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      Bacterial Exopolysaccharides: Functionality and Prospects

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          Abstract

          Diverse structural, functional and valuable polysaccharides are synthesized by bacteria of all taxa and secreted into the external environment. These polysaccharides are referred to as exopolysaccharides and they may either be homopolymeric or heteropolymeric in composition and of diverse high molecular weights (10 to 1000 kDa). The material properties of exopolysaccharides have revolutionized the industrial and medical sectors due to their retinue of functional applications and prospects. These applications have been extensive in areas such as pharmacological, nutraceutical, functional food, cosmeceutical, herbicides and insecticides among others, while prospects includes uses as anticoagulant, antithrombotic, immunomodulation, anticancer and as bioflocculants. Due to the extensive applications of bacterial exopolysaccharides, this overview provides basic information on their physiologic and morphologic functions as well as their applications and prospects in the medical and industrial sectors.

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          Most cited references55

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          The EPS matrix: the "house of biofilm cells".

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            Bacterial polymers: biosynthesis, modifications and applications.

            Bernd Rehm (2010)
            Bacteria can synthesize a wide range of biopolymers that serve diverse biological functions and have material properties suitable for numerous industrial and medical applications. A better understanding of the fundamental processes involved in polymer biosynthesis and the regulation of these processes has created the foundation for metabolic- and protein-engineering approaches to improve economic-production efficiency and to produce tailor-made polymers with highly applicable material properties. Here, I summarize the key aspects of bacterial biopolymer production and highlight how a better understanding of polymer biosynthesis and material properties can lead to increased use of bacterial biopolymers as valuable renewable products.
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              The biochemistry and genetics of capsular polysaccharide production in bacteria.

              Bacterial polysaccharides are usually associated with the outer surface of the bacterium. They can form an amorphous layer of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) surrounding the cell that may be further organized into a distinct structure termed a capsule. Additional polysaccharide molecules such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipooligosaccharide (LOS) may also decorate the cell surface. Polysaccharide capsules may mediate a number of biological processes, including invasive infections of human beings. Discussed here are the genetics and biochemistry of selected bacterial capsular polysaccharides and the basis of capsule diversity but not the genetics and biochemistry of LPS biosynthesis (for reviews see 100, 140).
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Int J Mol Sci
                Int J Mol Sci
                ijms
                International Journal of Molecular Sciences
                Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
                1422-0067
                2012
                30 October 2012
                : 13
                : 11
                : 14002-14015
                Affiliations
                Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; E-Mails: egreen@ 123456ufh.ac.za (E.G.); aokoh@ 123456ufh.ac.za (A.I.O.)
                Author notes
                [* ]Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: UNwodo@ 123456ufh.ac.za ; Tel.: +27-786-273-279; Fax: +27-862-707-453.
                Article
                ijms-13-14002
                10.3390/ijms131114002
                3509562
                23203046
                227dc27c-94f0-47ee-86b9-ba1bc37cce1b
                © 2012 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.

                This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0).

                History
                : 07 June 2012
                : 05 October 2012
                : 24 October 2012
                Categories
                Review

                Molecular biology
                exopolysaccharides,antigenicity,extracellular,biopolymers,glycocongugates
                Molecular biology
                exopolysaccharides, antigenicity, extracellular, biopolymers, glycocongugates

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