Bacteria Bacillus Cereus Research Articles

A Universal Synergistic Rule of Cd(II)-Sb(V) Coadsorption to Typical Soil Mineral and Organic Components

Heavy metals and metalloids are common cooccurrence in contaminated soils, making their behaviors more complex than their individual presences. Adsorption to soil minerals and organic components determines the solubility and mobility of heavy metals. However, little information is available regarding coadsorbing metals (e.g., Cd) and metalloids (e.g., Sb) to soil components, and whether there is a universal coadsorption rule needs to be illuminated. This study investigated the coadsorption behaviors of Cd(II) and Sb(V) to goethite, kaolinite, and bacteria ( Bacillus cereus) at both acidic (pH 4.5) and alkaline pH (pH 8.5). Equilibrium adsorption experiments, coupled with scanning electron microscopy- (SEM-) energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were applied to determine the batch adsorption phenomena and possible mechanisms. Batch results showed that Cd(II) adsorption was greater at pH 8.5 whereas Sb(V) adsorption was greater at pH 4.5. The presence of Cd or Sb promoted each other’s adsorption to goethite, kaolinite, and bacteria, but slight differences were that Sb(V) preferred to enhance Cd(II) adsorption at acidic pH, whereas Cd(II) was more able to increase Sb(V) adsorption at alkaline pH. SEM-EDS analyses further showed that the distribution of Cd and Sb was colocalized. The surface FeOH, AlOH, and COOH groups participated in the binding of Cd(II) and Sb(V), probably through the formation of inner-sphere complexes. Two possible ternary complexes, i.e., sorbent-Cd2+-Sb(OH)6 – and sorbent-Sb(OH)6 –-Cd2+, were possibly formed. Both the charge effect and the formation of ternary complexes were responsible for the collaborative coadsorbing of Cd-Sb. The universal synergistic rule obtained suggests that current models for predicting Cd(II) or Sb(V) sequestration based on single systems may underestimate their solid-to-liquid distribution ratio in a coexistence situation. The results obtained have important implications for understanding the chemical behavior of Sb and Cd in contaminated soils.

Экспериментальная оценка лечебных свойств мази на основе меланинов из природного сырья и глубинной культуры чаги

Introduction. Due to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by pyogenic microbiota, the problem of topical (drug) treatment of wounds has worsened. Aim. Experimental evaluation of the antibiotic properties of melanin from natural raw material and a submerged culture of chaga (Inonotus obliquus) in vitro and the therapeutic properties of ointments prepared on the basis of these melanins in vivo. Materials and Methods. Melanins were obtained by alkaline hydrolysis. The antibiotic activity of melanins was determined by co-cultivation in a liquid medium of the studied samples with six cultures of test strains of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and two of yeast fungi. Ointments based on melanin from natural raw material and the submerged culture of chaga (Inonotus obliquus F-1244 strain) were obtained using two compositions of ointment base. The wound-healing efficacy of ointments was evaluated on three groups of mice. The control groups were mice untreated and treated with a comparison drug (Levomikon-TFF). The treatment of mice was continued until their incised skin wounds healed. Wound areas, motor activity, appetite, dynamics and character of wound healing were assessed daily in mice of all groups, as well as changes in their body weight every three days. Results. Melanins from natural raw materials and the submerged culture of chaga completely suppressed the growth of gram-positive spore-forming Bacillus cereus bacterium in a co-culture. Melanin from natural raw material of chaga on average suppressed the growth of the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 strain by an order of magnitude. Melanin from the submerged chaga culture completely suppressed the growth of a clinical isolate of the highly pathogenic Candida sp. Ft-5 strain from a deceased patient with generalized candida infection and, on average, inhibited the growth of the collection strain of yeast Candida albicans 620 by two orders of magnitude more intensively. It was found that ointments based on melanin from natural raw materials and the submerged culture of chaga, as well as ointment containing a fivefold increased concentration of melanin from natural chaga, do not have toxicity to experimental animals. Ointments containing 0.4 mg of melanin from natural raw material and the submerged chaga culture per 0.2 g of a single dose of ointment had the same wound healing efficacy, while not only were not inferior in this indicator to the combined antimicrobial comparison drug Levomikon-TFF, but also showed a tendency to more accelerated wound healing (on the 15–18th day of observation) compared with the process of wound regeneration in the group of animals treated with the drug of comparison. A more accelerated wound healing effect was demonstrated in experimental animals (already on the 12th day of observation) treated with a fivefold increased content of melanin from natural raw material of chaga, compared with mice treated with the comparison drug. Conclusion. Ointments containing melanin of chaga (Inonotus obliquus) have anti-inflammatory, regenerative properties and can be considered promising for topical treatment of wounds.

Kahramanmaraş İlindeki Paliurus spina-christi Mill. Bitkisinin Antimikrobiyal ve Antioksidan Aktivitelerinin Araştırılması

In this study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the water and ethanol extracts obtained from the fruit and leaves of Paliurus spina-christi Mill., in the city of Kahramanmaras, were investigated. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined using the CUPRAC, DPPH, and ABTS methods, and the results were evaluated by comparing them with those of BHT and Trolox, as standard substances. On the other hand, the antimicrobial activities of the plant extracts were identified using the agar well diffusion method.
 According to the CUPRAC method, the antioxidant activities of the plant extracts at a concentration of 800 µg/mL were found to be lower than those of the standard antioxidant substances. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of the plant was found to be higher than that of Trolox. In the ABTS method, the radical scavenging activity of the fruit of the plant was found to be high and close to those of the standard antioxidants. 
 According to the data obtained from the agar well diffusion method, ethanol extracts obtained from fruit and leaf parts on all microorganisms except Pasteurella multicoda and Bacillus cereus bacteria have the highest zone diameter. The ethanol extract of fruit of the plant was found to be more effective in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans.

Simultaneous Sonochemical Coloration and Antibacterial Functionalization of Leather with Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs).

The development of antibacterial coatings for footwear components is of great interest both from an industry and consumer point of view. In this work, the leather material was developed taking advantage of the intrinsic antibacterial activity and coloring ability of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). The SeNPs were synthesized and implemented into the leather surface by using ultrasonic techniques to obtain simultaneous coloring and functionalization. The formation of SeNPs in the solutions was evaluated using UV/Vis spectroscopy and the morphology of the NPs was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The treated leather material (leather/SeNPs) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The effects of SeNPs on the coloration and antibacterial properties of the leather material were evaluated. The results revealed that the NPs were mostly spherical in shape, regularly distributed, and closely anchored to the leather surface. The particle size distribution of SeNPs at concentrations of 25 mM and 50 mM was in the range of 36–77 nm and 41–149 nm, respectively. It was observed that leather/SeNPs exhibited a higher depth of shade compared to untreated ones, as well as excellent fastness properties. The results showed that leather/SeNPs can significantly enhance the antibacterial activity against model of bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli). Moreover, the resulting leather exhibited low cytotoxicity against HFB4 cell lines. This achievement should be quite appealing to the footwear industry as a way to prevent the spread of bacterial infection promoted by humidity, poor breathability and temperature which promote the expansion of the microflora of the skin.

Molecular Detection of Bacillus cereus in Milk by Polymerase Chain Reaction

It is a valuable and good food source with the ingredients it contains in milk, but if hygienic conditions are not ensured during milking, storage and processing, diseases related to milk and dairy products are likely to occur. More than 90% of these diseases are of bacterial origin. B. cereus, found in the Bacillaceae family, is a significant source of contamination in milk and dairy products due to the presence of psychrotrophic strains. In recent years, it has been reported that milk and milk products contaminated with B. cereus have adverse effects on human health, and toxic substances are formed during the storage of contaminated milk and milk products. 
 This study, it is aimed to molecularly identify the B. cereus bacteria species that cause adverse effects such as food poisoning and loss of quality in milk. In this study, the DNA of Bacillus cereus, one of the microorganisms found in raw milk, was isolated and toxic gene regions were determined at the molecular level by PCR method using specific primers to the gene regions Bacillus cereus. Six primers specific for nheA, nheB, nheC, hblA, hblC, hblD and 16S rRNA gene regions were used for molecular detection of B. cereus in milk samples. At the end of the study, Bacillus cereus bacteria were detected in 8 of the 13 milk samples. It has been revealed that B. cereus can be detected quickly and reliably in milk and dairy products by molecular species identification using specific primers.

Molecular characterization and antibacterial ability of galectin-3 and galectin-9 in Onychostoma macrolepis

Galectins belong to the β-galactoside binding protein family, which have conserved carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) and participate in innate and acquired immunity in animals. In this study, two galectin genes were cloned from Onychostoma macrolepis, OmGal-3 (galectin-3) and OmGal-9 (galectin-9). The open reading frames (ORFs) of OmGal-3 and OmGal-9 contain 732 and 978 base pairs, encoding 243 and 325 amino acids, respectively. OmGal-3 contains a C-terminal CRD, but OmGal-9 contains an N-terminal CRD and a C-terminal CRD. Two galectins were expressed at varying levels in all tissues examined, with the liver showing the highest expression. The relative gene expression levels of OmGal-3 and OmGal-9 following Aeromonas hydrophila infection were significantly up-regulated in the liver and spleen, and OmGal-9 had a greater increase than OmGal-3. The recombinant OmGal-3 and OmGal-9 proteins (rOmGal-3 and rOmGal-9) were authenticated and verified by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. ROmGal-3 and rOmGal-9 agglutinated all tested bacteria, including 3 g-positive bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and 3 g-negative bacteria (Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus) in vivo without Ca2+. ROmGal-3 showed strong binding both to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and OmGal-9 had a stronger binding activity against gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, rOmGal-3 and rOmGal-9 exhibited dose-dependent binding capability to two classic pathogens associated molecular pattern (LPS and PGN) and two sugars (d-lactose and d-galactose), and rOmGal-3 has better binding activity at lower concentrations in LPS and PGN than rOmGal-3. The integrated analyses indicate that the two galectins probably play an important role in innate immune defense by binding to bacterial cells via the CRD domain against pathogen infection.

Antibacterial, Docking, DFT and ADMET Properties Evaluation of Chalcone-Sulfonamide Derivatives Prepared Using ZnO Nanoparticle Catalysis.

IntroductionIn the present work, two novel compounds were synthesized using zinc oxide nanoparticles through green synthesis protocol. The zinc oxide nanoparticles catalyzed reactions were afforded good to excellent yields of the target compounds 76.3–98.6%.MethodologyThe synthesized compounds were characterized by UV-Vis, IR and NMR. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds was screened against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium).Results and DiscussionThe synthesized compounds displayed potent activity against the bacterial strains. Among them, compound 8 showed strong activity against Bacillus cereus relative to the standard drug. On the other hand, compound 9 exhibited strong activity against Escherichia coli. The molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds was conducted to investigate their binding pattern with DNA gyrase and E. coli dihydropteroate synthase and all of them were found to have minimum binding energy ranging from –6.0 to −7.3 kcal/mol, and the best result achieved with compound 8 and 9.ConclusionThe findings of the in vitro antibacterial and molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the synthesized compounds have potential of antibacterial activity and can be further optimized to serve as a lead compound.

Effectiveness of Using Gases for Water Purification with the Same Microbial Load

Purpose of the study is to іnvestigate the effect of gases on the process of water purification from aerobic microorganisms (MO) with the same initial content in the aquatic medium and to identify the nature of the gas in the atmosphere in which the highest degree of destroyed microbial cells per unit volume of water is achieved. Methods. Aerobic bacteria of the Bacillus cereus bacteria type with the initial content of 7 · 104 CFU/cm3 were used for research. The investigated water was model water created on the basis of distilled deaerated waterwith the introduction of bacteria of a specific species. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, as well as inert - argon and helium were used as a studied gases. Process conditions were: duration - 2 hours, gas bubbling rate - 0.2 cm3/c, T = 288 ± 1 K. Has been used a quantitative method of counting the initial and final number of microorganisms (NM) by sowing samples of test water on nutrient medium in Petri dishes before and after experiments. Results. The different efficiency for the water purification process depending on the gas nature is shown. The NM value change of the time of bubbling gases is presented. The degree of destruction of the studied microorganisms was calculated depending on the mode of water treatment and the process duration. The oxygen influence on the process of MO destruction consists of two stages - a slight accumulation of cells (I stage) and their subsequent destruction in the II stage. The percentage of cell accumulation during 3600s during oxygen bubbling into the aqueous medium was 9.43%, which is due to the consumption of bubbling oxygen by bacteria. This led to the lowest process efficiency for the oxygen action in the end of the result (Dd is 34.73% only). The greatest efficiency of MO destruction was found during carbon dioxide bubbling (Dd = 91.0%), which is obviously due to the increase in the acidity of the test medium (pHinitial = 6.1 and pHend = 4.3). The influence of helium on water purification at different microbial load has been studied. It has been shown that the efficiency of cell destruction increases with a decrease of its number per unit volume of water. Conclusions. The influence of the different gases nature on the destruction process of aerobic MO in water with the same and different microbial load is shown. It is established that the process of water purification from MO depends on the nature of the bubbled gas. The gas, the supply of which allowed to achieve the largest number of destroyed cells after 7200 s, was experimentally determined. The highest efficiency of water disinfection is achieved during the action of carbon dioxide. A relative series of effective action of the investigated gases on microbial water purification is established.

The role of betel (Piper betle) leaf extract and glycerol on physical properties of bioplastic based on sago starch

Starch-based bioplastic from sago is one of the potential sources in Indonesia. Since it is made from natural ingredients, it is easier to absorb water and susceptible to the activity of microorganisms. Betel leaf extract is one of natural antimicrobial agent that rich of tannin and flavonoid. This study aims to investigate physical properties and antimicrobial activity of sago (Metroxylon sp.) starch-based bioplastic. The betel leaf was extracted by using the ultrasonication method with ethanol as a solvent. Betel leaf concentrated extract is diluted using aquadest with a concentration of 2 g/100 mL (2%) to be applied as an antimicrobial agent in bioplastics. The compositions of glycerol were varied from 10-30% whereas betel leaf extract from 3-9%(v) in the manufacture of bioplastics. The results show that the highest density of 1.5 g/cm3 was achieved at the composition of glycerol and betel leaf extract, respectively, 30%(v) and 9%(v). The highest water absorption percentage was shown by sample with 30%(v) glycerol without addition of betel leaf extract, that was 83.31%. The antibacterial activity showed that the addition of betel leaf extract to bioplastics was able to inhibit the activity of bacteria (Bacillus cereus). The best inhibition were shown in bioplastics with a variation of 20%(v) glycerol and 9%(v) betel leaf extract addition. However, all variation did not show their inhibition with fungal activity (Aspergillus niger).

Antimicrobial Activity of the Heterocytous Cyanobacterium Westiellopsis prolifica and Assessment of Its Microcystin–LR Biosynthesis

THE HETEROCYTOUS cyanobacterium Westiellopsis prolifica has been recently documented in Egypt; however, our understanding of its diverse biotechnological and biomedical applications remains a limited and challenging topic. In this study, a W. prolifica strain isolated from hyper-arid desert habitats was investigated to test its antimicrobial potential against six foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and eight mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus carbonarius, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. parasiticus, A. westerdijikia, Fusarium proliferatum, and Penicillium verrucosum), as well as to evaluate its probable toxicity and biosynthesis of the most common microcystin variant (MC–LR) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antimicrobial activity of various W. prolifica extracts was assessed using the disk–diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were also determined. Our findings revealed that the extracts of dryland-dwelling W. prolifica had significant antimicrobial activities against all tested bacterial and fungal strains, with average MIC values of 0.4–6.7 and 0.3–9.2mg.mL−1, respectively. This antimicrobial potential can be ascribed to the combined synergistic effects of its biologically active and structurally diverse metabolites. Moreover, this species was a non-producer of MC–LR and was non-toxic based on the brine shrimp bioassay. Thus, the cyanoprokaryote W. prolifica can be considered a sustainable multifunctional candidate in the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Egypt.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the peel essential oils extracted from citrus fruits

Citrus peel is an important source of essential oils (EOs). However, these EOs are not invested, although the annual production of citrus is high in Syria. The current study aimed to investigate chemical composition and antibacterial activity of some citrus peel EOs, namely: lemon (Citrus limon), orange (C. sinensis), grapefruit (C. paradisi), mandarin (C. reticulata) and bitter orange (C. aurantium). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (gas chromatograph type: Agilent 7890A, auto sampler type: Agilent 7683B coupled to mass spectrometer, type Agilent 5975C, using DB–1 capillary column. EOs. concentration 1: 10 v/v in chloroform, injection volume 1 µl, split ratio 1: 80), was used to identify the chemical composition of the EOs, which were extracted by hydrodistillation technique, and chemical composition was expressed as Mean ± SD of three replications using SPSS V17 software. Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was used to determine the antibacterial activity against five Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, B. licheniformis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, S. lugdunensis, Enterococcus faecalis) and five Gram negative bacteria (Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter koseri, Serratia liquefaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. luteola). Limonene formed the vast majority of EOs (between 62.16 and 95.26% in lemon and orange EOs, respectively), but there were other active components, such as α–Pinene and β–Pinene. Lemon EO was the most effective one, with MBC values ranged between 4 μl.ml–1 (against Bacillus cereus) and 50 μl.ml–1 (against Serratia liquefaciens). Pseudomonas luteola (a Gram-negative bacterium) was the most sensitive species to citrus EOs (MBC values ranged between 4 and 50 μl.ml–1 for lemon and orange EOs, respectively); while S. liquefaciens (a Gram-negative bacterium) was the most resistant bacterium (MBC values were 50 and 150 μl.ml–1 for lemon and mandarin EOs, respectively) among all species studied in the current research.

Forcespun polyvinylpyrrolidone/copper and polyethylene oxide/copper composite fibers and their use as antibacterial agents

AbstractCopper nanoparticles (CuNPs) embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) fiber‐matrices were prepared through centrifugal spinning of PVP/ethanol and PEO/aqueous solutions, respectively. The prime focus of the current study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of composite fibers against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) bacteria. During the fiber formation, the centrifugal spinning parameters such as spinneret rotational speed, spinneret to collector distance, and relative humidity were carefully chosen to obtain long and continuous fibers. The structural and morphological analyses of both composite fibers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. In the antibacterial test, PVP/Cu and PEO/Cu composite fibrous membranes exhibited inhibition efficiency of 99.98% and 99.99% against E. coli and B. cereus bacteria, respectively. Basically, CuNPs were well embedded in the fibrous membrane at the nanoscale level, which facilitated the inhibition of bacterial functions through the inactivation of the chemical structure of the cells. Such an effective antibacterial agent obtained from forcespun composite fibers could be promising candidates for biomedical applications.

Dynamics of Germinosome Formation and FRET-Based Analysis of Interactions between GerD and Germinant Receptor Subunits in Bacillus cereus Spores.

Spores of the bacterium Bacillus cereus can cause disease in humans due to contamination of raw materials for food manufacturing. These dormant, resistant spores can survive for years in the environment, but can germinate and grow when their surroundings become suitable, and spore germination proteins play an important role in the decision to germinate. Since germinated spores have lost dormant spores’ extreme resistance, knowledge about the formation and function of germination proteins could be useful in suggesting new preservation strategies to control B. cereus spores. In this study, we confirmed that the GerR germinant receptor’s (GR) A, B, and C subunits and GerD co-localize in B. cereus spore inner membrane (IM) foci termed germinosomes. The interaction between these proteins was examined by using fusions to the fluorescent reporter proteins SGFP2 and mScarlet-I and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). This work found that the FRET efficiency was 6% between GerR(A-C-B)–SGFP2 and GerD–mScarlet-I, but there was no FRET between GerD–mScarlet-I and either GerRA–SGFP2 or GerRC–SGFP2. These results and that GerD does not interact with a GR C-subunit in vitro suggest that, in the germinosome, GerD interacts primarily with the GR B subunit. The dynamics of formation of germinosomes with GerR(A-C-B)–SGFP2 and GerD–mScarlet-I was also followed during sporulation. Our results showed heterogeneity in the formation of FRET positive foci of GerR(A-C-B)–SGFP2 and GerD–mScarlet-I; and while some foci formed at the same time, the formation of foci in the FRET channel could be significantly delayed. The latter finding suggests that either the GerR GR can at least transiently form IM foci in the absence of GerD, or that, while GerD is essential for GerR foci formation, the time to attain the final germinosome structure with close contacts between GerD and GerR can be heterogeneous.

Biotechnology: identification and evaluation of the Bacillus cereus amylolytic activity

Biotechnology is the branch of science that uses molecules, viruses, microorganisms, cells, animals, plants or part of them in technological processes to generate benefits for humans, to flora, fauna and the environment. In this context, enzymes are natural biocatalysts that present substrate specificity and extreme importance to vital processes, as they develop indispensable functions in biochemical reactions of cell metabolism, and can be used in biotechnological processes. Knowing the human needs, for a world population of about 7.7 billion people and the functional usefulness of enzymes, there is, on the one hand, a gigantic demand for the consumption of various products in the agricultural sector, processed and industrialized, such as: food, beverages, clothing in the textile sector, medicines, vaccines, cosmetics in the chemical-pharmaceutical sector, as well as in the production of paper and fuels, in which enzymes, mainly amylases, have been widely used in production processes. In this work, experiments were carried out with the wild Bacillus cereus bacterium to verify the production of amylases, the results obtained could demonstrate the formation of amylolysis halos around the colonies in Petri dishes containing Tryptic Soy Agar + starch (1%) medium, pH 7.3 and grown in a biological oven at 37oC for 24 hours, when revealed in iodine vapor; the Amylolysis Index (AI) was 3.3 and the efficiency of starch substrate degradation by amylases was greater than 90% in the evaluated treatments.

Coordination of root auxin with the fungus Piriformospora indica and bacterium Bacillus cereus enhances rice rhizosheath formation under soil drying.

Moderate soil drying (MSD) is a promising agricultural technique that can reduce water consumption and enhance rhizosheath formation promoting drought resistance in plants. The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica (P. indica) with high auxin production may be beneficial for rhizosheath formation. However, the integrated role of P. indica with native soil microbiome in rhizosheath formation is unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of P. indica and native bacteria on rice rhizosheath formation under MSD using high-throughput sequencing and rice mutants. Under MSD, rice rhizosheath formation was significantly increased by around 30% with P. indica inoculation. Auxins in rice roots and P. indica were responsible for the rhizosheath formation under MSD. Next, the abundance of the genus Bacillus, known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, was enriched in the rice rhizosheath and root endosphere with P. indica inoculation under MSD. Moreover, the abundance of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) with high auxin production was further increased by P. indica inoculation. After inoculation with both P. indica and B. cereus, rhizosheath formation in wild-type or auxin efflux carrier OsPIN2 complemented line rice was higher than that of the ospin2 mutant. Together, our results suggest that the interaction of the endophytic fungus P. indica with the native soil bacterium B. cereus favors rice rhizosheath formation by auxins modulation in rice and microbes under MSD. This finding reveals a cooperative contribution of P. indica and native microbiota in rice rhizosheath formation under moderate soil drying, which is important for improving water use in agriculture.

EVALUATION OF SOME TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF USNEA LONGISSIMA (ASCOMYCOTA, LICHENIZED FUNGI): ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIQUORUM AND ANTIOXIDANT

Usnea longissima, fruticose lichen growing in the temperate region, is well known traditional medicinal herb and a reservoir of some unique secondary metabolites. Traditionally it has been commonly used as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of ailments like tuberculosis, ulcers and skin diseases, etc. In our study, we evaluate antimicrobial, antiquorum sensing (QS) and antioxidant activity of Usnea longissima secondary metabolites extracted in acetone, methanol, and 70% hydroalcoholic solvents. Antimicrobial activity of extracts was evaluated against fungus (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans) and six bacterial (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans) strains. Whereas anti-QS activity was tested against biosensor strain Chromobacterium violaceum (CV) MCC 2290 and antibiofilm activity was checked in two gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli), two gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungus (Candida albicans). Results of experimental data indicated that methanolic extract exhibited maximum activity against A. tumefaciens (24±0.2 mm) and C. albicans (30±0.3 mm) with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 300µg/mL and 200µg/mL respectively. Interestingly, we also observed that all extracts effectively inhibited quorum sensing in C. violaceum and biofilm formation in Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Staphylococcus aureus, at the concentration (100-300 µg/mL), for Candida albicans (50-150 µg/mL). Usnea longissima extract showed strong reducing power and hydroxyl radical activity and low DPPH scavenging activity. The present study suggested that U. longissima possesses potential antimicrobial and antiquorum sensing activity. These biological properties could be attributed to its significant antioxidant potential which validates its traditional use as an antimicrobial herbal source.

Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.) Fruits as Potential Alternative for Cocoa Powder: Optimization of Roasting Conditions, Antioxidant, and Biological Properties

Cocoa powder is a basic ingredient in the manufacture of chocolate, one of the most appreciated sweet products in the world for its sensory and nutritional properties. Furthermore, it displays a central nervous system stimulant effect. This study aimed to investigate acorn-derived powder as an alternative to cocoa powder, in order to obtain a chocolate that does not contain stimulants of the nervous system. Both the chocolate technological process and acorns roasting process (180 °C/25 min, 200 °C/20 min and 220 °C/15 min) were optimized to obtain acorn powder with an organoleptic profile as close as possible to that of cocoa powder. The chocolate sensory evaluation was performed by means of the hedonic test. Furthermore, the aqueous extracts obtained from the resulting powder were evaluated for total polyphenol content, and in vitro antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties. The results point out a high content of phenolic compounds (500.78–524.01 mg GAE/100 g); protection against microbial contamination based on the ability to inhibit a Gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus cereus) was also noticed. The aqueous acorn extracts were also able to reduce the cell viability of HFL-1 (human fetal lung fibroblast) and DLD-1 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) lines. This study suggests red oak (Quercus rubra) fruits as a potential alternative to cocoa powder in the manufacture of chocolate.

Pharmacological properties of biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles using endophyte Bacillus cereus extract of Berberis lyceum against oxidative stress and pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria

The emergence of multidrug resistance in pathogenic bacteria limits the utilization of available antibiotics. The development of alternate options to treat infectious diseases is the need of the day.The present study was aimed to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the bioactive properties of silver nanoparticles. Endophytic bacterium Bacillus cereus (MT193718) isolated from Berberis lycium was used to synthesize biocompatible silver nanoparticles. Antibacterial properties of AgNPs were evaluated against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. AgNPs indicated significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae fwith a zone of inhibition of 17 and 18 mm at a concentration of 1000 µg/ mL with minimum inhibitory concentration of 15.6 and 62.5 µg/mL respectively. Significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 9.5 µg/mL was recorded. Biosynthesized AgNPs were found compatible with red blood cells at a concentration of 31.5 µg/ml with no clumping of erythrocytes. The study suggested that AgNPs synthesized by the endophytic bacterium Bacillus cereus are biologically active and can be used as antioxidant and antibacterial agents against drug-resistant bacteria.

Photo-biodegradation of imidacloprid under blue light-emitting diodes with bacteria and co-metabolic regulation

Imidacloprid (IMI) is existence in the soil environment with a half-life habitually more than hundred days. This study targets to determine, identify and characterize photo-biodegradation bacteria from neonicotinoids (NEOs) contaminated agricultural field soils. The sub-surface soil had a higher level contamination of NEOs, in specifically greater concentration of IMI (3445.2±0.09μg/g) and thiacloprid (4084.4±0.09μg/g) has been found. Three bacteria Ralstonia pickettii (PBMS-2), Bacillus cereus (PBMS-3) and Shinella zoogloeoides (PBMS-4) was identified from soil-free stable enrichment cultures. The biodegradability of IMI (50mgL-1) by three bacteria under different colors of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a constant 12V power supply was tested and found that the blue-LEDs had greatest efficiency in supporting biodegradation of IMI which is called photo-biodegradation. In specific, the rate of photo-biodegradation of IMI by Ralstonia pickettii (87%), Bacillus cereus (80%) and Shinella zoogloeoides (80%) was measured. Besides this study also tested the effect of aeration (rpm), pH, and temperature on photo-biodegradation of IMI. There were seven intermediate metabolites were measured as biodegradation products of IMI under photo-biodegradation conditions and they are; IMI-urea, IMI-desnitro, 6-chloronicotinic acid, 6-hydroxy nicotinic acid, IMI- aminoguanidine, IMI-nitrosoguanidine and 4,5-hydroxy IMI, these metabolites are may non-toxic to the environment.

The activity of holy basil leaves (Ocimum sanctum, L) to microbia food born disease (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli)

Ruku-ruku leave (Ocimum sanctum L.) is part of the plant that has a distinctive aroma with a slight sensation of spicy taste when chewed. Ruku-ruku leaves contain essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and triterpenoids, some of these chemicals can inhibit bacterial growth (bacteriostatic) or kill bacteria (bacteriocidal). This research conduct a test of antibacterial activity on ethyl acetate extract of ruku-ruku leave to mikroba food-borne disease of Bacillus cereus, Staphilococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results showed that yield of ethyl acetate extract 8.56 ± 0.87%, with a dark green color with shrinkage drying 22.44 ± 0.0305%, ash content 0.16 ± 0.0156%, The ethyl acetate extract of holy basil leave has an effective blocked to the concentration of 85 mg/ml to the bacteria Bacillus cereus in 15 mm, on concentration 80 mg/ml to the bacteria Streptococcus aureus on 21 mm, in diameter on concentration 75 mg/ml to the bacteria Escherichia coli on 17 mm. The inhibition of relative extract as an antibacterial compared with 1000 ppm 60.00% sodium benzoate to B. cereus, 88.24%, S. aureus, and 78.57% E.coli.