Effects of Bacillus velezensis zk1 on the physiology and metabolism of peaches

Bacillus velezensis zk1 is the dominant bacterium that causing rot in peaches. However, the mechanisms through that this bacterium causes rot have not been elucidated. Here, we explored the mechanisms of peach decay caused by B. velezensis zk1. The invasion of B. velezensis zk1 in peaches resulted in an increase in glucose and arabinose contents in fruit tissues. Moreover, the relative conductivity of the fruit reached 84% after 4 days of culture with bacterial invasion. With the destruction of cells, the malondialdehyde content increased, whereas the vitamin C, dialdehyde, flavonoid and total phenol contents decreased. Polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and ammonia lyase activities also decreased. Overall, these findings demonstrated that B. velezensis zk1 infection damaged peach chloroplasts, mitochondria, respiratory chain activity and related free radical scavenging enzyme systems, thereby disrupting the normal physiological metabolism of peaches and causing rot.     

Production of a halotolerant lipase from Halomonas sp. strain C2SS100: Optimization by response-surface methodology and application in detergent formulations

The aim of this work was to optimize the production of a new lipase by a halotolerant bacterial strain Halomonas sp. C2SS100, by means of the response-surface methodology (RSM). The process parameters having the most significant effect on lipase production were identified using the Plackett–Burman screening design-of-experiments. Then, Box–Behnken design was applied to optimize lipase activity and the quadratic regression model of the lipase production was built. Indeed, the lipase yield was increased, and the value obtained experimentally (39 ± 2 U/ml) was very close to the rate predicted by the model (40.3 U/ml). Likewise, optimization of parameters by RSM resulted in 2.78-fold increase in lipase activity. These findings provide the first report on lipase production and optimization by a halotolerant bacterial strain belonging to Halomonas genus. Afterward, the biochemical properties of the produced lipase were studied for apply in oil stains removal. The crude lipase showed a maximum activity at 60°C and at pH ranging from 7 to 10. It displayed an important stability at high temperature, pH, and NaCl. Interestingly, this bacterial lipase exhibited a prominent stability toward some commercial solid and liquid detergents after 30 min of incubation at 50°C. The capability of the crude lipase to eliminate stain was ascertained on polycotton fabric pieces stained with lubricating oil. Whether with the addition of hot water alone or of a commercially available detergent, lipase is able to considerably boost the elimination of oil stains. The actual findings highlight the capacity of Halomonas sp. lipase for energy-efficient biocatalytic application.     

苯乳酸抑制链格孢霉作用靶位的分析

以从自然腐败的樱桃上分离的链格孢霉（Alternaria sp.）LD3.0086为指示菌，研究苯乳酸对链格孢霉的主要抑制作用靶位。应用分光光度法测定苯乳酸对链格孢霉的最小抑菌浓度，通过卡尔科弗卢尔荧光增白剂染液（calcofluor white，CFW）染色观察苯乳酸对菌丝顶端生长的破坏作用，利用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察链格孢霉的超微结构变化，通过测定苯乳酸作用前后链格孢霉上清液中N-乙酰葡萄糖胺质量浓度变化研究苯乳酸对菌丝细胞壁的破坏作用，应用荧光双染色法观察苯乳酸对链格孢霉菌丝细胞膜的损伤作用。结果表明，12.5 mmol/L的苯乳酸能有效抑制链格孢霉的生长；与对照组（无菌水处理）相比，苯乳酸处理后链格孢霉顶端生长细胞无明显形变，经12.5 mmol/L苯乳酸处理的链格孢霉上清液中N-乙酰葡萄糖胺质量浓度基本不变；苯乳酸处理24 h，链格孢霉菌丝细胞壁表面无明显损伤，细胞内结构发生明显变化；苯乳酸短时间（4 h）处理链格孢霉，菌丝细胞膜仍较为完整，加入苯乳酸较长时间（8 h）后细胞膜发生破裂。综合分析可知，苯乳酸对链格孢霉的主要作用靶位应不是菌丝体的细胞壁和细胞膜，而是在菌丝体内部，通过破坏菌丝内部细胞器结构或引起细胞内的生化反应，从而抑制链格孢霉的生长和繁殖，发挥抑菌活性。     

Enhancement of nutraceutical properties of licorice callus cultures using sample pre-treatment strategy

Licorice is an herbal plant in the Leguminosae family, and its roots and rhizomes are used as sweeteners in food and confectionery products. Moreover, it has a distinct inflammatory activity. In the present study, a sample pre-treatment method to induce the deglycosylation of active metabolites in callus cultures of Glycyrrhiza inflata (GI) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) was developed. The results of the method evaluation showed the biotransformation of ononin to formononetin, a rare flavonoid found in trace amounts in licorice. The magnitude of enhancement was 3- and 19-fold in the GI and GG samples, respectively. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity assay showed that the potency of the sample pre-treatment group was higher than that of the untreated group because it exerted an enhanced suppression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression. This is the first report on the anti-inflammatory activity of licorice callus, which has the potential to be utilised as a functional food for health promotion. These findings support the idea of using sample preparation to impart nutraceutical properties to plant products.     

Plant Growth Promotion Function of Bacillus sp. Strains Isolated from Salt-Pan Rhizosphere and Their Biocontrol Potential against Macrophomina phaseolina

In recent decades, intensive crop management has involved excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, compromising environmental integrity and public health. Accordingly, there has been worldwide pressure to find an eco-friendly and safe strategy to ensure agricultural productivity. Among alternative approaches, Plant Growth-Promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria are receiving increasing attention as suitable biocontrol agents against agricultural pests. In the present study, 22 spore-forming bacteria were selected among a salt-pan rhizobacteria collection for their PGP traits and their antagonistic activity against the plant pathogen fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. Based on the higher antifungal activity, strain RHFS10, identified as Bacillus vallismortis, was further examined and cell-free supernatant assays, column purification, and tandem mass spectrometry were employed to purify and preliminarily identify the antifungal metabolites. Interestingly, the minimum inhibitory concentration assessed for the fractions active against M. phaseolina was 10 times lower and more stable than the one estimated for the commercial fungicide pentachloronitrobenzene. These results suggest the use of B. vallismortis strain RHFS10 as a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria as an alternative to chemical pesticides to efficiently control the phytopathogenic fungus M. phaseolina.     

直投式纳豆菌发酵剂制备工艺优化

为探索出一种工艺简便、成本低且活菌数高的直投式纳豆菌（Bacillus natto）发酵剂的制备方法，该研究以大米粉为基质替代传统的种子液培养基培养纳豆菌后直接将其烘干制成直投式纳豆菌发酵剂，通过单因素及正交试验优化直投式纳豆菌发酵剂的制备工艺。结果表明，用含1.5%蛋白胨的大米粉作为培养基，在接种量4.0%、加水量40%、培养温度43 ℃条件下培养纳豆菌28 h，菌体生长良好，将培养物烘干后制成的直投式纳豆菌发酵剂中的活菌数含量达4.71×109 CFU/g。此技术操作简便，可推广至工业生产中，简化生产过程。     

蓝莓溃疡病生防链霉菌CX3的抑菌效果及其鉴定

[目的]为了明确从吉林省长白山保护区池西保护站马鞍山云杉人工林林下土壤分离,所获得1株拮抗菌株(编号记为CX3)的生防效果及分类地位。[方法]分别采用平板对峙法和杯碟法测定该菌株活菌及其发酵液的抑菌活性和抑菌谱;并通过形态学、生理生化特征、16S rRNA序列分析等方法研究了其分类地位。[结果]该菌株对13种供试植物病原菌均有抑制作用,抑菌谱广,其中对蓝莓溃疡病菌有极强的抑制作用,抑菌带达25.91 mm,发酵液的抑菌圈直径达31.73 mm;根据其菌株形态、生理生化特性、16S rRNA序列比对,最终鉴定菌株为链霉菌属Streptomyces sp.。[结论]该菌株对蓝莓溃疡病菌有显著的抑制效果,应用开发前景良好,此次是国内首次报道该菌株杀真菌活性。     

塑料薄膜材料在微藻培养环境中的稳定性和生物附着行为

考察了6种薄膜材料在次氯酸钠(NaClO)溶液、HCl溶液(pH=2)和NaOH溶液(pH=12)中的稳定性及其在普通小球藻培养体系中的生物附着行为。结果表明，聚氯乙烯(PVC)在3种溶液中浸泡后420 nm处的透光率下降约50%，聚氨酯(PU)在NaClO溶液中、乙烯?醋酸乙烯酯(EVA)在NaOH溶液中浸泡后420 nm处的透光率下降10%?15%，聚乙烯(PE)、聚丙烯(PP)和聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)在3种溶液中浸泡后的透光率没有明显变化；6种薄膜材料在普通小球藻培养体系中均有微藻明显附着，浸泡7 d后透光率明显下降，其中PVC表面附着最严重，浸泡7 d后透光率接近0，附着物量随浸泡时间延长而增加，浸泡45 d后达3069 ?g/cm2；其它5种薄膜表面附着物量先增加后降低，PU和EVA在第15 d时、PE, PP和PET在第30 d时附着物量最大，分别为292, 375, 292, 194和236 ?g/cm2。     

Microbial Fuel Cell Application for Azoic Dye Decolorization with Simultaneous Bioenergy Production Using Stenotrophomonas sp.

A single‐chamber air‐cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) was successfully applied for decolorization of the diazoic dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5) with simultaneous production of electricity. An innovative low‐cost medium, the marine water‐glucose‐yeast extract medium (MWGY), was developed which appears as a textile marine effluent in terms of salinity. The anode compartment containing a single bacterial strain of Stenotrophomonas sp. showed almost complete dye decolorization with different RB5 concentrations after seven days of treatment. For the four dye concentrations used, a correlation between dye removal and production of electrical energy was found. The comparison of the decolorization process in the MFC with that in a batch reactor as control experiment highlights the efficiency of the single‐chamber air‐cathode MFC technology which improved the dye removal by the same bacterial strain.