Chickpea-Derived Prebiotic Substances Trigger Biofilm Formation by Bacillus subtilis

Chickpea-based foods are known for their low allergenicity and rich nutritional package. As an essential dietary legume, chickpea is often processed into milk or hummus or as an industrial source of protein and starch. The current study explores the feasibility of using the chickpea-derived prebiotic substances as a scaffold for growing Bacillus subtilis (a prospective probiotic bacterium) to develop synbiotic chickpea-based functional food. We report that the chickpea-derived fibers enhance the formation of the B. subtilis biofilms and the production of the antimicrobial pigment pulcherrimin. Furthermore, electron micrograph imaging confirms the bacterial embedding onto the chickpea fibers, which may provide a survival tactic to shield and protect the bacterial population from environmental insults. Overall, it is believed that chickpea-derived prebiotic substances provide a staple basis for developing functional probiotics and synbiotic food.

Effect of Chemically Treated Kenaf Fibre on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of PLA Composites Prepared through Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

Natural fibre as a reinforcing agent has been widely used in many industries in this era. However, the reinforcing agent devotes a better strength when embedded with a polymer matrix. Nevertheless, the characteristic of natural fibre and polymer matrix are in contrast, as natural fibre is hydrophilic, while polymer is hydrophobic in nature. Natural fibre is highly hydrophilic due to the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH), while polymer matrix has an inherent hydrophobic characteristic which repels water. This issue has been fixed by modifying the natural fibre’s surface using a chemical treatment combining an alkaline treatment and a silane coupling agent. This modifying process of natural fibre might reduce the attraction of water and moisture content and increase natural fibre surface roughness, which improves the interfacial bonding between these two phases. In this paper, the effect of alkaline and silane treatment has been proven by performing the mechanical test, Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry (FTIR) to observe the surface structure. The chemical compositions and thermal properties of the composites have been obtained by performing Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) tests. 1.0% silane treatment displayed better strength performance as compared to other composites, which was proven by performing Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM). The assumption is that by enduring chemical treatment, kenaf fibre composites could develop high performance in industry applications.

Physicochemical, Functional, Fatty Acids Profile, Health Lipid Indices, Microstructure and Sensory Characteristics of Walnut-Processed Cheeses

In the present study, processed cheeses fortified with walnut paste (a high source of omega-3 fatty acids) were developed and characterized. In order to identify the best cheese formulation, the effects of different proportions of walnut paste (0, 5, 10, and 15%) on cheese physicochemical, functional, fatty acids profile, health lipid indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic), microstructure, and sensorial characteristics were studied. Results showed that walnut-added samples had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher levels of acidity, protein, fat, and ash contents with lower meltability and oil separation index compared to the control. Processed cheeses with walnuts contained significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher percentages of MUFAs, and ω-3 PUFAs (mainly α-linolenic acid) and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower amounts of SFAs (mainly myristic, palmitic and stearic acids) and ω6/ω3 ratio. Scanning Electron Micrograph of processed cheese containing walnut paste showed uniform distribution of walnut in the protein matrix. Processed cheeses made with 5 or 10% walnut paste presented the most acceptable sensory properties. These results indicated that walnut paste supplementation can be used as a nutritional strategy to increase concentrations of human health-promoting fatty acids in processed cheeses while maintaining good sensory and technological properties.

First record of gregarine protists (Apicomplexa: Sporozoa) in Asian fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi (Blattaria: Termitidae)

Macrotermes barneyi, widely distributed in southern China, is the major fungus-growing termite in the subfamily Macrotermitinae. It has no flagellated protists in the guts. Here, we report occurrence of gregarine, a protozoan parasite in the digestive tract of M. barneyi. The general morphology and ultrastructure of the gregarine gamonts and syzygies by light micrograph and scanning electron micrograph are presented. SSU rDNA sequence analysis showed that the termite gregarine has the highest identity (90.10%) to that of Gregarina blattarum from cockroaches. Phylogenetic analysis based on the SSU rDNA sequences from diverse insect eugregarines indicated that the gregarine from M. barneyi is phylogenetically close to G. blattarus, L. erratica and G. tropica from Gregarinidae and Leidyanidae families, and may represent a novel species. This study expands our knowledge about the diversity of terrestrial eugregarines parasitizing in termites.

Hierarchical aligned ZnO nanorods on surface of PVDF/Fe2O3 nanofibers by electrospinning in a magnetic field

The electrospinning was applied to fabricate aligned nanofibers in a magnetic field. Fe2O3 nanoparticles were added to PVDF/Zn(CHCOOH)2solution, and heat treatment of the nanofiber mats was made to produce PVDF/Fe2O3nanofibers containing ZnO nanoparticles. Hierarchical composites were obtained via a facile hydrothermal growth process, where radially oriented ZnO nanorods were found. The morphology of the as-synthesized samples were investigated by using the scanning electron micrograph (SEM).

Isolation, characterization and efficacy of lytic bacteriophages against pathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital liquid waste

Lingga R, Budiarti S, Rusmana I, Wahyu AT. 2020. Isolation, characterization and efficacy of lytic bacteriophages against pathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital liquid waste. Biodiversitas 21: 3234-3241. Escherichia coli is known as a pathogenic contaminant bacteria in hospital wastewater hazardous to humans and the environment. Concerns about the emergence of chlorine- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase the urgency to find an alternative strategy to control pathogenic bacteria in hospital wastewater. One of the alternatives is using lytic bacteriophage. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and examine the efficacy of lytic bacteriophage against pathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital wastewater. It isolated, characterized (plaque morphology, host range, virion electron micrograph, and sensitivity to temperature, pH, and chlorine treatments), and tested the efficacy of lytic bacteriophages in controlling pathogenic E. coli isolated from hospital wastewater. Five phages were successfully obtained, all of which had clear plaques (lytic phage character). Based on host range assay, most of the phages could lyse all tested E. coli strains but not for other species. Electron micrograph photography revealed that the phages belonged to Myoviridae. The phages showed stability in high temperature, broad-ranged pH, and high concentrations of chlorine treatments. Assay on phages efficacy suggested that the phages are capable of significantly reducing the E. coli population both in sterilized and non-sterilized wastewater. The combination of phage treatment and chlorine was more effective than single phage treatment. The efficacy test revealed that phage application in wastewater had the best result seen from cocktail treatment and a combination of phage treatment and chlorine. These results suggested that the phage can be a potential candidate for disinfection purposes.