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Probiotics represent beneficial living microorganisms that confer physiological, nutritional, and functional advantages to human health, holding significant potential for development of functional foods. This research aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize potential probiotic bacterial strains sourced from fermented and non-fermented foods from Pakistan. A total of 341 bacterial strains were isolated from diverse food samples (81) collected from various regions of Pakistan. Strains were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The identified strains belonged to genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Shigella, Micrococcus, Enterococcus, Sporosarcina, Paenibacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Kosakonia, Dietzia, Leclercia, Lacticaseibacillus, Levilactobacillus, Kluyvera, Providencia, Enterobacter, Neisseria, Streptococcus, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Pantoea, Mammaliicoccus, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Alkalihalobacillus. Selected strains were chosen for probiotic assessment, employing existing literature as a guideline. Among these selections, six strains exhibited hemolytic activity, and seven strains displayed resistance to multiple antibiotics, prompting their exclusion from subsequent evaluations. The remaining strains demonstrated auto-aggregation capacities spanning 3.39–79.7%, and displayed coaggregation capabilities with reported food-borne pathogens. Furthermore, nine strains exhibited antimicrobial properties against food-borne pathogens. The assessment encompassed diverse characteristics such as cell surface hydrophobicity, survival rates under varying conditions, cholesterol reduction ability, casein digestion capability, and antioxidant activity. Phylogenomic analysis, digital-DNA DNA hybridization (digi-DDH), and average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations unveiled novel species potentially belonging to the genera Sporosarcina and Dietzia. Based on these findings, we advocate for the consideration of Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii NCCP-2414, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NCCP-2569 and Levilactobacillus brevis NCCP-2574 as prime probiotic candidates with the potential for integration into formulation of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential increase in the prevalence of multidrug resistant bacteria has resulted in limiting surgical treatment options globally, potentially causing biofilm-related complications, implant failure, and severe consequences. This study aims to isolate and characterize bacteria from post-surgical orthopaedic implant infections and screening for multiple antibiotic resistance. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving isolation of forty-four dominant pathogenic bacterial isolates from 16 infected implant samples from across Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Out of forty-four, 38% cocci and 61% bacilli were obtained. Approximately 90% of isolates showed multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of more than 0.2. Eleven strains were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Planococcus chinensis, Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae. The bacterial strain E. coli MB641 showed sensitivity to Polymyxin only, and was resistant to all other antibiotics used. Maximum biofilm forming ability 0.532 ± 0.06, 0.55 ± 0.01 and 0.557 ± 0.07 was observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa MB663, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MB664 and Bacillus spp. MB647 respectively after 24 hours of incubation. EPS production of bacterial strains was assessed, the polysaccharides and protein content of EPS were found to be in the range of 11–32 μg/ml and 2–10 μg/ml, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of EPS showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkyl halides, and nucleic acids. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed crystalline structure of EPS extracted from biofilm forming bacteria. These findings suggest a high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in orthopaedic implant-associated surgeries, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing monitoring and microorganism testing in infected implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of water through microplastics/polyethylene (PE) and textile waste effluents has become a global environmental threat that needs to be addressed sooner. This research aimed to assess a green approach to treat toxic dye effluents and PE using beneficial microbes. The bacterial strains were isolated from a habitat of waste effluent, collected from a Textile Dyeing Industry, Karachi Pakistan. Besides screening for laccase secretion, the isolates with an ability to degrade PE and transform toxic dye effluents into a reusable metabolite were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as B. tequilensis M1 (Accession# MZ357709), B. subtilis M7 (Accession# MZ357959), Bacillus sp. (in: Bacteria) M8 (Accession# MZ360013), P. megaterium S8 (Accession# MZ422441) and Bacillus sp. (in: Bacteria) S5 (Accession# MZ382863). Average maximum bioremediation of 87% of reactive black and 97.6% of reactive blue dye were sufficiently taken place by B. tequilensis M1. The treated dye metabolites were comparatively effective and useful for irrigating radish plants, revealing bioremediation efficiency leading to potential use of biologically treated dye effluents. The reusability of treated toxic dye effluents was determined by phytotoxicity and seed germination analysis, along with water purity analysis experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioresistant microorganisms possess inimitable capabilities enabling them to thrive under extreme radiation. However, the existence of radiosensitive microorganisms inhabiting such an inhospitable environment is still a mystery. The current study examines the potential of radioresistant microorganisms to protect radiosensitive microorganisms in harsh environments. Bacillus subtilis strain ASM-1 was isolated from the Thal desert in Pakistan and evaluated for antioxidative and radioprotective potential after being exposed to UV radiation. The strain exhibited 54.91% survivability under UVB radiation (5.424 × 103 J/m2 for 8 min) and 50.94% to mitomycin-C (4 µg/mL). Extracellular fractions collected from ASM-1 extracts showed significant antioxidant potential, and chemical profiling revealed a pool of bioactive compounds, including pyrrolopyrazines, amides, alcoholics, and phenolics. The E-2 fraction showed the maximum antioxidant potential via DPPH assay (75%), and H2O2 scavenging assay (68%). A combination of ASM-1 supernatant with E-2 fraction (50 µL in a ratio of 2:1) provided substantial protection to radiosensitive cell types, Bacillus altitudinis ASM-9 (MT722073) and E. coli (ATCC 10536), under UVB radiation. Docking studies reveal that the compound supported by literature against the target proteins have strong binding affinities which further inferred its medical uses in health care treatment. This is followed by molecular dynamic simulations where it was observed among trajectories that there were no significant changes in major secondary structure elements, despite the presence of naturally flexible loops. This behavior can be interpreted as a strategy to enhance intermolecular conformational stability as the simulation progresses. Thus, our study concludes that Bacillus subtilis ASM-1 protects radiosensitive strains from radiation-induced injuries via biofilm formation and secretion of antioxidative and radioprotective compounds in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water resources are often contaminated with different types of pollutants including metal ions due to indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluents. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is one of such pollutants which has a tendency to adversely affect the environment. Microbial bioremediation is one of the cost-effective methods which might be used to remediate such metals. In current study, a bacterial strain, Basillus sp. SR18, having the potential to tolerate and reduce Cr(VI), was isolated from a soil of district Kasur Pakistan which has been repeatedly irrigated with wastewaters containing the tannery effluents. This strain had a good potential not only to tolerate the presence of Cr(VI) in the medium with MIC value of 20 mM but also to completely (>90%) reduce Cr(VI) even at its initial concentration of 20 mg L-1. Basillus sp. SR18 was also effective for the Cr(VI) reduction in the presence of different concentrations of NaCl while, maximum Cr(VI) reduction was detected at pH 8.5. Moreover, SR18 was observed to reduce the Cr(VI) in varying agricultural soils and in real tannery wastewater. The reduction rate was significantly (p≤ 0.05) different between different treatments of tannery wastewater. Bioaugmentation of three different agricultural soils with the strain SR18 resulted into a significant but varying decrease in the level of Cr(VI) with the maximum decrease in sandy soil. This study presents the significance of Bacillus sp. SR18 as a potential living source for remediation of Cr(VI) in the soils and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is an important nodules producing pulse crop of Thal. To enhance nitrogen fixation for higher yield, the effect of bacterial strains on nodulation was evaluated for yield contributing traits of chickpea at Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar, Pakistan during 2019-20. Six Rhizobium inoculations i.e. Providencia vermicola, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus mojavensis, Mesorhizobium ciceri-11, Mesorhizobium ciceri-1 and Bacillus subtilis were tested on two chickpea genotypes i.e. Bhakkar-2011 and Thal-2020. A consortium of six bacterial strains was applied at the time of sowing as a seed coating on a sandy soil. Results showed a significant increase in height/plant, nodulation, 100 grain weight, pods/plant and grain yield (kg/ha) due to bacterial inoculation. Nodules/plant were also increased from 44.08 to 76.16. Maximum number of nodules plant-1 were counted as 76.16 with 2.59 g fresh and 0.64 g dry weight per plant in treatment combination viz. Thal-2020 × RP08+RS14+RZ11 thus showing the specific symbiotic relationship among the genotypes and Rhizobium inoculum. In comparison to the control, the PSB, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and rhizobium inoculum results were 52 % increase in pods/plant. The maximum number of pods/plant (116.00) and100 grain weight (27.73 g) were recorded in V1 × T1 (RP08+RS14+ RZ11). The weight of 100 grains was increased by 40% over the control. T1 had the highest 100 grain weight of 27.73 g, followed by V1 x T3 with a 100 grain weight of 26.22 g. PSB, nitrogen fixation bacteria and PSB inoculation substantially improved pulse crop 100 grain weight and yield. Thal-2020 had the highest grain yield of 3732 kg/ha, while V2 (Bhakkar-2011) had the lowest at 3516 kg/ha. Inoculation with rhizobium consortium improved grain yield by 30% (2617 to 3732 kg/ha). Hence, it was concluded that among all the treatments of Rhizobium consortium, N-fixing bacteria and PSB influenced a beneficial effect on chickpea grain yield quality and quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Probiotics with the yoghurt in the management of children with acute diarrhoea in terms of frequency and consistency of stools. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan, from Jun to Dec 2020. Methodology: Patients were allotted into three Groups A, B, or C. Group-A received a Probiotic (Bacillus Clausii), Group-B received plain yoghurt, and Group-C did not receive yoghurt or Probiotic. The outcome was an improvement in stool consistency at 72 hours. Stool consistency was assessed via Bristol stool chart along with frequency. Data were collected 72 hours after initiation of treatment. Result: The total number of patients enrolled was 159(53 in each Group). Among these, 85(53.5%) were males, and 74(46.5%) were females. There was a statistically significant association in terms of consistency (p=0.001) and term of frequency (p<0.001) in the Probiotic and Yoghurt-Group. Conclusion: The outcome in terms of consistency is almost equal in the Probiotic and Yoghurt-Group. However, Probiotic is superior to yoghurt in terms of frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme environmental conditions like high salinity and temperature are continuously affecting fertile lands and trigger an ecological imbalance, thereby inducing indigenous microbial communities for adaptation to such extreme environments. Present study relates with the isolation and characterization of halo-thermotolerant bacteria (HTTB) from hyper-saline areas of districts Kashmore and Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. The isolated bacteria were initially screened for their tolerance to elevated salt concentrations and extreme temperature ranges. Out of twenty-six bacterial isolates, six bacteria from district Kashmore (60%) and thirteen bacterial isolates from district Khairpur (81.25%) tolerated NaCl concentration up to 15–17% (w/v), and grown efficiently when incubated in the temperature ranges 55–65 °C. The principle component and multivariate cluster analyses revealed three different clusters of HTTB bacteria based on their tolerance and spatial distribution. In general, the hyper-saline environments of district Kashmore harbored more HTTB than Khairpur, but individually there was extreme halotolerance and thermotolerance among Khairpur isolates. Finally, the PCR-based molecular typing of 16S rRNA genes revealed, majority of the isolates were identified to be various strains of genus Bacillus, i.e., Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. aerius, B. vallismortis, B. aquimaris and B. flexus. Only one bacterial strain, i.e., KJ1WB, was identified as Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes. These HTTB bacterial strains may extend significant potential for future applications like environmental, biotechnological and enormous industrial due to their valuable enzymatic profiles and metabolite repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpeas are rich source of protein and predominantly grown in boron (B)-deficient sandy-loam soils in Pakistan. Boron-tolerant bacteria (BTB) could tolerate higher B levels in soil and increase B availability to the plants. Field trials were conducted under irrigated (district Layyah) and rainfed (district Chakwal) conditions to evaluate the interactive effects of pre-optimized B application methods and BTB (Bacillus sp. MN54) on the nodule's population, grain quality, productivity, and grain-B concentration in desi chickpea during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Boron was applied as soil application (1 kg B ha−1), foliar application (0.025% B), osmopriming (0.001% B), and seed coating (1.5 g B kg−1 seed) with or without BTB inoculation. Untreated seeds receiving no B through any of the methods were regarded as control. The individual and interactive effects (up to three-way interaction of location × BTB inoculation × B application methods) of year, location, B application methods and BTB inoculation significantly altered the growth and yield-related traits of desi chickpea. The four-way interaction of year × location × BTB inoculation × B application methods was non-significant for all recorded growth and yield-related traits. Regarding individual effects, the higher values of growth and yield-related traits were noted for 2020–2021, rainfed location, BTB inoculation and B application through seed priming. Similarly, in two-way interactions 2020–2021 with rainfed location and BTB inoculation, rainfed location with BTB inoculation and osmopriming and osmopriming with BTB inoculation recorded higher values of the growth and yield-related traits. Osmopriming combined with BTB inoculation significantly improved dry matter accumulation and leaf area index in both locations. Boron application through all the methods significantly improved grain quality, yield grain B concentration. The highest grain and biological yields, and nodules' population were recorded with osmopriming followed by soil application of B combined with BTB inoculation. The highest plant B concentration (75.05%) was recorded with foliar application of B followed by osmopriming (68.73%) combined with BTB inoculation. Moreover, the highest economic returns (USD 2068.5 ha−1) and benefit–cost ratio (3.7%) were recorded with osmopriming + BTB inoculation in 2020–2021 under rainfed conditions. Overall, B application through osmopriming and soil application combined with BTB inoculation could be used to increase productivity and profitability of desi chickpea, whereas foliar application is a better method to enhance grain and plant B concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophiles are excellent sources of enzymes which are not only salt stable but also perform catalysis under extreme reaction conditions. The habitat of salt mines and its microbial diversity have not been thoroughly explored. In the present study, seven halophilic inulinase-producing bacteria (H1N1–H1N7) were isolated from the Bahadarkhel salt mines of Pakistan, and were identified based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular features. The strains H1N3, H1N4, H1N6, H1N7 were capable of growing at 20% salt concentration and therefore were considered as extremely halotolerant. Inulinase activities of the isolates were detected in inulin-containing broth media, and were further confirmed on inulin-based agar plates. The strains HIN1, H1N3, H1N5, and H1N7 exhibited the maximum zone of clearance (≥15 mm) on inuline agar medium. The strain H1N1 showed the highest zone of clearance of 19 mm. Morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization showed that the inulinase producing isolates were related to Bacillus and Klebsiella genera. The molecular identification was based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The strain H1N2 was capable of producing the four tested halozymes including inulinase, amylase, protease, and lipase. The strains HIN3, HIN4, and H1N5 were capable of producing three halozymes, i.e., inulinase, amylase, and protease while the strains H1N6 and H1N7 produced inulinases, lipases and proteases. These salt tolerant bacterial strains exhibiting diverse enzyme characteristics and phylogeny could be highly useful for future practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The production of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is negatively affected by boron (B) deficiency. In Pakistan, the crop grown under B deficiency produces grains with low B concentration. Application of B-tolerant bacteria (BTB) is a promising option to improve B supply to plants grown under B deficiency. Aims: This study was focused on determining the appropriate concentration of B for seed priming, and its effects with BTB inoculation on growth, productivity and grain B concentration of chickpea. Methods: Chickpea seeds were primed in aerated solutions of B concentrations in the range 0.01–0.5% (w/v), with hydroprimed and dry seeds as controls. Concentrations >0.1% proved toxic and seeds failed to germinate. Hence, B was further diluted to concentrations in the range 0.0001–0.1%. Pots containing chickpea seeds were divided into two sets having all B treatments. One set was inoculated with BTB (5 mL per pot of pure Bacillus sp. MN54 culture at 10 9 cfu mL−1); the other set was not inoculated. Key results: Seed priming with B along with BTB inoculation improved stand establishment, growth, nodulation, yield and grain B concentration of chickpea. Seed priming treatments with B at 0.001% and 0.0001% along with BTB inoculation were most effective for improving stand establishment, seedling growth and grain yield, whereas 0.1% B was more effective for improving grain B concentration. Conclusions: Seed priming with 0.001% B along with inoculation of Bacillus sp. MN54 improved seed germination, nodulation, yield and grain B concentration of chickpea under B-deficiency conditions. Implications: Seed inoculation with BTB i.e., Bacillus sp. MN54 coupled with seed priming in 0.001% B solution is a viable option to improve yield and grain B concentration of chickpea grown on B-deficient soils. Boron (B) deficiency is the leading constraint to chickpea productivity in Pakistan. Results of this study elucidated that B seed priming at lower rates (0.001% and 0.0001%) along with seed inoculation with B-tolerant bacteria (Bacillus sp. MN54) improved the productivity and grain-B biofortification of chickpea. Higher levels of B seed priming (>0.1% B solution) proved toxic, with no germination recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers near towns and cities are using a wide range of highly polluted wastewaters for crop irrigation in Pakistan due to severe freshwater shortage. The present study aimed to promote indigenous bacterial strains isolated from domestic, hospital, textile, pharmaceutical and mixed wastewaters to remove contaminants and colour and render these wastewaters safer for irrigation. Thirty seven bacterial strains were isolated from five wastewater samples collected from different sites in Lahore, Pakistan. Under optimal growth conditions, three isolates (D6, D7 and P1) showed >93% decolourisation potential in the treatment of hospital wastewater. 16S rDNA sequencing identified two of these isolates (D6 and D7) as showing 100% and 99.86% homology to Bacillus paramycoides spp. – novel strains from B. cereus group. Isolate P1 showed 97.47% homology to Alcaligenes faecalis. GCMS analysis of the untreated hospital wastewater revealed the presence of pharmaceutic pollutants, i.e. Phenol (876 µg/L), Salicylic acid (48 µg/L), Caffeine (7 µg/L), Naproxen (23 µg/L), Octadecene (185 µg/L) and Diazepam (14 µg/L). The analysis of treated hospital wastewaters showed percentage degradation of pharmaceutic pollutants (100%–43%) and significant reduction in the BOD5 (91%–68%), COD (89%–52%) and heavy metals concentrations. These strains therefore can represent a low-cost and low-tech alternative to bioremediate complex matrices of hospital wastewater prior to crop irrigation to support the achievement of clean re-usable water in developing countries like Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radio-resistant bacterium labeled as strain TMC-6 was isolated from Thal desert, Pakistan and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Bacillus indicus strain TMC-6 (MN721293). The isolate was found to be resistant to UV radiation dose of 6.780 × 103 J/m2 and showed 50% survivability to mitomycin C (6 μg/ml) and H2O2 (30 mM). The bacterium showed yellowish orange coloration when grown on tryptone yeast glucose (TGY) medium. The cellular metabolite was extracted in methanol and purified through solid phase extraction with C18 column cartridge. The compound was characterized through UV/Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS). The LC–MS analysis of the compound revealed a molar mass of 769 [m/z]− that matched the chemical formula C34H42O20 and identified as a glycosylated flavonoid xanthorhamnin. The compound showed significant antioxidant (77.05%) and metal chelation (79.80%) activities. Xanthorhamnin showed promising oxidative damage inhibitory actions in bovine serum albumin (65.32%) and mice liver lipids (71.61%) and prevented DNA strand breaks from oxidative stress. Cytotoxicity in brine shrimp larvae was observed when compared with mitomycin C indicating its effect toward cancerous cells. These findings concluded that xanthorhamnin from radio-resistant Bacillus indicus strain TMC-6 has high antioxidant, radioprotective, and antitumor properties against UV-mediated oxidative damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms are the preferred source of enzyme applicable to a variety of industries, such as food, paper, detergent, and energy. In this study, amylase enzymes were explored for the first time in the springs of Shahdara, Islamabad, Pakistan. 22 out of 28 bacterial isolates showed amylase activity from which the three best amylase producing isolates (S5, S13, and S17) were selected for further studies. These isolates were identified as Bacillus spp and Clostridium spp using microscopic, biochemical, and molecular-based (16S rRNA) approaches. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that strains (S5, S13, and S17) have 97% similarity with Paraclostridium benzoelyticum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus tequilensis, respectively. The maximum amylase production of Bacillus subtilis and Paraclostridium benzoelyticum was observed at pH 5 and 55 °C whereas that of Bacillus tequilensis was at pH 8 and 55 °C. Similarly, the highest activity of amylases from each strain was found at 55 °C in common, but in different pH conditions (at pH 5 for Paraclostridium benzoelyticum and Bacillus subtilis and at pH 6-8 for Bacillus tequilensis). Our study represents that Shahdara springs have beneficial microbial reservoirs producing acidic and thermostable amylases, having great importance to various bio-industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are actively used for treatment of diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and prevention of infectious gastrointestinal diseases. The efficacy of probiotics is due to strain-specific features and the number of viable cells; however, several reports of deviations from the label in the actual content of strains in probiotic products are a matter of concern. Most of the available data on quality focuses on probiotic products containing lactobacilli and/or bifidobacteria, while very few data are available on spore-forming probiotics. The present study evaluates the label claims for spore count and species identification in five commercial probiotic products marketed in India and Pakistan that claim to contain Bacillus clausii : Tufpro, Ecogro, Enterogermina, Entromax, and Ospor. Bacterial enumeration from three batches was done by microbiological plating methods by two independent operators. Species identification was done using PCR amplification and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, and determination of the total amount of species present in the products was done using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis followed by DNA sequencing of the excised bands. Plate count methods demonstrated poor correlations between quantitative label indications and bacteria recovered from plates for Tufpro, Ecogro, and Ospor. The 16S rRNA analysis performed on bacteria isolated from plate counts showed that only Enterogermina and Ospor contained homogenous B. clausii . PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that only Enterogermina had a homogenous B. clausii population while other products had mixed bacterial populations. In conclusion, the current analysis clearly demonstrates that of the five analysed commercial probiotics, only Enterogermina followed the label claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Farm workers and female cotton pickers are exposed to residual impacts of pesticide use in cotton production, in addition to dust, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Cotton picking causes various health hazards among cotton pickers with varied health cost. A soil bacterium known as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is incorporated in cotton seed through genetic modification and it has resistance against certain bollworms of cotton. So it is considered that Bt cotton fields have less pesticide exposure compared to non-Bt cotton fields. This study was designed to examine and compare the impacts and health cost of cotton picking among female cotton pickers working in Bt and non-Bt cotton fields.Methods: The study used the data collected from Vehari district of Pakistani Punjab. Health hazards and associated health cost of the respondents involved in Bt cotton picking were compared with those who harvested non-Bt cotton. Comparative use of the personal protective measures among those respondents was also examined. Health cost function and its determinants were analyzed using ordinary least square method.Results: Findings of the study showed that 61 % cotton pickers from Bt cotton households reported one or more health effects of pesticide during picking season whereas this percentage for non-Bt cotton households was 66 %. Health impacts included skin problems, headache, cough, flu/fever, eye irritation and sleeplessness, however, percentage of these health impacts was comparatively higher among non-Bt cotton households. Health cost from exposure to pesticide use in cotton was US$ 5.74 and 2.91 per season for non-Bt cotton and Bt cotton households, respectively. Education, picking in Bt cotton fields and preventive measures were significantly related with health cost.Conclusion: Cotton pickers working in Bt cotton fields are found to have less occupational health hazards compared to those working in non-Bt cotton fields. Thus generating awareness among cotton pickers for adopting precautionary measures during harvesting and the use of Bt cotton seed can result in a decline in the ill-effects of cotton picking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes are considered to be the most destructive plant parasitic nematodes. The use of nematicides for the control of root-knot nematodes is common practice. The use of biological control agents is, however, considered more effective and environmentally safe replacement of chemical nematicides. In the present study, three Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner isolates viz. B.t.-64, B.t.-16 and B.t.-14 were used with and without nematicides such as Carbofuran and Fertincmakil to control root knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica associated with egg plant. Nematicides were applied in soil before seedling transplantation and bacterial cell suspension was inoculated around the roots after seedling establishment. The combination of B.t. -64 and Fertinemakil was the most effective treatment in reducing root-knot nematodes and improving the Egg plant growth. It was also effective in enhancing the plant growth and reducing the root-knot nematodes infection in combination with other B.t. isolates (B.t. 16 and B.t. 14). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field population of Plutella xylostella (L) from Pakistan was found to be highly resistant to deltamethrin (> 500-fold) but had little or no resistance to spinosad, fipronil, indoxacarb, abamectin, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) var hurstaki, Bt var aizawai or Cry1Ac when compared with a susceptible laboratory population, Lab-UK. A sub-population was selected for six generations (laboratory G3 - G8) with deltamethrin (delta-SEL), while a second sub-population was left unselected (UNSEL). Bioassays at G9 found that selection with deltamethrin gave resistance ratios of >230 compared with UNSEL (>6730 compared with Lab-UK). The delta-selected population showed no apparent cross-resistance to spinosad, fipronil or indoxacarb. Logit regression analysis of F1 reciprocal crosses between delta-SEL and Lab-UK indicated that resistance to deltamethrin in the delta-SEL population was inherited as an autosomal, incompletely dominant (DLC = 0.67) trait. A direct test of monogenic inheritance based on a back-cross of F1 progeny with delta-SEL suggested that resistance to deltamethrin was controlled by more than one factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]