Cloning, sequencing, and characterizing of soil antibiotic active-producing species-specific DNA markers.

Association of the antibiotic activity of the soil isolates to their genetic profiles analyzed through RAPD-PCR fingerprints prompted us here in this study to use the most common bands as specific markers to identify homologous proteins within these isolates by cloning, sequencing, and characterizing these markers. Six out of twelve DNA bands ranged between 600 and 1350 bp previously obtained by RAPD-PCR analysis were purified out of the RAPD gels, and then cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector system. Success of the cloning process was confirmed by digesting purified plasmids with RI.

Molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from three major hospitals in Jordan.

Background: In the last decade, incidences of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have been increasingly reported worldwide. Consequently, A. baumannii was included in the World Health Organization's new list of critical pathogens, for which new drugs are desperately needed.

Genomic detection of waterborne enteric viruses as water quality indicators in Al-Zarqa River, Jordan.

Al-Zarqa River is the second main tributary to River Jordan after the Yarmouk River. The river flow has been modified by discharge of industrial wastewater and treated domestic water. Concerns about the occurrence of waterborne pathogenic viruses in the surface waters of Al-Zarqa River prompted the analysis of the surface water quality with respect to the presence of enteric viruses.

Phenotypic and molecular analysis of dominant occurring antibiotic active-producing soil flora in Northern Jordan.

This investigation aimed to determine the relatedness of dominant occurring soil spp. in Northern Jordan based on their RAPD-PCR fingerprints, and to compare RAPD technique with the conventional phenotypic characterization of isolates. Fifty-eight white and gray color-bearing aerial mycelia antibiotic active-producing soil isolates along with three reference strains were genetically analyzed by RAPD-PCR.

Phenolic Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Different Emirati Date ( L.) Pits: A Comparative Study.

The biochemical composition, secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, flavonoids) and antimicrobial potential of different varieties of Emirati date ( L.) pits were investigated. Total phenolic acids (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) of the different date pits were measured using a Folin-Ciocalteau reagent.

Old leaves accumulate more heavy metals than other parts of the desert shrub at a traffic-polluted site as assessed by two analytical techniques.

is a perennial big shrub that has the potential to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals. Metal sequestration in old organs has been considered as a mechanism for plant survival in polluted soils. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of the old leaves as a sink for HMs accumulation in .

Potential Biotechnological Strategies for the Cleanup of Heavy Metals and Metalloids.

Global mechanization, urbanization, and various natural processes have led to the increased release of toxic compounds into the biosphere. These hazardous toxic pollutants include a variety of organic and inorganic compounds, which pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. The contamination of soil and water are the major environmental concerns in the present scenario.

Complement components as potential therapeutic targets for asthma treatment.

Asthma is the most common respiratory disorder, and is characterized by distal airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. This disease challenges human health because of its increasing prevalence, severity, morbidity, and the lack of a proper and complete cure. Asthma is characterized by T(H)2-skewed inflammation with elevated pulmonary levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels.

Isolation of Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) from infant food, herbs and environmental samples and the subsequent identification and confirmation of the isolates using biochemical, chromogenic assays, PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Background: Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii), are a group of Gram-negative pathogens that have been implicated as causative agents of meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. The pathogens are linked to infant formula; however, they have also been isolated from a wide range of foods and environmental samples.

Influence of culture conditions of Streptomyces sp. (strain S242) on chitinase production.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of growth conditions and medium composition on the production ofchitinase by Streptomyces sp. (strain S242). Production of chitinase by strain S242 was detected on colloidal chitin agar (CCA) medium after 8 days of incubation at 28 degrees C resulting in a clear zone 10 mm around the colony.

Usefulness of strb1 and 16S rDNA-targeted PCR for detection of Streptomyces spp. in environmental samples.

In this study, we revealed rapid detection of streptomycin-producing Streptomyces spp. by extraction of total soil DNA from 14 soil samples using a modified lysis method followed by PCR amplification ofa genus-specific sequence in the Streptomyces' 16S rDNA gene. DNA band of the expected size (438 bp) was seen with all the samples.

Microbial populations of crude oil spill polluted soils at the Jordan-Iraq desert (the Badia region).

Microbial populations' inhabitants in crude petroleum contaminated soils were analyzed in relation with the soil characteristics. A noticeable greater decline of bacterial counts and diversity but a prevalence of the genus Pseudomonas over the other identified genera in the fresh contaminated soils as compared to the old ones was observed.

Susceptibility of local Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains to streptomycetes isolates from Jordan soils.

Five strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were isolated and characterized from 12 different plant tumors. The susceptibility of these phytopathogens to antibiotics and to soil Streptomyces isolates was tested. Among the 90 Streptomyces isolates, only 12 were able to inhibit the growth of at least one A.

Screening for soil streptomycetes from North Jordan that can produce herbicidal compounds.

A total of 231 different soil Streptomyces isolates were recovered from 16 different locations in North Jordan. They were assessed for their phytotoxic activity on seeds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.

Selection of bacteria and plant seeds for potential use in the remediation of diesel contaminated soils.

Enumeration and recovery of the dominant bacteria from a chronically fuel contaminated soil has been investigated. Bacterial counts from these polluted soils ranged between 0.70x10(8) and 28.

Production of 2-methylisoborneol by Streptomyces violaceusniger and its transformation by selected species of Pseudomonas.

The effect of glucose, glycerol and yeast-extract (YE) on 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) production by Streptomyces violaceusniger (C4-S strain) was determined. Glycerol as a sole carbon source promoted MIB production was maximum concentration (40.65 microg/l) after 10 days incubation, while glucose favored biomass production.

Evaluation of combined 16S rDNA and strb1 gene targeted PCR to identify and detect streptomycin-producing Streptomyces.

In this study, two designed primers were evaluated to identify soil Streptomyces and to detect streptomycin production by strb1 targeted PCR. Potential Streptomyces-specific signatures were identified in their 16S rDNA sequences in regions located around nucleotide positions 576 and 995. Primer pair RI7/RI8 derived from these regions was investigated for its specificity in detecting and identifying Streptomyces isolates by PCR assays using DNA from pure cultures.

Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cases of pulmonary infections from Jordanian hospitals.

The aim of this study is to use the diagnostic utility of smear technique for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens obtained from patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 305 respiratory specimens (broncoalveolar lavage, sputum and pleural fluid) were collected from 298 patients having pulmonary infections as bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. Results revealed that 25 specimens collected from 22 patients were positive (8.

Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of antibiotic-producing soil Streptomyces investigated by RAPD-PCR.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis has been used to determine the relatedness of 73 antibiotic-producing soil Streptomyces isolates that were recovered from different soil habitats in Jordan based on their RAPD-PCR fingerprints. Genetic polymorphisms between these isolates showed three common bands of 2777, 800 and 250 bp shared by approximately (95%) of them. Some specific bands were also observed.

Isolation and characterization of bacteria from crude petroleum oil contaminated soil and their potential to degrade diesel fuel.

Potential hydrocarbon degrader bacteria were isolated from soil samples that have been exposed to crude petroleum oil spills. Bacterial population of these polluted soils showed counts ranging between 9.5 x 10(5) and 237.

Molecular characterization of local Bacillus thuringiensis strains recovered from Northern Jordan.

A total of 80 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis were recovered from different habitats of Northern Jordan. These isolates were grouped into three classes based on crystal morphology (spherical, bipyramidal, and both bipyramidal and cuboidal). The isolates that produced spherical crystals were the most common and the most toxic to diptera.