scholarly journals Microbial metabolism of isoprene: a much-neglected climate-active gas

Microbiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 166 (7) ◽  
pp. 600-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Colin Murrell ◽  
Terry J. McGenity ◽  
Andrew T. Crombie
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Sources And Sinks ◽  
Global Emissions ◽  
Review Current

The climate-active gas isoprene is the major volatile produced by a variety of trees and is released into the atmosphere in enormous quantities, on a par with global emissions of methane. While isoprene production in plants and its effect on atmospheric chemistry have received considerable attention, research into the biological isoprene sink has been neglected until recently. Here, we review current knowledge on the sources and sinks of isoprene and outline its environmental effects. Focusing on degradation by microbes, many of which are able to use isoprene as the sole source of carbon and energy, we review recent studies characterizing novel isoprene degraders isolated from soils, marine sediments and in association with plants. We describe the development and use of molecular methods to identify, quantify and genetically characterize isoprene-degrading strains in environmental samples. Finally, this review identifies research imperatives for the further study of the environmental impact, ecology, regulation and biochemistry of this interesting group of microbes.

scholarly journals Bacteria, Fungi and Microalgae for the Bioremediation of Marine Sediments Contaminated by Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Omics Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1695
Author(s):  
Filippo Dell’ Anno ◽  
Eugenio Rastelli ◽  
Clementina Sansone ◽  
Christophe Brunet ◽  
Adrianna Ianora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Hydrocarbon Removal ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Review Current

Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are one of the most widespread and heterogeneous organic contaminants affecting marine ecosystems. The contamination of marine sediments or coastal areas by PHCs represents a major threat for the ecosystem and human health, calling for urgent, effective, and sustainable remediation solutions. Aside from some physical and chemical treatments that have been established over the years for marine sediment reclamation, bioremediation approaches based on the use of microorganisms are gaining increasing attention for their eco-compatibility, and lower costs. In this work, we review current knowledge concerning the bioremediation of PHCs in marine systems, presenting a synthesis of the most effective microbial taxa (i.e., bacteria, fungi, and microalgae) identified so far for hydrocarbon removal. We also discuss the challenges offered by innovative molecular approaches for the design of effective reclamation strategies based on these three microbial components of marine sediments contaminated by hydrocarbons.

The Social, Economic, and Environmental Impact of Ecological Beekeeping in Romania

2019 ◽  
pp. 75-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Raluca Gh. Popescu ◽  
Gheorghe N. Popescu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Market Economy ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Continuous Development ◽  
The Social ◽  
Good Organization

The beekeeping activity in Romania benefits from an exceptional melliferous base and favorable climatic conditions, especially for Apis Melifera Carpatica species adapted for millennia to the specific Romanian conditions. Beekeeping is a beneficial activity for beekeepers who either supplement their income, whether it is the main or sole source of income, as well as for agriculture, society, and the environment. After 1989, during the transition period to the market economy, beekeeping experienced a severe decline, but the good organization experience in the Association of Beekeepers in Romania dating from 1958 and the relatively large share of the private sector before 1989 made the transition period much diminished compared to other sectors of the economy, and to experience continuous development. The quantitative and qualitative indicators that have been analyzed highlight the main economic, social, and environmental effects of apiculture practices in Romania.

scholarly journals Cord Blood-Based Approach to Assess Candidate Vaccine Adjuvants Designed for Neonates and Infants

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Daisuke Tokuhara ◽  
Norikatsu Hikita
Keyword(s):  
Cord Blood ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Current System ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Vaccine Adjuvants ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Neonates And Infants ◽  
Induced Immunity ◽  
Review Current

Neonates and infants are particularly susceptible to infections, for which outcomes tend to be severe. Vaccination is a key strategy for preventing infectious diseases, but the protective immunity achieved through vaccination typically is weaker in infants than in healthy adults. One possible explanation for the poor acquisition of vaccine-induced immunity in infants is that their innate immune response, represented by toll-like receptors, is immature. The current system for developing pediatric vaccines relies on the confirmation of their safety and effectiveness in studies involving the use of mature animals or adult humans. However, creating vaccines for neonates and infants requires an understanding of their uniquely immature innate immunity. Here we review current knowledge regarding the innate immune system of neonates and infants and challenges in developing vaccine adjuvants for those children through analyses of cord blood.

scholarly journals Meteorite Orbits from Observations by Camera Networks

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Halliday ◽  
Arthur A. Griffin ◽  
Alan T. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Camera Networks ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Lost City ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Physically Identical ◽  
Review Current ◽  
Visual Observations

Camera networks for the study of bright fireballs now have a history approaching two decades• It was hoped that the networks would produce a statistically significant group of recovered meteorites with accurate orbits. Due to the great difficulty in locating the meteorites from a photographed event, there are still only three meteorites with orbits determined from suitable photographs; Pribram, Lost City and Innisfree (Ceplecha I96I, McCrosky et al. 1971, Halliday et al. 1978, respectively). Networks do, however, provide an alternative approach to the problem. Instead of determining approximate orbits from visual observations of recovered meteorite falls, it is now preferable to use reliable orbits from the camera networks for fireballs which are believed to have dropped meteorites that could not be located, or, that are believed to have been physically identical to meteorites, although no appreciable mass survived the atmospheric flight. This paper will review current knowledge based on this approach to the problem.

scholarly journals New trends in botulinum toxin use in dermatology

2018 ◽  
pp. 277-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Guida ◽  
Francesca Farnetani ◽  
Steven P. Nisticò ◽  
Caterina Giorgio Mariarosaria ◽  
Graziella Babino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Botulinum Neurotoxin ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Hypertrophic Scars ◽  
Skin Disorders ◽  
Facial Flushing ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Raynaud Phenomenon ◽  
Skin Conditions ◽  
Review Current

Background: Recent studies have highlighted new botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) applications in the field of dermatology. Objective: To review current knowledge of BoNT use in dermatology. Methods: The literature of the last 5 years has been reviewed. Results: We describe interesting protocols of BoNT treatment for hyperhidrosis (HH), hypertrophic scars and keloids, Raynaud phenomenon, facial flushing, oily skin, psoriasis, Hailey-Hailey disease, and cutaneous lesions like painful lesions and periorbital syringomas. Conclusions: Several skin conditions eligible for BoNT treatment have been described. After the wide application for HH treatment, scars as well as vascular and inflammatory skin disorders, oily skin and cutaneous lesions represent fields of application of BoNT.

scholarly journals Surface fluxes of bromoform and dibromomethane over the tropical western Pacific inferred from airborne in situ measurements

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Feng ◽  
Paul I. Palmer ◽  
Robyn Butler ◽  
Stephen J. Andrews ◽  
Elliot L. Atlas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Study Region ◽  
The Western Pacific ◽  
Aircraft Data

Abstract. We infer surface fluxes of bromoform (CHBr3) and dibromoform (CH2Br2) from aircraft observations over the western Pacific using a tagged version of the GEOS-Chem global 3-D atmospheric chemistry model and a Maximum A Posteriori inverse model. The distribution of a priori ocean emissions of these gases are reasonably consistent with observed atmospheric mole fractions of CHBr3 (r = 0.62) and CH2Br2 (r = 0.38). These a priori emissions result in a positive model bias in CHBr3 peaking in the marine boundary layer, but capture observed values of CH2Br2 with no significant bias by virtue of its longer atmospheric lifetime. Using GEOS-Chem, we find that observed variations in atmospheric CHBr3 are determined equally by sources over the western Pacific and those outside the study region, but observed variations in CH2Br2 are determined mainly by sources outside the western Pacific. Numerical closed-loop experiments show that the spatial and temporal distribution of boundary layer aircraft data have the potential to substantially improve current knowledge of these fluxes, with improvements related to data density. Using the aircraft data, we estimate aggregated regional fluxes of 3.6 ± 0.3 × 108 g/month and 0.7 ± 0.1 × 108 g/month for CHBr3 and CH2Br2 over 130°–155° E and 0°–12° N, respectively, which represent reductions of 20–40 % and substantial spatial deviations from the a priori inventory. We find no evidence to support a robust linear relationship between CHBr3 and CH2Br2 oceanic emissions, as used by previous studies.

scholarly journals Synthetic protocell biology: from reproduction to computation

2007 ◽  
Vol 362 (1486) ◽  
pp. 1727-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricard V Solé ◽  
Andreea Munteanu ◽  
Carlos Rodriguez-Caso ◽  
Javier Macía
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Biochemical Networks ◽  
Cellular Structures ◽  
Biological Complexity ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Cooperative Dynamics ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Review Current

Cells are the building blocks of biological complexity. They are complex systems sustained by the coordinated cooperative dynamics of several biochemical networks. Their replication, adaptation and computational features emerge as a consequence of appropriate molecular feedbacks that somehow define what life is. As the last decades have brought the transition from the description-driven biology to the synthesis-driven biology, one great challenge shared by both the fields of bioengineering and the origin of life is to find the appropriate conditions under which living cellular structures can effectively emerge and persist. Here, we review current knowledge (both theoretical and experimental) on possible scenarios of artificial cell design and their future challenges.

scholarly journals Lung Interstitial Macrophages: Past, Present, and Future

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joey Schyns ◽  
Fabrice Bureau ◽  
Thomas Marichal
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Alveolar Macrophages ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Allergic Airway Inflammation ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Review Current

For a long time, investigations about the lung myeloid compartment have been mainly limited to the macrophages located within the airways, that is, the well-known alveolar macrophages specialized in recycling of surfactant molecules and removal of debris. However, a growing number of reports have highlighted the complexity of the lung myeloid compartment, which also encompass different subsets of dendritic cells, tissue monocytes, and nonalveolar macrophages, called interstitial macrophages (IM). Recent evidence supports that, in mice, IM perform important immune functions, including the maintenance of lung homeostasis and prevention of immune-mediated allergic airway inflammation. In this article, we describe lung IM from a historical perspective and we review current knowledge on their characteristics, ontogeny, and functions, mostly in rodents. Finally, we emphasize some important future challenges for the field.

scholarly journals HYPOXIA AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: The presence and role of hypoxia in the endometrium

Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. F1-F17
Author(s):  
Rocío Martínez-Aguilar ◽  
Lucy E Kershaw ◽  
Jane J Reavey ◽  
Hilary O D Critchley ◽  
Jacqueline A Maybin
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hypoxic Episode ◽  
Optimal Function ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Review Current

The endometrium is a multicellular tissue that is exquisitely responsive to the ovarian hormones. The local mechanisms of endometrial regulation to ensure optimal function are less well characterised. Transient physiological hypoxia has been proposed as a critical regulator of endometrial function. Herein, we review the literature on hypoxia in the non-pregnant endometrium. We discuss the pros and cons of animal models, human laboratory studies and novel in vivo imaging for the study of endometrial hypoxia. These research tools provide mounting evidence of a transient hypoxic episode in the menstrual endometrium and suggest that endometrial hypoxia may be present at the time of implantation. This local hypoxia may modify the inflammatory environment, influence vascular remodelling and modulate endometrial proliferation to optimise endometrial function. Finally, we review current knowledge of the impact of this hypoxia on endometrial pathologies, with a focus on abnormal uterine bleeding. Throughout the manuscript areas for future research are highlighted with the aim of concentrating research efforts to maximise future benefits for women and society.

scholarly journals Oral iron administration in suckling piglets – a review

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Svoboda ◽  
Karolína Píšťková
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Oral Iron ◽  
Iron Dextran ◽  
Iron Chelates ◽  
Iron Administration ◽  
Iron Salts ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Suckling Piglets ◽  
Review Current

Iron deficiency is presently a serious problem in suckling piglets on pig farms. The most often used method of anaemia prevention in piglets is parenteral administration of iron dextran. Oral iron represents an alternative to this method. The goal of this article is to review current knowledge on oral iron administration in suckling piglets. The substances that can be used for this purpose include iron dextran, iron salts, iron chelates, carbonyl iron, an iron polymaltose complex and iron microparticles. The different methods of oral iron administration in piglets are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document