Effects of fermented extruded rye flour supplements with Lactobacillus sakei KTU05-6 or Pediococcus pentosaceus BaltBio02 on milk production and composition, as well as ruminal parameters, were determined in Lithuanian Black & White dairy cows. Also, determination of antimicrobial activities of tested lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against a variety of pathogenic and opportunistic bacterial strains previously isolated from diseased cattle was performed. The highest antimicrobial activity was demonstrated in L. sakei against S. aureus, and in P. pentosaceus against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The count of LAB in the supplements after 72 h of fermentation of extruded rye flour with L. sakei and P. pentosaceus was 9.6±0.4 log10 CFU/g and 9.5±0.3 log10 CFU/g, respectively. All cows (n=60) were fed the same basal diet. The treatment differences were achieved by individually incorporating (65 d.) one of the supplements: L. sakei KTU05-6 (group B; n=20) or P. pentosaceus BaltBio02 (group C; n=20). The control group A (n=20) was on the basal diet only. A supplement fermented with L. sakei does not have a significant influence on dairy cattle milk production and rumen fluid parameters. The type of LAB used has a significant influence (p<0.0001) on microbiological parameters of the rumen (TCM, TCL, TCE). The milk yield was increased (p≤0.05) using P. pentosaceus BaltBio02 supplement, and further research is needed to identify w hat is the main mechanism of the positive action.

The two aims of this study were to obtain stable thyme-oil loaded nanoemulsions using the statistical design of experiment method (DOE) and to confirm their antimicrobial and disinfecting properties. Thyme oil was used as the oil phase, ECO Tween ® 80 acted as an emulsifier, and the rest of the formulation was deionized water. Ultrasonication was chosen as the method of obtaining the nanoemulsions. It was checked whether the input parameters (oil concentration, emulsifier concentration, amplitude, and sonication time) had a significant impact on the output parameters (nanoemulsion particle size, polydispersity index, viscosity, and stability over time). For the formulations selected on the basis of the statistical data analysis, the values of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum biocidal concentrations (MBC/MFC) were determined in relation to 10 bacterial strains and 10 strains fungi (filamentous fungi, yeast-like fungi). The results obtained from the statistical analysis showed that the optimal concentration of the thyme oil in nanoemulsion should amount up to 2%. Biological studies proved that the obtained formulation had stronger antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to pure oil. Moreover, it was shown that the nanoemulsion caused the required for disinfectants reduction of > 5 log of bacterial strains ( S. aureus, P. aeruginosa) and > 4 log of fungal strains ( C. albicans) after 30 minutes.

In the present work, the dried biomass of soil isolated fungus Eurotium cristatum was used for synthesizing silver na-noparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with average diameter of 16.56 nm and displayed maximum absorbance at 418. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study indicated the presence and binding of proteins with myco-produced silver nanoparticles. The optimum conditions for AgNPs biosynthesis were found to be at temperature of 40°C, pH of 8.0, substrate concentration of 500 ppm and fungal biomass wt. of 0.8 g. The AgNPs showed antibacterial ac-tivity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri. AgNPs was built-in thin film nanocomposite (TFNC) membrane and the impacts of nanomaterial composition on membrane properties and de-salination process were studied. The AgNPs produced membrane TFNC had better filtration performances than pure thin film composite membrane TFC. The TFNC membrane had enhanced water flux (32.0 vs. 16.5 dm3∙m–2∙h–1) and advanced NaCl rejection (91.7 vs. 89%) compared to the TFC membrane. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the irrigation with desalinated water on yield and productivity of essential oil of the sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and lavender (Lavandula multifida L.). The irrigation with desalinated water reduced significantly the soil reaction, soil electri-cal conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio and exchangeable sodium percent in rhizospheric soil, it also enhanced the growth and oil yield of both plants compared with those irrigated with salt water.