The characterization of microbial community structure via 16S rRNA gene profiling has been greatly advanced in recent years by the introduction of amplicon pyrosequencing. The possibility of barcoding gives the opportunity to massively screen multiple samples from environmental or clinical sources for community details. However, an on-going debate questions the reproducibility and semi-quantita...

The mutualistic association between the squid Euprymna scolopes and the bacterium Vibrio fischeri is an emerging experimental system for the study of the influence of bacteria on animal development. Taking advantage of the ability to raise both this host and its microbial partner independently under laboratory conditions, we describe the effects of bacterial interactions on morphogenesis of the...

Novel cellular behaviors and characteristics can be obtained by coupling engineered gene networks to the cell's natural regulatory circuitry through appropriately designed input and output interfaces. Here, we demonstrate how an engineered genetic circuit can be used to construct cells that respond to biological signals in a predetermined and programmable fashion. We employ a modular design str...

A lethal genetic selection utilizing the bacteriophage lambda lysis genes (S, R, RZ) has been developed and used in conjunction with a luminescence screen to allow the isolation and characterization of six missense mutations and two nonsense mutations in the luxR gene from Vibrio fischeri ATCC 7744. A transcriptional fusion of the lysis genes in operonR downstream of a truncated luxI gene allow...

Spaceflight imposes numerous adaptive challenges for terrestrial life. The reduction in gravity, or microgravity, represents a novel environment that can disrupt homeostasis of many physiological processes. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly clear that an organism's microbiome is critical for host health and examining its resiliency in microgravity represents a new frontier for space bio...

This paper describes the ecotoxicological evaluation of five organic contaminants frequently detected in marine sediments (tributyltin, triphenyltin, benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, and PCB 153) using three marine species (Vibrio fischeri, Tetraselmis suecica, and Tisbe battagliai). The sensitivity of each species varied for all compounds. The triorganotins were consistently the most toxic to all...

Colonization of the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri requires the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) gene cluster, which contributes to symbiotic initiation by promoting biofilm formation on the surface of the symbiotic organ. We previously described roles for the syp-encoded response regulator SypG and an unlinked gene encoding the sensor kinase RscS in cont...

In this work, a composite material based on titanium(IV) oxide and iron(II,III) was prepared using mechanothermal method. The obtained system thoroughly characterized techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, nanoparticle tracking analysis. acute toxicity of the evaluated with Microtox. addition, material’s photocatalytic potential st...

Water contaminated with diesel oil represents one of the greatest challenges in waste water management. soluble fraction (WSF) is particular interest because its toxicity to aquatic organisms and discharge regulations set by environmental authorities. Biochar sorbents have attracted great attention, due their low cost origin advantageous properties as well high sorption capacities processes. In...