Vol. 27 No. 2 (2022): Romanian Biotechnological Letters
The covered topics and subjects include biotechnology (i.e., green, red, white, blue, bioinformatics) and interdisciplinary research in medicine, neuroscience, agriculture, animal husbandry, ecology and environmental protection.
Full Issue
Articles
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Effect of nitrogen fertilization, cropping seasons and cutting on growth and nutritive value of vetiver
Abstract
Vetiver introduced as perennial grass crop in Mediterranean basin is tested for its potential fodder ability. Effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization, on growth, yield and forage quality parameters were assessed during two cropping seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Three N levels as ammonium-nitrate, were tested: 0, 30 and 60 kg N ha-1. Results showed that biomass increases under maximum N rate compared to control. The improvements in fresh and dry weights were 39.61% and 257.14%, respectively. Second cutting increased DY by 14.70% compared to first cut. Forage yield increase was closely related to a rise of number of tillers by 24.7% under 60 kg N ha-1. The increased tillers enhanced forage yield by 14% during cropping seasons. N produced a linear increase in crude protein under 30 and 60 kg N ha-1 of 40% and 63.8%, respectively. In addition, the increase of leaf cellulose content was less impacted by N fertilization allowing vetiver to be more digestible forage. The results showed that vetiver could be grown as a forage crop in Mediterranean areas. N fertilization since a low rate of 30 kg N ha-1 is sufficient to stimulate regrowth, increase biomass yield and nutritional value.
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Comprehensive study on catfish (Clarias gariepinus) burger as affected by fortification using carrot and cauliflower
Abstract
This work was conducted to prepare catfish burgers (CFB) using some fresh vegetables such as carrot, cauliflower and mixture of them. Vegetables were partially substituted of catfish meat at different levels of (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20%), compared with the control sample (without vegetables). Sensory properties were done in different sessions by a trained panel and generic consumers to assess product acceptability. The best samples were 2.5, 5 and 15% of cauliflower, carrots and mixture, respectively, which were selected from organoleptic values and analyzed. The addition of vegetables to catfish burger showed better cooking properties like decrease cooking loss, increase moisture retention, cooking yield and shrinkage. Proximate chemical composition, minerals, and vitamins (A, C and E) were determined. A little decrease in moisture and protein of prepared samples was reported compared with the control, furthermore, carrot and cauliflower improved the ash, fiber, fat and minerals content of CFB, except potassium (K) in burger fortified with 5% carrot as well as Mg, Zn and Fe in burger fortified with cauliflower and mixture vegetables. Also, adding investigated samples to CFB increased vitamin A and E compared with the control, but vitamin C was not defined in all samples including the control.
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The contribution of manure to antibiotic resistance and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in soil: a review
Abstract
The intensive use of antibiotics, worldwide, in animal husbandry, has led to the development and enrichment of different environments in antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). Moreover, the subsequent application of manure contributes to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in soil. The spread of ARB and ARGs through trophic networks and potential human transmission indicate the need for innovative treatment approaches and strategies to reduce manure contaminants.
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Enzymatic extraction, characterization and biological properties of protein hydrolysates from freshwater fish waste
Abstract
Silver carp (H. molitrix) is one of the most popular species in fish farms around the world. In this paper, the bioactive properties of four protein hydrolysates from silver carp residues obtained with papain, flavourzyme, alcalase and combination of flavourzyme & alcalase treatment were analyzed. Physicochemical characterization showed that the alcalase extract had the highest extraction yield of 52.07%, presented 90.33% protein content and the highest degree of hydrolysis (76.23%). Gel electrophoresis pattern indicated that hydrolysate obtained with alcalase contains most peptides with a molecular weight below 15 kDa, while those present in the hydrolysate obtained with flavourzyme & alcalase had a molecular weight between 10-15 kDa. The effect of protein hydrolysates on DPPH free radicals inhibition varied between 47.37-50.14%, the highest value of antioxidant activity being recorded for hydrolysate obtained with papain. The hydrolysates presented antihypertensive potential determined as inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme, with the highest activity in the case of flavourzyme & alcalase extract. The fish protein hydrolysates were cytocompatible in a normal fibroblast culture, NCTC cell line showing cell viability over 80% for all variants. When cultivated in Hep-2 cancer cells at 10 mg/ml, the protein hydrolysates obtained by papain and flavourzyme & alcalase mixture decreased the cell viability, indication antitumoral potential. In conclusion, the fish protein
hydrolysates demonstrated important bioactive properties, including antioxidant, antihypertensive and antiproliferative activity. -
Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats via blockade of inflammation and TGF-B1/Smad3/ S100A4 signaling
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to clarify the anti-fibrotic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), compared to conditioned media (CM), in amiodarone (AD)-induced lung fibrosis. Methods: A total of 64 Wistar rats were categorized into eight groups: negative control group, positive control group, 3 AD-challenged-BM-MSCs-treated groups (1, 2 and 4 months) and 3 AD-challenged-CM-treated groups (1, 2 and 4 months). Serum macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) levels were measured. Gene expression levels of TGF-B1, SMAD3 and S100A4, were estimated in the lung tissues. Results: Treatment with BM-MSCs/CM mediated a significant reduction in serum MIP-2 concentrations, while downregulating AD-induced up-regulation of lung TGF-B1, SMAD3 and S100A4 gene expression levels. BM-MSCs transplantation revealed better effect than CM in mitigating lung fibrosis. Conclusion: BM-MSCs advance anti-fibrotic effect on lung fibrosis by targeting inflammatory response and TGF-B1 signaling.
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Physicochemical, cooking and sensory properties of Mackerel fish burger fortified with globe artichoke Cynara scolymus L.
Abstract
The present study aims to characterize the globe artichoke parts, receptacle (AR) and bracts (AB), and to evaluate the quality characteristics of fish burger formulated by partial substitution of Mackerel fish meat with different level of both AR and AB. Physicochemical, cooking measurements and sensory characteristics of fish burgers were analyzed. The study results showed that the used artichoke parts
had high protein, crude fiber, inulin and ascorbic acid contents. Total phenolics content of AR and AB was 43.1 and 38.2 (mg galic acid equivalent/g), respectively. The addition of artichoke parts to fish burger showed improvement in the cooking properties for instance increase cooking yield and decrease cooking loss and shrinkage, without noteworthy differences in sensory properties. Moreover, it was
concluded that artichoke parts could be a great source of health-promoting phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity. Therefore, our results could promote the consumption of artichoke parts and their using in different industrial food applications. -
Study of use sewage sludge compost as fertilizer on the sandy soil in a plum orchard
Abstract
To the Research and Development Station for Plants Culture on Sands, Dabuleni, in the period 2020-2021, in a plum orchard, different doses of compost were applied obtained from sludge resulting from the processing of domestic wastewater. Soil analyzes, in the second year after the application of compost, showed an improvement in the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, with higher values at doses of 60-80t / ha compost. Organic carbon showed values between 0.13% in the control version and 0.69% in the fertilized variant with 80t / ha compost. Regarding the soil reaction, a slight reduction of pH was observed with increasing amount of compost. The results obtained regarding the heavy metals in the soil showed increases in all the analyzed elements, with the increase of the amount of compost, but the values obtained do not exceed the maximum allowed limits in EU countries. The highest values were determined to dose of 60t / ha of compost, at which the manganese content increased from 180 mg to 414 mg, copper from 10.1 mg to 43.9 mg, and zinc from 15.6 mg to 39.3 mg. These results lead to the premise of the careful use of composts obtained from sludge resulting from the processing of domestic wastewater as fertilizer in the orchards.
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Performance of fungus-tolerant grapevine cultivars in different production systems Fungus-tolerant grapevine cultivars
Abstract
Several fungus-tolerant grapevine cultivars have been created and have already found their place in vineyards in Serbia and Hungary. The aim of this work was to investigate the differences in yield, grape quality and wine sensory properties obtained in two different production systems of pathogentolerant white grapevine cultivars Backa and Panonia over the 2015-2018 period. The paper showed differences in harvest parameters between the Conventional and NoPes&MinFert (without use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers) production systems. Fruitfulness and bud tolerance to low temperatures in these production systems were also examined. The results suggest that grape quality obtained by NoPes&MinFert was at the same level as that achieved by conventional methods, while the yield loss
in NoPes&MinFert was on average <20% compared to the conventional system. Although the number of inflorescences per node and yield were higher in conventional production, NoPes&MinFert production showed satisfied yield that exceeded 10 t/ha. Wine sensory analyses showed that production NoPes&MinFert achieved better wine score compared to the wines derived from the Conventional production. -
Anti-cancer alternative therapies: from inorganic nanoparticles to tumor-killing bacteria
Abstract
Cancer affects an increasing number of people every year, affecting many families and representing a major problem for health systems in all countries. As chemotherapy is one of the most widely used therapeutic approaches, usually following surgical resection of the tumour mass, its adverse effects have made it necessary to find alternative, less toxic ways for treating cancer. These include nanoparticles, especially those containing Ag and/or Pt, some nonpathogenic, attenuated or genetically engineered bacteria can exhibit a destructive potential on tumors, especially when they carry antitumor genes or antineoplastic agents, cationic antimicrobial peptides, modified to mitigate their harmful effects, and immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Antitumor antibiotics: representatives, mechanisms of action and side effects
Abstract
Bacteria and fungi synthesize various compounds necessary for their own metabolism, as well as compounds that kill other microbial strains and species from the environment in which they grow, to ensure their access to sufficient supplies. Since the discovery of their antitumor effect, three main classes of antibiotics are used in cancer therapy: anthracyclines (secondary metabolites, mainly produced by members of Streptomyces group, or semisynthetic derivatives containing the 7,8,9,10-tetrahidrotetracen-5.12 quinone structure), peptide antibiotics and quinolones. In this minireview, we will present the mechanisms of action, main representatives and side effects of these anti-cancer agents.
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The connection between nicotinic and adenosinic system in analgesia
Abstract
Determination of analgesic effects of different substances is important since this a very complex process that occur in the human body. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of caffeine and nicotine, both alone and in combination, using writhing test and hot plate test. The study used Swiss albino strain male mice, weighting 25 to 35 grams. The substances were administered subcutaneously. In the first experiments caffeine was administered in doses of 1 mg/kg and 5mg/kg and nicotine in doses of 1 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg. The last experiment evaluated the association between caffeine 5 mg/kg and nicotine 4 mg/kg. 30 minutes after administration, both doses of caffeine caused an antinociceptive effect, while nicotine induced analgesia only when the dose was increased to 4 mg/kg bw. Furthermore, when administered simultaneously, the two substances behaved like potentiating each other’s effect, but additional research is needed in order to understand the mechanism of action.
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Current status on in vitro propagation of sea buckthorn (Hippophae sp.)
Abstract
Sea buckthorn, Hippophae spp., a dioecious shrub, is considered for a very long time a wonder plant, due to the fact that the leaves and berries contain a myriad of biological compounds which have been used in many domains related to human and animal health. For that reason, there is a huge market demand for elite varieties, resistant to biotic and abiotic stress. Because the traditional breeding and propagation methods are limited in their ability to produce such varieties so, plant biotechniques, encompassing plant tissue culture and genetic engineering have been applied. However, the development of optimal in vitro multiplication strategies of Hippophae spp. is very difficult, because sea buckthorn explants are sensitive to their sterilization treatment, plant growth regulators and nutrient composition of the culture medium. This paper is a review of the progress made in the application of the modern biotechnological tools in order to preserve genetic resources for mass production of sea buckthorn and create new varieties.
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Influence of using low voltage electrostatic field during freezing and thawing processes on beef quality
Abstract
This study examined the effects of LVEF-assisted freezing-thawing on beef loin (Longissimus dorsi) quality and texture. In this work, the quality of beef specimens at 15, 30, and 45 cm from the LVEF plate (test group) and without LVEF treatment (control group) was examined during freezing-thawing. LVEF aided freezing (LVEFF) sped up beef freezing and thawing by 32.46% and 32.60% at 30 cm layer spacing (LVEF-30). LVEF30 created the smallest, most homogeneous ice crystals and less injured muscle fibre tissue. SEM indicated that LVEF30 preserved muscle fibre and perimysium structure, and muscle fibre gaps did not expand. Z-line and M-line were generally intact, while A-band and I-band were distinct and readable, indicating that LVEF30 preserved myofibrillar structure effciently. LVEF30’s L*, a*, and C values were substantially higher than the control group (P0.05) and fresh meat (P0.05). LVEF-30 reduced thawing loss, cooking loss, and drip protein content by 52.10%, 31.313%, and 15.97%. In conclusion, LVEF can improve the quality of thawed beef by reducing quality loss during freezing-thawing, and 30 cm is the best distance from the electrostatic field generation plate.
