Presence Of Beneficial Bacteria Research Articles

Assessing the Suitability of Animal and Food Waste Samples for Biogas Production and Fertilizer Evaluation

With increasing concerns over fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution, research into alternative energy sources has gained significant momentum. Organic wastes, particularly from animals and food, offer a promising substrate for biogas production, providing dual benefits of energy generation and waste reduction. This study evaluates the suitability of food waste, cow regurgitates, and cow dung for biogas production through biodigestion. The objectives were to design a lab-scale biodigester, compare biomethane yields from each waste, and evaluate their effectiveness as fertilizers. The results indicate that all three samples have properties within the acceptable range for digestion. Food waste exhibited the highest methane yield with a daily biogas production of 0.4979 m³/day, corresponding to an energy content of 27,699.45 KJ/day. Cow regurgitates produced 0.2656 m³/day of biogas, yielding an energy content of 14,739.6 KJ/day. Cow dung yielded 0.3213 m³/day of biogas, translating to an energy content of 17,723.65 KJ/day. Microbial analysis indicated the presence of beneficial bacteria and fungi, such as Staphylococcus spp, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogens, Aspergillus spp, and Mucor spp, which are advantageous for soil conditioning and nutrient cycling. The study highlights the importance of assessing physicochemical properties, nutrient content, and microbial composition to optimise biogas production and explore the potential of organic waste as a sustainable energy source and soil conditioner.

Impact of nitrogen fertilizer sustainability on corn crop yield: the role of beneficial microbial inoculation interactions

BackgroundConsidering the challenges posed by nitrogen (N) pollution and its impact on food security and sustainability, it is crucial to develop management techniques that optimize N fertilization in croplands. Our research intended to explore the potential benefits of co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus subtilis combined with N application rates on corn plants. The study focused on evaluating corn photosynthesis-related parameters, oxidative stress assay, and physiological nutrient use parameters. Focus was placed on the eventual improved capacity of plants to recover N from applied fertilizers (AFR) and enhance N use efficiency (NUE) during photosynthesis. The two-year field trial involved four seed inoculation treatments (control, A. brasilense, B. subtilis, and A. brasilense + B. subtilis) and five N application rates (0 to 240 kg N ha−1, applied as side-dress).ResultsOur results suggested that the combined effects of microbial consortia and adequate N-application rates played a crucial role in N-recovery; enhanced NUE; increased N accumulation, leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), and shoot and root growth; consequently improving corn grain yield. The integration of inoculation and adequate N rates upregulated CO2 uptake and assimilation, transpiration, and water use efficiency, while downregulated oxidative stress.ConclusionsThe results indicated that the optimum N application rate could be reduced from 240 to 175 kg N ha−1 while increasing corn yield by 5.2%. Furthermore, our findings suggest that replacing 240 by 175 kg N ha−1 of N fertilizer (-65 kg N ha−1) with microbial consortia would reduce CO2 emission by 682.5 kg CO2 −e ha−1. Excessive N application, mainly with the presence of beneficial bacteria, can disrupt N-balance in the plant, alter soil and bacteria levels, and ultimately affect plant growth and yield. Hence, highlighting the importance of adequate N management to maximize the benefits of inoculation in agriculture and to counteract N loss from agricultural systems intensification.

Investigation of the gut microbiome of Apis cerana honeybees from Vietnam.

In this study, the gut microbiome of healthy adult honeybees, Apis cerana, was investigated by sequencing the V3 - V4 region in 16S rRNA gene using Illumina Miseq platform. The total of 37,853 reads for 16S rRNA gene were obtained and 30,121 (79.6%) reads were valid with 25,291 (84.0%) reads that were classified into 116 species belonging to four major phyla. The relative abundances of the bacterial isolates in honeybee samples were phylum Proteobacteria (70.7%), Actinobacteria (10.7%), Firmicutes (10.3%), and Bacteroidetes (8.4%), respectively. Lactic acid bacteria comprised 18.95% with 10 groups including Bifidobacterium asteroides, B. indicum, Fructobacillus fructosus, Lactobacillus apinorum, L. apis, L. helsingborgensis, L. kimbladii, L. kullabergensis, and L. kunkeei. The presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut highlighted their role in the honeybee and suggested that they can be promising candidates for the development of probiotics for health improvement, infection control and disease management of honeybees.

Litter feed additive as source of amino acids and beneficial bacteria

Feed additive was derived from poultry manure by microbiological synthesis. After a 10-day feeding poultry with probiotic strains of bacteria B. subtilis TNP-3 and B. subtilis TNP-5, the litter does not contain potential enteropathogens and can be used as a raw material for feed additive. Based on the results of microbiological and biochemical studies the technology of feed additive (powder) with the use of extrusion was developed. Extrusion at a temperature of up to 120 °C for 5-6 seconds provides presence of beneficial bacteria and significantly high content of essential amino acids. According to the results of biochemical studies, litter feed additive contains 18 free amino acids. The total concentration of free amino acids in the feed additive (powder) is 406.3 mg/kg, which is 1.7 times higher than that in the litter without fermentation and extrusion. The experiments have shown that inclusion of 3.3% feed additive in the diet does not have negative effect on physiological state, viability and productivity of laying hens. Survival of birds in both groups was 100%. Additive application in the experimental group of chickens revealed absence of opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms and microscopic fungi, presence of bifidobacteria and spore-forming aerobic Bacillus bacteria in powder, as well as predominance of beneficial micro flora and lack of potential enteropathogens (compared to control). It allows to conclude that feed additive obtained by microbiological synthesis from bird droppings possess probiotic properties. The results of biochemical study of egg production indicate that the use of food additives (to 3.3% of the basic diet) for laying hens significantly increases content of major micro and macro-elements in eggs, compared to the control. Therefore, the use of feed additive-powder (up to 3.3% of the basic diet) does not reduce egg quality. Thus, based on the results of these studies, it can be concluded that the litter obtained from laying hens, after application of probiotic ‘Nord-Bakt’, further fermentation with strains Bacillus subtilis TNP-3 and Bacillus subtilis TNP-5, followed by extrusion can be used as a feed additive as a source of amino acids and beneficial bacteria.

The effect of bacteria on planula-larvae settlement and metamorphosis in the octocoral Rhytisma fulvum fulvum.

While increasing evidence supports a key role of bacteria in coral larvae settlement and development, the relative importance of environmentally-acquired versus vertically-transferred bacterial population is not clear. Here we have attempted to elucidate the role of post-brooding-acquired bacteria on the development of planula-larvae of the octocoral Rhytisma f. fulvum, in an in vitro cultivation system employing different types of filtered (FSW) and autoclaved (ASW) seawater and with the addition of native bacteria. A good development of larvae was obtained in polystyrene 6-well cell culture plates in the absence of natural reef substrata, achieving a 60-80% of larvae entering metamorphosis after 32 days, even in bacteria-free seawater, indicating that the bacteria acquired during the brooding period are sufficient to support planulae development. No significant difference in planulae attachment and development was observed when using 0.45 μm or 0.22 μm FSW, although autoclaving the 0.45 μm FSW negatively affected larval development, indicating the presence of beneficial bacteria. Autoclaving the different FSW homogenized the development of the larvae among the different treatments. The addition of bacterial strains isolated from the different FSW did not cause any significant effect on planulae development, although some specific strains of the genus Alteromonas seem to be beneficial for larvae development. Light was beneficial for planulae development after day 20, although no Symbiodinium cells could be observed, indicating either that light acts as a positive cue for larval development or the presence of beneficial phototrophic bacteria in the coral microbiome. The feasibility of obtaining advanced metamorphosed larvae in sterilized water provides an invaluable tool for studying the physiological role of the bacterial symbionts in the coral holobiont and the specificity of bacteria-coral interactions.

Standardization and Quality Evaluation of Jackfruit based Low Fat Yogurt

The state fruit of Kerala, jack, is a miraculous fruit due to its nutrient profile, health benefits and greater potential for value addition. It can be better utilised if consumer acceptable products are prepared from this fruit. The growing demand for "healthy food" is stimulating the innovation and development of new products nationally and internationally. Yogurt, a milk-based product, is a healthy food which offers high nutritional value with concentrated amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. The added value of yogurt over milk lies in the presence of beneficial bacteria as well as certain bioactive components. The study was aimed at developing a low-fat yogurt. Hence in this study, yogurts were prepared by incorporating varying proportions of blanched jackfruit pulp (10%, 20%, and 30%) along with equal volumes of homogenized and skimmed milk. Both koozha and varikka variety of jackfruits were prepared. The jackfruit bulbs were steam blanched for five minutes and pulped to prepare the yogurt. Plain yogurt served as the control. The prepared yogurts were organoleptically evaluated using a 9 point hedonic scale with a panel of 15 judges. The selection of the best sample was done based on Kendall's coefficient of concordance. Among the fruit yogurts, the yogurt with 30% jackfruit pulp scored maximum for the sensory attributes. Chemical parameters like pH, moisture, fat, protein, crude fiber and a total ash content of the yogurts were determined.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposure alters metabolic homeostasis in a cell culture model of the intestinal epithelium and Drosophila melanogaster

Nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a common additive in food and cosmetic products. The goal of this study was to investigate if TiO2 nanoparticles affect intestinal epithelial tissues, normal intestinal function, or metabolic homeostasis using in vitro and in vivo methods. An in vitro model of intestinal epithelial tissue was created by seeding co-cultures of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells on a Transwell permeable support. These experiments were repeated with monolayers that had been cultured with the beneficial commensal bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (L. rhamnosus). Glucose uptake and transport in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles was assessed using fluorescent glucose analog 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG). When the cell monolayers were exposed to physiologically relevant doses of TiO2, a statistically significant reduction in glucose transport was observed. These differences in glucose absorption were eliminated in the presence of beneficial bacteria. The decrease in glucose absorption was caused by damage to intestinal microvilli, which decreased the surface area available for absorption. Damage to microvilli was ameliorated in the presence of L. rhamnosus. Complimentary studies in Drosophila melanogaster showed that TiO2 ingestion resulted in decreased body size and glucose content. The results suggest that TiO2 nanoparticles alter glucose transport across the intestinal epithelium, and that TiO2 nanoparticle ingestion may have physiological consequences.

Bio-Fertilizer, Ground Magnesium Limestone and Basalt Applications May Improve Chemical Properties of Malaysian Acid Sulfate Soils and Rice Growth

Acid sulfate soils are normally not suitable for crop production unless they are appropriately ameliorated. An experiment was conducted in a glasshouse to enhance the growth of rice, variety MR219, planted on an acid sulfate soil using various soil amendments. The soil was collected from Semerak, Kelantan, Malaysia. Ground magnesium limestone (GML), bio-fertilizer, and basalt (each 4 t ha−1) were added either alone or in combinations into the soil in pots 15 d before transplanting. Nitrogen, P and potash were applied at 150, 30, and 60 kg ha−1, respectively. Three seven-day-old rice seedlings were transplanted into each pot. The soil had a pH of 3.8 and contained organic C of 21 g kg−1, N of 1.2 g kg−1, available P of 192 mg kg−1, exchangeable K of 0.05 cmolc kg−1, and exchangeable Al of 4.30 cmolc kg−1, with low amounts of exchangeable Ca and Mg (0.60 and 0.70 cmolc kg−1). Bio-fertilizer treatment in combination with GML resulted in the highest pH of 5.4. The presence of high Al or Fe concentrations in the control soil without amendment severely affected the growth of rice. At 60 d of growth, higher plant heights, tiller numbers and leaf chlorophyll contents were obtained when the bio-fertilizer was applied individually or in combination with GML compared to the control. The presence of beneficial bacteria in bio-fertilizer might produce phytohormones and organic acids that could enhance plant growth and subsequently increase nutrient uptake by rice. Hence, it can be concluded that addition of bio-fertilizer and GML improved rice growth by increasing soil pH which consequently eliminated Al and/or Fe toxicity prevalent in the acid sulfate soil.