Use Of Biotechnology Research Articles

Oxygen evolution from extremophilic cyanobacteria confined in hard biocoatings.

Biocoatings, in which viable bacteria are immobilized within a waterborne polymer coating for a wide range of potential applications, have garnered greater interest in recent years. In bioreactors, biocoatings can be ready-to-use alternatives for carbon capture or biofuel production that could be reused multiple times. Here, we have immobilized cyanobacteria in mechanically hard biocoatings, which were deposited from polymer colloids in water (i.e., latex). The biocoatings are formed upon heating to 37°C and fully dried before rehydrating. The viability and oxygen evolution of three cyanobacterial species within the biocoatings were compared. Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 was non-viable inside the biocoatings immediately after drying, whereas Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 survived the coating formation, as shown by an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 consumed oxygen (by cell respiration) for up to 5 days, but was unable to perform photosynthesis, as indicated by a lack of oxygen evolution. However, Chroococcidiopsis cubana PCC 7433, a strain of desiccation-resistant extremophilic cyanobacteria, survived and performed photosynthesis and carbon capture within the biocoating, with specific rates of oxygen evolution up to 0.4 g of oxygen/g of biomass per day. Continuous measurements of dissolved oxygen were carried out over a month and showed no sign of decreasing activity. Extremophilic cyanobacteria are viable in a variety of environments, making them ideal candidates for use in biocoatings and other biotechnology. IMPORTANCE As water has become a precious resource, there is a growing need for less water-intensive use of microorganisms, while avoiding desiccation stress. Mechanically robust, ready-to-use biocoatings or "living paints" (a type of artificial biofilm consisting of a synthetic matrix containing functional bacteria) represent a novel way to address these issues. Here, we describe the revolutionary, first-ever use of an extremophilic cyanobacterium (Chroococcidiopsis cubana PCC 7433) in biocoatings, which were able to produce high levels of oxygen and carbon capture for at least 1 month despite complete desiccation and subsequent rehydration. Beyond culturing viable bacteria with reduced water resources, this pioneering use of extremophiles in biocoatings could be further developed for a variety of applications, including carbon capture, wastewater treatment and biofuel production.

Application of <i>Nannochloris</i> sp. for Landfill Leachate Biotreatment and Lipids Production

The sparse treatment of highly toxic leachates produced in landfills due to the excessive generation of urban solid waste is a common problem worldwide. For this reason, this research aims to show the convenience of the use of algal biotechnology in leachate bioremediation processes. Nannochloris sp. species was used in this research. It was isolated and cultured for bioassays. The leachate was diluted to 5 and 10% in the microalgae cultures during a period of 8 d in which the growth of the species. Then removal of nutrients (phosphate and nitrate) and the production of lipids by the microalgae were measured. Nannochloris sp. removed more than 70% of the phosphates and 60% of the nitrates from samples. This result shows the benefits of using these microalgae to treat landfill leachate at low cost and also with the potential to obtain bio-lipids that may be useful for biodiesel production.

Effect of nutraceutical supplementation on semen quality in stallions.

The use of reproductive biotechnologies in equine practice has shown that some stallions are subfertile, so ways to improve fertility have been sought. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nutraceutical supplementation on improving semen quality in Quarter Horse stallions. Semen from six Quarter Horse stallions was assessed for 4 months every 20days using the computer-assisted semen analysis system. They were evaluated for 60days before supplementation; then, the same stallions were re-evaluated for 60days with nutraceutical supplementation (30g/day). Volume showed no significant difference (p>0.05) with nutraceuticals. Sperm concentration (10x6 ) was significantly higher with supplementation (339.4±17.5 sperm/mL) than without supplementation (224.6±19.9). Sperm abnormalities (%) were significantly (p<0.05) lower with supplementation (14.3±0.6) than without supplementation (19.1±0.4). Sperm kinematic parameters, total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), rectilinear velocity (VSL), the velocity of the trajectory (VAP) and curvilinear velocity (VCL), were significantly better with supplementation (p<0.05). Based on the results, it is concluded that nutraceutical supplementation improved semen parameters in Quarter Horse stallions.

Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Mechanisms of Cytochromes P450 in the Development of Biosensors and Bioreactors.

Cytochromes P450 are a unique family of enzymes found in all Kingdoms of living organisms (animals, bacteria, plants, fungi, and archaea), whose main function is biotransformation of exogenous and endogenous compounds. The review discusses approaches to enhancing the efficiency of electrocatalysis by cytochromes P450 for their use in biotechnology and design of biosensors and describes main methods in the development of reconstituted and electrochemical catalytic systems based on the biochemical mechanism of cytochromes P450, as well as and modern trends for their practical application.

Preface: The International Conference and Workshop in conjunction with the 8th Indonesia Biotechnology Conference (IBC)

The International Conference and Workshop in conjunction with the 8th Indonesia Biotechnology Conference (IBC), which was the first hybrid event held by the Indonesian Biotechnology Consortium, Universitas Nasional (UNAS), in collaboration with National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) and Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey USA was held on 16-18 May 2023 at the Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur Bali. The conference is dedicated to providing a forum to build network, exchange ideas about bioscience and biotechnology for addressing the challenges in sustainable developments, especially in Bali – Indonesia, as well as to inspire young academics, scientists and students who are interested in biotechnology (including the new omics technology), biosciences and bioengineering and integrated approaches, and encourage ideas dissemination in these fields.The joint conference’s theme was “Crossroad of Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Health for Enhancing Sustainable Development” to embrace broader ideas and inputs from academics, practitioners from various scientific backgrounds including economics, engineering, politics, culture, social and humanities sciences, as well as to encourage participation and inputs from policy makers in government bodies who are expected to be able to produce integrated solutions to the current biodiversity challenges. Besides, this conference was a stepping stone to integrate some approaches from various disciplines and also an opportunity to build network and joint research between institutions for biodiversity conservation as an asset for developing sciences and supporting sustainable development.The objectives of the conference were: 1) to bring together participants, experts and stakeholders to examine ideas and solutions for maintaining, caring and protecting biodiversity for future sustainable development for human beings, especially in Indonesia, 2) to integrate ideas and inputs from academics from various discipline background to achieve prosperous sustainable biodiversity, 3) to provide a chance of networking between academics and practitioners dealing with biodiversity, 4) to exchange research results on sustainable use as well as conservation of biodiversity, 5) to increase capacity building of young researchers in exploring biodiversity for human health and wellness, and 6) to broaden networking of the participants and to produce a joint research.The benefit of this conference was creating synergy between national and international academics and institutions with various discipline backgrounds, government bodies, and stakeholders dealing with biodiversity for supporting sustainable development and future community prosperity. The conference and workshop are also a premier interdisciplinary forum for life scientists, engineers, and practitioners to present their latest research results, ideas, developments, and applications in relevant areas.The joint conference was attended by academics, researchers and practitioners within broad areas of science and technology such as agriculture, forestry, biotechnology and environment, medicine, biology, veterinary, and social sciences. The presented materials have undergone peer review processes and only qualified papers were selected. Furthermore, all papers were subjected to double-blind peer-review and expected to meet the scientific criteria of significance and academic excellence in IOP Proceeding Conference Series.This two-day conference on 16-17 May 2023 featured research presentations and was closed with discussions with experts and participants to sum up the common conclusion. This occasion was followed by a field visit to Eka Karya Botanic Garden in Bedugul Bali and a workshop for selected participants on 18 May 2023. The first day of the conference consisted of three keynote speakers’ around 25 minutes presentations and three plenary sessions by invited speakers. The second day was organized for a plenary session and parallel sessions which were divided into five topics: (a) Biodiversity for agriculture and health, (b) Biodiversity for environment and tourism, (c) Biodiversity and traditional knowledge and socio -cultural aspects, (d) Biotechnology and biodiversity use, (e) Advanced biotechnology and human health. The invited speakers in the plenary session have a presentation for 30 minutes. The keynote and invited speakers are listed below:List of Keynote speakers, Invited speakers, List of committees are available in this Pdf.

Historical Aspects of Restriction Endonucleases as Intelligent Scissors for Genetic Engineering

Restriction endonucleases are a component of restriction–modification systems, where the main biological function is to protect bacterial cells from incoming foreign DNA molecules. There are four main types of restriction enzymes (types I, II, III, and IV), which differ in protein composition, cofactor requirements, and mode of action. The most studied are representatives of type II, which specifically recognize DNA sequences of 4–8 bp and catalyze DNA cleavage within these sequences or not far from them. The exceptional precision of type II enzymes has made them indispensable for DNA manipulations. Although hundreds of DNA restriction enzymes are currently known, there is still a need for enzymes that recognize new DNA targets. For this reason, the discovery of new natural restriction endonucleases and rational design of their properties (to obtain enzymes with high specificity for a unique nucleotide sequence at a restriction site and without nonspecific activity) will expand the list of enzymes for use in biotechnology and genetic engineering. This review briefly touches upon the main types of restriction endonucleases, their classification, nomenclature, and typical properties, and it concisely describes approaches to the construction of enzymes with altered properties.

In Vitro Coinoculation Between Actinobacteria and Diazotrophic Nodulating Bacteria from the Semiarid

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of actinobacterial strains from the Brazilian semiarid to establish facilitation relationships with native rhizobia from the same region. Theoretical framework: The study is based on the ecological and biotechnological importance of soil actinobacteria, producers of biosurfactants and enzymes, and of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in legumes. Method: 50 strains of actinobacteria were isolated from soils from Ceará with different levels of anthropization and 19 strains of rhizobia using cowpea. The morphological, cultural and micromorphological characterization of the strains was performed, as well as the evaluation of their enzymatic profiles. In vitro facilitation tests were conducted between cellulolytic actinobacteria and non-cellulolytic rhizobia. Results: The soil areas presented a similar composition of actinobacteria, but strains from the anthropized area showed higher enzymatic activity. Two Streptomyces strains promoted the growth of non-cellulolytic rhizobia in vitro, indicating potential application as bioinoculants in microbial consortia. Conclusions: The study contributes to the knowledge of the interaction between beneficial microbial groups from the semiarid region and their possible biotechnological use in agriculture. Originality/value: Works on coinoculation between actinobacteria and rhizobia from semiarid soils are scarce.

Raman spectroscopy with near IR excitation for study of structural components of cyanobacterial phycobilisomes

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis and are widely used as a model in scientific research. Being a rich source of biologically active compounds, they are also currently considered as a promising object for use in biotechnologies. For solving research or applied problems of cyanobacteria study, detection, identifying and monitoring of biotechnological production different kinds of laser spectroscopy can be a promising tools. In the present work Raman spectroscopy with IR excitation (IR Raman) is used to analyze phycobiliproteins, structural components of phycobilisomes – light-harvesting antenna – of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Excitation wavelengths in red/near infrared range were chosen to focus on the vibrational spectra and avoid an influence of pigments fluorescence.− The Raman spectra with excitation in near infrared and UV–visible absorption spectra were measured from wild type (WT) of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, the mutant lacking C-phycocyanin (CK), and the mutant totally devoid of phycobilisomes (PAL). Spectral information is analyzed in comparison with data on structural and functional state of photosynthetic system of the cyanobacteria. It has been shown that IR Raman spectroscopy makes it possible to analyze in detail the structural disorders in phycobilisomes and to discuss the carotenoids-based mechanisms of compensation for this deficiency.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Microalgal Strain from the Antofagasta Coast Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO (Chlorophyta) for Biotechnological Applications.

The wide rocky coastline of the Antofagasta hosts an intertidal ecosystem in which the species that inhabit it are routinely exposed to a wide range of physical and chemical conditions and have therefore evolved to tolerate extremes. In the search for new species of potential biotechnological interest with adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions, the isolation and characterization of microalgae from these ecosystems is of great interest. Here, a new microalgal strain, Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO, is described, which was isolated from a biofilm collected on the intertidal rocks of the Antofagasta coast (23°36'57.2″ S, 70°23'33.8″ W). In addition to the morphological characterization, 18S and ITS sequence as well as ITS-2 secondary structure analysis revealed an identity of 99.76% and 100% with the species Tetraselmis marina, respectively. The analyses of the culture characteristics and biochemical content showed similarities with other strains that are frequently used in aquaculture, such as the species Tetraselmis suecica. In addition, it is tolerant of a wide range of salinities, thus allowing its culture in water of varying quality. On the other hand, added to these characteristics, the results of the improvement of the lipid content in stressful situations of salinity observed in this study, together with other antecedents such as the potential in bioremediation already published for this strain by the same research group, present a clear example of its biotechnological plasticity. It is noteworthy that this strain, due to its characteristics, allows easy collection of its biomass by decantation and, therefore, a more cost-efficient harvesting than for other microalgal strains. Therefore, this new strain of Tetraselmis marina, first report of this species in Chile, and its morphologically, molecularly and biochemically description, presents promising characteristics for its use in biotechnology and as feed for aquaculture.

Изучение биологических и функциональных свойств микроорганизмов с высокой устойчивостью к марганцу (II)

The issue of water treatment of the central water supply, as well as wastewater, from excessive content of heavy metals (HMs) remains relevant at the present time. The presence of heavy metals, even in trace amounts, has a negative impact not only on the environment, but also on all human organic systems. At the moment, iron and manganese are among the main pollutants entering the human body via drinking water. Studies were carried out on the biological and functional properties of microorganisms isolated from highly magnetic soil, which previously demonstrated high resistance to manganese (II). Microbial strains with maximum resistance to Mn (II) were identified as: Bacillus simplex 55.2, B. simplex 13.2 and Listeria murrayi 13.4. The growth dynamics of B. simplex 55.2 and B. megaterium 69.5 was studied under conditions of periodic cultivation in a liquid medium containing 2 mmol/L Mn (II). It was shown that after 7 day’s cultivation, the weight of the biomass of B. megaterium 69.5 increased by 5.5 times, B. simplex 55.2 increased by 3.7 times relative to the values after 1 day cultivation, the optical density of the culture medium B. megaterium 69.5 increased 4 times, B. simplex 55.2 increased 2 times compared with the initial sowing dose. The specific growth rate of B. megaterium 69.5 after 7 days cultivation was higher than that of B. simplex 55.2 by about 2 times, and the degree of removal of Mn (II) from the aquatic environment was less. B. simplex 55.2 reduced the content of Mn (II) by 66%, B. megaterium 69.5 reduced by 50%. It was established that B. megaterium 69.5, B. simplex 55.2, B. simplex 13.2 and L. murrayi 13.4 are able to grow in conditions of high alkalinity and mineralization of the medium (pH 7–10; 10% NaCl). Taking into account that these microorganisms are able to remove high concentrations of Mn (II) from the aquatic environment, they are promising for their use in water treatment biotechnology.

A temperature dependent pilin promoter for production of thermostable enzymes in Thermus thermophilus

BackgroundEnzymes from thermophiles are of great interest for research and bioengineering due to their stability and efficiency. Thermophilic expression hosts such as Thermus thermophilus [T. thermophilus] can overcome specific challenges experienced with protein production in mesophilic expression hosts, such as leading to better folding, increased protein stability, solubility, and enzymatic activity. However, available inducible promoters for efficient protein production in T. thermophilus HB27 are limited.ResultsIn this study, we characterized the pilA4 promoter region and evaluated its potential as a tool for production of thermostable enzymes in T. thermophilus HB27. Reporter gene analysis using a promoterless β-glucosidase gene revealed that the pilA4 promoter is highly active under optimal growth conditions at 68 °C and downregulated during growth at 80 °C. Furthermore, growth in minimal medium led to significantly increased promoter activity in comparison to growth in complex medium. Finally, we proved the suitability of the pilA4 promoter for heterologous production of thermostable enzymes in T. thermophilus by producing a fully active soluble mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter kivui [T. kivui], which is used in degradation of brown algae that are rich in mannitol.ConclusionsOur results show that the pilA4 promoter is an efficient tool for gene expression in T. thermophilus with a high potential for use in biotechnology and synthetic biology applications.

Antifungal Activity of Ageritin, a Ribotoxin-like Protein from Cyclocybe aegerita Edible Mushroom, against Phytopathogenic Fungi.

Ageritin from poplar mushrooms is a specific endonuclease that hydrolyzes a single phosphodiester bond located in the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) of the large rRNA, thereby blocking protein synthesis. Considering the possible biotechnological use of this enzyme, here we report its antifungal activity against virulent fungi affecting crops of economic interest. Our results show that ageritin (200 µg/plug; ~13.5 nmole) inhibits the growth of Botrytis cinerea (57%), Colletotrichum truncatum (42%), and Alternaria alternata (57%), when tested on potato dextrose agar plates. At the same time, no effect was observed against Trichoderma harzianum (a fungus promoting beneficial effects in plants). To verify whether the antifungal action of ageritin against B. cinerea and T. harzianum was due to ribosome damage, we tested ageritin in vitro on partially isolated B. cinerea and T. harzianum ribosomes. Interestingly, ageritin was able to release the Endo's fragment from both tested fungal ribosomes. We therefore decided to test the antifungal effect of ageritin on B. cinerea and T. harzianum using a different growth condition (liquid medium). Differently from the result in solid medium, ageritin can inhibit both B. cinerea and T. harzianum fungal growth in liquid medium in a concentration-dependent manner up to 35.7% and 38.7%, respectively, at the highest concentration tested (~200 µg/mL; 12 µM), and the analysis of RNA isolated from ageritin-treated cells revealed the presence of Endo's fragment, highlighting its ability to cross the fungal cell wall and reach the ribosomes. Overall, these data highlight that the efficacy of antifungal treatment to prevent or treat a potential fungal disease may depend not only on the fungal species but also on the conditions of toxin application.

In Vitro Coinoculation Between Actinobacteria and Diazotrophic Nodulating Bacteria from the Semiarid

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of actinobacterial strains from the Brazilian semiarid to establish facilitation relationships with native rhizobia from the same region.&#x0D; &#x0D; Theoretical framework: The study is based on the ecological and biotechnological importance of soil actinobacteria, producers of biosurfactants and enzymes, and of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in legumes.&#x0D; &#x0D; Method: 50 strains of actinobacteria were isolated from soils from Ceará with different levels of anthropization and 19 strains of rhizobia using cowpea. The morphological, cultural and micromorphological characterization of the strains was performed, as well as the evaluation of their enzymatic profiles. In vitro facilitation tests were conducted between cellulolytic actinobacteria and non-cellulolytic rhizobia.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: The soil areas presented a similar composition of actinobacteria, but strains from the anthropized area showed higher enzymatic activity. Two Streptomyces strains promoted the growth of non-cellulolytic rhizobia in vitro, indicating potential application as bioinoculants in microbial consortia.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusions: The study contributes to the knowledge of the interaction between beneficial microbial groups from the semiarid region and their possible biotechnological use in agriculture.&#x0D; &#x0D; Originality/value: Works on coinoculation between actinobacteria and rhizobia from semiarid soils are scarce.

Enzymatic and biophysical characterization of a novel modular cellulosomal GH5 endoglucanase multifunctional from the anaerobic gut fungus Piromyces finnis

Cellulases from anaerobic fungi are enzymes less-studied biochemically and structurally than cellulases from bacteria and aerobic fungi. Currently, only thirteen GH5 cellulases from anaerobic fungi were biochemically characterized and two crystal structures were reported. In this context, here, we report the functional and biophysical characterization of a novel multi-modular cellulosomal GH5 endoglucanase from the anaerobic gut fungus Piromyces finnis (named here PfGH5). Multiple sequences alignments indicate that PfGH5 is composed of a GH5 catalytic domain and a CBM1 carbohydrate-binding module connected through a CBM10 dockerin module. Our results showed that PfGH5 is an endoglucanase from anaerobic fungus with a large spectrum of activity. PfGH5 exhibited preference for hydrolysis of oat β-glucan, followed by galactomannan, carboxymethyl cellulose, mannan, lichenan and barley β-glucan, therefore displaying multi-functionality. For oat β-glucan, PfGH5 reaches its optimum enzymatic activity at 40 °C and pH 5.5, with Km of 7.1 μM. Ion exchange chromatography analyzes revealed the production of oligosaccharides with a wide degree of polymerization indicated that PfGH5 has endoglucanase activity. The ability to bind and cleave different types of carbohydrates evidence the potential of PfGH5 for use in biotechnology and provide a useful basis for future investigation and application of new anaerobic fungi enzymes.

Design and Analysis of a Novel Air Bubble Curtain for Mixing and Aeration in Process Vessels

This article focuses on designing and analyzing a new method for mixing in process vessels. We propose using an air bubble curtain to accomplish the desired mixing. The air bubble curtain used in this study is made of an empty pipe with several holes through which air is pumped, which in turn produces a swarm of bubbles that causes pseudo-turbulent mixing in the tank filled with a liquid solution. A uniform distribution of bubbles within the tank was assured by maintaining a see-saw movement of the air bubble curtain. Mixing inside the tank was quantified by measuring the salt concentration in a laboratory model tank (30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm) and a pilot-scale tank (200 cm × 100 cm × 100 cm). The optimal flow rates of air and the mixing time in both tanks that can achieve complete mixing were obtained from the experimental results. The proposed air bubble curtain can be of potential use in wastewater treatment, biotechnology, and aquaculture where turbulent mixing is required with minimum energy dissipation per unit mass.

Epiisopiloturine nanoencapsulation improve its oral bioavailability in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of diseases represented mainly by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), whose current treatments are associated with a range of side effects, bringing forth the need to study therapeutic alternatives. In this context, studies carried out with the alkaloid epiisopiloturine have proven its anti- inflammatory activity, including in the course of inflammatory bowel diseases, yet administered intraperitoneally. However, there is a great challenge in working with this molecule due to its insolubility in aqueous media and its low absorption after oral administration, requiring the use of pharmacotechnical strategies to improve the biopharmaceutical profile of the molecule to enable its formulation aimed at the treatment of ulcerative colitis. An alternative is the use of biotechnology in order to improve these characteristics. Our hypothesis suggests that the biotechnological development of a nanostructured formulation containing the alkaloid epiisopiloturine improves its plasma bioavailability after oral administration, attenuating the inflammatory process in the course of inflammatory bowel diseases. We believe that nanoencapsulation of epiisopiloturine for the treatment of IBDs will enable its administration orally, thus improving its bioavailability when administered by this route. Since the epiisopiloturine molecule is degraded orally, with its effect diminished during inflammatory bowel diseases, the nanoformulation containing this alkaloid is a good alternative to the challenges encountered in this route of administration.

Growth Kinetics of Autochthonous Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Double Cream Cheese as Potential Starter Culture

Currently, there is a permanent search for native Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) to explore and apply their biodiversity in the development and improvement of industrial processes, with studies of growth kinetics and performance factors being a fundamental tool for biotechnological use. The objective of this study was to determine the kinetic parameters of 12 autochthonous strains (Pediococcus pentosaceus (19), Leuconostoc citreum (20), Pediococcus acidilactici (21), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. Mesenteroides (22, 29), Enterococcus faecium (24, 25), Enterococcus faecalis (27), Weissella viridescens (28), Lactococcus lactis (30), Lacticaseibacillus casei (31) and Limosilactobacillus fermentum (32)) isolated from a traditional Colombian cheese Double Cream Cheese to obtain information that allows establishing the ideal conditions of the inoculum, standardizing the production of metabolites and exploring their use as starter cultures. Fermentation was carried out in UHT milk at 120 rpm and 35-37 °C until stationary phase, and samples were taken over time to determine pH and titratable acidity (TTA). Exponential and logistic models were used to fit the growth kinetics data. Validation of both models was carried out with the coefficient of determination R2, obtaining good consistency for both (R2 = 0.925 - R2 = 0.932), with slight variations in the kinetic parameters in all the strains. The genera Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, and E. faecium (24) had the shortest adaptation phases (0-2 h), being P. acidilactici (21), Leu. mesenteroides (22), W. viridescens (28), and E. faecium (24) presented the lowest pH values and high acidity percentages, which shows their potential to be included in the native LAB starter culture and for technology and suitability aptitude studies to produce double cream cheese using pasteurized milk without losing the qualities of the original product.

Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction for Determination of Dyes in Food and Water Samples

Recently, magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) is an important technology due to its use in analytical chemistry, biotechnology, and medicinal fields. MSPE shows rapid isolation of target analyte from large volume samples, the huge surface area of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and simplicity in application due to using an external magnetic field instead of using packing column, centrifuge and filter papers. The aim of this review is to evaluate the extraction and determination of dyes in food and water samples by using the MSPE technique.

Using Constrained-Disorder Principle-Based Systems to Improve the Performance of Digital Twins in Biological Systems.

Digital twins are computer programs that use real-world data to create simulations that predict the performance of processes, products, and systems. Digital twins may integrate artificial intelligence to improve their outputs. Models for dealing with uncertainties and noise are used to improve the accuracy of digital twins. Most currently used systems aim to reduce noise to improve their outputs. Nevertheless, biological systems are characterized by inherent variability, which is necessary for their proper function. The constrained-disorder principle defines living systems as having a disorder as part of their existence and proper operation while kept within dynamic boundaries. In the present paper, we review the role of noise in complex systems and its use in bioengineering. We describe the use of digital twins for medical applications and current methods for dealing with noise and uncertainties in modeling. The paper presents methods to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of digital twin systems by continuously implementing variability signatures while simultaneously reducing unwanted noise in their inputs and outputs. Accounting for the noisy internal and external environments of complex biological systems is necessary for the future design of improved, more accurate digital twins.

Technological Cohesion and Convergence: A Main Path Analysis of the Bioeconomy, 1900–2020

The bioeconomy comprises a range of industries that are related through their reliance on biomass and their use of biotechnology, such as agriculture, food processing, and parts of the life sciences. While the bioeconomy has received increasing attention in the context of innovation policy, the internal structure of its underlying technological field remains opaque, and little is known about the long-term processes through which its subdomains have co-evolved. It is precisely the structure (cohesion) of this field and its evolution (convergence) over the course of more than a century of technological development that this article seeks to disentangle. For this purpose, we draw on a dataset of more than 1.5 million patent families and use bibliometric methods and main path analysis to assess the internal and external cohesion of the field and trace its long-term technological development. Our analysis supports two main findings: First, instead of becoming more closed as a field, the cohesion of technologies within the bioeconomy with external technologies has increased over time. Second, the bioeconomy technological field shows clear signs of structural convergence over the second half of the 20th century, with the biochemical domain absorbing most of the trajectories of technological knowledge originating in the traditional application areas. As such, the study illustrates the long-term processes of technological cross-fertilization through which the bioeconomy, as an example of a heterogeneous technological field, developed its ‘backbone’ of technological knowledge.