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This study presents an innovative lateral flow microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) designed for conducting quantitative paper-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (p-ELISA), seamlessly executing conventional ELISA steps in a paper-based format. The p-ELISA device utilizes a passive fluidic circuit with functional elements such as a multi-bi-material cantilever (B-MaC) assembly, delay channels, and a buffer zone, all enclosed within housing for autonomous, sequential loading of critical reagents onto the detection zone. This novel approach not only demonstrates a rapid assay completion time of under 30 min, but also boasts reduced reagent requirements, minimal equipment needs, and broad applicability across clinical diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Through detailed descriptions of the design, materials, and fabrication methods for the multi-directional flow assay (MDFA), this manuscript highlights the device’s potential for complex biochemical analyses in a user-friendly and versatile format. Analytical performance evaluation, including a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.4 pM for Rabbit IgG, benchmarks the device’s efficacy compared to existing p-ELISA methodologies. This pioneering work lays the groundwork for future advancements in autonomous diagnostics, aiming to enhance global health outcomes through accessible and reliable testing solutions.

This work presents a dynamic modeling approach for analyzing the behavior of a bi-material cantilever actuator structure, consisting of a strip of filter paper bonded to a strip of tape. The actuator’s response is induced by a mismatch strain generated upon wetting, leading to the bending of the cantilever. The study delves into a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic deflection characteristics of the bilayer structure. It untangles the intricate connections among the saturation, modulus, hygro-expansion strain, and deflection, while uniquely addressing the challenges stemming from fluid–structure coupling. To solve the coupled fluid–solid differential equations, a combined numerical method is employed. This involves the application of the Highly Simplified Marker and Cell (HSMAC) technique for fluid flow analysis and the Finite Difference Method (FDM) for response deflection computation. In terms of the capillary flow model, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations closely align with the classical Washburn relationship, depicting the wetted front’s evolution over time. Furthermore, the numerical findings demonstrate that heightened saturation levels trigger an increase in hygro-expansion strain, consequently leading to a rapid rise in response deflection until a static equilibrium is achieved. This phenomenon underscores the pivotal interplay among saturation, hygro-expansion strain, and deflection within the system. Additionally, the actuator’s response sensitivity to material characteristics is highlighted. As the mismatch strain evolving from paper hygro-expansion diminishes, a corresponding reduction in the axial strain causes a decrease in response deflection. The dynamic parameter demonstrates that the deflection response of the bilayer actuator diminishes as dynamic pressure decreases, reaching a minimal level beyond which further changes are negligible. This intricate correlation underscores the device’s responsiveness to specific material traits, offering prospects for precise behavior tuning. The dependence of paper modulus on saturation levels is revealed to significantly influence bilayer actuator deflection. With higher saturation content, the modulus decreases, resulting in amplified deflection. Finally, strong concordance is observed among the present fluidically coupled model, the static model, and empirical data—a testament to the accuracy of the numerical formulation and results presented in this study.

Kaihua paper is a type of precious hand-made paper in China that has been used throughout Chinese history. Due to its extraordinary whiteness and fine texture, it was adopted by the imperial palace in the reign of Emperor Kang Xi and Yong Zheng of the Qing Dynasty of China in the 17th and 18th century. It is stained by a special type of yellowish-brown spot after years of storage, which is called a “peachy spot.” The formation of such spots remains unclear, although complicated physicochemical processes or microbial activities might be involved. We performed nondestructive sampling and high-throughput sequencing on peachy spot surfaces, unstained areas, and air samples in the stack room to analysis the the bacterial and fungal communities, and performed prediction of functional genes of the bacterial communities. The results showed that peachy spot formation was mainly related to bacterial communities rather than fungal communities. Significantly more potential acid- producing, acidophilic or cellulase-producing bacteria, such as, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lysinibacillus, and pigment-producing bacteria, such as Methylobacterium and Rubrobacter, were identified in the peachy spot samples. Prediction of the functional genes of the bacterial community also suggested the production of acidic substance pigments. These findings provide new insights into the pigment formation mechanism in ancient paper and open an opportunity to develop new strategies to preserve the ancient paper documents.

Lead (Pb) pollution from local mines and industrial use increases risks for human, animal, and plant health. Pectin is an effective chelator of Pb, and it has been shown that a unicellular green alga, Penium margaritaceum, synthesizes pectin in the cell wall. In this study, the ability of P. margaritaceum to remove Pb from an aqueous solution was investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that two strains of P. margaritaceum accumulated Pb on the cell surface. Hence, P. margaritaceum cells were immobilized on cellulose filter paper. The immobilized algal cells were soaked in 1.0 mg/L Pb solution with gentle shaking for 8 h, and Pb in the solution and on the filter paper was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The immobilized algal cells continuously decreased the Pb concentration to less than 0.5 mg/L and recovered 31.8–32.7% of added Pb. The specific decrease in Pb and increase in Ca were observed in the presence of 1.0 mg/L each of Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested that the carboxylic acid group would be responsible for the adsorption of Pb. This study is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of the immobilized P. margaritaceum cell in removing Pb from aqueous solutions with simple solid–liquid separation.

ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for microbiology literacy in society. Microbiology knowledge, and its dissemination, can help inform and increase the objectivity of important decisions, such as treatment or vaccination. A microbiology learning experience titled “What you can’t see can hurt you” was delivered as part of a larger outreach event where children were exposed to various aspects of medicine and health care fields. The activity involved an introduction to and a discussion of bacteria of clinical importance and the use of a smartphone-attachable paper-based foldable microscope. To explore the impact of this activity on participants’ interest in science and microbiology, a pre- and post-activity survey of five questions on an emoji-based Likert scale was completed by the participants. A statistically significant increase in their interest in microbes and where to find them, as well as in microscopy, was observed after the event. Making microbes visible to children and allowing them to capture images of microbes exposes them directly and personally to microscopy and microbiology. An affordable low-cost paper-based microscope can become an alternative approach to teaching and learning to deliver clinical microbiology information to a wide audience range.

Pulp-paper mills (PPMs) are known for consistently generating a wide variety of pollutants, that are often unidentified and highly resistant to environmental degradation. The current study aims to investigate the changes in the indigenous bacterial communities profile grown in the sediment co-contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants discharged from the PPMs. The two sediment samples, designated PPS-1 and PPS-2, were collected from two different sites. Physico-chemical characterization of PPS-1 and PPS-2 revealed the presence of heavy metals (mg kg−1) like Cu (0.009–0.01), Ni (0.005–0.002), Mn (0.078–0.056), Cr (0.015–0.009), Pb (0.008–0.006), Zn (0.225–0.086), Fe (2.124–0.764), Al (3.477–22.277), and Ti (99.792–45.012) along with high content of chlorophenol, and lignin. The comparative analysis of organic pollutants in sediment samples using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed the presence of major highly refractory compounds, such as stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid; 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; heptacosane; dimethyl phthalate; hexachlorobenzene; 1-decanol,2-hexyl; furane 2,5-dimethyl, etc in sediment samples which are reported as a potential toxic compounds. Simultaneously, high-throughput sequencing targeting the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA genes, resulted in the identification of 1,249 and 1,345 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) derived from a total of 115,665 and 119,386 sequences read, in PPS-1 and PPS-2, respectively. Analysis of rarefaction curves indicated a diversity in OTU abundance between PPS-1 (1,249 OTUs) and PPS-2 (1,345 OTUs). Furthermore, taxonomic assignment of metagenomics sequence data showed that Proteobacteria (55.40%; 56.30%), Bacteoidetes (11.30%; 12.20%), and Planctomycetes (5.40%; 4.70%) were the most abundant phyla; Alphproteobacteria (20.50%; 23.50%), Betaproteobacteria (16.00%; 12.30%), and Gammaproteobacteria were the most recorded classes in PPS-1 and PPS-2, respectively. At the genus level, Thiobacillus (7.60%; 4.50%) was the most abundant genera grown in sediment samples. The results indicate significant differences in both the diversity and relative abundance of taxa in the bacterial communities associated with PPS-2 when compared to PPS-1. This study unveils key insights into contaminant characteristics and shifts in bacterial communities within contaminated environments. It highlights the potential for developing efficient bioremediation techniques to restore ecological balance in pulp-paper mill waste-polluted areas, stressing the importance of identifying a significant percentage of unclassified genera and species to explore novel genes.

Background and Aim: The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) aims to further develop its role in international medical and scientific guidance in the field of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, where many types of guidance documents exist. The ESCMID Executive Committee and the Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) editorial board wish to clarify the terminology and format to be used in ESCMID guidance documents submitted for publication in CMI, and to highlight the principles behind ESCMID guidance documents., Types of Guidance Documents: There are five types of ESCMID guidance documents: White Papers, Clinical Practice Guidelines, Consensus Statements, State-of-the-Science Statements, and Position Papers. They differ in scope, methods of development, drafting group composition and preferred publication format. Guidance documents can be proposed, developed and published by ESCMID Study Groups, Committees and individual members; often, other scientific societies are involved. The full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest of all drafting group members is a requirement., Final Remarks: Guidance documents constitute a common cultural and scientific background to people in the same and related professions. Also, they are an important educational and training tool. Developing a guidance document is a scientific endeavour, where a sound and transparent development process is needed, requiring multidisciplinary and personal skills., (Copyright © 2018 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microbiology is an area with a high research production, classified in different branches. Thus, it is difficult to identify research trends without many backgrounds. The present paper aims to apply bibliometric methods to identify the highly cited papers that contribute to the Microbiology development. Furthermore, a science mapping analysis allows discovering the main thematic areas covered by those detected papers. From the 572 153 papers (articles and reviews) indexed in the Web of Science Microbiology category (1900-2017), a total of 645 highly cited papers were detected. Concerning the main scientific producers in Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology as a journal, R. Knight from the University of Colorado (USA) as an author and the USA as a country are the most productive actors. Nevertheless, taking into account the gross domestic product per capita, China and Spain are remarkable countries. Furthermore, according to the relative priority index (RPI), Denmark, Belgium, Spain and The Netherlands are the countries that make a higher scientific effort in this field. About the co-word analysis, several important themes were detected, such as Next Generation Sequencing, Gene, Escherichia Coli or Gene Expression. Concerning these results, this work supposes a framework on which to base future research.

The paper industry faces two critical challenges: the scarcity of raw materials and the environmental impact of chemical waste pollution. Addressing the first challenge involves harnessing alternative, sustainable raw materials, while the second challenge can be mitigated through the adoption of bio-bleaching processes, which significantly reduce chemical consumption while enhancing paper brightness and quality. This study proposes a solution to both challenges by using non-woody Calotropis procera (Ankara) and a xylanase-producing microbial consortium for sustainable handmade paper production, a combination not extensively explored in prior research. To evaluate this approach, the process was divided into three stages. In stage I, Ankara fibre was pulped through open hot digestion. In stage II, the pulp was subjected to bio-bleaching in two experimental setups: Set I (without sucrose) and Set II (with sucrose) for 5 days. In stage III, chemical bleaching was used to improve the final brightness of the treated pulps. A novel comparison was made between the bio-bleaching efficiency of an individual isolate g5 (BI) and a bacterial consortium (BC). This research highlighted that bio-bleaching with the consortium effectively removed lignin (140±60 mg/l) and colour (1830±50 PCU), especially in the presence of sucrose, compared to using a single xylanase isolate. Pulp residue/filtrate collected at each stage was estimated based on parameters such as colour and lignin content. After stage III (chemical bleaching), the release of colour and lignin in pulp filtrate was higher in BI compared to BC, indicating the consortium's effectiveness during bio-bleaching, which leaves fewer degradable lignin structures for the chemical bleaching stage. Papers crafted from consortium-treated pulp also exhibited higher brightness than those treated with the isolate. This study reveals the synergistic effect of microbial consortia, leading to more efficient lignin degradation and enhanced bio-bleaching capabilities, supporting the development of greener industrial processes. Ultimately, this study demonstrates a unique and eco-friendly approach to papermaking, combining C. procera and enzymatic bio-bleaching to reduce dependency on hazardous chemicals and support sustainable industry practices.

ABSTRACT Sourdough starters are spontaneously generated multispecies communities consisting of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Traditionally used to make baked goods, these communities of microorganisms can be propagated through successive transfers to other containers. Successive transfers result in microbial community dynamics; however, the mechanisms guiding the dynamics are not fully elucidated. This study tracked five species of sourdough LAB-yeast communities (three LAB species and two yeast species) during successive transfers in vitro to explore the interspecies interactions driving the multispecies community dynamics. The microbial dynamics were modeled with a generalized Lotka–Volterra (gLV) equation, which can mathematically identify ecological types of interspecies interactions. The gLV model simulated the population dynamics of each species with Pearson’s correlation coefficient values of ≥0.817. Pairwise experiments revealed that competition (negative/negative) predominated among all pairwise interactions (70%), followed by amensalism (negative/neutral) (30%). In the pairwise community, the LAB species Limosilactobacillus fermentum suppressed Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth through amensalism; however, S. cerevisiae population was maintained when the community comprised 3–5 species, including the LAB species L. fermentum and Pediococcus pentosaceus. The key interspecies interactions for maintaining the S. cerevisiae population were theoretically determined using the gLV model; the three identified species interacted non-transitively with S. cerevisiae in a cyclic pairwise interaction, metaphorically representing a rock–paper–scissors relationship, which systemically supported the S. cerevisiae population in the multispecies community. These theoretical insights indicate that cyclic pairwise interaction is the main driver of LAB-yeast population dynamics, which helps sustain a vulnerable yeast species in a sourdough multispecies community. IMPORTANCE Traditionally, multispecies consisting of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts collaboratively engage sourdough fermentation, which determines the quality of the resulting baked goods. Nonetheless, the successive transfer of these microbial communities can result in undesirable community dynamics that prevent the formation of high-quality sourdough bread. Thus, a mechanistic understanding of the community dynamics is fundamental to engineer sourdough complex fermentation. This study describes the population dynamics of five species of lactic acid bacteria-yeast communities in vitro using a generalized Lotka–Volterra model that examines interspecies interactions. A vulnerable yeast species was maintained within up to five species community dynamics by obtaining support with a cyclic interspecies interaction. Metaphorically, it involves a rock–paper–scissors game between two lactic acid bacteria species. Application of the generalized Lotka–Volterra model to real food microbiomes including sourdoughs will increase the reliability of the model prediction and help identify key microbial interactions that drive microbiome dynamics.

Abstract Paper sheets represent one of the infection risk sources inside educational and administrative institutions under biological pandemics. So, the present study aimed to validate the efficiency of gamma radiation or dry heat techniques to sterilize contaminated paper sheets with different indicator pathogens while retaining their structure. The results showed that gamma radiation at 6, 12, or 24 kGy can successfully kill Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, and fungi such as Candida albicans. Moreover, dry heating at 100 °C for 60 min, 150 °C for 30 min, or 200 °C for 15 min can be successful in paper decontamination of all tested species. Surprisingly, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs proved that gamma radiation at 6 kGy, dry heat at 100 °C for 60 min or 150 °C for 30 min or 200 °C for 15 min, is suitable for paper sheet sterilization while maintaining their structure. Ultimately, dry heat is a simple, effective, fast, safe, and inexpensive technique for paper sterilization. It may be used as a precautionary step inside educational institutions, especially during written examination periods, to ensure a safe life for academic members during biological pandemics such as COVID-19.

The present study investigated the dynamic profiles of fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and the bacterial community of paper mulberry silage inoculants without (Control) or with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Lactiplantibacillus brevis (LB), or their combination (LPLB), which was screened from naturally fermented paper mulberry. The results showed that the inoculated treatments had significantly reduced neutral detergent fiber, water-soluble carbohydrates, and ammoniacal nitrogen contents compared with the control after 60 days of ensiling (the decreased proportion of LP, LB, and LPLB treatments ranged from 7.33%–11.23%, 9.60%–21.44%, and 21.53%–29.23%, respectively, p < 0.05). The pH value of the LP and LB treatments was significantly lower than that of the control after 60 days of ensiling (4.42 and 4.56 vs. 4.71, p < 0.05). The LP treatment promoted lactic acid accumulation and LAB number compared with the control (66.59% vs. 54.12% and 8.71 log10 CFU/g vs. 8.52 log10 CFU/g, respectively, p < 0.05), and the LB and LPLB treatments inhibited the growth of yeast and mold after 14 days of fermentation. After 5 days of aerobic exposure, both the LB and LPLB treatments increased the aerobic stability time and acetic acid content (from 29 to 75 h and 16.14%–48.72%, respectively, p < 0.05), inhibited the growth of yeast and mold, and did not detect butyric acid. Additionally, the bacteria community of each treatment was dominated by Aerococcus on day 3 of ensilage (accounting for 54.36%–69.31%), while the inoculated treatments reduced the abundance of Aerococcus on day 60 (from 59.73% to 85.16%, p < 0.05), and Lactobacillus became the dominant genus (accounting for 54.57%–70.89%). Inoculation of L. plantarum effectively maintained the acidic environment at the end of the fermentation system by maintaining the abundance of Lactobacillus, maximizing the preservation of dry matter and protein, and reducing protein corruption. Inoculation of L. brevis alone or in combination with L. plantarum significantly inhibited the growth of mold and improved the aerobic stability of paper mulberry silage.

To investigate the effects of different organic acid additives and their concentrations on the fermentation quality and bacterial community of paper mulberry silage, paper mulberry was left untreated (control) or was treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), propionic acid (PA) or citric acid (CA), the amount of each additive was 2 g.kg−1 FM, 5 g.kg−1 FM and g.kg−1 FM. All groups were ensiled for 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days. Compared to the control, adding EDTA reduced protein breakdown, preserved more water-soluble carbohydrates of the silages (WSCs, 24.74 g.kg−1 DM), and high concentrations of EDTA inhibited the activity of undesirable microorganisms. Adding PA increased the abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and decreased the abundance of Enterococcus, and it caused a rapid decrease in the pH of the silage at an early stage (from 6.50 to 5.31) while altering the microbiota, and low concentrations of PA resulted in high LA (66.22 g.kg−1 DM) concentration and low PA (9.92 g.kg−1 DM) concentration at 60 days of ensiling. Different concentrations of additives altered the microbial community of paper mulberry to different degrees. High concentrations of PA and CA can increase the abundance of Lactiplantibacillus. High concentrations of CA resulted in a rapid decrease in silage pH at an early stage and higher WSC concentration. These results suggest that EDTA, PA and CA can be used as additives to improve the quality of paper mulberry silage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inoculation with two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lentilactobacillus buchneri) and the addition of four corn flour proportions (0, 3, 6, and 9%) in different treatments, on the composition and function of the bacterial community in whole-plant paper mulberry silage. The different treatments promoted Lactiplantibacillus, Lentilactobacillus, and Lacticaseibacillus growth, but the microbial species responsible for fermentation differed among the treatments. High species diversity and various Gram-negative bacteria, such as Flavitalea sp., Pantoea agglomerans, Acinetobacter pittii, Turicibacter sanguinis, and Ralstonia pickettii, were found in the uninoculated LAB treatments. A beneficial bacterium, Lactobacillus johnsonii, was discovered for the first time in whole-plant paper mulberry silage. LAB inoculation simplifies the microbial community structure, and beneficial Lactobacillus as a key species aggregates in the inoculated treatment group. However, L. rhamnosus inoculation alone may have limited bacteriostatic activity against in whole-plant paper mulberry silage. Compared with silage lacking corn flour, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, galactose metabolism, the phosphotransferase system and the pentose phosphate pathway metabolic activity were increased in corn flour-containing silage. Whole-plant paper mulberry can be used as a high-quality silage to provide high-quality feed resources for sustainable ruminant livestock production. Moreover, additive use is necessary for preparing paper mulberry silage.

Abstract Background Microfluidic chip detection technology is considered a potent tool for many bioanalytic applications. Rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in the early stages is imperative to prevent the outbreak of foodborne diseases, known as a severe threat to human health. Conventional bacterial culture methods for detecting foodborne pathogens are time-consuming, laborious, and lacking in pathogen diagnosis. To overcome this problem, we have created an embedded paper-based microchip based on isothermal loop amplification (LAMP), which can rapidly and sensitively detect foodborne pathogens. Results We embed paper impregnated with LAMP reagent and specific primers in multiple reaction chambers of the microchip. The solution containing the target pathogen was injected into the center chamber and uniformly distributed into the reaction chamber by centrifugal force. The purified DNA of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been successfully amplified and directly detected on the microchip. The E. coli O157:H7 DNA was identified as low as 0.0134 ng μL− 1. Besides, the potential of this microchip in point-of-care testing was further tested by combining the on-chip sample purification module and using milk spiked with Salmonella spp.. The pyrolyzed milk sample was filtered through a polydopamine-coated paper embedded in the inside of the sample chamber. It was transported to the reaction chamber by centrifugal force for LAMP amplification. Then direct chip detection was performed in the reaction chamber embedded with calcein-soaked paper. The detection limit of Salmonella spp. in the sample measured by the microchip was approximately 12 CFU mL− 1. Conclusion The paper embedded LAMP microchip offers inexpensive, user-friendly, and highly selective pathogen detection capabilities. It is expected to have great potential as a quick, efficient, and cost-effective solution for future foodborne pathogen detection.

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L., PM) is being used as a new type of animal protein feed to address the feed crisis. To investigate the effect of additives on the chemical composition, fermentation quality, and bacterial community of PM silage (at room temperature, 25°), paper mulberry was fermented with formic acid (FA), Amomum villosum essential oil (AVEO) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculant treatments. The results showed that fresh PM had a low water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content and large amounts of unclassified bacteria. Compared with the CK and LAB treatments, the FA and AVEO treatments significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the pH and increased the lactic acid content of PM silage after 60 days of ensiling. In the AVEO-treated silages the abundance of Lactococcus in the early stage of ensiling increased by 14.09%, the abundances of Levilactobacillus and Lentilactobacillus in the late stage of ensiling increased by 58.34 and 91.12%, respectively, and the abundance of Stenotrophomonas decreased by 94.71%, resulting in improved PM silage quality. These results confirmed that AVEO could potentially be developed as a new additive for improving the fermentation quality of silage.

Abstract Background Great variation has been observed in the composition of the normal microbiota of the ocular surface, and therefore, in addition to differences in detection techniques, the method of collecting ocular surface specimens has a significant impact on the test results.The goal of this study is to ascertain whether the eye surface microbial communities detected by two different sampling methods are consistent and hence explore the feasibility of using tear test paper instead of conjunctival swabs to collect eye surface samples for microbial investigation. Materials and methods From July 15, 2021, to July 30, 2021, nonirritating tear test strips and conjunctival swabs of both eyes were used in 158 elderly people (> 60 years old) (79 diabetic and 79 nondiabetic adults) in Xinjing Community for high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition of the microbial communities in tear test paper and conjunctival swab samples was analyzed. Results There was no statistically significant difference in Alpha diversity of ocular surface microorganisms represented by tear strip and conjunctival swab in diabetic group (P > 0.05), but there was statistically significant difference in Alpha diversity of ocular surface microorganisms detected by tear strip and conjunctival swab in nondiabetic group (P 0.05). Conclusions Tear test paper and conjunctival swabs detect different compositions of microbes through two different techniques of eye surface microbe sampling. Tear test paper cannot completely replace conjunctival swab specimens for the study of microbes related to eye surface diseases.

This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from various sources and evaluate their effects on the nutritional quality, fermentation characteristics, and microbial compositions of paper mulberry (PM) after 60 days of ensiling. Forty-nine LAB strains were isolated from Phalaris arundinacea silage, pickle, and fresh PM leaves; three of these strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, YC1; Levilactobacillus brevis, PC3; and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, BP17) and one commercial inoculant Gaofuji (GFJ) were subsequently used. Compared with other treatments, PC3 and BP17 increased (P < 0.05) the LAB count and crude protein content and decreased (P < 0.05) the molds and coliform bacteria counts, pH, and ammonia-N content of PM silages. BP17 and PC3 increased the relative Lactiplantibacillus abundance and decreased that of Lelliottia and Cladosporium, improving PM silage quality. Therefore, PC3 and BP17 can improve the fermentation quality of PM silage and could be used as silage starter cultures.

Plastic waste is now a major environmental problem worldwide, and it has worsened in the last few years. Scientists are studying how much plastic is in the environment, how dangerous it is, and how to learn it. This study looked at research papers on microplastics’ effects on plants listed by Scopus from 2011 to 2022. The goal was to see how this body of knowledge has grown and expanded over time and guess what it will do. The authors used the VOSviewer package and Scopus analytics for the bibliometric study. A total of 380 manuscripts, written by 159 authors, were taken out. Much study is being done on particle size, quantity, bioaccumulation, and environmental and community effects. Rillig, M.C., Das Berlin-Brandenburgisches Institut für Biodiversitatsforschung, Germany, is thought to be the most productive and often-cited researcher. The Ministry of Education China is the most essential printing house. China is the leader in terms of the number of papers and study partnerships. It is best to look at the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.

This review paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Apis mellifera, commonly referred to as the Western honey bee. The present study aims to examine the genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary history of a species of insect that holds economic significance. This study elucidates the genetic determinants that impact the adaptive capacity, behavioral patterns, and overall well-being of honey bees through the examination of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences derived from diverse honey bee populations across the globe. Furthermore, this study examines the potential implications of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) research on various aspects of beekeeping practices, conservation initiatives, and the comprehension of honey bee biology. This paper serves as a significant asset for researchers, beekeepers, and conservationists with a keen interest in exploring the genetic characteristics of Apis mellifera

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle (SEP-1) measure has appropriately established sepsis as a national priority. However, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA and five additional endorsing societies) is concerned about SEP-1's potential to drive antibiotic overuse because it does not account for the high rate of sepsis overdiagnosis and encourages aggressive antibiotics for all patients with possible sepsis, regardless of the certainty of diagnosis or severity of illness. IDSA is also concerned that SEP-1's complex "time zero" definition is not evidence-based and is prone to inter-observer variation. In this position paper, IDSA outlines several recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of unintended consequences of SEP-1 while maintaining focus on its evidence-based elements. IDSA's core recommendation is to limit SEP-1 to septic shock, for which the evidence supporting the benefit of immediate antibiotics is greatest. Prompt empiric antibiotics are often appropriate for suspected sepsis without shock, but IDSA believes there is too much heterogeneity and difficulty defining this population, uncertainty about the presence of infection, and insufficient data on the necessity of immediate antibiotics to support a mandatory treatment standard for all patients in this category. IDSA believes guidance on managing possible sepsis without shock is more appropriate for guidelines that can delineate the strengths and limitations of supporting evidence and allow clinicians discretion in applying specific recommendations to individual patients. Removing sepsis without shock from SEP-1 will mitigate the risk of unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for noninfectious syndromes, simplify data abstraction, increase measure reliability, and focus attention on the population most likely to benefit from immediate empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Abstract Xylanases are widely used enzymes in the food, textile, and paper industries. Most efficient xylanases have been identified from lignocellulose-degrading microbiota, such as the microbiota of the cow rumen and the termite hindgut. Xylanase genes from efficient pulp and paper wastewater treatment (PPWT) microbiota have been previously recovered by metagenomics, assigning most of the xylanase genes to the GH10 family. In this study, a total of 40 GH10 family xylanase genes derived from a certain PPWT microbiota were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Among these xylanase genes, 14 showed xylanase activity on beechwood substrate. Two of these, PW-xyl9 and PW-xyl37, showed high activities, and were purified to evaluate their xylanase properties. Values of optimal pH and temperature for PW-xyl9 were pH 7 and 60 ℃, respectively, while those for PW-xyl37 were pH 7 and 55 ℃, respectively; their specific xylanase activities under optimal conditions were 470.1 U/mg protein and 113.7 U/mg protein, respectively. Furthermore, the Km values of PW-xyl9 and PW-xyl37 were determined as 8.02 and 18.8 g/L, respectively. The characterization of these two xylanases paves the way for potential application in future pulp and paper production and other industries, indicating that PPWT microbiota has been an undiscovered reservoir of efficient lignocellulase genes. This study demonstrates that a metagenomic approach has the potential to screen efficient xylanases of uncultured microorganisms from lignocellulose-degrading microbiota. In a similar way, other efficient lignocellulase genes might be identified from PPWT treatment microbiota in the future.

This paper presents a bibliographical analysis of scientific research on cotton-picking machinery, focusing on countries, years, authors, and publishers involved in this field. The study utilizes materials from the Scopus database, describing the sequence of analyses and presenting the results through graphs and histograms. Cotton is a crucial product for human life, and its ecologically clean demand is increasing yearly. Traditional cotton growing remains relevant in Uzbekistan, where cotton picking by machine is essential due to labor-intensive and expensive manual methods. The international cotton industry actively participates in creating and using cotton-picking machines, with more than 90 countries growing cotton on 32 million hectares, including Uzbekistan’s 1.07 million hectares. Since the 1970s, the USA and Uzbekistan have been the primary countries improving cotton-picking machines based on scientific and practical research. However, by the 21st century, countries like China, India, Turkey, and Israel have joined this field. This study aims to ensure that cotton-picking machines produced in Uzbekistan meet state standards by analyzing scientific research in this field, studying the advantages and disadvantages of machines from various countries, and staying updated on the latest developments through the Scopus database.

Inulin is a source of fiber that can be used as a functional food. Foods that contain inulin can help overcome health problems such as obesity, colon cancer risk, lower blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. The purpose of this paper is to summarize some research results on inulin content in tubers and their extraction methods. The inulin content in dahlia, gembili, uwi, potato, sweet potato, jicama, onion and garlic tubers are 74%; 15%; 12%; 7%; 13%; 41% and 33%, respectively. Extraction methods used include ethanol:water precipitation, microwave-assisted extraction, hot water extraction and ultrasound. In the future, inulin is expected to contribute to the treatment of digestive-related diseases.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of herbal residues on the fermentation quality and ruminal fermentation of paper mulberry silage. Clove, mint, and purple perilla residues were used as additives. Silage treatments were designed as control (no additives), 5% of clove, 5% of mint, and 5% of purple perilla. After 21 and 75 days of fermentation, the fermentation characteristics, bacterial communities, and ruminal greenhouse gas emissions in vitro incubation of paper mulberry were analyzed. The results showed that the used herbal residues could reduce the protein losses in paper mulberry silage based on the lower contents of ammoniacal nitrogen and nonprotein nitrogen. Compared with control, higher lactic acid and propionic acid contents were observed in the silages treated with mint and purple perilla but with a higher acetic acid content in clove treatment. Real-time sequencing technology (single-molecule real-time) revealed that Lactobacillus was the dominant bacteria in all silages at the genus level, whereas the bacterial abundance in the treated silages differed greatly from control at the species level. Lactobacillus hammesii abundance was the highest in control, whereas Lactobacillus acetotolerans was the first predominant in the treated silages. All the additives enhanced the digestibility of in vitro dry matter significantly. However, purple perilla decreased the production of total gas, methane, and carbon dioxide. The findings discussed earlier suggested that herbal residues have potential effects in improving fermentation quality, reducing protein loss, and modulating greenhouse gas emissions in the rumen of paper mulberry silage by shifting bacterial community composition.

From the beginning of the paper-making process, the pulp and paper industry has utilized a large amount of water and generated a vast amount of highly polluted wastewater. The paper industry faces global pressure to reduce water use and lower environmental pollution. However, traditional physicochemical methods of wastewater treatment need high energy input, and their ecological impact is questionable. Due to the zero discharged policy, the industries urgently require novel eco-friendly, sustainable, and efficient treatment techniques. Microbial technology is the most recommended option to treat wastewater and support sustainable growth. The present article describes the overview of traditional and novel methods, including membrane bioreactor (MBR) and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology's with their current state and their limits for treating pulp and paper wastewater. It is expected to integrate the novel methods with advanced hybrid technology to fulfill wastewater treatment criteria and prospects. Furthermore, coupling MBR and MBBR technology make energy and water recovery possible, and recycling wastewater will be economically and environmentally feasible.

Breakthrough invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have emerged as a significant problem in patients receiving systemic antifungals; however, consensus criteria for defining breakthrough IFI are missing. This position paper establishes broadly applicable definitions of breakthrough IFI for clinical research. Representatives of the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (MSG-ERC) and the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) reviewed the relevant English literature for definitions applied and published through 2018. A draft proposal for definitions was developed and circulated to all members of the two organisations for comment and suggestions. The authors addressed comments received and circulated the updated document for approval. Breakthrough IFI was defined as any IFI occurring during exposure to an antifungal drug, including fungi outside the spectrum of activity of an antifungal. The time of breakthrough IFI was defined as the first attributable clinical sign or symptom, mycological finding or radiological feature. The period defining breakthrough IFI depends on pharmacokinetic properties and extends at least until one dosing interval after drug discontinuation. Persistent IFI describes IFI that is unchanged/stable since treatment initiation with ongoing need for antifungal therapy. It is distinct from refractory IFI, defined as progression of disease and therefore similar to non-response to treatment. Relapsed IFI occurs after treatment and is caused by the same pathogen at the same site, although dissemination can occur. These proposed definitions are intended to support the design of future clinical trials and epidemiological research in clinical mycology, with the ultimate goal of increasing the comparability of clinical trial results.

In this study, a novel antimicrobial formula that incorporates Listeria bacteriophage P100 and silver nanoparticles into an alginate matrix was successfully developed. Paper coated with the antimicrobial formula inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. The effects of alginate concentration on the formation of silver nanoparticles, silver concentration on the infectivity of phages, and of low alginate concentrations on the sustained release of silver and phages were explored. The highest antimicrobial activity of the alginate–silver coating was achieved with an alginate concentration of 1%. Adding phage P100 (109 PFU/mL) into the alginate–silver coating led to a synergic effect that resulted in a 5-log reduction in L. monocytogenes. A bioactive paper was then developed by coating a base paper with the antimicrobial formula at different coating weights, followed by infrared drying. The higher coating weight was a crucial factor for the maintenance of phage infectivity throughout the coating and drying processes. Phages incorporated into the alginate matrix remained functional even after high-temperature infrared drying. Taken together, an optimized coating matrix is critical in improving the antimicrobial performance of bioactive paper as well as maintaining phage infectivity during the paper manufacturing process.

Lactic acid bacteria occupy an important position in silage microorganisms, and the effects of exogenous lactic acid bacteria on silage quality have been widely studied. Microbial metabolism has been proved as an indicator of substrate utilization by microorganisms. Paper mulberry is rich in free carbohydrate, amino acids, and other components, with the potential to be decomposed and utilized. In this study, changes in the microbial metabolism characteristics of paper mulberry silage with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) and Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB) were studied along with a control (CK) using BIOLOG ECO microplates. The results showed that average well-color development (AWCD), Shannon diversity, Shannon evenness, and Simpson diversity exhibited significant temporal trends. LB and LP responded differently in the early ensiling phase, and the AWCD of LB was higher than LP at 7 days. Principal component analysis revealed that CK, LB, and LP samples initially clustered at 3 days and then moved into another similar cluster after 15 days. Overall, the microplates methodology applied in this study offers important advantages, not least in terms of accuracy.

Chicken meat is well known for its high nutritional value. Its shelf life is short, due to the pronounced perishability, even under refrigeration. Paper bags are usually used as packaging materials, due to their biodegradability. The main negative aspect concerning paper is its high porosity and low moisture barrier. In this regard, it has to be coated/modified with efficient moisture barrier materials. The storage of chicken breast meat wrapped in four types of paper‐based materials currently in use in Romania (RO), Italy (IT), Spain (SP) and Slovenia (SLO) is reported. RO and IT are paper coated with polyethylene (PE) film, SP is waxed paper, and SLO is paper modified with hydrophobized starch. The influence of the coating film on the organoleptical, biochemical and microbiological characteristics of the chicken breast meat stored at 4°C was the aim of the study. The mathematical modelling revealed two aspects: (1) the stability period in which the meat safe for consumption is in the range 1.92–2.18 days in the case of all paper types, and (2) cadaverine, the amine generated by protein degradation, is a less sensitive indicator of the meat alteration than microbial growth. The papers coated with PE (RO and IT samples) and with hydrophobized starch (SLO paper) were packaging materials more efficient that the waxed paper (SP sample). The polyethylene film reduced the conversion of putrescine into spermidine in a higher extent than wax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This position paper, developed by an interdisciplinary expert group of neonatologists, paediatric infectious disease physicians, clinical pharmacists and specialists for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections, describes the “Good handling practice of medicines parenterally administered to patients on NICUs”. It takes equal account of patient safety and the specialties of neonatal intensive care regarding feasibility and proportionality. The overall concept is perceived as a “learning system”, in which open communication within the health-care team relating to medication errors and critical incidents enables continuous development and improvement to ensure patient safety. In our opinion, pharmacists, who are responsible for the supply of ready-to-administer parenteral medicinal products for neonatal intensive care patients, as well as the hygiene staff responsible on site are integral parts of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Risks of the current clinical practice of parenteral treatment of NICU patients are discussed in detail and recommendations for safety-relevant procedures are given.

Having been generated with a tremendous amount annually, paper waste (PW) represents a large proportion in municipal solid waste (MSW) and also a potential source of renewable energy production through the application of anaerobic digestion (AD). However, the recalcitrant lignocellulosic structure poses obstacles to efficient utilization in this way. Recently, anaerobic and microaerobic pretreatment have attracted attention as approaches to overcome the obstacles of biogas production. This study was set out to present a systematic comparison and assessment of anaerobic and microaerobic pretreatment of PW with different oxygen loadings by five microbial agents: composting inoculum (CI), straw-decomposing inoculum (SI), cow manure (CM), sheep manure (SM), and digestate effluent (DE). The hints of microbial community evolution during the pretreatment and AD were tracked by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results demonstrated that PW pretreated by DE with an oxygen loading of 15 ml/gVS showed the highest cumulative methane yield (CMY) of 343.2 ml/gVS, with a BD of 79.3%. In addition to DE, SI and SM were also regarded as outstanding microbial agents for pretreatment because of the acceleration of methane production at the early stage of AD. The microbial community analysis showed that Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Clostridium sensu stricto 10 possessed high relative abundance after anaerobic pretreatment by SI, while Bacteroides and Macellibacteroides were enriched after microaerobic pretreatment by SM, which were all contributable to the cellulose degradation. Besides, aerobic Bacillus in SI and Acinetobacter in SM and DE probably promoted lignin degradation only under microaerobic conditions. During AD, VadinBC27, Ruminococcaceae Incertae Sedis, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Fastidiosipila, and Caldicoprobacter were the crucial bacteria that facilitated the biodegradation of PW. By comparing the groups with same microbial agent, it could be found that changing the oxygen loading might result in the alternation between hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens, which possibly affected the methanogenesis stage. This study not only devised a promising tactic for making full use of PW but also provided a greater understanding of the evolution of microbial community in the pretreatment and AD processes, targeting the efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass in full-scale applications.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease present mainly in low-income countries of Africa and Asia. Dogs are the main reservoir and the source of human deaths. Mass vaccination campaigns of dogs are pivotal to achieve rabies elimination. The monitoring of the immune response of the dog population is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these campaigns, taking into account field conditions. This study explores the feasibility and the performance of a new tool using filter papers (FPs) to collect blood samples associated with an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) titration of rabies antibodies in dogs. A total of 216 eluates from FP samples were collected from 111 dogs kept in experimental facilities in France and 29 dogs from the field in Tunisia. Sera were also analyzed using both the Fluorescence Antibody Virus Neutralization test (FAVNt) and ELISA. A high specificity (98.0%) was obtained by testing FP blood eluates from 51 unvaccinated dogs, with the results compared with those of FAVNt and ELISA on serum samples. The coefficients of concordance between FP eluates and tested sera were 88.9% for FAVNt and 88.0% for ELISA. Blood filter papers coupled with the titration of rabies antibodies by ELISA provide a reliable, simple, and effective solution to overcome the issues of the logistics and transport of samples, especially in low-income countries.

One of the most horrible diseases in history, Smallpox is caused by the Variola from Poxvirus family, has caused great morbidity and mortality along the way since it was eradicated in the 20th century. During and after the eradication program for Variola, other Poxviruses such as the Monkeypox (Mpox) virus, which causes a smallpox-like disease, became flagrant. With its long range of enzymes and proteins, poxviruses are effectively resisting hostile immune system attacks and disrupting cell signaling pathways. After Smallpox vaccination, cross-reaction immunity develops between Orthopoxviruses. Mpox is indeed an African endemic virus; however, increasing and emerging cases have been reported globally in recent years. According to Smallpox eradication in the 1970s and vaccination ceasing, nowadays centerpieces of the world population are vulnerable to Mpox virus. Our knowledge of Mpox is severely limited due to the lack of regular surveillance methods. Increasing education, boosting surveillance, and developing diagnostic competence is the most significant policies for improving identification, treatment, and restricting further virus spread. So Mpox can play a double-edge blade role in which without monitoring and increasing awareness it could be horrific and with public awareness and boosting surveillance it could be a paper tiger. This article reviewed previous reports about the Mpox merge from PubMed and google scholar from 2018 to June 2022.

Pulp and paper mill effluent is rich in recalcitrant and toxic pollutants compounds and causes pollution. To find an efficient biocatalyst for the treatment of effluent, a dye-decolorizing peroxidase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MN-13, which is capable of degrading lignin, was used for the bioremediation of paper and pulp mill effluent. The dye-decolorizing peroxidase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BaDyP) exhibited high-redox potential to 2, 2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) ammonium salt (ABTS), veratryl alcohol, Mn2+, reactive blue 19, reactive black 5 and lignin dimer guaiacylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether (GGE). When GGE was used as substrate, BaDyP broke β-O-4 bond of GGE and then oxidize Cα to generate vanillin. The Km values for ABTS and veratryl alcohol were 2.19 mm and 0.07 mm, respectively. The Vmax for ABTS and veratryl alcohol were 1.8 mm/min and 14.12 mm/min, respectively. The BaDyP-mediated treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent led to significant reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color. When 5% (v/v) of effluent was treated with BaDyP for 12 h at 30°C and pH 2, the removal of COD, color, and lignin was achieved at 82.7, 80.2, and 78.20%, respectively. In detoxification assay, the seeds of Vigna unguiculata grown in treated effluent showed a significant increase in germination rate from 66.7% (untreated effluent) to 90%, and in radicle length from 0.68 cm (untreated effluent) to 1.26 cm, respectively. In the meanwhile, the inhibition of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis by the treated effluent reduced significantly as compared to untreated effluent, indicating high detoxification performance of BaDyP for the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent. The findings suggest that BaDyP is a potential catalyst for bioremediation of pulp and paper mill effluent, as it is effective in substantial lowering of pollutants load as well as reduces COD, color, and toxicity of effluent.

Governmental and educational organizations advocate for the adoption of inquiry-based, student-centered educational strategies in undergraduate STEM curricula. These strategies are known to benefit students by increasing performance, enhancing mastery of class content, and augmenting affect, particularly in underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students. Among these strategies, case study and project-based learning allow students to master course content while collectively tackling relevant, real-world societal problems. In particular, environmental pollution with paper-based products provide a current problem by which microbiology students learn about the role of microorganisms in paper waste management as well as the microbiological and biochemical processes involved in protein secretion, nutrient uptake, and energy metabolism. Delivered in a flipped, hybrid class in a Technology-Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) laboratory, this lesson taught students about exoenzyme secretion, biopolymer hydrolysis, intracellular transport of sugars, and sugar catabolic reactions. Students demonstrated increased comprehension of exoenzyme function and secretion, as well as how cells uptake the products of exoenzyme hydrolysis. However, students had challenges in placing the transported exoenzyme products within metabolic processes. Our results show increased perceived learning from the students as well as an understanding of the societal implications of these microbiological concepts. Our lesson deviated from knowledge silos in which students learn information in discrete topics. While departing from employing traditional, compartmentalized learning approaches, this student-centered guided lesson frames the systemic nature of the microbiological and biochemical processes underlying the decomposition of organic matter in a real-world context.

Background and Objectives: The use of endophytic fungi for management of phenol residue in paper and pulp industries has been shown as cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. In this study, isolation of endophytic fungi from roots, stems, and leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa was conducted. Additionally, the isolated fungi were examined for their ability to degrade phenol and its derivatives in paper and pulp industrial samples, using different growth conditions. Materials and Methods: Out of 35 isolated endophyitc fungi, 31 were examined for their phenol biodegradation capacity using Czapek Dox broth medium containing Catechol and Resorcinol as a sole carbon source at final concentrations of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8%. Results: A total of 35 fungal species belonging to 18 fungal genera were isolated and identified from different parts of H. sabdariffa plants. All strains have the capability for degrading phenol and their derivatives with variable extents. The optimum condition of degrading phenol in paper and pulp effluent samples by Fusarium poae11r7 were at pH 3-5, temperature at 28-35°C, good agitation speed at no agitation and 100 rpm. Conclusion: All endophytic fungal species can utilize phenol and its derivatives as a carbon source and be the potential to degrade phenol in industrial contaminants.

Despite progress in antimicrobial drug development, a critical need persists for new, feasible pathways to develop antibacterial agents to treat people infected with drug-resistant bacteria. Infections due to resistant gram-negative bacilli continue to cause unacceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Antibacterial agents have been historically studied in noninferiority clinical trials that focus on a single site of infection (eg, complicated urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections), yet these designs may not be optimal, and often are not feasible, for study of infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Over the past several years, multiple stakeholders have worked to develop consensus regarding paths forward with a goal of facilitating timely conduct of antimicrobial development. Here we advocate for a novel and pragmatic approach and, toward this end, present feasible trial designs for antibacterial agents that could enable conduct of narrow-spectrum, organism-specific clinical trials and ultimately approval of critically needed new antibacterial agents.

Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PSI-MS) is a direct MS analysis technique with several reported bacterial metabolomics applications. As with most MS-based bacterial studies, all currently reported PSI-MS bacterial analyses have focused on the chemical signatures of the cellular unit. One dimension of the bacterial metabolome that is often lost in such analyses is the exometabolome (extracellular metabolome), including secreted metabolites, lipids, and peptides. A key component of the bacterial exometabolome that is gaining increased attention in the microbiology and biomedical communities is extracellular vesicles (EVs). These excreted structures, produced by cells in all domains of life, contain a variety of biomolecules responsible for a wide array of cellular functions, thus representing a core component of the bacterial secreted metabolome. Although previously examined using other MS approaches, no reports currently exist for a PSI-MS analysis of bacterial EVs, nor EVs from any other organism (exosomes, ectosomes, etc.). PSI-MS holds unique analytical strengths over other commonly used MS platforms and could thus provide an advantageous approach to EV metabolomics. To address this, we report a novel application representing, to our knowledge, the first PSI-MS analysis of EVs from any organism (using the human gut resident Oxalobacter formigenes as the experimental model, a bacterium whose EVs were never previously investigated). In this report, we show how we isolated and purified EVs from bacterial culture supernatant by EV-specific affinity chromatography, confirmed and characterized these vesicles by nanoparticle tracking analysis, analyzed the EV isolate by PSI-MS, and identified a panel of EV-derived metabolites, lipids, and peptides. This work serves as a pioneering study in the field of MS-based EV analysis and provides a new, rapid, sensitive, and economical approach to EV metabolomics.

Abstract Mushroom cultivation is an economically feasible bio-technological process for conversion of various lignocellulosic wastes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran for oyster mushroom cultivation. Pure culture of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer) was purchased from YB Plant Micropropagation Plc; Mekelle, Ethiopia. Then, the pure culture was used as inoculum for spawn preparation using sorghum prepared in Microbiology laboratory, Department of Biology, Aksum University. Waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran with 0%, 25% and 50% were prepared. The substrates were mixed with the spawn that has been inoculated with pure culture of oyster mushroom aseptically for their productivity and biological efficiency (BE) for cultivation of P. ostreatus mushroom. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Higher (26.20 ± 19.36) mean weight, pileus diameter (7.90 ± 2.66 cm), total yield (646.4 ± 273.1 g) and BE (64.64 ± 273%) were obtained from waste paper (50%) supplemented with cornstalk (25%) and wheat bran (25%). And lower (17.92 ± 81.95%) BE were obtained from waste paper (100%). Moreover, the highest (3.88 ± 0.32 cm) mean stalk length was obtained from waste paper (50%) supplemented with corn stalk (50%). This study revealed that waste paper supplemented with corn stalk and wheat bran resulted in high BE and total yield. Thus, utilization of waste paper appears to be a promising alternative for the cultivation of oyster mushroom when supplemented with other substrates.

In the wood-free paper industry, whitewater is usually a mixture of additives for paper production. We are currently lacking an efficient, cost-effective purification technology for their removal. In closed whitewater cycles the additives accumulate, causing adverse production problems, such as the formation of slime and pitch. The aim of our study was to find an effective bio-based strategy for whitewater treatment using a selection of indigenous bacterial isolates. We first obtained a large collection of bacterial isolates and then tested them individually by simple plate and spectrophotometric methods for their ability to degrade the papermaking additives, i.e., carbohydrates, resin acids, alkyl ketene dimers, polyvinyl alcohol, latex, and azo and fluorescent dyes. We examined correlation between carbon source use, genera, and inoculum source of isolates using two multivariate methods: principal component analysis and FreeViz projection. Of the 318 bacterial isolates, we selected a consortium of four strains (Xanthomonadales bacterium sp. CST37-CF, Sphingomonas sp. BLA14-CF, Cellulosimicrobium sp. AKD4-BF and Aeromonas sp. RES19-BTP) that degrade the entire spectrum of tested additives by means of dissolved organic carbon measurements. A proof-of-concept study on a pilot scale was then performed by immobilizing the artificial consortium of the four strains and inserting them into a 33-liter, tubular flow-through reactor with a retention time of < 15 h. The consortium caused an 88% reduction in the COD of the whitewater, even after 21 days.