Bacillus Strains as an Effective Treatment of Mobile Forms of Phosphorus in Bulgarian Soils

Strains of genusBacillushave the potential to increase the availability of phosphorus to plants by the dissolution of inorganic phosphate, which favours the growth of plant species and that has an important economic and agricultural impact. Soils with low phosphate intensity (Lеаched chernozem) were enriched with poorly soluble phosphorus compounds and inoculated with the tested newly isolated strains from genusBacillus(Bacillus subtilisT 2,Bacillus amyloliquefaciensT 3,Bacillus subtilisT 4,Bacillus subtilisT 10,Bacillus thuringiensisT 17 andBacillus cereusТ 18). Six newly isolated strains from different regions in Bulgaria were identified by classical phenotypic techniques and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Tested strains were inoculated (2 ml and 15 ml) in the soil and incubated for 25 days at 28oC. After the incubation period, the degradation of phosphorite flour to available phosphorus was examined by the classical method of Egner-Riehm and by extraction with CaCl2. A vegetation experiment was conducted with a test plant Pelargonium zonale, characterized by its ability to absorb large amounts of phosphorus. A peat substrate enriched with all macro-and microelements was used, and phosphorus was added to the medium in the form of phosphorite flour. The amounts of phosphorus absorbed by one plant Pelargonium zonale treated with newly isolated strains Bacillus subtilis T 10 and Bacillus cereus T 18 absorbed 23%25 more phosphorus than the control variant. As a result of the experiments, it was found that the studied strains have a positive impact on the increase of phosphorus mobility in soils with low phosphate intensity treated with hardly degradable phosphors

Botulinum neurotoxin - Biochemical aspects and mechanism of action (Review)

Ботулиновият невротоксин (BoNT) е една от най-силните биологични субстанции, познати на човечеството. Продуцира се от спорообразуващи анаеробни бактерии Clostridium botulinum, които причиняват заболяването ботулизъм. BoNT блокира освобождаването на невротрансмитера ацетилхолин, провеждащ нервните импулси до мускулните влакна. По този начин токсинът косвено предизвиква мускулна парализа. Тази негова животозастрашаваща способност обаче се оказва изключително ефективна при терапия на редица заболявания, свързани с абнормна хиперактивация на мускули и жлези, естетически корекции на глаберални бръчки и други.Известни са девет серотипа на BoNT, наименовани с латинските букви от А-Н (BoNT-C е разделен на два типа), като типовете А, B, E и F причиняват ботулизъм при човека. Според някои автори са изследвани и изолати от хора, съдържащи BoNT-G.Изследват се и редица нови направления в медицинската практика, където BoNT може да се приложи ефективно - детска церебрална парализа, хронични анални фисури, урологични смущения и други.Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most poisonous biological substances known to mankind. The toxin is produced by spore-forming anaerobic bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism.BoNT blocks acetylcholine release - the principal neurotransmitter of the nerve impulses to muscle fibers. This indirectly causes muscle paralysis. This life-threatening ability, however, turns out to be extremely effective in the therapy of a number of diseases associated with hyperactivation of the muscles and glands, aesthetic corrections of glabellar wrinkles and others.There are nine serotypes of BoNT, named with the Latin letters from A to H (BoNT-C is separated into two types), as types A, B, E and F cause botulism in humans. According to some authors there are human isolates containing BoNT-G too.A number of new directions in the medical practice - cerebral palsy, chronic anal fissures, urological disorders and others - are currently under study for successful application of BoNT

From Traditional Bulgarian Dairy Products to Functional Foods

Production of the traditional yoghurt, white-brined cheese, and yellow cheese, named “kashkaval”, in the Bulgarian region determines everyday consumption and health benefits for the local population. Аrtisanal dairy products and their autochthonous microbiota are a promising source for the research and creation of new minimally treated, but safe, functional and delicious food. The species from Lactobacillaceae are used in different fermentation technologies, improving the structure, taste, and aroma of the final products. These products possess a prolonged shelf life due to the biopreservative capabilities of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, their positive health impact, and many physiological functions in the body. This chapter examines the traditional and modern technologies for the production of typical Bulgarian dairy products. Based on the studies of artisanal products, different LAB species from non-starter microbiota are presented, which contribute to the organoleptic qualities of the products and their beneficial properties. The research focus is aimed at the evaluation of various functional characteristics of non-starter strains, such as metabolic activity and food biopreservation. The long-term goal is to study the tradition to create new functional formulas that are the desired and effective factors for health and longevity

INFLUENCE OF THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION ON SOME BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THREE STREPTOMYCETES STRAINS, PRODUCERS OF ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES

The influence of long-term preservation in lyophilized state on the survival, the morphology and antibiotic activity of three streptomycetes strains Streptomyces galbus (F) subsp. achromogenes 695, Str. albogriseolus 444 and Streptomyces sp. T-741 was studied. It was established that viability of the strains depended not only on the conditions of lyophilization but also on the physiological state and strain features of the cultures. The spores of the strain 695, 444 and T-741 remained viable 13, 21 and 8 years respectively. At the same time an increase of the polymorphism of the strains 695 and 444 and appearance of new morphological types was observed. The method of lyophilization was suitable also for long-term storage of antibiotic activity of the three strains. The activity was retained to 80-90% from initial one

INFLUENCE OF THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION ON SOME BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THREE STREPTOMYCETES STRAINS, PRODUCERS OF ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES

The influence of long-term preservation in lyophilized state on the survival, the morphology and antibiotic activity of three streptomycetes strains Streptomyces galbus (F) subsp. achromogenes 695, Str. albogriseolus 444 and Streptomyces sp. T-741 was studied. It was established that viability of the strains depended not only on the conditions of lyophilization but also on the physiological state and strain features of the cultures. The spores of the strain 695, 444 and T-741 remained viable 13, 21 and 8 years respectively. At the same time an increase of the polymorphism of the strains 695 and 444 and appearance of new morphological types was observed. The method of lyophilization was suitable also for long-term storage of antibiotic activity of the three strains. The activity was retained to 80-90% from initial one

Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Potential, Antimicrobial Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Dry Extract from <i>Rosa damascena</i> Mill

Dry rose extract (DRE) obtained industrially by aqueous ethanol extraction from R. damascena flowers and its phenolic-enriched fraction, obtained by re-extraction with ethyl acetate (EAE) were the subject of this study. 1H NMR of DRE allowed the identification and quantitation of fructose and glucose, while the combined use of HPLC-DAD-ESIMS and HPLC-HRMS showed the presence of 14 kaempferol glycosides, 12 quercetin glycosides, 4 phenolic acids and their esters, 4 galloyl glycosides, 7 ellagitannins, and quinic acid. In addition, the structures of 13 of the flavonoid glycosides were further confirmed by NMR. EAE was found to be richer in TPC and TFC and showed better antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) compared to DRE. Both extracts displayed significant activity against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis, but showed no activity against Candida albicans. Toxicity tests on normal human skin fibroblasts revealed low toxicity for both extracts with stronger effects observed at 24 hours of treatment that were compensated for over the following two days. Human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells exhibited an opposite response after treatment with a concentration above 350 µg/mL for EAE and 500 µg/mL for DRE, showing increased toxicity after the third day of treatment. Lower concentrations were non-toxic and did not significantly affect the cell cycle parameters of either of the cell lines