JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN BIOLOGY

Anti-herpetic activity exopolysaccharides produced by different species of lactic acid bacteria

2019-04-10T07:47:35+00:00

In the present work, it was shown that, in non-toxic concentrations, all EPSs which were isolated from lactic acid bacteria have significant anti-HSV-1 activity affecting various stages of the virus reproduction. It was demonstrated that the use of ESPs leads to the normalization of the life cycle of cells infected with the herpes simplex virus to the level of uninfected cells. It was found that EPS 26a produced by Lactobacillus sp. possesses multiple antiviral effects as it exhibits virucidal activity, blocks adsorption, penetration of the virus into cells and the release of viruses, and reduces the infectious titer of herpes simplex virus by 97-99%, indicating its considerable anti-herpetic activity.

The microbial consortia directed evolution towards plastic degradation – the key to waste management?

2019-04-10T07:47:35+00:00

The rampant use of plastics and their disposal into waste are adding to the problems of pollution. The resistance of plastics to bio-degradation is an added advantage for its significant use but the same property creates havoc when the plastic products are disposed off as waste in massive amounts. The property of micro-organisms to evolve quickly brings answers to even the most impossible situations. The current and several other reports show that the plastic is bio-degradable. The current report shows the action of consortia of microbes isolated from a plastic dumping site can lead to degradation of the polymer. The microbial consortia isolated from plastic dumping site when made to grow in controlled conditions in presence of basal media with plastic as sole source of carbon for an extended period of time, aberrations were observed on surface of the plastic. The proteins reported till date in plastic degradation when analysed in-silico for their homologs in all domains of life, they were found to be significantly similar to proteins of cutinase, hydrolase, lipase and some hypothetical proteins. This shows that the plastic degrading proteins have possibly evolved from these protein families.

The Effect of ZJXG Decoction on The Serum Level of Growth Hormone and The Expression of GH Receptor in Callus

2019-07-06T06:12:53+00:00

The aim of experiment was to investigate the effects of Zhuangjin XuGu decoction (ZJXG decoction) on growth hormone (GH) serum and GH receptor (GHR) expression in callus. The femur fracture animal models were generated in 72 Wistar rats by cutting femur transversely at the middle point. The rats models were administered orally ZJXG decoction for 28 days. Anatomy, X-ray and hematoxylin- eosin (HE) staining were used to observe the healing process in rats. The expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) in fibroblasts and osteoblasts in callus was evaluated by immunohistochemical assay (IHC). The serum level of GH was passed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anatomy, X-ray and H-E staining indicated that the fibrous callus at the fracture-end increased and the fibrous granular tissue changed gradually to fibrous, cartilaginous and osseous callus. IHC and ELISA showed that after 28 days of ZJXG Decoction treatment, that GH in the fibroblasts and osteoblasts of callus and their serum level increased significantly. These results suggested that ZJXG decoction could enhance the fracture healing by enhancing GH activity and promoting the expression of GHR in the fibroblasts and osteoblasts of callus in rats.

Exposure Dose of Bacteria and Fungi in a Public Primary School in Beni Suef, Upper Egypt

2019-08-16T04:55:21+00:00

Potential health risk due to the exposure of bacteria and fungi is mainly related to the concentration of respirable airborne bacteria and fungi in indoor environments. Schools buildings represent an important category of indoor environments. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and size distribution of bacteria and fungi in classrooms of a public primary school in Beni Suef, Egypt. In addition, the indoor exposure dose (IED) of bacteria and fungi were estimated for children and teachers. A six-stage Andersen impactor was used for collecting the bacterial and fungal particles. Indoor average concentration of bacteria was 1120±458 CFU/m³ while the corresponding fungal concentration was 291±89 CFU/m³. Bacterial level is almost twice the World Health Organization guideline value of 500 CFU/m³while the fungal level is underestimated. Respirable fraction (<5 µm), that can reach to the lower airways of the lung, of bacteria was 79% while the corresponding respirable fraction of fungi was 90% of the total concentration. The size distribution of bacteria was bimodal in nature and the fungal size distribution was unimodal with lower dispersion than bacteria. IED of bacteria was 211 CFU/kg and 70 CFU/kg for children and teachers, respectively. While the fungal IED was 55 CFU/kg and 18.2 CFU/kg for children and teachers, respectively.