Fungus Pleurotus Ostreatus Research Articles

Study of stability of anti-scarring ointment with water-soluble proteinpolysaccharidic complex of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus during the storage

The problem of the treatment of scar tissue of the skin is quite relevant.The most affordable, convenient and comfortable way to treat scar formation is the use of soft dosage forms.So developing an effective ointment with anti-scarred activity is an urgent task of pharmaceutical technology. One of the important tasks in the process of creating original medicines is obtaining stable storing and using pharmaceutical products. For establish the shelf life it was necessary to determine the time during which the created medicine will be able to maintain stability and meet all the requirements stated in the regulatory documentation.
 The aimisthe study of stability of experimental samples of ointment composition with anti-scarred activity with water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom and determination of the optimal shelf life of the created ointment.
 The object of the study was an original ointment composition based on an emulsion, the active component of which was a water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom. Ointment samples were placed in polymer containers, which were hermetically sealed and stored in a dark place at room temperature (+15–25 °C) and in a refrigerator (+2–8 °C). Studies of the stability of the soft dosage form were performed on organoleptic and physicochemical parameters (description, homogeneity, pH, identification, colloidal and thermal stability, quantification and signs of microbial contamination). Measurements were performed on five lots of ointment samples after preparation and every 6 months for 3 years.
 The results of the study of the quality of anti-scarring ointment with water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom indicate a rational choice of auxiliary substances and their concentration, the choice of the optimal technological process and the lack of interaction between the components of the medicine.
 On the basis of the conducted researches it is proved that anti-scarring ointment with water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom remains stable for 2 years at the temperature from +2 to + 25 °С.Thus, it was found that the study samples of ointments during this period have satisfactory technological parameters.

Lignin decomposition of Oil Palm Frond by Pleurotus ostreatus with a variation of corn and rice-husk media

This study aimed to decompose lignin from oil palm midrib (OPF) bonds using the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus with various substrates (corn and rice husk). Lignin and cellulose levels before and after mushroom culture were tested by the Chesson-Datta method. Substrate variation with corn and husk rice showed that the addition of corn did not play a role in lignin decomposition. After being given treatment, the best degradation was using 0.6 grams of rice bran and 0.4 grams of CaCO3, 22.01% for lignin and 32.74% for cellulose.

Advanced Biomethane Production from Biologically Pretreated Giant Reed under Different Harvest Times

Increasing energy demands and fossil fuel consumption causing global warming has motivated research to find alternative energy sources such as biofuels. Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a lignocellulosic, perennial, rhizomatous grass has been proposed as an important bioenergy crop for advanced biofuel in the Mediterranean area. Anaerobic digestion for advanced biomethane seems to be a promising approach. However, the presence of lignin in lignocellulosic biomass represents the main obstacle to its production (due to its recalcitrance). Thus, to use effectively lignocellulosic biomass in anaerobic digestion, one or more pretreatment steps are needed to aid microorganisms access to the plant cell wall. To this end, the present study investigated the effect of fungal pretreatment of giant reeds obtained from two different harvesting time (autumn and winter) on biomethane production by anaerobic digestion using two white rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Irpex lactus, respectively). The highest biomass lignin degradation after 30 days incubation with P. ostreatus in both autumn (27.1%) and winter (31.5%) harvest time. P. ostreatus pretreatment showed promising results for anaerobic digestion of giant reed achieving a cumulative yield of 130.9 NmL g−1 VS for the winter harvest, whereas I. lacteus showed a decrease in methane yield as compared with the untreated biomass (77.4 NmL g−1 VS and 73.3 NmL g−1 VS for winter and autumn harvest, respectively). I. lacteus pretreatment resulted in a loss of both holocellulose and lignin, indicating that this strain was less selective than P. ostreatus. Further studies are necessary to identify white rot fungi more suitable to lignocellulosic biomass and optimize biological pretreatment conditions to reduce its duration.

The Edible Gray Oyster Fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm a Potent Waste Consumer, a Biofriendly Species with Antioxidant Activity Depending on the Growth Substrate

Nowadays, climate change is not the only threat facing our planet. There are also other types of pollution such as waste that poisons soils and water and kills plants, harming humans and animals. Sustainability represents a key issue for the actual Global Citizen. For this reason, our article is dedicated to offering biofriendly solutions to decrease wastes, give them a positive meaning, such as a substrate for an edible oyster fungus with nutritive and biological properties usefully for humans. Three types of wastes such as coconut coir, pine sawdust, and paper waste—representative symbols of pollution in Ecuador—have been tested as suitable growing substrate for the edible fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm by analyzing parameters such as Biological Efficiency, Mushroom Yield, and Productive Rate. The influence of these “waste” substrates on the nutritive (protein content), biological characteristic (antioxidant activity), and the content of human-health-sustaining compounds (phenols, flavonoids) were also evaluated using the Kjeldahal, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. The results indicate that all the waste products represent desirable substrates for growing the edible fungi, with more focus on coconut coir waste (one of the principal pollution problems in Ecuador), but that also achieved the increase in the fungi’s desirable characteristics. Coconut coir waste could be an environmentally friendly solution that also offers for humans additional nutritive and healthy benefits.

Toxicity evaluation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) to Pleurotus ostreatus: Oxidative stress, morphology and transcriptomics

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), one widely used new brominated flame retardant, was of great concern due to its biotoxicity. The toxic evaluation of DBDPE (1–50 mg/L) to white-rot fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus), including oxidative stress, morphology and transcriptomics was conducted aiming at improving its biodegradation. Fungal growth and ATPase activity were obviously inhibited by DBDPE at ≥ 10 mg/L with the exposure from 48 h to 96 h. DBDPE could induce oxidative stress to P. ostreatus. The activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase) and GSH (glutathione) were all promoted by DBDPE at ≤ 5 mg/L and inhibited at > 5 mg/L with 96-h exposure. MDA (malondialdehyde) content rose obviously with DBDPE exposure (10–50 mg/L). The mycelium was wizened under 20 mg/L DBDPE exposure according to SEM observation. Transcriptomics analysis suggested that DBDPE could change many functional genes expression of P. ostreatus. GO analysis indicated DBDPE could affect biological process and cellular component by inhibiting electron transport, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, oxidoreductase activity as well as transporter activity. KEGG enrichment pathways analysis indicated DBDPE could inhibit oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and carbon metabolism by down-regulating the genes related to NADH reductase/dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome-c reductase/oxidase, cytochrome C1 protein and ATP synthase.

Fungi anaesthesia

Electrical activity of fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is characterised by slow (h) irregular waves of baseline potential drift and fast (min) action potential likes spikes of the electrical potential. An exposure of the myceliated substrate to a chloroform vapour lead to several fold decrease of the baseline potential waves and increase of their duration. The chloroform vapour also causes either complete cessation of spiking activity or substantial reduction of the spiking frequency. Removal of the chloroform vapour from the growth containers leads to a gradual restoration of the mycelium electrical activity.

Biotransformation of Araucaria araucana lignans: solid-state fermentation with a naturally occurring Pleurotus ostreatus strain

Abstract The effects of a naturally occurring Patagonian strain of the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus on Araucaria araucana wood lignans was evaluated. Lignans of colonized and non-colonized wood shavings and the activity of fungal ligninolytic enzymes were studied. Lignans were identified using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector. Only eudesmin lignan resisted biological degradation. The highest laccase activity was 0.111 ± 0.067 IU.g-1 dry matter substrate, which was reached after 60 days, whereas the highest manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity was 0.220 ± 0.109 IU.g-1 dry matter substrate, which was reached after 25 days, when the fungus was grown in a solid-state culture on wood shavings. The degradation properties of this fungal strain may be useful for not only treating resinous wastes from the regional forest industry to produce biofuels but also improving paper production. Moreover, the capacity of this white-rot fungus to grow on resinous A. araucana materials as substrate suggests the possibility of using the wood shavings or sawdust of this and other conifers as a food source to culture P. ostreatus, an edible mushroom.

Optimized process for the production of fungal peroxidases and efficient saccharification of pre-treated rice straw

Lignin is the most abundant natural source of aromatic polymers in plants. it prevents access to the underlying polymers of cellulose, hemicellulose/xylan for saccharification. Chemical pretreatment methods to remove this lignin barrier have their limitations such as corrosion of equipment, high capital costs, and environmental pollution due to emission of greenhouse gases. As an alternative, lignin modifying enzymes (LME) are being widely tested for delignification. While laccases are proven to break the lignin structure by attacking the phenolic bonds, additional enzymes to break bonds between non-phenolic units are needed. These reactions are commonly mediated by peroxidases such as Lignin peroxidases (LiP) and Versatile peroxidases (VP). Very limited data is available related to production of these very important peroxidases. In the current study, we present efficient production of these peroxidases from a white-rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and an optimized pre-treatment process showing an improvement of 20–25% cellulose to glucose conversion efficiency.

Research on the selection of a preservative for a soft dosage form with a water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of the fungus pleurotus ostreatus

One of the important aspects in the development of new drugs is their standardization and comprehensive assessment of quality indicators, which guarantees safety and stability throughout the life cycle of the drug.
 Soft drugs for external use with components of natural origin usually require the introduction of preservatives to ensure microbiological stability. Therefore, research on the selection of preservative is a necessary phase in pharmaceutical composition preparation.
 Purpose – foundation of the type choice and concentration of an effective preservative (or their combination) for the introduction into the composition of the ointment of anti-scarring activity with a water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.
 The object of the study was an original ointment composition based on an emulsion, the active component of which is a water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. To increase microbiological stability, preservatives were added to the samples, which are most common in soft dosage forms (nipagin:nipazol, triclosan, bronopol and benzoic acid). Determination of the sensitivity of ointment samples to microorganisms was performed by the method of diffusion into agar («well method»), as a microbiological model used a common set of test strains of reference cultures of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi.
 The study found that sample 7 had demonstrated high antimicrobial properties, where the diameters of the growth retardation zones were 34–35 mm to Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Basillus subtilis ATCC 6633, 29–31 mm for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 4636 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Growth retardation zones were 27–28 mm to fungi Candida albicans ATCC 653/885. Bronopol was introduced into the sample, this preservative should provide the necessary microbiological purity and stability of the prepared ointment.
 Studies show that soft dosage forms with substances of natural origin require the administration of antimicrobial agents. It has been experimentally proven that 0.2% bronopol provides effective microbiological stability of the soft dosage form with anti-scarring activity of water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.

Fungal pretreatment parameters for improving methane generation from anaerobic digestion of corn silage

Corn silage was treated by white rot fungi (WRF) to investigate the effect of pretreatment on material’s ability to produce methane in anaerobic digestion (AD). The selective fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Dichomitus squalens promoted biogas generation, whereas the non-selective Trametes versicolor and Irpex lacteus had negative effect. Cumulative methane production after 10-day pretreatment with P. ostreatus at 28 °C rose 1.55-fold. The longer pretreatments of 30 and 60-days had smaller effect. When the pretreatment with P. ostreatus was carried out at 40 °C a high H2S release affected the AD process. Effect of WRF action dependent on the type of corn silage. With typical corn silage, the lignin depolymerisation raised the methane generation from 0.301 to 0.465 m3kgVS-1. In contrast, extensive decomposition of hemicellulose in hybrid corn silage deteriorated the effect of pretreatment on methane production.

Biodegradation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) by white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus: Characteristics, mechanisms, and toxicological response

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) can pose a potential toxic threat to human beings and the environment. P. ostreatus, as one of the typical white-rot fungi, can effectively degrade various refractory pollutants. The biodegradable characteristics of DBDPE by P. ostreatus, as well as the mechanisms, and toxicological response were investigated in this study. The removal rate reached 47.73% and 43.20%, respectively, for 5 and 20 mg/L DBDPE after 120-h degradation by P. ostreatus. As a coexisting substance, Pb could inhibit the biodegradation. It is found that both the intracellular enzyme (P450) and extracellular enzymes (manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and laccase (Lac)) played a very important role in the biodegradation of DBDPE, of which Lac dominated the degradation. The toxic response was monitored during the degradation. The activities of SOD and CAT were enhanced to eliminate excess ROS in P. ostreatus triggered by DBDPE. In addition, debromination, hydroxylation, and oxidation were inferred as the main degradation pathways preliminarily. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of microbial degradation of DBDPE contamination.

Germination speed and flowing age of corn with the utilization of organic materials fortuned Pleurotus ostreatus dry land

Organic matter plays an effective role in restoring soil fertility. This indicator of soil fertility lies in the organic content of the soil. One of the organic materials that have been proven to improve land quality is biochar and chicken manure. In addition, the use of Pleurotus ostreatus can increase the hormone content in organic matter. The purpose of this study was to determine the speed of germination and flowering speed of maize (Zea mays) with the application of organic matter enriched with the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. The study was structured using a Split Plot Design (RPT). The main plot is organic matter, and the subplot is the administration of Pleurotus ostreatus. The study consisted of 12 treatment combinations which were repeated 3 times to obtain 36 plots of observation units. The results showed that the application of treatment had a significant and very significant effect on the speed of germination and flowering speed of maize (Zea mays). The combination treatment of manure + biochar with 10% Pleurotus ostreatus gave the speed of germination on day 4.33 and flowering speed on day 47.33.

Biodelignification of sugarcane shoots: agricultural waste management strategy as an alternative feed for ruminants

This research aimed to reduce the lignin content and increase the nutrients content of sugarcane shoots as forages for a ruminant. This research used an experimental method using a completely randomized design (CRD) in factorial patterns, whereas A factor was a type of fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Aspergillus oryzae), and B factor was biodelignification time (14. 21 and 28 days). The variables observed in the experiment were laccase enzyme activity, Crude Protein (CP) content, and the percentage of lignin decreased. The research results showed that biodelignification using Pleurotus ostreatus fungi for 28 days resulted: 1,62 U/ml of laccase enzyme activity, 9.23% crude protein content, and 12.83 % of lignin decreased. From this research, the best treatment for bio-delignification of sugarcane shoots was with Pleurotus ostreatus fungi for 28 days, producing the best sugarcane shoots with 9.23 % of crude protein 12.83% of lignin decreased.

ECOLOGICALLY SAFE UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC WASTES AND TECHNOLOGY OF PRODUCTION OF THE FUNGUS PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS (THE OYSTER MUSHROOM)

Background. Organic cellulose-containing wastes are represented by various substrates with diverse physicochemichal properties suitable as feedstock for obtaining new products, e.g. mycelium and fruit bodies of edible mushrooms. Industrial mushroom cultivation based on utilization of different kinds of organic wastes is one of the perspective directions in biotechnology and agriculture.
 Improving the nutrient value of substrates and increasing the reliability of mushroom culture is possible at expense of utilizing nutrient supplies originated as wastes of another industry, for example, the use of sparging grain, which is the major waste of brewery. Wet sparging grain has humidity of 70-80%, and contains in average more than 20% of dry residues with high protein level (12-15%), which is approximately three times higher its content than in barley. For that reason, as a supplement to nutrient media and substrates, for rearing mycelium and fruit bodies of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, we propose the use of the brewers’ industry, the wet sparging grain.
 Purpose. Evaluation of the possibility of utilising the wastes of agriculture and brewery, for growing mycelium and fruit bodies of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.
 Materials and methods. The study was carried out in the years 2017-2021 in the laboratory of the Department of biology and technology of living systems at L.N. Tolstoy TSPU. The research objects were the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, wet sparging grain, and various agricultural wastes (wheat straw, buckwheat chuff, sunflower seed husk).
 For mycelium extraction, we used the method of seeding superficially sterilized pieces of fruit bodies onto the hard sterile agarized nutrient medium in the Petri dishes. For obtaining the master culture of mycelium and fruit bodies of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus we utilized substrates of various composition containing the sparging grain and agricultural wastes. The data obtained were statistically processed and analysed.
 Results. In result of the experiments, it was revealed that optimal nutrient media and substrates for obtaining and cultivation of the mycelium are those with addition of the sparging grain and cellulose-containing wastes. For obtaining fruit bodies, we used the substrate composed of the straw with addition of the brewers’ grain. Utilization of nutrient media with similar composition leads to shortening of the period of mycelium adaptation and initiation of its active growth phase when producing the master culture of the fungus. Further, for that reason, increases the speed of colonization by the fungal mycelium the substrate blocks for producing carposomes, and the fungus fruitification occurs more intensively.
 Conclusion. The use of the brewers’ draff for obtaining mycelium and fruit bodies of the edible oyster mushroom creates valuable, ecologically clean and quality nutrition product and facilitates cost effectiveness of its production. Design and application this biotechnology solve the problem of organic waste utilization, which in turn positively stimulates positive changes in the regional ecological situation and contributes partially into the task of import substitution.

Comparatively Investigation of Textile Dye Decolorization by a White Rot Fungus and Various Bacterial Strains

The aim of this study is to comparatively investigate the decolorization of Reactive Blue 171 (RB 171) by using three different bacterial strains as Bacillus megaterium A1 (A1), Gordonia sp. MC-D1 (D1) and Bacillus pumilus D3 (D3) and also a white rot fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus). All tested bacteria were incubated with RB 171 dye at 150 mg/L concentration for 24-72 h under static or agitated (150 rpm) conditions while the fungus was incubated with 150 mg/L of the dye under the same conditions for 3-24 h. The highest bacterial decolorization values were obtained after 72 h of incubation under static conditions and the maximum decolorization rates were detected as 84, 83 and 75% for A1, D1 and D3, respectively. However, the color of RB 171 dye was removed at 93% rate by Pleurotus ostreatus under static conditions after 24 h of incubation. Similar results were also obtained from the agitated studies of the tested fungal and bacterial strains except A1. The maximum decolorization values obtained with A1, D1 and D3 at 150 rpm, 72 h were 30, 88 and 89%, respectively. The highest decolorization activities of Pleurotus ostreatus were 93% for both static and agitated (150 rpm) conditions. In addition, zymogram analyzes of the fungal culture fluids obtained from SBM and SBM containing 150 mg/L RB 171 were also performed to detect the presence of laccase.

Effects of biological pre-treatment of lignocellulosic waste with white-rot fungi on the stimulation of 14C-phenanthrene catabolism in soils

The enhancement of phenanthrene catabolism in soils amended with lignocellulosic waste material (spent brewery grains) was investigated. The soils were pre-treated with five white-rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, Irpex lateus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Bjerkandera adusta). The changes in the kinetics of 14C-phenanthrene mineralisation (lag phases, the fastest rates and the overall extents) were measured in the inoculated, PAH-amended soils over time (1–100 d). Changes in the ligninolytic (laccase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase) and non-ligninolytic (β-glucosidase and phosphatase) enzymatic activities were also assessed. Overall results revealed that the amendment of fungal pre-treated SBG influenced the kinetics of mineralisation of 14C-phenanthrene as well as the enzymatic activities in soils. Soil inoculated with fungal pre-treated SBG caused reductions in lag phases as well as higher rates and extents of 14C-phenanthrene mineralisation in the following trend T. versicolor > B. adusta > P. chrysosporium = P. ostreatus > I. lateus. Furthermore, the extents of mineralisation generally reduced as levels of ligninolytic enzyme decreased, while the non-ligninolytic enzymes increased with soil-PAH contact time in all amendment conditions. These findings provided an insight on the potential of biological pre-treatment of waste materials for enhanced carbon, energy and nutrients on the bioactivities and biodegradation of organic pollutants which may be applicable during in situ remediations of contaminated soil.

Enhanced Biocontrol of Cucumber Fusarium Wilt by Combined Application of New Antagonistic Bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B2 and Phenolic Acid-Degrading Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus P5.

Continuous monoculture of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) typically leads to the frequent incidence of Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC). As potent allelochemicals, phenolic acids are believed to be associated with soilborne diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of single or co-inoculation of antagonistic bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B2 and phenolic acid-degrading fungus Pleurotus ostreatus P5 on the suppression of cucumber Fusarium wilt. The strain B2 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens based on biochemical, physiological, and 16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequence analyses. Strain B2 showed indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production and phosphate solubilization in in vitro assays. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging showed the ability of strain B2 to adhere to the root surface of cucumber. P. ostreatus P5 could effectively degrade mixed phenolic acids as its sole source of carbon and energy for growth in liquid medium. In a pot experiment, four treatments were established as follows: (1) CK, uninoculated control; (2) B2, inoculation of strain B2; (3) P5, inoculation of strain P5; and (4) B2 + P5, co-inoculation of strain B2 and strain P5. At the end of the 60-day pot experiment, the B2, P5, and B2 + P5 treatments significantly reduced disease incidence by 48.1, 22.2, and 63.0%, respectively, compared to the CK treatment (p < 0.05). All three inoculation treatments significantly increased the growth of cucumber seedlings and suppressed the FOC population compared to the control (p < 0.05). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that total phenolic acids were decreased by 18.9, 35.9, and 63.2% in the B2, P5, and B2 + P5 treatments, respectively. The results from this study suggest that combined application of B. amyloliquefaciens B2 and P. ostreatus P5 could be a promising strategy for suppressing Fusarium wilt and improving plant growth of cucumber seedlings under continuous cropping conditions.

Novel strategies to grow natural fibers with improved thermal stability and fire resistance

This study aims to produce natural grown fungi fiber with improved thermal stability and fire resistance. A novel strategy was explored by supplying nutrition enriched with silicon source. The results showed that Si enrichment improved the thermal stability of fungi fiber, possibly due to the thermally stable Si being utilized for fungi cell wall construction. Meanwhile, while nutrition enriched with low Si concentration accelerated fungi fibers production, further increases in Si concentration inhibited the fungal growth. These were attributed to the effects of Si and pH and on fungal metabolism, which was verified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) microstructural characterization. Based on experimental observations, the study further investigated two strategies to facilitate fungi to utilize more Si in the fiber construction to enhance its fire resistance, i.e., application of pH buffer and selection of a new fungi strain with higher Si tolerance (Fusarium oxysporum). Both strategies achieved favorable results. Performance wise, fibers produced by both fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Fusarium oxysporum featured higher residual weights than synthetic PVA fiber (by 2122% and 2223% respectively by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)). Furthermore, with Si source enrichment, the fire resistance of fungi fibers improved further. For example, adding 3% Si to the nutrition of Fusarium oxysporum increased the TGA residual weight of its fiber by 93.81% compared with fiber grown without Si enrichment. Besides, Si enrichment reduced the peak heat release rate and the total heat of combustion of the produced fungi fiber by 50% and 35.09% respectively as measured by Microscale Combustion Calorimetry (MCC) test; these are also significantly less than those of the PVA fibers commonly used for building constructions (87.26% and 72.59% respectively), indicating improved fire resistance.

Conversion of brewers' spent grain into proteinaceous animal feed using solid state fermentation.

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) represents the 85% of the total residue produced during the beer brewing process, with a global annual production volume exceeding 30 Mtons. The current study concerns the application of solid state fermentation (SSF) as a bioprocess where the nutritional value of BSG is improved for further use as animal feed with increased value. The investigated SSF procedure was initiated by the edible fungi Pleurotus ostreatus, which constitutes a natural source of proteins, β-glucans, and various metabolites (vitamins, nutrients, etc.). Herein, the SSF of BSG resulted in a significant increase of protein content by 49.49%, a 10-fold increase of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans, and a respective reduction of cellulose by 11.42%. The application of this method is expected to provide some useful information on the utilization of BSG as substrate for fungi-initiated SSF, a bioprocess allowing the significant reduction of the environmental impact caused by the beer brewing industry and simultaneously producing animal feed with higher protein content and improved nutritional characteristics. Such studies contribute to confront the unavailability of proteinaceous animal feed observed in the last decade.

Biostoning of textile effluent with laccase enzyme

The incessant release of textile effluent comprehending dyes and heavy metals which impacts on aquatic life. Current study used an enzyme to eradicate phenolic compounds and synthetic dyes from textile effluent by an indigenously isolated white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus- P1 has been cultured and indicated the utmost laccase activity with synthetic medium; as reacting substrate for dye decolorization. The textile effluent decolorization optimization has been conducted with different concentrations of laccase enzyme, temperature and pH. The 90% effluent decolorization was obtained by applying response surface methodology (RSM) conditions temperature, crude laccase enzyme and pH, 25˚C, 13.5 U/ml and 5 respectively. The predicted values were validated with experimental values, that confirms the steadiness of the model.&#x0D; Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(2), 115-124, 2021