Colorimetric Glucose Assay Based on Magnetic Particles Having Pseudo-peroxidase Activity and Immobilized Glucose Oxidase.

Magnetic particles (MPs) are currently used as a suitable alternative for peroxidase in the construction of novel biosensors, analytic and diagnostic methods. Their better chemical and thermal stabilities predestine them as appropriate pseudo-enzymatic catalysts. In this point of view, our research was focused on preparation of simply and fast method for immobilization of glucose oxidase onto surface of MPs with peroxidase-like activity.

Probiotics in prevention and treatment of obesity: a critical view.

The worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. The obesity pandemic is tightly linked to an increase in energy availability, sedentariness and greater control of ambient temperature that have paralleled the socioeconomic development of the past decades. The most frequent cause which leads to the obesity development is a dysbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.

Potential of enterococci isolated from horses.

Faecal samples of 122 horses (from farms in Slovakia) were examined to select enterococci to study their probiotic potential for their further use as additives. Each gram of faeces contained 1.0-5.

Isolation of polymerase chain reaction-ready bacterial DNA from Lake Baikal sediments by carboxyl-functionalised magnetic polymer microspheres.

Carboxyl group-containing magnetic nonporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) (P(HEMA-co-EDMA)) microspheres were used for the isolation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ready DNA from samples of Baikal sediments. DNA was isolated using the phenol extraction method or the Soil DNA Isolation Kit. The occurrence of false-negative results in PCR caused by the presence of extracellular inhibitors in DNA samples was solved using solid phase reversible DNA immobilisation.

Weathering of phlogopite by Bacillus cereus and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The purpose of this study was to assess the weathering of finely ground phlogopite, a trioctahedral mica, by placing it in contact with heterotrophic (Bacillus cereus) and acidophilic (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) cultures. X-ray diffraction analyses of the phlogopite sample before and after 24 weeks of contact in B. cereus cultures revealed a decrease in the characteristic peak intensities of phlogopite, indicating destruction of individual structural planes of the mica.

Testing two Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains for their suitability as a lipoid probiotic.

Two strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus T-135 and Lactobacillus plantarum 4/97) were selected in order to study their inhibitory properties against frequent udder pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Salmonella enteritidis and Bacillus pumilus), their production of organic acids as well as their ability to survive on the teat skin, the teat duct mucosa and in a lipoid emulsion. Both strains inhibited the tested pathogenic microbes and survived on the investigated surfaces and in an emulsion for more than 6 hours and 11 days, respectively.

Lectin-like binding of lactobacilli considered for their use in probiotical preparations for animal use.

Three gut lactobacilli from piglets (Lactobacillus plantarum L 5, Lactobacillus paracasei L 81, Lactobacillus fermentum L 670) and Lactobacillus casei subsp. pseudoplantarum L.c.

Inhibitory effect of different enterocins against fecal bacterial isolates.

Anti-microbial activity of five different enterocins produced by ruminal and environmental enterococci against fecal bacterial isolates was tested. The majority of all 61 strains (80.4%) were inhibited by all enterocins used.

Lectin-like binding and antibiotic sensitivity of enterococci from wild herbivores.

Fifty eight enterococcal isolates from wild herbivores were tested for their antibiotic sensitivity pattern and lectin-like binding of extracellular matrix (ECM) and serum proteins. Kanamycin resistance was very frequent; many multiresistant strains were also isolated. All isolates were sensitive to rifampicin.

Microbial binding and biodegradation of mycotoxins.

This contribution provides an overview of literature data on the microbial binding and biodegradation of mycotoxins. These data and preliminary results from our own laboratory suggest that mycotoxin-bacterial binding or biodegradation is a realistic process and encourages the screening of bacterial strains and their biodegradation potential.