ISSN 2285-1364, ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5521, ISSN ONLINE 2285-1372, ISSN-L 2285-1364
 

Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Cheik Omar Tidiane COMPAORÉ, Catalina Mihaela VOAIDES, Iliassou MOGMENGA, Amidou S. OUILI, Franck MOSSOUN, Ynoussa MAIGA, Aboubakar Sidiki OUATTARA

Antagonistic bacteria play a crucial role in the fight against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. They offer an ecological and sustainable alternative to traditional antibiotics, reducing selective pressure and preserving natural microbial ecosystems. In agriculture and livestock farming, their purpose is to inhibit the growth of pathogens through competition for nutrients, producing antimicrobial substances and modulating the immune system. For example, probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium improve intestinal health and reduce the need for antibiotics in animals. Similarly, bacteria such as Bacillus and Pseudomonas are used to protect plants against various diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments. In the medical field, antagonistic bacteria are used to prevent and treat various infections, including gastrointestinal and urogenital infections. They also contribute to modulating the gut microbiota and supporting the immune system. However, there are still technical and scientific challenges to be overcome in order to optimize their use, such as understanding the complex interactions between antagonistic bacteria and pathogens, and the stability and efficacy of probiotic formulations.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Natalia VLADEI, Ecaterina COVACI, Alexandra ARSENI, Valeria DAMASCHIN

The diversity of the yeast microflora significantly contributes to the chemical and sensorial characteristics of wine. Lately, the significance of microbiome of grape berries of different geographical origin and varieties, winemaking practices and climatic conditions has led to the suggestion of the microbial terroir. Under micro winery conditions were studied indigenous flora of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes from “Ștefan Vodă” PGI. This study is reflecting that the dynamics of the alcoholic fermentation process presented several peculiarities: the spontaneous fermentation had a latency period of 4 days until the beginning of the active phase, and then presented difficulties in completion, especially at the end of the fermentation. Due to possible early and significant development of Kloeckera apiculata, spontaneous fermentation was accompanied by an increase in volatile acidity. The microscopy of studied samples allowed their visual evaluation and the preventive determination of some morphological characters of the microbiome. An efficient use of the grape microbiome would be the selection and subsequent multiplication to be used for fermentation (starter cultures).

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Aglaia POPA

Lignocellulosic biomass is considered to be the most abundant renewable biomass in the world. However, since only 5% of it is valorised, research is still focused on a better degradability of this waste due to its potential in various applications. Given the structural complexity, recalcitrance and variety depending on the source, several enzymes are involved in a better degradation of lignocellulose. This research study is focused on testing two fungal isolates on their ability to depolymerise two lignocellulosic substrates with a different chemical composition: beech sawdust and wheat bran. The fungal isolates were obtained through random UV mutagenesis from Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404. The fungal strains were compared based on their enzymatic activities regarding the production of endoxylanase, acetyl xylan esterase, feruloyl esterase and laccase. The highest specific enzymatic activities for all the enzymes analysed were registered for Aspergillus brasiliensis UV14, a strain obtained after exposure to UV irradiation for 50 minutes.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Ioannis Ilie KARPATHAKIS, Călina Petruţa CORNEA

Brazzein, a highly potent sweetener derived from the fruit of the African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana, has garnered attention due to its potential as a low-calorie alternative to sugar. This study presents a comparison between in vivo and in vitro systems for the production of brazzein, focusing on yield, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Utilizing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in in vivo systems, specifically engineered yeast and bacteria, we explored the scalability and efficiency of brazzein production. Conversely, in vitro systems involved cell-free synthesis, highlighting the control over production conditions and the reduced risk of contamination. Economic analysis revealed that while in vivo systems benefit from lower initial investment costs and higher production rates, in vitro systems may offer long-term sustainability and lower environmental impact, attributed to reduced resource consumption and waste generation. This study provides critical insights into the feasibility of scaling brazzein production for commercial use, evaluating the pros and cons of each system. Further research into genetic engineering and optimization of culture conditions could enhance the efficiency and yield of brazzein production, contributing to the development of healthier sweetening options for the global market.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Ioana-Cătălina NICOLAE, Oana VENAT, Adrian George PETICILĂ, Dorel HOZA

Solanum tuberosum is one of the most economically important species for food consumption. Because the species is susceptible to various systemic pathogens, in vitro techniques are preferred for storing the germplasm. Synthetic seed technology can be a useful tool in plant conservation, as it combines the advantages of vegetative and generative propagation. Using this technology, in combination with salicylic acid, a plant growth regulator known to mediate the plant response to cold temperatures, this study aims to enhance the tolerance of Solanum tuberosum explants to cold temperatures during in vitro storage. Nodal segments and shoot tips obtained from in vitro cultures of Solanum tuberosum 'Salad Blue’ were encapsulated in sodium alginate solutions containing different concentrations of salicylic acid (0; 25 µM, 50 µM, and 75 µM) and stored at 4°C and under dark conditions for 60 days. Synthetic seeds were inoculated on a regeneration medium with 0.3 mg/L IAA and different concentrations of BAP (2 mg/L, 3 mg/L, and 4 mg/L). Even though the growth regulators in the culture medium did not influence the regeneration capacity of the explants, supplementing the alginate matrix with 25 µM salicylic acid increased the storage capacity of the encapsulated explants.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Mihaela VILCU, Elisabeta Elena POPA, Mona Elena POPA

In order to ensure effective protection of public health, it is mandatory that the level of food contaminants present in the cereal value chain to be below the maximum level established by the regulations in force, and not to be placed on the market or used as ingredients or mixed with other food products if they don’t comply with these limits. Cereals can be contaminated through exposure to polluted environment, mycotoxins and heavy metals being a significant source of contamination. These contaminants are considered a public health concern, having an impact on the food security and the economy of many countries, their monitoring being important. There are certain situations in which food is contaminated with mycotoxins and heavy metals, but which can hardly be controlled at all or is only poorly controlled. Therefore, the aim of this review is to offer an update of the incidence of these contaminants on the cereal value chain, the accumulation in the cereal and cereal-based products, the mitigation of these contaminants and the impact on the human health.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Natália ČERYOVÁ, Judita LIDIKOVÁ, Monika ŇORBOVÁ, Silvia FEDORKOVÁ, Alena VOLLMANNOVÁ, Janette MUSILOVÁ, Ľuboš HARANGOZO

The paper aimed to assess the hygienic quality of soils in home gardens and the safety of consumption of tomatoes grown in these soils. Fruits of three tomato cultivars, namely Radana, Tornado F1, and Cherolla F1 from four localities of Slovakia (Sabinov, Žilina, Oravská Lesná, Hliník nad Hronom) along with soil samples were analysed using Varian AA 240FS/240Z atomic absorption spectrometer. Based on the results, all soils can be classified as highly contaminated, extremely polluted, and of high to very high risk. Results showed that monitored cultivars are not bioaccumulators of analysed risk elements, however, the content of Pb and Cd exceeded the limits set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 in some of the samples. While the results of the health risk assessment showed that consumption of monitored cultivars does not pose a risk to the consumers, it is important to take other dietary sources of risk elements into account, since monitored tomatoes alone could contribute up to 5.7% of the provisional monthly intake of Cd.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Florentina BADEA, Constantin Alexandru ALDEA, Camelia Filofteia DIGUȚĂ, Florentina MATEI

The aim of this study was to test three strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB): Lactobacillus fermentum MI204, Lactobacillus plantarum MI207 and Pediococcus pentosaceus MI213 in order to establish their potential to inhibit the development of the gray mold, Botrytis cinerea, on the surface of white grape berries to extend their shelf life during the storage period. The experiments involved the treatment of grape berries with LABs suspension, followed by their artificial contamination with B. cinerea spores. The berries were than stored and sampled every 24 hours for determining the load of B. cinerea and LABs by culture-based techniques and by qPCR. The L. plantarum MI207 strain was shown to be effective in inhibiting the development of the B. cinerea fungus on the surface of white grapes. Furthermore, all three LAB strains were able to maintain their viability and multiply on the surface of the grape berries during the storage period. The qPCR technique proved to be effective in quantifying the genetic material from both B. cinerea and the three strains of LAB in a shorter time compared to the use of the culture-based methods.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Andrei Constantin Ioan ARLET, Brindusa BALANUCA, Mihaela TOCIU, Cristina OTT, Lucian CONSTANTIN, Aglaia POPA, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING

Different extracts from coloured corn varieties are well known for their profile of high-value phenolic compounds. In this context, the current study proposes an evaluation of the phenolic content for the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from bran of red corn, a variety grown in Romania. Therefore, the native extract, obtained by ultrasounds treatment, was separated using different membranes (regenerated cellulose and polyethersulphone), with nominal molecular weight cut-off of 5000 and 10000 KDa, by employing different working parameters. Several extract fractions were obtained and characterized in terms of their total phenolic content and total flavonoid content by means of UV-Vis spectrophotometry and phenolic acids content also, by HPLC. Total antioxidant capacity was also measured by means of UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Membrane separation has been observed to lead to extract fractions rich in phenolic compounds, especially with flavonic structures, such as rutin and quercetin, with great potential for today's modern industries (pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food industry).

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Olga POSTOLACHI, Inna RASTIMESINA, Vera MAMALIGA

Among the most known enzymes used for plastic degradation are esterase, cutinase, and lipase. These enzymes are synthesized by a wide range of microorganisms from different species. The research aimed to estimate lipolytic and cutinolytic activity of microorganisms isolated from the surface of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, using three rapid screening methods. The rapid tests used in this research are based on the addition to the culture medium of tributyrin, triacetin and flaxseed oil as inducers, and dyes as indicators of enzymes synthesis. The microorganisms included filamentous fungi and yeasts, pseudomonads and actinobacteria. Among 21 isolated strains of fungi, 90% strains possessed lipase activity, 29% exhibited high lipolytic activity. Only 57% of fungal isolates showed cutinase activity. Both extracellular enzymes were recorded for 43% of yeasts isolates. Lipolytic activity exhibited 83% of the tested strains of Pseudomonas spp., and 50% of Streptomyces spp., while cutinolytic activity only 33% of bacterial isolates. Both lipase and cutinase were produced by 41% of the total number of tested microorganisms. The ability to produce these extracellular hydrolytic enzymes indicates the possibility to metabolize polymers, such as polyethylene.

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