Crassiflorone, a new naphthoquinone from Diospyros crassiflora (Hien)

A new naphthoquinone, 11-hydroxy-1,9-dimethyl-6H-naphtho[2′,3′:4,5]furo[3,2-c]chromene-6,7,12-trione, named crassiflorone, was isolated from the stem bark of Diospyros crassiflora together with the known compounds plumbagin, cyclocanaliculatin, gerberinol, lupeol, lupenone and betulinic acid. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, as well as co-TLC with authentic samples. Some of the above compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeasts.     

The use of a radiation inactivation method for characterization of the structure and catalytic properties of enzymes

The use of a radiation inactivation method for studies of the properties of enzymes of different classes is discussed. The possibilities of characterization of enzymes on the basis of the radiation-chemical parameters concerned are described.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No, 12, pp. 2828–2836, December, 1996.     

己酸菌的自然选育及其生物学特性的初步研究

从大曲酒窖池底泥中分离到一株产己酸量较高的菌株.经初步鉴定，应归于梭状芽抱杆菌属，很可能是克氏梭状芽抱杆菌( Clostridium kluyveri ).其最适生长温度35'C最适pH为7.。左右.最适酵母提取物浓度在生长时为100、产酸时为0.100，乙醇浓度在100-4%范围内对生长和产酸影响不大·在醋酸钠培养基中生长10天，己酸产量最高可达380mg/100m1.这一菌株的获得为白酒增香工艺的研究奠定了基础.     

Predation, death, and survival in a biofilm: Bdellovibrio investigated by atomic force microscopy

Biofilms are complex microbial communities that are resistant to attack by bacteriophages and to removal by drugs and chemicals. Here we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image the attack on Escherichia coli biofilms by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J. Bdellovibrio is a small, predatory bacterium that invades and devours other Gram-negative bacteria. We demonstrate that under dilute nutrient conditions, bdellovibrios can prevent the formation of simple bacterial biofilms and destroy established biofilms; under richer conditions the prey bacteria persist and are not eradicated, but may be shifted toward solution populations. Using AFM we explore these bacterial interactions with more detail and accuracy than available by more traditional staining assays or optical microscopy. AFM also allows us to investigate the nanoscale morphological changes of the predator, especially those related to motility. This demonstration of Bdellovibrio's successful predation in a biofilm inspires us to consider ways that it might be used productively for industrial, medical, agricultural, and biodefensive purposes.     

The interaction of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet using argon or argon plus hydrogen peroxide vapour addition with bacillus subtilis

This paper reports that an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, which uses argon or argon + hydrogen peroxide vapour as the working gas, is designed to sterilize the bacillus subtilis. Compared with the pure argon plasma, the bacterial inactivation efficacy has a significant improvement when hydrogen peroxide vapour is added into the plasma jet. In order to determine which factors play the main role in inactivation, several methods are used, such as determination of optical emission spectra, high temperature dry air treatment, protein leakage quantification, and scanning electron microscope. These results indicate that the possible inactivation mechanisms are the synergistic actions of chemically active species and charged species.     

TOF-SIMS investigation of Streptomyces coelicolor, a mycelial bacterium

Streptomyces coelicolor is a mycelial microorganism that produces several secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. The physiology of the organism has largely been investigated in liquid cultures due to ease of monitoring different physiological parameters and more homogeneous culture conditions. However, solid cultures reflect the natural physiology of the microorganism better, given that in its natural state it grows in the soil. Imaging mass spectrometry with TOF-SIMS and C₆₀⁺ primary ion beams offers a potential route to studying chemical changes at the molecular level, both intracellular and extracellular that can help in understanding the natural physiology of the microorganism. Here, we report the application of the technique for studying the lateral distribution of the chemical species detected in a population, grown in both liquid and solid cultures. The capability of the technique for studying biological systems with minimal system intervention is demonstrated.     

Advances in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) combine light and photosensitizers to treat cancers and microbial infections, respectively. In PACT, the excitation of a photosensitizer drug with appropriate light generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill pathogens in the proximity of the drug. PACT has considerably advanced with new light sources, biocompatible photosensitizers, bioconjugate methods, and efficient ROS production. The PACT technology has evolved to compete with or replace antibiotics, reducing the burden of antibiotic resistance. This review updates recent advances in PACT, with special references to light sources, photosensitizers, and emerging applications to microbial infestations. We also discuss PACT applied to COVID-19 causing SARS-CoV-2 treatment and disinfecting food materials and water. Finally, we discuss the pathogen selectivity and efficiency of PACT.     

Synthesis of new environmentally friendly poly(urethane-imide)s as an adsorbent including β-cyclodextrin cavities and attached to iron nanoparticles for removal of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria from water samples

The presence of pathogenic bacteria in water is one of the important health concerns in the world. Herein, we report a new high-performance environmentally friendly poly (urethane-imide) (PUIm) containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in its backbone to adsorb bacteria from water samples with significant heat resistance. New PUIm was prepared by bonding a diisocyanate as a new cross linking agent to β-CD and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The effects of concentrations of bare polymer and polymer bounded to iron nanoparticles and contact times on the adsorption of staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were considered at physiological pH. The adsorption capacity of this polymer is increased by binding it to MNPs and in addition it is possible to separate the polymer from aqueous sample with external magnetic field. A filter was also provided from polymer attached to iron nanoparticles and high percentages of bacteria were removed after filtering the real wastewater.     

Identifying bacterial fragments on morphologically similar substrate using UAFM

The ultrasonic atomic force microscopy (UAFM) can be used effectively to map the elasticity of a surface. Using this technique we have demonstrated that biological fragments on a substrate can be easily identified which is otherwise difficult using only an AFM image. We have shown that AFM image can falsely interpret the surface morphological features on the substrate. We have taken the bacteria Pseudomonas sp. as a case study to demonstrate that UAFM technique is a powerful tool to study biological samples and differentiate morphological features on the substrate.