Bacteria Bacillus Subtilis Research Articles

IMPROVEMENT OF ORGANIC TECHNOLOGY OF TABLE CARROT GROWING ON THE RIDGE

The article considers the biological significance of table carrots in human life and the country's economy. It is concluded that the value of table carrots, first of all, is explained by the presence in its composition of a large set of useful substances for the vital functions of the human body. The special value of carrots is that its varieties have an orange color of roots containing carotene (provitamin A), which in humans and animals is converted into vitamin A. Named the most promising hybrids of carrots, lists the basic climatic requirements for growing high yields of this vegetable. The most important conditions of organic carrot cultivation are briefly described. The stages of the technological scheme of carrot cultivation by organic technology are described and the influence of organic cultivation technology on the biometrics of the carrot plant in 2018–2020 is estimated. Analyzing the results of a field experiment on organic cultivation of table carrots, we can say that as a result of organic cultivation and simultaneous application of organo-mineral fertilizer HelpRost vegetables or HelpRost Boron plant height of Abaco F1 hydride was the highest and amounted to 76 cm, which exceeded the height of control plants almost 1.5 times. The variants in which the Abaco F1 and CB 7381 MS F1 hybrids were grown were characterized by the corresponding length. In these variants, the length of the root was the longest and was 16 and 17 cm, respectively, which exceeded the control variant by 4 and 5 cm, respectively. It was found that the bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus subtilis of the biological product of BTU-Center and chelated microelements, improve the biometrics of the plant and root crop (most positively for the root of Abaco F1 hydride where their value can be 5.1 cm. The yield of table carrot hybrids using organic technology, t / ha for 2018–2020 was studied and it is said that the highest yield can be obtained by growing Abaco F1 hybrid, where its value reaches 68 t / ha . During the cultivation of hybrids Bolivar F1 and SV 7381 MS F1 the yield is lower, is only 61.0-62.5 t / ha and exceeded the yield of Olympi F1 hybrid by 9 and 6%, respectively.

Antimicrobial activity of novel naphthyridine compounds

Naphthyridines due to their unique cellular action and variety of biological activities can be potential therapeutic agents against various microbial infections. They are widely used as chemotherapeutics for infectious diseases as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, anti-allergic, anti- cancerous drugs and they are also being used as anti-psychotic, anti-depressant, anti-convulsant, anti- Alzheimer’s, anti- analgesic, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-hypertensive compounds. Stability under extreme conditions and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity has made naphthyridine compounds popular among researchers. The pharmacologically active nitrogenous compounds and their derivatives have attracted considerable attention in the past few decades due to their chemotherapeutical value and parcel of the bimolecular diversity. Herein, investigation, 10 novel naphthyridine derivatives were examined for their antimicrobial activity on three bacteria (Escherichia coli (MTCC-1310) Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-2395), Enterococcus faecalis (MTCC-3159)) and four fungi (Aspergillus niger (MTCC-4325) Pencillum chrysogenum (MTCC-2725), Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC-2087) and Drechslera sp.(MTCC-7120). Antimicrobial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method. Amphotericin B and streptomycin were used as standard drugs. Out of all the compounds tested, 8,10-Dibromo-6-phenyl-6a,7,10,12-tetrahydro-1,7,12atriaza-benzo[a] anthrac en-12-one and 8,10-Dibromo-6-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-1,7,12a-triazabenzo [a]anthracen-12-one compounds were found to possess potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties zone of inhibition respectively. Maximum anti-microbial activity was observed against Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger and Escherichia coli whereas Enterococcus faecalis and Pencillum chrysogenum exhibited minimum zone of inhibition against these compounds. Antimicrobial activity is highly influenced by the type of halogen atom and position of its substitution in the molecules.

Influence of biochar and microorganism co-application on stabilization of cadmium (Cd) and improved maize growth in Cd-contaminated soil.

Cadmium (Cd) is one the leading environmental contaminants. The Cd toxicity and its potential stabilization strategies have been investigated in the recent years. However, the combined effects of biochar and microorganisms on the adsorption of Cd and maize plant physiology, still remained unclear. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of biochar (BC) pyrolyzed from (maize-straw, cow-manure, and poultry-manure, and microorganisms [Trichoderma harzianum (fungus) and Bacillus subtilis (bacteria)], on plant nutrient uptake under various Cd-stress levels (0, 10, and 30 ppm). The highest level of Cd stress (30 ppm) caused the highest reduction in maize plant biomass, intercellular CO2, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis rate as compared to control Cd0 (0 ppm). The sole application of BC and microorganisms significantly improved plant growth, intercellular CO2, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis rate and caused a significant reduction in root and shoot Cd. However, the co-application of BC and microorganisms was more effective than the sole applications. In this regard, the highest improvement in plant growth and carbon assimilation, and highest reduction in root and shoot Cd was recorded from co-application of cow-manure and combined inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum (fungus) + Bacillus subtilis (bacteria) under Cd stress. However, due to the aging factor and biochar leaching alkalinity, the effectiveness of biochar in removing Cd may diminish over time, necessitating long-term experiments to improve understanding of biochar and microbial efficiency for specific bioremediation aims.

Designing antimicrobial polypropylene films with grape pomace extract for food packaging

Grape pomace (mixture of skins and seeds) is a residual by-product of the winemaking process, rich in polyphenolic compounds that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and can be recycled to manufacture fruit extracts to be used in new technological products. The use of non-toxic substances is exciting for developing packagings that are in direct contact with food, as components present in the polymer might migrate to the food. Moreover, the gradual release of these non-toxic bioactive components confers long-term antimicrobial activity to these PP films enriched with grape pomace extract. In addition, the use of raw materials from natural and renewable origins to manufacture antimicrobial packaging contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly industrial production and to mitigate environmental impacts. In this research, bactericidal isotactic polypropylene (PP) was developed using grape pomace extract as an antimicrobial additive and presents low water vapor permeability and antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria, showing potential to function as an active and safer polymeric food packaging.

Enhanced ferro magnetism of (Cu, Fe/Mn) dual doped ZnO nanoparticles and assessment of in-vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity for magnetically guided immunotherapy and hyperthermia applications

Cu and Fe/Mn dual doped ZnO magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) had been synthesized by sol-gel method. Characterization of synthesized MNPs showed the fine and significant size of MNPs, it had ferromagnetism property at room temperature, and (Cu, Fe) dual doped MNPs were found to have maximum saturation magnetization with larger hysteresis area. In-vitro cytotoxic assessment of these MNPs revealed that 20 ng of Cu doped ZnO MNPs are nontoxic to human PBMC with 60% viable cell count, whereas Fe dopant increases cell viability by 5% in the same concentration. These MNPs showed a significant (20–25 mm ZOI) antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis bacteria. Particularly Fe dopant showed increased antimicrobial activity against gram-positive (B. subtilis), whereas Mn dopant doesn't have considerable antimicrobial activity. Having known that these MNPs are biocompatible with the ferromagnetic property they may be considered for magnetic guided immunotherapy and hyperthermia applications.

Influence of different food models and storage temperatures on the bacterial growth inhibition by maltodextrin laurate and sucrose laurate and investigation of their cytotoxicity

Maltodextrin esterified to laurate (ML) was synthesized enzymatically and compared to commercial sucrose laurate (SL) for microbial growth-inhibitory properties in food systems. There was broad microbial inhibition by ML in growth media, but practical information about various foods and storage temperatures is limited with no toxicological information. This research investigated the antimicrobial property of ML against two spoilage bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus plantarum) in growth media and related food models stored at different temperatures (4 °C, 22 °C, and 35 °C). Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity of ML was investigated in human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells and human normal colon epithelial CCD 841 CoN cells using a standard colorimetric assay. ML was highly inhibitive against L. plantarum in apple juice at all temperatures tested. SL could inhibit both bacteria in the food models tested (milk, apple juice, tomato ketchup, French dressing) at 4 °C. ML was not observed to be cytotoxic to either cell line up to 500 μg/mL, whereas SL was evidently cytotoxic with IC50 ranging from 84 to 94 μg/mL. In conclusion, ML can be an alternative to commercial SL as a safe food additive in certain products.

Coculturing of Mucor plumbeus and Bacillus subtilis bacterium as an efficient fermentation strategy to enhance fungal lipid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) production

This study aimed to improve lipid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) production of an oleaginous fungus, Mucor plumbeus, through coculturing with Bacillus subtilis bacteria, optimising the environmental and nutritional culture conditions, and scaling them for batch fermentation. The maximum levels of biomass, lipid, fatty acid, and GLA in a 5 L bioreactor containing cellobiose and ammonium sulfate as the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, achieved during the coculturing processes were 14.5 ± 0.4 g/L, 41.5 ± 1.3, 24 ± 0.8, and 20 ± 0.5%, respectively. This strategy uses cellobiose in place of glucose, decreasing production costs. The nutritional and abiotic factor results suggest that the highest production efficiency is achieved at 6.5 pH, 30 °C temperature, 10% (v/v) inoculum composition, 200 rpm agitation speed, and a 5-day incubation period. Interestingly, the GLA concentration of cocultures (20.0 ± 0.5%) was twofold higher than that of monocultures (8.27 ± 0.11%). More importantly, the GC chromatograms of cocultures indicated the presence of one additional peak corresponding to decanoic acid (5.32 ± 0.20%) that is absent in monocultures, indicating activation of silent gene clusters via cocultivation with bacteria. This study is the first to show that coculturing of Mucor plumbeus with Bacillus subtilis is a promising strategy with industrialisation potential for the production of GLA-rich microbial lipids and prospective biosynthesis of new products.

Isolation and identification of microorganisms associated with fermented cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for the production of Akpu

Akpu, an acid-fermented cassava product traditionally produced and consumed in Nigeria and other West African countries and hence it is necessary that microbiological study is varied out to evaluate its consumption safety and quality the isolated organisms can play an important role in industrial processes. This study looks into the possibility of utilizing cassava waste water as a source of industrial isolate for further purpose; it involves isolating and identifying the organisms present during the akpu production so as to make and ensure a safe product. The cassava tubers were harvested, peeled and soaked in the water for 4 days. The retting was closely monitored for the 4day period after which the mash was cultured on appropriate media to determine the organisms present. The methods used involve traditional retting method to ret the tubers in the laboratory. Isolation and identification of microorganism associated with fermented cassava for the production of akpu was examined. During the 4th day of retting process a total of seven microorganisms were isolated from the retting water. Three bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis Staphylococcus aureus, while fungi and yeasts isolated were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillusspp and Rhizopusstolonifer. The presence, number and the kind of microorganisms during the fermentation to Akpu could be as a result processing contamination and microbial flora present in the cassava tuber. The consumption of akpu is very high in Nigeria and hence safety in the production process should be considered.

Phytochemical Analysis, and Anti-Microbial Activities of Ethanol Extract of Cordia myxa Fruit: In vitro Study

The fruit of Cordia myxa (C. myxa) grown under climatic conditions in Iraq has a great advantage for its sticky mucilaginous pulp, which is consumed to relieve coughs and chest pains, as well as to treat a sore throat, due to its medicinal properties. So that, the present study was undertaken to estimate the bio-active compounds of an ethanol extract of C. myxa fruit, by GC–MS and HPLC analysis, as well as to evaluate their antibacterial activities using agar diffusion test. GC–MS revealed the existence of 19 major compounds in the ethanol extract of C. myxa fruit, furthermore, HPLC analysis revealed that C. myxa fruit extract contains gallic acid, fereulic acid, chlorogenic, Caffeic acid, and Cummaric acid. The extract exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungal species (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus brasiliensis). The results indicate that the presence of additional bioactive chemicals can be linked to the considerable antimicrobial activity associated with ethanol extract of C. myxa fruit.

Spectroscopic Analyses and Antimicrobial Activity of Novel Ciprofloxacin and 7-Hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, the Plant-Based Natural Benzopyrone Derivative.

Coumarin is highly distributed in nature, notably in higher plants. The biological features of coumarin include antibacterial, anticancer and antioxidant effects. It is well known that metal ions present in complexes accelerate the drug action and the efficacy of organic therapeutic agents. The main aim of the current study is the synthesis of different complexes of the interaction between ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and coumarin derivative 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (HMC) with Zr(IV). The chelates of CIP with Zr(IV) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, conductance measurements, spectroscopic techniques involving IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR, and thermal behavior (TG-DTG) in the presence of HMC, dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine (Py), and triethylamine (Et3N). Results of molar conductivity tests showed that the new synthesized complexes are electrolytes with a 1:1 or 1:2 electrolyte ratio, with the chloride ions functioning as counter ions. According to IR spectra, CIP acts as a neutral bidentate ligand with Zr(IV) through one carboxylato oxygen and the carbonyl group, HMC as a monodentate through the carbonyl group, and DMF through the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group and the N atom of Py and Et3N. The thermal behavior of the complexes was carefully investigated using TG and DTG techniques. TG findings signal that water molecules are found as hydrated and coordinated. The thermal decomposition mechanisms proposed for CIP, HMC, and Zr(IV) complexes are discussed and the activation energies (Ea), Gibbs free energies (∆G*), entropies (∆S*), and enthalpies (∆H*) of thermal decomposition reactions have been calculated using Coats–Redfern (CR) and Horowitz–Metzeger (HM) methods. The studied complexes were tested against some human pathogens and phytopathogens, including three Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Brevibacterium otitidis) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae), and compared to the free CIP and HMC parent compounds.

Template Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization and Antimicrobial Studies of Oxovanadium(IV) Tetraazamacrocyclic Complexes Derived from 1, 8-Diaminonaphthalene and Substituted β-Diketones

A new series of oxovanadium (IV) tetraazamacrocyclic complexes of type [VO(mac)]SO4, have been synthesized via in situ reaction of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and substituted β-diketones (1-phenyl-3-(phenyl/4-chlorophenyl/4-hydroxyphenyl/4- methoxyphenyl/4-nitrophenyl)-diketone) in the presence of oxovanadium(IV) sulphate in methanol. Attempts to synthesize the corresponding metal free macrocyclic ligands did not prove successful. Complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, conductance measurements, magnetic properties and spectral (electronic, IR, and EPR) data. The magnetic moments of the complexes lie in the range 1.70-1.78BM suitable for complexes with one unpaired electron and paramagnetic nature. The infrared spectra indicates that the ligands coordinate through four aza nitrogen atoms to vanadium(IV). The fluid solution EPR spectra show an eight-line pattern typical for a mononuclear VO(IV) complexes. The spectral studies support a square pyramidal geometry for the oxovanadium(IV) complexes. The oxovanadium complexes were tested for their antibacterial activity against bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and antifungal activity against fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The complexes show moderate to good activity as compared to standard antibiotic tetracycline and the antifungal drug fluconazole.

Optimizing the electronic structure of BiOBr via constructing oxygen-rich vacancies for highly efficient NIR light-driven antibacterial activity

Two-dimensional (2D) layered nanomaterials showed great promise in the photocatalysis due to their unique physical properties. Defect engineering enables significant optimization of the electronic structure of 2D nanomaterials to further enhance their photocatalytic activity. Herein, we designed two oxygen-rich vacancies BiOBr (BBR) and oxygen-poor vacancies BiOBr (BBP) to investigate their photocatalytic activities. The results demonstrated that BBR exhibited much higher activity than BBP in killing Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, E. coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, B. subtilis) under 808 nm laser irradiation. The enhanced antibacterial activity can be attributed to optimized electronic structure of BBR, which leads to more intimate interactions with bacteria, stronger absorption capacity to near-infrared (NIR) light, and longer photocarriers lifetime. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that BBR has a better adsorption of O2, which facilitates the generation of more reactive oxygen species (ROS) for superior activity. This work not only provides a facile approach for constructing oxygen-rich vacancies in BiOBr, but also but also offers new insights to the potential of 2D materials optimized by defect engineering for efficient NIR light-driven antibacterial activity.

Radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of diarylheptanoids and steroids from Etlingera calophrys rhizome

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEtlingera calophrys (Zingiberaceae) is endemic in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and has been used in culinary as a condiment. Up till now, reports on the phytochemistry as well as the pharmacological properties of this plant is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents and biological activities of E. calophrys rhizome. MethodsThe compounds were isolated and purified from the methanol extract of the rhizome using several chromatographic techniques and the chemical structures were identified using NMR. Radical scavenging activity was done using DPPH technique, while antimicrobial activity was performed using microdilution method against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus mutans), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica), and a Gram-positive fungus (Candida albicans). In addition, docking study of isolated compounds was also performed. ResultsNine compounds were isolated from E. calophrys and classified as diarylheptanoids and steroids. These compounds showed scavenging activity with IC50 ranging from 25.1 to 398.2 μg/mL. The methanol extract was found to have antibacterial properties against B. subtilis, E. coli, and S. enterica with MIC values of 512, 256, and 128 μg/mL, respectively. Three diarylheptanoids (7–9) exhibited moderate antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MIC up to 8 μg/mL. Molecular docking analysis against xanthine oxidase showed that yakuchinone B (9) was capable of attaining similar interactions with native ligand (HPA) while acquiring much more negative XP docking score, which is in accordance with the present experimental antiradical activity. ConclusionsDiarylhepatonoids 7–9 isolated from E. calophyrs exhibited scavenging and antimicrobial activities against several bacteria. One of diarylhepatanoids also showed inhibition of xanthin oxidase activity in silico.

Development of Biodegradable/Biocompatible Nanoliposome-Encapsulated Antimicrobial Essential Oils for Topical Creams and Gels.

Nanoencapsulation with safe materials improves delivery, stability, and activity of bioactive components. We report a novel safe, and effective method for the development of encapsulated antimicrobial essential oils (EO) for topical creams and gels. The method developed features three aspects that, to our knowledge, had not been previously demonstrated: (1) use of novel liposomes (LPs) to encapsulate EOs, (2) use of the EOs to replace synthetic organic solvents that are potentially toxic and/or leave harmful residues, and (3) an encapsulation process at temperatures below the boiling point of water. The LPs were made from soy lecithin, phytosterol, and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) that were synthesized using the EOs as the solvent. The liposomes were converted to nanoliposomes (NLPs) through a series of sonication, homogenization, and extrusion steps. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the NLPs alone and nanoliposome encapsulated EOs (NLP-EOs) were spherical in shape with sizes ranging between 50 and 115 nm diameter and with negative zeta potentials ranging from −34 to −43 mV. There was no significant heavy metal contamination [As, Pb, Cd, Hg] based on inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry MS analyses. Nearly complete EO encapsulation (95% encapsulation efficiency) was achieved and confirmed by GC/MS. Three of the NLP-EOs made of various essential oils were used to make topical formulations (cream and gel) which exhibited antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Bacillus subtilis (Gram positive) bacteria. The creams with NLP-EOs were as active against the two bacteria in the antimicrobial assays as the conventional antibiotic Kanamycin that was used as positive control.

Effect of supplementation of probiotics and rumen buffer on performance of lactating buffaloes

The study involved 12 Murrah buffaloes which were divided into two groups of six each viz. Control (T0) and Treatment group (T1). The buffaloes from Group T0 received standard concentrate mixture and roughages as per the routine practice of the farm. Whereas Group T1 received same ration as that of Group T0 along with supplement containing probiotics like yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus amyloliquifaciens) and rumen buffer 10 g/day/animal. The experiment lasted for 91 days. The average daily milk yield and FCM yield, DMI, TDN and DCP intake of buffaloes from Treatment group (T1) was significantly (P˂0.01) higher than Control group. The efficiency of feed utilization in terms of dry matter required per kg of FCM yield produced was significantly (P˂0.01) better in Group T1 than Control group. The average milk fat, protein, total solids, SNF and lactose percentage of Group T1 was significantly (P˂0.01) higher than Control group. The average somatic cell count of milk of buffaloes form Group T1 was significantly (P˂0.05) lower than Control group. The economics of the study showed an extra profit of ₹ 25.20 in Supplemented group over Control group.

A Novel Probiotic Bacillus subtilis Strain Confers Cytoprotection to Host Pig Intestinal Epithelial Cells during Enterotoxic Escherichia coli Infection.

ABSTRACTEnteric infections caused by enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) negatively impact the growth performance of piglets during weaning, resulting in significant economic losses for the producers. With the ban on antibiotic usage in livestock production, probiotics have gained a lot of attention as a potential alternative. However, strain specificity and limited knowledge on the host-specific targets limit their efficacy in preventing ETEC-related postweaning enteric infections. We recently isolated and characterized a novel probiotic Bacillus subtilis bacterium (CP9) that demonstrated antimicrobial activity. Here, we report anti-ETEC properties of CP9 and its impact on metabolic activity of swine intestinal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells. Our results showed that pre- or coincubation with CP9 protected IPEC-J2 cells from ETEC-induced cytotoxicity. CP9 significantly attenuated ETEC-induced inflammatory response by reducing ETEC-induced nitric oxide production and relative mRNA expression of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs; TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9), proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins (ILs; IL-6 and IL-8), augmenting anti-inflammatory granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and host defense peptide mucin 1 (MUC1) mRNA levels. We also show that CP9 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced caspase-3 activity, reinstated cell proliferation and increased relative expression of tight junction genes, claudin-1, occludin, and zona occludens-1 in ETEC-infected cells. Finally, metabolomic analysis revealed that CP9 exposure induced metabolic modulation in IPEC J2 cells with the greatest impact seen in alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; pyrimidine metabolism; nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism; glutathione metabolism; the citrate cycle (TCA cycle); and arginine and proline metabolism. Our study shows that CP9 incubation attenuated ETEC-induced cytotoxicity in IPEC-J2 cells and offers insight into potential application of this probiotic for ETEC infection control.IMPORTANCE ETEC remains one of the leading causes of postweaning diarrhea and mortality in swine production. Due to the rising concerns with the antibiotic use in livestock, alternative interventions need to be developed. In this study, we analyzed the cytoprotective effect of a novel probiotic strain in combating ETEC infection in swine intestinal cells, along with assessing its mechanism of action. To our knowledge, this is also the first study to analyze the metabolic impact of a probiotic on intestinal cells. Results from this study should provide effective cues in developing a probiotic intervention for ameliorating ETEC infection and improving overall gut health in swine production.

Apextrin from Ruditapes philippinarum functions as pattern recognition receptor and modulates NF-κB pathway

Apextrin belongs to ApeC-containing proteins (ACPs) and features a signal-peptide, an N-terminal membrane attack complex component/perforin (MACPF) domain, and a C-terminal ApeC domain. Recently, apextrin-like proteins were identified as pattern recognition receptor (PRR), which recognize the bacterial cell wall component and participate in innate immunity. Here, an apextrin (Rpape) was identified and characterized in Ruditapes philippinarum. Our results showed that Rpape mRNA was significantly induced under bacterial challenges. The Rpape recombinant protein exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and bound with Vibrio anguillarum, S. aureus and B. subtilis. We found Rpape protein positively activated the NF-κB signaling cascade and increased the activity of Nitric oxide (NO). This study revealed the immunity role of apextrin in R. philippinarum and provided a reference for further study on the role of apextrin in bivalves.

Multi-strain probiotics show increased protection of intestinal epithelial cells against pathogens in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in aquaculture facilities adversely affects fish and environmental health, motivating the search for alternative products such as probiotics. The present study investigated the immune modulatory effects of inoculating the intestinal epithelial cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with the probiotic bacteria Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bacillus subtilis alone (single-strains) or as mixtures, which either include or exclude B. subtilis (PWBsubtilis or PWOBsubtilis, respectively). To this end, isolated intestinal epithelial cells were either incubated without probiotics or with the single- or multi-strain probiotics and then challenged with common pathogens in aquaculture. The adhesion of probiotic and pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal cells was examined by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy and the relative expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes was assessed through quantitative real-time PCR. Although the highest inhibition of pathogen adhesion was observed for L. reuteri alone (88%), PWOBsubtilis and PWBsubtilis inhibited 77% and 71% of pathogen attachment, respectively. Single- and multi-strain probiotics were able to elicit an immune response by activation of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines production in rainbow trout intestinal epithelial cells. This expression was generally highest for multi-strain probiotics, particularly for PWBsubtilis. The tested probiotics present different modes of action, considering their inhibition capability and immunomodulatory effects. Hence the use of multi-strain products may promote a wider range of synergies on pathogens invasion and inhibition, and immunomodulatory effects that can represent an advantage to disease outbreaks prevention in rainbow trout production.

Investigation on Durability Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Concrete with Steel Slag/Bacteria beneath Diverse Exposure Conditions

One of society's most perplexing concerns is trash management. Among them is steel slag, which is obtained from steel mills and is used in the building industry as a partial substitution ingredient in concrete. To ensure that the concrete lasts the desired service life without deteriorating, bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) are introduced to ensure that the construction performs as planned. The research is focused on the M30 grade concrete mix specified in the Indian Standard Code. Concrete specimens containing fiber, steel slag, and bacteria are subjected to a variety of environmental conditions, including extreme, extremely severe, severe, moderate, and mild. The ultrasonic pulse velocity, sorptivity, water absorption, rapid chloride penetration, and acid resistance characteristics of the fiber-reinforced bacterial concrete are compared to those of regular concrete specimens.

Citric acid-mediated green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles: antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticoagulant potential applications.

Using microwave technique in the presence of citric acid, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were fabricated. The morphological characteristics revealed that the spherical SeNPs with diameters ranging from 10.5 to 20 nm aggregated spherical shapes with sizes ranging from 0.67 to 0.83 mm. Moreover, the antioxidant efficacy was assessed by the DPPH radical scavenging test, which depicted that green-prepared nanoparticle at a 106.3 mg/mL dosage had the maximum scavenging capacity (301.1 ± 11.42 mg/g). Otherwise, with nanoparticle concentrations of 500 mg/ml, in vitro cell viability of SeNPs through human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines was reduced to 61.2 ± 2.2% after 1 day of exposure. The antibacterial activity was tested against G-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), G-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which demonstrated that SeNPs had little activity against S. aureus. Still, it had the highest activity against E. coli, with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 25.2 ± 1.5 mm compared to 16.0 ± 0.6 mm for the standard antibiotic. Most notably, biogenic SeNPs have anticoagulant activities using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assessment. Based on previous findings, SeNPs can be used in medical aid and their cell viability, antioxidant, anticoagulant, and effects on bacteria.