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An arsenic-resistant bacteria (strain PKA 200) was isolated from the Hindon River (Ghaziabad) after analyzing its water sample. Strain PKA 200 belongs to the Pseudomonas genus and can convert harmful arsenite [As (III)] into less harmful arsenate [As(V)]. Strain PKA 200 exhibits a remarkable ability to sense and move towards arsenite. Strain PKA 200 is a promising candidate for studying how bacteria sense and transform arsenic. Here, we report a novel circular plate assay to demonstrate both chemotaxis and biotransformation of arsenite by Pseudomonas sp. PKA 200.

Abstract Bionanofertilizers are promising eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, leveraging nanotechnology and biotechnology to enhance nutrient uptake by plants and improve soil health. They consist of nanoscale materials and beneficial microorganisms, offering benefits such as enhanced seed germination, improved soil quality, increased nutrient use efficiency, and pesticide residue degradation, ultimately leading to improved crop productivity. Bionanofertilizers are designed for targeted delivery of nutrients, controlled release, and minimizing environmental pollutants, making them a sustainable option for agriculture. These fertilizers also have the potential to enhance plant growth, provide disease resistance, and contribute to sustainable farming practices. The development of bionanofertilizers addresses the adverse environmental impact of chemical fertilizers, offering a safer and productive means of fertilization for agricultural practices. This review provides substantial evidence supporting the potential of bionanofertilizers in revolutionizing agricultural practices, offering eco-friendly and sustainable solutions for crop management and soil health.

The human oral microbiome represents a diverse and intricate ecosystem comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. It plays a vital role in numerous physiological processes, ranging from digestion to immunity. Recent research endeavors have focused on delineating the composition and functions of the oral microbiome. Changes in the oral microbiome have been associated with both oral diseases (such as dental caries, periodontitis, halitosis) and systemic conditions (including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer). Despite significant advancements, numerous questions about the role of the oral microbiome in health and disease remain unanswered. Further research is imperative to explore the intricate interactions between the oral microbiome and other microbiomes within the body. Additionally, there is a need to develop targeted interventions capable of selectively modulating the oral microbiome without disrupting other beneficial microorganisms. In summary, delving into the study of the human oral microbiome has the potential to revolutionize our comprehension of health and disease, opening avenues for innovative approaches to preventive and therapeutic medicine.

The tannery effluent sample was collected from a tannery located in Jajmau area of Kanpur, India and subjected to physicochemical analysis. The tannery effluent was brownish in color with a foul odor. It was alkaline in nature and characterized by high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and high amounts of chromium. Total eighteen chromium resistant bacteria were isolated from the tannery effluent sample. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, these eighteen bacteria belong to seven different genera including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Kocuria, Cellulosimicrbium, Klebsiella, Microbacterium, Brucella. The members of genus Bacillus constitute 28% of total chromium transforming isolates; followed by members of genus Microbacterium (17%) Brucella (17%), Pseudomonas (11%), Cellulosimicrobium (11%), Kocuria (11%) and Klebsiella (5%). Furthermore, all eighteen bacteria were screened for their ability to reduce hexavalent chromium with increasing concentrations (600–1200 ppm) of potassium dichromate. Results showed that one bacterium, Bacillus licheniformis strain KNP exhibited hexavalent chromium reduction up to concentrations of 1000 ppm. This bacterium was selected for further study.

Fungal lipases (triacylglycerol acyl hydrolases EC 3.1.1.3) are significant industrial enzymes and have several applications in a number of industries and fields. Fungal lipases are found in several species of fungi and yeast. These enzymes are carboxylic acid esterases, categorized under the serine hydrolase family, and do not require any cofactor during the catalyzing of the reactions. It was also noticed that processes including the extraction and purification of lipases from fungi are comparatively easier and cheaper than other sources of lipases. In addition, fungal lipases have been classified into three chief classes, namely, GX, GGGX, and Y. Fungal lipases have applications not only in the hydrolysis of fats and oils (triglycerides) but are also involved in synthetic reactions such as esterification, acidolysis, alcoholysis, interesterification, and aminolysis. The production and activity of fungal lipases are highly affected by the carbon source, nitrogen source, temperature, pH, metal ions, surfactants, and moisture content. Therefore, fungal lipases have several industrial and biotechnological applications in many fields such as biodiesel production, ester synthesis, production of biodegradable biopolymers, formulations of cosmetics and personal care products, detergent manufacturing, degreasing of leather, pulp and paper production, textile industry, biosensor development, and drug formulations and as a diagnostic tool in the medical sector, biodegradation of esters, and bioremediation of wastewater. The immobilization of fungal lipases onto different carriers also helps in improving the catalytic activities and efficiencies of lipases by increasing thermal and ionic stability (in organic solvents, high pH, and temperature), being easy to recycle, and inducing the volume-specific loading of the enzyme onto the support, and thus, these features have proved to be appropriate for use as biocatalysts in different sectors.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a genome-editing tool that allows for precise and efficient modifications to the DNA of a cell. This technology can be used in endophytic fungi, which live within plants and can have beneficial effects on their host, making them important for agriculture. Using CRISPR/Cas9, researchers can introduce specific genetic changes into endophytic fungal genomes, allowing them to study the function of genes, improve their plant-growth-promoting properties, and create new, more beneficial endophytes. This system works by using the Cas9 protein, which acts as a pair of molecular scissors, to cut DNA at specific locations determined by a guide RNA. Once the DNA is cut, the cell’s natural repair mechanisms can be used to insert or delete specific genes, allowing for precise editing of the fungal genome. This article discusses the mechanism and applications of CRISPR/Cas9 to fungal endophytes.

The review summarizes different bioinformatics tools used in studying the degradation of various xenobiotic compounds. Databases and Pathway Prediction Systems are the key bioinformatics tools involved in biodegradation. Several bio-degradative databases including EAWAG-BBD (Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database), Plastics Microbial Biodegradation Database, ONDB (Organonitrogen Degradation Database), Food risk component database (Food risk component database, Aromadeg (Aromatic hydrocarbon Degrading Database), OxDBase (A database of Biodegradative oxygenases), and RHObase database (ring-hydroxylating oxygenase database) have been developed for biodegradation and bioremediation studies. Users can use pathway prediction systems to predict degradation of xenobiotic whose degradation has never been reported in the literature. This review will help to design a strategy for biodegradation of chemicals therefore, also help in improved bioremediation process of chemicals.

A 4-nitrophenol-degrading bacterial strain PNP was isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil collected from Lucknow. Strain PNP utilized 0.5 mM 4-nitrophenol as its carbon source and degraded it completely within 24 h with stoichiometric release of nitrite ions. Strain PNP was associated with the genus Pseudomonas in a phylogentic tree and exhibited highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Pseudomonas juntendi BML3 (99.79%) and Pseudomonas inefficax JV551A3 (99.79%). Based on values of average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization among strain PNP and its closely related type strains, it concluded that strain PNP belongs to Pseudomonas alloputida. The Illumina HiSeq platform was used to sequence the PNP genome. The draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas alloputida PNP was presented here. The total size of the draft assembly was 6,087,340 bp, distributed into 87 contigs with N50 value of 139502. The genome has an average GC content of 61.7% and contains 5461 coding sequences and 77 putative RNA genes. This Whole Genome Shotgun project has been submitted at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession JAGKJH000000000.

A chromium-reducing bacterium designated as strain KNP was isolated from a sample collected from a tannery effluent of Kanpur, India. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain KNP belonged to the Bacillus genus and showed 100% similarity with Bacillus licheniformis. Furthermore, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization between strain KNP and its closely related strains confirmed its affiliation with Bacillus licheniformis species. Whole-genome sequencing of Bacillus licheniformis KNP was performed using the Illumina Hiseq platform. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Bacillus licheniformis KNP. The total size of the draft assembly was 4,280,093 bp, distributed into 21 contigs with an N50 value of 4,186,229. The genome has 45.9% G + C content, 4255 coding sequences and 86 putative RNA genes. This Whole Genome Shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession JACDXS000000000. The version described in this paper is version JACDXS010000000.