Advancing undergraduate synthetic biology education: insights from a Canadian iGEM student perspective
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. The last two decades have seen vigorous activity in synthetic biology research and the ever-increasing applications of these technologies. However, pedagogical research pertaining to teaching synthetic biology is scarce, especially when compared to other science and engineering disciplines. Within Canada, there are only three universities that offer synthetic biology programs, two of which are at the undergraduate level. Rather than taking place in formal academic settings, many Canadian undergraduate students are introduced to synthetic biology through participation in the...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 8, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Patrick Diep Austin Boucinha Brayden Kell Bi-ru Amy Yeung Xingyu Chen Daniel Tsyplenkov Danielle Serra Andres Escobar Ansley Gnanapragasam Christian A. Emond Victoria A. Sajtovich Radhakrishnan Mahadevan Dawn M. Kilkenny Garfield Gini-Newman Mads Kaern Br Source Type: research
Comparative prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter jejuni strains in water and human beings over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta, Canada
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from diarrheic people, river water (Oldman River watershed), wastewater, and drinking water over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta (2008 –2009). High rates of campylobacteriosis were observed during the study period (≥115 cases/100 K). Infections occurred throughout the year, with peaks in late summer and early autumn. Most infections occurred in people living in Lethbridge. Campylobacter jejuni was not isolated from municipal dr inking water. In contrast, the bacterium was isolated from untreated and treated wastewater and river ...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 7, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: G. Douglas Inglis Januana S. Teixeira Valerie F. Boras Source Type: research
Microorganisms that participate in biochemical cycles in wetlands
In this study, we used 16S rDNA or functional genes. The use of functional genes provides information to monitor specific microbial populations, and 16S rDNA is more suitable for taxonomic classification. In addition, several Candidatus microorganisms have not been isolated to date. However, their metabolic roles in the biochemical cycle of wetlands have been described. (Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology)
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 7, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Macarena Mellado Jeannette Vera Source Type: research
Where the infection is isolated rather than the specific species correlates with adherence strength, whereas biofilm density remains static in clinically isolated Candida and arthroconidial yeasts
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. To colonize and infect the host, arthroconidial yeasts must avoid being killed by the host ’s defenses. The formation of biofilms on implanted devices allows fungi to avoid host responses and to disseminate into the host. To better study the mechanisms of infection by arthroconidial yeasts, adherence and biofilm formation were assayed using patient samples collected over 10 years. In cl inical samples, adherence varies within species, but the relative adherence is constant for those samples isolated from the same infection site. Herein we document, for the first time, in-...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 7, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Mei ElGindi Rula Al-Baghdadi Alex B. Jackman Angelina S. Antonyan Diana L. McMahon Saad J. Taj-Aldeen Jonathan S. Finkel Source Type: research
Morphological changes and bioaccumulation in response to cadmium exposure in Morchella spongiola, a fungus with potential for detoxification
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Morchella is a genus of edible fungi with strong resistance to cadmium (Cd) and the ability to accumulate it in its mycelia. However, the mechanisms underlying Cd resistance in Morchella remain unknown. In the present study, morphological and physiological responses to Cd were evaluated in the mycelia of Morchella spongiola. Variations in hyphal micromorphology, including twisting, folding, and kinking, in mycelia exposed to different Cd concentrations (0.15, 0.9, 1.5, 2.4, 5.0 mg/L) were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Deposition of Cd precipitates on cell s...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 6, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Hongyan Xu Zhanling Xie Jing Guo Qing Men Source Type: research
Pharmacophore-based screening and modification of amiloride analogs for targeting the NhaP-type cation-proton antiporter in Vibrio cholerae
In this study, we developed putative Vc-NhaP2 inhibitors from amiloride analogs. Molecular docking of the modified amiloride analogs revealed promising binding properties. The four selected drugs potentially interact ed with functionally important amino acid residues located on the cytoplasmic side of TMS VI, the extended chain region of TMSs V and XII, and the loop region between TMSs VIIII and IX. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that binding of the selected drugs can potentially destabilize Vc-NhaP2 an d alter the flexibility of functionally important TMS VI. This work presents the utility of in silico approaches...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - July 5, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Muntahi Mourin Arittra Bhattacharjee Alvan Wai Georg Hausner Joe O ’Neil Pavel Dibrov Source Type: research
Impact of sample collection on prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity of niche environments of the oil-sand mining impacted Athabasca River
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Microbial communities are an important aspect of overall riverine ecology; however, appreciation of the effects of anthropogenic activities on unique riverine microbial niches, and how the collection of these samples affects the observed diversity and community profile is lacking. We analyzed prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities from surface water, biofilms, and suspended load niches along a gradient of oil sands-related contamination in the Athabasca River (Alberta, Canada), with suspended load or particle-associated communities collected either via Kenney Sampler or cen...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - June 25, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jordyn Bergsveinson John R. Lawrence Alixandra Schebel Jessica Wasserscheid Julie Roy F. Malcolm Conly Sylvie Sanschagrin Darren R. Korber Julien Tremblay Charles W. Greer Ian G. Droppo Source Type: research
Antifungal mechanisms of lavender essential oil in the inhibition of rot disease caused by Monilinia fructicola in postharvest flat peaches
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Lavender essential oil (LEO), a natural antimicrobial agent, is generally recognized as safe and effective in the inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi. Direct contact and fumigation (in vivo and in vitro) were used to study the fungistatic effect of LEO on Monilinia fructicola. Additionally, the effect on the ultrastructure of cells and the degree of destruction of the cell membrane of M. fructicola were revealed. In addition, the effects of LEO on the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes in M. fructicola cells were detected, and GC-MS was used to analyze the main co...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - June 21, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Xiaolin Xiong Lingling Zhang Xingyan Li Qingzhi Zeng Rongrong Deng Xueyan Ren Qingjun Kong Source Type: research
Disinfection mechanism of the photocatalytic activity of SnO2 thin films against Candida albicans, proposed from experimental and simulated perspectives
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Nosocomial infections are an important health problem and cause of complications and death in hospitalized patients. This problem should be solved from the preventive angle, avoiding the spread of infections by designing disinfection methods based on the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials such as tin oxide (SnO2). The antimicrobial activity of UV light was tested by using inoculation with Candida albicans ATCC10231 on SnO2 thin films and counting colony forming units (CFU). The interaction of UV light with SnO2 was analyzed by density functional theory (DFT)...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - June 3, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Alejandro Faudoa-Arzate Javier Camarillo-Cisneros Alva Roc ío Castillo-González Mar ía Alejandra Favila-Pérez Renee Joselin S áenz-Hernández Paula Rebeca Realyvazquez-Guevara Carlos Arzate-Quintana Source Type: research
Comparative genomic analyses of β-lactamase (blaCMY-42)-encoding plasmids isolated from wastewater treatment plants in Canada
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are useful environments for investigating the occurrence, diversity, and evolution of plasmids encoding clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Our objective was to isolate and sequence plasmids encoding meropenem resistance from bacterial hosts within Canadian WWTPs. We used two enrichment culture approaches for primary plasmid isolation, followed by screening for antibiotic resistance, conjugative mobility, and stability in enteric bacteria. Isolated plasmids were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq and Sanger sequencing meth...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - June 2, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Adeyinka O. Ajayi Benjamin J. Perry Christopher K. Yost Rob C. Jamieson Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Teddie O. Rahube Source Type: research
CspB and CspC are induced upon cold shock in Bacillus cereus strain D2
In this study, the cold shock response of B. cereus D2 was characterized; as per the Arrhenius curve, 10 °C was chosen as the cold shock temperature. Six cold shock-like proteins were found and temporarily named cold shock protein (Csp)1–6; the respective genes were cloned and identified. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that cs p1, csp2, csp3, and csp6 were overexpressed under cold shock conditions. Interestingly, after cloning the respective encoding genes into the pET-28a (+) vector and their subsequent transformation into E. coli BL21 (DE3), the strains expressing Csp2 and Csp6 grew faster at 10 °C, s...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - May 31, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Haoyang Li Rui Yang Linlin Hao Chunli Wang Mingtang Li Source Type: research
The effect of polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas chlororaphis PA23 biofilm formation, stress endurance, and interaction with the protozoan predator Acanthamoeba castellanii
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. Pseudomonas chlororaphis PA23 is a biocontrol agent capable of protecting canola against the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In addition to producing antifungal compounds, this bacterium synthesizes and accumulates polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers as carbon and energy storage compounds. Because the role of PHA in PA23 physiology is currently unknown, we investigated the impact of this polymer on stress resistance, adherence to surfaces, and interaction with the protozoan predator Acanthamoeba castellanii. Three PHA biosynthesis mutants were created, PA23phaC1, ...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - May 31, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Akrm Ghergab Nisha Mohanan Grace Saliga Ann Karen C. Brassinga David Levin Teresa de Kievit Source Type: research
Biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus from milk and expression of the adhesion genes ebpS and cna at different temperatures
This study investigated the ability of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from milk to form biofilm, through detection of adhesion genes, investigating exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and biofilm formation on polystyrene (PS) and stainless steel (SS) surfaces, and by quantifying the expression of ebpS and cna genes under different temperatures and culture media. Among the 31 isolates, the adhesion genes ebpS and cna were found in 81% and 61% of the isolates, respectively. The screening tests for phenotype revealed that 58% of the isolates were EPS producers, and 45% showed the ability to produce biofilm on PS. Nine of the 3...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - May 4, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Isabela Schneid Kroning Tassiana Ramires Louise Haubert Caroline Rizzi Meg da Silva Fernandes Graciela Volz Lopes Odir Ant ônio Dellagostin Wladimir Padilha da Silva Source Type: research
Molecular analyses of the diversity and function of the family 1 β-glucosidase-producing microbial community in compost
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. The diversity and transcription efficiency of GH1 family β-glucosidase genes were investigated in natural and inoculated composts using a DNA clone library and real-time qPCR. Compositional differences were observed in the functional communities between the two composting processes. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi were the dom inant phyla. Twenty representative β-glucosidase genes were quantitatively analyzed from the DNA and RNA pools. Principal component analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that cellulose degradation is correl...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - April 27, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Xinyue Zhang Erlie Su Shanshan Li Xiehui Chen Zhihua Fan Meiting Liu Bo Ma Hongtao Li Source Type: research
Managing the bacterial contamination risk in an axenic mice animal facility
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Ahead of Print. A gap exists between good laboratory practices with axenic animals and the procedures applied. This work examined the efficacy of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (MB-10) and potassium peroxymonosulfate (Virkon ™) disinfectants, as well as the appropriate soaking time for materials used with the ISOcage Biosafety Station™. We also compared the microbial load in cage systems hosting mice over 2 weeks in axenic rooms (ARs) and in typical specific-pathogen-free (SPF) non-axenic rooms (NARs) to identify re sistant microorganisms, targeted for longer soaking disinfection, and eva...
Source: Canadian Journal of Microbiology - April 12, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Maria Lebeuf Nathalie Turgeon Cynthia Faubert Justin Robillard Éric Paradis Caroline Duchaine Source Type: research
