Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

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VIT University

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

VIT Unitversity

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Vellore Campus

International Journal of Environmental Health Research

Comparative ecotoxicity assessment of magnetosomes and magnetite nanoparticles

In this study, probiotic yeast Saccharomycopsis fibuligera (S. fibuligera) VIT-MN04 was encapsulated with wheat bran fibre (WBF) and exopolysaccharide (EPS) along with 5{\%} polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using electrospinning technique for easy gastrointestinal transit (GIT). The electrospinning materials viz. WBF (10{\%}), EPS (15{\%}), PVP (5{\%}) and electrospinning parameters viz. applied voltage (10 kV) and tip to collector distance (15 cm) were optimised using response surface methodology to produce fine nanofibres to achieve maximum encapsulation efficiency (100{\%}) and GIT tolerance (97{\%}). The probiotic yeast was successfully encapsulated in nanofibre and investigated for potential properties. The survival of encapsulated S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 was increased compared to the free cells during in vitro digestion. In addition, encapsulated yeast cells retained their viability during storage at 4°C for 56 days. The nanofibres were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. This work provides an efficient approach for encapsulation of probiotic yeast with the nanofibres which can also broaden the application of the prebiotic like WBF providing an idea for the efficient preparation of functional synbiotic supplements in the food industry.

World University root node

IET Nanobiotechnology

Nanoencapsulation of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera VIT-MN04 using electrospinning technique for easy gastrointestinal transit

The present study investigates the therapeutic properties of probiotic yeasts viz. Yarrowia lipolytica VIT-MN01, Kluyveromyces lactis VIT-MN02, Lipomyces starkeyi VIT-MN03, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera VIT-MN04 and Brettanomyces custersianus VIT-MN05. The antimutagenic activity of probiotic yeasts against the mutagens viz. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and Sodium azide (SA) was tested. S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 showed highest antimutagenicity (75{\%}). Binding ability on the mutagen acridine orange (AO) was tested and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03 was able to bind AO effectively (88{\%}). The probiotic yeasts were treated with the genotoxins viz. 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide (NQO) and Methylnitronitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The prominent changes in UV shift confirmed the reduction in genotoxic activity of S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03, respectively. Significant viability of probiotic yeasts was noted after being exposed to mutagens and genotoxins. The adhesion capacity and anticancer activity were also assessed using Caco-2 and IEC-6 cell lines. Adhesion ability was found to be more in IEC-6 cells and remarkable antiproliferative activity was noted in Caco-2 cells compared to normal cells. Further, antagonistic activity of probiotic yeasts was investigated against S. typhimurium which was found to be more in S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03. The inhibition of $\alpha$-glucosidase and $\alpha$-amylase activity confirmed the antidiabetic activity of probiotic yeasts. Antioxidant activity was also tested using standard assays. Therefore, based on the results, it can be concluded that probiotic yeasts can serve as potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal infections.

Current Microbiology

In Vitro Studies on Therapeutic Potential of Probiotic Yeasts Isolated from Various Sources

Urease producing bacteria have been reported from various ecosystems including soil, water and host organisms such as humans and animals. This research describes the isolation and identification of ureolytic bacteria from calcium rich marine sediments of southern India. The potential strain was designated as UR1 and identified using polyphasic taxonomy. The results show that the strain belongs to the genus Virgibacillus and is closely related to the genus Bacillus. Further, the urease was extracted by 80% acetone precipitation method and the molecular weight was determined as  80 kDA by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the urease in comparison with standard indicates that the isolated enzyme is urease. The enzyme exhibited the maximum activity at the temperature of 45oC and pH of 9. Furthermore, the crude enzyme exhibited notable calcite precipitation signifying that the strain could be used for microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP) and subsequently for biocementation process. © 2020 National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved.

Indian Journal of Biotechnology

Identification of urease producing Virgibacillus sp. UR1 from marine sediments

Bioremediation is an important function of microorganisms in relation to contaminated soils, wastewater and effluent. Microbes have always been demonstrated to be cost-efficient in the treatment of industrial effluents containing heavy metals like chromium(VI). As more and more new and novel isolates are being discovered with having the ability to acclimatize to varying environments. The application of microorganisms, especially that of bacteria, proves to be showing a greater potential as a low costing biotechnological application. The procedure can be adjusted according to the needs and conditional requirements where the bio-absorbents utilized might be either dead or living. Microbial bioabsorption of chromium(VI) stands out to be an alternative for the removal of the toxic contaminant. This review is focused on the different biosorbent features appropriate in the removal of chromium; different types of bioreactors; and the evolution of research with an overview of bioabsorption. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Preparative Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Effective sequestration of chromium by bacterial biosorption: a review

Alkyl phenol polyethoxylates (APEOs) are a major group of high production volume chemicals, extensively used as nonionic surfactants in industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors. These surfactants and its respective metabolites are found to be persistent and toxic. Mainly, they act as endocrine disruptors by mimicking the natural hormones. India being a developing country, witnesses pollution due to various industries including tannery. In the present study, sediment samples were collected from the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India to investigate the occurrence of APEOs. The sediments were extracted by ultrasonication and analyzed in a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. Octyl phenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) were not observed in any of the samples. Nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) were detected in the range of ND – 36 mg/kg with 85 % detection frequency. The occurrence of NPEOs in sediment indicates its wide usage in tannery and its partitioning behavior in environment. The levels of NPEOs in the study were found to be unsafe according to the sediment guidelines of various studies. Since NPEOs were observed in sediment samples, possibilities of occurrence of their monomers and metabolites cannot be ruled out. Therefore, further studies are warranted for understanding the levels of monomers and metabolites in order to ascertain the environmental risks more appropriately. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Process Biochemistry

Analysis of Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) from tannery sediments using LC–MS and their environmental risks

Citrobacter infections are becoming an increasingly significant health problem in aquaculture in South-Eastern countries. The objective of this study was to isolate and evaluate the potential of lytic bacteriophages against Citrobacter infections. TEM analysis revealed that the isolated phages Citrophage MRM19 and Citrophage MRM57 were identified to be Siphovirus and Podovirus family of the order Caudovirales. The phage life-cycle studies showed that Citrophage MRM19 had an adsorption time of 18 ± 1 min and a latency period of 25 ± 3 min with burst size of 110 ± 20 phages/infected cell and Citrophage MRM57 had an adsorption time of 15 ± 1 min and a latency period of 25 ± 2 min with burst size of 50 ± 5 phages/infected cell. In vitro studies indicated that the bacterial load was reduced by 5 and 7 log units within 12 h by Citrophage MRM19 and Citrophage MRM57. The in vivo efficacy of the phages was studied using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism in low-scale tanks. The study unveiled that the use of phages increased the survival up to 17%, 23%, and 26% in the case of Citrophage MRM19, Citrophage MRM57, and phage cocktail treatment, respectively. Our study indicated that bacteriophages are suitable biocontrol agents against Citrobacter spp. especially in aquaculture industry. © 2020 Institut Pasteur

Research in Microbiology

Isolation, characterization, and efficacy of bacteriophages isolated against Citrobacter spp. an in vivo approach in a zebrafish model (Danio rerio)

Introduction: Increased usage and improper management of electronic wastes results in immense environmental pollution. Although conventional techniques are well known for removing heavy metals from the environment, their high cost and severe environmental consequences indicates urgent requirement of cost-effective methods of heavy metals uptake. Bioaccumulation can be considered as an alternative to the traditional methods in terms of their cost effectiveness and maximum recovery of the metal ions. Materials and Methods: This study deals with the isolation of heavy metals tolerant Gram-positive bacterial strain, Bacillus licheniformis JAJ3 and its application in bioaccumulation of copper, lead and nickel and bioleaching of heavy metals from electronic waste. For this purpose, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to identify the bacterial strain. The accumulation study was carried out in liquid medium and analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Bioleaching activity was checked using one-step procedure. For bioleaching studies of heavy metals, printed circuit boards (PCBs) were used as a source of electronic wastes. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to record the changes before and after experimental procedures. Results: The organism was able to accumulate 98.6% copper, 64.6% lead and 57.3% nickel. The bioaccumulation reaction followed pseudo second order kinetics model (R2 value 0.92, 0.92, 0.99 for copper, lead and nickel bioaccumulation respectively). Efficient bioleaching activity was shown by the strain. Conclusions: The experimental analyses confirmed that the strain is efficient in bioleaching heavy metals from electronic wastes and thus can be used in the management of electronic wastes. © 2020 The Author(s).

Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports

Isolation and characterization of a new bacillus licheniformis strain for bioleaching heavy metals

Nickel selenide and its nanocomposites (Nickel selenide-graphene; NiSe2/G, nitrogen and boron doped graphene designated as NiSe2/NG &amp; NiSe2/BG respectively) were prepared using hydrothermal route and these materials were further exploited for its activity towards energy storage. The prepared materials were investigated with various analytical and morphological analysis like X-ray diffractometer and FESEM analysis. Further the prepared materials were probed for its electrochemical characteristics with various tools like voltammetric and controlled potentiostatic test to calculate the capacitance, energy and power density of the fabricated electrode. The electrochemical behavior of nickel selenide graphene nanocomposites were tested in KOH electrolyte. It was found that NiSe2/NG showed a high specific capacitance of 99.03 Fgâ1 with 0.55 W kgâ1 and 51.43 Wh kgâ1 power and energy density respectively. A detailed study has been carried out to know the role of graphene and doped graphene towards capacitance. Hence, results proved that doping of graphene showed a synergistic effect thus proving a good electrode for storage applications.

Centre for Nanotechnology Research

Diamond and Related Materials

Role of graphene in NiSe2/graphene composites - Synthesis and testing for electrochemical supercapacitors

Nano titania incorporated silicon carbide (SiC) refractory has been prepared through sol-gel route to analyze its effect on SiC physical and thermo-mechanical properties. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that as-synthesized titania was of anatase phase with an average crystallite size of 9.15 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the nano titania particles were spherical in shape. After firing the samples containing SiC with different amounts of nano titania at 1450 °C, bulk density, apparent porosity, cold crushing strength, modulus of elasticity, cold and hot modulus of rupture and thermal spalling index were examined. XRD and SEM analysis were also carried out to determine the ceramic phases and microstructure of the fired samples, respectively. Upon analysis of the obtained results, it showed that addition of nano titania improved the SiC properties and also led to the in-situ formation of TiC, which aided in enhancing the thermal shock resistance and hot strength of the fired SiC refractory samples. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.