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Depression, a global health concern with significant implications for suicide rates, remains challenging to treat effectively with conventional pharmacological options. The existing pharmaceutical interventions for these illnesses need daily dosing, are accompanied by various adverse effects, and may exhibit limited efficacy in certain cases. However, hope emerges from an unlikely source—Psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen found in certain mushrooms. Recently, this enigmatic compound has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits in addressing various mental health issues, including depression. Psilocybin alters mood, cognition, and perception by acting on a particular subtype of serotonin receptors in the brain. It's feasible that these shifts in consciousness will promote healing development, offering a novel approach to depression management. This comprehensive review explores psilocybin, derived from specific mushrooms, and its implications in the treatment of depression. The study examines new perspectives and therapeutic possibilities surrounding psilocybin, addressing existing gaps in academic literature. It delves into its biosynthesis, unique mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, and anti-depressive effects. By uncovering the potential of this mind-altering substance, the review aims to advance psychiatric care, offering hope to those globally affected by depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is the most consumed vegetable worldwide with the potential for diverse ecological adaptation. However, increasing salinization and changing climatic conditions are posing serious threats to the growth, yield, and quality of okra. Therefore, to mitigate increasing soil salinization and ensure sustainable okra production under rapidly changing climatic conditions, evaluation of new okra germplasm to develop salt tolerant cultivars is direly needed. The present study was designed to evaluate the genetic resources of okra genotypes for salt tolerance at growth and reproductive phases. Based on mophological and physio-biochemical responses of plants under stress condition, genotypes were divided into salt tolerant and succeptible groups. The experiment was comprised of 100 okra genotypes and each genotype was grown under control conditions and 6.5 dS m−1 NaCl concentration in a pot having 10 kg capacity. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. The results showed vast genetic variability among the evaluated okra germplasm traits like days to emergence, pod length, pod diameter, plant height, stem girth, and other yield-related parameters. Correlation analysis showed a highly significant positive association among the number of leaves at first flower and plant height at first flower.Likewise, pod weight also revealed a highly significant positive relationship for pod weight plant-1, pod length, and K+: Na+. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that out of 16 principal components (PCs), five components showed more than one eigenvalue and the first six PCs contributed 67.2% of the variation. Bi-plot analysis illustrated that genotypes 95, 111, 133, 99, and 128, under salt stress conditions, exhibited both high yield per plant and salt-tolerant behavior in other yield-related traits. On the basis of all studied traits, a salt susceptible group and a salt-tolerant group were formed. The salt tolerant group comprised of 97, 68, 95, 114, 64, 99, 111, 133, 128, and 109 genotypes, whereas, the salt susceptible group contained 137, 139, 130, 94, and 125 genotypes. Salt-tolerant okra genotypes were suggested to be used in further breeding programs aimed to develop salt tolerance in okra. These insights will empower precision breeding, underscore the importance of genetic diversity, and bear the potential to address the challenges of salt-affected soils while promoting broader agricultural resilience, economic prosperity, and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a destructive transboundary lepidopterous pest affecting more than 78 countries worldwide by infesting a wide array of agronomic and horticultural crops such as maize and cabbage. In a previous study, we demonstrated the synergized toxicity of three local plant extracts (Rhazya stricta Decne., Sophora mollis (Royle) Baker and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) with synthetic insecticide chlorantraniliprole against 3rd instar larvae of S. frugiperda. Here we evaluated the combined efficacy of indigenous entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) (Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin) along with above-mentioned plant extracts and chlorantraniliprole against 3rd instar larvae of S. frugiperda under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Toxicity bioassays with two EPF revealed that the highest concentration (1.0 × 109 conidia per mL) of B. bassiana caused maximum larval mortality (76%) at 10th day post-treatment, followed by M. anisopliae, causing 70% larval mortality at the same concentration. In vitro evaluation of six binary combinations of LC33s of EPF (B. bassiana and M. anisopliae) and plant extracts revealed a synergized toxicity (83–87%) of four combinations comprising S. mollis and W. somnifera with B. bassiana and M. anisopliae against 3rd instar S. frugiperda larvae. Furthermore, these insecticidal combinations including chlorantraniliprole (@ half of the label-recommended dose) exhibited as well a significant synergized toxicity (i.e. 37.75% at 1st day to 99.25% at 7th day post-treatment) under semi-field conditions, suggesting their further investigation under field against S. frugiperda and on its natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the leading preventable chronic diseases with high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is multi-factorial, polygenic, and characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), a key component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, is one of the most susceptible genes with the largest effect on T2DM. Pakistan is populated with the rising trend of T2DM in the adult population, hence to advocate the previous though scarce findings, this case–control study was designed to see T2DM prevalence and its association with TCF7L2 intronic variant, rs12255372. Methodology: DNA extraction and genotyping through the tetra primer amplification refractory mutation system (T-ARMS-PCR) were done on a total of 162 collected samples of the Pakistani cohort. Data was statistically analyzed by SPSS IBM v20 and the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test was applied to see the stratification. Results: The variant genotyped was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). The SNP rs12255372 showed an association with T2DM and remained significant after multiple adjustments for age and body mass index. The T allele showed a positive association in study subjects. Conclusion: The study concluded, TCF7L2 SNP, rs12255372 are associated with T2DM. The risk allele T is more susceptible to T2DM in the later age group (40–70 years) of females and the early age group (20–40 years) of males. This gender effect is a unique finding, and further, more replicated studies need to be carried out to determine the effects of risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial lipases expedite the hydrolysis and synthesis of long-chain acyl esters. They are highly significant commercial biocatalysts to biotechnologists and organic chemists. The market size of lipase is anticipated to reach $590 million by 2023. This is all owing to their versatility in properties, including stability in organic solvents, interfacial activation in micro-aqueous environments, high substrate specificity, and activity in even non-aqueous milieu. Lipases are omnipresent and synthesized by various living organisms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms. Microbial lipases are the preferred choice for industrial applications as they entail low production costs, higher yield independent of seasonal changes, easier purification practices, and are capable of being genetically modified. Microbial lipases are employed in several common industries, namely various food manufactories (dairy, bakery, flavor, and aroma enhancement, etc.), leather tanneries, paper and pulp, textiles, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biodiesel synthesis, bioremediation and waste treatment, and many more. In recent decades, circumspection toward eco-friendly and sustainable energy has led scientists to develop industrial mechanisms with lesser waste/effluent generation, minimal overall energy usage, and biocatalysts that can be synthesized using renewable, low-cost, and unconventional raw materials. However, there are still issues regarding the commercial use of lipases which make industrialists wary and sometimes even switch back to chemical catalysis. Industrially relevant lipase properties must be further optimized, analyzed, and explored to ensure their continuous successful utilization. This review comprehensively describes the general background, structural characteristics, classifications, thermostability, and various roles of bacterial lipases in important industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-editing technology has enabled scientists to make changes in model organisms' DNA at the genomic level to get biotechnologically important products from them. Most commonly employed technologies for this purpose are transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs), homing-endonucleases or meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated protein 9 (Cas9). Among these tools, CRISPR/Cas9 is most preferred because it's easy to use, has a small mutation rate, has great effectiveness, low cost of development, and decreased rate of advancement. CRISPR/Cas9 has a lot of applications in plants, animals, humans, and microbes. It also has applications in many fields such as horticulture, cancer, food biotechnology, and targeted human genome treatments. CRISPR technology has shown great potential for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic to provide early and easy detection methods, possible treatment, and vaccine development. In the present review, genome-editing tools with their basic assembly and features have been discussed. Exceptional notice has been paid to CRISPR technology on basis of its structure and significant applications in humans, plants, animals, and microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The review has also shed a little light on current CRISPR challenges and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: To evaluate remote monitoring using implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) devices as an adjunctive tool to the traditional care of patients with heart failure (HF). Recent Findings: We included 11 trials encompassing 5965 patients. Absolute risk difference (ARD) with 95% credible interval (CrI) was estimated. Pooled (posterior) risk difference was computed using Bayesian hierarchical methods. The ARD for mortality was centered at − 0.01 (95% CrI: − 0.03; 0.01, Tau: 0.02), with an 82% probability of ARD of ICD/CRT-D remote monitoring with respect to control being less than 0. The ARD for cardiovascular mortality was centered at − 0.03 (95% CrI: − 0.11; 0.05, Tau: 0.10), with an 84% probability of ARD of ICD/CRT-D remote monitoring with respect to control being less than 0. Summary: ICD/CRT-D remote monitoring in patients with HF is associated with a higher probability of reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared with standard care alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the safety, efficacy, and predictors of outcomes for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in patients with a history of breast cancer. Methods: Consecutive patients with a history of breast cancer undergoing AF ablation from January 2010 to December 2021 were propensity matched in a 1:1 ratio to patients without a history of any cancer. The primary outcome was procedural efficacy, defined by clinical AF recurrence and repeat catheter ablation. The secondary outcome was an assessment of safety looking at eight peri-procedural events. Results: Our cohort was comprised of 82 female patients, 41 patients with a history of breast cancer (mean age, 74.6 ± 7.4 years), and 41 patients with no history of cancer (76.7 ± 8.1 years). Both groups had similar echocardiographic, baseline, and arrhythmia characteristics. Breast cancer patients were at an increased risk of AF recurrence post-ablation compared to non-cancer patients (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.05–6.86, p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis found prior mediastinal radiotherapy (OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.34–17.1) and AF diagnosis to ablation time (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03–1.29) were both independent predictors of AF recurrence post-ablation. Conclusion: Our study suggests that female patients with a history of breast cancer are at a higher risk of developing AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with a history of prior mediastinal radiation therapy and AF diagnosis to time to ablation were both independent risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of chitinases to degrade the second most abundant polymer, chitin, into potentially useful chitooligomers and chitin derivatives has not only rendered them fit for chitinous waste management but has also made them important from industrial point of view. At the same time, they have also been recognized to have an imperative role as promising biocontrol agents for controlling plant diseases. As thermostability is an important property for an industrially important enzyme, various bacterial and fungal sources are being exploited to obtain such stable enzymes. These stable enzymes can also play a role in agriculture by maintaining their stability under adverse environmental conditions for longer time duration when used as biocontrol agent. Biotechnology has also played its role in the development of recombinant chitinases with enhanced activity, thermostability, fungicidal and insecticidal activity via recombinant DNA techniques. Furthermore, a relatively new approach of generating pathogen-resistant transgenic plants has opened new ways for sustainable agriculture by minimizing the yield loss of valuable crops and plants. This review focuses on the potential applications of thermostable and recombinant microbial chitinases in industry and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the recent epoch, chitinolytic enzymes have attained much attention as promising biocontrol agents and ability to convert recalcitrant chitinous wastes into valuable products. Some chitinolytic microorganisms have emerged as the potential candidate to carry a noticeable ability to degrade this polysaccharide in nature. Objective: Therefore, in this study, a new bacterial strain Acinetobacter indicus CCS-12 was isolated, identified and characterized for the production of a highly active chitinolytic enzyme. The production of extracellularly secreted chitinase was enhanced through the optimization of various cultivation parameters. Results: Hence, the yield was improved by 2.32-fold in 3ZYB medium (pH 7.0) containing 1% (w/v) colloidal chitin and malt extract when incubated at 45 °C for 48 h with agitation (200 rpm). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity with an estimated molecular mass of 50 kDa by SDS-PAGE and showed optimal activity at pH 7.0 (phosphate buffer) and 60 °C. It was quite stable for 4 h over a range of pH (5.5 to 10.0) and temperature (20 to 60 °C), with a thermal denaturing half-life of 4 h at 75 °C. No obvious inhibitory influence was perceived with different chemical modulators, though enzyme activity was significantly enhanced with Ca2+ (191.76%), Mn2+ (161.25%), Mg2+ (158.44%), Na+ (147.44%), Fe2+ (131.41%) and Cu2+ (125.06%), EDTA (126.02%) and β-mercaptoethanol (131.06%). The Km, Vmax, kcat, and kcat Km−1 values of purified chitinase for colloidal chitin were 0.61 ± 0.11 mg mL−1 and 314.26 ± 0.16 µmol mg−1 min−1, 966.23 s−1 and 1583.98 mL mg−1 s−1, respectively. The purified chitinase exhibited perceptible antifungal activity against some destructive phytopathogens. Conclusion: With these auspicious features, this enzyme can be effectively used as a biocontrol agent, food additive, for the recycling of chitinous waste materials, in pharmaceutical and various other industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laccases are blue multicopper oxidases that oxidize a wide range of phenolic as well as non-phenolic substrates in the presence or absence of mediators. They occur in various species of bacteria, fungi, insects, and plants; bacterial laccases show high substrate specificity. Bacteria produce these enzymes either extracellularly or intracellularly and exhibit stability to a wide range of pH and temperature. Therefore, they are suitable for various industrial processes such as food, textile, and paper and pulp industry. They are also valuable for producing biofuels, pharmaceuticals, biosensors, and degradation of various environmental pollutants and xenobiotics compounds. Since bacterial laccases are more versatile in the sense of nutritional needs and ecological factors, their use can provide a promising solution to various problems related to industry and the field of biotechnology. However, there is a need for a thorough understanding of the chemistry and activity of bacterial laccases to enable their full potential use in bioremediation and biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the outcomes of leadless cardiac pacing (LP) compared to transvenous pacemakers (TP) in patients with bradycardia pacing indications. The study included 109 patients who received LP and were compared to a control group who underwent TP. The results showed that LP was associated with a similar risk of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) compared to TP. Additionally, the incidence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) appeared to be lower with LP. The study also identified male sex as a significant predictor of PICM. Overall, LP may be a viable alternative to TP in certain patients. [Extracted from the article]

Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Bruchidae: Coleoptera), commonly known as Cowpea weevil or Cowpea seed beetle is a pest of stored grain that attacks legumes in the field and stored conditions. An investigation was conducted for screening the developmental preference of Callosobruchus maculatus in different legumes. Five different legumes were used with three replications in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The grains of legumes were obtained from the local market of Dera Ghazi Khan. Two pairs of adult (C. maculatus) were inoculated in 20 g seeds of different legumes. Statistics on egg count, egg-laying preference percentage, hatching percentage, incubation period, larval + pupal period, total developmental period (from egg to adult), male and female population, total adult emergence, No. of holes in seeds and seeds weight loss percentage was recorded. The outcomes of this study represented that red kidney bean grains (22.54%) contained more egg-laying preference for C. maculatus as compared to other tested legumes while desi chickpea grains (14.53%) had a lesser ovipositional preference. Minimum growth period was recorded on mung bean (22.66 days), followed by cowpea (24.33 days), kabuli chickpea (27 days) and desi chickpea (30.33 days). But there was (0.0 days) no growth of C. maculatus on red kidney bean grains. In short, smooth seed coat and well-filled seeds were most preferred by C. maculatus for egg-laying, short developmental time, maximum adult emergence and increased holed seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is the main source of sugar and biofuel, and its low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) limits the production of sugarcane and disturbs the ecosystem. In this study, fifty-eight sugarcane genotypes (26 genotypes from foreign sources, 22 from China and 10 were wild type) were tested under N fertilization rates 0.2, and 2 mM. Dry weight increased with respect to the nitrogen (N) levels and about 8, 6 and 5 times for GT37, CC92-85 and Co1149 whereas within genotypes variation was 28 and 23 times for normal and low N levels, respectively. Average N uptake of Q177 was 3 and twofold less for normal and low N rates than FJ1 and LiuCheng05-136. Partial factor productivity (PFP), uptake efficiency (UpE) and iNUE had inverse relation to N levels, iNUE and PFP decreased 2 and 2.5 folds as N level increased while UpE was non-significant. GXASF108-1-11 and GT11 were observed as efficient and inefficient genotypes for both N levels simultaneously. Fj1 genotype had maximum UI and shoot–root ratio under normal N level. Shoot–root ratio increased threefold across the N levels and positive correlation of N uptake was observed for all other parameters except iNUE and shoot–root ratio. According to principal component analysis, the most contributing factors were N uptake, PFP, UI and iNUE which defined NUE of genotypes. Heat map clustered into 3–4 groups all the related genotypes. These characterized genotypes can be further used to investigate the mechanism of NUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The enzymatic degradation of keratin-rich wastes by a keratinolytic microorganism is a preferable and eco-friendly biotechnological alternative for the valorization of these compounds. Despite their recalcitrant behavior, hydrolysis of these wastes can be efficiently done by microbial proteolytic enzyme known as keratinase. Objective: In the present study, a potent keratinolytic bacterial strain with a great potential of feathers' degradation was isolated and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Bacillus sp. NDS-10. Results: After optimization, high-yield of extracellular keratinase (92 U mL−1) and bioconversion of feathers (97%) were achieved in M9 medium (pH 7.0) containing 0.8% (w/v) native chicken feathers after 20 h incubation at 45 °C. The crude keratinase exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.0–8.0 (Tris-Cl buffer) and 65 °C; and showed great stability over a range of pH (6.0–10.0) and temperature (20-60°C) for 6 h. No inhibitory influence was observed with various chemical modulators, commercial detergents and salt but phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) completely repressed the keratinolytic activity of enzyme. The enzyme effectively dehaired goat hide after 6 h without any damage and completely removed the blood-stain after 5 min incubation. Conclusion: These favorable features indicated that this keratinolytic enzyme seems to be an efficient and eco-friendly candidate for keratin-waste management, detergents formulations and hide-depilation application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylo-oligosaccharides with high value could be obtained by acidolysis of lignocellulosic biomass with acetic acid, which was an urgent problem to solve for the separation of acetic acid from crude xylo-oligosaccharides solution. Four neutralizers, CaCO3, CaO, Na2CO3, and NaOH, were used for in situ chemically locking the acetic acid in the acidolyzed hydrolysate of corncob. The chemically locked hydrolysate was analyzed and compared using vacuum evaporation and spray drying. After CaCO3, CaO, Na2CO3, and NaOH treatment, the locking rates of acetic acid were 92.62%, 94.89%, 95.05%, and 95.58%, respectively, and 39.55 g, 41.13 g, 41.78 g, and 41.87 g of the compound of xylo-oligosaccharide and acetate were obtained. Sodium neutralizer had lesser effect on xylo-oligosaccharide content, and Na2CO3 was the best chemical for locking acetic acid among these four neutralizers. This process provides a novel method for effectively utilizing acetic acid during the industrial production of xylo-oligosaccharides via acetic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial and enzymatic degradation of keratin waste is more preferred over various conventional approaches which are costly and not environmentally suitable. Diverse niches are auspicious for the discovery of new microorganisms. To discover novel keratinolytic bacteria, 60 isolates from different poultry dumping sites were initially screened, and among these found a potent keratinolytic isolate (NKSP-7) that displayed higher feather-degrading ability. The selected isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. NKSP-7 based on 16S rDNA sequencing as well as physiochemical and morphological characteristics. The strain NKSP-7 showed complete hydrolysis of native chicken feathers (10 g/L) in nutrient medium after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C under agitation (150 rev/min) and produced thermostable extracellular keratinase. The crude enzyme displayed maximal keratinolytic activity (34.7 U/mL) in phosphate buffer of pH 7.0, and at 60 °C using keratin azure as a substrate. Keratinolytic enzyme showed stability at 20–65 °C for 4 h over the pH range of 5.5–8.0. No obvious inhibitory influence was perceived by cations, organic solvents, EDTA, and detergents. Whereas, enzyme activity was enhanced by adding β-mercaptoethanol, Na+, Cd2+, and Mn2+. All these notable features of keratinase make it a promising candidate for various industrial applications especially for dehairing process in leather industry, bioconversion of poultry waste, and in detergents formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In HIV-seronegative patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viraemia at diagnosis predicts a worse progression-free survival (PFS), independent of the International Prognostic Score. However, its role in HIV-associated HL is uncharacterised. We collected clinico-pathologic and treatment data from a prospective series of 44 HIV-associated HLs from 2000 to 2016. We evaluated circulating EBV DNA as a prognostic factor on uni- and multivariable analyses in relationship to the International Prognostic Index criteria. In 44 patients with HIV-associated HL, EBV was detected by in situ hybridisation in all diagnostic biopsies. Blood EBV DNA was detectable in 26 patients (59%) with a median of 600 copies/mL (range 0-161,000). EBV DNA was independent of CD4 cell count (p = 0.9) or HIV viral load (p = 0.6) and did not predict PFS (HR 1.6, 95% CI 0.39-6.7, p = 0.49). EBV DNA is not a prognostic trait in HIV-associated HL. Prognostication in HIV-associated HL should be solely based on the International Prognostic Index criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an ascending growth in the capacity of information being generated. The increased production of data in turn has put forward other challenges as well thus, and there is the need to store this information and not only to store it but also to retain it for a prolonged time period. The reliance on DNA as a dense storage medium with high storage capacity and its ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions has increased over the past few years. There have been developments in reading and writing different forms of data on DNA, codes for encrypting data and using DNA as a way of secret writing leading towards new styles like stenography and cryptography. The article outlines different methods adopted for storing digital data on DNA with pros and cons of each method that has been applied plus the advantages and limitations of using DNA as a storage medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomical proximity of the esophagus to the posterior wall of the left atrium (LA) renders it susceptible to thermal injury during ablation when pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed. 7 Kuwahara T, Takahashi A, Takahashi Y. Incidences of esophageal injury during esophageal temperature monitoring: a comparative study of a multi-thermocouple temperature probe and a deflectable temperature probe in atrial fibrillation ablation. Second, catheter ablation was performed by the "Ablate By-Law" technique where the ablation index was tailored to LA wall thickness with energy delivery being higher in thicker segments and lower in thinner segments. [Extracted from the article]

Commonly, unintentional induction and inadvertently preparing medium for engineered Escherichia coli BL21 CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPL, give poor or variable yields of heterologous proteins. Therefore, to enhance the activity and production of an industrially relevant recombinant processive endo-1,4-β-glucanase (CenC) propagated in Escherichia coli BL21 CodonPlus(DE3)-RIPL through various cultivation and induction strategies. Investigation of various growth media and induction parameters revealed that high-cell-density and optimal CenC expression were obtained in ZYBM9 medium induced either with 0.5 mM IPTG/150 mM lactose, after 6 h induction at 37 °C; and before induction, bacterial cells were given heat shock (42 °C) for 1 h when culture density (OD) reached at 0.6. Intracellular enzyme activity was enhanced by 6.67 and 3.20-fold in ZYBM9 and 3×ZYBM9 medium, respectively, under optimal conditions. Using YNG auto-induction medium, activity was 2.5-fold increased after 10 h incubation at 37 °C. Approximately similar results were obtained by transferring the optimized process at the bioreactor level. Results showed that the effective process strategy is essential to enhance recombinant bacterial cell mass and enzyme production from small to large-scale. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever report on enhanced production of thermostable processive endo-1,4-β-glucanase cloned from Ruminiclostridium thermocellum, which is a suitable candidate for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A putative α-amylase gene of Thermotoga petrophila was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using pET-21a (+), as an expression vector. The growth conditions were optimized for maximal expression of the α-amylase using various parameters, such as pH, temperature, time of induction and addition of an inducer. The optimum temperature and pH for the maximum expression of α-amylase were 22 °C and 7.0 pH units, respectively. Purification of the recombinant enzyme was carried out by heat treatment method, followed by ion exchange chromatography with 34.6-fold purification having specific activity of 126.31 U mg and a recovery of 56.25 %. Molecular weight of the purified α-amylase, 70 kDa, was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme was stable at 100 °C temperature and at pH of 7.0. The enzyme activity was increased in the presence of metal ions especially Ca and decreased in the presence of EDTA indicating that the α-amylase was a metalloenzyme. However, addition of 1 % Tween 20, Tween 80 and β-mercaptoethanol constrained the enzyme activity to 87, 96 and 89 %, respectively. No considerable effect of organic solvents (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone and n-butanol) was observed on enzyme activity. With soluble starch as a substrate, the enzyme activity under optimized conditions was 73.8 U mg. The α-amylase enzyme was active to hydrolyse starch forming maltose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The xylanase gene (xynA) of Bacillus licheniformis 9945A was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) using pET-22b(+) as an expression vector. The recombinant xylanase enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by single-step immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography with a 57.58-fold purification having 138.2 U/mg specific activity and recovery of 70.08 %. Molecular weight of the purified xylanase, 23 kDa, was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme was stable for up to 70 °C with a broad pH range of 4-9 pH units. The enzyme activity was increased in the presence of metal ions especially Ca and decreased in the presence of EDTA, indicating that the xylanase was a metalloenzyme. However, an addition of 1-4 % Tween 80, β-mercaptoethanol, and DTT resulted in the increase of enzyme activity by 51, 52, and 5 %, respectively. Organic solvents with a concentration of 10-40 % slightly decreased the enzyme activity. The xylanase enzyme possesses the ability of bioconversion of plant biomasses like wheat straw, rice straw, and sugarcane bagasse. Among the different tested biomasses, the highest saccharification percentage was observed with 1 % sugarcane bagasse after 72 h of incubation at 50 °C with 20 units of enzyme. The results suggest that recombinant xylanase can be used in the bioconversion of natural biomasses into simple sugars which could be further used for the production of biofuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demands of bioenergy has led to the emphasis on novel cellulases to improve efficiency of biodegradation process of plant biomass. Therefore, a thermostable cellulolytic gene (CenC) with 3675 bp was cloned from Clostridium thermocellum and over-expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21 CodonPlus. It was attested that CenC belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) with four binding domains, a processive endoglucanase. CenC was purified to homogeneity, producing a single band on SDS-PAGE corresponding to 137.11 kDa, by purification steps of heat treatment combined with ion-exchange chromatography. Purified enzyme displayed optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 70 °C. CenC had a half-life of 24 min at 74 °C, was stable up to 2 h at 60 °C and over a pH range of 5.5-7.5. Enzyme showed high affinity towards various substrates and processively released cellobiose from cellulosic substrates. It efficiently hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose (30 U/mg), β-Glucan Barley (94 U/mg); also showed activity towards p-nitrophenyl-β- d-cellobioside (18 U/mg), birchwood xylan (19 U/mg), beechwood xylan (17.5 U/mg), avicel (9 U/mg), whatman filter paper (11 U/mg) and laminarin (3.3 U/mg). CenC exhibited K, V, K, V K and K K of 7.14 mM, 52.4 µmol mg min, 632.85 s, 7.34 min and 88.63, respectively used CMC as substrate. Recombinant CenC saccharified pretreated wheat straw and bagasse to 5.12 and 7.31 %, respectively at pH 7.0 and 45 °C after 2 h incubation. Its thermostability, high catalytic efficiency and independence of inhibitors make CenC enzyme an appropriate candidate for industrial applications and cost-effective saccharification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21544-9. Publisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

During last two decades fire control system of tanks had made a rapid progress due to incorporation of ballistic computer and advancements in electronics technologies. Different techniques had been evolved to automate the fire control system. The aim of this paper is to modify the ballistic equation by including the muzzle reference data in the tank ballistic computer. The results have shown significant improvement in the accuracy of the fire control system of the battle tank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genomic DNA fragment, encoding a thermotolerant β-glucosidase, of the obligate anaerobe Thermotoga petrophila RKU-1 was cloned after PCR amplification into Escherichia coli strain BL21 CodonPlus. The purified cloned enzyme was a monomeric, 51.5 kDa protein (by SDS-PAGE) encoded by 1.341 kb gene. The estimated K and V values against p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside were 2.8 mM and 42.7 mmol min mg, respectively. The enzyme was also active against other p-nitrophenyl substrates. Possible catalytic sites involved in hydrolyzing different p-nitrophenyl substrates are proposed based on docking studies of enzyme with its substrates. Because of its unique characters, this enzyme is a potential candidate for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The okra germplasm was screened for salinity tolerance at the seedling stage and during plant ontogeny. Substantial variation existed in okra for salinity tolerance at the seedling stage. An 80 mmol/L NaCl concentration was suitable for discriminating tolerant and non-tolerant okra genotypes. The pooled ranking of the genotypes, based on individual rankings for each trait (root and shoot length, germination percentage, and relative Na and K) in individual NaCl concentrations, was effective for selecting tolerant genotypes. Genotypes selected at the seedling stage maintained their tolerance to NaCl during plant ontogeny, suggesting that screening of the germplasm entries and advanced breeding materials for salt tolerance at the seedling stage is effective. Among 39 okra genotypes, five were identified as the most tolerant genotypes and showed potential for use in breeding programs that focus on the development of salt-tolerant, high-yield okra cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform fine particles of nickel basic carbonate were synthesized by heating, aqueous solution containing 0.08 mol dm−3 nickel sulfate and 0.8 mol dm−3 urea, at 85°C for various periods of time. These particles were then coated with copper compound by heating them in aqueous dispersion, containing urea and copper nitrate, at 85°C. The coating material was found to be amorphous and was composed of Cu2(OH)2CO3. The coating mixture, when heated under similar conditions in the absence of the dispersed cores, produced greenish dispersion of the precipitated particles [coating precursor solids]. The later were also amorphous in nature and had the same chemical composition [Cu2(OH)2CO3] as that of the coating material of the coated particles. Air-dried core, coated, and coating precursor materials were calcined at 700°C for 1 h at the heating rate of 5°C min−1 in the air atmosphere, which converted them into NiO, NiO[core]/CuO[coating], and CuO, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic examination showed no sintering occurred in all these solids during the calcinations process and the particles retained their identities to a significant extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present studies describe the optimization of some cultural parameters such as medium pH, incubation temperature, and agitation rate for the biosynthesis of alkaline protease by Bacillus subtilis IH-72 in a bioreactor using fuzzy logic control. The process of fermentation was carried out in a 7.5-L bioreactor (New Brunswick Scientific, USA) with a working volume of 5 L. All of the parameters were automatically controlled with the help of attached software. The optimum pH, temperature, and agitation for the production of alkaline protease by B. subtilis IH-72 were found to be 9.0, 35°C, and 175 rpm, respectively. The performance of the fuzzy logic of the bioreactor was found to be encouraging for enhanced production of the enzymes. The maximum production of alkaline protease during the present study was found to be 9.6 U mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the microbiological transformation of L-tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl L-alanine by a mutant strain of Aspergillus oryzae UV-7. Sixteen different mutant strains of Aspergillus oryzae (GCB-6) were isolated through UV-irradiation. These mutant strains were screened for the production of mold mycelia by submerged fermentation in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks. Of all the mutant strains examined, UV-7 gave maximum production of L-dopa (1.28 mg/ml). The reaction was carried out using mold mycelium as a source of enzyme tyrosinase in shake flasks. The maximum production of L-dopa was obtained when glucose (25 mg/ml) was used as the carbon source and NH4Cl (3 mg/ml) was used as the nitrogen source. The optimum pH for mycelium development was 5.0; L-dopa production was maximum at pH 3.5 of the reaction mixture. The reaction by mold mycelium (75 mg/ml) was carried out under acidic conditions. Optimum temp, time, and L-tyrosine concentration were 55°C, 60 min, and 3.0 mg/ml, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major threat to public health with the emergence of isolates resistant to most, if not all, useful antibiotics. We present an in-depth analysis of 178 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae collected from patients resident in a region of Pakistan, during the period 2010-2012, when the now globally-distributed carbapenemase bla-NDM-1 was being acquired by Klebsiella. We observed two dominant lineages, but neither the overall resistance profile nor virulence-associated factors, explain their evolutionary success. Phenotypic analysis of resistance shows few differences between the acquisition of resistance genes and the phenotypic resistance profile, including beta-lactam antibiotics that were used to treat ESBL-positive strains. Resistance against these drugs could be explained by inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamase enzymes, carbapenemases or ampC type beta-lactamases, at least one of which was detected in most, but not all relevant strains analysed. Complete genomes for six selected strains are reported, these provide detailed insights into the mobile elements present in these isolates during the initial spread of NDM-1. The unexplained success of some lineages within this pool of highly resistant strains, and the discontinuity between phenotypic resistance and genotype at the macro level, indicate that intrinsic mechanisms contribute to competitive advantage and/or resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]