Contamination levels of toxic metals in selected traditional plants incense (gum).

Gums are polysaccharides, proteins, and minerals that occur naturally in seed coverings and as exudative resinous substance from woody plants. It is reported to have antibacterial, anticancer, blood sugar regulation, and immune system boosting properties. However, the presence of toxic metals in gum is caused for caution as these metals can be harmful if taken in high quantities.

Screening for chitin degrading bacteria in the environment of Saudi Arabia and characterization of the most potent chitinase from Streptomyces variabilis Am1.

Forty-six promising chitinolytic isolates were recovered during a screening for chitinolytic bacteria in the environment of Saudi Arabia. The top three isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces. Streptomyces variabilis Am1 was able to excrete the highest amount of chitinases, reaching the maximum at 84 h with 0.

A putative cytotoxic serine protease from Salmonella typhimurium UcB5 recovered from undercooked burger.

A putative virulence exoprotease designated as UcB5 was successfully purified from the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium to the electrophoretic homogeneity with 13.2-fold and 17.1% recovery by hydrophobic, ion-exchange, and gel permeation chromatography using Phenyl-Sepharose 6FF, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, and Sephadex G-75, respectively.