Dental Materials Incorporated with Nanometals and Their Effect on the Bacterial Growth of .

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different commercially used dental materials (RelyX Luting Plus and Dyract Extra) mixed with either a metallic ionic solution or a colloidal suspension of metallic nanoparticles. Both the solution and the suspension contained a mixture of silver, copper, and lithium ions.

Methods: The metal/ion-incorporated dental materials were prepared into disk-shaped samples and tested against the growth of .

Magnetic nanoparticle-enhanced PCR for the detection and identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis.

This paper evaluated magnetic nanoparticle-enhanced PCR for the detection and identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis. Two different types of magnetic nanoparticles designated MPIO (iron concentration 2.5 mg/ml, size 1 µm) and NP (iron concentration 8.

Bacterial population and biodegradation potential in chronically crude oil-contaminated marine sediments are strongly linked to temperature.

Two of the largest crude oil-polluted areas in the world are the semi-enclosed Mediterranean and Red Seas, but the effect of chronic pollution remains incompletely understood on a large scale. We compared the influence of environmental and geographical constraints and anthropogenic forces (hydrocarbon input) on bacterial communities in eight geographically separated oil-polluted sites along the coastlines of the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The differences in community compositions and their biodegradation potential were primarily associated (P < 0.

Conversion of Uric Acid into Ammonium in Oil-Degrading Marine Microbial Communities: a Possible Role of Halomonads.

Uric acid is a promising hydrophobic nitrogen source for biostimulation of microbial activities in oil-impacted marine environments. This study investigated metabolic processes and microbial community changes in a series of microcosms using sediment from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea amended with ammonium and uric acid. Respiration, emulsification, ammonium and protein concentration measurements suggested a rapid production of ammonium from uric acid accompanied by the development of microbial communities containing hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria after 3 weeks of incubation.

Bioremediation of Southern Mediterranean oil polluted sites comes of age.

Mediterranean Sea is facing a very high risk of oil pollution due to the high number of oil extractive and refining sites along the basin coasts, and the intense maritime traffic of oil tankers. All the Mediterranean countries have adopted severe regulations for minimizing pollution events and bioremediation feasibility studies for the most urgent polluted sites are undergoing. However, the analysis of the scientific studies applying modern 'meta-omics' technologies that have been performed on marine oil pollution worldwide showed that the Southern Mediterranean side has been neglected by the international research.

Biogeographical diversity of leaf-associated microbial communities from salt-secreting Tamarix trees of the Dead Sea region.

The leaves of Tamarix, a salt-secreting desert tree, form an extreme niche that harbors a unique microbial community. In view of the global distribution of this tree, its island-like phyllosphere is highly suitable for studying microbial diversity along geographical gradients. Here we present an analysis of microbial community diversity using leaf surface samples collected at six different sites, on both sides of the Dead Sea, over a period of one year.

Biogeography of thermophilic cyanobacteria: insights from the Zerka Ma'in hot springs (Jordan).

The thermal springs of Zerka Ma'in, with waters emerging at temperatures up to 63 degrees C, have been of interest to biologists already from the beginning of the 19th century. These waters, springing out from below ground and flowing into the hypersaline Dead Sea, form an isolated environment from a biogeographic point of view. We have investigated the molecular diversity of the cyanobacteria in the springs.

Multiplex PCR for the direct detection of Salmonella enterica from chicken, lamb and beef food products.

Three sets of known Salmonella enterica-specific primers were used collectively, for the first time, to evaluate the use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) as a diagnostic tool to detect Salmonella enterica in naturally contaminated meat and poultry products. For this purpose a total of 300 samples representing the most frequently used fresh and frozen meat (beef and lamb) and poultry (chicken) products (whole, cut, ground, and processed) were collected from eight locations within Irbid city (Jordan). After an enrichment step, DNA was extracted directly from each food sample and amplified using six Salmonella enterica specific primers.

Survival and accumulation of microorganisms in soils irrigated with secondary treated wastewater.

Secondary-treated wastewater was used to irrigate forage crops during two years (1994 and 1995). The bacteriological quality of the soil irrigated with both secondary treated wastewater (without chlorination) and with potable water was evaluated. The following three treatments were investigated in this study: i) irrigation with potable water in amount equivalent to 100% of the class A Pan evaporation reading (as taken from the nearest Meteorological Weather Station); ii) irrigation with treated wastewater in amount equivalent to 100% of the A Pan reading and iii) irrigation with treated wastewater in amount equivalent to 125% of the A Pan reading.