Vegetables greens that are harvested just after the cotyledon leaves have develop are called microgreens. Microgreen are currently in trending and gaining popularity due to high concentration of bioactive components that are generally related with human health. Due to scarce information available regarding antimicrobial compounds in microgreens, this study focused on determining the antimicrobial activity of kale and red spinach microgreens against B. subtilis and E. coli in comparisons with their mature plant. Ethanol extraction was conducted to obtain the crude extract. Agar disc diffusion method were used to determine the diameter of inhibition zone of plant extract. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) used microdilution with different concentration ranged from 1000 mg/ml to 31.25 mg/ml to evaluate the lowest concentration that can inhibit and kill the selected bacteria after incubation. Microgreens of kale and red spinach showed more effectiveness compared to their mature plants towards targeted bacteria in agar disc diffusion method. MIC and MBC value for all extract ranged from 62.5 mg/ml to 125 mg/ml. Hence, microgreens showed potential natural antimicrobial agent that can help to substitute the synthetic antimicrobial medicine in the future.

Epidermal fish mucus contains a wide range of bioactive metabolites involved with the defence mechanism. This review explores the potential of eel mucus extract for its antagonistic potential against common pathogenic microbes, which are commonly implicated in foodborne and human infections. The ability to adhere and invade the host cell and disarm the growth of other pathogenicmicrobes will also be discussed. Modes of action for eel mucus, including the antibacterial and antifungal properties ofthe bioactive metabolites, shall also be explored. Thus, this overview represents the potent bioactivities of mucus extracted from eel, which could be further explored as an alternative to antibiotics or synthetic drug agents.

Kalanchoe pinnata (synonym to Byrophyllum pinnatum) or commonly known as “Setawar” is a medicinal plant belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is also known as “life plant” and “resurrection plant” due to its multiple roles in traditional medication. The therapeutic values of K. pinnata mostly lie on the presence of phytochemicals or plant active compounds which possess high potential as a natural antimicrobial agent source. Given the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance towards synthetic drugs, uncovering the natural sources as a novel drug is of crucial need. In this regard this review highlights the antimicrobial property of K. pinnata extract, the bioactive compound analysis of this plant extract and their mode of action against pathogenic microorganisms. The potent bioactive compounds extracted from K. pinnata plant could be further explored as an alternative medicine to the current synthetic antimicrobial drugs.

Protein production by bacteria might be increased in stressful conditions such as in the presence of antimicrobial agents. Many studies proved that antibiotics or antimicrobial agents at low concentration are able to activate or repress gene transcription process in bacteria. However, there are still few studies on potential of natural antimicrobial compounds such as Cymbopogon essential oils acting as specific chemical signal that can trigger biological functions of bacteria. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential of natural antimicrobial compound (Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon nardus) at low concentration in regulating proteins production by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014. The bacteria cells of L. plantarum ATCC8014 are exposed to Cymbopogon essential oils at low concentration in fermentation process for 48 hours at 37°C. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that a new intracellular protein with approximate size of 40 kDa was produced by L. plantarum ATCC8014 after being enhanced with C. nardus essential oil. Besides, the intracellular proteins, each with approximate size of 85 kDa, 45 kDa and 28 kDa synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC8014 prior to inducing with C. nardus or C. flexuosus were expressed differently. Some of the intracellular proteins were highly expressed and some of the proteins were repressed based on the intensity of protein bands appeared. Hence, L. plantarum ATCC8014 in the presence of Cymbopogon essential oils at low concentration could regulate the intracellular proteins production. The isolated protein also showed antimicrobial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a global public health concern. Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) pose a significant threat to human health due to their increasing antibiotic resistance. For instance, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a strain that produces toxins that cause damage to the lining of the intestines and kidneys. Antibiotic exposures to STEC would induce the hemolytic uraemic syndrome and bloody diarrhea, a potentially fatal-condition to the patient. The outer membrane architecture in Gram-negatives, specifically the OmpC–Mla complex, maintains the outer membrane lipid asymmetry. The MlaC protein transfers phospholipids from outer membranes to inner membranes and ensures the integrity of the membrane. Inactivation of MlaC protein increases the penetrability of OM and increases the antibiotic’s sensitivity. Therefore, screening for inhibitor compounds that can bind and inhibit the function of MlaC is a viable strategy for antibiotic development.This study aims to understand the interactions of four types of inhibitors in MlaC protein from E. coli via docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The four types of inhibitors namely albacarcin V, clorobiocin, 1-N,4-N-bis(3- phenylphenyl)piperazine-1,4-dicarboxamide (piperazine dicarboxamide) and -2-[2-[(6- oxobenzo[c]chromen-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]benzoic acid (salicylanilide benzoate). The docking showed that the inhibitors fit into the lipid pocket of MlaC. MD for each system run at 100 ns showed that the system has stable Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF), and reasonable Radius of Gyration (Rg) value. The RMSD, RMSF and Rg were comparable to the native phospholipid binding in the crystal structure, which suggests the potential use of these four types of inhibitors. Salicylanilide benzoate was revealed to be the most stable in complex with MlaC, with the least deviation, least fluctuation, and most compact throughout the simulation

Previous studies have established that subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics or antimicrobials are potent modulators of transcription process in bacterial cells. Hence, the bacteria might be introduced new proteins in mild stress environments like in the presence of antimicrobial agents at low concentrations. Although, there are still limited studies on the potential of antimicrobials at low doses play as a signaling agent that capable to modulate biological functions in bacteria. Therefore, this study aims to explore proteins production by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 during stress which is in the presence of ethyl pentanoate at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC). The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of ethyl pentanoate against L. plantarum is 14.29% and was performed by microdilution assay. L. plantarum cells were treated with ethyl pentanoate at sub-MIC (0.05 x MIC) in the fermentation process. Two new protein bands (approximate size of 46.51 kD and 6.91 kD) were detected for the treated bacteria showed by SDS-PAGE profile. Of the two bands, eight possible proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS analysis. Thus, L. plantarum ATCC 8014 capable to produce new proteins in mild stress condition with the presence of 0.05 x MIC ethyl pentanoate. Futhermore, the isolated microbial proteins exhibit antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Copyright © WJSTR, all rights reserved.

Many studies have reported that the primary activity of most inhibitors of bacterial function is to modulate transcription processes at much lower concentrations than that required for antibiosis. Therefore, the bacteria might be produced and secreted more proteins in the mild stress surroundings (e.g. in the presence of low doses of antimicrobial agents) than in the normal environment. However, not much is known about unexpected ability of natural antimicrobial compounds at low concentration to become a signaling agent that capable to modulate biological functions in bacteria. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential of natural antimicrobial compound (Allium sativum) at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) in regulating proteins production by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of A. sativum on B. subtilis resulting 14.29% was determined by microdilution assay. The bacteria cells were further exposed to A. sativum at sub-MIC (0.05 x MIC) in fermentation process. SDS-PAGE profile showed that two protein bands with approximate size of 51.36 kD and 9.74 kD were produced for the bacteria treated with A. sativum. LC-MS/MS analysis identified six possible proteins from the two bands expressed in mild stress condition. The proteins exhibited antimicrobial activity towards several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, B. subtilis ATCC 21332 in mild stress condition with the presence of 0.05 x MIC A. sativum could regulate bioactive proteins production. Copyright © AJBCPS, all rights reserved. Keywords: Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332, Allium sativum, proteins, sub-MIC, antimicrobial agent, transcription

Soil microbiomes not only benefits the ecosystem, such as facilitating nitrogen cycling, but they can also cause unhealthy plant or even death since some of the microbes are pathogens. The crops yield will significantly decrease if the pathogens are still assembled in the soil, which could cause losses to farmers. Previous studies have acknowledged several aspects of the roles of soil microbiome and how soil variations can affect the availability and functions of the microbes. Banana is one of the most popular, commonly consumed, and essential fruit crops worldwide. Nevertheless, the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms as primary inhabitants in the soil become a main limiting factor in banana crops production. With current studies and technologies, the disease caused by pathogenic microbes in the soil can be controlled. The scope of this review is on soil microbiomes that contribute to banana plant diseases and the methods to control the disease.