Effects of plants-associated microbiota on cultivation and quality of Chinese herbal medicines

Microbial resource influences the life activities of medicinal plants from several perspectives. Endophytes, rhizosphere microorganisms, and other environmental microorganisms play essential roles in medicinal plant growth and development, plant yield, and clinical efficacy. The microbiota can influence the biosynthesis of active compounds in medicinal plants by stimulating specific metabolic pathways. They induce host plants to improve their resistance to environmental stresses by accumulating secondary metabolites. Microorganisms can interact with their host plants to produce long-term, targeted selection results and improve their ability to adapt to the environment. Due to the interdependence and interaction between microorganisms and medicinal plants, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) quality is closely related to the associated microorganisms. This review summarizes the relationship between medicinal plants and their associated microorganisms, including their species, distribution, life activities, and metabolites. Microorganisms can aid in quality control, improve the efficacy of medicinal plants, and provide markers for identifying the origin and storage time of CHMs. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between microorganisms and medicinal plants will help to control the quality of CHMs from different perspectives.

Study on Reducing Water Absorption of Recycled Aggregates (RAs) by Microbial Mineralization

Crushing waste concrete and using it directly as RAs has the disadvantages of high porosity and high water absorption. To achieve the reuse of resources, the researchers use microbial mineralization methods to further reinforce RAs. In this paper, the effect of the microbial carbonic anhydrase mineralization method on the water absorption of RAs was investigated, and the macroscopic analysis was performed by determining the indexes of water absorption and apparent density of RAs before and after the modification, and the microscopic analysis of RAs by using the methods of SEM, XRD, DSC, and EDS as well. According to the microscopic analysis, the mineralization products of microorganisms are calcium carbonate crystals, and with the increase in microbial liquid concentration, the water absorption rate of RAs shows a trend of decreasing and then increasing, and it can be found through the microscopic morphology that abundant mineralization products attached to the surface of the aggregate lead to the surface of the aggregate becoming rougher and more porous. The method of soaking the RAs in 3% bacterial solution and 0.1 mol/L calcium acetate solution followed by carbonation with 20% CO2 resulted in a 4.85% reduction in water absorption.

Influence of enzyme activity on domestic wastewater amelioration in a hybrid subsurface flow constructed wetland

Wastewater treatment in a constructed wetland is achieved by the presence of plant species, the metabolism of microorganisms, and the enzyme activities. Three small-scale hybrid subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSFCWs) planted with Arundo donax and one unplanted HSFCW were constructed near a water resource recovery facility at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between soil enzymatic activities and the removal of contaminants from domestic wastewater. Enzyme activity of phosphatase, protease, urease, and cellulase increased with an increase in temperature. A strong correlation between enzyme activities and TKN and surfactant removal was observed, whereas moderate correlation was observed with phosphate in planted HSFCW during the study. The correlation between COD removal and enzyme activities was low to moderate. In unplanted HSFCW, the correlation between enzyme activities and COD removal was negative, negligible to moderate to strong in the case of TKN, low to moderate in the case of phosphate, and negligible to low in the case of surfactants. The increased removal efficiency of the planted system compared with that of the unplanted system indicated a positive impact on enzyme activities with the growth of plants and their roots. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Protease, urease, and cellulase activities: Planted HSFCW exhibited higher protease, urease, and cellulase activities than unplanted, signifying enhanced breakdown. July displayed maximum enzyme activities, correlating with heightened biological breakdown in both systems. Fluctuations in enzyme activities reflected seasonal changes, influencing nutrient degradation rates. Planted HSFCW consistently showed higher enzymatic activities across protease, urease, and cellulase than unplanted.

Recent progress of atmospheric and room-temperature plasma as a new and promising mutagenesis technology

At present, atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) is regarded as a new and powerful mutagenesis technology with the advantages of environment-friendliness, operation under mild conditions, and fast mutagenesis speed. Compared with traditional mutagenesis strategies, ARTP is used mainly to change the structure of microbial DNA, enzymes, and proteins through a series of physical, chemical, and electromagnetic effects with the organisms, leading to nucleotide breakage, conversion or inversion, causing various DNA damages, so as to screen out the microbial mutants with better biological characteristics. As a result, in recent years, ARTP mutagenesis and the combination of ARTP with traditional mutagenesis have been widely used in microbiology, showing great potential for application. In this review, the recent progress of ARTP mutagenesis in different application fields and bottlenecks of this technology are systematically summarized, with a view to providing a theoretical basis and technical support for better application. Finally, the outlook of ARTP mutagenesis is presented, and we identify the challenges in the field of microbial mutagenesis by ARTP.

Mycoremediation of the novel fungicide ametoctradin by different agricultural soils and accelerated degradation utilizing selected fungal strains

Accelerating safety assessments for novel agrochemicals is imperative, advocating for in vitro setups to present pesticide biodegradation by soil microbiota before field studies. This approach enables metabolic profile generation in a controlled laboratory environment eliminating extrinsic factors. In the current study, ten different soil samples were utilized to check their capability to degrade Ametoctradin by their microbiota. Furthermore, five different fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Penicillium chrysogenum) were utilized to degrade Ametoctradin in aqueous media. A degradation pathway was established using the metabolic patterns created during the biodegradation of Ametoctradin. In contrast to 47% degradation (T1/2 of 34 days) when Ametoctradin was left in the soil samples, the fungal strain Aspergillus fumigatus demonstrated 71% degradation of parent Ametoctradin with a half-life (T1/2) of 16 days. In conclusion, soil rich in microorganisms effectively cleans Ametoctradin-contaminated areas while Fungi have also been shown to be an effective, affordable, and promising way to remove Ametoctradin from the environment.

Evolutionary insights and functional diversity of gasdermin family proteins and homologs in microorganisms

The gasdermin protein family and its homologs in microorganisms have gained significant attention due to their roles in programmed cell death, immune defense, and microbial infection. This review summarizes the current research status of gasdermin proteins, their structural features, and functional roles in fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The review presents evolutionary parallels between mammalian and microbial defense systems, highlighting the conserved role of gasdermin proteins in regulating cell death processes and immunity. Additionally, the structural and functional characteristics of gasdermin homologs in microorganisms are summarized, shedding light on their potential as targets for therapeutic interventions. Future research directions in this field are also discussed to provide a roadmap for further investigation.

Exploring biodegradative efficiency: a systematic review on the main microplastic-degrading bacteria

Introduction

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the environment, causing damage to biota and human health. Due to their physicochemical characteristics, they become resistant particles to environmental degradation, leading to their accumulation in large quantities in the terrestrial ecosystem. Thus, there is an urgent need for measures to mitigate such pollution, with biological degradation being a viable alternative, where bacteria play a crucial role, demonstrating high efficiency in degrading various types of MPs. Therefore, the study aimed to identify bacteria with the potential for MP biodegradation and the enzymes produced during the process.

Methods

The methodology used followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol.

Results and Discussion

The research yielded 68 eligible studies, highlighting bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Rhodococcus as the main organisms involved in MP biodegradation. Additionally, enzymes such as hydrolases and alkane hydroxylases were emphasized for their involvement in this process. Thus, the potential of bacterial biodegradation is emphasized as a promising pathway to mitigate the environmental impact of MPs, highlighting the relevance of identifying bacteria with biotechnological potential for large-scale applications in reducing MP pollution.

Benefit analysis of the auto-verification system of intelligent inspection for microorganisms

In recent years, the automatic machine for microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests has been introduced into the microbiology laboratory of our hospital, but there are still many steps that need manual operation. The purpose of this study was to establish an auto-verification system for bacterial naming to improve the turnaround time (TAT) and reduce the burden on clinical laboratory technologists. After the basic interpretation of the gram staining results of microorganisms, the appearance of strain growth, etc., the 9 rules were formulated by the laboratory technologists specialized in microbiology for auto-verification of bacterial naming. The results showed that among 70,044 reports, the average pass rate of auto-verification was 68.2%, and the reason for the failure of auto-verification was further evaluated. It was found that the main causes reason the inconsistency between identification results and strain appearance rationality, the normal flora in the respiratory tract and urine that was identified, the identification limitation of the mass spectrometer, and so on. The average TAT for the preliminary report of bacterial naming was 35.2 h before, which was reduced to 31.9 h after auto-verification. In summary, after auto-verification, the laboratory could replace nearly 2/3 of manual verification and issuance of reports, reducing the daily workload of medical laboratory technologists by about 2 h. Moreover, the TAT on the preliminary identification report was reduced by 3.3 h on average, which could provide treatment evidence for clinicians in advance.

Nanoparticle applications in agriculture: overview and response of plant-associated microorganisms

Globally, food security has become a critical concern due to the rise in human population and the current climate change crisis. Usage of conventional agrochemicals to maximize crop yields has resulted in the degradation of fertile soil, environmental pollution as well as human and agroecosystem health risks. Nanotechnology in agriculture is a fast-emerging and new area of research explored to improve crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency using nano-sized agrochemicals at lower doses than conventional agrochemicals. Nanoparticles in agriculture are applied as nanofertilizers and/or nanopesticides. Positive results have been observed in terms of plant growth when using nano-based agricultural amendments. However, their continuous application may have adverse effects on plant-associated rhizospheric and endospheric microorganisms which often play a crucial role in plant growth, nutrient uptake, and disease prevention. While research shows that the application of nanoparticles has the potential to improve plant growth and yield, their effect on the diversity and function of plant-associated microorganisms remains under-explored. This review provides an overview of plant-associated microorganisms and their functions. Additionally, it highlights the response of plant-associated microorganisms to nanoparticle application and provides insight into areas of research required to promote sustainable and precision agricultural practices that incorporate nanofertilizers and nanopesticides.

The Plethora of Microbes with Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Inflammation, which has important functions in human defense systems and in maintaining the dynamic homeostasis of the body, has become a major risk factor for the progression of many chronic diseases. Although the applied medical products alleviate the general status, they still exert adverse effects in the long term. For this reason, the solution should be sought in more harmless and affordable agents. Microorganisms offer a wide range of active substances with anti-inflammatory properties. They confer important advantages such as their renewable and inexhaustible nature. This review aims to provide the most recent updates on microorganisms of different types and genera, being carriers of anti-inflammatory activity.

The Microbiological Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Fracture Related Infections in a Low Resource Setting Differ from High Resource Settings: A Cohort Study from Cameroon

Fracture-related infection (FRI) is a common and devastating complication of orthopedic trauma in all settings. Data on the microbiological profile and susceptibility of FRI to antibiotics in low-income countries are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the microbial patterns and antimicrobial susceptibility of FRI in a sub-Saharan African setting in order to provide guidance for the formulation of evidence-based empirical antimicrobial regimens. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated for FRI with deep tissue sampling for microbiological culture from January 2016 to August 2023 in four tertiary-level hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. There were 246 infection episodes in 217 patients. Cultures were positive in 209 (84.9%) cases and polymicrobial in 109 (44.3%) cases. A total of 363 microorganisms from 71 different species were identified, of which 239 (65.8%) were Gram-negative. The most commonly isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 69; 19%), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 43; 11.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 35; 9.6%), Escherichia coli (n = 35; 9.6%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 27; 7.4%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated in only 21 (5.9%) cases. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for the majority of the infections in early (70.9%) and delayed (73.2%) FRI, but Gram-positive bacteria were prevalent in late FRI (51.7%) (p < 0.001). Polymicrobial infections were more frequent in the early (55.9%) and delayed (41.9%) groups than in the late group (27.6%) (p < 0.001). Apart from Staphylococcus aureus, there was no significant difference in the proportions of causative pathogens between early, delayed, and late FRI. This study found striking resistance rates of bacteria to commonly used antibiotics. MRSA accounted for 63% of cases. The most effective antibiotics for all Gram-positive bacteria were linezolid (96.4%), vancomycin (92.5%), clindamycin (85.3%), and fucidic acid (89.4%). For Gram-negative bacteria, only three antibiotics displayed a sensitivity >50%: amikacin (80.4%), imipenem (74.4%), and piperacillin + tazobactam (57%). The most effective empirical antibiotic therapy (with local availability) was the combination of vancomycin and amikacin or vancomycin and imipenem. In contrast to the literature from high-resource settings, this study revealed that in a sub-Saharan African context, Gram-negative bacteria are the most common causative microorganisms of FRI. This study revealed striking resistance rates to commonly used antibiotics, which will require urgent action to prevent antimicrobial resistance in low and middle-income countries.

Ranking environmental and edaphic attributes driving soil microbial community structure and activity with special attention to spatial and temporal scales

The incredibly complex soil microbial communities at small scales make their analysis and identification of reasons for the observed structures challenging. Microbial community structure is mainly a result of the inoculum (dispersal), the selective advantages of those organisms under the habitat-based environmental attributes, and the ability of those colonizers to sustain themselves over time. Since soil is protective, and its microbial inhabitants have long adapted to varied soil conditions, significant portions of the soil microbial community structure are likely stable. Hence, a substantial portion of the community will not correlate to often measured soil attributes. We suggest that the drivers be ranked on the basis of their importance to the fundamental needs of the microbes: (i) those that supply energy, i.e., organic carbon and electron acceptors; (ii) environmental effectors or stressors, i.e., pH, salt, drought, and toxic chemicals; (iii) macro-organism associations, i.e., plants and their seasonality, animals and their fecal matter, and soil fauna; and (iv) nutrients, in order, N, P, and probably of lesser importance, other micronutrients, and metals. The relevance of drivers also varies with spatial and time scales, for example, aggregate to field to regional, and persistent to dynamic populations to transcripts, and with the extent of phylogenetic difference, hence phenotypic differences in organismal groups. We present a summary matrix to provide guidance on which drivers are important for particular studies, with special emphasis on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and illustrate this with genomic and population (rRNA gene) data from selected studies.

Impact of Aspergillus fumigatus inoculation on the composting of wood shaving bedding for horses

Equine farming generates a significant amount of waste, prompting the need for effective management. Composting enhanced by filamentous fungi holds promise for this purpose. This study focused on inoculating Aspergillus fumigatus isolates in composting horse bedding made with wood shavings (Pinus elliottii). The experiment lasted 90 days, with two treatment groups, control and inoculated, analyzing temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon and nitrogen content, and cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents. Both treatments entered the thermophilic phase by the fourth day, reaching temperatures above 55°C and mesophilic maturation at 35 days (41 ± 0.2°C). The inoculated treatment exhibited higher electrical conductivity after 30 days and a more pronounced reduction in the total carbon content (42.85% vs. 38.29%) compared to the control. While there was no significant nitrogen difference, the inoculated treatment had a sharper reduction in carbon/nitrogen ratio, and cellulose and hemicellulose contents. Both treatments showed low coliform counts, no Salmonella sp., and reduced Strongyloides sp. larvae. Inoculating A. fumigatus in saturated horse bedding made from wood shavings improved compost quality, providing a possibility for sustainable equine farming waste treatment.

No Difference in the Pathogenic Microorganisms Among Different Types of Anorectal Abscesses: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

 There is limited data on the pathogenic microorganisms associated with anorectal abscesses. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the types and quantities of pathogenic microorganisms in the pus cultures of patients with anorectal abscesses and to explore the correlation between pathogenic microorganisms and types of anorectal abscesses.

METHODS

 A retrospective analysis was conducted on the microbiological data of 517 inpatient surgical patients with anorectal abscesses treated at a single center from January 2017 to December 2021. Chi-square tests were used to analyze whether there were differences in the types and quantities of pathogenic microorganisms among different types of anorectal abscesses.

RESULTS

 Among the 517 patients, the mean age was 38.5 years, with an average duration of illness of 7.4 days. Of these, 440 (85.1%) were male and 77 (14.9%) were female. The types of anorectal abscesses included perianal abscesses (54 cases, 10.4%), intersphincteric abscesses (253 cases, 48.9%), ischiorectal abscesses (129 cases, 25.0%), deep posterior anal space (DPAS) abscesses (26 cases, 5.0%), supra-levator abscesses (10 cases, 1.9%), and horseshoe abscesses (45 cases, 8.7%). A total of 23 different microorganisms were cultured from the 517 pus specimens. The most common microorganism was Escherichia coli (323 cases, 62.5%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (77 cases, 14.9%), Bacteroides fragilis (nine cases, 1.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (eight cases, 1.5%), and Staphylococcus aureus (seven cases, 1.4%). Additionally, no microorganisms were cultured from 58 (11.2%) pus specimens. Nine patients (1.7%) were admitted with concomitant necrotizing fasciitis. Among the nine cases of concurrent necrotizing fasciitis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus were cultured in six (66.7%), two (22.2%), and one (11.1%) case, respectively. Chi-square tests revealed no significant differences in the types and quantities of pathogenic microorganisms among different types of anorectal abscesses (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

 This study provides a large sample of pus culture microbiological data from patients with anorectal abscesses. Regardless of whether it is a simple anorectal abscess or concurrent necrotizing fasciitis, E. coli was the most common microorganism cultured from the pus of patients with anorectal abscesses. Other common microorganisms include K. pneumoniae, B. fragilis, and S. aureus. These results provide evidence for the precise antibiotic treatment of anorectal abscesses. Additionally, there were no differences in the types and quantities of pathogenic microorganisms among different types of anorectal abscesses.

Farmland Microhabitat Mediated by a Residual Microplastic Film: Microbial Communities and Function

How the plastisphere mediated by the residual microplastic film in farmlands affects microhabitat systems is unclear. Here, microbial structure, assembly, and biogeochemical cycling in the plastisphere and soil in 33 typical farmland sites were analyzed by amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and ITS and metagenome analysis. The results indicated that residual microplastic film was colonized by microbes, forming a unique niche called the plastisphere. Notable differences in the microbial community structure and function were observed between soil and plastisphere. Residual microplastic film altered the microbial symbiosis and assembly processes. Stochastic processes significantly dominated the assembly of the bacterial community in the plastisphere and soil but only in the plastisphere for the fungal community. Deterministic processes significantly dominated the assembly of fungal communities only in soil. Moreover, the plastisphere mediated by the residual microplastic film acted as a preferred vector for pathogens and microorganisms associated with plastic degradation and the nitrogen and sulfur cycle. The abundance of genes associated with denitrification and sulfate reduction activity in the plastisphere was pronouncedly higher than that of soil, which increase the potential risk of nitrogen and sulfur loss. The results will offer a scientific understanding of the harm caused by the residual microplastic film in farmlands.

Contamination of equipment and surfaces in the operating room anesthesia workspace: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Contamination of the breathing circuit and medication preparation surface of an anesthesia machine can increase the risk of cross-infection.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the contamination of the anesthetic medication preparation surface, respiratory circuits, and devices used in general anesthesia with assisted mechanical ventilation.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted at the surgical center of a philanthropic hospital, of medium complexity located in the municipality of Três Lagoas, in the eastern region of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.

METHODS

Eighty-two microbiological samples were collected from the breathing circuits. After repeating the samples in different culture media, 328 analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A higher occurrence of E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (P < 0.001) were observed. Variations were observed depending on the culture medium and sample collection site.

CONCLUSION

The study findings underscore the inadequate disinfection of the inspiratory and expiratory branches, highlighting the importance of stringent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

HILIC-IM-MS for Simultaneous Lipid and Metabolite Profiling of Bacteria

Although MALDI-ToF platforms for microbial identifications have found great success in clinical microbiology, the sole use of protein fingerprints for the discrimination of closely related species, strain-level identifications, and detection of antimicrobial resistance remains a challenge for the technology. Several alternative mass spectrometry-based methods have been proposed to address the shortcomings of the protein-centric approach, including MALDI-ToF methods for fatty acid/lipid profiling and LC-MS profiling of metabolites. However, the molecular diversity of microbial pathogens suggests that no single "ome" will be sufficient for the accurate and sensitive identification of strain- and susceptibility-level profiling of bacteria. Here, we describe the development of an alternative approach to microorganism profiling that relies upon both metabolites and lipids rather than a single class of biomolecule. Single-phase extractions based on butanol, acetonitrile, and water (the BAW method) were evaluated for the recovery of lipids and metabolites from Gram-positive and -negative microorganisms. We found that BAW extraction solutions containing 45% butanol provided optimal recovery of both molecular classes in a single extraction. The single-phase extraction method was coupled to hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) to resolve similar-mass metabolites and lipids in three dimensions and provide multiple points of evidence for feature annotation in the absence of tandem mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that the combined use of metabolites and lipids can be used to differentiate microorganisms to the species- and strain-level for four of the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using data from a single ionization mode. These results present promising, early stage evidence for the use of multiomic signatures for the identification of microorganisms by liquid chromatography, ion mobility, and mass spectrometry that, upon further development, may improve upon the level of identification provided by current methods.

Citrus limon Essential Oil: Chemical Composition and Selected Biological Properties Focusing on the Antimicrobial (In Vitro, In Situ), Antibiofilm, Insecticidal Activity and Preservative Effect against Salmonella enterica Inoculated in Carrot

New goals for industry and science have led to increased awareness of food safety and healthier living in the modern era. Here, one of the challenges in food quality assurance is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. As planktonic cells can form biofilms and go into a sessile state, microorganisms are now more resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Due to their proven antibacterial properties, essential oils represent a potential option to prevent food spoilage in the search for effective natural preservatives. In this study, the chemical profile of Citrus limon essential oil (CLEO) was evaluated. GC-MS analysis revealed that limonene (60.7%), β-pinene (12.6%), and γ-terpinene (10.3%) are common constituents of CLEO, which prompted further research on antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values showed that CLEO generally exhibits acceptable antibacterial properties. In addition, in situ antimicrobial research revealed that vapour-phase CLEO can arrest the growth of Candida and Y. enterocolitica species on specific food models, indicating the potential of CLEO as a preservative. The antibiofilm properties of CLEO were evaluated by MIC assays, crystal violet assays, and MALDI-TOF MS analysis against S. enterica biofilm. The results of the MIC and crystal violet assays showed that CLEO has strong antibiofilm activity. In addition, the data obtained by MALDI-TOF MS investigation showed that CLEO altered the protein profiles of the bacteria studied on glass and stainless-steel surfaces. Our study also found a positive antimicrobial effect of CLEO against S. enterica. The anti-Salmonella activity of CLEO in vacuum-packed sous vide carrot samples was slightly stronger than in controls. These results highlight the advantages of the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of CLEO, suggesting potential applications in food preservation.

Nisin and ε-polylysine combined treatment enhances quality of fresh-cut jackfruit at refrigerated storage

This study investigated the effects of nisin combined with ε-polylysine on microorganisms and the refrigerated quality of fresh-cut jackfruit. After being treated with distilled water (control), nisin (0.5 g/L), ε-polylysine (0.5 g/L), and the combination of nisin (0.1 g/L) and ε-polylysine (0.4 g/L), microporous modified atmosphere packaging (MMAP) was carried out and stored at 10 ± 1°C for 8 days. The microorganisms and physicochemical indexes were measured every 2 days during storage. The results indicated that combined treatment (0.1 g/L nisin, 0.4 g/L ε-polylysine) had the best preservation on fresh-cut jackfruit. Compared with the control, combined treatment inhibited microbial growth (total bacterial count, mold and yeast), reduced the weight loss rate, respiratory intensity, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities, and maintained higher sugar acid content, firmness, and color. Furthermore, it preserved higher levels of antioxidant compounds, reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, thereby reducing oxidative damage and maintaining high nutritional and sensory qualities. As a safe application of natural preservatives, nisin combined with ε-polylysine treatment has great application potential in the fresh-cut jackfruit industry.

Influence of microbially fermented 2´-fucosyllactose on neuronal-like cell activity in an in vitro co-culture system

Scope

2´-Fucosyllactose (2´-FL), the most abundant oligosaccharide in human milk, plays an important role in numerous biological functions, including improved learning. It is not clear, however, whether 2´-FL or a cleavage product could influence neuronal cell activity. Thus, we investigated the effects of 2´-FL, its monosaccharide fucose (Fuc), and microbial fermented 2´-FL and Fuc on the parameters of neuronal cell activity in an intestinal-neuronal transwell co-culture system in vitro.

Methods

Native 13C-labeled 2´-FL and 13C-Fuc or their metabolites, fermented with Bifidobacterium (B.) longum ssp. infantis and B. breve, which were taken from the lag-, log- and stationary (stat-) growth phases of batch cultures, were applied to the apical compartment of the co-culture system with Caco-2 cells representing the intestinal layer and all-trans-retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y (SH-SY5YATRA) cells mimicking neuronal-like cells. After 3 h of incubation, the culture medium in the basal compartment was monitored for 13C enrichment by using elemental analysis isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) and effects on cell viability, plasma, and mitochondrial membrane potential. The neurotransmitter activation (BDNF, GABA, choline, and glutamate) of SH-SY5YATRA cells was also determined. Furthermore, these effects were also measured by the direct application of 13C-2´-FL and 13C-Fuc to SH-SY5YATRA cells.

Results

While no effects on neuronal-like cell activities were observed after intact 2´-FL or Fuc was incubated with SH-SY5YATRA cells, supernatants from the stat-growth phase of 2´-FL, fermented by B. longum ssp. infantis alone and together with B. breve, significantly induced BDNF release from SH-SY5YATRA cells. No such effects were found for 2´-FL, Fuc, or their fermentation products from B. breve. The BDNF release occurred from an enhanced vesicular release, which was confirmed by the use of the Ca2+-channel blocker verapamil. Concomitant with this event, 13C enrichment was also observed in the basal compartment when supernatants from the stat-growth phase of fermentation by B. longum ssp. infantis alone or together with B. breve were used.

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study suggest that microbial products of 2´-FL rather than the oligosaccharide itself may influence neuronal cell activities.

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity and protein profiling of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) epidermal mucus under different feeds and culture systems (biofloc technology and earthen pond)

The mucus layers of fish serve as the main interface between the organism and the environment. They play an important biological and ecological role. The current study focuses on Nile tilapia epidermal mucus reared under different commercial feeds (coded A and B) and environments (biofloc technology and earthen pond systems). Crude protein levels in feed A and B were 30% and 28%, respectively. Water parameters in all culturing systems were suitable for tilapia throughout the study period. The antimicrobial potency of tilapia (n = 5 from each) epidermal mucus was tested in vitro against human and fish pathogenic strains viz. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Francisella noatunensis, and Aeromonas hydrophila. To determine the antimicrobial activity, zones of inhibition (ZOI) were measured in millimetres and compared with two antibiotics (chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin). SDS-PAGE analysis was performed on skin mucus samples of tilapia to determine protein quantity and size (molecular weight). Results of tilapia skin mucus (crude and aqueous) revealed a strong antibacterial effect against all the selected pathogenic strains. However, variation has been observed in the mucus potency and ZOI values between the biofloc and pond tilapia mucus. The crude mucus of tilapia fed on feed A and cultured in the pond exhibited strong antibacterial effects and high ZOI values compared to the mucus of biofloc tilapia, aqueous mucus extracts and positive control chloramphenicol (antibiotic). The SDS-PAGE results showed that the high molecular weight proteins were found in the collected epidermal mucus of BFT-B (240 kDa) and EP-B (230 kDa). Several peptides in fish skin mucus may play a crucial role in the protection of fish against disease-causing pathogens. Thus, it can be utilized in the human and veterinary sectors as an 'antimicrobial' for treating various bacterial infections.

[Advances in next-generation sequencing technology to analyze the microbiome of patients with chronic sinusitis]

Chronic rhinosinusitis （CRS） is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sinus mucosa, and the pathogenesis of CRS has not been fully elucidated, and the impact of dysbiosis of the microbiome in the nasal cavity and even in the gut on the pathogenesis of CRS remains controversial. Next-generation sequencing technology, a culture-independent high-throughput sequencing method, contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the CRS microbiome. This article reviews the progress of research on the relevance of bacteria and other microorganisms to CRS and the microbial characteristics of the sinus and intestinal tract of patients with CRS, introduces next-generation sequencing technologies for the study of the CRS microbiome, and discusses the therapeutic prospects of CRS and the possibility of probiotic therapy.