Biological activities of Liquidambar orientalis: antibiofilm, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and miRNA expressions

Due to its strong biological, pharmacological, and medical activities and rich chemical content, Liquidambar orientalis, known for its resinous exudate storax, has a widespread and well-established ethnopharmacological use. Although it is known that storax has anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, wound-healing and other ethnomedicinal properties, the number of existing scientific studies is very limited. In this context, the aims of this study were to determine the antibiofilm activity of storax and its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in A549 lung cancer cells. In addition, with this study, it is also possible to make a very comprehensive biological evaluation by determining the effect of storax on certain microRNA expressions. According to our results, L. orientalis storax decreases cell proliferation in A549 lung cancer cells and the IC50 value was determined at 31.5 μg/mL at 24h. Storax also induces apoptosis via upregulating CASP3, 8, 9, and Bax gene expression and downregulating Bcl-2 expressions in A549 cells. Furthermore, storax decreases the expression of miR-146a, miR-21, and miR-223, while increasing the expression of miR-155. Storax inhibits biofilm formation and reduces the preformed biofilm of microbial strains including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 33862), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Candida albicans (ATCC 64548). The results suggest that storax has strong cytotoxic, apoptotic and antibiofilm properties and thus promising potential in medicine

Evaluation of the bacterial diversity and current travertine strength of Kaklik cave in Honaz, Denizli, Türkiye

In this study, the current travertine strength and bacterial diversity of Kakl ; imath;k Cave was analyzed in Honaz, T ; uuml;rkiye. In this context, on-site strength tests were carried out using a needle penetrometer testing device and the samples were taken from each needle penetration test point for microorganism analyses. Overall, a total of 22 phyla were detected, and the Kakl ; imath;k Cave displayed the highest abundance of Proteobacteria (78.60%), Actinobacteria (71.60%), Cyanobacteria (72.40%) and Bacteriodetes (11.10%). The relative abundance of archaeal was dominated by Euryarchaeota (24.70%), while the archaeal community exhibited a low abundance of Thaumarchaeota (1.40%). According to the mechanical parameters of current travertine deposition, the travertine deposits on slope surfaces of terraces (ATA2), the side wall of the cave (ATA6) and the terraced pool (ATA1) had high strength values. Also, the calcite composition of these travertines was verified by FESEM analysis. A total of 22, 31 and 33 families were characterized in ATA2, ATA1, and ATA6, respectively. Current travertine deposition on the ceiling environment (ATA3, ATA4 and ATA5) has the lowest strength and, the anhydrite (CaSO4) and bassanite (CaSO4.1/2H2O) were detected in these travertines. The relative abundance of the Proteobacteria phylum in the high-strength and calcite-containing samples was 67.20%, 78.60% and 49.90% respectively. The microbial effect on the strength of these samples was clearly visible. Because the Proteobacteria phylum was absent from other samples containing calcium sulfate. This result can be interpreted the contribution of this phylum members to travertine strength and calcite mineralization, but further research needs to be done.Pamukkale University BAP [2021FEBE068]This study was supported by the Pamukkale University BAP (Project number: 2021FEBE068)

Characterization of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) produced by thermal bacillus and determination of environmental conditions affecting exopolysaccharide production

In this study, the neutral monosaccharide composition of the Extracellular Polysaccharide (EPS), extracted from thermal Bacillus, was determined by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Our analysis indicated that the EPS consisted of rhamnose, mannose, galactose, glucose, fructose, arabinose and xylose. In addition to the neutral sugars in the EPS, it also contained 230 mg protein/g EPS and 17.18 mg uronic acid /g EPS. The X-ray diffraction data indicated mainly of amorphous nature (80 %) and the presence of chitin, chitosan, protein and calcite. Thermogravimetric analysis curve showed that degradation of EPS takes place in three steps (13.38% at 180 °C. 45.62% at 180-500 °C, 25.55% at > 500 °C) indicating moisture content and high content of carboxyl group, pyrolysis temperature and decomposition of calcite crystals, respectively. Additionally, laboratory batch experiments were performed characterize the effects of different natural organic acids, pH levels, temperatures and Cr(VI) concentrations on microbial EPS production by Bacillus licheniformis B22. Our results indicate that organic acids caused enhanced EPS release. Alginic acid was the most efficient organic acid at EPS production in B. licheniformis B22. The optimum pH level was 6.0-7.0 and the highest EPS production was observed at 50 °C for B. licheniformis B22. In addition, EPS production increased with increased chromium in the growth medium due to the toxic effect of Cr(VI) on cells. Maximum EPS production was observed when 150 mg/L Cr(VI) was added to the medium. © 2015, University of Tehran. All rights reserved

INFLUENCE OF CALCIUM SOURCES ON MINERALIZATION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE BY PAENIBACILLUS FAVISPORUS U3

In this study, the effect of different calcium sources on calcium carbonate deposition by the ureolytic Paenibacillus favisporus U3 was investigated. Calcium lactate, calcium nitrate, and calcium chloride were used as organic and inorganic calcium sources. In addition, the activity of urease and carbonic anhydrase enzymes required for calcium carbonate mineralization by U3 was determined Results showed that the highest amount of CaCO3 was reached at 1000mM CaCl2 concentration. Enzyme activity studies proved that U3 contains urease and carbonic anhydrase enzymes. Also, calcite and vaterite fowls of calcium carbonate were produced by the U3 strain. The calcite and vaterite crystals of calcium carbonate were verified by XRD, XRF, CRS, EPMA, and FESEM-EDX, Lastly, P. favisporus U3 can precipitate large amounts of calcium carbonate by tolerating high CaCl2 concentration, demonstrating its potential for use in soils with high calcium chloride concentrations.Scientific Research Council of Pamukkale University [2016FEBE053]This study was supported by the Scientific Research Council of Pamukkale University (research grant 2016FEBE053)