Analytical and Chemometric Characterization of Fino and Amontillado Sherries during Aging in Criaderas y Solera System

Fino and Amontillado are Sherry wines, produced in Marco de Jerez area (southern Spain), and aged in Criaderas y Solera system. Fino Sherry wine follows a biological aging process, under a veil of flor yeasts, while Amontillado Sherry wine shares the same biological aging firstly, followed by oxidative aging, which gives them special features. Organic acids, esters, higher alcohols, phenolic compounds and total dry extract of Sherries evolve during aging due to evaporation processes, physical-chemical reactions, wood contributions and microbiological activity. During aging, Sherry wines improve their organoleptic profile, as could be proved in the tasting sessions. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Factor Analysis with factor extraction using Principal Components of Sherry wines studied were carried out and natural groupings of the wines according to the type of aging and their age were observed. A strong correlation between the parameters analyzed and the aging of each wine has been seen in the Multiple Linear Regression studies, establishing two different models, one for each type of Sherry wine, that, with only four of all the variables studied estimated the wine age with more than 99% of confidence. This constitutes a useful tool to control the age of these Sherry wines in the winery.

Successions of microbiotic communities of sandy soils in pine stands of different ages in the forest-steppe zone

Peculiarities of transformation processes in soils should be taken into account when developing strategies for their rational use and optimization of their functions. The purpose of the work is to study the successions of soil microbiotic coenosis of azonal Al-Fe-humus sandy soils in pine forest stands of different age in the cities of the Kursk region. Traditional and innovative methods of studying the microbiological activity of soils are used in the work. Al-Fe-humus sandy soils of the forest-steppe covered with 100-year-old stands of Scots pine emit 2.1-2.3 times more CO2 than Al-Fe-humus sandy soils under 25 - and 70-year-old stands of pine and 1.5 times more than similar soils under herbaceous phytocenoses. It has been established that stands of Scots pine during 100 years of vegetation lead to significant changes in the basic properties of soils, changes in response, increase in podzolic process, changes in hydrothermal conditions, as well as increase in the biomass of the main groups of soil microorganisms (up to 38.1 times). Keywords: MICROMYCETES, ACTINOMYCETES, SANDY PODZOLS, GRAY HUMUS (TURF) SOILS, CO2 EMISSION, MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SOILS

Influence of stubble biodestructor on soil microbiological activity and grain yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The aim of the work was to improve soil fertility and increase the yield of winter wheat using the stubble biodestructor by activating the microbiological activity of the soil. The experimental studies were on the research field of Mykolayiv National Agrarian University (Ukraine). After harvesting the precursor cultures of spring barley and peas the post-harvest residues of these crops were treated with a stubble biodestructor. After treatment of crop residues of spring barley and pea by the stubble biodestructor in the soil layer of 0 up to 20 cm the quantity of cellulose-destructive microorganisms increased by 27.9·105 up to 36.0·105 cfu/g of soil depending on the predecessor culture and the degree of degradation of these residues increased by 31.4 up to 45.1%. The number of nitrogen fixators in the 0-10 cm soil layer grew under the action of treatment of crop residues of spring barley and peas by stubble biodestructor on 13.4 up to 14.1 ·106 cfu/g of soilor 30.3 up to 35.0%. At the same time, a somewhat large number of bacteria in the soil was determined by the processing of post-harvest residues of peas, which was due to the biological characteristics of this legume culture. The average for years of researches at cultivating of winter wheat after spring barley using the stubble biodestructor the grain yield increased by 0.45 t ha–1, or 20.9%, and after pea it increased by 0.67 t ha–1 or 18.8% compared to the treatment variant of stubble just with water.

Microbiological activity in the soils of pingos and thermokarst depressions in the south of the Vitim Plateau (Transbaikalia, Eastern Siberia)

The intensity of microbiological processes in soils of pingos and thermokarst depressions in the south of the Vitim Plateau was studied. The number of dominant groups of microorganisms (Fungi; Bacteria, and Actinomycetes as a separate group) in Haplic Chernozems (Stagnic, Turbic) and Calcaric Gleyic Phaeozems were identified. Carbon accumulation in microbial biomass in soils of pingos and thermokarst depressions varies considerably in comparison with background soils. Bacterial microflora has been proven to prevail in soils under the study. The maximum indicators of actinomycete and fungal mycelium were found in the soils of thermokarst depressions. Microbiological activity for all studied parameters is higher in Calcaric Gleyic Phaeozems.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACTIVITY OF GLYCOPEPTIDES AND LINEZOLID AGAINST NOSOCOMIAL STRAINS OF GRAM-POSITIVE MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM CANCER PATIENT

The purpose of the study: to compare the activity of vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid and to determine their place in the current treatment of nosocomial infections caused by gram-positive microflora.Material and Methods. 640 gram-positive microorganisms (S. aureus, E. faecium, E. faecalis) isolated in 2018 from various pathological materials from cancer patients treated at N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology were studied. Literature data from 1982 to 2019, concerning efficacy of glycopeptides (vancomycin, teicoplanin) and linezolid against these pathogens were analyzed.Results. Data analysis showed that percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 89 % and percentage of vancomycinresistant enterococci (VRE) was 5.1 % among Enterococcus faecalis and 16.4 % among Enterococcus faecium. The susceptibility of the studied gram-positive microorganisms to teicoplanin, vancomycin and linezolid ranged from 83.3 to 98.8 % (p>0.5). In general, teicoplanin, vancomycin, and linezolid had equally high microbiological activity against nosocomial strains of S. aureus and Enterococcus spp. Also, according to the literature data, a comparative assessment of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of glycopeptides and linezolid was assessed.Conclusion. Vancomycin and teicoplanin are still the main drugs for the treatment of various infections caused by resistant gram-positive microflora. However, teicoplanin, with an efficacy equal to that of vancomycin, has a number of significant advantages over the latter: better tolerability, lower frequency of adverse reactions, and pharmacokinetic features that make it possible to use it once a day both intravenously and intramuscularly. Both drugs, along with linezolid, can be used to treat infections caused by gram-positive microorganisms in cancer patients.

Biological activity of meadow-chernozem and sod-taiga permafrost soils of the Yeravninsky basin

The biological and biochemical parameters of two types of permafrost soils of the Yeravninsky basin (the carbon content of the microbial mass, different groups of microorganisms, protease, catalase and the intensity of cellulose decomposition) were studied, depending on the water-thermal properties and the type of soil formation. It is established that permafrost soils do not have an optimal combination of potential and real (actual) enzymatic activity. It is also noted that the acidic reaction of the soil solution and the low availability of nutrients in sod-taiga soils increases the development of fungal microflora. The most significant soil-ecological factor that determines the microbiological activity of meadow-chernozem and sod-taiga permafrost soils is humidity, as evidenced by a direct correlation. In turn, these microbiological indicators can be used for diagnostic assessment of the biological state of soils, and also, along with other soil properties, should be taken into account when developing methods to increase the productivity of existing hayfields and pastures on them.

Vancomycin and daptomycin stability in heparin or sodium citrate lock solutions

Background: We investigated physical and chemical stability of daptomycin and vancomycin in heparin or sodium citrate lock solutions. The aim of this study was to find the optimal combination of antimicrobials and additives for lock solutions, which maximized patient safety. Methods: Vancomycin and daptomycin were diluted with heparin or sodium citrate to achieve final concentrations of vancomycin-heparin 2.5 mg/mL–833.33 U/mL, vancomycin-citrate 2.5–33.3 mg/mL, daptomycin-heparin 5 mg/mL–800 U/mL, and daptomycin-citrate 5–32 mg/mL and they were stored at room temperature (+25°C), 4°C, −20°C, and 37°C. Physical and chemical stability were analyzed for each antibiotic-anticoagulant combination in all conditions immediately after preparation, at 24, 48, 72 h and at different time points until unstable concentrations were obtained. Daptomycin-sodium citrate microbiological activity was also studied by evaluating two Staphylococcus aureus cultures in a calcium enriched medium with a daptomycin E test, with and without sodium citrate. Results: After incubation at 37°C vancomycin and daptomycin combined with heparin retained at least 90% of the initial concentration over 48 h. Vancomycin-sodium citrate solution stored at 37°C reduced more than 10% of the initial concentration at 24 h. On the other hand, daptomycin-sodium citrate preparation was stable at 37°C for 72 h but the microbiological activity of daptomycin was lower in the presence of sodium citrate. Conclusions: The purpose is to prepare vancomycin and daptomycin lock solutions combined with heparin. They should be changed at 48 h and its stability is over 3 days at 25°C and 7 days at 4°C, which allow Hospital Pharmacy Services to manage their stocks. Daptomycin-sodium citrate combination is more stable for extended periods but its bioactivity has not been demonstrated.

Evaluating the antibacterial activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives, and anthraquinone oligopeptides against a range of pathogenic bacteria

Search for new and efficient antibiotic is crucial because of microbial drug resistance and problems with side effects of the administered medication. In this study, we evaluate the in vitro microbiological activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives (i.e., tuftsin with reversed amino acid sequences), and combinations of retro-tuftsin derivatives with substituted anthraquinones. The potency of the investigated derivatives towards methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL (extended-spectrum β-lactamases) was compared based on the spectroscopically-measured minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC values). The bacterial growth have also been studied with different concentrations of compounds. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that certain modifications lead to promising activity against S. aureus (anthraquinone analogue – 3c and retro-tuftsin derivative – 2b), while other derivatives exhibit activity against P. aeruginosa (muramyl dipeptide derivative – 1d and retro-tuftsin derivative – 2b). The obtained results of microbiological activity indicate that the structure of the tested compounds may be the basis for further modifications.