Biotechnological Journal of Environmental Microbiology
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Spring 2022

Computer-assisted approaches might be seen as a bridge to novel medication discoveries. In 2014, the World Health Organization declared antibiotic resistance in microorganisms as a major global threat where simple diseases that were formerly manageable have now become deadly infections. Microbial resistance is a form of drug resistance where a microorganism may live even in the presence of antibiotics. Toxoplasmosis is a major worldwide parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Since Toxoplasma gondii is not capable of purine synthesis, the protein adenosine kinase (EC.2.7.1.20) is an important enzyme in its life pathway. Therefore, Toxoplasma gondii adenosine kinase has recently been considered a target for developing anti-Toxoplasma agents. This study aimed to develop a 3D QSAR model to predict the activity of adenosine kinase inhibitors in Toxoplasma gondii and to find new potent inhibitors. The acceptable values of 0.98, 0.83, and 0.91 were observed for the goodness of fit (R2), internal cross-validation (Q2), and external cross-validation (R2pred) indices, respectively. The robustness of the model was confirmed by applying the Y-scrambling analysis, and values of ~ 0.18 and ~ 0.0025 were observed for R2intercept and Q2intercept, respectively. This confirmed that indices calculated for the original model were not based on the chance correlation between independent and dependent variables. New ligands were then proposed based on the structural virtual screening using the SwissSimilarity web tool and the ZINC database. The SwissADME web tool was used to predict the pharmacokinetic properties of the new compounds, and a promising compound was suggested for further research.

Microplastics provide a extensive surface for microbial colonization in aquatic ecosystems. The formation of microorganism-microplastic complexes, such as biofilms, maximizes the degradation of organic matter and horizontal gene transfer. microplastic affect the structure and function of microbial communities. Dispersal of microplastic is concomitant with that of their associated microorganisms and their mobile genetic elements, including antibiotic resistance genes, islands of pathogenicity, and diverse metabolic pathways. The presence of microplastics in the marine environment poses a great threat to the entire ecosystem and has received much attention lately as the presence has greatly impacted oceans, lakes, seas, rivers and even the Polar Regions. Also, Coastal and marine areas are constantly under continuous and increasing pressure from the activities of humans. Microorganisms play essential roles in the ecological fate of microplastics pollution, potentially yielding positive and negative effects. This study provides a holistic view of ongoing microplastics and related microbial research, which may be useful for future microplastics biodegradation studies.

Aspirin has become one of the most frequently used and cheapest drugs in medicine till now. Since its first synthesis in 1897, several medicinal roles and mechanisms of action of Aspirin have become apparent. Since its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has been ravaging the medical and economic sectors even with the significant vaccination advances. In severe presentations, the disease of SARS-CoV-2 can manifest with life-threatening thromboembolic and multi-organ repercussions provoking notable morbidity and mortality. Aspirin, due to its well-known properties and multiple molecular targets, and ought to its extensive clinical use, has been perceived as a potential therapeutic agent for COVID-19. Aspirin acts at multiple cellular targets to achieve its anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet effects. Although initial promising clinical data describing aspirin role in COVID-19 has appeared, evidence supporting its use remains fragile and premature. In this article, we highlight the history of Aspirin, a novel mechanism of action, and its uses. Also included is a brief statement of emerging new applications and principal mechanisms by which Aspirin inhibits acute inflammation and alters platelet-biology; therefore, hypothesized that Aspirin might prove highly beneficial as a novel therapeutic drug for combating severe acute inflammation and thrombosis associated with the cytokine storm in COVID -19 patients.

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous Gram-positive food-borne human bacterial pathogen that can cause listeriosis. This disease is a fatal with a high rate of hospitalization (>90%). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on L. monocytogenes PTCC 1297 proteomics. Bacterial cells exposed to gradually increasing sub-lethal concentrations of oxidative stress: 0.06, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.5 % of H2O2. Changes in protein profile of cells exposed to H2O2 and control (non-adapted cells) were determined by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Protein spots visualized by staining with colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Based on the obtained results, one thousand four hundred spots identified on the gels. Out of these points, 85 spots were reproducibly detected with the help of software and eye confirmation. After analyzing these points, 9 spots showed the most significant changes. These points had appropriate density and indicate the response of bacteria to stress conditions. It can be concluded that the structure of proteome of L. monocytogenes PTCC 1297 changes when faced with oxidative stress. Nine protein spots on the gel were found to have substantial variations after protein spot analysis. These sites show how bacteria react under stress. Some of these spots' expressions had increased, while others had decreased.

Due to the increase in the incidence of infectious diseases and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The present study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extracts of the edible plants Tragopogon collinus L. and Allium eriophyllum L. against some environmental and pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. The extraction of medicinal plants was conducted using ethanol and the percolation method. Agar well diffusion was used to determine the antimicrobial effects of the extracts. The ethanolic extract of Tragopogon collinus showed an inhibitory effect on all bacteria in 250 µg/ml concentration, and the greatest effect was observed on Staphylococcus aureus and E. faecalis, with 20 and 18 mm diameter of zone, respectively. In the 125 µg/ml concentration, with a 21 mm diameter of zone, it had the highest antimicrobial effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae, compared with other bacteria. Regarding the ethanolic extract of Allium eriophyllum L., the highest antibacterial effect at 250 µg/ml concentration was 20 and 22 mm zone diameters. The effect of this plant extract on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was lower than its effect on other bacteria. The MIC of the extract of Tragopogon collinus L.was found at a 5.75 µg/ml concentration on staphylococcus aureus and E. faecalis. The MIC of the ethanolic extract of Allium eriophyllum L. was found at a 11.5 µg/ml concentration on staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results of this study indicate that Tragopogon collinus and Allium eriophyllum have antibacterial properties.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree in the flowering plant family of Thecae. One of the major steps in black tea manufacturing is the fermentation process, which bacteria may incorporate. This study aimed at using the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and Taguchi methods to optimize the production of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) by Bacillus spp. isolated from fully fermented tea. The results showed that sucrose and glucose exhibited the greatest effects on the production of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase by the strains Bacillus sp. (TB3) and B. licheniformis (TB14), respectively. In addition, the results indicated that the best nitrogen sources for the production of PPO by Bacillus sp. (TB3) and POD by B. licheniformis (TB14) were sodium nitrate and ammonium carbonate, respectively. Based on the obtained results, the medium components for the production of PPO by Bacillus sp. (TB3) at a pH of 7 were as follows: 0.5% sucrose, 1.0% of peptone, 0.8% of yeast extract, 0.2% of hydrolyzed casein, 0.02% of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.005% of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 0.1% sodium nitrate. Moreover, the optimal culture medium for the production of POD by B. licheniformis (TB14) at a pH of 7 was as follows: 0.3% of glucose, 1.0% of peptone, 0.8% of yeast extract, 0.2% of hydrolyzed casein, 0.02% of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and 0.005% of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. Increased production of PPO and POD enzymes were obtained about 8 and 6 fold more than the basal culture media, respectively.