Reduction Of Microbial Load Research Articles

Conservation of Palm Wine Using Ultraviolet Radiation

Purpose
 This study investigated the conservation of palm wine using ultraviolet radiation.
 Research Methodology
 The palm wine was conserved by sterilization with ultraviolet rays sterilizer. The time of contact of the rays and the intensity of the rays with palm wine was varied. The microorganisms considered include mould, yeast and bacteria.
 Results
 Results obtained shows that the microbial load of sterilized palm wine decreased with time of contact with rays. The microbial loads of the wine before and after sterilization were determined. More so, the microbial load further decreased during storage of sterilized samples. In fact, sterilization time of 240 seconds (4 minutes) reduced the mould and yeast from to and then to zero after 10 days of preservation.
 Limitation
 This research did not consider the effect of stirring on the microbial load reduction.
 Contribution
 This research has established an ideal sterilization time of 240 seconds (4 minutes) for palm wine sterilization.

Investigation of the Potential of Nanoparticles as a New Drug Delivery System for Endodontic Treatment: An In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT Background: Endodontic treatment involves the removal of infected dental pulp and subsequent disinfection of the root canal system. The effectiveness of drug delivery systems in root canal disinfection is critical for successful treatment outcomes. This in vitro study explores the potential of nanoparticles as a novel drug delivery system for endodontic treatment Materials and Methods: Nanoparticles were synthesized using a biocompatible polymer and loaded with an antimicrobial agent. A total of 60 extracted human teeth were prepared to create standardized root canal infections. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups: (1) conventional irrigation, (2) nanoparticle irrigation, and (3) control (no irrigation). The root canals in each group were irrigated with their respective solutions for 5 minutes. After treatment, microbial samples were collected from the root canals and cultured for colony-forming unit (CFU) analysis. The depth of penetration of nanoparticles into dentinal tubules was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The conventional irrigation group showed a reduction in microbial load from an average of 7.8 × 10^5 CFU/mL (SD ± 1.2 × 10^5) to 3.4 × 10^4 CFU/mL (SD ± 7.9 × 10^3) (P < 0.001). In contrast, the nanoparticle irrigation group exhibited a more significant reduction, with a decrease in CFU to 1.2 × 10^3 CFU/mL (SD ± 4.2 × 10^2) (P < 0.001). SEM analysis revealed deep penetration of nanoparticles into dentinal tubules, reaching an average depth of 150 μm Conclusion: Nanoparticles loaded with antimicrobial agents demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing microbial load within root canals compared to conventional irrigation. Their ability to penetrate dentinal tubules suggests their potential as an innovative drug delivery system for endodontic treatment. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate these promising in vitro results and assess the safety and efficacy of nanoparticles in clinical practice.

Reduction in microbial load from the preputial cavity of black Bengal bucks after washing with Potassium permanganate solution

Reduction in microbial load from the preputial cavity of black Bengal bucks after washing with Potassium permanganate solution

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Disinfectants on Contaminated Toothbrushes in Healthy and Chronic Periodontitis Patients – A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT Background: Toothbrushes that are used regularly can accumulate a high amount of microorganisms, which have the potential to cause infections or reinfections. There is a need for toothbrush disinfection methods which are effective and can be easily implemented. The present study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of different disinfectants on contaminated toothbrushes in healthy and chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients were taken who were divided into two Groups A and B: Group A consisted of 30 healthy patients who were further subgrouped as Group A1 (control group), Group A2 (1% sodium hypochlorite), Group A3 (1% vinegar), and Group A4 (ultraviolet [UV] sanitizer) and Group B consisted of 30 patients with mild-to-moderate generalized chronic periodontitis who were further subgrouped as B1, B2, B3, and B4 based on the different disinfection processes. Microbial counts were assessed and compared. A paired sample t-test was used for statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at P < 0.001. Results: All disinfectants showed a statistically significant reduction in microbial load on contaminated toothbrushes in both the groups (P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the efficacies of vinegar and sodium hypochlorite when compared with UV sanitizer in both the groups (P = 0.115 and P = 0.205). Conclusion: The study concluded that UV sanitizer can be used as a preferable toothbrush disinfection method.

Anti-biofilm effectiveness of protocols for cleaning complete dentures in hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Denture biofilm acts as a potential reservoir for respiratory pathogens, considerably increasing the risk of lung infections, specifically aspiration pneumonia, mainly 48h after hospital admission. The establishment of a straightforward, affordable, and applicable hygiene protocol in a hospital environment for the effective control of denture biofilm can be particularly useful to prevent respiratory infections or reduce the course of established lung disease. To evaluate the anti-biofilm effectiveness of denture cleaning protocols in hospitalized patients. The maxillary complete dentures (MCDs) of 340 hospitalized participants were randomly cleaned once using one of the following 17 protocols (n=20): brushing with distilled water, toothpaste, or neutral liquid soap (controls); immersion in chemical solutions (1% sodium hypochlorite, alkaline peroxide, 0.12% or 2% chlorhexidine digluconate), or microwave irradiation (650 W for 3 min) combined or not with brushing. Before and after the application of the protocols, the biofilm of the intaglio surface of the MCDs was evaluated using two methods: denture biofilm coverage area (%) and microbiological quantitative cultures on blood agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (CFU/mL). Data were subjected to the Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests (α=0.05). All 17 protocols significantly reduced the percentage area of denture biofilm and microbial and fungal load (P<0.05). The highest percentage reductions in the area of denture biofilm were observed for 1% hypochlorite solution with or without brushing and for 2% chlorhexidine solution and microwave irradiation only in association with brushing (P<0.05). The greatest reductions in microbial and fungal load were found for the groups that used solutions of 2% chlorhexidine and 1% hypochlorite and microwave irradiation, regardless of the association with brushing (P<0.05). A single immersion for 10 min in 1% sodium hypochlorite, even in the absence of brushing, proved to be a straightforward, rapid, low-cost, and effective protocol for cleaning the dentures of hospitalized patients.

Particle size effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds on the turbidity removal and antibacterial activity for drinking water treatment

The treatment of drinking water using Moringa oleifera (MO) Lam. seeds is gaining popularity as a sustainable alternative to synthetic chemicals. However, there is limited literature on the effect of particle size of the ground MO seeds on their coagulation characteristics, which is revealed in this study. To investigate the impact of the particle size, the sun-dried MO seeds were ground and sieved into five distinct sizes ranging from (i) <0.25 mm, (ii) 0.25–0.4 mm, (iii) 0.4–0.8 mm, (iv) 0.8–1.25 mm, and (v) 1.25–2.0 mm. The seed protein for the experiment was then prepared by stirring a 2% (w/v) solution of the five different seed powders in tap water. Six different protein doses between 100 and 350 mg/l were added to separate glass beakers featuring a synthetic solution of 80 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) turbidity. The experimental results revealed that the MO seed particle sizes of 0.8–0.4 mm and 0.4–0.25 mm demonstrated superior coagulation characteristics compared to the other size categories tested. Specifically, a dose of 200–300 mg/l was found to be effective in reducing the turbidity to 5 NTU and eliminating ∼100% of E. coli after 3 h of settling. The surface characterisation showed a heterogenous surface and the presence of functional groups, which may have aided coagulation and caused the reduction in turbidity and microbial load. Statistical analysis revealed a P value <0.05, indicating that the results were highly consistent with no >5% variation. The study is also extended to explore the mechanism of coagulation of MO seeds, and the potential application of the research at a domestic scale is also discussed. Overall, the resulting water treated with MO met the WHO criteria.

Surface disinfection of wheat kernels using gas phase hydroxyl-radical processes: Effect on germination characteristics, microbial load, and functional properties.

Wheat kernels harbor a diverse microflora that can negatively affect the suitability of the grains for further processing. To reduce surface microflora, a kernel disinfection method is required that does not affect grain functionality. Three different versions of gas phase hydroxyl-radical processes were compared with the common method for grain disinfection, that is, a bleach treatment. The gas phase hydroxyl-radicals are generated by the UV-C mediated degradation of hydrogen peroxide and/or ozone in a near water-free process. It was found that treating kernels with a bleach solution could reduce total aerobic count (TAC) and fungal count to below the level of enumeration. In comparison, the gas phase hydroxyl-radical treatment, that is, H2 O2 -UV-ozone treatment, could support a 1.3 log count reduction (LCR) in TAC and a 1.1 LCR in fungal count. The microbial load reduction for the wholemeal samples was less pronounced as endophytic microorganisms were less affected by all treatments, hinting at a limited penetration depth of the treatments. Despite reducing the microbial load on the kernel surface through the bleach and H2 O2 -UV-ozone treatments, none of these treatments resulted in a reduced microbial count on grains that underwent sprouting after the treatments. No negative effect on germination power or development of the seedling was observed for any of the treatments. The gluten aggregation behavior and xylanase activity of the wholemeal also remained unchanged after the gas phase hydroxyl-radical treatments. Our findings suggest that UV-H2 O2 -ozone treatment shows promise for dry-kernel disinfection, but further optimization of the processing parameters is required.

Performance evaluation of gravity-driven bioreactor (GDB) for simultaneous treatment of black liquor and domestic wastewater.

A lab-scale gravity-driven bioreactor (GDB) was designed and constructed to evaluate the simultaneous treatment of black liquor and domestic wastewater. The GDB was operated with a mixture of black liquor and domestic wastewater at a ratio of 1:1 and maintained at an average organic loading rate of 1235mg-COD/L-Day. The wastewater was fed to the primary sedimentation tank at a flow rate of approximately 12mL/min and subsequently passed through serially connected anaerobic and aerobic chambers with the same flow rate. Each wastewater sample was allowed to undergo a hydraulic retention time of approximately 72h, ensuring effective treatment. The GDB was actively operated for nine samples (W1-W9) at a weekly frequency. The entire process was conducted within the workstation's ambient temperature range of 30-35°C to sustain microbial activity and treatment efficiency in an open environment. The performance of the GDB was evaluated in terms of various pollution indicators, including COD, BOD5, lignin removal, TDS, TSS, EC, PO43-, SO42-, microbial load (CFU/mL and MPN index), total nitrogen, and color reduction. The results showed that the GDB achieved promising treatment efficiencies: 84.5% for COD, 71.80% for BOD5, 82.8% for TDS, 100% for TSS, 74.71% for E.C., 67.25% for PO43-, 81% for SO42-, and 69.36% for TN. Additionally, about 80% reduction in lignin content and 57% color reduction were observed after the treatment. The GDB substantially reduced microbial load in CFU/mL (77.98%) and MPN (90%). This study marks the first to report on wastewater treatment from two different sources (black liquor and domestic wastewater) using a simple GDB design. Furthermore, it highlights the GDB's potential as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient solution for wastewater treatment, with no need for supplementary chemical or physical agents and zero operational costs.

The effect of ultrasonic and multisonic irrigation on root canal microbial communities: An ex vivo study.

To analyse the effect of ultrasonic irrigant activation (UIA) and the GentleWave (GW) multisonic irrigation (GW) with minimal instrumentation on the root canal microbial diversity in an exvivo model that used extracted molars with a history of pulp necrosis. Twenty-three mandibular molars were prepared exvivo for collection of superficial (surface control), pre-treatment and post-treatment samples 24 h after extraction. Samples were divided into two groups: UIA using 6% NaOCl (n = 11) and GW group (n = 12). All samples were processed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing to measure microbial diversity before and after the antimicrobial treatment. For qPCR, a t-test (α = .05) was used to compare the log10 reduction. The Chao1 and Shannon indices evaluated alpha diversity. Differences in community composition (beta diversity) were evaluated by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM). Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni corrections was performed to evaluate the differences in abundances genera in the samples. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed an estimated 1.6 and 2.6 log10 reduction for UIA and GW groups respectively (p = .048). An average of 5 ± 4 and 3 ± 5 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in surface's samples in the UIA and GW group respectively. These values were significantly lower (p < .001) compared to the number of preoperative OTUs in those groups (155 ± 79 and 187 ± 121). In assessing beta diversity, there were no significant differences found in pre-treatment samples (R = .090, p = .070 ANOSIM with Bonferroni corrections). Also, no significant differences in community composition were observed in post-treatment samples (R = -.05, p = .829). After treatment, there was a significant reduction of Eubacterium using conventional treatment with UIA and a significant reduction of Prevotella using minimal instrumentation with GW irrigation (p = .007 and p = .002 respectively). Quantitative PCR analysis revealed a significant reduction in microbial load for GW group. Overall, diversity changes were similar between UIA and GW irrigation in this exvivo model that used extracted teeth with a history of pulp necrosis. OTUs obtained from the surface sample were negligible and did not affect the statistical outcome of the study.

Does aPDT reduce bacterial load in endodontic infected teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review investigated whether antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) after chemomechanical root canal disinfection (CD) yields a greater microbial load reduction than only CD. An electronic literature search was conducted on four databases up to November 2022, with no language or publication date restrictions. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials were included if participants had a primary endodontic infection in permanent teeth, and if microbial loads before and after using aPDT were compared. Two researchers independently screened titles and abstracts to determine study eligibility. Assessments included risk of bias and methodological quality. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181783). Eight studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and six were eligible for meta-analysis. In the random effects model, aPDT significantly improved the results of root canal disinfection when compared with standard protocols for cleaning and shaping (p = 0.04, 95% CI -1.72, -0.05). Subgroup analysis suggested that aPDT has a better effect on reducing the load of anaerobic microorganisms (p = 0.003, 95% CI -3.36, -0.69). The use of aPDT as an adjunct to chemomechanical disinfection promotes additional reduction of the microbial load and, therefore, seems to improve the results of root canal treatments in permanent teeth with a primary endodontic infection. However, certainty of evidence should be improved.

Enhancing Disinfection Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent: The Role of ZnO Nanoparticles in Ultrasonic and UV-C Processes

Ultrasonic (US) and UV-C disinfection technologies have been successfully used in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for disinfection purposes. The US technology is typically used as a pre-treatment step to break down larger particles and make them more susceptible to disinfection. The UV-C technology is commonly used as a final disinfection step in many WWTPs. The study aimed to assess the potential of using Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the effectiveness of UV-C and US disinfection methods in treating wastewater effluent, offering a more comprehensive solution to wastewater treatment. In this experimental study, a Laboratory US Bath (40[Formula: see text]kHz) and a UV-C lamp (16[Formula: see text]W) were used. In order to investigate the effectiveness of ZnO NPs in the reduction of microbial load, 5[Formula: see text]mg/L of ZnO NPs was added to the effluent samples. Then, samples were examined for Total Coliform (TC) and Fecal Coliform (FC) reduction by the standard MPN/100[Formula: see text]mL test. The Chick‘s law was used to calculate the efficiency of microbial load. The relationship between variables was determined by regression analysis using Excel and SPSS-ver 21 software. In this study, the samples were examined in three groups: Samples that were only exposed to sonication or received UV-C radiation with Turbidity of 18 NTU (Group A) and Turbidity of 5 NTU (Group B), and Samples that received 5 mg/L of ZnO NPs (Group C). By increasing the time from 0.5 min to 10 min in the presence of UV-C, the amount of microbial population decreased, and 2 min was considered the optimal time. The maximum removal efficiencies by US for TC were 74.07,77.7, 85.1% (40∘C) and 92.5,100, and 100% (60∘C) in group A (in 30 min sonication), 85.7, 85.7, 100% (40∘C), respectively, and were 100% in other groups (B and C), respectively. The maximum removal efficiencies by US for FC were 76.4%, 88.2%, and 100% (40∘C) and 88.2%, 100%, and 100% (60∘C) in group A (in 30 min sonication), respectively, and were 100% in other groups (B and C). In this study, an important increase in the disinfection ability of ZnO NPs has been observed in the presence of US and UV-C. So, the ZnO NPs/UV-C and ZnO NPs/US processes are valuable alternatives to conventional disinfection processes by over 90% improvement of disinfection efficiency.

Electrochemical In Situ Hydrogen Peroxide Production Can Reduce Microbial Load in Bioponic Nutrient Solutions Derived from Organic Waste

Technological advancement in recent decades has allowed for crop cultivation in soilless controlled environments, known as hydroponics, and this is being employed in an increasing number of factories worldwide. With continued local and regional disruptions in the supply chain to provide mineral fertilizers, new pathways to generate nutrient solutions are being developed. One potential approach is the recovery of nutrients from organic waste and wastewater using bioponics. Bioponics refers to the biological mineralization of organic residues through processes such as anaerobic and aerobic digestion and the use of such organically produced nutrient solutions in hydroponic systems. However, without disinfection of the nutrient solution, the high microbial loads increase the risk of pathogens affecting plant and consumer health. In this work, electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) demonstrated success in reducing microbial loads. Different scenarios of application were considered: (1) variation in the H2O2 concentration in the nutrient solution by dosing H2O2 from ex situ electrochemical production, (2) variation in the dosing time-dependent reaction between the nutrient solution and H2O2 produced ex situ, and (3) the in situ production of H2O2 of the organic nutrient solution. The highest tested H2O2 concentration of 200 mg L−1 showed a microbial load reduction of bacteria at 93.3% and of fungi at 81.2%. However, the in situ production showed the highest reduction rate for bacteria and fungi in bioponic nutrient solutions, where longer reaction times also impact microbial concentrations in situ. Final microbial reductions of 97.8% for bacteria and of 99.1% for fungi were determined after a H2O2 production time of 60 min. Overall, our results show that electrochemical H2O2 production can be used to disinfect bioponic nutrient solutions, and the production cell can be implemented in bioponic systems in situ.

The Effect of Plasma-Activated Water Combined with Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on the Physicochemical Properties of Frankfurter Sausage during Storage.

This study investigated the impact of plasma-activated water (PAW) and rosemary extract on the bacterial inactivation and quality attributes of Frankfurter sausages during a 6-day storage period. The antibacterial activity, total phenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the rosemary extract were evaluated. The TPC of the rosemary extract was 89.45 mg gallic acid/g dry weight, while the TFC was 102.3 mg QE/g dry weight. Even at low concentrations, the rosemary extract effectively inhibited the growth of all the tested pathogens using the Well Diffusion Agar method (WDA). The sausages were treated with different concentrations of PAW and rosemary extract and stored for 1 and 6 days. Sample B (100% rosemary extract + PAW treatment) showed the greatest reduction in microbial load and was selected for further analysis. Throughout the storage period, Sample B exhibited no significant changes in pH, moisture content, textural parameters, or sensory evaluation compared to the control group. However, the hardness and color parameters (L*, a*) of Sample B decreased, while the TBARS value increased after 6 days of storage. The combination of PAW and rosemary extract, particularly Sample B, effectively inhibited bacterial growth in the Frankfurter sausages without compromising most quality attributes. Some changes in hardness, color, and lipid oxidation were observed over the extended storage period.

Combined treatment of pulsed light and nisin-organic acid based antimicrobial wash for inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Romaine lettuce, reduction of microbial loads, and retention of quality

Microbial safety of fresh produce continues to be a major concern. Novel antimicrobial methods are needed to minimize the risk of contamination. This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of pulsed light (PL), a novel nisin-organic acid based antimicrobial wash (AW) and the synergy thereof in inactivating E. coli O157:H7 on Romaine lettuce. Treatment effects on background microbiota and produce quality during storage at 4 °C for 7 days was also investigated. A bacterial cocktail containing three outbreak strains of E. coli O157:H7 was used as inoculum. Lettuce leaves were spot inoculated on the surface before treating with PL (1–60 s), AW (2 min) or combinations of PL with AW. PL treatment for 10 s, equivalent to fluence dose of 10.5 J/cm2, was optimal and resulted in 2.3 log CFU/g reduction of E. coli O157:H7, while a 2 min AW treatment, provided a comparable pathogen reduction of 2.2 log CFU/g. Two possible treatment sequences of PL and AW combinations were investigated. For PL-AW combination, inoculated lettuce leaves were initially exposed to optimum PL dose followed by 2 min AW treatment, whereas for AW-PL combination, inoculated lettuce were subjected to 2 min AW treatment prior to 10 s PL treatment. Both combination treatments (PL-AW and AW-PL) resulted in synergistic inactivation as E. coli cells were not detectable after treatment, indicating >5 log pathogen reductions. Combination treatments significantly (P < 0.05) reduced spoilage microbial populations on Romaine lettuce and also hindered their growth in storage for 7 days. The firmness and visual quality appearance of lettuce were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced due to combination treatments. Overall, the results reveal that PL and AW combination treatments can be implemented as a novel approach to enhance microbial safety, quality and shelf life of Romaine lettuce.

Treatment of abattoir wastewater using &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; seed and snail shell in Rivers State, Nigeria

The practice of discharging abattoir wastewater into a receptacle without treatment is most likely to alter its physicochemical and microbiological properties. Against this background, this study is aimed at determining the efficacy of Moringa oleifera and snail shells as bio-coagulants for treatment of abattoir wastewater using the jar. The mean values of monitored physicochemical parameters were electrical conductivity (1227.7), total organic carbon (224.4%), biochemical oxygen demand (362.3 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (1001.5g), total dissolved solids (462.5 mg/l), total suspended solids (1562.5) mg/l and turbidity (190.6 NTU). The mean total heterotrophic bacteria count (THBC) for untreated wastewater was 1.4 x 108 CFU/ml, total coliform count (TCC) was 5.6 x 105 CFU/ml, and total fungal count (TFC) was 1.6 x 102 CFU/ml. After treatment, the biocoagulants caused 82.5-84.2% reduction in EC, TOC (59-88.3%), BOD (90.8-93.7%), COD (94.4-95.3%), TDS (89.6-91.9%), TSS (93.3-94.5%) and turbidity (80.8-84.5%). The bio-coagulants were able to remove 92.2-95.4% of Zn, Pb (97-97.5%), Cr (97.2-98.8%) and Cd (86.7-89.3%). After treatment with the bio-coagulants, THBC dropped from 4.7 x 103-5.3 x 102 CFU/ml to 8-10 CFU/ml on day 6, TCC dropped from 4.2 x 102 – 6.7 x 10 CFU/ml to 5-7 CFU/ml on day 6 while TFC dropped from 1.1 x 102 - 1.5 x 10 CFU/ml to 2-4 CFU/ml on day 6, representing approximately 99.9% reduction in microbial load. Thus, the bio-coagulants were as good at removing pollutants in water as alum, but with the added advantages of being natural, cost-effective, and readily available.

EFFECT OF Vernonia Amygdalina LEAF MEAL EXTRACT IN DRINKING WATER ON POST-WEANING DIARRHEA OCCURRENCE IN PIGLETS

This study was aimed at determining the effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal (VALM) extract in drinking water on the faecal microbial load on post-weaning diarrhea occurrence in piglets using different agar. Forty-five piglets of Large white X Duroc breed were given Vernonia amygdalina (VA) through water infusion. Three levels of 0.0g, 1.2g, and 2.4g of VA per 1000ml of clean drinking water designated as T1, T2, and T3 were used. Nine piglets weaned at different ages of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th week of age were randomly allotted to three treatments with each treatment replicated three times with a piglet per replicate in a completely randomized design. The different agar used are Macconkey Agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar, and Nutrient Agar. These agars were used for 4days each to determine the faecal microbial load. The experiment lasted 28 days. Results showed that the bitter leaf contain high Alkaloids, medium Tannins, Saponins Flavonoids, and low amounts of Terpenoids and Phenols while Cardiac Glycosides were not determined. Bitter leaf showed the power of antibacterial activity for the reduction of faecal microbial load. Bitter leaf as a feed additive in the drinking water of piglets caused a significant (P&lt;0.05) reduction in the faecal microbial load for piglets given 1.2g and 2.4g of VA per 1000ml of drinking water. It can be concluded that bitter leaf extract in drinking water can be used as phyto-additive for piglets to reduce faecal microbial load.&#x0D;

Shelf-life enhancement and microbial load reduction of fresh-cut apple using ascorbic acid and carboxymethyl cellulose coating combined with ultrasound treatment.

The shelf-life of fresh-cut apples is limited because of their high water loss, deterioration rate, and surface browning. In this research, the effects of ultrasonic, ultrasonic + carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) 1% coatings, ultrasonic + ascorbic acid (AA) 2%, and combination of ultrasonic + AA 2% and CMC 1% on fresh-cut apples were studied. Physicochemical, antioxidant properties, and microbial stability of ready to eat treated fresh-cut apple was investigated during storage at 4 °C for 12 days. Results showed that the treated fresh-cut had less changes of L*, flesh firmness, soluble solid content, and titratable acidity than that of untreated. Vitamin C, total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase activity were greater in treated fresh-cut apple than that of untreated ones. Ultrasonic application mostly declined polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity changes. The combined treatment of ultrasonic + AA 2% + CMC 1% had the greatest impact on reducing microbial load among the treatments. These results revealed that the simultaneous application of ultrasonic and AA followed by CMC coating might have the potential to be used in minimally processed industry.

Influence of low temperature hydrodynamic cavitation treatment on shelf life of ascorbic acid‐treated sugarcane juice

AbstractSugarcane juice has a lower shelf life owing to enzymatic browning as well as microbial activity. To overcome these issues, fresh sugarcane juice was treated with ascorbic acid, a strong antioxidant, and further subjected to low‐temperature hydrodynamic cavitation (LTHC) treatment at 4°C/.35 MPa for 30 min. The AALHC‐treated juice was filled into PET bottles and stored under atmospheric (25 ± 5°C) and refrigerated (4 ± 1°C) conditions. The changes in reducing sugar, total sugar, color (ΔE), microbial load, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of sugarcane juice during the storage period were evaluated. During the storage, better retention of the quality parameters was observed in the AALTHC processed sugarcane juice followed by AA‐treated sugarcane juice and fresh sugarcane juice. Under the atmospheric storage, fresh juice and AA‐treated juice were spoiled within a day, whereas the AALTHC‐treated sugarcane juice could last for 4 days. On the other hand, under the refrigerated storage conditions (4 ± 1°C), the quality of the fresh and AA‐treated sugarcane juice could last only for a week, while the quality of AALTHC could be maintained up to 42 days.Practical ApplicationsThe current study aims to improve the shelf life of sugarcane juice by low‐temperature orifice‐based hydrodynamic cavitation. Sugarcane juice has a short shelf life owing to high levels of microbiological contamination and enzymatic reactions that begin immediately following extraction. The use of hydrodynamic cavitation technique enables a significant reduction in microbial load as well as spoilage enzymes, with minimum effect on the nutrient profile and sensory qualities. The treatments presented in this study are successful, inexpensive, more practicable, and long‐term enough to be scaled up for larger‐scale production of sugar cane juice. The outcomes of this study may be useful for developing a fortified beverage industry employing low‐temperature hydrodynamic cavitation.

(Digital Presentation) A Review on the Control of Biofilms by Cold-Plasma Technology

Today, biofilm infection is considered a challenge in the field of medicine and biomedical physics and engineering, as it includes 80% of infections worldwide. The complex architecture of the matrix of the extracellular polymeric substance of the biofilm, which houses the microbial cells, is resistant to antimicrobials and detergents. Cold Plasma anti-bio film application is a novel solution to address this challenge. This review study focuses on different parameters and factors affecting the mechanism of plasma-biofilm interaction in two types: direct and indirect processing. The first phase, the direct application of plasma, focuses on the direct processing of biofilms by cold plasma generators. The second phase, the indirect application of plasma is dealt with plasma surface engineering for biomaterial and medical devices which are in contact with the human body. As is known reduction in microbial load and biofilm removal by direct plasma processing is achievable and efficient. This microbial reduction also can happen by plasma surface engineering as an indirect solution, in which the plasma-treated biomaterial surface will gain an antimicrobial property and consequently mitigate biofilm growth. Moreover, the penetration depth of plasma in biofilms and the application of plasma surface pretreatment with 3D printing as a next-generation manufacturing approach have been reviewed. This review study sheds light on the efficient factors in this mechanism. This clarification helps how to optimize the control of biofilms by cold plasma technology.

Red clover productivity under drought: Are soil microbes a burden or a treasure?

Drought-induced changes in plant traits are well-studied, e.g. building smaller and thicker leaves, reducing stomatal density or increasing root uptake. However, the extent to which these changes depend on plant-soil interactions remains unclear. Mutualistic soil microbes like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium are known to enhance plant productivity, water and nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. Therefore, alterations in soil microbial loads are expected to affect not only plant productivity but also plant responses to drought through changing plant traits. In this study, we investigated the effects of plant-soil interactions on the productivity and traits of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) under repeated drought. We conducted a pot experiment with two treatments: water treatment (wet versus drought) and microbial reduction by soil steam sterilization (native versus sterilized soil). We found that plants in native soil showed lower productivity and plant traits associated with slow-growing strategies (i.e. small and coarse leaves, lower stomatal density and higher root mass). However, the reduction of soil microbial load by soil steam sterilization increased plant productivity under wet conditions and led to plant traits associated with fast-growing strategies. Drought in sterilized soil decreased productivity, promoted earlier wilting and resulted in the development of plant traits associated with a more slow-growing strategy. Furthermore, roots became longer and thinner and rhizobial nodulation decreased, demonstrating the reduction of mutualists. Hence, our results show that soil microbes trigger plant traits, which suggests that they play an important role in plant responses to drought, in maintaining plant productivity and in prolonging plant vitality.