Microbiology

Conventional methods to detect and assess the viability of plant pathogenic bacteria are usually based on plating assays or serological techniques. Plating assays provide information about the number of viable cells, expressed as colony-forming units, but are time-consuming and laborious. Serological methods, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IF), can be performed in a shorter timespan than most plating assays, but they do not discriminate between live and dead cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) in combination with fluorescent probe technology is a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative technique to detect microorganisms and assess their viability. Quantitative information on the presence and viability of plant pathogenic microorganisms is valuable for risk assessment regarding disease transmission and disease development. FCM has been applied successfully in the fields of food microbiology, veterinary science, and medical research to dete...

This study compared growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and nodular enzyme activities in response to salinity in some common bean-rhizobia symbiotic combinations. Seeds of Paulista and Efequince, two varieties of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were germinated and seedlings were transferred to pots containing vermiculite inoculated with the reference Rhizobium strain CIAT899 or with RhM11 or RhM14, two local strains. Plants were grown in a temperature-controlled glasshouse at 28°C and irrigated with a nutrient solution without NaCl (control) or supplemented with 25 mM NaCl (stressed). Plants were harvested at the flowering stage. The results showed that in controls, inoculation with RhM11 improved plant and nodule growth compared with those inoculated with RhM14 and CIAT 899. NaCl treatment generally had a negative affect on plant and nodule growth. Under the saline treatment, symbiotic nitrogen fixation was not significantly affected in the CIAT899-Paulista, CIAT899-Efequince and RhM11-Paulista combinations. Plant mineral nutrition was negatively affected under salt treatment for all of the tested symbiotic combinations. Inoculation with CIAT899 and RhM11 conferred more plant tolerance to salinity than inoculation with RhM14. The nodular phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) exhibited higher activities and were less affected by salinity in plants inoculated with the reference strain CIAT899 than those inoculated with local strains. We conclude that plants inoculated with CIAT899 and RhM11 showed more salinity stress tolerance than those inoculated with RhM14.

Inoculation of maize silage with Lactobacillus buchneri (5 x 10(5) c.f.u. g(-1) of maize silage) prior to ensiling results in the formation of aerobically stable silage. After 9 months, lactic acid bacterium counts are approximately 10(10) c.f.u. g(-1) in these treated silages. An important subpopulation (5.9 x 10(7) c.f.u. g(-1)) is able to degrade 1,2-propanediol, a fermentation product of L. buchneri, under anoxic conditions to 1-propanol and propionic acid. From this group of 1,2-propanediol-fermenting, facultatively anaerobic, heterofermentative lactobacilli, two rod-shaped isolates were purified and characterized. Comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that the newly isolated bacteria have identical 16S rDNA sequences and belong phylogenetically to the L. buchneri group. DNA-DNA hybridizations, whole-cell protein fingerprinting and examination of phenotypic properties indicated that these two isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Lactobacillus diolivo...

Bacterial endotoxin is the lipopolysaccharide component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, together with other cellular material that combines to form an endotoxin complex. Endotoxin is pyrogenic and it presents a risk to patients who are administered intravenous and intramuscular preparations.1Thus bacterial endotoxins pose a risk to many pharmaceutical processes and, where not controlled, to the finished products. There are different methods for endotoxin removal. These include depyrogenation,2 such as dry-heat processes applied to glassware, and rinsing,3 as might be applied to closures. These areas receive reasonable coverage within the pharmaceutical sector. Areas that are actively discussed within biotechnology fields but which receive less attention in the wider pharmaceutical context are steps to remove endotoxin bound to protein. This article considers some of the biotechnological applications for endotoxin removal.

Both normal and diseased cells continuously shed extracellular vesicles (EVs) into extracellular space, and the EVs carry molecular signatures and effectors of both health and disease. EVs reflect dynamic changes that are occurring in cells and tissue microenvironment in health and at a different stage of a disease. EVs are capable of altering the function of the recipient cells. Trafficking and reciprocal exchange of molecular information by EVs among different organs and cell types have been shown to contribute to horizontal cellular transformation, cellular reprogramming, functional alterations, and metastasis. EV contents may include tumor suppressors, phosphoproteins, proteases, growth factors, bioactive lipids, mutant oncoproteins, oncogenic transcripts, microRNAs, and DNA sequences. Therefore, the EVs present in biofluids offer unprecedented, remote, and non-invasive access to crucial molecular information about the health status of cells, including their driver mutations, cl...

Sesbania grandiflora L. an indigenous species native to Asian, South-Asian nations widely used for innumerable purpose. The plant is accepted for its vast use for an economic benefit from environmental valuation to human livelihood. Nation such as Indonesia, Philippines cultivate this plant for economical purpose. The plant is also known to be useful for manufacture of paper and pulp. Thus, cellulose and fibres generated from various sources from this plant is highly valued in developing the economy. Moreover, the seeds of Sesbania are indeed utilized for consumption purpose. The current research is carried out to testify the amount of Dietary fibre in the seeds of Sesbania grandiflora L. Researches have shown the plant leaves enriched with high amount of nutrient content, hence the seed of the plant too forms an attractive theme to search out and study experimentally for the various nutritional sources. The research carried out for evaluation of dietary fibre successfully concludes the quantity and its consumption on a daily basis in a diet.

The systematic review focused on the prognosis, mortality, medications, and promising vaccines for COVID-19. COVID-19 severity varies. Mild cases often recover within two weeks, while people with severe diseases may take 3 – 6 weeks to recover. Among people who died, the time from the onset of symptom to death ranged from 2 – 8 weeks. Children constitute a small percentage of reported cases, with around 1% of cases under 10 years and 4% aged 10 to 19 years. The risk of death is below 0.5% in those younger than 50 years, while more than 8% in those older than 70. Most of the people who die of COVID-19 have pre-existing conditions, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. The impact of COVID-19 and its rate of mortality are different for both men and women; mortality rate is higher in men. As of May 2020, it is not known if past infection provides long-term and effective immunity in those who recover from the viral disease. Some of the infected people were reported to develop protective antibodies; the acquired immunity is presumed possible, based on other coronaviruses’ behaviour. The total infection fatality rate (IFR) is estimated to be 0.66%. No approved vaccine to treat the disease yet. International research on medicines and vaccines in COVID-19 is underway by academic groups, industry researchers, and government organizations. As of May 2020, there are over 300 active clinical trials underway. Many existing medications are under evaluation for COVID-19 treatment, including remdesivir, chloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, and lopinavir/ritonavir combined with interferon beta; as of May 2020, there is tentative evidence for remdesivir efficacy. Other candidates in trials are vasodilators, immune therapies, lipoic acid, corticosteroids, recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, bevacizumab, etc. Preliminary evidence suggests hydroxychloroquine might have anti-cytokine storm properties. Transferring concentrated and purified antibodies produced by immune systems of those who recovered from COVID-19 to those who need them is being investigated as non-vaccine method of passive immunization.

In the natural T. melanosporum truffle regions of Southern Europe, fine-textured soils present unique challenges to prospective cultivators. With reference to the edaphic and climatic conditions encountered at a hazel plantation in Piedmont, Italy, this study examines these challenges in great detail, and presents a novel phytosociological approach to the analysis of suitable truffle habitat. Ellenberg Indicator Values for T. melanosporum are derived, and then used to quantitatively explain the link between Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, and T. melanosporum habitats. The significance of a locally-udic moisture regime for T. melanosporum development is also explored. Important new cultural procedures, including the potential of host tree early-season defruiting to achieve enhanced mycelial and ascocarp growth, are introduced. The latest version discusses the significance of humus forms, and of the 'mesoMull/oligoMull boundary' in particular, in greater detail.

Environmental monitoring is a programme which evaluates the cleanliness of the manufacturing environment; the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection programmes; and the operational performance of environmental controls. As such, pharmaceutical manufacturers of both sterile and non-sterile products, as well as medical devices, are required to demonstrate that manufacturing processes and procedures minimise any potential contamination to the product from the manufacturing environment. Contamination can arise from a number of sources: water, air, surfaces and personnel, each of which poses a potential risk to product.

Biocontamination refers to biological contamination of products by bacteria and/or fungi, as well as the toxic by-products of these microorganisms, such as endotoxin and mycotoxins from Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. When designing a biocontamination control strategy, which is based on the manufacturing process, there are three components to take into consideration, each of which requires risk assessment: 1) designing process systems to avoid contamination; 2) monitoring process systems to detect contamination; and 3) reacting to contamination events and putting proactive measures in place. The design of process systems is where maximal effort should be placed.

Surface monitoring by using swabs forms a regular part of environmental monitoring of cleanrooms. There are different factors that affect swab recovery, from tip type to enumeration method. One factor, for swabs where the microorganisms are detached from the swab tip and which are then membrane filtered, is the period of vortex mixing. This paper discusses microbial surface sampling, and the factors that affect swab recovery. The paper presents some experimental data where vortex times are considered for a range of microorganisms. The study outcome indicates that 15 seconds vortex mixing is sufficient to obtain microbial recoveries from the swab tip above 50%.

Cleanroom contamination can arise from a number of sources. Most contamination within the pharmaceutical facility can be traced to humans working in cleanrooms. The paper discusses staff gowning and personnel behavior in pharmaceutical cleanrooms, and how cleanroom risk can be minimized. The human skin ecosystem is discussed. The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) from the US NIH characterized microorganisms found in association with both healthy and diseased humans. Information from this project has great impact on cleanroom activities including gowning practices. Topics associated with cleanroom garments are discussed including fabric types,

Compressed gas sampling for microorganisms is an important part of contamination control assessment.  This paper addresses topics related to microbial assessment of compressed gases.  These include gas purity including moisture considerations, sterile filtration, compressed gas standards, microbial contamination, microbial survival, sampling and testing requirements, instrumentation, and various sampling considerations including growth medium choice and frequency, and reporting requirements.

Cleanrooms are highly controlled environments, defined by
the air quality, and where certain physical and microbiological
requirements need to be met. Air quality is achieved through
a combination of airborne particulate control, such as through
high efficiency particulate air filters; high fresh air rates (air
movement and air changes); clean-up (or ‘recovery’) times;
pressure differentials, which concerns air direction;
temperature and humidity control (where necessary); cleaning
and disinfection; and staff behaviours and gowning. The
requirements for air quality, and the associated physical
aspects designed to achieve this, are contained within the
international standard ISO 14644.

© 2021 Soniya Shetty et al. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Abstract Probiotics are defined as nonpathogenic living microorganisms, that have beneficial effects on host health. The most important and frequently used functional food compounds are probiotics and fermented foods. Functional foods have numerous beneficial nutritional effects. Probiotics dairy foods, idli, dhokla, pickles etc are traditional Indian foods that beneficially affect the host. They improve survival and implantation of live microbial supplements. In our study, probiotics were isolated from Fermented Idli batter. There is a difference observed in the pH of fermented idli batter. It decreases from 6 to 4.3-...