Dr. Berlemont’s main hypothesis was finding the means to link microbial ecology to biotechnology. The hypotheses that were formulated from this main hypothesis was identifying the types of glycoside hydrolases found in microorganisms, and determining how the specific GH genes found could be utilized in biotechnology.
The hypotheses was consequently tested primarily by utilizing publically accessible data, specifically genomes to sequence for GH genes. An algorithm by the name of Gene Hunt was developed, to facilitate the sequencing of the genomes available to use. The algorithm was utilized to analyze 12,000 sequences of bacterial genomes, to create a map of each genome detailing genes and their protein. The algorithm was then utilized to sequence fungal genomes, and to identify GH genes. The results of these experiments, determined that specific sequencing needed to occur of microorganisms in the specific ecosystem they inhabit. The final experiment conducted utilized mice to provide stool samples. The stool samples would effectively identify GH genes of microbiota that would theoretically be similar to those located inside the human intestinal system. The samples were sequenced, and the results determined genes pertaining to functions and organism.
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In general, high amounts of a substrate would equate to a likewise number of enzyme associated with the substrate. The stool samples of the mice sequenced identified 70,000 bacterial genera. One bacterial genera was determined to be a dominant microorganism, among the samples sequenced. In addition, it was found that the frequency of bacterial genera differed between the intestinal tracts starting from the mouth to the
The isolate possesses some enzymes required for hydrolytic reactions. Hydrolytic enzymes found to be secreted from the bacterium, are -amylase, casein, and PYRase. In the starch hydrolysis and casein tests, there was a zone of clearing around the bacterium, which was indicative of the secreted enzymes necessary to break down starch and casein. In the PYR test, the presence of PYRase was detected by a color change to red on the PYR disc after the addition of the PYR reagent (p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde). Hydrolytic enzymes for which the EI tested negative were urease, gelatinase, and DNAse. In the Urea Hydrolysis test, it was observed that the urea broth did not have a color change, indicating that there was no urease secreted to break down urea in the broth. Similarly, there was no gelatinase present to break down gelatin in the Gelatin Hydrolysis test, so the nutrient gelatin remained solid. It was concluded that the EI does not possess DNase because there was no clearing zone around the bacteria, indicating that DNA had not been
Making H. pylori a vital microorganism to research in order to expand the study of microbiology and its interaction with humans. According to Blaser, the H. pylori “is a group of extremely varied strains cooperating and competing with one another. They compete for nutrients, niches in the stomach and protection from stresses.” There can be a variety of strains found in a single stomach, and even though they appear identical, their genes are very different.
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
Jennifer Ackerman's main focus in her article The Ultimate Social Network, is that of the functions concerning bacteria within humans. Although scientists have had presumptions about humans being proficient in governing their body’s innermost structure, they soon come to recognize the sophistication of our inner space which holds an extensive plethora of bacteria and other microorganisms that lie within each and every one of us. Moreover, scientists' new and emerging view of how the human body operates, and the cause of increasing present-day diseases (i.e. obesity and different autoimmune disorders) are uncovered by analyzing effects of certain microbe species in our bodies. By italicizing on points such as the above, in conjunction with bacteria's genetic variations, and modern computing technology, the author proves that scientists are quickly progressing with the characterization the most prevalent species of microbes, which, in her opinion, is definitely paying off.
The family Enterobacteriaceae consists of a large number of genera which are genetically and biochemically related to one another. Escherichia coli is a component of that family. This bacterium was discovered by a German pediatrician and bacteriologist named Theodor
Pasteurella multocida was first isolated in 1880 by Louis Pasteur, and was described as the causative agent of fowl cholera.(1,2) During this time in history, microorganism isolated from livestock suffering from conditions such as haemorrhagic septicemia and atrophic rhinitis who demonstrated similar biochemical and morphological characteristics to that of Pasteurs’ microorganism where named Pasteurella septica.(1,3) It was not until the 1930s, when scientist recognised that the bacterium was associated with cat bits and was no longer classified as Pasteurella septica but as Pasteurella multocida. Due to increased technological advances in 1985, scientists successfully identified eleven Pasteurella species, one of which is known as Pasteurella multocida. (1)
Glycoside Hydrolases are classified into 108 families according with the amino acid sequence similarities. One of these families is GH1 (Glycoside Hydrolases 1), this family consists of enzymes with various substrate specificities, and the enzymes are present is bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryota. The 3D structure of 18 of these enzymes had been determined, and although the extent of sequence varies between 17% and 45%, all the enzymes have a common (β/α)8-barrel motif, and two catalytic glutamate residues located at the C-terminal end of β-strands 4 and 7, which may give a clue about the mechanism of these enzymes.
6.) Seshadri et al., Comparison of the Genome of the Oral Pathogen Treponema denticola with Other Spirochete Genomes. Science. 1998 Jul 17; 281(5375):324-5.
Talaro , K., & Chess, B. (2012). Foundations in microbiology. (8th ed., pp. 563-564). New York, NY:
In the last decade, the number of prescriptions for antibiotics has increases. Even though, antibiotics are helpful, an excess amount of antibiotics can be dangerous. Quite often antibiotics are wrongly prescribed to cure viruses when they are meant to target bacteria. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that is prone to kill microorganisms, or bacteria. By examining the PBS documentary Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria and the article “U.S. government taps GlaxoSmithKline for New Antibiotics” by Ben Hirschler as well as a few other articles can help depict the problem that is of doctors prescribing antibiotics wrongly or excessively, which can led to becoming harmful to the body.
In our Biology Lab we did a laboratory experiment on fermentation, alcohol fermentation to be exact. Alcohol fermentation is a type of fermentation that produces the alcohol ethanol and CO2. In the experiment, we estimated the rate of alcohol fermentation by measuring the rate of CO2 production. Both glycolysis and fermentation consist of a series of chemical reactions, each of which is catalyzed by a specific enzyme. Two of the tables substituted some of the solution glucose for two different types of solutions.
To excel in the field of Biology is not merely my dream, but my passion. I have started on this path of never-ending discovery and I want to master this science. It would not be unjustifying to state that the world is a better place today because of the advances in biological sciences. It truly promises to be an ever-advancing profession on this planet where better cures are required for freshly determined diseases on a day-to-day basis. Gene Technology and Biotechnology are a boon to this world. Putting microorganisms to use in the formation of insu...
By taking a Carbon Dioxide, rich substance and mixing it with a yeast, solution fermentation will occur, and then it could be determined if it is a good energy-producer. In this study glacatose, sucrose, glycine, glucose, and water were used to indicate how fast fermentation occurred. The overall result shows that monosaccharides in particular galactose and glucose were the best energy source for a cell.
In the early years of biotechnology,amateur biotechnologists, had no idea their ideas would snowball into incredible modern discoveries. Early discoveries included the processes of fermentation, pasteurization, and zymotechnology. The products of these processes are wine, cheese, and beer; all of which contributed significantly to the gross national product of their respective countries. However, it wasn’t until the discovery of the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953, that genetics and biotechnology would be linked together to explain so many of these discoveries.