Determination of antibiotic susceptibility and fatty acid methyl ester profiles of Bacillus cereus strains isolated from different food sources in Turkey

In this study, a total of 77 Bacillus cereus isolates were obtained from four different food samples (58 raw milks, 8 chickens, 7 cereals and 4 meats) consumed in Turkey by using Chromogenic Bacillus Cereus Agar (Oxoid, CM1036). They were tested for susceptibilities to a total of 10 different antibiotics (penicillin, oxacillin, sulphamethoxazole, rifampicin, apromycin, amikacin, tobramycin, kanamycin, gentamicin and oflaxacin). In addition, they were determined to be in fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) group of the strains. All the isolates were identified as B. cereus based on colonical, cellular morphology and biochemical characters, including FAME analysis. A total of 25 different fatty acids were detected in 77 strains tested, but 16 of them appeared as minor components, in less than 2%. The strains had 15:0 iso 3OH (30.25%), 16:0 iso (11.23%), 17:0 iso (9.20%),16:0 (9.02%),13:0 iso (8.85%), 14:0 iso (6.79%), 15:0 anteiso (4.83%), 14:0 (4.58%), 16:1 ω6c (3.92%) and 16:1 ω7c (3.92%) as the major fatty acids (FA). Based on FAME analysis, the isolates were clustered into three main groups. Cluster 1, 2 and 3 were composed of the 71, 3 and 3 strains, respectively. All the strains in each cluster showed an extremely high degree of similarity (95 - 100%) to each other. Antibiotic resistant profile showed that all strains were resistance to penicillin and oxacillin, but they were highly susceptible to gentamicin and oflaxacin

Paraoxonase-2 and paraoxonase-3: comparison of mRNA expressions in the placentae of unexplained intrauterine growth restricted and noncomplicated pregnancies

PubMed: 27380314Objective: Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of many human diseases. It has been demonstrated that oxidative stress is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and the depletion of placental antioxidant systems has been suggested as a key factor in this disease. Our aims were to explore the possible role of antioxidant paraoxonase-2 (PON2) and paraoxonase-3 (PON3) in the pathophysiology of unexplained IUGR. Methods: We have studied the expression of mRNA for PON2, PON3 in placental tissues by using RT-qPCR. Two groups, consisting of normal (n = 18) and unexplained IUGR pregnancies (n = 20) were compared. Results: Our results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the mRNA expressions of PON2, PON3 between the two groups (p = 0.28, p = 0.90, respectively). PON2 and PON3 were down-regulated in IUGR. Antenatal steroid therapy had no effect on the expression mRNA in placentae of unexplained IUGR pregnancies compared to non-treated group. Conclusions: These results suggest that PON2, PON3 mRNA levels were not changed significantly in placentae of IUGR when compared to normal pregnant women. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Purification, characterization of phytase enzyme from Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria and determination of its kinetic properties

Phytases (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.8) catalyze the release of phosphate from phytates. Many of the cereal grains, legumes and oilseeds store phosphorus in phytate form. Phytases can be produced by plants, animals and microorganisms. However, the ones with microbial origin are the most promising for commercial uses and biotechnological applications. In this study, phytase enzyme isolation from Lactobacillus spp. ATCC strain and its characterization was carried out. Phytase production from bacterial strains was determined by zone production formed around colonies after 48 h of incubation at 30°C in MRS medium. Optimum pH and optimum temperature values of the phytase enzyme that was partially purified by precipitation of ammonium sulphate from Lactobacillus plantarum, extracellularly from bacteria put into liquid culture medium, were measured. Optimum activity of the enzyme derived from L. plantarum bacterium was at 30°C and pH 6.0. It was observed that L. plantarum's extracellular enzyme maintains its 90% of activity at 10-100°C for 120 min. Effects of certain metal ions on activity of phytase enzyme derived from L. plantarum were also investigated. Of these, CuCl2, MnCl2, CoCl2, CaCl2 and ZnCl2 decreased enzyme activity significantly. FeCl2 increased enzyme activity by 121%. Based on these results, the phytase enzyme of L. plantarum is considered suitable for use in many industrial areas, in feed and food industries in particular, due to its thermal stability and resistance to metal ions.Keywords: Purification, characterization, phytase, Lactobacillus plantarum.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(23) 2373-237

A Theoretical and practical assessment of open source development and dissemination of construction IT solutions

Many Construction IT systems do not adequately support the complex and frequently changing business processes on architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects. To improve this situation there is the immanent need for AEC researchers to explore IT development and dissemination strategies that are based on technology pull theories that allow AEC practitioners to influence the development of the IT solution before, during, and after its dissemination. One such technology pull development and dissemination strategy is Open Source. The paper shows how the Open Source model is theoretically in the position to overcome some of the inherent problems of the AEC industry with adopting and using new Construction IT solutions. The paper further analyzes a number of existing Open Source project management software projects to assess the potential to support AEC practitioners. The paper concludes with a strategy to establish an Open Source AEC community

Paratethyan-Mediterranean connectivity in the Sea of Marmara region (NW Turkey) during the Messinian

The Sea of Marmara region is thought to have been a gateway between Paratethys and the Mediterranean since the Middle Miocene, and is therefore an important control on water mass exchange between the two realms. The Miocene successions in the northeastern Aegean and northwestern Marmara regions indicate that the first Mediterranean marine transgression to affect these areas occurred during the late Serravallian. In the northeastern Aegean region, frequent marine incursions occurred during the Tortonian and Messinian stages. The Messinian stage in this area is represented by a package of brackish- to fresh-water carbonates with some marine sandstone–siltstone interbeds (Alçıtepe Formation), which conformably overlies the Tortonian Kirazlı Formation. The Messinian sequence is overlain with an erosional contact by a shallow marine siliciclastic sequence (Göztepe Formation) of Zanclean age. With its brackish- to fresh-water carbonates and broadly constrained age, the Messinian sequence is interpreted as being coeval with the Upper Evaporite–Lago Mare sequence observed in western Mediterranean basins. In the western Marmara region, the Pontian (Messinian) Alçıtepe Formation consists of bioclastic and oolitic limestones with basal clastic rocks. It conformably overlies the fluvio-lacustrine siliciclastic sediments of the Middle to Upper Miocene Kirazlı Formation and is overlain by fluvio-lacustrine sediments of the Kimmerian (5.5–3.2 Ma) Truva and Tevfikiye formations with an erosional contact. The bioclastic limestones of the Alçıtepe Formation in the western Marmara region contain a molluscan and ostracod fauna that are endemic to Paratethys. These fauna indicate deposition in a shallow, brackish- to fresh-water environment. Faunal and paleomagnetic analyses of a section of the Alçıtepe Formation at Yenimahalle (Çanakkale) confirm that the formation is of Pontian age and represents chron C3r (6.04–5.24 Ma). The ostracod analysis indicates that during deposition of the Alçıtepe Formation, salinity increased from brackish in the lower part to more saline conditions in the upper part. Ostracod valves have low <sup>87</sup>Sr / <sup>86</sup>Sr values relative to coeval Late Miocene ocean water. This indicates that exchange between the Sea of Marmara region and the global ocean was restricted throughout this period. Fossil and Sr-isotope evidence suggests, however, that there was a Paratethyan–Marmara connection during the deposition of the lower part of the Alçıtepe Formation, with Paratethyan influence reaching the north Aegean. Connection via Marmara between Paratethys and the Mediterranean was not re-established until the late Aktchagylian (Late Pliocene). The re-connection was caused by both increased activity on the North Anatolian Fault and global sea level rise

Paratethyan-Mediterranean connectivity in the Sea of Marmara region (NW Turkey) during the Messinian

The Sea of Marmara region is thought to have been a gateway between Paratethys and the Mediterranean since the Middle Miocene, and is therefore an important control on water mass exchange between the two realms. The Miocene successions in the northeastern Aegean and northwestern Marmara regions indicate that the first Mediterranean marine transgression to affect these areas occurred during the late Serravallian. In the northeastern Aegean region, frequent marine incursions occurred during the Tortonian and Messinian stages. The Messinian stage in this area is represented by a package of brackish- to fresh-water carbonates with some marine sandstone–siltstone interbeds (Alçıtepe Formation), which conformably overlies the Tortonian Kirazlı Formation. The Messinian sequence is overlain with an erosional contact by a shallow marine siliciclastic sequence (Göztepe Formation) of Zanclean age. With its brackish- to fresh-water carbonates and broadly constrained age, the Messinian sequence is interpreted as being coeval with the Upper Evaporite–Lago Mare sequence observed in western Mediterranean basins. In the western Marmara region, the Pontian (Messinian) Alçıtepe Formation consists of bioclastic and oolitic limestones with basal clastic rocks. It conformably overlies the fluvio-lacustrine siliciclastic sediments of the Middle to Upper Miocene Kirazlı Formation and is overlain by fluvio-lacustrine sediments of the Kimmerian (5.5–3.2 Ma) Truva and Tevfikiye formations with an erosional contact. The bioclastic limestones of the Alçıtepe Formation in the western Marmara region contain a molluscan and ostracod fauna that are endemic to Paratethys. These fauna indicate deposition in a shallow, brackish- to fresh-water environment. Faunal and paleomagnetic analyses of a section of the Alçıtepe Formation at Yenimahalle (Çanakkale) confirm that the formation is of Pontian age and represents chron C3r (6.04–5.24 Ma). The ostracod analysis indicates that during deposition of the Alçıtepe Formation, salinity increased from brackish in the lower part to more saline conditions in the upper part. Ostracod valves have low <sup>87</sup>Sr / <sup>86</sup>Sr values relative to coeval Late Miocene ocean water. This indicates that exchange between the Sea of Marmara region and the global ocean was restricted throughout this period. Fossil and Sr-isotope evidence suggests, however, that there was a Paratethyan–Marmara connection during the deposition of the lower part of the Alçıtepe Formation, with Paratethyan influence reaching the north Aegean. Connection via Marmara between Paratethys and the Mediterranean was not re-established until the late Aktchagylian (Late Pliocene). The re-connection was caused by both increased activity on the North Anatolian Fault and global sea level rise

Paratethyan - Mediterranean connectivity in the Sea of Marmara region (NW Turkey) during the Messinian

Geodynamics geophysics and tectonics