The efficiency of random versus ethno-directed research in the evaluation of Sinai medicinal plants for bioactive compounds

Hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of sixty plant species (growing wild in Sinai, Egypt) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, a yeast and dermatophytic fungi. Plants were collected either by random or ethno-directed methods. Plants collected at random (36 species) were gathered from different districts of Sinai, while the ethnobotanical collection (24 species) comprised species used in the folk medicine of the Bedouins in Sinai. Results indicate that plant sampling based on ethnobotanical approach produced greater number of plants showing antimicrobial activity. The results are discussed with respect to the ethnobotanical correlation of active species.

Total count of microorganisms contaminating water supply system of Ismailia City, Egypt

The efficiency of water purification in the French and the British systems of Ismailia city was evaluated concerning the contaminating microorganisms. Counting of microbial contaminants was based on the phenotypic characters of the colony type. Colony-types of eubacteria, eumycetes, Micromonospores and Streptomyces enumerated in the crude water and the different steps of purification. Total counts of microflora in both systems were higher than the counts in canal water. Meanwhile, microbial isolates were higher in the French system than that of the British one. The increased counts in tap water, compared with canal water, were recorded in winter for bacteria and in spring for fungi. These data showed variations in the microbial total counts according to: plant system, steps of purification, chlorination season and type of microbes.

Gluconimycin an inhibitor of pyrimidine synthesis in Bacillus subtilis

Pyrimidine synthesis in Bacillus subtilis PCI-219 cells was the primary site of action of the antibiotic gluconimycin as indicated by its arresting the activity of aspartate carbamoyltransferase as well as accumulation of aspartic acid in cultures fortified with gluconimycin. Microbial growth and viable counts were suppressed by the antibiotic whereas glycolysis and aerobic respiration were insignificantly affected. Gluconimycin failed to induce a lytic effect on cell protoplasts while considerable amounts of substances absorbing at 260 nm were released from microbial cells treated with gluconimycin.

Thermomonospora sp. T-SA-125 and its production of a growth promoting antibiotic

Thermomonospora sp. T-SA-125 is a true thermophilic actinomycete isolated from a soil sample collected from the Saudi Arabian desert. It is characterized by the formation of single spores at the tips of dichotomously branched aerial mycelium and differs from Thermomonospora curvata and T. viridis in certain aspects. It produces a basic water-soluble antibiotic which is active against Gram-positive bacteria, moderately active against Gram-negative bacteria and inactive against fungi. At high concentrations, this antibiotic, stimulated the growth of both Hordeum coleoptile and lettuce hypocotyl.