scholarly journals Isolation of Fungi and Bacteria Associated with the Guts of Tropical Wood-Feeding Coleoptera and Determination of Their Lignocellulolytic Activities

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keilor Rojas-Jiménez ◽  
Myriam Hernández

The guts of beetle larvae constitute a complex system where relationships among fungi, bacteria, and the insect host occur. In this study, we collected larvae of five families of wood-feeding Coleoptera in tropical forests of Costa Rica, isolated fungi and bacteria from their intestinal tracts, and determined the presence of five different pathways for lignocellulolytic activity. The fungal isolates were assigned to three phyla, 16 orders, 24 families, and 40 genera;Trichodermawas the most abundant genus, detected in all insect families and at all sites. The bacterial isolates were assigned to five phyla, 13 orders, 22 families, and 35 genera;Bacillus,Serratia,andPseudomonaswere the dominant genera, present in all the Coleopteran families. Positive results for activities related to degradation of wood components were determined in 65% and 48% of the fungal and bacterial genera, respectively. Our results showed that both the fungal and bacterial populations were highly diverse in terms of number of species and their phylogenetic composition, although the structure of the microbial communities varied with insect host family and the surrounding environment. The recurrent identification of some lignocellulolytic-positive inhabitants suggests that particular microbial groups play important roles in providing nutritional needs for the Coleopteran host.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Galkina ◽  
Evdokia Bogdanova ◽  
Irina Zubina ◽  
Elena Levykina ◽  
Alexei Smirnov

Abstract Background and Aims Antibodies to M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R-Ab) are considered to be a promising biomarker for laboratory diagnosis of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) and may be useful in the evaluation of the response to therapy and CKD prognosis. The aim of the study was to compare two immunoassay methods – indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the determination of circulating PLA2R-Ab in patients with PMN. Method The study included 54 patients aged 55 (40-63) yrs. (M: F [33:21]) with PMN before treatment (n=16) and treated with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) (n=38), and apparently healthy individuals of the corresponding gender and age (n=10). Proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were determined in all participants. The levels of PLA2R-Ab were determined by IIF and quantitative/ semi-quantitative ELISA (EURUIMMUN AG test, Germany). In 16 PMN patients without treatment and 28 PMN patients treated with IST the level of PLA2R-Ab was measured one time and in 10 PMN patients treated IST – in dynamic, from 2 to 5 times. Statistical comparisons among groups were performed using Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. The association between variables was estimated using Spearman’s coefficient. Sensitivity and specificity of the methods were calculated. Results The correlation coefficient between IIF and ELISA was 0.82 (p <0.005). There were more PLA2R-Ab-positive cases detected by ELISA, both before treatment (ELISA - 80%, IIF - 67%) and among patients treated with IST (ELISA - 63%, IIF - 50%). In control group, ELISA showed no positive results for PLA2R-Ab (specificity was 100%). The levels of proteinuria and eGFR were associated with autoantibodies determined by ELISA, both quantitative and semi-quantitative (proteinuria: r = 0.69, p = 0.001; eGFR: r = -0.38, p = 0.035) but not by IIF (proteinuria: r=0.33, p=0.061; eGFR: r=-0.26, p=0.082). The levels of PLA2R-Ab measured by ELISA correlated with the course of disease in patients treated with IST, while IIF did not show any dynamics is some cases. Conclusion Both quantitative and semi-quantitative ELISA were considered to be more preferable methods since the obtained results correlate with renal dysfunction and allow to assess the concentration of PLA2R-Ab in the course of disease more accurately, that may contribute to timely correction of treatment and improvement of outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 128-132
Author(s):  
R.H. Fatykhova ◽  
◽  
L.А. Bаryshnikovа ◽  
D.A. Kudlay ◽  
A.P. Alekseev ◽  
...  

Objective of the study: to explore the possibilities of T-SPOT.TB testing to detect tuberculosis infection (TI) in children and adolescents. Materials and methods of research: the design – a multicenter retrospective cohort noncomparative uncontrolled study. The results of examination of children aged 1 to 17 years using the T-SPOT.TB test (n=1565): 774 boys (49,5%), 791 girls (50,5%). The median age of children is 8 [5; 13] years. Results: the rate of positive T-SPOT.TB tests was 7,2% (n=113). Further examination and in-depth examination of children with positive results (n=28), in every 4th case, a history of contact with a tuberculosis (TB) patient was established, every 4th child had previously been under treatment with phthisiatrician. The coincidence of positive results of the T-SPOT.TB test with the Mantoux test – in 87%, with the test with a recombinant tuberculosis allergen – in 100% of cases. Local TB in the phase of reverse development was detected in one child (4%), active TB – in 2 (7%). Conclusion: the T-SPOT.TB test is an alternative method for screening children for TI.


1988 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-859
Author(s):  
Walter Holak ◽  
John J Specchio

Abstract When lead and cadmium were determined in samples of canned food by the AOAC anodic stripping voltammetric method, an interference was observed which was believed to be tin(IV). This interference could cause false positive results for lead and cadmium. The electroactivity of tin(IV) was suppressed by increasing the concentration of tartaric acid in the supporting electrolyte from 0.005M to 0.1M after mixing with an equal volume of sample solution.


1984 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. REHBERGER ◽  
L. A. WILSON ◽  
B. A. GLATZ

A study was done to investigate the microbiological quality of commercial tofu available in local retail outlets. A sampling method was first developed to obtain accurate and representative microbial counts of individual pieces of tofu. Plate count determination of total aerobic organisms, psychrotrophs, coliforms, sporeformers, yeasts and molds, and staphylococci were made on 60 tofu samples (representing three lots each of four different brands) obtained within 24 h after delivery to the retail store. In addition, for two brands that provided manufacturer's pull dates, the same microbial counts were obtained for samples stored in the laboratory at 10°C until the pull date. Of the tofu sampled immediately after purchase, 83% of the lots tested had total counts greater than 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/g and psychrotrophic counts greater than 104 CFU/g. In addition, 67% of the lots tested had confirmed coliform counts greater than 103 CFU/g. Very low levels (less than 10 CFU/g) of all other microbial groups tested for were found in the majority of lots. Samples held until the manufacturer's pull date contained higher total and psychrotrophic counts but lower or stable counts of other organisms compared with samples tested immediately after purchase. To improve the microbiological quality of tofu, processors need to reduce initial loads by improving sanitation and processing techniques, and retailers should provide more consistent and colder refrigerated storage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1329-1341
Author(s):  
Safwat Ibrahim ◽  
Reda Abo-Alez ◽  
Fawzy Hamza ◽  
Lotfy Nassar ◽  
Esam Taman ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branislava Teofilovic ◽  
Nevena Grujic-Letic ◽  
Strahinja Kovacevic ◽  
Sanja Podunavac-Kuzmanovic ◽  
Slobodan Gadzuric

Given the increasing demand for potassium in Brazil, the mining and use of carnallite is becoming increasingly important, because the current source of potassium, sylvinite, is being depleted and there is a risk of shortages. Based on theoretical and practical data available in existing literature, this work describes the development, simulation, and economic feasibility of a process for dissolution and crystallization of potassium chloride from carnallite ore. Positive results were obtained following the application of the Hoffman diagram and determination of the corresponding equation. The proposed process provided over 85% potassium chloride crystallization, demonstrating its superior performance, compared to existing procedures.


1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 874-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAUDE P. CHAMPAGNE ◽  
NANCY J. GARDNER ◽  
JULIE FONTAINE ◽  
JACQUES RICHARD

The results from a shortened procedure for the direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT) determination of viable bacterial populations in raw milk were compared to standard plate counts. Shortening the prefiltration trypsin-Triton X-100 incubation period from 10 to 3 min enabled the completion of the analysis within 20 min. The short DEFT method results had a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.81 with plate counts. With respect to precision, the average difference between values of duplicate plate count analyses was 0.16 log units; that of the short DEFT was 0.14 log units. The slopes of the regressions equations were less than 1, indicating that a direct correlation is not achieved. Short DEFT values were 0.17 log units higher than those of plate counts on milk samples containing less than 10,000 CFU/ml. For milk samples containing counts over 10,000 CFU/ml, short DEFT values averaged only 0.05 log units above plate count readings. Daily preparation of the stain appears unnecessary since acridine orange solutions stored for up to 2 days at 4°C did not produce results significantly (P > 0.05) different from those obtained with fresh solutions. The short DEFT method has potential for the assessment of the bacteriological quality of raw milk in tanker deliveries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 1059-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Levêques ◽  
Jean-Marie Oberson ◽  
Emeline Alexandra Tissot ◽  
Karine Redeuil ◽  
Sagar K Thakkar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Human milk is the optimal nutrition for all newborns in the first 6 months of life. In order to assess the nutritional needs of the breastfed infant, human milk is often characterized for multiple nutrients. Objective: To ensure that we minimize the volume of milk dedicated for research and optimize the number of nutrients characterized, we developed analytical methodologies for the determination of vitamins A (retinol), E (alpha and gamma tocopherol), K (phylloquinone and menaquinone-4), and five carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin) using <1 mL human milk. Method: Vitamins E and K and carotenoids are simultaneously isolated from 750 μL milk by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE). Tocopherols and carotenoids are determined by normal-phase LC with fluorescence and ultraviolet detection respectively. Vitamin K is analyzed on the same extracts after resuspension and clean-up by reversed phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem MS. The analysis of vitamin A involves saponification of 200 μL milk followed by LLE and determination by normal-phase LC with UV detection. Results: Full single-laboratory validation at four different concentration levels is presented. Recovery rates were within 90–105% in all except one case (retinol at 1.9 μg/mL, 88% recovery), with RSDs of repeatability and intermediate reproducibility below 10 and 15%, respectively for all the compounds. Conclusions and Highlights: To the best of best knowledge, this is the first report that allows for the characterization and quantification of vitamins A, E, and K and five carotenoids in <1 mL human milk.


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