The aim of this study was to determine the influence of selected halotolerant endophytic bacteria isolated from the roots of Salicornia europaea on the growth parameters of Beta vulgaris under different concentrations of salinity. Two endophytic strains were selected as inocula for the pot experiment: Pseudomonas sp. ISE-12 (B1) and Xanthomonadales sp. CSE-34 (B2). Surface-sterilised seeds were incubated in the bacterial inoculation suspensions before sowing and cultivated in a sterile mixture of sand and vermiculite (1:1). Six salinity treatments were taken into account: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 mM NaCl. Inoculation of seeds with B1 and B2 positively affected germination percentage and germination index and shortened mean germination time, which led to a quickening of the growth stages of seedlings. After 42 days inoculated plants had, in general, a greater root length, higher dry biomass, lower tissue water content and lower specific leaf area compared with the control. While the positive effect of B2 bacteria was visible only at low salinity, strain B1 stimulated plant growth at higher salinities (200 and 300 mM NaCl). We suggest that the superior growth promotion observed for B1 may be related to the higher metabolic activity of these bacteria.

The most numerous limestone caves are in the smallest national park in Poland (the Ojców National Park). A total of 50 algal samples were collected from ten caves, each having different environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature and humidity. The morphological and ecological variability of cyanobacteria and algae were studied using fresh samples, cultures grown on agar plates, and documented with TEM, SEM and LM. Light microscopic observations showed that aerophytic cyanobacteria were the most important component of the cave′s photosynthetic microflora. Among cyanobacteria, the following genera were frequently encountered: Aphanocapsa, Chroococcus, Gloeocapsa, Leptolyngbya, and Synechocystis. Whereas the green algal genera, Apatococcus and Klebsormidium, often occurred with Chlorella, Muriella, Neocystis and the diatoms, Orthoseira and Pinnularia. Most of the algal species appeared to be cosmopolitan, ubiquitous, had simple nutrition requirements and wide ecological tolerance (they reproduced rapidly and were easily adaptable to new conditions). The cave′s microhabitats offered relatively stable microclimatic conditions and they seemed to be responsible for the observed distribution of aerophytic algae and cyanobacteria. The Shannon-Wiener index (H′) ranged between 4.9 and 3.9, and the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that these differences were statistically significant.

Purpose: Epidemiological data suggest that there is a link between exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs), immune response, and the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases. The exact nature of this phenomenon remains speculative and requires detailed laboratory investigation. In the present study, we evaluate changes in plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines as well as alternations of the hematological parameters in rats exposed to an ELF-MF. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were repeatedly exposed for either 1 h/day for 7 days, or continuously for 24 h, to a sinusoidal ELF-MF (50 Hz, 7 mT). Control groups were sham exposed for either 1 h/day for 7 days, or continuously for 24 h, respectively. The levels of cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in plasma obtained from blood samples were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in blood parameters were determined using an automatic hematology analyzer in whole blood samples immediately after collection. Results: We found that a single continuous (lasting 24 h) exposure provoked a significant increase of the plasma IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-2 levels, and caused an elevation in blood parameters, such as white blood cells, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. In contrast, however, repetitive exposure of rats to an ELF-MF for 1 h/day for 7 days did not lead to any changes in plasma levels of cytokines and hematological counts. Conclusions: Based on these data we conclude that exposure duration (dose-response) plays a significant role in the immune response, specifically at the cellular level. While single 24 h-lasting exposure provoked changes that indicate an immune alarm stimulation, under the conditions which are typical for therapeutic use of ELF-MFs (repeated short daily exposure) the immune potentially harmful response has not been observed.

Algae are potential and natural source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The diatom Pinnularia borealis accumulates high levels of EPA and may be considered as a source for commercial production of dietary supplements. In this study we asked the question whether diet supplementation with P. borealis may augment antioxidant defense and ameliorate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. We fed mice (Mus musculus) with lyophilized diatom solutions of different concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) for 7 days. Then we measured glutathione content and the activity of glutathione redox system enzymes, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations, and malondialdehyde concentration in the liver and kidney. We found that cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in the liver and kidneys were the lowest in mice who were fed with the highest concentration of Pinnularia borealis, suggesting protective properties of algae. Additionally, the lowest concentration of Pinnularia borealis was sufficient to improve antioxidant capacity. Our results suggest that P. borealis may be used as a source for dietary supplements rich in EPA, but the amount supplied to the organism should be limited.