scholarly journals Characterization of Chemical and Bacterial Concentrations in Floor Dust Samples in Southeast Texas Households

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12399
Author(s):  
Felica R. Davis ◽  
Hanan H. Ali ◽  
Jason A. Rosenzweig ◽  
Daniel Vrinceanu ◽  
Balaji Bhaskar Maruthi Sridhar
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Dust Sample ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Indoor Dust ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bacterial Concentrations

Indoor dust can be a major source of heavy metals, nutrients, and bacterial contamination in residential environments and may cause serious health problems. The goal of this research is to characterize chemical and bacterial contaminants of indoor, settled house dust in the Houston Metropolitan region. To achieve this, a total of 31 indoor dust samples were collected, along with household survey data, which were subsequently analyzed for elemental and bacterial concentrations. Microscopic and geospatial analysis was conducted to characterize and map potential hotspots of contamination. Interestingly Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations of all 31 indoor dust samples were significantly enriched and exceeded soil background concentrations. Furthermore, As, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the dust samples were significantly correlated to the enteric bacterial load concentrations. Human health assessment revealed that cancer risk values via ingestion for Cd, Cr, and Ni were greater than the acceptable range. Of our 31 dust sample isolates, three Gram-negative and 16 Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria were identified, capable of causing a wide range of diseases. Our results demonstrate that both chemical and bacterial characterization of indoor dust coupled with spatial mapping is essential to assess and monitor human and ecological health risks.

scholarly journals Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage ZCSE6 against Salmonella spp.: Phage Application in Milk

Biologics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-176
Author(s):  
Abdallah S. Abdelsattar ◽  
Anan Safwat ◽  
Rana Nofal ◽  
Amera Elsayed ◽  
Salsabil Makky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Almost All ◽  
And Control ◽  
Milk And Dairy Products

Food safety is very important in the food industry as most pathogenic bacteria can cause food-borne diseases and negatively affect public health. In the milk industry, contamination with Salmonella has always been a challenge, but the risks have dramatically increased as almost all bacteria now show resistance to a wide range of commercial antibiotics. This study aimed to isolate a bacteriophage to be used as a bactericidal agent against Salmonella in milk and dairy products. Here, phage ZCSE6 has been isolated from raw milk sample sand molecularly and chemically characterized. At different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001, the phage–Salmonella interaction was studied for 6 h at 37 °C and 24 h at 8 °C. In addition, ZCSE6 was tested against Salmonella contamination in milk to examine its lytic activity for 3 h at 37 °C. The results showed that ZCSE6 has a small genome size (<48.5 kbp) and belongs to the Siphovirus family. Phage ZCSE6 revealed a high thermal and pH stability at various conditions that mimic milk manufacturing and supply chain conditions. It also demonstrated a significant reduction in Salmonella concentration in media at various MOIs, with higher bacterial eradication at higher MOI. Moreover, it significantly reduced Salmonella growth (MOI 1) in milk, manifesting a 1000-fold decrease in bacteria concentration following 3 h incubation at 37 °C. The results highlighted the strong ability of ZCSE6 to kill Salmonella and control its growth in milk. Thus, ZCSE6 is recommended as a biocontrol agent in milk to limit bacterial growth and increase the milk shelf-life.

scholarly journals THE IDENTIFICATION, PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NATTOKINASE, BACTERIOCIN FROM BACTERIAL SPECIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Lal Krishna
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Wide Range

The study was aimed at identification, production and characterization of nattokinase, bacteriocin from bacterial species. Nattokinase and bacteriocins finds a wide range of applications in Pharmaceutical industry, health care and medicine. Nattokinase is a highly active fibrinolytic enzyme secreted by Bacillus subtilis and bacteriocins are proteinaceous toxins produced by Lactobacillus to inhibit the growth of closely related bacterial strains. Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus isolates shown positive results to microscopic, biochemical analysis.  The nattokinase and bacteriocins were produced by optimizing the media. The enzymes were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and HPLC. The enzyme activity for nattokinase was found at 7 mg/ml, pH 8.0 and temperature 48 ºC and the enzyme activity for bacteriocin was found at 3.9 mg/ml, pH 6.5 and temperature 30 °C. Bacteriocins from Lactobacillus showed good antagonistic activity against pathogenic bacteria. Nattokinase from Bacillus subtilis played a significant role in thrombolytic and anti-coagulation at in vitro. The results indicated that the pure enzyme has a potential in dissolving blood clot.

Polymer Chemistry

2004 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Conducting Polymers ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Polymer Chemistry ◽  
Chain Growth ◽  
Crystalline Polymers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cyclic Oligomers ◽  
Step Growth

Polymer Chemistry: A Practical Approach in Chemistry has been designed for both chemists working in and new to the area of polymer synthesis. It contains detailed instructions for preparation of a wide-range of polymers by a wide variety of different techniques, and describes how this synthetic methodology can be applied to the development of new materials. It includes details of well-established techniques, e.g. chain-growth or step-growth processes together with more up-to-date examples using methods such as atom-transfer radical polymerization. Less well-known procedures are also included, e.g. electrochemical synthesis of conducting polymers and the preparation of liquid crystalline elastomers with highly ordered structures. Other topics covered include general polymerization methodology, controlled/"living" polymerization methods, the formation of cyclic oligomers during step-growth polymerization, the synthesis of conducting polymers based on heterocyclic compounds, dendrimers, the preparation of imprinted polymers and liquid crystalline polymers. The main bulk of the text is preceded by an introductory chapter detailing some of the techniques available to the scientist for the characterization of polymers, both in terms of their chemical composition and in terms of their properties as materials. The book is intended not only for the specialist in polymer chemistry, but also for the organic chemist with little experience who requires a practical introduction to the field.

scholarly journals Organelle Genetics in Plants

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2104
Author(s):  
Pedro Robles ◽  
Víctor Quesada
Keyword(s):  
Rna Editing ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Plant Mitochondria ◽  
Plastid Dna ◽  
Chloroplast Genomes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Organelle Genetics ◽  
Selection Of

Eleven published articles (4 reviews, 7 research papers) are collected in the Special Issue entitled “Organelle Genetics in Plants.” This selection of papers covers a wide range of topics related to chloroplasts and plant mitochondria research: (i) organellar gene expression (OGE) and, more specifically, chloroplast RNA editing in soybean, mitochondria RNA editing, and intron splicing in soybean during nodulation, as well as the study of the roles of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of OGE in plant adaptation to environmental stress; (ii) analysis of the nuclear integrants of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs) or plastid DNA (NUPTs); (iii) sequencing and characterization of mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; (iv) recent advances in plastid genome engineering. Here we summarize the main findings of these works, which represent the latest research on the genetics, genomics, and biotechnology of chloroplasts and mitochondria.

scholarly journals One-step preparation of antimicrobial silicone materials based on PDMS and salicylic acid: insights from spatially and temporally resolved techniques

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Barbieri ◽  
Ioritz Sorzabal Bellido ◽  
Alison J. Beckett ◽  
Ian A. Prior ◽  
Jo Fothergill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salicylic Acid ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Wound Dressings ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Vis Spectroscopy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
One Step

AbstractIn this work, we introduce a one-step strategy that is suitable for continuous flow manufacturing of antimicrobial PDMS materials. The process is based on the intrinsic capacity of PDMS to react to certain organic solvents, which enables the incorporation of antimicrobial actives such as salicylic acid (SA), which has been approved for use in humans within pharmaceutical products. By combining different spectroscopic and imaging techniques, we show that the surface properties of PDMS remain unaffected while high doses of the SA are loaded inside the PDMS matrix. The SA can be subsequently released under physiological conditions, delivering a strong antibacterial activity. Furthermore, encapsulation of SA inside the PDMS matrix ensured a diffusion-controlled release that was tracked by spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflectance IR (ATR-IR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The biological activity of the new material was evaluated directly at the surface and in the planktonic state against model pathogenic bacteria, combining confocal laser scanning microscopy, electron microscopy, and cell viability assays. The results showed complete planktonic inhibition for clinically relevant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and a reduction of up to 4 orders of magnitude for viable sessile cells, demonstrating the efficacy of these surfaces in preventing the initial stages of biofilm formation. Our approach adds a new option to existing strategies for the antimicrobial functionalisation of a wide range of products such as catheters, wound dressings and in-dwelling medical devices based on PDMS.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Novel CaCO3-Forming Alkali-Tolerant Rhodococcus erythreus S26 as a Filling Agent for Repairing Concrete Cracks

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2967
Author(s):  
Seunghoon Choi ◽  
Sungjin Park ◽  
Minjoo Park ◽  
Yerin Kim ◽  
Kwang Min Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Culture Fluid ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Filling Agent ◽  
Calcium Source ◽  
Alkali Tolerance ◽  
High Alkali

Biomineralization, a well-known natural phenomenon associated with various microbial species, is being studied to protect and strengthen building materials such as concrete. We characterized Rhodococcus erythreus S26, a novel urease-producing bacterium exhibiting CaCO3-forming activity, and investigated its ability in repairing concrete cracks for the development of environment-friendly sealants. Strain S26 grown in solid medium formed spherical and polygonal CaCO3 crystals. The S26 cells grown in a urea-containing liquid medium caused culture fluid alkalinization and increased CaCO3 levels, indicating that ureolysis was responsible for CaCO3 formation. Urease activity and CaCO3 formation increased with incubation time, reaching a maximum of 2054 U/min/mL and 3.83 g/L, respectively, at day four. The maximum CaCO3 formation was achieved when calcium lactate was used as the calcium source, followed by calcium gluconate. Although cell growth was observed after the induction period at pH 10.5, strain S26 could grow at a wide range of pH 4–10.5, showing its high alkali tolerance. FESEM showed rhombohedral crystals of 20–60 µm in size. EDX analysis indicated the presence of calcium, carbon, and oxygen in the crystals. XRD confirmed these crystals as CaCO3 containing calcite and vaterite. Furthermore, R. erythreus S26 successfully repaired the artificially induced large cracks of 0.4–0.6 mm width.

scholarly journals Incidence and characterisation of Bacillus cereus bacteriophages from Thua Nao, a Thai fermented soybean product

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-93
Author(s):  
Wallapat Phongtang ◽  
Ekachai Chukeatirote
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Fermented Soybean ◽  
Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Ph Range ◽  
Potential Use

Abstract Bacillus cereus is considered to be an important food poisoning agent causing diarrhea and vomiting. In this study, the occurrence of B. cereus bacteriophages in Thai fermented soybean products (Thua Nao) was studied using five B. cereus sensu lato indicator strains (four B. cereus strains and one B. thuringiensis strain). In a total of 26 Thua Nao samples, there were only two bacteriophages namely BaceFT01 and BaceCM02 exhibiting lytic activity against B. cereus. Morphological analysis revealed that these two bacteriophages belonged to the Myoviridae. Both phages were specific to B. cereus and not able to lyse other tested bacteria including B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. The two phages were able to survive in a pH range between 5 and 12. However, both phages were inactive either by treatment of 50°C for 2 h or exposure of UV for 2 h. It should be noted that both phages were chloroform-insensitive, however. This is the first report describing the presence of bacteriophages in Thua Nao products. The characterization of these two phages is expected to be useful in the food industry for an alternative strategy including the potential use of the phages as a biocontrol candidate against foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

scholarly journals Isolation and Characterization of Strain Exiguobacterium sp. KRL4, a Producer of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from a Tibetan Glacier

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 890
Author(s):  
Pietro Tedesco ◽  
Fortunato Palma Esposito ◽  
Antonio Masino ◽  
Giovanni Andrea Vitale ◽  
Emiliana Tortorella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Protein Encoding ◽  
Nematocidal Activity ◽  
Extremophilic Microorganisms ◽  
Unique Source

Extremophilic microorganisms represent a unique source of novel natural products. Among them, cold adapted bacteria and particularly alpine microorganisms are still underexplored. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a novel Gram-positive, aerobic rod-shaped alpine bacterium (KRL4), isolated from sediments from the Karuola glacier in Tibet, China. Complete phenotypic analysis was performed revealing the great adaptability of the strain to a wide range of temperatures (5–40 °C), pHs (5.5–8.5), and salinities (0–15% w/v NaCl). Genome sequencing identified KRL4 as a member of the placeholder genus Exiguobacterium_A and annotation revealed that only half of the protein-encoding genes (1522 of 3079) could be assigned a putative function. An analysis of the secondary metabolite clusters revealed the presence of two uncharacterized phytoene synthase containing pathways and a novel siderophore pathway. Biological assays confirmed that the strain produces molecules with antioxidant and siderophore activities. Furthermore, intracellular extracts showed nematocidal activity towards C. elegans, suggesting that strain KRL4 is a source of anthelmintic compounds.

scholarly journals Towards Reduced CNNs for De-Noising Phase Images Corrupted with Speckle Noise

Photonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Marie Tahon ◽  
Silvio Montresor ◽  
Pascal Picart
Keyword(s):  
Phase Error ◽  
Speckle Noise ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Benchmark Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Phase Images ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Phase Data ◽  
Do So

Digital holography is a very efficient technique for 3D imaging and the characterization of changes at the surfaces of objects. However, during the process of holographic interferometry, the reconstructed phase images suffer from speckle noise. In this paper, de-noising is addressed with phase images corrupted with speckle noise. To do so, DnCNN residual networks with different depths were built and trained with various holographic noisy phase data. The possibility of using a network pre-trained on natural images with Gaussian noise is also investigated. All models are evaluated in terms of phase error with HOLODEEP benchmark data and with three unseen images corresponding to different experimental conditions. The best results are obtained using a network with only four convolutional blocks and trained with a wide range of noisy phase patterns.

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