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Western Ghats are designated as world heritage sites and global biodiversity hotspots. Microbial diversity in this forest area has been largely neglected and is getting attention since the end of the last millennium. In this review, we have studied and organized various microorganisms from Western Ghats and their diversity, important characteristics and potential biotechnological applications. Microorganisms from Western Ghats have been explored individually for potential bioactive molecules. While most of the microorganisms were analyzed for antimicrobial activities, there have been studies on microbial promotion of plant growth. The microbes analyzed included from aquatics, soil, rhizosphere, phyllosphere and even as endophytes. There have been microorganisms which have shown antioxidant and anti-cancerous activities. There are microorganisms capable of degrading plant wastes and also xenobiotics. Microorganisms capable of producing industrially important enzymes have also been reported. The present review explores largely neglected microbial diversity with respect to their ability to produce potential bioactive biomolecules.

Bacteria are considered as foremost bioremediating agents among microorganisms, encompassing simple biological mechanism to tolerate higher concentration of heavy metal and favoring conservative strategies to substitute the usage of chemicals. Relating this implication, the present study is designed to identify, screen and characterize bacteria from industrial site soil to tolerate multimetals. Almost 108 colonies were obtained at various concentrations (0.5–2.0 mM) of heavy metals (cadmium, nickel and lead) and were thrived in the reformed minimal media. Bacterial isolates that grown in the higher concentration of heavy metals (2.0 mM) were taken for further studies. Among ten bacterial colonies, one isolate was selected for each heavy metal and further screened for their multi metal tolerance. Isolate, C20 alone survived in heavy metal mixture fortified medium with high recovery rate and increased colony forming units. Molecular level characterization and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the isolate is identical to Bacillus thuringiensis. The study highlights that the multi metal tolerant B. thuringiensis could be used as an effective bioremediating agent to manage heavy metals particularly cadmium, nickel and lead in industrial area. Further, attributed to be a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, this organism can promote dual stratagems as a bio remediating agent and fertility enhancer in agricultural field due to its dual functions.

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment has led to the rise of the study on the interaction between MPs and microorganisms. The variety and characteristics of MPs in the environment make their interaction with microorganisms more complex. Recent studies have found that MPs can also serve as an important carrier for microorganisms to form fully developed biofilms on the substrates. The emergence of new ecological sites will also affect the ecosystem of water and soil. We present the latest knowledge of MPs' interactions with microorganisms and summarize their respective potential impacts on the environment. It was found that the main factors affecting microbial colonization on MPs were the characteristics of MPs, exposure time and environmental factors. Furthermore, microbial colonization on MPs can affect the composition and distribution of the microbial community in the environment, as well as the migration and transformation of other contaminants which also occur in the animal guts. When it come to the toxicity of MPs to microorganisms, it has been found that the main effects of MPs on microorganisms are the effect on microbial growth, photosynthesis of microorganisms and some single cells. In addition, the combined effects of MPs with heavy metals and organic compounds on microorganisms can be divided into antagonistic effects, synergistic toxicity, promoting effects and non-effects. In turn, microbes will have impacts on MPs in terms of degradation, absorption, transfer and deposition. In practical application, MPs will affect the biological treatment stage of sewage treatment. This review discusses the interaction mechanism and influencing factors between microorganisms and MPs. It also called for active exploration of methods for treating MPs with microorganisms in the actual environment, providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of microorganisms, and a better understanding of the environmental behavior and ecological risk assessment of MPs.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are obligate plant parasites that cause severe economic losses to agricultural crops worldwide. Because of serious health and environmental concerns related to the use of chemical nematicides, the development of efficient alternatives is of great importance. Biological control through exploiting the potential of rhizosphere microorganisms is currently accepted as an important approach for pest management in sustainable agriculture. In our research, during screening of rhizosphere bacteria against the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita, Ochrobactrum pseudogrignonense strain NC1 from the rhizosphere of healthy tomatoes showed strong nematode inhibition. A volatile nematicidal assay showed that the cell-free fermentation filtrate in the first-row wells of 12-well tissue culture plates caused M. incognita juvenile mortality in the second-row wells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and benzaldehyde were the main volatile compounds produced by strain NC1. The nematicidal activity of these compounds indicated that the lethal concentration 50 against the M. incognita juveniles in the second-row wells and the fourth-row wells were 23.4 μmol/ml and 30.7 μmol/ml for DMDS and 4.7 μmol/ml and 15.2 μmol/ml for benzaldehyde, respectively. A greenhouse trial using O. pseudogrignonense strain NC1 provided management efficiencies of root-knot nematodes of 88 to 100% compared with the untreated control. This study demonstrated that nematode-induced root-gall suppression mediated by the bacterial volatiles DMDS and benzaldehyde presents a new opportunity for root-knot nematode management.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the impact of genotype and storage conditions (temperature and time) on microbiological contamination and eggshell quality. There were four genotypes of laying hens used, Czech Golden Spotted (CGS), Greenleg Partridge (GP), White Leghorn (WL) and commercial hybrid (CH) hens were included. After collection, the eggs were divided equally into five groups according to the storage time (0, 14, 28 days) and temperature (5 and 20°C). The microbiological analysis included counting of colonies forming units (CFU) of Escherichia coli (EC), Enterococcus (ENT) and total number of microorganisms (TNM) on eggshell surface, eggshell membranes and in thin albumen. The analysis of eggshell quality included the determination of eggshell proportion (SP), thickness (ST), strength (SST), index (SI) and surface (SS). Moreover, egg weight (EW) and egg weight loss (EWL) were determined. The significant effect of genotype was found in contamination of eggshell by EC, ENT and TNM, eggshell membranes by TNM and albumen by EC (all P≤0.05). The significantly lowest contamination of eggshell from EC was in eggs from the WL hens (4.42 log CFU/eggshell), while from ENT was in eggs from the CGS hens (1.22 log CFU/eggshell) and from the WL hens (1.40 log CFU/eggshell). The lowest incidence of TNM was also detected in eggs from the WL hens (5.03 log CFU/eggshell). Statistically the lowest contamination of eggshell membranes by TNM was found in eggs from the WL (0.12 log CFU/eggshell membranes) and CH hens (0.15 log CFU/eggshell membranes). Regarding the effect of genotype, the GP (not detected) and WL (not detected) hens had eggs with statistically the lowest occurrence of EC bacteria in albumen. Regarding the EW and eggshell quality, all the parameters were significantly affected by the genotype (P≤0.0001). Also EWL was significantly (P≤0.05) affected by genotype (after 14, 21 and 28 days of storage). There were found to be significant differences of microbial contamination of egg surface among observed hen genotypes. The penetration of selected microorganisms was also significant in contamination of eggshell membranes by TNM and in contamination of albumen by EC.

Amaç: Kan dolaşımı enfeksiyonları (KDE), morbidite ve mortalitenin en önemli nedeni sayılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, kan kültürlerinde üreyen mikroorganizmaların dağılımını ve antimikrobiyal direnç oranlarını incelemek amaçlanmıştır.Yöntem: Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi (YDÜ) Hastanesi, Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvarı’na Ocak 2016-Aralık 2020 tarihleri arasında gönderilen 7.866 kan kültüründen izole edilen mikroorganizmalar retrospektif olarak değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Kan kültür şişeleri BACTEC 9120 otomatize sisteminde inkübe edilmiştir. İnkübasyon sırasında pozitif sinyal elde edilmesi halinde, steril enjektörle kan kültür şişelerinin içerisinden örnek alınarak Eosin-Methylene Blue (EMB) ve %5 koyun kanlı agarlara ekimleri yapıldı. Ekimi yapılan kültürler 24-48 saat süresince 35°C’de etüvde inkübasyona bırakıldı. Üreme saptanan kültürlerdeki mikroorganizmaların identifikasyon ve antibiyotik duyarlılık testleri (ADT) için VİTEK 2 (Biomerieux) kompakt otomatize sitemi kullanıldı.Bulgular: Kan kültürlerinin 691 (%8.8)’inde üreme saptanmıştır. İzole edilen mikroorganizmaların 392 (%56.7)’sini gram negatif bakteriler, 295 (%42.7)’ini gram pozitif bakteriler ve 4 (%0.6)’ünü ise Candida türleri oluşturmaktadır. En sık izole edilen bakteriler sırasıyla; Koagülaz negatif stafilokoklar (KNS) (%21.1), E. coli (%15.2), K. pneumoniae (%11.9), Staphylococccus aureus (%11.4) idi. E. coli dağılımına bakıldığı zaman GSBL oranı 2020 yılında artış göstermiştir fakat bunun istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olmadığı anlaşılmıştır (p=0.188). GSBL pozitif K. pneumoniae türleri ise yıllar içerisinde anlamlı derecede artış göstermiş ve 2019 yılında en yüksek (%69.6) seviyeye ulaşmıştır. Pseudomonas aeruginosa için ÇİD (çoklu ilaç dirençli) oranı %13 olarak belirlenmiştir. Acinetobacter baumannii için MDR oranı ise %97 olarak bulunmuştur. Hastalarımız arasındaki metisilin dirençli Staphylococccus aureus (MRSA) oranı %30.4’dür.Sonuç: KDE’dan izole edilen mikroorganizmaların ve duyarlılıklarının en kısa sürede belirlenmesi kritik öneme sahiptir. Ayrıca, aktif sürveyans sistemleri KDE’nın yönetimine yardımcı olmaktadır., Objective: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are considered to be the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. The main purpose of this study is to examine the distribution of microorganisms in blood cultures and the rates of antimicrobial resistance.Method: Microorganisms isolated from 7.866 blood cultures which were sent to our laboratory between January 2016-December 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Blood culture bottles were incubated in BACTEC 9120 system. Blood samples were taken from the bottles with a sterile syringe and cultured on Eosin-Methylene Blue (EMB) and 5% sheep blood agars if there was a positive signal. The cultivated cultures were left to incubate at 35°C for 24-48 hours. VITEK 2 compact automated system was used for identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST).Results: Reproduction was detected in 691 (8.8%) of blood cultures. There were 56.7% gram-negative, 42.7% gram-positive bacteria and 0.6% Candida species. The most common bacteria isolated are; coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) (21.1%), Escherichia coli (15.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.4%). The rate of ESBL-Escherichia coli increased in 2020, but this was not statistically significant (p=0.188). ESBL-Klebsiella pneumoniae species showed a significant increase over the years and reached the highest level (69.6%) in 2019. MDR (multi drug resistance) rate for Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined as 13%. MDR rate for Acinetobacter baumannii was determined as 97%. The rate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients is 30.4%. Conclusion: It is critical to determine microorganisms and their antibiotic susceptibilities as soon as possible in BSI. Active surveillance systems help manage the BSI.

To meet the rapidly growing global demand for aquaculture products, large amounts of antibiotics were used in aquaculture, which might accelerate the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and the propagation of antibiotic genes (ARGs). In our research, we revealed the ARGs profiles, their co-occurrence with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and potential hosts in sediments of a crab pond wastewater purification system based on metagenomic analysis. The residual antibiotic seems to increase the propagation of ARGs in the crab pond, but there was no clear relationship between a given antibiotic type and the corresponding resistance genes. The effect of aquaculture on sediment was not as profound as that of other anthropogentic activities, but increased the relative abundance of sulfonamide resistance gene. A higher abundance of MGEs, especially plasmid, increased the potential ARGs dissemination risk in crab and purification ponds. Multidrug and sulfonamide resistance genes had greater potential to transfer because they were more frequently carried by MGEs. The horizontal gene transfer was likely to occur among a variety of microorganisms, and various ARGs hosts including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Escherichia, and Klebsiella were identified. Bacterial community influenced the composition of ARG hosts, and Proteobacteria was the predominant hosts. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the environmental risk of ARGs in sediments of aquaculture wastewater treatment system.

The roots of most gramineous plants are surrounded by a variety of microorganisms; however, few studies have focused on the rhizosheath of psammophytes. Therefore, in this study, we used Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyse the composition and functional diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosheath of sand-grown Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. We found that the number of species and functions of microbial communities gradually decreased from the rhizosheath to the bulk soil. Thus, the microbial composition of the rhizosheath was richer and more diverse, and the abundance of bacteria, including Sphingosinicella, Rhizorhabdus, Friedmanniella, Geodermatophilus, Blastococcus, and Oscillatoria, was higher, and the abundance of fungi, such as Mycothermus, was higher. The abundance of CO2 fixation-related genes (acsA, Pcc, and cbbL) in the carbon cycle; NO3–, NO2–, NH2OH, and N2 transformation genes (nrtP, nirS, hao, and nifK) in the nitrogen cycle; soxB/A/C, Sat, and dsrB genes in the sulphur cycle; and 1-phosphate mannitol dehydrogenase (MtlD) gene and polyketide synthase gene (pks) were higher in the rhizosheath than in the bulk soil, as well as genes related to phosphorus uptake in the phosphorus cycle. Our findings showed that the rhizosheath may host the predominant microbial species related to the formation of a rhizosheath.

With the utilisation of algae, wastewater reuse is becoming a viable option for the energy industry, especially green energy. The growth of these algae in these wastewaters provides an alternative source for bioenergetics, however, the growth of other microorganisms can directly affect the production of bioenergy, requiring the removal and reduction of contaminants in these waters, in addition to being a source of contamination for workers. Therefore, the use of nanoparticles in bioremediation has been an alternative to mitigate the contamination of these wastewaters that have microorganisms capable of reducing the algae growth capacity. The objective of this work was to verify in the United States Patent and Trademarker office database (USPTO) patents that used chitosan nanoparticles as a form of wastewater treatment and to carry out the analysis of patent US20190134086, which addresses the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles associated with chitosan that was developed and used to evaluate their antibacterial activity against resistant microorganisms and biofilm producers present in wastewater. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the microorganisms involved in the evaluated invention, bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract, of clinical and environmental importance. The synthesized nanoparticles are arranged as a pharmaceutically acceptable and toxic vehicle against resistant bacteria, thus being described as nanoremediators. Given the analyzed patent, it was possible to verify the importance of alternatives to reduce the impact that pollution, in general, has on the environment, in addition to the proposed technology serving to maintain the survival and development capacity of the algae that will be able to produce green energy, the nanoparticles with antibacterial potential can help indirectly reduce these pathogenic strains with resistance to several antibiotics in the environment.

Aims Plastic debris are constantly released into oceans where, due to weathering processes, they suffer fragmentation into micro- and nanoplastics. Diverse microbes often colonize these persisting fragments, contributing to their degradation. However, there are scarce reports regarding the biofilm formation of eukaryotic decomposing microorganisms on plastics. Here, we evaluated five yeast isolates from deep-sea sediment for catabolic properties and early adhesion ability on high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Methods and Results We assessed yeast catabolic features and adhesion ability on HDPE fragments subjected to abiotic weathering. Adhered cells were evaluated through Crystal Violet Assay, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy. Isolates were identified as Candida parapsilosis and exhibited wide catabolic capacity. Two isolates showed high adhesion ability on HDPE, consistently higher than the reference C. parapsilosis strain, despite an increase in fragment roughness due to weathering. Isolate Y5 displayed the most efficient colonization, with production of polysaccharides and lipids after 48 h of incubation. Conclusion This work provides insights on catabolic metabolism and initial yeast-HDPE interactions of marine C. parapsilosis strains. Significance and Impact of the Study Our findings represent an essential contribution to the characterization of early interactions between deep-sea undescribed yeast strains and plastic pollutants found in oceans.

Abstract: Kefir is produced through the fermentation of milk using kefir grain as a starter culture. Kefir grains include heterogeneous microorganisms embedded in a polysaccharide matrix called kefiran which is considered a biofilm; it also has many uses due to its therapeutic values. Kefiran is a microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS) obtained from the flora (acid-lactic bacteria and yeasts) of kefir grains and glucose units, in almost the same proportion. Kefiran has prebiotic nature agitating the growth of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract of the human entity. It extends certain therapeutic benefits by balancing the microbiota in the intestine. This review presents the most recent advances regarding kefir and kefiran, their cultural condition, biological activities, and potential applications in the health and food industries.

Aims The study of microbial inactivation rates in aquifer systems has most often been determined in aerobic and oxidized systems. This study examined the inactivation (i.e. loss of infectivity) of MS2, poliovirus type 1 (PV1) and Cryptosporidium parvum in an anaerobic and reduced groundwater system that has been identified as storage zones for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) facilities. Methods and Results Anaerobic and reduced (ORP < −250 mV) groundwater from an artesian well was diverted to an above-ground, flow-through mesocosm that contained diffusion chambers filled with MS2, PV1 or Cryptosporidium parvum. The respective infectivity assays were performed on microorganisms recovered from the diffusion chambers during 30- to 58-day experiments. The net reduction in infectivity was 5.73 log10 over 30 days for MS2, 5.00 log10 over 58 days for PV1 and 4.07 log10 over 37 days for C. parvum. The best fit inactivation model for PV1 was the log-linear model and the Weibull model for MS2 and C. parvum, with respective inactivation rates (95% confidence interval) of 0.19 (0.17–0.21) log10 day−1, 0.31 (0.19–0.89) log10 day−1 and 0.20 (0.14–0.37) log10 day−1. Conclusions The groundwater geochemical conditions in this aquifer enhanced the inactivation of MS2, PV1, and C. parvum at rates approximately 2.0–5.3-fold, 1.2–17.0-fold, and 4.5–5.6-fold greater, respectively, than those from published studies that used diffusion chambers in aerobic-to-anoxic groundwater systems, with positive redox potentials. Significance and Impact of the Study Geochemical conditions like those in the aquifer zone in this study can naturally and significantly reduce concentrations of microbial indicators and pathogens of human health concern in injected surface water. Appropriate storage times for injected surface water could complement above-ground engineered processes for microorganism removal and inactivation (e.g. filtration, disinfection) by naturally increasing overall microorganism log-inactivation rates of ASR facilities.

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element in the production of swine. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 3 different sources of Cu on growth performance, Cu metabolism, and intestinal microorganisms of finishing pigs, so as to estimate the bioavailability of the 3 sources for pigs. A total of 42 male finishing pigs (88.74 ± 5.74 kg) were randomly allocated to 7 treatments. The factors were 3 sources (CuSO4, Cu-glycine, Cu-proteinate) and 2 levels (5 and 20 mg/kg) of Cu, plus one negative control treatment (0 mg/kg added Cu level) for the entire 28-d experiment. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain ratio (F:G) both increased when Cu was added. The Cu level in liver, bile, kidney, serum, lung, urine and feces rose (P

The impact of non-domestic wastewater (nDWW) on water bodies every day is increased, considering the different pollutants that are entering and these are not regulated, also that the effects of these are not known in the ecosystems. In the case of the pharmaceutical industry, the various products they generate can contribute from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs), antihypertensives, hormones, antibiotics, among others; they are being detected in surface waters and it is necessary to create strategies to improve treatment systems and thus reduce their effects on water systems. In this work, the native microorganisms from nDWW of the pharmaceutical industry were used to evaluate their ability to influence the removal of organic matter, working in mixed culture, where it was evidenced that in a 24 hours they could remove 45.82 % of the organic matter measured by the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and at 48 hours 90.59 % removal. The above shows that the use of microorganisms can contribute to the reduction of COD and pollutants in an effective, environmentally friendly and, more efficient way than conventional methods. Besides, the qualities of tolerance to four NSAIDs by 16 morphotypes are evidenced, and how they can be profiled in the future to be potentialized and reach the mineralization of these emerging pharmaceutical pollutants.

Soil carbon cycling and ecosystem functioning can strongly depend on how microbial communities regulate their metabolism and adapt to changing environmental conditions to improve their fitness. Inv...

Heavy oil contamination adversely affects on the intertidal ecological environment and human health. In this study, immobilized bacterial consortium was used in remediating intertidal zones contaminated with heavy oil, and its effectiveness was investigated in simulation experiment pools constructed in the coastal areas. After 100 days, the heavy oil degradation efficiency of immobilized bacterial consortium was 52.99%, which was 13.57% and 30.61% higher than that of biostimulation and natural attenuation, respectively. The immobilized bacterial consortium significantly increased the microbial degradation activity, heavy oil-degrading microbial count, and heavy oil degradation efficiency. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry results revealed that the biodegradation efficiency of C15–C35 n-alkanes and 2-5-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was 25.98%-95.80% and 58.93%-97.97%, respectively. Microbial community structural analysis showed that Acinetobacter sp. and Bacillus sp. were prominently involved in heavy oil biodegradation. Furthermore, the immobilized bacterial consortium not only resisted the invasion of adverse intertidal environment and promoted the biodegradation of heavy oil pollutants in sediments but also effectively increased the competitiveness between the indigenous oil-degrading microorganisms and other microorganisms. This study can be a promising approach to remediate heavy oil contaminated intertidal zone.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for lives. Indigenous microbial communities play an important role on Se geochemistry in soils. In this study, the microbial community composition and functions of 53 soil samples were investigated using high-throughput sequencing. Samples were divided into 3 groups with different farming types based on the measured geochemical parameters and microbial functional structures. Results indicated that putative Se related bacteria Bacillus, Dyella, Paenibacillus, Burkholderia and Brevibacillus were dominant in dryland plantation soils which were characterized with higher available Se and low contents of H2O, total organic carbon (TOC), NH4+ and NO2−. In contrast, the putative denitrifier Pseudomonas dominated in flooded paddy soils with higher TOC, NO3− and organic Se, whereas genera Rhizobium, Nitrosospira, and Geobacter preferred woodland soils with higher oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), pH, NH4+ and Fe. Farming patterns resulted in distinct geochemical parameters including moisture, pH, ORP, TOC, and contents of soluble Fe, NO2− and NH4+, shaping the microbial communities, which in turn affected Se forms in soils. This study provides a valuable insight into understanding of Se biogeochemistry in soils and prospective strategy for Se-rich agriculture production.

Hypersaline wastewater is difficult to treat due to the inhibition of salt stress on microbes' viability and metabolic capabilities. Haloarchaea, native microorganisms that thrive in hypersaline habitats, overcome this key obstacle naturally. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolic versatility of Haloarchaea in hypersaline wastewater treatment, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and heavy metal metabolism. It also analyzes factors affecting pollutant removal and addresses metabolic mechanisms. Additionally, haloarchaea microbial characteristics and strategies to cope with salt stress are highlighted. Finally, the biotechnological potential of biomolecules produced from haloarchaea is investigated. To get better insight into the potential of haloarchaea, a deeper investigation of basic metabolism and more in-depth studies of their genomics and applications in actual wastewater are also necessary.

A microbial community structure of granules harvested from an anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating phenolic wastewater was investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and clone library construction. Clones of Syntrophorhabdaceae and Cryptanaerobacter were observed to be responsible for phenol degradation. For accurate taxonomic assignment of Cryptanaerobacter clones, phylogenetic analysis using nearly full-length 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences was necessary. Three oligonucleotide probes were designed to detect the following three taxonomic groups: Syntrophorhabdaceae, Cryptanaerobacter, and Syntrophus. FISH analysis of thin sections of anaerobic granules showed a random distribution of Bacteria and Archaea. However, a well-defined distribution of Syntrophorhabdaceae, Cryptanaerobacter, and Syntrophus was observed. Cryptanaerobacter and Syntrophus were found on the outer layer of the granules and were closely associated with each other, while Syntrophorhabdaceae was located in the deeper part of the granules. Such specific distribution of the bacteria is most likely due to their metabolic association and affinity for the substrate. Phenol degradation in the granular sludge was observed to be carried out in the following way. First, Cryptanaerobacter converts phenol to benzoate, which is then degraded by Syntrophus into acetate. This syntrophic degradation of phenol occurs near the surface of the granule, where the phenol concentration is high. In the deeper part of the granule, where the phenol concentration is lower, Syntrophorhabdaceae degrades phenol into acetate. We observed that Syntrophorhabdaceae is less likely to produce benzoate as an intermediate to feed the neighboring organisms, which contradicts the theories presented by previous studies.

Ever since bioplastics were introduced to a wide range of industries globally, disposal of the used bioplastics has become an inseparable issue with their application. Unlike petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics can be completely decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms in a relatively short time, which is an advantage. However, there is little information on the specific degraders and accelerating factors for biodegradation. To elucidate a new strain for biodegradation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), we screened out one PHB-degrading bacterium, Microbulbifer sp. SOL03, which is the first reported strain from the Microbulbifer genus to show PHB degradation activity, although Microbulbifer species are known to be complex carbohydrate degraders found in high-salt environments. In this study, we evaluated its biodegradability using solid- and liquid-based methods in addition to examining the changes in physical properties throughout the biodegradation process. Furthermore, we established the optimal conditions for biodegradation with respect to temperature, salt concentration, and additional carbon and nitrogen sources; accordingly, a temperature of 37°C with the addition of 3% NaCl without additional carbon sources, was determined to be optimal. In summary, we found that Microbulbifer sp. SOL03 showed a PHB degradation yield of almost 97% after 10 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the potent bioplastic degradation activity of Microbulbifer sp., and we believe that it can contribute to the development of bioplastics from application to disposal.

Metabolic engineering is defined as recombinant DNA technology to improve specific biochemical reactions for product formation. We modify the metabolic processes of bacteria to get our desired food by metabolic engineering. Metabolic engineering will enhance these microorganisms' properties and their ability to produce a diverse number of products cost-effectively. To produce amino acids, we modify the central metabolic pathway, biosynthetic pathway, and transport pathway. In many food industries, the production of organic acids through different processes and techniques have proved very beneficial because of their widespread applications. In line with this information, the present review aimed to provide background information for researchers about genetically modified foods for increased food yield to fulfil the nutritional values for average body growth.

Microorganisms can be defined as a small living forms of life, even can't be viewable with the naked eyes. The three types of microorganisms named Bacteria, Yeasts and Molds in which almost always there may be confusion with their functions, but they are just as real and alive as we are. They eat, grow, reproduce and die also. The tumour cells has also ability to reproduce themselves, to grow in numbers and die to reduce their density in some specific region. In this work we try show the growth for both tumour cells and microorganism with the help of mathematical model and also try to compare the numerical results with the help of Python. This model consists of a system of partial differential equations incorporated with different factors like migrating cells, proliferating cells and nutrient which effects the growth most. At last the results shows the variation of different classes of cell densities with respect to growth function and as well as with the total cell density.

Maintaining a proper content of selenium (Se) in food is particularly important for human health. However, the mechanisms of uptake and enrichment of Se ENMs in crops are still unclear. Herein, Se engineered nanomaterials (Se ENMs) (size 62.3 ± 14.6 nm and surface charge −34.4 ± 1.4 mV) were synthesized and used as nanofertilizers for Se-fortified vegetables. The results demonstrated the Se content and yield were increased by 338.0% and 19.8% respectively in Brassica chinensis L. through soil application of Se ENMs (0.5 mg‧kg–1). The content of Se in vegetables increased up to 32.8 μg/100 g (7.5 μg/100 g for the control), which could provide the daily recommended Se intake (55–400 μg/day) for human. Amendments of the slightly alkaline soil with the Se ENMs improved beneficial rhizosphere microbiomes (Pseudomonas and Bacillus), and resulted in the plants accumulating more low molecular weight compounds (betaine, proline, glycine, norleucine, urocanic acid and indole-3-acrylic acid) with increases in the Se content of the plant by 264.9%. Moreover, the nutrient accumulation in leaves promoted the photosynthesis (16.7%) and increased carbohydrate content (6.5%). Also, the expression of carbohydrate transport-related genes (BnSUC1,1, BnSUC1,4, and BnSWEET10,2) were up-regulated by 52.2, 53.2 and 76.3-fold, respectively, promoting root growth, improving rhizosphere microbiome and nutrient availability. Therefore, such mutual benefits between leaves and roots using ENMs could provide an alternative model for cultivating Se-enriched crops.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been globally applied in consumer products because of their antimicrobial properties. Broad applications inevitably release AgNPs into the natural environment. Moreover, AgNPs are produced naturally in soils. Plant uptake of AgNPs is the first step of their transfer along the food chains, which ultimately raises concerns about human health. This review systematically summarizes the current knowledge on the uptake process of AgNPs in plants which is regulated by the physical properties of nanoparticles (e.g., size, surface coating, and morphology), environmental conditions (e.g., soil redox condition, soil components, co-contaminants, and symbiotic microorganisms), and plant species (e.g., monocotyledon and dicotyledon). After internalization, AgNPs are translocated within plants and undergo biotransformation, including aggregation, oxidative dissolution, sulfidation, chlorination, and complexation with organic matter such as thiolates. Little is known about whether the internalized AgNPs and the transformed products will be accumulated in edible tissues of plants, which can raise possibility of Ag to enter the food chains. Knowledge gaps about detailed mechanisms of transformation and translocation of AgNPs in planta still limit our understanding of Ag fate in plant-soil systems. This review intends to give a comprehensive assessment of the interaction between AgNPs and plants, highlighting that an integrated investigation of the full life cycle of AgNPs in plant-soil systems is needed to ensure safe application of nanoparticles.

This study investigated the effects of six crop rotation combinations on the soil quality of old apple orchard and seedling growth of Malus hupehensis Rehd. (apple rootstock) under pot conditions. The inhibitory effects of crops such as Allium fistulosum, Brassica juncea, and Triticum aestivum on four species of Fusarium were observed and compared in six treatments. These were continuous cropping (CK), fumigation with the methyl bromide (FM), rotating A. fistulosum only (R1), rotating A. fistulosum and T. aestivum (R2), rotating A. fistulosum, B. juncea, and T. aestivum (R3), and fallow (FC) in a year. The results showed that the biomass of Malus hupehensis Rehd. seedlings increased significantly. The root length increased and the root architecture was optimized. The respiration rate of the root system was increased by about 1 time after rotation. The treatments of R1, R2, R3, and FC increased bacterial count by 232.17%, 96.04%, 316.21%, and 60.02%, respectively. However, the fungi were reduced in varying degrees and bacteria/fungi ratio was increased by 5–10 times. The enzyme activities, pH, and organic matter were increased, but soil bulk density was decreased. Phenolic acids such as phloridzin was decreased significantly. The copy number of four Fusarium species declined by 85.59%, 74.94%, 69.68%, and 54.41% after rotating three different crops (R3 treatment). The root volatiles of three plants inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of four Fusarium species.

Microorganisms can produce bio-hydrogen (H2) during their metabolism, and especially dark fermentative production from carbohydrates is a promising option. However, the technology still suffers from low H2 production rates due to product inhibition of the H2-producing enzymes. In this study we investigate if subsurface (reservoir) microbes can be relevant bio-H2 producers and a source of high-pressure adapted enzymes. In addition, we also investigate the potential H2 productivity using an indigenous reservoir community, thereby proposing a preliminary screening workflow for mature oil fields to be used as potential in-situ H2 bioreactors. We cultured two H2-producers Marinitoga hydrogenitolerans and Thermotoga napthophila, which were isolated from high-pressure environments, and a freshly obtained oil reservoir brine containing a fermentative community under atmospheric and pressurized conditions (15–16 bar). All cultures produced H2 under atmospheric conditions with different productivities. Marinitoga shows the same cell number increase and glucose consumption under high pressure compared to atmospheric but with a significantly decreased H2 productivity of −86%. The productivity decline of the reservoir community was less pronounced with −35%. The mole fraction of H2 in the produced gas was in both cases high (0.64 and 0.82 respectively). Our results indicate strong differences in the pressure-related enzyme adaptations and may be used for screening of pressure-tolerant microbes and enzymes for enhanced bio-H2 production.

The objectives of this investigation were a) to isolate bacteria from different foods (dairy products, fruits, and vegetables) and evaluate their probiotic potential and b) to select, identify, and characterize the strain with the highest probiotic potential. From 14 food samples, a total of 117 strains were isolated; however, only 42 (T1 to T42) showed the morphology (gram-positive, coco, and bacillar form) and were catalase- and oxidase-negative to be considered as a presumptive lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The antagonistic activity of the 42 strains was evaluated on Escherichia coli (O157:H7E09), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (ATCC 14028). The strains with the highest antagonistic activity were nine isolates from the following: pulque (T1), sprouted beans (T26), ranchero cheese (T30, T31, T32, T33, T35, T36), and tenate cheese (T40) with inhibition zones from 17.0 ± 1.2 to 19.3 ± 2.8 mm. Based on the antagonistic activity against pathogenic bacteria and resistance to low pH and bile salts, strain T40 exhibited the highest probiotic potential. Using the 16S rRNA technique, strain T40 was identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (the previous taxonomic nomenclature was Lactobacillus paracasei , prior to the nomenclature change in April 2020); this strain presented no resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. The antagonistic activity was evaluated in situ (fresh cheese) against pathogenic bacteria, evidencing the probiotic potential of L. paracasei . Finally, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei isolated from tenate cheese showed characteristics as a probiotic microorganism and high potential in food technology.

The hydrophobic nature of wool induced by its surface lipid barrier hinders its wettability during processing. Scouring of wool is conducted to remove this lipid barrier and facilitate any wet processes. Scouring of wool is conducted using soda ash followed by rinsing with huge amount of water to ensure complete removal of alkali. This work aimed at utilization of thermophilic lipase enzyme for removal of wool surface lipid barrier without deterioration on the fibre interior. A thermally stable lipase enzyme was produced from thermophilic microorganism; namely Bacillus aryabhattai B8W22, and was utilized in bio-scouring of wool. The produced enzyme was immobilized on sericin-based discs to enhance its stability and to make it reusable. The activity of both free and immobilized lipase enzymes at different conditions was assessed. The effects of bio-scouring of wool on its dyeability with acid, basic, and reactive dyes, as well as on some of its inherent properties, were monitored. Results showed that the bio-scoured wool exhibits enhanced dyeability with the said classes of dyes more than that of conventionally scoured samples. One-bath scouring and dyeing of wool fibres in two successive steps was conducted to reduce consumption of water and energy during wet processing of wool.

Background Population growth, climate change, and food shortage have led to increased demand for alternate sources of lipids to meet our food and energy needs. Oleaginous microorganisms such as yeasts, bacteria, microalgae, fungi, and thraustochytrids are good resources for producing lipids. Scope and approach Many factors affect the amount and composition of lipid accumulation in microorganisms, such as genetic makeup and environmental conditions during growth, such as carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, and exposure to natural light in growing media. Food biotechnology advances such as improvements in fermentation technology, genetic and metabolic engineering of oleaginous microorganisms, and the use of low-cost carbon sources, such as food and agricultural waste materials, make lipid production using microbial sources more feasible. Key findings and conclusions Microbial lipid production has some unique benefits for the production of specialty fats and oils, including cocoa butter equivalents, polyunsaturated fatty acid oils and biosurfactants. Moreover, microbial oil production has advantages over plant and marine oils, including lower cultivation costs and the ability to engineer oil structure and thus functionality using genetic modification. Microbial oils production allows for the production of more sustainable and safer oils, without pesticides, herbicides or heavy metals, year-round with a small footprint and without the need for land.

The worldwide distribution of plant seeds can disseminate beneficial and plant-pathogenic microorganisms. This phenomenon is of particular concern where seed production is geographically isolated from crop production, as is the case with spinach in the United States. We aimed to characterize the structure and function of spinach seed microbiomes in commercial spinach seed lots originating from Europe and New Zealand. The seed lots we analyzed were infested with Peronospora effusa and Verticillium dahliae, only infested with V. dahliae, or not infested with either of these pathogens. The microbial taxonomic composition and gene function (assessed by gene ontology [GO] terms) of spinach seeds were highly influenced by geographic origin and the status of pathogen infestation. Through taxonomic profiling, we found that potentially plant-beneficial bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas and Pantoea were the most abundant taxa both in infested and noninfested seeds, and Stenotrophomonas was observed in seed lots infested with P. effusa and V. dahliae. Many potential plant pathogens that are not known to be associated with spinach seed were also discovered by metagenomic analysis, including Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Fusarium pseudograminearum, Alternaria brassicae, A. solani, Parastagonospora nodorum, and Pyrenophora teres f. teres. Our analysis of the function of prokaryotic genes in de novo assembled metagenomes revealed distinct GO terms associated with the geographic origin of seed lots. This work provides an important first step toward identifying spinach seedborne microorganisms that could be utilized to improve plant health and plant pathogens that could be inadvertently carried to new locations.

An important number of Micromonospora strains have been reported from nitrogen-fixing root nodules of legume and actinorhizal plants. However, the question of whether this bacterium can also be found in other parts of these plants remains unanswered. More than 150 strains were recovered from different Lupinus angustifolius and Pisum sativum tissues, including leaves, stems, roots, and nodules. In all, 97% of the isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence in the target genus and were associated with 27 different Micromonospora spp. Plant-polymer-degrading enzymes are suspected to play a role in the colonization of plants. To this end, bacterial enzymatic activity assays for amylases, cellulases, chitinases, pectinases, and xylanases were determined. All strains produced xylanases and pectinases, while 98.6, 98, and 94.6% of them produced amylases, cellulases, and chitinases, respectively. The most productive strains included seven isolates from P. sativum and one from L. angustifolius. Strain Micromonospora lupini ML01-gfp was used to determine its capacity to reach and colonize different plant organs using P. sativum as the plant model. Stem and leaf samples were monitored by optical and fluorescence microscopy to locate the tagged strain. These results strongly suggest that Micromonospora is able not only to infect nitrogen-fixing nodules but also to reach other parts of the host plant, especially the leaves.

The advance of metagenomics in combination with intricate cultivation approaches has facilitated the discovery of novel ammonia-, methane-, and other short-chain alkane-oxidizing microorganisms, indicating that our understanding of the microbial biodiversity within the biogeochemical nitrogen and carbon cycles still is incomplete. The in situ detection and phylogenetic identification of novel ammonia- and alkane-oxidizing bacteria remain challenging due to their naturally low abundances and difficulties in obtaining new isolates from complex samples. Here, we describe an activity-based protein profiling protocol allowing cultivation-independent unveiling of ammonia- and alkane-oxidizing bacteria. In this protocol, 1,7-octadiyne is used as a bifunctional enzyme probe that, in combination with a highly specific alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction, enables the fluorescent or biotin labeling of cells harboring active ammonia and alkane monooxygenases. Biotinylation of these enzymes in combination with immunogold labeling revealed the subcellular localization of the tagged proteins, which corroborated expected enzyme targets in model strains. In addition, fluorescent labeling of cells harboring active ammonia or alkane monooxygenases provided a direct link of these functional lifestyles to phylogenetic identification when combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization. Furthermore, we show that this activity-based labeling protocol can be successfully coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting for the enrichment of nitrifiers and alkane-oxidizing bacteria from complex environmental samples, enabling the recovery of high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a novel, functional tagging technique for the reliable detection, identification, and enrichment of ammonia- and alkane-oxidizing bacteria present in complex microbial communities.

Covering 1989 to 2020The mangrove forests are a complex ecosystem occurring at tropical and subtropical intertidal estuarine zones and nourish a diverse group of microorganisms including fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, and protozoa. Among the mangrove microbial community, mangrove associated fungi, as the second-largest ecological group of the marine fungi, not only play an essential role in creating and maintaining this biosphere but also represent a rich source of structurally unique and diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, attracting significant attention of organic chemists and pharmacologists. This review summarizes the discovery relating to the source and characteristics of metabolic products isolated from mangrove-associated fungi over the past thirty years (1989-2020). Its emphasis included 1387 new metabolites from 451 papers, focusing on bioactivity and the unique chemical diversity of these natural products.

Oil contamination is a worldwide concern now. However, oil contaminated environment is enriched with microorganisms that can utilize petroleum oil and use hydrocarbon for their growth, nutrition and metabolic activities. In the present study, bacteria present in the oil contaminated soil were isolated by enrichment culture technique using Minimal Salt (MS) media supplemented with diesel oil and burned engine oil as a sole carbon source. The isolated bacteria were characterized by morphological and biochemical tests and identified by molecular tool through cycle sequencing method. Three isolates were morphologically characterized as gram-negative, cocci shaped and 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that the isolates are closely related to Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Enterobacter sp. respectively. Growth condition was optimized at pH 7.0 and temperature 37 °C. All the isolates were susceptible to several antibiotics and they have no antagonistic effect with soil beneficial bacteria. Three isolates were grown in two different concentrations of diesel oil and burned engine oil (4% v/v and 8%, v/v) respectively. Study revealed that with increasing the concentration of diesel oil in the media the growth rate of all the isolates were decreased. In contrast, the growth rates of all the three isolates were increased, with increasing concentration of burned engine oil. In our study, all the isolates showed their degradation efficacy in 4% v/v diesel oil and in 8% v/v burned engine oil. So, our research clearly shows that the isolates could be potentially used for bioremediation purposes for cleaning up petroleum polluted area.

The production of chemicals and fuels from renewable resources using engineered microbes is an attractive alternative for current fossil-dependent industries. Metabolic engineering has contributed to pathway engineering for the production of chemicals and fuels by various microorganisms. Recently, dynamic metabolic engineering harnessing synthetic biological tools has become a next-generation strategy in this field. The dynamic regulation of metabolic flux during fermentation optimizes metabolic states according to each fermentation stage such as cell growth phase and compound production phase. However, it is necessary to repeat the evaluation and redesign of the dynamic regulation system to achieve the practical use of engineered microbes. In this study, we performed quantitative metabolome analysis to investigate the effects of dynamic metabolic flux regulation on engineered Escherichia coli for γ-amino butyrate (GABA) fermentation. We prepared a stable isotope-labeled internal standard mixture (SILIS) for the stable isotope dilution method (SIDM), a mass spectrometry-based quantitative metabolome analysis method. We found multiple candidate bottlenecks for GABA production. Some metabolic reactions in the GABA production pathway should be engineered for further improvement in the direct GABA fermentation with dynamic metabolic engineering strategy.

Phenolic aldehydes are the major inhibitors from lignocellulose pretreatment. Previous studies show that oleaginous yeasts are difficult to survive in lignocellulosic hydrolysates even after the removal of furan aldehydes and organic acids inhibitors. This study investigated the cell viability, sugar consumption and lipid accumulation of the major oleaginous yeasts including Trichosporon cutaneum, Rhodosporidium toruloides, Rhodotorula glutinis, Yarrowia lipolytica in wheat straw hydrolysate containing only phenolic aldehydes after furan aldehydes and organic acids were selectively degraded by microorganisms. The results confirmed that the existence of residual phenolic aldehydes was the major reason for poor cell growth and metabolism of oleaginous yeasts. Only T. cutaneum demonstrated the higher tolerance by biodegrading phenolic aldehydes and the satisfactory cell growth and lipid production were obtained. This study revealed that T. cutaneum might be one of the promising cell factories for microbial lipid production from lignocellulosic feedstock.

Naturally complete mixing promotes the spontaneous redistribution of dissolved oxygen (DO), representing an ideal state for maintaining good water quality, and conducive to the biomineralization of organic matter. Water lifting aerators (WLAs) can extend the periods of complete mixing and increase the initial mixing temperature. To evaluate the influence of artificial-induced continuously mixing on dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal performance, the variations of DOM concentrations, optical characteristic, environmental factors were studied after approaching the total mixing status via WLAs operation. During this process, the dissolved organic carbon reduced by 39.18%, whereas the permanganate index decreased by 20.47%. The optical properties indicate that the DOM became more endogenous and its molecular weight decreased. Based on the results of the Biolog EcoPlates, the microorganisms were maintained at a relatively high metabolic activity in the early stage of induced mixing when the mixing temperature was relatively high, whereas DOM declined at a high rate. With the continuous decrease in the water temperature, both the metabolic capacity and the diversity of aerobic microorganisms significantly decreased, and the rate of organic matter mineralization slowed down. The results of this study demonstrate that the artificial induced mixing largely enhanced the removal DOM performance by providing a long period of aerobic conditions and higher initial temperature.

Covering: 1877 to 2020A key challenge in natural products research is the selection of biodiversity to yield novel chemistry. Recently, marine microorganisms have become a preferred source. But how novel are marine microorganism natural products compared to those reported from terrestrial microbes? Cluster analysis of chemical fingerprints and molecular scaffold analysis of 55 817 compounds reported from marine and terrestrial microorganisms, and marine macro-organisms showed that 76.7% of the compounds isolated from marine microorganisms are closely related to compounds isolated from terrestrial microorganisms. Only 14.3% of marine microorganism natural products are unique when marine macro-organism natural products are also considered. Studies targeting marine specific and understudied microbial phyla result in a higher likelihood of finding marine specific compounds, whereas the depth and geographic location of microorganism collection have little influence. We recommend marine targeted strain isolation, incorporating early use of genomic sequencing to guide strain selection, innovation in culture media and cultivation techniques and the application of cheminformatics tools to focus on unique natural product diversity, rather than the dereplication of known compounds.

Fecal indicator bacteria can be used as a surrogate to pathogenic microorganisms to monitor fecal contamination in water bodies. Increased concentrations of fecal bacteria may pose public health ri...

The article provides information about the tall seaweed Eichornia crassipes and the effect of feeding with a diet based on the use of Eichornia crassipes algae on the amount of groups of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of goats.

Dental pathogens lead to chronic diseases like periodontitis that causes loss of teeth. This research was to examine the plausible antibacterial efficacy of copper nanoparticles (CME-CuNPs) synthesized using Cupressus macrocarpa extract (CME) against periodontitis-causing bacteria. Moreover, antimicrobial properties of CME-CuNPs were assessed against oral microbes(M. luteus. B. subtilis, P. aerioginosa), which causes periodontal disease which was identified using morphological, biochemical analysis, and 16S-rRNA techniques. The CME-CuNPs were characterized by analysis techniques. Accordingly, the peak found at 577 nm using UV-vis spectrometer explained the formation of stable CME-CuNPs. Also, the results revealed the formation of spherical and oblong monodispersed CME-CuNPs with sizes ranged from 11.3 to 22.4 nm. The FTIR analysis suggested that the CME contains reducing agents. Consequently, they had a role in Cu reduction, and CME-CuNPs were formed. Furthermore, the CME-CuNPs exhibited potent antimicrobial efficacy against different isolates and it was superior to the reported values in literature. Antibacterial efficacy of CME-CuNPs upon testing bacteriawas compared to the synergistic solutionof clindamycin with CME-CuNPs. Particularly, synergistic solutions exhibited a superior capacity to prevent the selected bacterialgrowth. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and FIC (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration) of CME-CuNPs with clindamycin recorded against the selected periodontal disease-causing microorganisms are observed between the range of 2.6-3.6 μg/ml, 4-5 μg/ml and 0.312-0.5, respectively. Finally, we employed different testedstrains to elucidate the synergistic effect of CME-CuNPs and clindamycin and the antimicrobial efficacy exhibited by CME-CuNPs with clindamycin could be useful for the future development of more effective treatments for the control of dental diseases.

The problem of chemo/antibiotic resistance in modern medicine remains relevant today. The sensitivity of microorganisms (MO) determines the range of drugs used, which ultimately affects the effectiveness of treatment and the prognosis for the patient. However, taking into account the adaptation process of individual strains of MO, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics will inevitably lead to the maintenance of the so-called crisis of antibiotic resistance throughout the world, as well as the formation of a vicious circle that reduces the functional and anatomical outcomes of the treatment of any inflammatory diseases, including ophthalmological ones. This article presents the process of experimental creation and certification, assessment of the physicochemical properties of quantum dots, as well as biological nanoconjugates as an option for overcoming the antibiotic resistance of certain strains of microorganisms in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory pathology in ophthalmology, in particular endophthalmitis. Also, an animal model has demonstrated the safety of using InP / ZnSe / ZnS 660 quantum dot solutions for intravitreal administration in pure form and in combination with antibiotics. © 2021 Ophthalmology Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the scientific literature concerning the influence of grain physical characteristics on functional value of poultry feed. The review considers the role of grain feed particle size and its shape in ensuring optimal development and functioning of digestive tract and increasing productivity of birds. The results showed that compared to the feeding with smaller particles, the use of coarse feed increased stomach weight in broilers, enhanced enzymatic degradation of feed in digestive tract and improved nutrient bioavailability. The study found that increase in the level of coarse corn in the diet increased the number of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacteria spp. beneficial bacteria in digestive tract. Meanwhile, number of opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms decreased. In birds which were given granular feed we found insufficient development of stomach, mainly due to the lack of mechanical stimulation. We assume that in order to improve stomach function and health of birds, it is necessary to apply a source of dietary fiber to their diet. The results of studies suggest that adding 2-3% of insoluble source of fiber to the routine diets of young chickens based on high-protein soy flour and corn can improve their digestive tract development and growth characteristics.

Arıcılıktaki araştırmalar birçok bilim dalının ışığında yapılmakta olup biyoteknoloji bunlardan biridir. İklimde yaşanan değişimler, arıların beslenme ve besin kaynaklarını etkilerken, son yıllarda hastalık ve zararlıların giderek artması ve kimyasal ilaçlara karşı gerek arının gerekse de parazit ve patojenlerin direnç geliştirmeleri sebebiyle hastalık etmenlerine bu kimyasalların çare olamaması arıcılıkta biyoteknolojik çalışmalara yönelimi hızlandırmıştır. Hastalıklara dirençli / verimli arı ırklarının ve mevcut katkı maddelerinin geliştirilmesiyle birlikte, yeni yem kaynakları oluşturulmasına yönelik biyoteknolojik araştırmalar yapılmaktadır. Özellikle dünyadaki gelişmelere uyum sağlamak sürdürülebilir arıcılık faaliyetleri açısından da oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada bal arısı ve arıcılık sektöründe yapılmış bazı biyoteknolojik araştırmalar incelenerek bu alandaki gelişmelerin ortaya konulması ve yakın gelecekte yapılacak çalışmalara ışık tutulması amaçlanmıştır., Research in beekeeping is carried out in the light of many branches of science, and biotechnology is one of them. While the changes in the climate affect the nutrition and food resources of the bees, the increase of diseases and pests in recent years and the resistance of both bees and parasites and pathogens against chemical pesticides has accelerated the orientation to biotechnological studies in beekeeping. Many studies are being carried out to develop resistant / efficient bee breeds to improve existing additives and to create new food resources. Especially adapting to the developments in the world is essential to sustainable beekeeping activities. This review aims to reveal the developments in this field and shed light on the studies in the near future by examining some biotechnological research conducted in the honey bee and beekeeping sector.

Lilium regale Wilson (L.regale), originated in the Minjiang River basin in Sichuan, China, has different phenotypic characteristics in different environments. To analyze the correlation between the phenotypes of L.regale and its soil micro-ecological environment, wild habitat soil of L.regale at the two altitudes were selected to analyze the diversity and community structure of microorganisms in soil, and measure the soil physicochemical factors and enzyme activities. The structural composition and diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in hillside and valley soils were significantly different (p < 0.01). Soil available potassium (AK) and soil enzyme activities such as urease (S_UE), sucrase (S_SC), and catalase (S_CAT) differed significantly different between hillsides and valleys (p < 0.01), while organic matter (OM), total phosphorus (TP), and polyphenol oxidase (S_PPO) had no great variances. Correlation analysis was conducted between the common and differential microorganisms and the morphological characteristics, soil physicochemical factors and soil enzyme activities of L.regale in both hillside and valley. The results showed that both of the fungal and bacterial could be clustered into two distinct groups by positive and negative correlations, suggesting that the representative microorganism may have structural characteristics that are directly related to soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, which conversely affect the phenotype of Lily. Therefore, the study on the native species of horticultural plants and the local soil microhabitat environment will benefit the conservation of wild Lily and provide theoretical guidance for the domestication and breeding of horticultural plants.

La carne de pescado es altamente perecedera y microbiológicamente sensible. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo caracterizar la carne de boga (Leporinus obtusidens) y evaluar el efecto de impregnación a vacío con jugo de limón en sus características microbiológicas y fisicoquímicas. Se determinó humedad, proteínas, grasa, cenizas, pH y recuento de microorganismos indicadores en boga fresca. Los filetes fueron impregnados a vacío con jugo de limón durante 5, 10 y 15 minutos. Las muestras, fueron envasadas a vacío, almacenadas a 3 °C y se analizó variación de peso, pH, color superficial, índice de blancura (IB), nitrógeno básico volátil total (NBVT), recuentos de bacterias psicrótrofas y proteolíticas. La composición de la boga resultó similar a la informada por otros autores, los parámetros a* y b*, y el contenido de grasa fueron acordes a pescados grasos. Los recuentos de microorganismos indicadores resultaron aceptables, a excepción de las enterobacterias que se encontraron levemente aumentadas. La impregnación generó ganancia de peso, aumento de L* e IB, y disminución de pH y de bacterias psicrótrofas y proteolíticas. El NBVT disminuyó significativamente en la carne de boga impregnada por 15 minutos. Durante el almacenamiento, las muestras tratadas presentaron mayor pérdida de peso, en correspondencia con la ganancia generada por el tratamiento; se tornaron más claras; el NBVT se mantuvo constante y se redujeron las bacterias psicrótrofas y proteolíticas. La impregnación a vacío con jugo de limón resultó una tecnología viable para extender la vida útil de la carne de pescado refrigerada hasta cuatro días después del fileteado.

Owing to their roles in the arsenic (As) biogeochemical cycle, microorganisms and plants offer significant potential for developing innovative biotechnological applications able to remediate As pollutions. This possible use in bioremediation processes and phytomanagement is based on their ability to catalyse various biotransformation reactions leading to, e.g. the precipitation, dissolution, and sequestration of As, stabilisation in the root zone and shoot As removal. On the one hand, genomic studies of microorganisms and their communities are useful in understanding their metabolic activities and their interaction with As. On the other hand, our knowledge of molecular mechanisms and fate of As in plants has been improved by laboratory and field experiments. Such studies pave new avenues for developing environmentally friendly bioprocessing options targeting As, which worldwide represents a major risk to many ecosystems and human health.

Background Food fermentation has been practiced since prehistoric times and developed over the years with modification in substrates, processes and technologies. It is carried out by microbial cultures with techniques such as back slopping and enrichment, enhancing the organoleptic property, nutrient availability and storage life of food and in many cases contributing beneficial microbes to the diet of the consumer. Scope and approach The microorganisms involved in fermentation greatly vary according to the food product. One of the major groups of microbes used in traditional and industrial fermentation of cereals includes the lactic acid bacteria, many of which are known to have probiotic characteristics followed by yeast and mould. While dairy fermented foods have received attention as a source of probiotic microbes, those in non-dairy foods especially millets and cereal mixtures have not been documented. Traditional fermented foods of animal origin as well as other plant foods such as pulse, fruits and vegetables are also discussed. The review examines the presumptive probiotic bacteria found in non-dairy fermented foods around the globe. Key findings and conclusions This review is an attempt to collate the scientific progress with respect to probiotics in millet fermented foods, particularly of Africa and Asia. India has the largest documented number of fermented foods followed by Korea especially made with cereals. These fermented foods containing presumptive probiotic microorganisms may serve as probiotic supplements that are affordable as opposed to expensive probiotic formulations.

In permafrost peatlands, the degradation of permafrost soil can raise soil temperature and alter moisture conditions, which increases the rate of loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). Here we selected three typical permafrost types that have very different active layer thicknesses but with soil originating from the same vegetation and which exist under comparable climatic conditions in the Da Xing’an mountain range: continuous permafrost, island permafrost, and island melting permafrost. To quantify the relative importance of control elements on SOC stabilization in these different permafrost types, we used correlation analysis to assess the relationship between organic carbon, physical and chemical properties and microorganisms, and explored the contribution of these factors to the accumulation of organic carbon. This study shows that the interaction between clay or silt, iron oxides and microorganisms have an important influence on the stability of organic carbon in permafrost peatlands.