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In the current study, cephalexin and two beta-lactam antibiotics were combined with four distinct aldehydes: 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, and 4-bromobenzaldehyde, to synthesize Schiff bases. The reaction between the free amino group of the acylamino side chain and the aldehydes resulted in the formation of four Schiff bases within the medication. Comprehensive characterization and surface examination were performed on each Schiff base. The biological activity of the synthesized compounds against Bacillus Pumilus (Gram-positive bacteria) and Candida albicans (fungus) was evaluated using the agar diffusion disc method. The antibacterial screening tests revealed that the Schiff bases exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity against these microorganisms, indicating superior efficacy compared to the parent drugs. However, no significant inhibitory effect on the tested fungus was observed.

BACKGROUND: Solid‐state fermentation (SSF) is a general approach for preparing food and feed, which not only improves nutrition but also provides prebiotics and metabolites. Although many studies have been conducted on the effects of fermentation on feed substrate, the dynamics of microbiota and metabolites in SSF remain unclear. Here, high‐throughput sequencing combined with gas chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the dynamic changes of solid fermented soybean meal and corn mixed matrix inoculated with Bacillus pumilus and Limosilactobacillus fermentum. RESULTS: Generally, inoculated bacteria rapidly proliferated, accompanied by the degradation of macromolecular proteins and an increase in the content of small peptides, trichloroacetic acid‐soluble protein, free amino acids and organic acids. Bacillus, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus dominated the whole fermentation process. 389 non‐volatile metabolites and 182 volatile metabolites were identified, including amino acids, organic acids, ketones, aldehydes, furans and pyrazine. Typical non‐volatile metabolites such as lactic acid, 4‐aminobutanoic acid, l‐glutamic acid, d‐arabinose and volatile metabolites such as 4‐ethyl‐2‐methoxyphenol, 4‐penten‐2‐ol, 2‐pentanone, 2‐ethylfuran, 2‐methylhexanoic acid and butanoic acid–ethyl ester were significantly increased in two‐stage solid fermentation. However, some adverse metabolites were also produced, such as oxalic acid, acetic acid, tyramine and n‐butylamine, which may affect the quality of fermented feed. Sixteen genera were significantly correlated with differential non‐volatile metabolites, while 11 genera were significantly correlated with differential volatile metabolites. CONCLUSION: These results characterized the dynamic changes in the process of two‐stage solid‐state fermentation with Bacillus pumilus and Limosilactobacillus fermentum and provided a potential reference for additional intervention on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of solid‐state fermentation of feed in the future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) is an effective approach employed in strain engineering to rewire gene expression and reshape cellular metabolic fluxes at the transcriptional level. Results: In this study, we utilized gTME to engineer the positive transcription factor, DegU, in the regulation network of major alkaline protease, AprE, in Bacillus pumilus. To validate its functionality when incorporated into the chromosome, we performed several experiments. First, three negative transcription factors, SinR, Hpr, and AbrB, were deleted to promote AprE synthesis. Second, several hyper-active DegU mutants, designated as DegU(hy), were selected using the fluorescence colorimetric method with the host of the Bacillus subtilis ΔdegSU mutant. Third, we integrated a screened degU(L113F) sequence into the chromosome of the Δhpr mutant of B. pumilus SCU11 to replace the original degU gene using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. Finally, based on transcriptomic and molecular dynamic analysis, we interpreted the possible mechanism of high-yielding and found that the strain produced alkaline proteases 2.7 times higher than that of the control strain (B. pumilus SCU11) in LB medium. Conclusion: Our findings serve as a proof-of-concept that tuning the global regulator is feasible and crucial for improving the production performance of B. pumilus. Additionally, our study established a paradigm for gene function research in strains that are difficult to handle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bacillus pumilus SG isolated from soil samples at the Persian Gulf was analyzed for its ability to produce biosurfactant. Various screening techniques were used for evaluating biosurfactant production and confirming biosurfactant presence in the culture supernatant. Most n-alkanes in the bacterial culture media were effectively degraded in the presence of biosurfactant acquired from the bacteria. The highest interfacial tension (IT) reduction (42 mN/m) was obtained at 24-h fermentation time (exponential phase) and did not change significantly afterwards. The glycolipid structure of the biosurfactant was revealed through NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Two-level factorial design was then applied for optimization of biosurfactant production, where a maximal reduction of culture broth IT (30 mN/m) acquired in the presence of crude oil (0.5%, v/v), NaNO3 (1 g/L), yeast extract (1 g/L), peptone (2 g/L) and temperature of 25 °C. The produced biosurfactant that exhibited a critical micelle concentration of 0.1 mg/ml was thermally stable. The glycolipid biosurfactant also displayed significant antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The maximum inhibition of glycolipids biosurfactant was found against Acinetobacter strains (zone of inhibition, 45 mm). In addition, antibiofilm activities with a 50–90% biofilm reduction percent were indicated by the glycolipid biosurfactant. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG revealed a wide range of functional properties and was verified as a good candidate for biomedical application. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG showed a wide range of functional properties in this study, and in the case of further in vivo studies, it can be investigated a good candidate for biomedical applications such as use against biofilm or in pharmaceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite being necessary, copper is a toxic heavy metal that, at high concentrations, harms the life system. The parameters that affect the bioreduction and biosorption of copper are highly copper-resistant bacteria. Results: In this work, the ability of the bacterial biomass, isolated from black shale, Wadi Nakheil, Red Sea, Egypt, for Cu2+ attachment, was investigated. Two Cu2+ resistance Bacillus species were isolated; Bacillus pumilus OQ931870 and Bacillus subtilis OQ931871. The most tolerant bacterial isolate to Cu2+ was B. pumilus. Different factors on Cu2+ biosorption were analyzed to estimate the maximum conditions for Cu biosorption. The qmax for Cu2+ by B. pumilus and B. subtilis determined from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was 11.876 and 19.88 mg. g−1, respectively. According to r2, the biosorption equilibrium isotherms close-fitting with Langmuir and Freundlich model isotherm. Temkin isotherm fitted better to the equilibrium data of B. pumilus and B. subtilis adsorption. Additionally, the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm suggested that adsorption mechanism of Cu2+ is predominately physisorption. Conclusion: Therefore, the present work indicated that the biomass of two bacterial strains is an effective adsorbent for Cu2+ removal from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting bacteria are one of the most interesting methods of controlling fungal phytopathogens. These bacteria can participate in biocontrol via a variety of mechanisms including lipopeptide production, hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., chitinase, cellulases, glucanase) production, microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) production, and induced systemic resistance (ISR) triggering. Among the bacterial genera most frequently studied in this aspect are Bacillus spp. including Bacillus pumilus. Due to the range of biocontrol traits, B. pumilus is one of the most interesting members of Bacillus spp. that can be used in the biocontrol of fungal phytopathogens. So far, a number of B. pumilus strains that exhibit biocontrol properties against fungal phytopathogens have been described, e.g., B. pumilus HR10, PTB180, B. pumilus SS-10.7, B. pumilus MCB-7, B. pumilus INR7, B. pumilus SE52, SE34, SE49, B. pumilus RST25, B. pumilus JK-SX001, and B. pumilus KUDC1732. B. pumilus strains are capable of suppressing phytopathogens such as Arthrobotrys conoides, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fagopyrum esculentum. Importantly, B. pumilus can promote plant growth regardless of whether it alters the native microbiota or not. However, in order to increase its efficacy, research is still needed to clarify the relationship between the native microbiota and B. pumilus. Despite that, it can already be concluded that B. pumilus strains are good candidates to be environmentally friendly and commercially effective biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to assess the suitability of a microalgal blend as a dietary ingredient for feeding juveniles of marine carnivorous and herbivorous teleost, as is the case of Sparus aurata and Mugil cephalus, respectively, and to isolate microorganisms from different media and characterize them on the base of their enzymatic activities and their antagonism against important fish pathogens. Thirty juveniles of each species (70 ± 3.2 g S. aurata mean weight and 47 ± 2.8 g M. cephalus mean weight) were distributed in four tanks (15 individuals each) corresponding to four independent dietary treatments (control and microalgae diets designed for each species). Fish were fed their corresponding diets ad libitum for 108 days. At the end of the trial, fish were weighed, and plasma, liver, perivisceral fat, and the entire intestines were obtained for the evaluation of growth performance and metabolic assessment. Furthermore, 117 bacterial strains were isolated in different culture media from the gastrointestinal tract of S. aurata fed the microalgae blend and further characterized for their potential use as probiotics in aquaculture. S. aurata fed the microalgae-supplemented diet (25% dietary inclusion) showed a significant increase in weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, hepatosomatic, and intestine length indices. However, growth performance and somatic indices in M. cephalus were not affected by the experimental diets. Plasma samples from S. aurata fed the microalgal diet revealed higher levels of glucose and triglycerides and a decrease in cortisol levels. No significant differences were found in any biochemical parameters among the experimental diets in M. cephalus. In conclusion, both species demonstrated a favorable adaptation to the nutritional formulation employed in this study, and bacterial strains UMA-169 and UMA-216 (both identified as Bacillus pumilus) could be considered for use in aquaculture as they might benefit host health by improving digestion and absorption of different energy sources and by minimizing the colonization of pathogenic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a series of novel oxazolidinone derivatives containing thieno-pyridine ring system (11a–n) were synthesized in six steps. Synthesis of amino oxazolidinone scaffold (10) involved nucleophilic substitution of thienopyridine (4) with P-chloro-nitrobenzene (3) in dimethyl formamide at 65 °C give nitro compound (5) which was further reduced in catalytic hydrogenation condition using Raney-Nickel in isopropyl alcohol afforded amine (6). Reaction of compound (6) with 2-[(2S)-oxiran-2-ylmethyl]-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione (7) at mild reflux condition in isopropyl alcohol gives compound (8). Hydroxy amine compound (8) further undergo carbonyl insertion reaction with 1, 1'-carbonylbis(1H-imidazole) afforded oxazolidinone compound (9). The de-protection of phthalamide group of compound (9) carried by treating with aqueous solution of hydrazine hydrate in methanol at room temperature give compound (10). Finally, compound (10) reacts with acetyl chloride, carboxylic acid, sulfonyl chloride and chloro format by customary method provided amides, sulfonamide and carbamate derivative of (5S)-5-(aminomethyl)-3-[4-(6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridin-5(4H)-yl)phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one. The developed synthetic approach was operationally simple and high yielding. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by IR, MS, 1H and 13C-NMR. Synthesized compounds (11a–n) were tested for antibacterial activity against a panel of Gram-positive bacteria comprising Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC5638), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC12344), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC6051), Bacillus pumilus (ATCC27142), and Enterococcus faecalis (NCIM5253). The investigation of antimicrobial screening data revealed that, most of the compounds tested have demonstrated sensible to good bacterial activity. In summary, preliminary results of activity indicate that, acetyl derivative (11a), methane sulfonamide derivative (11c) and p-toluene sulfonamide derivative (11e) found to be good activity and di-(methane sulfonamide) derivative (11d) showed comparable activity to reference drug substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Metarhizium are characterized by a multitrophic lifestyle of being arthropod parasites, rhizosphere colonizers, endophytes, and saprophytes. The process of adaptation to various organisms and substrates may lead to specific physiological alterations that can be elucidated by passaging through different hosts. Changes in virulence and cultivation properties of entomopathogenic fungi subcultured on different media or passaged through a live insect host are well known. Nevertheless, comparative in-depth physiological studies on fungi after passaging through insect or plant organisms are scarce. Here, virulence, plant colonization, hydrolytic enzymatic activities, toxin production, and antimicrobial action were compared between stable (nondegenerative) parent strain Metarhizium robertsii MB- 1 and its reisolates obtained after eight passages through Galleria mellonella larvae or Solanum lycopersicum or after subculturing on the Sabouraud medium. The passaging through the insect caused similar physiological alterations relative to the plant-based passaging: elevation of destruxin A, B, and E production, a decrease in protease and lipase activities, and lowering of virulence toward G. mellonella and Leptinotarsa decemlineata as compared to the parent strain. The reisolates passaged through the insect or plant showed a slight trend toward increased tomato colonization and enhanced antagonistic action on tomato-associated bacterium Bacillus pumilus as compared to the parental strain. Meanwhile, the subculturing of MB-1 on the Sabouraud medium showed stability of the studied parameters, with minimal alterations relative to the parental strain. We propose that the fungal virulence factors are reprioritized during adaptation of M. robertsii to insects, plants, and media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several microorganisms can be found in tattoo inks injected into the skin, despite the ink matrix being considered inhospitable to microbial growth. Studies on the microbial quality of tattoo inks have reported the presence of microorganisms in most of the samples. This study aimed to assess the survival of environmental and human microbial species, selected on the specific criteria, in tattoo inks. Undiluted sterile black ink and serial dilutions (10-fold/100-fold) were each separately seeded with four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus pumilus, Mycobacterium fortuitum), one yeast (Candida albicans), and one mould (Fusarium solani). Their survival was periodically tested using cultural methods. No tested microorganisms were able to survive in undiluted ink, except for B. pumilus that survived up to 3 weeks. All the tested species, except for S. aureus , showed survivability for up to 10 weeks in 100-fold diluted inks, and P. aeruginosa, M. fortuitum , and C. albicans were even able to grow. B. pumilus and F. solani had good rates of survival even at the smallest dilution. The ability of microorganisms to survive and grow in tattoo inks could have health implications if contaminated ink dilutions are used during tattooing practices and stored for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tubercle disease or a bacterial pocket disease of sugar beets are names used to describe one of the gall-malformed diseases of sugar beet roots. Xanthomonas beticola is the historical name of the pathogen supposedly causing bacterial pocket disease. There were no isolates deposited in any collection corresponding to the originally isolated bacteria, except two strains from the NCPPB (National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, UK). However, both isolates were identified as related to Bacillus pumilus, which raised doubts about their pathogenicity. In our laboratory, greenhouse, and preliminary field experiments, we demonstrated that such strains are not pathogenic to sugar beets. Furthermore, both strains promoted their growth, improved their yield quality, and partly protected them against Rhizoctonia solani in a field experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The adoption of intensive farming has exacerbated disease outbreaks in aquaculture, particularly vibriosis caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The use of probiotics to control V. parahaemolyticus is recognized as a good alternative to antibiotics for avoiding the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, two strains of B. HLJ1 and B. C1 with strong inhibitory activity on V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from aquaculture water and identified as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus, respectively. Both B. HLJ1 and B. C1 lacked antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, suggesting that they are safe for use in aquaculture. In addition, these two strains can tolerate acid environments, produce spores, secrete extracellular enzymes, and co-aggregate as well as auto-aggregate with V. parahaemolyticus. B. HLJ1 and B. C1 produced the same anti-V. parahaemolyticus substance, which was identified as AI-77-F and belongs to amicoumacins. Both B. C1 and B. HLJ1 showed inhibitory activity against 11 different V. parahaemolyticus and could effectively control the growth of V. parahaemolyticus in simulated aquaculture wastewater when the concentration of B. C1 and B. HLJ1 reached 1 × 107 CFU/mL. This study shows that B. HLJ1 and B. C1 have great potential as aquaculture probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities can be considered complex adaptive systems. Understanding how these systems arise from different components and how the dynamics of microbial interactions allow for species coexistence are fundamental questions in ecology. To address these questions, we built a three-species synthetic community, called BARS (Bacillota A+ S+ R). Each species in this community exhibits one of three ecological roles: Antagonistic, Sensitive, or Resistant, assigned in the context of a sediment community. We show that the BARS community reproduces features of complex communities and exhibits higher-order interaction (HOI) dynamics. In paired interactions, the majority of the S species (Sutcliffiella horikoshii 20a) population dies within 5 min when paired with the A species (Bacillus pumilus 145). However, an emergent property appears upon adding the third interactor, as antagonism of species A over S is not observed in the presence of the R species (Bacillus cereus 111). For the paired interaction, within the first 5 min, the surviving population of the S species acquires tolerance to species A, and species A ceases antagonism. This qualitative change reflects endogenous dynamics leading to the expression for tolerance to an antagonistic substance. The stability reached in the triple interaction exhibits a nonlinear response, highly sensitive to the density of the R species. In summary, our HOI model allows the study of the assembly dynamics of a three-species community and evaluating the immediate outcome within a 30min frame. The BARS has features of a complex system where the paired interactions do not predict the community dynamics. The model is amenable to mechanistic dissection and to modeling how the parts integrate to achieve collective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in order to determine bacterial strains that can be used as biological fertilizer in tea cultivation. The present study assessed possible effects of mineral NPK fertilizer (TF: 80 kg ha−1 compound 25: 5:10) and ACC deaminase-containing, N2-fixing, and P-solubilizing 6 bacteria strains as single (T1-T6:Pseudomonas fluorescens RC483, Pseudomonas fluorescens RC77E, Pseudomonas putida RC19b, Bacillus licheniformis RC5B2, Bacillus subtilis RC5A2, Bacillus pumilus RC7A1), binary (T7: RC483 + RC5A2, T8: RC77E + RC7A1), triple (T9: RC77E + RC5A2+ RC5B2, T10: RC483+ RC19b + RC7A1) and quadruple (T11: RC77E + RC5B2 + RC7A1+ RC5A2) inoculations, chemical fertilizer (80 kg ha−1 compound 25: 5: 10) and control treatments on growth, yield, yield, nutrient uptake and enzyme activity of Pazar-20 tea clones manufactured for commercial purposes. Experimental groups determined in the present study were formed by considering the results of our preliminary study and bacteria that do not have antagonistic effects on each other. Results showed that dual, triple and quadruple inoculations stimulated overal second and third leaf area, leaf yield, macro- and micro-nutrient concenrations, chlorophyll and anthocyanin content, and antioxidant, oxidative, catalytic, hydrolytic and quality-related enzymes activity. Tea plant growth responses were dependent on the inoculant strain and formulations used, as well as on the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, bacterial seed inoculations especially with quadruple bacterial formulation determined to be most effective in tea growth can improve tea yield and productivity on sustainable basis. The ability to increase enzyme activity, which may be important in taste and aroma, leaf antioxidant, oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) and tea processing technology by using different combinations prepared with bacterial isolates will be able to a significant contribution to tea technology studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 on the expressions of spleen genes in weanling Jintang black goats. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 (BA-treated group) and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 (BP-treated group) were directly fed to goats, and the spleens were harvested for transcriptome analysis. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BA-treated vs CON group were mainly involved in digestive system and immune system, while those in BP-treated vs CON group were mainly involved in immune system, and those in BA-treated vs BP-treated group were mainly involved in digestive system. In conclusion, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 might promote the expressions of genes related to immune system and digestive system, reduce the expressions of disease genes related to digestive system and might promote mutual accommodation of some immune genes in weanling black goat. Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 might promote the expressions of genes related to immune system and mutual accommodation of some immune genes in weanling black goat. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 has advantages over Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 in promoting the expressions of genes related to digestive system and mutual accommodation of some immune genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermingled uninfected and root‐knot nematode‐infected tomato plants are commonly observed under protected cultivation. To understand the role of rhizobacteria underlying the susceptibility to nematode infectivity in these tomato plants, 36 rhizobacteria (18 from each type) with morphologically distinct colony characteristics were isolated from the rhizosphere of uninfected and root‐knot nematode‐infected tomato plants. The in vitro nematicidal potential of rhizobacteria from the uninfected rhizosphere was significantly higher than that from the infested rhizosphere. The three most effective antagonists were identified as Microbacterium laevaniformans, Staphylococcus kloosii, Priestia aryabhattai from root‐knot‐nematode‐infected tomato rhizosphere and Staphylococcus sciuri, Bacillus pumilus, and Priestia megaterium from the rhizosphere of uninfected tomato. Volatile organic compounds from these rhizobacteria were characterized. Except for S. kloosi, the soil drenching with other rhizobacteria significantly reduced juvenile penetration (>60%) in tomato roots. Furthermore, the application of a single or consortium of these rhizobacteria affected nematode reproduction in tomato. Four consortia of rhizobacteria (S. sciuri + B. pumilus + P. megaterium), (B. pumilus + P. megaterium), (S. sciuri + B. pumilus), and (S. sciuri + P. megaterium) from uninfested rhizosphere and two consortia (M. laevaniformans + P. aryabhattai), (M. laevaniformans + S. kloosii + P. aryabhattai) from infested rhizosphere (IRh) effectively reduced M. incognita reproduction and considerably enhanced plant growth and yield in tomato. The nematicidal efficacy, however, decreased when S. kloosii was applied in the consortium. These distinctive effects illustrate how the plant susceptibility to nematode infectivity is modulated under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of vermicompost fertilization with complementary microbial nutrition on the plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of the organically grown strawberry "Monterey" cultivar. Along with vermicompost, five different microbial fertilizers containing plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were used as complementary nutrition. Here, we examined plant growth parameters, strawberry yield, fruit weight, pH, total soluble solids, and acidity in fruit and leaf mineral nutrient concentrations. Vermicompost-based fertilization with PGPR and AMF improved plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. The highest total yield (216.75 g per plant−1) and heaviest fruits with an average of 18.11 g were obtained from the vermicompost-based fertilization with PGPR containing complementary fertilization. This included Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma konigii. This treatment also resulted in the best ratio of total soluble solids to acidity (18.74), pH (3.95), and mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves. The novel approach with vermicompost-based fertilization and complementary microbial nutrition improves organic strawberries' growth, yield, and fruit quality. These results are promising for enhancing organic strawberry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their capacity to produce antimicrobial peptides that can prevent the growth of diseases, many Bacillus spp. are beneficial to plants. In this study, we looked into the antagonistic activity of the B. pumilus 3-19 strain and its derivatives following targeted genome editing. Two peptide genes with antibacterial action, bacilysin (bac) and bacteriocin (bact), and the sigF gene, which encodes the sigma factor of sporulation, were specifically inactivated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in the genome of B. pumilus 3-19. Antibacterial activity against B. cereus and Pantoea brenneri decreased as a result of the inactivation of target genes in the B. pumilus 3-19 genome, with a noticeable effect against bacilysin. The growth dynamics of the culture changed when the bac, bact, and sigF genes were inactivated, and the altered strains had less proteolytic activity. An asporogenic mutant of B. pumilus 3-19 was obtained by inactivating the sigF gene. It has been proven that bacilysin plays a unique part in the development of B. pumilus 3-19's antagonistic action against soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft rot disease in potato is a major problem in fields and warehouses all over the world. Although it is known that bacteria from the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya are the main causative agents of soft rot diseases, recent studies indicate the involvement of pectinolytic Bacillus and Paenibacillus in this disease. In the present research, samples of potato with soft rot symptoms were collected from eight governorates of Tunisia. Two hundred and seventy bacterial isolates were acquired from tubers. Twenty of the isolated strains indicted pectinolytic activity by forming deep cavities on crystal violet pectate medium. All pectinolytic isolates were able to macerate potato tuber tissue. Phenotypic characterisation showed that these isolates were Gram-positive bacilli, exhibiting pectinolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic and amylolytic activity. The majority of the isolates indicated swimming and swarming motility. The application of API test, MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rDNA sequencing allowed for the assignment of nineteen of the tested isolates to the species Bacillus pumilus and one to the species Paenibacillus amyloliticus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of soft rot in potato caused by pectinolytic B. pumilus in Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In the current context of reduced and limited antibiotic use, several pathogens and stressors cause intestinal oxidative stress in poultry, which leads to a reduced feed intake, slow or stagnant growth and development, and even death, resulting in huge economic losses to the poultry breeding industry. Oxidative stress in animals is a non-specific injury for which no targeted drug therapy is available; however, the health of poultry can be improved by adding appropriate feed additives. Bacillus pumilus, as a feed additive, promotes growth and development and reduces intestinal oxidative stress damage in poultry. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) senses oxidative damage and repairs unfolded and misfolded proteins; its protective effect has been widely investigated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase/protein kinase C (MAPK/PKC) and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) are also common proteins associated with inflammatory response induced by several stressors, but there is limited research on these proteins in the context of poultry intestinal Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections. In the present study, we isolated a novel strain of Bacillus pumilus with excellent performance from the feces of healthy yaks, named TS1. To investigate the effect of TS1 on SE-induced enteritis in broilers, 120 6-day-old white-feathered broilers were randomly divided into four groups (con, TS1, SE, TS1 + SE). TS1 and TS1 + SE group chickens were fed with 1.4 × 107 colony-forming units per mL of TS1 for 15 days and intraperitoneally injected with SE to establish the oxidative stress model. Then, we investigated whether TS1 protects the intestine of SE-treated broiler chickens using inflammatory cytokine gene expression analysis, stress protein quantification, antioxidant quantification, and histopathological analysis. Results The TS1 + SE group showed lower MDA and higher GSH-Px, SOD, and T-AOC than the SE group. TS1 alleviated the effects of SE on intestinal villus length and crypt depth. Our results suggest that SE exposure increased the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, and MCP-1), p38 MAPK, and PKCβ and decreased the expression of HSP60, HSP70, and HIF-1α, whereas TS1 alleviated these effects. Conclusions Bacillus pumilus TS1 alleviated oxidative stress damage caused by SE and attenuated the inflammatory response in broilers through MAPK/PKC regulation of HSPs/HIF-1α.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This work aimed to isolate bacterial strains with antagonist activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VPAHPND) that was isolated from outbreaks in Mexico. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two antagonistic strains, isolated from saline sediment in Sonora, Mexico. Methods: Cross-streak and well diffusion tests were employed to find the bacterial strains with higher inhibitory activity against VPAHPND. The whole genomes of B. pumilus 36R ATNSAL and B. safensis 13L LOBSAL were sequenced using Ion TorrentTM (PGM) and Illumina MiseqTM platforms, respectively. Annotation was performed using the RAST server, and the genes involved in the biosynthesis of bacterial secondary metabolites were predicted using antiSMASH. Results: Two bacterial isolates, B. safensis 13L LOBSAL and B. pumilus 36R ATNSAL, were chosen based on their strong antagonistic profiles. The genome of 36R ATNSAL was 3.94 Mbp in length and contained 3824 genes and a total of 4116 coding sequences (CDSs); the genome of 13L LOBSAL was 3.68 Mbp and contained 3619 genes and 3688 CDSs. Twenty-eight and 32 biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for putative antimicrobial metabolite production were identified in 36R ATNSAL and 13L LOBSAL, respectively. Conclusions: The two strains 13L LOBSAL and 36R ATNSAL showed excellent probiotic profiles in vitro. The genome sequences will help with the mining and reconstruction of metabolic pathways in Bacillus strains. Genome sequence–guided strain improvement could augment the probiotic potential of Bacillus strains for applications in shrimp aquaculture.

Field studies were conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2020 in the south-central and Coastal Bend regions of Texas to determine the effects of various biostimulants, soil additives, and plant protectants on corn growth and yield. In south-central Texas, the use of pop-up fertilizer (9-30-0 + Zn) either alone or in combination with either 2% N, bifenthrin, or bifenthrin + pyraclostrobin resulted in the greatest corn vigor but a yield response was only noted with pop-up fertilizer alone at 28,062 or 46,771 mL ha−1 in one year. In the Coastal Bend region, leaf tissue analysis showed that only Fe was affected with the use of any soil additive. Bacillus licheniformis + Bacillus megaterium + Bacillus pumilus increased Fe leaf tissue content by 20% over the untreated check. Radicoat seed coating at 438 mL ha−1 reduced corn plant stand by 10%, and Pseudomonas brassicaceanum reduced corn height when compared with the untreated check; however, no differences in test weight or yield from the untreated check were noted with any soil additives. Little if any impacts of the use of biostimulants, soil amendments, or plant protectants were seen in these studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among biological methods, green synthesis of the nanomaterials using plant extracts was shown to be an environmentally friendly, economical, and simple approach. In the current study, the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was achieved using the leaf extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus, in order to prevent the contamination of the tissue culture media and induce callus growth. The nanostructures of the fabricated AgNPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta size, and zeta potential techniques. Our results indicate that The UV–vis spectrum of AgNPs exhibited an absorption band at 415 nm. The FTIR analysis identified the functional groups which could involve in the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs, this was also confirmed by the (hkl) diffraction peaks in the XRD diffractogram. Moreover, the TEM analysis showed a spherical nanoparticle with a size ranging from 21 and 26 nm. Thereafter, the potential antibacterial and antifungal activity of the biogenic AgNPs was evaluated against Bacillus pumilus and Alternaria alternata which were isolated from the in vitro culture media and identified based on 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA sequences, respectively. The results showed that the AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternata and Bacillus pumilus at all applied concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/L). Compared to the control more fungal radial growth reduction (42.59%,) and bacterial inhibition (98.12%) were registered in the plates containing high doses of AgNPs (40 mg/L). Using Rumex nervosus explants, the biosynthesized AgNPs were tested for their impact to promote callus growth. The obtained results showed a significant effect of AgNPs on callus fresh weight at all applied doses. Moreover, AgNPs treatments showed a polymorphism of 12.5% which was detected by RAPD markers. In summary, the results revealed that AgNPs (40 mg/L) can be effectively added to the in vitro culture media for reducing microbial contamination and improving callus growth while greatly maintaining its genetic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus pumilus is widely used as a biocontrol agent. To further develop the biological control potential of B. pumilus LYMC-3 against pine blight, a statistical experimental design was used to optimize a liquid medium using low-cost substrates to improve its antagonistic activity against Sphaeropsis sapinea. Through the plate antagonism test and greenhouse control effect test, this study determines the antifungal effect of strain LYMC-3 against S. sapinea and pine blight. Moreover, response surface optimization methodologies were used to systematically optimize the medium composition and culture conditions of the LYMC-3 strain. The plate antagonism test showed that the inhibition rate of LYMC-3 fermentation filtrate (diluted 5-fold) was 66.09%. The greenhouse control effect test showed that the control effect of its fermentation filtrate on shoot blight reached 89.99%. The response surface optimization test ultimately determined that a higher inhibition rate can be achieved under these conditions: the optimal medium components were 7.2 g/L glucose, 15 g/L peptone, and 7.1 g/L magnesium sulfate; the optimal culture conditions were 52% liquid volume, 28 °C culture temperature, an initial pH of 7, and 1% bacterial inoculation volume. Under the optimized system, the five-fold diluted LYMC-3 fermentation filtrate inhibition rate against S. sapinea was 81.23%, which was 15.84% higher than that before optimization. Meanwhile, optimize the selection of lower-cost and more commonly used glucose instead of beef paste as the carbon source for the culture medium, and choose cheaper magnesium sulfate instead of sodium chloride as the nitrogen source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to address gaps in general understanding of the biodegradation of persistent organic pollutants. POP-contaminated soils were collected from the vicinity of former obsolete pesticide storage facilities in four villages, namely, Amangeldy, Belbulak, Beskainar, and Kyzylkairat, in Talgar district, Almaty region, Kazakhstan. The study soils were heavily contaminated with 24 organochlorine pesticides, 15 of which belong to POPs. Microbial diversity assessment allowed the isolation of 40 strains, which were analyzed for their potential to degrade 4.4-DDE, 4.4-DDT, α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH. Pseudomonas plecoglossicida K2 (OK217230), Bacillus aryabhattai K3 (MW866565), Solibacillus isronensis KS1 (OK236011), Pseudomonas sp. KS2 (OL348382), Bacillus pumilus B1 (OL348383), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B2 (OL348394), Bacillus subtilis AK5 (MW866566), Pseudomonas koreensis AK1 (OL348403), Bacillus megaterium AS1 (OL348404), and Bacillus paramycoides SA1 (OL348439) effectively degraded POP-pesticides. Promising elimination was observed for a consortium Pseudomonas plecoglossicida K2 and Bacillus aryabhattai K3, with the highest degradation activity of 52.9 and 31.9% for 4.4-DDT and γ-HCH, respectively, and a single strain Bacillus aryabhattai K3, with a degradation rate of 55.2, 13.8, and 25.7% for 4.4-DDE and α- and β-isomers, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bound with proper productivity, reproductive performance in dairy cows is of utmost importance. One of the most important conditions hampering the reproductive performance of a dairy cow is bovine endometritis. In this paper, we aim to report the effect of B. pumilus strains, isolated from cows with or without endometritis, with regard to their pathogenicity to the bovine uterus by using a cell-culture-based approach. Our study revealed that B. pumilus strains possess specific genes related to enzyme production and harm the endometrial bovine cells in a dose-dependent pattern. Uterine infections are a major source of economic losses to dairy farmers. The uterine microbiota as well as opportunistic uterine contaminants can contribute to the development of endometritis in dairy cows during the postpartum period. Therefore, it is important to characterize potential pathogens and to further elucidate their role in the disease. In this study, we aimed to characterize Bacillus pumilus field isolates to obtain more details regarding their effect on uterine cells by using an in vitro endometrial epithelial primary cells model. We found that B. pumilus isolates possessed the keratinase genes ker1 and ker2 and therefore may produce keratinases. When primary endometrial epithelial cells were infected with 4 different B. pumilus strains, an effect on cellular viability was observed over the course of 72 h. The effect was dose-dependent and time-dependent. Nevertheless, significant differences between the strains were not observed. All tested strains reduced the viability of the primary cells after 72 h of incubation, indicating that B. pumilus potentially has a pathogenic effect on endometrial epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug delivery systems are developed to provide a necessary concentration and prolonged effect of the active substance in the organism. Orally administered protein preparations require a protection from the proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. Biocompatible hydrophilic polysaccharides in the composition of the matrix are especially promising, since they do not irritate the intestine and are gradually cleaved by specific glycosidases, releasing a therapeutic agent. The introduction of an insoluble porous mineral matrix into the composition of the carrier allows us to increase the concentration of the therapeutic agent in the matrix without a significant increase in the volume of the drug tablet form. In this work, a new original organomineral carrier was created based on heat-treated crushed clinoptilolite zeolite in combination with natural polysaccharides of red algae (agar–agar, agarose, and carrageenan). Granular and finely dispersed clinoptilolites in the composition of the matrix are loaded with a promising therapeutic agent (Bacillus pumilus ribonuclease (binase)), which shows a selective cytotoxicity to tumor cells. It was established that both granular and finely dispersed zeolites in a complex with polysaccharides retain the protein better as compared with pure zeolites and provide a gradual complete release of the enzyme in 18 h; at the same time, binase retains a catalytic activity and causes apoptosis in up to 23.8% of the population of HuTu80 human duodenal adenocarcinoma cells. Data obtained substantiate the prospects of designing dosage forms based on the studied organomineral carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of coinoculations of indole-3-acetic acid-synthesizing bacteria has become increasingly common in agriculture. Different bacterial isolates are capable of synthesizing IAA. Depending on the amount, IAA can promote, inhibit, or modify the growth and development of plants. However, little is known about the effect of auxins on plants under coinoculation conditions. The present study aimed to verify whether coinoculation with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-synthesizing bacteria may or may not harm plant development in three tomato genotypes with different sensitivities to auxins: Micro-Tom (MT), diageotropica (dgt) (low auxin sensitivity) and Entire (high auxin biosynthesis). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six replicates and eight treatments: control; Bacillus velezensis (BV); B. pumilus (BP); Azospirillum brasilense (AZ); B. velezensis + Bacillus pumilus (BV + BP); B. velezensis + A brasilense (BV + AZ); B. pumilus + A brasilense (BP + AZ); B. velezensis + Bacillus pumilus + A. brasilense (BV + BP + AZ), for each tomato genotype. The parameters analyzed were dry shoot and root weight, plant height, and leaf area. The results showed an increase in root dry weight with BV + BP + AZ treatment in the MT genotype, an increase in shoot dry weight in the dgt genotype with BV and no increase in any parameter in the Entire genotype for the analyzed parameters. The results also showed that coinoculation with BP + AZ decreased the shoot dry weight, dry root weight, and leaf area values of the dgt and Entire genotypes. Coinoculations with BP + AZ reduced the parameters analyzed in the dgt genotype, which is insensitive to the IAA and Entire genotypes and is sensitive. In addition, coinoculation with BV + BP + AZ, which provided the highest IAA concentration, increased the dry root weight in the MT genotype. These results suggest that the reduction in plant development caused by coinoculation is not related to IAA synthesis produced by bacteria but is probably due to negative interference in the interaction mechanisms between plants and bacteria and might also be due to negative bacteria–bacteria interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been a growing interest in the marine environment as a promising source of new microorganisms with novel bioactive compounds against multi-drug resistant bacteria. The present study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of marine Bacillus pumilus extract against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis as well as Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsilla pneumoniae. These bacteria were isolated from field samples using routine isolation methods. A disc diffusion assay was performed to determine the antibacterial effect of B. pumilus extract against the selected pathogens. The extract exhibited a broad inhibitory spectrum against all tested bacteria with inhibitory diameter ranging from 19 to 30 mm. These pathogens were further screened against 10 different antimicrobial discs. The result of antimicrobial susceptibility demonstrated that the tested organisms were resistant to many of the used antimicrobials with MAR index ranging from 0.3-0.6. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of B. pumilus extract was tested using the transmission electron microscope that revealed significant damage in all treated compared to untreated bacteria. These results suggest an antibacterial potential of B. pumilus extract against some pathogenic bacteria comparable to that of commercial antimicrobials and could be possibly used as a promising antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of bioeffectors is currently employed as a tool to explore diverse walks of plant growth stimulation in agricultural and environmental sciences. These bioeffectors are also contributing their part in various stress conditions of soils to get healthy plants. The present study was carried out to highlight the efficiency of bacteria to cope with hydrocarbon (petrol) stress in soils which is being neglected over years. Seven strains were used in current study which were firstly screened for their ability for plant growth stimulation via series of assays, i.e., phosphate-solubilizing potential, ammonia production, hydrogen cyanide production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, and further screened for surfactants production potential via observing the hydrocarbon-degrading capability of bacteria. After selecting the most potent plant growth-stimulating, surfactant-producing bacteria, i.e., Bacillus pumilus (MG988291), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis was done which confirmed the glycolipid nature of biosurfactant. Further, the bacterium was used as bio-inoculant to evaluate the growth and biochemical responses of Zea mays L. plants including stress protectants which were grown under petrol (1 and 2%) stress conditions on the basis of soil dry weight. Results indicated that bacterial strain exhibited tolerance with petrol in plants' rhizosphere due to its ability to produce biosurfactants that can effectively metabolize hydrocarbons (petrol) present in the soil environment. Besides this, expression of stress protectants was enhanced including sugar constituents, free aminoacids, proline, glycine betaine, secondary metabolites and peroxidase antioxidant enzyme other than other biochemical attributes that showed high accumulation after exogenous application of B. pumilus. Thus, the introduced biological approach is recommended for petrol bioremediation using surfactant-producing, plant growth-promoting bacteria in agricultural, environmental and industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year study was conducted in bermudagrass hay fields in central Alabama to estimate the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a tool for sustainable agriculture in forage management. This study compared the effects of two treatments of PGPR, applied with and without lowered rates of nitrogen, to a full rate of nitrogen fertilizer in a hay production system. The PGPR treatments included a single-strain treatment of Paenibacillus riograndensis (DH44), and a blend including two Bacillus pumilus strains (AP7 and AP18) and a strain of Bacillus sphaericus (AP282). Data collection included estimates of forage biomass, forage quality, insect populations, soil mesofauna populations, and soil microbial respiration. Applications of PGPR with a half rate of fertilizer yielded similar forage biomass and quality results as that of a full rate of nitrogen. All PGPR treatments increased soil microbial respiration over time. Additionally, treatments containing Paenibacillus riograndensis positively influenced soil mesofauna populations. The results of this study indicated promising potential for PGPR applied with lowered nitrogen rates to reduce chemical inputs while maintaining yield and quality of forage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are affected by salt stress in a variety of ways, including water deficiency, ion toxicity, nutrient imbalance, and oxidative stress, all of which can cause cellular damage or plant death. Halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be a viable alternative for tomato plants growing in arid and semi-arid environments. The aim of this research was to isolate halotolerant plant growth promoting Bacillus sp. to promote tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth and salt stress resistance. 107 PGPR strains were isolated from the rhizospheres of 'Kesudo' (Butea monosperma Lam.), 'Kawaria' (Cassia tora L.), and 'Arjun' (Terminalia arjuna Roxb.) plants to test their plant growth promoting abilities, including indole-3-acetic acid, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and ACC deaminase activity. Five bacterial strains (Bacillus pumilus (NCT4), Bacillus firmus (NCT1), Bacillus licheniformis (LCT4), Bacillus cereus (LAT3), and Bacillus safensis (LBM4)) were chosen for 16S rRNA on the basis of PGPR traits. Compared to PGPR untreated plants, tomato plants developed from PGPR-treated seeds had considerably increased germination percentage, seedling growth, plant height, dry weight, and leaf area. As comparison to PGPR non-inoculated plants, salt-stressed tomato plants treated with PGPR strains had higher levels of total soluble sugar, proline, and chlorophyll as well as higher levels of SOD, CAT, APX, and GR activity. PGPR-inoculated salt-stressed tomato plants had lower MDA, sodium, and chloride levels than non-inoculated plants. In addition, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron levels were higher in PGPR treated plants when subjected to salt stress. These results indicate that halotolerant PGPR strains can increase tomato productivity and tolerance to salt stress by removing salt stress's negative effects on plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial consortia play a key role in human health, bioenergy, and food manufacturing due to their strong stability, robustness and versatility. One of the microbial consortia consisting of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare and Bacillus megaterium for the production of the vitamin C precursor, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KLG), has been widely used for large-scale industrial production. To further investigate the cell-cell communication in microbial consortia, a microbial consortium consisting of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare and Bacillus pumilus was constructed and the differences in protein expression at different fermentation time points (18 h and 40 h) were analyzed by iTRAQ-based proteomics. The results indicated that B. pumilus was subjected to acid shocks in the coculture fermentation system and responded to it. In addition, the quorum sensing system existed in the coculture fermentation system, and B. pumilus could secrete quorum-quenching lactonase (YtnP) to inhibit the signaling pathway of K. vulgare. This study offers valuable guidance for further studies of synthetic microbial consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust causes adverse effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants and limits their use in the development of the green belt. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) is an important tool to screen out plants, based on their tolerance or sensitivity level to different air pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two plant growth-promoting bacterial strains (Zhihengliuella halotolerans SB and Bacillus pumilus HR) and their combination as a biological solution on APTI of three desert plant species of Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Haloxylon aphyllum and Nitraria schoberi under dust stress (0 and 1.5 g m-2 30 days-1). Dust caused a significant decrease of 21% and 19%, respectively, in the total chlorophyll of N. schoberi and S. rosmarinus, an 8% decrease in leaf relative water content, a 7% decrease in the APTI of N. schoberi, and a decrease of 26 and 17% in protein content of H. aphyllum and N. schoberi, respectively. However, Z. halotolerans SB increased the amount of total chlorophyll in H. aphyllum and S. rosmarinus by 236% and 21%, respectively, and the amount of ascorbic acid by 75% and 67% in H. aphyllum and N. schoberi, respectively. B. pumilus HR also increased the leaf relative water content in H. aphyllum and N. schoberi by 10% and 15%, respectively. The inoculation with B. pumilus HR, Z. halotolerans SB and the combination of these two isolates decreased the activity of peroxidase by 70%, 51%, and 36%, respectively, in N. schoberi, and 62%, 89%, and 25% in S. rosmarinus, respectively. These bacterial strains also increased the concentration of protein in all three desert plants. Under dust stress, H. aphyllum had a higher APTI than the other two species. Z. halotolerans SB, which had been isolated from S. rosmarinus, was more effective than B. pumilus HR in alleviating the effects of dust stress on this plant. Therefore, it was concluded that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria can be effective at improving the mechanisms of plant tolerance to air pollution in the green belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin-rich wastes, mainly in the form of feathers, are recalcitrant residues generated in high amounts as by-products in chicken farms and food industry. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the second most common biodegradable polymer found in commercial plastics, which is not easily degraded by microbial activity. This work reports the 3.8-Mb genome of Bacillus altitudinis B12, a highly efficient PLA- and keratin-degrading bacterium, with potential for environmental friendly biotechnological applications in the feed, fertilizer, detergent, leather, and pharmaceutical industries. The whole genome sequence of B. altitudinis B12 revealed that this strain (which had been previously misclassified as Bacillus pumilus B12) is closely related to the B. altitudinis strains ER5, W3, and GR-8. A total of 4056 coding sequences were annotated using the RAST server, of which 2484 are core genes of the pan genome of B. altitudinis and 171 are unique to this strain. According to the sequence analysis, B. pumilus B12 has a predicted secretome of 353 proteins, among which a keratinase and a PLA depolymerase were identified by sequence analysis. The presence of these two enzymes could explain the characterized PLA and keratin biodegradation capability of the strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tylenchulus semipenetrans Cobb, is a parasitic nematode of citrus, causing significant reduction in citrus growth and yield. Biological antagonists including bacteria and fungi have been used to control citrus nematodes. Citrus rhizosphere bacteria were collected from mature orchards in Tunisia and they have been studied to evaluate their nematicidal potentials on citrus nematode and abilities to stimulate plant root growth. Sixty bacterial strains isolated from egg masses of citrus nematode, citrus roots and associated to nematode trapping fungi, were tested for their abilities to parasitize T. semipenetrans and their impact on citrus growth parameters. The data analysis revealed that Bacillus weihenstephanensis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus cereus showed the highest effectiveness on T. semipenetrans juvenile (J2) causing up to 85% mortality of juveniles (J2) after 6 days of exposure in vitro. B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus and B. weihenstephanensis also inhibited egg hatching of citrus nematode in vitro. Furthermore, the majority of these rhizobacteria significantly stimulated citrus growth parameters. The application of B. weihenstephanensis, B. cereus, B. mycoides, B. thuringiensis, L. sphaericus, and Alcaligenes faecalis stimulated sour orange root growth in vitro compared to the control. Citrus rhizosphere bacteria must be studied further due to their diversity, abundance, and ability to effectively control T. semipenetrans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbial communities of the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. have vital functions in food digestion, providing essential nutrients, improving immune system against pathogens, and detoxifying harmful molecules. The objective of this study was to characterize the core gut bacterial community of newly emerged A. mellifera queens and workers from southeastern Turkey. A total of newly emerged 15 queens and 30 workers were collected from the same apiary. The alimentary tract of collected samples was dissected under sterile conditions. Culture based isolation was performed from the digestive tract of the collected samples to obtain a pure microbe culture. The chemical, morphological and molecular description of each bacteria were accurately done via employment of pure culture. Five bacterial isolates were successfully isolated from the A. mellifera alimentary tract and purified. Molecular and biochemical identification showed that the isolates were Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus (Firmicutes: Bacillaceae) (MZ540443, MZ540444, MZ540445), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (Firmicutes: Staphylococcaceae) (MZ540447), and Paenibacillus glucanolyticus (Firmicutes: Paenibacillaceae) (MZ540446). This study is the first to report the presence of P. glucanolyticus in gut bacterial community of A. mellifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 45 bacteria, 9 fungi, 3 yeast, and 1 actinobacterium were isolated from plant tissues of tomato and screened for their plant growthpromoting traits and antagonistic activity against damping-off fungus Pythium aphanidermatum. The bacterial isolate, Bacillus pumilus TEB10 exhibited pathogen inhibition of about 55 and 79%, while yeast isolate Candida tropicalis TEY1 showed 30 and 68% in the dual plate and inverted plate assay, respectively. In addition, the Bacillus pumilus TB10 showed siderophore, HCN, cellulase, and phosphate solubilization activities. Similarly, yeast isolate Candida tropicalis TEY1 exhibited catalase, phosphate, and zinc solubilization activities. The sterol biosynthesis pathway end product ergosterol was profiled in secondary metabolites of P. aphanidermatum, suggesting the potentiality of this pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the influence of accelerated curing on mechanical, self-healing, and durability performance of bacterial self-healing concrete. Bacterial self-healing concrete incorporating Bacillus pumilus was studied for microbial survival under high temperature and pressure of accelerated schemes of autoclave and carbonation curing, in addition to conventional water curing. Experimental results indicate that microbes remain viable inside bacterial autoclaved concrete and bacterial carbonated concrete along with significant improvement in their mechanical-durability properties. Bacterial intrusion successfully closed the maximum average crack width of 0.8 mm accompanied by 35% increase in compressive strength. Forensic analysis via scanning electron microscopy depicts that accelerated curing promotes formation of CaCO3 crystals. X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis results show that carbonation curing accelerates the conversion of CaOH into CaCO3, which improves the self-healing performance. Conclusively, outcomes of this research provide insights into high-early strength bacterial self-healing concrete which may benefit the large-scale application of microbial concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for sustainable agricultural production systems is increasing, and using growth-promoting microorganisms in plants has stood out because it decreases or even replaces chemical fertilizer use, reducing production costs. This study aimed to evaluate the response of some microorganisms applied to the seedlings of primary orchids cultivated in Brazil (Phalaenopsis sp. 'Taisuco Swan', Cymbidium atropurpureum, and Dendrobium secundum). The experimental design was completely randomized. There were seven treatments (absence of microorganisms – control, Trichoderma sp. in sodium alginate, Trichoderma sp. in clay, Trichoderma sp. in sodium alginate and clay, Trichoderma sp. in a liquid medium, Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus subtilis in a liquid medium, and Bacillus pumilus in a liquid medium), four replications, and three plants per plot. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse and evaluated 190 days after microorganism inoculation. The evaluation of morpho-physiological characteristics differed according to the particularities of each genus. The Bacillus pumilus and Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus subtilis rhizobacteria in a liquid medium for Phalaenopsis sp. 'Taisuco Swan' and the Trichoderma sp. fungus in a liquid medium for Cymbidium atropurpureum increased seedling growth and development. Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus subtilis in a liquid medium for the Dendrobium secundum orchid promoted more root biomass. Using beneficial microorganisms in orchid cultivation is promising, and seedling growth and development depend on their inoculation and the morpho-physiological characteristics of each plant.

The Bacillus and Paenibacillus genera are diverse soil-related bacterial pathogens. In this case report, we describe, to our knowledge, the first report of septic arthritis in a native hip joint in an immunocompetent adult patient caused by Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus barengoltzii. We describe the case of a 39-year-old Caucasian male patient who sought medical advice for chronic pain on the mobilization of the right hip, decreased range of motion, and physical asthenia. The patient underwent a surgical intervention (core decompression) for a right osteonecrosis of the femoral head, with a slightly favorable postoperative evolution after surgery for one month. Surgical treatment was planned on the basis of clinical and paraclinical investigations and the joint damage. The hip was explored using an anterior approach under spinal anesthesia and standard antibiotic prophylaxis. After resection of the femoral head, meticulous debridement of all inflammatory tissues was performed, and a preformed temporary spacer was inserted into the femoral canal. Bacteriological laboratory studies identified Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus barengoltzii via matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. The patient initially received nine days of empirical therapy with intravenous antibiotics (linezolid and meropenem). After the bacterial strains were identified, the patient received organism-specific antibiotic therapy with the same antibiotics and dose for eight days until discharge. After discharge, the patient was referred to another hospital, where he continued treatment with linezolid for seven weeks and, after that, four weeks of oral therapy with cotrimoxazole and rifampicin. During this period, no severe or potentially life-threatening adverse events were recorded during long-term treatment with linezolid or with the two oral antibiotics. In conclusion, our findings suggest that long-term treatment with linezolid may be a viable option for the management of bone and joint infections caused by Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus barengoltzii.

Dust causes adverse effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants and limits their use in the development of the green belt. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) is an important tool to screen out plants, based on their tolerance or sensitivity level to different air pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two plant growth-promoting bacterial strains (Zhihengliuella halotolerans SB and Bacillus pumilus HR) and their combination as a biological solution on APTI of three desert plant species of Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Haloxylon aphyllum and Nitraria schoberi under dust stress (0 and 1.5 g m-2 30 days-1). Dust caused a significant decrease of 21% and 19%, respectively, in the total chlorophyll of N. schoberi and S. rosmarinus, an 8% decrease in leaf relative water content, a 7% decrease in the APTI of N. schoberi, and a decrease of 26 and 17% in protein content of H. aphyllum and N. schoberi, respectively. However, Z. halotolerans SB increased the amount of total chlorophyll in H. aphyllum and S. rosmarinus by 236% and 21%, respectively, and the amount of ascorbic acid by 75% and 67% in H. aphyllum and N. schoberi, respectively. B. pumilus HR also increased the leaf relative water content in H. aphyllum and N. schoberi by 10% and 15%, respectively. The inoculation with B. pumilus HR, Z. halotolerans SB and the combination of these two isolates decreased the activity of peroxidase by 70%, 51%, and 36%, respectively, in N. schoberi, and 62%, 89%, and 25% in S. rosmarinus, respectively. These bacterial strains also increased the concentration of protein in all three desert plants. Under dust stress, H. aphyllum had a higher APTI than the other two species. Z. halotolerans SB, which had been isolated from S. rosmarinus, was more effective than B. pumilus HR in alleviating the effects of dust stress on this plant. Therefore, it was concluded that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria can be effective at improving the mechanisms of plant tolerance to air pollution in the green belt.

Background: In the current context of reduced and limited antibiotic use, several pathogens and stressors cause intestinal oxidative stress in poultry, which leads to a reduced feed intake, slow or stagnant growth and development, and even death, resulting in huge economic losses to the poultry breeding industry. Oxidative stress in animals is a non-specific injury for which no targeted drug therapy is available; however, the health of poultry can be improved by adding appropriate feed additives. Bacillus pumilus, as a feed additive, promotes growth and development and reduces intestinal oxidative stress damage in poultry. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) senses oxidative damage and repairs unfolded and misfolded proteins; its protective effect has been widely investigated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase/protein kinase C (MAPK/PKC) and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) are also common proteins associated with inflammatory response induced by several stressors, but there is limited research on these proteins in the context of poultry intestinal Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections. In the present study, we isolated a novel strain of Bacillus pumilus with excellent performance from the feces of healthy yaks, named TS1. To investigate the effect of TS1 on SE-induced enteritis in broilers, 120 6-day-old white-feathered broilers were randomly divided into four groups (con, TS1, SE, TS1 + SE). TS1 and TS1 + SE group chickens were fed with 1.4 × 107 colony-forming units per mL of TS1 for 15 days and intraperitoneally injected with SE to establish the oxidative stress model. Then, we investigated whether TS1 protects the intestine of SE-treated broiler chickens using inflammatory cytokine gene expression analysis, stress protein quantification, antioxidant quantification, and histopathological analysis. Results: The TS1 + SE group showed lower MDA and higher GSH-Px, SOD, and T-AOC than the SE group. TS1 alleviated the effects of SE on intestinal villus length and crypt depth. Our results suggest that SE exposure increased the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, and MCP-1), p38 MAPK, and PKCβ and decreased the expression of HSP60, HSP70, and HIF-1α, whereas TS1 alleviated these effects. Conclusions: Bacillus pumilus TS1 alleviated oxidative stress damage caused by SE and attenuated the inflammatory response in broilers through MAPK/PKC regulation of HSPs/HIF-1α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common fertilizers present a low use efficiency caused by nutrient losses (e.g., through leaching, volatilization, adsorption, and precipitation in solution as well as through microbial reduction and immobilization) that create a significant limiting factor in crop production. Inoculation with Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) is presented as an alternative to increasing fertilizer efficiency. The goal of the study was to test the hypothesis that PGPB (solution with Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus) can be a strategy to increase the monoammonium phosphate (MAP) efficiency, root growth, and nutrient assimilation of soybean and corn cultivated in arenosol and oxisol. A greenhouse study was developed with the rates of PGPB (rates: 0, 1, 1.33, and 1.66–2.0 L per ton of fertilizer) sprayed on MAP and applied in an arenosol and oxisol cultivated with soybean and corn. Results showed that in both soils and crops, there was a variation in soil biological activity during the experiment. On day 45, PGPB + MAP promoted the beta-glucosidase and ammonium-oxidizing microorganism activities in the arenosol. The PGPB + MAP increased crop root growth in both soils and crops. Plant dry matter was associated with the phosphorous content in the soil, indicating that the phosphorous applied was absorbed by the plants, consequently resulting in a higher accumulation in the plant. Based on the results, the conclusion is that PGPB + MAP increases the growth and phosphorous accumulation of soybean and corn cultivated in the arenosol and oxisol, with a direct effect on crop rooting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to promote plant growth, soil fertility and soil microbiota using a combination of Bacillus pumilus AR57 and chicken feather protein hydrolysate (CFPH). The bacterium-mediated CFPH (5 % v/v) was found to be the optimum biostimulant concentration that showed significant maize plant (Zea mays L.) growth and enhanced its phytochemical contents (3.7 folds chlorophyll, 1.3 folds protein, 2.3 folds carbohydrate). The addition of CFPH to soil eventually showed a remarkable increase in the soil fertility and microbial community (heterotrophic, 42.23 × 106 CFU/g, nitrogen fixers, 2.45 × 104 CFU/g, phosphate solubilizers, 0.48 ×104 CFU/g and potassium solubilizers, 0.33 ×104 CFU/g). Bacillus sp. is considered the universal cell factory and secretory machine of bioactive peptides. B. pumilus AR57 positively influenced plant growth as a biofertilizer and may develop an adaptive immunity against plant pathogens. The CFPH exhibited an excellent shelf-life of protein stability (719 μg/ml) on the 10th day when stored at 4 °C. Conclusively, the Chick 'n' Farm , our in-house, unprocessed biostimulant, emerged as an effective alternative biostimulant and biofertilizer that replaces the existing chemical fertilizers and enriches the soils' biotic and abiotic factors that will play an inevitable role in the sustainable agriculture and circular economy. [Display omitted] • Bacterium-mediated one-step bio-valorization of chicken feather waste. • Production of amino-acid enriched CFPH without losing essential amino acids. • Utilization of unprocessed CFPH as a biostimulant for plant growth. • Chick "n" Farm - An effective alternative in-house developed biostimulant, soil fertility revitalizer and soil microbiome rejuvenator. • Bacillus pumilus AR57, a biofertilizer and plant growth-promoting bacteria for plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the Fusarium species and induces severe reproductive disorders in animals thus a major concern in the livestock industry. Probiotic bacteria treatments have been shown to inactivate mycotoxins, therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of two commercial probiotic feed additives on the sequestration of ZEN. Commercial probiotic blends containing clay-based binder with Aspergillus niger, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus , and Bacillus subtilis at various proportions from BioMatrix International were incubated with ZEN in a time-dependent manner and then analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantify unbound ZEN. Sequestration of ZEN was further verified by using MCF-7 cell-based cytotoxicity and/or cell proliferation assays. ZEN, or probiotic mix, was nontoxic to MCF-7 cells. Probiotic blends decreased ZEN concentration by 45% (∼100 μg L−1) and prevented ZEN from inducing MCF-7 cell proliferation (20%–28% reduction). The probiotic feed supplements tested show a potential utility in ZEN neutralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wine is essential in every celebration but it is very expensive in countries where grape is not grown. Agadagidi, an effervescent wine analogue with sweet-sour taste is locally produced from overripe plantain which is abundant in the Tropics. This research produced agadagidi by sulphiting the must with or without inoculating with Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain isolated from spontaneous fermentation. Some of the samples were also pasteurized with a view to producing agadagidi with consistent quality. Microorganisms were enumerated, isolated and identified during storage, sugars, pH, TTA and sensory properties were also assessed using standard methods. The result showed that the range of TVC, LAB, and fungi count were 5.571 - 9.076 log cfu/ml, 2.717-9.253 log cfu/ml and 4.079 - 9.418 log cfu/ml respectively. Microorganisms isolated were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Pichia kluyveri, Candida albicans, Bacillus pumilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis and Leuconostoc oenos. The reducing sugar was higher in unpasteurized samples than pasteurized sample at the beginning of storage. Total sugar generally decreased while the TTA increased during storage. The sensory score showed that all unpasteurized samples and pasteurized sample without isolate and sulphite were accepted by the panelists. This study therefore suggests the use of sulphite with or without starter culture in the production of agadagidi with consistent quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]