Klara Cerk

Mrs. Klara Cerk


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 May 2021 in Nutrients
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Journal Article
Open access
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Ana López-MorenoAna López-Moreno
Ana López-Moreno
Inmaculada AcunaInmaculada Acuna
Inmaculada Acuna
ATAlfonso Torres-Sánchez
Alfonso Torres-Sánchez
Ángel Ruiz-MorenoÁngel Ruiz-Moreno
Ángel Ruiz-Moreno
KCKlara Cerk
Klara Cerk
Margarita AguileraMargarita Aguilera
Margarita Aguilera
The combination of diet, lifestyle, and the exposure to food obesogens categorized into “microbiota disrupting chemicals” (MDC) could determine obesogenic-related dysbiosis and modify the microbiota diversity that impacts on individual health–disease balances, inducing altered pathogenesis phenotypes. Specific, complementary, and combined treatments are needed to face these altered microbial patterns and the specific misbalances triggered. In this sense, searching for next-generation beneficial microbes or next-generation probiotics (NGP) by microbiota culturing, and focusing on their demonstrated, extensive scope and well-defined functions could contribute to counteracting and repairing the effects of obesogens. Therefore, this review presents a perspective through compiling information and key strategies for directed searching and culturing of NGP that could be administered for obesity and endocrine-related dysbiosis by (i) observing the differential abundance of specific microbiota taxa in obesity-related patients and analyzing their functional roles, (ii) developing microbiota-directed strategies for culturing these taxa groups, and (iii) applying the successful compiled criteria from recent NGP clinical studies. New isolated or cultivable microorganisms from healthy gut microbiota specifically related to obesogens’ neutralization effects might be used as an NGP single strain or in consortia, both presenting functions and the ability to palliate metabolic-related disorders. Identification of holistic approaches for searching and using potential NGP, key aspects, the bias, gaps, and proposals of solutions are also considered in this review.

29 July 2021 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ATAlfonso Torres-Sánchez
Alfonso Torres-Sánchez
Jesús Pardo-CachoJesús Pardo-Cacho
Jesús Pardo-Cacho
Ana López-MorenoAna López-Moreno
Ana López-Moreno
Ángel Ruiz-MorenoÁngel Ruiz-Moreno
Ángel Ruiz-Moreno
KCKlara Cerk
Klara Cerk
Margarita AguileraMargarita Aguilera
Margarita Aguilera
The variable taxa components of human gut microbiota seem to have an enormous biotechnological potential that is not yet well explored. To investigate the usefulness and applications of its biocompounds and/or bioactive substances would have a dual impact, allowing us to better understand the ecology of these microbiota consortia and to obtain resources for extended uses. Our research team has obtained a catalogue of isolated and typified strains from microbiota showing resistance to dietary contaminants and obesogens. Special attention was paid to cultivable Bacillus species as potential next-generation probiotics (NGP) together with their antimicrobial production and ecological impacts. The objective of the present work focused on bioinformatic genome data mining and phenotypic analyses for antimicrobial production. In silico methods were applied over the phylogenetically closest type strain genomes of the microbiota Bacillus spp. isolates and standardized antimicrobial production procedures were used. The main results showed partial and complete gene identification and presence of polyketide (PK) clusters on the whole genome sequences (WGS) analysed. Moreover, specific antimicrobial effects against B. cereus, B. circulans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Salmonella spp. confirmed their capacity of antimicrobial production. In conclusion, Bacillus strains isolated from human gut microbiota and taxonomic group, resistant to Bisphenols as xenobiotics type endocrine disruptors, showed parallel PKS biosynthesis and a phenotypic antimicrobial effect. This could modulate the composition of human gut microbiota and therefore its functionalities, becoming a predominant group when high contaminant exposure conditions are present.