24 research outputs found
Microbial degradation of plastics: Biofilms and degradation pathways
Plastics are recalcitrant polymers released in the environment through unpredicted use leading to accumulation and increased water and soil pollution. Transportation of these recalcitrant polymers in agricultural soil, sediment, and water has been causing concerns for environmentalists. Biofilm community adhered on plastic polymers have a significant contribution in their degradation as they warrant bioavailability of substrates, sharing of metabolites and increased cell viability thereby accelerating biodegradation. Metabolic enzymes of the microbes can be exploited as a potent tool for polymer degradation. However very little or no reports are available about the influence of biofilm and plastic degradation and vice versa. The present chapter reports the impact of biofilm microbes in the degradation of commonly used plastics. Furthermore, potent microorganisms and their interactions with the plastic surface has been deciphered, which would serve as a better understanding of the utilization of biofilm-based methods in the development of plastic waste management
The effect of views through windows on apartment dwellers in an urban setting: a case study of hyderabad apartment
The rate of urbanisation is increasing in Pakistan as it develops. The connection to nature, however, is receding in urban settings as the country grows. Apartment buildings have been recognized as a characteristic type of urban housing due to the increasing intensity of land use in urban areas. In Hyderabad, one of the neglected aspects of urban living is the neglect of window design, orientation, and view through the window in apartment buildings. Windows are the primary means of communication between the inside and outside of the building. This paper highlights the significance of window views in urban setting in relation to sustainable development. Furthermore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of window views on apartment dwellers in Hyderabad and how it affects the sustainability of a building. The case studies were conducted on apartments in Qasimabad, along with a questionnaire survey based on the residents' preferences for window views and how the existing setting affects their behavior. After analyzing literature, conducting case studies, and completing a survey questionnaire, results suggest that window views promote pleasant emotions, productivity, health, and well-being, which contribute to a sustainable developmen
Impact of heavy metal contamination in different soil towards microbial characteristics and nutrient availability
An intensive investigation for detecting source of the heavy metals
contamination in different areas (within industry, at roadside, adjacent
agriculture lands) of various industries located at two sites A & B were
made. Co-relationshipswere determined for specificmetal contamination in
leacheates at sites with total contents of heavy metal at source.At siteA, it
was observed that the leached fractions were highly correlated with the
total contents of all tested heavy metals showing same source of
contamination, whereas at site B relation was obtained only in case of Mn
i.e 0.99, Zn i.e 0.82 and 0.70 for Cu, while, rest had sparse relationship,
showing that the variability in heavy metal contents was caused by the
different sources of contamination. The soil samples showed different
microbial groups (cfu), in the order Bacteria > Fungi > Actinomycetes >
RhizobiumandAzotobacters. The results indicated that the lowavailability
of nutrients (NPK) in soil could be due to the heavy metal contamination
which reduced the beneficial microbes such as Rhizobia and Azotobacters
in contaminated soil
ANTIBIOFOULING BIOMATERIALS
Antifouling refers to the process of control of fouling which occurs on liquid-solid surfaces. The term
‘fouling’ indicates an undesirable natural succession process during biofilm formation, in which a
submerged surface or membranes becomes encrusted with material from the surrounding environment.
It mainly involves microorganisms and their by-products developed on the surface by conditioning,
attachment, biofilm formation followed by colonization. The accumulation of micro and macrofoulers
on immersed structures results in economic as well as environmental losses. It is one of the major
vulnerable problems currently disturbing many ecological niches as well as in shipping and other
industrial aquatic processes. The existence of natural antifouling agents or biomaterials provides
sustainable eco-friendly control and hence remains a challenge for future researchers. The use of
biological tools for control of fouling is gaining importance day by day
Bactria Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fermented Bamboo Food Product
Pure bacterial cultures were isolated from fermented products collected from two locations of North East India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh). Forty four variants were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The dominant microbial genera found were Bacillus, Paenibacillus followed by Oceanobacillus and Lactobacillus in Assam and Bacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus in Arunachal-Pradesh food products. Bacillus isolates showed extracellular enzyme production (amylases, proteases and lipases) as analyzed through plate assay. GC-MS analysis showed beneficial chemical components like organic acids, esters, aminoacids, vitamins in fermented bamboo shoot products. Probiotic attributes of culturable bacterial isolates from bamboo fermentations gives promiscuity for human consumption. Beneficial microorganisms from bamboo shoot fermented food products of North-Eastern region of India were explored and compared using bioinformatics tools
BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FERMENTED BAMBOO SHOOT FOOD PRODUCT
Pure bacterial cultures were isolated from fermented products collected from two locations of North East India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh). Forty four variants were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The dominant microbial genera found were Bacillus, Paenibacillus followed by Oceanobacillus and Lactobacillus in Assam and Bacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus in Arunachal-Pradesh food products. Bacillus isolates showed extracellular enzyme production (amylases, proteases and lipases) as analyzed through plate assay. GC-MS analysis showed beneficial chemical components like organic acids, esters, aminoacids, vitamins in fermented bamboo shoot products. Probiotic attributes of culturable bacterial isolates from bamboo fermentations gives promiscuity for human consumption. Beneficial microorganisms from bamboo shoot fermented food products of North-Eastern region of India were explored and compared using bioinformatics tools
Degradation kinetics of resorcinol by Enterobacter cloacae isolate
Resorcinol was utilized as the sole carbon and energy source by Enterobacter cloacae (identification by 16S rDNA nucleotide sequencing Genbank Accession Number JN093148). The different concentration of resorcinol utilized by the bacterial isolate ranged between 55 and 220 mg l-1 at 30°C and pH of 7.0. It was observed that the batch experimental results were best fitted for Michaelis-Menten and Monod models (for 220 mg l-1 resorcinol) with time under defined conditions. The kinetics constants for the Michaelis-Menten equation (enzyme kinetics) were Km = 11.00 mM and Vmax = 0.03 mM min-1 and for the Monod equation (growth kinetics) was μmax = 0.0371 h-1 in the inhibitory region and KS = 22.09 mg l-1. It was assumed that enzyme reactions limit biomass production (Monod kinetics) during resorcinol degradation by E. cloacae. The enzyme kinetic model (Michaelis-Menten) used was fit to the resorcinol degradation profiles with a set of model parameters such as using pre-induced E. cloacae cells on 220 mg l-1 resorcinol
Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients: A comparative polymerase chain reaction study
The detection frequency of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola in chronic periodontitis (CP) and
aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is not explored well in Indian population. Aim: The study was undertaken to detect P. gingivalis and
T. denticola in CP as well as in AgP patients using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to determine the relationship between the
frequency of these two microorganisms and the severity of clinical periodontal parameters. Materials and Methods: Subgingival
plaque samples were collected from ninety participants (thirty CP patients, thirty AgP patients, and thirty healthy participants) and
the aforementioned two microorganisms were detected using PCR. Results: However, when CP and AgP were compared for
the detection frequency of two microorganisms, no statistically significant difference was noted. A statistically significant increase
in the number of bacteria‑positive sites increased as the score of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and clinical attachment
level of CP and AgP patients increased. Coexistence of P. gingivalis and T. denticola was frequently observed in deep periodontal
pockets. Conclusions: Study findings suggest that P. gingivalis and T. denticola are significantly associated with the severity of
periodontal tissue destruction. Statistically significant association exists between clinical periodontal parameters such as PI, GI,
periodontal pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss and presence of both the microorganism
Arid ecosystem: future option for carbon sinks using microbial community intelligence
Desert, comprising one-third of the Earth’s surface, was a synonym for ‘no life’ as it supports very
less or no life due to nutritional stress and extreme weather. Microbial autotrophic biochemistry is
the principal source of carbon in arid environment, but understanding of these processes in arid
ecosystem is limited. Emerging molecular tools have identified associations of phototrophic and
chemolithoautotrophic communities often termed as ‘biological soil crust’ or ‘microbiotic crust’.
They are the sole sources of carbon and nitrogen, collectively providing soil stability to support
vegetation. Here the curiosity arises, whether this phenomenon could be exploited in deserts for
carbon sink using microbial community intelligence. By following the precipitation event under
regulated nutrient supply that promotes the soil microbial intelligence for autotrophy would enrich
soil carbon and nitrogen which in turn support plant growth in desert. Additionally, bioaugmentation
of rhizobacteria could enhance the process. This will enable us to refine and formulate our
strategies to exploit CO2-fixing microorganisms in such niches vis-Ã -vis supporting the carbon sink
using microbial community intelligence
Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum EGD-AQ4, Isolated from Fermented Product of Northeast India
We present a draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum strain EGD-AQ4, isolated from nonalcoholic fermented bamboo
shoot products of Northeast India. The size of the draft genome sequence is the largest among all the reported genome sequences
of Lactobacillus plantarum, thus enabling the exploration of new gene clusters involved in various functional and probiotic
attributes