Journal of Microbiology

Reviews

Trans-acting regulators of ribonuclease activity: Jaejin Lee , Minho Lee , Kangseok Lee; J. Microbiol. 2021;59(4):341-359. Published online March 29, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-021-0650-6

15 View
0 Download
4 Citations

Abstract: RNA metabolism needs to be tightly regulated in response to changes in cellular physiology. Ribonucleases (RNases) play an essential role in almost all aspects of RNA metabolism, including processing, degradation, and recycling of RNA molecules. Thus, living systems have evolved to regulate RNase activity at multiple levels, including transcription, post-transcription, post-translation, and cellular localization. In addition, various trans-acting regulators of RNase activity have been discovered in recent years. This review focuses on the physiological roles and underlying mechanisms of trans-acting regulators of RNase activity.

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea in biological interactions: Jong-Geol Kim , Khaled S. Gazi , Samuel Imisi Awala , Man-Young Jung , Sung-Keun Rhee; J. Microbiol. 2021;59(3):298-310. Published online February 23, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-021-1005-z

13 View
0 Download
18 Citations

Abstract: The third domain Archaea was known to thrive in extreme or anoxic environments based on cultivation studies. Recent metagenomics- based approaches revealed a widespread abundance of archaea, including ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) of Thaumarchaeota in non-extreme and oxic environments. AOA alter nitrogen species availability by mediating the first step of chemolithoautotrophic nitrification, ammonia oxidation to nitrite, and are important primary producers in ecosystems, which affects the distribution and activity of other organisms in ecosystems. Thus, information on the interactions of AOA with other cohabiting organisms is a crucial element in understanding nitrogen and carbon cycles in ecosystems as well as the functioning of whole ecosystems. AOA are self-nourishing, and thus interactions of AOA with other organisms can often be indirect and broad. Besides, there are possibilities of specific and obligate interactions. Mechanisms of interaction are often not clearly identified but only inferred due to limited knowledge on the interaction factors analyzed by current technologies. Here, we overviewed different types of AOA interactions with other cohabiting organisms, which contribute to understanding AOA functions in ecosystems.

Journal Article

Recombinant baculovirus-based vaccine expressing M2 protein induces protective CD8+ T-cell immunity against respiratory syncytial virus infection: Jeong-Yoon Lee , Jun Chang; J. Microbiol. 2017;55(11):900-908. Published online October 27, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-017-7306-6

16 View
0 Download
10 Citations

Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of acute lower respiratory tract disease in infants, young children, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. However, despite ongoing efforts to develop an RSV vaccine, there is still no authorized RSV vaccine for humans. Baculovirus has attracted attention as a vaccine vector because of its ability to induce a high level of humoral and cellular immunity, low cytotoxicity against various antigens, and biological safety for humans. In this study, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus- based vaccine expressing the M2 protein of RSV under the control of cytomegalovirus promoter (Bac_RSVM2) to induce CD8+ T-cell responses which play an important role in viral clearance, and investigated its protective efficacy against RSV infection. Immunization with Bac_RSVM2 via intranasal or intramuscular route effectively elicited the specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Most notably, immunization with Bac_RSVM2 vaccine almost completely protected mice from RSV challenge without vaccine-enhanced immunopathology. In conclusion, these results suggest that Bac_RSVM2 vaccine employing the baculovirus delivery platform has promising potential to be developed as a safe and novel RSV vaccine that provides protection against RSV infection.

Review

MINIREVIEW] Advances in novel influenza vaccines: a patent review: Jae-Min Song; J. Microbiol. 2016;54(6):403-412. Published online May 27, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-6176-7

11 View
0 Download
4 Citations

Abstract: The threat of a major human influenza pandemic such as the avian H5N1 or the 2009 new H1N1 has emphasized the need for effective prevention strategies to combat these pathogens. Although egg based influenza vaccines have been well established for a long time, it remains an ongoing public health need to develop alternative production methods that ensures improved safety, efficacy, and ease of administration compared with conventional influenza vaccines. This article is intended to cover some of the recent advances and related patents on the development of influenza vaccines including live attenuated, cell based, genomic and synthetic peptide vaccines.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'ts

Characterization of Recombinant β-Glucosidase from Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus and Biotransformation of Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd: Myung Keun Park , Chang-Hao Cui , Sung Chul Park , Seul-Ki Park , Jin-Kwang Kim , Mi-Sun Jung , Suk-Chae Jung , Mi-Sun Jung , Suk-Chae Jung , Sun-Chang Kim , Wan-Taek Im; J. Microbiol. 2014;52(5):399-406. Published online May 9, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-014-3601-7

13 View
0 Download
11 Citations

Abstract: The focus of this study was the cloning, expression, and characterization of recombinant ginsenoside hydrolyzing β-glucosidase from Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus with an ultimate objective to more efficiently bio-transform ginse-nosides. The gene bglAch, consisting of 1,260 bp (419 amino acid residues) was cloned and the recombinant enzyme, over-expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), was characterized. The GST-fused BglAch was purified using GST·Bind agarose resin and characterized. Under optimal conditions (pH 6.0 and 37°C) BglAch hydrolyzed the outer glucose and arabino-pyranose moieties of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rb2 at the C20 position of the aglycone into ginsenoside Rd. This was fol-lowed by hydrolysis into F2 of the outer glucose moiety of ginsenoside Rd at the C3 position of the aglycone. Additio-nally, BglAch more slowly transformed Rc to F2 via C-Mc1 (compared to hydrolysis of Rb1 or Rb2). These results in-dicate that the recombinant BglAch could be useful for the production of ginsenoside F2 for use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Low-Scale Expression and Purification of an Active Putative Iduronate 2-Sulfate Sulfatase-Like Enzyme from Escherichia coli K12: Edwin David Morales-Álvarez , Claudia Marcela Rivera-Hoyos , Angélica María Baena-Moncada , Patricia Landázuri , Raúl A. Poutou-Piñales , Homero Sáenz-Suárez , Luis A. Barrera , Olga Y. Echeverri-Peña; J. Microbiol. 2013;51(2):213-221. Published online April 27, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-013-2416-2

13 View
0 Download
15 Citations

Abstract: The sulfatase family involves a group of enzymes with a large degree of similarity. Until now, sixteen human sulfatases have been identified, most of them found in lysosomes. Human deficiency of sulfatases generates various genetic disorders characterized by abnormal accumulation of sulfated intermediate compounds. Mucopolysaccharidosis type II is characterized by the deficiency of iduronate 2-sulfate sulfatase (IDS), causing the lysosomal accumulation of heparan and dermatan sulfates. Currently, there are several cases of genetic diseases treated with enzyme replacement therapy, which have generated a great interest in the development of systems for recombinant protein expression. In this work we expressed the human recombinant IDS-Like enzyme (hrIDS-Like) in Escherichia coli DH5α. The enzyme concentration revealed by ELISA varied from 78.13 to 94.35 ng/ml and the specific activity varied from 34.20 to 25.97 nmol/h/mg. Western blotting done after affinity chromatography purification showed a single band of approximately 40 kDa, which was recognized by an IgY polyclonal antibody that was developed against the specific peptide of the native protein. Our 100 ml-shake-flask assays allowed us to improve the enzyme activity seven fold, compared to the E. coli JM109/pUC13-hrIDS-Like system. Additionally, the results obtained in the present study were equal to those obtained with the Pichia pastoris GS1115/ pPIC-9-hrIDS-Like system (3 L bioreactor scale). The system used in this work (E. coli DH5α/pGEX-3X-hrIDS-Like) emerges as a strategy for improving protein expression and purification, aimed at recombinant protein chemical characterization, future laboratory assays for enzyme replacement therapy, and as new evidence of active putative sulfatase production in E. coli.

NOTE] Biosynthetic Pathway for Poly(3-Hydroxypropionate) in Recombinant Escherichia coli: Qi Wang , Changshui Liu , Mo Xian , Yongguang Zhang , Guang Zhao; J. Microbiol. 2012;50(4):693-697. Published online August 25, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-012-2234-y

8 View
0 Download
38 Citations

Abstract: Poly(3-hydroxypropionate) (P3HP) is a biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic. In this study, we engineered a P3HP biosynthetic pathway in recombinant Escherichia coli. The genes for malonyl-CoA reductase (mcr, from Chloroflexus aurantiacus), propionyl-CoA synthetase (prpE, from E. coli), and polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (phaC1, from Ralstonia eutropha) were cloned and expressed in E. coli. The E. coli genes accABCD encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase were used to channel the carbon into the P3HP pathway. Using glucose as a sole carbon source, the cell yield and P3HP content were 1.32 g/L and 0.98% (wt/wt [cell dry weight]), respectively. Although the yield is relatively low, our study shows the feasibility of engineering a P3HP biosynthetic pathway using a structurally unrelated carbon source in bacteria.

Expression and Purification of Lacticin Q by Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Fusion in Escherichia coli: Qingshan Ma , Zhanqiao Yu , Bing Han , Qing Wang , Rijun Zhang; J. Microbiol. 2012;50(2):326-331. Published online April 27, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-012-1425-x

6 View
0 Download
13 Citations

Abstract: Lacticin Q is a broad-spectrum class II bacteriocin with potential as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. The objective of this study was to produce recombinant lacticin Q using a small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) fusion protein expression system. The 168-bp lacticin Q gene was cloned into the expression vector pET SUMO and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The soluble fusion protein was recovered with a Ni-NTA Sepharose column (95% purity); 130 mg protein was obtained per liter of fermentation culture. The SUMO tag was then proteolytically cleaved from the protein, which was re-applied to the column. Finally, about 32 mg lacticin Q (≥96% purity) was obtained. The recombinant protein exhibited antimicrobial properties similar to that of the native protein, demonstrating that lacticin Q had been successfully expressed by the SUMO fusion system.

NOTE] Development of a High-Throughput Screening Method for Recombinant Escherichia coli with Intracellular Dextransucrase Activity: So-Ra Lee , Ah-Rum Yi , Hong-Gyun Lee , Myoung-Uoon Jang , Jung-Mi Park , Nam Soo Han , Tae-Jip Kim; J. Microbiol. 2011;49(2):320-323. Published online May 3, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-011-1078-1

10 View
0 Download
1 Citations

Abstract: To efficiently engineer intracellular dextransucrase (DSase) expression in Escherichia coli, a high-throughput screening method was developed based on the polymer-forming activity of the enzyme. Recombinant E. coli containing the Leuconostoc citreum DSase (LcDS) gene was grown on Luria-Bertani agar plates, containing 2% sucrose, at 37°C for 8 h. The plates were then evenly overlaid with 0.6% soft agar, containing 1.2 mg/ml D-cycloserine, and incubated at 30°C to allow gradual cell disruption until a dextran polymer grew through the overlaid layer. A significant correlation between dextran size and enzyme activity was established and applied for screening truncated mutants with LcDS activity.

Retracted Publication

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Antibacterial Peptide, Avian β-Defensin 2 from Ducks: Deying Ma , Ruiqin Wang , Wenyan Liao , Zongxi Han , Shengwang Liu; J. Microbiol. 2009;47(5):610-618. Published online October 24, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-009-0068-z

12 View
0 Download
33 Citations

Abstract: In this study, a novel avian β-defensin (AvBD) was isolated from duck pancreas. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene contained an 195 bp open reading frame encoding 64 amino acids. Homology, characterization and comparison of the gene with AvBD from other avian species confirmed that it was duck AvBD2. The mRNA expression of the gene was analyzed in 17 tissues from 21-day-old ducks. AvBD2 was highly expressed in the trachea, crop, heart, bone marrow, and pancreas; moderately expressed in the muscular stomach, small intestine, kidney, spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius; and weakly expressed in skin. We produced and purified recombinant AvBD2 by expressing the gene in Escherichia coli. As expected, the recombinant peptide exhibited strong bactericidal properties against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pasteurella multocida, and weak bactericidal properties against E. coli and Salmonella choleraesuis. In addition, the recombinant protein retained antimicrobial activity against S. aureus under different temperatures (range, -20°C to 100°C) and pH values (range, 3 to 12).

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Stable Expression and Secretion of Polyhydroxybutyrate Depolymerase of Paucimonas lemoignei in Escherichia coli: Se Whan Park , Moon Gyu Chung , Hwa Young Lee , Jeong Yoon Kim , Young Ha Rhee; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(6):662-669. Published online December 24, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0283-z

14 View
0 Download
1 Citations

Abstract: An efficient strategy for the expression and secretion of extracellular polyhydroxybutyrate depolymerase (PhaZ1) of Paucimonas lemoignei in Escherichia coli was developed by employing the signal peptide of PhaZ1 and a truncated ice nucleation protein anchoring motif (INPNC). Directly synthesized mature form of PhaZ1 was present in the cytoplasm of host cells as inclusion bodies, while a construct containing PhaZ1 and its own N-terminal signal peptide (PrePhaZ1) enabled the secretion of active PhaZ1 into the extracellular medium. However, the PrePhaZ1 construct was harmful to the host cell and resulted in atypical growth and instability of the plasmid during the cultivation. In contrast, INPNC-PhaZ1 and INPNCPrePhaZ1 fusion constructs did not affect growth of host cells. INPNC-PhaZ1 was successfully displayed on the cell surface with its fusion form, but did not retain PhaZ1 activity. In the case of INPNC-PrePhaZ1, the initially synthesized fusion form was separated by precise cleavage of the signal peptide, and active PhaZ1 was consequently released into the culture medium. The amount of PhaZ1 derived from E. coli (INPNC-PrePhaZ1) was almost twice as great as that directly expressed from E. coli (PrePhaZ1), and was predominantly (approximately 85%) located in the periplasm when cultivated at 22°C but was efficiently secreted into the extracellular medium when cultivated at 37°C.

Journal Articles

Biologically Active and C-Amidated HinnavinII-38-Asn Produced from a Trx Fusion Construct in Escherichia coli: Chang Soo Kang , Seung-Yeol Son , In Seok Bang; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(6):656-661. Published online December 24, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0214-z

13 View
0 Download
9 Citations

Abstract: The cabbage butterfly (Artogeia rapae) antimicrobial peptide hinnavinII as a member of cecropin family is synthesized as 37 residues in size with an amidated lysine at C-terminus and shows the humoral immune response to a bacterial invasion. In this work, a synthetic gene for hinnavinII-38-Asn (HIN) with an additional amino acid asparagine residue containing amide group at C-terminus was cloned into pET-32a(+) vector to allow expression of HIN as a Trx fusion protein in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) pLysS. The resulting expression level of the fusion protein Trx-HIN could reach 15~20% of the total cell proteins and more than 70% of the target proteins were in soluble form. The fusion protein could be purified successfully by HiTrap Chelating HP column and a high yield of 15 mg purified fusion protein was obtained from 80 ml E. coli culture. Recombinant HIN was readily obtained by enterokinase cleavage of the fusion protein followed by FPLC chromatography, and 3.18 mg pure active recombinant HIN was obtained from 80 ml culture. The molecular mass of recombinant HIN determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is 4252.084 Da which matches the theoretical mass (4252.0 Da) of HIN. Comparing the antimicrobial activities of the recombinant hinnavinII with C-amidated terminus to that without an amidated C-terminus, we found that the amide of asparagine at C-terminus of hinnavinII improved its potency on certain microorganism such as E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus megaterium, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Characterization of the Bacillus subtilis WL-3 Mannanase from a Recombinant Escherichia coli: Ki-Hong Yoon , Seesub Chung , Byung-Lak Lim; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(3):344-349. Published online July 5, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0045-y

12 View
0 Download
31 Citations

Abstract: A mannanase was purified from a cell-free extract of the recombinant Escherichia coli carrying a Bacillus subtilis WL-3 mannanase gene. The molecular mass of the purified mannanase was 38 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE. Optimal conditions for the purified enzyme occurred at pH 6.0 and 60°C. The specific activity of the purified mannanase was 5,900 U/mg on locust bean gum (LBG) galactomannan at pH 6.0 and 50°C. The activity of the enzyme was slightly inhibited by Mg2+, Ca2+, EDTA and SDS, and noticeably enhanced by Fe2+. When the enzyme was incubated at 4°C for one day in the presence of 3 mM Fe2+, no residual activity of the mannanase was observed. The enzyme showed higher activity on LBG and konjac glucomannan than on guar gum galactomannan. Furthermore, it could hydrolyze xylans such as arabinoxylan, birchwood xylan and oat spelt xylan, while it did not exhibit any activities towards carboxymethylcellulose and para-nitrophenyl-β-mannopyranoside. The predominant products resulting from the mannanase hydrolysis were mannose, mannobiose and mannotriose for LBG or mannooligosaccharides including mannotriose, mannotetraose, mannopentaose and mannohexaose. The enzyme could hydrolyze mannooligosaccharides larger than mannobiose.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Development of a Simple Cell Lysis Method for Recombinant DNA Using Bacteriophage Lambda Lysis Genes: Boyun Jang , Yuna Jung , Dongbin Lim; J. Microbiol. 2007;45(6):593-596.; DOI: https://doi.org/2602 [pii]

6 View
0 Download

Abstract: In this study, we describe the development of a simple and efficient method for cell lysis via the insertion of a bacteriophage lambda lysis gene cluster into the pET22b expression vector in the following order; the T7 promoter, a gene for a target protein intended for production, Sam7 and R. This insertion of R and Sam7 into pET22b exerted no detrimental effects on cellular growth or the production of a target protein. The induction of the T7 promoter did not in itself result in the autolysis of cells in culture but the harvested cells were readily broken by freezing and thawing. We compared the efficiency of the cell lysis technique by freezing and thawing to that observed with sonication, and determined that both methods completely disintegrated the cells and released proteins into the solution. With our modification of pET22b, the lysis of cells became quite simple, efficient, and reliable. This strategy may prove useful for a broad variety of applications, particularly in experiments requiring extensive cell breakage, including library screening and culture condition exploration, in addition to protein purification.

Journal Article

Protective Immune Response of Bacterially-Derived Recombinant FaeG in Piglets: Huang Yahong , Wanqi Liang , Aihu Pan , Zhiai Zhou , Qiang Wang , Cheng Huang , Jianxiu Chen , Dabing Zhang; J. Microbiol. 2006;44(5):548-555.; DOI: https://doi.org/2442 [pii]

15 View
0 Download

Abstract: FaeG is the key factor in the infection process of K88ad enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC) fimbrial adhesin. In an attempt to determine the possibility of expressing recombinant FaeG with immunogenicity for a new safe and high-production vaccine in E. coli, we constructed the recombinant strain, BL21 (DE3+K88), which harbors an expression vector with a DNA fragment of faeG, without a signal peptide. Results of 15% SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel analysis showed that FaeG can be stably over-expressed in BL21 (DE3+K88) as inclusion bodies without FaeE. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) responses in pregnant pigs, with boost injections of the purified recombinant FaeG, were detected 4 weeks later in the sera and colostrum. An in vitro villius-adhesion assay verified that the elicited antibodies in the sera of vaccinated pigs were capable of preventing the adhesion of K88ad ETEC to porcine intestinal receptors. The protective effect on the mortality rates of suckling piglets born to vaccinated mothers was also observed one week after oral challenge with the virulent ETEC strain, C83907 (K88ad, CT+, ST+). The results of this study proved that the adhesin of proteinaceous bacterial fimbriae or pili could be overexpressed in engineered E. coli strains, with protective immune responses to the pathogen.

First
Prev
Page of 2
Next
Last

Search