Characterization and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase SUMMARY: There is a bacterium that makes PETase (an enzyme that can digest PET plastic). Researchers in this paper took this PETase enzyme, modified it slightly, and made it better. The modifications aded in sections that were commonly seen in other enzymes such as cutinases and lipases;… Continue reading Engineering a Better Enzyme to Degrade PET Plastic
Tag: enzyme
Using Nanoparticles to Treat Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Recent advances in the treatment of pathogenic infections using antibiotics and nano-drug delivery vehicles SUMMARY: This article talks about the different ways to combat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. Most of the articles and methods focus on nanoparticles, coating nanoparticles with antibodies to detect pathogens, and creating an immune response using vaccination-like methods. LESSON COMMENTS: An… Continue reading Using Nanoparticles to Treat Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Structure and Function of MCR-4
Action and mechanism of the colistin resistance enzyme MCR-4 SUMMARY: Colistin is an antibiotic that is considered to be a last resort against antibiotic resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, an enzyme called MCR-4 has evolved which makes bacteria resistant to colistin. Researchers want to understand the structure and function of MCR-4 in order to combat it. There… Continue reading Structure and Function of MCR-4
How Bacteria Genes Change with Dryness
Environmental filtering of bacterial functional diversity along an aridity gradient SUMMARY: Genes of soil bacteria sampled in the Tibetan Plateau showed that as the environment got drier, the less diverse the genes were. Researchers wanted to compare bacterial gene diversity with the already-known diversity of genes in large animals in various environments. There were less… Continue reading How Bacteria Genes Change with Dryness
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in People and Chickens in Ghana
Detection and Characterization of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli From Humans and Poultry in Ghana SUMMARY: Farm animals (for food) in African countries have high levels of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. Coli. Beta-lactamase is an enzyme produced by certain types of bacteria that disable antibiotics. Researchers looked at fecal samples from children in rural Ghana and samples… Continue reading Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in People and Chickens in Ghana
Krill Digesting Microplastic
Turning microplastics into nanoplastics through digestive fragmentation by Antarctic krill SUMMARY: This study found that krill were breaking down microplastic beads into smaller and smaller pieces in their digestive system. The krill were divided into two groups, one eating 80% plastic beads with 20% algae, the other eating 20% plastic beads and 80% algae. The… Continue reading Krill Digesting Microplastic