Global climate change and its impact on the distribution and efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis as a biopesticide.

This study is the first modeling exercise to assess the impacts of climate change on the current and future global distribution of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt is a common Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium widely distributed in various environments, including soil and water. It is widely recognized as a source of effective and safe agricultural biopesticides for pest management in various climatic regions globally.

Metagenomic approaches and opportunities in arid soil research.

Arid soils present unique challenges and opportunities for studying microbial diversity and bioactive potential due to the extreme environmental conditions they bear. This review article investigates soil metagenomics as an emerging tool to explore complex microbial dynamics and unexplored bioactive potential in harsh environments. Utilizing advanced metagenomic techniques, diverse microbial populations that grow under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, salinity, high pH levels, and exposure to metals and radiation can be studied.

Isolation of the Endophytic Fungus from a Halophyte () and Assessment of Its Potential in Tomato Seedling Protection.

Living in diverse environmentally harsh conditions, the plant exhibits a unique survival mechanism. As a result, the endophytes residing within the plant produce specific compounds that promote the plant's growth and defend it against pathogens. Plants and algae symbiotically harbor endophytes, i.

Perfume Guns: Potential of Yeast Volatile Organic Compounds in the Biological Control of Mycotoxin-Producing Fungi.

Pathogenic fungi in the genera , , , , , , , , , and are the most common cause of pre- and postharvest diseases of fruit, vegetable, root and grain commodities. Some species are also able to produce mycotoxins, secondary metabolites having toxic effects on human and non-human animals upon ingestion of contaminated food and feed. Synthetic fungicides still represent the most common tool to control these pathogens.

Molecular identification and biocontrol of ochratoxigenic fungi and ochratoxin A in animal feed marketed in the state of Qatar.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic fungal metabolite produced by some and species. This work was designed to explore the presence of OTA and ochratoxigenic fungi in feed grains marketed in Qatar and their biological control by a bacterium (). Significantly higher levels of OTA were detected in mixed grains samples (144.

Occurrence of Mycotoxins and Toxigenic Fungi in Cereals and Application of Yeast Volatiles for Their Biological Control.

Fungal infections in cereals lead to huge economic losses in the food and agriculture industries. This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins in marketed cereals and explore the effect of the antagonistic yeast volatiles against key toxigenic fungal strains. spp.

Detection of multimycotoxins in camel feed and milk samples and their comparison with the levels in cow milk.

Camel milk has been considered as an important source of nutrients and is commercialized in many countries of the world including the Middle East. This study aimed to investigate the presence of mycotoxins in camel feed and milk samples in comparison with the cow milk. Fumonisins (FUM), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in 14%, 39%, and 39% of the tested camel feed samples, respectively.

Bacillus thuringiensis strain QBT220 pBtoxis plasmid structural instability enhances δ-endotoxins synthesis and bioinsecticidal activity.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) spherical parasporal crystal contains several insecticidal proteins used as environmentally safe alternative to toxic chemical pesticides. The exploration of a Bti strain isolated from Qatar QBT220 genes encoding the δ-endotoxins responsible of the insecticidal activities revealed the alteration of a 14-kb DNA region including the δ-endotoxins cry10A and cyt1C genes of pBtoxis plasmid.

Prevalence of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in Arabic coffee (Coffea arabica): Protective role of traditional coffee roasting, brewing and bacterial volatiles.

Fungal infection and synthesis of mycotoxins in coffee leads to significant economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of toxigenic fungi, their metabolites, and the effect of traditional roasting and brewing on ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AFs) contents of naturally contaminated coffee samples. In addition, in vivo biocontrol assays were performed to explore the antagonistic activities of Bacillus simplex 350-3 (BS350-3) on the growth and mycotoxins synthesis of Aspergillus ochraceus and A.

Biocontrol Activity of BM344-1 against Toxigenic Fungi.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of some fungal species and represent important contaminants of food and feed. This study aimed to explore the biological control activity of BM344-1 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the growth and mycotoxin production of single representatives of the toxigenic species , , , and . co-incubation experiments indicated the isolate as the most sensitive one, with a growth inhibition ratio of 66.

strains isolated from Qatari soil, synthesizing δ-endotoxins highly active against the disease vector insect .

is a Gram-positive soil bacterium that has been recognized as an effective bioinsecticide active against plant, animal and human pathogenic and disease vector insects. During its sporulation phase, produces crystals consisting of δ-endotoxins, which upon ingestion kill specifically insect larvae. subsp.

Potential for native hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to remediate highly weathered oil-polluted soils in Qatar through self-purification and bioaugmentation in biopiles.

Petroleum-derived contamination events constitute a unique environmental issue in the arid areas because of the weathering processes, accentuated due to harsh conditions and representing the main origin of failure of bioremediation applications. The industrial area of Dukhan and the AlZubara coast represent wethered oily-sites as an appropriate model due to the extreme weather, which characterizes Qatar. Indigenous bacteria would be highly adapted and when re-introduced or stimulated would conduct to the remediation of these sites.

Isolation of a Novel Strain QKM-4 and Evidence of Its Volatilome Production and Binding Potentialities in the Biocontrol of Toxigenic Fungi and Their Mycotoxins.

To overcome the economic losses associated with fungi and their toxic metabolites, environmentally safe and efficient approaches are needed. To this end, biological control using yeasts and safe bacterial strains and their products are being explored to replace synthetic fungicides. In the present study, the biocontrol effect of a yeast strain of , QKM-4, against the growth and mycotoxin synthesis potential of key toxigenic fungi was evaluated.

Influence of temperature, salinity and Mg:Ca ratio on microbially-mediated formation of Mg-rich carbonates by Virgibacillus strains isolated from a sabkha environment.

Studies have demonstrated that microbes facilitate the incorporation of Mg into carbonate minerals, leading to the formation of potential dolomite precursors. Most microbes that are capable of mediating Mg-rich carbonates have been isolated from evaporitic environments in which temperature and salinity are higher than those of average marine environments. However, how such physicochemical factors affect and concur with microbial activity influencing mineral precipitation remains poorly constrained.

In-vitro Application of a Qatari strain (QBC03) in the Biocontrol of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and in the Reduction of Ochratoxin A biosynthesis by .

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by certain filamentous fungi, causing human and animal health issues upon the ingestion of contaminated food and feed. Among the safest approaches to the control of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin detoxification is the application of microbial biocontrol agents. is known for producing metabolites active against a broad number of pathogenic fungi.

Investigation and Application of Volatile Compounds for the Biological Control of Toxigenic and spp.

The present study was designed to investigate the antagonistic activity of BL350-2 against mycotoxigenic strains of and . In vitro coincubation for 5 days indicated BA1 as the most sensitive strain, with a growth inhibition of 62%, followed by MG7 (60%), MC12 (53%), MC05 (50%), CM5 (49%), SB01 (47%), and MD1 (44%). Likewise, the majority of the tested strains on exposure to bacterial volatiles showed complete inhibition of mycotoxin synthesis.

A proteomic investigation of Aspergillus carbonarius exposed to yeast volatilome or to its major component 2-phenylethanol reveals major shifts in fungal metabolism.

The use of yeast-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represents a promising strategy for the biological control of various plant pathogens, including mycotoxin-producing fungi. Previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of the low-fermenting yeast Candida intermedia isolate 253 in reducing growth, sporulation, and ochratoxin A biosynthesis by Aspergillus carbonarius MPVA566. This study aimed to investigate whether the inhibitory effect of the yeast volatilome is solely attributable to 2-phenylethanol, its major component, or if a synergistic effect of all volatilome components is required to achieve an effective control of the fungal growth and metabolism.

The combinatory effect of Cyt1Aa flexibility and specificity against dipteran larvae improves the toxicity of Bacillus thuringensis kurstaki toxins.

Cyt1A98 is a novel cytolytic protein, from BUPM98 Bacillus thuringiensis strain, characterized by its synergistic activity with B. thuringiensis kurstaki toxins against lepidopteran larvae. In this study, we evidenced that Cyt1A98 improves the toxicity of B.

Effect of yeast volatile organic compounds on ochratoxin A-producing Aspergillus carbonarius and A. ochraceus.

Many foods and beverages in temperate and tropical regions are prone to contamination by ochratoxin A (OTA), one of the most harmful mycotoxins for human and animal health. Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus carbonarius are considered among the main responsible for OTA contamination. We have previously demonstrated that four low or non- fermenting yeasts are able to control the growth and sporulation of OTA-producing Aspergilli both in vitro and on detached grape berries: the biocontrol effect was partly due to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Application of Low-Fermenting Yeast for the Control of Toxigenic Fungi , and and Their Mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are important contaminants of food and feed. In this study, low fermenting yeast () and its derivatives were applied against toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins. , and and their mycotoxins were exposed to yeast volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and cells, respectively.

Use of β-cyclodextrin as enhancer of ascorbic acid rejection in permselective films for amperometric biosensor applications.

Interference rejection in amperometric biosensors can be more effective introducing some modifiers during electro-deposition of permselective film. Addition of β-cyclodextrin (βCD), a cyclic oligosaccharide composed of seven glucose units, to the ortho-phenylendiamine (oPD) monomer were already demonstrated to provide an enhancement in ascorbic acid (AA) rejection. Here we evaluated the improvement in permselectivity of poly-eugenol and poly-magnolol films electro-polymerized in presence of different amounts of βCD or eugenol-βCD inclusion complex for amperometric biosensor application.

Diversity of Strains From Qatar as Shown by Crystal Morphology, δ-Endotoxins and Gene Content.

(Bt) based insecticidal formulations have been recognized as one of the most successful, environmentally safe and sustainable method of controlling insect pests. Research teams worldwide are in search of Bt diversity giving more choices of bio-insecticides and alternatives to address insect resistance. In fact, there are many unexplored ecologies that could harbor novel Bt strains.

The Replacement of five Consecutive Amino Acids in the Cyt1A Protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances its Cytotoxic Activity against Lung Epithelial Cancer Cells.

Cyt1A protein is a cytolytic protein encoded by the gene of subsp. (Bti) as part of the parasporal crystal proteins produced during the sporulation. Cyt1A protein is unique compared to the other endotoxins present in these parasporal crystals.

Co-occurrence of mycotoxins in commercial formula milk and cereal-based baby food on the Qatar market.

The present study was conducted to explore the occurrence of mycotoxins in commercial baby foods in Doha-Qatar. LCMS/MS- and HPLC-based analysis of baby food (n = 67) for 12 mycotoxins confirmed the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1, 33%), ochratoxin A (OTA, 31%), deoxynivalenol (DON, 27%), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1, 22%), fumonisin B2 (FB2, 10%), zearalenone (ZEN, 4%) and T-2 toxin (2%). Noodles exhibited the maximum contamination percentage, with 33% of the samples being contaminated above the EU maximum limits, for at least one mycotoxin.