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The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda is a major pest of maize crops and necessitates effective control measures. Excessive use of chemical pesticides often results in the development of resistant insect populations and environmental contamination, highlighting the need for environmentally friendly substitutes. This research aimed to estimate the potential of maize (COH6) apoplastic fluid bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (MZ895491), as a biocontrol agent against second instar S. frugiperda larvae under laboratory and pot culture conditions. The results suggest that the presence of B. amyloliquefaciens in the artificial diet could reduce the growth and development of S. frugiperda larvae. Metabolic profiling of extracellular components of B. amyloliquefaciens revealed the presence of numerous defensive and anti-feeding metabolites. A study conducted in pots demonstrated that foliar application of B. amyloliquefaciens to 5 d old maize resulted in a significant increase in antioxidant activity (83.3%), chlorophyll content (63.3%) and phenolic content (81.3%) in the leaves of 35 d old maize after 24 h of S. frugiperda infestation. Feeding bioassay further indicated significant reduction in the feeding capacity of S. frugiperda larvae on maize inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens. The study observed that a metabolic modification in maize leaves likely led to reduced growth in larvae during the whole plant bioassay. This suggests that foliar application of B. amyloliquefaciens may effectively serve as one of the biocontrol agents against Spodoptera frugiperda. The application appears to alter the feeding behaviour of the larvae and modify maize leaf metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify and characterize the Bacillus strain from Goat's milk in Algeria and to evaluate the prebiotic effect of H. scoparia aqueous extract and ZnO-NPs on the isolated Bacillus strain. Potentially probiotic bacteria were isolated and identified based on phenotypic characteristics, including the morphological, physiological (growth temperature, salt tolerance), biochemical (API 10S strip kits), and confirmed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Bacillus pumilus specie of lactic acid bacteria were identified. The base pair length of amplified DNA for the isolate was 1500 Bp. The isolates could not grow at 10°C and 45°C and tolerate up to 6% salt. H. scoparia extract and ZnO-NPs have a beneficial effect on the Bacillus pumilus strain for acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and cell surface hydrophobicity respectively; H. scoparia extract and ZnO-NPs results are high comparing to the control group's results. As the concentration of the tested samples increases, the percentage of probiotic characteristics of Bacillus pumilus increases, in contrast to the control sample. Therefore, they could be useful tools to define adequate combinations in colonic foods development and health benefits. The beneficial physiological and biochemical properties of isolated Bacillus pumilus space from Goat's milk with the H. scoparia aqueous extract and ZnO-NPs revealed their potential applications in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gray sufu is a traditional Chinese fermented soybean curd, and its flavor is significantly influenced by bacterial community. In this study, volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) were examined by headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS-SPME) in conjunction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Additionally, bacterial community was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that, a total of 156 VFCs were tentatively identified, in which 8 esters, 6 S/N-containing compounds, 3 alcohols, 3 aldehydes, 1 ketone and 3 other compounds were recognized as the main characteristic VFCs. The abundant S/N-containing compounds are the most important flavor characteristics of gray sufu. A total of 4 phyla and 12 genera were revealed as dominant bacteria. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phylum, whereas Bacillus, Tetragenococcus and Lactococcus were the prevailing genera. According to the KEGG pathway annotation, amino acid metabolism (26.98%) was the highest metabolic pathway. Among them, aromatic amino acids metabolism accounted for the highest proportion, up to 34.94%. Correlation analysis showed that Lactobacillus, Tetragenococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Halanaerobium were the top five positive flavor-producing bacteria. The results will be helpful for understanding the fermentation mechanism of gray sufu and improving flavor quality by developing microbial regulation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of bioactive peptides from proteins can be achieved by enzymatic hydrolysis, whereby mainly commercial enzymes are applied, although increasing attention is focused on alternative proteases. Hence, crude proteases from Bacillus sp. CL14, CL18, and CL33A were investigated to obtain antioxidant hydrolysates from bovine sodium caseinate (NaCAS) and soy protein isolate (SPI). The proteases were able to hydrolyze both substrates. Hydrolysis improved the radical-scavenging, Fe2+-chelating, and reducing power abilities of NaCAS and SPI. Higher antioxidant activities were commonly achieved at 2–3 h of hydrolysis. Overall antioxidant activities were higher for NaCAS hydrolysates produced with CL14 > CL18 > CL33 protease, and for SPI hydrolysates obtained with CL14 > CL33A ∼ CL18 protease. Generation of antioxidant protein hydrolysates suggest applications of enzymes and hydrolysates in food/feed (bio)technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide, a heterocyclic hydrazide compound, with negligible production of the by-product (pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid) in a solvent-free reaction condition was developed using the acyltransferase activity of amidase of Bacillus smithii strain IITR6b2. This study involves a greener approach with no hazardous chemicals and one-step biotransformation of pyrazinamide to its acid hydrazide (through hydrazinolysis). The Central Composite Design of the Response Surface Methodology was used to find the factors affecting the synthesis of the pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide and pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid to find its true optimum. The four factors, namely pyrazinamide, hydrazine dihydrochloride, temperature, and cell concentrations, were considered during optimization. The optimized reaction conditions from the Central Composite Design for achieving the 32.26 mM of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide involve 40 mM of pyrazinamide, 1000 mM of hydrazine dihydrochloride with 2.5 mg/mL cell concentration at 20 °C. It resulted in an optimum production of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide utilizing the acyltransferase activity of amidase of Bacillus smithii IITR6b2, and the results obtained through the Design of Experiments were validated. The fed-batch biotransformation was carried out with alginate-entrapped whole-cell enzyme with the following parameters: agitation at 200 rpm, a pyrazinamide concentration of 40 mM, and 1000 mM of hydrazine dihydrochloride. The final pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide concentration of 126 mM was obtained, corresponding to a 63% molar conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium ovatum is an epiphytic orchid endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Due to its valuable medicinal and therapeutic properties, the plant has become extensively sought after, leading to its classification as 'threatened' in the latest research findings. The present study aims to identify the surface-associated and endophytic bacterial associates of Dendrobium ovatum, which may be of great significance from a conservation standpoint. The investigation resulted in isolating and identifying 21 bacterial isolates representing six genera from the absorption roots, stem, and leaves. Bacillus was the most dominant genus, with seven representative species from root and stem segments. Enterobacter formed the second most dominant genus, with four representatives from leaf and stem. Bacillus cereus was found to be the most prevalent species, with a relative frequency of 28.57%. Root segments were found to be the most diverse tissue compared to stem and leaves. The study concluded that each tissue represents a unique ecological niche harbouring specific bacterial associate. The study also illuminates the intricacies of the orchids' microbial community structure and forms the first documentation of bacterial associates of the threatened endemic orchid D. ovatum. Key policy insights: First report focussing on the bacterial associates of the threatened orchid, D. ovatum. Twenty-one bacterial isolates were identified, representing six genera. Each tissue of the orchid represents a distinct ecological niche. Reports the PGP traits of the isolates. Points to the importance of the conservation of holobionts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prebiotic and probiotic combinations may lead to a synbiotic effect, demonstrating superior health benefits over either component alone. Using the Mucosal Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (M-SHIME®) model, the effects of repeated supplementation with inulin (prebiotic, which is expected to provide a source of nutrition for the live microorganisms in the gut to potentially support optimal digestive health), Bacillus coagulans lactospore (probiotic), and a low and high dose of a synbiotic combination of the two on the gut microbial community activity and composition were evaluated. Test product supplementation increased the health-promoting short-chain fatty acids acetate and butyrate compared with levels recorded during the control period, demonstrating a stimulation of saccharolytic fermentation. This was likely the result of the increased abundance of several saccharolytic bacterial groups, including Megamonas, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium, following test product supplementation. The stimulation of acetate and butyrate production, as well as the increased abundance of saccharolytic bacterial groups were more evident in treatment week 3 compared with treatment week 1, demonstrating the value of repeated product administration. Further, the synbiotic formulations tended to result in greater changes compared with prebiotic or probiotic alone. Overall, the findings demonstrate a synbiotic potential for inulin and B. coagulans lactospore and support repeated administration of these products, indicating a potential for promoting gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape powdery mildew (GPM) control is based on the preventive use of sulfur and curative application of synthetic fungicides, increasing the risk for producers' health and environmental and fruit contamination. This work aimed to select Bacillus strains isolated from the Brazilian tropical semi-arid region that are effective antagonists to GPM. In an initial screening performed by spraying bacterial suspensions in detached grape leaves, six strains of Bacillus spp. showed disease symptom reduction higher than 70.0%. Two greenhouse experiments showed that the bacterial strains LCB03, LCB28, and LCB30 showed control efficiency >80%, statistically similar to a commercial formulation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713. 16s rDNA sequencing showed that strain LCB03 showed 100.0% homology to B. velezensis, while LCB28 has high homology to B. tequillensis (99.93%), and LCB30 had 99.71% homology with B. siamensis. As an average for both greenhouse experiments, weekly application of Bacillus sp LCB03, Bacillus sp LCB28, and Bacillus sp. LCB30 reduced the average incidence by around 50% and more than 80% for GPM severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial wilt disease, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum poses a severe threat to ginger plants. The present study aimed to determine the effect of Bacillus strains to combat R. solanacearum-induced bacterial wilt in ginger by inducing defense enzymes viz., peroxidase(POX), Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and total phenol content, while also promoting growth and yield. The Bacillus strains were isolated from soil samples collected from the Western Ghats, one of India's biological diversity hot spots through random sampling. Two strains exhibiting better antagonistic activity were identified as Bacillus spp through 16S rRNA sequencing. Pot studies were conducted to evaluate the biocontrol efficacy and plant growth promoting ability of these bacterial strains against R. solanacearum. Results showed that ginger plants treated with NIIST NB120 significantly increased shoot length 70.80 cm, leaf length 30.03 cm, leaf breadth 3.42 cm, number of leaves 22, and yield 355.81% compared to plants treated with R. solanacearum, which had lower values. Furthermore, plants treated with NIIST NB120 had the lowest bacterial wilt incidence at 25%, in contrast to 66% in plants treated with pathogen. Application of Bacillus strains also enhanced the activities of defense-related enzymes, including, PAL 0.030 units/ g tissue, PPO 0.0016 units/ g tissue, POD 68.28 units/ g tissue, and total phenolic content 219.5 units/ g tissue, with the lowest enzyme activity observed in pathogen treated plants. These findings suggest that the Bacillus strains NIIST B16 B. siamensis and NIIST NB120 B. amyloliquefaciens could be effective biocontrol agents of ginger bacterial wilt disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the encapsulation of Bacillus sphaericus LMG 22257 spores in biopolymeric microcapsules (MCs) for use in cement mortar, with a focus on enhancing self-healing properties. Biopolymers, including alginate (ALG), chitosan (CTS), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and ALG/CMC blends at various ratios, were employed to fabricate the MCs through ionotropic gelation and freeze–drying. The physicochemical properties of MCs, including size, morphology, and swelling behavior under simulated concrete conditions, were assessed. Among these, ALG/CMC-MCs exhibited superior characteristics and demonstrated the highest urea hydrolysis activity when incorporated into the mortar, indicating optimal spore protection. Despite an initial decrease in compressive strength, the ALG/CMC blend with an ALG:CMC mass ratio of 6:4 achieved a crack healing efficiency of 96.7% over 28 days under cyclic wet-dry conditions. These findings highlight the potential of biopolymer encapsulation for embedding functional microorganisms in construction materials, contributing to a more durable and sustainable infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a frequent problem in calcareous soils of Pakistan because of P-fixation, which poses significant threats to pearl millet productivity. The use of P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is regarded as a promising approach for improving P-availability in soil-plant systems. However, it needs optimization of P application into the soil. Therefore, this 2-year field study was conducted to optimize P doses in combination with PSB (Bacillus sp. MN54) inoculation to improve phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), yield, economic returns, and grain quality of pearl millet. Five P doses, i.e. 0 (native soil P only - control), 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1 combined with and without PSB inoculated seeds were used in the study. The application of 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 + seed inoculation with PSB improved the grain yield by 36.8% and 36.0% during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The same treatment significantly improved the PUE, grain protein, zinc (Zn), and total grain P contents compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the highest economic returns (1053.3 and 1050.5 $ ha−1) and benefit:cost ratio were observed under 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 + seed inoculation with PSB during both years. In conclusion, application of 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 combined with PSB seed inoculation is a pragmatic option to improve P uptake, grain yield, PUE, grain quality and economic returns of pearl millet grown on calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to describe the chemical composition of essential oils from three Vietnamese Annonaceae species, Meiogyne virgata, M. vietnamica, and Orophea polycarpa, and their antimicrobial activity. Essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation. From the GC-FID/MS (gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry) analysis, the leaf essential oil of M. virgata was reported to contain the major compound germacrene D (42.48%). Spathulenol (24.51%), bicyclogermacrene (18.58%), β-selinene (11.14%), and germacrene D (8.20%) can be seen as the main compound in M. vietnamica leaf essential oil. α-Phellandrene (39.35%), bicyclogermacrene (13.07%), β-phellandrene (10.87%), and limonene (8.27%) represented O. polycarpa leaf essential oil. Essential oil of M. virgata leaves exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the Gram (+) bacterium Bacillus subtilis ATCC 5230, the Gram (-) bacterium Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, and the fungus Aspergillus niger ATCC 9587 with the same MIC value of 16 μg/mL. The docking method showed that germacrene D has the ΔGbinding (binding affinity) values of –6.68, –5.265, and –5.602 kcal/mol with the proteins E. coli DNA gyrase, B. subtilis TasA, and A. niger PhyA, respectively. Alkyl and pi-alkyl interactions are the main contributors to the binding affinity between the studied proteins and ligands. Furthermore, germacrene D is predicted to have low toxicity and is not active against any of the considered organ targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EkINV and BsINV are two invertases from Enterobacter kobei and Bacillus subtillis, respectively. The two enzymes were produced extracellularly at pH 3.0 and former at 45 °C while latter at 25 °C. The Km values were observed to be 1.7 mol/L (EkINV) and 1.9 mol/L (BsINV). Purification and characterization analysis revealed trimer structure EkINV having subunit molecular mass as 87.14, 42.98 and 29.0 kDa. Unlike, BsINV was monomer with molecular mass of 55.1 kDa. The invertases beside hydrolytic activity exhibited transfructolysation which is used in preparation of low calorie Ready To Serve mango juice and muffins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-Hydroxynicotinic acid emerged as a pivotal intermediate for fine chemicals. The current study aims to screen novel nicotinate dehydrogenase-producing strains. Based on the high-throughput UV coloration method, a novel nicotinate dehydrogenase-producing strain named Bacillus paramycoides was first and successfully screened from soil and gram staining as 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to further confirm its accuracy. The fermentation medium formula is determined as seignette salt (5 g/L), tryptone (10 g/L), K2HPO4 (2 g/L), and nicotinic acid (4 g/L) after a single factor and orthogonal test. The activity of nicotinate dehydrogenase produced by B. paramycoides after optimization reached 1.23 U/mL, which was the highest ever reported. In addition, the enzyme characterization results revealed that the optimum reaction temperature and pH were 40 °C and 7.0, respectively. Furthermore, B. paramycoides nicotinate dehydrogenase exhibited good thermostability with more than 50% of the highest enzyme activity retained at 50 °C after 8 h incubation, which was better than ever reported. The pH stability results suggested that nicotinate dehydrogenase possessed a narrow pH ranging from 6.0 to 8.0. In addition, shaker speed demonstrated a positive relation with enzyme activity since shaker speed could affect mass transfer and dissolved oxygen concentration. Finally, it could completely transform nicotinic acid to 6-HNA within 3 h when the substrate loading is 15 g/L. In conclusion, these results indicated that B. paramycoides nicotinate dehydrogenase could serve as a potential candidate for bioproduction of 6-HNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decolourisation of Bismarck Brown dye by the newly isolated bacterial strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (JKAK), was studied at various parameters. Additionally, decolourisation of Bismarck Brown was studied using previously isolated strains; Bacillus sp. (AK1), Lysinibacillus sp. (AK2) and Kerstersia sp. (VKY1). The studies were carried out at temperature (35–50°C), dye concentration (200–800 mg/L), pH (5.5–10.5), metal ions (200–1000 mg/L) and NaCl (5–30 g/L). The optimum pH and temperature were 8.5 and 40°C, respectively. The strains decolourised over 53.75% of 800 mg/L Bismarck Brown after 24 h of incubation. The JKAK strain showed significant halotolerance and decolourised over 90% of the dye in the presence of 30 g/L NaCl. Further, JKAK decolourised over 86.4% of the dye in the presence of 1000 mg/L of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions. The products of decolourisation were identified as aromatic amines and showed decreased phytotoxicity when compared to the untreated dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical-assisted microbial degradation technology was considered a crucial strategy to reduce micropollutants, but the mechanism of the pulsed electric field (PEF) in affecting biodegradation had not been systematically studied. This study aimed to construct a bio-electrochemical system (BES) using PEF to investigate its effect on the degradation of triclosan (TCS) by the aerobic bacterium Bacillus sp. DL4. The operating optimal parameters for the BES (i.e. 0.01 A of the pulsed current, 1000 Hz of the pulse frequency, Fe (+)–C (−) of the plate materials, 4 cm of the plate spacing) were obtained by batch experiments. The maximum biomass (OD600 = 1.0 ± 0.05) was achieved and the removal efficiency of TCS reached above 95% in 24 h under the obtained operating conditions. Meanwhile, a thorough and methodical investigation of the metabolites in strain DL4 stimulated by PEF using untargeted Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). In multivariate analysis, the experimental groups showed a notable separation in Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Analysis discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) score plots. A total of 3181 differential metabolites were obtained, and the up-regulated metabolites were mainly related to 'Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis', 'Arginine and proline metabolism', 'Lysine degradation', 'ABC transporters', and 'TCA cycle', implying that PEF enhanced the degradation efficiency of TCS by enriching functional genes with transport ability and ion migration ability in cells. This study illuminated how PEF can affect TCS biodegradation and gives insights into the application prospect of electrochemical-assisted biodegradation technology in water environment treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research have examined the facile bio-fabrication of the rutile phase of TiO2-NPs nanoparticles using phytoconstituents of Phyllanthus emblica seeds as a reducer and stabilizers under microwave irradiations. XRD confirmed the incidence of phase with the formation of nanostructured crystals with average crystallite size ∼ 19 nm. FTIR spectra exhibited the attendance of the O–Ti–O band with a remnant of phytoconstituents. SEM and HRTEM have shown an almost spherical morphology with smooth particle surfaces in the 30–50 nm size range. The results of the antimicrobial tests were determined with the zone of inhibitions observed in the incubated culture plates. The effective zone of inhibitions were noted to be 23.33 ± 0.5, 24.67 ± 0.5, and 22.67 ± 0.5 mm against Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas sp., respectively. This research has demonstrated an inexpensive, rapid, and facile technique for the formation of rutile TiO2-NPs with suitable structural and morphology features for antimicrobial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the wild-type Bacillus cereus ATA179 was mutagenized by random UV mutagenesis to increase lipase production. The mutant with maximum lipolytic activity was named Bacillus cereus EV4. The mutant strain (10.6 U/mL at 24 h) produced 60% more enzyme than the wild strain (6.6 U/mL at 48 h). Nutritional factors on lipase production were investigated. Sucrose was the best carbon source, (NH4)2HPO4 was the best nitrogen source and CuSO4 was the best metal ion source. Mutant EV4 showed a 32% increase in lipase production in the modified medium. The optimum temperature and pH were found to be 60 °C and 7.0, respectively. CuSO4, CaCl2, LiSO4, KCl, BaCl2, and Tween 20 had an activating effect on the enzyme. Vmax and Km values were found to be 17.36 U/mL and 0.036 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was determined as 28.2 kDa. The activity of lipase was found to be stable up to 60 days at 20 °C, 75 days at 4 °C, and 90 days at −20 °C. The potential of lipase in the detergent industry was investigated. The enzyme was not affected by detergent additives but was effective in removing stains in fabrics contaminated with oily substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the epidemiology and microbiological landscape in patients (≤21 yrs) diagnosed with endophthalmitis across a multi-tier ophthalmology network in India. This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 1,041 patients (≤21 yrs) diagnosed with endophthalmitis, between April 2012 and May 2022. The data were collected using an electronic medical record system. Bacteria (24%) was the most common etiology followed by fungus (2%). The majority of the patients were male (66%) with a mean age of 8.37 ± 5.99 years. The most common age group was middle childhood (6-11 years) with 365 (35.06%) patients. The patients were more commonly from the lower socio-economic status (60.81%) and urban geography (49%). The common cause of endophthalmitis was trauma (59.33%) and amongst the 279 culture positive eyes, the predominant bacteria isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae followed by Bacillus species and fungus included predominantly Aspergillus and Candida species. The most common surgical intervention performed was intraocular antibiotics (74%) followed by pars plana vitrectomy (52%). The most common etiology of endophthalmitis in children is bacterial and traumatic in nature and presented from the lower socio-economic status. A half of the eyes warranted a vitreo-retinal surgical intervention. A cross-sectional study on the microbiological landscape in pediatric endophthalmitis showed that the most common cause of endophthalmitis was trauma and the predominant bacteria isolated was Streptococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. Additionally, majority of the patients were from the lower socio-economic status and urban geography and the most common surgical intervention performed was injection of intraocular antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungus Physisporinus vitreus and the bacterium Bacillus subtilis are commonly used organisms in wood biotechnology to increase wood permeability. However, comparative researches on wood destruction by these biological wood decomposers are scarce, particularly from microscopic and chemical perspectives. This study aimed to compare the fungal and bacterial wood destruction patterns over time. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) heartwood samples were exposed to both organisms for six and nine weeks; microscopic and spectroscopic analyses of the incubated wood were performed, and mass loss of samples was calculated. Both organisms initially destroyed the pit tori and ray parenchyma cells, but B. subtilis was more selective in its consumption of wood components. It exclusively consumed hemicelluloses and free carbohydrates in wood, whereas the fungus destroyed all chemical components simultaneously. The digestion of bordered pits by B. subtilis was more selective than that by P. vitreus, making it a better choice for controlled wood destruction. By extending the exposure duration, the bacterial destruction pattern remained consistent, whereas fungal destruction spread to the secondary wall of the tracheids. Understanding the interactions between microbes and wood can lead to a more effective and efficient use of this natural resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus sp. PM06, previously isolated from sugarcane waste pressmud, could produce dual enzymes α-amylase and cellulase. The isolate's crude enzymes were purified homogeneously using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by High Quaternary amine anion exchange chromatography. Purified enzymes revealed the molecular weights of α-amylase and cellulase as 55 and 52 kDa, with a purification fold of 15.4 and 11.5, respectively. The specific activity of purified α-amylase and cellulase were 740.7 and 555.6 U/mg, respectively. It demonstrated a wide range of activity from pH 5.0 to 8.5, with an optimum pH of 5.5 and 6.4 for α-amylase and cellulase. The optimum temperature was 50 °C for α-amylase and 60 °C for cellulase. The kinetic parameters of purified α-amylase were 741.5 ± 3.75 µmol/min/mg, 1.154 ± 0.1 mM, and 589 ± 3.5/(smM), using starch as a substrate. Whereas cellulase showed 556.3 ± 1.3 µmol/min/mg, 1.78 ± 0.1 mM, and 270.9 ± 3.8/(smM) of Vmax,Km, Kcat/Km, respectively, using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate. Among the various substrates tested, α-amylase had a higher specificity for amylose and CMC for cellulase. Different inhibitors and activators were also examined. Ca2+ Mg2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ boosted α-amylase and cellulase activities. Cu2+ and Ni2+ both inhibited the enzyme activities. Enzymatic saccharification of wheat bran yielded 253.61 ± 1.7 and 147.5 ± 1.0 mg/g of reducing sugar within 12 and 24 h of incubation when treated with purified α-amylase and cellulase. A more significant amount of 397.7 ± 1.9 mg/g reducing sugars was released from wheat bran due to the synergetic effect of two enzymes. According to scanning electron micrograph analysis, wheat bran was effectively broken down by both enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary metabolites produced by Bacillus species from marine sources encompass a variety of compounds such as lipopeptides, isocoumarins, polyketides, macrolactones, polypeptides and fatty acids. These bioactive substances exhibit various biological activities, including antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor properties. This study aimed to isolate and identify a particular species of Bacillus from marine water and organisms that can produce bioactive secondary metabolites. Among the 73 Bacillus isolates collected, only 5 exhibited antagonistic activity against various viral and bacterial pathogens. The active isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to determine their taxonomical affiliation. Among them, Bacillus tequilensis CCASU-2024-66 strain no. 42, with the accession number ON 054302 in GenBank, exhibited the highest inhibitory potential. It displayed an inhibition zone of 21 mm against Bacillus cereus while showing a minimum zone of inhibition of 9 mm against Escherichia coli and gave different inhibition against pathogenic fungi, the highest inhibition zone 15 mm against Candida albicans but the lowest inhibition zone 10 mm was against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum. Furthermore, it demonstrated the highest percentage of virucidal effect against the Newcastle virus and influenza virus, with rates of 98.6% and 98.1%, respectively. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis was employed to examine the bioactive substance components, specifically focusing on volatile and polysaccharide compounds. Based on these results, Bacillus tequilensis strain 42 may have the potential to be employed as an antiviral agent in poultry cultures to combat Newcastle and influenza, two extremely destructive viruses, thus reducing economic losses in the poultry production sector. Bacteria can be harnessed for the purpose of preserving food and controlling pathogenic fungi in both human and plant environments. Molecular docking for the three highly active derivatives 2,3-Butanediol, 2TMS, D-Xylopyranose, 4TMS, and Glucofuranoside, methyl 2,3,5,6-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl) was carried out against the active sites of Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, Newcastle virus and influenza virus. The data obtained from molecular docking is highly correlated with that obtained from biology. Moreover, these highly active compounds exhibited excellent proposed ADMET profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study attempted to develop a bacterial consortium which can degrade chlorpyrifos pesticide efficiently. Five morphologically different bacterial strains, capable to tolerate high chlorpyrifos concentration, were isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil. Further, possible combinations of the isolates were formed and each combination was screened and chlorpyrifos degradation percentage and half-lives were calculated. The consortium CON11, comprising of four isolates (CP28, CP30, CP31, and CP34) showed the highest chlorpyrifos degradation. The individual independent variables of chlorpyrifos degradation by CON11 viz. temperature (°C), pH, incubation time (days) and pesticide concentration (ppm) were optimized using one-factor at-a-time experiments. The consortium isolates were then identified by the molecular tools 16S rRNA gene typing and the sequences were submitted to GenBank. The four bacterial isolates thus identified are Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CP28 (MH667455), Bacillus pumilus CP30 (MH667456), Bacillus marisflavi CP31 (MN715880), and Bacillus subtilis CP34 (MH667458). These isolates which comprise CON11 consortium could degrade 91% of 100 ppm chlorpyrifos after 6 days of incubation at 30 °C and pH 7 with a half-life of 1.73 days indicating the promising potential of the consortium, CON11, in the cleanup of chlorpyrifos contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of biosurfactants on the microbial degradation of thiocyanate (SCN−), with the aim of finding a sustainable solution for the treatment of industrial wastes containing thiocyanate and related compounds. Isolates VK8 and VT7, screened from amongst 40 automobile service station soil isolates, showed promising growth in the presence of high thiocyanate concentration (500 mg/L). Biosurfactant BS1-S1W from isolate S1W (Brucella intermedia) enhanced the degradation of SCN− by Brachybacterium sp. (VT7) and Bacillus albus (VK8) by 92% and 95%, respectively, at 200 mg/L. Biosurfactant BS2-VO6 from isolate VO6-2 (Brevundimonas naejangsanensis) caused increment in the reduction of SCN- by 88% and 80%, respectively. FTIR and LC-MS analysis of the purified biosurfactants confirmed their glycolipid nature. Enhanced effect of biosurfactant was more pronounced at higher KSCN concentration. Little is known about the effects of microbial products on the enhancement of microbial biodegradation of SCN−. Production and application of biosurfactant from B. naejangsanensis has not been reported earlier and hence can lead to more effective biological agents of enhanced biomedical and environmental relevance. This is the first report of the application of Brachybacterium and B. albus for thiocyanate degradation and the effect of biosurfactant on the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenanthrene (PHE) is one of the most abundant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in urban soil. So far, majority of microbe-mediated degradation approaches have relied on microbes isolated from polluted or mined soils. These microbes, if introduced into non-native soil, may not able to establish themselves, or alter the native microbiome of soil, making their commercial use a challenge. Therefore, this study was conducted to screen and isolate bacteria, from urban soil that degrade PHE. Degradation of 50 mg/L PHE by day 4 was highest in Providencia rettgeri VMP5 (98.63%) followed by Bacillus tropicus VMP4 (89.9%), Bacillus sp. VMP2 (82.63%), P. stuartii VMP3 (39.72%) and least Dellaglioa algida VMP1 (3.32%). Besides, VMP5, showed the presence of several fatty acid ethyl esters that act as biosurfactants and anti-microbial agent, which may play a crucial role in increasing its adaptability and degradation potential. VMP4 and VMP2 were also found to produce more defense compounds which may be crucial for their adaptability to PAH rich environment. Thus, VMP5, VMP4 and VMP2 showed promising remediation potential that can be further explored to develop commercially viable consortia for PHE mitigation in urban soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse synthetic polymers find their regular application in routine life and are disposed of directly into the environment through various sources. The released microplastic and microfibres from the sources creates contamination in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. When these micropollutants enter the food chain, they have adverse effects on the environment and human health. This study focuses on the application of native bacterial strains isolated for the effective degradation of polyester microfibers. The isolated bacterial strains, namely MFB 6, MFB 8, and MFB 11, tolerant to polyethylene glycol (PEG), were identified as Bacillus sp., Paenibacillus sp., and Aeromonas veronii, respectively, with NCBI gene bank accession numbers ON318306, ON318390, and PP237260. Polyester biodegradation efficiency of 10.5%, 12.6% and 8.4% was achieved by MFB 6, MFB 8 and MFB 11, respectively, after 42 days of investigation in minimal salt medium under shake flask condition. In future the application of these microorganisms will help in sustainable management of synthetic microfiber pollutants and find their suitable application in micro plastic degradation in contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the quality and bacterial composition changes in whole golden pomfret under refrigeration, ice storage, and vacuum packaging at 4°C. Ice storage and vacuum packaging delayed sensory quality deterioration, limited spoilage bacteria proliferation, and slowed biogenic amines formation, total volatile base nitrogen accumlation, and ATP-related compounds degradation. In addition, Bacillus dominated fresh golden pomfret. Psychrobacter, Shewanella, and Acinetobacter were predominant in control and ice storage groups, while Shewanella and Aeromonas prevailed in the vacuum packaging group after storage. In conclusion, the best storage condition for whole golden pomfret fish is ice storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composts are known to contain beneficial bacteria, which may be antagonistic to plant pathogens. This work evaluated whether carrot white mould, causal agent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, can be reduced using antagonistic bacteria isolated from forestry compost. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus can inhibit mycelial growth and reduce white mould. Bacillus subtilis strains F9–2 and F9–12 and Pseudomonas arsenicoxydans strain F9–7 showed the highest inhibitory properties. Three cyclic dipeptides (diketopiperazines) were characterized from the antifungal culture filtrates of P. arsenicoxydans F9–7. When assayed against S. sclerotiorum, the diketopiperazines showed the following inhibitory activity, in increasing order: cyclo-(l-Pro-l-Val), cyclo-(l-Pro-l-Phe) and cyclo-(l-Pro-l-Leu). The combination of these diketopiperazines indicated additive and, occasionally, synergistic antifungal effects. These results indicated a potential for some bacteria to inhibit the growth of S. sclerotiorum and reduce its associated disease on carrots postharvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence revealed that gut microbial dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple neurological diseases, but there is little available data on the relationship between gut microbiota and lacunar cerebral infarction (LCI). Fecal samples from acute LCI patients (n = 65) and matched healthy controls (n = 65) were collected. The compositions and potential functions of the gut microbiota were estimated. The results showed that there were significant gut microbial differences between LCI and control groups. Patients with LCI had higher abundances of genus Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Acidaminococcus, Bacillus, Peptoclostridium, Intestinibacter, Alloscardovia and Cloacibacillus but lower proportions of genus Agathobacter and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004. Investigating further these microbes such as Lactobacillus and Veillonella were correlated with clinical signs. Moreover, we found that 9 gene functions of gut microbiota were different between LCI patients and controls, which were associated with amino acid metabolism and inflammatory signal transduction. Notably, four optimal microbial markers were determined, and the combination of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Agathobacter, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004 and the three risk factors achieved an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.854 to distinguish LCI from controls. These findings revealed the characterizing of gut microbiota in LCI patients and provided potential microbial biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of LCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly all plants and their organs are inhabited by endophytic microbes which play a crucial role in plant fitness and stress resilience. Harnessing endophytic services can provide effective solutions for a sustainable increase in agriculture productivity and can be used as a complement or alternative to agrochemicals. Shifting agriculture practices toward the use of nature-based solutions can contribute directly to the global challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. However, microbial inoculants have been used in agriculture for several decades with inconsistent efficacy. Key reasons of this inconsistent efficacy are linked to competition with indigenous soil microflora and inability to colonize plants. Endophytic microbes provide solutions to both of these issues which potentially make them better candidates for microbial inoculants. This article outlines the current advancements in endophytic research with special focus on endophytic bacilli. A better understanding of diverse mechanisms of disease control by bacilli is essential to achieve maximum biocontrol efficacy against multiple phytopathogens. Furthermore, we argue that integration of emerging technologies with strong theoretical frameworks have the potential to revolutionize biocontrol approaches based on endophytic microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation is an environmentally friendly technology for the treatment of chromium-contaminated sites. Here, a hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]-resistant strain was isolated from oil-contaminated soil and designated as Bacillus sp. Y2-7 based on 16S rDNA sequence characterization. The effects of various factors including inoculation dose, pH value, glucose concentration, and temperature on Cr(VI) removal rates were then evaluated. Based on the response surface methodology, optimal Cr(VI) removal efficiency (above 90%) could be achieved at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 155.0 mg·L−1, glucose concentration of 11.479 g·L−1, and pH of 7.1. The potential removal mechanisms of Cr(VI) by strain Y2-7 were also supposed. The contents of polysaccharide and protein in extracellular polymer (EPS) of strain Y2-7 decreased slowly after cultured with Cr(VI) of 15 mg·L−1 from 1 to 7 days. We thus inferred that EPS bonded with Cr(VI) and underwent morphological changes in water. Molecular operating environment (MOE) analysis suggested that macromolecular protein complexes in Bacillus sp. Y2-7 and hexavalent chromium could establish hydrogen bonds. Collectively, our findings indicate that Bacillus sp. Y2-7 is an excellent bacterial candidate for chromium bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradation has become the most preferred and sustainable mean of reducing paraffin wax, removing paraffin deposition in pipelines and improving the flow of petroleum products. The current study focuses on the isolation of bacteria that has the capability to utilize paraffin as a sole carbon source and has been screened using 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) dye as redox indicator. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus sp. SASH according to its 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. It is a moderate halophile that can grow in seawater at pH 7 and 37 °C. Bacillus sp. SASH was able to degrade various paraffinic products such as paraffin wax, heavy wax distillates, and liquid paraffin and it showed up to 84% paraffin wax degradation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed that higher carbon chains after retention time of 18 min were removed after treatment of the wax with the bacterium. Bacillus sp. SASH enhanced the flow of different petroleum products by reducing their viscosity and pour point values. It was also able to reduce the viscosity and improve the flow of crude oil by 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain YJY-8, a new γ-polyglutamic acid producer, was separated from fermented soybean paste samples. The strain was identified as a genus of Bacillus by morphological and 16S rDNA sequence analysis and was named Bacillus sp. YJY-8. The optimal medium composition and cultural conditions were studied using a single-factor experiment and a response surface experiment. The optimized medium consisted of monosodium glutamate 70 g/L, glucose 54.3 g/L, glycerol 31.8 g/L, ammonium sulfate 11.1 g/L, yeast extract 3.2 g/L, tryptone 1.5 g/L, L-glutamic acid 6.8 g/L, MgSO4 7H2O 0.5 g/L, FeCl3 6H2O 0.02 g/L, KH2PO4 0.9 g/L, CaCl2 0.03 g/L, MnSO4 H2O 0.3 g/L, ammonium molybdate 0.02 g/L, pH 7.0. The optimal cultivation conditions were 35 °C and pH 7.0. Under the optimized conditions, after 48 hr of cultivation, the highest shaking flask fermentation level of γ-PGA reached 65.2 ± 0.36 g/L. In addition, through fed-batch fermentation in 30 L fermenters, the fermentation level of γ-PGA reached its highest level at 88.42 g/L and productivity was 1.23 g/(L hr) after 72 hr. Then, the effect of γ-PGA on tomato yield was investigated. At the seedling stage, the plant height and stem diameter of γ-PGA treated plants increased by 5.69 and 15.735% after spraying γ-PGA for 19 days. During the flowering and fruiting period, the stem diameter of the γ-PGA treatment group increased by 6.74%, with a maximum increase of 11.65%. The number of fruit branches increased by 0.56–16.29% and the number of fruit sets increased by 1.01–28.47%. At the fruit maturation stage, the yield of tomatoes increased by 10.51, 14.27, and 5.83%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the former section of the present paper, the prospective application of B. mojavensis BI2 derived lipopeptides for dyes biodecolorization was demonstrated. The lipopeptide was mainly composed of linear and cyclic Fengycin and Surfactin isoforms. When using 100 mg/L, we are able to remove about 98% of 100 and 200 mg/L Malachite Green (MG). For the Crystal Violet (CV), the % of biodecolorization does not exceed 85% in the presence of 100 and 400 mg/L BI2 lipopeptide. In the second part of the paper, we proved the efficiency of dyes biosorption by palm waste floor, optimized by a Taguichi design. The bio-treatment efficiency was evaluated by color removal and the enhancement of germination index. Optimum treatments were obtained with 10 g/L and 6 g/L palm waste for 200 mg/L MG and CV respectively during 1 hour. Nevertheless, BI2 lipopeptide addition has no significant effect on color biosorption by date palm waste flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology currently covers a limited number of human health-related impact categories. Microbiological food safety is an essential aspect for the selection of an appropriate food production system and has been neglected in the LCA so far. A framework for the inclusion of a microbiological food safety indicator, expressed as disability-adjusted life year (DALY) value of the consumed food product to the human health damage category (end-point) was created, and applied in a case study model on the cooked-chilled meals as the ready-to-eat meals can be associated with the occurrence of foodborne illness cases and outbreaks. This study suggests a framework for the inclusion of microbiological risk caused by Bacillus cereus associated with the consumption of ready-to-eat meals (in Belgium) in the LCA. The results indicated that the microbiological risk of one package of the investigated ready-to-eat meal was 1.95 × 10−6 DALY, and the obtained DALY value was included as an impact category in the LCA methodology. Inclusion of other categories of food safety (including chemical safety hazards, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and mycotoxins) in LCA could be done in the same fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two oxygenated ergostane-type steroids including one new compound, 3β-hydroxy-5α,6β-methoxyergosta-7,22-dien-15-one (1) along with a known analogue ergosta-6,22-dien-3β,5α,8α-triol (2) were isolated from the crude extracts of the marine sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of combined NMR and MS spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 was a marine ergostane-type steroid with two methoxy groups at C-5 and C-6, respectively. These oxygenated ergostane-type steroids were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against human or aquatic pathogens. Among them, compound 1 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of sole applications of biofertilizers and phosphorus as well as their integrated use in lentil. The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of phosphorus (0, 15, 20 and 25 kg P2O5 ha−1) and biofertilizer inoculation treatments [uninoculated control, Mesorhizobium, Mesorhizobium + RB-1 (Pseudomonas argentinensis) and Mesorhizobium + RB-2 (Bacillus aryabhattai)] on nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency and residual nutrient status of soil after the harvest of chickpea. Mesorhizobium + RB-1 recorded the highest uptake of nitrogen (73.7, 59.0 and 132.7 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total, respectively), phosphorus (8.29, 11.34 and 19.63 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total) and potassium (23.48, 43.36 and 66.84 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total) as well as partial factor productivity (113.1 kg grain kg−1 P2O5). Application of 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 recorded the highest phosphorus concentration (0.39% in grain and 0.26% in straw), phosphorus uptake (8.35, 12.32 and 20.67 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total, respectively) and phosphorus status in soil after crop harvest (18.7 and 16.7 kg P ha−1 in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers, respectively). Partial factor productivity was recorded the highest with the application of 15 kg P2O5 ha−1 (132.2 kg grain kg−1 P2O5). It can be concluded that dual applications of biofertilizers [Mesorhizobium + RB-1 (Pseudomonas argentinensis)] and 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 improve nutrient uptake by the crop and build up of nutrients in the soil after the harvest of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, both acidic and alkaline hydrolysate of pineapple waste was utilised for the production of biohydrogen using locally isolated bacterial strains. The bacteria were isolated from different wastewater sources and were identified as Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus altitudinus, Bacillus subtilis, Paenibacillus alvei, and Lysinibacillus sphaericus. Experimental results showed that the highest biohydrogen yield of 836.33 ± 48.02 mL H2 was produced from alkaline hydrolysate with Bacillus altitudinis during the 96thhr of fermentation. Among the different bacterial strains, B. altitudinis showed higher H2 production. Comparatively alkaline hydrolysates exhibited a higher yield of hydrogen than acidic hydrolysates. The final pH of the experiment was found to be in acidic range. The total VFA concentration ranged between 930 ± 207.85 mg/L to 3050 ± 476.97 mg/L. Both sugar degradation and COD reduction were more than 80% in the acidic and alkaline hydrolysates while the lowest sugar degradation and COD reduction were observed for the untreated biomass. The rationale behind this study was to convert the waste biomass into energy by utilising the potential of native bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain improvement via chemical mutagen could impart traits with better enzyme production or improved characteristics. The present study sought to investigate the physicochemical properties of pullulanase produced from the wild Bacillus sp and the mutant. The pullulanases produced from the wild and the mutant Bacillus sp. (obtained via induction with ethyl methyl sulfonate) were purified in a-three step purification procedure and were also characterized. The wild and mutant pullulanases, which have molecular masses of 40 and 43.23 kDa, showed yields of 2.3% with 6.0-fold purification and 2.0% with 5.0-fold purification, respectively, and were most active at 50 and 40 °C and pH 7 and 8, respectively. The highest stability of the wild and mutant was between 40 and 50 °C after 1 h, although the mutant retained greater enzymatic activity between pH 6 and 9 than the wild. The mutant had a decreased Km of 0.03 mM as opposed to the wild type of 1.6 mM. In comparison to the wild, the mutant demonstrated a better capacity for tolerating metal ions and chelating agents. These exceptional characteristics of the mutant pullulanase may have been caused by a single mutation, which could improve its utility in industrial and commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study uses meta-analysis to quantitatively synthesize the effectiveness of Bacillus as a potential probiotic in aquaculture. Studies were selected based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines using Web of Science and Google Scholar. Hedges' g effect size was used to quantify differences in final weight, specific growth r ate (SGR), survival rate (SR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish treated with Bacillus compared to the control. In addition, heterogeneity, moderator effect and publication bias were estimated. All analyses were conducted using metafor package in the program R. Significantly higher final weight, SGR, SR and significantly lower FCR were detected in the overall analysis and all the subgroup analysis for fish, crustaceans, freshwater and marine fish compared to control. A significant level of heterogeneity was identified across the studies, and species was identified as a significant moderator influencing the magnitude of the effect of Bacillus spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an abundance of interest in the methods to reduce ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from cultivated soils. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of applied urea is decreased due to gaseous loss, which also lowers soil N (Nitrogen) content. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of microbial-based inoculants to decrease NH3 loss and N2O emissions under controlled conditions. Bacillus subtilis ;(UPMB10), and Bacillus tequilensis ;(UPMRB9) in combination with five different nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% were used in this study. Results showed that NH3 cumulative volatilization loss was greater in uninoculated soil treated with a full dose of fertilizer-N (507.27 mg/kg) compared with bacterial-inoculated soil (491.20 mg/kg and 500.71 mg/kg for UPMRB9 and UPMB10, respectively). Emission of N2O increased to a greater level (15.11 mg/kg for B0N100) in uninoculated soil compared to inoculated soil (14.65 mg/kg for UPMRB9N100 and 14.93 mg/kg for UPMB10N100-treated soil) and emission of N2O increases as N application increases. Initially, the emission of N2O was greater which decreased from the sixth day until it became zero. In B0N100-treated soil, emissions of N2O increased and after 30 days of incubation, the inoculated soil had a greater N concentration than the uninoculated soil. The total N loss from applied urea was higher in uninoculated soil than in inoculated soil. According to the findings, microbial inoculants have the potential to reduce the loss of N through NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide-/dioxin-contaminated contamination in Vietnam is an environmental issue nowadays, despite Agent Orange being sprayed a long time ago. High levels of dioxin in military airbases cause hot spots of dioxin contamination sites in which potential biological source of microorganisms has developed. Understanding microorganism structure in contaminated soil is crucial for the bioremediation of the sites. Illumina Miseq platform was applied to sequence V3-V4 amplicons of long-term contaminated communities to evaluate the bacterial distribution. Contaminated soil from different regions Bien Hoa and Phu Cat showed a low level of connectedness; the species richness of Bien Hoa was much higher than that of Phu Cat. However, they shared similarities in the most abundant bacterial phyla: Actinobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Planctomycetota. Several xenobiotic-degrading genera were found, such as Terrabacter, Nocardioides, and Streptomyces of Actinobacteriota; Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Clostridium of Firmicutes; Burkholderia, Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella of Proteobacteria. Seven bacterial isolates grew on dioxin-containing medium belonging to Firmicutes, they were classified in order Bacillales, in which two strains belong to Paenibacillaceae, and the rests are in Bacillaceae. Two isolates removed more than 80% of total toxicity (mainly 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin); strain PC5 is the first dioxin-degrading bacterium recognized in the genus Neobacillus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus probiotics have a sporulation capacity that makes them more suitable for processing and storage and for surviving passage through the gastrointestinal tract. The probiotic functions and regulatory mechanisms of different Bacillus have been exploited in many reports, but little is known about how various Bacillus probiotics perform different functions. This knowledge gap results in a lack of specificity in the selection and application of Bacillus. The probiotic properties are strain-specific and cell-type-specific, and are related to the germination potential and to the diversity of metabolites produced following intestinal germination, as this causes the variation in probiotic function and mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the Bacillus metabolites produced during germination and sporulation in the GI tract, as well as possible processes affecting intestinal homeostasis. We conclude that the oxygen-capturing capability and the production of antimicrobials, exoenzymes, competence and sporulation factors (CSF), exopolysaccharides, lactic acid, and cell components are specifically associated with the functional mechanisms of probiotic Bacillus. The aim of this review is to guide the screening of potential Bacillus strains for probiotics and their application in nutrition research. The information provided will also promote further research on Bacillus-derived functional metabolites in human nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work investigates the facile biosynthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) using pomegranate peels. The characterizations of the prepared CaO-NPs were performed with the help of UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In this investigation, we have evaluated the antimicrobial activities of the prepared CaO-NPs against the selected bacterial viz. Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp., and fungal strains viz. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Arthrographis cuboidea. The result of antimicrobial activity was determined with the obtained zones of inhibition on the culture plates. The maximum antibacterial and antifungal activities (zone of inhibitions) of the biosynthesized CaO-NPs was observed to be 24.67 ± 0.5 mm and 26.67 ± 0.5 mm against the Bacillus sp., and Arthrographis cuboidea, respectively. This study has deliberated on the facile and inexpensive method to synthesize ecological CaO-NPs of appropriate structural and morphological characteristics with adequate antimicrobial characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable environmental cleanup has become a widespread concept in the era of industrialization and the ever-increasing population. Due to anthropogenic activities, textile industries release a large amount of wastewater into the surrounding water bodies. In this study, a highly efficient bacterial isolate, Bacillus sp. AS2 was isolated from textile dye-contaminated soil. Different growth parameters were studied to enhance the degradation activity of the isolate. Maximum dye degradation achieved was 97.01 ± 0.36%, 92.49 ± 0.21%, and 94.23 ± 0.47% for methylene blue (MB), Congo red (CR), and malachite green (MG), respectively. The isolated bacteria were also capable of degrading (77.76 ± 0.15%) mixed dyes. Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis confirmed the degradation of the textile dyes. The maximum bacterial growth rate was 0.425, 0.578, and 0.512 g d−1 in the presence of MB, CR, and MG dye, respectively. The value of µmax/Ks was 0.0154, 0.0167, and 0.0137 L mg−1 d−1 for MB, CR, and MG dye. Further, the phytotoxicity assay substantiates the eco-friendly nature of isolate Bacillus sp. AS2. Biodegradation through the selected bacterial strain can be considered the best alternative to control environmental pollution in a comparatively short time interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromatinia cepivora, the causal agent of white rot, is responsible for 60–80% of economic losses in onion and garlic crops. This work aimed to select biological control agents (BCAs) to control white rot. Ten microorganisms were tested for hyperparasitic activity on S. cepivora sclerotia in garlic (Allium sativum). Bioassays consisted of pots filled with sterile soil and 50 sclerotia in a plastic tulle bag. Four microorganisms were selected to compare their capability for degrade sclerotia on garlic. Our results showed that increasing degradation happened when Th034, Th035, Th003, and Bs006 were added to the pots containing garlic. Subsequently, three application techniques (seeds, seedlings at transplant, and seeds and transplant) were evaluated. Seven BCAs applied singly and in mixtures were evaluated in semi-field experiments for their ability to reduce white rot symptoms in onion plants in soil inoculated with 300 sclerotia per kilogram. The results indicated that efficacy was dependent on microrganism, mixture, and technique of application. The synergy factor showed that only two treatments have synergistic effects. In both cases, the mixture consisted of a strain of Bacillus and two species of Trichoderma (T. koningiopsis, T. atroviride) applied twice. In most cases, antagonistic interactions among BCAs were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms (17 bacteria and 3 fungi) isolated from crude oil-contaminated soils were evaluated for degradation of five polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), both in the absence (-T80) and the presence of surfactant Tween-80 (+T80) at a 10 mg L−1 concentration of each PAH. Results of the heat map and Tukey HSD revealed that highest PAH degradation was observed by Kocuria rosea in +T80 treatment. Degradation (%) of individual PAH (-T80, +T80) was naphthalene: 96.6, 98.9; fluorene: 93.8, 95.1; phenanthrene: 58.1, 70.9; anthracene: 19.9, 32.5 and pyrene: 13.8, 54.7, respectively. Tukey HSD further revealed that all three fungi Trichoderma atroviride, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus sydowii showed almost similar degradation of selected PAH. Based on degradation ability, consortia of K. rosea and A. sydowii were used for PAH degradation at 10, 50 and 100 mg L−1 in the presence of Tween-80. Results suggested that PAH degradation slowed down with the increase in the concentration. PAH degradation products phthalic acid and anthrone or phenanthrene-9,10 oxide or 9-phenanthrol were identified as a product of degradation. Bacterial strain Arthrobacter pascens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus sp., Bacillus niacini and Bacillus siamensis showed high fluorescence diacetate (FDA) hydrolase activity, whilst A. pascens, K. rosea, Pseudomonas sp. and B. niacini showed a significant soluble protein content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purified crude laccase of Enterobacter sp. Kamsi and Bacillus sp. NU2 in the hybrid and combined form was immobilized on sodium alginate beads and applied to decolourize various textile dyes through several decolourization reaction cycles. The enzyme/alginate (E/A) loading efficiency and immobilization yield were evaluated. The SEM-EDX analysis, pH, and temperature effects of both forms of immobilized laccases were examined. The maximum condition for Kamsi and NU2 laccases into Na-alginate beads is 2.5% (w/v), which resulted to >83 and 61.71% immobilization and loading efficiency, respectively. The SEM-EDX analysis showed a rough-spherical surface attributable to significant entrapment of the laccase at the centre of the beads. The hybrid laccase in the free and immobilized form showed >52% and 80% decolourization effects, while the amalgamated laccase showed >63 and 83% decolourizing effect on Malachite Green (MG), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), Reactive Blue 4 (RB4), Congo Red (CR), and Methyl Orange (MO), respectively. The immobilized laccase retained >50 and 81% activity of the hybrid and amalgamated laccases, respectively, after six successive treatment cycles. The results showed that the immobilization technique of the Kamsi and NU2 laccase holds the potential for textile dye effluents degradation, but the amalgamation of an enzyme from different species could improve decolourization potentials for various dyestuff treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effect of Bacillus Coagulans symbiotic supplementation on metabolic factors and inflammation in patients with type-2 diabetes. In this clinical trial, 50 patients with type-2 diabetes were randomly assigned to the symbiotic (containing Bacillus Coagulans + Lactobacillus rhamnosus + Lactobacillus acidophilus and fructooligosaccharide) or placebo groups to receive one sachet daily for 12 weeks. Glycaemic Index, lipid profile, and hs-CRP were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-β) (p <.05) and hs-CRP (p <.05) significantly declined in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. So, the current study indicated that Bacillus Coagulans symbiotic supplementation could improve metabolic factors and inflammation in patients with type-2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) on the productive performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, reproductive hormones, immune function, and intestinal morphology of laying hens (86 weeks old) during the late laying period. A total of 960 Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with 6 replicates of 32 hens. Hens were grouped as follows: basal diet (control group) and a basal diet supplemented with 3.25 × 105, 6.5 × 105, 9.75 × 105, or 1.3 × 106 cfu/g B. coagulans. Dietary supplementation with B. coagulans significantly enhanced egg mass, egg weight, and laying rate and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in comparison with the control group. No significant difference was observed in the feed intake, breaking rate, albumen height, haugh unit, egg yolk colour, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness among all groups. The serum total protein (TP) levels of laying hens fed 6.5 × 105 cfu/g B. coagulans were higher than those of laying hens in the control group. Dietary supplementation with 3.25 × 105 cfu/g and 6.5 × 105 cfu/g B. coagulans improved the activity of glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px) compared with that of the control group. The serum IgA concentration of laying hens in the 1.3 × 106 cfu/g B. coagulans treatment group was higher than that of the control. In the ileum, 6.5 × 105 cfu/g B. coagulans supplementation significantly increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) compared to that of the control group. It can be concluded that B. coagulans, at a supplementation level of 6.5 × 105 cfu/g feed, can be used as an effective feed additive to improve the production performance of laying hens during the late laying period by increasing the serum TP level, serum GSH-Px activity, and ileal VH/CD ratio. Bacillus coagulans improved the productive performance of laying hens during the late laying period. Inclusion of Bacillus coagulans in the diet might benefit laying hens' health by improving blood biochemistry, enhancing antioxidant activity and intestinal morphology, and slightly enhancing immune ability. The optimum concentration of Bacillus coagulans as a supplement to the basal diet to promote production performance and improve host health is 6.5 × 105 cfu/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]