Essential Oil from Has Antiquorum Sensing and Antibiofilm Potential against Strain PAO1.

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms that are enclosed in a matrix that shows increased resistance to antimicrobial and immunological encounters. Mostly, the traditional methods to control biofilm are exhausted; therefore, the aim is to evaluate the potential of essential oil (EO) from to encounter biofilm and other related virulence factors. The EO of was extracted through steam-distillation, analyzed on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the biofilm inhibition assays were performed with various concentrations of EO.

Higher cadmium and zinc accumulation in parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots activates its antioxidants defense system.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is herb with many biological and medicinal benefits for humans. However, growth on zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) contaminated sites might get severely affected due to over accumulation of heavy metals (HM) in different plant tissues. Antioxidants play a crucial role in minimizing the negative effects of HM.

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate improves salt tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum.

The cyclic nucleotide cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a powerful cell signaling molecule involved in biotic and abiotic stress perception and signal transduction. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, salt and osmotic stress rapidly induce increase in cGMP which plays role by modulating the activity of monovalent cation transporters, possibly by direct binding to these proteins and by altering the expression of many abiotic stress responsive genes. In a recent study, a membrane permeable analogue of cGMP (8-bromo-cGMP) was found to have a promotive effect on soluble sugar, flavonoids and lignin content, and membrane integrity in Solanum lycopersicum seedlings under salt stress.

Biodegradation of monocrotophos by Brucella intermedia Msd2 isolated from cotton plant.

Widespread and inadequate use of Monocrotophos has led to several environmental issues. Biodegradation is an ecofriendly method used for detoxification of toxic monocrotophos. In the present study, Msd2 bacterial strain was isolated from the cotton plant growing in contaminated sites of Sahiwal, Pakistan.

Decolorization of azo dyes by a novel aerobic bacterial strain Bacillus cereus strain ROC.

Synthetic dyes are widely used as colorant compounds in various industries for different purposes. Among all the dyestuffs, azo dyes constitute the largest and the most used class of dyes. These dyes and their intermediate products are common contaminants of ground water and soil in developing countries.

Dimethoate residues in Pakistan and mitigation strategies through microbial degradation: a review.

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are used extensively for crop protection worldwide due to their high water solubility and relatively low persistence in the environment compared to other pesticides, such as organochlorines. Dimethoate is a broad-spectrum insecticide that belongs to the thio-organophosphate group of OPs. It is applied to cash crops, animal farms, and houses.

H-NS family protein MvaU downregulates phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) biosynthesis via binding to an AT-rich region within the promoter of the gene cluster in the rhizobacterium strain PA1201.

Histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) proteins are key regulators in gene expression silencing and in nucleoid compaction. The H-NS family member proteins MvaU in are thought to bind the same AT-rich regions of chromosomes and function to coordinate the control of a common set of genes. Here, we explored the molecular mechanism by which MvaU controls PCA biosynthesis in PA1201.

A cyanobacterial photorespiratory bypass model to enhance photosynthesis by rerouting photorespiratory pathway in C plants.

Plants employ photosynthesis to produce sugars for supporting their growth. During photosynthesis, an enzyme Ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) combines its substrate Ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate (RuBP) with CO to produce phosphoglycerate (PGA). Alongside, Rubisco also takes up O and produce 2-phosphoglycolate (2-PG), a toxic compound broken down into PGA through photorespiration.

Anti-biofilm activity of plant derived extracts against infectious pathogen-Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Background: Biofilm forming ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa make them vulnerable, because it makes them recalcitrant against various antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS) is cell density based signaling that helps in bacterial cell-cell communication, which regulated various virulence factors such as pigment and biofilm formation that contribute in the establishment of chronic infections. The interruption of QS is one of the effective approach to control various virulence factors.

Immobilized cells of a novel bacterium increased the degradation of methylated carbamates under low temperature conditions.

Carbamates are synthetic pesticides, extensively used throughout the world due to their broad specificity against various insect pests. However, their enormous and inadequate use have made them a potential threat to the environment. At low temperature, degradation of carbamates becomes difficult mainly because of low biological activity.

A newly isolated Pseudomonas sp. can degrade endosulfan via hydrolytic pathway.

Endosulfan an organochlorinated pesticide was used extensively throughout the world. Its enormous and inadequate use creates environmental as well as health problems. A bacterial strain capable to utilize endosulfan as a sole source of sulfur was isolated from pesticide contaminated soil and identified as Pseudomonas sp.

A 5000-fold increase in the specificity of a bacterial phosphotriesterase for malathion through combinatorial active site mutagenesis.

Phosphotriesterases (PTEs) have been isolated from a range of bacterial species, including Agrobcaterium radiobacter (PTEAr), and are efficient enzymes with broad substrate ranges. The turnover rate of PTEAr for the common organophosphorous insecticide malathion is lower than expected based on its physical properties; principally the pka of its leaving group. In this study, we rationalise the turnover rate of PTEAr for malathion using computational docking of the substrate into a high resolution crystal structure of the enzyme, suggesting that malathion is too large for the PTEAr binding pocket.

Heterologous expression of the methyl carbamate-degrading hydrolase MCD.

The methyl carbamate-degrading hydrolase (MCD) of Achromobacter WM111 has considerable potential as a pesticide bioremediation agent. However this potential has been unrealisable until now because of an inability to express MCD in heterologous hosts such as Escherichia coli. Herein, we describe the first successful attempt to express appreciable quantities of MCD in active form in E.

Monitoring health implications of pesticide exposure in factory workers in Pakistan.

The study aimed to determine the hazardous health effects of pesticides exposure in the factory workers by measuring plasma cholinesterase (PChE), pesticides residues, and renal and hepatic biochemical markers. In addition, we also assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and safety practices adopted by the industrial workers. The study was conducted in three different sizes of factories located in Lahore (large), Multan (medium), and Karachi (small) in Pakistan.

Risk assessment of pesticide exposure on health of Pakistani tobacco farmers.

Tobacco is an important cash crop of Pakistan. Pesticides are commonly used to increase the crop yield, but their health impact has not been studied yet. The objectives of the study were to determine the frequency of pesticide poisoning and to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards safety measures among the tobacco farmers in Swabi, Pakistan.