In this study, we investigate the used of IMO produce from cooked rice in rice straw composting. The objective of this study is to identify the effect of composting using IMO and different combination of biowaste on composting of rice straw. Methodology and results: Different types of treatment were used involving rice straw and goat manure with addition or non-addition of IMO. Composting was done for 30 days in a plastic barrel and was manually turned. Temperature was measured daily while samples were analysed for moisture content, pH value and electrical conductivity (EC). Temperatures in rice straw compost contains goat manure have higher values up to 43 °C. Rice straw compost with treatment of IMO contain pro-long thermophilic phase compared to treatment without IMO. pH recorded 7.0-8.7 during the process with slight fluctuation due to the microbial activities present. EC showed higher value in rice straw compost with goat manure due to the present of soluble salt in manure. Throughout the composting time, we observed the reduction of moisture value ranging from 43% to 34%. Microbial succession in compost treated with IMO showed high population with 3.16×109 CFU/g for mesophilic microorganism during the initial phase and 7.9×108 CFU/g for thermophilic microorganism. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Hence, it can be concluded that the IMO introduce during composting provide higher diversity of microorganisms and could pro-long the thermophilic phase, thus accelerating the process of degradation.
Colony Count, Microbial

OBJECTIVEMycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is an important pathogen for community-acquired pneumonia in children. MP infection was considered to be self-limited, but many severe refractory MP pneumonia cases have been reported in recent years. The reason for variation in severity of MP pneumonia remains unclear. MP virulence including drug-resistance and host immunologic function are important influencing factors. The present study aimed to clarify relationship between local MP load and severity of MP pneumonia.

METHODMP DNA was quantitatively detected by fluorescent real-time PCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 77 children with MP pneumonia. They were classified into groups of low MP load ( < 10(3)/ml, n = 14) , moderate MP load (10(3)-10(6)/ml, n = 22) and high MP load ( > 10(6)/ml, n = 41) . Clinical symptoms, main laboratory and imaging results of children among the three groups were compared.

RESULTWhen compared with low load group and moderate load group, high load group had longer fever duration (7 d, 10 d vs. 12 d) , longer time to normalization of temperature with macrolide administration (4 d, 8 d vs. 10 d) , more patients with high fever (50.0%, 68.2% vs. 87.8%) and longer duration of fever than 10 d (35.7%, 50.0% vs. 73.2%).Statistically significant difference existed in CRP among the three groups (1.0 mg/L, 11.5 mg/L, 34 mg/L). Large field of consolidation or atelectasis were found in 58.5% of high load patients, much higher than 22.7% in moderate load and 14.3% in low load patients. Bilateral or massive pleural effusion was not found in low load group, while in moderate load and high load group, they were 13.6% and 24.4%. However, no significant difference was found in symptoms and main laboratory and imaging results among different age groups in high load patients.

CONCLUSIONThere is a close relationship between MP load in BALF and clinical characteristics in children with MP pneumonia. Those with high MP load have a more severe process.

Adolescent ; Bacterial Load ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; microbiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Colony Count, Microbial ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; microbiology ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVESThis study is to monitor the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in the aquatic microcosm from Han River and explore the feasibility of fluorescence staining, heterotrophic plate count and ELISA in detection of viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

METHODSE. coli O157:H7 were added into aquatic microcosm from Han River and cultured with low temperature and oligo-nutrition. Then the survival of E. coli O157:H7 were real-time monitored by acridine orange direct count (AODC), direct viable count (DVC)-CTC staining, DVC-nalidixic acid (NA) staining, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and ELISA.

RESULTSE. coli O157:H7 can be converted to a viable but nonculturable state in the aquatic microcosm from Han River 58 days after cultured at 4°C with oligo-nutrition. The amount of viable E. coli O157:H7 was measured as 1.2 × 10(5) CFU/ml by DVC-CTC and 9.0 × 10(4) CFU/ml by DVC-NA, whereas the amount of culturable bacterial determined by HPC is 0. The amounts of bacteria determined by ELISA are basically stable within 58 days around 10(6) CFU/ml.

CONCLUSIONE. coli O157:H7 can be converted into a viable but nonculturable state in Han River water at 4°C with oligo-nutrition, and ELISA combined with fluorescence staining and heterotrophic plate count can be used in quantitative detection of the viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

Colony Count, Microbial ; Culture Media ; Escherichia coli O157 ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Microbial Viability ; Rivers ; microbiology ; Water Microbiology

PURPOSE: Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis. METHODS: Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of allergic symptoms and to be in the active stage. Those who maintained their physician and patient global assessment scores at their personal best for more than 3 months were considered to be in the inactive stage. The concentrations of dominant fungi in the patients' houses and outdoors were measured by direct and viable counts at active and inactive stages. RESULTS: The exacerbation of allergic symptoms was not correlated with total fungal spore concentration or the indoor/outdoor ratio (I/O). Specific fungi, such as Cladosporium oxysporum (C. oxyspurum), C. cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger (A. niger), were found to be significantly higher concentrations in the active stage than in the inactive stage. Presumed allergenic spore concentration threshold levels were 100 CFU/m3 for C. oxysporum, and 10 CFU/m3 for A. niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium oxalicum. CONCLUSIONS: The major factor causing exacerbation of allergic symptoms in established fungal allergic patients may be the spore concentration of specific allergenic fungi rather than the total fungal concentration. These results may be useful in making recommendations as regards environmental control for fungal allergic patients.
Aspergillus niger ; Cladosporium ; Colony Count, Microbial* ; Family Characteristics ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Niger ; Penicillium ; Spores* ; Spores, Fungal

OBJECTIVETo determine whether Acanthamoeba polyphaga could affect the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae O139 in low temperature.

METHODSV. cholerae O139 was co-cultured with the Acanthamoeba polyphaga to be examined on its intracellular growth and survival rate within cysts at low temperature, using methods as Gram-staining, electron microscope and passage culture.

RESULTSV. cholerae O139 were observed to enter into the trophozoites and grow the within the vacuoles after 8 hour incubation with Acanthamoeba polyphaga. The germs survived in the vacuole and/or endo-layer of wall and could be re-isolated from the excystment of Acanthamoeba polyphaga. At 30 degrees C, V. cholerae O139 could survive for 120 days with the amoeba while less than 45 days in PAS. At 4 degrees C, the number of viable bacteria decreased and reached undetectable levels for both study and control groups after a 30-day incubation. V. cholerae O139 could be re-isolated from the 30-, 45-, 60- and 75-day's infected cysts after excystment. However the ability of excystment for 90-day's infected cysts decreased and V. cholerae O139 within the cyst could not be isolated again because the amoebae had lysed.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicated that V. cholerae O139 could grow within Acanthamoeba polyphaga and the survival time could be increased in the cysts at low temperature. It seemed that Acanthamoeba can provide an environmental reservoir for V. cholerae O139.

Acanthamoeba ; microbiology ; Bacterial Capsules ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Temperature ; Vibrio cholerae ; growth & development

Aquatic fungi from four brackish water lakes; Edku, Burullus and Manzala lakes which are located at the northern region of Egypt and Qarun lake that located in El-Fayoum city are reported in this manuscript. Twenty-nine fungal species which belong to 19 genera of aquatic fungi were recovered from water samples collected from the studied lakes. The most frequently isolated fungal species were Chytridium conferrop, Allomyces throughout and Rhizoclosmatium globosum. Thraustochytrium amoeboidum and Leptolegniella exoosporus have a moderately occurrence frequency. The maximum fungal count of recovered aquatic fungi was recorded in Burrullus lake followed by EdKu, Manzala and Qarun lakes. This study was extended to test the ability of six selected aquatic fungi (Brevilegniella keratinophila, Blastocladiella cystogena, Chytridium conferrop, Entophlyctis variabilis, Schizochytrium mangrovei and Thraustochytrium rosii), to uptake the radionuclide from their culture medium as a step to biologically treat the waste water or solution with radio-cesium and radio-cobalt. Fifty seven % of Cs-137 and 35% of Co-60 could be removed from liquid waste by the selected aquatic fungi.
Allomyces ; Blastocladiella ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Egypt ; Fungi* ; Lakes* ; Radioactive Waste* ; Waste Water ; Water

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are well-known for their ability to improve plant growth and help plants withstand abiotic stress conditions. Unlike other fungi and bacteria, AMF cannot be stored, as they are obligate biotrophs. Long-term preservation of AMF spores is challenging and may lead to the loss of viability and efficiency. This study aimed to understand the effect of prolonged subculture of AMF species on the growth and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) from red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). AMF spores were mass-produced using different techniques and subcultured in pots with sorghum sudangrass as the host plant for 3 years. Experimental soil samples were collected from natural grassland. Five different AMF inocula were used in triplicate as treatments. After 70 days of growth, red pepper plants were harvested and plant dry weight, plant nutrient content, mycorrhizal colonization, AMF spore count, and soil glomalin content were determined. AMF-treated plants displayed higher dry weight than controls, with only fruit dry weight being significantly different. Similarly, significant differences in phosphorous and potassium contents of the above-ground plant parts were observed between mycorrhizal and control treatments. In addition, soil GRSP content was significantly higher in plants inoculated with Rhizophagus sp. and Gigaspora margarita. The increased plant growth and GRSP content suggest that AMF can be maintained for 3 years without losing their efficiency if subcultured regularly with different symbiotic host plants.
Bacteria ; Capsicum* ; Colon ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Fruit ; Fungi* ; Grassland ; Plants* ; Potassium ; Soil* ; Sorghum ; Spores

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, there are many methods to reduce microorganisms in the air, such as dehumidifier, air purifier or humidity and temperature controller. The Precise Climate Controller is an instrument for controlling humidity and temperature, a concept that is demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of this device, in order to reduce the quantity of the fungi and bacteria in the closed system.
Air Conditioning ; Air Filters ; Aspergillus flavus ; Bacteria ; Climate ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Fungi ; Humidity

To assess the salt tolerance of the malaria vector Anopheles farauti sensu stricto, larvae were collected from a freshwater environment on the outskirts of Honiara, Solomon Islands and placed in trays containing water with salinity varying from freshwater to seawater. Dead larvae and pupae and emerged adults were recorded and preserved. Most adults and nearly half of the larvae and pupae were then subjected to DNA analysis for species identification. No adult An. farauti emerged after prolonged immersion of larvae in undiluted seawater (3.5% salinity), although temporary immersion before pupation was compatible with survival. Salinities of up to 2.2% to 2.5% were compatible with good survival and adult emergence, at least from fourth instars. The results suggest that higher salinities may slow larval development and show that mortality at a given salinity is not uniform.
Animals ; Anopheles - drug effects ; Anopheles - growth & ; development ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo determine the presence and levels of microbes in unexpired pasteurized milk from randomly selected supermarkets in Kingston, Jamaica.

METHODSThe quantitative study used a stratified random sampling technique in the selection of the 20 representative milk samples from six (6) supermarkets. Microbiological tests such as methylene blue reduction, standard plate count (SPC), coliform plate count (CPC), purity plate culture, gram staining and biochemical tests were performed to examine the microbes in purchased unexpired pasteurized milk.

RESULTSOne sample (BCr016) had a pH of 4.0, a rancid odour and curdled appearance. It decolourized within one hour during the methylene blue reduction test and was classified as class 4 milk. Seven of the samples were sterile with no microbe growth on the plate count agar and violet red bile salt agar (VRBA). The milk samples that appeared to be safe for consumption were all 10, 11, 12 and 13 days before expiration. The VRBA sample BCr016, had a colony count of 13 400 CFU/ mL. There was the presence of Escherichia coli in sample LCr021 which had a standard plate count of 1 580 SPC/mL and a coliform count of 500 CFU/mL. Enterobacter sp. was present in colonies from BCr016 and all the other milk samples.

CONCLUSIONSUnacceptable levels of Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli were found in most of the samples. Effective measures to ensure safe milk for human consumption such as the phosphatase test and methylene blue reduction test should be routinely performed on each batch of milk processed by dairy plants.

Animals ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Developing Countries ; Food Microbiology ; Humans ; Jamaica ; Milk ; microbiology