Isolation and identification of protease‐producing bacteria from sludge and sediment soil around Adama, Ethiopia

Proteases are enzymes used in industries such the production and processing of detergents, food, leather, and silk. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify protease‐producing bacteria from a sludge disposal site and from sediments. Soil samples were collected separately from the selected area. Samples weighing 1 g were serially diluted and spread onto skim milk agar. A total of 16 bacteria species were isolated from the study samples. Four bacterial isolates showed high proteolytic activity and were selected for enzymatic study based on their zone of proteolysis. The isolates were identified based on biochemical tests. The results indicated that the isolated bacteria were E. coli (99.69%), Pseudomonas putrefaciens (Shewanella putrefaciens) (91.61%), Bacillus carboniphilus (92.78%), and Lysinibacillus sphaericus (98.4%). The crude protease enzymes produced by these bacterial isolates showed promising results for application in dehairing and destaining as detergent additives. Bacillus carboniphilus showed the best level of activity and was selected as the most potent protease‐producing bacteria for both dehairing and destaining ability. Soils from sludge disposal sites and sediments from around tannery wastes could be good sources from which to isolate alkaline protease‐producing bacteria.

Phytotoxic and Enzymatic Study of Philodendron meridionale on seeds of Lactuca sativa L.

In an effort to identify novel biopesticides, the present study aimed to assess the effects of Philodendron meridionale (Buturi & Sakur) stem and leaf ketonic and ethanolic extracts (SKE, SEE, LKE, and LEE, respectively) on the germination, growth, root respiration, and enzymatic activities of Lactuca sativa L. seeds, and to measure the associated saponins, phenolics, and flavonoids that may possess herbicidal, pharmaceutical, or pesticidal activities. The extracts were obtained using a modified Soxhlet apparatus and methanolic extracts of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg.mL-1 were tested, with water and methanol as a control. The presence of saponins and the concentration of phenolic compounds were determined. Allelopathic activity was evaluated in tests of germination, growth, cellular respiration and enzymatic activity. The presence of saponins and the concentration of phenolic compounds equivalent to 225.12 for LKE, 240.45 for LEE, 193.28 for SKE, and 265.14 for SEE (mg·g-1.gallic acid), and flavonoids 52.74 for LKE, 54.31 for LEE, 72.74 for SKE, and 67.21 for SEE (mg.g-1.quercetin) were determined. The allelopathy of the P. meridionale extracts against L. sativa was confirmed through negative effects on L. sativa seed germination, radical growth and morphology, dry mass, and the concentrations of α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), and polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1). It was likely that the allelopathic action of the P. meridionale extracts was related to its effects on the membrane permeability and oxidative stress of the treated L. sativa seeds. The P. meridionale extracts contained saponins, calcium oxalate crystals, and flavonoids, including phenolic compounds, which are known allelochemicals with herbicidal activities.

Microfluidic Pneumatic Printed Sandwiched Microdroplet Array for High-Throughput Enzymatic Reaction and Screening

High-throughput enzyme screening for desired functionality is highly demanded. This paper utilizes a newly developed microfluidic pneumatic printing platform for high-throughput enzyme screening applications. The novel printing platform can achieve distinct features including a disposable cartridge, which avoids crosstalk; a flexible cartridge design, allowing for integration of multiple channels; and fast printing speed with submicroliter spot size. Moreover, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based sandwich structure has been proposed and used during the printing and imaging, which can lead to better results, including reduced evaporation as well as a uniform light path during imaging. Using this microfluidic pneumatic printed PDMS sandwiched microdroplet array platform, we have demonstrated the capability of high-throughput generation of a combinatorial droplet array with concentration and volume gradients. Furthermore, the potential for enzymatic study has been validated by quantified cellulose reaction implemented with the printing platform.

Multi-way Degradation and Process Optimization of Phenol from Simulated Wastewater System

This research was based on the comparative study between microbial, enzymatic and photocatalytic phenol degradation. Different experiments were carried out under three distinct methodologies that seeked to examine which method is more feasible between them through various aspects. For the microbial study, E. coli was used for phenol degradation at an optimum condition of E. coli. In the enzymatic study, peroxidase was extracted from soybean seed hulls, and it was purified. The purified peroxidase enzyme was applied in phenolic solution at neutral pH. The H2O2/UV/TiO2 scheme was adopted in the photocatalytic treatment of phenol. Maximum phenol degradation was observed in photo catalysis. From this comparative study, a microbial method was found to be more time consuming and an enzymatic method require more steps to perform the experiment while photo catalysis took less time with a more feasible results.

Study the effectiveness of (G-6-PhD )enzyme and the level of fats in peoples with leukemia

A chemo-enzymatic study of the enzyme G-6-PhD in the blood of people with leukemia and lipid level estimation and blood tests for cancer patients in the Kirkuk city .It included 80 samples, 30 of them are healthy as a control group and 50 patients with leukemia, which was collected from the center of cancer tumors in Kirkuk and the ages (1 to 60) years old. During this study was evaluated the level of effectiveness of G-6-PhD from red blood cells by using the diagnostic kit (BioLaBo). There is a decrease in the level of G-6-PhD enzyme effectiveness, especially in the second age group where there was a clear decrease in this category compared to healthy people. In addition, serum lipid levels were measured for people with leukemia, where they found a decrease in fat levels (HDL , CHOL) and an increase of (V.LDL , LDL ,T.G). Also, some blood tests were conducted in people with leukemia. There was a decrease in the level of (HB , PLT , PCV) and increase at the level of both (WBC) compared to healthy.

Study of Seed Germination and Enzyme Metabolism during Allelopathic Interaction of Trianthemaportulacastrum L and Fenugreek Seeds

In the fields, it is commonly observed that fenugreek plants are not growing to their maturity in the vicinity of TrianthemaportlacastrumL. In this context, the present study was conducted in the laboratory to observe allelopathic interaction between Trianthemaand fenugreek. Aqueous extracts of seed, stem and leaf of Trianthemawere made. Treatment of these aqueous extracts was given to fenugreek seeds. Germination study was performed by using Petri plates. All the experiments were performed in triplicates. Pre-treatment of aqueous extracts of seed, stem and leaf of Trianthema. had caused a decline in germination percentage, fresh weight, radical and coleoptile length of fenugreek seeds when compared to untreated seeds. At the same time, mean germination time was found to be more in pre-treated seeds compared to control seeds. After 24 hrs of treatment, the enzymatic study was performed. Enzymes from antioxidant metabolism such as peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and activity of DPPH was reduced in treated seeds than control seeds. The activity of catalase was increased after treatment of leachates. All the data is graphically presented with the standard deviation. Exogenous treatment of aqueous extracts of Trianthemahas caused variation in saponin content of fenugreek seeds. This observation was recorded by using finger prints of HPTLC. Finger prints showed that content of saponin was also declined in treated seeds as compared to control. All these observations indicate the strong negative influence of Trianthemaon growth and metabolism of fenugreek.

Enzymatic Activity and Photo-Kinetic Study of Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) Complexes with Tetradentate

The Photo kinetic studies for five metal complexes of tetradentate Schiff base ligand were studied. These complexes were Chrome, Manganese, Cobalt, Nickle and Copper complexes. The kinetic values were achieved for the photoreaction and it referred to first order by in terms of complexes concentration. Three concentrations of these complexes to determined rate constant value which were determined by calculation the slope (-k) of relationship between radiation time on X-axis and natural logathirm of concentration changing on Y-axis. Values of rate constant were (0.0317min-1) for Cr-complex, (0.054min-1) for Mn-complex, (0.0706min-1) for Co-complex, (0.133min-1) for Ni-complex and (0.1211min-1) for Cu-complex. Relation between concentration on Y-axis and radiation time were showed the decreasing of concentration with time. Enzymatic study for the five complexes were achieved and showed that Cr-complex and Mn-complex showed competitive reactions and uncompetitive for Co-complex, Ni-complex and Cu-complex.