Application of biological systems and processes employing microbes and algae to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse (3Rs) for the sustainability of circular bioeconomy.

The circular bioeconomy has undoubtedly gained global momentum during the last few years. The bioeconomy envisions "3R", the goal of 3R (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse) is to implement in circular economy preventing excessive and unnecessary wastes. The circular bioeconomy emphasizes the best use of all sorts of available bioresources through the reduction of generated wastes during product formation, recycling of generated wastes, and reuse of valuable by-products and residues. Biotechnology could be useful in utilizing the resources to the optimum and therefore the role of biological agents and bioprocesses is of prime importance. In this review, we highlight the paramount importance of beneficial strains of microorganisms, macro, and microalgae in the bioeconomy. Microorganisms are universally recognized for the notable production of a vast array of secondary metabolites and other functionalities with possible use in various sectors. The application of potential strains in industries and modern agriculture practices could progressively improve the effective yield of food and feed, including fertilization of arid soils, bioconversion of by-products from industrial processes, and agriculture wastes. The valuable properties of specifically selected biological agents typically make them suitable candidates for their efficient contribution to circular bioeconomy without hampering the environment.

Bioactivites of Penicillium citrinum isolated from a medicinal plant Swertia chirayita.

Endophytes associated with plants have the property to produce active biomolecules with their possible applications in agro-industrial sectors. This study provides a project work on analyzing various activities of fungal endophytes isolated from Swertia chirayita of Sikkim Himalayan region. Among several fungal endophytes screened, isolate UTCRF6 was found most active with the secretion of enzymes protease, cellulase, amylase and chitinase, as well as other metabolites Indoleacetic acid and siderophores. This endophyte was found active in restricting the growth of phyto-pathogens, including strains of Fusarium solani, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Pestalotiopsis theae and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Morphological and molecular studies of this endophytic fungus showed similarity with Penicillium citrinum.

Exploring endophytes for in vitro synthesis of bioactive compounds similar to metabolites produced in vivo by host plants.

Endophytes represent microorganisms residing within plant tissues without typically causing any adverse effect to the plants for considerable part of their life cycle and are primarily known for their beneficial role to their host-plant. These microorganisms can in vitro synthesize secondary metabolites similar to metabolites produced in vivo by their host plants. If microorganisms are isolated from certain plants, there is undoubtedly a strong possibility of obtaining beneficial endophytes strains producing host-specific secondary metabolites for their potential applications in sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other industrial sectors. Few products derived from endophytes are being used for cultivating resilient crops and developing non-toxic feeds for livestock. Our better understanding of the complex relationship between endophytes and their host will immensely improve the possibility to explore their unlimited functionalities. Successful production of host-secondary metabolites by endophytes at commercial scale might progressively eliminate our direct dependence on high-valued vulnerable plants, thus paving a viable way for utilizing plant resources in a sustainable way.

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from ethnic preserved meat products of the Western Himalayas.

We used culture- and molecular-biology-based methods to investigate the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the ethnic chevon (goat) meat products chartayshya, jamma and arjia of the Western Himalayas. In six chartayshya, six jamma and four arjia samples, LAB were the predominant microbial component involved in the fermentation of these samples, and the total LAB population in arjia (7.8 ± 0.1 log cfu g(-1); mean ± SD) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in chartayshya (6.9 ± 0.1 log cfu g(-1)) and jamma (7.5 ± 0.1 log cfu g(-1)). We identified 53 LAB samples by 16S rRNA and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS) genes sequencing. The LAB isolates were identified as Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Weissella cibaria. These results revealed that there is a high level of diversity of LAB in the Himalayan ethnic preserved meat products.

Microbiological studies of ethnic meat products of the Eastern Himalayas.

Native microorganisms from some ethnic meat products of the Eastern Himalayas such as lang kargyong, yak kargyong, faak kargyong, lang satchu, yak satchu and suka ko masu were isolated and characterized. The bacterial isolates included Lactobacillus sake, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus divergens, Lactobacillus carnis, Lactobacillus sanfrancisco, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis, Enterococcus faecium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceous, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus lentus and Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus. Yeast isolates included Debaryomyces hansenii, Debaryomyces polymorphus, Debaryomyces pseudopolymorphus, Pichia burtonii, Pichia anomala, Candida famata and the mould Rhizopus was also identified. Many of the LAB isolates demonstrated some antimicrobial activity, enzymatic activity and a few showed a high degree of hydrophobicity. None of the strains produced biogenic amines.

Cord blood and breast milk iron status in maternal anemia.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of severe maternal iron-deficiency anemia and nutritional status on cord blood and breast milk iron status. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study over a 6-month period in a teaching hospital in central India. The study population consisted of 55 anemic (hemoglobin: < 110 g/L) and 20 healthy nonanemic (hemoglobin: > or = 110 g/L) pregnant women who delivered singleton live births at term gestation. We measured hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels in paired maternal and cord blood and iron levels in early (day 3 +/- 1) and late (day 15 +/- 3) transitional milk. Maternal anthropometry, including weight, height, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and placental weight, were recorded. The main outcome measure of the study was to find out the relationship of maternal hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, and anthropometry with hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin in cord blood and iron levels in breast milk. RESULTS: Concentrations of hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin were significantly lower in the cord blood of anemic mothers and showed linear relationships with maternal hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Breast milk iron content was significantly reduced in severely anemic mothers but not in those with mild-to-moderate anemia. Breast milk iron level correlated with maternal hemoglobin and iron levels but not with ferritin levels. Maternal anthropometry had significant correlations with indices of iron nutriture in maternal and cord blood but showed no relationship with breast milk iron content. Placental weight was comparable between anemic and nonanemic mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal anemia, particularly the severe type, adversely affects cord blood and breast milk iron status. Maternal nutritional status exerts a significant influence on fetal iron status but has little influence on breast milk iron content.