ABSTRACT
Background: The presence of pharmaceuticals at low concentrations [ng to micro g] in the environment has become a hot spot for researchers in the past decades due to the unknown environmental impact and the possible damages they might have to the plantae and fauna present in the aquatic systems, as well as to the other living organisms
Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to develop a bacterial consortium isolated from different origins to evaluate the ability of such a consortium to remove a mixture of pharmaceuticals in the batch system at lab scale, as well as assessment of its resistance to the other micropollutants present in the environment
Material and Methods: Using a closed bottle test, biodegradation of the mixed pharmaceuticals including Diclofenac [DCF], Ibuprofen [IBU], and Sulfamethoxazole [SMX] [at a concentration of 3 mg.L[-1] of each drug] by the bacterial consortium was investigated. The test was carried out under metabolic [pharmaceutical was used as the sole source of carbon] and co-metabolic condition [in the presence of glucose]. Finally, the ability of the bacterial consortium to resist other micropollutants like antibiotics and heavy metals was investigated
Results: Under the metabolic condition, the mixed bacteria [i.e., consortium] were able to metabolize 23.08% and 9.12% of IBU, and DCF at a concentration of 3 mg.L[-1] of each drug, respectively. Whereas, in co-metabolic conditions, IBU was eliminated totally, in addition, 56% of the total concentration of DCF was removed, as well. In both metabolic and cometabolic conditions, removal of SMX was not observed. The selected bacteria were able to resist to most of the applied antibiotics and the used heavy metals, except mercury, where only one strain [S4] was resistant to the later heavy metal
Conclusion: Results suggest that the developed consortium might be an excellent candidate for the application in the bioremediation process for treating ecosystems contaminated with the pharmaceutical
Subject(s)
Diclofenac , Ibuprofen , Sulfamethoxazole , Biodegradation, EnvironmentalABSTRACT
Background: For biotechnological application, selected lactic acid bacteria strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus [Lb] are proposed as an alternative to the antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of urogenital tract infections
Objectives: Isolating and selecting vaginal lactobacilli strains for probiotic use based on their technological and probiotic aptitudes
Materials and Methods: The vaginal isolates were examined for their essential characteristics as the potential probiotic such as low pH tolerance, bile-salt and simulated human intestinal fluid [SIF] resistance, adhesion to the vaginal epithelial cells [VECs], aggregation and coaggregation, surface hydrophobicity, antimicrobial activity, acid production, antibiotic resistance, and resistance to spermicides. The best strain was identified by PCR
Results: From 70 lactobacilli isolates and according to the 16 rDNA sequences, isolates B6 and B10 showed the closest homology [99%] to the Lb. gasseri and Lb. plantarum respectively. They produced hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]], tolerant to acid, bile, simulated human intestinal fluid, present a strong adhesion, highest percentages of aggregation, and antibacterial activity. These strains are resistant to the spermicide and actively acidify the growth medium
Conclusions: Strains Lb. plantarum B10 and Lb. gasseri B6 have a strong potential probiotic confirming their value as a tool for prevention against urinary and vaginal infections
ABSTRACT
The ability of [20] bacterial isolates of the genus Pseudomonas isolates was tested to produce biosurfactant using crude oil as carbon source. P.aeruginosa RB28 was selected for its high ability to produce biosurfactant. The optimal conditions for production of biosurfactant from RB 28 strain were studied, the results showed that sunflower oil [4%], urea [6g/l], Mg[++] [0.5g/I], Fe[++] [0.008 g/1], Ca[++] [0.05g/l], pH 7.0 and temperature between 30-34 °C after 60 hours of incubation. The maximum production of rharnnolipid [7g/l] was obtained after using these optimum conditions