Search

Environmental pollution and population growth necessitate more efficient production processes. Organic whey, which is a low-cost substrate for the food industry, constitutes a promising raw material with its low cost and chemical content for biotechnological processes. This study investigated the pigment production capabilities of bacteria isolated from whey, an industrial waste. Among the isolated bacteria, 4 were determined to be effective pigment producing bacteria. The pigment was extracted from 4 isolates. Pigment characterization was performed by UV spectrophotometer (OD470-OD580) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). As a result of the spectrum scanning, it was determined that all pigments gave the maximum absorbance value in the range of 500 nm to 505 nm. In FTIR analysis, all extracted pigments showed characteristic absorption bands of carotenoids between 400 nm and 520 nm. The FTIR peaks obtained from 1469 cm-1 and 1726 cm-1 regions are known as the fingerprint regions of microbial pigments for biorecolorants. When the results obtained in our study are compared with the literature data, the absorbance values obtained show that the pigment produced is carotenoid and its derivative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated and compared the effects of different environmental pollutants on haematological, microbiological and genotoxic characteristics of populations of the freshwater turtle Emys orbicularis from the Kavak Delta and Dardanos in Çanakkale (NW Türkiye). The haematocrit values of samples of E. orbicularis differed considerably between the two localities: they were higher in the Kavak Delta samples. The mean cell haemoglobin concentration was also significantly different between the two localities (higher in the samples of the Dardanos). The water samples of the two localities were within the limit (Class I-II) for all parameters, except Dardanos temperature (Class III). Although it was not statistically significant, the nuclear abnormality formation in the erythrocytes of the sample from Dardanos was numerically higher than that from the Kavak Delta. The study assessed the impact of pollutants on populations of Emys orbicularis and conducted on-site evaluations and monitoring of genotoxic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broomrapes are the most difficult plant parasites to control among all biotic stresses affecting plants in the Mediterranean, Europe and Asia. Lentil is sensitive to broomrape (Orobanche crenata), which causes significant yield losses in this species around the Mediterranean region. Our study was aimed at the evaluation of antibacterial properties of Lens culinaris cv. 'Sultan-1' under drought stress and broomrape infection stress conditions. The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of 'Sultan-1' was assayed against the test for microorganisms by methods of diffusion in agar and dilution in broth. The ethanol extracts from different studied treatments showed antimicrobial activities, with diameters of the inhibition zone ranging from 7 mm to 15 mm and from 2.5 to 20 µg mL-1, respectively. The highest antimicrobial activity against A. baumannii ATCC 19606 was demonstrated by the extract of 'Sultan-1' at combined stress (drought stress + broomrape infection) on the 1st day. Furthermore, the combined stress treatment promoted antibacterial effect against some Gram-negative bacteria on the 1st day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticum aestivum L. (Wheat grass), one of the members of Poaceae family, has been considered to be a very efficient therapeutic drug. In the present study, we propose to evaluate antibacterial effects of the two varieties of T. aestivum L. [cv. Tosunbey (drought tolerant) and cv. Sultan 95 (drought-sensitive)] which grown in three different stress conditions [(1) drought stress; (2) pre-treatment of seeds with acetyl salicylic acid; (3) drought stress and pre-treatment of seeds with acetyl salicylic acid]. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol extracts was assayed against five pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Escherichia coli NRRL B-3704, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) by agar disc diffusion and micro broth dilution methods. The results showed that the ethanol extracts from the different studied treatments showed antibacterial activities, with the diameters of the inhibition zone ranging from 8 to 15 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 2.5 to 20.0 μg/mL, respectively. The highest antibacterial activity, against B. subtilis ATCC 6633, was demonstrated by the extract of T. aestivum cv. Sultan 95, which grown in conditions where drought stress and pre-treatment of seeds with acetyl salicylic acid were combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial biofilms pose health risks in clinical environments, food industry and drinking water systems. Microorganisms within biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics and chemical agents than planktonic cells in suspension. New alternatives for controlling infections have been proposed focusing on the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants and their antibiofilm activities. Here, we investigated in vitro antibiofilm activity of ethanol extract of Verbascum pinnatifidum Vahl. against Escherichia coli NRRL B-3704, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Acinetobacter baumanii ATCC 19606, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, S. haemolyticus ATCC 43252 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 test microorganisms based on crystal violet binding assay. The highest antibiofilm activity was shown against biofilm formed by B. subtilis ATCC 6633 and S. haemolyticus ATCC 43252 at the lowest MIC values of 2.5 and 10 μg/mL, respectively. The current findings indicated that bacterial biofilm formation can be potentially managed using V. pinnatifidum plant extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]