoles, and liposomes produced by haloarchaea have specific applications in medicine and pharmacy. Additionally, the production of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers by haloarchaea to store carbon makes them potent candidates to be used as cell factories in the industrial production of bioplastics. Furthermore, some haloarchaeal species can synthesize nanoparticles during heavy metal detoxification, thus shedding light on a new approach to producing nanoparticles on a large scale. Recent studies also highlight that exopolysaccharides from haloarchaea can bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This review explores the potential of haloarchaea in the industry and biotechnology as cellular factories to upscale the production of diverse bioactive compounds.

Surveillance and mitigation of soil pollution through metagenomic approaches.

Soil pollution is one of the serious global threats causing risk to environment and humans. The major cause of accumulation of pollutants in soil are anthropogenic activities and some natural processes. There are several types of soil pollutants which deteriorate the quality of human life and animal health. They are recalcitrant hydrocarbon compounds, metals, antibiotics, persistent organic compounds, pesticides and different kinds of plastics. Due to the detrimental properties of pollutants present in soil on human life and ecosystem such as carcinogenic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects, alternate and effective methods to degrade the pollutants are recommended. Bioremediation is an effective and inexpensive method of biological degradation of pollutants using plants, microorganisms and fungi. With the advent of new detection methods, the identification and degradation of soil pollutants in different ecosystems were made easy. Metagenomic approaches are a boon for the identification of unculturable microorganisms and to explore the vast bioremediation potential for different pollutants. Metagenomics is a power tool to study the microbial load in polluted or contaminated land and its role in bioremediation. In addition, the negative ecosystem and health effect of pathogens, antibiotic and metal resistant genes found in the polluted area can be studied. Also, the identification of novel compounds/genes/proteins involved in the biotechnology and sustainable agriculture practices can be performed with the integration of metagenomics.

Soil carries diverse microorganisms which maintain plant and soil health.The different types of recalcitrant soil pollutants affect the ecosystem and human health.Complex pollutants can be degraded through bioremediation using microorganisms/plantsMetagenomic approaches help to explore novel organisms and enzymes involved in bioremediation.

Tight controlled expression and secretion of Lactobacillus brevis SlpA in Lactococcus lactis.

Prokaryotes commonly present outer cell wall structures composed of a crystalline array of proteinaceous subunits, known as surface layers (S-layers). The ORF encoding the S-layer protein (SlpA) of Lactobacillus brevis was cloned into Lactococcus lactis under the transcriptional control of the xylose-inducible expression system (XIES). SlpA was secreted into the extracellular medium, as determined by immunoblotting, and assays on the kinetics of SlpA production revealed that repression of the system with glucose did not require the depletion of xylose from the medium that allows transitory ORF expression. The successful use of XIES to express S-layer proteins in the versatile and generally recognized as safe species L. lactis opens new possibilities for an efficient production and isolation of SlpA S-layer protein for its various applications in biotechnology and importantly as an antigen-carrying vehicle.