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Hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus were recovered from 27.59% (149/540) of camels Camelus dromedarius from a slaughterhouse in Cairo. The organ distribution of cysts was 57=38.26% in the lung, 65=43.62 % in the liver, 23=15.44 % in both liver and lungs, and 4=2.68% in the other organs such as the brain, tongue, and spleen, etc. The investigation looked at how four compounds from scorpions: chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs-NPs), venom as well as venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (V-CN) affect against in vitro hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Aseptically, cyst fluid protoscoleces were aspirated. Each of the aforementioned compounds was always examined in triplicates at doses of 20, 50, and 100 µg/ml for incubation periods of 30, 60, 120, and 240 min to show its scolicidal effects. Using the 0.1% eosin test, the viability of protoscoleces was determined. According to the degree of deacetylation (DDA), concentration, exposure period, and size, all compounds demonstrated statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) against the protoscoleces activity. Chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles had a scolicidal action, directly related to DDA and inversely proportional to size. The most effective scolicidal compound was venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles, which destroyed all protoscoleces at a concentration of 100 µg/ml, after 240 min of incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mannanase produced by mutant Penicillium citrinium Egy5 LC368457 isolated from Pharaoh Mummies of Ancient Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt, was covalently immobilized onto activated chitosan beads by Polyethyleneimine, glutaraldehyde and dopamine. Loading time, enzyme's units, pH and temperature were optimized. The immobilized enzyme can keep its maximum activity at a broader range of pH and make it more stable at higher temperatures, including 60 °C, which is preferred to reduce microbial contamination of the enzyme. The reusability test indicated the high stability of immobilized enzymes that were still active at 75.82% of their activity at cycle number 9 and in the production of mannooligosaccharides, which showed antioxidant and prebiotic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste from crustaceans has adverse effects on the environment. In this respect, shrimp waste was valorized for producing chitosan nanoparticles as a source for eco-friendly nano-nitrogen fertilizer. The application of nano-nitrogen fertilizers is a valuable alternative approach in agriculture due to its potential for reducing the application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers and increasing yield quality and quantity, thereby helping to reduce the worldwide food shortage. Chitosan nanoparticles were foliar sprayed at three volumes (0, 7, and 14 L/ha) and compared with mineral nitrogen fertilizer (M-N) sprayed at three volumes (0, 120, and 240 kg N/ha) and their combination on two wheat cultivars (Misr-1 and Gemaiza-11) during two consecutive seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021) in order to evaluate the agronomic response. The synthesized chitosan nanoparticles displayed characteristic bands of both Nan-N and urea/chitosan from 500–4000 cm−1. They are stable and have a huge surface area of 73.21 m2 g−1. The results revealed significant differences among wheat cultivars, fertilization applications, individual or combined, and their interactions for yield-contributing traits. Foliar application of nano-nitrogen fertilizer at 14 L/ha combined with mineral fertilizer at 240 kg/ha significantly increased total chlorophyll content by 41 and 31% compared to control; concerning plant height, the two cultivars recorded the tallest plants (86.2 and 86.5 cm) compared to control. On the other hand, the heaviest 1000-grain weight (55.8 and 57.4 g) was recorded with treatment of 120 kg Mn-N and 14 L Nan-N/ha compared to the control (47.6 and 45.5 g). The Misr-1 cultivar achieved the highest values for grain yield and nitrogen (1.30 and 1.91 mg/L) and potassium (9.87 and 9.81 mg/L) in the two studied seasons when foliarly sprayed with the combination of 120 kg Mn-N/ha + 14 L Nan-N/ha compared to the Gemaiza-11 cultivar. It can be concluded that Misr-1 exhibited higher levels of total chlorophyll content, spike length, 100-grain weight, grain yield in kg/ha, and nitrogen and potassium. However, Gemaiza-11 displayed higher biomass and straw yield values, plant height, and sodium concentration values. It could be economically recommended to use the application of 120 kg Mn-N/ha + 14 L Nan-N/ha on the Misr-1 cultivar to achieve the highest crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA), Chitosan, and Poly hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) were chosen from among the numerous types of biopolymers as coating agents to examine their efficacy in reducing the impact of air pollutants to the formation of black crust on head of marble statue dating back to the Graeco-Roman period, this head is currently on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo (GEM No. 65068). In this study two types of samples used, first category specimens were taken from the lower part of the statue‘s head to characterize the crust and substrate,. According to results, which are obtained from Scanning Electron Microscope ( SEM-EDX) analysis, Micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Calcite (CaCO3) is the main component in marble samples, and Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) is a common component in the black crust. Second category were an experimental marble samples used to evaluate the protection efficiency of biopolymers. After application, the surface morphology, color change, and water static contact angle of the experimental marble samples were assessed. Finally, the samples were aged artificially to see how resistant they were to solar, ultraviolet, and acidic deterioration. In terms of polylactic acid efficacy, promising results were found due to their properties as hydrophobic behavior, it achieved the highest water static contact angle without affecting color measurements, and then applied in the protection of the marble statue's head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tri sodium polyphosphate, Potassium silicate, sodium silicate, Glutathione and chitosan were evaluated as foliar spray for suppressing septoria leaf blotch (SLB) disease severity were performed under field conditions. Meanwhile, the fungicide Topsin M70 was used as comparison treatment. Field experiments conducted with cultivation of three wheat cultivars in two different fields at two successive dates. Spray treatments with tested chemicals were carried out twice, during the growing season. At all applied treatments, it was observed that the cultivar Giza 171 showed the least SLB disease severity followed by Misr 1 and Gemmiza 12, respectively. The applied silicate salts, potassium and sodium showed superior suppressing effect of SLB severity on all sown wheat cultivars followed by chitosan, tri-sodium polyphosphate, glutathione and the fungicide, in respective order. Furthermore, increase in wheat grains yield showed conversely trend with disease severity. Such promising treatments might be included in integrated management strategies in comparable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful treatment of Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii-associated infection is complicated by the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR), particularly in clinical settings. This urges searching for new alternatives to encounter such health problem. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate certain antibiotic combinations and CNPs either alone or in combination of some selected antibiotics for the purpose of combating MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates. Methods: A total of 51 A. baumannii clinical isolates were recovered from discharged clinical specimens of the Clinical Microbiology Central Laboratory of AL Kasr Al Aini hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Conventional standard Lab tests were used for identification followed by recA gene testing for confirmation. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted out according to CLSI guidelines. Genotypic analysis using Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) of the respective isolates showed that they were clustered in nine clones. The prepared CNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering and HR-transmission electron microscope imaging. Antibiotic combinations and co-effect of CNPs with some selected antibiotics (either each alone or in combination of two) were evaluated using the Checkerboard microdilution and minimum inhibitor concentration decrease factor (MDF) methods, respectively. Results: The recovered 51 A. baumannii clinical isolates were MDR (100%) of these 92% (47/51) were extensively drug resistance (XDR). Combinations of colistin (CT)+meropenem (MEM) and MEM+tigecycline (TGC) showed synergism in 77.7% and 44.4% and additive effects in 22.3% and 55.6% of the tested MDR A. baumannii isolates (n=51), respectively. However, CT+TGC combination showed antagonism. CNPs exhibited good inhibitory activity (inhibition zones ranged from 24 to 31 mm) against selected nine MDR A. baumannii isolates (one isolate from each clone). The MIC of CNPs at concentrations (ranging from 1 to 5 mg/mL) were from 0.16 to 0.25 mg/mL, indicating good in vitro antimicrobial activities. CNPs (5 mg/mL) when combined with CT, TGC or MEM, CT+MEM and TGC+MEM significantly increased the susceptibilities of the MDR A. baumannii isolates to these antibiotics by 88.8%, 66.6%, 100%, 77.7%, and 44.4%, respectively. No significant effects were observed when CNPs (5 mg/mL) were combined with CT+TGC. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the significant in-vitro activities of CNPs either alone or in combination with CT, TGC or MEM, CT+MEM and TGC+MEM and the successful combinations of MEM either with CT or with TGC against the MDR A. baumannii pathogens. However, further in vivo studies should be conducted to verify such activities and their potential use in human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study chitosan and activated carbon (AC) were used as low cost materials for heavy metals removal and they were characterized by SEM, FTIR and X-ray. In the case of batch experiment chitosan and AC give a good removal of Fe, Cu and Zn from aqueous solutions under the effects of sorbent dose, pH, contact time, temperature and initial metal concentration. For application of the removal effect of chitosan and AC on water samples collected from River Nile at Helwan, Hawamdia and El-Kanater El-Khiria cities in greater Cairo, the two sorbents showed excellent removal of the industrial wastewater. Our results show the order of removal of the investigated heavy metals for chitosan were Fe> Pb> Cu> Zn> Mn while for AC were Mn> Cu> Fe> Pb> Zn. So chitosan and AC can be used as a good absorbent materials cheap, effective and nontoxic for heavy metal removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]