Water - borne vibrio in some sources of fresh water in Sohag Governorate

Fresh water collected from Sohag Governorate, Middle Egypt, was weekly tested for the presence of Vibrio cholerae. The temporal relationship among V. cholerae levels found in water and the incidence of fresh water-associated Vibrio illness with onset dates in 1995 among persons living in the counties located adjacent to or near Sohag City were investigated. Vibrio cholerae was detected in 70 different water samples. More than one Vibrio species per water sample were also recorded. Collected Vibrio species were absent in 6.5% of the analyzed samples

Incidence of listeria monocytogenes in Egyptian sausage [sogok]

Seventy five brands of sogok obtained from Upper, Middle and Lower Egypt local markets were examined for their total mesophilic microorganisms using aerobic plate count [APC] and for the presence of Listeria spp. by inoculating the samples into UMV broth and transferring the homogenates into Fraser broth, the presumptive samples were confirmed on modified [MOX] agar, blood agar plates, production of catalase and the CAMP test were done on blood agar against Staphylococcus aureus and Rhodococcus equi NCTC 162. Listeria spp. Were found in 27 [out of 75] samples and Listeria monocytogenes in 14 [out of 75] brands tested. The only other recorded species of Listeria was L. innocua. A prior outbreak of listeriosis from the consumption of nonreheated meat, together with the data presented herein, indicates that there is a potential foodborne hazards in consuming uncooked sogok or in cross-contamination of other food from handling sogok package

Purification and properties of proteolytic enzyme[s] from bacillus licheniformis, G-19 growing on wheat straw using solid state fermentation

Solid state fermentation was used for the production of proteolytic enzyme[s] by Bacillus licheniformis G-19 while incubated in the open air [at room temperature] The partial purification methods were achieved by filtration, dialysis and precipitation with ammonium sulfate The partially purified enzyme was purified 28.5 folds by fractionation by column chromatography on sephadex G-200 The purified enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 6.8 [using phosphate buffer 0.2 M] and at 50COn the other hand, enzyme activity was inhibited in the presence of Cu2+ and Co2+ at certain levels, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ had an activating effectThe amino acids composition of the purified enzyme was also determined

Heterofermentative Lactobacillus spp from Aswan's grape vines

Twenty-six typical heterofermentative strains of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Aswanese grape vines were identified with the aid of API 5O CHI system and by the analysis of the computerized comparative data of their total soluble cell protein patterns using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Ten strains were identified as Lactobacillus hiulgardii, eight as L. brevis, five as L. buchneri, two as L. Viridescens and only one strain as L. cellobiosus. Three strains of L. buchneri, four of L. hiulgardii, two of L. Brevis and one strain of L. viridescens produced H2S in peptone water supplemented with 0.01% cysteine. All strains produced mannitol from fructose and thus described heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Proteolytic activity was detected in all strains capable of digesting gelatine and also hydrolyzed casein. All strains except those of L. Viridescens decarboxylated L-malic acid to L-lactic acid

Microbial Enzyme from raw bagasse and utilization of the end-product as a biosorbent

Sugar cane waste [bagasse] has been fermented under aerobic conditions using strains related to Serrata sp., Bacillus sp. Saccharomyces sp. and the total microflora of raw bagasse itself. Lipase, alpha- amylase, protease and cellulase were detected and estimated as a result of the microbial activities on raw bagasse. The waste produced after fermentation of the fermented bagasse exhibited higher capacity to remove zinc and copper from waste water, than the non-fermented raw bagasse. The results obtained is an indication for possibility to use the fermented bagasse in the process of industrial waste water treatment

Constitutive lipase [s] from Thermophilic fungi isolated from mud and water samples collected from Aswan High Dam Lake[AHDl]

Twelve strains of thermophilic fungi isolated from mud and water samples of Aswan High Dam Lake [AHDL] were screened for their lipase[s] production. Four strains exhibited the highest lipolytic productivities, thus chosen for studying some factors affecting lipase[s] productivities. Maximum lipase[s] productivities simultaneously with mycelial dry weights were recorded for the four strains on 6th day of incubation at 45 degrees. Lack of lipid material in the production medium did not inhibit lipase[s] synthesis which refers to their constitutive nature. The present fungal lipases were able to hydrolyze both natural and synthetic glycerides. They were particularly active within a temperature range of 45-50 degrees and a pH range of 5.5-6.5. The involvement of the present fungi in the formation of milk products, butter flavors in food products and even in spoilage of groundnuts during storage is suggested

suggested new formula for the treatment of microbial biodeterioration occurring in Tutankhamen Tomb and similar antiquities objects

Since the discovery of Tutankhamen tomb [TAT] in 1922, no serious trial has been ever made in order to find out a solution for the recorded browny spots distributed on almost all wall-paintings and decorations inside TAT. Any ex-data concerning the treatment of biodeterioration inside TAT was very limited, incomplete and unpublished. In this investigation, a real trial was made in order to create a new chemotherapeutic compound formula to stop completely any biodeterioration inside TAT for 5 years. All the microflora of the tomb were isolated from 20 different samples on various 7 agar media under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A total of 129 microbial strains [43 aerobes and 86 anaerobes] were selected as representatives of all microflora of TAT obtained from the 20 samples collected. The 129 strains were categorized into 3 main groups i.e. 93 bacteria [72.1%], 31 fungi [24%] and 5 actinomycetes [3.9%]. Yeast cells were not recorded. The standard inoculum of TAT micro-flora-to be used against the antiseptic agents used-contained a mixture of bacteria [15], fungi [7] and actinomycetes [1] in a tou 1 of 23 to be suspended into a saline sterile solution used as the stocK inoculum. Standard solutions of 8 antiseptic agents in 3 organic solvents were used. The test solutions were introduced into the cup plates containing nutrient agar seeded with the standard inoculum. Incubation was carried out in the open air under no sterile conditions for one week at the end of which mean diameters [mm] of inhibition zones were calculated. Two substances exerted the best and highest antiseptic effects viz. Dichloroxylenol [D] in acetone and Povidone-iodine [PI] in ethanol. A study on the combinations of D and PI in the presence and absence of other antiseptic agents in a total of 44 combinations revealed the fact that the best one is that composed of D [1.22%] and PI [7%]. For the purpose of preparing the new D-PI-formula in the form of a spray, two mixtures were prepared, first composed of D [24.49%] in acetone [750 ml] and PI [140 g] in ethanol [250 ml] and second composed of propane [15%] and butane [85%]. A known weight [g] of the first mixture was introduced first into an aerosol can [e.g. 300 ml cap.] and an equivalent weight [g] was pushed automatically into the same can to be mixed to form the new formula of D-P1 spray. Because the use of D PI spray is so easy under no sterile conditions, its preparation is simple, its validity and availability, its strong inhibitory effects well as it has no effects on wall paintings and colours, it is to lieved that D-P1 spray could be applied fairly in the treatment of microbial biodeterioration inside TAT in partical and that of other antiquities objects in general

Air microflora inside Khufu Pyramid in the absence and presence of 1500 visitors

An investigation concerning the microflora of the air inside Khufu Pyramid on 11th of Sept., 1990 before [at 8.0 AM] and during [at 12, 30 PM] the visit of 1500 visitors was carried out. Means of total viable bacterial [TVB] counts in the morning [before visit] were: 14 [in Queen room; Q], 16 [in Corridor; C] and 12 [in King room, K] corresponding to 25, 106 and 104 colonies per plate with an increase of 1.8, 6.6 and 8.7 folds respectively [during visit]. At the meantime; TVB outside pyramid recorded > 300 colonies per one plate. Fungal colonies in the morning were: 2 [Q], 5 [C] and 3 [K] corresponding to 6, 15 and 7 with an increase of 3, 3 and 2.3 folds respectively during visit. Actinomycetes were 1 [Q], 1 [C] and 5 [K] before visit corresponding to 2, 22 and 15 with an increase of 2, 22 and 3 folds respectively during visit. In order to minimize the microbial contamination inside ancient antiquities places, it is recommended to control both the number of visitors per each visit and lengthen the interval in between each two subsequent visits for the same ancient object

Cholesterol decomposing microorganisms isolated from some human skin microflora

An agarized medium with a uniform distribution of cholesterol was prepared and the ability of some human skin microflora to grow on it was tested. One of them was considered as the most potent according to its ability to decompose cholesterol as the sole source of carbon, and hence was chosen for further study. It was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, 69. The influence of temperature, incubation period, shaking and phosphate concentration on cholesterol decomposition were investigated. Optimum temperature and pH for cholesterol decomposition were 37C and 6.6 after 12 days at 120 rpm in a medium containing 0.2 M phosphate buffer and 0.15% [w/v] cholesterol

Isolation and identification of some osmothermophilic bacteria from the salty soils of Aswan

Nineteen bacterial strains were isolated form ten samples representatives of salty soils of Aswan. Most strains exhibited good growth within a relatively wide range of NaCl concentration [0-25%] at a relatively high incubation temperature [45-55C]. Three strains demonstrated strictly halophilic behaviour with no growth in media devoid of NaCl. All strains [except No.16] exhibited the ability to grow in the presence of high concentrations [60%] of sucrose. Plate counts obtained at different incubation temperatures and at different NaCl concentrations were compared with some physico-chemical properties of the representative soil samples. Fourteen strains were identified as members of the genus Bacillus, two strains were belonging to the genus Micrococus and three strains could not be identified [pleomorphic, Gm-ve, Non-spore forming halophiles]. All strains were sensitive to streptomycin although they exhibited different potentialities of enzyme systems

novel obligate halo-thermophilic bacterium from Egyptian soils

An extreme halophilic thermophilic bacterium was isolated from an Egyptian soil. It is pigmented, pleomorphic, Gram negativer rods. It grows well at an optimum concentration of 25-30% NaCl with a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 35% NaCl. The optimum temperature for growth is 45 degrees. The organism is suggestive of being belonging to the genus Halobacterium, while distinguished from the currently recognized species, since it is an obligate requiring casein and/or casamino acids for growth; it is able to hydrolyase starch; it is unable to grow on the standard medium which support the growth of many isolates of the halobacteriaceae; it is susceptible to nitrofurantoin and it is resistant to all the tested antibiotics. On the basis of its obligacy for casein and/or casamino acids as well as its thermophilic nature. It was suggested to be a novel strain belonging to the genus halobacterium

Purification and some properties of uricase from aspergillus flavus S-79

The work in this paper is concerned with the purification and properties of uricase from local Aspergillus flavus, S-79 isolated from an Egyptian soil. Purification by gel-filtration through a series of Sephadex G 200-120 and G 200 columns was tested by agarose gel electrophoresis. A specific activity of 0.144 units/mg protein was obtained [288-fold increase]. The purified uricase was found most active at PH 9.2, in 0.1 m borate buffer and at 37 C. The activity of this uricase was completely inhibited by sulphate of Zn2+ [50 mu g/ml] but sulphates of Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+ and Co2+ were stimulatory at 50 mu g/ml. Cobalt sulphate was the best activator, at 50 mu g/ml. Cobalt sulphate was the best activator, at 50 mu g/ml but not at 100 mu g/ml. However, 10 mu g/ml was stimulatory than 50 mu g/ml

Two isoenzymes of a new thermostable Amylase from the obligate thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus, LN 90

Amylase of an obligate thermophilic Bacillus stearo-thermophilus L.N. 90 was purified from the cell free filtrate of the culture previously grown at 55C by ethanol precipitation and fractionation on Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The enzyme was purified 28 fold with 48% yield. The purified enzyme exhibited a maximal activity at pH 5.8 using phosphate buffer and optimum temperature of 55C. The enzyme was also sensitive to high concentration of the substrate. Both C2+ and Mg2+ relatively activated the enzyme, whereas Pb2+, Zn2+ and Li+ exhibited no effect. Ag2+, Sn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, and KCN exerted 100% inhibition, whereas Co2+, Hg2+, Ni2+ and arsenate exerted only 10, 17, 9 and 40% inhibition, respectively. The molecular weight of purified thermostable amylase was found to be 11,220 as determined by the polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis technique. Data of the HPLC spectrum of the purified amylase[s] resulted in having 2 distint peaks with two different retention times/min. Viz. 10.40 and 11.30 indicating the presence of two isoenzymes [I and II]. Amylase I resembles amylase II in all amino acid composition except in its leucine content which gives another criterion to the phenomenon of multienzymes [isoenzymes] biosynthesized by the same strain acting amultaneously on the same substrate. Data indicate also that the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique is less effective than that of the HPLC

Uricolytic streptomyces albogriseolus from an Egyptian soil I Taxonomy and uricase production and properties

The aim of the present study was to get uricase [s] potentially produced by an Egyptian soil acinomycete identified as Streptomyces albogriseolus. Estimation of uricase was carried out spectrophotometrically at 293. Optimal factors affecting uricase production were : uric acid concentration, 0.1% [w/v]; yeast-extract exhibited no stimulatory effect, Agitation at 200 r.p.m. increased the yield within 48 hr. which is the optimum incubation period; inoculum size, 2 ml; phosphate buffer [pH 7.0], 0.04 M; incubation temperature, 30§C; maximum uricase yield is not a function of cell growth; addition of nicotinic acid, folic acid and riboflavin exerted an obvious inhibitory effect while ascorbic acid, thiamine and pyridoxin exerted a little stimulatory effect; glucose concentration, 3% [w/v]. Studying factors affecting the activity of the crude uricase preparation resulted in the following optimal values: borate buffer, pH 9.0; uric acid concentration, 10 and micro g/ml; Optimum temperature, 30§C; incubation time of the reaction mixture, 30 min. A suggestion for the present uricase production under pilot scale fermentation was introduced and the possible application of the enzyme in uric acid serum determination was also indicated

Partial purification and properties of penicillium chrysogenum lipase

A purification procedure of Penicillium chrysogenum S-J5 lipase was developed. The purification process has been achieved by dialysis, precipitation with ammonium sulfate, gel-filtration [sephadex G-200 employed] techniques associated with T.C.Z. "Tributyrin-clearing zone", assay resulted in 14 purification folds with a maximum specific activity of 108.83 mu g Lipase/mg protein. The purified enzyme preparation showed optimal activity at pH 8.8 using tris-HCI buffer at 0.2% tributyrin [Substrate] concentration. Some ions caused activation of this enzyme viz. K+ [1-103ppm], Li+ [1-103ppm], Co++ [1 ppm], Mn++ [1 and 10 ppm] and Fe+++ [1 ppm]. Other ions caused inhibition viz. Cu++ 1-103 ppm], Fe+++ [10-103ppm], Co++ [101- 103ppm], Sb++ [1-103ppm], Ca++ [101-103ppm] Mn++ [100-103ppm]. The effect of certain commercial market drugs on the activity of the purified preparation enzyme resulted in a stimulatory effect of chloramphenicol [0.08 and 0.1% dose]. Sulphadiazine, streptomycin and salicylic acid exhibited no effect. Analgine, sulpha guanidine and tetracycline showed inhibitory effects