Fungal decomposition of chicken-feather waste in submerged and solid-state fermentation

Poultry industry is expanding rapidly and producing million tons of feather waste annually. Massive production of keratinaceous byproducts in the form of industrial wastes throughout the world necessitates its justified utilization. Chemical treatment of keratin waste is proclaimed as an eco-destructive approach by various researchers since it generates secondary pollutants. Keratinase released by a variety of microbes (bacteria and fungi) can be used for the effective treatment of keratin waste. Microbial degradation of keratin waste is an emerging and eco-friendly approach and offers dual benefits, i.e., treatment of recalcitrant pollutant (keratin) and procurement of a commercially important enzyme (keratinase). This study involves the isolation, characterization, and potential utility of fungal species for the degradation of chicken-feather waste through submerged and solid-state fermentation. The isolated fungus was identified and characterized as Aspergillus (A.) flavus. In a trial of 30 days, it was appeared that 74 and 8% feather weight was reduced through sub-merged and solid-state fermentation, respectively by A. flavus. The pH of the growth media in submerged fermentation was changed from 4.8 to 8.35. The exploited application of keratinolytic microbes is, therefore, recommended for the treatment of keratinaceous wastes to achieve dual benefits of remediation.

Bacterial biofilms predominate in both acute and chronic human lung infections

BackgroundA basic paradigm of human infection is that acute bacterial disease is caused by fast growing planktonic bacteria while chronic infections are caused by slow-growing, aggregated bacteria, a phenomenon known as a biofilm. For lung infections, this paradigm has been thought to be supported by observations of how bacteria proliferate in well-established growth media in the laboratory—the gold standard of microbiology.ObjectiveTo investigate the bacterial architecture in sputum from patients with acute and chronic lung infections.MethodsAdvanced imaging technology was used for quantification and direct comparison of infection types on fresh sputum samples, thereby directly testing the acute versus chronic paradigm.ResultsIn this study, we compared the bacterial lifestyle (planktonic or biofilm), growth rate and inflammatory response of bacteria in freshly collected sputum (n=43) from patient groups presenting with acute or chronic lung infections. We found that both acute and chronic lung infections are dominated by biofilms (aggregates of bacteria within an extracellular matrix), although planktonic cells were observed in both sample types. Bacteria grew faster in sputum from acute infections, but these fast-growing bacteria were enriched in biofilms similar to the architecture thought to be reserved for chronic infections. Cellular inflammation in the lungs was also similar across patient groups, but systemic inflammatory markers were only elevated in acute infections.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the current paradigm of equating planktonic with acute and biofilm with chronic infection needs to be revisited as the difference lies primarily in metabolic rates, not bacterial architecture.

Assessment of Domestic Wastewaters as Potential Growth Media for Chlorella vulgaris and Haematococcus pluvialis

Domestic wastewater contains chemical compounds that can be used as nutrients for microalgae. Removing these chemical compounds from wastewater by microalgae might help in reducing the operation cost of wastewater management while minimizing the cultivation cost for large-scale microalgae metabolite production. In this study, domestic wastewater collected from Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was assessed as growth media for two types of microalgae, namely Chlorella vulgaris and Haematococcus pluvialis. The biomass growth and nutrient removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total ammonia (TAN) in different concentrations of diluted wastewater were measured. The results showed that biomass concentration (0.227 g/L), biomass productivity (0.029 g/L/day), and specific growth rate (0,284 d-1) yielded by C. vulgaris in 14 days of 80% wastewater were comparable to those microalgae grew in standard Bold’s Basal medium (BBM). Besides, C. vulgaris grew in 50% wastewater to remove TN, TP, and TAN with the highest removal efficiency (>88%). For H. pluvialis, the biomass concentration in all wastewater concentrations was lower than BBM. The removal efficiencies of TN and TP were lower than 55%, but more than 80% for removal efficiency of TAN in 50% and 80% wastewater. Hence, C. vulgaris has better growth performance and nutrient removal efficiency than H. pluvialis. These findings indicated that IWK domestic wastewater could be used as growth media for microalgae, especially C. vulgaris.

Differentiated approach to the prescription of dexpanthenol drugs in the practice of a pediatrician

The article provides information about the features of the structure, development and differentiated approach to the appointment of dexapanthenol preparations used for the prevention and complex treatment of skin diseases in children of wounded age. Regular use of leave-on cosmetic products including body creams and lotions is very high among children aged 0–4 years. However, in most cases, recommendations for the use of topical baby skin care medicinal products and/or cosmetic products are based not on scientific evidence, but on common sense, expert opinions, advertising, personal preferences of parents, pharmacists, dermatologists and/or pediatricians. For example, adsorbing properties of baby powders are insufficient, and after absorbing moisture, they actually turn to “urine compresses” that aggravate the epidermis injury. After swelling, the starch-containing powders represent an excellent growth media for pathogenic and opportunistic microflora. It is noted that only proper skin care for young children allows you to preserve its integrity and functional state. Special attention is paid to the preparations of the Bepanten® series in the form of cream and ointment, which meet all the criteria for topical products, and can be used for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases in young children, effectively protecting the skin from irritants, promoting its healing and recovery, having an anti-inflammatory effect, increasing its elasticity, elasticity and are recommended for use as a means of basic care. Their effectiveness has been repeatedly confirmed in the numerous domestic and foreign randomized controlled studies in new-born populations at different gestational ages, which provided the scientific justification for their common use in the ‘real-life’ practice of pediatricians, dermatologists and allergists.

φYeO3-12 phage tail fiber Gp17 as a promising high specific tool for recognition of Yersinia enterocolitica pathogenic serotype O:3

Yersiniosis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by two enteropathogenic species of Gram-negative genus Yersinia: Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Pigs and other wild and domestic animals are reservoirs for these bacteria. Infection is usually spread to humans by ingestion of contaminated food. Yersiniosis is considered a rare disease, but recent studies indicate that it is overlooked in the diagnostic process therefore the infections with this bacterium are not often identified. Reliable diagnosis of Yersiniosis by culturing is difficult due to the slow growth of the bacteria easily overgrown by other more rapidly growing microbes unless selec-tive growth media is used. Phage adhesins recognizing bacteria in a specific manner can be an excellent diagnostic tool, es-pecially in the diagnosis of pathogens difficult for culturing. In this study, it was shown that Gp17, the tail fiber protein (TFP) of phage φYeO3-12, specifically recognizes only the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 (YeO:3) bacteria. The ELISA test used in this work confirmed the specific interaction of this protein with YeO:3 and demonstrated a promising tool for developing the pathogen recognition method based on phage adhesins.

Effect of Anaerobic Digestate on the Fatty Acid Profile and Biodiesel Properties of Chlorella sorokiniana Grown Heterotrophically

The growth kinetics and the lipid and protein content of the microalgal species Chlorella sorokiniana (CS) grown heterotrophically in growth media containing glycerol and increasing amounts of anaerobic digestate (AD) equal to 0%, 15%, 30%, and 50% was studied. The effect of the AD on the fatty acid (FA) distribution of the bio-oil extracted from the CS, as well as on the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) properties such as the saponification number (SN), the iodine value (IV), the cetane number (CN), and the higher heating value (HHV) was also estimated. The percentage of AD in the growth medium affects the rate of carbon uptake. The maximum carbon uptake rate occurs at about 30% AD. Protein and lipid content ranged from 32.3–38.4% and 18.1–23.1%, respectively. Fatty acid distribution ranged from C10 to C26. In all AD percentages the predominant fatty acids were the medium chain FA C16 to C18 constituting up to about 89% of the total FA at 0% AD and 15% AD and up to about 54% of the total FA at 30% AD and 50% AD. With respect to unsaturation, monounsaturated FA (MUFA) were predominant, up to 56%, while significant percentages, up to about 38%, of saturated FA (SFA) were also produced. The SN, IV, CN, and HHV ranged from 198.5–208.3 mg KOH/g FA, 74.5–93.1 g I/100 g FAME, 52.7–56.1, and 39.7–40.0 MJ/kg, respectively. The results showed that with increasing AD percentage, the CN values tend to increase, while decrease in IV leads to biofuel with better ignition quality.

The Potential for Lunar and Martian Regolith Simulants to Sustain Plant Growth: A Multidisciplinary Overview

Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) are conceived of and developed so as to provide food sources for crewed missions to the Moon or Mars. The in situ resource utilization (ISRU) approach aims to reduce terrestrial input into a BLSS by using native regoliths and recycled organic waste as primary resources. The combination of BLSS and ISRU may allow sustainable food production on Moon and Mars. This task poses several challenges, including the effects of partial gravity, the limited availability of oxygen and water, and the self-sustaining management of resources. Lunar and Martian regoliths are not available on Earth; therefore, space research studies are conducted on regolith simulants that replicate the physicochemical properties of extra-terrestrial regoliths (as assessed in situ by previous missions). This review provides an overview of the physicochemical properties and mineralogical composition of commercially available Lunar and Martian regolith simulants. Subsequently, it describes potential strategies and sustainable practices for creating regolith simulants akin to terrestrial soil, which is a highly dynamic environment where microbiota and humified organic matter interact with the mineral moiety. These strategies include the amendment of simulants with composted organic wastes, which can turn nutrient-poor and alkaline crushed rocks into efficient life-sustaining substrates equipped with enhanced physical, hydraulic, and chemical properties. In this regard, we provide a comprehensive analysis of recent scientific works focusing on the exploitation of regolith simulant-based substrates as plant growth media. The literature discussion helps identify the main critical aspects and future challenges related to sustainable space farming by the in situ use and enhancement of Lunar and Martian resources.

The effects of different compositions of growth media on the development of microplants of the Solnechny potato variety

The results of studying the effect of nutrient media of various compositions on the growth of improved micro-plants of potatoes of the Solnechny variety grown under laboratory conditions in vitro are presented. Six compositions of the nutrient medium were studied: standard Murashige-Skuga medium modified for micropropagation (considered as a control), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with a reduced content of mineral components (up to 1/2 and up to 1/3), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with an increased content of agar-agar (10 g/l), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with a reduced content of agar-agar (4 g/l), Murashige-Skuga medium modified with the addition of 3 mg/L giberrellinic acid and 1 mg/L indoliacetic acid. The following parameters of cultivated plants were taken into account: plant length, root presence, number of internodes, total plant mass, leaf mass, root mass, leaf plate surface area. The use of modified nutrient media with a reduced content of mineral components led to an increase in plant length (by 28-30%), stem mass (by 25%) due to leaf mass (by 18%) and stem mass (by 31%) and the total surface area of leaf plates (by 12%). In the variant using a medium with 1/3 mineral components an increase in the mass of the root system was observed (by 20%). When growing plants on a modified nutrient medium with a high content of agar-agar, a decrease in the length of plants (by 6%), a decrease in the mass of the scion (by 12%) due to a decrease in the mass of the stem (by 15%) was observed. Plants grown on a modified nutrient medium with a reduced content of agar-agar were distinguished by a larger mass of the root system (by 10%), scion (by 17%) (due to an increase in leaf mass (by 27%), as well as the total surface area of leaf plates (by 22%). When growth regulators (giberrellin and indoliacetic acid) were added to the modified nutrient medium, a significant increase in plant height (by 70%), a decrease in the mass of the root system (by 50%) and leaves (by 46%), and an increase in the mass of the stem (by 23%) were observed. The total leaf surface area was 28% lower than the control values. For accelerated micropropagation of improved potato plants of the Solnechny variety and preparation of plants for transplanting to aerohydroponic systems in order to produce mini-tubers, the following modified nutrient media are optimal options: with a reduced number of mineral components (1/2 and 1/3) and with a reduced content of agar-agar.

Investigating the effect of nickel concentration on phytoplankton growth to inform the assessment of ocean alkalinity enhancement

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a proposed method for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by the accelerated weathering of (ultra-) basic minerals to increase alkalinity – the chemical capacity of seawater to store CO2. During the weathering of OAE-relevant minerals relatively large amounts of trace metals will be released and may perturb pelagic ecosystems. Nickel (Ni) is of particular concern as it is abundant in olivine, one of the most widely considered minerals for OAE. However, so far there is limited knowledge about the impact of Ni on marine biota including phytoplankton. To fill this knowledge gap, this study tested the growth and photo-physiological response of 11 marine phytoplankton species to a wide range of dissolved Ni concentrations (from 0 nmol/L to 50,000 nmol/L). We found that the phytoplankton species were not very sensitive to Ni concentrations under the culturing conditions established in our experiments, but the responses were species-specific. The growth rates of 6 of the 11 tested species showed small but significant responses to changing Ni concentrations. Photosynthetic performance, assessed by measuring the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and the functional absorption cross-section (σPSII) of photosystem II, was also only mildly sensitive to changing Ni in 3 out of 11 species and 4 out of 11 species, respectively. The limited effect of Ni may be partly due to the provision of nitrate as the nitrogen source for growth, as previous studies suggest higher sensitivities when urea is the nitrogen source. Furthermore, limited influence may be due to the relatively high concentrations of organic ligands in the growth media in our experiments. These ligands reduced bioavailable Ni (i.e., “free Ni2+”) concentrations by binding the majority of the dissolved Ni. Our data suggest that dissolved Ni does not have a strong effect on phytoplankton under our experimental conditions, but we emphasize that a deeper understanding of nitrogen sources, ligand concentrations and phytoplankton composition is needed when assessing the influence of Ni release associated with OAE. We discuss if applications of OAE with Ni-rich minerals may be safer in regions with high organic ligand concentrations and low concentrations of urea as such boundary conditions may lead to less impact of Ni on phytoplankton communities.

Isolation of Shewanella putrefaciens GRD 03 from Fish and Explication of Biofilm Adherence Potency on Different Substrates

Foodborne pathogens are the main threat and cause of food poisoning. The majority of food infections have been related to the biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens in the food industry. Shewanella putrefaciens (KX355803, GRD 03), a Gram-negative pathogen isolated from mackerel fish, was identified and recognized as a food spoilage bacterium and a strong biofilm producer. The adhesion or attachment ability of Shewanella putrefaciens was determined on steel, plastic, glass, PVC and wood. NB (Nutrient broth), LB (Luria-Bertani broth), TSB (Tryptic soy broth) and BHI (Brain heart infusion broth) were enriched with glucose and shows optimum for bacterial adhesion. In the microtiter plate method (MTP), the strong attachment was observed at 48 and 72 hours of incubation and significant differences were obtained at p < 0.05. As the incubation period increases, the OD value (Optical density) of samples also increase. Biofilm formation is the major cause cross-contamination, and shows resistance to certain disinfectants, which leads to environmental stress tolerance. This study suggested with optimum biofilm production of isolate from fish by using glucose enriched media on different substrates, also comparing different growth media provide a detailed idea about biofilm-forming ability at different incubation time intervals.