Belma Aslim

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Russula delica Fr.

Russula delica Fr. is a well known macrofungi which is used as a food in Turkey. The ethanolic extract of R. delica exhibited antimicrobial activity against some of the tested foodborne and spoilage bacteria. The phenolic composition of R. delica ethanolic extract was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major component in R. delica ethanolic extract was catechin (5.33 mg/L). Antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of R. delica was evaluated by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging and chelating ability on ferrous ions assays. Scavenging effect on DPPH radicals was 26% at 10mg/ml and chelating effects on ferrous ions was 58% at 5mg/ml. In addition, the amounts of total phenol content (6.23 mg/g), ascorbic acid (2.93 mg/g), beta-carotene (0.11 mg/g) and lycopene (0.03 mg/g) in the macrofungi ethanolic extract were determined.

Relationship between the resistance to bile salts and low pH with exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of Bifidobacterium spp. isolated from infants feces and breast milk

The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible relation between resistance to bile salts and low pH with exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing of Bifidobacterium spp. In this study, a total of 31 Bifidobacterium spp. were isolated from breast fed infants feces and breast milk samples. As a result of the identification tests, isolates were identified as Bifidobacterium breve (15 strains), B. bifidum (11 strains), B. pseudocatenulatum (3 strains) and B. longum (2 strains). Bifidobacterium spp. were determined exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. EPS productions observed at chance rations (38.00-97.64 mg/l) among of Bifidobacterium spp. Furthermore, Bifidobacterium spp. were determined resistance to bile salts and low pH. Positive correlations between production of exopolysaccharide and resistance to bile salts (p<0.01) or low pH (p<0.01) were found Bifidobacterium spp. This investigation showed that high EPS production of Bifidobacteria may be important in the selection of probiotic strains for resistance to bile salts and low pH.

Evaluation of chromium(VI) removal behaviour by two isolates of Synechocystis sp. in terms of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and monomer composition

Chromium(VI) removal and its association with exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in cyanobacteria were investigated. Synechocystis sp. BASO670 produced higher EPS (548 mg L(-1)) than Synechocystis sp. BASO672 (356 mg L(-1)). While the EC(50) of the Cr(VI) for Synechocystis sp. BASO670 and Synechocystis sp. BASO672 were determined as 11.5 mg L(-1), and 2.0 mg L(-1), respectively, there was no relation between Cr(VI) removal and EPS production. Synechocystis sp. BASO672, which has higher EPS value, removed (33%) more Cr(VI) than Synechocystis sp. BASO670. Monomer compositions of EPS of each of the isolates were determined differently. Synechocystis sp. BASO672 which removed higher Cr(VI), had higher values of uronic acid and glucuronic acid (192 microg/mg and 89%, respectively). Our results showed that EPS might play a role in Cr(VI) tolerance. Monomer composition, especially uronic acid and glucuronic acid content of EPS may have enhanced Cr(VI) removal.

Cholesterol removal by some lactic acid bacteria that can be used as probiotic.

In the present study, the relationship between exopolysaccharide production and cholesterol removal rates of five strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus isolated from home‐made yoghurt was studied. Test strains were selected according to their exopolysaccharide production capacity. Influence of different bile concentrations on cholesterol removal was investigated. It was confirmed that B3, ATCC 11842 and G11 strains which produce high amounts of exopolysaccharide (211, 200 and 159 mg/l, respectively) were able to remove more cholesterol from the medium compared to those that produce low amounts of exopolysaccharide (B2, A13). The highest cholesterol removal (31%) was observed by strain L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B3, producing a high amount of exopolysaccharide, in 3 mg/ml bile concentration. Cholesterol removal by resting and dead cells was investigated and it was found to be 4%–14% and 3%–10%, respectively. Cholesterol removal by immobilized and free cells of the B3 strain was studied and it was determined that immobilized cells are more effective. Influence of cholesterol on exopolysaccharide production has also been tested and it was found that cholesterol increased the production of EPS. The results indicated that: (i) there is a correlation between cholesterol removal and EPS production; and (ii) L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B3 is regarded as a suitable candidate probiotic and adjunct culture.

Cadmium(II) sequestration characteristics by two isolates of Synechocystis sp. in terms of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and monomer composition

We investigated cadmium(II) resistance and its association with exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in cyanobacteria. Increased EPS production was associated with Cd(II) resistance. The most resistant isolate, Synechocystis sp. BASO670, secreted the greatest amount of EPS (548 mg/L). EPS production by Synechocystis sp. BASO670 and Synechocystis sp. BASO672 was increased following exposure to 15 and 35 ppm Cd(II). Monomer composition of EPS belonging to each isolate was changed after Cd(II) treatment. Uronic acid contents of Cd(II) treated cells were higher than control cells of each isolate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis confirmed that a considerable amount of metals had precipitated on the cell surface. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum analysis of EPSs belonging to both isolates indicated the presence of C-H and C-O group, which may serve as binding sites for divalent cations.

Removal and reduction of chromium by Pseudomonas spp. and their correlation to rhamnolipid production

Chromium removal and its association with rhamnolipid production in Pseudomonas spp. were investigated. Three Pseudomonas spp. isolates (P. aeruginosa 78, P. aeruginosa 99, and P. stutzeri T3) were investigated with regard to their exposure to 10mg/L for chromium removal. P. aeruginosa 99 removed 16% and 20% more chromium than P. stutzeri T3 and P. aeruginosa 78 respectively. The reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by all the three isolates is more or less similar. P. aeruginosa 99, which removed higher chromium, also produced higher rhamnolipid (165±5 mg/mL). P. aeruginosa 78, which removed lower chromium, also produced lower rhamnolipid (126±3 mg/mL). Rhamnolipid production by P. aeruginosa 78 and P. aeruginosa 99 was increased in its exposure to 10mg/L chromium. In the present study, results showed that rhamnolipid might play a role in chromium removal by three Pseudomonas spp. isolates.

Factors influencing autoaggregation and aggregation of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus isolated from handmade yogurt.

Of 26 Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains isolated from yogurt, strains B2 and 22, which produce low levels (28 and 21 mg liter(-1), respectively) of extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), and strains B3 and G12, which produce high EPS levels (211 and 175 mg liter(-1), respectively), were selected for further study. The two high EPS-producing strains showed a significant autoaggregation and coaggregation ability with Escherichia coli ATCC 11230 (P < 0.05). Moreover, the effect of bile was evaluated on autoaggregation and hydrophobicity. Autoaggregation and hydrophobicity of these L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains decreased after treatment with bile. Only the high EPS-producing L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain B3 showed greater autoaggregation (80%) and hydrophobicity (86%) than the other strains after bile treatment. When these strains were assessed for the inhibition of E. coli ATCC 11230 in coculture, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B3 completely inhibited E. coli during 24 and 48 h of incubation. This investigation showed that a high EPS production and coaggregation ability may be important in the selection of probiotic strains.

Effect of carbon and nitrogen sources and incubation times on poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis by Bacillus subtilis 25 and Bacillus megaterium 12

In this study, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by the Bacillus subtilis 25 and Bacillus megaterium 12 strains was investigated in nutrient broth medium at different incubation times (between 6 h and 48h). The best PHB production and all yields of these strains were determined. The productions were 0.101 g/L, 0.142 g/L and the percentage yields were 18.03%, 14.79% after 45h, respectively. At 48th h, there was a decrease in PHB yields. In our study, the effects of different carbon and nitrogen sources on PHB production in these strains were also tested. While the strains produced less PHB in nutrient broth medium with different carbon and nitrogen sources, the highest level of PHB accumulation of the strains was observed in the medium with protease peptone. In this nutrient broth medium with protease peptone the percentage PHB yield of B. subtilis 25 was determined as 78.69%, while in the same nitrogen sources this percentage in B. megaterium 12 was determined to be 77.00%.

Metal removal of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides by uronic acid content and monosaccharide composition

In the present study, chromium, cadmium and metal mixed (chromium+cadmium) removal and its association with exopolysaccharides and uronic acids production in Synechocystis sp. BASO671 were investigated. It was investigated that BASO671 showed different removal ability when exposed to each metal solely and mixed metal. EPS production by BASO671 was increased following exposure to 15 and 35 ppm Cr(VI), Cd(II) and Cr(VI)+Cd(II). Monomer composition of EPS was changed after metal treatment. Uronic acid contents of metal treated cells were higher than control cells of each isolate. Also, glucuronic acid content and galactronic acid content of EPS correlated with uronic acid contents of cells. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed that a considerable amount of metals had precipitated on the cell surface. Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis of EPSs indicated the presence of CH and CO group, which may serve as binding sites for divalent cations.

Mechanisms of cholesterol-lowering effects of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains as potential probiotics with their bsh gene analysis.

The bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme activities of human-derived lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria were evaluated. The highest enzyme activity was identified as 1.76 ± 0.23 U/mg protein for Bifidobacterium breve A26 and 1.42 ± 0.11 U/mg protein for Lactobacillus plantarum LA3. The bile salt deconjugation ability of the 6 isolates representing the highest BSH enzyme activity was calculated as the release of cholic acid and was between the range of 2.03 ± 0.22 and 1.05 ± 0.25 mM. The strains with high BSH enzyme activity also showed high deconjugation ability (p < 0.01). The effect of increasing bile concentrations on the growth of bacteria and their cholesterol removal abilities based on cholesterol precipitation were determined. Cholesterol removal in control medium was between 22.6 ± 0.4 and 26.5 ± 0.4%. The highest value was recorded at a 0.2% bile concentration. As the biliary concentration increased, a decrease in cholesterol removal and viability of the bacteria was noted in all strains. The percent of similarity of the bsh gene region between different genes was specified. The results may throw some light on proving the ability of these probiotics either as a novel alternative or as adjuvants to chemical drugs in treating hypercholesterolemia.