54 research outputs found
Growth Optimization of Lactobacillus plantarum T5jq301796.1, an Iranian Indigenous Probiotic in Lab Scale Fermenter
Background and Objective: Lactobacillus plantarum is one of the probiotics species used in functional food products. These bacteria or their purified bacteriocins are used as biological preservatives in the food industry. The first step in production of an array of probiotic products is optimizing production in fermentors. This study aimed to examine factors affecting the in vitro growth optimization of Lactobacillus plantarum T5JQ301796.1 in a lab scale fermentor.Materials and Methods: Following 24 hours of anaerobic culture of the lactobacillus at 37°C, the pre-culture was ready and was inoculated to a 5 liter fermentor at 37°C and stirred at 40 rpm. Then factors affecting lactobacillus growth including carbon and nitrogen sources and pH were studied. The results were interpreted using response surface methodology (RSM), and optimal conditions for the equipment were determined.Results and Conclusion: For optimal growth of Lactobacillus plantarum T5JQ301796.1 in lab scale fermentor, the optimal conditions were 25.96 gl-1 of glucose, 1.82% of yeast extract, pH of 7.26, and stirring at 40 rpm at optimum temperature between 37-40°C. In this condition, maximum viable cell in the batch fermentation was 1.25×1010 CFU ml-1. Application of central composite design for the growth optimization of this bacterium led to maximum viable cells equal to 1.25×1010 CFU ml-1. So the mentioned features can lead to optimum industrial scale production and usage of this probiotic strain in probiotic products.Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest
Characterization of Effective Native Lactic Acid Bacteria as Potential Oral Probiotics on Growth Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans
Background and Objective: Probiotics' effects on harmful oral bacteria have been verifed. As antibiotic resistance becomes a major problem, searching for novel potential species is important. The objective of this study was to select novel safe strains of lactic acid bacteria with potentials as oral probiotics. Furthermore, ability of these strains to suppress growth and attachment of Streptococcus mutans as the most important cariogenic bacteria in tooth decay was investigated.
Material and Methods: Initial identification tests, including Gram staining and catalase and oxidase tests, were carried out on 22 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Iranian traditional dairy products. Safety of the strains was assessed using hemolysis test and antibiotic resistance assessment. Strains were then assessed for probiotic characteristics such inhibition of Streptococcus mutans growth, tolerance to lysozyme enzymes and ability of adhesion as well as ability of decreasing Streptococcus mutans adhesion. Selected strains were identified using16S rRNA molecular method.
Results and Conclusion: Of all strains, four strains with the optimal probiotic characteristics were selected. These included one Lactobacillus brevis, one Lactobacillus casei and two Lactobacillus paraceasei. These four strains showed strong antimicrobial characteristics against Streptococcus mutans, were resistant to oral lysozyme enzymes and included high adhesion abilities to polystyrene wells. Furthermore, they decreased Streptococcus mutans attachment; thus, biofilm formation by this bacterium was prevented. These strains were recognized as safe strains since they were approved in assessments of antibiotic susceptibility and hemolytic activity. Therefore, these four strains are suggested as oral probiotics.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest
Efficiency of the Combined Chemical Precipitation -Reduction Process to Remove Dye and Chromium from Industry Wastewater of Home Appliance
Background: Industrial wastewater is one the most important pollutants of environment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the combined chemical precipitation-reduction process for removal of dye and chromium from wastewater of home appliance factories.
Methods: This experimental study was performed in laboratory scale on wastewater from the dying unit of the home appliance factory. The process used was a combination of the chemical precipitation-reduction process. Combine sampling was done and 214 samples were analyzed. COD, dye, and chromium were measured in samples. MgCl2, Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC), and FeCl3, cationic polymer and bentonite were used for chemical precipitation; and sodium meta bi sulfite was used for chemical reduction. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey tests and by SPSS 16 software.
Results: The results show that PAC had the highest color removal efficiency (90.92%). Also, the highest COD removal was related to the combination of magnesium chloride (1.4 mg/l), poly aluminum chloride (0.6 mg/l), and the coagulant aid cationic polymer (0.4 mg/l) with an efficiency of 89.11%. Moreover, total efficiency of the combined chemical precipitation and reduction process in chromium removal was 94%.
Conclusion: The chemical precipitation- reduction process as a pre-treatment method has high efficiency in removal of COD, dye and chrome from wastewater of home appliance factories
Role of volatiles in antifungal activity of a <em>Lactobacillus paracasei</em> against <em>Penicillium</em> strains
Organizational Climate of the COVID-19 Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study
Introduction: To manage the psychological consequences of providing services in the COVID-19 intensive care units (ICUs), it is necessary to identify the experience of nurses from the organizational climate. The current study was conducted to explain the nurses’ experience of the organizational climate of the COVID-19 ICUs. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in three teaching hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. 17 individual and semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses working in three selected COVID-19 centers were included in the data analysis. The participants were selected by purposive sampling and interviewed in one or more sessions at a suitable time and place. Interviews lasted for 45 to 90 minutes and continued with conventional content analysis until data saturation. Data analysis was done using conventional content analysis of Graham and Leideman model. Guba and Lincoln criteria (including validity, transferability, consistency, and reliability) were used to ensure reliability and accuracy. Results: The results of data analysis were classified into 82 primary concept codes and 10 sub-categories in the form of 3 categories: "positive climate of attachment and professional commitment", "emotional resonance in the work environment" and "supportive environment of the organization". Conclusion: This study led to the identification of nurses’ experiences of the organizational climate during the COVID-19 which provides appropriate information to nursing managers to create a favorable organizational climate and increase the quality of work-life of nurses
The Efficiency of Peroxone Process in Packed Reactor for Removal of Anionic Surfactants and COD from Carwash Wastewater
Background: Carwash is an industry that consumes large amounts of water and its wastewater contains a variety of pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the Peroxone process as a method for wastewater treatment of carwashes.
Methods: This study was conducted at laboratory scale. A total of 54 samples were collected from a carwash in Yazd city and COD and anionic surfactants removal percentages were respectively determined by using the standard vial and anionic surfactants method and Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS). The process was conducted with an ozone dose of 0.7 mg per min, H2O2 concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 mmol per liter, reaction times of 30, 60 and 90 min and pH of 7, 9 and 11 in a cylindrical reactor respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and through SPSS 18.
Results: The removal efficiencies of COD and anionic surfactants increased with increasing pH and reaction time; so that, at pH =11 and after a reaction time of 90 minutes for an ozone dose of 0.7 mg/min and H2O2 concentration of 40 mmol/l, removal efficiency of COD and anionic surfactants were respectively 74.77% and 74.27%.
Conclusion: The peroxone process has a good ability for removal of COD and anionic surfactants. Similar studies confirm the findings of this study. Meanwhile, pretreatment methods are recommended for further evaluation of this process
Probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum) increase bone mass density and upregulate sparc and Bmp-2 genes in rats with bone loss resulting from ovariectomy
Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host, when administered in adequate amounts. Mostly, probiotics affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the host and alter the composition of gut microbiota. Nowadays, the incidence of hip fractures due to osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats have fragile bone due to estrogen deficiency and mimic the menopausal conditions in women. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) on bone mass density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone remodeling, bone structure, and gene expression in OVX rats. The rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (sham, OVX, and the OVX group supplemented with 1 mL of B. longum 108–109 colony forming units (CFU)/mL). B. longum was given once daily for 16 weeks, starting from 2 weeks after the surgery. The B. longum supplementation increased (p < 0.05) serum osteocalcin (OC) and osteoblasts, bone formation parameters, and decreased serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and osteoclasts, bone resorption parameters. It also altered the microstructure of the femur. Consequently, it increased BMD by increasing (p < 0.05) the expression of Sparc and Bmp-2 genes. B. longum alleviated bone loss in OVX rats and enhanced BMD by decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone formation
Potential natural products against respiratory viruses : a perspective to develop anti-COVID-19 medicines
The emergence of viral pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV), known as the 2019
novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), resulted in a contagious acute respiratory infectious disease
in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Its alarmingly quick transmission to
many countries across the world and a considerable percentage of morbidity and mortality
made the World Health Organization recognize it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The
perceived risk of infection has led many research groups to study COVID-19 from different
aspects. In this literature review, the phylogenetics and taxonomy of COVID-19 coronavirus,
epidemiology, and respiratory viruses similar to COVID-19 and their mode of action are
documented in an approach to understand the behavior of the current virus. Moreover, we
suggest targeting the receptors of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 such as ACE2 and other
proteins including 3CLpro and PLpro for improving antiviral activity and immune response
against COVID-19 disease. Additionally, since phytochemicals play an essential role in
complementary therapies for viral infections, we summarized different bioactive natural
products against the mentioned respiratory viruses with a focus on influenza A, SARS-CoV,
MERS, and COVID-19.Based on current literature, 130 compounds have antiviral potential,
and of these, 94 metabolites demonstrated bioactivity against coronaviruses. Interestingly,
these are classified in different groups of natural products, including alkaloids, flavonoids,
terpenoids, and others. Most of these compounds comprise flavonoid skeletons. Based on
our survey, xanthoangelol E (88), isolated from Angelica keiskei (Miq.) Koidz showed
inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV PLpro with the best IC50 value of 1.2 μM. Additionally, hispidulin (3), quercetin (6), rutin (8), saikosaponin D (36), glycyrrhizin (47),
and hesperetin (55) had remarkable antiviral potential against different viral infections.Among
these compounds, quercetin (6) exhibited antiviral activities against influenza A, SARS-CoV,
and COVID-19 and this seems to be a highly promising compound. In addition, our report
discusses the obstacles and future perspectives to highlight the importance of developing
screening programs to investigate potential natural medicines against COVID-19.http://www.frontiersin.org/Physicsam2022Paraclinical Science
Experimental validation and computational modeling of anti-influenza effects of quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside from indigenous south African medicinal plant Rapanea melanophloeos
BACKGROUND : Influenza A virus (IAV) is still a major health threat. The clinical manifestations of this infection are
related to immune dysregulation, which causes morbidity and mortality. The usage of traditional medication with
immunomodulatory properties against influenza infection has been increased recently. Our previous study showed
antiviral activity of quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q3R) isolated from Rapanea melanophloeos (RM) (L.) Mez
(family Myrsinaceae) against H1N1 (A/PR/8/34) infection. This study aimed to confirm the wider range of
immunomodulatory effect of Q3R on selective pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines against IAV in vitro, to evaluate
the effect of Q3R on apoptosis pathway in combination with H1N1, also to assess the physical interaction of Q3R
with virus glycoproteins and RhoA protein using computational docking.
METHODS : MDCK cells were exposed to Q3R and 100CCID50/100 μl of H1N1 in combined treatments (co-, pre- and
post-penetration treatments). The treatments were tested for the cytokines evaluation at RNA and protein levels by
qPCR and ELISA, respectively. In another set of treatment, apoptosis was examined by detecting RhoA GTPase
protein and caspase-3 activity. Molecular docking was used as a tool for evaluation of the potential anti-influenza
activity of Q3R.
RESULTS : The expressions of cytokines in both genome and protein levels were significantly affected by Q3R
treatment. It was shown that Q3R was much more effective against influenza when it was applied in co-penetration
treatment. Q3R in combination with H1N1 increased caspase-3 activity while decreasing RhoA activation. The
molecular docking results showed strong binding ability of Q3R with M2 transmembrane, Neuraminidase of 2009 pandemic H1N1, N1 and H1 of PR/8/1934 and Human RhoA proteins, with docking energy of − 10.81, − 10.47, − 9.52,
− 9.24 and − 8.78 Kcal/mol, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS : Quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside from RM was significantly effective against influenza infection by
immunomodulatory properties, affecting the apoptosis pathway and binding ability to viral receptors M2
transmembrane and Neuraminidase of 2009 pandemic H1N1 and human RhoA cellular protein. Further research
will focus on detecting the detailed specific mechanism of Q3R in virus-host interactions.The National Research Foundation, South Africahttps://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.comam2020Paraclinical SciencesVeterinary Tropical Disease
- …