Navigation Links
Cholesterol-busting bug with a taste for waste
Date:5/14/2009

A novel species of bacteria with cholesterol-busting properties has been discovered by scientists at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. Dr Oliver Drzyzga and colleagues isolated the new bug, called Gordonia cholesterolivorans, from sewage sludge. Their findings are reported in the current issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

A steroid found in all body tissues, cholesterol is used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries as stabilizer, emollient and water-binding agent. As a consequence, steroids - including cholesterol - are a major group of contaminants in urban sewage residues.

Gordonia bacteria have only been classed as a separate group of bacteria since 1997 but they have already proved useful as they are able to degrade a wide range of environmental pollutants including phthalates (used in plastics), rubber and hazardous compounds such as the explosive hexogen (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine). Gordonia cholesterolivorans' ability to break down cholesterol means that it could be used to clean up contamination.

Dr Drzyzga and co-workers are studying the genetics of this novel bacterium to genetically modify strains that might also be used to synthesise new and industrially useful breakdown products of cholesterol.

"New steroid compounds made by these bacteria may find applications in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors in the future, but as some Gordonia species are pathogenic to humans it is unlikely that they could be used directly to treat high cholesterol-related conditions in humans", said Dr Drzyzga.

"We are trying to work out exactly how Gordonia cholesterolivorans metabolises cholesterol so that we can identify and construct metabolically engineered strains that are more rapid and effective in breaking down cholesterol."


'/>"/>

Contact: Dianne Stilwell
d.stilwell@sgm.ac.uk
44-208-977-6510
Society for General Microbiology
Source:Eurekalert

2

GOOD

Page: 1

Related biology news :

1. New findings in taste and smell
2. Mollusks taste memories to build shells
3. Taste, odor intervention improves cancer therapy, according to Virginia Tech, Wake Forest study
4. Girls have superior sense of taste to boys
5. Meeting to highlight health impacts of smell and taste
6. International conference to release new findings on smell and taste
7. Taking a cue from breath fresheners, researcher develops new method for taste testing
8. From delicious to death: Understanding taste
9. Researchers find new taste in fruit flies: carbonated water
10. Your gut has taste receptors
11. Bacteria create aquatic superbugs in waste treatment plants
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/23/2013)... Wis. In an age when microbial pathogens are ... tamp down infection, a team of Wisconsin scientists has ... curbing the bacteria that cause staph infections. , Writing ... Society , a group led by University of Wisconsin-Madison ... with the "quorum sensing" behavior of Staphylococcus aureus ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... to improve durability in fuel cell powered buses, ... discovered links between electrode degradation processes and bus ... effects of electrode degradation stressors in the operating ... , The findings of the study, led by ... in a long-term study at Burnaby-based Ballard Power ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013)The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have ... so that the American Heart Association currently recommends eating ... fatty varieties rich in omega 3s. However, the mechanism ... a new study, scientists led by Jason R. Carter ... by providing evidence that fish oil might specifically counteract ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):University of Wisconsin chemists find new compounds to curb staph infection 2Tests lead to doubling of fuel cell life 2Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress 2
... discovered molecular mechanism helps control the amount and effectiveness of ... that is produced by the body,s own nerve cells. ... Nature Neuroscience . The lead author on the study is ... the University of Washington (UW). The senior author is Dr. ...
... outdoor "laboratory" on Ohio State University,s campus shows that naturally ... ecological services as will wetlands planted by humans. Researchers ... experimental marshes on the campus, one that was planted in ... colonize plant and animal life on its own. The 2 ...
... ITHACA, N.Y. Apathetic aphids which become ... and alarms sent by fellow aphids become easy ... to researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant ... Academy of Sciences , Aug. 3, 2010.) The ...
Cached Biology News:Newly discovered mechanism controls levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain 2Newly discovered mechanism controls levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain 3Planted, unplanted man-made wetlands are similar at year 15, and function as effective carbon sinks 2Planted, unplanted man-made wetlands are similar at year 15, and function as effective carbon sinks 3Planted, unplanted man-made wetlands are similar at year 15, and function as effective carbon sinks 4Apathetic aphids with attitude become easier prey for ladybugs 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... MARINO, Calif. , May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... today a strategic alliance with DAK Renewable Research ... the corn oil yield. VG Energy is a ... (OTC Pink: VGLS). VG Energy,s exclusively ... to increase the oil yield in plants, possessing ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... EXTON, Pa. , May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical ... gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and infectious disease specialists reported that ... warehousing patients (e.g., intentionally delaying treatment) in anticipation ... physicians than six months ago, when only 6 ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Md. , May 23, 2013 Northwest ... biotechnology company developing DCVax ® personalized immune therapies ... use its exhibit at this year,s American Society Of ... to highlight its leadership role in immune therapy.  ... The ASCO annual meeting is the pre-eminent conference focused ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... SAN DIEGO , May 23, 2013  Verenium ... biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of ... , Chief Financial Officer, will present at two ... Mr. Black will present at the Second Annual ... at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.  ...
Breaking Biology Technology:VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 2VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 3The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 2The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 3NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 2NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 3Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 2Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 3
... of Missouri officials announced today a five-year agreement with ... research and training in nanomedicine and nanotechnology. "We ... affiliation of 16 institutions of higher education in Tamil ... research. "K.S.R. has the same commitment to deliver quality ...
... Mich., Oct. 11, 2011 New England Biolabs, Inc. ... signed a distribution agreement whereby NEB will distribute a ... the amplification of DNA from single cells or extremely ... Genome Amplification (WGA) Kit is the first product available ...
... 11, 2011 Roche ( SIX: RO, ... announced today an agreement to license several technologies developed ... Arizona State University and Dr. Colin Nuckolls of the ... revolutionary DNA sequencing system. The licensed technologies include specialized ...
Cached Biology Technology:MU signs academic agreement with K.S.R. Educational Institutions of India 2New England Biolabs and Rubicon Genomics Enter into Distribution Agreement for Single Cell Amplification Products 2Roche Licenses Nanopore Sequencing Technologies from Arizona State University and Columbia University for Rapid, Affordable DNA Sequencing 2Roche Licenses Nanopore Sequencing Technologies from Arizona State University and Columbia University for Rapid, Affordable DNA Sequencing 3Roche Licenses Nanopore Sequencing Technologies from Arizona State University and Columbia University for Rapid, Affordable DNA Sequencing 4
... The Helios gene gun low-pressure system, 220-240 ... biomaterials into cells. This handheld device employs an ... other biomaterial-coated gold microcarriers from the inner wall ... cells. This system can be used for in ...
... Hybridization Wash Pack provides optimized blocking ... Preparation Quality Clarifier: Ready-to-use wash solutions ... SigmaScreen(tm) APS Coated Slides for Microarrays ... Hybridization Blocking Buffer: 1L • Microarray ...
Mouse polyclonal antibody raised against a partial recombinant MHC2TA. NCBI Entrez Gene ID = 4261...
Mouse monoclonal antibody raised against a partial recombinant JRKL. NCBI Entrez Gene ID = JRKL...
Biology Products: