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Barak H, Fuchs N, Liddor-Naim M, Nir I, Sivan A, Kushmaro A. Microbial dark matter sequences verification in amplicon sequencing and environmental metagenomics data. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1247119. [PMID: 38029171 PMCID: PMC10656735 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1247119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although microorganisms constitute the most diverse and abundant life form on Earth, in many environments, the vast majority of them remain uncultured. As it is based on information gleaned mainly from cultivated microorganisms, our current body of knowledge regarding microbial life is partial and does not reflect actual microbial diversity. That diversity is hidden in the uncultured microbial majority, termed by microbiologists as "microbial dark matter" (MDM), a term borrowed from astrophysics. Metagenomic sequencing analysis techniques (both 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing) compare gene sequences to reference databases, each of which represents only a small fraction of the existing microorganisms. Unaligned sequences lead to groups of "unknown microorganisms" that are usually ignored and rarefied from diversity analysis. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed the 16S rRNA gene sequences of microbial communities from four different environments-a living organism, a desert environment, a natural aquatic environment, and a membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment. From those datasets, we chose representative sequences of potentially unknown bacteria for additional examination as "microbial dark matter sequences" (MDMS). Sequence existence was validated by specific amplification and re-sequencing. These sequences were screened against databases and aligned to the Genome Taxonomy Database to build a comprehensive phylogenetic tree for additional sequence classification, revealing potentially new candidate phyla and other lineages. These putative MDMS were also screened against metagenome-assembled genomes from the explored environments for additional validation and for taxonomic and metabolic characterizations. This study shows the immense importance of MDMS in environmental metataxonomic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and provides a simple and readily available methodology for the examination of MDM hidden behind amplicon sequencing results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Barak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Naomi Fuchs
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michal Liddor-Naim
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Irit Nir
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alex Sivan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Liddor Naim M, Fu Y, Shagan M, Bar-Or I, Marks R, Sun Q, Granek R, Kushmaro A. The Rise and Fall of Omicron BA.1 Variant as Seen in Wastewater Supports Epidemiological Model Predictions. Viruses 2023; 15:1862. [PMID: 37766269 PMCID: PMC10536904 DOI: 10.3390/v15091862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has inflicted significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Continuous virus mutations have led to the emergence of new variants. The Omicron BA.1 sub-lineage prevailed as the dominant variant globally at the beginning of 2022 but was subsequently replaced by BA.2 in numerous countries. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers an efficient tool for capturing viral shedding from infected individuals, enabling early detection of potential pandemic outbreaks without relying solely on community cooperation and clinical testing resources. This study integrated RT-qPCR assays for detecting general SARS-CoV-2 and its variants levels in wastewater into a modified triple susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) model. The emergence of the Omicron BA.1 variant was observed, replacing the presence of its predecessor, the Delta variant. Comparative analysis between the wastewater data and the modified SIRS model effectively described the BA.1 and subsequent BA.2 waves, with the decline of the Delta variant aligning with its diminished presence below the detection threshold in wastewater. This study demonstrates the potential of WBE as a valuable tool for future pandemics. Furthermore, by analyzing the sensitivity of different variants to model parameters, we are able to deduce real-life values of cross-variant immunity probabilities, emphasizing the asymmetry in their strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Liddor Naim
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Yu Fu
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262000, Israel
| | - Robert Marks
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Rony Granek
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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Masasa M, Kushmaro A, Nguyen D, Chernova H, Shashar N, Guttman L. Spatial Succession Underlies Microbial Contribution to Food Digestion in the Gut of an Algivorous Sea Urchin. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0051423. [PMID: 37097162 PMCID: PMC10269587 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00514-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary influence on the microbiome in algivorous sea urchins such as Tripneustes gratilla elatensis suggests a bacterial contribution to the digestion of fiber-rich seaweed. An ecological insight into the spatial arrangement in the gut bacterial community will improve our knowledge of host-microbe relations concerning the involved taxa, their metabolic repertoire, and the niches of activity. Toward this goal, we investigated the bacterial communities in the esophagus, stomach, and intestine of Ulva-fed sea urchins through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, followed by the prediction of their functional genes. We revealed communities with distinct features, especially those in the esophagus and intestine. The esophageal community was less diverse and was poor in food digestive or fermentation genes. In contrast, bacteria that can contribute to the digestion of the dietary Ulva were common in the stomach and intestine and consisted of genes for carbohydrate decomposition, fermentation, synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, and various ways of N and S metabolism. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were found as the main phyla in the gut and are presumably also necessary in food digestion. The abundant sulfate-reducing bacteria in the stomach and intestine from the genera Desulfotalea, Desulfitispora, and Defluviitalea may aid in removing the excess sulfate from the decomposition of the algal polysaccharides. Although these sea urchins were fed with Ulva, genes for the degradation of polysaccharides of other algae and plants were present in this sea urchin gut microbiome. We conclude that the succession of microbial communities along the gut obtained supports the hypothesis on bacterial contribution to food digestion. IMPORTANCE Alga grazing by the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla elatensis is vital for nutrient recycling and constructing new reefs. This research was driven by the need to expand the knowledge of bacteria that may aid this host in alga digestion and their phylogeny, roles, and activity niches. We hypothesized alterations in the bacterial compositional structure along the gut and their association with the potential contribution to food digestion. The current spatial insight into the sea urchin's gut microbiome ecology is novel and reveals how distinct bacterial communities are when distant from each other in this organ. It points to keynote bacteria with genes that may aid the host in the digestion of the complex sulfated polysaccharides in dietary Ulva by removing the released sulfates and fermentation to provide energy. The gut bacteria's genomic arsenal may also help to gain energy from diets of other algae and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Masasa
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Dzung Nguyen
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
| | - Helena Chernova
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
| | - Nadav Shashar
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat, Israel
| | - Lior Guttman
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Life Sciences, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Baruch Y, Golberg K, Sun Q, Yew-Hoong Gin K, Marks RS, Kushmaro A. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM): A Potential Therapeutic Agent against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans Biofilm. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1017. [PMID: 37370336 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12061017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Indole, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, has been proven to act as a signal molecule in bacteria, acting in different aspects of biofilm formation. The oral biofilm is a type of biofilm that has consequences for human health. It is a complex, three-dimensional structure that develops on the surface of teeth via the attachment of primary microbial colonizers. Many oral infections are caused by an imbalance occurring in the microorganisms naturally found in oral biofilms and are considered major public health concerns. In this study, we test the effect of a natural bis-indole, 3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM), in mitigating the pathogenicity of the oral biofilm inhabiting bacterium Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that is considered to be a principal etiological agent in dental caries. Our study found that DIM was able to attenuate S. mutans biofilm formation by 92%. Additionally, treatment with DIM lowered extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and decreased its durability significantly under acidic conditions. Therefore, the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of DIM against S. mutans bacteria in an "oral setting" provides evidence for its usefulness in reducing biofilm formation and potentially for caries attenuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifat Baruch
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Karina Golberg
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Robert S Marks
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
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Bajaj A, Abutoama M, Isaacs S, Abuleil MJ, Yaniv K, Kushmaro A, Modic M, Cvelbar U, Abdulhalim I. Biofilm growth monitoring using guided wave ultralong-range Surface Plasmon Resonance: A proof of concept. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 228:115204. [PMID: 36913883 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Unwelcomed biofilms are problematic in food industries, surgical devices, marine applications, and wastewater treatment plants, essentially everywhere where there is moisture. Very recently, label-free advanced sensors such as localized and extended surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have been explored as tools for monitoring biofilm formation. However, conventional noble metal SPR substrates suffer from low penetration depth (100-300 nm) into the dielectric medium above the surface, preventing the reliable detection of large entities of single or multi-layered cell assemblies like biofilms which can grow up to a few micrometers or more. In this study, we propose using a plasmonic insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) structure (SiO2-Ag-SiO2) with a higher penetration depth based on a diverging beam single wavelength format of Kretschmann configuration in a portable SPR device. An SPR line detection algorithm for locating the reflectance minimum of the device helps to view changes in refractive index and accumulation of the biofilm in real-time down to 10-7 RIU precision. The optimized IMI structure exhibits strong penetration dependence on wavelength and incidence angle. Within the plasmonic resonance, different angles penetrate different depths, showing a maximum near the critical angle. At the wavelength of 635 nm, a high penetration depth of more than 4 μm was obtained. Compared to a thin gold film substrate, for which the penetration depth is only ∼200 nm, the IMI substrate provides more reliable results. The average thickness of the biofilm after 24 h of growth was found to be between 6 and 7 μm with ∼63% live cell volume, as estimated from confocal microscopic images using an image processing tool. To explain this saturation thickness, a graded index biofilm structure is proposed in which the refractive index decreases with the distance from the interface. Furthermore, when plasma-assisted degeneration of biofilms was studied in a semi-real-time format, there was almost no effect on the IMI substrate compared to the gold substrate. The growth rate over the SiO2 surface was higher than on gold, possibly due to differences between surface charge effects. On the gold, the excited plasmon generates an oscillating cloud of electrons, while for the SiO2 case, this does not happen. This methodology can be utilized to detect and characterize biofilms with better signal reliability with respect to concentration and size dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aabha Bajaj
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Mohammad Abutoama
- Department of Electro-optics and Photonics Engineering, ECE School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Sivan Isaacs
- Department of Electro-optics and Photonics Engineering, ECE School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Marwan J Abuleil
- Department of Electro-optics and Photonics Engineering, ECE School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel; Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel; School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Martina Modic
- Department of Gaseous Electronics (F6), Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Uroš Cvelbar
- Department of Gaseous Electronics (F6), Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ibrahim Abdulhalim
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel; Department of Electro-optics and Photonics Engineering, ECE School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel.
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Markus V, Paul AA, Teralı K, Özer N, Marks RS, Golberg K, Kushmaro A. Conversations in the Gut: The Role of Quorum Sensing in Normobiosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043722. [PMID: 36835135 PMCID: PMC9963693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
An imbalance in gut microbiota, termed dysbiosis, has been shown to affect host health. Several factors, including dietary changes, have been reported to cause dysbiosis with its associated pathologies that include inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, obesity, depression, and autism. We recently demonstrated the inhibitory effects of artificial sweeteners on bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and proposed that QS inhibition may be one mechanism behind such dysbiosis. QS is a complex network of cell-cell communication that is mediated by small diffusible molecules known as autoinducers (AIs). Using AIs, bacteria interact with one another and coordinate their gene expression based on their population density for the benefit of the whole community or one group over another. Bacteria that cannot synthesize their own AIs secretly "listen" to the signals produced by other bacteria, a phenomenon known as "eavesdropping". AIs impact gut microbiota equilibrium by mediating intra- and interspecies interactions as well as interkingdom communication. In this review, we discuss the role of QS in normobiosis (the normal balance of bacteria in the gut) and how interference in QS causes gut microbial imbalance. First, we present a review of QS discovery and then highlight the various QS signaling molecules used by bacteria in the gut. We also explore strategies that promote gut bacterial activity via QS activation and provide prospects for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Markus
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia 99138, Cyprus
| | - Abraham Abbey Paul
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Kerem Teralı
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cyprus International University, Nicosia 99258, Cyprus
| | - Nazmi Özer
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Girne American University, Kyrenia 99428, Cyprus
| | - Robert S. Marks
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Karina Golberg
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- Correspondence: (K.G.); (A.K.); Tel.: +972-74-7795293 (K.G.); +972-747795291 (A.K.)
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- Correspondence: (K.G.); (A.K.); Tel.: +972-74-7795293 (K.G.); +972-747795291 (A.K.)
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Yehuda N, Gheber LA, Kushmaro A, (Mails) Arad S. Complexes of Cu-Polysaccharide of a Marine Red Microalga Produce Spikes with Antimicrobial Activity. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20120787. [PMID: 36547934 PMCID: PMC9783634 DOI: 10.3390/md20120787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal-polysaccharides have recently raised significant interest due to their multifunctional bioactivities. The antimicrobial activity of a complex of Cu2O with the sulfated polysaccharide (PS) of the marine red microalga Porphyridium sp. was previously attributed to spikes formed on the complex surface (roughness). This hypothesis was further examined here using other Cu-PS complexes (i.e., monovalent-Cu2O, CuCl and divalent-CuO, CuCl2). The nanostructure parameters of the monovalent complexes, namely, longer spikes (1000 nm) and greater density (2000-5000 spikes/µm2) were found to be related to the superior inhibition of microbial growth and viability and biofilm formation. When Escherichia coli TV1061, used as a bioluminescent test organism, was exposed to the monovalent Cu-PS complexes, enhanced bioluminescence accumulation was observed, probably due to membrane perforation by the spikes on the surface of the complexes and consequent cytoplasmic leakage. In addition, differences were found in the surface chemistry of the monovalent and divalent Cu-PS complexes, with the monovalent Cu-PS complexes exhibiting greater stability (ζ-potential, FTIR spectra, and leaching out), which could be related to spike formation. This study thus supports our hypothesis that the spikes protruding from the monovalent Cu-PS surfaces, as characterized by their aspect ratio, are responsible for the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nofar Yehuda
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Levi A. Gheber
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Shoshana (Mails) Arad
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-747795257
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Masasa M, Kushmaro A, Chernova H, Shashar N, Guttman L. Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes of a Novel Halotolerant Alkalihalobacillus Species for Hydrolysis of Starch and Other Algal Polysaccharides. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0107822. [PMID: 35863032 PMCID: PMC9431708 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01078-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Halotolerant bacteria capable of starch hydrolysis by their amylases will benefit various industries, specifically since the hydrolytic activity of current industrial amylases is inhibited or even absent in salt-rich or alkaline environments. Seeking novel enzymes, we analyzed the entire genome content of a marine bacterium isolated from the gut of sea urchins to compare it against other bacterial genomes. Conditions underlying α-amylase activity were examined in vitro at various salinities (0 to 4%) and temperatures (25°C to 37°C). Genomic analyses revealed the isolated bacterium as a new species of Alkalihalobacillus. Comparative analysis of the contents of carbohydrate-active enzymes revealed various α-amylases, each with its respective carbohydrate-binding module for starch hydrolysis. Functional analysis identified the hydrolysis of starch and the maltooligosaccharides maltose and dextrin into d- and UDP-glucose. The fastest growth and α-amylase production occurred at 3% salinity at a temperature of 30°C. The Alkalihalobacillus sp. consists of exclusive contents of α-amylases and other enzymes that may be valuable in the hydrolysis of the algal polysaccharides cellulose and laminarin. IMPORTANCE Toward the discovery of novel carbohydrate-active enzymes that may be useful in the hydrolysis of starch, we examined a halotolerant bacterial isolate of Alkalihalobacillus sp. regarding its genomic content and conditions underlying the production of active α-amylases. The production of α-amylases was measured in bacterial cultures at relatively high temperature (37°C) and salinity (4%). The Alkalihalobacillus sp. revealed an exclusive content of amylases and other carbohydrate-active enzymes compared to other relevant bacteria. These enzymes may be valuable for the hydrolysis of algal polysaccharides. The enzymatic cascade of the Alkalihalobacillus sp. for starch metabolism allows polysaccharide degradation into monosugars while preventing the accumulation of intermediate inhibitors of maltose or dextrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Masasa
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Eilat Campus, Eilat, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Helena Chernova
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
| | - Nadav Shashar
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Eilat Campus, Eilat, Israel
| | - Lior Guttman
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel
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Yaniv K, Ozer E, Shagan M, Paitan Y, Granek R, Kushmaro A. Managing an evolving pandemic: Cryptic circulation of the Delta variant during the Omicron rise. Sci Total Environ 2022; 836:155599. [PMID: 35504376 PMCID: PMC9055682 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 continued circulation results in mutations and the emergence of various variants. Until now, whenever a new, dominant, variant appeared, it overpowered its predecessor after a short parallel period. The latest variant of concern, Omicron, is spreading swiftly around the world with record morbidity reports. Unlike the Delta variant, previously considered to be the main variant of concern in most countries, including Israel, the dynamics of the Omicron variant showed different characteristics. To enable quick assessment of the spread of this variant we developed an RT-qPCR primers-probe set for the direct detection of Omicron variant. Characterized as highly specific and sensitive, the new Omicron detection set was deployed on clinical and wastewater samples. In contrast to the expected dynamics whereupon the Delta variant diminishes as Omicron variant increases, representative results received from wastewater detection indicated a cryptic circulation of the Delta variant even with the increased levels of Omicron variant. Resulting wastewater data illustrated the very initial Delta-Omicron dynamics occurring in real time. Despite this, the future development and dynamics of the two variants side-by-side is still mainly unknown. Based on the initial results, a double susceptible-infected-recovered model was developed for the Delta and Omicron variants. According to the developed model, it can be expected that the Omicron levels will decrease until eliminated, while Delta variant will maintain its cryptic circulation. If this comes to pass, the mentioned cryptic circulation may result in the reemergence of a Delta morbidity wave or in the possible generation of a new threatening variant. In conclusion, the deployment of wastewater-based epidemiology is recommended as a convenient and representative tool for pandemic containment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Yossi Paitan
- Ilex Labs, Ilex Medical Ltd, 7 Hatnufa St., Petach-Tikva 4951025, Israel
| | - Rony Granek
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel; School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
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10
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Tian L, Liu R, Zhou Z, Xu X, Feng S, Kushmaro A, Marks RS, Wang D, Sun Q. Probiotic Characteristics of Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum N-1 and Its Cholesterol-Lowering Effect in Hypercholesterolemic Rats. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2022; 14:337-348. [PMID: 35064922 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-021-09886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the probiotic potential and treatment effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 in hypercholesterolemic rats were investigated, and the possible regulatory mechanisms of lipid metabolism via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase were elucidated. The strain N-1 displayed probiotic properties of antioxidant capacity, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, susceptibility to antibiotics in vitro. The results in animal study showed that the total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in serum and TC in liver declined significantly in both N-1 and simvastatin (Sta) treatment groups compared to the control (P < 0.05), and the extent of these decreases were similar between them. The expression of the HMG-CoA gene in the N-1 group was downregulated significantly by 31.18% compared to the control (P < 0.01), and the contents of butyrate and valerate in N-1 groups were significantly higher than those in both model and Sta group (P < 0.05). Thus, promoting the production of the intestinal SCFAs and inhibiting the expression of HMG-CoA reductase by L. plantarum N-1 may contribute to the improved lipid metabolism and thus lowering cholesterol level in rats. Our investigation indicated that L. plantarum N-1 has the potential to be developed into a functional food supplement for hypercholesterolemia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Rongmei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Dairy Nutrition and Function, New Hope Dairy Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Su Feng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Robert S Marks
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Dan Wang
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Bar-Or I, Yaniv K, Shagan M, Ozer E, Weil M, Indenbaum V, Elul M, Erster O, Mendelson E, Mannasse B, Shirazi R, Kramarsky-Winter E, Nir O, Abu-Ali H, Ronen Z, Rinott E, Lewis YE, Friedler E, Bitkover E, Paitan Y, Berchenko Y, Kushmaro A. Regressing SARS-CoV-2 Sewage Measurements Onto COVID-19 Burden in the Population: A Proof-of-Concept for Quantitative Environmental Surveillance. Front Public Health 2022; 9:561710. [PMID: 35047467 PMCID: PMC8762221 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.561710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus, a member of the coronavirus family of respiratory viruses that includes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It has had an acute and dramatic impact on health care systems, economies, and societies of affected countries during the past 8 months. Widespread testing and tracing efforts are being employed in many countries in attempts to contain and mitigate this pandemic. Recent data has indicated that fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is common and that the virus RNA can be detected in wastewater. This indicates that wastewater monitoring may provide a potentially efficient tool for the epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in large populations at relevant scales. In particular, this provides important means of (i) estimating the extent of outbreaks and their spatial distributions, based primarily on in-sewer measurements, (ii) managing the early-warning system quantitatively and efficiently, and (iii) verifying disease elimination. Here we report different virus concentration methods using polyethylene glycol (PEG), alum, or filtration techniques as well as different RNA extraction methodologies, providing important insights regarding the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage. Virus RNA particles were detected in wastewater in several geographic locations in Israel. In addition, a correlation of virus RNA concentration to morbidity was detected in Bnei-Barak city during April 2020. This study presents a proof of concept for the use of direct raw sewage-associated virus data, during the pandemic in the country as a potential epidemiological tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Merav Weil
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Elul
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Oded Nir
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Hala Abu-Ali
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Zeev Ronen
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Ehud Rinott
- Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yair E. Lewis
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eran Friedler
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eden Bitkover
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yossi Paitan
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Yakir Berchenko
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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12
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Yaniv K, Ozer E, Lewis Y, Kushmaro A. RT-qPCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in wastewater reveals compromised vaccination-induced immunity. Water Res 2021; 207:117808. [PMID: 34753092 PMCID: PMC8551083 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, demonstrating higher infection rate and lower vaccine effectiveness as compared with the original virus, are important factors propelling the ongoing COVID-19 global outbreak. Therefore, prompt identification of these variants in the environment is essential for pandemic assessment and containment efforts. One well established tool for such viral monitoring is the use of wastewater systems. Here, we describe continuous monitoring of traces of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the municipal wastewater of a large city in Israel. By observing morbidity fluctuations (during three main COVID-19 surges) occurring in parallel with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vaccination rate, compromised immunity was revealed in the current morbidity peak. RT-qPCR assays for the Original (D614G), Alpha and Beta variants had been previously developed and are being employed for wastewater surveillance. In the present study we developed a sensitive RT-qPCR assay designed for the rapid, direct detection of Gamma and Delta variants of concern. Sensitive quantification and detection of the various variants showed the prevalence of the original variant during the first morbidity peak. The dominance of the Alpha variant over the original variant correlated with the second morbidity peak. These variants decreased concurrently with an increase in vaccinations (Feb-March 2021) and the observed decrease in morbidity. The appearance and subsequent rise of the Delta variant became evident and corresponded to the third morbidity peak (June-August 2021). These results suggest a high vaccine neutralization efficiency towards the Alpha variant compared to its neutralization efficiency towards the Delta variant. Moreover, the third vaccination dose (booster) seems to regain neutralization efficiency towards the Delta variant. The developed assays and wastewater-based epidemiology are important tools aiding in morbidity surveillance and disclosing vaccination efforts and immunity dynamics in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | | | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
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13
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Masasa M, Kushmaro A, Kramarsky-Winter E, Shpigel M, Barkan R, Golberg A, Kribus A, Shashar N, Guttman L. Mono-specific algal diets shape microbial networking in the gut of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla elatensis. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:79. [PMID: 34782025 PMCID: PMC8594234 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00140-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Algivorous sea urchins can obtain energy from a diet of a single algal species, which may result in consequent changes in their gut microbe assemblies and association networks. METHODS To ascertain whether such changes are led by specific microbes or limited to a specific region in the gut, we compared the microbial assembly in the three major gut regions of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla elatensis when fed a mono-specific algal diet of either Ulva fasciata or Gracilaria conferta, or an algal-free diet. DNA extracts from 5 to 7 individuals from each diet treatment were used for Illumina MiSeq based 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region). Niche breadth of each microbe in the assembly was calculated for identification of core, generalist, specialist, or unique microbes. Network analyzers were used to measure the connectivity of the entire assembly and of each of the microbes within it and whether it altered with a given diet or gut region. Lastly, the predicted metabolic functions of key microbes in the gut were analyzed to evaluate their potential contribution to decomposition of dietary algal polysaccharides. RESULTS Sea urchins fed with U. fasciata grew faster and their gut microbiome network was rich in bacterial associations (edges) and networking clusters. Bacteroidetes was the keystone microbe phylum in the gut, with core, generalist, and specialist representatives. A few microbes of this phylum were central hub nodes that maintained community connectivity, while others were driver microbes that led the rewiring of the assembly network based on diet type through changes in their associations and centrality. Niche breadth agreed with microbes' richness in genes for carbohydrate active enzymes and correlated Bacteroidetes specialists to decomposition of specific polysaccharides in the algal diets. CONCLUSIONS The dense and well-connected microbial network in the gut of Ulva-fed sea urchins, together with animal's rapid growth, may suggest that this alga was most nutritious among the experimental diets. Our findings expand the knowledge on the gut microbial assembly in T. gratilla elatensis and strengthen the correlation between microbes' generalism or specialism in terms of occurrence in different niches and their metabolic arsenal which may aid host nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Masasa
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, Israel.,Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, 8811201, Eilat, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Muki Shpigel
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Roy Barkan
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, Israel.,Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, 8811201, Eilat, Israel
| | - Alex Golberg
- Department of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Abraham Kribus
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nadav Shashar
- Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, Israel
| | - Lior Guttman
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, 8811201, Eilat, Israel.
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14
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Yaniv K, Shagan M, Lewis YE, Kramarsky-Winter E, Weil M, Indenbaum V, Elul M, Erster O, Brown AS, Mendelson E, Mannasse B, Shirazi R, Lakkakula S, Miron O, Rinott E, Baibich RG, Bigler I, Malul M, Rishti R, Brenner A, Friedler E, Gilboa Y, Sabach S, Alfiya Y, Cheruti U, Moran-Gilad J, Berchenko Y, Bar-Or I, Kushmaro A. City-level SARS-CoV-2 sewage surveillance. Chemosphere 2021; 283:131194. [PMID: 34467943 PMCID: PMC8217074 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis impacting not only healthcare systems, but also economics and society. Therefore, it is important to find novel methods for monitoring disease activity. Recent data have indicated that fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is common, and that viral RNA can be detected in wastewater. This suggests that wastewater monitoring is a potentially efficient tool for both epidemiological surveillance, and early warning for SARS-CoV-2 circulation at the population level. In this study we sampled an urban wastewater infrastructure in the city of Ashkelon (̴ 150,000 population), Israel, during the end of the first COVID-19 wave in May 2020 when the number of infections seemed to be waning. We were able to show varying presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from several locations in the city during two sampling periods, before the resurgence was clinically apparent. This was expressed with a new index, Normalized Viral Load (NVL) which can be used in different area scales to define levels of virus activity such as red (high) or green (no), and to follow morbidity in the population at the tested area. The rise in viral load between the two sampling periods (one week apart) indicated an increase in morbidity that was evident two weeks to a month later in the population. Thus, this methodology may provide an early indication for SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreak in a population before an outbreak is clinically apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, BeerSheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, BeerSheva 8410501, Israel
| | | | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, BeerSheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Merav Weil
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | | | - Michal Elul
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Alin Sela Brown
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel; School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Satish Lakkakula
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, BeerSheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Oren Miron
- Department of Health Systems Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ehud Rinott
- Department of Health Systems Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Iris Bigler
- KANDO, Environment Services Ltd, Tsor St 8, Kokhav Ya'ir Tzur Yigal, Israel
| | - Matan Malul
- KANDO, Environment Services Ltd, Tsor St 8, Kokhav Ya'ir Tzur Yigal, Israel
| | - Rotem Rishti
- KANDO, Environment Services Ltd, Tsor St 8, Kokhav Ya'ir Tzur Yigal, Israel
| | - Asher Brenner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eran Friedler
- Faculty of Civ. and Env. Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Yael Gilboa
- Faculty of Civ. and Env. Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Sara Sabach
- Faculty of Civ. and Env. Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Yuval Alfiya
- Faculty of Civ. and Env. Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Uta Cheruti
- Faculty of Civ. and Env. Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Jacob Moran-Gilad
- Department of Health Systems Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yakir Berchenko
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, BeerSheva 8410501, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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15
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Yaniv K, Ozer E, Shagan M, Lakkakula S, Plotkin N, Bhandarkar NS, Kushmaro A. Direct RT-qPCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (Alpha, B.1.1.7 and Beta, B.1.351) detection and quantification in wastewater. Environ Res 2021; 201:111653. [PMID: 34245731 PMCID: PMC8262398 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Less than a year following the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, variants of concern have emerged in the form of variant Alpha (B.1.1.7, the British variant) and Beta (B.1.351, the South Africa variant). Due to their high infectivity and morbidity, it has become clear that it is crucial to quickly and effectively detect these and other variants. Here, we report improved primers-probe sets for reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection including a rapid, cost-effective, and direct RT-qPCR method for detection of the two variants of concern (Alpha, B.1.1.7 and Beta, B.1.351). All the developed primers-probe sets were fully characterized, demonstrating sensitive and specific detection. These primer-probe sets were also successfully employed on wastewater samples aimed at detecting and even quantifying new variants in a geographical area, even prior to the reports by the medical testing. The novel primers-probe sets presented here will enable proper responses for pandemic containment, particularly considering the emergence of variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Satish Lakkakula
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noam Plotkin
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nikhil Suresh Bhandarkar
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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16
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Yaniv K, Ozer E, Shagan M, Lakkakula S, Plotkin N, Bhandarkar NS, Kushmaro A. Direct RT-qPCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (Alpha, B.1.1.7 and Beta, B.1.351) detection and quantification in wastewater. Environ Res 2021. [PMID: 34245731 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021a.111653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Less than a year following the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, variants of concern have emerged in the form of variant Alpha (B.1.1.7, the British variant) and Beta (B.1.351, the South Africa variant). Due to their high infectivity and morbidity, it has become clear that it is crucial to quickly and effectively detect these and other variants. Here, we report improved primers-probe sets for reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection including a rapid, cost-effective, and direct RT-qPCR method for detection of the two variants of concern (Alpha, B.1.1.7 and Beta, B.1.351). All the developed primers-probe sets were fully characterized, demonstrating sensitive and specific detection. These primer-probe sets were also successfully employed on wastewater samples aimed at detecting and even quantifying new variants in a geographical area, even prior to the reports by the medical testing. The novel primers-probe sets presented here will enable proper responses for pandemic containment, particularly considering the emergence of variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Satish Lakkakula
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noam Plotkin
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nikhil Suresh Bhandarkar
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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17
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Baruch-Leshem A, Chevallard C, Gobeaux F, Guenoun P, Daillant J, Fontaine P, Goldmann M, Kushmaro A, Rapaport H. Catalytically active peptides affected by self-assembly and residues order. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 203:111751. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Nir I, Barak H, Kramarsky-Winter E, Kushmaro A, de Los Ríos A. Microscopic and biomolecular complementary approaches to characterize bioweathering processes at petroglyph sites from the Negev Desert, Israel. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:967-980. [PMID: 34110072 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the Negev Desert highlands, thousands of ancient petroglyphs sites are susceptible to deterioration processes that may result in the loss of this unique rock art. Therefore, the overarching goal of the current study was to characterize the composition, diversity and effects of microbial colonization of the rocks to find ways of protecting these unique treasures. The spatial organization of the microbial colonizers and their relationships with the lithic substrate were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. This approach revealed extensive epilithic and endolithic colonization and close microbial-mineral interactions. Shotgun sequencing analysis revealed various taxa from the archaea, bacteria and some eukaryotes. Metagenomic coding sequences (CDS) of these microbial lithobionts exhibited specific metabolic pathways involved in the rock elements' cycles and uptake processes. Thus, our results provide evidence for the potential participation of the microorganisms colonizing these rocks during different solubilization and mineralization processes. These damaging actions may contribute to the deterioration of this extraordinary rock art and thus threaten this valuable heritage. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing, in conjunction with the in situ scanning electron microscopy study, can thus be considered an effective strategy to understand the complexity of the weathering processes occurring at petroglyph sites and other cultural heritage assets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irit Nir
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Hana Barak
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Asunción de Los Ríos
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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19
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Ozer E, Yaniv K, Chetrit E, Boyarski A, Meijler MM, Berkovich R, Kushmaro A, Alfonta L. An inside look at a biofilm: Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagella biotracking. Sci Adv 2021; 7:eabg8581. [PMID: 34117070 PMCID: PMC8195488 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg8581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a flagellated bacterium, is one of the top model organisms for biofilm studies. To elucidate the location of bacterial flagella throughout the biofilm life cycle, we developed a new flagella biotracking tool. Bacterial flagella were site-specifically labeled via genetic code expansion. This enabled us to track bacterial flagella during biofilm maturation. Live flagella imaging revealed the presence and synthesis of flagella throughout the biofilm life cycle. To study the possible role of flagella in a biofilm, we produced a flagella knockout strain and compared its biofilm to that of the wild-type strain. Results showed a one order of magnitude stronger biofilm structure in the wild type in comparison with the flagella knockout strain. This suggests a possible structural role for flagella in a biofilm, conceivably as a scaffold. Our findings suggest a new model for biofilm maturation dynamic which underscores the importance of direct evidence from within the biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Einat Chetrit
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Anastasya Boyarski
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Michael M Meijler
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ronen Berkovich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lital Alfonta
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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20
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Abu Ali H, Yaniv K, Bar-Zeev E, Chaudhury S, Shagan M, Lakkakula S, Ronen Z, Kushmaro A, Nir O. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA through the Wastewater Treatment Process. ACS ES T Water 2021; 1:1161-1167. [PMID: 37566373 PMCID: PMC8043203 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.0c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Municipal sewage carries degraded and intact viral particles and RNA (ribonucleic acid) of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2), shed by COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) patients, to sewage and eventually to wastewater treatment plants. Proper wastewater treatment can prevent uncontrolled discharges of the virus into the environment. However, the role of different wastewater treatment stages in reducing viral RNA concentrations is, thus far, unknown. Here, we quantified SARS-CoV-2 RNA in raw sewage and during the main stages of the activated sludge process from two wastewater treatment plants in Israel, on three different days during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. To reduce the detection limit, samples were concentrated prior to quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction by a factor of 2-43 using ultrafiltration. On average, ∼1 log RNA removal was attained by each of the primary and secondary treatment steps; however, >100 copies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA/mL remained in the secondary effluents. Following chlorination, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected only once, likely due to an insufficient chlorine dose. Our results emphasize the capabilities and limitations of the conventional wastewater treatment process in reducing the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration and present preliminary evidence for the importance of tertiary treatment and chlorination in reducing dissemination of the virus to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala Abu Ali
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000,
Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of
Biotechnology Engineering and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and
Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
84105, Israel
| | - Edo Bar-Zeev
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000,
Israel
| | - Sanhita Chaudhury
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000,
Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of
Biotechnology Engineering and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and
Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
84105, Israel
| | - Satish Lakkakula
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of
Biotechnology Engineering and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and
Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
84105, Israel
| | - Zeev Ronen
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000,
Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of
Biotechnology Engineering and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and
Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
84105, Israel
| | - Oded Nir
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000,
Israel
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21
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Malka O, Kalson D, Yaniv K, Shafir R, Rajendran M, Ben-David O, Kushmaro A, Meijler MM, Jelinek R. Cross-kingdom inhibition of bacterial virulence and communication by probiotic yeast metabolites. Microbiome 2021; 9:70. [PMID: 33762022 PMCID: PMC7992341 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01027-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Probiotic milk-fermented microorganism mixtures (e.g., yogurt, kefir) are perceived as contributing to human health, and possibly capable of protecting against bacterial infections. Co-existence of probiotic microorganisms are likely maintained via complex biomolecular mechanisms, secreted metabolites mediating cell-cell communication, and other yet-unknown biochemical pathways. In particular, deciphering molecular mechanisms by which probiotic microorganisms inhibit proliferation of pathogenic bacteria would be highly important for understanding both the potential benefits of probiotic foods as well as maintenance of healthy gut microbiome. RESULTS The microbiome of a unique milk-fermented microorganism mixture was determined, revealing a predominance of the fungus Kluyveromyces marxianus. We further identified a new fungus-secreted metabolite-tryptophol acetate-which inhibits bacterial communication and virulence. We discovered that tryptophol acetate blocks quorum sensing (QS) of several Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Vibrio cholerae, a prominent gut pathogen. Notably, this is the first report of tryptophol acetate production by a yeast and role of the molecule as a signaling agent. Furthermore, mechanisms underscoring the anti-QS and anti-virulence activities of tryptophol acetate were elucidated, specifically down- or upregulation of distinct genes associated with V. cholerae QS and virulence pathways. CONCLUSIONS This study illuminates a yet-unrecognized mechanism for cross-kingdom inhibition of pathogenic bacteria cell-cell communication in a probiotic microorganism mixture. A newly identified fungus-secreted molecule-tryptophol acetate-was shown to disrupt quorum sensing pathways of the human gut pathogen V. cholerae. Cross-kingdom interference in quorum sensing may play important roles in enabling microorganism co-existence in multi-population environments, such as probiotic foods and the gut microbiome. This discovery may account for anti-virulence properties of the human microbiome and could aid elucidating health benefits of probiotic products against bacterially associated diseases. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orit Malka
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Dorin Kalson
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Reut Shafir
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Manikandan Rajendran
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Oshrit Ben-David
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Michael M. Meijler
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be’er Sheva, Israel
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22
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Mafi M, Kushmaro A, Greenblatt C, Agarwal S, Greiner A. Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Hydrogel Microparticles with Soft Barrier Shell for the Encapsulation of Micrococcus luteus. Macromol Biosci 2021; 21:e2000419. [PMID: 33713551 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The encapsulation of bacteria in polymers results in hybrid materials that are essential for the long-term biological activity of bacteria and formulations in practical applications. Here, the problem of bacterial escape and the exchange of metabolism products from hydrogel microparticles within an aqueous environment are addressed. Bacteria are encapsulated in chemically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel-microparticles followed by their encapsulation in a pH-responsive and soft antibacterial shell of poly(N,N-diethylamino ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA). This polymer shell acts selectively with regards to the mass transport in and out of the microparticle core and is affected by environmental parameters, such as pH and antibacterial effect. The pH-responsive PDEAEMA shell forms an open porous structure that accelerates nutrient transfer into the PVA core containing living Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus). Results show that the antibacterial effect of PDEAEMA retards the escape of bacteria up to 35 days when the shell is open. Additionally, the permeation of a small molecule into the gel, for example, methylene blue dye through the core/open-shell structure, certifies a flexible barrier for mass transport, which is required in the long term for the biological activity of encapsulated M. luteus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Mafi
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and S. Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering and The Ilse Katz, Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Charles Greenblatt
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Seema Agarwal
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
| | - Andreas Greiner
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
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23
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Yehuda N, Turkulets Y, Shalish I, Kushmaro A, Malis Arad S. Red Microalgal Sulfated Polysaccharide-Cu 2O Complexes: Characterization and Bioactivity. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:7070-7079. [PMID: 33544596 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The anion-exchange capacity of the cell-wall sulfated polysaccharide of the red microalga Porphyridium sp. can be exploited for the complexation of metal ions (e.g., Cu, Zn, Ag) to produce novel materials with new bioactivities. In this study, we investigated this algal polysaccharide as a platform for the incorporation of copper as Cu2O. Chemical and rheological characterization of the Cu2O-polysaccharide complex showed that the copper is covalently bound to the polysaccharide and that the complex exhibits higher viscosity and conductivity than the native polysaccharide. Examination of the complex's inhibitory activity against the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis and the fungus Candida albicans revealed a relatively high antimicrobial activity, especially against C. albicans (92% growth inhibition) as compared to the polysaccharide and to Cu2O alone. The antibiofilm activity was also found against P. aeruginosa PA14 and C. albicans biofilms. An atomic force microscopy examination of the surface morphology of the complex revealed needle-like structures (spikes), approximately 10 nm thick, protruding from the complex surface to a maximum height of 1000 nm, at a density of about 5000/μm2, which were not detected in the native polysaccharide. It seems that the spikes on the surface of the Cu2O-polysaccharide complex are responsible for the antimicrobial activities of the complex, that is, for disruption of microbial membrane permeability, leading to cell death. The study thus indicates that the superior qualities of the novel material formed by complexion of Cu2O to the polysaccharide should be studied further for various biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nofar Yehuda
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Yury Turkulets
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ilan Shalish
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Shoshana Malis Arad
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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24
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Satish L, Lavanya G, Kasthuri T, Kalaivaani A, Shamili S, Muthuramalingam P, Gowrishankar S, Pandian SK, Singh V, Sitrit Y, Kushmaro A. CRISPR based development of RNA editing and the diagnostic platform. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 2021; 179:117-159. [PMID: 33785175 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeat-CRISPR-Associated (CRISPR-Cas) system has improved the ability to edit and control gene expression as desired. Genome editing approaches are currently leading the biomedical research with improved focus on direct nuclease dependent editing. So far, the research was predominantly intended on genome editing over the DNA level, recent adapted techniques are initiating to secure momentum through their proficiency to provoke modifications in RNA sequence. Integration of this system besides to lateral flow method allows reliable, quick, sensitive, precise and inexpensive diagnostic. These interesting methods illustrate only a small proportion of what is technically possible for this novel technology, but several technological obstacles need to be overcome prior to the CRISPR-Cas genome editing system can meet its full ability. This chapter covers the particulars on recent advances in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology including diagnosis and technical advancements, followed by molecular mechanism of CRISPR-based RNA editing and diagnostic tools and types, and CRISPR-Cas-based biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakkakula Satish
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bergman Campus, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Gunamalai Lavanya
- Department of Postharvest and Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Thirupathi Kasthuri
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aruchamy Kalaivaani
- Department of Postharvest and Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Sasanala Shamili
- The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bergman Campus, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | | | - Vijai Singh
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Indrashil University, Rajpur, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
| | - Yaron Sitrit
- The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bergman Campus, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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25
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Bar-Or I, Yaniv K, Shagan M, Ozer E, Weil M, Indenbaum V, Elul M, Erster O, Mendelson E, Mannasse B, Shirazi R, Kramarsky-Winter E, Nir O, Abu-Ali H, Ronen Z, Rinott E, Lewis YE, Friedler E, Bitkover E, Paitan Y, Berchenko Y, Kushmaro A. Regressing SARS-CoV-2 Sewage Measurements Onto COVID-19 Burden in the Population: A Proof-of-Concept for Quantitative Environmental Surveillance. Front Public Health 2021. [PMID: 35047467 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.26.20073569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus, a member of the coronavirus family of respiratory viruses that includes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It has had an acute and dramatic impact on health care systems, economies, and societies of affected countries during the past 8 months. Widespread testing and tracing efforts are being employed in many countries in attempts to contain and mitigate this pandemic. Recent data has indicated that fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is common and that the virus RNA can be detected in wastewater. This indicates that wastewater monitoring may provide a potentially efficient tool for the epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in large populations at relevant scales. In particular, this provides important means of (i) estimating the extent of outbreaks and their spatial distributions, based primarily on in-sewer measurements, (ii) managing the early-warning system quantitatively and efficiently, and (iii) verifying disease elimination. Here we report different virus concentration methods using polyethylene glycol (PEG), alum, or filtration techniques as well as different RNA extraction methodologies, providing important insights regarding the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage. Virus RNA particles were detected in wastewater in several geographic locations in Israel. In addition, a correlation of virus RNA concentration to morbidity was detected in Bnei-Barak city during April 2020. This study presents a proof of concept for the use of direct raw sewage-associated virus data, during the pandemic in the country as a potential epidemiological tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Merav Weil
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Elul
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Oded Nir
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Hala Abu-Ali
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Zeev Ronen
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Ehud Rinott
- Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yair E Lewis
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eran Friedler
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eden Bitkover
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yossi Paitan
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Yakir Berchenko
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Bar-Or I, Yaniv K, Shagan M, Ozer E, Weil M, Indenbaum V, Elul M, Erster O, Mendelson E, Mannasse B, Shirazi R, Kramarsky-Winter E, Nir O, Abu-Ali H, Ronen Z, Rinott E, Lewis YE, Friedler E, Bitkover E, Paitan Y, Berchenko Y, Kushmaro A. Regressing SARS-CoV-2 Sewage Measurements Onto COVID-19 Burden in the Population: A Proof-of-Concept for Quantitative Environmental Surveillance. Front Public Health 2021. [PMID: 35047467 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.26.20073569v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus, a member of the coronavirus family of respiratory viruses that includes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It has had an acute and dramatic impact on health care systems, economies, and societies of affected countries during the past 8 months. Widespread testing and tracing efforts are being employed in many countries in attempts to contain and mitigate this pandemic. Recent data has indicated that fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is common and that the virus RNA can be detected in wastewater. This indicates that wastewater monitoring may provide a potentially efficient tool for the epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in large populations at relevant scales. In particular, this provides important means of (i) estimating the extent of outbreaks and their spatial distributions, based primarily on in-sewer measurements, (ii) managing the early-warning system quantitatively and efficiently, and (iii) verifying disease elimination. Here we report different virus concentration methods using polyethylene glycol (PEG), alum, or filtration techniques as well as different RNA extraction methodologies, providing important insights regarding the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage. Virus RNA particles were detected in wastewater in several geographic locations in Israel. In addition, a correlation of virus RNA concentration to morbidity was detected in Bnei-Barak city during April 2020. This study presents a proof of concept for the use of direct raw sewage-associated virus data, during the pandemic in the country as a potential epidemiological tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Karin Yaniv
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Merav Weil
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Elul
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Lab, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Oded Nir
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Hala Abu-Ali
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Zeev Ronen
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Ehud Rinott
- Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yair E Lewis
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eran Friedler
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eden Bitkover
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yossi Paitan
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Yakir Berchenko
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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27
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Harpaz D, Marks RS, Kushmaro A, Eltzov E. Environmental pollutants induce noninherited antibiotic resistance to polymyxin B in Escherichia coli. Future Microbiol 2020; 15:1631-1643. [PMID: 33251814 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance by bacteria are important to create alternative molecules. Objective: This study focuses on the impact of environmental pollutants on bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Materials & methods: The effect of various environmental pollutants on noninherited bacterial resistance to antibiotics was examined. Results: The tolerance to the polymyxin-B antibiotic was shown to be conferred to Escherichia coli, by pretreatment with subinhibitory concentrations of environmental toxicants. The cell survival to a sublethal dosage of antibiotics was tested. Exposure to low concentrations of toxic compounds (500 ppb copper, 2% [v/v] ethanol or 0.5 μg/ml trimethoprim) stimulated the bacterial heat shock systems and led to increased tolerance to polymyxin B. Conclusion: Environmental pollutants induce a temporary bacterial noninheritable resistance to antibiotic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorin Harpaz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food science & Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.,Department of Postharvest Science, Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Robert S Marks
- Avram & Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Center for Meso & Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram & Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Center for Meso & Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Evgeni Eltzov
- Department of Postharvest Science, Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
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Markus V, Share O, Teralı K, Ozer N, Marks RS, Kushmaro A, Golberg K. Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity of Stevia Extract, Stevioside, Rebaudioside A and Their Aglycon Steviol. Molecules 2020; 25:E5480. [PMID: 33238612 PMCID: PMC7700441 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Governments are creating regulations for consumers to reduce their sugar intake, prompting companies to increase the ratio of artificial sweeteners in their products. However, there is evidence of some deleterious effects ascribed to the aforementioned synthetic agents and therefore consumers and food manufacturers have turned their attention to natural dietary sweeteners, such as stevia, to meet their sweetening needs. Stevia is generally considered safe; however, emerging scientific evidence has implicated the agent in gut microbial imbalance. In general, regulation of microbial behavior is known to depend highly on signaling molecules via quorum sensing (QS) pathways. This is also true for the gut microbial community. We, therefore, evaluated the possible role of these stevia-based natural sweeteners on this bacterial communication pathway. The use of a commercial stevia herbal supplement resulted in an inhibitory effect on bacterial communication, with no observable bactericidal effect. Purified stevia extracts, including stevioside, rebaudioside A (Reb A), and steviol revealed a molecular interaction, and possible interruption of Gram-negative bacterial communication, via either the LasR or RhlR receptor. Our in-silico analyses suggest a competitive-type inhibitory role for steviol, while Reb A and stevioside are likely to inhibit LasR-mediated QS in a non-competitive manner. These results suggest the need for further safety studies on the agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Markus
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia 99138, Cyprus; (V.M.); (K.T.)
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel; (O.S.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Orr Share
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel; (O.S.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Kerem Teralı
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia 99138, Cyprus; (V.M.); (K.T.)
| | - Nazmi Ozer
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Girne American University, Kyrenia 99428, Cyprus;
| | - Robert S. Marks
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel; (O.S.); (R.S.M.)
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel; (O.S.); (R.S.M.)
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Karina Golberg
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel; (O.S.); (R.S.M.)
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Barak H, Brenner A, Sivan A, Kushmaro A. Temporal distribution of microbial community in an industrial wastewater treatment system following crash and during recovery periods. Chemosphere 2020; 258:127271. [PMID: 32535444 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Water and soil contamination by industrial wastes is a global concern. Biological treatment of industrial wastewater using bioreactors allows the removal of organic matter and nutrients and enables either reuse or safe discharge. Wastewater bioremediation depends in part on the microbial communities present in the bioreactor. To ascertain which communities may play a role in the remediation process, the present study investigates the microbial community structure and diversity of microorganisms found in a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) for industrial wastewater treatment. The study was carried out using high-throughput data observations following a failure (crash) of the MBR and during the extended recovery of the process. Results revealed a positive correlation between the MBR's ability to remove organic matter and its microbial community richness. The significant changes in relative microbial abundance between crash and recovery periods of the MBR revealed the important role of specific bacterial genera in wastewater treatment processes. A whole-genome metagenomics based comparison showed a clear difference in microbial makeup between two functional periods of MBR activity. The crash period was characterized by abundance in bacteria belonging to Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Halomonas, Pseudomonas and an uncultured MBAE14. The recovery period on the other hand was characterized by Aquamicrobium and by Wenzhouxiangella marina. Our study also revealed some interesting functional pathways characterizing the microbial communities from the two periods of bioreactor function, such as Nitrate and Sulfate reduction pathways. These differences indicate the connection between the bacterial diversity of the MBR and its efficiency to remove TOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Barak
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Asher Brenner
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alex Sivan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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30
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Ali HA, Yaniv K, Bar-zeev E, Chaudhury S, Shaga M, Lakkakula S, Ronen Z, Kushmaro A, Nir O. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA through the wastewater treatment process.. [DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.14.20212837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTThe municipal sewage carries the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), shed by COVID-19 patients, to wastewater treatment plants. Proper wastewater treatment can provide an important barrier for preventing uncontrolled discharged of the virus into the environment. However, the role of the different wastewater treatment stages in reducing virus concentrations was, thus far, unknown. In this work, we quantified SARS-CoV-RNA in the raw sewage and along the main stages of the wastewater process from two different plants in Israel during this COVID-19 outbreak. We found that ca. 2 Log removal could be attained after primary and secondary treatment. Despite this removal, significant concentrations of SARS-CoV-RNA (>100 copies per mL) could still be detected in the treated wastewater. However, after treatment by chlorination, SARS-CoV-RNA was detected only once, likely due to insufficient chlorine dose. Our results highlight the need to protect wastewater treatment plants operators, as well as populations living near areas of wastewater discharge, from the risk of infection. In addition, our results emphasize the capabilities and limitations of the conventional wastewater treatment process in reducing SARS-CoV-RNA concentration, and present preliminary evidence for the importance of tertiary treatment and chlorination in reducing SARA-CoV-2 dissemination.
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31
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de Leeuw M, Baron M, Ben David O, Kushmaro A. Molecular Insights into Bacteriophage Evolution toward Its Host. Viruses 2020; 12:E1132. [PMID: 33036277 PMCID: PMC7599783 DOI: 10.3390/v12101132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, are considered to be highly host-specific. To add to the knowledge about the evolution and development of bacteriophage speciation toward its host, we conducted a 21-day experiment with the broad host-range bacteriophage Aquamicrobium phage P14. We incubated the phage, which was previously isolated and enriched with the Alphaproteobacteria Aquamicrobium H14, with the Betaproteobacteria Alcaligenaceae H5. During the experiment, we observed an increase in the phage's predation efficacy towards Alcaligenaceae H5. Furthermore, genome analysis and the comparison of the bacteriophage's whole genome indicated that rather than being scattered evenly along the genome, mutations occur in specific regions. In total, 67% of the mutations with a frequency higher than 30% were located in genes that encode tail proteins, which are essential for host recognition and attachment. As control, we incubated the phage with the Alphaproteobacteria Aquamicrobium H8. In both experiments, most of the mutations appeared in the gene encoding the tail fiber protein. However, mutations in the gene encoding the tail tubular protein B were only observed when the phage was incubated with Alcaligenaceae H5. This highlights the phage's tail as a key player in its adaptation to different hosts. We conclude that mutations in the phage's genome were mainly located in tail-related regions. Further investigation is needed to fully characterize the adaptation mechanisms of the Aquamicrobium phage P14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina de Leeuw
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be’er Sheva 8410501, Israel; (M.d.L.); (M.B.); (O.B.D.)
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Maayan Baron
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be’er Sheva 8410501, Israel; (M.d.L.); (M.B.); (O.B.D.)
| | - Oshrit Ben David
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be’er Sheva 8410501, Israel; (M.d.L.); (M.B.); (O.B.D.)
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be’er Sheva 8410501, Israel; (M.d.L.); (M.B.); (O.B.D.)
- The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 8410501, Israel
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Zhang G, Lu M, Liu R, Tian Y, Vu VH, Li Y, Liu B, Kushmaro A, Li Y, Sun Q. Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation and Virulence by Lactobacillus plantarum K41 Isolated From Traditional Sichuan Pickles. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:774. [PMID: 32425911 PMCID: PMC7203412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among cariogenic microbes, Streptococcus mutans is considered a major etiological pathogen of dental caries. Lactobacilli strains have been promoted as possible probiotic agents against S. mutans, although the inhibitory effect of Lactobacilli on caries has not yet been properly addressed. The objective of this study was to screen Lactobacillus strains found in traditional Sichuan pickles and to evaluate their antagonistic properties against S. mutans in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, we analyzed 54 Lactobacillus strains isolated from pickles and found that strain L. plantarum K41 showed the highest inhibitory effect on S. mutans growth as well as on the formation of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and biofilm in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) revealed the reduction of both EPS and of the network-like structure in S. mutans biofilm when these bacteria were co-cultured with strain L. plantarum K41. Furthermore, when rats were treated with strain L. plantarum K41, there was a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of dental caries. Due to K41's origin in a high salinity environment, it showed a high tolerance to acids and salts. This may give this strain an advantage in harsh oral conditions. Results showed that L. plantarum K41 isolated from traditional Sichuan pickles effectively inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation and thus possesses a potential inhibitory effect on dental caries in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojian Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Light Industry, Textile and Food Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Miao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodonics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rongmei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources & Eco-environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources & Eco-environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Viet Ha Vu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodonics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources & Eco-environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources & Eco-environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Yuqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodonics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qun Sun
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Light Industry, Textile and Food Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources & Eco-environment of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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33
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Cohen M, Ozer E, Kushmaro A, Alfonta L. Cellular localization of cytochrome bd in cyanobacteria using genetic code expansion. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 117:523-530. [PMID: 31612992 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is one of the most fundamental and complex mechanisms in nature. It is a well-studied process, however, some photosynthetic mechanisms are yet to be deciphered. One of the many proteins that take part in photosynthesis, cytochrome bd, is a terminal oxidase protein that plays a role both in photosynthesis and in respiration in various organisms, specifically, in cyanobacteria. To clarify the role of cytochrome bd in cyanobacteria, a system for the incorporation of an unnatural amino acid into a genomic membrane protein cytochrome bd was constructed in Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. N-propargyl- l-lysine (PrK) was incorporated into mutants of cytochrome bd. Incorporation was verified and the functionality of the mutant cytochrome bd was tested, revealing that both electrochemical and biochemical activities were relatively similar to those of the wild-type protein. The incorporation of PrK was followed by a highly specific labeling and localization of the protein. PrK that was incorporated into the protein enabled a "click" reaction in a bio-orthogonal manner through its alkyne group in a highly specific manner. Cytochrome bd was found to be localized mostly in thylakoid membranes, as was confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indicating that our developed localization method is reliable and can be further used to label endogenous proteins in cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mor Cohen
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Avaram and Stella Goren-Goldstein Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eden Ozer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avaram and Stella Goren-Goldstein Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Lital Alfonta
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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34
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Cohen Y, Pasternak Z, Johnke J, Abed‐Rabbo A, Kushmaro A, Chatzinotas A, Jurkevitch E. Bacteria and microeukaryotes are differentially segregated in sympatric wastewater microhabitats. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:1757-1770. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Cohen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot, 76100 Israel
| | - Zohar Pasternak
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot, 76100 Israel
| | - Julia Johnke
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Permoserstrasse 15, Leipzig, 04318 Germany
| | - Alfred Abed‐Rabbo
- Faculty of ScienceBethlehem University, Palestinian National Authority, Bethlehem, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein‐Goren, The Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the Negev P.O. Box 653, Beer‐Sheva Israel
- The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and TechnologyBen‐Gurion University of the Negev Beer‐Sheva Israel
| | - Antonis Chatzinotas
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Permoserstrasse 15, Leipzig, 04318 Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103 Germany
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot, 76100 Israel
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Goh SG, Saeidi N, Gu X, Vergara GGR, Liang L, Fang H, Kitajima M, Kushmaro A, Gin KYH. Occurrence of microbial indicators, pathogenic bacteria and viruses in tropical surface waters subject to contrasting land use. Water Res 2019; 150:200-215. [PMID: 30528917 PMCID: PMC7112093 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Enterococcus, have been widely used to indicate the presence of pathogens. However, the suitability of fecal indicator bacteria to represent health risks is still being challenged, particularly in tropical aquatic environments. The objective of this study is to understand the occurrence and prevalence of indicators and pathogens in areas with contrasting land use, as well as to identify the major correlations between indicators, pathogens and environmental parameters. The spatial and temporal variation of indicators and pathogens was studied to examine the distribution patterns for areas with different land use, and the impact of seasonal changes on microbial populations. A total of 234 water samples were sampled for two years from reservoirs and their tributaries, and tested for fecal indicator bacteria, coliphages, human specific markers, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The prevalence of indicators and pathogens in reservoirs were generally low, while relatively high concentrations were observed in tributaries to varying degrees. Of the enteric viruses, norovirus GII was among the most prevalent and had the highest concentration. Although strong correlations were found between indicators, only relatively weak correlations were found between indicators and pathogens. The results in this study showed that none of the bacteria/phage indicators were universal predictors for pathogens. Inclusion of the alternative indicators, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Bacteroides and human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) to monitoring programs could help to determine whether the fecal source was human. The microbial distribution patterns allow the classification of sampling sites to different clusters and thus, help to identify sites which have poor water quality. This approach will be useful for water quality management to pinpoint factors that influence water quality and help to prioritize sites for restoration of water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Giek Goh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nazanin Saeidi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiaoqiong Gu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Liang Liang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Haoming Fang
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Baruch Leshem A, Isaacs S, Srivastava SK, Abdulhalim I, Kushmaro A, Rapaport H. Quantitative assessment of paraoxon adsorption to amphiphilic β-sheet peptides presenting the catalytic triad of esterases. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 530:328-337. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.06.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Gu X, Tay QXM, Te SH, Saeidi N, Goh SG, Kushmaro A, Thompson JR, Gin KYH. Geospatial distribution of viromes in tropical freshwater ecosystems. Water Res 2018; 137:220-232. [PMID: 29550725 PMCID: PMC7112100 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
This study seeks to understand the general distribution of virome abundance and diversity in tropical freshwater ecosystems in Singapore and the geospatial distribution of the virome under different landuse patterns. Correlations between diversity, environmental parameters and land use patterns were analyzed and significant correlations were highlighted. Overall, the majority (65.5%) of the annotated virome belonged to bacteriophages. The percentage of Caudovirales was higher in reservoirs whereas the percentages of Dicistroviridae, Microviridae and Circoviridae were higher in tributaries. Reservoirs showed a higher Shannon-index virome diversity compared to upstream tributaries. Land use (urbanized, agriculture and parkland areas) influenced the characteristics of the virome distribution pattern. Dicistroviridae and Microviridae were enriched in urbanized tributaries while Mimiviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Siphoviridae and Podoviridae were enriched in parkland reservoirs. Several sequences closely related to the emerging zoonotic virus, cyclovirus, and the human-related virus (human picobirnavirus), were also detected. In addition, the relative abundance of PMMoV (pepper mild mottle virus) sequences was significantly correlated with RT-qPCR measurements (0.588 < r < 0.879, p < 0.05). This study shows that spatial factors (e.g., reservoirs/tributaries, land use) are the main drivers of the viral community structure in tropical freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiong Gu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, T-lab Building, TL08-03, 117576, Singapore
| | | | - Shu Harn Te
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, T-lab Building, TL08-03, 117576, Singapore
| | - Nazanin Saeidi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, T-lab Building, TL08-03, 117576, Singapore
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, T-lab Building, TL08-03, 117576, Singapore
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637819, Singapore
| | | | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, T-lab Building, TL08-03, 117576, Singapore.
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Hartono MR, Kushmaro A, Chen X, Marks RS. Probing the toxicity mechanism of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on bacteria. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:5003-5012. [PMID: 29209964 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0782-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged recently as superior adsorbent materials for the removal of recalcitrant pollutants. The potential of combining the sorption capability of CNTs with bacterial degradation for pollutant removal, however, necessitates further investigation of the mechanisms of CNTs' toxicity towards bacterial cells. In this study, we used a panel of stress-responsive recombinant Escherichia coli bioluminescence bacterial strains to explore the possible mechanisms of toxicity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The effects of MWCNTs on markers of oxidative stress, protein, DNA, and membrane damage enabled the exposition of some of the mechanisms of their antimicrobial properties. Using both a bioluminescence bioreporter panel and live/dead staining, we observed that membrane damage played a role in the toxicity of MWCNTs. A subsequent viability study using three strains of bacteria-two gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis)-showed significant MWCNT toxicity in hypotonic water and phosphate-buffered saline solution, compared with the MWCNT toxicity towards the same bacteria incubated in isotonic-rich media. Using a field-emission scanning electron microscope, we demonstrated that membrane damage is caused largely by MWCNTs trapping bacteria and piercing the cell walls. As a result of our observations, we propose integrating MWCNTs and bacteria degradation for pollutant removal in nutrient-rich media to minimize the toxicity effect of CNTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria R Hartono
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
- The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Xiaodong Chen
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Robert S Marks
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Mao F, He Y, Kushmaro A, Gin KYH. Effects of benzophenone-3 on the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Aquat Toxicol 2017; 193:1-8. [PMID: 28992446 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Effects of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) on the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and the cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, were investigated. The tested organisms were exposed to environmental levels of BP-3 for 10 days, at nominal concentrations from 0.01 to 5000μgL-1. Specific growth rate and photosynthetic pigments were employed to evaluate the toxic responses. The two tested algae had distinct toxic responses towards BP-3 stress, with the green alga C. reinhardtii being more sensitive than the cyanobacterium M. aeriginosa, based on EC20 and EC50 values. Uptake of BP-3 from the medium occurred in both species, with M. aeruginosa showing greater overall uptake (27.2-77.4%) compared to C. reinhardtii (1.1-58.4%). The effects of BP-3 on C. reinhardtii were variable at concentrations lower than 100μgL-1. At higher concentrations, the specific growth rate of C. reinhardtii decreased following a reduction in chlorophyll a (chl-a) content. Further experiments showed that BP-3 regulated the growth of C. reinhardtii by affecting the production of chl-a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids. In M. aeruginosa, specific growth rate was only moderately affected by BP-3. Additionally, the production of chl-a was significantly inhibited over the different exposure concentrations, while the production of carotenoids was stimulated. These results indicate a potential detrimental effect on prokaryotes and eukaryotes and that the mechanism of action varies with species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feijian Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, E1A 07-03, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Yiliang He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, E1A 07-03, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, #02-01, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
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Bar-Or I, Elvert M, Eckert W, Kushmaro A, Vigderovich H, Zhu Q, Ben-Dov E, Sivan O. Iron-Coupled Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane Performed by a Mixed Bacterial-Archaeal Community Based on Poorly Reactive Minerals. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:12293-12301. [PMID: 28965392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) was shown to reduce methane emissions by over 50% in freshwater systems, its main natural contributor to the atmosphere. In these environments iron oxides can become main agents for AOM, but the underlying mechanism for this process has remained enigmatic. By conducting anoxic slurry incubations with lake sediments amended with 13C-labeled methane and naturally abundant iron oxides the process was evidenced by significant 13C-enrichment of the dissolved inorganic carbon pool and most pronounced when poorly reactive iron minerals such as magnetite and hematite were applied. Methane incorporation into biomass was apparent by strong uptake of 13C into fatty acids indicative of methanotrophic bacteria, associated with increasing copy numbers of the functional methane monooxygenase pmoA gene. Archaea were not directly involved in full methane oxidation, but their crucial participation, likely being mediators in electron transfer, was indicated by specific inhibition of their activity that fully stopped iron-coupled AOM. By contrast, inhibition of sulfur cycling increased 13C-methane turnover, pointing to sulfur species involvement in a competing process. Our findings suggest that the mechanism of iron-coupled AOM is accomplished by a complex microbe-mineral reaction network, being likely representative of many similar but hidden interactions sustaining life under highly reducing low energy conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Bar-Or
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Marcus Elvert
- MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen , Leobener Strasse 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Werner Eckert
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, The Yigal Allon Kinneret Limnological Laboratory , P.O. Box 447, 14950 Migdal, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Hanni Vigderovich
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Qingzeng Zhu
- MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen , Leobener Strasse 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Eitan Ben-Dov
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences and The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College , Achva, M.P. Shikmim 79800, Israel
| | - Orit Sivan
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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Johnke J, Baron M, de Leeuw M, Kushmaro A, Jurkevitch E, Harms H, Chatzinotas A. A Generalist Protist Predator Enables Coexistence in Multitrophic Predator-Prey Systems Containing a Phage and the Bacterial Predator Bdellovibrio. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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Yaniv K, Golberg K, Kramarsky-Winter E, Marks R, Pushkarev A, Béjà O, Kushmaro A. Functional marine metagenomic screening for anti-quorum sensing and anti-biofilm activity. Biofouling 2017; 33:1-13. [PMID: 27882771 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2016.1253684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS), a cell-to-cell communication process, entails the production of signaling molecules that enable synchronized gene expression in microbial communities to regulate myriad microbial functions, including biofilm formation. QS disruption may constitute an innovative approach to the design of novel antifouling and anti-biofilm agents. To identify novel quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI), 2,500 environmental bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) from uncultured marine planktonic bacteria were screened for QSI activity using soft agar overlaid with wild type Chromobacterium violaceum as an indicator. Of the BAC library clones, 7% showed high QSI activity (>40%) against the indicator bacterium, suggesting that QSI is common in the marine environment. The most active compound, eluted from BAC clone 14-A5, disrupted QS signaling pathways and reduced biofilm formation in both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The mass spectra of the active BAC clone (14-A5) that had been visualized by thin layer chromatography was dominated by a m/z peak of 362.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Yaniv
- a Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| | - Karina Golberg
- a Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- a Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| | - Robert Marks
- a Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
- b The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| | - Alina Pushkarev
- c Faculty of Biology , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel
| | - Oded Béjà
- c Faculty of Biology , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- a Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
- b The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
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Hartono MR, Kushmaro A, Marks RS, Chen X. Calcium-alginate/carbon nanotubes/TiO 2 composite beads for removal of bisphenol A. Water Sci Technol 2016; 74:1585-1593. [PMID: 27763338 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2016.354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, composite calcium-alginate/carbon nanotubes/TiO2 beads were prepared and tested for their potential in the removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. The removal traits were inspected using a fixed-bed sorption column. By varying parameters such as bed height (15-20 cm), flow rate (2.0-6.0 mL.min-1) and inlet BPA concentration (10-30 mg.L-1) we assessed the removal capacity of these composites. The highest sorption capacity of 5.46 mg.g-1 was achieved at 10 mg.L-1 BPA concentration, 2.0 mL.min-1 flow rate and 20 cm bed height at saturation. Adams-Bohart, Yoon-Nelson and Dose-Response isotherm models were applied to evaluate the performance of the column at different inlet concentrations. The experimental data satisfactorily fit the Dose-Response model with high correlation (r2 > 0.97) across the breakthrough curve. Regeneration of the used adsorbent beads were performed by immersion in the desorption solvent followed by light irradiation. It was postulated that inclusion of TiO2 facilitates the desorbed pollutant degradation from the used adsorbent beads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria R Hartono
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore E-mail:
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore E-mail: ; Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, The Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel and The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Robert S Marks
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore E-mail: ; Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, The Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel and The Ilse Katz Centre for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Xiaodong Chen
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N3.1-B3a-02, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore E-mail:
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Arotsker L, Kramarsky-Winter E, Ben-Dov E, Kushmaro A. Microbial transcriptome profiling of black band disease in a Faviid coral during a seasonal disease peak. Dis Aquat Organ 2016; 118:77-89. [PMID: 26865237 DOI: 10.3354/dao02952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of black band disease (BBD), a persistent, globally distributed coral disease characterized by a dark microbial mat, is still unclear. A metatranscriptomics approach was used to unravel the roles of the major mat constituents in the disease process. By comparing the transcriptomes of the mat constituents with those of the surface microbiota of diseased and healthy corals, we showed a shift in bacterial composition and function in BBD-affected corals. mRNA reads of Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla were prominent in the BBD mat. Cyanobacterial adenosylhomocysteinase, involved in cyanotoxin production, was the most transcribed gene in the band consortium. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic forms of Vibrio spp., mainly transcribing the thiamine ABC transporter, were abundant and highly active in both the band and surface tissues. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was the primary producer of sulfide in the band. Members of the Bacilli class expressed high levels of rhodanese, an enzyme responsible for cyanide and sulfide detoxification. These results offer a first look at the varied functions of the microbiota in the disease mat and surrounding coral surface and enabled us to develop an improved functional model for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luba Arotsker
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Segal R, Fauth J, Knutson S, Bronstein O, Ciner FR, Jeger R, Lichtenfeld Y, Woodley CM, Pennington P, Cadenas K, Kushmaro A, Loya Y. Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2016; 70:265-88. [PMID: 26487337 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0227-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 285] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; oxybenzone) is an ingredient in sunscreen lotions and personal-care products that protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. Oxybenzone is an emerging contaminant of concern in marine environments—produced by swimmers and municipal, residential, and boat/ship wastewater discharges. We examined the effects of oxybenzone on the larval form (planula) of the coral Stylophora pistillata, as well as its toxicity in vitro to coral cells from this and six other coral species. Oxybenzone is a photo-toxicant; adverse effects are exacerbated in the light. Whether in darkness or light, oxybenzone transformed planulae from a motile state to a deformed, sessile condition. Planulae exhibited an increasing rate of coral bleaching in response to increasing concentrations of oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a genotoxicant to corals, exhibiting a positive relationship between DNA-AP lesions and increasing oxybenzone concentrations. Oxybenzone is a skeletal endocrine disruptor; it induced ossification of the planula, encasing the entire planula in its own skeleton. The LC50 of planulae exposed to oxybenzone in the light for an 8- and 24-h exposure was 3.1 mg/L and 139 µg/L, respectively. The LC50s for oxybenzone in darkness for the same time points were 16.8 mg/L and 779 µg/L. Deformity EC20 levels (24 h) of planulae exposed to oxybenzone were 6.5 µg/L in the light and 10 µg/L in darkness. Coral cell LC50s (4 h, in the light) for 7 different coral species ranges from 8 to 340 µg/L, whereas LC20s (4 h, in the light) for the same species ranges from 0.062 to 8 µg/L. Coral reef contamination of oxybenzone in the U.S. Virgin Islands ranged from 75 µg/L to 1.4 mg/L, whereas Hawaiian sites were contaminated between 0.8 and 19.2 µg/L. Oxybenzone poses a hazard to coral reef conservation and threatens the resiliency of coral reefs to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Downs
- Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 92, Clifford, VA 24533, USA.
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Zangi-Kotler M, Ben-Dov E, Tiehm A, Kushmaro A. Microbial community structure and dynamics in a membrane bioreactor supplemented with the flame retardant dibromoneopentyl glycol. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2015; 22:17615-17624. [PMID: 26146373 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4975-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a group of widely used compounds that, due to their limited biodegradability, exhibit excessive persistence in the environment. The persistence and high toxicity of these compounds to the natural biota causes great environmental concern. We investigated the biodegradation of the BFR dibromoneopentyl glycol (DBNPG) under continuous culture conditions using a miniature membrane bioreactor (mMBR) to assess its feasibility as a bioremediation approach. This system demonstrated long-term, stable biodegradation of DBNPG (>90 days), with an average removal rate of about 50%. Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the microorganisms involved in this process revealed the dominance of reads affiliated with the genus Brevundimonas of the Alphaproteobacteria class during the different mMBR operational stages. The bacterial community was also dominated by reads affiliated with the Sinorhizobium and Sphingopyxis genera within the Alphaproteobacteria class and the Sediminibacterium genus of the Sphingobacteria class. Real-time PCR used to analyze possible changes in the population dynamics of these four dominant groups revealed their consistent presence throughout the long-term mMBR biodegradation activity. Two genera, Brevundimonas and Sphingopyxis, were found to increase in abundance during the acclimation period and then remained relatively stable, forming the main parts of the consortium over the prolonged active stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Zangi-Kotler
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eitan Ben-Dov
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Achva Academic College, 7980400, M.P. Shikmim, Israel
| | - Andreas Tiehm
- DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (TZW), Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
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Arotsker L, Kramarsky-Winter E, Ben-Dov E, Siboni N, Kushmaro A. Changes in the bacterial community associated with black band disease in a Red Sea coral, Favia sp., in relation to disease phases. Dis Aquat Organ 2015; 116:47-58. [PMID: 26378407 DOI: 10.3354/dao02911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Changes of the black band disease (BBD)-associated microbial consortium on the surface of a Favia sp. coral colony were assessed in relation to the different disease phases. A number of highly active bacterial groups changed in numbers as the BBD disease signs changed. These included Gamma- and Epsilonproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes groups. One cyanobacterium strain, BGP10_4ST (FJ210722), was constantly present in the disease interface and adjacent tissues of the affected corals, regardless of disease phase. The dynamics of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of this BBD-specific strain provide a marker regarding the disease phase. The disease's active phase is characterized by a wide dark band progressing along the tissue-skeleton interface and by numerous bacterial OTUs. Cyanobacterial OTUs decreased in numbers as the disease signs waned, perhaps opening a niche for additional microorganisms. Even when black band signs disappeared there was a consistent though low abundance of the BBD-specific cyanobacteria (BGP10_4ST), and the microbial community of the disease-skeleton interface remained surprisingly similar to the original band community. These results provide an indication that the persistence of even low numbers of this BBD-specific cyanobacterium in coral tissues during the non-active (or subclinical) state could facilitate reinitiation of BBD signs during the following summer. This may indicate that this bacterium is major constituent of the disease and that its persistence and ability to infiltrate the coral tissues may act to facilitate the assembly of the other BBD-specific groups of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luba Arotsker
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva 84105, Israel
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Gaza S, Felgner A, Otto J, Kushmaro A, Ben-Dov E, Tiehm A. Biodegradation of chloro- and bromobenzoic acids: effect of milieu conditions and microbial community analysis. J Hazard Mater 2015; 287:24-31. [PMID: 25625627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Monohalogenated benzoic acids often appear in industrial wastewaters where biodegradation can be hampered by complex mixtures of pollutants and prevailing extreme milieu conditions. In this study, the biodegradation of chlorinated and brominated benzoic acids was conducted at a pH range of 5.0-9.0, at elevated salt concentrations and with pollutant mixtures including fluorinated and iodinated compounds. In mixtures of the isomers, the degradation order was primarily 4-substituted followed by 3-substituted and then 2-substituted halogenated benzoic acids. If the pH and salt concentration were altered simultaneously, long adaptation periods were required. Community analyses were conducted in liquid batch cultures and after immobilization on sand columns. The Alphaproteobacteria represented an important fraction in all of the enrichment cultures. On the genus level, Afipia sp. was detected most frequently. In particular, Bacteroidetes were detected in high numbers with chlorinated benzoic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gaza
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Annika Felgner
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Johannes Otto
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; The National Institute for Biotechnology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
| | - Eitan Ben-Dov
- The National Institute for Biotechnology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; Achva Academic College, M.P. Shikmim 79800, Israel.
| | - Andreas Tiehm
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Ben-Dov E, Kushmaro A. Inosine at Different Primer Positions to Study Structure and Diversity of Prokaryotic Populations. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2015; 17:53-56. [PMID: 25699586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Culture-independent methods, employed to study the diversity and complexity of microbial communities that are based on amplification of rRNA genes with universal primers, include gradient gel electrophoresis (denaturing or temperature), single-strand-conformation polymorphism, restriction fragment length polymorphism, qPCR and high-throughput DNA sequencing. Substituting one or more base(s) within or at the 3'-termi of the universal primers by inosine can overcome some of their shortcomings improving amplification capacity. Universal primer sets do not usually amplify sequences with nucleotide mismatch to the templates, particularly in the last three bases, whereas inosine-modified primers anneal and amplify a variety of rRNA gene sequences. Inosine-containing primers are therefore might be useful to detect more species in diverse prokaryotic populations. The article summarizes the pros and cons of using inosine especially at the 3' termini of universal primers in nucleic acid amplification for the study of microbial diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Ben-Dov
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, MP Shikmim, 79800, Israel
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Srivastava SK, Hamo HB, Kushmaro A, Marks RS, Grüner C, Rauschenbach B, Abdulhalim I. Highly sensitive and specific detection of E. coli by a SERS nanobiosensor chip utilizing metallic nanosculptured thin films. Analyst 2015; 140:3201-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c5an00209e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A nanobiosensor chip, utilizing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy on nanosculptured thin films of silver, was shown to detectEscherichia colibacteria down to the concentration level of a single bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin K. Srivastava
- Department of Electro optic Engineering
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 84105
- Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
| | - Hilla Ben Hamo
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering
- Ben Gurion University
- Beer Sheva-84105
- Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 84105
- Israel
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering
| | - Robert S. Marks
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 84105
- Israel
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering
| | | | - Bernd Rauschenbach
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification
- 04318 Leipzig
- Germany
- University Leipzig
- Institute for Experimental Physics II
| | - Ibrahim Abdulhalim
- Department of Electro optic Engineering
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 84105
- Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
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