Antibacterial and anticancer activities of three novel lectin-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to synthesize, characterize, and determine the antibacterial and anticancer effects of three novel conjugates of plant lectins: phytohemagglutinin lectin (PHA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and peanut agglutinin (PNA) with chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs). The lectin concentration within prepared conjugates was estimated using nannodrop, and the highest concentration was 0.96 mg/ml in PHA-CHNPs.

Statistical factorial designs for optimum production of thermostable α-amylase by the degradative bacterium Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius Pharon1 isolated from Sinai, Egypt.

Background: This study aimed to isolate potent thermophilic and amylolytic bacteria from a hot spring of Pharaoh's bath, Sinai, Egypt, and screen its degradative activity. The amylolytic activity was further optimized using a statistical full factorial design followed by response surface methodology.

Results: A thermophilic bacterium was isolated from the hot spring of Pharaoh's Bath, Sinai, Egypt.

Assessment of exopolysaccharides, bacteriocins and in vitro and in vivo hypocholesterolemic potential of some Egyptian Lactobacillus spp.

Lactobacilli probiotics have been suggested to reduce cholesterol with low side effects to host. Bacteriocins and exopolysaccharides (EPSs) production are two meaningful examples of functional applications of lactobacilli in the food industry. Eight Lactobacillus strains were isolated from some Egyptian fermented food and tested for their probiotic properties.

Response surface methodology-mediated improvement of the irradiated endophytic fungal strain, Alternaria brassicae AGF041 for Huperzine A-hyperproduction.

Huperzine A (HupA) is an anti-Alzheimer's therapeutic and a dietary supplement for memory boosting that is extracted mainly from Huperziacae plants. Endophytes represent the upcoming refuge to protect the plant resource from distinction but their HupA yield is still far from commercialization. In this context, UV and gamma radiation mutagenesis of the newly isolated HupA-producing Alternaria brassicae AGF041 would be applied in this study for improving the endophytic HupA yield.

Characterization and antimicrobial activity of lectins purified from three Egyptian leguminous seeds.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that play vital roles in many biological processes. In this study, lectins from three Egyptian cultivars (fava bean, lentil, and pea) were isolated by precipitation with different concentrations of ammonium sulfate. The purification process was performed by affinity chromatography using mannose agarose.

Optimizing the Reduction of Molybdate by Two Novel Thermophilic Bacilli Isolated from Sinai, Egypt.

The aim of this study was to isolate thermophilic bacteria to be used in in situ bioremediation of molybdate at elevated temperatures. Two molybdate reducing bacteria (Pharon2 and Pharon3) were isolated from the hot Spring at Pharaoh's Bath, Sinai, Egypt. The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA genes sequencing and were submitted to GenBank as Bacillus tequilensis strain Pharon2 (MK078034) and Bacillus sonorensis strain Pharon3 (MK078035).

Novel mycosynthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404-optimization, characterization and antimicrobial activity.

Aims: Investigate the capability of Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 to mycosynthesize Co O -NPs.

Methods And Results: Mycelial cell-free filtrate of A. brasiliensis ATCC 16404 was applied for mycosynthesis of Co O -NPs.

Production and enhancement of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine A, from an endophytic Alternaria brassicae AGF041.

Huperzine A (HupA) is a potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor of a great consideration as a prospective drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Production of HupA by endophytes offers an alternative challenge to reduce the massive plant harvest needed to meet the increasing demand of HupA. In the current study, some endophytic fungal and actinobacterial isolates from the Chinese herb, Huperzia serrata, underwent liquid fermentation, alkaloid extraction, and screening for AChE inhibition and HupA production.

Production of molybdenum blue by two novel molybdate-reducing bacteria belonging to the genus Raoultella isolated from Egypt and Iraq.

Aim: The aim of this study was to isolate potential molybdate-reducing bacteria to be used for bioremediation.

Methods And Results: Two molybdate-reducing bacteria (Mo1 and MoI) were isolated from polluted soil samples from Ismailia Canal, Egypt and Sallah Elddin Governorate, Iraq respectively. The isolates exhibited dark blue colonies when grown on solid medium containing sodium molybdate which indicated the reduction of molybdate to molybdenum (Mo) blue.

Biogenic production of silver nanoparticles by Enterobacter cloacae Ism26.

A bacterial isolate capable of tolerating 30 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) was recovered from soil contaminated with industrial waste. The isolate was identified by 16S rRNA as Enterobacter cloacae Ism26 (KP988024) and its capability to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated. AgNPs were produced by mixing 1 mM AgNO3 solution with bacterial cell lysate under light conditions.

Physiochemical properties of Trichoderma longibrachiatum DSMZ 16517-synthesized silver nanoparticles for the mitigation of halotolerant sulphate-reducing bacteria.

Aims: In order to efficiently control the corrosive sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), the main precursor of the microbial influenced corrosion (MIC) in oil industry, the ability of Trichoderma longibrachiatumDSMZ 16517 to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated and their biocidal activity against halotolerant SRB was tested.

Methods And Results: The mycelial cell-free filtrate (MCFF) bioreduced the silver ions (Ag ) to their metallic nanoparticle state (Ag ), which was presumptively indicated by the appearance of a dark brown suspension and confirmed by the characteristic absorbance of AgNPs at ʎ . One-factor-at-a-time technique was used to optimize the effect of temperature, time, pH, fungal biomass and silver nitrate concentrations, stirring rates and dark effect.

Characterization and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles mycosynthesized by Aspergillus brasiliensis.

Aims: Since mycosynthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) is advertised as a promising and ecofriendly approach. Thus, this study aims to investigate the capability of Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 for mycosynthesis of silver NPs (AgNPs).

Methods And Results: One-factor-at-a-time-technique was used to study the effect of different physicochemical parameters: the reaction time, pH, temperature, different stirring rates, illumination, and finally, the different concentrations of silver nitrate and fungal biomass on the mycosynthesis of AgNPs.