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Aims: Phage therapy may be the best alternative to antibiotics in poultry. There is a need for optimization of phage production conditions to produce more Escherichia coli specific phages for poultry applications. Methodology: An E. coli λ bacteriophage isolated in our laboratory was used for optimization studies. An optimization of the E. coli λ bacteriophage production process was carried out by conventional methods to identify the factors, and the Thaguchi process was used for the optimization of conditions for increased bacteriophage production. With four factors each at three levels L9, experimental runs were carried out. Results: In the conventional method, 8 factors were studied and 4 selected for statistical optimization by Taguchi. At optimized conditions of modified nutrient broth with 1% glycerol, temperature 37oC, 100 rpm for 12 hours of phage multiplication, an improvement of the final titer was achieved from a control 2x109 to optimized 5x1012 Plauque formation Units (PFU)/mL. Conclusion: Phage production is dependent on bacterial growth and bacteriophage multiplication in bacteria. In such a complicated system, the Thaguchi method will be a convenient method of phage production optimization.

Aim: As a highly valued fungus, Cordyceps militaris has been widely used all over the world. Although the wild resources of C. militaris are limited, the fruiting bodies of C. militaris have been successfully cultivated on a large-scale with limited Cordycepin production. However, the high-frequency degeneration of C. militaris during subculture and preservation seriously limits the development of the C. militaris industry. Methods and Results: In this study, three different techniques for strain improvement viz., protoplast fusion, UV irradiation and chemical mutagenesis were assessed for improved biomass and cordycepin production. Conclusion: It was observed that the fusant subsequently mutated were stable for many generation and yielding improved biomass and Cordycepin. It was found that fusants after mutagenesis will be genetically stable and this methodology can be used for strain improvement of genetically unstable microorganisms.

Chicken meat is highly preferred protein food worldwide. To meet the demand, huge poultry farms are established and using antibiotics as prophylaxis and treatment against the bacterial diseases. Uncontrolled usage of antibiotics has led to development of antibiotic resistance in poultry and antibiotic residues in poultry chicken. Fifty one chicken meat samples were collected from various retail outlets. Antibiotic residues were quantified by HPLC, total microbial load was measured by growth of bacteria on growth medium and antibiotic resistant profile of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter spp was determined by well diffusion method. Except neomycin, all tested antibiotics were present in the range of 10-978 ppm, the average microbial load was in the range log 10 of 7.32 per gram of chicken sample, E. coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter spp were resistant to several antibiotics studied. Hence there is a need of appropriate usage of antibiotics in poultry and proper handling of chicken during farming and slaughtering.

Cotton stalks are good raw material for bioethanol production due to its availability throughout the world, abundance, high carbohydrate content and not involved in any food chain. Due to recalcitrant nature of cotton stalks pre-treatment, hydrolysis were not effective. In the present study pre-treatment with ammonia at room temperature for 1 week period and 121oC for 60min were attempted and it is compared with the standard 0.2M NaOH treatment. 1.5% ammonia pre-treatment at room temperature for 1 week found to remove 86% of lignin and subsequently undergone 75.92% acid hydrolysis. The acid hydrolysate obtained consists less lignin and furfurals and fermented to 5.75% ethanol with 91% fermentation efficiency with saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence dilute ammonia pre-treatment for a week was found to be effective for bioethanol production using cotton stalks.

As an emerging interdisciplinary, nanotechnology combined optical technology has drawn phenomenal attention in most of the fields. As a result, many novel sensors of nanoparticles (NPs) embedded U-bent Fiber optic probe have been developed. This paper deals about the spectacular growth of this novel strategythat is based on the evanescent wave signal and the NPs ability to tune LSPR (local surface plasmon resonance) adding more potential. A study has been made on its diverse applications ranging from parameters monitoring down to biomolecule detection till recent pandemic identification are discussed.

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been synthesized using two stage chemical reduction method, where a separate reducing agent Hydrazine Hydrate (HH) and a separate stabilizing agent Gum Kondagogu extract are used. The synthesized CuNPs are characterized by using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV visible spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), FT-Raman spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) experimental methods. These experimental results reveal the formation of stable FCC crystalline CuNPs with thin Gum Kondagogu extract layer around their surface. Biofilm is the major target for the development of drugs and it is related to most preferred type of highly infectious factor of pathogenic microorganisms. A biofilm promotes persistence of bacteria by resisting antibiotic treatment. In the present study, anti-biofilm effect of Gum Kondagogu extract stabilized CuNPs against clinical isolate Klebsiella Pneumoniae (Gram -ve, ATCC 27736) bacteria is tested. SEM results reveal effective anti-biofilm effect on the CuNPs film. The present study would encourage the development of anti bacterial coated medical devices against pathogenic microorganisms.

A simple spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefadroxil and cephalexin with variamine blue is presented. The determination is based on the hydrol- ysis of β-lactam ring of cephalosporins with sodium hydroxide which subsequently reacts with iodate to liberate iodine in acidic medium. The liberated iodine oxidizes variamine blue to violet colored species of maximum absorption at 556 nm. The absorbance is measured within the pH range of 4.0- 4.2. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0.5-5.8 ∝g mL-1, 0.2-7.0 ∝g mL-1, 0.2-5.0 ∝g mL-1 and 0.5- 8.5 ∝g mL-1 for cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefadroxil and cephalexin respectively. The analytical param- eters were optimized and the method is successfully applied for the determination of cefotaxime, cef- triaxone, cefadroxil and cephalexin in pharmaceuticals.

A simple, selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of widely used organochlorine pesticide endosulfan using thionin and methylene blue as chromogenic reagents. The method is based on the liberation of sulfur dioxide from endosulfan by adding acid reagent and alcoholic potassium hydroxide. The liberated sulfur dioxide is passed through potassium iodate solution and the iodine so liberated bleaches the violet color of thionin and blue color of methylene blue and is measured at 600 nm and 665 nm respectively. This decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the endosulfan concentration. The Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0.4-7.0 and 0.2-9.0 microg mL(-1) of endosulfan using thionin and methylene blue as reagents respectively. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 1.05 x 10(5) and 5.03 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1), 3.85 x 10(-3) and 8.10 x 10(-3) microg cm(-2) of endosulfan using thionin and methylene blue as reagents respectively. The method has been applied for the determination of endosulfan in water, soil and vegetables.

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of hypochlorite using Rhodamine B. The proposed method reports the reaction of hypochlorite with potassium iodide in an acid medium with iodine liberation. The liberated iodine bleaches the pinkish red color of the Rhodamine B and can be measured at 553 nm. This decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the hypochlorite concentration and obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.1 - 4.0 µg mL-1of hypochlorite. The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity, detection limit and quantitation limit of the method were found to be 2.57×10(5) L mol-1 cm-¹, 2.01×10-3 µg cm-2, 0.070 µg mL-1 and 0.212 µg mL-1 respectively. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical parameters were evaluated. The effect of interfering ions on the determination is described. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of the hypochlorite in various samples of tap water, natural water and milk. Um método espectrofotométrico simples, rápido e sensível foi desenvolvido para a determinação de hipoclorito usando Rodamina B. O método proposto considera a reação de hipoclorito com iodeto de potássio em meio ácido, com liberação de iodo. O iodo liberado descora a solução vermelho-rosada de Rodamina B que pode ser medida em 553 nm. Este decréscimo na absorbância é diretamente proporcional à concentração de hipoclorito e obedece a lei de Beer no intervalo de 0,1 a 4,0 mg µL-1 de hipoclorito. A absortividade molar, sensitividade de Sandell, limite de detecção e de quantificação do método são 2,57×10(5) L mol-1 cm-1, 2,01×10-3 µg cm-2, 0,070 µg mL-1 e 0,212 µg mL-1, respectivamente. As condições ótimas de reação e outros parâmetros analíticos foram avaliados. O efeito dos íons interferentes na determinação é descrito. O método proposto foi aplicado com sucesso na determinação de hipoclorito em várias amostras de água de torneira, água mineral e leite.

Black tea fermentation with Dabaryomyces hansenii for 10 days resulted in accumulation of major vitamins, such as A, B 1 , B 2 , B 12 and C in sufficient quantities to fulfil the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Fermentation of tea by yeast resulted in reduction of caffeine and excess tannins in significant amounts. After fermentation, the amount of theophylline was increased to make fermented tea a potent bronchodilator. Tea fermentation with D. hansenii improved its nutritional and medicinal values. Our observations suggest that intake of fermented tea is advantageous over black tea in terms of its nutritive and therapeutic values.

A simple spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of arsenic in various environmental and biological samples. The method is based on the reaction of arsenic(III) with potassium iodate in acid medium to liberate iodine. This liberated iodine bleaches the blue color of toluidine blue or pinkish red color of safranine O. The decrease in absorbance at 628 or 532 nm is directly proportional to arsenic(III) concentration and obeys Beer's law in the range of 1.2-10.5 or 0.4-11.5 microg mL(-1) for arsenic(III). The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity, detection limit and quantitation limit of the method using toluidine blue or safranine O were found to be 1.076 x 10(4) or 1.388 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1), 9.66 x 10(-3) or 7.49 x 10(-3) microg cm(-2), 0.308 or 0.250 microg mL(-1), 0.934 or 0.759 microg mL(-1) respectively. The relative standard deviation for five replicate analyses of 4 microg mL(-1) of As(III) using toluidine blue or safranine O were 0.60% or 0.80%. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical conditions were evaluated. The effect of interfering ions on the determination is described. The proposed method is free from any interference. The method has been used for the determination of arsenic in various environmental and biological samples.