Isolation of cellulase enzyme from brown garden snail (Cornu aspersum) for the saccharification of waste paper materials

Understanding the microbial fibre degrading communities & processes in the equine gut

The equine gastrointestinal tract is a self-sufficient fermentation system, housing a complex microbial consortium that acts synergistically and independently to break down complex lignocellulolytic material that enters the equine gut. Despite being strict herbivores, equids such as horses and zebras lack the diversity of enzymes needed to completely break down plant tissue, instead relying on their resident microbes to carry out fibrolysis to yield vital energy sources such as short chain fatty acids. The bulk of equine digestion occurs in the large intestine, where digesta is fermented for 36-48 h through the synergistic activities of bacteria, fungi, and methanogenic archaea. Anaerobic gut dwelling bacteria and fungi break down complex plant polysaccharides through combined mechanical and enzymatic strategies, and notably possess some of the greatest diversity and repertoire of carbohydrate active enzymes among characterized microbes. In addition to the production of enzymes, some equid-isolated anaerobic fungi and bacteria have been shown to possess cellulosomes, powerful multi-enzyme complexes that further enhance break down. The activities of both anaerobic fungi and bacteria are further facilitated by facultatively aerobic yeasts and methanogenic archaea, who maintain an optimal environment for fibrolytic organisms, ultimately leading to increased fibrolytic microbial counts and heightened enzymatic activity. The unique interactions within the equine gut as well as the novel species and powerful mechanisms employed by these microbes makes the equine gut a valuable ecosystem to study fibrolytic functions within complex communities. This review outlines the primary taxa involved in fibre break down within the equine gut and further illuminates the enzymatic strategies and metabolic pathways used by these microbes. We discuss current methods used in analysing fibrolytic functions in complex microbial communities and propose a shift towards the development of functional assays to deepen our understanding of this unique ecosystem.

Harnessing the potential use of cellulolytic Klebsiella oxytoca (M21WG) and Klebsiella sp. (Z6WG) isolated from the guts of termites (Isoptera)

Background

For many years, denim-heavy quality cotton twill colored with indigo colors and with a well-worn/faded look has held a lot of appeal. Machine damage, drainage system blockage, and other issues come with the conventional usage of pumice stones for “stone-washing” denims. In view of the abovementioned information, a range of works has been done to investigate the economic prospects of bacterial cellulase enzymes for use in industrial processes, including biopolishing in the textile sector. Ethiopia has excellent termite diversity to isolate bacterial gut-associated cellulose enzymes for biostoning applications. The main purpose of this study was, therfore, to decipher how to isolate and characterize cellulase enzymes from termite (Isoptera) gut bacteria with the intention of employing it for biostoning of textiles.

Purpose

To use cellulolytic enzymes of Klebsiella oxytoca (M21WG) and Klebsiella sp. (Z6WG) isolated from termite guts in biostoning of textiles and improving garment quality.

Methods

Cellulase enzyme-producing bacteria were isolated and screened from the guts of worker termites sampled from Meki and Zeway termite mounds in the Central Rift Valley region of Ethiopia. Bacterial screening, biochemical, morphological, and 16S rRNA sequence identification techniques were employed to characterize the bacterial strains. In addition, the production, optimization, and purification of the associated cellulase enzymes were employed, and the potential application of the enzymes for biostoning of a textile was demonstrated.

Result

The isolated M21WG was found to be 99% identical to the Klebsiella oxytoca (MT104573.1) strain, while the isolated Z6WG showed 97.3% identity to the Klebsiella sp. strain (MN629242.1). At an ideal pH of 7, a temperature of 37 °C, a 72-h incubation time, and a substrate concentration of 1.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium, the maximum activity of the crude cellulase extract from these bacteria was assessed. These bacteria produced cellulase enzymes that were moderately efficient. Consequently, it was determined that the cellulase enzymes were effective for biostoning of denim cloth.

Conclusion

It was determined that Klebsiella oxytoca (M21WG) and Klebsiella sp. (Z6WG) could be used as a doorway to better understand harnessing the use of these cellulase-producing bacteria from termite (Isoptera) guts. In this study, it was also attempted to assess the effectiveness of the two bacterial isolates in biostoning in anticipation of their potential application in the textile realm.

Effects of piperazine and EDTA in garden snail towards electrolytic variation and antimicrobial activities

The present study has been carried out to evaluate the effects of piperazine and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) in the garden snail, Cornu aspersum. EDTA and piperazine-like chemicals are widely used in various pharmaceutical, household, and industrial applications. The snails after collection were kept in different earthen pots and treated with these chemicals at different concentrations. A higher concentration of these chemicals led to a change in foot color from light to dark brown and loss in average weight with time. It has been found that a 10-fold increase in piperazine and EDTA concentration reduces weight by approximately 12.7- and 11.6-fold, respectively. Further, the study provides an insight into the altered antimicrobial activity of crude extract when treated with ligands. Additionally, the variations in the electrolytes in the mucus sample have been observed with the mean standard deviation (± SD) of 6.4 and 2.4 for Na⁺ and K⁺ ions, respectively.

<i>Pseudomonas stutzeri </i> CM1, Novel Thermotolerant Cellulase- Producing Bacteria Isolated from Forest Soil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Cellulase is an important enzyme that useful for agricultural residue hydrolysis such as plant stover, molasse, rice straw. Thermotolerant cellulases are required to apply in textile, food, detergent, biofuels and pharmaceutical applications. This research aimed to isolate the thermotolerant cellulase-producing bacteria from forest soil and to determine cellulase activity from isolated bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Soil samples were collected from the Roi Et Rajabhat University forest. One gram of soil sample was mixed with Luria-Bertani (LB) broth medium and incubated at 37°C with shaking at 150 rpm for 24 h. The cultured broth was streaked on LB agar plate and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Cellulase-producing bacteria were isolated using Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) agar plate. Four bacterial isolates which presented a clear zone on CMC agar plate after flooded with iodine solution, named CM1, CM2, CM3 and CM4. Cellulase activity of 4 isolated bacteria was determined against various pH (pH 4-8) and temperature (50-100°C).

RESULTS

The results indicated that CM1 isolate showed the highest cellulase activity at 0.074 unit mL-1 at 80°C and pH5. All isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results indicated that CM1, CM3 and CM4 were identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri. while isolate CM2 was Bacillus subtilis.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report presenting the thermotolerant cellulase produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri. The thermotolerant cellulase produced from Pseudomonas stutzeri in this study will be useful in many industrial processes using cellulase at high temperatures.