Efficient biodegradation of Congo red dye using fungal consortium incorporated with Penicillium oxalicum and Aspergillus tubingensisThakor, Rashmi; Mistry, Harsh; Tapodhan, Krunal; Bariya, Himanshu
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00915-8pmid: 34468947
A novel approach had been carried out to develop fungal consortium, namely, RH-2, containing two marine procured fungal isolates in order to evaluate biodegradation of recalcitrant diazo dye Congo red. The fungi were isolated from the seacoast of Diu, India. According to the ITS sequencing, the strains were identified as Penicillium oxalicum (DS-2) and Aspergillus tubingensis (DS-4). Discs of 12 mm were cut out from the edge of both the fungal isolates (DS-2 and DS-4) and inoculated in flasks consisting of potato dextrose broth with 100 mg/L Congo red for the development of fungal consortium RH-2. The degradation by the fungal consortium RH-2 was more effective than the fungal monocultures DS-2 and DS-4 with the respective degradation reaching 97.15 ± 0.15%, 68.96 ± 0.09%, and 29.96 ± 0.21% in addition of yeast extract (1% w/v) within 12 h. The influence of dextrose (1% w/v), yeast extract (1% w/v), pH 5, and salt concentration (1% w/v) enhanced the degradation potential of fungal consortium RH-2. The maximal degradation was correlated with the production of laccase (12.498 ± 0.21 U/mL) and manganese peroxidase (10.314 ± 0.25 U/mL). The catabolism of Congo red was confirmed by UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis (Congo red λ-max = 499 nm) and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The filtrates obtained after Congo red degradation were also evaluated for microbial toxicity against bacteria (Bacillus haynesii) and phytotoxicity analysis on plant seed (Trigonella foenum) which revealed that the filtrate acquired after the treatment of Congo red by fungal consortium RH-2 was less toxic than the original dye in nature. A novel aspect is determined by the evidence of mutualistic interaction between two different fungi for the rapid decolorization and degradation of dye providing a prospective of utilizing the developed consortium RH-2 as a cost-effective approach in textile wastewater treatment for cleaner environment.Graphical abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]
Neutrophil infiltration in co-housed littermates plays a key role in nasal transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in an infant mouse modelKaneko, Fumie; Kono, Masamitsu; Sunose, Hiroshi; Hotomi, Muneki
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00901-0pmid: 34480257
Transmission plays an important role in establishing pneumococcal colonization. It comprises three key events: shedding to transmit, entering into a susceptible new host, and adhering to the mucosal surface. Shedding of pneumococci from the respiratory tract of a colonized host is a pivotal step in transmission. Using a co-housed littermate mouse model, we evaluated the importance of the susceptibility to colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 strain shed from index pups to non-colonized naïve contact pups. Despite sufficient pneumococcal shedding from the colonized host, S. pneumoniae was not contagious between littermates. Neutrophils infiltrated the nasal mucosa of contact pups and contributed to susceptibility of pneumococcal colonization during the course of transmission. Rejection of pneumococcal colonization in the contact pups was associated with accumulation of neutrophils in the nasal mucosa. Inflammation, characterized by neutrophil infiltration, prevents newly entering pneumococci from adhering to the respiratory epithelium in contact mice, suggesting that it plays an important role in reducing the rate of transmission in the initial response of naïve susceptible hosts to pneumococcal acquisition. The initial response of contact mice may regulate neutrophil and/or macrophage infiltration and control the acquisition of existing pneumococci.
Identification of filamentous fungi including dermatophytes using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometryHamal, Petr; Vavrova, Anna; Mrazek, Jakub; Svobodova, Lucie
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00917-6pmid: 34499312
Identification of filamentous fungi based on morphological features is the most available approach used in clinical mycology laboratories. However, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is currently invaluable for identification of microorganisms because of its rapidity, simplicity, and accuracy. This study aimed to find the optimal way of identifying filamentous fungi using MALDI-TOF MS.The sample comprised 193 isolates of filamentous fungi. The identification started with morphological assessment. Then isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, both directly from culture and following culture in liquid media with extraction. Subsequently, identification of 20 selected isolates was compared by sequencing of the benA gene, ITS1-5,8-ITS2, and D1-D2 LSU regions.Based on morphological criteria, 17 genera of fungi were identified. With MALDI-TOF MS performed directly from culture, nine isolates were identified to the genus level and 184 to the species level, with a total of 75 species being noted. With the MALDI-TOF MS extraction method, 190 isolates were identified to the species level, with 43 species being noted. The rates of agreement between identification using morphology and the MALDI-TOF MS direct method were 58.55% at the genus level and 22.24% at the species level. The rates of agreement between identification using morphology and the MALDI-TOF MS extraction method were 84.97% at the genus level and 46.11% at the species level. Using sequencing, 87.5% agreement was found for identification with the MALDI-TOF MS extraction method, as compared with only 43.75% for the direct method.The results suggest that the optimal approach to identification of filamentous fungi is a combination of morphological features and MALDI-TOF MS using the extraction method.
Antimicrobial efficacy and activity perseverance in arthroplasty of calcium sulfate beads containing vancomycin prepared ahead of time and stored in ready-to-use formulaMelicherčík, P.; Klapková, E.; Nyč, O.; Kotaška, K.; Neščáková, M.; Landor, I.; Jahoda, D.
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00916-7pmid: 34505961
The use of local therapy with antibiotics in a suitable carrier is essential in the treatment and prevention of infections in orthopedic surgery and traumatology. In our orthopedic surgery department, a synthetic calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4·½H2O) is used as an antibiotic carrier, enabling the application of most types of intravenous antibiotics in the form of powder and liquid. This type of carrier with antibiotics is prepared in the theater during the procedure. During a surgical procedure, a small dead space is created (hand and foot area), which must be filled with an antibiotic carrier, and the situations arise where a large amount of the carrier is not used and thrown away. Therefore, we verified the efficacy of vancomycin in the pre-prepared carrier by an orientation microbiological method and by measuring the concentrations of the vancomycin released in active form and its two crystalline degradation products. Based on the agar diffusion test, we did not measure any difference in the effectiveness of the antibiotic in the carrier after its 12-day storage. Although vancomycin concentrations decreased by approximately 32% at the end of 12 days of storage, the concentrations of the released active form of vancomycin are many times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentrations for resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the calcium sulfate carrier with vancomycin can be prepared several days in advance before its application, certainly up to 12 days.
C50 carotenoids extracted from Haloterrigena thermotolerans strain K15: antioxidant potential and identificationKesbiç, Fevziye Işıl; Gültepe, Nejdet
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00905-wpmid: 34510323
Halophilic archaea are one of the microorganism groups that have adapted to living in high saline environments and are important in terms of their potential use in biotechnology industry. One of the most important compounds they have, carotenoid, is used in food, cosmetics, and medical industries. The selected strain was identified as an extremely halophilic and thermophilic archaeon, Haloterrigena thermotolerans K15, based on morphological, biochemical, and physiological evidence as well as 16S rRNA analysis and screened by a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope for the first time. The carotenoid contents of H. thermotolerans K15 isolated from Salt Lake (Tuz Gölü, Turkey) were determined by RP-HPLC–DAD and their isomers were characterized according to UV–Vis spectra by cis peak intensity and spectral fine structure. In addition to all-trans bacterioruberin as a major carotenoid, many isomers of the bacterioruberin such as monoanhydrobacterioruberin and bisanhydrobacterioruberin were also found. The antioxidant activity of carotenoid extract from H. thermotolerans was analyzed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. The carotenoid extract showed antioxidant activity statistically significantly higher than ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene as reference compounds (p < 0.05). This is the first study about carotenoid characterization and antioxidant activity of H. thermotolerans K15. The obtained results suggest the potential use of H. thermotolerans K15 products as a substitute for synthesized chemical carotenoids and antioxidants.
Bioactivities of endophytic actinobacteria inhabiting Artemisia herba-alba emphasizing differences from free-living strainsEl-Shatoury, Sahar A.; Mahmoud, Fatma M.; El-Kazzaz, Waleed M.
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00911-ypmid: 34529264
The endophytic actinobacteria associated with Artemisia herba-alba (synonym: Seriphidium herba-alba) are highly diverse. This study aimed to illustrate the extent of their differences from the free-living actinobacteria in the surrounding environment. A selection of eighteen actinobacteria inhabiting A. herba-alba were compared with twenty and ten actinobatceria isolates from the surrounding desert and groundwater, respectively, representing six genera. Antagonistic and enzymatic activities, plant growth-promoting traits, and the occurrence of biosynthetic genes were compared among the isolates. Data were analyzed statistically using principal component analysis (PCA) and were visualized using heat map. Endophytic strains showed higher antimicrobial activity and production of plant growth promoters compared to desert and groundwater strains. Polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene clusters were detected at higher frequencies in the endophytic strains (8 and 11 strains, respectively) than the desert strains (1 and 2 strains, respectively). In contrast, both gene clusters were not detected in the groundwater strains. The PCA revealed unique metabolic characteristics of the endophytes. The heatmap clustered the endophytic strains apart from the free-living strains, indicating distinctive qualitative and quantitative bioactivities. Analysis of 16S rRNA genes confirmed the chemotaxonomic identity of all but two strains, with > 94.5% similarity. Six endophytes displayed < 99.5% similarity with their closest type strains, which might indicate species novelty. This study provides an evidence of functional differences and possible species novelty of the endophytic actinobacteria inhabiting A. herba-alba, compared with the free-living species.
Decolorization and degradation of reactive orange 16 by Bacillus stratosphericus SCA1007Akansha, Kriti; Yadav, Ajar Nath; Kumar, Manish; Chakraborty, Debashis; Ghosh Sachan, Shashwati
doi: 10.1007/s12223-021-00914-9pmid: 34537920
Efficient bacterial strain was isolated from the dye contaminated area and identified as Bacillus stratosphericus SCA1007 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence (GenBank under accession number KY992944). This isolate was selected based on its potential to efficiently decolorize reactive orange 16 dye which is extensively used in textile industries. Various culture conditions like dye concentration, temperature, pH, salinity, and additional nitrogen source were optimized in the present study. The optimal conditions for decolorization of reactive orange 16 was found to be: dye concentration 150 mg/L, pH 7, temperature 35 °C, and yeast extract as nitrogen source. The isolate was also resistant to 4% saline culture condition. Decolorization and degradation of dye were confirmed through UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (LC–MS). Toxicity studies were performed on Escherichia coli and Vigna radiata to confirm the non-toxic nature of the degraded metabolites. This is the first study demonstrating complete decolorization of reactive orange 16 dye by Bacillus stratosphericus SCA1007 at high salinity within 10 h of incubation under optimized conditions.