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This paper presents the findings of a large-scale study on antibiotic resistance in bacteria found in farm animal feces across Russia. The study included 6578 samples of farm animal manure from 13 regions in Russia, with the help of citizen scientists. Molecular and microbiological methods were used to analyze 1111 samples of E. coli. The microbiological analysis focused on culturing the microorganisms present in the fecal samples on selective media for E. coli and evaluating the sensitivity of the bacteria to different antibiotics, including ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, and ciprofloxacin. The molecular analysis involved isolating the genomic DNA of the bacteria and conducting PCR assays to detect the vanA, vanB, and mcr-1 antibiotic resistance genes. The results demonstrated significant differences in antibiotic sensitivity of the samples that are morphologically identical to E. coli from different regions. For example, 98.0% and 82.5% of E. coli and other fecal bacterial isolates from the Omsk and Vologda regions lacked antibiotic resistance genes, while 97.7% of samples from the Voronezh region possessed three resistance genes simultaneously. The phenotypic antibiotic sensitivity test also revealed regional differences. For instance, 98.1% of fecal bacterial samples from cattle in the Udmurt Republic were sensitive to all five antibiotics tested, whereas 92.8% of samples from the Voronezh region showed resistance to all five antibiotics. The high level of antibiotic resistance observed may be attributed to their use in farming practices. The distinctive feature of our research is that comprehensive geographical coverage was achieved by using a citizen science platform. Citizen scientists, specifically students from colleges and universities, were responsible for the collection and initial analysis of samples. The project attracted 3096 student participants, enabling the collection and analysis of a significant number of samples from various locations in Russia.

Following the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain individuals experience persistent symptoms referred to as long COVID. This study analyzed the patients categorized into three distinct groups: (1) individuals presenting rheumatological symptoms associated with long COVID, (2) patients who have successfully recovered from COVID-19, and (3) donors who have never contracted COVID-19. A notable decline in the expression of miR-200c-3p, miR-766-3p, and miR-142-3p was identified among patients exhibiting rheumatological symptoms of long COVID. The highest concentration of miR-142-3p was found in healthy donors. One potential way to reduce miRNA concentrations is through antibody-mediated hydrolysis. Not only can antibodies possessing RNA-hydrolyzing activity recognize the miRNA substrate specifically, but they also catalyze its hydrolysis. The analysis of the catalytic activity of plasma antibodies revealed that antibodies from patients with long COVID demonstrated lower hydrolysis activity against five fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide sequences corresponding to the Flu-miR-146b-5p, Flu-miR-766-3p, Flu-miR-4742-3p, and Flu-miR-142-3p miRNAs and increased activity against the Flu-miR-378a-3p miRNA compared to other patient groups. The changes in miRNA concentrations and antibody-mediated hydrolysis of miRNAs are assumed to have a complex regulatory mechanism that is linked to gene pathways associated with the immune system. We demonstrate that all six miRNAs under analysis are associated with a large number of signaling pathways associated with immune response-associated pathways.

Phytohormones play a crucial role in regulating growth, productivity, and development while also aiding in the response to diverse environmental changes, encompassing both biotic and abiotic factors. Phytohormone levels in soil and plant tissues are influenced by specific soil bacteria, leading to direct effects on plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. Specific plant growth-promoting bacteria can either synthesize or degrade specific plant phytohormones. Moreover, a wide range of volatile organic compounds synthesized by plant growth-promoting bacteria have been found to influence the expression of phytohormones. Bacteria–plant interactions become more significant under conditions of abiotic stress such as saline soils, drought, and heavy metal pollution. Phytohormones function in a synergistic or antagonistic manner rather than in isolation. The study of plant growth-promoting bacteria involves a range of approaches, such as identifying singular substances or hormones, comparing mutant and non-mutant bacterial strains, screening for individual gene presence, and utilizing omics approaches for analysis. Each approach uncovers the concealed aspects concerning the effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria on plants. Publications that prioritize the comprehensive examination of the private aspects of PGPB and cultivated plant interactions are of utmost significance and crucial for advancing the practical application of microbial biofertilizers. This review explores the potential of PGPB–plant interactions in promoting sustainable agriculture. We summarize the interactions, focusing on the mechanisms through which plant growth-promoting bacteria have a beneficial effect on plant growth and development via phytohormones, with particular emphasis on detecting the synthesis of phytohormones by plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Antibodies are protein molecules whose primary function is to recognize antigens. However, recent studies have demonstrated their ability to hydrolyze specific substrates, such as proteins, oligopeptides, and nucleic acids. In 2023, two separate teams of researchers demonstrated the proteolytic activity of natural plasma antibodies from COVID-19 convalescents. These antibodies were found to hydrolyze the S-protein and corresponding oligopeptides. Our study shows that for antibodies with affinity to recombinant structural proteins of the SARS-CoV-2: S-protein, its fragment RBD and N-protein can only hydrolyze the corresponding protein substrates and are not cross-reactive. By using strict criteria, we have confirmed that this proteolytic activity is an intrinsic property of antibodies and is not caused by impurities co-eluting with them. This discovery suggests that natural proteolytic antibodies that hydrolyze proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have a positive impact on disease pathogenesis. It is also possible for these antibodies to work in combination with other antibodies that bind specific epitopes to enhance the process of virus neutralization.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with pronounced oxidative stress, leading to the development of various virus-associated pathologies. A wealth of evidence suggests that, along with canonical enzymes of reactive oxygen species regulation, human blood contains antibodies with peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. Here we show that the catalase activity of IgGs and their κκ-IgG, λλ-IgG, and κλ-IgG subfractions of HIV-infected individuals is significantly different compared to the healthy donors. Methods: Protein G-Sepharose sorbent was used to resolve IgG from blood of healthy donors and HIV-infected patients by affinity chromatography. Subfractions of κκ-IgG, λλ-IgG, and κλ-IgG were separated from IgGs samples of each group by affinity chromatography on sorbents containing immobilized antibodies to κ or λ light human chains. The IgG catalase activity level was measured spectrophotometrically by evaluating the decrease in optical density (A240) due to hydrogen peroxide decomposition. Results: The relative catalase activity of antibodies from HIV-infected patients (kcat = (1.41 ± 0.92) × 103 min-1, 95% CI: [1.01–1.81]) was statistically significant, 1.6 times higher (p = 0.014) compared to apparently healthy donors ((0.86 ± 0.49) × 103, 95% CI: [0.69–1.03]). The activity level of κκ-IgG HIV-infected patients ((0.44 ± 0.04) × 103 min-1) was 1.4 times higher than that of λλ-IgGs ((0.31 ± 0.025) × 103 min-1); the opposite was observed for κκ-IgGs from apparently healthy donors, which activity ((0.17 ± 0.015) × 103 min-1) was 3.1 times lower compared to λλ-IgGs ((0.53 ± 0.045) × 103 min-1). Conclusions: Thus, the data obtained may indicate that IgG with increased catalase activity may prevent harmful processes arising from oxidative stress in HIV-infected patients, acting as an additional natural molecular mechanism of regulation of hydrogen peroxide level.

The rapid development of vaccines is a crucial objective in modern biotechnology and molecular pharmacology. In this context, conducting research to expedite the selection of a potent immunogen is imperative. The candidate vaccine should induce the production of antibodies that can recognize the immunogenic epitopes of the target protein, resembling the ones found in recovered patients. One major challenge in vaccine development is the absence of straightforward and reliable techniques to determine the extent to which the spectrum of antibodies produced after vaccination corresponds to antibodies found after recovery. This paper describes a newly developed method to detect antibodies specific to immunogenic epitopes of the target protein in blood plasma and to compare them with antibody spectra generated post vaccination. Comparing the antibody pool generated in the human body after recovering from an infectious disease with the pool formed through vaccination can become a universal method for screening candidate vaccines. This method will enable the identification of candidate vaccines that can induce the production of antibodies similar to those generated in response to a natural infection. Implementing this approach will facilitate the rapid development of new vaccines, even when faced with a pandemic.

This review covers the literature data on plant growth-promoting bacteria in soil, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, produce and secrete siderophores, and may exhibit several different behaviors simultaneously. We discuss perspectives for creating bacterial consortia and introducing them into the soil to increase crop productivity in agrosystems. The application of rhizosphere bacteria—which are capable of fixing nitrogen, solubilizing organic and inorganic phosphates, and secreting siderophores, as well as their consortia—has been demonstrated to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture, such as increasing soil fertility and crop yields. The combining of plant growth-promoting bacteria with mineral fertilizers is a crucial trend that allows for a reduction in fertilizer use and is beneficial for crop production.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria are commonly used in agriculture, particularly for seed inoculation. Multispecies consortia are believed to be the most promising form of these bacteria. However, designing and modeling bacterial consortia to achieve desired phenotypic outcomes in plants is challenging. This review aims to address this challenge by exploring key antimicrobial interactions. Special attention is given to approaches for developing soil plant growth-promoting bacteria consortia. Additionally, advanced omics-based methods are analyzed that allow soil microbiomes to be characterized, providing an understanding of the molecular and functional aspects of these microbial communities. A comprehensive discussion explores the utilization of bacterial preparations in biofertilizers for agricultural applications, focusing on the intricate design of synthetic bacterial consortia with these preparations. Overall, the review provides valuable insights and strategies for intentionally designing bacterial consortia to enhance plant growth and development.

The S-protein is the major antigen of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, against which protective antibodies are generated. The S-protein gene was used in adenoviral vectors and mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. While the primary function of antibodies is to bind to antigens, catalytic antibodies can hydrolyze various substrates, including nucleic acids, proteins, oligopeptides, polysaccharides, and some other molecules. In this study, antibody fractions with affinity for RBD and S-protein (RBD-IgG and S-IgG) were isolated from the blood of COVID-19 patients vaccinated with Sputnik V. The fractions were analyzed for their potential to hydrolyze 18-mer oligopeptides corresponding to linear fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein. Here, we show that the IgG antibodies hydrolyze six out of nine oligopeptides efficiently, with the antibodies of COVID-19-exposed donors demonstrating the most significant activity. The IgGs of control donors not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 were found to be inactive in oligopeptide hydrolysis. The antibodies of convalescents and vaccinated patients were found to hydrolyze oligopeptides in a wide pH range, with the optimal pH range between 6.5 and 7.5. The hydrolysis of most oligopeptides by RBD-IgG antibodies is inhibited by thiol protease inhibitors, whereas S-IgG active centers generally combine several types of proteolytic activities. Ca2+ ions increase the catalytic activity of IgG preparations containing metalloprotease-like active centers. Thus, the proteolytic activity of natural antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 protein is believed to be due to the similarity of catalytic antibodies’ active centers to canonical proteases. This work raises the question of the possible physiological role of proteolytic natural RBD-IgG and S-IgG resulting from vaccination and exposure to COVID-19.

Siderophores are synthesized and secreted by many bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and plants for Fe (III) chelation. A variety of plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) colonize the rhizosphere and contribute to iron assimilation by plants. These microorganisms possess mechanisms to produce Fe ions under iron-deficient conditions. Under appropriate conditions, they synthesize and release siderophores, thereby increasing and regulating iron bioavailability. This review focuses on various bacterial strains that positively affect plant growth and development through synthesizing siderophores. Here we discuss the diverse chemical nature of siderophores produced by plant root bacteria; the life cycle of siderophores, from their biosynthesis to the Fe–siderophore complex degradation; three mechanisms of siderophore biosynthesis in bacteria; the methods for analyzing siderophores and the siderophore-producing activity of bacteria and the methods for screening the siderophore-producing activity of bacterial colonies. Further analysis of biochemical, molecular–biological, and physiological features of siderophore synthesis by bacteria and their use by plants will allow one to create effective microbiological preparations for improving soil fertility and increasing plant biomass, which is highly relevant for sustainable agriculture.

Metal ions and other elements play many different critical roles in all biological processes. They can be especially important in high concentrations for the functioning of organisms living in seawater. It is important to understand how much the concentrations of different trace elements in such organisms can be higher than in seawater. Some marine organisms capable of rapid recovery after different injuries are fascinating in this regard. Sea cucumbers Eupentacta fraudatrix can completely restore all organs and the whole body within several weeks after their division into two parts. Here, for the first time, a comparison of the content of different elements in seawater, sea cucumber, and its very stable multiprotein complex (2000 kDa) was performed using two-jet plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Among the 18 elements we found in sea cucumbers, seawater contained only six elements in detectable amounts, and their content decreased in the following order: Mg > Ca > B > Sr ≈ Si > Cr (0.13–930 µg/g of seawater). The content of these elements in sea cucumbers was higher compared with seawater (-fold): Ca (714) > Sr (459) > Cr (75) > Si (42)> B (12) > Mg (6.9). Only four of them had a higher concentration in the protein complex than in seawater (-fold): Si (120.0) > Cr (31.5) > Ca (9.1) > Sr (8.8). The contents of Mg and B were lower in the protein complex than in seawater. The content of elements additionally found in sea cucumbers decreased in the order (µg/g of powder) of P (1100) > Fe (47) > Mn (26) > Ba (15) > Zn (13) > Al (9.3) > Mo (2.8) > Cu (1.4) > Cd (0.3), and in the protein complex, in the order of P (290) > Zn (51) > Fe (23) > Al (14) ≈ Ni (13) > Cu (7.5) > Ba (2.5) ≈ Co (2.0) ≈ Mn (1.6) > Cd (0.7) >Ag (0.2). Thus, sea cucumbers accumulate various elements, including those contained in very low concentrations in seawater. The possible biological roles of these elements are discussed here.