TY - JOUR A1 - Kazemifard, N. A1 - Dehkohneh, Abolfazl A1 - Baradaran Ghavami, S. T1 - Probiotics and probiotic-based vaccines: A novel approach for improving vaccine efficacy N2 - Vaccination is defined as the stimulation and development of the adaptive immune system by administering specific antigens. Vaccines' efficacy, in inducing immunity, varies in different societies due to economic, social, and biological conditions. One of the influential biological factors is gut microbiota. Cross-talks between gut bacteria and the host immune system are initiated at birth during microbial colonization and directly control the immune responses and protection against pathogen colonization. Imbalances in the gut microbiota composition, termed dysbiosis, can trigger several immune disorders through the activity of the adaptive immune system and impair the adequate response to the vaccination. The bacteria used in probiotics are often members of the gut microbiota, which have health benefits for the host. Probiotics are generally consumed as a component of fermented foods, affect both innate and acquired immune systems, and decrease infections. This review aimed to discuss the gut microbiota's role in regulating immune responses to vaccination and how probiotics can help induce immune responses against pathogens. Finally, probiotic-based oral vaccines and their efficacy have been discussed. KW - Probiotics KW - Gut microbiota KW - Probiotic-based vaccines PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-561767 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.940454 SN - 2296-858X VL - 9 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-56176 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Erdmann, Eileen A1 - Nitsche, Sarah A1 - Gorbushina, Anna A1 - Schumacher, Julia T1 - Genetic Engineering of the Rock Inhabitant Knufia petricola Provides Insight Into the Biology of Extremotolerant Black Fungi N2 - Black microcolonial fungi (Ascomycetes from Arthonio-, Dothideo-, and Eurotiomycetes) are stress-tolerant and persistent dwellers of natural and anthropogenic extreme habitats. They exhibit slow yeast-like or meristematic growth, do not form specialized reproduction structures and accumulate the black pigment 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin in the multilayered cell walls. To understand how black fungi live, survive, colonize mineral substrates, and interact with phototrophs genetic methods are needed to test these functions and interactions. We chose the rock inhabitant Knufia petricola of the Chaetothyriales as a model for developing methods for genetic manipulation. Here, we report on the expansion of the genetic toolkit by more efficient multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 using a plasmid-based system for expression of Cas9 and multiple sgRNAs and the implementation of the three resistance selection markers genR (geneticin/nptII), baR (glufosinate/bar), and suR (chlorimuron ethyl/sur). The targeted integration of expression constructs by replacement of essential genes for pigment synthesis allows for an additional color screening of the transformants. The black-pink screening due to the elimination of pks1 (melanin) was applied for promoter studies using GFP fluorescence as reporter. The black-white screening due to the concurrent elimination of pks1 and phs1 (carotenoids) allows to identify transformants that contain the two expression constructs for co-localization or bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) studies. The co-localization and interaction of the two K. petricola White Collar orthologs were demonstrated. Two intergenic regions (igr1, igr2) were identified in which expression constructs can be inserted without causing obvious phenotypes. Plasmids of the pNXR-XXX series and new compatible entry plasmids were used for fast and easy generation of expression constructs and are suitable for a broad implementation in other fungi. This variety of genetic tools is opening a completely new perspective for mechanistic and very detailed study of expression, functioning and regulation of the genes/proteins encoded by the genomes of black fungi. KW - Microcolonial fungi KW - DHN melanin KW - Cloning vectors KW - Genetics PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-546192 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2022.862429 SN - 2673-6128 VL - 3 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-54619 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Breitenbach, Romy A1 - Gerrits, Ruben A1 - Dementyeva, Polina A1 - Knabe, Nicole A1 - Schumacher, Julia A1 - Feldmann, Ines A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Ryo, M. A1 - Gorbushina, Anna T1 - The role of extracellular polymeric substances of fungal biofilms in mineral attachment and weathering N2 - The roles extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play in mineral attachment and weathering were studied using genetically modified biofilms of the rock-inhabiting fungus Knufia petricola strain A95. Mutants deficient in melanin and/or carotenoid synthesis were grown as air-exposed biofilms. Extracted EPS were quantified and characterised using a combination of analytical techniques. The absence of melanin affected the quantity and composition of the produced EPS: mutants no longer able to form melanin synthesised more EPS containing fewer pullulan-related glycosidic linkages. Moreover, the melanin-producing strains attached more strongly to the mineral olivine and dissolved it at a higher rate. We hypothesise that the pullulan-related linkages, with their known adhesion functionality, enable fungal attachment and weathering. The released phenolic intermediates of melanin synthesis in the Δsdh1 mutant might play a role similar to Fe-chelating siderophores, driving olivine dissolution even further. These data demonstrate the need for careful compositional and quantitative analyses of biofilm-created microenvironments. KW - Biofilms PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-549025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-022-00253-1 SN - 2397-2106 VL - 6 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-54902 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wild, B. A1 - Gerrits, Ruben A1 - Bonneville, S. T1 - The contribution of living organisms to rock weathering in the critical zone N2 - Rock weathering is a key process in global elemental cycling. Life participates in this process with tangible consequences observed from the mineral interface to the planetary scale. Multiple lines of evidence show that microorganisms may play a pivotal—yet overlooked—role in weathering. This topic is reviewed here with an emphasis on the following questions that remain unanswered: What is the quantitative contribution of bacteria and fungi to weathering? What are the associated mechanisms and do they leave characteristic imprints on mineral surfaces or in the geological record? Does biogenic weathering fulfill an ecological function, or does it occur as a side effect of unrelated metabolic functions and biological processes? An overview of efforts to integrate the contribution of living organisms into reactive transport models is provided. We also highlight prospective opportunities to harness microbial weathering in order to support sustainable agroforestry practices and mining activities, soil remediation, and carbon sequestration. KW - Bio-weathering KW - Fungi KW - Mineral PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-566748 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-022-00312-7 SN - 2397-2106 VL - 6 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Macmillan CY - London AN - OPUS4-56674 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stock, S. C. A1 - Koester, M. A1 - Nájera, F. A1 - Boy, J. A1 - Matus, F. A1 - Merino, C. A1 - Abdallah, K. A1 - Spielvogel, S. A1 - Gorbushina, Anna A1 - Dippold, M. A. A1 - Kuzyakov, Y. ED - Nunan, Naoise T1 - Vegetation strategies for nitrogen and potassium acquisition along a climate and vegetation gradient: From semi-desert to temperate rainforest N2 - Nutrient acquisition strategies of plants regulate water flow and mass transport within ecosystems, shaping earth surface processes. Understanding plant strategies under current conditions is important to assess and predict responses of natural ecosystems to future climate and environmental changes. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) (re-)utilization from topsoil and their acquisition from subsoil and saprolite were evaluated in a continental transect, encompassing three study sites – an arid shrubland, a mediterranean woodland, and a temperate rainforest – on similar granitoid parent material in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera. The short-term (<1 year) plant N and K acquisition was traced with 15N and the K analogs rubidium and cesium. To do so, the tracers were either injected into topsoil, subsoil, or saprolite, in the immediate vicinity of eight individual plants per study site and injection depth. The long-term (>decades) K uplift by plants was investigated by the vertical distribution of exchangeable K+ and Na+. Recoveries of 15N and K analogs by arid shrubland plants were similar from topsoil, subsoil, and saprolite. Mediterranean woodland shrubs recovered the tracers primarily from topsoil (i.e., 89 % of recovered 15N and 84 % of recovered K analogs). Forest plants recovered the tracers from topsoil (15N = 49 %, K analogs = 57 %) and partially from greater depth: 38 % of recovered 15N and 43 % of recovered K analogs were acquired from subsoil and saprolite, respectively. Low nutrient accessibility in the topsoil (e.g., because of frequent droughts) drives shrubland plants to expand their N and K uptake to deeper and moister soil and saprolite. Woodland and forest plants dominantly recycled nutrients from topsoil. In the forest, this strategy was complemented by short-term uplift of N and K from depth. The vertical distribution of exchangeable K indicated long-term uplift of K by roots in all three sites. This highlighted that long-term K uplift from depth complements the nutrient budget across the continental transect. KW - Subsoil nutrient tracing KW - N and K analog tracer KW - Nutrient uplift and recyclin KW - Nutrient cycles KW - (Semi)arid to humid-temperate natural ecosys KW - Tems KW - Chilean Coastal Cordillera PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116077 SN - 0016-7061 VL - 425 SP - 2 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier B.V. CY - Amsterdam, Netherlands AN - OPUS4-56129 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -