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Purcarea C, Ruginescu R, Banciu RM, Vasilescu A. Extremozyme-Based Biosensors for Environmental Pollution Monitoring: Recent Developments. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:143. [PMID: 38534250 DOI: 10.3390/bios14030143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Extremozymes combine high specificity and sensitivity with the ability to withstand extreme operational conditions. This work presents an overview of extremozymes that show potential for environmental monitoring devices and outlines the latest advances in biosensors utilizing these unique molecules. The characteristics of various extremozymes described so far are presented, underlining their stability and operational conditions that make them attractive for biosensing. The biosensor design is discussed based on the detection of photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides as a case study. Several biosensors for the detection of pesticides, heavy metals, and phenols are presented in more detail to highlight interesting substrate specificity, applications or immobilization methods. Compared to mesophilic enzymes, the integration of extremozymes in biosensors faces additional challenges related to lower availability and high production costs. The use of extremozymes in biosensing does not parallel their success in industrial applications. In recent years, the "collection" of recognition elements was enriched by extremozymes with interesting selectivity and by thermostable chimeras. The perspectives for biosensor development are exciting, considering also the progress in genetic editing for the oriented immobilization of enzymes, efficient folding, and better electron transport. Stability, production costs and immobilization at sensing interfaces must be improved to encourage wider applications of extremozymes in biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Purcarea
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Robert Ruginescu
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roberta Maria Banciu
- International Centre of Biodynamics, 1B Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Analytical and Physical Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Blvd., 030018 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina Vasilescu
- International Centre of Biodynamics, 1B Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
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Abstract
Current advances in the fabrication of smart nanomaterials and nanostructured surfaces find wide usage in the biomedical field. In this context, nanosensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance exhibit unprecedented optical features that can be exploited to reduce the costs, analytic times, and need for expensive lab equipment. Moreover, they are promising for the design of nanoplatforms with multiple functionalities (e.g., multiplexed detection) with large integration within microelectronics and microfluidics. In this review, we summarize the most recent design strategies, fabrication approaches, and bio-applications of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) arranged in colloids, nanoarrays, and nanocomposites. After a brief introduction on the physical principles behind plasmonic nanostructures both as inherent optical detection and as nanoantennas for external signal amplification, we classify the proposed examples in colloid-based devices when plasmonic NPs operate in solution, nanoarrays when they are assembled or fabricated on rigid substrates, and nanocomposites when they are assembled within flexible/polymeric substrates. We highlight the main biomedical applications of the proposed devices and offer a general overview of the main strengths and limitations of the currently available plasmonic nanodevices.
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A New Strategy for As(V) Biosensing Based on the Inhibition of the Phosphatase Activity of the Arsenate Reductase from Thermus thermophilus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23062942. [PMID: 35328363 PMCID: PMC8949286 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arsenic (As) pollution is a widespread problem worldwide. In recent years, biosensors based on enzymatic inhibition have been developed for arsenic detection, making the study of the effect of inhibitors on the selected enzymatic activity crucial for their setup. The arsenate reductase of Thermus thermophilus HB27, TtArsC, reduces As(V) into As(III), but is also endowed with phosphatase activity. This work investigates the inhibitory effects of As(V) and As(III) on phosphatase activity by taking advantage of a simple colorimetric assay; the results show that both of them are non-competitive inhibitors affecting the Vmax but not the KM of the reaction. However, their Ki values are different from each other (15.2 ± 1.6 μM for As(V) and 394.4 ± 40.3 µm with As(III)), indicating a higher inhibitory effect by As(V). Moreover, the inhibition-based biosystem results to be selective for As(V) since several other metal ions and salts do not affect TtArsC phosphatase activity; it exhibits a sensitivity of 0.53 ± 0.03 mU/mg/μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.28 ± 0.02 μM. The good sensitivity and specificity for As(V) point to consider inhibition of TtArsC phosphatase activity for the setup of a novel biosensor for the detection of As(V).
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Soy S, Sharma SR, Nigam VK. Bio-fabrication of thermozyme-based nano-biosensors: their components and present scenario. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE. MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS 2022; 33:5523-5533. [PMID: 38624939 PMCID: PMC8800403 DOI: 10.1007/s10854-022-07741-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
An amalgamation of microbiology, biocatalysis, recombinant molecular biology, and nanotechnology is crucial for groundbreaking innovation in developing nano-biomedicines and sensoristics. Enzyme-based nano-biosensor finds prospective applications in various sectors (environmental, pharmaceutical, food, biorefineries). These applications demand reliable catalytic efficiency and functionality of the enzyme under an extreme operational environment for a prolonged period. Over the last few years, bio-fabrication of nano-biosensors in conjunction with thermozymes from thermophilic microbes is being sought after as a viable design. Thermozymes are known for their robustness, are chemically resistant toward organic solvents, possess higher durability for constant use, catalytic ability, and stability at elevated temperatures. Additionally, several other attributes of thermozymes like substrate specificity, selectivity, and sensitivity make them desirable in developing a customized biosensor. In this review, crucial designing aspects of enzyme-based nano-biosensors like enzyme immobilization on an electrode surface, new materials derived from microbial sources (biopolymers based nanocomposites), improvisation measures for sensitivity, and selectivity have been addressed. It also covers microbial biosynthesis of nanomaterials used to develop sensoristic devices and its numerous applications such as wastewater treatment, biorefineries, and diagnostics. The knowledge will pave the way toward creating consistent eco-friendly, economically viable nanostructured-based technologies with broad applicability and exploitation for industrial use in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehi Soy
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835215 India
| | - Shubha Rani Sharma
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835215 India
| | - Vinod Kumar Nigam
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835215 India
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A Hyperthermoactive-Cas9 Editing Tool Reveals the Role of a Unique Arsenite Methyltransferase in the Arsenic Resistance System of Thermus thermophilus HB27. mBio 2021; 12:e0281321. [PMID: 34872358 PMCID: PMC8649762 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02813-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic detoxification systems can be found in a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to humans. In a previous study, we discovered an arsenic-responsive transcriptional regulator in the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 (TtSmtB). Here, we characterize the arsenic resistance system of T. thermophilus in more detail. We employed TtSmtB-based pulldown assays with protein extracts from cultures treated with arsenate and arsenite to obtain an S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent arsenite methyltransferase (TtArsM). In vivo and in vitro analyses were performed to shed light on this new component of the arsenic resistance network and its peculiar catalytic mechanism. Heterologous expression of TtarsM in Escherichia coli resulted in arsenite detoxification at mesophilic temperatures. Although TtArsM does not contain a canonical arsenite binding site, the purified protein does catalyze SAM-dependent arsenite methylation with formation of monomethylarsenites (MMAs) and dimethylarsenites (DMAs). In addition, in vitro analyses confirmed the unique interaction between TtArsM and TtSmtB. Next, a highly efficient ThermoCas9-based genome-editing tool was developed to delete the TtArsM-encoding gene on the T. thermophilus genome and to confirm its involvement in the arsenite detoxification system. Finally, the TtarsX efflux pump gene in the T. thermophilus ΔTtarsM genome was substituted by a gene encoding a stabilized yellow fluorescent protein (sYFP) to create a sensitive genome-based bioreporter system for the detection of arsenic ions.
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A theoretical approach on the ability of functionalized gold nanoparticles for detection of Cd 2. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23422. [PMID: 34873260 PMCID: PMC8648727 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) as a toxic element that is widely present in water, soil, and air has important effects on human health, therefore proposing an accurate and selective method for detection of this element is of importance. In this article, by employing full atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory dispersion corrected (DFT-D3) calculations, the effects of 6-mercaptonicotinic acid (MNA) and L-cysteine (CYS) on the stability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their sensitivity against Cd2+ were investigated. The obtained results indicate that pure AuNPs are not stable in water, while functionalized AuNPs with CYS and MNA groups have considerable stability without aggregation. In other words, the functional groups on the surface of AuNPs elevate their resistance against aggregation by an increase in the repulsive interactions between the gold nanoparticles. Moreover, functionalized AuNPs have considerable ability for selective detection of Cd2+ in the presence of different metal ions. Based on the MD simulation results, MNA-CYS-AuNPs (functionalized AuNPs with both functional groups) have the maximum sensitivity against Cd2+ in comparison with MNA-AuNPs and CYS-AuNPs due to the strong electrostatic interactions. DFT-D3 calculations reveal that the most probable interactions between the metal ions and functional groups are electrostatic, and Cd2+ can aggregate functionalized AuNPs due to strong electrostatic interactions with MNA and CYS groups. Moreover, charge transfer and donor-acceptor analyses show that molecular orbital interactions between the functional groups and Cd2+ can be considered as the driving force for AuNPs aggregation. A good agreement between the theoretical results and experimental data confirms the importance of the molecular modeling methods as a fast scientific protocol for designing new functionalized nanoparticles for application in different fields.
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Gallo G, Puopolo R, Carbonaro M, Maresca E, Fiorentino G. Extremophiles, a Nifty Tool to Face Environmental Pollution: From Exploitation of Metabolism to Genome Engineering. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5228. [PMID: 34069056 PMCID: PMC8157027 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extremophiles are microorganisms that populate habitats considered inhospitable from an anthropocentric point of view and are able to tolerate harsh conditions such as high temperatures, extreme pHs, high concentrations of salts, toxic organic substances, and/or heavy metals. These microorganisms have been broadly studied in the last 30 years and represent precious sources of biomolecules and bioprocesses for many biotechnological applications; in this context, scientific efforts have been focused on the employment of extremophilic microbes and their metabolic pathways to develop biomonitoring and bioremediation strategies to face environmental pollution, as well as to improve biorefineries for the conversion of biomasses into various chemical compounds. This review gives an overview on the peculiar metabolic features of certain extremophilic microorganisms, with a main focus on thermophiles, which make them attractive for biotechnological applications in the field of environmental remediation; moreover, it sheds light on updated genetic systems (also those based on the CRISPR-Cas tool), which expand the potentialities of these microorganisms to be genetically manipulated for various biotechnological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gallo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.G.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (E.M.)
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Rosanna Puopolo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.G.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (E.M.)
| | - Miriam Carbonaro
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.G.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (E.M.)
| | - Emanuela Maresca
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.G.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (E.M.)
| | - Gabriella Fiorentino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.G.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (E.M.)
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
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Aulitto M, Gallo G, Puopolo R, Mormone A, Limauro D, Contursi P, Piochi M, Bartolucci S, Fiorentino G. Genomic Insight of Alicyclobacillus mali FL18 Isolated From an Arsenic-Rich Hot Spring. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:639697. [PMID: 33897644 PMCID: PMC8060452 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.639697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme environments are excellent places to find microorganisms capable of tolerating extreme temperature, pH, salinity pressure, and elevated concentration of heavy metals and other toxic compounds. In the last decades, extremophilic microorganisms have been extensively studied since they can be applied in several fields of biotechnology along with their enzymes. In this context, the characterization of heavy metal resistance determinants in thermophilic microorganisms is the starting point for the development of new biosystems and bioprocesses for environmental monitoring and remediation. This work focuses on the isolation and the genomic exploration of a new arsenic-tolerant microorganism, classified as Alicyclobacillus mali FL18. The bacterium was isolated from a hot mud pool of the solfataric terrains in Pisciarelli, a well-known hydrothermally active zone of the Campi Flegrei volcano near Naples in Italy. A. mali FL18 showed a good tolerance to arsenite (MIC value of 41 mM), as well as to other metals such as nickel (MIC 30 mM), cobalt, and mercury (MIC 3 mM and 17 μM, respectively). Signatures of arsenic resistance genes (one arsenate reductase, one arsenite methyltransferase, and several arsenite exporters) were found interspersed in the genome as well as several multidrug resistance efflux transporters that could be involved in the export of drugs and heavy metal ions. Moreover, the strain showed a high resistance to bacitracin and ciprofloxacin, suggesting that the extreme environment has positively selected multiple resistances to different toxic compounds. This work provides, for the first time, insights into the heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic susceptibility of an Alicyclobacillus strain and highlights its putative molecular determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Aulitto
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Rosanna Puopolo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Mormone
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Napoli Osservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, Italy
| | - Danila Limauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Piochi
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Napoli Osservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, Italy
| | - Simonetta Bartolucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy
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Miranda B, Rea I, Dardano P, De Stefano L, Forestiere C. Recent Advances in the Fabrication and Functionalization of Flexible Optical Biosensors: Toward Smart Life-Sciences Applications. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11040107. [PMID: 33916580 PMCID: PMC8066870 DOI: 10.3390/bios11040107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, optical biosensors based on nanostructured materials have obtained increasing interest since they allow the screening of a wide variety of biomolecules with high specificity, low limits of detection, and great sensitivity. Among them, flexible optical platforms have the advantage of adapting to non-planar surfaces, suitable for in vivo and real-time monitoring of diseases and assessment of food safety. In this review, we summarize the newest and most advanced platforms coupling optically active materials (noble metal nanoparticles) and flexible substrates giving rise to hybrid nanomaterials and/or nanocomposites, whose performances are comparable to the ones obtained with hard substrates (e.g., glass and semiconductors). We focus on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based biosensors. We show that large-scale, cost-effective plasmonic platforms can be realized with the currently available techniques and we emphasize the open issues associated with this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Miranda
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Unit of Naples, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (B.M.); (I.R.); (P.D.)
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Rea
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Unit of Naples, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (B.M.); (I.R.); (P.D.)
| | - Principia Dardano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Unit of Naples, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (B.M.); (I.R.); (P.D.)
| | - Luca De Stefano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Unit of Naples, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (B.M.); (I.R.); (P.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carlo Forestiere
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Napoli, Italy;
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Puopolo R, Sorrentino I, Gallo G, Piscitelli A, Giardina P, Le Goff A, Fiorentino G. Self-assembling thermostable chimeras as new platform for arsenic biosensing. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2991. [PMID: 33542380 PMCID: PMC7862302 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82648-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The correct immobilization and orientation of enzymes on nanosurfaces is a crucial step either for the realization of biosensors, as well as to guarantee the efficacy of the developed biomaterials. In this work we produced two versions of a chimeric protein, namely ArsC-Vmh2 and Vmh2-ArsC, which combined the self-assembling properties of Vmh2, a hydrophobin from Pleurotus ostreatus, with that of TtArsC, a thermophilic arsenate reductase from Thermus thermophilus; both chimeras were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies. They were characterized for their enzymatic capability to reduce As(V) into As(III), as well as for their immobilization properties on polystyrene and gold in comparison to the native TtArsC. The chimeric proteins immobilized on polystyrene can be reused up to three times and stored for 15 days with 50% of activity loss. Immobilization on gold electrodes showed that both chimeras follow a classic Langmuir isotherm model towards As(III) recognition, with an association constant (KAsIII) between As(III) and the immobilized enzyme, equal to 650 (± 100) L mol-1 for ArsC-Vmh2 and to 1200 (± 300) L mol-1 for Vmh2-ArsC. The results demonstrate that gold-immobilized ArsC-Vmh2 and Vmh2-ArsC can be exploited as electrochemical biosensors to detect As(III).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Puopolo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria Sorrentino
- Department of Molecular Chemistry, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piscitelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Giardina
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Alan Le Goff
- Department of Molecular Chemistry, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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Puopolo R, Gallo G, Mormone A, Limauro D, Contursi P, Piochi M, Bartolucci S, Fiorentino G. Identification of a New Heavy-Metal-Resistant Strain of Geobacillus stearothermophilus Isolated from a Hydrothermally Active Volcanic Area in Southern Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2678. [PMID: 32295125 PMCID: PMC7215868 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms thriving in hot springs and hydrothermally active volcanic areas are dynamically involved in heavy-metal biogeochemical cycles; they have developed peculiar resistance systems to cope with such metals which nowadays can be considered among the most permanent and toxic pollutants for humans and the environment. For this reason, their exploitation is functional to unravel mechanisms of toxic-metal detoxification and to address bioremediation of heavy-metal pollution with eco-sustainable approaches. In this work, we isolated a novel strain of the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus from the solfataric mud pool in Pisciarelli, a well-known hydrothermally active zone of the Campi Flegrei volcano located near Naples in Italy, and characterized it by ribotyping, 16S rRNA sequencing and mass spectrometry analyses. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) toward several heavy-metal ions indicated that the novel G. stearothermophilus isolate is particularly resistant to some of them. Functional and morphological analyses suggest that it is endowed with metal resistance systems for arsenic and cadmium detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Puopolo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Angela Mormone
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80125 Napoli, Italy; (A.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Danila Limauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Monica Piochi
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80125 Napoli, Italy; (A.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Simonetta Bartolucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Gabriella Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80139 Napoli, Italy; (R.P.); (G.G.); (D.L.); (P.C.); (S.B.)
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12
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Gallo G, Antonucci I, Pirone L, Amoresano A, Contursi P, Limauro D, Pedone E, Bartolucci S, Fiorentino G. A physicochemical investigation on the metal binding properties of TtSmtB, a thermophilic member of the ArsR/SmtB transcription factor family. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 138:1056-1063. [PMID: 31356933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.07.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factors of the ArsR/SmtB family are widespread within the bacterial and archaeal kingdoms. They are transcriptional repressors able to sense a variety of metals and undergo allosteric conformational changes upon metal binding, resulting in derepression of genes involved in detoxification. So far, the molecular determinants of specificity, selectivity, and metal binding mechanism have been scarcely investigated in thermophilic microorganisms. TtSmtB, the only ArsR/SmtB member present in the genome of Thermus thermophilus HB27, was chosen as a model to shed light into such molecular mechanisms at high temperature. In the present study, using a multidisciplinary approach, a structural and functional characterization of the protein was performed focusing on its metal interaction and chemical-physical stability. Our data demonstrate that TtSmtB has two distinct metal binding sites per monomer and interacts with di-tri-penta-valent ions with different affinity. Detailed knowledge at molecular level of protein-metal interaction is remarkable to design metal binding domains as scaffolds in metal-based therapies as well as in metal biorecovery or biosensing in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gallo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Luciano Pirone
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, CNR, Napoli, Italy
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Danila Limauro
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Emilia Pedone
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, CNR, Napoli, Italy
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Kamaruzzaman NF, Tan LP, Hamdan RH, Choong SS, Wong WK, Gibson AJ, Chivu A, Pina MDF. Antimicrobial Polymers: The Potential Replacement of Existing Antibiotics? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2747. [PMID: 31167476 PMCID: PMC6600223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is now considered a major global challenge; compromising medical advancements and our ability to treat infectious disease. Increased antimicrobial resistance has resulted in increased morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases worldwide. The lack of discovery of novel compounds from natural products or new classes of antimicrobials, encouraged us to recycle discontinued antimicrobials that were previously removed from routine use due to their toxicity, e.g., colistin. Since the discovery of new classes of compounds is extremely expensive and has very little success, one strategy to overcome this issue could be the application of synthetic compounds that possess antimicrobial activities. Polymers with innate antimicrobial properties or that have the ability to be conjugated with other antimicrobial compounds create the possibility for replacement of antimicrobials either for the direct application as medicine or implanted on medical devices to control infection. Here, we provide the latest update on research related to antimicrobial polymers in the context of ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens. We summarise polymer subgroups: compounds containing natural peptides, halogens, phosphor and sulfo derivatives and phenol and benzoic derivatives, organometalic polymers, metal nanoparticles incorporated into polymeric carriers, dendrimers and polymer-based guanidine. We intend to enhance understanding in the field and promote further work on the development of polymer based antimicrobial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Fadhilah Kamaruzzaman
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Locked bag 36, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Li Peng Tan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Locked bag 36, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Ruhil Hayati Hamdan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Locked bag 36, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Siew Shean Choong
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Locked bag 36, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Weng Kin Wong
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Amanda Jane Gibson
- Royal Veterinary College, Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK.
| | - Alexandru Chivu
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK.
| | - Maria de Fatima Pina
- Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Products Agency, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UK.
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Palmieri G, Tatè R, Gogliettino M, Balestrieri M, Rea I, Terracciano M, Proroga YT, Capuano F, Anastasio A, De Stefano L. Small Synthetic Peptides Bioconjugated to Hybrid Gold Nanoparticles Destroy Potentially Deadly Bacteria at Submicromolar Concentrations. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:3877-3885. [PMID: 30352512 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic antibacterial peptides are advanced weapons that scientists design and produce to confront current threats of harmful and mortal pathogens, which could affect humans in everyday life. Recently, many small amino acid sequences, greatly efficient in their antibacterial action, have been reported in the literature. To date, only a few synthetic peptides, acting at micromolar or even tenths of micromolar concentrations, are on the market as commercial products, mainly because of their high cost of production. In this context, materials science can provide fundamental help by engineering small synthetic peptides, powered by hybrid gold nanoparticles, which have been found to strongly enhance antimicrobial activity against bacterial infections. Submicromolar concentrations of the 1018K6 peptide, bioconjugated to hybrid polymer-gold nanoparticles, kill almost 100% of pathogen bacteria, such as Listeria and Salmonella genera, paving the way for economically sustainable commercial products based on this synthetic nanocomplex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna Palmieri
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, UOS Na , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy.,Materias S.r.l. , Corso N. Protopisani n. 50 , 80146 Naples , Italy
| | - Rosarita Tatè
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy
| | - Marta Gogliettino
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, UOS Na , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy
| | - Marco Balestrieri
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, UOS Na , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy
| | - Ilaria Rea
- Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy
| | - Monica Terracciano
- Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy.,Materias S.r.l. , Corso N. Protopisani n. 50 , 80146 Naples , Italy
| | - Yolande Therese Proroga
- Department of Food Microbiology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , via della Salute, 2 , 80055 Portici, Naples , Italy
| | - Federico Capuano
- Department of Food Microbiology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , via della Salute, 2 , 80055 Portici, Naples , Italy
| | - Aniello Anastasio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production , University of Naples Federico II , Via Federico Delpino 1 , 80137 Naples , Italy
| | - Luca De Stefano
- Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems , National Research Council , Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Naples , Italy.,Materias S.r.l. , Corso N. Protopisani n. 50 , 80146 Naples , Italy
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Antonucci I, Gallo G, Limauro D, Contursi P, Ribeiro AL, Blesa A, Berenguer J, Bartolucci S, Fiorentino G. Characterization of a promiscuous cadmium and arsenic resistance mechanism in Thermus thermophilus HB27 and potential application of a novel bioreporter system. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:78. [PMID: 29776370 PMCID: PMC5960188 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0918-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The characterization of the molecular determinants of metal resistance has potential biotechnological application in biosensing and bioremediation. In this context, the bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 is a metal tolerant thermophile containing a set of genes involved in arsenic resistance which, differently from other microbes, are not organized into a single operon. They encode the proteins: arsenate reductase, TtArsC, arsenic efflux membrane transporter, TtArsX, and transcriptional repressor, TtSmtB. Results In this work we show that the arsenic efflux protein TtArsX and the arsenic responsive transcriptional repressor TtSmtB are required to provide resistance to cadmium. We analyzed the sensitivity to Cd(II) of mutants lacking TtArsX, finding that they are more sensitive to this metal than the wild type strain. In addition, using promoter probe reporter plasmids, we show that the transcription of TtarsX is also stimulated by the presence of Cd(II) in a TtSmtB-dependent way. Actually, a regulatory circuit composed of TtSmtB and a reporter gene expressed from the TtarsX promoter responds to variation in Cd(II), As(III) and As(V) concentrations. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the system composed by TtSmtB and TtArsX is responsible for both the arsenic and cadmium resistance in T. thermophilus. The data also support the use of T. thermophilus as a suitable chassis for the design and development of As-Cd biosensors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-018-0918-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immacolata Antonucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Danila Limauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Ana Luisa Ribeiro
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Blesa
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Berenguer
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simonetta Bartolucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy.
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Antonucci I, Gallo G, Limauro D, Contursi P, Ribeiro AL, Blesa A, Berenguer J, Bartolucci S, Fiorentino G. An ArsR/SmtB family member regulates arsenic resistance genes unusually arranged in Thermus thermophilus HB27. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:1690-1701. [PMID: 28696001 PMCID: PMC5658604 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Arsenic resistance is commonly clustered in ars operons in bacteria; main ars operon components encode an arsenate reductase, a membrane extrusion protein, and an As‐sensitive transcription factor. In the As‐resistant thermophile Thermus thermophilus HB27, genes encoding homologues of these proteins are interspersed in the chromosome. In this article, we show that two adjacent genes, TtsmtB, encoding an ArsR/SmtB transcriptional repressor and, TTC0354, encoding a Zn2+/Cd2+‐dependent membrane ATPase are involved in As resistance; differently from characterized ars operons, the two genes are transcribed from dedicated promoters upstream of their respective genes, whose expression is differentially regulated at transcriptional level. Mutants defective in TtsmtB or TTC0354 are more sensitive to As than the wild type, proving their role in arsenic resistance. Recombinant dimeric TtSmtB binds in vitro to both promoters, but its binding capability decreases upon interaction with arsenate and, less efficiently, with arsenite. In vivo and in vitro experiments also demonstrate that the arsenate reductase (TtArsC) is subjected to regulation by TtSmtB. We propose a model for the regulation of As resistance in T. thermophilus in which TtSmtB is the arsenate sensor responsible for the induction of TtArsC which generates arsenite exported by TTC0354 efflux protein to detoxify cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immacolata Antonucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Danila Limauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Ana Luisa Ribeiro
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Blesa
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Berenguer
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simonetta Bartolucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
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