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AbstractTitanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) as an emerging pollutant in aquatic environments can interact with metals reducing or enhancing their toxicity in these environments. This study examined and compared the toxic effects of mercury ions (Hg2+ ions) on immobilization percentage, fatty acid profile, and oxidative stress of Artemia salina nauplii, individually (Hg) and simultaneously in the presence of 0.10 mg.L−1 (Hg-0.1TiO2NPs) and 1.00 mg.L−1 TiO2NPs (Hg-1TiO2NPs). The interaction between Hg2+ ions and TiO2NPs was evaluated using DLS and AAS-VGA. Simultaneous exposures exhibited an unexpected dual effect on A. salina nauplii. A synergistic effect was observed in Hg-0.1TiO2NPs, while increasing the TiO2NPs concentration in Hg-1TiO2NPs prevented the synergy of the mixture compounds offering an antagonistic effect on nauplii. This dual effect was assigned to a greater number of available active sites and agglomeration of TiO2NPs at higher concentrations. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation induced by Hg were diminished in Hg-1TiO2NPs in line with the immobilization results. In Hg, total amounts of saturated fatty acids (∑SFA) increased while total monounsaturated (∑MUFA) and total polyunsaturated (∑PUFA) ones decreased compared with the control. However, they showed no significant change considering the control in Hg-1TiO2NPs, again confirming the antagonistic effect on nauplii. The unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio decreased in both Hg and Hg-1TiO2NPs compared with the control, however, this reduction in Hg-1TiO2NPs was lower than in Hg. The present results emphasized getting a more comprehensive understanding of how TiO2NPs impact the bioavailability and toxicity of co-contaminants through their combined effects and interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of plant litter on soil carbon (C) cycling is influenced by external nitrogen (N) deposition and plant litter chemistry. While previous research has mainly focused on inorganic N deposition and its effect on plant litter decomposition and soil C cycling, the influence of organic N remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a 180-day incubation experiment to investigate how different N forms (NH4NO3, Urea 50% + Glycine 50%) and litter chemistry (varying lignin/N ratios) affect CO2 emissions from an acidic Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest soil. Our findings indicate that litter addition increased soil CO2 emissions and the proportion of CO2-C to Total C (considering added litter-C as a part of total C). Specifically, Moso bamboo leaf litter with a lower lignin/N ratio led to higher soil CO2 emissions and CO2-C/Total C ratios. The combined addition of litter and N exhibited an antagonistic effect on soil CO2 emissions, with inorganic N having a more pronounced effect compared to organic N. This antagonistic effect was attributed to the N addition-induced soil acidification, thereby inhibiting microbial activities and reducing soil respiration promoted by litter input. This effect was confirmed by random forest analysis and partial least squares path modeling, which further identified soil dissolved organic C and pH as critical factors positively influencing soil CO2 emissions. Overall, our study suggests that atmospheric N deposition can mitigate litter-induced soil CO2 emissions, particularly under inorganic N forms and when leaf litters with high lignin/N ratios are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower Verticillium Wilt (SVW) caused by Verticillium dahliae is a significant threat to sunflower production in China. This soilborne disease is difficult to control. It has been observed that delayed sowing reduces the severity of SVW on different varieties and across various locations. Soil was collected from multiple locations with different sowing dates to understand the underlying biological mechanisms driving this phenomenon. The soil bacterial community was characterized through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform, followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Microsclerotia numbers in soil were detected using both NP-10 selective medium and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). By delaying the sowing date, the number of microsclerotia in soil and the biomass of V. dahliae colonized inside sunflower roots were reduced during the early developmental stages (V2–V6) of sunflowers. Amplicon sequencing revealed an increased abundance of bacterial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Azoarcus, and Bacillus in soil samples collected from delayed sowing plots. Five bacterial strains isolated from the delayed sowing plot exhibited strong antagonistic effects against V. dahliae. The result of the pot experiments indicated that supplying two different synthetic communities (SynComs) in the pot did increase the control efficiencies on SVW by 19.08% and 37.82% separately. Additionally, soil temperature and humidity across different sowing dates were also monitored, and a significant correlation between disease severity and environmental factors was observed. In conclusion, delayed sowing appears to decrease microsclerotia levels by recruiting beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, thereby reducing the severity of SVW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective) To study the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YK3 on the control of Orah canker and its influence on the network of phyllosphere bacteria may provide practical reference for microbial prevention and control of Orah canker. (Method) The flat plate antibacterial method was used to isolate the antagonistic bacteria against the Orah canker. In vitro bioassay and potted experiments were used to study the control effect of antagonistic bacteria on Orah canker. The effects of inoculated biocontrol bacteria on bacterial community composition, abundance and bacterial interaction network were studied by high-throughput sequencing technology. (Result) A strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YK3 was isolated, which had strong inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria. This strain produced bacteriostatic substances only when organic nitrogen was used as a nitrogen source and could not be used together with copper pesticides. The results of biocontrol test showed that the incidence rate of inoculation with pathogen alone was 96.67%, the incidence rate of inoculation with pathogen and YK3 was 33.33%. The control effect of YK3 on Orah canker was 65.56%. YK3 reduced the relative abundance of phyllosphere Xanthomonas. The positive correlation of phyllosphere bacterial community inoculated with only YK3 was the most complex, followed by simultaneous inoculation of pathogenic bacteria and YK3. The positive correlation of phyllosphere bacterial community inoculated with pathogenic bacteria was the weakest. Simultaneously inoculated with pathogens and YK3, Xanthomonas and Bacillus were negatively correlated with the indigenous bacterial community in phyllosphere. However, there was no overlap between Xanthomonas and Bacillus and the indigenous bacterial community in phyllosphere. Xanthomonas and Bacillus faced competition from different indigenous bacteria alone.【Conclusion】Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YK3 has a good control effect on Orah canker and can change the diversity and structure of phyllosphere bacteria in Orah. YK3 enhances the positive correlation network, weakens the negative correlation network and improved the interaction network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aconitine is a highly poisonous C19-diterpenoid alkaloid identified and isolated from the species of the genus Aconitum. Aconitine is indicated in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and, due to its neurotoxic effects, is a very effective drug in pain release. A total of 101 relevant scientific papers were manually searched on the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and Dovepress databases and in the books available in the library of the Department of Natural Sciences, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, Romania. In combination treatments, aconitine shows antiarrhythmic and anti-inflammatory activity, a synergistic antiproliferative effect and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, an improved biodistribution and bioavailability. Additionally, the entrapment of aconitine in engineered nanoparticles represents a promising method for reducing the toxicity of this alkaloid. This review provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the knowledge and research on the synergistic, additive and antagonistic effects of aconitine in combination treatments applied in vivo or in vitro. The summarized studies represent important clues in addressing the multitude of knowledge, which can find their utility in practical and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry Fusarium wilt (SFW) is a systematic soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragaria (Fof), which infects the vascular bundles, blocking water and nutrient transport from roots to the aboveground. It is a severe pathogen which spreads rapidly and destroys strawberry production. Finding a way to control this disease is of great scientific value and practical importance. In this study, three fungi were isolated from the vascular tissues of sick strawberries in the field. After DNA sequencing, they were identified as Fof, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichoderma harzianum, respectively, among which the first two are pathogens and the third is a probiotic. All fungi were controlled by thiophanate-methyl (TM), a commercial fungicide. On PDA medium, 20 mg•L-1 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a natural non-protein amino acid, promoted T. harzianum proliferation, but inhibited Fof and A. fumigatus. In confrontation test, the growth of Fof or A. fumigatus was inhibited by T. harzianum and exogenous ALA promoted T. harzianum growth but significantly inhibited the pathogen growth. When three species of fungi were separately or combinedly inoculated on healthy strawberry plants, T. harzianum promoted plant growth and development while Fof or A. fumigatus caused growth retardation, where Fof directly caused leaf yellowing and plant wilting. When the plants inoculated with different fungus were treated with ALA, the results turned out that ALA alleviated SFW symptoms by bidirectionally promoting T. harzianum proliferation and inhibiting Fof and A. fumigatus. Thus, ALA might be used in comprehensively controlling SFW in strawberry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A MAE-IC-ICP-MS method was set up to determine Se species in rice plants. • The accumulated Se by rice plants in Se(VI)-added soil was higher than that in Se(IV)-added soil. • Arsenite and As(V) facilitated the conversion of Se(IV) into Se-Cys and Se-Me. • Arsenite and As(V) had higher antagonism on Se species in Se(VI)-added soil than that in Se(IV)-added soil. • Arsenite had higher inhibiting effect on the Se species than As(V) in Se(VI)-added soil. Selenium (Se) in paddy rice is one of the significant sources of human Se nutrition. However, the effect of arsenic (As) pollution in soil on the translocation of Se species in rice plants is unclear. In this research, a pot experiment was designed to examine the effect of the addition of 50 mg As/kg soil as arsenite or arsenate on the migration of Se species from soil to indica Minghui 63 and Luyoumingzhan. The results showed that the antagonism between inorganic As and Se was closely related to the rice cultivar and Se oxidation state in soil. Relative to the standalone selenate treatment, arsenite significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the accumulation of selenocystine, selenomethionine and selenate in the roots, stems, sheaths, leaves, brans and kernels of both cultivars by 21.4%-100.0%, 40.0%-100.0%, 41.0%-100%, 5.4%-96.3%, 11.3%-100.0% and 26.2%-39.7% respectively, except for selenocystine in the kernels of indica Minghui 63 and selenomethionine in the leaves of indica Minghui 63 and the stems of indica Luyoumingzhan. Arsenate also decreased (p < 0.05) the accumulation of selenocystine, selenomethionine and selenate in the roots, stems, brans and kernels of both cultivars by 34.9%-100.0%, 30.2%-100.0%, 11.3%-100.0% and 5.6%-39.6% respectively, except for selenate in the stems of indica Minghui 63. However, relative to the standalone selenite treatment, arsenite and arsenate decreased (p < 0.05) the accumulation of selenocystine, selenomethionine and selenite only in the roots of indica Minghui 63 by 45.5%-100.0%. Our results suggested that arsenite and arsenate had better antagonism toward Se species in selenate-added soil than that in selenite-added soil; moreover, arsenite had a higher inhibiting effect on the accumulation of Se species than arsenate. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a serious global health problem, and investigation of innovative therapeutic approaches in its treatment is important to increase survival. Combination therapy targets more than one mechanism simultaneously and has recently emerged as an effective treatment strategy by using different therapeutic agents together. The purpose of this study was to determine the combined effects of the conventional chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and the HSP90 inhibitor XL-888 on breast cancer cell lines. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were subjected to varying concentrations of XL-888 and 5-FU as individual treatments and in combination. The MTT test was employed to determine cell viability, and the Chou-Talalay technique was utilized to compute combination indices. Contrary to expectations, the HSP90 inhibitor XL-888 and 5-FU coadministration showed antagonistic effects in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The results highlight the importance of careful consideration when combining these agents in breast cancer treatment regimens because their co-administration may not produce the expected synergistic results. The implications of the present research are anticipated to contribute to the developing of enhanced and focused treatment modalities for various cancers, with a particular emphasis on breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work mainly studied the adsorption mechanism of chitosan biochar(CB) on cationic dyes gentian violet(GV) and malachite green(MG) in aqueous solution. The adsorption behavior of cationic dyes GV and MG on biochar was analyzed by adsorption isotherm. In the single system, the adsorption equilibrium experiment found that the Langmuir model can describe the adsorption behavior of CB adsorption GV and MG, indicating that it is mono-layer adsorption. In the binary system, the extended-Langmuir model and Langmuir-Freundlich model can describe the adsorption behavior of CB adsorbing GV and MG, indicating that there is an interaction between GV and MG, that is, the adsorption of dye molecules on the adsorption site depends on the presence of dye molecules on other adsorption sites, and multi-layer adsorption occurs. In the binary systemsynergistic effect" occurs when the dye concentration is low, and "antagonistic effect" occurs when the concentration is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a multistage hydrometallurgical process designed for the recovery and individual separation of Nd and Pr from NdFeB magnet scrap. Following demagnetization, the magnet underwent crushing, grinding, and leaching using a sulfuric acid solution. The pH of the resultant leachate was subsequently adjusted to 1.2 using a NaOH solution, leading to the precipitation of Nd and Pr as sodium double sulfates. The produced double sulfate was then mixed with a saturated NaOH solution, resulting in the formation of rare earth hydroxide. The hydroxide was further decomposed into oxides (REO) after calcination at 500°C. The REO was dissolved in hydrochloric acid and nitric acid solutions to investigate the individual separation of Nd and Pr using the D2EHPA–TOA extractant system and compare the results with D2EHPA-only system. It was concluded that the extraction mechanism of D2EHPA–TOA system is highly dependent on the acidity of the solution, with TOA having a synergistic effect on the REE extraction when pH > 3, and an antagonistic effect when pH ≤ 3. In terms of extraction efficiency, both extractant systems demonstrated efficiency levels exceeding 99% when the pH was ≥2, with similar behavior when extraction was performed in HCl and HNO3 media. Although both extractant systems yielded unsatisfactory outcomes in the separation of Nd and Pr, a marginal improvement was observed with the incorporation of TOA into the extractant system. This observation implies the potential of exploring analogous combinations in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wheat stripe rust is globally one of the most important diseases affecting wheat. There is an urgent need to develop environmentally safe and durable biological control options to supplement the control that is achieved with breeding and fungicides. In this study, endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy wheat through the tissue separation method. Antagonistic endophytic bacteria were screened based on the control effect of urediniospore germination and wheat stripe rust (WSR). The taxonomic status of antagonistic strains was determined based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and molecular biological identification (16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis). Finally, the potential growth-promoting effect of different concentrations of antagonists on wheat seedlings and the biological control effect of WSR were studied. A total of 136 strains of endophytic bacteria belonging to 38 genera were isolated. Pseudomonas was the most common bacterial genus, with 29 isolates (21%). The biological control effect of different isolates was assessed using an urediniospore germination assay. The isolate XD29-G1 of Paenibacillus polymyxa had the best performance, with 85% inhibition of spore germination during primary screening. In the deep screening, the control effect of XD29-G1 on wheat stripe rust was 60%. The antagonist XD29-G1 promoted the germination of wheat seeds and the growth of wheat seedlings at a solution dilution of 10−7 cfu/mL. The pot experiment results showed that different dilution concentrations of the strain had different levels of antibacterial activity against WSR, with the concentration of 10−1 cfu/mL having the best control effect and a control efficiency of 61.19%. XD29-G1 has better biological control potential against wheat stripe rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coexistence of caffeine (CF) and ketamine (KET) in surface waters across Asia has been widely reported. Previous studies have implied that CF and KET may share a mechanism of action. However, the combined toxicity of these two chemicals on aquatic organisms remains unclear at environmental levels, and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that KET antagonizes the adverse effects of CF on zebrafish larvae by modulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic synapse pathway. Specifically, KET (10–250 ng L−1) ameliorates the locomotor hyperactivity and impaired circadian rhythms in zebrafish larvae induced by 2 mg L−1 of CF, showing a dose-dependent relationship. Additionally, the developmental abnormalities in zebrafish larvae exposed to CF are mitigated by KET, with an incidence rate reduced from 26.7% to 6.7%. The competition between CF and KET for binding sites on the GABA-A receptor (in situ and in silico) elucidates the antagonistic interactions between the two chemicals. Following a seven-day recovery period, the adverse outcomes of CF exposure persist in the fish, whereas the changes observed in the CF + KET groups are significantly alleviated, especially with KET at 10 ng L−1. Based on these results, it is imperative to further assess the environmental risks associated with CF and KET co-pollution. This pilot study underscores the utility of systems toxicology approaches in estimating the combined toxicity of environmental chemicals on aquatic organisms. Moreover, the nighttime behavioral functions of fish could serve as a sensitive biomarker for evaluating the toxicity of psychoactive substances.

Sunflower Verticillium Wilt (SVW) caused by Verticillium dahliae is a significant threat to sunflower production in China. This soilborne disease is difficult to control. It has been observed that delayed sowing reduces the severity of SVW on different varieties and across various locations. Soil was collected from multiple locations with different sowing dates to understand the underlying biological mechanisms driving this phenomenon. The soil bacterial community was characterized through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform, followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Microsclerotia numbers in soil were detected using both NP-10 selective medium and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). By delaying the sowing date, the number of microsclerotia in soil and the biomass of V. dahliae colonized inside sunflower roots were reduced during the early developmental stages (V2–V6) of sunflowers. Amplicon sequencing revealed an increased abundance of bacterial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Azoarcus, and Bacillus in soil samples collected from delayed sowing plots. Five bacterial strains isolated from the delayed sowing plot exhibited strong antagonistic effects against V. dahliae. The result of the pot experiments indicated that supplying two different synthetic communities (SynComs) in the pot did increase the control efficiencies on SVW by 19.08% and 37.82% separately. Additionally, soil temperature and humidity across different sowing dates were also monitored, and a significant correlation between disease severity and environmental factors was observed. In conclusion, delayed sowing appears to decrease microsclerotia levels by recruiting beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, thereby reducing the severity of SVW.

What is the effect of phyllosphere microorganisms on litter decomposition in the absence of colonization by soil microorganisms? Here, we simulated the litter standing decomposition stage in the field to study the differences in the composition and structure of the phyllosphere microbial community after the mixed decomposition of Populus × canadensis and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica litter. After 15 months of mixed decomposition, we discovered that litters that were not in contact with soil had an antagonistic effect (the actual decomposition rate was 18.18%, which is lower than the expected decomposition rate) and the difference between the litters themselves resulted in a negative response to litter decomposition. In addition, there was no significant difference in bacterial and fungal community diversity after litter decomposition. The litter bacterial community was negatively responsive to litter properties and positively responsive to the fungal community. Importantly, we found that bacterial communities had a greater impact on litter decomposition than fungi. This study has enriched our understanding of the decomposition of litter itself and provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the "additive and non-additive effects" of litter decomposition and the mechanism of microbial drive. IMPORTANCE The study of litter decomposition mechanism plays an important role in the material circulation of the global ecosystem. However, previous studies have often looked at contact with soil as the starting point for decomposition. But actually, standing litter is very common in forest ecosystems. Therefore, we used field simulation experiments to simulate the decomposition of litters without contact with soil for 15 months, to explore the combined and non-added benefits of the decomposition of mixed litters, and to study the influence of microbial community composition on the decomposition rate while comparing the differences of microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drought stress increased root elongation but suppressed shoot growth. • MEL applications (100, 200, 300 mM) reversed the negative effects of drought stress. • 200 mM MEL promoted the yield by increasing the number of leaves above the control. • SA (10, 20, 30 mM) completely inhibited root growth and suppressed shoot growth. • MEL/SA completely suppressed germination and plant growth by antagonistic effect. Melatonin (MEL) and salicylic acid (SA), synthesised from the same precursor molecule chorismic acid, are known as molecules that support plants to develop tolerance against stress factors. In this study, antagonistic/synergistic effects of MEL and SA were determined on the basis of germination, plant growth and biochemical changes using onion with relatively small genome under drought stress. Germination and development of bulbs exposed to drought at -0.60 MPa were suppressed. Only MEL treatments (100, 200, 300 mM) had a promoting effect, while interestingly SA (10, 20, 30 mM) and MEL/SA combinations suppressed germination and vegetative growth. Even root formation was completely inhibited in the presence of SA. 200 mM MEL increased the germination rate up to 88 % under drought conditions. In addition, the number of leaves, which is an important yield parameter for onion, increased to 9.3 in 200 mM MEL, even exceeding the control treatment. Proteinogenic amino acids, water soluble vitamins and mineral content increased as a result of MEL applications. On the other hand, there was no increase in organic acid content as expected in onion, which is an alkaline sensitive species. SA and SA/MEL suppressed the growth by causing protein degradation. It was determined that SA doses used in the study had antagonistic effect with MEL under drought stress and reversed the ameliorative effect of MEL under drought conditions. For this reason, it is recommended that MEL/SA combinations should be used more carefully depending on plant species and dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia, which is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a severe disease of oilseed rape, which is an important oil crop worldwide. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of Bacillus cereus, named B. cereus HF10, from the rhizosphere soil of the reed on the seaside of Yagzhou Bay, Sanya city, Hainan Province, China. HF10 exhibited a significant antagonistic effect on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with an inhibition rate of 79%, and to other species in Sclerotinia, but no antagonistic effect was found on various other fungi or bacteria. HF10 had an 82.3% inhibitory effect on the S. sclerotiorum infection of oilseed rape leaves and a 71.7% control effect on Sclerotinia infection in oilseed rape based on in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively. The genomics and transcriptomics of HF10 and its loss of the antifungal function mutant Y11 were analyzed, and the results provided insight into potential antifungal substances. Our work provides a novel strain, HF10, for developing a promising biological control agent against Sclerotinia, which infects oilseed rape and other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato black scurf, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a severe soil-borne disease that affects the quality and production of potatoes worldwide. In our study, we used Paenibacillus polymyxa YF and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HT to determine the antagonistic ability of R. solani, with a particular focus on the antagonistic action of P. polymyxa YF to R. solani and its biocontrol effect on potato black scurf. In fermentation, filtrate assay, 50% filtrate of P. polymyxa YF and B. amyloliquefaciens HT inhibited the growth of R. solani by 85.55% and 82.86%, respectively. Microscopic observations showed notable morphological changes with mycelial collapse, atrophy, and deformation following treatment with the antagonistic filtrates. Moreover, cell membrane permeability results showed increased conductivity in bacteria-treated samples compared to the control. P. polymyxa YF exhibited stable colonization on potato plants and secreted various extracellular enzymes (protease, amylase, and cellulase), along with the synthetic substances with growth-promoting effects, such as siderophores and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Whether it is in the excised tissue inoculation or potted experiment, the negative control showed the highest rank of disease symptoms. In the pot experiment, after YF treatment, physiological parameters showed remarkable changes in plant height, root length, stem thickness, and dry and fresh weight. Compared to blank control, the activities of the four resistant enzymes increased significantly in the P. polymyxa YF treatment group. The upregulation in the P. polymyxa YF group was 4.04, 0.54, 0.46, and 3.10 times, respectively. PCR analysis identified genes in both bacterial strains coding for antimicrobial lipopeptides, including fenB, ituC, and srfAA, which are associated with fengycin, iturin, and surfactin synthesis. These findings demonstrated that P. polymyxa YF has a prominent antagonistic effect on R. solani, suggesting its potential as an effective biological control agent for controlling potato black scurf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics play a significant role in the diet, and their contribution to the immune system has been recognised. Their effects on the gastrointestinal system have been evaluated for decades, and the mechanisms of the effects may differ. The aim of the present work was (i) to observe the changes in pH and bacterial counts in common probiotic dairy products, (ii) to isolate probiotic bacteria, (iii) to evaluate antibacterial resistance, and (iv) to evaluate their metabolites' antibacterial effects against common foodborne pathogens. To this end, 20 dairy products labelled "probiotics included" were collected. Isolation and enumeration of Lactobacillus spp., L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium spp. were carried out using de Man-Rogosa-Sharp agar (MRS), clindamycin/ciprofloxacin-included MRS agar (MRS-CC), and mupirocin (MUP) supplemented Bifidobacterium selective count agar (BSC-MUP), respectively. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS analyses, enumerated, and evaluated for their pH values at 1 to 28 d after production, at 1-w intervals. Selected isolates were analysed for antibacterial resistance using the disc diffusion method. Supernatants were then collected from selected probiotics grown in broth, and studied for their antagonistic effects against pathogens using disc diffusion and agar-well diffusion tests. IBM SPSS software was used for statistical analyses. Tests of normality and non-parametric analyses were performed. On the last day of analyses, 75% of the products met the probiotic bacteria vitality requirement of 106 CFU/g. Statistical analyses showed no correlation between increased acidity and bacterial decrease (p > 0.05), while the decrease in pH and bacterial count had significant relationship (p < 0.05). All selected isolates of probiotic bacteria (n = 10) showed multi-drug resistance (MDR) to 10 different common antibiotics. Antagonistic effects were present but weak (inhibition zones were 0 - 4 mm in diameter). When consumed in sufficient amounts, probiotics may inhibit possible pathogen growth in the gut microbiota via metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory effect of hydrophilic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on hydrophobic VOCs removal was found to be efficiently reduced by the fungal-bacterial biofilters (F&B-BFs) developed in the present study. Overall, the toluene and ethyl acetate mixture removal efficiencies (REs) and elimination capacities (ECs) of F&B-BFs were superior to those of bacterial biofilters (B-BFs). The REs for toluene and ethyl acetate were 32.5 ± 0.8 % and 74.6 ± 1.0 %, respectively, for F&B-BFs, in comparison to 8.0 ± 0.3 % and 60 ± 1.3 % for B-BFs. The ECs for toluene and ethyl acetate were 13.0 g m−3 h−1 and 149.2 g m−3 h−1, respectively, for the F&B–BF, compared to 3.2 g m−3 h−1 and 119.6 g m−3 h−1 for the B-BFs. This was achieved at a constant empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 45 s. F&B-BFs exhibited a superior mineralization efficiencies (MEs) compared to B-BFs for a VOC mixture of toluene and ethyl acetate (≈36.1 % vs ~ 29.6 %). This is attributed to the direct capture of VOCs by the presence of fungi, increased the contact time between VOCs and VOCs-degrading bacteria, and even distribution of VOCs-degrading bacteria in the F&B-BFs. Moreover, compared with B-BFs, the coupling effect of genus Pseudomonas degradation, and unclassified_f_Herpotrichiellaceae and unclassified_p_Ascomycota adsorption of F&B–BF resulted in a reduction in the impact of the presence of hydrophilic VOCs on the removal of hydrophobic VOCs, thereby enhancing the biofiltration performance of mixtures of hydrophilic and hydrophobic VOCs.

Aconitine is a highly poisonous C19-diterpenoid alkaloid identified and isolated from the species of the genus Aconitum. Aconitine is indicated in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and, due to its neurotoxic effects, is a very effective drug in pain release. A total of 101 relevant scientific papers were manually searched on the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and Dovepress databases and in the books available in the library of the Department of Natural Sciences, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, Romania. In combination treatments, aconitine shows antiarrhythmic and anti-inflammatory activity, a synergistic antiproliferative effect and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, an improved biodistribution and bioavailability. Additionally, the entrapment of aconitine in engineered nanoparticles represents a promising method for reducing the toxicity of this alkaloid. This review provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the knowledge and research on the synergistic, additive and antagonistic effects of aconitine in combination treatments applied in vivo or in vitro. The summarized studies represent important clues in addressing the multitude of knowledge, which can find their utility in practical and clinical applications.

The interactions of six typical antibiotics, including azithromycin, clarithromycin (CLR), ciprofloxacin, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (TCY), with Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated, discussing the effects of antibiotics on algal growth in terms of mono‐ and co‐antibiotics, and the removal of six antibiotics by the alga. The results showed that all the antibiotics showed "low‐promoting and high‐inhibiting" effects, except for sulfonamides, which showed a promotion trend on algal cell density and chlorophyll a. The tests of half effective concentrations (EC50s) of antibiotics against M. aeruginosa showed that the antibiotics of the same category had similar EC50s, and the toxicity effects of co‐antibiotics were higher compared to mono‐antibiotics. The toxic effects of antibiotics against M. aeruginosa were antagonistic in most binary co‐antibiotics, and synergistic and simple additive effects in the ternary co‐antibiotics. For removal tests of antibiotics by the alga, it could be seen that at the same concentration (10 µg L−1), M. aeruginosa showed the best removal of TCY with 22.8% and the lowest removal of CLR with only 5.8%. It was found that both antibiotics and M. aeruginosa had mutual influences; therefore, the interaction might be favorable to the permanent removal of antibiotics and reduce the impact on the aquatic ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride (F) and arsenic (As) are two major contaminants of water and soil systems around the globe, causing potential toxicity to humans, plants, animals, and microbes. These contaminated soil systems can be restored by microorganisms that can tolerate toxic stress and provide rapid mineralization of soil, organic matter, and contaminants, using various tolerance mechanisms. Thus, the present study was undertaken with the arsenic hyper-tolerant bacterium Microbacterium paraoxydans strain IR-1 to determine its tolerance and toxicity to increasing doses of fluoride, either individually or in combination with arsenic, in terms of growth inhibition using a toxicity unit model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for fluoride increased, from 9 g/L to 11 g/L and from 5.91 ± 0.1 g/L to 6.32 ± 0.028 g/L, respectively, in the combination (F + As) group. The statistical comparison of observed and expected additive toxicities, with respect to toxicity unit (TU difference), using Student's t-test, was found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). This suggests the antagonistic effect of arsenic on fluoride toxicity to the strain IR-1. The unique stress tolerance of IR-1 ensures its survival as well as preponderance in fluoride and arsenic co-contaminated sites, thus paving the way for its possible application in the natural or artificial remediation of toxicant-exposed degraded soil systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land-cover changes are among major threats to biodiversity. However, the interactive effects of the two threats are often overlooked in conservation planning. Using 81 bat species occurring in Vietnam as a case, we investigated the individual and interactive effects of climate and land-cover changes, highlighting the importance of this information for conservation efforts. By using species distribution models, we predicted the potential changes in range size among species and in species richness across Vietnam by the 2050s, considering projected climate and land-cover changes under two emission scenarios. Our results revealed that both threats individually would have predominantly negative effects on bats in Vietnam. Moreover, when these threats occur simultaneously, their interactions would generally intensify the impacts by mitigating individual positive effects and/or enhancing negative effects. However, we also found large interspecific and geographic variations in the direction and magnitude of these effects. Forest specialists, insectivores and cave-roosting species were predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects, with northern and southern Vietnam being more affected. These results underscore the urgent need to incorporate both climate and land-cover changes, as well as their interactions, into conservation planning for bats in Vietnam and biodiversity in general. The species-specific and spatially-explicit information regarding the impacts of the two threats can guide conservation actions, allowing us to target more manageable and less uncertain threats, as well as prioritize the protection of more vulnerable species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread is the oldest and most essential food consumed by humans, with its consumption exceeding nutritional needs and becoming part of cultural habits. Fermentation is an important step in the bread-making process, giving it its rheological, organoleptic, aromatic, and nutritional properties. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts are both responsible for the fermentation step and part of the natural flour microbiota. In this study, we aimed to characterize LAB in three types of flour, namely, wheat, oat, and rice flour, using conventional phenotypic and biochemical assays and to carry out molecular-biology-based characterization via studying the rrn Operon using RFLP of the ITS region and via PCR using species-specific primers. Additionally, the effect of LAB diversity among the three types of flour and their influence on dough characteristics were assessed. Also, we evaluated the antagonistic effects of LAB on two bacterial (E. coli and S. aureus) and two fungal (Botrytis and Fusarium) pathogens. This study showed that LAB are not the predominant species in rice flour, while they were predominant in wheat and oat flour. Additionally, Lactobacillus sanfranciscencis was found to be the predominant species in wheat flour, while its presence in oat flour was minor. Finally, through their production of soluble substances, LAB exerted antagonistic effects on the four types of pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat stripe rust is globally one of the most important diseases affecting wheat. There is an urgent need to develop environmentally safe and durable biological control options to supplement the control that is achieved with breeding and fungicides. In this study, endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy wheat through the tissue separation method. Antagonistic endophytic bacteria were screened based on the control effect of urediniospore germination and wheat stripe rust (WSR). The taxonomic status of antagonistic strains was determined based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and molecular biological identification (16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis). Finally, the potential growth-promoting effect of different concentrations of antagonists on wheat seedlings and the biological control effect of WSR were studied. A total of 136 strains of endophytic bacteria belonging to 38 genera were isolated. Pseudomonas was the most common bacterial genus, with 29 isolates (21%). The biological control effect of different isolates was assessed using an urediniospore germination assay. The isolate XD29-G1 of Paenibacillus polymyxa had the best performance, with 85% inhibition of spore germination during primary screening. In the deep screening, the control effect of XD29-G1 on wheat stripe rust was 60%. The antagonist XD29-G1 promoted the germination of wheat seeds and the growth of wheat seedlings at a solution dilution of 10−7 cfu/mL. The pot experiment results showed that different dilution concentrations of the strain had different levels of antibacterial activity against WSR, with the concentration of 10−1 cfu/mL having the best control effect and a control efficiency of 61.19%. XD29-G1 has better biological control potential against wheat stripe rust.

Coal-fired power generation resulted in a shortage of conventional fossil fuels and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The co-firing of coal and biomass waste in coal-fired boilers was a promising strategy to supplement the energy source and reduce greenhouse gases. However, the co-firing mechanism and potential problems were not well understood. Therefore, the differences between coal and biomass in properties such as proximate and ultimate composition, components in ash and the calorific value were first discussed. Next, compared with the combustion of coal alone, this review analyzed the discrepancies and corresponding issues of co-firing in combustion behaviors and products such as ash and gaseous pollutants. Finally, this review outlined how operational conditions could affect the co-firing performance.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains are a natural part of our foods and environment. It has long been recognized to produce antimicrobial substances, used both for fermentation and the bio-preservation of food. Hence the importance of this work which focused on the study of the antagonistic effect of LAB strains isolated from fermented goat milk flavored with Phoenician juniper leaves stored in goatskin churn (Chekoua), against some microbial contaminants. Some technological properties of LAB strains were assessed and the antibacterial effect of lactic acid isolates was done using a spot test on agar. However, the antifungal effect was evaluated through the mycelial radial growth on agar and the biomass on broth culture. Out of seven isolated lactic acid strains, three (3) belong to Lactobacillus spp (Lb) and four (4) others to Streptococcus spp (S). The physiological and technological characteristics were different from one to another. S1, S2, S3, S4, and Lactobacillus plantarum (Lb1) strains have shown interesting technological properties (acidifying power, and proteolytic activity). On the one hand, all the lactic acid isolates were γ-hemolytic, and on the other hand, lactobacilli strains were resistant to a total of (6 to 7) antibiotics out of 12 tested antibiotics, i.e. 50 to 58%, while streptococci strains were susceptible to almost all the tested antibiotics except two antibiotics from the quinolones and sulfonamides class: pefloxacin and co-trimoxazole. The antimicrobial effect results indicate that S1 and S2 strains exhibited an antagonistic effect against the growth of bacterial contaminants, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia ordorifera, and Entrobacter sakazakii isolated from goat milk. Lb1, S1, S2, S3, and S4 strains showed an antifungal effect with an inhibition rate ranging from 50 to 60%; 27.5 to 50% and 59.6 to 80.17% based on spore suspension, mycelial disc, and fungal biomass method, respectively. The antimicrobial effect was probably due to the synthesis of inhibitory substances, which constitutes a perspective for further research on both the characteristics of microflora, their identification as species and bioactive antimicrobial compounds, and the search for new and more effective LAB strains as a starter culture from traditional food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoamine transporters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters (DAT, NET, and SERT, respectively), are important therapeutic targets due to their essential roles in the brain. To overcome the slow action of selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, dual- or triple-acting inhibitors have been developed. Here, to examine whether combination treatments of selective reuptake inhibitors have synergistic effects, the pharmacological properties of DAT, NET, and SERT were investigated using the selective inhibitors of each transporter, which are vanoxerine, nisoxetine, and fluoxetine, respectively. Potencies were determined via fluorescence-based substrate uptake assays in the absence and presence of other inhibitors to test the multi-drug effects on individual transporters, resulting in antagonistic effects on DAT. In detail, fluoxetine resulted in a 1.6-fold increased IC50 value of vanoxerine for DAT, and nisoxetine produced a more drastic increase in the IC50 value by six folds. Furthermore, the effects of different inhibitors, specifically monovalent ions, were tested on DAT inhibition by vanoxerine. Interestingly, these ions also reduced vanoxerine potency in a similar manner. The homology models of DAT suggested a potential secondary inhibitor binding site that affects inhibition in an allosteric manner. These findings imply that the use of combination therapy with monoamine reuptake inhibitors should be approached cautiously, as antagonistic effects may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, performance evaluation of two adsorbents synthesized using invasive weed, i.e., Prosopis juliflora, was chemically activated using hydrochloric acid (HPJ) and sodium hydroxide (NPJ). The synthesized adsorbents HPJ and NPJ were subjected to SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and porosimetry analysis for characterization and applied for adsorptive removal of rhodamine B (RB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes from monocomponent (MO/RB) and multicomponent (MO + RB) systems in batch mode. Meanwhile, the effect of operational parameters such as contact time, HPJ and NPJ dosage, MO/RB concentration, and pH solution on sorption of MO/RB dyes was investigated. The adsorption data was modeled through various kinetic and equilibrium models. On the other hand, the multi-dye sorption system was modeled using Langmuir competitive isotherm. Furthermore, the effect of presence of one dye on sorption of other and vice versa, i.e., competitive (antagonistic) and cooperative (synergistic) nature of sorption process, was investigated. From the results, it was observed that pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models best fit the adsorption kinetic and equilibrium data for sorption of MO and RB dyes using both HPJ and NPJ as adsorbents. Langmuir's maximum sorption ability (qm) of HPJ for sorption of MO and RB dyes was observed to be 12.77 mg/g and 9.95 mg/g, respectively, from the monocomponent system. On the other hand, qm of NPJ for sorption of MO and RB dyes was observed to be 10.51 mg/g and 8.69 mg/g, respectively. Langmuir's sorption ability (qm) was slightly higher in the MO + RB mixture in contrast to MO/RB. As a result, the sorption of MO/RB dyes from the MO + RB system showed synergistic nature. In conclusion, the HPJ and NPJ could be effectively used as sorbents for sorption of dyes from effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effects of nitrogen (N) deposition and leaf litter addition on soil carbon (C) cycling have been widely studied. However, soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions linked to N deposition, leaf litter decomposition, soil microbial biomass, and enzyme activity remain poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of N and leaf litter addition on soil CO2 emissions. Materials and methods: We conducted a 180-day laboratory incubation experiment by adding Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) leaf litter and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3, equivalent to 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1), both alone and in combination with one another, to the soil collected from a Moso bamboo forest in subtropical China. Results and discussion: After 180 days of incubation, the sole leaf litter addition significantly increased cumulative soil CO2 emissions by 207%, whereas the sole addition of N did not significantly affect. However, the combined effect of N and leaf litter addition on soil CO2 emissions was antagonistic. The addition of leaf litter alone enhanced dissolved organic C (DOC), total inorganic N, and microbial biomass C (MBC) concentrations in the soil. Nonetheless, the combined addition of N and leaf litter reduced lignin decomposition, soil MBC concentration, soil DOC, and soil C-degrading enzyme activities in comparison to leaf litter addition alone. Conclusions: The present study indicates that although the addition of leaf litter stimulates soil CO2 emissions, the deposition of atmospheric N can reduce this stimulatory effect and promote lignin accumulation in Moso bamboo forest soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) occurrence were associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Mediterranean diet (MD), but few studies have been conducted to explore the combined effect. This study was to outline the relationship of coexistence of RA and MD on the risk of CVD based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Methods The data of this cross-sectional study was from the NHANES 2005–2010. The definition of CVD and RA was based on the self-reported questions, respectively; and the alternate MD Index assessed all participants’ adherence to the MD. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was adopted to explore the relationship of RA, MD on the risk of CVD, and coexistence effect of RA and MD. The additive interaction was evaluated by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP) and the synergy index (SI). The multiplicative interaction was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of product-term. Results A total of 3,352 participants from NHANES database who were divided into CVD group (n = 385) and non-CVD group (n = 2,967). The result indicated that RA (Model 1: OR = 3.98, 95%CI: 2.76–5.73; Model 2: OR = 2.65, 95%CI: 1.69–4.16) and low adherence to the MD (Model 1: OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.13–2.93; Model 2: OR = 1.67, 95%CI:1.01–2.77) was associated with an increased risk of CVD, respectively. Additionally, we observed the additive (RERI = 4.76, 95% CI: 0.52-9.00; AP = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.54–0.95; SI = 8.21, 95% CI: 1.48–45.51) and multiplicative (OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.44–9.15) interaction of RA and low adherence to the MD on the risk of CVD. Conclusion RA and MD were associated with CVD occurrence, respectively, and there may be an interaction between RA and MD for the development of CVD.

European foulbrood (EFB), a serious disease affecting honey bee larvae, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is caused by the Gram‐positive bacterium Melissococcus plutonius corrig. (ex White) Bailey & Collins. In this in‐vitro study, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of microbial metabolites produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from the honey bee gut, against M. plutonius. Several LAB species were identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing. Their filtered cell‐free supernatant (CFS) fluids were evaluated individually and in combination against growth and survival of three concentrations of M. plutonius (104–106 colony‐forming units mL−1), for various time intervals (24–96 h), in agar‐well diffusion and broth micro‐dilution assays. We also assessed whether the bioactive metabolites from selected LAB isolates consisted of acids, bacteriocins, and/or hydrogen peroxide, and quantified the presence of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA; i.e., acetic, butyric, lactic, and propionic acid) by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography. Six LAB isolates inhibited M. plutonius growth: Lactobacillus acidophilus (Moro) Hansen & Mocquot, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Hansen) Zheng et al., Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Orla‐Jensen) Zheng et al. (two isolates), Lactobacillus apis Killer et al., and Pediococcus acidilactici Lindner. The inhibitory effects on M. plutonius were larger at the lowest than at the highest M. plutonius concentration, and P. acidilactici showed the strongest antibacterial activity. Exposure to a mixture of CFS fluids of the four most potent isolates could reduce M. plutonius survival to 0% within 96 h. The antagonistic activity in the CFS of L. rhamnosus and L. apis appeared to be related to the presence of acids, whereas the antagonistic activity in L. plantarum and P. acidilactici appeared to be related to the presence of bacteriocins or bacteriocin‐like inhibitory substances (BLIS). Hydrogen peroxide did not seem to play a role. Total SCFA levels were highest in L. rhamnosus CFS fluid. These results can serve as a basis for in vivo studies on the use of LAB isolates as potential biocontrol agents against EFB in honey bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates single and joint endocrine disruptor toxicities of thyroid hormone, levothyroxine, and amiodarone in the embryo-larval stages of Danio rerio. Single toxicity experiments were carried out in concentrations based on the environmental concentration and increasing concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 times the environmental concentration. Joint toxicity experiments evaluated the combined effects of these compounds. Toxic effects were examined during zebrafish embryonic development, and the parameters analyzed were apical sublethal, teratogenicity, mortality endpoints, and morphometry. Thyroid hormone exhibited the highest toxicity. However, the results showed that the environmental concentrations for all 3 compounds had low risk in relation to the parameters studied, such as teratogenic effects and morphometry. The larvae were more affected than embryos, where embryos needed higher concentrations in all experiments, possibly due to the absence of the chorion. The same type of effects were observed in the joint toxicity test, except that a possible antagonistic effect was detected. However, high concentrations showed stronger effects of these toxic compounds on fish development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia, which is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a severe disease of oilseed rape, which is an important oil crop worldwide. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of Bacillus cereus, named B. cereus HF10, from the rhizosphere soil of the reed on the seaside of Yagzhou Bay, Sanya city, Hainan Province, China. HF10 exhibited a significant antagonistic effect on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with an inhibition rate of 79%, and to other species in Sclerotinia, but no antagonistic effect was found on various other fungi or bacteria. HF10 had an 82.3% inhibitory effect on the S. sclerotiorum infection of oilseed rape leaves and a 71.7% control effect on Sclerotinia infection in oilseed rape based on in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively. The genomics and transcriptomics of HF10 and its loss of the antifungal function mutant Y11 were analyzed, and the results provided insight into potential antifungal substances. Our work provides a novel strain, HF10, for developing a promising biological control agent against Sclerotinia, which infects oilseed rape and other plants.

Potato black scurf, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a severe soil-borne disease that affects the quality and production of potatoes worldwide. In our study, we used Paenibacillus polymyxa YF and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HT to determine the antagonistic ability of R. solani, with a particular focus on the antagonistic action of P. polymyxa YF to R. solani and its biocontrol effect on potato black scurf. In fermentation, filtrate assay, 50% filtrate of P. polymyxa YF and B. amyloliquefaciens HT inhibited the growth of R. solani by 85.55% and 82.86%, respectively. Microscopic observations showed notable morphological changes with mycelial collapse, atrophy, and deformation following treatment with the antagonistic filtrates. Moreover, cell membrane permeability results showed increased conductivity in bacteria-treated samples compared to the control. P. polymyxa YF exhibited stable colonization on potato plants and secreted various extracellular enzymes (protease, amylase, and cellulase), along with the synthetic substances with growth-promoting effects, such as siderophores and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Whether it is in the excised tissue inoculation or potted experiment, the negative control showed the highest rank of disease symptoms. In the pot experiment, after YF treatment, physiological parameters showed remarkable changes in plant height, root length, stem thickness, and dry and fresh weight. Compared to blank control, the activities of the four resistant enzymes increased significantly in the P. polymyxa YF treatment group. The upregulation in the P. polymyxa YF group was 4.04, 0.54, 0.46, and 3.10 times, respectively. PCR analysis identified genes in both bacterial strains coding for antimicrobial lipopeptides, including fenB, ituC, and srfAA, which are associated with fengycin, iturin, and surfactin synthesis. These findings demonstrated that P. polymyxa YF has a prominent antagonistic effect on R. solani, suggesting its potential as an effective biological control agent for controlling potato black scurf.

The nutrient movement in plants is regulated with Michaelis-Menten theory and gene regulations. The beneficial effect of heavy metals and other factors affecting positively interact in nutrient translocation in the plant. At the same time antagonistic effects influences in translocation of nutrients are also seen in the plants under soilless culture.The high concentration of nutrients is regulated in the plant system through Michaelis-Menten theory and genetic regulations. Factors such as water, pH, root formation and temperature positively interact in translocation of nutrients in the plant system. The antagonistic effect influences the influx of nutrients in the plant system. The fruitful heavy metals interact to mobilize the macro and micro nutrients in plant system under water based culture and substrate based culture. The antagonistic effect restricts the nutrient transport in the plant. The critical level of nutrient, critical level of heavy metals in nutrient uptake, critical level of antagonistic effect and comparative studies in suitable nutrient transport require investigations in water based culture and substrate based culture. The ideotype test may be required to screen in nutrient translocated plant in soilless culture.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) occurrence were associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Mediterranean diet (MD), but few studies have been conducted to explore the combined effect. This study was to outline the relationship of coexistence of RA and MD on the risk of CVD based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Methods: The data of this cross-sectional study was from the NHANES 2005–2010. The definition of CVD and RA was based on the self-reported questions, respectively; and the alternate MD Index assessed all participants’ adherence to the MD. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was adopted to explore the relationship of RA, MD on the risk of CVD, and coexistence effect of RA and MD. The additive interaction was evaluated by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP) and the synergy index (SI). The multiplicative interaction was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of product-term. Results: A total of 3,352 participants from NHANES database who were divided into CVD group (n = 385) and non-CVD group (n = 2,967). The result indicated that RA (Model 1: OR = 3.98, 95%CI: 2.76–5.73; Model 2: OR = 2.65, 95%CI: 1.69–4.16) and low adherence to the MD (Model 1: OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.13–2.93; Model 2: OR = 1.67, 95%CI:1.01–2.77) was associated with an increased risk of CVD, respectively. Additionally, we observed the additive (RERI = 4.76, 95% CI: 0.52-9.00; AP = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.54–0.95; SI = 8.21, 95% CI: 1.48–45.51) and multiplicative (OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.44–9.15) interaction of RA and low adherence to the MD on the risk of CVD. Conclusion: RA and MD were associated with CVD occurrence, respectively, and there may be an interaction between RA and MD for the development of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, spent tea powder waste was chemically treated for the synthesis of adsorbent using two activating agents, i.e., sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, to obtain sulfuric acid activated carbon (SAC) and phosphoric acid activated carbon (PAC). The performance of PAC and SAC for the sorption of tetracycline (TCY) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) antibiotics from mono-component (SDZ/TCY) and multi-component (SDZ + TCY) adsorption systems was investigated. Synergistic and antagonistic effects were studied in removing target pollutants in SDZ + TCY systems. Kinetic and equilibrium studies were modeled by different kinetic and isotherm models. The adsorption capacity was assessed using Langmuir's competitive model in a m u l t i - c o m p o n e n t s y s t e m . Pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models best fit the experimental kinetic and equilibrium data to remove antibiotics. The Langmuir's maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of PAC for the removal of SDZ and TCY in a m o n o - c o m p o n e n t s y s t e m was found to be 16.75 and 10.87 mg/g, and qm of SAC for the removal of SDZ and TCY was found to be 24.69 and 23.20 mg/g, respectively. In SDZ + TCY multi-component system, adsorption of TCY was synergistic in nature for both PAC and SAC. Sorption of SDZ displayed an antagonistic effect in the SDZ + TCY system for both SAC and PAC. In conclusion, the activated carbons synthesized from spent tea waste could be effectively adopted for the simultaneous adsorption of SDZ and TCY from multi-component systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a quarantine pest in China that can cause damage to hundreds of plants. As biological control agents, Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt) are commonly used to inhibit the prevalence of H. cunea. To investigate the role of midgut bacteria in the infection of NPV and Bt in H. cunea , we performed a series of tests, including isolating the dominant culturable bacteria in the midgut, eliminating intestinal bacteria, and respectively inoculating the dominant strains with NPV and Bt for bioassay. Two dominant bacteria, Klebsiella oxytoca Lautrop (Enterobacterales: Enterobacteriaceae) and Enterococcus mundtii Collins (Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae), in the midgut of H. cunea were identified, and a strain of H. cunea larvae without intestinal bacteria was successfully established. In the bioassays of entomopathogen infection, K. oxytoca showed significant synergistic effects with both NPV and Bt on the death of H. cunea. In contrast, E. mundtii played antagonistic effects. This phenomenon may be attributed to the differences in the physico-chemical properties of the two gut bacteria and the alkaline environment required for NPV and Bt to infect the host. It is worth noting that the enhanced insecticidal activity of K. oxytoca on NPV and Bt provides a reference for future biological control of H. cunea by intestinal bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The management of soybean rust (SBR) caused by the obligate fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi mostly relies on the use of synthetic fungicides, especially in areas where the disease inflicts serious yield losses. The reliance on synthetic fungicides to manage this disease has resulted in resistance of P. pachyrhizi populations to most fungicides. In this study, bacteria isolated from diverse environments were evaluated for their biocontrol potential against P. pachyrhizi using soybean detached-leaf method and on-plant in the growth chamber, greenhouse, and field. Among 998 bacterial isolates evaluated using the detached-leaf method; 58% were isolated from plant-related materials, 27% from soil, 10% from insects, and 5% from other environments. Of the isolates screened, 73 were active (they had ⪖ 75% rust reduction) with an active rate of 7.3%. From the active isolates, 65 isolates were re-tested on-plant in the growth chamber for activity confirmation. In the confirmation test, 49 bacteria isolated from plant-related materials maintained their activity with a confirmation rate of 75%. The majority of bacteria with confirmed activity belonged to the taxonomic classes Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria (70%). Active isolates were prioritized for greenhouse and field testing based on activity in the initial screen and confirmation test. Six bacterial isolates AFS000009 (Pseudomonas_E chlororaphis), AFS032321 (Bacillus subtilis), AFS042929 (Bacillus_C megaterium), AFS065981 (Bacillus_X simplex_A), AFS090698 (Bacillus_A thuringiensis_S), and AFS097295 (Bacillus_A toyonensis) were selected from those bacteria that maintained activity in the confirmation test and were evaluated in the greenhouse, and five among them were evaluated in the field. From the Alabama field evaluation, all bacterial isolates reduced rust infection as well as azoxystrobin (Quadris® at 0.3 L/ha) used as the fungicide control (P > 0.05). Moreover, the scanning electron micrographs demonstrated evidence of antagonistic activity of AFS000009 and AFS032321 against P. pachyrhizi urediniospores. Bacterial isolates that consistently showed activity comparable to that of azoxystrobin can be improved through fermentation and formulation optimization, developed, and deployed. These bacteria strains would provide a valuable alternative to the synthetic fungicides and could play a useful role in integrated disease management programs for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "milky disease" of Chinese mitten crabs caused by Metschnikowia bicuspidata is the most serious disease of the cultivated Chinese mitten crabs in northern China, and there have been no control measures for this disease until now. In this study, a fungus 2JHP001 with a strong antagonistic effect against M. bicuspidata was screened from soil samples by the double-layer plate method and the punching method. The strain was identified as Aspergullus sclerotiorum by analyzing its morphological, molecular, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The UHPLC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate extract showed that it contained maleic acid derivatives, terpenes, polyketides, 2,5-diketopiperazines, alkaloids, and other compounds. The morphology of yeast after treatment with 2JHP001 crude extract was observed by SEM and TEM, and the results showed that this treatment caused severe distortion of the yeast and different degrees of damage to the yeast cell walls, cell membranes and organelle. Moreover, animal experiment demonstrated that the survival rate of Chinese mitten crabs infected with "milky disease" was increased by 22.3 % within 21 d. The study provide new idea and possible strategy for the prevention and control strategy of "milky disease" in Chinese mitten crabs. • A soil-derived Aspergullus sclerotiorum with activity against Metschnikowia bicuspidata causing "milky disease" in Chinese mitten crabs was identified, which is the first report of A. sclerotiorum antagonizing aquatic pathogenic fungi. • A. sclerotiorum antagonized M. bicuspidata by damaging its cell structures and ultimately deforming the yeast. • A. sclerotiorum crude extract showed control potential to "milky disease" of Chinese mitten crabs by slowing down the disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribocorrosion behavior of the three representative dissolver materials, namely zirconium (Zr) alloy, 310 stainless steel (SS), and titanium (Ti) alloy in HNO 3 was systematically investigated by SEM, XPS, and Nanoindentation. The results revealed that Zr alloy possesses high corrosion resistance but a less favorable tribocorrosion resistance, whereas 310 SS presents a comparatively better tribocorrosion resistance but insufficient corrosion resistance. Moreover, both the coefficient of friction and wear loss of all three alloys were decreased at 0.8 V compared to −0.8 V, demonstrating an antagonistic effect of corrosion on wear, attributed to the lubrication and hardness enhancement of oxide layers. The present work offers a new perspective on the tribocorrosion behavior of continuous dissolvers used for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. [Display omitted] • Tribocorrosion behavior of Zr alloy, 310 SS, and Ti alloy in HNO 3 was studied. • Zr alloy is high corrosion resistant but has insufficient tribocorrosion resistance. • 310 SS presents good tribocorrosion resistance but poor static corrosion resistance. • Antagonistic effect between corrosion and wear occurs on three alloys. • A tribocorrosion model of three dissolver materials in HNO 3 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread is the oldest and most essential food consumed by humans, with its consumption exceeding nutritional needs and becoming part of cultural habits. Fermentation is an important step in the bread-making process, giving it its rheological, organoleptic, aromatic, and nutritional properties. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts are both responsible for the fermentation step and part of the natural flour microbiota. In this study, we aimed to characterize LAB in three types of flour, namely, wheat, oat, and rice flour, using conventional phenotypic and biochemical assays and to carry out molecular-biology-based characterization via studying the rrn Operon using RFLP of the ITS region and via PCR using species-specific primers. Additionally, the effect of LAB diversity among the three types of flour and their influence on dough characteristics were assessed. Also, we evaluated the antagonistic effects of LAB on two bacterial (E. coli and S. aureus) and two fungal (Botrytis and Fusarium) pathogens. This study showed that LAB are not the predominant species in rice flour, while they were predominant in wheat and oat flour. Additionally, Lactobacillus sanfranciscencis was found to be the predominant species in wheat flour, while its presence in oat flour was minor. Finally, through their production of soluble substances, LAB exerted antagonistic effects on the four types of pathogenic microorganisms.

Fluoride (F) and arsenic (As) are two major contaminants of water and soil systems around the globe, causing potential toxicity to humans, plants, animals, and microbes. These contaminated soil systems can be restored by microorganisms that can tolerate toxic stress and provide rapid mineralization of soil, organic matter, and contaminants, using various tolerance mechanisms. Thus, the present study was undertaken with the arsenic hyper-tolerant bacterium Microbacterium paraoxydans strain IR-1 to determine its tolerance and toxicity to increasing doses of fluoride, either individually or in combination with arsenic, in terms of growth inhibition using a toxicity unit model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for fluoride increased, from 9 g/L to 11 g/L and from 5.91 ± 0.1 g/L to 6.32 ± 0.028 g/L, respectively, in the combination (F + As) group. The statistical comparison of observed and expected additive toxicities, with respect to toxicity unit (TU difference), using Student’s t-test, was found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). This suggests the antagonistic effect of arsenic on fluoride toxicity to the strain IR-1. The unique stress tolerance of IR-1 ensures its survival as well as preponderance in fluoride and arsenic co-contaminated sites, thus paving the way for its possible application in the natural or artificial remediation of toxicant-exposed degraded soil systems.