Basalt fiber based biocide materials

It has long been known that materials containing cellulose fibers in their composition are destroyed by molds, microorganisms, actinomycetes, which use cellulose as a carbon source. Different fibrous materials to varying degrees (but always) are affected by molds. It is known that linseed and cotton types of paper are affected by the smallest number of fungi, and sulphate ones by the largest. The most biostable is cotton paper, the composition of which contains chalk in a sufficiently large amount. The observations carried out by the authors showed that the highest biostability (fungal resistance) is characteristic of papers containing chalk and kaolin, the lowest is glued types of paper with a high degree of sizing. Aging of paper with increasing temperature increases the overall susceptibility of all types of paper tested without exception. Obviously, changes in the physical and chemical properties of paper as a result of aging create more favorable conditions for the growth of fungi. It is well known that paper can serve as a medium for the spread of infectious diseases. The authors of the article studied the thermo-physical properties of basalt fiber and investigated the possibility of using it for the manufacture of heat-insulating technical paper.Obtaining materials that are not affected by bacteria, insects and molds (fungicidal,insecticidal) can be solved by using inorganic fibers, which are obtained from almost unlimited natural resources and which have excellent biochemical properties. It should be noted that the concept of "biocidal" paper (material) is collective. It combines species that differ in their ability to kill bacteria (bactericidal), molds (fungicidal), insects (insecticidal). Each of the biocidal types of materials has two or more of these properties.

Effect of common foods as supplements for the mycelium growth of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus on solid substrates

The transition from a linear to a circular economy is urgently needed to mitigate environmental impacts and loss of biodiversity. Among the many potential solutions, the development of entirely natural-based materials derived from waste is promising. One such material is mycelium-bound composites obtained from the growth of fungi onto solid lignocellulosic substrates, which find applications such as insulating foams, textiles, packaging, etc. During growth, the fungus degrades and digests the substrate to create a web-like stiff network called mycelium. The development of the mycelium is influenced by several factors, including the substrate composition. As food waste accounts for nearly 44% of total municipal solid waste, incorporating food in the substrate composition could be a means to increase the nutrients absorbed by the fungus. In this paper, we study the effects of the addition of food supplements on the growth of two fungal species, Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus. The substrates, the food supplements, and the mycelia are characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. Our results show that addition of barley as a supplement significantly boosts the growth of G. lucidum and P. ostreatus. Using a common food as a nutritious enrichment for the development of mycelium is a simple and straightforward strategy to create waste-based mycelium-bound biocomposites for a large range of applications, on-site, therefore promoting a circular economy.

Towards a Standardized Procedure for the Production of Infective Spores to Study the Pathogenesis of Dermatophytosis

Dermatophytoses are superficial infections of human and animal keratinized tissues caused by filamentous fungi named dermatophytes. Because of a high and increasing incidence, as well as the emergence of antifungal resistance, a better understanding of mechanisms involved in adhesion and invasion by dermatophytes is required for the further development of new therapeutic strategies. In the last years, several in vitro and in vivo models have emerged to study dermatophytosis pathogenesis. However, the procedures used for the growth of fungi are quite different, leading to a highly variable composition of inoculum for these models (microconidia, arthroconidia, hyphae), thus rendering difficult the global interpretation of observations. We hereby optimized growth conditions, including medium, temperature, atmosphere, and duration of culture, to improve the sporulation and viability and to favour the production of arthroconidia of several dermatophyte species, including Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton benhamiae. The resulting suspensions were then used as inoculum to infect reconstructed human epidermis in order to validate their ability to adhere to and to invade host tissues. By this way, this paper provides recommendations for dermatophytes culture and paves the way towards a standardized procedure for the production of infective spores usable in in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Effective methods for increasing coumestrol in soybean sprouts

Coumestrol (CM), a biologically active compound found in Leguminosae plants, provides various human health benefits. To identify easy and effective methods to increase CM content in vegetables, we developed a quantitative analysis method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using this method, we found that soybean sprouts (1.76 ± 0.13 μg/g) have high CM contents among nine vegetables and evaluated the difference in CM contents between two organs of the sprouts: cotyledons and hypocotyls. Next, soybean sprouts were cultivated under different light, temperature, and water conditions and their CM contents were evaluated. CM content was higher in hypocotyls (4.11 ± 0.04 μg/g) than in cotyledons. Cultivating soybean sprouts at 24°C enhanced CM content regardless of light conditions, the growth of fungi and bacteria, and sprout color. Thus, we identified methods of soybean sprout cultivation to increase CM content, which may provide health benefits and enhance value.

Effects of Preservatives Added in Cookies on Intestinal Bacteria

Introduction: An essential thing for human survival is food which provides nutritional support for the body or for pleasure. All the food used today has some preservatives, except our own garden plants. Preservatives prevent food spoilage from microorganisms but it will inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. Antimicrobial preservatives are the preservatives which inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria. Methods of preserving foods have been used for centuries and include natural techniques such as smoking fish and meat as well as adding salts. Aim: The main aim of the study is to find the effects of preservatives added in cookies on intestinal bacteria. Materials and Method: Take a sample of 10 biscuits. Crush and mix 10 gms in 10 ml of sterile saline. soak for 30 mins and centrifuge and take the supernatant. Transfer 1 ml to each tube and add the selected organisms (lactobacilli). Add 10 microlitre of the selected organism (lactobacilli) to the supernatant. Hold for 30 mins and transfer 10 microlitre to BHI and count the CFU after incubation for 12 hours. Results and Discussion: After 12 hrs of incubation, colonies are formed. Using colony counter app colonies are counted. Biscuits 4 showed the highest growth of colonies of 797. The control of the bacteria shows confluence growth where the unlimited colonies are formed. This indicates the presence of antimicrobial activity on preservatives added in biscuits. This antimicrobial activity affects the health of the oral cavity and intestine. Conclusion: From the above study, it is evident that the antimicrobial activity of preservatives that are added in biscuits could affect the health of oral cavity and intestine.

PH of nutrient media for the cultivation of fungi

A. Mallinkrodt-Haupt (Derm. Ztschr. Bd. 55, H. 5/6, 1929), studying the effect of the reaction of the nutrient medium on the growth of fungi (various types of trichophytosis, favus and others), as well as the change in this reaction under the influence of the growth of various fungi, the surface tension of the nutrient medium and, finally, enzyme formation, comes to the conclusion that the strains of fungi in the process of their growth increase the alkalinity of the medium, in parallel with which there is an increase in the surface tension; enzyme formation occurs in an alkaline environment and further increases with the growth of fungi.

Effects of polyaluminum chloride (PAX-18) on the relationship between predatory fungi and Lecane rotifers

PAX-18 (polyaluminum chloride) is frequently used in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants) to overcome sludge bulking. An alternative biological method is the usage of Lecane rotifers, which can be endangered by predacious fungi. We investigated the influence of different PAX-18 concentrations on the relationship between Lecane inermis and predacious fungi (Zoophagus and Lecophagus) differing in feeding mode. High PAX concentration (6 mg Al3+ L−1) strongly limited the number of the rotifers, which in low concentration (1.2 mg Al3+ L−1), after an initial decline, increased, but significantly slower than in control. Under the simultaneous influence of Lecophagus and PAX, rotifers were driven almost extinct at the high concentration, but survived at the lower concentration and increased in the control. When treated with Zoophagus, only one or two rotifers survived in treatments and control. High concentrations of PAX significantly restricted the growth of fungi, whereas in low concentrations and control conditions, their length increased, with Zoophagus growing much quicker than Lecophagus. Zoophagus was significantly more efficient in trapping rotifers regardless of PAX concentration. The trapping ability of mycelium following extended exposure to PAX was strongly limited at high concentrations, in comparison to control. Conidia of Zoophagus turned out to be considerably more resistant to PAX-18 and starvation than Lecophagus conidia.

Fungal Flora Isolated from Deteriorating Card Board and Corrugated Box Samples in Thane and Bhiwandi, India

Many cellulose based articles have found their way into human requirements and have become articles of necessity, paper being one such article. Card board and corrugated boxes are used as packing materials universally and alike paper, these are vulnerable to invasion by cellulose degrading fungi. The study in regions of Thane and Bhiwandi cities on the outskirts of Mumbai city in Western coastal part of Maharashtra, India focused on the invasion of cardboard and corrugated paper boxes by fungi. Twenty four species of fungi belonging to 11 genera were found on the deteriorating card board and corrugated paper samples during the study, prominent amongst them being the genus Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Curvularia, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Alternaria and five other cellulolytic fungal genera. Growth of fungi resulted in crumbling of the cardboard at places due to loss of strength. Many of the fungal forms isolated were potential health hazards which was cause for concern.

Fungal Resistance of Polymeric Composite Materials Based on Polypropylene and Natural Rubber

Research has been carried out to assess the impact of mold fungi on polymer composite materials based on polypropylene produced by Omsk Polypropylene Plant LLC and unrefined natural rubber produced in Vietnam, grade RSS-1. The amount of natural rubber varied up to 15% of the mass. The fungal resistance of the compositions to the following types of fungi was assessed: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Chaetomium globosum, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichoderma viredens. The decrease in the weight of the samples after incubation depends on the content of natural rubber in the composition. With the content of natural rubber in the composition in an amount of 1%, the average weight loss is 0.4% by weight, and when the content of natural rubber is 15% by weight. already ~ 2% of the mass. Starting with the addition of natural rubber in an amount of 1% by weight, the growth of fungi occurs, and the degree of their development is characterized by points 3-5. The resulting compositions are biodegradable, susceptible to the action of fungi, and, therefore, the manufacture of materials based on them will be an environmentally friendly alternative for further use.