Engineering non-noble metal heterostructure interfaces with multiple active sites is a promising strategy to overcome scaling relationships and enhance multistep reactions. Herein, a dual-site heterogeneous catalyst of NiS/VS2@NF is developed by wrapping VS2 on NiS bacillar structures supported on nickel foam, which promotes alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at high current densities. In situ spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations revealed that strong interaction of V and Ni at the interface generates a distinctive electronic environment where both metal sites facilitate water adsorption, electron-deficient V sites expedite water dissociation, electron-rich Ni sites promote OH desorption, and V and Ni sites together help to streamline hydrogen coupling and the subsequent release via the Volmer-Heyrovsky pathway. The as-prepared NiS/VS2@NF requires only 222 and 279 mV to reach 0.5 and 1 A cm[-2], respectively, in 1 m KOH, and exhibits negligible change in current density over 140 h of continuous operation at -0.2 VRHE. This performance is not only better than that of Pt/C@NF, but also surpasses most of the recently reported transition metal sulfide-based materials. This work offers critical insights into designing advanced catalysts for high-performance alkaline HER and understanding their mechanism, with implications extending to a broad range of electrochemical applications.

The Ib-M1 peptide exhibits bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and low toxicity in mammalian cells. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ib-M1 on E. coli O157:H7 membrane permeabilization. For this purpose, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of Ib-M1 for E. coli O157:H7 and ML35 were measured. The permeability of the E. coli outer and inner membranes was determined by measuring N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine and O-nitrophenyl-β-galactosidase hydrolysis, respectively after bacterial exposure to antimicrobial peptides and control antibiotics. Morphological changes in antimicrobial-exposed E. coli O157:H7 were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy following treatment with antimicrobial peptides. Ib-M1 expressed activity against E. coli O157:H7 and ML35 at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 2.9 ± 1.7 and 6.3 ± 0 μM, respectively. The peptide induced permeabilization of the outer membrane of E. coli O157:H7 at all concentrations evaluated and permeabilization of the inner membrane after 50 min at concentrations between 1× MIC and 8× MIC. The morphological changes induced by Ib-M1 led to significant alterations in bacterial shape including collapsed cells and pronounced surface roughness and invaginations. In conclusion, physiological and morphological evidence indicates that the Ib-M1 antimicrobial effect against E. coli O157:H7 is mediated by its permeabilizing action on the outer and inner bacterial membranes.

The evolution of signal transduction pathways is constrained by the requirements of signal fidelity, yet flexibility is necessary to allow pathway remodeling in response to environmental challenges. A detailed understanding of how flexibility and constraint shape bacterial two component signaling systems is emerging, but how new signal transduction architectures arise remains unclear. Here, we investigate pathway remodeling using the Firmicute sporulation initiation (Spo0) pathway as a model. The present-day Spo0 pathways in Bacilli and Clostridia share common ancestry, but possess different architectures. In Clostridium acetobutylicum, sensor kinases directly phosphorylate Spo0A, the master regulator of sporulation. In Bacillus subtilis, Spo0A is activated via a four-protein phosphorelay. The current view favors an ancestral direct phosphorylation architecture, with the phosphorelay emerging in the Bacillar lineage. Our results reject this hypothesis. Our analysis of 84 broadly distributed Firmicute genomes predicts phosphorelays in numerous Clostridia, contrary to the expectation that the Spo0 phosphorelay is unique to Bacilli. Our experimental verification of a functional Spo0 phosphorelay encoded by Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans (Class Clostridia) further supports functional phosphorelays in Clostridia, which strongly suggests that the ancestral Spo0 pathway was a phosphorelay. Cross complementation assays between Bacillar and Clostridial phosphorelays demonstrate conservation of interaction specificity since their divergence over 2.7 BYA. Further, the distribution of direct phosphorylation Spo0 pathways is patchy, suggesting multiple, independent instances of remodeling from phosphorelay to direct phosphorylation. We provide evidence that these transitions are likely the result of changes in sporulation kinase specificity or acquisition of a sensor kinase with specificity for Spo0A, which is remarkably conserved in both architectures. We conclude that flexible encoding of interaction specificity, a phenotype that is only intermittently essential, and the recruitment of kinases to recognize novel environmental signals resulted in a consistent and repeated pattern of remodeling of the Spo0 pathway.

Recent collections and herbarium specimens of Thyronectria from different regions in China were examined. Using combined analyses of morphology and molecular data, we recognized eight species. Among them, Thyronectria atrobrunnea, T. orientalis, and T. sinensis are described and illustrated as new species. Thyronectria atrobrunnea is characterized by blackish brown perithecia that become cupulate when dry, and 8-spored asci containing ellipsoidal to broadly fusiform or subcylindrical ascospores that bud to form bacillar to subellipsoidal ascoconidia within the asci. Thyronectria orientalis can be easily recognized by stromata that are erumpent through the epidermis of the host, immersed or semi-immersed perithecia covered with yellowish green scurf, and ellipsoidal to subfusiform, muriform ascospores. Thyronectria sinensis on Pinus features solitary ascomata that are rarely aggregated, and 8-spored asci giving rise to subcylindrical to vermiform, multiseptate ascospores that form bacillar to allantoid ascoconidia that fill the asci. The new species and their close relatives are compared and differences between them are discussed. Thyronectria strobi is reported for the first time in China. Name changes for the previously recorded species are noted. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from 28S, ITS, RPB1, TEF1, and TUB2 hint that phenotypic characters, viz. stromata, ascospores, appendage of perithecial wall, and host specificity may carry phylogenetic information as previous papers discussed.

Bacillus ginsengihumi phytase has been firstly isolated and studied from the recombinant Escherichia coli strain cellular lysates. The enzyme was obtained from the cellular lysate, purified till homogeneous condition, primary structure was determined. It's concluded that phytase relates to beta-propeller class of phosphatases. The molecular weight of the protein was 41 kDa, pI was 4.8. Some physical and chemical properties of the enzyme were studied.

Strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce insecticidal proteins. These strains have been isolated from diverse ecological niches, such as soil, phylloplane, insect cadavers and grain dust. To effectively propagate, these strains produce a range of molecules that facilitate its multiplication in a competing environment. In this report, we have examined synthesis of a chitin-binding protein and evaluated its effect on fungi encountered in environment and its interaction with insecticidal proteins synthesized by B. thuringiensis. The gene encoding chitin-binding protein has been cloned and expressed. The purified protein has been demonstrated to interact with Cry insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac by Circular Dichrosim spectroscopy (CD) and in vitro pull down assays. The chitin-binding protein potentiates insecticidal activity of bacillar insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac. Further, chitin-binding protein was fungistatic against several soil fungi. The chitin binding protein is expressed in spore mother cell and deposited along with insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac. It interacts with Cry1Ac to potentiate its insecticidal activity and facilitate propagation of Bacillus strain in environment by inhibiting growth of certain fungi.

The comparative analysis of the gene sequences encoding the synthesis of enzymes responsible for the intermediary metabolism of methionine in Bacillus anthracis strains and in closely related bacterial species was carried out. Deletion of 42 nucleotides in the hom2 gene, which determines the homoserinedehydrogenase, is detected in all tested Bacillus anthracis strains. In the strains of other bacillar species hom2 gene mutation, which blocks up the tracts of methionine and threonine biosynthesis, was not identified. The single nucleotide polymorphism was determined in asd1, metX, and metH genes. It provides the identification of B. anthracis strains using sequencing technology.

Anomalous forms of Bacillus subtilis A32 produced by prolonged cultivation in a chemostat under nitrogen limitation are described. A change in the cultivation conditions brought about a transformation of these forms to bacillar rods. The transformation was gradual and lasted for several generations.

We isolated and identified a strain of Eurotium rubrum from Meju that has not been reported in Korea. This fungus is yellowish brown; reverse dark brown on CYA and PDA while yellow on 2% MEA at 25℃. Cleistothecia are first bright yellow and gradually turned brown. Mycerial growth on CYA attained a diameter of 30 mm at 20℃, 37 mm at 25℃ and 32 mm at 30℃ after 15 days. The isolate grew slower on 2% MEA (< 20 mm 15 days at 25℃) compared to CYA and PDA (< 40 mm 15 days at 25℃). Cleistothecia are superficial, yellow to light brown, globose to subglobose, 40~75 µm in diameter. Asci are 8-spored and globose to subglobose 8~11 µm. Ascospores are disciform, 4.0~5.0 µm in length and 4.2~4.5 µm in width. Conidia are ovate or bacillar, finely roughened to densely spinulose, 4.6~6.0 µm in length and 3.0~4.3 µm in width. Compared to known Eurotium rubrum, the Korean isolate showed 99% sequence similarity in ITS rDNA (554 bp) and calmodulin (750 bp) gene and 100% in β-tubulin (1016 bp) gene. The E. rubrum isolate also had weak β-glucosidase and protease activities.

Leprosy in Colombia is in the post-elimination phase; nevertheless, there are regions of this country where the incidence is still around 3-4/100,000. Early detection of leprosy patients is a priority for achieving control and elimination of leprosy; however, the clinical exam is not very sensitive and thus, the majority of patients are diagnosed only when they demonstrate lesions, and damage to the nerves and skin has already occurred. The goal of the present study was to identify Mycobacterium leprae infection and immune responses in household contacts (HHC) of leprosy patients from three prevalent regions of Colombia. Clinical examination, the Mitsuda test, evaluation of IgM anti-PGL-I in the serum, the bacillar index (BI), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nasal swabs (NS) were performed for 402 HHC of 104 leprosy patients during a cross-sectional survey. Positive titers for IgM anti-PGL1 were found for 54 HHC, and PCR-positive NS for 22. The Mitsuda reaction was negative for 38 HHC, although three were positive for IgM anti-PGL-1 titers. The data document that leprosy transmission among HHC is still occurring in a non-endemic country.

Diagnosis of vaginal discharge is frequently performed in an empirical way, leading to inadequate treatment. This study tested the accuracy of a self-collection kit for microbiological study of the vaginal content. One hundred and forty-two women of Family Health Program units in Niterói and Piraí cities were enrolled in order to have their vaginal content studied. A brief explanation and a self-collection kit were provided in order to sample the vaginal content. The self-collection kit was composed of one empty plastic tube, two glass slides, a long handle cytobrush, an identification card and guideline notes. The vaginal sample was applied on the glass slides by the women and stained by Gram technique. A second sampling was done by the medical personnel. The microbiological diagnosis in a blinded analysis was made under optical microscopy. A validation diagnosis test was done taking the medical collection results as a gold standard. A total of 106 women had followed the protocol and were included in the study. Microbiological analysis was unsatisfactory in 12 cases (6 cases of self-collection material and 6 cases of medical collection). The microbiological analyses in the self-collection and in the medical collection material were respectively: bacterial vaginosis in 21.7% and 17.9%, non bacillar flora in 10.3% and 11.3%, vaginal trichomoniasis in 5.66% and 5.6%, candidiasis in 3.78% and 2.8% and a normal microbiota in 52.8% and 56.6%. The Kappa coefficient suggested a "very good correlation" of the microbiological results between the two methods of collection (K=0.7945). The self-collection kit provides samples for microbiological analysis of the vaginal microbiota as good as medical collection.