In-Situ Monitoring of Xenobiotics using Genetically Engineered Whole-Cell-Based Microbial Biosensors: Recent Advances and Outlook

Industrialisation, directly or indirectly, exposes humans to various xenobiotics. The increased magnitude of chemical pesticides and toxic heavy metals in the environment, as well as their intrusion into the food chain, seriously threatens human health. Therefore, the surveillance of xenobiotics is crucial for social safety and security. Online investigation by traditional methods is not sufficient for the detection and identification of such compounds because of the high costs and their complexity. Advancement in the field of genetic engineering provides a potential opportunity to use genetically modified microorganisms. In this regard, whole-cell-based microbial biosensors (WCBMB) represent an essential tool that couples genetically engineered organisms with an operator/promoter derived from a heavy metal-resistant operon combined with a regulatory protein in the gene circuit. The plasmid controls the expression of the reporter gene, such as gfp, luc, lux and lacZ, to an inducible gene promoter and has been widely applied to assay toxicity and bioavailability. This review summarises the recent trends in the development and application of microbial biosensors and the use of mobile genes for biomedical and environmental safety concerns.

Molecular biology

The textbook presents the main range of issues in molecular biology — the most rapidly developing area of biological science. The logic of the presentation of the material includes sequential coverage of the structural organization and functions of DNA, RNA, proteins. Important attention is paid to the mechanisms of signal transmission in living systems, the problems of creating and using genetically engineered organisms. Each chapter ends with control questions and assignments for independent work. The textbook includes a set of laboratory and practical works that do not require specialized equipment and materials. The new edition has been supplemented and clarified, reflecting the current state of science. The content of the textbook corresponds to a number of competencies, the development of which is provided for by the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education in the preparation of bachelors in the fields of "Pedagogical Education" (profiles "Biology" and "Chemistry"), "Biology". Certain topics can be used in the preparation of masters in the fields of "Biology", "Chemistry", "Natural Science Education". The book is intended for students studying in natural sciences, and will also be useful for teachers of biology and chemistry of high school.

Living materials with programmable functionalities grown from engineered microbial co-cultures

ABSTRACTBiological systems assemble tissues and structures with advanced properties in ways that cannot be achieved by man-made materials. Living materials self-assemble under mild conditions, are autonomously patterned, can self-repair and sense and respond to their environment. Inspired by this, the field of engineered living materials (ELMs) aims to use genetically-engineered organisms to generate novel materials. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biological material with impressive physical properties and low cost of production that is an attractive substrate for ELMs. Inspired by how plants build materials from tissues with specialist cells we here developed a system for making novel BC-based ELMs by addition of engineered yeast programmed to add functional traits to a cellulose matrix. This is achieved via a synthetic ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast’ (Syn-SCOBY) approach that uses a stable co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with BC-producing Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacetria. Our Syn-SCOBY approach allows inoculation of engineered cells into simple growth media, and under mild conditions materials self-assemble with genetically-programmable functional properties in days. We show that co-cultured yeast can be engineered to secrete enzymes into BC, generating autonomously grown catalytic materials and enabling DNA-encoded modification of BC bulk material properties. We further developed a method for incorporating S. cerevisiae within the growing cellulose matrix, creating living materials that can sense chemical and optical inputs. This enabled growth of living sensor materials that can detect and respond to environmental pollutants, as well as living films that grow images based on projected patterns. This novel and robust Syn-SCOBY system empowers the sustainable production of BC-based ELMs.

Biofactories: engineered nanoparticles via genetically engineered organisms

Latest advances in nanoparticle biosynthesis are highlighted with specific emphasis on the deployment of genetically engineered organisms and associated challenges.

Update on Veterinary Viral Vaccines: A Review

Vaccine has made a very significant impact on the control of viral diseases in both humans and animal species. Worldwide eradication of small pox and rinderpest an d drastic reduction in other infection disease are confirming to the fact that vaccination is the most feasible and cost effective strategy for prevention, control and eradication of infectious disease. Veterinary science has made a significant contributio n to the field of vaccine research and development. Among the numerous of infectious diseases in animals, those of viral etiology account for a high burden of cases and they are the most relevant from a veterinary perspective. So, vaccination is the most f easible means that has to be implemented for controlling and eradicating these diseases. The viral vaccines used in veterinary medicine generally categorized into 1 of 3 categories: inactivated vaccines (in which antigens are typically combined with adjuva nts); live attenuated vaccines; and recombinant technology vaccines, which may include subunit antigens or genetically engineered organisms. The majority of vaccines available today rely either on attenuation (weakening) techniques or inactivated (killed) forms of the infectious agent. Even though many vaccines are available and vaccine producing technologies are existed, several viral disease s have no vaccines yet and there are also limitations even on existing vaccines. Therefore, the objective of this seminar paper is to overview the development of veterinary viral vaccines and challenges and opportunities existing in the process of its deve lopment. To be profitable from the veterinary viral vaccines the challenging factors for the development of the vaccines should be managed. In addition, the novel vaccine technologies should be encouraged because they can fill the limitations of convention al live and killed vaccines.