Medicinal plants: Adjunct treatment to tuberculosis chemotherapy to prevent hepatic damage.

The effectiveness of herbs for the management of chemically induced hepatotoxicity has been discussed by many researchers. However, there is a paucity of compressive literature on the significance of hepatoprotective plants for the management of anti-TB drug induced toxicity. Anti-TB drugs have been reported to causes hepatic damage, due to which, many patients across the globe discontinued the treatment.

Interaction of Pb(II) and biofilm associated extracellular polymeric substances of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes NP103.

Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to evaluate the interaction of biofilm associated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes NP103 with lead [Pb(II)]. EEM fluorescence spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of one protein-like fluorophore in the EPS of P. pseudoalcaligenes NP103.

Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing: fidelity in bioremediation technology.

Increased contamination of the environment with toxic pollutants has paved the way for efficient strategies which can be implemented for environmental restoration. The major problem with conventional methods used for cleaning of pollutants is inefficiency and high economic costs. Bioremediation is a growing technology having advanced potential of cleaning pollutants.

Synergistic effect of quorum sensing genes in biofilm development and PAHs degradation by a marine bacterium.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a prevalently found intercellular signaling system in bacteria. QS system bestows behavioral coordination ability in bacteria at high population density. QS via acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) is extensively conserved in Gram-negative bacteria and plays crucial role in regulating many biological processes.

Involvement of quorum sensing genes in biofilm development and degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa N6P6.

Biofilm-forming and acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) synthase-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa N6P6 was isolated from seawater after selective enrichment with two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), viz. phenanthrene and pyrene. AHL synthesis was detected qualitatively using bioreporter strains.

Understanding molecular identification and polyphasic taxonomic approaches for genetic relatedness and phylogenetic relationships of microorganisms.

The major proportion of earth's biological diversity is inhabited by microorganisms and they play a useful role in diversified environments. However, taxonomy of microorganisms is progressing at a snail's pace, thus less than 1% of the microbial population has been identified so far. The major problem associated with this is due to a lack of uniform, reliable, advanced, and common to all practices for microbial identification and systematic studies.

Phenotypic switching in biofilm-forming marine bacterium Paenibacillus lautus NE3B01.

Biofilm-forming marine bacterium Paenibacillus lautus NE3B01 was isolated from a mangrove ecosystem, Odisha, India. This isolate formed a swarming type of colony pattern on the solid culture medium with 0.5-2 % agar.

Calcium-mediated modulation of Pseudomonas mendocina NR802 biofilm influences the phenanthrene degradation.

A potential biofilm forming and phenanthrene utilizing marine bacterium Pseudomonas mendocina NR802 was isolated from Rushukulya, Odisha, East Coast of India. The effect of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) on biofilm growth and phenanthrene degradation was evaluated. Among the various tested concentrations, 20 mM of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) showed a significant enhancement in biofilm production by the bacterium.

Characterization and potential application in mercury bioremediation of highly mercury-resistant marine bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis PW-05.

Bacillus thuringiensis PW-05 was isolated from the Odisha coast and was found to resist 50 ppm of Hg as HgCl2 as well as higher concentrations of CdCl2, ZnSO4, PbNO3 and Na2HAsO4. Resistance towards several antibiotics, viz amoxycillin, ampicillin, methicillin, azithromycin and cephradine (CV) was also observed. The mer operon possessed by most of the mercury-resistant bacteria was also found in this isolate.

Marine bacteria: potential candidates for enhanced bioremediation.

Bacteria are widespread in nature as they can adapt to any extreme environmental conditions and perform various physiological activities. Marine environments are one of the most adverse environments owing to their varying nature of temperature, pH, salinity, sea surface temperature, currents, precipitation regimes and wind patterns. Due to the constant variation of environmental conditions, the microorganisms present in that environment are more suitably adapted to the adverse conditions, hence, possessing complex characteristic features of adaptation.

Bacterial quorum sensing: functional features and potential applications in biotechnology.

Quorum sensing (QS) represents an exceptional pattern of cell-to-cell communication in bacteria using self-synthesized signalling molecules known as autoinducers. Various features regulated by QS in bacteria include virulence, biofilm formation, sporulation, genetic competence and bioluminescence, among others. Other than the diverse signalling properties of autoinducers, there are non-signalling properties also associated with these signalling molecules which make them potential antimicrobial agents and metal chelators.