Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Mihai Bogdan NICOLCIOIU, Gabriela POPA, Florentina MATEI

The ethanolic extracts of dried biomass made of mushroom mycelium produced in the submerged cultures of eight edible/medicinal macromycete species Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Flammulina velutipes, Trametes versicolor, Hericium coralloides, Pleurotus eryngii 2600 and Agaricus campestris were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. Pathogenic tested microorganisms were represented by five bacteria and two yeasts B.subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633, Staphilococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, E.faecalis ATCC 29212, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Candida parapsilosis CBS604. The mushroom biomass was obtained from segments detached from the mycelium culture grown on solid culture medium (PDA or MEA) placed in Erlenmeyer flasks with a liquid culture medium containing 2% malt extract (ME). After inoculation, the probes were incubated at the temperature of 25°C for 21 days. The obtained biomass was filtered and dried at the temperature of 70°C. The ethanolic extracts were prepared by adding 1 ml of 70% ethyl alcohol to 0.2 g of dried fungal biomass. Antimicrobial activities of the mushroom biomass extracts were evaluated by agar disk diffusion method. The results showed that G. applanatum, L. sulphureus, F. velutipes, T. versicolor, H.coralloides and A. campestris extracts had significant inhibitory activities especially against B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633 bacterium while G. lucidum and Pleurotus eryngii 2600 extracts had no antimicrobial activity against any pathogenic microorganisms tested in this work. Further investigations will be conducted regarding the antimicrobial activity dependence on the fungal morphological part used in the extract(mycelium/fruiting body) and on the solvent type used for extracts' preparation.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Mariana-Grațiela SOARE (VLADU), Caterina TOMULESCU, Maria PETRESCU, Irina LUPESCU, Mișu MOSCOVICI, Ovidiu POPA, Narcisa BĂBEANU

Most of the plant diseases are caused by microorganisms. Among these, most often mentioned in the literature are bacteria and fungi. Diseases caused by phytopathogens like Erwinia carotovora and Xanthomonas campestris lead to lower production and quality, causing significant economic losses. In order to prevent the diseases can be used microbial antagonists which, besides protection capability, can stimulate plant growth by degrading the substrate and releasing of certain compounds needed for growth. After a preliminary screening, from a total of 25 microorganisms isolated from plant materials, best antimicrobial activities were registered with bacteria B1 and Bm belonging to the genera Pseudomonas sp. respectively Bacillus sp.. Following biochemical tests in conjunction with microscopy studies and MALDI-TOF MS, selected bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas putida, respectively Bacillus mycoides. Their antimicrobial activity was comparable to that of microorganisms belonging to the same genera, from the collection of the National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development-ICCF. When they were grown on agar media with different compositions, significant differences regarding antimicrobial activity have not been observed. However, substantial differences were recorded in terms of antagonistic ability between Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus mycoides, the last one making the biggest area of inhibition against both phytopathoges X. campestris ICCF 274 (40 mm) and E. carotovora ICCF 138 (20 mm). These results suggest the possibility of using newly isolated antagonists to prevent diseases caused by Erwinia carotovora and Xanthomonas campestris.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XX
Written by Ovidiu IORDACHE, Andreea COZEA, Elena VĂRZARU, Elena STOICA, Corneliu PLATON, Steliana RODINO, Iuliana DUMITRESCU

The aim of the research was the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of a textile fabric treated with essential oils extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Citrus sinensis (orange), against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus niger (IMI 45551), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Trichoderma viride (isolated from agricultural soil), Aspergillus flavus (isolated from agricultural soil) and Epidermophyton floccosum (CCM 8339). Plant extracts were obtained by steam distillation from rosemary vegetal mater and orange peel. GC-MS analysis, carried out in hexane and diethyl-ether, allowed identification of main compounds, with high quantities of eucalyptol, camphor and α –pinene, in rosemary oil, respectively limonene, limonene oxide, α – pinene and β-phellandrene in orange oil. A textile substrate (56% cotton/44% polyester) was treated with concentrations of 1%, 3% and 5% of each oil and antimicrobial activity was assessed against each strain. Bioassays registered various percentage reduction rates, depending on oil concentration and tested strain: on Aspergillus niger, rosemary treatment registered a maximum of 22.12%, whilst orange treatment reached 51.45%; on Candida albicans, both treatment yielded 100% reduction rates for all tested concentrations; on Trichoderma viride, textiles treated with rosemary oil reached a maximum of 76.48% reduction rates, and 100% on orange treatment; on Aspergillus flavus, maximum efficiency on rosemary treatment was of 18.3% and 60.57% on orange treated materials; on Epidermophyton floccosum dermatophyte, maximum reduction rate on rosemary treatment was of 56.99% whilst on orange treatment it registered a maximum of 92.48%. The obtained results promote textiles functionalized with rosemary and orange essential oils as efficient active antimicrobial barriers.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXII
Written by Judith BARRETT, Simon CHRISTIE, Delia DIMITRIU, Ştefana JURCOANE Andra MORARU

The production of energy crops such as Camelina sativa on contaminated land offers the possibility of a high-value low-cost long-term remediation strategy and a potential counterbalance to land abandonment. This shift in agrarian practice offers a potentially viable source of income to primary stakeholders and brings the land back into useful production. We report on the development of methodologies for charting the traceability of potentially toxic elements in camelina cultivated on contaminated land from soil to plant material and raw oil. Translocation factors for Cd and Zn suggest camelina has the potential to act as accumulator, offering potential phytoremediation benefits. However careful consideration of the use and value of the co-products is needed to determine an accurate business case scenario.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXII
Written by Gabriela-Lucica MĂRGĂRIT, Radu-Cristian TOMA, Dana BARBA, Diana CONSTANTINESCU-GROPOȘILĂ

Technology has transformed the mentality in retail business is done with leading players shifting to mobile devices specific platforms. Through about 19 million internet connections which were in first semester of 2016 in Romania, users made a traffic of almost 2,7 million terabytes. More and more people discover how easily can be to use internet, to find any information on a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop or desktop. A year before, in 2015, about 48% of consumers used the internet but only 17% also for buying some products and services online, comparative with an average of 63% European consumers. First and second barriers in mentality to buy online are online payment security and lack of transaction people to people. The aim of this work was to update the information regarding internet access and usage by the Romanian consumers.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XX
Written by Radu Cristian TOMA, Gabriela MARGARIT, Diana GROPOSILA, Dana BARBA

Online education represents a new approach of learning process, in which substantive elements remain the same, only the means of exchange of knowledge and learning is different. Few benefits of the e-learning platforms and cloud computing in educational area are: a reduced infrastructure and IT costs, an increased accessibility, a better collaboration, and allow organizations more flexibility. But cloud computing is having other effects as well, which have the potential to greatly change how education works, both in online and offline (traditional classrooms) courses like: no more expensive textbooks, no more outdated learning materials, no expensive hardware and software required, reaching more diverse students.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Jhondri JHONDRI, Abun ABUN, Denny RUSMANA, Rachmat WIRADIMADJA, Handi BURHANUDDI

Neurospora sitophila, a species of fermetation fungi was reported containing the β-carotene pigments, the secondary metabolite of the yellow, orange or red-orange pigments groups, On this research, the carotenoid pigments of Neurospora sitophila has been bindered by a Oligosacharide of gelatin-maltodextrins. The bindered products were dried by a spray drier and the β-carotene powder was determined its stability to the storage influence at Relative Humidity 20-30%. Bindered product of β-carotene extract obtained the GME powder with BY value±50 %. Bindered of this extract β- carotene was increased the water solubility and stable at Relative Humidity 20-30% condition, the stability the powder (GME) was decreased start at the third week. HPLC analysis of GME powder showed the decreasing of β-carotene about 30%, after storage for 5 weeks.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Alina-Loredana POPA, Ștefana JURCOANE, Brândușa DUMITRIU

Camelina sativa is an oil seeded plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. It can be cultivated both in winter and spring season, having a remarkable capacity to adapt and resist to difficult climate conditions. Moreover, Camelina crop has shown resistance to pests and diseases which affect other crops from the same family. The synthesis of phytoalexins seems to be responsible for the unusual camelina defense system. Camelina oil is the main product resulted by extraction from seeds. The most common extraction methods are: mechanical extraction, solvent extraction and enzymatic extraction. Recently it has been considered also the supercritical-CO2 extraction. The oil obtained contains an unsaponifiable fraction represented by tocopherols, sterols and a saponifiable fraction consisting in fatty acids. The fatty acids profile is mainly represented by unsaturated fatty acids- mono and mostly polyunsaturated (>55%) and saturated fatty acids (9.1-10.8%). The most frequent fatty acids from camelina oil are linolenic, linoleic, oleic and eicosenoic. In comparison with other Brassicaceae plants, camelina oil has a low content of erucic acid. Camelina oil, due to its composition, has multiple uses in various industries: feed technology for substitution or supplementation of other oils (fish, broilers) in animal diets, biodiesel production, jet fuel production, biopolymer industry (peel adhesion properties, paints, varnishes), cosmetic industry (skin-conditioning agent), in food products due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content and low erucic acid content and as milk fat substitution.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXII
Written by Emoke PALL, Raul Alexandru POP, Simona CIUPE, Mihai CENARIU, Ioan Ștefan GROZA

Canine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be defined with self renew potential and specific differentiation capacity. Amiotic membrane represent an important source of MSCs, which can be harvested by minimally invasive methods. The aim of our study was to evaluate the growth characteristics of canine amniotic membrane derived mesenchymal stem cells. The placenta samples were collected after cesarean section from healthy mixed breed dogs. MSCs isolation was performed using enzymatic method. Isolated cells were cultured in propagation medium: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium/F12 (DMEM/F12, Gibco) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Gibco) and 1% antibioticantimycotic (Sigma-Aldrich). The medium was changed after 4 days. The cell doubling number, cell proliferation capacity, cell doubling time, daily duplication rate and clonogenic efficacy were evaluated. Our study demonstrate the self renew potential of canine amniotic membrane derived mesenchymal stem cells, and can represent a potential source of stem cells for canine regenerative medicine.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXII
Written by Emanuel VAMANU, Oana LIVADARIU, Mihaela ENE

Inonotus obliquus (chaga) is a birch phytoparasitic mushroom with an irregular shape that represents dark-colored mycelial agglomeration. It has a high pharmaceutical value because of its rich content in bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, phenols, or triterpene (betulin, for example). The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of the fermented medium in different active compounds, while also identifying the antioxidant potential expressed by the fermented medium of I. obliquus mycelium. In a general analysis of the obtained results, the potential of the I. obliquus mycelium to release in the fermented medium compounds with antioxidant potential is primarily due to the medium composition. Particular attention was determined by the presence of other compounds, such as ascorbic acid, which was identified in a reduced number of samples. The results led to the conclusion that fermentation medium with I. obliquus mycelium had the potential to be cultivated via a technological process to obtain valuable compounds.

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