| 1. |
- Aevarsson, Arnthór, et al.
(författare)
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Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life
- 2021
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Ingår i: FEMS Microbiology Letters. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1574-6968. ; 368:12
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms. The Virus-X Consortium, established in 2016, included experts from eight European countries. The unique approach based on high throughput bioinformatics technologies combined with structural and functional studies resulted in the development of a biodiscovery pipeline of significant capacity and scale. The activities within the Virus-X consortium cover the entire range from bioprospecting and methods development in bioinformatics to protein production and characterisation, with the final goal of translating our results into new products for the bioeconomy. The significant impact the consortium made in all of these areas was possible due to the successful cooperation between expert teams that worked together to solve a complex scientific problem using state-of-the-art technologies as well as developing novel tools to explore the virosphere, widely considered as the last great frontier of life.
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| 4. |
- Bai Palmkron, Shuai, et al.
(författare)
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Quantification of structures in freeze-dried materials using X-ray microtomography
- 2023
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Ingår i: Colloids and Surfaces A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-7757 .- 1873-4359. ; 658
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The structure of a freeze-dried material is essential for its ability to preserve and protect biologics such as proteins, cells and other sensitive structures. The structure of a typical freeze-dried matrix can be described as pores surrounded by thin walls where the walls are the encapsulating material (for e.g. cells). The objective of this investigation is to evaluate X-ray microtomography (µCT) as a characterization method to quantifying the matrix of a freeze dried material, and compare it to scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The material consists of maltodextrin, freeze-dried below or above the glass transition temperature of the maximal freeze concentration (Tg′) and after applying annealing. The SEM images have high resolution and provide an excellent view of the sample. However, it is challenging to perform any image analysis and to ensure that a representative section is presented. The µCT images provide a rather uniform contrast between material and void, allowing for a simple grey-level thresholding when separating structure from the background. A robust image analysis procedure allows the results extracted from a representative sample volume to be evaluated. Further image analysis has been focused on understanding the thickness of the encapsulating structures by estimations of volume-weighted averages of inscribed spheres within the walls. The results show two types of structures: A large pore structure of around 20–100 µm separated by thin walls around 2–3 µm thick, and a finer structure consisting of smaller pockets of air (< 10 µm) packed in a honeycomb like structure. The structures of the samples dried below and above Tg′ have smaller and thinner structures, while material dried after annealing has larger and thicker structures. The structures display comparably small differences between the different drying protocols despite the quite different drying conditions.
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| 5. |
- Bergenholtz, Sa Schoug, et al.
(författare)
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A case study on stress preconditioning of a Lactobacillus strain prior to freeze-drying
- 2012
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Ingår i: Cryobiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0011-2240 .- 1090-2392. ; 64:3, s. 152-159
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Freeze-drying of bacterial cells with retained viability and activity after storage requires appropriate formulation, i.e. mixing of physiologically adapted cell populations with suitable protective agents, and control of the freeze-drying process. Product manufacturing may alter the clinical effects of probiotics and it is essential to identify and understand possible factor co-dependencies during manufacturing. The physical solid-state behavior of the formulation and the freeze-drying parameters are critical for bacterial survival and thus process optimization is important, independent of strain. However, the maximum yield achievable is also strain-specific and strain survival is governed by e.g. medium, cell type, physiological state, excipients used, and process. The use of preferred compatible solutes for cross-protection of Lactobacilli during industrial manufacturing may be a natural step to introduce robustness, but knowledge is lacking on how compatible solutes, such as betaine, influence formulation properties and cell survival. This study characterized betaine formulations, with and without sucrose, and tested these with the model lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus coryniformis Si3. Betaine alone did not act as a lyo-protectant and thus betaine import prior to freeze-drying should be avoided. Differences in protective agents were analyzed by calorimetry, which proved to be a suitable tool for evaluating the characteristics of the freeze-dried end products.
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| 6. |
- Bjerketorp, Joakim, et al.
(författare)
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Formulation and stabilization of an Arthrobacter strain with good storage stability and 4-chlorophenol-degradation activity for bioremediation
- 2018
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Ingår i: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0175-7598 .- 1432-0614. ; 102:4, s. 2031-2040
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chlorophenols are widespread and of environmental concern due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. Development of less costly and less technically challenging remediation methods are needed; therefore, we developed a formulation based on micronized vermiculite that, when air-dried, resulted in a granular product containing the 4-chlorophenol (4-CP)-degrading Gram-positive bacterium Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus A6. This formulation and stabilization method yielded survival rates of about 60% that remained stable in storage for at least 3 months at 4 °C. The 4-CP degradation by the formulated and desiccated A. chlorophenolicus A6 cells was compared to that of freshly grown cells in controlled-environment soil microcosms. The stabilized cells degraded 4-CP equally efficient as freshly grown cells in two different set-ups using both hygienized and non-treated soils. The desiccated microbial product was successfully employed in an outdoor pot trial showing its effectiveness under more realistic environmental conditions. No significant phytoremediation effects on 4-CP degradation were observed in the outdoor pot experiment. The 4-CP degradation kinetics from both the microcosms and the outdoor pot trial were used to generate a predictive model of 4-CP biodegradation potentially useful for larger-scale operations, enabling better bioremediation set-ups and saving of resources. This study also opens up the possibility of formulating and stabilizing also other Arthrobacter strains possessing different desirable pollutant-degrading capabilities.
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| 7. |
- Chakraborty, Amrita, et al.
(författare)
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Yeast and fruit fly mutual niche construction and antagonism against mould
- 2022
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Ingår i: Functional Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0269-8463 .- 1365-2435. ; 36:7, s. 1639-1654
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A goal in insect–microbe ecology is to understand the mechanisms regulating species associations and mutualistic interactions. The spotted wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii develops in ripening fruit, unlike other drosophilids that typically feed on overripe fruit, and is associated with the yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum. We hypothesized that D. suzukii and H. uvarum engage in niche construction leading to a mutualistic relation, facilitating the exploitation of fruit and berries as larval substrate. We show that H. uvarum proliferates on both ripe and on unripe raspberries, mediates attraction of D. suzukii larvae and adult flies, enhances egg-laying in mated females and is a sufficient food substrate to support larval development. Moreover, H. uvarum suppresses the antagonistic grey mould, Botrytis cinerea in collaboration with D. suzukii larvae, and produces less ethanol than baker's yeast. H. uvarum thus creates favourable conditions for D. suzukii larval development, which is susceptible to ethanol and grey mould. D. suzukii, on the other hand, vectors H. uvarum to suitable substrates such as raspberries, where larval feeding activity enhances growth of H. uvarum. Larval feeding also helps to suppress B. cinerea, which otherwise outcompetes H. uvarum on raspberry, in the absence of fly larvae. In conclusion, H. uvarum enhances D. suzukii larval development on unripe berries, and D. suzukii promotes H. uvarum dispersal and growth on berries. Yeast and fly modify their shared habitat in reciprocal niche construction and mutual interaction. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
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| 8. |
- Garcia, Armando Hernández, et al.
(författare)
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Isothermal microcalorimetry for rapid viability assessment of freeze-dried Lactobacillus reuteri
- 2017
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Ingår i: Process Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-5113. ; 55, s. 49-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapid assessment of viable cells in freeze-dried formulations of probiotic Lactobacilli is an important issue in the probiotic industry. The probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is the active ingredient of BioGaia Protectis whose viable cell concentrations are currently determined using the classical and time-consuming viable count technique. In this paper we present a rapid method based on Isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) for viability assessment of freeze-dried DSM 17938. Fresh and rehydrated freeze-dried cells were incubated in MRS medium at different cell concentration and the thermal power (mu W) at 37 degrees C was measured over time. A linear dependence between the time to reach a certain thermal power value and the decimal logarithm of viable cells was found. This allowed rapid viability assessment of rehydrated cells, reducing the detection time from 48 h (viable count) to 10 h (microcalorimetry) in samples with 3 x 10(3) cfu/mL, and to 4 h in samples with 4 x 10(6) cfu/mL. No significant differences were found between the two methods when freeze-dried rehydrated cells were analysed (p > 0.05). Therefore, IMC is a promising tool to be used in the quality control of freeze-dried DSM 17938 as well as other bacteria-based products. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Hernández, Armando, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of the fermentation parameters pH and temperature on stress resilience of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938
- 2019
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Ingår i: AMB Express. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2191-0855. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of culture pH (4.5–6.5) and temperature (32–37 °C) on the stress resilience of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 during freeze-drying and post freeze-drying exposure to low pH (pH 2)and bile salts. Response-surface methodology analysis revealed that freeze-drying survival rates Ncells after drying/Ncells before drying*100 were linearly related to pH with the highest survival rate of 80% when cells were cultured at pH 6.5 and the lowest was 40% when cells were cultured at pH 4.5. The analysis further revealed that within the chosen temperature range the culture temperature did not significantly affect the freeze-drying survival rate. However, fermentation at pH 4.5 led to better survival rates when rehydrated cells were exposed to low pH shock or bile salts. Thus, the effect of pH onfreeze-drying survival was in contrast to effects on low pH and bile salts stress tolerance. The rationale behind this irreconcilability is based on the responses being dissimilar and are not tuned to each other. Culturing strain DSM17938 at pH values higher than 5.5 could be a useful option to improve the survivability and increase viable cell numbers in the final freeze-dried product. However, the dissimilar responses for the process- and application parameterstested here suggest that an optimal compromise has to be found in order to obtain the most functional probiotic product possible.
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| 10. |
- Holmqvist, Mona, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Bestydelsen av slutbokstaven s i engelska ord : en studie av elevers sätt att förstå vad tillägget av -s innebär
- 2006
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Denna studie beskriver hur elever från skolår fem till gymnasiets första år erfar slutbokstaven s i engelska ord. Den metod som använts i studien är learning study med parallella lektioner (Holmqvist, M., Gustavsson, I. & Wernberg, A., in press). Studien genomförs med en variationsteoretisk utgångspunkt (Holmqvist, 2004), vilket innebär att ett särskilt fokus riktas på lärandeobjektets kritiska aspekter, det vill säga vad som måste urskiljas för att förståelse uppnås av ett fenomen. Dessutom studeras om och hur eleverna erbjuds att urskilja dessa, om de kan eller erbjuds urskilja flera aspekter simultant (samtidigt) samt vilken form av variation som elevernas uttryckta erfarande visar. Studien tar sin utgångspunkt i vad eleverna erfar, något som analyseras utifrån en fenomenografisk ansats. Därefter planeras en lektion grundad i analyser av dels videoobservationer efter de inspelade lektionerna och dels elevernas resultat vid de test som genomförts, vilka fokuserar på förekomst av slutbokstaven s i följande former: sammandragen form, plural, tredje person singular presens, genitiv samt självständiga possessiva pronomen. Resultaten pekar på att sammandragen form samt självständiga possessiva pronomen är kritiskt att förstå för elever i främst skolår fem, men därefter tycks det som om eleverna har god förståelse av sammandragen form (’s) medan de avseende självständiga possessiva pronomen visserligen har en känsla för vad som är korrekt men inte kan berätta varför sådana ord kan sluta på s. Avseende plural-s tycks detta vålla stora problem, bland annat på grund av ord som i svenska är singular men i engelska motsvaras av plural form. Det är enklare för eleverna att urskilja när det ska vara ett s på verbet efter tredje person singular.I varje område analyseras vilka de kritiska aspekterna är för lärandeobjektet. Vi har till exempel sett att majoriteten av eleverna tror att verbändelsen –s enbart/främst talar om vilken form verbet har (presens eller imperfekt). Resultaten visar vad som krävs för att förstå –s i olika former och vad detta innebär för undervisningen.
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