Search Results (427)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and vermicompost constitute important environmental and economic resources for improving the production and quality of tomato fruits. The present research aims to determine the single and combined effect of Glomus fasciculatum (Gf) fungus, Azotobacter chroococcum (Azot), PGPB and vermicompost leachate (VL) organic fertilizer on the yield and quality of tomato fruit. Thus, an open-field experiment was established with seven treatments, a control and three replicates. Total soluble solids, vitamin C, acidity, fruit mass and fruit diameter were evaluated as fruit quality variables; the yield was recorded and estimated in tons per hectare⁻¹. The results showed that Gf, Azot and VL were effective in promoting tomato yield and fruit quality. As a trend, the triple combination (Gf + Azot + VL) evidently obtained the highest values of total soluble solids, vitamin C and fruit acidity. The range of improvement concerning the fruit size was 66.6% (single treatment) compared to 78.5% (triple combination). The maximum yield of 54.5 t/ha⁻¹ was recorded for the Gf + Azot + VL combination. Therefore, G. fasciculatum, A. chroococcum and VL are considered useful as organic alternatives for open-field tomato biofertilization programs in tropical countries. Full article

The current investigation delved into the utilization of cattle and municipal sanitary inocula for anaerobic digestion of poultry wastes, addressing a crucial and pragmatic challenge in waste management. The emphasis on poultry waste is pertinent due to its well-documented impediments in anaerobic digestion, attributed to heightened levels of ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The strategic selection of cattle and municipal sanitary inocula suggests an approach aimed at bolstering the anaerobic digestion process. In this study, we evaluated the use of cattle and municipal sanitary inocula for the anaerobic digestion of various poultry wastes, which is often challenged by high levels of ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The substrates tested included belt waste (Poultry A), poultry litter plus feed residues (Poultry B), tray hatchery ©, and stillage. These substrates were processed in two continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs), R-1 (with antibiotic monensin) and R-2 (without monensin). Initially, both reactors operated with the same hydraulic retention time (HRT), using a substrate ratio of stillage: belt: tray hatchery (S:B:T) of 70:15:15. On the 41st day, the HRT was adjusted to 20 days, and the substrate ratio was changed to S:A:T 70:40:40. The specific methane yield for R-1 started at 10.768 L g⁻¹ COD, but decreased to 2.65 L g⁻¹ COD by the end of the experiment. For R-2, the specific methane yield varied between 0.45 L g⁻¹ COD and 0.243 L g⁻¹ COD. Microbial composition in the reactors changed over time. In R-1, bacteroides were consistently dominant, while firmicutes were less abundant compared to R-2. Proteobacteria were initially low in abundance, but spirochetes were found in both reactors throughout the experiment. The study concluded that Poultry B substrates, due to their rich nutrient and trace element composition, are suitable for biogas plants. Municipal sanitary inocula also showed promise due to their resilience in high ammonia concentrations. Further research into biofilm interactions is recommended to better understand microbial responses to high ammonia concentrations, which can lead to propionate production in anaerobic digestion (AD). Full article

Coffee leaf rust (CLR) is a major disease of Arabica coffee caused by the biotrophic fungus Hemileia vastatrix. Jazan region in Saudi Arabia has long been one of the last coffee-producing regions in the world free of this disease. In August 2023, CLR was initially observed in coffee plantations located in Fyfa district one of the main coffee-producing mountains of Jazan region. The source of the infection is unknown, however CLR could have entered Jazan from the nearest coffee-producing locations that haven the pathogen. During a scheduled survey in August 2023, symptoms were observed including yellowish-orange lesions that frequently combined to form chlorotic lesions and exhibited the powdery appearance of yellow uredospores on the abaxial surface of leaves. The uredospores and teliospores were microscopically examined and their morphology matched the previously published description for H. vastatrix. The identity of H. vastatrix specimens was further confirmed based on PCR amplification and sequencing of ITS, sharing a 99–100% identity with previously published sequences, as belonging to H. vastatrix. The pathogenicity of H. vastatrix specimens was investigated on Coffee arabica plants under growth chamber conditions, and all were pathogenic relative to control, with 100% of disease incidence, therefore fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Based on our findings, this is the first documentation of H. vastatrix causing CLR in Saudi Arabia. Full article

The production of biosurfactants from organic wastes has received significant attention due to its potential cost savings. This study involved the isolation of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms from waste sources. The surfactant properties of the 37 studied isolates were assessed by reducing surface tension and their emulsifying properties, determined by the emulsification index E24. We assessed the ability of these isolated strains to produce biosurfactants using various waste substrates, namely potato peelings, waste cooking oil and sunflower cake. Our results showed that sunflower cake exhibited better growth and biosurfactant production for most of the strains studied. This highlights that sunflower cake is a potentially effective and economical substrate for the production of biosurfactants. The most effective strains allowing to achieve an emulsification index above 50% and reduce surface tension below 40 mN m⁻¹ were Enterobacter sp. 2pp, strain 2wfo, Peribacillus sp. 1mo, Sphingomonas sp. 2mo, Ochrobactrum sp. 5mo, Shouchella sp. 6mo, Bacillus sp. 1os, Bacillus sp. 2os. Among these strains, both previously known strains as biosurfactant producers and previously unknown strains were found. Thus, we found that among representatives of the genus Sphingomonas there are effective producers of biosurfactants. The highest yield of biosurfactant on a medium with glycerol and glucose was shown by the Bacillus sp. 2os strain of 0.501 and 0.636 g L⁻¹, respectively. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent human pathogen and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, is increasingly evolving antibiotic-resistant strains, increasing mortality and morbidity rates. Anti-staphylococcal vaccine research for prevention and treatment has become a priority. Antibodies against specific S. aureus components, toxins, and polysaccharides have demonstrated encouraging results in animal studies regarding protection against colonization or infection. However, human immunization trials have yielded less optimistic outcomes, with no anti-staphylococcal having passed clinical trials up to now. Although multiple formulation attempts triggered strong antibody responses, the vaccines could not effectively prevent S. aureus infections. This article delves into the results of immunotherapeutic strategies against S. aureus in both animal and human studies, discussing the feasibility of adequate immunization approaches against S. aureus in humans. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive efforts focused on developing a better understanding of indirect transmission routes, environmental monitoring of fomites, and suitable surveillance strategies, providing new perspectives to also face other communicable diseases. Rapid methods for monitoring environmental contamination are strongly needed to support risk assessment, epidemiological surveillance and prevent infections from spreading. We optimized and automatized a protocol based on fomite detection by qPCR, using a microbial-signature approach based on marker genes belonging to the microbiota of droplets or different biological fluids. The procedure was implemented by exploiting the available tools developed for SARS-CoV-2 tracing, such as flocked swab sampling, real-time PCR equipment and automatic extraction of nucleic acids. This approach allowed scaling up, simplifying, and speeding up the extraction step of environmental swabs, processing at least 48 samples within 45 min vs. 90 min for about 24 samples by manual protocols. A comparison of microflora data by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) strongly supports the effectiveness of this semiautomated extraction procedure, providing good quality DNA with comparable representation of species as shown by biodiversity indexes. Today, equipment for qPCR is widely available and relatively inexpensive; therefore this approach may represent a promising tool for hospital hygiene in surveilling fomites associated with SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogen’s transmission. Full article

Healthy individuals often have different gut microbiota, and these differences can be influenced by their country of origin or their race. This study aimed to compare the gut microbiota compositions of healthy Germans and Koreans using 16S rRNA sequencing data extracted from public sources. Two cohorts, comprising 1592 samples (804 Germans and 788 Koreans), were analyzed for alpha and beta diversity, core microbiome, and abundances of specific taxa. The Prevotella enterotype was more prevalent in Koreans, and significant diversity differences were observed depending on cohorts and enterotypes. The core microbiomes across all enterotypes and cohorts included Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, and Lachnospira. Several common core microbiomes were also found depending on enterotype. Koreans exhibited higher abundances of Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, and Bacteroides, while Germans had higher abundances of Blautia, Subdoligranulum, and Agathobacter. Distinctive microbiomes were identified by enterotype. The study enhances comprehension of gut microbiome variations linked to enterotype and geographical factors, and emphasizes the need for additional research to establish correlations between specific microbial properties and individual health status. Full article

GeneXpert MTB/RIF is a rapid molecular diagnostic tool capable of simultaneously detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic precision of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to detect pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis and evaluate the performance for detecting of rifampicin resistance. Of 37,695 samples, 7156 (18.98%) were tuberculosis-positive, and 509 (7.11%) were rifampicin-resistant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, disease prevalence, and accuracy of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for pulmonary tuberculosis were 99.87% (95%CI: 99.75–99.94), 99.92% (95%CI: 99.88–99.95), 99.71% (95%CI: 99.54–99.82), 99.97% (95%CI: 99.93–99.98), 21.38% (95%CI: 20.92–21.86), and 99.91% (95%CI: 99.87–99.94), respectively. For extrapulmonary tuberculosis, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, disease prevalence, and accuracy of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay accounted for 99.45% (95%CI: 98.73–99.82), 99.84% (95%CI: 99.73–99.92), 98.70% (95%CI: 97.73–99.25), 99.93% (95%CI: 99.84–99.97), 10.64% (95%CI: 9.99–11.31), and 99.80% (95%CI: 99.68–99.88), respectively. Despite its high sensitivity for detecting tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, GeneXpert MTB/RIF had contradictory results for 20.5% of cases among patients with smear-negative results and 54.9% of cases among patients with a high risk of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Of 46% fluoroquinolone-resistant cases, 16.56% (26/157) were multidrug-resistant tuberculosis isolates, and 4.02% (20/498) were isoniazid-resistant, a characteristic distribution leading to about 17.2% of fluoroquinolone-resistance events and relevant marker gyr-A mutations in MDR tuberculosis isolates. Further, our study indicated that increased fluoroquinolone resistance among rifampicin-resistant and isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis endangers the success of newly endorsed MDR-TB regimens. Full article

This article explores the diverse array of biologically active compounds derived from microbial symbionts, particularly focusing on the isolation and characterization of diepoxides, highly oxygenated triterpenoids, secosteroids, ergostane-type steroids, and meroterpenoids from various marine and plant-derived fungi. We highlight significant discoveries such as vitamin D variants from fungal species, unique sesterterpenoids from mangrove endophytic fungi, and secosteroids with potential medicinal applications. The study delves into the structural uniqueness and bioactivities of these compounds, including their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic effects. Notable findings include the isolation of compounds with significant activity against cancer cell lines, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and promising antifouling properties. This work underscores the potential of microbial symbionts as a rich source of novel bioactive compounds with diverse therapeutic applications, highlighting the importance of marine and fungal biodiversity in drug discovery and development. Full article

Peribacillus sp. AS_2, a leaf endophytic bacterium isolated from the medicinal plant Alectra sessiliflora, was previously identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The draft genome of AS_2 had a 5,482,853 bp draft circular chromosome, 43 contigs, N₅₀ of 360,633 bp and an average G + C% content of 40.5%. Whole genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis showed that AS_2 was Gram-positive, endospore-forming, motile, and rod-shaped and it showed a high sequence similarity with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801^T. Genomic digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) between strain AS_2 and Peribacillus frigoritolerans DSM 8801^T and P. castrilensis N3^T was 84.8% and 79.2%, respectively, and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of strain AS_2 with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801^T and P. castrilensis N3^T was 97.0% and 96.7%, respectively. The antiSMASH software predicted a total of eight secondary metabolite gene clusters comprising non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) type koranimine, terpenes, and siderophore clusters. Strain AS_2 also displayed genes involved in endophytic lifestyle and antibiotic resistance gene clusters such as small multidrug resistance antibiotic efflux pumps (qacJs). Using the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), together with the phenotypic data and genomic analysis, we demonstrated that strain AS_2 is a subspecies of P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801^T. Genome sequencing of Peribacillus sp. AS_2 from medicinal plants provides valuable genomic information and allows us to further explore its biotechnological applications. Full article

Microbial treatment of free-cyanide-polluted wastewater is a cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly method. Free-cyanide-degrading microbial cultures were isolated from different sources using batch-enrichment culture techniques, with acetate as the carbon source. Five microbial cultures were able to tolerate and grow at 1500 mg/L free cyanide, which was used as the only nitrogen source under strongly alkaline conditions (pH = 11). Among them, one bacterial strain (B11) was selected for further study because of its high free-cyanide-biodegradation efficiency. Bacterial strain B11 was molecularly identified as Bacillus licheniformis CDBB B11. Free cyanide inhibited the growth rate of B. licheniformis CDBB B11 at initial cyanide concentrations >75 mg/L. Despite this, the bacterial strain demonstrated 100% cyanide-biodegradation efficiency at initial cyanide concentrations ranging from 25 to 75 mg/L, which decreased to 32% as the initial cyanide concentration increased from 75 to 1500 mg/L. Free-cyanide biodegradation corresponds to bacterial growth and ammonia accumulation in the culture medium. The alkaliphilic B. licheniformis CDBB B11 strain is a robust candidate for the detoxification of free-cyanide-laden wastewater because it tolerates and efficiently degrades free cyanide at concentrations of up to 1500 mg/L. Full article

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria are an important economic and environmental resource as biofertilizers that can stimulate plant growth and improve agricultural yields. In this study, potential plant growth-promoting bacteria were isolated from soil samples collected in Russia. Strains that manifested active growth on a nitrogen-free medium, the Pikovskaya medium (with insoluble phosphates) and CAS (Chrome Azurol S) agar, were selected for the study. All bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Seventeen bacterial isolates of different species were purified and quantified for their ability to grow on nitrogen-free media; dissolve phosphate; and produce ammonium, indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, and antifungal activity. Principal component analysis identified three groups of strains: one with the maximum signs of providing “plant nutrition”; one with signs of “antimicrobial activity”; and a group “without outstanding signs”. All 17 strains were involved in experiments involving growing inoculated wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum) in pots under natural environmental conditions, and were assessed by their effect on the wheat growth and yield as well as on the chemical composition of the soil. For the “plant nutrition” group, regression analysis revealed a connection between indicators of plant growth, ear length, and ammonium accumulation in the soil. However, in other groups, there were also strains showing a positive effect on plant growth, which suggests the necessity of involving additional factors to predict the ability of strains to affect plants when screened in the laboratory. Full article

Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV) (genus, Begomovirus; family, Geminiviridae) is one of several plant virus pathogens of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that cause cotton leaf curl disease in Pakistan. Begomoviruses are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci cryptic species group and cause economic losses in cotton and other crops worldwide. The CLCuKoV strain, referred to as CLCuKoV-Bur, emerged in the vicinity of Burewala, Pakistan, and was the primary causal virus associated with the second CLCuD epidemic in Pakistan. The monopartite ssDNA genome of (2.7 Kb) contains six open reading frames that encode four predicted proteins. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated antiviral immunity is a sequence-specific biological process in plants and animals that has evolved to combat virus infection. The objective of this study was to design cotton locus-derived microRNA (ghr-miRNA) molecules to target strains of CLCuKoV, with CLCuKoV-Lu, as a typical CLCuD-begomovirus genome, predicted by four algorithms, miRanda, RNA22, psRNATarget, and RNA hybrid. Mature ghr-miRNA sequences (n = 80) from upland cotton (2n = 4x = 52) were selected from miRBase and aligned with available CLCuKoV-Lu genome sequences. Among the 80 cotton locus-derived ghr-miRNAs analyzed, ghr-miR2950 was identified as the most optimal, effective ghr-miRNA for targeting the CLCuKoV-Lu genome (nucleotide 82 onward), respectively, based on stringent criteria. The miRNA targeting relies on the base pairing of miRNA–mRNA targets. Conservation and potential base pairing of binding sites with the ghr-miR2950 were validated by multiple sequence alignment with all available CLCuKoV sequences. A regulatory interaction network was constructed to evaluate potential miRNA–mRNA interactions with the predicted targets. The efficacy of miRNA targeting of CLCuKoV was evaluated in silico by RNAi-mediated mRNA cleavage. This predicted targets for the development of CLCuD-resistant cotton plants. Full article

In sub-Saharan Africa, temperatures are generally conducive to malaria transmission, and rainfall provides mosquitoes with optimal breeding conditions. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of future climate change on malaria transmission in West Africa using community-based vector-borne disease models, TRIeste (VECTRI). This VECTRI model, based on bias-corrected data from the Phase 6 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), was used to simulate malaria parameters, such as the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). Due to the lack of data on confirmed malaria cases throughout West Africa, we first validated the forced VECTRI model with CMIP6 data in Senegal. This comparative study between observed malaria data from the National Malaria Control Program in Senegal (Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, PNLP, PNLP) and malaria simulation data with the VECTRI (EIR) model has shown the ability of the biological model to simulate malaria transmission in Senegal. We then used the VECTRI model to reproduce the historical characteristics of malaria in West Africa and quantify the projected changes with two Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). The method adopted consists of first studying the climate in West Africa for a historical period (1950–2014), then evaluating the performance of VECTRI to simulate malaria over the same period (1950–2014), and finally studying the impact of projected climate change on malaria in a future period (2015–2100) according to the ssp245 ssp585 scenario. The results showed that low-latitude (southern) regions with abundant rainfall are the areas most affected by malaria transmission. Two transmission peaks are observed in June and October, with a period of high transmission extending from May to November. In contrast to regions with high latitudes in the north, semi-arid zones experience a relatively brief transmission period that occurs between August, September, and October, with the peak observed in September. Regarding projections based on the ssp585 scenario, the results indicate that, in general, malaria prevalence will gradually decrease in West Africa in the distant future. But the period of high transmission will tend to expand in the future. In addition, the shift of malaria prevalence from already affected areas to more suitable areas due to climate change is observed. Similar results were also observed with the ssp245 scenario regarding the projection of malaria prevalence. In contrast, the ssp245 scenario predicts an increase in malaria prevalence in the distant future, while the ssp585 scenario predicts a decrease. These findings are valuable for decision makers in developing public health initiatives in West Africa to mitigate the impact of this disease in the region in the context of climate change. Full article

This study aimed to enhance the anticancer and antibacterial properties of Pistacia atlantica through a new parenteral formulation. The innovative approach involved loading P. atlantica fruit extract onto a novel Pluronic vesicular nano platform (Nio), analyzed using various techniques like GC-Mass, SEM, DLS, and UV-vis. The results revealed a stable, spherical Nio/Extract formulation of 103 ± 4.1 nm, possessing a high zeta potential of −30 ± 2.3 mV, with an impressive encapsulation efficiency of nearly 90 ± 3.5%. This formulation exhibited heightened cytotoxicity against BT-20 and MCF-10 cell lines compared to the extract alone, indicating its potential as a drug carrier with prolonged release characteristics. Additionally, the Nio/Extract demonstrated superior antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans compared to the free extract, showcasing MIC values of 211, 147, and 187 ug/mL, respectively, versus 880, 920, and 960 ug/mL for the pathogens. These findings highlight the potential of niosomal nano-carriers housing P. atlantica extract as a viable therapeutic strategy for combating both malignancies and microbial infections. Full article