Bioactivity of Microencapsulated Cell-Free Supernatant of Streptococcus thermophilus in Combination with Thyme Extract on Food-Related Bacteria.

The bioactive properties of the combination of microencapsulated cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptococcus thermophilus and thyme extract on food-related bacteria (Photobacterium damselae, Proteus mirabilis, Vibrio vulnificus, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, and Salmonella Paratyphi A NCTC13) were investigated. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus, in combination with ethanolic thyme extract, had a particle size in the range of 1.11 to 11.39 µm. The microencapsulated CFS of S. thermophilus had a wrinkled, spherical form. In the supernatant, especially at 2% (v/w), the thyme extract additive caused a decrease in the wrinkled form and a completely spherical structure. A total of 11 compounds were determined in the cell-free supernatant of S. thermophilus, and acetic acid (39.64%) and methyl-d3 1-dideuterio-2-propenyl ether (10.87%) were the main components. Thyme extract contained seven components, the main component being carvacrol at 67.96% and 1,2,3-propanetriol at 25.77%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the inhibition zones of the extracts on bacteria. The inhibitory effect of thyme extract on bacteria varied between 25.00 (P. damselae) and 41.67 mm (V. vulnificus). Less antibacterial activity was shown by the microencapsulated CFS from S. thermophilus compared to their pure form. (p < 0.05). As a result, it was found that microencapsulated forms of CFS from S. thermophilus, especially those prepared in combination with 2% (v/w) thyme extract, generally showed higher bioactive effects on bacteria.

The discovery of Lepeophtheirus lichiae Barnard, 1948 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on leerfish, Lichia amia (Linnaeus) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Lepeophtheirus lichiae Barnard, 1948 (Copepoda: Caligidae), a very rare and poorly known sea louse, is redescribed based on a single newly collected female. The specimen was collected from the dorsal body surface of the leerfish, Lichia amia (Linnaeus) caught in north-eastern Mediterranean waters off the Turkish coast. The original and only available description of L. lichiae was incomplete and with only three illustrations: the dorsal view of the female habitus, the sternal furca, and the postantennal process. Here, we present a full re-description of female of L. lichiae and report it from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.

The re-discovery of Caligus lichiae Brian, 1906 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two carangid fishes in the Mediterranean Sea, and the recognition of Caligus aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921 as a junior subjective synonym.

The caligid copepod Caligus lichiae Brian, 1906 is redescribed based on new material collected from the type-host, Lichia amia (Linnaeus), and from a second carangid, Seriola dumerili (Risso), both caught in the Gulf of Iskenderun, Turkey. Key diagnostic characters of both sexes are reported, supported by drawings and scanning electron microscopy images. Despite the commercial importance of its type-host, L. amia, C. lichiae has not been reported since its original description. After detailed comparison with recent descriptions of Caligus aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921, commonly found on S. dumerili, we recognise these two species as conspecific and propose to relegate C. aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921 to a junior subjective synonym of C. lichiae Brian, 1906. Caligus lichiae is a member of the C. confusus group of species and an identification key to species in this group is provided.

The discovery of Lepeophtheirus acutus Heegaard, 1943 (Copepoda: Caligidae) from two new elasmobranch hosts in the Mediterranean Sea, and a comparative redescription of Lepeophtheirus rhinobati Luque, Chaves et Cezar, 1998.

In this study, supplementary information on the morphology of the siphonostomatoid copepod Lepeophtheirus acutus Heller, 1865 is given based on new material collected from the ventral body surface and mouth cavity of common guitarfish, Rhinobatos rhinobatos (Linnaeus) and from the branchial cavity of bull ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) caught in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey. This is the first report of L. acutus from Mediterranean waters. Key diagnostic characters of both sexes are reported, supported by light and scanning electron microscopy observations. In addition, Lepeophtheirus rhinobati Luque, Chaves et Cezar, 1998, which is closely related to L. acutus and has been reported from the same host genus, Rhinobatos, is reexamined based on paratypes stored in the collections of the United States National Museum of Natural History. Some of the key diagnostic characters which were incompletely known or lacking in the original description of both sexes of L. rhinobati are redescribed and/or presented for the first time.