In this work an attempt was performed to investigate the in vitro ability of Lucilia sericata maggots to control fungi involved in superficial fungal infections. A novel GFP-modified yeast culture to enable direct visualization of the ingestion of yeast cells by maggot larvae as a method of control was used. The obtained results showed that the GFP-modified yeasts were successfully ingested by Lucilia sericata maggots and 1mg/ml of Lucilia sericata maggots excretions/ secretions (ES) showed a considerable anti-fungal activity against the growth of Trichophyton terrestre mycelium, the radial growth inhibition after 10 days of incubation reached 41.2 ±1.8 % in relation to the control, these results could lead to the possible application of maggot therapy in the treatment of wounds undergoing fungal infection.

The antibacterial activity of honey is well documented, this activity is mainly due to its low pH, osmolarity and hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Recently, more attention has been given to the importance of a unique extra antimicrobial activity, termed as a non-peroxide activity. The aim of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected honeys from different origins; specifically to evaluate their non-hydrogen peroxide derived activity, against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and S. epidermidis; manuka honey was used as the control. Antibacterial activity of the honeys was assayed using standard well diffusion methods. noticeable variations in the antibacterial activity of the different honey samples were observed. Most of tested honeys had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, particularly Greek Pine, Scottish Heather, Chilean Ulmo, New Zealand Beech and Jarrah Honey. Unfortunately, none of the tested honey had a detectable non-peroxide activity.

This study deals with enumeration, identification and molecular characterization of bacterial species tolerant of iron (II) and other heavy metals that isolated from rock varnish collected from the arid region of Al-Jafer Basin, Jordan. Based on conventional culture-dependent methods, six isolates exhibited a high degree of tolerance to iron (II) and other heavy metals with a minimum inhibitory concentration (550–600 mg/L) to iron, (500-550 mg/L) to lead, (350 mg/L) to copper, (400-450 mg/L) to chromium, (150-200 mg/L) to silver, and (150-200 mg/L) to mercury, in solid media. The results showed that all isolates could tolerate 2000 mg/L Fe2+ expressed as maximum tolerance concentration (MTC). The multiple metal resistances of these isolates were also associated with multiple antibiotic resistances. These iron tolerant isolates were shown to be capable of growth at temperatures ranging from 30 to 40°C and pH values ranging from 5 to 9 with some differences between the six isolates. On the basis of morphology and of 16S rDNA gene sequencing and phylogeny analysis, the iron-tolerant isolates were identified as Bacillus zhangzhouensis (DVCr1), Staphylococcus warneri (DVCr6), Bacillus cereus (DVCr7), Staphylococcus pasteuri (DVCu2), Brevibacterium frigoritolerans (DVPb) and Bacillus altitudinis (DVCr10). The 16S rDNA sequences from five of the six strains were submitted to GenBank and are available under the accession numbers KX781139, KX781140, KX781141, KX781145 and KX781148. The results highlight the high potential of a non-polluted habitat like rock varnish to provide new microbial communities that could be used for enhanced bioremediation of heavy metals from a contaminated sit

Antagonistic Bacillus sp. strain HMB8 and its concomitant Micrococcus sp. strain HMB7 were isolated from a healthy oral cavity of a volunteer. Phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing similarity confirmed that strain HMB8 belongs to Bacillus genus, whereas strain HMB7 belongs to Micrococcus genus. Isolated Bacillus sp. HMB8 exhibited considerable in vitro antagonistic activity against a broad range of indicator strains, including food spoilage bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Partial characterization of the bioactive compounds from the culture supernatant of the Bacillus sp. HMB8 was carried out using three extraction methods; ammonium sulfate, chloroform-methanol, and ethyl-acetate. All extracts retained good antibacterial activity against all indicator strains, but to varying levels. Overall, the ethyl-acetate extract of Bacillus sp. HMB8 demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against most indicator strains, notably against L. monocytogenes. The findings of the present study suggest that Bacillus sp. HMB8 bioactive compounds may have potential biotechnological applications as food biopreservatives.

Fungal mycelium capable of producing antibacterial agents was isolated from samples of apple, beetroot, lemon and orange; the mycelium of all isolates produced penicillin, while theapple and beetroot samples also produced the antibacterial mycotoxin patulin. The known penicillin-producing fungi were shown to produce penicillin, but not patulin. The mycelial discs of all of the fruit and vegetable isolates, as well as the two known penicillin producing fungi, inhibited S. aureus, and mycelium of all isolates inhibited MRSA, in contrast, only one of the two known penicillin-producers did so. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility of using the mycelium of Penicillium species in mycotherapy.

Plant growth and productivity are adversely affected by drought. The sound of shortage of water on growth, yield and yield quality has been well deliberated in plants. In most cases growth, yield and yield quality are diminished under drought environments. There are four major strategic categories that represent the plant adaptation to desert, which include; lack waterescaping plants, lack water-evading plants, lack water-enduring plants and lack water-resisting plants. On the other hand, several controlling policies have been projected to compact with drought stress which including selection of crops and varieties, tillage and water conservation, moisture conservation through tephra covers, planting date, seed priming, nutrient management and water harvesting technique.

Phosphate is one of the main sources of pollution in the Gulf of Aqaba. Our study investigates the effects of phosphate ore on the marine snail, P. sulcatus (Born, 1778) immune system. The study site was at the Phosphate loading port (PLP). A total of Three locations were chosen around the phosphate port (L1 an L2) with a control/reference site located about 2 km away, near the marine station (L3). Phenoloxidase and phagocytic activities, total and differential haemocytes frequencies, as well as superoxide production were measured after two weeks of exposure to phosphate pollution. All of the immunology parameters were enhanced significantly (P<0.05) except the phagocytic ability which decreased significantly as a result to phosphate exposure. The impact of the phosphate pollution on these immune parameters was correlated to the concentration of pollutant. The most severe impact was within the PLP location followed by L1 and L2. The results obtained suggest that phosphate ore modulates a range of immunological functions in marine snail, P. sulcatus. Therefor it is suggested that further monitoring should be conducted using such biomarker.

In this work an attempt was performed to investigate the in vitro ability of Lucilia sericata maggots to control fungi involved in superficial fungal infections. A novel GFP-modified yeast culture to enable direct visualization of the ingestion of yeast cells by maggot larvae as a method of control was used. The obtained results showed that the GFP-modified yeasts were successfully ingested by Lucilia sericata maggots and 1mg/ml of Lucilia sericata maggots excretions/ secretions (ES) showed a considerable anti-fungal activity against the growth of Trichophyton terrestre mycelium, the radial growth inhibition after 10 days of incubation reached 41.2 ±1.8 % in relation to the control, these results could lead to the possible application of maggot therapy in the treatment of wounds undergoing fungal infection.

The antibacterial activity of honey is well documented, this activity is mainly due to its low pH, osmolarity and hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Recently, more attention has been given to the importance of a unique extra antimicrobial activity, termed as a non-peroxide activity. The aim of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected honeys from different origins; specifically to evaluate their non-hydrogen peroxide derived activity, against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and S. epidermidis; manuka honey was used as the control. Antibacterial activity of the honeys was assayed using standard well diffusion methods. noticeable variations in the antibacterial activity of the different honey samples were observed. Most of tested honeys had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, particularly Greek Pine, Scottish Heather, Chilean Ulmo, New Zealand Beech and Jarrah Honey. Unfortunately, none of the tested honey had a detectable non-peroxide activity.

This study deals with enumeration, identification and molecular characterization of bacterial species tolerant of iron (II) and other heavy metals that isolated from rock varnish collected from the arid region of Al-Jafer Basin, Jordan. Based on conventional culture-dependent methods, six isolates exhibited a high degree of tolerance to iron (II) and other heavy metals with a minimum inhibitory concentration (550–600 mg/L) to iron, (500-550 mg/L) to lead, (350 mg/L) to copper, (400-450 mg/L) to chromium, (150-200 mg/L) to silver, and (150-200 mg/L) to mercury, in solid media. The results showed that all isolates could tolerate 2000 mg/L Fe2+ expressed as maximum tolerance concentration (MTC). The multiple metal resistances of these isolates were also associated with multiple antibiotic resistances. These iron tolerant isolates were shown to be capable of growth at temperatures ranging from 30 to 40°C and pH values ranging from 5 to 9 with some differences between the six isolates. On the basis of morphology and of 16S rDNA gene sequencing and phylogeny analysis, the iron-tolerant isolates were identified as Bacillus zhangzhouensis (DVCr1), Staphylococcus warneri (DVCr6), Bacillus cereus (DVCr7), Staphylococcus pasteuri (DVCu2), Brevibacterium frigoritolerans (DVPb) and Bacillus altitudinis (DVCr10). The 16S rDNA sequences from five of the six strains were submitted to GenBank and are available under the accession numbers KX781139, KX781140, KX781141, KX781145 and KX781148. The results highlight the high potential of a non-polluted habitat like rock varnish to provide new microbial communities that could be used for enhanced bioremediation of heavy metals from a contaminated sit

Antagonistic Bacillus sp. strain HMB8 and its concomitant Micrococcus sp. strain HMB7 were isolated from a healthy oral cavity of a volunteer. Phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing similarity confirmed that strain HMB8 belongs to Bacillus genus, whereas strain HMB7 belongs to Micrococcus genus. Isolated Bacillus sp. HMB8 exhibited considerable in vitro antagonistic activity against a broad range of indicator strains, including food spoilage bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Partial characterization of the bioactive compounds from the culture supernatant of the Bacillus sp. HMB8 was carried out using three extraction methods; ammonium sulfate, chloroform-methanol, and ethyl-acetate. All extracts retained good antibacterial activity against all indicator strains, but to varying levels. Overall, the ethyl-acetate extract of Bacillus sp. HMB8 demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against most indicator strains, notably against L. monocytogenes. The findings of the present study suggest that Bacillus sp. HMB8 bioactive compounds may have potential biotechnological applications as food biopreservatives.

Fungal mycelium capable of producing antibacterial agents was isolated from samples of apple, beetroot, lemon and orange; the mycelium of all isolates produced penicillin, while theapple and beetroot samples also produced the antibacterial mycotoxin patulin. The known penicillin-producing fungi were shown to produce penicillin, but not patulin. The mycelial discs of all of the fruit and vegetable isolates, as well as the two known penicillin producing fungi, inhibited S. aureus, and mycelium of all isolates inhibited MRSA, in contrast, only one of the two known penicillin-producers did so. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility of using the mycelium of Penicillium species in mycotherapy.

Plant growth and productivity are adversely affected by drought. The sound of shortage of water on growth, yield and yield quality has been well deliberated in plants. In most cases growth, yield and yield quality are diminished under drought environments. There are four major strategic categories that represent the plant adaptation to desert, which include; lack waterescaping plants, lack water-evading plants, lack water-enduring plants and lack water-resisting plants. On the other hand, several controlling policies have been projected to compact with drought stress which including selection of crops and varieties, tillage and water conservation, moisture conservation through tephra covers, planting date, seed priming, nutrient management and water harvesting technique.

Phosphate is one of the main sources of pollution in the Gulf of Aqaba. Our study investigates the effects of phosphate ore on the marine snail, P. sulcatus (Born, 1778) immune system. The study site was at the Phosphate loading port (PLP). A total of Three locations were chosen around the phosphate port (L1 an L2) with a control/reference site located about 2 km away, near the marine station (L3). Phenoloxidase and phagocytic activities, total and differential haemocytes frequencies, as well as superoxide production were measured after two weeks of exposure to phosphate pollution. All of the immunology parameters were enhanced significantly (P<0.05) except the phagocytic ability which decreased significantly as a result to phosphate exposure. The impact of the phosphate pollution on these immune parameters was correlated to the concentration of pollutant. The most severe impact was within the PLP location followed by L1 and L2. The results obtained suggest that phosphate ore modulates a range of immunological functions in marine snail, P. sulcatus. Therefor it is suggested that further monitoring should be conducted using such biomarker.