Preparation of bioindicators for controlling the efficacy of sterilization processes

A test microbe for the control of the efficacy of vacuum steam sterilization was selected. Conditions for the spore cultivation were developed. The optimal bioindicator composition, test microbe loading, nutrient medium, pH indicator, carbohydrates and a carrier were defined.     

Effects of oxymethacil on microcirculation and neuronal impulse activity in the cat cerebral cortex in acute fosfakol poisoning]

By using the methods of vital microscopy and extracellular registration of the neuronal activity the effect of oxymethacil (OM) on microcirculation and NSA in cat brain cortex was studied after grave poisoning by organophosphate paraoxon. The rapid depression of NSA together with the pronounced disturbances of microcirculation in cortical vessels were showed after intravenous injection of paraoxon (0.8 mg/kg). The prophylactic injection of OM (5 mg/kg) induced protective effect on the studied parameters. This effect was more pronounced when OM injection was combined with the M-cholinolytic amyzyl. The present data show the reasonableness of antioxidants using for the correction of a brain functional condition damaged by organophosphates.     

Electrogenicity at the donor/acceptor sides of cyanobacterial photosystem I

To study electrogenesis the photosystem I particles fromSynechococcus elongatus were incorporated into asolectin liposomes, and fast kinetics of laser flash-induced electric potential difference generation has been measured by a direct electrometric method in proteoliposomes adsorbed on a phospholipid-impregnated collodion film. The photoelectric response has been found to involve three electrogenic stages associated with (i) iron-sulfur center F_x reduction by the primary electron donor P700, (ii) electron transfer between iron-sulfur centers F_x and F_A/F_B, and (iii) reduction of photo-oxidized P700⁺ by reduced cytochromec ₅₅₃. The relative magnitudes of phases (ii) and (iii) comprised about 20% of phase (i).     

Photoelectric effects in bacterial chromatophores. Comparison of spectral and direct electrometric methods

Generation of photoelectric potential in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides has been measured (i) spectrophotometrically, using electrochromic shift of carotenoid absorption band or (ii) electrometrically, by means of two electrodes separated by a collodion film covered on one side with chromatophores. A 15 ns laser flash was used to induce a single turnover of photosynthetic reaction centers. It was found that results obtained by both methods are similar in (i) direction of electric vector (the chromatophore interior positive) and (ii) redox titration curves (E_m = 10mV). The magnitudes of the photopotential were about 60 and 25 mV, when monitored with spectral and electrometric techniques, respectively. In both cases, the rise times of the photopotentials were faster than time resolution of the techniques used. Decay of the response of carotenoids was found to be slower than that in the collodion film system. The addition of ubiquinone Q₁₀ into the decane solution of asolectin used to impregnate the collodion film led to slowing down of the decay. The carotenoid response decay could be accelerated by FCCP or o-phenanthroline. In the latter case, the shape of the decay curve coincides with decay of the photopotential measured in the collodion film system. It is suggested that decane extracts secondary ubiquinone from chromatophores attached to the collodion film. Such an unfavorable effect can be strongly decreased by added ubiquinone     

Quantitative estimation of poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid in some oligotrophic polyprosthecate bacteria

Quantitative estimation of poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) was done in three representative genera of polyprosthecate bacteria:Labrys monachus, Prosthecomicrobium hirschii, Stella vacuolata. The highest PHB content, up to 28% of the dry biomass matter (independent of growth phase), was found inS. vacuolata. Bacteria of generaLabrys andProsthecomicrobium produce 26% and 23% less PHB, respectively, and show a PHB accumulaton dependence on growth phase. The possible reasons of PHB accumulation by oligotrophic polyprosthecate bacteria are discussed.