Essam A. Makky

A Comprehensive Review on l-Asparaginase and Its Applications

Abstractl-asparaginase (LA) catalyzes the degradation of asparagine, an essential amino acid for leukemic cells, into ammonia and aspartate. Owing to its ability to inhibit protein biosynthesis in lymphoblasts, LA is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Different isozymes of this enzyme have been isolated from a wide range of organisms, including plants and terrestrial and marine microorganisms. Pieces of information about the three-dimensional structure of l-asparaginase from Escherichia coli and Erwinia sp. have identified residues that are essential for catalytic activity. This review catalogues the major sources of l-asparaginase, the methods of its production through the solid state (SSF) and submerged (SmF) fermentation, purification, and characterization as well as its biological roles. In the same breath, this article explores both the past and present applications of this important enzyme and discusses its future prospects.

Comparison of Fe(VI) (FeO4(2-)) and Ozone in Inactivating Bacillus Subtilis Spores

The protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidiumparvum and Giardialamblia have been recognized as a frequent cause of recent waterborne disease outbreaks because of their strong resistance against chlorine disinfection. In this study, ozone and Fe(VI) (i.e., FeO(4)(2-)) were compared in terms of inactivation efficiency for Bacillus subtilis spores which are commonly utilized as an indicator of protozoan pathogens. Both oxidants highly depended on water pH and temperature in the spore inactivation. Since redox potential of Fe(VI) is almost the same as that of ozone, spore inactivation efficiency of Fe(VI) was expected to be similar with that of ozone. However, it was found that ozone was definitely superior over Fe(VI): at pH 7 and 20°C, ozone with the product of concentration×contact time (C¯T) of 10mgL(-1)min inactivate the spores more than 99.9% within 10min, while Fe(VI) with C¯T of 30mgL(-1) min could inactivate 90% spores. The large difference between ozone and Fe(VI) in spore inactivation was attributed mainly to Fe(III) produced from Fe(VI) decomposition at the spore coat layer which might coagulate spores and make it difficult for free Fe(VI) to attack live spores.

Bacterial Isolation from Palm Oil Plantation Soil for Biodiesel Production: Isolation and Molecular Identification as Inferred by 16s RNA

Biodiesel (methyl esters) is a clean alternative fuel which can be produced from many renewable resources. Palm oil, like other vegetable oils, can be used as feedstock for biodiesel production through transesterification to produce palm oil methyl ester. Various microorganisms like bacteria and fungi have a diversity application which could be used as catalysts in a series of degradation reactions, such as transesterification. Malaysia is rich in palm oil and therefore, lots of bacteria surviving by consuming palm oil residue resource in palm oil plantation. In this study, eighteen (18) bacterial strains were successfully isolated from local soil samples and some of their characteristics determined. The optimum temperatures of all strains were in the range of 30 to 37°C, and the optimum batch culture times of all strains were in the range of 24 to 48 hours. All strains were submitted for Gram-staining. Three (3) strains denominated as A, B and C that was involved in the most significant transesterification reaction was selected for identification by submitting them to biochemical tests using the commercial API kit. The same three (3) isolates were submitted to identification by molecular technique. Two bacteria were identified to be Pseudomonas geniculata (A) and Stenotrophomonas maltoplilia (C), while the second bacteria (B) identified to be Bacillus pseudomycoides B-60.

Antimicrobial peptides as an alternative to anti-tuberculosis drugs

Tuberculosis (TB) presently accounts for high global mortality and morbidity rates, despite the introduction four decades ago of the affordable and efficient four-drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol). Thus, a strong need exists for new drugs with special structures and uncommon modes of action to effectively overcome M. tuberculosis. Within this scope, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are small, cationic and amphipathic peptides that comprise a section of the innate immune system, are currently the leading potential agents for the treatment of TB. Many studies have recently illustrated the capability of anti-mycobacterial peptides to disrupt the normal mycobacterial cell wall function through various modes, thereby interacting with the intracellular targets, as well as encompassing nucleic acids, enzymes and organelles. This review presents a wide array of antimicrobial activities, alongside the associated properties of the AMPs that could be utilized as potential agents in therapeutic tactics for TB treatment.

Are There Any Other Compounds Isolated From Dermacoccus spp at All

Microbial-derived natural products have functional and structural diversity and complexity. For several decades, they have provided the basic foundation for most drugs available to modern medicine. Microbial-derived natural products have wide-ranging applications, especially as chemotherapeutics for various diseases and disorders. By exploring distinct microorganisms in different environments, small novel bioactive molecules with unique functionalities and biological or biomedical significance can be identified. Aquatic environments, such as oceans or seas, are considered to be sources of abundant novel bioactive compounds. Studies on marine microorganisms have revealed that several bioactive compounds extracted from marine algae and invertebrates are eventually generated by their associated bacteria. These findings have prompted intense research interest in discovering novel compounds from marine microorganisms. Natural products derived from Dermacoccus exhibit antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, antiparasitic, and eventually immunosuppressive bioactivities. In this review, we discussed the diversity of secondary metabolites generated by genus Dermacoccus with respect to their chemical structure, biological activity, and origin. This brief review highlights and showcases the pivotal importance of Dermacoccus-derived natural products and sheds light on the potential venues of discovery of new bioactive compounds from marine microorganisms.Graphical Abstract

Cladosporium cladosporioides from the perspectives of medical and biotechnological approaches

Fungi are important natural product sources that have enormous potential for the production of novel compounds for use in pharmacology, agricultural applications and industry. Compared with other natural sources such as plants, fungi are highly diverse but understudied. However, research on Cladosporium cladosporioides revealed the existence of bioactive products such as p-methylbenzoic acid, ergosterol peroxide (EP) and calphostin C as well as enzymes including pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and chlorpyrifos hydrolase. p-Methylbenzoic acid has ability to synthesise 1,5-benzodiazepine and its derivatives, polyethylene terephthalate and eicosapentaenoic acid. EP has anticancer, antiangiogenic, antibacterial, anti-oxidative and immunosuppressive properties. Calphostin C inhibits protein kinase C (PKC) by inactivating both PKC-epsilon and PKC-alpha. In addition, calphostin C stimulates apoptosis in WEHI-231 cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Based on the stimulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in some types of cancer, calphostin C has also been evaluated as a potential photodynamic therapeutic agent. Methylesterase (PME) and PG have garnered attention because of their usage in the food processing industry and significant physiological function in plants. Chlorpyrifos, a human, animal and plant toxin, can be degraded and eliminated by chlorpyrifos hydrolase.

Novel compounds targeting InhA for TB therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) is described as lethal disease in the world. Resistant to TB drugs is the main reason to have unfavourable outcomes in the treatment of TB. Therefore, new agents to replace existing drugs are urgently needed. Previous reports suggested that InhA inhibitors, an enoyl-ACP-reductase, might provide auspicious candidates which can be developed into novel antitubercular agents. In this review, we explain the role of InhA in the resistance of isoniazid. Furthermore, five classes of InhA inhibitors, which display novel binding modes and deliver evidence of their prosperous target engagement, have been debated.

The Role of Nanoparticles in the Inhibition of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Biofilms

BACKGROUND Until recently, one of the main reasons for mortality has been infectious diseases, and bacteria that are drug-resistant have emerged as a result of the wide application, as well as the misuse of antibacterial medications. Having multidrug-resistance, bacteria present a great problem for the efficient management of bacterial infections and this challenge has resulted in the creation of other means of dealing with bacterial diseases. Of late, metallic nanoparticles (NPs), employed as antibacterial agents, have the potential for use against resistance to bacterial drugs. OBJECTIVE The mechanisms of bacterial resistance are described in this review and this is followed by an outline of the features and uses of metallic NPs as antibiotic agents to address bacteria that are antibiotic- sensitive and resistant. Additionally, a general impression of metallic NPs as antibiofilm bactericidal agents is presented. CONCLUSION Biofilms and bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics present a grave public health challenge and this has enhanced the need to develop new bactericidal agents. Therefore, nanomaterials are considered as a potential platform for managing bacterial infections.

Evaluation of antibacterial susceptibility pattern of cellulolytic bacteria isolated from Coptotermes curvignathus gut to heavy metals, disinfectants and common antibiotics for termite control

The study aimed to isolate cellulolytic bacteria from the gut of subterranean termite (Coptotermes acinaciformis) and carry out antibacterial studies for termite control. The cellulase enzyme activity was determined by qualitative and quantitative techniques. The antibiotics and their combinations on isolated bacteria as well as heavy metals and disinfectants were performed by using disc diffusion method. The effective antibacterial agents were used as termiticide. Antibacterial study revealed that the isolates were 100% sensitive to rifampicin, tetracycline, gentamycin and neomycin antibiotics, cadmium and mercury as heavy metals and lactic acid, formalin and hydrogen peroxide as disinfectants. In addition, 17 out of 36 antibiotic combinations showed synergistic effect, while eight combinations showed antagonistic effect on isolates. The heavy metals and disinfectants that showed 100% effectiveness as well as 22 antibiotic combinations that showed synergistic effect were used for termite control. Among the 27 selected antibacterial agents, mercury, lactic acid, formalin and hydrogen peroxide were found to be the most effective termiticide. Therefore, we conclude that these effective antibacterial agents possess a great potential to be a new application to control the termites.

Impact of incubation period on biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons from refinery wastewater in Kuantan, Malaysia by indigenous bacteria

ABSTRACT This work studied the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) extracted from refinery wastewater to produce industrially important by-products at different incubation periods. Two out of 13 bacterial isolates, KRD2 and KRA4 were isolated. Dichloromethane was used to extract the PHC, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the refinery wastewater PHC was successfully biodegraded using the selected bacterial isolates within 15 days of incubation. Both KRD2 and KRA4 isolates degraded all 13 initially extracted PHC compounds within 5 days, except C13BD and C9BD, which produced 6 and 4 compounds as secondary metabolites with peak area percentages of 1.58, 1.38, 0.85, 29.94, 7.59, and 11.16% and 3.55, 2.88, 52.31, and 6.14%, respectively. These metabolites have been reported in industrial and medical applications. After 10 days, only 6 and 8 compounds were degraded by both isolates, respectively, and C11PAD compound was produced, as well as C5PAD, C7PAD, and C13PAD. After 15 days, it was clear that all the initial PHC compounds have been completely degraded by both isolates. Metabolites C5PAD, C6PAD, C8PAD, and C13PAD were produced by KRD2, and metabolites C5PAD, C6PAD, C8PAD, and C9PAD were produced by KRA4 at different peak areas. The alignment revealed that the KRA4 isolate was included in the genus Chryseobacterium gambrini, while KRD2 isolate was successfully identified as Mycobacterium confluentis using the Biolog microbial identification system. The incubation period evidently affected biodegradation process by indigenous degraders. These effective bacteria were shown to be of great potential for further application in biodegradation technology of PHC contaminated refinery wastewater to produce industrially important by-products.