Journal of microbiology, biotechnology and food sciences

In VIVO EFFECT of AMPICILLIN, ENROFLOXACIN, COLISTIN, and SULFONAMIDES on SPERM PARAMETERS in BREEDING ROOSTERS

2023-10-09T13:52:10+02:00

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of commonly prescribed antibiotics on sperm parameters in breeding roosters. Twenty adult subjects were divided on the basis of their response to the dorso-abdominal massage into four experimental groups (G1: 30 mg/kg of ampicillin, G2: 10 mg/kg of enrofloxacin, G3: 2.5 mg/kg of colistin, and G4: 140 mg/kg of a sulfonamides association (sulphaquinoxaline sodium 150 mg, sulphamethazine sodium 70 mg, sulphadiazine sodium 70 mg). The measurements were performed at (T0) (before treatment), (T3 and T9) (representing 3 and 9 days of treatment) by Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA). All antibiotics did not affect ejaculate color, pH, seminal fluid viscosity, and agglutination. Ampicillin increased slightly sperm volume at T3 (0.31±0.19) with no significant change at T9 (0.30±0.15). No significant effect was observed at T3 on sperm count (224.05±41.9), viability (94±2.08), and total motility (TM) (57%). However, progressive motility (PM) deceased slightly on T3 (36.92%). Enrofloxacin and colistin induced a significant decrease in sperm volume (0.40±0.10, 0.16±0.08), count (2.13±0.27, 0.65±0.33), viability (81.33±5.45, 37.33±18.67), TM (54.95%, 46.91%), and PM (31.24%, 23%) on T3. On T9 some parameters were improved to be closer to those observed at T0. Ampicillin, colistin, and enrofloxacin decreased significantly all (CASA) kinematic parameters. The highest impact was observed on the third day of treatment (T3). Sulfonamides decreased sperm volume and gametes concentration but enhanced significantly sperm viability, total motility TM, progressive motility PM, and all kinematic parameters.

THE ENDOPHYTIC FUNGUS EPICOCCUM NIGRUM: ISOLATION, MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND STUDY ITS ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY AGAINST PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS FUSARIUM SOLANI

2023-11-29T15:43:06+01:00

Fusarium solani is a soil-borne fungus that causes fusarium dry rot disease in Upper Egypt. In this study, endophytic fungi from the Helwan University campus were collected, separated, and classified according to their morphological traits. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, Epicocum nigrum was isolated and identified from E. milii leaves; other endophytic fungi were recovered and recognised morphologically from E. hirta leaves. The endophytic isolates were examined for their antifungal activity against F. solani on PDA plates using the dual culture technique, which exhibited a variable growth inhibition percentage. E. nigrum showed a highly inhibited percentage (94%) after 5 days. As well, E. nigrum metabolites were extracted by different solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and chloroform: methanol, 2:1), and the crude extracts were active against F. solani compared to the control. The antifusarial activity was mostly reported in the ethyl acetate extract. Both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that higher concentrations of ethyl acetate extract caused a change in hyphal aggregation and spore formation in F. solani. Identification of antifungal components in ethyl acetate extract using GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4-Hexadeutero Octadecanal, 2, 2-Dideutero Octadecanal, and Isochiapin B as major components that could have antifungal and antimicrobial substances. These results suggest using E. nigrum extracts for controlling phytopathogenic F. solani.

Enterococcus faecium BACTERIOCIN EFFLUX PUMP MexA GENE AND PROMOTE SKIN WOUND HEALING IN MICE

2023-12-19T10:12:04+01:00

The process involved isolating E. faecium from the gut of honeybees, screening the bacterium for bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS), evaluating its impact on the expression of the mexA gene in multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa, and determining the role of bacteriocin in treating infected wounds in mice through histopathological examination. After evaluating the best circumstances for producing BLIS, it was discovered that glucose was a superior carbon source and yeast extract was the best source of nitrogen. The pH was found to be 5, the ideal incubation time was 72 hours, and ammonium sulfate salt was used for partial purification at 80% saturation. The identification of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates from pus infections was a further focus of the study. The VITEK 2 system was used to perform the identification. The results of antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the greatest resistance rates were found against Meropenem (83.3%) and Gentamicin (73.3%), followed by beta-lactam antibiotics (Ticarcillin, Ticarcillin/Clavulanic Acid, Piperacillin, and Aztreonam), which showed resistance in about 66.6 and 36.6% of the study isolates, respectively. Followed by Imipenem (63.3%), Ceftazidime (36.6%), and Cefepime (36.6%). The mexA gene was detected in all nine strains. The study also investigated the impact of the bacteriocin of the chosen strain on the expression of the mexA gene. An in vivo study revealed that wound healing was enhanced by treating infected wounds with E. faecium bacteriocin. Conclusion: Down-regulation and up-regulation in the expression of the genes following exposure to Bacteriocin indicate the potential of E. faecium as an effective antimicrobial agent against MDR P. aeruginosa infections.

FIRST DATA ON BACTERIAL, FUNGAL AND PARASITIC INFECTIONS OF BLACK RATS (RATTUS RATTUS) FROM THE PALM GROVES OF THE ALGERIAN SAHARA

2023-11-13T12:36:00+01:00

The present study aimed to detect the parasitic fauna associated with black rats (Rattus rattus) from southeastern Algeria. It showed the presence of seven species of parasitic fungi namely Penicillium sp. (Prevalence Pr=91.3%), Aspergillus niger (Pr=91.3%), Alternaria sp. (Pr=58.7%), Cladosporium sp. (Pr=87%), Microsporum sp. (Pr=19.6%), Trichophyton sp. (Pr=21.7%) and Chrysosporium sp. (Pr=10.9%), noting that saprophytic fungi were the most recorded. On the other hand, according to the richness (S), adults (S = 7) and sub-adults (S = 7) of black rats were the most infested, with leaning for males compared to females, considering all the isolated species as satellites except the Chrysosporium sp. (2.9%) which is presented as a rare species. Concerning parasitic bacteria, aged rats were the most infected followed by adults and sub-adults where total coliforms were present in all individuals of the three classes tested. However, fecal streptococci were noted with a similar infestation rate in all age groups. Unlike this, clostridium sulfite-reducer (CSR) was mostly recorded on aged rats. Concerning the endoparasites found in the intestines of black rats, the pinworms (Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, and Aspiculuris tetraptera) were more abundant than the other species. Hence, the current study allowed us to demonstrate that black rats can be considered an important reservoir of several microorganisms that can hold germs and represent a threat to biomedical and veterinary public health.

PRODUCTION, OPTIMIZATION AND PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF NATTOKINASE FROM BACILLUS CEREUS; A STRAIN ISOLATED FROM GRAPE WINE

2023-10-17T14:39:06+02:00

In the current study a potent fibrinolytic protease producing Bacillus cereus VMI2 was isolated from Grape wine (Vitis vinifera) and studied the protease activity and fibrinolytic activity. The organism was identified by morphological, biochemical and molecular analysis. The potent Bacillus cereus VMI2 showed significant clot lysis activity in 2h of incubation. In order to enhance the fibrinolytic activity, the medium was optimized. Inoculum size, pH, temperature, nitrogen and carbon were selected for the optimization. Compared with base medium the optimized medium with fructose, beef extract and 1000 µL inoculum volume were incubated at 35℃ and showed significant increase in fibrinolytic activity. The potent strain also showed a maximum of enzyme production and enzyme activity at 6^th h which showed the optimum time for production of nattokinase. The FTIR-HPLC results confirmed the presence of nattokinase. The molecular weight of the enzyme was analysed by SDS PAGE. It was found to be a 29kDa protein, confirmed the presence of nattokinase.

PREPARATION OF HEALTH BENEFICIAL PROBIOTIC SOYA ICE -CREAM AND EVALUATION OF QUALITY ATTRIBUTES

2023-06-28T10:22:30+02:00

Probiotic soya ice cream was prepared by using food grade bacteria Lactobacillus paracasei S1(MF443873) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus KC6 (MF443875). Bacteria have been encapsulated in milk and sodium alginate beads to improve their viability in soya ice -cream. Viable cell number of entrapped probiotic isolates was observed with calcium chloride concentration of 0.1M at pH 7.0, hardening time of 8h. Morphological characterization of microencapsulated beads was done by using SEM. Probiotic soy ice-cream was stored at -20^oC for 30 days and was investigated for sensory qualities, microbial count and physicochemical characteristics. Microencapsulated probiotic ice-cream was found more stable during storage as compared to those containing free probiotic microorganisms. As far as physico-chemical characteristics of probiotic enriched soy ice-cream is concerned, though changes in quality attributes viz. pH, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, total soluble solid and antioxidant content during storage interval have been observed but these changes were statistically non- significant.

MACRO AND NANO ECBALLIUM ELATERIUM IN VITRO ACTIVITY AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA TYPHI WITH GENETIC DETECTION AND SEQUENCING

2023-11-15T16:01:17+01:00

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi is involved in a number of illnesses such as typhoid fever. This research sought to recognize and quantify Salmonella typhi in clinical stool samples by serotyping, with detection and sequencing of blaCMY-2 gene in charge of cephalosporin resistance, DHFR gene responsible for sulfonamide resistance and acrB and rplD genes responsible for macrolide resistance and use of Ecballium elaterium nanoparticles as an all-natural remedy for MDR S. typhi strains. S. typhi was discovered in 76/113 (67.25%) of the collected specimens. 41/76 samples were multidrug-resistant. However, men were likely more prone to infection than women. The findings showed that 95.12% of S. typhi isolates harbored the blaCMY-2 gene, 92.68% harbored the DHFR gene, 48.78% harbored the acrB gene, and 85.36% harbored the rpID gene while 31.70% of them harbored the four genes. Agreement of the four genes sequences showed mutations ranging between deletion, insertion, transversion, and inversion mutations. GC-MS illustrated that the Biochanin B compound was the most popular component, with a percentage of 19.31% in E. elaterium essential oil. 10mg/ml of E. elaterium nanoparticles were found to be the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). E. elaterium nanoparticles damaged the cell wall, nuclear material, and cytoplasmic structures of MDR S. typhi. Moreover, they had a more significant cell viability effect on human gastric epithelial cell line (GESI) than chloramphenicol drug. The IC50 of E. elaterium nanoparticles was 1230.05±72.9ug/ml, and the chloramphenicol drug was 73.6924±4.05ug/ml, showing that chloramphenicol was more cytotoxic on GES1 normal cells than E. elaterium nanoparticles. E. elaterium nanoparticles have high effect against MDR S. typhi and more safe than using chloramphenicol drug.

IN SILICO STUDIES OF BYTTNERIA HERBACEA Roxb. BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AGAINST ANTI-INFLAMMATORY (COX-1) PROTEIN

2024-01-17T12:23:24+01:00

The present study explored the potential of Byttneria herbacea Roxb. against inflammatory disease by conducting molecular docking studies. The SwissADME tool was utilized to perform a drug-likeness study, which was then followed by molecular docking using the AutoDock 4.2 software. In silico, GC-MS research identified 21 molecules, subsequently evaluated for drug-likeness properties. Based on the ADME analysis, six compounds were recognized as superior compounds. The docking analysis of these six molecules was performed with Autodock 4.2. Finally, two compounds were shown to be effective against Cyclooxygenase-2: 7-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzothiopyran and 3-buten-2-one, 4-(5,5-dimethyl-1-oxaspiro[2.5]oct-4-yl) against the enzyme (COX-1). Excellent docking properties and the lowest binding energy (-6.94 and -6.90 kcal/mol) were also found. According to the data, B. herbacea aerial plant component showed a significant anti-inflammatory molecular docking effect.

EXPLORING THE BENEFICIAL ENDOPHYTES OF ZINGIBERACEAE

2023-10-09T13:57:57+02:00

Sustainable agriculture in combination with crop improvement programme is gaining more attention in the scientific field nowadays. With abundance of resources, endophytes offer an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to increase crop yield, improve soil fertility while protecting the plants from a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. Residing within plant, endophytes are unique group of symbionts that systematically invade the internal environment of host without causing any pathogenic symptoms. Endophytes, which include bacteria, fungi, and viruses, have been shown to have beneficial effects on their hosts, either directly or indirectly. On the other hand, Zingiberaceae is a valuable family of ginger that has a lot of economic benefits. Endophytes isolated from the Zingiberaceae plants are known to promote plant development through the production of phytohormone, 1- aminocyclopropane -1 carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, siderophore and also assist the host plant in phosphate solubilization activity. They are also prominent producers of several secondary metabolites with a lot of bioactivities. However, the full potential of endophytes from the Zingiberaceae plants largely remain untapped. Thus, the aim of this review is to discover various types of endophytes isolated from the Zingiberaceae plants, their phytohormone production, nutrient acquisition, biohardening application, secondary metabolites production and bioactivities. The broad knowledge of endophytes from Zingiberaceae plants will provide insight into new economic potentials and determine its future in sustainable agriculture practices.

DRUG RESISTANCE AND RESISTANCE REVERSAL STRATEGIES IN MALARIA PARASITE

2023-11-29T15:32:05+01:00

The public health care system is currently facing a major problem with malaria. Globally, malarial deaths have decreased by an estimated 40% in the past two decades because of the clinically effective drugs (artemisinin-based combination therapies) against Plasmodium falciparum. In recent years, P falciparum develop resistance against all antimalarial drugs and then becomes developed multidrug resistance that a major challenge. Even though drug discovery programs have made substantial progress in the past decade, the potential for new drugs/combinations to improve the effectiveness of current malaria control strategies. Beyond, we have compiled a comprehensive review of clinically approved anti-malarial drugs with resistance mechanisms and a novel drug-resistance reversal approach in one place to meet this demand. The review aimed to provide detailed information on drug resistance, its regulatory molecular mechanisms responsible for resistance, and the novel available treatment of malaria. In this review, the article will help in developing effective interventions, potential approaches, and strategies to handle antimalarial resistance. This will prevent life-threatening infections.

ANTI-ASPERGILLUS NIGER ACTION OF BIOSYNTHESIZED SILICON DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES ALONE OR COMBINED WITH MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA L. EXTRACT

2024-01-30T14:25:24+01:00

Fungi are the most frequent microorganisms that cause seed damage throughout development, wreaking much more post- and pre-infections and significantly reducing seed quality. Conventional antifungal agents have failed to overcome a variety of Aspergillus spp. These strains have been associated with the development of high-potency mycotoxins, which cause mould infections in fruits and vegetables as well as harmful health effects. Different species, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Fusarium were isolated from imported yellow corn samples; however, Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent fungus. The current work attempts to synthesize novel, effective nanomaterials that are stable and antifungal by employing efficient approaches. An extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. was used in the biosynthesis of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) at room temperature. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Zeta analyses were used to characterize the biosynthesized NPs. The average size of SiO₂ NPs was found to be 17-28 nm. TEM images were used to confirm the biogenesis of spherical-shaped, well-dispersed SiO₂ NPs. The zeta potential graph shows that SiO₂ NPs have a negative potential value (-31.0 mV). The antifungal activity of M. chamomilla L. extract, SiO₂ NPs, and SiO₂ combined with the extract was investigated against A. niger isolate compared to miconazole. SiO₂ NPs combined with M. chamomilla L. extract revealed higher antifungal activity than SiO₂ NPs, M. chamomilla L. extract, and miconazole with inhibition zones of 25±0.54, 17±0.37, 20±0.61 and 13±0.23 mm, respectively. This work provides a good alternate technique that is used as an antifungal agent, M. chamomilla L. extract supplemented with SiO₂ NPs, against A. niger, the pathogen for humans and crop plants.

EFFICIENT EXTRACTION AND CLARIFICATION OF FRUIT JUICES USING CONCURRENTLY PRODUCED XYLANO-PECTINOLYTIC ENZYMES

2023-10-09T14:02:16+02:00

The purpose to effectuate this research work is to investigate the efficiency of crude xylano-pectinolytic enzymes in extraction and clarification of fruit juices, so as to improve their physical (clarity, viscosity and soluble solid), functional (total polyphenolic content) and sensory characteristics (acceptability). In this study, various conditions like enzyme dose, treatment time and stirring speed have been optimized. The extraction and clarification efficiency were found to be optimum at enzyme dose between 2:8 and 4:16 IU/g pulp, treatment time between 30 to 60 min and stirring speed of 50 and 60 rpm for different fruit juices. Enzymatic treatment enhanced the physicochemical, organoleptic and nutritional properties and generated juice with improved yield and clarity. After xylano-pectinolytic enzymatic treatment of various fruit juices, maximum increase in yield (95%), filterability (40%) and maximum decrease in viscosity (58%) was found in case of Tamarindus indica. Maximum increase in clarity (39%) and polyphenolic content (37%) was observed in case of Aegle marmelos. Maximum increase in reducing sugars was found in case of Fragaria ananassa along with other properties. All these attributes of xylano-pectinolytic enzymes indicate an adequate prospect for bio-industrial research.

ELUCIDATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF A NEW CYCLIC ALKALOID COMPOUND FROM ROOT BARK OF ZIZIPHUS NUMMULARIA (AUBREV.): IN VITRO, IN SILICO AND IN VIVO STUDIES

2024-01-18T08:43:08+01:00

Inflammatory diseases present a significant burden to global health, often requiring targeted and specific therapeutic agents for effective management. Ziziphus nummularia (Aubrev.), a traditional medicinal plant, offers a potential source for these agents. This article aims to explore the anti-inflammatory potential of a novel cyclic alkaloid compound isolated from the root bark of Ziziphus nummularia. The cyclic alkaloid compound, [(16-methoxy-10-(3-methyl-butyl)-2-oxa-6, 9, 12-triaza-tricyclo [13.3.1.03, 7] nonadeca-1(18), 13, 15(19), 16-tetraene-8, 11-Dione], exhibited promising anti-inflammatory properties. The potential of this isolated compound (IC) was evaluated in vitro by measuring the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Additionally, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) simulations and molecular docking to the TNF-α receptor were carried out for IC. In vivo evaluations of both the IC and its ethanolic extract (EE) were performed using carrageenan-induced paw oedema and arachidonic acid/xylene-induced ear oedema tests. The IC showed a higher inhibition of TNF-α compared to other compounds, reaching a maximum inhibition of 88.00% at a concentration of 50.11 μM. In silico analysis revealed that IC formed hydrogen bonds with residues, aspartate at position 45 (ASP 45) and glutamine at position 47 (GLN 47). The IC significantly attenuated oedema induced by carrageenan, xylene, and arachidonic acid. Hence, this compound may offer a potential therapeutic approach for treating inflammation in future clinical applications.

CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF SOME BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED USING Trigonella foenum graecum LEAVES’ EXTRACT

2024-02-02T13:07:27+01:00

The green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with the aqueous extract of the leaves of household vegetable, Trigonella foenum-graecum were characterized and tested for their anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial efficacy with sixteen human clinical isolates. The Formation of AgNPs was confirmed with the surface plasmon spectra of the dark brown solution centered at 448 nm. The Particle size calculated with XRD data was 41.23 nm and the SEM size ranged between 52.56 nm and 80.51 nm. The presence of -NH and -OH groups that effectively react and reduce Ag⁺ ions to Ag⁰ was evident from the FT-IR spectra. The particles are predominantly spherical in shape and varied from 5 to 80 nm in size. As Suggested from the analysis by SEM and TEM, majority of them fall between 5 nm and 20 nm. A composite solution of AgNPs with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was electrospun into films and tested on 8 human clinical isolates including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The PVA-AgNP films showed enormous activity against the MRSA prompting further study as wound dressings in the Wistar albino rat model. Although the animal study was abruptly terminated owing to the pandemic-induced lock down, the preliminary study results for 9 days suggest the potential clinical applications of these wound dressings. The synthesized AgNPs with and without PVA demonstrated good anti-oxidant activity and highly significant (P = 0.001) zones of inhibition with eighteen clinical isolates were tested.

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT PASTEURIZATION AND STERILIZATION METHODS FOR OYSTER MUSHROOM SUBSTRATES

2023-10-27T13:56:01+02:00

Oyster mushrooms can be cultivated with great spatial efficiency, on nutrient-poor plant materials, without light and under diverse climatic conditions. Their production therefore has a great potential for improving food security, especially in impoverished and overpopulated areas. However, the pasteurization or sterilization of mushroom substrates uses a lot of energy and water. This study investigates the impact of different pasteurization and sterilization techniques on the growth and yield of oyster mushrooms, and evaluates their water and energy usage. The efficacy of heat-based methods, including hot water, hot air, and pressurized steam, as well as a chemical method utilizing hydrated lime (Ca(OH)₂) were assessed. The results show that sterilizing mushroom substrates through autoclaving can significantly increase the dry yields, up to 50% compared to pasteurization methods. However, pasteurization methods also achieved excellent results compared to untreated substrates, with good harvests and low pest occurrence. The mushroom water content was significantly higher in pasteurization methods where the substrate is submerged in water. In terms of fresh yield, hot water pasteurization was as good as autoclaving and significantly better than the other pasteurization methods. Hot air pasteurization has, on balance, a better water and energy efficiency than autoclave sterilization (about 75 % less energy) or hot water pasteurization (about 85 % less water). When performed at an air temperature of 75° C, which was found to be sufficient for successful mushroom cultivation, as little as 1068 kJ was needed to pasteurize one kg of dry substrate (e.g. maize straw). While hydrated lime pasteurization could use as little as 270 kJ per kg of dry substrate, it is very wasteful of water, as is hot water pasteurization and could lead to nutrient leaking. The success of mushroom cultivation, especially with hot air pasteurization, could also be influenced by the duration of substrate soaking before treatment. The study provides slight evidence, although inconclusive, for a positive effect of prolonged soaking periods on yield. Lastly, the study discusses the applicability of different disinfection techniques at varying production scales and for different mushroom species, focusing on African countries, where comparably small mushroom economies are growing rapidly, but often through the use of unsustainable pasteurization technology.

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY POTENTIAL OF ALOE VERA GEL: ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS IN HEPG2 AND L929

2023-12-04T16:11:14+01:00

Background: The place of natural and herbal products in alternative therapy is very important. A.vera is also an important plant that can be used in alternative therapy. Our study aimed to determine the antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effects of Aloe vera gel on HepG2 and L929 cell lines. Methods: The effects of A.vera on HepG2 and L929 were evaluated via the MTT analysis. The total antioxidant status and DPPH methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity. Results: In our study, the mean cytotoxic effect on HepG2 of A.vera was determined to be 60.47 mg/mL at 24 hours and 44.64 mg/mL at 48 hours. In a healthy L929 fibroblast cell line, the best stimulating effect of A. vera was in 48 hours, and the EC50 value was calculated as 21.98±18.87 µg/ml. TAS was determined to be 0.2 mmol/L in A. vera. Free radical scavenging activity was determined at 21.58 mg/mL Conclusions: According to the obtained data, it was determined that A. vera gel has a concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on HepG2, while it has a proliferative effect on healthy cells. The fact that A. vera gel has antioxidant capacity, together with its positive effects on cells, shows that it can be an important support in treatments.

ABUNDANCE AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF HOUSE FLY MUSCA DOMESTICA (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) WITH STUDY TO ASSOCIATED PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

2023-12-04T10:21:06+01:00

The common house fly, Musca domestica L., is a mechanical vector of numerous diseases that may be spread from one living thing to another by sponging their mouthparts on their body and leg hairs after they have vomited. House flies (Musca domestica) have been known as a mechanical vector in spreading infectious diseases such as cholera, shigellosis, salmonellosis and skin infections. The present study aims to investigate the abundance of M. domestica adults in an urban region of Cairo Governorate, Egypt, throughout one year and bacterial diversity on its body surface. Adults of M. domestica were collected monthly by hunting. Collected adults were subjected to molecular identification. Bacteria were isolated from the surface of flies' body pieces and identified by automated identification systems (VITEK). Obtained data revealed that the highest abundance (201.67±15.57) was recorded in May 2022, while the lowest abundance (17.33±0.57) was recorded in April 2023. Also, M. domestica abundance positively correlated significantly (P≤0.001) with temperature (r= 0.895) and relative humidity (r= 0.827). Musca domestica species were molecularly identified, and the sequences were then banked on NCBI under the accession numbers OQ784762-OQ784764. The highest bacterial pathogen presence were Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. (77.0 %). Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonias had the lowest presence (total of 23.0 %). On the other hand, the results of antibiotic sensitivity revealed that Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia are more resistant to several antibiotics than Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli.

CHITINASE CHRONICLES: UNVEILING EVOLUTION, MECHANISMS, CLONING, AND APPLICATIONS

2023-12-18T08:45:40+01:00

Chitin, the second most ubiquitous polysaccharide (after cellulose) is found in the shells of crustaceans, insects, and some fungi and in the internal structures of many vertebrates. Chitinases catalyze the cleavage of β-1,4 glycosidic linkages in chitin and contribute to the generation of carbon and nitrogen in the ecosystem. Chitinases can be used to control pests and diseases in plants. Chitinases can also enhance plant growth by breaking down chitin in the soil and making nutrients more available to plants. Chitinases can be used to break down chitin in agricultural and industrial waste to produce biofuels. Chitinases can also be used to develop new anti-fungal drugs to treat fungal infections. In the food industry chitinases can be used to extract protein from shrimp and other crustacean shells, that can be used as a food ingredient. Further, chitinases can be used in the textile industry to improve the texture of the fabric and waste management strategies. Overall, chitinases have a wide range of potential applications in various industries, and ongoing research is exploring new applications for this versatile enzyme. Conceivable outcomes of a few possible utilizations of chitinases make it an intriguing objective polymer for protein engineering. Hence, this article focuses on properties of chitinase, its mechanism of action, cloning strategy for commercial production and various associated applications. Here, in-silico agarose gel analysis of the PCR product with 1Kb maker has been carried out after cloning.

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) REPRODUCTION IN IN VITRO CULTURE USING ELEMENTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY

2024-01-15T10:07:44+01:00

The elements of chemotherapy for the recovery of potato plants in vitro were selected. The influence of various modifications of the nutrient medium on changes in morphological parameters was investigated. The process of reproduction of potato plants of different varieties was studied. It was experimentally proved that in vitro potato recovery with elements of chemotherapy ensures the reproduction of the source material on a virus-free basis by inhibiting the activity of viruses and bacteria with virus inhibitory and antibacterial drugs. The absence of viruses in the obtained material is confirmed by the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) diagnostics.

Studies have shown that the use of Noviryn is the most effective element of chemotherapy for Serpanok and Skarbnytsia varieties. Its action contributed to an increase in plant height and the number of leaves per shoot, and increased the multiplication factor to 4.5 and 3.9, respectively. The use of Noviryn in combination with Dekasan is the best option for improving Mezhyrichka 11 variety and leads to the improvement of certain morphological parameters (+4.5 cm of stem length, +3.5 of leaves) and the multiplication coefficient (+1.0). The use of Noviryn in combination with Salicylic Acid had a positive effect on changes in the morphological parameters of all potato varieties under study. It should be noted that during the growing season in the field, the first field generation of in vitro plants was resistant to secondary infection with viral diseases.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO PROSPECTIVE APPLICATIONS OF NANOSILVER, PRODUCED USING TEFF (Eragrostis tef) FLOUR EXTRACT

2023-08-01T10:44:41+02:00

Silver-based nanomaterials have etched an indelible mark in multiple domains. The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has received significant attention over the last few years vis-à-vis the conventional use of toxic chemicals and reagents in the preparatory stages. In this milieu, the work reported here highlights the use of an aqueous extract of teff (Eragrostis tef) flour to prepare silver nanoparticles (TSNPs). The compositional abundance of various phytochemicals, sunlight-induced bio-reduction of silver ions, and subsequent stabilization of the nanostructures by teff’s biomolecules were adroitly exploited. UV-visible spectroscopic analysis was employed to track the evolution of the TSNPs over time and their month-long storage stability. Exhibiting λ_max at around 426 nm and energy gap (as revealed by Tauc’s plot) of 2.26 eV, the silver nanomaterial was employed for methylene blue dye degradation (50% degradation in less than 20 min) and DPPH scavenging (IC₅₀ = 243.42 μL containing 410 μg of TSNPs), attesting their catalytic and anti-oxidant potency. On the other hand, anticoagulant action and a concentration-dependent variation were noted for radicle length post germination of Cicer arientinum seeds, treated with the TSNPs. The TSNPs could have profound implications in multiple domains.

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CZECH WINES INCLUDING WINES FROM ORGANIC PRODUCTION

2023-11-13T14:14:01+01:00

Ensuring the safety of wine as worldwide major beverage commodity is of paramount importance for many control institutions and research groups. This study delves into the elemental composition of Czech wines, with a particular focus on wines from organic production, to comprehensively assess their safety in terms of elemental contaminants. The investigation aims to shed light on potential risks associated with trace elements and heavy metals in wines and to compare these risks between conventionally produced and organically produced wines. The work further focuses on major nutritionally important elements in wine. The aim of this article was screening of elemental composition (Mg, Ca, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Al, P) of Czech white wines (Moravia region) of different varieties and vintages. Total of 45 samples of different vintage and varieties were analyzed. 35 samples were conventionally produced, 10 samples were produced in the organic production regime. Elemental composition comparison of organic and conventional wines was evaluated. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for the analysis of wine. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for the data evaluation. Results of this study extended the knowledge about the elemental composition of Czech wines and presents the comparison with wines from different important wine regions. Results showed that Czech wines are not deviating fundamentally from wines from Europe, Australia, and South America in terms of concentration of Mg, Ca, K, P, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni and Al. Important fact, connected to food safety, is that all tested wines complied with national and European legislation and with OIV limits. Statistically significant differences were found in case of Zn, Ni, Mn, Al, Cd and Mg on significancy level 0.05. Except magnesium, higher concentrations of these metals were found in samples of conventional wines. A more in-depth analysis has attributed these differences to application of synthetic pesticides, for example dithiocarbamate mancozeb.

TRADITIONAL FERMENTED FOOD AND BEVERAGES OF WEST BENGAL: AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW ON MICROBIOLOGY, NUTRITION, AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES

2023-05-12T13:52:20+02:00

From ancient times, fermentation has been utilized globally by various ethnic communities to preserve and store locally available foods items. Traditionally, fermented food and beverages have been an integral part of cultural and social ceremonies of these communities. Fermented food products have been shown to have immense health benefits and are slowly gaining popularity among younger generations. The state of West Bengal (India) has an array of geographically diverse ethnic communities and rich food culture. In this article, a few of the most popular fermented food and beverages across entire West Bengal have been looked into from microbiological and nutritional point of view. The preparation process of each product has been discussed in brief along with the positive and negative aspects of fermented food and beverages. We also compared the main ingredients and end product of fermentation with respect to nutritional value. Many families earn livelihood from selling homemade fermented food and beverages but they should be trained properly to avoid food borne infections, poisoning or fatalities from consumption of fermented products. Development is also needed in making specific government regulations regarding the fermented food and beverages. It is also essential to document and study the existing as well as unexplored fermented food and beverages and standardizing their preparation process as there is a huge scope of commercialization of fermented food products.

ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES BASED ON IDENTIFICATON MARKERS TO DIFFERENTIATE MEDIUM ROASTED COFFEA ARABICA REGARDING DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN

2023-10-27T11:31:06+02:00

Traceability in the coffee supply chain is crucial for ensuring transparency and authenticity. It helps safeguard the interests of both producers and consumers by minimizing the risk of fraudulent practices and ensuring fair trade. Different geographical origins can lead to variances in coffee taste, quality of product and economic value. Just because controlling the authenticity of the geographical origin of coffee beans is of great importance for producers and consumers worldwide. This study determined parameters (caffeine, chlorogenic acids, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total polyphenols content (TPC) volatile compounds, pH, water activity a_w and dry matter) based on which was testing classification of geographical origin of coffee beans. For this research, six samples of 100% Coffea arabica medium roasting coffee beans, from the two major growing country of America and Africa were studied. As part of the research, variability in chemical composition based on geographical origin was confirmed. For America samples were significant parameters TAC, 4.5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3.5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, caffeine and chlorogenic acids. Second group was sample from Africa. For these samples was determine parameter like TPC, cryptochlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and pH. Volatile substances, caffeine, pH, chlorogenic acids were considered the most important parameters that can help to identify the geographical origin.

ULTRASOUND-ENZYME ASSISTED EXTRACTION OF POLYPHENOL AND AMYLASE ENZYME FROM VIETNAMESE RAMIE LEAVES: PREDICTIVE MODELING DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION STUDY

2023-12-18T08:43:06+01:00

Ramie leaves are rich in antioxidant polyphenols and amylase enzyme, which could be a good source for food applications. This study investigated the impact of combined ultrasound-enzyme treatment (U-EAT), including ultrasound intensity (10-30%), content of Viscozyme L. enzyme addition (0.5-1%) and extraction time (5-15 min) on polyphenol recovery, antioxidant activity, and amylase activity. The result revealed that U-EAT could enhance the efficiency of extraction, with a significantly higher yield of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity, and amylase enzyme activity compared to an untreated sample. Multiple regression analysis was applied to predict the efficacy of extraction through the values of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and enzyme activity. The established models shown high accuracy in predicting the effect of the extracted conditions on the yield of the extraction of antioxidant and enzyme amylase. It was found that the maximum yield of extraction could be obtained when the operation conditions were ultrasound intensity of 26.5%, enzyme concentration of 0.87% and extraction time of 10.88 min. Under these optimal conditions, the highest values were found (TPC of 99.047 mgGAE/100 g, antioxidant activity of 65.02% and amylase activity of 45.36 U/mL). In summary, the findings indicate that the utilization of ultrasound combined with the enzymatic extraction process of polyphenol and amylase enzyme from ramie leaves holds potential for enhancing both the extraction yield and bioactivity of the extract. Further study should be concerned with the process of producing food ingredients or products from this extract.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF PROTEINS IN FARM ANIMAL FEEDING

2023-11-14T10:02:50+01:00

The global demand for protein is on the rise owing to the exponential increase in the world population and to meet the global protein requirements, it is imperative to seek alternative sources of proteins in farm animal feeding. Recognizing the importance of proteins and the fact that a major portion of human protein requirements is derived from livestock in the form of meat, milk, and eggs, the available protein-feeding stuff in the form of soybean meal cannot be regarded as sufficient for feeding to livestock. Oil seeds such as rapeseed meal and canola meal have a crude protein content of 30%-40% and are widely used and hence a potential alternative protein source to soybean meal. Going forward, Grain legumes such as peas, faba beans, and lupins, another alternative source of proteins have the potential to replace traditional protein feeds completely or partially such as bone and fish meals. Duckweed with a protein content of 20%-45% is another plant-based potential protein source that can be employed in livestock feeding particularly pigs owing to its huge potential as a growth promoter as evidenced by studies in pigs and piglets. Because of their nutritional qualities and possible environmental advantages, insects represent another class of alternative protein sources that have enormous potential to function as sustainable protein sources. Several insect species have been assessed for use as animal feeds; the most promising ones include the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor, TM), the common house fly (MD), and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI). Byproducts from aquaculture and fisheries are abundant in macro- and micronutrients, and their utilisation can provide fishmeal and fish oil, which can then be further adapted for use as a source of protein in animal nutrition. Employing microalgae as an alternative source of protein in animal feeding is somehow a new concept. Many nutritional and toxicological studies have demonstrated the potential of algae biomass as a valued feed supplement or substitute for conventional protein sources such as soybean meal. While these alternative protein sources in livestock feeding may serve as useful tools, parameters such as feed safety and acceptability should be monitored based on feed safety regulations.