زهرا بیگم مختاری حسینی

Ganoderma lucidum, with its medicinal characteristics, is one of the most beneficial fungi in traditional Asian medicine. This fungus low efficiency of ganoderic acid production has limited its use as a valuable secondary metabolite. Environmental stresses and elicitors such as microbial volatile organic compounds in co-cultures can increase ganoderic acid production. To investigate effects of variables of co-culture time and volume on Ganoderma lucidum growth and ganoderic acid production, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger were aerially co-cultured with Ganoderma lucidum.

To investigate fungus growth and production of ganoderic acid using bubble column bioreactor, effects of independent variables of temperature, initial inoculation, length-to-diameter ratio (L: D) and aeration were investigated using Taguchi method. Then, effects of co-culture of Ganoderma lucidum with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger under optimum conditions were investigated.

Optimizing effects of co-culture time and volume variables led to 2.9-fold increases in production of ganoderic acid, compared to the control sample. Optimization of biomass production in the bioreactor showed that biomass production increased significantly by increasing the initial inoculation percentage and temperature. These two variables significantly affected ganoderic acid production and its optimum production point was 10% of initial inoculation, temperature of 25.6 °C, L: D of 4:8 and aeration rate of 0.64 vvm. Gas holdup investigation for air-water and air-fermentation media systems showed that the presence of suspended solids and aeration rate affected gas holdup. Microbial volatile organic compounds in co-culture of microorganisms can increase ganoderic acid production by Ganoderma lucidum. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) is a rich source of secondary metabolites, including exopolysaccharides. These compounds strengthen the immune system and play essential roles in prevention and treatment of several diseases, in cluding cancers. A way to increase production of polysaccharides is the use of elicitors. Examples of these elicitors include microbial volatile organic compounds, which are produced in microo - rganism co - cultures. The objective of this study was to investi gate effects of these compounds on production of Shiitake exopolysaccharides.

To decrease cultivation time, Shiitake was cultured in four culture media, including (1) potato dextrose broth, (2) potato dextrose broth and D - glucose, (3) malt extract broth and (4) malt extract broth and D - glucose. After selecting appropriate culture media, fungal growth curve, kinetic growth of pellets and filamentous morphology were studied. Novel method of simultaneous aerial co - culture wa s used to increase production of Shiitake exopolysaccharides, which acted as an elicitor by inducing microbial volatile organic compounds of other microorganisms. Microbial volatile organic compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy . Results and

Malt extract medium containing glucose was selected for submerged and solid cultures of Shiitake and the growth time decreased to 18 d. Shiitake biomass production included 11 g.l - 1 . Filamentous morphology included higher product ion rates due to higher surface - to - volume ratios, compared to that the pellet morphology did. Shiitake fungal biomass and exopolysaccharides in co - cultures with Aspergillus niger included 14 and 4 g.l - 1 , respectively . Furthermore, biomass and exopolysaccha rides included 11 and 4.7 g.l - 1 in co - cultures with Schizophyllum commune , respectively . Microbial volatile organic compounds produced by Aspergillus niger and Schizophyllum commune in co - cultures, as elicitors, increased biomass and exopolysaccharide productions in Shiitake. Therefore, it suggests that microorganism co - cultivation is a low - cost effective method for Shiitake exopolysaccharide production

Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supplement. The intracellular polysaccharides of this fungus include high molecular weights and help strengthen the immune system. Furthermore, these polysaccharides act as antioxidants by inhibiting free radicals and enhancing activity of the enzymes. Addition of various elicitors to the fungi submerged culture media affects the cell growth and metabolite production. Fungal extracts are one of these elicitors.

In this study, Ganoderma lucidum was first cultured in various culture media to investigate the base media. Using three various methods (soaking the fruit body in water, disintegrating the fruit body with a blender and boiling the fruit body), Agaricus bisporus fruit body extract was prepared as elicitor and the extract with the highest sugar content was used. For the optimization of growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides, effects of six independent factors were investigated using Placket-Burman method, including Agaricus bisporus extract, peptone, maltose, pH, vitamin B1 and CaCl2. Response surface method was used to optimize three factors of vitamin B1, Agaricus bisporus extract and maltose. Then, stirred tank bioreactor was used to culture Ganoderma lucidum.

The YPG culture medium was selected as the base medium based on mycelial growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides (IC50). Sugar content of the Agaricus bisporus extract was 30.66 μg.ml-1. Placket-Burman method revealed that the extracts of Agaricus bisporus, maltose and vitamin B1 significantly increased antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides. After optimizing these factors using RSM, the IC50 was reported as 1.047 mg.ml-1. Ganoderma lucidum cultivation in bioreactor significantly increased the cell growth (5.29 g.l-1). Intracellular polysaccharides included an IC50 of 1.14 mg.ml-1, which was significantly higher than that the intracellular polysaccharides included in YPG culture media.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Considering the nutritional value of fungi in traditional medicine and the history of their use in the treatment of various cancers, modern methods of treating cancer were studied using fungal products, especially polysaccharides. The antitumor activity of fungal polysaccharides is directly related to the stimulation of the immune system. These polysaccharides damage the free radicals and inhibit the growth of cancer cells by altering the function of macrophages, stimulating the production of anti-cancer antibodies and increasing nitric oxide and cytokines production. Despite extensive research on the therapeutic effects of fungal polysaccharides, further research is needed to identify their chemical structure, especially in purification methods. Fungal polysaccharides, in features such as linkage type, the degree of branching, molecular weight and solubility are different. The growth conditions of the fungal species, including the compositions of the culture medium, temperature, pH and type of bioreactor, affect the yield of polysaccharide and its monosaccharide composition. Polysaccharide extraction methods, drying, purification, and chemical modification can change the structural properties of polysaccharide, including linkage type, the degree of branching, uronic acid content, protein content, and solubility. Structural differences in fungal polysaccharides have been shown to lead to differences in antioxidant activity, anti-proliferation, and immune stimulation. Therefore, by investigating the chemical structure of fungal polysaccharides, it can be targeted to the production of polysaccharides for the treatment of cancer.

 One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time is the Basidiomycete fungus Fomes fomentarius, which is widely distributed in Iran. Polysaccharides as one of the metabolites of this fungus have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

   Optimization of independent variables of MgSO4.7H2O concentration, initial pH, yeast extract, and inoculum percentage to increase biomass and polysaccharide production of F. fomentarius was investigated using the Taguchi method. Then, the biological properties of the produced polysaccharide including antibacterial activity was investigated by bacterial colony counting method, antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical, and antiproliferative effect on 5 cancer cell lines MKN-45, AGS, A549, KYSE-30 and 5637 using MTS test.

   The concentration of MgSO4.7H2O and initial pH had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the production of F. fomentarius polysaccharide and in optimal conditions polysaccharide production reaches 5.410 g/L. The polysaccharide of this fungus inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria by 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of this polysaccharide in the DPPH test is 16.11%. The antiproliferative effect of this polysaccharide on cancer cells is different (KYSE-30> A549 5637> AGS> MKN-45). This effect increases with increasing concentration. In KYSE-30 cell line treatment with 200 g/mL polysaccharide, cell viability reaches 40% after 72 hours.

  Optimizing the culture medium of the medicinal fungus Fomes fomentarius increases the production of polysaccharides up to 5.410 g/L. Optimization increases the biological activity of polysaccharides. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli is 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is 16.11% and the viability of KYSE-30 cancer cells reaches 40% after 72 hours.

Fiber production in nanoscale prepares high surface contact for fibers and leads to the improvement of their properties with respect to other fibers. A convenient and effective method for nanofiber production with different diameters is electrospinning. Various effective parameters on electrospinning processes, including environmental, equipment, and solution variables can produce fibers with different morphologies. PVA has been used in various fields of applied research because of its high thermal stability, biocompatibility, non-toxic and solubility in water. The published reports indicated that properties of the PVA are improved with the addition of bentonite. In this research, to prepare PVA/nano-bentonite nanofiber membrane, the optimum amounts of three effective variables on the above-mentioned processes were determined. According to the obtained results, the voltage of 11 kV, the feeding rate of 0.5 mL/h and bentonite concentration of 3% w/w were optimum conditions for the process of PVA/nano-bentonite nanofiber composite production. In this condition, the average diameter of produced nanofibers was 243 nm with the standard deviation of 0.0551 and the tensile strength of 7.64 MPa. The results showed that the addition of bentonite to PVA increase intensity of nanofibers and decrease the diameter of nanofibers from 308 nm to 243nm.Therfore, the produced PVA/bentonite nanofiber composite is a good membrane for water treatment.

Ganoderma lucidum is one of the best-known medicinal mushrooms in the world. It contains substantial amounts of intra- and extracellular secondary metabolites and polysaccharides each with its own specific medicinal and medical uses. The chitin-glucan complex (CGC) is considered one of the important polysaccharides of this fungus. Among the 10 various culture media that were studied, the one containing PDB at 24g/l, peptone at 1g/l, and with the dry weight of cells of 11.6 g/l, the produced CGC of 3.2g/l, and with 27.6 percent CGC in the dry weight of the cells was selected as the suitable culture medium. FTIR analysis was performed for characterization of the produced CGC and its antibacterial properties were studied. The obtained time profile for CGC growth and production was 20 days and, using the logistic growth model and the Lodding-Pipet equation, the calculated specific growth rate of Ganoderma lucidum (μm) and the volumetric productivity for the product were 2.85 g CGC L-1day-and 0.5274 day-1, respectively. The calculations indicated there were high degrees of conformance between the model and the laboratory data related to kinetic characteristics of cell growth (R2= 0.9679) and to CGC production (R2=0.9901). Therefore, the introduced kinetic model can serve as an effective guide to control the fermentation process in industrial production of the valuable CGC polymer.

Ganoderma lucidum is a main source of ganoderic acid. This metabolite has pharmaceutical effects such as cancer treatment. However, due to low yields and high prices, clinical application is difficult. Stimulants such as elicitor and mechanical shocks can be used to increase the produce of ganoderic acid effectively. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound on the production of this medicine.
In this study, a liquid culture of the fungus treated with the once and twice at 20 and 200 seconds of sound with a frequency of 50 kHz and constant output power in ultrasonic bath was investigated. After extraction of ganoderic acid and ensure of positive impact of shock, to optimize variables, response surface methodology was used. In this method, 17 experiments with three variables, the first time ultrasound (4, 5, 6 days), the second ultrasound (7, 8, 9 days) and time of ultrasound (60, 180, 300 seconds) by Design Expert software were designed and done.
The results showed that the effects of ultrasound stimulation with twice 274 seconds treatment on days 4 and 7 were established highest ganoderic acid production. By comparing samples with control (without sound) Increase in extracellular ganoderic acid to intracellular ratio was determined. In optimum conditions, 34% increase in GA production relative to the control sample was observed.
Ultrasound can be used as a non-chemical and cheap stimulus, increase ganoderic acid production.

Disposal of storage tanks’ sludges due to the high concentration of hydrocarbon involved in them and environmental hazards are a major concerns in oil depots. In this study, reducing concentration of hydrocarbon in petroleum sludge by applying a low cost absorption was investigated. For this purpose, natural zeolite of Semnan zone was applied. In the first stage, modification of the zeolite surface was performed by different acids and the modified zeolites efficiencies were studied. According to obtained results, modification of zeolite surface improves hydrocarbon adsorption, so that HCl-modified zeolite provides maximum adsorption. In the second stage, the influence of physical and chemical parameters on the process was studied using Taguchi methods at two levels. The results show that contact time, the amount of adsorption and temperature are effective on the adsorption process. In the last stage, adsorption isotherm of process was examined, and it was found that the hydrocarbon adsorption on the modified zeolite follows the Temkin isotherm. Finally, the results of this study show that hydrocarbon concentration of sludge can be reduced to 83% using just 0.28 gr of low cost zeolite per 1 gr of sludge.

After the onset of the industrial revolution, the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increased rapidly. Global warming is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide emissions are the most important cause of global warming. Now, there are several methods to remove carbon dioxide from gas streams. One of the proposed methods is the use of zeolites as the adsorbent which can separate CO2 using molecular sieve method. In this study, CO2 removal from Sabzevar Cement plant flue gas by Sabzevar zeolite was investigated.For this purpose, a laboratory - scale column was made and the effect of three factors including the size of zeolite, height-to-diameter ratio of the column (L/D), and gas inlet pressure were investigated in three levels using Taguchi method. ANOVA results showed that in the range of variables, the size of zeolite is the most important factor on the adsorption process. Also, L/D factor had a significant effect on the adsorption process. Under the obtained optimum conditions that involved the size of zeolite 2-2.36 mm, L/D 10.8,gas inlet pressure 90-98 kPa, about 80% of CO2 was removed from the flue-gas after 10 minutes and more than 60% of it was also removed after one hour by the zeolite column.

Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), produced by several species of bacteria, hasattracted great attention as a biodegradable and biocompatible compoundwith almost similar properties of polypropylene. Unfortunately, its use iscurrently limited due to high production costs. One of the most common methods forovercoming this constraint is the use of inexpensive substrates, like methanol.Another strategy which involves the increase in carbon yield which can directlyaffect the production costs. One method to increase carbon yield is the use of mixedsubstrates. Therefore, for PHB production the effects of three sources of carbon,ethanol, sodium acetate, and glucose were studied as substrates in different concentrations mixed with methanol. It was found that PHB concentration and PHB content increased by addition of ethanol and acetate, but glucose addition did not have any significant effect on PHB production. Calculation of carbon yield under the best condition indicated that it increased about 3 times by addition of acetate