Molds on house walls and the effect of their chloroform-extractable metabolites on the respiratory cilia movement of one-day-old chicksin vitro

The ciliostatic activity of the chloroform-extractable endo- and exometabolites of 5 strains of filamentous fungi—Alternaria sp.,Aspergillus glaucus group,Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium sphœrospermum, Penicillium sp. andUlocladium sp.—isolated from molded walls of a dwelling—on tracheal cilia from 1-d-old chicksin vitro was evaluated. Endometabolites ofAlternaria sp. andA. versicolor and exometabolites ofUlocladium sp. were the most active, these extracts stopped the ciliary movement within 1 d. The results are discussed in relation to the health status of people living in “moldy” dwellings.     

Antifungal efficacy of bacteria isolated from marine sedentary organisms

The antibiotic-producing ability of 57 bacteria isolated from 8 marine sedentary organisms, 6 sponges (Spirastrella sp.,Phyllospongia sp.,Ircinia sp.,Aaptos sp.,Azorica sp.,Axinella sp.), 1 soft coral (Lobophytum sp.) and 1 alga (Sargassum sp.), was evaluated against 6 phytopathogenic fungi (Helminthosporium oryzae, Rhizoctonium solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus oryzae andA. fumigatus). Bacteria of the genusBacillus (20%),Pseudomonas (33%) andFlavobacterium (40%) were predominant among the heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the marine sponges, soft coral and alga, respectively. Bioassay results revealed that 36 (63%) bacterial isolates displayed antifungal activity against at least one fungus, the alga (Sargassum sp.) being the source of highest number (80%) of producer strains. Twelve bacterial isolates inhibited all fungi. The MIC of the organic extracts of 12 bacteria ranged from 0.3 to 22.8 mg/L.     

Screening of Korean marine plants for their inhibitory effect on histamine release from RPMCin vitro

Allergy, meaning ‘heightened reactivity’ of a host on being exposed to an antigen, is an immediate reaction which included anaphylaxis following contact with an antigen. An anaphylatic reaction is caused by the release of pharmacological mediators, like histamine, from mast cells. The potential anti-allergic activities of 27 seaweed and 19 salt marsh extracts collected from the coast of Korea were tested against the inhibition of histamine release in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). Among them, three salt marsh plants (Persicaria lapathifolia, Ixeris tamagawaensis, andSalsola komarovir) significantly showed more than 75% of inhibition of the histamine release at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and also three salt marsh (Messerschmidia sibirica, Rosa rugosa, andPortulaca oleraceae) and three seaweed (Colpomenia bullosa, Derbesia marina, andSargassum thunbergii) extracts exhibited moderately inhibition effects when compared to the control.     

Evaluation of antiserum raised againstPestalotiopsis theœ for the detection of grey blight of tea by ELISA

Polyclonal antiserum was raised against the mycelial extract ofPestalotiopsis theœ and immunoglobulin fractions were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, antiserum dilution up to 1∶16000 detected homologous antigen at a 5 mg/L concentration, and at 1∶125 antiserum dilution fungal antigens could be detected at a concentration as low as 25 μg/L. In fifteen varieties of tea tested, originating from Darjeeling, UPASI and Tocklai breeding stations, absorbance values of infected leaf extracts were significantly higher than those of healthy extracts at a concentration of 40 mg/L in indirect ELISA. ELISA-positive material was detected in tea leaves as early as 12 h after inoculation withP. theœ. At antiserum dilutions up to 1∶125, the pathogen could be detected in inoculated leaf extracts up to antigen concentration of 2 mg/L. The antiserum reacted with two other isolates ofP. theœ tested but not with the antigens from mycelial extracts ofGlomerella cingulata andCorticium invisum or with extracts of tea leaves inoculated with these pathogens. The results demonstrate that ELISA can be used for early detection ofP. theœ in leaf tissues even at a very low level of infection.     

STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF LYMPHOCYTE PRODUCTION IN THE MURINE THYMUS AND SOME EFFECTS OF A CRUDE THYMUS EXTRACT

Cell proliferation in the murine thymus was studied in vivo under normal conditions and from 0 to 24 hr after a single injection of a water-soluble extract from mouse thymus, mouse spleen, and mouse skin. The thymus extract reduced during the first 24 hr the mitotic activity 40%; the spleen extract had a weaker inhibitory effect. The skin extract had no such effect. The thymus extract and spleen extract inhibited the flux of cells into the S phase 0–8 hr after the injection of the extract. Initial labelling index was also reduced in this period. Eight hours after injection of the thymus or spleen extracts the inhibited cells initiated DNA synthesis. The rate of progression of blast cells through the cell cycle was normal 24 hr after the injection of the extracts. It was deduced from the analysis that the thymus extract inhibits processes triggering Go/Gi cells into DNA synthesis, the inhibition of G₂ efflux being of minor importance. Finally a model for the regulation of proliferating thymic blast cells and the emigration of small lymphocytes from the thymus is proposed.     

Adult response of the almond seed wasp,Eurytoma amygdali, to chemicals from its host and certain nonhosts

Females of the almond seed wasp,Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), responded in an olfactometer positively to odours from almond flowers and unripe fruits, but not to almond leaf odours and odours from flowers and unripe fruits of certain other nonhostPrunus species. Males responded to none of these odours. Extracts of undamaged unripe almond fruits (using ethanol, methanol, acetone, hexane, dichloromethane, or petroleum ether) stimulated female aggregation on glass surfaces treated with these extracts; in addition, certain fruit extracts (ethanol, methanol, or acetone) stimulated oviposition. Extracts of undamaged almond leaves (ethanol, methanol, or acetone) and flowers (ethanol or methanol) also stimulated female aggregation and oviposition. Aggregation and oviposition in response to an ethanol extract of almond fruits was intense in females aged 5 to 14 days and from 12∶00 to 18∶00h (photophase between 06∶00 and 20∶00). Certain almond fruit (ethanol, methanol, acetone or hexane) and flower extracts (ethanol or methanol) also provoked female response in the olfactometer. The results strongly suggest that certain chemical stimuli emanating from parts of the almond tree play a major role in host selection and oviposition. Some of the extracts tested may be a good source for the isolation, identification and synthesis of compounds stimulating attraction, aggregation and oviposition in nature. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A3414024 00003     

Predation of cotton leafworm first instar larvae,Alabama argillacea [Lep.: Noctuidae]

Natural predation first instar larvae of the cotton leafworm (CLW)A. argillacea was studied in cotton fields in Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, during 1986. The presence of naturally occurring arthropod predators showed a first instar larvae predation rate of 78.6 and 88.9% after 24 h and 48 h of exposure, respectively. A predator prey ratio of 1∶1 (1 CLW key predator per 1 prey/plant) maintained a level of no more than 1 CLW small larvae per plant. The most evident arthropod predators in the studied fields were: beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), antsPheidole sp. andConomyrma sp.;Dermaptera Doru lineare (Eschs);Hemiptera Geocoris sp., andOrius insidiosus Say; and the spidersTheridion volubile, Chrysso pulcherrima, Misumenops sp.,Chiracanthium sp., andOxyopes salticus Hentz.      

Antimicrobial activity of volatile component and various extracts ofEnteromorpha linza (Linnaeus) J. Agardh from the coast of Izmir, Turkey

The methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile components ofEnteromorpha linza were testedin vitro for their antimicrobial activity against five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria andCandida albicans ATCC 10239. GC-MS analysis of the volatile components ofE. linza resulted in the identification of 35 compounds which constituted 84.76% of the total compounds. The volatile components ofE. linza consisted of n-tetratriacontane (8.45%), 1-heptadecanamine (6.65%) and docosane (6.46%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts showed more potent antimicrobial activity than hexane and dichloromethane extracts. The volatile oils of these algae did not remarkably inhibit the growth of tested microorganisms.     

Isolation of antifungal compounds from someZygophyllum species and their bioassay against two soil-borne plant pathogens

Roots and aerial shoots ofZygophyllum coccineum L.,Z. album L. andZ. dumosum Boiss were extracted with solvents of increasing polarity and tested against spore germination ofVerticellium albo-atrum andFusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici. The effectiveness of each extract depends on the solvent, plant species, organ and test fungus. Petroleum ether extracts were ineffective as fungistatics while the methanol extracts possessed a high inhibitory effect toward spore germination suppression, depending on the fungus and plant species. Water or ethyl acetate root extracts ofZ. album caused a marked suppression of spore germination of the test fungi. Six saponins were isolated from the effective extracts on silica gel and Sephadex columns. They were identified by acid hydrolysis, alkaline saponification, IR and FAB MS. Quinovic acid was the dominant aglycone. Kaempferol was isolated from the flavonoid fraction ofZ. dumosum for the first time. Some of the isolated saponins and kaempferol provided successful control against the test plant pathogens under greenhouse experiment when used as seed treatment.     

Thermophilic methanogenesis from pectin by a mixed defined bacterial culture

Thermophilic degradation of pectin was studied in batch cultures at 55°C by different associations of anaerobic bacteria, includingClostridium thermocellum, Methanobacterium sp., andMethanosarcina sp.Clostridium thermocellum alone produced large amounts of methanol along with some isopropanol and H₂. The inoculation ofMethanobacterium sp. in the culture did not affect the metabolism ofC. thermocellum; this demonstrates the absence of interspecies hydrogen transfer. In the presence of the methylotrophicMethanosarcina sp., methanol was reduced to methane without effect on pectin hydrolysis; a small amount of the H₂ produced was also used to reduce methanol.     

Role of genital sex pheromones inAmblyomma americanum andA. maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Amblyomma americanum andA. maculatum were studied to determine if genital sex pheromones were present, as reported inDermacentor species. Chemical analysis of methanol extracts of the anterior reproductive tracts (source of the genital sex pheromone) ofA. americanum andA. maculatum confirmed the presence of the same fatty acids that act as components of the genital sex pheromone inDermacentor variabilis andD. andersoni. In bothAmblyomma species, removal of the anterior reproductive-tract of fed females eliminated the male copulatory response. ForA. americanum, use of anterior reproductive tract extracts made with water, methanol, ether and hexane elicited significant probing and copulatory responses by conspecific males. However, inA. maculatum, use of anterior reproductive-tract extracts made with water, methanol, ether, chloroform: methanol (41), hexane and pentane did not restore mating response by males. Treatment with known components ofDermacentor genital sex pheromones elicited weak but significant responses inA. americanum, but did not restore male mating responses inA. maculatum. These results indicate that genital sex pheromones exist inA. americanum and are not restricted to the genusDermacentor. Characteristics of theAmblyomma genital sex pheromone, however, do differ considerably from those inDermacentor. No genital sex pheromone was present inA. maculatum.     

Bioactive compounds in seaweed: functional food applications and legislation

Seaweed is more than the wrap that keeps rice together in sushi. Seaweed biomass is already used for a wide range of other products in food, including stabilising agents. Biorefineries with seaweed as feedstock are attracting worldwide interest and include low-volume, high value-added products and vice versa. Scientific research on bioactive compounds in seaweed usually takes place on just a few species and compounds. This paper reviews worldwide research on bioactive compounds, mainly of nine genera or species of seaweed, which are also available in European temperate Atlantic waters, i.e. Laminaria sp., Fucus sp., Ascophyllum nodosum, Chondrus crispus, Porphyra sp., Ulva sp., Sargassum sp., Gracilaria sp. and Palmaria palmata. In addition, Undaria pinnatifida is included in this review as this is globally one of the most commonly produced, investigated and available species. Fewer examples of other species abundant worldwide have also been included. This review will supply fundamental information for biorefineries in Atlantic Europe using seaweed as feedstock. Preliminary selection of one or several candidate seaweed species will be possible based on the summary tables and previous research described in this review. This applies either to the choice of high value-added bioactive products to be exploited in an available species or to the choice of seaweed species when a bioactive compound is desired. Data are presented in tables with species, effect and test organism (if present) with examples of uses to enhance comparisons. In addition, scientific experiments performed on seaweed used as animal feed are presented, and EU, US and Japanese legislation on functional foods is reviewed.     

Free and bound magnesium in fungi and yeasts

The content of total, bound and osmotically free magnesium was estimated in various fungi and in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Total magnesium increases at lower growth rates ofEndomyces magnussi andPenicillium chrysogenum 140A as well as during the logarithmic stage of growth ofPenicillium chrysogenum Q-176. The binding of magnesium requires orthophosphate, decreasing during lack of external phosphate when the intracellular concentration of free magnesium rises. The fungi were found to contain a novel form of bound magnesium, a polymeric magnesium orthophosphate (PO_Mg), which appears to take part in the control of free magnesium level inPenicillium chrysogenum Q-176. The level of free magnesium is proportional to the growth rate ofEndomyces magnusii andPenicillium chrysogenum Q-176 and 140A. Total, as well as free, magnesium changes less than three-fold as external Mg concentration is changed 13,000-fold. The magnesium up against concentration gradients of 1∶25 to 1∶1300, the metal being distributed non-uniformation the cells ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Effect of metabolites ofAspergillus niger andTrichoderma viride on development and structure of radicle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings

Both the volume and concentration of filtrate ofAspergillus niger andTrichoderma viride influenced the development of the radicles of cocoa seedlings. Radicles placed in Petri dishes containing filter paper moistened with 20 and 30 ml of undiluted filtrate and filtrate dilutions of 1∶1 and 1∶2 failed to develop lateral roots and eventually died. The culture filtrate ofA. niger was more repressive. Radicles in the same volume of filtrate (20 and 30 ml) of higher dilutions (1∶5 and 1∶10) developed lateral roots and survived. Radicles placed in less volume (≤10 ml) survived and produced lateral roots irrespective of concentration of filtrates. Development of the radicles and roots in the control was consistently better (P=0.05) than in filtrate solutions of eitherA. niger orT. viride. The hypocotyls of seedlings under the influence of metabolites ofA niger showed greater cambial activity and formed xylem vessels and tracheids with larger lumina.     

Studies on the regulation of lymphocyte production in the murine thymus and some effects of a crude thymus extract.

Cell proliferation in the murine thymus was studied in vivo under normal conditions and from 0 to 24 hr after a single injection of a water-soluble extract from mouse thymus, mouse spleen, and mouse skin. The thymus extract reduced during the first 24 hr the mitiotic activity 40%; the spleen extract had a weaker inhibitory effect. The skin extract had no such effect. The thymus extract and spleen extract inhibited the flux of cells into the S phase 0-8 hr after the injection of the extract. Initial labelling index was also reduced in this period. Eight hours after injection of the thymus or spleen extracts the inhibited cells initiated DNA synthesis. The rate of progression of blast cells through the cell cycle was normal 24 hr after the injection of the extracts. It was deduced from the analysis that the thymus extract inhibits processes triggering G0/G1 cells into DNA synthesis, the inhibition of G2 efflux being of minor importance. Finally a model for the regulation of proliferating thymic blast cells and the emigration of small lymphocytes from the thymus is proposed.     

Potential of marine lactic acid bacteria to ferment Sargassum sp. for enhanced anticoagulant and antioxidant properties

Aim

To evaluate the suitability of marine lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as starter cultures for Sargassum sp. fermentation to enhance its antioxidant and anticoagulation activity.

Methods and Results

LAB isolated from marine source were characterized for their ability to utilize seaweed as a sole carbon source and applied to Sargassum fermentation. Fermentation period was optimized by monitoring the fermented sample at regular interval for a period of 18 days. Results revealed that a fermentation period of 12 days was effective with maximum culture viability and other desirable characteristics such as pH, total titratable acidity, total and reducing sugars. Under optimum fermentation period, the sample fermented with P1‐2CB‐w1 (Enterococcus faecium) exhibited maximum anticoagulation activity and antioxidant activity.

Conclusions

The study reveals a novel well‐defined starter culture from marine origin intended for seaweed fermentation for recovery of bioactive molecules.

Significance and Impact of the study

The study provides information for the enhancement of bioactive molecules in an eco‐friendly manner and also paves a way towards the development of wide range of seaweed functional foods.     

Interaction of Mercuric Ions with Different Marine Algal Species

The use of different seaweeds such as Sargassum sp., Turbinaria conoides, and Ulva sp. in removing mercury(II) from aqueous solutions were investigated. The initial experimental runs, conducted at different equilibrium pH conditions, demonstrated that brown seaweeds outperformed green seaweed in Hg(II) biosorption at all pH conditions. In particular, at pH 5, maximum biosorption capacities of 170.3 and 145.8 mg/g were recorded for the brown seaweeds T. conoides and Sargassum sp., respectively, compared with 138.4 mg/g for the green seaweed Ulva sp. Isotherm data were modeled and interpreted using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Toth models, with the latter described the Hg(II) isotherms with high correlation coefficients and low % error values. The kinetic data indicate the rapidity of the biosorption process, with the equilibrium achieved within 90 min. Several models, including the Elovich, pseudo-first-order, and pseudo-second-order models, were examined for their suitability with the present data; the correlation coefficient and % error values, along with better prediction of equilibrium uptake values, favored the pseudo-first-order model. The desorption experiments were highly successful for T. conoides biomass with 0.05 M HCl, whereas for the other two seaweeds, 0.05 M HCl resulted in high biomass weight loss. Reusing T. conoides biomass in three successive sorption-desorption cycles resulted in only 8.8% reduction in Hg(II) biosorption capacity compared with its original uptake.     

Antifungal activity of some marine organisms from India,against food spoilage Aspergillus strains

Crude aqueous methanol extracts obtained from 31 species of various marine organisms (including flora land faunal), were screened for their antifungal activity against food poisoning strains of Aspergillus. Seventeen species exhibited mild (+ =zone of inhibition 1–2 mm) to significant (+++ =zone of inhibition 3–5 mm) activity against one or the other strain under experiment. However, extracts of 12 species were active against all the three strains. Organisms like Salicornia brachiata(obligate halophyte), Sinularia leptocladus(Soft coral), Elysia grandifolia (Mollusks),Gorgonian sp. 2 and Haliclona sp. exhibited significant (inhibition zone of 3–5 mm) antifungal activity against one or the other strains. However,extracts of A. ilicifolius, Amphiroa sp.,Poryphyra sp., Unidentified sponge, Suberites vestigium, Sinularia compressa,Sunularia sp., Sinularia maxima, Subergorgia suberosa, Echinogorgia pseudorassopo and Sabellaria cementifera were mild (inhibition zone of 1–2 mm) to moderate(inhibition zone of 2–3 mm) active against the respective strains. The growth of A. japonicuswas significantly inhibited by the extracts ofS. leptocladus (r = 0.992, p < 0.0001)and E. grandifolia (r = 0.989, p < 0.0001).This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cadmium Interaction with Microalgal Cells,Cyanobacterial Cells,and Seaweeds; Toxicology and Biotechnological Potential for Wastewater Treatment

The accumulation of cadmium (Cd) by Tetraselmis chuii and Spirulina maxima was studied with dead and growing cells. Results indicated that the 2 microorganisms accumulated Cd by 2 different means according to the mechanisms involved—metabolism-dependent or metabolism-independent sorption. The mechanism involved in Cd accumulation on Tetraselmis chuii was restricted to surface phenomena, while in Spirulina maxima, Cd was accumulated on different layers of the cyanobacterium surface. In order to select a suitable immobilization support for the cells, several seaweeds were tested. Two types of seaweed were selected for experiments, using a small continuous pilot unit: Sargassum sp., a strong Cd adsorber, and Ulva sp., a poor one. The column reactors of the continuous system were filled with the algal supports and covered with dense microbial biofilms of Tetraselmis chuii or Spirulina maxima. The results obtained proved the success of the association between living microbial cells and dead seaweeds for operation of the continuous system.