Biology subjects

da Rosa-Garzon, N. G.

Publications and source records attributed to da Rosa-Garzon, N. G..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Semi-automated monitoring of longitudinal microbial metabolic dynamics: A study case for lignin degradation

This study introduces a low-cost, open-source, semi-automated bioreactor system, developed using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, for longitudinal microbial culture studies. The system protocol includes detailed instructions for custom-designed components, specifications for easily purchasable parts, and open-source code for a web-based control interface. It was validated for sterility and tested in a case study involving the cultivation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trichoderma reesei to assess their metabolic dynamics, both in isolation and co-culture, for lignin degradation. Using mass spectrometry coupled with gas chromatography, several lignin degradation intermediates were annotated, including 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid, along with their temporal variation profiles over 25 days. The results highlighted potential synergy between the two fungal species in lignin breakdown, while also demonstrating the bioreactors flexibility and suitability for diverse biotechnological applications, particularly in the field of bio-degradation and waste valorization.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

A phylogenetic approach to explore the Aspergillus fumigatus conidial surface-associated proteome and its role in pathogenesis

Aspergillus fumigatus, an important pulmonary fungal pathogen causing several diseases collectively called aspergillosis, relies on asexual spores or conidia for initiating host infection. Here, we used a phylogenomic approach to compare proteins in the conidial surface of A. fumigatus, two closely related non-pathogenic species, Aspergillus fischeri and Aspergillus oerlinghausenensis, and the cryptic pathogen Aspergillus lentulus. After identifying 62 proteins uniquely expressed on the A. fumigatus conidial surface, we deleted 42 genes encoding conidial proteins. We found deletion of 33 of these genes altered susceptibility to macrophage killing, penetration and damage to epithelial cells, and cytokine production. Notably, a gene that encodes glycosylasparaginase, which modulates levels of the host pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1{beta}, is important for infection in an immunocompetent murine model of fungal disease. These results suggest that A. fumigatus conidial surface proteins and effectors are important for evasion and modulation of the immune response at the onset of fungal infection.

microbiology↗