Bacteria can be genetically engineered to kill specific pathogens or inhibit their virulence. We previously developed a synthetic genetic system that allows a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli to sense and kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. Here, we generate a modified version of the system, including a gene encoding an anti-biofilm enzyme, and use the probiotic strain Escherichia coli N...

The past decade has witnessed the development of a novel class of tools for environmental monitoring: genetically engineered microorganisms 'tailored' to respond in a dose-dependent manner to changes in environmental conditions. Recent advances in the field include the expansion of available reporter functions with multicolored fluorescent proteins, a broadening of the detected chemical effects...

Objective(s) Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are nonhematopoietic stromal cells that are capable of differentiating into and contribute to the regeneration of mesenchymal tissues. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are ideal targets in cell transplantation and tissue engineering. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) has been an important reporter gene for gene therapy. The aim of this stu...

Background: In consideration for the increasing widespread use of genetically modified (GM) crops, one of the important issues for assessment is the effect of GM crops on soil microbial communities Objectives: In this study, T2 chitinase-transgenic cotton (line #57) and its non-transgenic line were investigated for bacterial and fungal dynamics...

Recent developments in the generation and characterization of genetically engineered mouse models of human cancer have resulted in notable improvements in these models as platforms for preclinical target validation and experimental therapeutics. In this review, we enumerate the criteria used to assess the accuracy of various models with respect to human disease and provide some examples of thei...

Animal models constitute valuable tools for investigating the pathogenesis of cancer as well as for preclinical testing of novel therapeutics approaches. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of pituitary-tumor formation remain poorly understood, particularly in sporadic adenomas, thus, making it a challenge to model pituitary tumors in mice. Nevertheless, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM...