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Highlights: [•] Feathers as a fermentation media for enzyme production with Bacillus licheniformis. [•] Bacillus lichenifornis leads feather biodegradation by enzymatic hydrolysis. [•] Proteomic expression profile in fermented broth is linked to feather composition. [•] The excreted proteins are enzymes: keratinase, GGT, chitosanases, and glycosidases. [•] Proteomic is a tool to evaluate the influence of fermentation media on enzymatic secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we describe a biological process that converts carob germ (CG), a proteinic vegetable by-product, into a water-soluble enzymatic hydrolyzate extract (CGHE). The chemical and physical properties are also described. The conversion is done using a proteolytic enzyme mixture. The main component of CGHE extracted by the enzymatic process is protein (68%), in the form of peptides and free amino acids, having a high content of glutamine and arginine, and a minor component of phytohormones, which are also extracted and solubilized from the CG. We have also compared its potential fertilizer/biostimulant capacity on growth, flowering, and fruiting of tomato plants (Licopericon pimpinellifolium cv. Momotaro) with that of an animal enzymatic protein hydrolyzate. CGHE had a significantly beneficial impact, most notably regarding the greater plant height, number of flowers per plant, and number of fruits per plant. This could be due primarily to its phytohormonal action. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of organic rich wastes instead or as a complement of mineral fertilizers is considered a good environmental practice, provided that the organic wastes are not severely polluted (e.g. occurrence of heavy metals, organic pollutants and/or pathogens). However, the effect of a particular organic waste on soil properties, soil loss and soil restoration depends on its chemical composition. In particular, the application of fresh beet vinasse showed a detrimental impact on the soil''s physical, chemical and biological properties, increasing soil loss and decreasing plant cover, probably because it contains high quantities of monovalent cations, such as Na+, which destabilize the soil structure. The main objective of this work was to study the effect of beet vinasse co-composted with a vermicompost (constituted by green forages) at rates of 5 and 10 t kg organic matter ha−1, on physical (structural stability and bulk density), chemical (exchangeable sodium percentage) and biological (soil microbial biomass-C, soil respiration and soil enzymatic activities) properties of soils and, consequently, how its application may contribute to soil loss and soil restoration. The experiment was carried out for three years on a Xerollic Calciorthid located near Seville (Guadalquivir Valley, Andalusia, Spain). The co-composting of beet vinasse and green waste vermicompost had a positive effect on the soil''s physical, chemical and biological properties, leading to a decrease in soil loss (31.2% compared with unamended soil) and an increase in plant cover (68.7% compared with unamended soil). These results suggest that the co-composting of beet vinasse with vermicomposts protects the soil and contributes to its restoration, thus representing a good strategy for recovering semiarid areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The validation of natural products as source of functional foods or nutraceuticals has become an important issue in current health research. Thus, the present work has tested on MOLT-4 cells (human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemic) the antiproliferative effect of a water-soluble enzymatic extract from rice bran (EERB). Present work shows that EERB induces cellular death in MOLT-4 cells in a dose-dependent way (0–10mg/mL) but not in non-tumoral lymphocytes. Flow cytometric analysis of MOLT-4 cells treated with EERB showed the presence of death cells by apoptosis rather than necrosis. Additionally, EERB also exerts an immunoactivatory effect on N13 microglia cells, by inducing TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-α) expression, which plays a key role in the innate immune response to infection. Accordingly, we can propose EERB as a useful natural standardized extract with antiproliferative and immunoactivatory ability that would be beneficial to apply in the functional food field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Here, we describe an enzymatic process for soil biostimulant production in which wheat-condensed distiller solubles (WCDS) are converted into a hydrolysate product: WCDS-Enzymatic Extract (WCDS-EE). Physicochemical analyses showed that protein size is the only difference, with WCDS-EE being composed of peptides rather than the original proteins from the raw materials (WCDS). We investigated the influence on soil stimulation and found that dehydrogenase (DHA) and phosphatase (APA) activity, and ATP formation was rapidly increased by both products. However, WCDS-EE was more potent than WCDS. Nevertheless, no differences in bacterial community dynamics were detected using molecular techniques (DGGE of 16S rDNA). We also tested the ability to enhance the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and found that WCDS-EE is more effective than WCDS. Since the protein size is the most important parameter for biochemical and microbial soil stimulation, this new product could have a high potential for soil recovery, fertilization or bioremediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The antioxidant capacity of a water-soluble enzymatic extract from rice bran (EERB) has been tested in two cell models: keratinocyte monolayers and human reconstructed epidermis. Cells were incubated in culture medium in presence of different amounts of EERB and were UVB irradiated. Cell population assessment (MTT assay) and MDA (malonaldehyde) production were evaluated. The EERB did not induce cytotoxic effect for concentrations inferior or equal to 100μg/mL. Human keratinocyte monolayers were protected of irradiation preventing 33% the lipid peroxidation process at concentration of 10μg/ml of EEBR. In reconstructed human epidermis, 100μg/mL decreased lipid peroxidation process by 44% (p <0.01) with regards to irradiated negative control. This effect was comparable to that of vitamin E at 600μg/mL. Our data indicate that EERB is potentially able to efficiently counteract UVB-induced response. The EERB, diluted at 10% with water has very good skin compatibility. This product showed a sun protection factor of 4.8±0.3. Thus we can propose EERB as a useful natural standardized extract in skin photoprotection with promising applications in the field of dermatology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Beet vinasse (BV), a green manure constituted by Trifolium pratense L. uncomposted (TP) and composted with beet vinasse (at 1:1 rate, (TP+BV)1, and 2:1 rate, (TP+BV)2) at 10t organic matter ha−1 rate were applied during a period of four years for purpose of restoration of a Xelloric Calciorthid located near Seville (Guadalquivir Valley, Andalusia, Spain). The effect on the plant cover, soil physical (structural stability and bulk density), chemical (exchangeable sodium percentage), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration and enzymatic activities such as dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase) were determined. The application of BV had a detrimental impact on soil physical (structural stability decreased 16.5% and bulk density increased 18.7% respect to the control soil), chemical (exchangeable sodium percentage increased 87.3% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities decreased by 53.5%, 24.5%, 27.8%, 15%, 39.7%, 42.7%, and 65.6%, respectively with respect to the control soil), probably because high quantities of monovalent cations (Na principally) were introduced into the soil by the vinasse, thus destabilizing its structure. The application of TP had a positive impact on soil physical (structural stability increased 5.9% and bulk density decreased 6.1% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities increased by 66.3%, 45.6%, 97.7%, 98.9%, 97.7%, 87.2%, and 89.4%, respectively with respect to the control soil). However, when BV was co-composted with a green manure, principally at a 2:1 rate, the resulting compost had a positive effect on soil physical (structural stability increased 10.5% and bulk density decreased 13.5% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities increased by 68.9%, 46.2%, 97.5%, 98.4%, 99.1%, 90.5% and 91.6%, respectively with respect to the control soil). After four years, the percentage of plant cover decreased 64.3% in the BV-amended plots respect to the control soil, whereas increased 82.8%, 81.6% and 81% in the (TP+BV)2, (TP+BV)1 and TP treatments, respectively. While the application of BV deteriorates the soil and therefore does not contribute to its restoration, the application of TP, and BV composted with TP protects the soil and will contribute to its restoration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The utilization of green manures as alternatives to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers is considered a good agricultural practice. However, the effect of each green manure on soil properties and crop yield depends upon its chemical composition. The main objective of this work was to study the effect of incorporating three green manures originating from residues of Trifolium pratense, L. (TP), Brassica napus, L. (BN), and the mixture of TP+BN at rates of 5384 and 8973kgCha−1, on soil biological properties (soil microbial biomass-C, soil respiration and soil enzymatic activities), nutrition (leaf N, P and K concentration, pigments and soluble carbohydrate concentrations) and yield parameters of maize (Zea mays cv. Tundra) crop for four years on an Typic Xerofluvent located near Sevilla (Guadalquivir Valley, Andalusia, Spain). All green manures had a positive effect on the soil biological properties, plant nutrition an crop yield parameters, although at the end of the experimental period and at the high organic matter rate, the soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities increased more significantly in the TP amended soils (79.2%, 92.1%, 93.9%, 99.3%, 87.9% and 96%, respectively) respect to the control soil, followed by TP+BN amended soils (77.3%, 90.9%, 92.8%, 99.1%, 84.4% and 95.7%, respectively) and BN amended soils (76%, 90.1%, 91.7%, 99%, 83.2% and 95.2%, respectively). Since these soil enzymatic activities measured are responsible for important cycles such as C, N, P and S, an increase of leaf N, P an K contents and pigments and soluble carbohydrate contents were highest in TP amended soils, followed by TP+BN and BN treatments. The application of TP in soils at high doses increased the grain protein concentration, number of grains corncob−1 and crop yield 44.6%, 6.3% and 22.1%, respectively, compared with the control soil, followed by TP+BN treatment (41.7%, 5.7% and 20.8%, respectively) and BN treatment (39%, 5.3% and 20%, respectively). The explanation of these results can be a consequence to the different chemical composition of the green manures applied to the soils and its mineralization, aspect controlled by the soil C/N ratio. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study is aimed at developing a two-step process (fermentation plus enzymatic hydrolysis) for protease and peptone production, using a bioethanol industry by-product – corn distiller''s dried grains with solubles (CDDGS) – as the sole carbon/nitrogen and protein source, respectively. Bacillus licheniformis was used for protease production. CDDGS concentration is the main parameter controlling protease generation, only low substrate concentration (below 2%, w/v) induces sporulation followed by enzyme excretion. The enzymatic peptone production process was implemented using the B. licheniformis fermentation broth (proteases) generated in the first step as hydrolytic tool, and CDDGS as a protein source. The protein present in CDDGS is solubilized yielding a peptone (protein concentration >80%), mainly composed of peptides and oligopeptides, soluble at practically all pH values. Both products, proteases and peptones, could be of great potential in industrial processes and in nutrition and food science. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]