In situ capping of silver nanoparticles with cellulosic matrices from wheat straws in enhancing their antimicrobial activity: Synthesis and characterization.

Silver nanoparticles have gained worldwide attention in the scientific community due to their high antimicrobial activity. However, they tend to agglomerate and lose their shape and properties, thus capping agents necessary to protect their shapes, sizes, and properties. To enhance their antimicrobial activity, this research aimed to cap silver nanoparticles with cellulosic matrices from wheat straws.

Development and validation of TOF/Q-TOF MS/MS, HPLC method and bio-strategy for aflatoxin mitigation.

Some secondary metabolites produced by fungi are carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and/or cause birth defects in humans and animals. We developed and optimised bio-analytical tools for detection of metabolites, aflatoxins and evaluated the effectiveness of the methods in co-infected maize tissues. Isolate KSM012 (atoxigenic) demonstrated no peaks and no blue fluorescence on HPLC and TLC plates respectively confirming non-toxicity.

Breakthroughs in the discovery and use of different peroxidase isoforms of microbial origin.

Peroxidases are classified as oxidoreductases and are the second largest class of enzymes applied in biotechnological processes. These enzymes are used to catalyze various oxidative reactions using hydrogen peroxide and other substrates as electron donors. They are isolated from various sources such as plants, animals and microbes.

Molecular and Vegetative Compatibility Groups Characterization of Isolates from Kenya.

The genus contains diverse species and the identification is complicated. Vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) and molecular mechanisms were deployed to study the species. The study was randomly conducted in four counties in Kenya based on the history of aflatoxicosis and maize cultivation.

Correction: Mitema, A. et al. The Development of a qPCR Assay to Measure Biomass in Maize and the Use of a Biocontrol Strategy to Limit Aflatoxin Production. 2019, , 179.

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [...

The Development of a qPCR Assay to Measure Biomass in Maize and the Use of a Biocontrol Strategy to Limit Aflatoxin Production.

colonisation of maize can produce mycotoxins that are detrimental to both human and animal health. Screening of maize lines, resistant to infection, together with a biocontrol strategy, could help minimize subsequent aflatoxin contamination. We developed a qPCR assay to measure biomass and showed that two African maize lines, GAF4 and KDV1, had different fungal loads for the aflatoxigenic isolate (KSM014), fourteen days after infection.

Vegetative compatibility and phenotypic characterization as a means of determining genetic diversity of Aspergillus flavus isolates.

Toxigenic Aspergillus species produce mycotoxins that are carcinogenic, hepatotoxic and teratogenic immunosuppressing agents in both human and animals. Kenya frequently experiences outbreaks of aflatoxicosis with the worst occurring in 2010, which resulted in 215 deaths. We examined the possible reasons for these frequent aflatoxicosis outbreaks in Kenya by studying Aspergillus flavus diversity, phenotypes and mycotoxin profiles across various agricultural regions.