bacteria Archives - Bright Giant

Discoveries

Thawing permafrost: Another step towards assessing the consequences

Thawing permafrost, caused by climate change, releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. The enzyme latch hypothesis suggests that low-oxygen conditions in wetlands slow down enzymatic polyphenol degradation and carbon release. But are oxygen-dependent phenol oxidases really the only enzymes that microbial communities have in their arsenal? Or should we perhaps take a closer (metatranscriptomic and metabolomic) look at the microbially catalysed carbon cycle?

Franziska Hufsky 2024-06-06 No Comments

Discoveries

Quality control using SIRIUS: nutrient profiles of Spirulina and co

Microalgae, such as Spirulina, are promising sources of sustainable nutrition with rich nutrient profiles. Ensuring consistent quality of microalgae as dietary supplements requires a quality control method reporting about their chemical composition. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics coupled with SIRIUS helps identifying primary and secondary metabolites with potential health benefits, including free fatty acids, polar lipids, and pigments.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-03-25 No Comments

Microbial breakdown, facilitated by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, plays a pivotal role in decomposing organic matter. (Image by Thomas Breher on Pixabay)

Discoveries

SIRIUS on the body farm: Investigating microbial decomposers

Microbial decomposers break down human remains, recycling nutrients and influencing ecosystem dynamics. Is there a universal microbial decomposer network that assembles in response to mammalian remains? How does the network and the cadaver-derived nutrient pool change during the decomposition process and can this microbial community change be used for predicting time since death for forensic purposes?

Franziska Hufsky 2024-02-23 No Comments

Current wastewater treatment plants often struggle to effectively remove antibiotics and their transformation products.

Discoveries

Biotransformation of antibiotics in wastewater: A fungal solution investigated with SIRIUS

Antibiotics are crucial for fighting bacterial infections, but the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to public health. Beyond healthcare, the presence of antibiotic residues in wastewater exacerbates the problem. Conventional treatment methods often fall short in adequately removing these compounds, perpetuating resistance. Biological processes, such as biotransformation by fungi, have emerged as promising alternatives. Researchers investigated the potential of fungi to transform antibiotics, using SIRIUS and CSI:FingerID to identify degradation products.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-02-09 1 Comment

Discoveries

Befriend your competitor: CSI:FingerID identifies metabolite linked to dual-species biofilm pathogenesis in cystic fibrosis

In the world of microbiology, there’s an ongoing battle between different bacterial species competing for survival and dominance. However, under certain conditions, two species can actually thrive together in a dual-species biofilm. The cooperation between P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in cystic fibrosis leads to increased disease severity. But so far, only little is known about the chemical communication mechanisms between those bacteria. CSI:FingerID identifies a metabolite that could be related to the increased pathogenesis of this dual-species biofilm in cystic fibrosis.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-06-14 No Comments