This study was carried out in order to determine the enzyme activity of the wood vinegar obtained from the hazelnut shells with the potential of bio-pesticide in agro-ecosystem soil, and its effect on the microfungi and heterotrophic bacteria in total. The study was realized in the production seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, in the ecological conditions of the province Muş (in Turkey) on winter wheat field and with four repetitions according to Randomized Blocks Experimental Design. The treatments within the scope of the experiment were conducted as the six different doses of wood vinegar at 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, 4.0%, and 5.0% mL, and the control treatment which was only provided with tap water. Repeated Measurement ANOVA was used to determine the effect of wood vinegar at different doses, the production seasons and periods (pre-and post-treatment) on relevant features. As based on the statistical inferences, only the Treatment × Year and Period × Year interaction effects in terms of the number of heterotrophic bacteria (P = 0.000 and P = 0.011); and only the Period × Year interaction effects for the number of microfungi (P = 0.000) were found statistically significant. Therefore, the effect of the treatments made on the number of heterotrophic bacteria varied by the production seasons. In a similar way, the effect of the production season and periods on the number of microfungi also changed as based on the term. While the effect of period (P = 0.000) and the Treatment × Period interaction (P = 0.014) effect were significant for Alkaline Phosphatase activity, Year × Period (P = 0.001) and Treatment × Period interactions (P = 0.000) were found significant as related to Beta Glucosidase activity. In conclusion, it may be stated that the wood vinegar used at different doses with the purpose of protecting plant and/or crop in wheat agro-ecosystem does not have a negative effect on microbial factors determined in the soil, and especially, the treatment of 3% mL has a positive effect on bacteria number and Beta Glucosidase enzyme activity.

The present study was designed to determine the slime production of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and the enterotoxigenic properties of Staphylococcus aureus strains, and to evaluate the clinical importance of slime-producing CoNS and enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains isolated from various human clinical specimens. For this purpose, a total of 120 Staphylococcus strains were isolated and identified, and further characterized for their slime production and enterotoxigenicity. Of the clinical isolates, 55 (45.8 %) were found to be S. aureus, and the others (54.2 %) were identified as CoNS. Of the CoNS, 20 (16.7 %) were further identified as Staphylococcus hominis, 18 (15 %) as Staphylococcus epidermidis, six (5 %) as Staphylococcus xylosus, six (5 %) as Staphylococcus warneri, five (4.2 %) as Staphylococcus sciuri, four (3.3 %) as Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and two each (1.7 %) as Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus capitis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, respectively. Thirty-nine (60 %) of 65 CoNS were found to be slime producers. Slime production was observed in all CoNS, except S. capitis, mostly from blood (38.5 %), tracheal aspiration (20.5 %) and urine (12.8 %) specimens. In addition, of the 55 S. aureus isolates, 46 (83.6 %) were found to be enterotoxigenic, and of these S. aureus strains, 39 (84.7 %) were positive for staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)A. The results of this study showed that the slime-producing CoNS were mostly found in clinical specimens of blood, tracheal aspirate and urine. SEA was the predominant enterotoxin type detected in S. aureus strains from human clinical specimens. INTRODUCTIONCoagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), inhabitants of skin and mucous membranes, are known to be opportunistic pathogens, causing bacterial keratitis and infections in immunocompromised hosts or in patients implanted with medical devices such as intravascular and peritoneal dialysis catheters, prosthetic heart valves and orthopaedic prostheses (Kogan et al., 2006). CoNS are characterized by an ability to colonize the surfaces of biomaterials by adhering in biofilm-structured communities of cells encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix, an amorphous slimy material that is loosely bound to staphylococcal cells. Slime is believed to make the micro-organisms more resistant to administered antibiotics and to host-defence mechanisms (Götz, 2002).Staphylococcus aureus strains are widespread in nature. They inhabit the skin, mucous membranes, anterior nares, eyes and gastrointestinal tract of asymptomatic individuals, where they can exist as resident or transient members of the normal flora without causing disease. However, some strains are responsible for many nosocomial infections, and in addition are the main causative agent of food intoxication by virtue of their variety of enterotoxins (Stephan et al., 2001 Recently, many studies have mainly been focused on the slime production of CoNS, but the results of these studies mostly do not reflect the importance of slime-producing CoNS from dif...

Synthesis of pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid was progressed via two different protocols, one of which is solid state. Pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid was converted into different derivatives such as ester, urea, amide and nitrile. The amide compound was converted to nitrile using SOCl2 and DMF. Solid state heating of carboxylic acid gave decarboxylated product. Cyclization of tetra-substituted pyrazole with hydrazines resulted in pyrazolopyridazinones. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized pyrazole derivatives against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated. One of the pyrazole derivatives which possess nitro group showed antimicrobial activity in only B. cereus, a Gram-positive bacteria, with an MIC of 128 μg/mL.

Arsenic is responsible for water pollution in many places around the world and presents a serious health risk for people. Lake Van is the world’s largest soda lake, and there are no studies on seasonal arsenic pollution and arsenic-resistant bacteria. We aimed to determine the amount of arsenic in the lake water and sediment, to isolate arsenic-metabolizing anaerobic bacteria and their identification, and determination of arsenic metabolism. Sampling was done from 7.5 m to represent the four seasons. Metal contents were determined by using ICP-MS. Pure cultures were obtained using the Hungate technique. Growth characteristics of the strains were determined at different conditions as well as at arsenate and arsenite concentrations. Molecular studies were also carried out for various resistance genes. Our results showed that Lake Van’s total arsenic amount changes seasonally. As a result of 16S rRNA sequencing, it was determined that the isolates were members of 8 genera with arsC resistance genes. In conclusion, to sustain water resources, it is necessary to prevent chemical and microorganism-based pollution. It is thought that the arsenic-resistant bacteria obtained as a result of this study will contribute to the solution of environmental arsenic pollution problems, as they are the first data and provide the necessary basic data for the bioremediation studies of arsenic from contaminated environmental habitats. At the same time, the first data that will contribute to the creation of the seasonal arsenic map of Lake Van are obtained.

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