Marshall Finch (textmaple6)
The published online version contains mistake in the affiliation ID of the author Baikun Li. The correct presentation is given above.Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) possess diversified ecological role, including the cell adhesion to surfaces and cell protection, and are highly involved in the interactions between the bacterial cells and the bulk environments. Interestingly, EPSs find valuable applications in the industrial field, due to their chemical versatility. In this context, Antarctic bacteria have not been given the attention they deserve as producers of EPS molecules and a very limited insight into their EPS production capabilities and biotechnological potential is available in literature to date. Antarctic EPS-producing bacteria are mainly psychrophiles deriving from the marine environments (generally sea ice and seawater) around the continent, whereas a unique thermophilic bacterium, namely Parageobacillus thermantarcticus strain M1, was isolated from geothermal soil of the crater of Mount Melbourne. This mini-review is aimed at showcasing the current knowledge on EPS-producing Antarctic bacteria and the chemical peculiarities of produced EPSs, highlighting their biotechnological potential and the yet unexplored treasure they represent for biodiscovery.Cellulose-degrading auxiliary activity family 9 (AA9) lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are known to be widely distributed among filamentous fungi and participate in the degradation of lignocellulose via the oxidative cleavage of celluloses, cello-oligosaccharides, or hemicelluloses. AA9 LPMOs have been reported to have extensive interactions with not only cellulases but also oxidases. The addition of AA9 LPMOs can greatly reduce the amount of cellulase needed for saccharification and increase the yield of glucose. The discovery of AA9 LPMOs has greatly changed our understanding of how fungi degrade cellulose. In this review, apart from summarizing the recent discoveries related to their catalytic reaction, functional diversity, and practical applications, the stability, expression system, and protein engineering of AA9 LPMOs are reviewed for the first time. This review may provide a reference value to further broaden the substrate range of AA9 LPMOs, expand the scope of their practical applications, and realize their customization for industrial utilization.Key Points• The stability and expression system of AA9 LPMOs are reviewed for the first time.• The protein engineering of AA9 LPMOs is systematically summarized for the first time.• The latest research results on the catalytic mechanism of AA9 LPMOs are summarized.• The application of AA9 LPMOs and their relationship with other enzymes are reviewed.Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-transmitted disease that belongs to the genus Alphaviruses, has been emerged as an epidemic threat over the last two decades, and the recent co-emergence of this virus along with other circulating arboviruses and comorbidities has influenced atypical mortality rate up to 10%. Genetic variation in the virus has resulted in its adaptability towards the new vector Aedes albopictus other than Aedes aegypti, which has widen the horizon of distribution towards non-tropical and non-endemic areas. As of now, no licensed vaccines or therapies are available against CHIKV; the treatment regimens for CHIKV are mostly symptomatic, based on the clinical manifestations. Development of small molecule drugs and neutralizing antibodies are potential alternatives of worth investigating until an efficient or safe vaccine is approved. Neutralizing antibodies play an important role in antiviral immunity, and their presence is a hallmark of viral infection. In this review, we describe prospects for effective vaccines and highlight importance of neutralizing antibody-based therapeutic and prophylactic applications to combat CHIKV infections. We further discuss about the progress made towards CHIKV therapeutic interventions as well as c
