On Tuesday, October 21, at 16:00 EEST we are delighted to host our guests Prof. Dr. Marius Mihășan and Amada El-Sabeh, who will explain how the microbial nicotine catabolism works, what are its applications in the context of health and how 3D-printed molecular models can change how students learn bioinformatics.

Talk 1: 

Amada El-Sabeh, "The first multi-omic study of microbial nicotine catabolism", Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania.

Keywords: transcriptomics, multiomics, direct RNA-sequencing, bacterial catabolism, plasmid, nicotine

Abstract: The global tobacco industry produces significant amounts of nicotine-containing wastes, being regarded as a major environmental threat. The appropriate treatment of nicotine-contaminated waste is required for the removal of the toxic alkaloid before safe disposal. In this context, nicotine-degrading microorganisms and their enzymatic apparatus are of major interest for decontaminating and repurposing nicotine waste. Here, by combining long-read direct RNA sequencing data and nanoLC-MS/MS based proteomics data, we focused on the multiomic characterisation of the bacterial nicotine catabolic process from Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans ATCC 49919. The nicotine-related expression of 25 annotated nic-genes and proteins was confirmed, eight of these genes being reported here first as having nicotine-related expression. Insights regarding the active mechanisms involved in integrating the nicotine catabolic pathway with the general metabolism of the bacterial cell and the defence systems employed against the oxidative stress generated during nicotine degradation are also presented. This study provides the first multiomic investigation of P. nicotinovorans ATCC 49919 and, moreover, the first multiomic assessment of a bacterial nicotine catabolic pathway.

Resources:

• El-Sabeh et al 2025, ScienceDirect, "Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of nicotine metabolism in Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans ATCC 49919", https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964830525000216

Talk 2: 

Prof. Dr. Marius Mihășan, "From Nicotine Catabolism to 3D-Printed Molecular Models: A Career Path in the Romanian Academic System", Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania.

Keywords: career path, nicotine, plasmids, comparative genomics, metabolism, teaching, molecular models

Abstract: Marius will outline a career shaped by microbial nicotine catabolism research and the pedagogical impact of 3D-printed molecular models. From gene clusters and omics insights to classroom deployment of tactile models, the talk links scientific questions with evidence-based teaching. Key lessons from the Romanian academic context show how integrating research and education drives both discovery and improved learning outcomes.

Resources: 

• http://cercetare.bio.uaic.ro/cadre/pagini-personale/marius.mihasan/index.html

Format: Online, free to attend, registration required: zoom

Organization: YMS is organized by RSBI and is linked to RoBioinfo Seminars

Chair: Robi Tacutu

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