The aim of the work was to produce and characterize the exopolysaccharides from loss cooked sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) using fermentation with Lactobacillus. The cooked sweet potato was fermented according to the factorial design with the following factors: the time (21.51h-38.48h) and the amount of Lactobacillus (1.58*106-5*106UFC). Responses were represented by production yield, pH, and titrable acidity. Characterization of the exopolysaccharides was then done by determination of total sugars, solubility index and viscosity. The results show that the pH of unfermented cooked potatoes was between 6.23 to 6.63. The pH of fermented potatoes varies from 3.96 to 4.06. The lactic acid content was found from 7.75 to 9.9% for the fermented samples. The production yields are 1.90% for the samples fermented for 21.5 hours with 3.5*106UFC of bacteria and 5.62% for those fermented for 30 hours with the same volume of inoculum. The average viscosity of the products was 4mPas regardless of the fermentation time. Chemical characterization indicates glucose contents of 68.21 and 94.01% in fermented potato for 24h and 21h respectively. The solubility index gives values of 70.3 ± 0.16 and 88.11 ± 0.23 for fermentation times of 21h and 24h respectively. Results of this work indicated that cooked sweet potatoes ferment for 21h was a promising substrate for production of exopolysaccharides.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic causing significant mortality and morbidity and implementation of strict isolation measures. Serological testing can diagnose illness by detecting antibodies (IgM and IgG). Testing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is rapid and sensitive for the auxiliary diagnosis of COVID-19. The serum levels of CRP, D-dimers, and ferritin, which may be used in risk stratification to predict severe and fatal COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the variations in COVID-19 Specific Immunoglobulins and Some Inflammatory factors in COVID-19 Patients in Sabratha isolation center, Western Libya. Subjects and Methods: Sixty Confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Isolation Centre located in Sabratha city, Libya from the 2nd October 2020 to the 2nd June 2021, were enrolled in this prospective study. Covid-19 patients were defined as positive cases after the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in oro-nasopharyngeal swab samples. Data collected included demographic, clinical, and biological factors. Also, 30 healthy individuals without any chronic disease or respiratory symptoms were recruited for the control group. Blood samples were collected by vein puncture 5 ml of venous blood was withdrawn from each participant in the study by using disposable syringes under the aseptic technique; they were then transferred to a sterile tube for estimating biochemical parameters. Biochemical parameters were determined using automated COBAS E411 and INTEGRA 400 machines in the Sabratha Isolation Centre laboratory. The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: The results showed that patients with COVID-19 had a significant (P<0.0001) increase in IgM levels at 0 day, 14 days, and 21 days, respectively compared with the healthy individuals. Also, IgG levels were showed a gradual significantly (P<0.0001) increase during COVID-19 Virus Infection among COVID-19 patients at 0 day, 14 days, and 21 days compared with the controls. In addition, coronavirus infection caused a significant (P<0.0001) increase in D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin levels compared with the healthy control individuals. Conclusion: It can be concluded that coronavirus infection caused a significant increase in IgM, IgG, D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin levels at different periods compared to the controls. Further studies are needed to confirm these results. COVID-19 Specific Immunoglobulins and Some Inflammatory factors in COVID-19 Patients These changes in IgM, IgG, D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin levels during COVID-19 Virus Infection among COVID-19 patients may help the clinicians to better understand the COVID-19 and provide more clinical treatment options.

The topical delivery of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory solution for skin inflammation has attracted the attention of researchers. Due to the skin barrier issue, a new method was designed for the effective delivery of specific doses of bromelain to the desired action sites. A niosome was selected as a novel and practical transdermal vehicle for the delivery of bromelain to inflamed sites. In this regard, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human skin fibroblast (HSF1184) cell line was assembled in-vitro as a simulated model. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), the two immune-modulatory regulators of cell responses to inflammation, were measured to determine the response towards the niosome-encapsulated bromelain treatment. The results showed that the niosome-encapsulated bromelain significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-a compared to the non-encapsulated bromelain, the vehicle (niosome) and the control.

In plant biotechnology, in vitro culture of gametic or sexual cells, microspores or pollen grains, has been described as a successful tool to accelerate genetic improvement, obtaining haploid, homozygotic plants or pure lines in a short time. In chile apple, Capsicum pubescens R and P. Anthers were sown in vitro, and their cytological analysis, locating the meiotic division stage of microspores or pollen grains. Flower buds with diameters from 2.5 to 4.4 mm were pre-incubated at 4°C, in ascorbic and citric acid at 100 and 150 mg-L-1 for 24 h. Five semisolid culture media (A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5) were used, with Murashige and Skoog (1962) salts (MS), modifying iron and vitamin chelates, sucrose, and L-cysteine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Kinetin (Kin). Anthers, in vitro, were plated, in light and dark, for 70 days. Two differentiation media (R1 and R2) were evaluated with 100% MS salts, glycine, kinetin and myo-inositol. The anthers seeded, coincided with the first mitosis of the microspore, the anthers, formed callus in the media (A1) 100 % EDTA-Fe, 0.40 mg-L-1 thiamine, 3 % sucrose) and (A3) 100 % EDTA-Fe, 0.40 mg-L-1 thiamine, 3 % sucrose, 0. 3 mg-L-1 of 2,4-D, and differentiated pro-embryonic structures in (A3) and (A5) 200 % EDTA-Fe, 0.4 mg-L-1 thiamine, 50 mg-L-1 pyridoxine, folic acid, riboflavin and niacin, 0.3 mg-L-1 2,4-D plus 0.3 mg-L-1 Kinetin, as well as roots in (A1). Light influenced the formation of pro-embryos and roots, in the dark callus. The media (R1) and (R2) favored the formation of pro-embryos.