Do environmentally induced DNA variations mediate adaptation in Aspergillus flavus exposed to chromium stress in tannery sludge?

Background: Environmental stress induced genetic polymorphisms have been suggested to arbitrate functional modifications influencing adaptations in microbes. The relationship between the genetic processes and concomitant functional adaptation can now be investigated at a genomic scale with the help of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Using a NGS approach we identified genetic variations putatively underlying chromium tolerance in a strain of Aspergillus flavus isolated from a tannery sludge.

Resurrection of Nalidixic Acid: Evaluation of Water-Based Nanoformulations as Potential Nanomedicine.

Resistance to quinolone antibiotics has been a serious problem ever since nalidixic acid was introduced into clinical medicine. Over time, resistance of pathogenic microbes to nalidixic acid led to the design of novel variants to revive its potential application. In the present work, a series of eight nanoformulations of nalidixic acid-based diacyl and sulfonyl acyl hydrazine derivatives were prepared.

5,6-Benzoflavones as cholesterol esterase inhibitors: synthesis, biological evaluation and docking studies.

In a continued effort to develop potent cholesterol esterase (CEase) inhibitors, a series of 5,6-benzoflavone derivatives was rationally designed and synthesized by changing the position of the benzene ring attached to the flavone skeleton in previously reported 7,8-benzoflavones. All the synthesized compounds were checked for their inhibitory potential against cholesterol esterase (CEase) using a spectrophotometric assay. Among the series of forty compounds, seven derivatives (- to -) exhibited above 90 percent inhibition against CEase in an enzymatic assay.

Effect of cabergoline alginate nanocomposite on the transgenic Drosophila melanogaster model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Dopamine agonists help the patients with PD by reversing the dopamine depletion and related motor deficits. In the present work, cabergoline, a potent ergot dopamine agonist, was given in the form of cabergoline alginate nanocomposite (CANC) to the PD model flies to study its effects on climbing ability, activity pattern, life span, lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, dopamine content, protein carbonyl content, mean gray-scale values, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities.

Development of a novel myconanomining approach for the recovery of agriculturally important elements from jarosite waste.

In this study, an ecofriendly and economically viable waste management approach have been attempted towards the biosynthesis of agriculturally important nanoparticles from jarosite waste. Aspergillus terreus strain J4 isolated from jarosite (waste from Debari Zinc Smelter, Udaipur, India), showed good leaching efficiency along with nanoparticles (NPs) formation under ambient conditions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the formation of NPs.

Coating with Microbial Hydrophobins: A Novel Approach to Develop Smart Drug Nanoparticles.

Microbial hydrophobin (MH)-based surface coating is emerging as a novel protein engineering approach for drug nanoparticles to enhance the solubility and stability of therapeutic agents. These hydrophobins are amphiphilic proteins that can form self-assembled monolayers on hydrophobic materials and can coat nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery.

Ectopic Expression of Rice PYL3 Enhances Cold and Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in plant development and adaptation to abiotic stresses. The pyrabactin resistance-like (PYL) gene family has been characterized as intracellular ABA receptors in Arabidopsis. We describe here the functional characterization of PYL3 ABA receptor from a drought-tolerant rice landrace Nagina 22 (N22).

An Aspergillus aculateus strain was capable of producing agriculturally useful nanoparticles via bioremediation of iron ore tailings.

Mining waste such as iron ore tailing is environmentally hazardous, encouraging researchers to develop effective bioremediation technologies. Among the microbial isolates collected from iron ore tailings, Aspergillus aculeatus (strain T6) showed good leaching efficiency and produced iron-containing nanoparticles under ambient conditions. This strain can convert iron ore tailing waste into agriculturally useful nanoparticles.

Alternatives to antibiotics in poultry feed: molecular perspectives.

The discovery of the growth promoting property of antibiotics led to their use as antibiotic feed additives (AFAs) in animal feed at sub-therapeutic doses. Although this has been beneficial for animal health and productivity, it has been, essentially, a double-edged sword. The continued and non-judicious use of AFAs has led to the selection and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant strains of poultry pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli.

Scaffold of Selenium Nanovectors and Honey Phytochemicals for Inhibition of Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation.

Honey is an excellent source of polyphenolic compounds that are effective in attenuating quorum sensing (QS), a chemical process of cell-to-cell communication system used by the opportunistic pathogen to regulate virulence and biofilm formation. However, lower water solubility and inadequate bioavailability remains major concerns of these therapeutic polyphenols. Its therapeutic index can be improved by using nano-carrier systems to target QS signaling potently.

Players over the Surface: Unraveling the Role of Exopolysaccharides in Zinc Biosorption by Fluorescent Strain Psd.

Fluorescent strain Psd is a soil isolate, possessing multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) properties and biocontrol potential. In addition, the strain also possesses high Zn biosorption capability. In this study, we have investigated the role exopolysaccharides (EPS) play in Zn biosorption.

Small RNAs regulate the biocontrol property of fluorescent Pseudomonas strain Psd.

The production of biocontrol factors by Pseudomonads is reported to be controlled at the post-transcriptional level by the GacS/GacA signal transduction pathway. This involves RNA-binding translational repressor proteins, RsmA and RsmE, and the small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) RsmX, RsmY, and RsmZ. While the former represses genes involved in secondary metabolite production, the latter relieves this repression at the end of exponential growth.

Microbial nanowires: an electrifying tale.

Electromicrobiology has gained momentum in the last 10 years with advances in microbial fuel cells and the discovery of microbial nanowires (MNWs). The list of MNW-producing micro-organisms is growing and providing intriguing insights into the presence of such micro-organisms in diverse environments and the potential roles MNWs can perform. This review discusses the MNWs produced by different micro-organisms, including their structure, composition and mechanism of electron transfer through MNWs.

Phylogenetic analyses reveal molecular signatures associated with functional divergence among Subtilisin like Serine Proteases are linked to lifestyle transitions in Hypocreales.

Background: Subtilisin-like serine proteases or Subtilases in fungi are important for penetration and colonization of host. In Hypocreales, these proteins share several properties with other fungal, bacterial, plant and mammalian homologs. However, adoption of specific roles in entomopathogenesis may be governed by attainment of unique biochemical and structural features during the evolutionary course.

Bactericidal, quorum quenching and anti-biofilm nanofactories: a new niche for nanotechnologists.

Despite several conventional potent antibacterial therapies, bacterial infections pose a significant threat to human health because they are emerging as the leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, there is a pressing demand to discover novel approaches for developing more effective therapies to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and biofilm-associated infections. Therefore, attention has been especially devoted to a new and emerging branch of science "nanotechnology" to design non-conventional antimicrobial chemotherapies.

Rhizophagus irregularis as an elicitor of rosmarinic acid and antioxidant production by transformed roots of Ocimum basilicum in an in vitro co-culture system.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association formed between plant roots and soil borne fungi that alter and at times improve the production of secondary metabolites. Detailed information is available on mycorrhizal development and its influence on plants grown under various edapho-climatic conditions, however, very little is known about their influence on transformed roots that are rich reserves of secondary metabolites. This raises the question of how mycorrhizal colonization progresses in transformed roots grown in vitro and whether the mycorrhizal fungus presence influences the production of secondary metabolites.

A Review on the Assessment of Stress Conditions for Simultaneous Production of Microalgal Lipids and Carotenoids.

Microalgal species are potential resource of both biofuels and high-value metabolites, and their production is growth dependent. Growth parameters can be screened for the selection of novel microalgal species that produce molecules of interest. In this context our review confirms that, autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms have demonstrated a dual potential, namely the ability to produce lipids as well as value-added products (particularly carotenoids) under influence of various physico-chemical stresses on microalgae.

The isolation and identification of new microalgal strains producing oil and carotenoid simultaneously with biofuel potential.

Taxonomy and phylogeny of twenty two microalgal isolates were examined using both universal and newly designed molecular primers. Among the isolates, Scenedesmus bijugus, Coelastrella sp., Auxenochlorella protothecoides, and Chlorella sp.

Acidic Potassium Permanganate Chemiluminescence for the Determination of Antioxidant Potential in Three Cultivars of Ocimum basilicum.

Ocimum basilicum, a member of the family Lamiaceae, is a rich source of polyphenolics that have antioxidant properties. The present study describes the development and application of an online HPLC-coupled acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence assay for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of antioxidants in three cultivars of O. basilicum grown under greenhouse conditions.

Identification and topographical characterisation of microbial nanowires in Nostoc punctiforme.

Extracellular pili-like structures (PLS) produced by cyanobacteria have been poorly explored. We have done detailed topographical and electrical characterisation of PLS in Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73120 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM). TEM analysis showed that N.

Whole genome annotation and comparative genomic analyses of bio-control fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum.

Background: The fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum is widely known as a biological control agent against plant parasitic nematodes. This research article consists of genomic annotation of the first draft of whole genome sequence of P. lilacinum.

Inquisition of Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechocystis nanowires: characterization and modelling.

Identification of extracellular conductive pilus-like structures (PLS) i.e. microbial nanowires has spurred great interest among scientists due to their potential applications in the fields of biogeochemistry, bioelectronics, bioremediation etc.

Nitric oxide metabolism and indole acetic acid biosynthesis cross-talk in Azospirillum brasilense SM.

Production of nitric oxide (NO) and the presence of NO metabolism genes, nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ), nitrous oxide reductase regulator (nosR) and nitric oxide reductase (norB) were identified in the plant-associated bacterium (PAB) Azospirillum brasilense SM. NO presence was confirmed in all overexpressing strains, while improvement in the plant growth response of these strains was mediated by increased NO and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels in the strains. Electron microscopy showed random distribution to biofilm, with surface colonization of pleiomorphic Azospirilla.

A novel in vitro whole plant system for analysis of polyphenolics and their antioxidant potential in cultivars of Ocimum basilicum.

Plants are an important source for medicinal compounds. Chemical screening and selection is critical for identification of compounds of interest. Ocimum basilicum (Basil) is a rich source of polyphenolics and exhibits high diversity, therefore bioprospecting of a suitable cultivar is a necessity.