The aim of this study is to characterize the bioactivity of mycelial biomass and crude exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Trametes versicolor NBIMCC 8939 and to reveal its nutraceutical potential. The EPS (1.58 g/L) were isolated from a culture broth. The macrofungal biomass was rich in protein, insoluble dietary fibers and glucans. The amino acid composition of the biomass was analyzed and 18 amino acids were detected. Three mycelial biomass extracts were prepared and the highest total polyphenol content (16.11 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g DW) and the total flavonoid content (5.15 ± 0.03 mg QE/g DW) were found in the water extract. The results indicated that the obtained EPS were heteropolysaccharides with glucose as the main building monosaccharide and minor amounts of mannose, xylose, galactose, fucose and glucuronic acid. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the complex structure of the crude EPS. Five probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains were used for the determination of the prebiotic effect of the crude EPS. The anti-inflammatory potential was tested in vitro using cell line HT-29. The significant decrease of IL-1 and IL-8 and increase of TGF-beta expression revealed anti-inflammatory potential of the crude exopolysaccharides from T. versicolor.

In this study, for the first time, the potential of rose flowers and lavender straw waste biomass was studied as feeding lignocellulose substrates for the cultivation of newly isolated in Bulgaria Ganoderma resinaceum GA1M with the objective of obtaining mycelium-based bio-composites. The chemical characterization and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy established that the proximate composition of steam distilled lavender straw (SDLS) and hexane extracted rose flowers (HERF) was a serious prerequisite supporting the self-growth of mycelium bio-materials with improved antibacterial and aromatic properties. The basic physico-mechanical properties of the developed bio-composites were determined. The apparent density of the mycelium HERF-based bio-composites (462 kg/m3) was higher than that of the SDLS-based bio-composite (347 kg/m3) and both were much denser than expanded polystyren (EPS), lighter than medium-density fiber board (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) and similar to hempcrete. The preliminary testing of their compressive behavior revealed that the compressive resistance of SDLS-based bio-composite was 718 kPa, while for HERF-based bio-composite it was 1029 kPa and both values are similar to the compressive strength of hempcrete with similar apparent density. Water absorbance analysis showed, that both mycelium HERF- and SDLS-based bio-composites were hydrophilic and further investigations are needed to limit the hydrophilicity of the lignocellulose fibers, to tune the density and to improve compressive resistance.

Variety of microorganisms have already proven their capabilities for degradation of wide range of wastes with anthropogenic nature. These pollutants, both liquid and solids, also include so called xenobiotics like phenol and its derivatives, PAHs, dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc. Xenobiotics as bisphenol A (BPA), chlorhexidine (CHX), octenidine (OCT), other disinfectants and antiseptics have high ecotoxicological impact. Moreover, they can also impair our quality of life and our health interfering different metabolic and hormone receptors pathways in human body. Chemical treatment of such wastes is not a viable option because of its poor socio-economics and environmental merits. Therefore, applying effective, ecofriendly and cheap treatment methods is of great importance. Basidiomycetes are extensively investigated for their abilities to degrade numerous pollutants and xenobiotics. Through their extracellular ligninolytic enzymes they are capable of reducing or completely removing wide range of hazardous compounds. These enzymes can be categorized in two groups: oxidases (laccase) and peroxidases (manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, versatile peroxidase). Due to the broad substrate specificity of the secreted enzymes Basidiomycetes can be applied as a powerful tool for bioremediation of diverse xenobiotics and recalcitrant compounds.

Bisphenol A is a persistent chemical, which is widely distributed in the environment despite its short half-life. The continuous release of BPA may cause a chronical exposition of the organisms during sensitive life stages. The chemical possesses not only endocrine disrupting functions but also by oxidative stress may cause damage to the liver cells. In this study the ability of Trametes versicolor 8979 to degrade Bisphenol A during submerged cultivation was exanimated. The chemical was introduced to the medium in 500ppm concentration and the laccase and MnP activities, as well as the residual BPA concentration were monitored. The strain was able to remove completely Bisphenol A from the medium in 6 hours.

In the present work, our research is focused on an innovative compact all-fiber-optic structure suitable for the development of fully integrated dye lasers. The structure is based on a standard fiber-optic glass ferrule with two parallel openings along its length with diameters of 125 μm. A Fabry-Perot cavity is formed in one of the openings using two fused silica optical fibers with flat end facets. An angle-polished optical fiber with a reflective metal coating is placed in the second opening through which the active medium is pumped transversely. The active medium used is the Rhodamine 6G dye dissolved in glycerine, which is pumped by the 337.1-nm wavelength laser pulses of a nitrogen TEA laser. The ferrule-based design allows for a simplified set-up procedure and the integration of the pumping system to the basic structure of the laser, thus making it very compact. The design of the light source presented allows its future use in applications, such as lab-on-a-fiber, lab-on-a-chip and total analysis micro systems.