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Introduction Mutations in GDAP1 (Ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 1) gene are linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a Heterogenous group of disorders with multiple phenotypes, characterized by peripheral nerve dysfunction that can lead to vocal cord paralysis and diaphragmatic dysfunction. Main body All three affected children of this chosen family have manifested the same clinical symptoms with progressive weakness, mild sensory impairment, and absent tendon reflexes in their early years. Electrodiagnostic analysis displayed an axonal type of neuropathy in affected patients. Sequencing of the GDAP1 gene was requested for all members of the family. Diagnostic assessments included pulmonary and vocal cord function tests, as well as phrenic and peripheral nerve conduction studies. Pathogenicity of GDAP1 variant p.Pro419Leu with axonal CMT2 and autosomal recessive inheritance was confirmed via in silico analysis. Patients with GDAP1 mutations showed dysphonia, speech difficulties, and the characteristic symptoms of CMT. The severity of symptoms correlated with the presence of a type of GDAP1 mutation. Patients with normal vocal cords and pulmonary function exhibited milder symptoms compared to those with GDAP1 mutations. Our study provides clinical insights into the phenotypic effects of GDAP1 mutations in CMT patients. The findings highlight the adverse clinical course and severe disability associated with GDAP1 mutations, including weak limb and laryngeal muscles. Conclusion Patients with GDAP1 mutations and autosomal recessive neuropathy present with dysphonia and require interventions such as surgery, braces, physical therapy, and exercise. Early diagnosis and comprehensive clinical evaluations are crucial for managing CMT patients with GDAP1 mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the dematiaceous fungal profile of patients with ocular mycoses attending a tertiary eye care hospital in Coimbatore, India The identification of dematiaceous fungus based on their morphology, their genotypes, and the measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using microdilution method of routinely used antifungal drugs were all compared. A total of 148 dematiaceous fungi were isolated during a study period of 27 months. Isolates were confirmed as Curvularia spp. (n = 98), Exserohilum spp. (n = 32), Alternaria spp. (n = 14), Exophiala spp. (n = 2), Cladosporium sp. (n = 1) and Aureobasidium sp. (n = 1). Out of 50 well grown isolates characterized genotypically based on the amplification and sequencing of the ITS region of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and subsequent BLAST analysis, Curvularia lunata (n = 24) , C. aeria (n = 1) , C. spicifera (n = 8) , C. hawaiiensis (n = 1) , C. maydis (n = 2), C. papendorfii (n = 2) , C. geniculata (n = 3) , C. tetramera (n = 2) and Exs. rostratum (n = 7) were identified. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities of the most tested dematiaceous isolates showed that voriconazole had a MIC 50 of 0.25 μg ml−1, while amphotericin B had a MIC 50 of 0.25 μg ml−1 for Curvularia spp. and Alternaria spp. Voriconazole proved to be the most effective drug against the pigmented filamentous fungi, followed by amphotericin B, itraconazole and econazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger is used as one of the important ingredients in traditional as well as modern medicine besides as a spice. It boosts immunity and is a rich source of many biologically active substances and minerals. Although it is a medicinally important crop, its productivity is, however, affected due to poor nutrient management and therefore it requires an adequate supply of nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilizers or organic manuring, or a mixture of both. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of mineral elements in the ginger rhizome, on soil enzyme activity, and soil properties. Lysimeter experiments were conducted at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Kibray, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The experiment comprised of four treatments T1 – Control, T2 - N 75 P 50 K 50 kg/ha, T3 - and T4 - N 100 P 75 K 75 + B 3 Zn 6 Fe 6 kg/ha. The results showed that the application of N 125 P 100 K 100 kg/ha increased rhizome K content by 49%, P content by 20%, and Na content by 58% as compared to control without fertilizer. While the application of N 100 P 75 K 75 + B 3 Zn 6 Fe 6 kg/ha showed a significant enhancement in rhizome K, Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mo, and Si contents over the control. This treatment also improved active P content by 29%, total P content by 80%, total K content 16%, and N content by 33% content, and the activities of urease, invertase, and catalase activities as compared to control of without mineral fertilizer and control respectively. Thus the application of NPK + BZnFe at the rate of 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha helps in improving macroelements and microelements in the ginger rhizome and activities of soil enzymes that helps in mineral nutrition of the rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus anthracis is a gram positive, deadly spore forming bacteria causing anthrax and these bacteria having the complex mechanism in the cell wall envelope, which can adopt the changes in environmental conditions. In this, the membrane bound cell wall proteins are said to progressive drug target for the inhibition of Bacillus anthracis. Among the cell wall proteins, the SrtA is one of the important mechanistic protein, which mediate the ligation with LPXTG motif by forming the amide bonds. The SrtA plays the vital role in cell signalling, cell wall formation, and biofilm formations. Inhibition of SrtA leads to rupture of the cell wall and biofilm formation, and that leads to inhibition of Bacillus anthracis and thus, SrtA is core important enzyme to study the inhibition mechanism. In this study, we have examined 28 compounds, which have the inhibitory activity against the Bacillus anthracis SrtA for developing the 3D-QSAR and also, compounds binding selectivity with both open and closed SrtA conformations, obtained from 100 ns of MD simulations. The binding site loop deviate in forming the open and closed gate mechanism is investigated to understand the inhibitory profile of reported compounds, and results show the closed state active site conformations are required for ligand binding specificity. Overall, the present study may offer an opportunity for better understanding of the mechanism of action and can be aided to further designing of a novel and highly potent SrtA inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green nanotechnology has acquired immense demand due to its cost-effective, eco-friendly and benevolent approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Among the biological methods, plants aid as a significant green resource for synthesizing nanoparticles that are safe and non-toxic for human use. In the present investigation, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using bulbs extract of Allium ampeloprasum under the influence of sunlight irradiation and characterized using different techniques. Distinct in-vitro assays were performed to test the antioxidant and anticandida potential of the synthesized AgNPs. Results suggested the efficient and rapid sunlight-driven synthesis of AgNPs using A. ampeloprasum extract. UV–Vis spectrum showed absorption peak at 446 nm which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. FTIR analysis suggested the presence of functional groups associated with flavonoids and sulfur compounds in A. ampeloprasum extract. The synthesized AgNPs showed Face Centred Cubic (FCC) structure with an average size of 35 nm. Spherical, quasi spherical, triangular and ellipsoidal morphology of the NPs were observed from the TEM micrograph. The synthesized AgNPs showed pronounced free radical scavenging potential for DPPH, ABTS∙+ and H 2 O 2 radicals. The anticandida potency of the synthesized AgNPs was observed as follows: C. albicans ≥ C. tropicalis ≥ C. glabrata ≥ C. parapsilosis ≥ C. krusei. Results showed that sunlight driven nanoparticle synthesis of AgNPs is rapid, facile and exhibit enhanced antioxidant and antifungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change (CC) scenarios are predicted to have significant effects on the security of staple commodities. A key component of this impact is the infection of such crops by mycotoxigenic moulds and contamination with mycotoxins. The impacts of CC on mycotoxigenic fungi requires examination of the impacts of the three-way interactions between elevated CO 2 (350–400 vs 650–1200 ppm), temperature increases (+2–5 °C) and drought stress on growth/mycotoxin production by key spoilage fungi in cereals and nuts. This review examines the available evidence on the impacts of interacting CC factors on growth and mycotoxin production by key mycotoxigenic fungi including Alternaria , Aspergillus , Fusarium and Penicillium species. Aspergillus flavus responsible for producing aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) is a class 1A carcinogen and its growth appears to be unaffected by CC factors. However, there is a significant stimulation of AFB 1 production both in vitro and in vivo in maize. In contrast, studies on Aspergillus section Circumdati and Nigri species responsible for ochratoxin A contamination of a range of commodities and F. verticillioides and fumonisins suggest that some species are more resilient than others, especially in terms of mycotoxin production. Acclimatisation of mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens to CC factors may result in increased disease and perhaps mycotoxin contamination of staple cereals. Predictive modelling approaches to help identify regions where maximum impact may occur in terms of infection by mycotoxigenic fungi and toxin contamination of staple crops is hindered by the lack of reliable inputs on effects of the interacting CC factors. The present available knowledge is discussed in the context of the resilience of staple food chains and the impact that interacting CC factors may have on the availability of food in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a serious threat to global agricultural production worldwide. To avoid synthetic chemistries toxicity there is a dire need of the hour to develop innovative nematode control strategies. Biological control using the antagonistic fungi of the plants is considered very economical and environment friendly. Efficacy of different fungal filtrate concentrations was estimated towards the mortality and clutching of Meloidogyne javanica. To determine the antagonistic potential of Penicillium citrinum (MN518391), time of disclosure was assessed in the laboratory with the result "exposure to 8% filtrate for a clock (24 hrs.), expressively reduced the viable juveniles and hatched eggs. Exposition to aforementioned filtrate of P. citrinum for a clock (24 hrs.) revealed that juvenile body turned into straight stature leading to reduction in viability of nematodes. Contrary to it most of nematodes exhibited bent body when exposed to Aspergillusniger (MK713445), or (MN513383) its filtrates. Among the various isolated antagonistic fungi, GC–MS analysis revealed 22 unique compounds e.g., quinazoline and its derivatives as the most prevalent and squalene as least occurring possess significant nematicidal properties against the rootknot nematodes. Hence, using antagonistic fungus from the described plans as BCAs in agriculture against plant-parasitic nematodes is a viable long-term biocontrol technique and provide future avenues in this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly transparent superior quality nonlinear single crystals of L-Threoninum Cobalt (II) Sulfate Heptahydrate were prepared by simple novel slow evaporation solution growth method. The space group, lattice parameters, crystal structure and crystalline nature of L-Threoninum Cobalt (II) Sulfate (LTCS) materials assessed through diffraction analysis (PXRD and SXRD). The optical behavior of LTCS crystals were checked via UV–Vis analysis and it confirms optical parameters often depend on photon energy with optical band gap E g = 5.6 eV and LTCS material can be acceptable for optoelectronic devices. The hardness and work hardening coefficient of LTCS crystal were investigated using Vickers microhardness testing and the work hardening value 1.94 point out soft nature of the grown material. By use of Kurtz and Perry technique the nonlinear second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of prepared LTCS crystals was assessed. The LTCS material developed here is used to treat bacterial and fungal infections and is detected by an antimicrobial assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of ion-carriers on the synthesis of zinc oxide nano-particles (ZONs). We also evaluated the anti-proliferative activity, morphological changes, ROS generation, nuclear apoptosis and caspase-3 activity of two ZON samples in human skin cancer cell line A431. The XRD analysis of both samples confirmed the crystallinity and pure nature of ZONs. SEM analysis showed spider chrysanthemum-like shape, while the TEM data determined the diameter size of nanostructures as 40 nm (ZON-1) and <20 nm (ZON-2). UV–visible spectroscopy depicted characteristic ZnO band with higher intensity and minor shift in λ max recorded for ZON-2. The anti-proliferative assay showed that ZON-2 exhibited more cytotoxic effect than ZON-1. The IC 50 value of ZON-1 and ZON-2 was obtained as 24.5 and 15.1 µM, respectively. ROS generation in terms of percentage of fluorescence intensity was found to be greater in ZON-2 treated cells as compared to ZON-1 treated cells. The fluorescent nuclear dye DAPI revealed more fragmented apoptotic cells in ZON-2 treated A431 cells. ZON-2 also induced higher activity of executioner caspase-3. This study demonstrates that the smaller sized ZONs showed pronounced cytotoxicity against A431 cell line, signifying that the ZON-2 could play a potential role in nano-drug delivery. [Display omitted] • Zinc oxide nanoparticles are a type of metal oxide nanoparticle with an extensive use in biomedicine. • The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro the cytotoxic effects of ZONs in samples in human skin cancer cell line A431. • Zinc oxide nano-particles −2 could play a potential role in nano-drug delivery. • ZONs samples could potentially be used as chemotherapeutic agents against human skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-Lysine monohydrochloride and rubidium chloride doped L-Lysine monohydrochloride crystals with high optical, mechanical and antifungal were grown by slow evaporation techniques. The Single crystal XRD ascertained the monoclinic structure and the crystals were grown with lesser grain boundaries. Functional groups and existence of Rb was confirmed by FTIR and EDX. Grown crystals exhibit good transmittance than pure in UV–Visible region and the band gap of pure and doped crystals are 5.30 eV and 5.94 eV. Mechanical property of doped crystal was significantly improved due to RbCl doping and it lead the crystal for device fabrication. Nonlinear optical property of the grown crystals were surpassing than KDP and confirmed by Kurtz Perry technique. The Rb added crystal pronounced excessive inhibitory action towards pathogenic fungus like Candida albicans , Candida parapsilosis and Aspergillus Flaves than pure L-LMHCL crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]