Fish collagen peptides' modulating effect on human skin microbiota against pathogenic .

The current research aims to design effective strategies to enhance the body's immune system against pathogenic bacteria. Skin commensals were isolated, identified and cultured in fish collagen peptides (FCPs). After culturing in FCP, the skin commensals were used in a dose-dependent manner for in a dual-culture test, which showed significant growth inhibition of the pathogenic bacteria, which concluded that FCP induced the immune defense system of skin microbiota against pathogenic strains.

The Role of 4-Phenylbutyric Acid in Gut Microbial Dysbiosis in a Mouse Model of Simulated Microgravity.

The altered gut microbes of astronauts during space travel may contribute to health issues after their return to Earth. Previously, an association between the elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and gut microbial dysbiosis has been described. Herein, we induced gut microbial changes in mice under a simulated microgravity environment in an established model of hindlimb unloaded (HU) mice.

Quantitative Estimation of Aflatoxin Level in Poultry Feed in Selected Poultry Farms.

. Poultry feed contamination due to mycotoxins is one of the major threats to the growing poultry industry. Surveillance of different mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, is very important to control economic and health hazards associated with these toxins.

In-vivo toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of Paeonia emodi-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles: In-vitro study.

This study was planned to explore the in-vitro and in-vivo therapeutic significance of Paeonia emodi-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The texture parameters were derived from nitrogen adsorption-desorption data using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) methods, and the surface area (S ) was found to be 214 m /g with a pore size of 2.3 nm.

In-Vitro and In-Vivo Tolerance and Therapeutic Investigations of Phyto-Fabricated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles against Selected Pathogens.

The ()-mediated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs) were screened for in-vitro and in-vivo antibacterial activity against the () (ATCC #: 6538) and () (ATCC #:15224). The synthesized FeO NPs were characterized via nitrogen adsorption-desorption process, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission and scanning electron microscopies (TEM and SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The S was found to be 94.

Preparation, characterization and stability studies of cross-linked α-amylase aggregates (CLAAs) for continuous liquefaction of starch.

In current study, α-amylase of fungal origin was immobilized using cross-linking strategy. The influence of precipitant (ammonium sulphate) and cross-linker (glutaraldehyde) concentration revealed that 60% (w/v) precipitant and 1.5% (v/v) cross-linker saturation was required to attain optimum activity.

A review on recent advances and applications of fish collagen.

During the processing of the fishery resources, the significant portion is either discarded or used to produce low-value fish meal and oil. However, the discarded portion is the rich source of valuable proteins such as collagen, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. Collagen is a vital protein in the living body as a component of a fibrous structural protein in the extracellular matrix, connective tissue and building block of bones, tendons, skin, hair, nails, cartilage and joints.

Mycoremediation: a treatment for heavy metal-polluted soil using indigenous metallotolerant fungi.

Bioleaching of heavy metals from industrial contaminated soil using metallotolerant fungi is the most efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technique. In the current study, the contaminated soil samples from Hattar Industrial Estate revealed a total lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) concentration of 170.90 mg L and 26.

Biological and biochemical characteristics of male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass quality of Japanese quails by the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α-tocopherol acetate.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves (pine leaves) and α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) powder on male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. A total of 360-day-old male quails were purchased from the open market and kept at poultry shed for ninety-four days. After ten days of adaptation, all quails were randomly assigned into 4 groups, control (IC); supplemented with α-tocopherol acetate (IE) at the rate of 150 mg/L; Pinus ponderosa leaves (IP) at the rate of 150 mg/L; and 70 mg α-tocopherol acetate and 70 mg Pinus ponderosa leaves (IEP).

Contributions and Challenges of High Throughput qPCR for Determining Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment: A Critical Review.

Expansion in whole genome sequencing and subsequent increase in antibiotic resistance targets have paved the way of high throughput qPCR (HT-qPCR) for analyzing hundreds of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in a single run. A meta-analysis of 51 selected studies is performed to evaluate ARGs abundance trends over the last 7 years. WaferGen SmartChip is found to be the most widely used HT-qPCR platform among others for evaluating ARGs.

Characterization of cross-linked amyloglucosidase aggregates from Aspergillus fumigatus KIBGE-IB33 for continuous production of glucose.

Current research deals with immobilization of amyloglucosidase through carrier-free approach using cross-linking strategy. Cross-linked amyloglucosidase aggregates (CLAAs) with aggregation yield of 94% were prepared in 04 h by incorporating 40% ammonium sulfate and 1.5% glutaraldehyde in enzyme solution.

Age-related variations in the bactericidal activity of human sera against .

The human serum is a vital component of the innate immunity of the host that acts as the first line of defence against invading pathogens. A key player in serum-mediated innate immune defence is a system of more than 35 proteins, collectively named as the complement system. After exposure of the pathogen, these proteins are activated in a cascade manner, ultimately forming a membrane attack complex (MAC) on the surface of the pathogen that directly lyses the bacterial cell.

Isolation, identification, and pathological effects of beach sand bacterial extract on human skin keratinocytes .

Background: Beaches are recreational spots for people. However, beach sand contains harmful microbes that affect human health, and there are no established methods for either sampling and identifying beach-borne pathogens or managing the quality of beach sand.

Method: This study was conducted with the aim of improving human safety at beaches and augmenting the quality of the beach experience.

Cloning and characterization of pyruvate carboxylase gene responsible for calcium malate overproduction in Penicillium viticola 152 and its expression analysis.

In this study, a pyruvate carboxylase gene (PYC) from a marine fungus Penicillium viticola 152 isolated from marine algae was cloned and characterized by using Genome Walking method. An open reading frame (ORF) of The PYC gene (accession number: KM593097) had 3582bp encoding 1193 amino acid protein (isoelectric point: 5.01) with a calculated molecular weight of 131.

Investigation into the Antigenic Properties and Contributions to Growth in Blood of the Meningococcal Haemoglobin Receptors, HpuAB and HmbR.

Acquisition of iron from host complexes is mediated by four surface-located receptors of Neisseria meningitidis. The HmbR protein and heterodimeric HpuAB complex bind to haemoglobin whilst TbpBA and LbpBA bind iron-loaded transferrin and lactoferrin complexes, respectively. The haemoglobin receptors are unevenly distributed; disease-causing meningococcal isolates encode HmbR or both receptors while strains with only HpuAB are rarely-associated with disease.

Phase variation of PorA, a major outer membrane protein, mediates escape of bactericidal antibodies by Neisseria meningitidis.

Several outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis are subject to phase variation due to alterations in simple sequence repeat tracts. The PorA protein is a major outer membrane protein and a target for protective host immune responses. Phase variation of PorA is mediated by a poly-G repeat tract present within the promoter, leading to alterations in protein expression levels.

A PCR-RFLP based protocol for the detection of hepatitis B virus variants in some lamivudine-untreated chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in Pakistan.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects more than 350 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Pakistan. Lamivudine has potential to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication but long term lamivudine treatment results in mutations in YMDD region of HBV, making this therapy ineffective. In this study, we have optimized a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) based protocol to detect two mutations in HBV DNA polymerase gene (at codon 528 and 552) in chronic hepatitis patients, without any prior lamivudine treatment.

Influence of the combination and phase variation status of the haemoglobin receptors HmbR and HpuAB on meningococcal virulence.

Neisseria meningitidis can utilize haem, haemoglobin and haemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes as sources of iron via two TonB-dependent phase variable haemoglobin receptors, HmbR and HpuAB. HmbR is over-represented in disease isolates, suggesting a link between haemoglobin acquisition and meningococcal disease. This study compared the distribution of HpuAB and phase variation (PV) status of both receptors in disease and carriage isolates.