Identification and growth optimization of a Marine Bacillus DK1-SA11 having potential of producing broad spectrum antimicrobial compounds

Control of harmful bacteria in food, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, hospitals and recreation water pools are of great global concern. Marine bacteria are an enormous source of bio-controlling agents. The aim of this study was to identify and optimize the growth conditions including effect of different biotic and abiotic factors on antimicrobial activity of strain DK1-SA11 isolated from Qingdao Bay of China Yellow Sea. Microscopic characterization, API[registered sign] 20E and 50 CHB kit base carbohydrates utilization, 16S rDNA and DNA gyrB gene sequencing studies identified the bacterium as Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii DK1-SA11. Antimicrobial spectrum of cell free supernatant [CFS] has shown antimicrobial activities against all test strains including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli O157:H7, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, E. coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella typhimurium and Vibrio cholerae. Among all the media tested, Marine Broth 2216 was found to be the best medium for bacterial growth and production of antibacterial compounds. The other optimum conditions for growth were pH:7 and incubation temperature: 25[degree sign] C with >/= 180 rpm for 60-72 h. Out of 49 different carbohydrates tested, D-mannose increases the antibacterial activity by 33.3% while Darabitol decreases it by 44.4%. Crude CFS showed activity even after three months of storage below -20[degree sign] C and boiling for 10 min, whereas it loses 100% of its antimicrobial activity after enzymatic treatments of lipase, trypsin and papain. The production of antimicrobial compounds and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens suggested that the strain DK1-SA11 can be used as a source for probiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics

Study to evaluate the impact of heat treatment on water soluble vitamins in milk

To evaluate the effect of domestic boiling practice on the contents of water soluble vitamins of loose milk and quantitative comparison of these vitamins in Ultra High Temperature [UHT] treated packaged milk with that of boiled loose milk. Loose milk samples were collected from various localities of Karachi city [Pakistan]. These samples were boiled in simulated household conditions for 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Ultra High Temperature [UHT] treated packaged milk samples of various brands were obtained from the local market. The aliquots were analyzed for water-soluble vitamins using High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] technique. The mean values and standard deviations for data were computed and compared as well as level of variations were also determined. Conventional boiling caused destruction of water soluble vitamins in milk i.e. vitamin B1 content in fresh milk decreased from 0.037 mg/100g to 0.027 mg/100g after 15 min boiling, whereas vitamin B2 from 0.115 to 0.084 mg/100g, vitamin B3 0.062 to 0.044 mg/100g, vitamin B6 0.025 to 0.019 mg/100g and folic acid 3.38 to 2.40 microgram/100g. This accounted for a post-boiling decrease of about 27, 27, 29, 24 and 36% in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and folic acid respectively. The values for vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and folic acid determined in boiled milk were significantly lower than UHT treated packaged milk samples by 25.9, 75.0, 54.5, 63.16 and 38.1% respectively. Conventional boiling caused drastic reduction in vitamin levels of loose milk samples. In comparison to this, UHT milk retained high levels of water soluble B-vitamins. Thus it could be envisaged that UHT treated milk provides better water soluble vitamins' nourishment than conventionally boiled milk

Brain death and related issues

Concerns about the erroneous diagnosis of death and premature burial have been expressed from times immemorial. Patients with brain stem death have absolutely no chance of recovery. brain death is considered at par with death in most of the countries. General public in most parts of the world shows reluctance to accept this concept due to different social, cultural and religious backgrounds and state of literacy and awareness. The criteria for the diagnosis of brain death have been established which include certain pre-conditions, exclusions and tests of the brain stem function. These criteria are universally accepted. The criteria in children are somewhat different from the adults. The subject is intimately related with organ transplantation. If the patient is registered as organ donor or the family consents, organs can be harvested from brain dead patients for transplantation. Pakistan is amongst the few countries where no legislation exists to accept brain death as being at par with death of an individual, and to facilitate and regulate, cadaveric organ donation and transplantation. This is a review Article