Biofilms can be found on several living and nonliving surfaces, which are formed by a group of microorganisms, complex assembly of proteins, polysaccharides, and DNAs in an extracellular polymeric matrix. By forming a biofilm, bacteria protect themselves from host defense, disinfectants, and antibiotics. Bacteria inside biofilm are much more resistant to antimicrobial agents than planktonic forms since bacteria that are unresisting to antimicrobial agents in any way can turn resistant after forming a biofilm. Low penetration of antibiotics into the biofilm, slow reproduction, and the existence of adaptive stress response constitute the multiphased defense of the bacterium. This antibiotic resistance, which is provided by biofilm, makes the treatments, which use effective antibiotic doses on the bacterium in planktonic shape, difficult. Biofilm formation potential of bacteria appears as an important virulence factor in ensuring the colonization on the living tissues or medical devices and makes the treatment difficult. The aim of this chapter is to overview the current knowledge of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in biofilms.

Introduction: Although ash has been used for treatment and cleaning among the people since Avicenna, its use for therapeutic purposes is not common in modern medicine. The main ingredient of ash is potassium hydroxide (KOH).Methods: In this paper, the antiviral properties of KOH were studied in vivo and in vitro conditions in mucolytic, alkaline and enveloped viruses that cause respiratory tract disease. For this purpose, a 6-stage study was planned. The physicochemical properties of the highest dose of KOH, whose caustic properties are well known, that can be used orally in humans, and the changes in the structure of mucus were investigated. Then, interactions of KOH with the membrane phospholipid bilayer complex, mucin 5AC, corona viruses spike glycoprotein, TMPRSS2 and human ACE2 (hACE2) receptors, and neuraminidase active site in influenza virus were investigated in silico, and the toxicity and beneficial properties of KOH in cells, both in vitro and in vivo, were evaluated.Results: It has been shown that at the applied doses, KOH has a mucolytic effect and increases the pH of the environment in mucus. It has been shown to prolong life span in cell culture and have no toxicity, and in the in silico study it binds to the hydrophilic part of the cell membrane, corona virus spike glycoprotein, TMPRSS2 hACE2 receptor and neuraminidase active site in influenza virus. Oral use of KOH in the form of a spray in mice had no toxic effects on the mucosa and the inhaler application has a mucolytic effect by decreasing the viscosity of mucus in the respiratory tract.Conclusion: In light of these findings, KOH can be mucolytic, alkaline, and antiviral for enveloped viruses in the respiratory tract.

Purpose Stabilization of weak soil can be achieved through different methods, some of which include jet column, cement stabilization and fly ash stabilization. Unfortunately, the use of the aforementioned methods of soil improvement affects the environment negatively thereby leading to environmental degradation. With the aforesaid impediment in mind, the need for devising methods of weak soil improvement becomes pertinent. Methods Bacillus sp. — a non-pathogenic organism found abundantly in soil — was investigated in this study as a potential agent of soil improvement. The usability of Bacillus sp. in soil improvement was investigated with direct shear tests and permeability tests under optimum conditions in this study. Result Time-dependent study on the effect of the ureolytic bacteria Bacillus sp.-induced calcium carbonate precipitation shows reduction in permeability and increase in the strength of the soil under study. On exhaustion of the available nutrients in the soil, however, the strength of the soil is not negatively impacted. Conclusion Microbially induced calcium precipitation by Bacillus sp. is effective in soil improvement as such it may serve as substitute for conventional soil stabilization techniques. The ability of the bacteria to precipitate calcium carbonate in the soil leads to reduction in the permeability and increase in the shear strength of the soil.

Yogurt has been one of the leading consumption products of fermented milk products for centuries and has many positive effects in terms of human health. However, yogurt consumption is sometimes a problem for individuals with lactose intolerance. It is known that activated carbon ensures the removal of heavy metals from the body by adsorbing, and slows down the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, the effects of activated carbon on the formation of yogurt were investigated. In this study, before investigating the effects of activated carbon on milk fermentation, its physical properties were determined by electron microscopy. Lactose and calcium interactions were determined in silico studies of activated carbon on yogurt. Yogurt with added activated carbon was created and protein, fat, lactic acid, pH, calcium, sensory analyzes, and microbiological parameters were determined in groups on different days. In the study, it was determined that the use of activated carbon during milk fermentation did not impair the physical, chemical, sensory and microbiological structural properties of yogurt.

Purpose: Stabilization of weak soil can be achieved through different methods, some of which include: jet column, cement stabilization and fly ash stabilization. Unfortunately, the use of the aforementioned methods of soil improvement affects the environment negatively thereby leading to environmental degradation. With the aforesaid impediment in mind, the need for devising methods of weak soil improvement becomes pertinent. Methods: Bacillus sp. - a non-pathogenic organism found abundantly in soil - was investigated in this study as a potential agent of soil improvement. The usability of Bacillus sp. in soil improvement was investigated with direct shear tests and permeability tests under optimum conditions in this study.Result: Time-dependent study on the effect of the ureolytic bacteria Bacillus simplex induced calcium carbonate precipitation shows reduction in permeability and increase in the strength of the soil under study. On exhaustion of the available nutrients in the soil however, the strength of the soil is not negatively impacted.Conclusion: Microbially induced calcium precipitation by Bacillus sp. is effective in soil improvement as such it may serve as substitute for conventional soil stabilisation techniques. The ability of the bacteria to precipitate calcium carbonate in the soil leads to reduction in the permeability and increase in the shear strength of the soil.