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Superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), a high molecular weight component of the antioxidant defense system, provided promising results in the treatment of oxidative damage. Thermothrix sp., isolated from thermal spa water in Serbia, showed high superoxide dismutase activity. The SOD, from cell free extract, was purified to homogenity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G 75 gel filtration chromatography and QAE Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 9191 U/mg. The purified enzyme was analyzed and partially characterized. SOD was localized in polyacrylamide gel by activity staining, based on the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) by superoxide. The enzyme molecular weight determined by gel chromatography is 37 kD. According to SDS PAGE it is composed of two subunits of equal size, joined by noncovalent interactions. The isoelectric point, assessed by isoelectric focusing is 5.3. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was in the range of 8 to 10. The optimum temperature for SOD activity was 60 ?C. After one hour of incubation at 40, 50 and 60 ?C the SOD activity increases, but at 80 ?C, the SOD is denaturated. After 24 hours of incubation at 25 ?C SO Dactivity only slightly decreases.

In this study, we checked lactobacilli strains of human origin for their potential as probiotic. Samples were collected from oral mucosa of 16 healthy individuals, out of which twenty isolates were obtained and two of them were selected and identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (G1) and L. casei (G3). Both isolates exhibited antagonistic action towards pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella abony, and Clostridium sporogenes, but not on the growth of Candida albicans. The bacteriocin activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6358-P was shown only by L. plantarum G1. Moreover, the isolates G1 and G3 showed good viability in the acid gastric environment and in the gut environment containing bovine bile salts. The viability of G1 and G3 isolates in the gastrointestinal tract, and the adhesion to the intestinal mucosa were also confirmed in vivo. The biochemical tests of blood samples revealed lower levels of serum triglycerides and cholesterol, as well as reduced activity of alkaline phosphatase in all lactobacilli-treated Wistar rats, compared to control ones. No toxicity for NMRI Ham mice was observed. According to our experimental results, these findings imply that L. plantarum G1 and L. casei G3 could be characterized as potential probiotics

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