Species Of Microorganisms Research Articles

Seed protein biotyping in Amaranthus species: a tool for rapid identification of weedy amaranths of concern

BackgroundThe Amaranthus genus contains at least 20 weedy and invasive species, including Amaranthus palmeri (palmer’s amaranth) and Amaranthus tuberculatus (tall waterhemp), two species of regulatory concern in North America, impacting production and yield in crops like corn, soybean and cotton. Amaranthus tuberculatus is regulated in Canada with limited establishment, while current climate models predict a range expansion of A. palmeri impacting crop growing areas in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Since many Amaranthus species are similar in their morphology, especially at the seed stage, this demands the development of additional methods that can efficiently aid in the detection and identification of these species. Protein biotyping using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been traditionally used to identify microorganism species, races and pathotypes. Major protein fractions extracted from an organism, ionized and run through a biotyper using mass spectrometry, result in protein spectra that represent a fingerprint at the species or lower taxonomic rank, providing an efficient molecular diagnostics method. Here we use a modified protein biotyping protocol to extract major protein fractions from seeds of the family Brassicaceae to test our protocol, and then implemented the standardized approach in seeds from Amaranthus species. We then created a database of Amaranthus protein spectra that can be used to test blind samples for a quick identification of species of concern.ResultsWe generated a protein spectra database with 16 Amaranthus species and several accessions per species, spanning target species of regulatory concern and species which are phylogenetically related or easily confused at the seed stage due to phenotypic plasticity. Testing of two Amaranthus blind sample seed sets against this database showed accuracies of 100% and 87%, respectively.ConclusionsOur method is highly efficient in identifying Amaranthus species of regulatory concern. The mismatches between our protein biotyping approach and phenotypic identification of seeds are due to absence of the species in the database or close phylogenetic relationship between the species. While A. palmeri cannot be distinguished from A. watsonii, there is evidence these two species have the same native range and are closely related.

The effect of supplementation with a multi-species synbiotic on serum lipid profile, abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and firmicutes to bacteroidetes ratio in patients with dyslipidemia; a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

BackgroundDysbiosis an imbalance of gut microbiota (GM) may contribute to the development of metabolic disorders including dyslipidemia. Synbiotics have been suggested to modulate GM composition and in turn, they may alter lipid metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on serum lipid profile, abundance of dominant gut bacteria, and also the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio in adults with dyslipidemia. MethodsFifty-six adults with dyslipidemia were enrolled in a randomized, clinical trial. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either synbiotic or placebo sachets for 12 weeks. Each synbiotic sachet contains (a total dose of 3 ×1010 colony forming units, CFU/gram) six species of probiotic microorganisms with 5-gram inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in equal amounts as prebiotics. Serum lipid profile, fecal bacteria abundance, dietary intake, physical activity level (PAL), and anthropometric measures, were assessed at the baseline and after intervention. ResultsNo significant changes were observed in participants' dietary intake, PA, and anthropometric indices within and between groups after 12 weeks of intervention. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) showed a significant increase (p = 0.0008), while no significant change in other lipid profile components was observed. The abundance of fecal Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium was significantly increased in the synbiotic group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.032 respectively). However, 12 weeks of synbiotic supplementation didn’t affect F/B Ratio (p = 0.43) at the end of the study. ConclusionsTwelve weeks of supplementation with multi-species synbiotic may improve HDL-C and enhance the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria in patients with dyslipidemia.

Microbial Study of Pathogenic Bacterial that Producing Biofilm Isolated From Fresh Red Meat

Contamination of meats with different species of microorganisms pose significant threats not only to the human health but also to the animal production. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of bacterial contaminants in raw meat of livestock. A total of 75 random samples were collected (included 50 cow samples and 25 goats samples) from several butcher shops and slaughterhouse stores in Basrah governorate. The samples were subjected into the biochemical tests using Enter system 18R to confirm preliminary bacterial diagnosis and subsequently cultured using a selective media (MacConkey agar). The outcomes demonstrated Escherichia. coli was the dominate bacterial isolated species in the cow and goats with the percentage estimated at (30%) and (28%), respectively. Other important isolations were also found Enterobacter cloacae in was a rate (20%) Cow meat and Klebsiella pneumonia in goat meat with a rate estimated at (20%), while the lowest isolations rate was Salmonella spp (8%) in cow meat. Staphylococcus aureus (14%) in cow meat and (12%) in goat meat. In conclusion, meats are representative the source of infection with foodborne pathogens carry hazard to public health transmitted to the humans due to mishandling and improper hygienic condition of meats. The results showed biofilm production were high percent for Staphylococcus aureus 5 (50%) strong biofilm producer, follow Klebsiella pneumonia 4 (30.76%) strong biofilm. As other isolates were biofilm producer and production of biofilm is related to the resistance.

Nondestructive Metabolomic Fingerprinting: FTIR, NIR and Raman Spectroscopy in Food Screening

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the maintenance of food quality and food safety on the basis of metabolomic fingerprinting using vibrational spectroscopy combined with multivariate chemometrics. Nontargeted spectroscopy techniques such as FTIR, NIR and Raman can provide fingerprint information for metabolomic constituents in agricultural products, natural products and foods in a high-throughput, cost-effective and rapid way. In the current review, we tried to explain the capabilities of FTIR, NIR and Raman spectroscopy techniques combined with multivariate analysis for metabolic fingerprinting and profiling. Previous contributions highlighted the considerable potential of these analytical techniques for the detection and quantification of key constituents, such as aromatic amino acids, peptides, aromatic acids, carotenoids, alcohols, terpenoids and flavonoids in the food matrices. Additionally, promising results were obtained for the identification and characterization of different microorganism species such as fungus, bacterial strains and yeasts using these techniques combined with supervised and unsupervised pattern recognition techniques. In conclusion, this review summarized the cutting-edge applications of FTIR, NIR and Raman spectroscopy techniques equipped with multivariate statistics for food analysis and foodomics in the context of metabolomic fingerprinting and profiling.

Microbial carriage of Dermanyssus gallinae ticks

The effectiveness of the development of the poultry industry depends on the veterinary well-being of farms, in particular, in relation to invasive diseases. One of the most widespread ectoparasites among poultry farms is the gamasic mite Dermanyssus gallinae. As a result of tick parasitism, the egg and meat productivity of chickens decreases, often the death of young birds. Dermanyssus ticks are hematophagous and can be carriers of pathogens of infectious diseases of chickens, including zooanthroponosis. The research method was used to investigate the presence of specific pathogens carried by Dermanyssus gallinae. In laboratory conditions, inoculation was carried out from the homogenate of ticks isolated from chickens and objects of poultry premises on nutrient media (blood agar, yolk-salt agar, Saburo, Simmons, Endo, Ploskirev, bismuth-sulfite agar). As a result of bacteriological studies of Dermanyssus gallinae isolated from different substrates, microorganisms belonging to three species and four genera were isolated – Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli. Dermanyssus ticks isolated from chickens were carriers of only two genera and one species of microorganisms – Staphylococcus spp. (37.5 %) and Euterococcus facalis (31.3 %). Moreover, monoisolates (77.8 %) were most often isolated from ticks, the majority of which were Staphylococcus spp. (44.5 %), less – Enterococcus faecalis (33.3 %). Bacterial associations were rarely identified (22.2 %). Dermanyssus ticks, isolated from the objects of the poultry house environment, turned out to be carriers of a larger spectrum of microorganisms, where Staphylococcus spp. were more often isolated (100 %) and Escherichia coli (43.8 %), less often – Klebsiella pneumoniae (37.5 %) and Enterococcus faecalis (18.8 %). The isolates were dominated by associations of microorganisms (62.5 %). The monoisolate was represented only by Staphylococcus spp. (37.5 %). The data obtained by us regarding the isolated microorganisms further expand the vector role of D. gallinae, proving their danger for poultry enterprises producing food products. In general, dermanyssiosis can seriously affect the health of chickens both because of ectoparasites – hematophages, and because of the ability to transmit pathogens.

Exploring the influence of agrochemicals on beneficial microbial communities in soil

Ensuring the safe value of agricultural products is crucial for the sustainable development of agriculture, which requires the rational use of both chemical and biological products. However, the use of current agrochemicals can adversely affect the beneficial microorganisms in soil and reduce their efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of 16 commonly used agrochemicals on five microbial species, including Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Saccharomyces sp., Azotobacter sp., and Trichoderma sp. The evaluation criteria comprised the assessment of direct effects at the time of exposure and after three days. The research results indicated that agrochemicals have a negative effect on experimental microorganisms. Specifically, when in direct contact, the chemical components ethoprophos, metalaxyl, and mancozeb contained in 2 out of 16 chemicals exhibited a 100% negative impact on all 5 species of microorganisms, while the other chemical components present in the remaining chemicals had an impact level of over 75%. Based on the experiments conducted, the results suggest that the appropriate time to use microbiological preparations is at an interval of 7 days after the application of the aforementioned agrochemicals.

Abstract A009: A new version of NGS-QC-PANEL enables better authentication and characterization of human and mouse samples

Abstract Introduction: We previously reported a deep NGS-based QC panel for the authentication, characterization, and contamination of human and mouse samples [1]. It has visibly higher sensitivity and accuracy than traditional STR and SNP assays in authenticating human and mouse cancer cell lines, patient-derived xenograft tumors, and organoids, and is able to detect both inter- and intra-species contamination. Using NGS data from a single run, it also provides other functionalities, including the detection of mycoplasma contamination and viral infection of HBV/EBV/HPV16/HPV18/HIV viruses; the identification of gender and genetic background; the estimation of genetic drift and the construction of phylogenetic trees for samples with a common ancestor; and the quantification of percentages for individual cell lines in their mixtures. A new version of the NGS-QC-PANEL was developed to further enhance the application of the current version. Methods: The new version has over 2000 pairs of primers, compared to 600 pairs in the previous version. We designed characteristic SNPs for more mouse models and selected the characteristic segments for specific mycoplasma species, more microorganism species, and some vertebrate species. Also, we selected more segments for gender characterization. The primers were designed for these newly added SNPs and segments and incorporated into the previous primer pools. Results: The number of mouse models that can be unambiguously authenticated increases from 32 to 92, in particular, MC38 of 5 different origins can be distinguished. Besides quantifying mycoplasma contamination by calculating a ratio of mycoplasma cells to human/mouse cells, the panel is able to distinguish 85 mycoplasma species. More than 100 virus and bacteria species can be detected. Three more segments, in addition to the existing three, are added to infer the gender of human models. Finally, the panel can detect cross-species contamination from cat, cattle, chicken, dog, duck, guineapig, hamster, monkey, rabbit, rat, sheep based on species-specific segments. Conclusions: The new NGS-QC-PANEL makes the authentication, characterization, and contamination detection for human and mouse samples more accurate, more comprehensive and more in-depth, which will further contribute to quality control and assurance of the preclinical tumor models used in drug discovery.

A Systematic Evaluation of Curcumin Concentrations and Blue Light Parameters towards Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Cariogenic Microorganisms.

Dental caries is a highly preventable and costly disease. Unfortunately, the current management strategies are inadequate at reducing the incidence and new minimally invasive strategies are needed. In this study, a systematic evaluation of specific light parameters and aqueous curcumin concentrations for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) was conducted. Aqueous solutions of curcumin were first prepared and evaluated for their light absorbance after applying different ~56 mW/cm2 blue light treatments in a continuous application mode. Next, these same light treatments as well as different application modes were applied to the curcumin solutions and the molar absorptivity coefficient, reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for Streptococcus mutans and the MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) for Candida albicans were measured. After up to 1 min of light treatment, the molar absorptivity of curcumin when added to culture media was lower than that for water only; however, at higher energy levels, this difference was not apparent. There was a noted dependence on both ROS type and cariogenic microorganism species on the sensitivity to both blue light treatment and application mode. In conclusion, this study provides new information towards improving the agonistic potential of aPDT associated with curcumin against cariogenic microorganisms.

Intramammary infections in lactating Jersey cows: Prevalence of microbial organisms and association with milk somatic cell count and persistence of infection

There are limited data available regarding pathogens causing intramammary infections (IMI) in Jersey cows. The objectives of this study were to characterize the prevalence of IMI caused by different microorganisms in lactating Jersey cattle and evaluate the associations among microbes and somatic cell count (SCC) and persistence of IMI. This prospective, observational, longitudinal study included lactating Jersey cows (n = 753) from 4 farms within a 415 km radius of Columbia, Missouri. Quarter foremilk samples were aseptically collected monthly for 3 consecutive months. Microorganisms were identified using aerobic milk culture and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A commercial laboratory measured SCC using flow cytometry. Milk culture results were used to classify single microorganism infections as persistent (same microorganism species identified at first sampling and one other sampling) or nonpersistent infection. Mixed models were built to evaluate the associations between IMI status and SCC natural logarithm (lnSCC), as well as persistence and lnSCC. Overall, staphylococci were the most commonly isolated microorganisms among the 7,370 quarter-level milk samples collected. Median prevalence (using all 3 samplings) of specific microbes varied among farms; however, Staphylococcus chromogenes was a common species found at all farms. The most common microbial species that persisted were Staph. chromogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Staph. aureus were the IMI associated with the most inflammation based on lnSCC. The small number of herds included in this study with the large variation in herd type limits the generalizability of the data. However, results of this study seem to be similar to those of previous studies in other breeds, suggesting management factors are more important than breed-specific differences when evaluating causes of IMI and associated subclinical mastitis.

Thermodynamics of microbial consortia: Enthalpies and Gibbs energies of microorganism live matter and macromolecules of E. coli, G. oxydans, P. fluorescens, S. thermophilus and P. chrysogenum

Every microorganism represents a biothermodynamic system, characterized by an empirical formula and thermodynamic properties of biosynthesis. Gibbs energy of biosynthesis influences the multiplication rate of a microorganism. In case of a mixed culture (microbial consortia) biosynthesis processes of microbial species are competitive. This is why Gibbs energy of biosynthesis determines the growth in a mixed culture. This paper gives a mechanistic model that explains growth of microorganisms in mixed culture and ability to grow in microbial consortia. Detailed biosynthesis reactions were formulated for the first time for five microorganism species, which include metallic elements. Moreover, thermodynamic properties of live matter and biosynthesis were calculated for the first time for five microorganism species and macromolecules.

Identification of root canal microbiota profiles of periapical tissue diseases using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify microorganisms isolated from various periapical tissue diseases using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and classify them via an unsupervised machine learning approach. MethodsA total of 150 patients with various apical conditions and teeth in need of endodontic retreatment were divided into five groups, including Retreatment, Acute Apical Abscess, Chronic Apical Abscess, Acute Apical Periodontitis, and Chronic Apical Periodontitis. Samples were collected from root canals using paper points after agitating with a #10 K file then microorganisms were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Data were analyzed using a hierarchical clustering method. Quadruple clusters and dendrograms were formed according to similarities and dissimilarities. ResultsA total of 80 species were identified representative of six different phyla. The most similar microorganism species identified were: ''Enterococcus faecalis'' between 21 and 23-year-old female cases in Retreatment group; ''Lactobacillus rhamnosus'' between 20 and 18-year-old male cases in Symptomatic Apical Abscess cases; ''Lactobacillus paracasei'' between 26 and 40-year-old male cases in Asymptomatic Apical Abscess cases; ''Enterococcus faecalis'' between 48 and 50-year-old female cases in Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis cases; ''Lactobacillus rhamnosus'' between 48 and 60-year-old male cases in Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis cases. ConclusionsMALDI-TOF MS can be considered a fast and high-throughput screening technique for microbial species identification in endodontics. Thus, it will provide valuable data for future research designs regarding periapical tissue diseases. As the MALDI-TOF MS database expands and comprehensive data becomes available, the relationship between microbial profiles and disease progression will become increasingly apparent.

The effect of corticosteroid use in septic shock on secondary infection frequency, microorganism species, morbidity, and mortality

&lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt; We aimed to examine the effect of corticosteroid treatment in vasopressor-refractory septic shock on secondary infections, microorganism species, survival, and length of hospital stay.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods: &lt;/b&gt;In this observational study, the records of 108 septic shock patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were reviewed.&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;Patients were divided into two groups: the corticosteroid group (Group S, n=60) and the non-corticosteroid group (Group S-0, n=48). The results of three cultures [blood, endotracheal aspirate (eta), urine, wound] taken after ICU admission were recorded. The groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, culture growth rates and microorganisms, length of hospital stay, and survival rates.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The hospital (p=0.043) and ICU stay (p=0.035) were longer in Group S. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of survival (p&amp;gt;0.05). The growth rate of the first urine culture was significantly higher in Group S-0 than in Group S (p=0.018), but there was no difference in terms of microorganism species (p&amp;gt;0.05). There was no significant difference in growth rates and microorganism species in blood, eta and wound cultures (p&amp;gt;0.05), but increase in growth rates were observed in the 2nd and 3rd eta and, wound cultures compared to first culture in Group S (p&amp;lt;0.05).&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; There was no difference between the patients who received and did not receive corticosteroid treatment in septic shock in terms of culture growth rates, growing microorganism species and mortality; however, the frequency of growth in eta and wound cultures increased and the length of hospital stay was longer in patients who received corticosteroids.

Enhancing Ecological Efficiency in Biological Wastewater Treatment: A Case Study on Quality Control Information System

This study aimed to improve the control system of the biological stage of wastewater treatment using the quality control information system to support the concept of environmental efficiency management. In this case, the object of the study was the treatment facilities of Sumy city (Ukraine). For automatic control of wastewater quality, pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), electrical conductivity, and temperature indicators were taken, as well as hydrobiological analysis of activated sludge and mathematical modelling. The pH of wastewater at the input system has systematically unacceptable values (above 8.5 were recorded). Unacceptable concentrations of sulphur-containing toxicants arrive at the entrance of treatment facilities (0.22–1.3 mg/L). The response of activated sludge biocenosis to increasing concentrations of hydrogen sulphide in wastewater was analysed. Furthermore, a mathematical model of monoculture population growth, with two factors that affect population growth (nutrient concentration and monoculture production concentration), was implemented for the initial assessment of possible negative effects on wastewater treatment. The differential equation of the population dynamics of the i-th species of microorganisms in activated sludge was described. The applied system of automated monitoring of wastewater parameters with expert assessment of activated sludge and a unified mathematical model of approaches allows for a complex system of decision-making support to be realised. However, this requires the construction of mathematical models that would take into account the cause–effect relations that operate under conditions of incomplete technological information and the potential presence of emergencies due to natural disasters and military activities.

Metagenomic analysis reveals a dynamic microbiome with diversified adaptive functions that respond to ovulation regulation in the mouse endometrium

Understanding the microflora inhabiting the reproductive tract is important for a better understanding of female physiology and reproductive health. The endometrial fluid from mice in three reproductive stages (A: Unproductive mice; B: Postovulatory mice; C: Postpartum mice) was extracted for microbial DNA extraction and sequencing. Phenotypic and functional analyses of endometrial microbial enrichment was undertaken using LefSe. The results showed 95 genera and 134 species of microorganisms in the uteri of mice. There were differentially distributed genera, among which Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus were more abundant in the endometrial fluid of mice in the unproductive group. That of mice in the postovulatory group was colonized with Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter and was mainly enriched in metabolic pathways and steroid biosynthesis. The presence of Chlamydia, Enterococcus, Pseudomonadales, Acinetobacter, and Clostridium in the endometrial fluid of postpartum mice, in addition to the enrichment of the endocrine system and the Apelin and FoxO signaling pathways, resulted in a higher number of pathogenic pathways than in the other two groups. The results showed that the microbial diversity characteristics in the endometrium of mice in different reproductive states differed and that they could be involved in the regulation of animal reproduction through metabolic pathways and steroid biosynthesis, suggesting that reproductive diseases induced by microbial diversity alterations in the regulation of animal reproduction cannot be ignored.

Preoperative and Intraoperative Urine Cultures and Its Association With Postoperative Infection After Ureteroneocystostomy

To unveil this association, and we hypothesize that preoperative and intraoperative UTI will be correlated with postoperative UTI and sepsis occurrence. The 2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) data was analyzed for patients undergoing ureteroneocystostomy for VUR. Patients that underwent UNC for treatment of VUR with UCx obtained within 2 weeks preoperatively or on the day of surgery were identified. The patients were divided into 3 groups: no bacterial growth, bacterial growth with UTI, and bacterial growth PMG (polymicrobial growth). Patient demographics and preoperative variables were evaluated. The postoperative urinary tract infection rate of the three groups were 2.0%, 9.2%, and 9.9% for group A, B, C respectively (p<0.001). Postoperative sepsis was noted to be 0.5%, 1.3%, and 3.6% for group A, B, C (p<0.01). Additionally, there was a difference between mean operative time (p<0.001), mean length of stay (p=0.03), and mean days from operation to discharge (p<0.01). On adjusted analysis, both groups B and C had higher rates of UTI compared to group A. Group C was also seen to have greater rates of sepsis on adjusted analysis. The association found between preoperative UTI with less than 2 species of microorganisms (group B) and postoperative UTI indicates that UTI treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered when undergoing UNC for VUR. The results of this study may lead to more careful consideration of the use of preoperative and intraoperative UCx as well as treatment of UTI in pediatric patients with VUR undergoing UNC.

Probiotics and Health: A Review

Abstract: Humans serve as hosts for various species of microorganisms that contribute to the maintenance of human health. The beneficial bacteria residing in our bodies are referred to as probiotics. Besides improving the immune system, probiotics are also capable of warding off various diseases. In recent decades, probiotic microorganisms have emerged as a significant factor in human well-being. Popularly referred to as "health-friendly microorganisms," they influence health in myriad ways by boosting the immune system, combating intestinal irritation, improving the balance of the gut microbiome, lowering blood pressure, relieving postmenopausal symptoms, and reducing traveler’s diarrhea. The ability of probiotics to compete for the adhesion sites of pathogenic microbes makes them an effective treatment against various intestinal pathogens. Recent studies also advocate their use in the treatment of skin and oral diseases. In addition, the modulation of gut flora by probiotics is being discussed as a possible new solution for treating tension and depression. Ultimately, a cost-effective approach is imperative to improve and maintain fitness in the present competitive environment. This review aims to evaluate the potential benefits of probiotic microorganisms in various disorders, such as gastrointestinal disorders, UTIs, acne, anticancer properties, gut-brain connections, and their possible mode of action.

Consumers’ safety of some selected ready to eat and street vended foods in Wudil, Kano state as determined by microbial content

Because of their cost, affordability, availability and simplicity to prepare, ready-to-eat foods are highly consumed in all over Nigeria, therefore critical to Nigerians’ health. This research aimed at ascertaining the consumers’ safety in terms of microbial load in ready-to-eat sell on the street Awara (Steamed Cowpea Beans Slurry) and Moin-moin (Bean pie) sold in three different vending locations retailed to the students of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil, Kano state Nigeria. Total of 24 samples consisting of equal quantity of Awara (Bean pie) and Moin-moin (Steamed Cowpea Bean Slurry) were collected from three different location in Wudil town and analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, fungi and Staphyococcus count. Seven different species of microorganism of health concern were identified to include Micrococcus spp, Staphylococcus aureous, Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp., Mucor, Rhizophus stoonifer and Aspergillus flavus. The total mean of the aerobic bacteria, fungi and Staphylococcus count across all the location in all the samples were found to be withing the tolerable range with the standard set by the International Commission for Microbial Specification for Foods (ICMSF) and Food and Environmental Hygiene Standard (FEHD) as well as the South Wales Food Authority Standards for ready-to-eat foods. Higher microbial counts were founds on Moin-moin sample and this may be attributed to its high moisture content which is found to range from 64.2 to 70.0 %. The comparison of this research finding with international standard justified the safety of consumers and concludes the acceptability of these foods as safe to eat even though the presence of microorganisms such as Aspergilus spp. has been found to pose serious public health issue such as aflatoxin intoxication

Development of educational programs for infection prevention techniques in basic nursing education and verification of learning effects

Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa are everywhere and can lead to disease and infection if adequate hygiene practices and infection prevention techniques arenâ–™t followed as standard. Assistant Professor Mariko Tobiseâ–™s research project seeks to educate medical professionals in the ever-present need to utilise infection prevention techniques. The aim is to dramatically reduce incidence of infection by providing tangible, visible information that will improve behaviours across the medical sector. Tobise is a nursing practice and education researcher with 20 yearsâ–™ experience working in hospitals as a nurse who leads a team based within the Graduate School of Nursing at Chiba University in Japan. She and her team are developing a novel way to change behaviours. This involves enabling students to see the floating state and number of fine particle aerosols in various medical sites and university seminar rooms and incorporating analysis to allow them to identify the specific species of microorganism and get a real sense of the invisible things around us that can cause infection and disease. The researchers have conducted a comparative study of the learning effects of microparticle aerosol visualisation system intervention for the acquisition of aseptic manipulation techniques in basic nursing education courses and clarified the usefulness of the microparticle aerosol visualisation system. In the research, 81 second-year students were divided into two groups: a microparticle aerosol visualisation system intervention group and control group, and they practised aseptic techniques twice. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted for each group on the knowledge and skills needed to fully acquire the aseptic operation technique.

Manipulating rhizosphere microorganisms to improve crop yield in saline-alkali soil: a study on soybean growth and development.

Rhizosphere microorganisms can effectively promote the stress resistance of plants, and some beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms can significantly promote the growth of crops under salt stress, which has the potential to develop special microbial fertilizers for increasing the yield of saline-alkali land and provides a low-cost and environmentally friendly new strategy for improving the crop yield of saline-alkali cultivated land by using agricultural microbial technology. In May 2022, a field study in a completely randomized block design was conducted at the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences to explore the correlation between plant rhizosphere microorganisms and soybean growth in saline-alkali soil. Two soybean cultivars (Hening 531, a salt-tolerant variety, and 20_1846, a salt-sensitive variety) were planted at two experimental sites [Daqing (normal condition) and Harbin (saline-alkali conditions)], aiming to investigate the performance of soybean in saline-alkali environments. Soybeans grown in saline-alkali soil showed substantial reductions in key traits: plant height (25%), pod number (26.6%), seed yield (33%), and 100 seed weight (13%). This underscores the unsuitability of this soil type for soybean cultivation. Additionally, microbial analysis revealed 43 depleted and 56 enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the saline-alkali soil compared to normal soil. Furthermore, an analysis of ion-associated microbes identified 85 mOTUs with significant correlations with various ions. A co-occurrence network analysis revealed strong relationships between specific mOTUs and ions, such as Proteobacteria with multiple ions. In addition, the study investigated the differences in rhizosphere species between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive soybean varieties under saline-alkali soil conditions. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that mOTUs in saline-alkali soil were associated with pH and ions, while mOTUs in normal soil were correlated with Ca2+ and K+. Comparative analyses identified significant differences in mOTUs between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties under both saline-alkali and normal soil conditions. Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were dominant in the bacterial community of saline-alkali soil, with significant enrichment compared to normal soil. The study explored the functioning of the soybean rhizosphere key microbiome by comparing metagenomic data to four databases related to the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles. A total of 141 KOs (KEGG orthologues) were identified, with 66 KOs related to the carbon cycle, 16 KOs related to the nitrogen cycle, 48 KOs associated with the phosphorus cycle, and 11 KOs linked to the sulfur cycle. Significant correlations were found between specific mOTUs, functional genes, and phenotypic traits, including per mu yield (PMY), grain weight, and effective pod number per plant. Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the structure, function, and salt-related species of soil microorganisms in saline-alkali soil and their associations with salt tolerance and soybean phenotype. The identification of key microbial species and functional categories offers valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions in challenging soil conditions.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Structural Properties of Thyme Essential Oil-Loaded Chitosan-Capric Acid and Chitosan-Stearic Acid Nanogels

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Background: This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity of Thyme Essential Oil (TEO) encapsulated by chitosan nanogels.&#x0D; Methods: In this study, chitosan-stearic acid and chitosan-capric acid nanogels were developed in two ratios of chitosan to fatty acid (10: 1 and 10: 3).&#x0D; Results: The results of Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis showed a successful binding of chitosan to capric and stearic acids. Scanning Electron Microscope images revealed that particle formation improved with increase of the ratio of fatty acid to chitosan. The antimicrobial capacity of both encapsulation systems on three species of microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans) was studied. A sustained release of curcumin was observed in Simulated Intestine Fluid. The developed nanogels did not have any toxicity on different cell lines. The results also showed that the antimicrobial capacity of TEO encapsulated with chitosan nanogels was higher (p&lt;0.05) than the ionic method (use of sodium triphosphate incorporating chitosan).&#x0D; Conclusion: The results have shown that encapsulating TEO in chitosan nanogels is a suitable alternative for synthetic antibiotics in different products.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;