Bacillus Spp. isolated from the conjunctiva and their potential antimicrobial activity against other eye pathogens

Background: In this study, we attempted to screen and investigate antibacterial activity of Bacillus species, which were isolated from conjunctiva, against other eyes pathogens.Methods: To examine predominant isolates of Bacillus subtilis, B. pumilus, B. cereus and B. mojevensis, isolated from conjunctiva for their antimicrobial activity against indicator microorganisms as Micrococcus luteus, Staphyloccocus aureus, S. epidermidis, S.hominis, S. lugdunensis, S.warneri, S. haemolyticus, B. cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Proteus mirabilis. Growth inhibitions of indicator microorganisms were tested using agar diffusion tests by cells and supernatants of five B. mojevensis, one B. subtilis, four B. cereus and five B. pumilus strains which were isolated from conjunctiva.Results:The Bacillus isolates showed variable ability of inhibition against the tested microorganisms. Two strains of B. pumillus, 1 strain of B. subtilis, 5 strains of B. mojevensis, 1 strain of B. cereus were efficacious against the tested microorganisms. Most resistant microorganism to these bacteria was Proteus mirabilis. Two of Gram positive bacteria, S. lugdenensis (K15-9) and S. aureus (SDA48), were also found as resistant.Conclusions: In this study, Bacillus spp isolated from conjunctiva showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Human eye-derived microorganisms and their antimicrobial effects might be a useful source of natural products for the future.Keywords: Bacillus spp, antibacterial activity, eyes pathogens, conjunctiva

Preliminary characterization of Rhizobium strains isolated from chickpea nodules

A total of 28 Rhizobium strains from chickpea nodules were characterized on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. Most strains produced abundant extracellular polysaccharides, were tolerant to 0.5 M NaCI (53%) and a temperature of 40oC (75%). The majority of the strains showed an intrinsic resistance to the antibiotics (ìg ml-1) streptomycin (100), kanamycin (50), erytromycin (30), chloramphenicol (200) and penicilin (25). In vitro antibiosis assays indicated that Rhizobium strains from chickpea nodules exercised an antagonism against Ascocyhta rabiei the agent of ascocyhta blight disease of chickpea

Isolation of gallic acid-producing microorganisms and their use in the production of gallic acid from gall nuts and sumac

A total number of eighty gallic acid producing strains were isolated from forest soil or plant samples. Among these strains, thirteen isolates were selected for gallic acid production and these isolates were Aspergillus niger 1, A. niger 2, A. niger 3, Penicillium canescens (3), P. frequentans (2), P. spinulosum (2), P. purpurogenum (2), and P. zacinthae. By using eight of these strains and reference strain of A. niger NRRL 321, the production of gallic acid from oak tree (Quercus infectoria) gall nuts or sumac (Rhus coriaria) leaves were investigated. Maximum gallic acid yields from gall nuts were obtained for A. niger 3 (91.3%) and P. spinulosum (93.2%). In the case of sumac leaves, the reference strain A. niger NRRL 321 (46.1%) and P. zacinthae (48.2%) gave the highest gallic acid yields. To date, this study is the first report on production of gallic acid by these newly isolated Penicillium strains. Particularly, A. niger 3, P. spinulosum, P. purpurogenum and P. canescens may be used not only for gallic acid but also tannase production from tannin rich plant materials such as gall nuts. Their high yields and shortincubation periods are also remarkable

Хромоколоноскопия как метод улучшения эндоскопического изображения

КОЛОНОСКОПИЯЭНДОСКОПИЯхромоскопияПОЛИПЫМЕТИЛЕНОВЫЙ СИНИ

MCT1-mediated transport of a toxic molecule is an effective strategy for targeting glycolytic tumors

There is increasing evidence that oncogenic transformation modifies the metabolic program of cells. A common alteration is the upregulation of glycolysis, and efforts to target glycolytic enzymes for anticancer therapy are under way. Here, we performed a genome-wide haploid genetic screen to identify resistance mechanisms to 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA), a drug candidate that inhibits glycolysis in a poorly understood fashion. We identified the SLC16A1 gene product, MCT1, as the main determinant of 3-BrPA sensitivity. MCT1 is necessary and sufficient for 3-BrPA uptake by cancer cells. Additionally, SLC16A1 mRNA levels are the best predictor of 3-BrPA sensitivity and are most elevated in glycolytic cancer cells. Furthermore, forced MCT1 expression in 3-BrPA–resistant cancer cells sensitizes tumor xenografts to 3-BrPA treatment in vivo. Our results identify a potential biomarker for 3-BrPA sensitivity and provide proof of concept that the selectivity of cancer-expressed transporters can be exploited for delivering toxic molecules to tumors.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH CA103866)Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research (Fellowship)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Fellowship)Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Investigator

A Framework for Evaluating the Data-Hiding Capacity of Image Sources

An information-theoretic model for image watermarking and data hiding is presented in this paper. Recent theoretical results are used to characterize the fundamental capacity limits of image watermarking and data-hiding systems. Capacity is determined by the statistical model used for the host image, by the distortion constraints on the data hider and the attacker, and by the information available to the data hider, to the attacker, and to the decoder. We consider autoregressive, block-DCT and wavelet statistical models for images and compute datahiding capacity for compressed and uncompressed host-image sources. Closed-form expressions are obtained under sparse-model approximations. Models for geometric attacks and distortion measures that are invariant to such attacks are considered

Spatially Adaptive Statistical Modeling Of Wavelet Image Coefficients And Its Application To Denoising

This paper deals with the application to denoising of a very simple but effective "local" spatially adaptive statistical model for the wavelet image representation that was recently introduced successfully in a compression context [1]. Motivated by the intimate connection between compression and denoising [2, 3, 4], this paper explores the significant role of the underlying statistical wavelet image model. The model used here, a simplified version of the one in [1], is that of a mixture process of independent component fields having a zero-mean Gaussian distribution with unknown variances oe 2 s that are slowly spatially-varying with the wavelet coefficient location s. We propose to use this model for image denoising by initially estimating the underlying variance field using a Maximum Likelihood (ML) rule and then applying the Minimum Mean Squared error (MMSE) estimation procedure. In the process of variance estimation, we assume that the variance field is "locally" smooth to allow ..

Certifying Authenticity via Fiber-Infused Paper

A certificate of authenticity (COA) is an inexpensive physical object that has a random unique structure with high cost of near-exact reproduction. An additional requirement is that the uniqueness of COA’s random structure can be verified using an inexpensive device. Bauder was the first to propose COAs created as a randomized augmentation of a set of fibers into a transparent gluing material that randomly fixes once for all the position of the fibers within. In this paper, we propose a novel system for automated verification of fiber-based COAs and outline the key challenges in enabling high cost-efficiency of such a system. The key features of the new COA scanner are simplicity, reliability, lack of any moving components, and the ability to accurately identify exact positions of individual fibers infused in COA’s containing paper. The latter feature significantly increases the forging cost compared to trivial implementations of a COA scanner

The reversed-flow temporoparietal fascial flap

PubMedID: 9145146A patient is reported whose forehead soft-tissue defect was reconstructed by a reversed-flow temporoparietal fascial flap. This procedure can shorten the operating time. The blood circulation of the flap is satisfactory. The only drawback is the resulting scar of the skin-grafted area