Microbial crosstalk: decoding interactions to generate efficient SynComs.

Limited studies have explored the complex and intense crosstalk between microbes within synthetic microbial communities (SynComs). Here, we highlight recent findings by Zohair et al., who unraveled the metabolic interactions between co-cultured microbes.

Community standards and future opportunities for synthetic communities in plant-microbiota research.

Harnessing beneficial microorganisms is seen as a promising approach to enhance sustainable agriculture production. Synthetic communities (SynComs) are increasingly being used to study relevant microbial activities and interactions with the plant host. Yet, the lack of community standards limits the efficiency and progress in this important area of research.

Development of bacterial bioformulations using response surface methodology.

Aim: Bacterial consortia exhibiting plant growth promoting properties have emerged as a sustainable approach for crop improvement. As the main challenge associated with them is loss of viability and performance under natural conditions, a robust approach for designing bioformulation is needed. In this study, an efficient bioformulation was developed using spontaneous mutants of three bacterial strains for growth promotion of Cajanus cajan.

Crafting friendly microbiomes as plant bodyguards against pests.

Research has shown that acclimatizing plant-associated microbiomes through repeated cycles of selection pressure can enhance plant resilience to abiotic stresses. A recent study by Enders et al. expanded this concept by selecting plant-associated microbiomes for insect resistance, paving the way for microbiome engineering to enhance plant fitness.

Delineating the soil physicochemical and microbiological factors conferring disease suppression in organic farms.

Organic farming utilizes farmyard manure, compost, and organic wastes as sources of nutrients and organic matter. Soil under organic farming exhibits increased microbial diversity, and thus, becomes naturally suppressive to the development of soil-borne pathogens due to the latter's competition with resident microbial communities. Such soils that exhibit resistance to soil-borne phytopathogens are called disease-suppressive soils.

Bacterial exopolysaccharide amendment improves the shelf life and functional efficacy of bioinoculant under salinity stress.

Aim: Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) possess numerous properties beneficial for the growth of microbes and plants under hostile conditions. The study aimed to develop a bioformulation with bacterial EPS to enhance the bioinoculant's shelf life and functional efficacy under salinity stress.

Methods And Results: High EPS-producing and salt-tolerant bacterial strain (Bacillus haynessi SD2) exhibiting auxin-production, phosphate-solubilization, and biofilm-forming ability, was selected.

Transmission of antibiotic resistance through organic amendments in arable land: A 3-year field study with pigeonpea-wheat cropping system.

The worldwide emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a substantial risk to human health and environmental stability. In agriculture, organic amendments (derived from organic sources such as manure, and plant residues) are beneficial in restoring soil properties and providing essential nutrients to crops but raise concerns about harboring antibiotic resistance, which emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring and strategic interventions in their application. The current study assessed the impact of farming practices (organic and conventional) in a three-year field experiment with pigeonpea-wheat cropping system, focusing on the transmission of AMR using culture-dependent and -independent approaches, and soil nutrient content.

Transplantation of soil from organic field confers disease suppressive ability to conducive soil.

Organic agriculture is a sustainable method of farming, and confers disease-suppressing abilities to disease-conducive soils via specialized soil microbiomes. This study aimed at transforming a disease-conducive soil from a conventional field into disease-suppressive soil by inoculating soil from an organic field previously established as "disease-suppressive". The effectiveness of the transformed soil was established with the model plant wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown under natural conditions, with regard to its potential in inhibiting fungal phytopathogens, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum.

Effectiveness of Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the oral mucosa. The current review investigated the potential effectiveness of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) as a treatment for OLP when compared to other interventions. The current review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Factors affecting biofilm formation by bacteria on fabrics.

Fabrics act as fomites for microorganisms, thereby playing a significant role in infection transmission, especially in the healthcare and hospitality sectors. This study aimed to examine the biofilm formation ability of four nosocomial infection-causing bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) on cotton, polyester, polyester-cotton blend, silk, wool, viscose, and nylon, used frequently in the healthcare sector, by qualitative and quantitative methods. The impact of temperature, pH, and relative humidity (RH) on biofilm formation was also assessed.

Composition of fungal communities upon multiple passaging of rhizosphere microbiome for salinity stress mitigation in Vigna radiata.

The top-down approach of microbiome-mediated rhizosphere engineering has emerged as an eco-friendly approach for mitigating stress and enhancing crop productivity. It has been established to mitigate salinity stress in Vigna radiata using multi-passaging approach. During the process of acclimatization under increasing levels of salinity stress, the structure of rhizospheric microbial community undergoes dynamic changes, while facilitating stress mitigation in plants.

Temporal dynamics of endophytic bacterial and fungal communities during spike development in L.

Unlabelled: The female spikes (fruits) of are widely used in Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicine systems to treat respiratory and digestive disorders. The spikes are rich in piperine, a pharmacologically active amide alkaloid and a potent bioavailability enhancer, which accumulates to the highest level during the dark-green stage of spike development. Plant-associated microbiota influence the plant's fitness, response, and production of economically important metabolites.

Seed biopriming as a promising approach for stress tolerance and enhancement of crop productivity: a review.

Chemicals are used extensively in agriculture to increase crop production to meet the nutritional needs of an expanding world population. However, their injudicious application adversely affects the soil's physical, chemical and biological properties, subsequently posing a substantial threat to human health and global food security. Beneficial microorganisms improve plant health and productivity with minimal impact on the environment; however, their efficacy greatly relies on the application technique.

Organic amendments modulate the crop yield and rhizospheric bacterial community diversity: a 3-year field study with Cajanus cajan.

Excessive use of chemicals to enhance soil nutrient status and crop yield has resulted in a decline in soil health. Organic farming promotes organic amendments, which help to balance the ecosystem. Understanding the dynamic patterns of belowground microbial populations is essential for developing sustainable agricultural systems.

Textiles as fomites in the healthcare system.

Nosocomial infections or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are acquired under medical care in healthcare facilities. In hospital environments, the transmission of infectious diseases through textiles such as white coats, bed linen, curtains, and towels are well documented. Textile hygiene and infection control measures have become more important in recent years due to the growing concerns about textiles as fomites in healthcare settings.

Role of Fungi in Imparting General Disease Suppressiveness in Soil from Organic Field.

Soil microbial communities are key players responsible for imparting suppressive potential to the soil against soil-borne phytopathogens. Fungi have an immense potential to inhibit soil-borne phytopathogens, but the fungal counterpart has been less explored in this context. We assessed the composition of fungal communities in soil under long-term organic and conventional farming practice, and control soil.

Employing mutants to study the role of a three-membered bacterial consortium in growth promotion of Cajanus cajan.

Bacterial consortia, comprising plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria, are known to outcompete their impacts on plant attributes compared to their individual application. However, tracking of individual bacterial strains post application as consortium, remains challenging. The primary goal of this study was to develop an efficient method of tracking bioinoculants by generating spontaneous mutants of three different bacterial strains in an established consortium, using antibiotic-based screening, followed by their enumeration after application in Cajanus cajan.

Metabolomic insight into the synergistic mechanism of action of a bacterial consortium in plant growth promotion.

It has been established that a consortium consisting of compatible plant growth promoting rhizobacterial strains outperforms their individual impacts on plant attributes. While the phenomenon of synergism is extensively reported, the mechanism that underpins it is yet to be elucidated. In the present study the impact of three plant growth promoting bacteria, Azotobacter chroococcum (A), Priestia megaterium (formerly Bacillus megaterium) (B), and Pseudomonas sp.

Diagnostic and prognostic role of protein and ultrastructural alterations at cell-extracellular matrix junctions in neoplastic progression of human oral malignancy.

Despite advancements in technology and increase in favorable outcomes associated with oral cancer, early detection remains the most significant factor in limiting mortality. The current study aimed to develop early diagnostic and prognostic markers for oral tumorigenesis. Protein and ultrastructural alterations at cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion junctions were examined concurrently using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on progressive grade of oral carcinomas (n = 285).

Combating biotic stresses in plants by synthetic microbial communities: Principles, applications and challenges.

Presently, agriculture worldwide is facing the major challenge of feeding the increasing population sustainably. The conventional practices have not only failed to meet the projected needs, but also led to tremendous environmental consequences. Hence, to ensure a food-secure and environmentally sound future, the major thrust is on sustainable alternatives.

Satellite hyperspectral imaging technology as a potential rapid pollution assessment tool for urban landfill sites: case study of Ghazipur and Okhla landfill sites in Delhi, India.

Hyperspectral imaging technology has been used for biochemical analysis of Earth's surface exploiting the spectral reflectance signatures of various materials. The new-generation Italian PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale dellaMissione Applicativa) hyperspectral satellite launched by the Italian space agency (ASI) provides a unique opportunity to map various materials through spectral signature analysis for recourse management and sustainable development. In this study PRISMA hyperspectral satellite imagery-based multiple spectral indices were generated for rapid pollution assessment at Ghazipur and Okhla landfill sites in Delhi, India.

Bacterial inoculants as effective agents in minimizing the non-target impact of azadirachtin pesticide and promoting plant growth of Vigna radiata.

Microbes regulate soil health by negating ecological disturbances, and improve plant productivity in a sustainable manner. Indiscriminate application of pesticides creates a detrimental impact on the rhizospheric microbiota, thereby affecting soil health. Azadirachtin, earlier believed to be an environment-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, exhibits a non-target impact on microbial communities.