Nickel Release and the Viability of Streptococcus mutans Corresponding to Low Risk of Dental Caries in Artificial Saliva Containing Orthodontic Appliances: In Vitro Study

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the effect of different levels of Streptococcus mutans that correspond to a low risk of dental caries on nickel release and to determine the viability of S. mutans.Methods: Simulated fixed orthodontic appliances composed of copper nickel titanium, nickel titanium, or stainless steel were immersed in Klimek artificial saliva for 10 days with or without S. mutans inoculation on day 7. Same levels of S. mutans cultures (4 × 104 cfu/mL) were inoculated into the artificial saliva without orthodontic appliances. Nickel release was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The archwire surface was analyzed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Results: The density of S. mutans significantly increased in the artificial saliva without orthodontic appliances (P < .05). Appliances with nickel titanium alloys showed higher nickel release in the artificial saliva with or without S. mutans than those with copper nickel titanium or stainless steel archwires (P < .05). However, S. mutans increased nickel release only in orthodontic appliances with stainless steel archwires (P < .05). Although atomic force microscopy showed that the surface of as-received stainless steel archwires was smoother than that of nickel titanium or nickel titanium archwires, S. mutans increased the surface roughness of only the SS archwires. S. mutans adhered to all archwire types.Conclusion: While corrosion or corrosion-related processes may have decreased the growth capacity of S. mutans, reciprocally, S. mutans influenced corrosion. Rough surfaces can also promote corrosion; therefore, the surface roughness of metal alloy orthodontic appliances should be evaluated to determine their corrosion behavior

Characterisation of a thermostable and proteolysis resistant phytase fromPenicillium polonicumMF82 associated with the marine spongePhorbassp.

WOS: 000549499600001Phytases are widely used in human and animal nutrition, aquaculture, soil amendment, and in the production of lower myo-inositol phosphates for clinical purposes. Some of these applications, especially feed industry require robust enzymes. Since the marine environments are less studied compared to terrestrial environments, we evaluated the extracellular phytase activity of 110 marine derived filamentous fungal (MDFF) strains previously isolated from sponge and sediment samples of the Turkey. MDFF strains were qualitatively screened for their extracellular phytase activities andP. polonicumMF82 phytase was further characterized following partial purification. Optimum pH and temperature were determined as 5.5 and 60 degrees C respectively. A significant relative phytase activity was observed in the presence of urea and acetone. However, there was no phytase activity followed by the treatment with Triton X-100 and Tween 80. Characterization studies revealed thatP. polonicumMF82 phytase has superior properties for industrial use including wide pH and temperature range for activity, high optimum activity temperature, high thermal and pH stability, resistance to many enzyme inhibitors including various heavy metals, denaturants, detergents, proteases and organic solvents. Phytase extracellularly produced byP. polonicumMF82 strain presents a good candidate for commercial applications. This study demonstrates that the MDFF strains are prolific sources for phytase and presents the first report about the production and characterization of the phytase from a marine-derivedP. polonicumstrain.Ege University Scientific Projects FoundationsEge University [14-Fen-004]; Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK); TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [112T047]We gratefully acknowledge the support for this research by the Ege University Scientific Projects Foundations, Project No; 14-Fen-004.; This work was also supported in part by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) by providing scholarship to S. Orcun Kalkan with the 2211-C programme and Elif Bozcal was a scholar provided by TUBITAK research fund (Project No: 112T047)

PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY OF MEDITERRANEAN SPONGE MICROBIOME USING DENATURING GRADIENT GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

WOS: 000501936600043It has been known that most of the microorganisms that constitute microbial diversity in marine environments have symbiotic relationship with sponges. Metagenomics methods in which the genetic material of the microorganism is used due to the inadequacy of conventional cultivation techniques exposing this diversity took an important place in the recent years. in this study, microbial diversity of four sponge samples; Agelas oroides, Ciocalypta carballoi, Petrosia ficiformis and Sarcotragus foetidus collected from Mediterranean Sea has been analyzed by metagenomics approaches. By using PCR-DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis), a total of 34 16S rDNA-V3 and 10 of ITS1 bands were isolated, sequenced and BLAST analyses were performed to identify the nearest sequence match. According to the results, the bacterial diversity of the four sponges was higher than the fungal diversity. Most common Proteobacteria phylum members were identified in all four sponge samples. This is the first report on the identification of uncultured Roseospirillum sp. from A. oroides, lichen-forming terrestrial uncultured Trichopezizella relicina from P. ficiformis, terrestrial uncultured Cellulomonas sp. and Actinobacterium from C. carballoi. Fungal diversity was determined only in A. oroides and P. ficiformis. Fungal sequences obtained from A. oroides, were found highly similar to uncultured fungal sequences from marine sediment.Scientific Research Foundation of Ege UniversityEge University [15 FBE 010]This study was financially supported by the Scientific Research Foundation of Ege University (Project no. 15 FBE 010). the authors would like to thank Prof. Guven Ozdemir (Department of Biology at Ege University) for their support in DGGE applications

Bacterial cellulose based facial mask with antioxidant property and high moisturizing capacity

Bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by certain bacteria has the potential to be used in many different areas. Despite its advantageous properties compared to plant cellulose, such as high purity, mechanical strength, nanofiber mesh structure, and high-water holding capacity, its production through a biotechnological process prevents it from competing with plant counterparts in terms of cost-effectiveness. Therefore, studies have focused on the development of culture media with cost-effective BC production methods and the production of high value-added products from BC. In this study, it was aimed to develop a taurine-loaded moisturizing facial mask with antioxidant properties based on BC's high-water retention and chemical retention capacity. BC facial mask samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (LC-MS), microbial and mechanical stability tests, as well as cytotoxicity tests. According to our results, produced facial mask samples did not show any cytotoxic effect on human keratinocyte (HS2) or mouse fibroblast (L-929) cell lines; it has high thermal stability, which makes it suitable for different sterilization techniques including sterilization by heat treatment. Taurine release (over 2 mu g/mL in 5 min) and microbial stability tests (no bacterial growth observed) of packaged products kept at 40 and 25 degrees C for 6 months have shown that the product preserves its characteristics for a long time. In conclusion bacterial cellulose-based facial masks are suitable for use as a facial mask, and they can be used for moisturizing and antioxidant properties by means of taurine.Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Industry and Technology [0198-STZ-2013-1]; Ege University Science and Technology Center [2014/BIL/015]; BioRed Laboratory Products Company [0198-STZ-2013-1]Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Industry and Technology and BioRed Laboratory Products Company (0198-STZ-2013-1); Ege University Science and Technology Center (2014/BIL/015)