Bacterial Strains Research Articles

Machine learning unravels inherent structural patterns in Escherichia coli Hi-C matrices and predicts chromosome dynamics.

High dimensional nature of the chromosomal conformation contact map ('Hi-C Map'), even for microscopically small bacterial cell, poses challenges for extracting meaningful information related to its complex organization. Here we first demonstrate that an artificial deep neural network-based machine-learnt (ML) low-dimensional representation of a recently reported Hi-C interaction map of archetypal bacteria Escherichia coli can decode crucial underlying structural pattern. The ML-derived representation of Hi-C map can automatically detect a set of spatially distinct domains across E. coli genome, sharing reminiscences of six putative macro-domains previously posited via recombination assay. Subsequently, a ML-generated model assimilates the intricate relationship between large array of Hi-C-derived chromosomal contact probabilities and respective diffusive dynamics of each individual chromosomal gene and identifies an optimal number of functionally important chromosomal contact-pairs that are majorly responsible for heterogenous, coordinate-dependent sub-diffusive motions of chromosomal loci. Finally, the ML models, trained on wild-type E. coli show-cased its predictive capabilities on mutant bacterial strains, shedding light on the structural and dynamic nuances of ΔMatP30MM and ΔMukBEF22MM chromosomes. Overall our results illuminate the power of ML techniques in unraveling the complex relationship between structure and dynamics of bacterial chromosomal loci, promising meaningful connections between ML-derived insights and biological phenomena.

Simulating the clinical manifestations and disease progression of human sepsis: A monobacterial injection approach for animal modeling

ABSTRACT Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, with great clinical heterogeneity, high morbidity, and high mortality. At the same time, there are many kinds of infection sources, the pathophysiology is very complex, and the pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. An ideal animal model of sepsis can accurately simulate clinical sepsis and promote the development of sepsis-related pathogenesis, treatment methods, and prognosis. The existing sepsis model still uses the previous Sepsis 2.0 modelling standard, which has some problems, such as many kinds of infection sources, poor repeatability, inability to take into account single-factor studies, and large differences from clinical sepsis patients. To solve these problems, this study established a new animal model of sepsis. The model uses intravenous tail injection of a single bacterial strain, simplifying the complexity of multibacterial infection, and effectively solving the above problems.

Improved N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors of DNA gyrase as antibacterial agents for high-priority bacterial strains

In this work, we describe an improved series of N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors that exhibit potent activity against DNA gyrase and are highly effective against high-priority gram-positive bacteria. The most potent compounds show low nanomolar IC50 values against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase, and in addition, compound 7c also inhibits E. coli topoisomerase IV in the nanomolar concentration range, making it a promising candidate for the development of potent dual inhibitors for these enzymes. All tested compounds show high selectivity towards the human isoform DNA topoisomerase IIα. Compounds 6a, 6d, 6e and 6f show MIC values between 0.031 and 0.0625 μg/mL against vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and Enterococcus faecalis strains. Compound 6g shows an inhibitory effect against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain (MRSA) with a MIC of 0.0625 μg/mL and against the E. faecalis strain with a MIC of 0.125 μg/mL. In a time-kill assay, compound 6d showed a dose-dependent bactericidal effect on the MRSA strain and achieved bactericidal activity at 8 × MIC after 8 h. The duration of the post-antibiotic effect (PAE) on the MRSA strain for compound 6d was 2 h, which corresponds to the PAE duration for ciprofloxacin. The compounds were not cytotoxic at effective concentrations, as determined in an MTS assay on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

Synthesis of Undoped and Mixed Binary Transition Metals (Ni-Co)-Doped Cupric Oxide Nanostructures: Structural Characteristics, Optical Behavior, and Biological Activity

In this work, co-precipitation-assisted undoped and various concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) Ni-Co-doped CuO nanostructures have been synthesized to test the biomedical applications. The structure, optical band gap, zone of inhibition width, hemocompatibility, and free radical scavenging activity of the CuO are significantly varied by introducing various concentrations of co-dopants compared to the undoped CuO. The single phase of monoclinic and heterogeneous crystal systems (monoclinic CuO, hexagonal Co, cubic NiO, and Co3O4) for undoped CuO and all Ni-Co-doped CuO samples was identified by the powder XRD tools. Microstructural properties were tuned in each dopant concentration of Ni-Co in the CuO, which confirmed through FE-SEM analysis. Heterogeneous structures (spherical particles/sheet-like particles) were noticed in the HR-TEM studies of 5% Ni-Co-doped CuO nanostructures. Synthesized compounds related to the elements (Cu, O, Co, and Ni) were traced with the help of the EDX and XPS study. The photoabsorption spectra and optical band gap values of the undoped CuO and co-doped CuO samples were significantly varied. Antimicrobial studies of the undoped CuO and Ni-Co co-doped CuO against E. coli and S. mutans bacterial strains were performed, and their outcomes of the zone of inhibition (ZOI) values have been discussed in detail. The synthesized undoped and various concentrations of CuO particles were taken to investigate their compatibility via hemolytic study. Hemolysis results showed that both the synthesized undoped CuO and Ni-Co doped CuO nanostructures are highly hemocompatible. In addition, compatibility natures are varied with increasing concentrations from 1% to 5% Ni-Co dopant in the CuO samples. The DPPH assay was employed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the synthesized particles by determining their free radical scavenging (FRS) activity percentages. It was observed that Ni-Co-doped CuO exhibited better antioxidant properties than undoped CuO due to the higher FRS percentage.

Complete genome sequence provides information on quorum sensing related spoilage and virulence of Aeromonas salmonicida GMT3 isolated from spoiled sturgeon

Foodborne bacteria can pose a threat to the public health due to their spoilage and virulence potential, which can be regulated by quorum sensing (QS) system. In the study, we isolated a spoilage bacteria strain Aeromonas salmonicida GMT3 from refrigerated sturgeon. The complete genome of A. salmonicida GMT3 was sequenced, and the QS related genes were assigned. QS signal molecules N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and AI-2 were detected. Genes regulating the spoilage-related metabolic pathways, including protease and lipase secretion, amines metabolism, sulfur metabolism, motility and biofilm formation were analyzed. Furthermore, genes encoding for several virulence factors, e.g. hemolysin, aerolysin, type II secretion system (T2SS), type VI secretion system (T6SS), antibiotic and multidrug resistance were also identified. In addition, the spoilage and virulence phenotypes associated with QS including protease, swimming and swarming activity, biofilm and hemolytic activity were detected. This study provided new insights into spoilage and virulence mechanisms correlated with QS of A. salmonicida GMT3, which might promote development of new approaches for spoilage and virulence control based on QS target.

Screening of lactic acid bacteria for highly producing extra and intracellular folate and using potentially in production of bio-enriched yogurt

In this study, firstly, Microbial Assay (MA) was performed to evaluate the levels of intra and extracellular folate (Quatro folate) produced by 43 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from traditional Iranian dairy products. The results obtained from strain screening showed that two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus, two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis and one strain of Lactobacillus helveticus are highly folate producing. However, two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus produced higher amounts of folate (133.23 μg/mL and 102 μg/mL, respectively). In the second phase, eight yogurt samples were produced by using the two highest folate producing strains and compared with the control sample. The folate production in yogurt samples showed that Y8 sample has the highest amount of folate (117.93, 38.81 μg/mL determined by microbial and HPLC assay methods, respectively). It was found that the microbial assay method has the ability to measure different forms of folate derivatives compared to the HPLC method. The results exhibited that the isolates examined in this study showed the ability to produce extracellular folate at higher levels and can be used as bio-enrichment cultures to produce functional foods.

Clove mediated synthesis of Ag-ZnO doped fucoidan nanocomposites and their evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity efficacy study

The Ag-ZnO/Fu nanocomposites were successfully synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner using an aqueous Clove buds extract from the Syzygium aromaticum plant. They were then examined for antibacterial activity against bacterium strains of Escherichia coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis. The UV–Visible spectrophotometry analysis confirmed the presence of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles at 334 nm, silver oxide (Ag) nanoparticles at 416 nm, and fucoidan at 589 nm in the synthesized nanocomposites. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of five different functional linkages in the synthesized nanocomposites. The positions of diffraction peaks in pure Ag-ZnO/Fu nanocomposite patterns were identified using XRD analysis. The Ag-ZnO/Fu nanocomposites synthesized are more crystalline (77 %), and less amorphous (22.2 %). Silver, O, and Zn signals were detected in the SEM and EDX spectra of the Ag-ZnO/Fu nanocomposite. Different strains of Ag-ZnO/Fu nanocomposites showed stronger antibacterial properties. The DPPH technique was used to perform the antioxidant assay. Cytotoxicity testing was carried out on zebrafish embryos treated with several groups of Clove Ag ZnO/Fucoidan. The combination Ag-ZnO/Fucoidan (300 mg/mL) showed a marginally significant difference in survival (94 %).

Antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial strains emerged using frequent hand sanitizers during corona pandemic.

Hands are in fact the main route of transmission of pathogenic infections. By using proper hand sanitization, we can break the virus's transmission chain, which is especially important in the ongoing COVID pandemic outbreaks. The effectiveness of hand sanitization is solely dependent on the use of sufficient antibacterial agents, which come in a variety of levels and types, including antimicrobials commercial, water-based, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, the latter being widely used during pandemics. Therefore, the sudden overuse of sanitizers also could lead to an increase in the tolerance limit for normal hand flora and the new development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this study, we investigated the relationship between hand sanitizer-tolerant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance profile to multiple antibiotic agents. On a timely basis before and after using different hand sanitizers, bacterial strains were collected from the volunteers of CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI). Sanitizer tolerant bacterial strains were observed also just after the application of sanitizers, which also showed the AMR phenomenon. The resultant sanitizers' resistant microbiome showed the dominant presence of Bacillus sp., Staphyloccocus sp., Paenibacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp., Exiguobacterium sp. and Leclercia sp. All 36 nos of bacterial strains showed MDR (> 5 nos).

Assessing the Antibacterial Effectiveness against MDR Strains and the Antioxidant Characteristics of Ficus auriculata

For millennia, people have successfully treated a wide range of illnesses, including bacterial infections, with different plant parts or extracts. “MDR strain” typically refers to a “multi-drug resistant strain” of a bacteria. In the context of infectious diseases, a multi-drug resistant strain refers to a strain of the pathogen that has acquired resistance to multiple drugs that are commonly used to treat infections caused by that specific pathogen. MDR strains can present significant challenges in healthcare settings as they limit the effectiveness of standard treatments and may require more aggressive or specialized approaches to manage the infection. The discdiffusion method was used in this investigation to test the antimicrobial properties of Petroleum ether, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts of Ficus auriculata leaves against four bacterial strains namely Salmonella enteric serovar typhi, Salmonella enteric ser Paratyphi (MDR strain) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The findings showed that all of the investigated organisms (zone of inhibition of 0.5 ± 0.15 & 18 ± 1.7 mm) were significantly inhibited by the petroleum ether, ethanol, and methanol extracts, with the exception of Salmonella typhi (an 18 mm inhibitory zone). The restricted area (≤5) indicated moderate activity in the aqueous extracts. It’s crucial to remember that antimicrobial activity analysis of plant extracts is just one step in the process of identifying potential natural antimicrobial agents. Further studies, including the identification and isolation of specific bioactive compounds, toxicology assessments, and clinical trials, are required before any plant extract can be considered for use as a drug development.

Fragmented micro-growth habitats present opportunities for alternative competitive outcomes

Bacteria in nature often thrive in fragmented environments, like soil pores, plant roots or plant leaves, leading to smaller isolated habitats, shared with fewer species. This spatial fragmentation can significantly influence bacterial interactions, affecting overall community diversity. To investigate this, we contrast paired bacterial growth in tiny picoliter droplets (1–3 cells per 35 pL up to 3–8 cells per species in 268 pL) with larger, uniform liquid cultures (about 2 million cells per 140 µl). We test four interaction scenarios using different bacterial strains: substrate competition, substrate independence, growth inhibition, and cell killing. In fragmented environments, interaction outcomes are more variable and sometimes even reverse compared to larger uniform cultures. Both experiments and simulations show that these differences stem mostly from variation in initial cell population growth phenotypes and their sizes. These effects are most significant with the smallest starting cell populations and lessen as population size increases. Simulations suggest that slower-growing species might survive competition by increasing growth variability. Our findings reveal how microhabitat fragmentation promotes diverse bacterial interaction outcomes, contributing to greater species diversity under competitive conditions.

The Efficiency of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Cottage Cheese (Khiki) to Aflatoxin M1 Reduction in Milk

: Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hepatic hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 that is found in the milk of lactating animals fed contaminated diets. Efficient and safe strategies for the degradation or detoxification of AFM1 in contaminated milk are rare. Given that probiotic bacteria are known for their ability to bind aflatoxins, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of lactic acid bacterial strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus paracasei isolated from a cottage cheese named Khiki, for the reduction of AFM1 in PBS and milk. The results showed that all selected strains had a significant AFM1-binding ability. The highest AFM1 reduction was achieved by Lactobacillus paracasei in PBS (71.35%) and in milk (68.53%). The assessment of AFM1 reduction over contact time (1 to 48 hours) with Lactobacillus paracasei and contaminated milk showed a reduction of 67% to 71.2%, with most adsorption occurring within the first 12 hours. Since the studied probiotic strains were able to reduce AFM1 in milk, their use in the dairy industry could be recommended as a safety enhancement approach.

Effect of Chicken Feather Hydrolysate on Growth of Spinach through Soil Amendment Method: Unraveling A Potential Liquid Biofertilizer

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of chicken feather hydrolysate for promoting the growth of Spinacia oleracea L., a commonly consumed leafy green vegetable. An earlier isolated and identified keratinolytic bacterial species Bacillus tropicus was utilized for the preparation of chicken feather hydrolysate through submerged fermentation. Minimal media which was supplemented with chicken feather was used for the preparation of hydrolysate. The bacterial strain degraded chicken feather within 4 days of incubation after which the feather hydrolysate was collected and tested to check plant growth promoting activity through the seed germination trials and greenhouse study. Upon characterization of feather hydrolysate, it was found that the hydrolysate was a cocktail of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) as well as other micro elements needed for plant growth. Four different concentrations of feather hydrolysate were employed for both the seed germination and greenhouse study which ranged from 25% (v/v), 30% (v/v), 35% (v/v) and 40% (v/v) including a control group (CN) which was not supplemented with feather hydrolysate. The hydrolysate supplementation brought about plant growth in all the four test concentrations with 35% (v/v) giving the highest result of 14 cm and 27.6 mg/g for tested parameters like plumule length and total chlorophyll content, respectively. The same concentration supported maximum seed germination and highest radicle extension for the germination studies as well. This study investigates the efficacy of chicken feather hydrolysate in promoting spinach growth, elucidating its potential as a fertilizer.

Evaluation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK as a Potential Imaging Tool for PET Imaging of Cell Wall Synthesis in Bacterial Infections

The ability of bacteria to recycle exogenous amino acid-based peptides and amino sugars for peptidoglycan biosynthesis was extensively investigated using optical imaging. In particular, fluorescent AeK–NBD was effectively utilized to study the peptidoglycan recycling pathway in Gram-negative bacteria. Based on these promising results, we were inspired to develop the radioactive AeK conjugate [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK for the in vivo localization of bacterial infection using PET/CT. An easy-to-implement radiolabeling procedure for DOTA-AeK with [68Ga]GaCI3 followed by solid-phase purification was successfully established to obtain [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK with a radiochemical purity of ≥95%. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK showed good stability over time with less protein binding under physiological conditions. The bacterial incorporation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK and its fluorescent Aek-NBD analog were investigated in live and heat-killed Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Unfortunately, no conclusive in vitro intracellular uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK was observed for E. coli or S. aureus live and heat-killed bacterial strains (p > 0.05). In contrast, AeK-NBD showed significantly higher intracellular incorporation in live bacteria compared to the heat-killed control (p < 0.05). Preliminary biodistribution studies of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK in a dual-model of chronic infection and inflammation revealed limited localization at the infection site with non-specific accumulation in response to inflammatory markers. Finally, our study demonstrates proof that the intracellular incorporation of AeK is necessary for successful bacteria-specific imaging using PET/CT. Therefore, Ga-68 was not a suitable radioisotope for tracing the bacterial uptake of AeK tripeptide, as it required chelation with a bulky metal chelator such as DOTA, which may have limited its active membrane transportation. An alternative for optimization is to explore diverse chemical structures of AeK that would allow for radiolabeling with 18F or 11C.

Influence of surface texture: A comparative study on antibacterial activities of morphologically tailored zinc oxide

The morphology-dependent antibacterial activity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with three different morphologies, nanowall (NW), nanosphere (NS), and, nanorod (NR) was rigorously investigated to elucidate the influence of shape and size on their performance. Their morphological, surface, and structural characteristics were meticulously analyzed using SEM, BET, and XRD techniques. The antibacterial activity of synthesized ZnO samples was initially investigated and validated through in silico docking studies against nine bacterial strains, specifically targeting 1GCI, 2DCJ, 6KMM and 3T07, 6KVQ, 1MWT from gram-positive Bacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. respectively, 6N38, 6CRT, 6GRH from gram-negative E. coli. The docking simulations were performed using Autodock 4.2 software, yielding promising results characterized by negative binding energies, indicative of favorable interactions. The invitro studies were assessed against three same bacteria mentioned above using the disk diffusion method. The results demonstrated a pronounced dependency of antibacterial activity on the surface area, average crystallite size, and surface roughness of ZnO samples. ZnO (NW) exhibited markedly superior antibacterial properties. This enhanced efficacy is attributed to their higher surface area to volume ratio, smaller average crystallite size and increased surface roughness facilitating more efficient interactions with bacterial cell membranes. ZnO (NR) nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity despite minimal surface area.

Epibiotic Bacteria Isolated from the Non-Indigenous Species Codium fragile ssp. fragile: Identification, Characterization, and Biotechnological Potential

Due to their richness in organic substances and nutrients, seaweed (macroalgae) harbor a large number of epiphytic bacteria on their surfaces. These bacteria interact with their host in multiple complex ways, in particular, by producing chemical compounds. The released metabolites may have biological properties beneficial for applications in both industry and medicine. In this study, we assess the diversity of culturable bacterial community of the invasive alga Codium fragile ssp. fragile with the aim to identify key groups within this epiphytic community. Seaweed samples were collected from the Northern Tunisian coast. A total of fifty bacteria were isolated in pure culture. These bacterial strains were identified by amplification of the ribosomal intergenic transcribed spacer between the 16S and the 23S rRNA genes (ITS-PCR) and by 16S rRNA sequencing. Antimicrobial activity, biochemical, and antibiotic resistance profile characterization were determined for the isolates. Isolated strains were tested for their antimicrobial potential against human and fish bacterial pathogens and the yeast Candida albicans, using the in vitro drop method. About 37% of isolated strains possess antibacterial activity with a variable antimicrobial spectrum. Ba1 (closely related to Pseudoalteromonas spiralis), Ba12 (closely related to Enterococcus faecium), and Bw4 (closely related to Pseudoalteromonas sp.) exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli. The isolated strain Ba4, closely related to Serratia marcescens, demonstrated the most potent activity against pathogens. The susceptibility of these strains to 12 commonly used antibiotics was investigated. Majority of the isolates were resistant to oxacillin, cefoxitin, tobramycin, and nitrofurantoin. Ba7 and Ba10, closely related to the Vibrio anguillarum strains, had the highest multidrug resistance profiles. The enzymes most commonly produced by the isolated strains were amylase, lecithinase, and agarase. Moreover, nine isolates produced disintegration zones around their colonies on agar plates with agarolitic index, ranging from 0.60 to 2.38. This investigation highlighted that Codium fragile ssp. fragile possesses an important diversity of epiphytic bacteria on its surface that could be cultivated in high biomass and may be considered for biotechnological application and as sources of antimicrobial drugs.

Polar-Region Soils as Novel Reservoir of Lactic Acid Bacteria from the Genus Carnobacterium.

Polar habitats offer excellent sites to isolate unique bacterial strains due to their diverse physical, geochemical, and biological factors. We hypothesize that the unique environmental conditions of polar regions select for distinct strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with novel biochemical properties. In this study, we characterized ten strains of psychrotrophic LAB isolated from hitherto poorly described sources-High Arctic and maritime Antarctic soils and soil-like materials, including ornithogenic soils, cryoconites, elephant seal colonies, and postglacial moraines. We evaluated the physiological and biochemical properties of the isolates. Based on 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes, the four LAB strains were assigned to three Carnobacterium species: C. alterfunditum, C. maltaromaticum, and C. jeotgali. The remaining strains may represent three new species of the Carnobacterium genus. All isolates were neutrophilic and halophilic psychrotrophs capable of fermenting various carbohydrates, organic acids, and alcohols. The identified metabolic properties of the isolated Carnobacterium strains suggest possible syntrophic interactions with other microorganisms in polar habitats. Some showed antimicrobial activity against food pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and human pathogens like Staphylococcus spp. Several isolates exhibited unique metabolic traits with potential biotechnological applications that could be more effectively exploited under less stringent technological conditions compared to thermophilic LAB strains, such as lower temperatures and reduced nutrient concentrations. Analysis of extrachromosomal genetic elements revealed 13 plasmids ranging from 4.5 to 79.5 kb in five isolates, featuring unique genetic structures and high levels of previously uncharacterized genes. This work is the first comprehensive study of the biochemical properties of both known and new Carnobacterium species and enhances our understanding of bacterial communities in harsh and highly selective polar soil ecosystems.

The Vehicle of Administration and Prandial State May Reduce the Spectrum of Oral Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics (Oxytetracycline, Fosfomycin and Amoxicillin) Administered to Piglets: A Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Approach.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the vehicle of administration and the prandial state of post weaning piglets on the indices of therapeutic efficacy for different broad-spectrum antibiotic/pathogen combinations. Pharmacokinetic data were retrieved from previous studies, in which we orally administered oxytetracycline (OTC), fosfomycin (FOS), or amoxicillin (AMX) according to the following treatments: dissolved in soft water to fasted or non-fasted piglets, dissolved in hard water to fasted or non-fasted piglets, and mixed with feed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for susceptible strains of bacteria causing swine diseases were obtained from the database of European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) for each antibiotic. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) indices of therapeutic efficacy-drug exposure over the dosing interval (fAUC/MIC) for OTC and FOS; time that free drug concentration remains above MIC (%fT>MIC) for AMX-were calculated for each antibiotic/pathogen combination under each treatment. After all OTC and in-feed FOS and AMX treatments, the indices of therapeutic efficacy were below the target value for all the study microorganisms. When FOS or AMX were delivered dissolved in soft or hard water, the indices were above the target value over which therapeutic efficacy would be expected for Escherichia coli treated with FOS and, Glaesserella parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae treated with AMX. The prandial state of piglets showed no influence on the indices of therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic profiles of broad-spectrum antibiotics, specifically the ability to achieve target concentrations, may be largely reduced due to drug interactions with components present in feed or water resulting in a discrepancy with PK/PD principles of prudent and responsible use of antibiotics.

Evaluation of physiochemical and in-vitro characteristics of Ixora Coccinea mediated Co3O4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of toxic textile dye effluents

Discharging colored wastewater from the textile industry into water bodies disrupts the natural ecosystem and reduces the productivity of aquatic life. It is challenging to degrade complex dye molecules, including pathogens and bacteria. This research article deals with the photocatalytic activity of cobalt oxide nanoparticles mediated Ixora coccinea plant extract for industry effluent treatment applications. The green synthesized nanoparticles were found to have high crystallinity and purity, cubic crystal structure, and spherical morphology with 21.5 nm crystallite size. Further, the biological properties, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and bacterial growth inhibition activity, were evaluated. With 88 % and 83 % bacterial growth inhibition, the antibacterial activity showed a maximum bacterial zone inhibition of 31 ± 0.4 mm for positive and 29 ± 0.3 mm for harmful bacterial strains. Then, the level of scavenging free radicals measured about 93.87 %. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated against the textile dyes under direct sunlight irradiation. The maximum dye degradation was achieved for Alizarin red (85.2 %), Crystal violet (90.7 %), Reactive black (94.5 %), and Rhodamine B (96.4 %) dyes at the end of 90 min of irradiation. Moreover, this research paper introduces a method for creating cobalt nanoparticles using natural and sustainable approaches. These nanoparticles have potential in several fields, such as medicine, catalysis, and water remediation.

Construction of artificial microbial consortia for efficient degradation of chicken feathers and optimization of degradation conditions.

Microbes within a consortium exhibit a synergistic interaction, enhancing their collective capacity to perform functions more effectively than a single species, especially in the degradation of keratin-rich substrates. To achieve a more stable and efficient breakdown of chicken feathers, a comprehensive screening of over 9,000 microbial strains was undertaken. This meticulous selection process identified strains with the capability to degrade keratin effectively. Subsequently, antagonistic tests were conducted to isolate strains of fungi and bacteria that were non-antagonistic, which were then used to form the artificial microbial consortia. The optimal fermentation conditions for the keratinophilic microbial consortia were determined through the optimization of response surface methodology. The results revealed that 11 microbial strains-comprising of 4 fungi and 7 bacteria-were particularly proficient in degrading chicken feathers. The artificially constructed microbial consortia (AMC) comprised two bacterial strains and one fungal strain. The optimal conditions for feathers degradation were identified as a 10g/L concentration of chicken feathers, a 2.6% microbial inoculation volume and a fermentation fluid pH of 9. Under these conditions, the degradation rate for chicken feathers reached a significant 74.02%, representing an 11.45% increase over the pre-optimization rate. The AMC developed in this study demonstrates the potential for efficient and economical process of livestock and poultry feathers. It provides innovative insights and a theoretical foundation for tackling the challenging degradation of keratin-rich materials. Furthermore, this research lays the groundwork for the separation and purification of keratins, as well as the development of novel proteases, which could have profound implications for a range of applications.

Synthesis, anti-microbial evaluation, and in silico studies of novel quinoline-isoxazole hybrids

A series of novel quinoline-isoxazole hybrids 6a–o has been synthesized via multistep synthetic approach involving hetero Diels-alder reaction strategy. The target compounds were obtained in good yield, using low-cost readily available starting materials using simple reaction conditions. The newly synthesized compounds were confirmed using 1H NMR,13C NMR, and Mass spectroscopic analysis techniques. Further, compounds 6a–o were subjected to in vitro antimicrobial screening against various bacterial and fungal strains, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Among these, compounds 6i, 6j, and 6 l were found most active having equally potent compared to standard drug Ampicillin and Gentamycin. Moreover, in silico studies of 6a–o with E. coli DNA gyrase through molecular docking and MD simulations showed excellent binding properties of these derivatives with protein site.