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Cerulenin (1) is the first reported natural fatty acid synthase inhibitor and has been intensively researched for its antifungal, anticancer and anti-obesity properties. However, the molecular basis for its biosynthesis has remained a mystery for six decades. Here, we have identified the polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster (cer) responsible for the biosynthesis of 1 from two Sarocladium species using a self-resistance gene mining approach, which we validated via heterologous reconstitution of cer cluster in an Aspergillus nidulans host. Expression of various combinations of cer genes uncovered key pathway intermediates, electrocyclisation products derived from PKS-encoded polyenoic acids, and a suite of 13 new analogues of 1. This enabled us to establish a biosynthetic pathway to 1 that starts with a C 12 polyketide precursor containing both E and Z double bonds and involves a complex series of epoxidations, double bond shifts, E/Z isomerisation and epoxide reduction. Using in vitro assays, we further validated the roles of amidotransferase CerD in amidation, and oxidase CerF and reductase CerE in the final two-electron oxidation and enone reduction steps towards 1. These findings expand our understanding of complex tailoring modifications in highly reducing PKS pathways and pave the way for the engineered biosynthesis of cerulenin analogues., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015. Since its conception, MIBiG has been regularly updated to expand data coverage and remain up to date with innovations in natural product research. Here, we describe MIBiG version 4.0, an extensive update to the data repository and the underlying data standard. In a massive community annotation effort, 267 contributors performed 8304 edits, creating 557 new entries and modifying 590 existing entries, resulting in a new total of 3059 curated entries in MIBiG. Particular attention was paid to ensuring high data quality, with automated data validation using a newly developed custom submission portal prototype, paired with a novel peer-reviewing model. MIBiG 4.0 also takes steps towards a rolling release model and a broader involvement of the scientific community. MIBiG 4.0 is accessible online at https://mibig.secondarymetabolites.org/., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

(1) Background: Obesity, a poor diet, and inactivity are major health issues among Saudi youth. However, satisfaction with unhealthy lifestyles could impede change. This study assessed lifestyle factors and related satisfaction among Saudi university students. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1957 students at Jazan University completed surveys on demographics, physical activity, dietary habits, and 10-point satisfaction scales for weight, activity, and diet. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the associations between behaviors and satisfaction. (3) Results: Overweight/obesity prevalence was 25.45%, and only 26.67% of the subjects met activity guidelines. Many of them exhibited poor dietary habits. Despite unhealthy behaviors, some expressed high satisfaction, especially regarding their diets. Subjects with a normal BMI had the highest weight satisfaction. Activity satisfaction increased with higher activity levels. Dietary satisfaction was minimally impacted by healthfulness. Males and higher incomes were correlated with greater satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: A concerning paradox exists between unhealthy lifestyles and satisfaction among Saudi university students, particularly regarding their diets. Multicomponent interventions informed by behavior change theories and employing motivational techniques are urgently needed to address this disconnect and facilitate positive behavior change.

Background: The global rise in obesity and related health complications has cast a spotlight on the urgent need for initiatives that promote informed dietary decisions. This cross-sectional study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, regarding menu calorie labeling. The study examines how these variables may affect dietary decisions, body mass index (BMI), and support for proposed legislative measures requiring calorie disclosure on restaurant menus., Methods: The study included 581 Saudi university students who were 18 years of age or older as a convenience sample. A three-part questionnaire that asked about demographics, anthropometric measurements, and attitudes and behaviors related to calorie counting was completed by the participants. Using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 25.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) program, chi-square, t-tests, and ANOVA tests were used to evaluate the data. Both informed consent and ethical approval were obtained., Results: The study finds that, even while more than half of the participants knew their recommended daily calorie intake and exhibited curiosity about calorie information on menus, this knowledge did not always result in healthy eating habits. Participants' opinions and behaviors regarding calorie labeling were significantly correlated with their BMI levels, indicating the importance of education in promoting nutritional awareness and healthy eating habits. New calorie labeling regulations received higher approval from people who regularly ate out., Conclusion: This study emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive nutritional education initiatives to raise calorie knowledge and encourage Saudi Arabian university students to make healthier eating choices. It also emphasizes the possible effects of legislative measures requiring calorie information on menus, particularly among regular diners. However, while evaluating the results, it is important to take into account the study's limitations, including self-reported data and convenience sample. To support menu calorie labeling legislation and inform targeted public health interventions for university students' eating behaviors, more research that takes cultural quirks and regional settings into account is necessary., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Standing Committee for Scientific Research - Jazan University (HAPO-10-Z-001) issued approval REC-44/04/370. On 15 November 2022. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Arishi et al.)

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized surgical practices, with robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) significantly advancing. However, the understanding and acceptance of RAS vary, impacting its widespread adoption. This study aims to assess Saudi Arabians' attitudes and comprehension of RAS, which is crucial for promoting its integration into surgical procedures. A cross-sectional study was conducted in various Saudi Arabian cities. A total of 1449 participants were included, while participants with cognitive issues were excluded. Demographic information, knowledge, technology experience, attitudes, and perceptions about RAS were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the participants, 51.1% demonstrated awareness of RAS, mainly through social media (36.9%). Factors influencing awareness included gender, education, income, occupation, computer literacy, and technology comfort. Gender disparities were evident in attitudes and perceptions toward RAS. Concerns about RAS included robot malfunction (62.0%), surgical errors (45.4%), and surgeon competency (44.7%). 36.4% of the participants believe RAS is faster, 29.9% believe RAS is less painful, and 25.3% believe RAS has fewer complications. Positive perceptions encompassed the belief that robot-using surgeons are more skilled (44.5%) and hospitals offering RAS are better (54.3%). Notably, 47.7% expressed willingness to consider RAS as a treatment option. The study underscores the significance of promoting awareness and informed decisions to ensure the successful integration of RAS in surgical practices. Addressing concerns and misconceptions and enhancing public comprehension are pivotal for facilitating informed decision-making and fostering RAS acceptance within Saudi Arabia's surgical landscape., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Luteodienoside A is a novel glycosylated polyketide produced by the Australian fungus Aspergillus luteorubrus MST-FP2246, consisting of an unusual 1- O -β-d-glucopyranosyl- myo -inositol (glucinol) ester of 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylocta-4,6-dienoic acid. Mining the genome of A. luteorubrus identified a putative gene cluster for luteodienoside A biosynthesis ( ltb ), harbouring a highly reducing polyketide synthase (HR-PKS, LtbA) fused at its C-terminus to a carnitine O -acyltransferase (cAT) domain. Heterologous pathway reconstitution in Aspergillus nidulans , substrate feeding assays and gene truncation confirmed the identity of the ltb cluster and demonstrated that the cAT domain is essential for offloading luteodienoside A from the upstream HR-PKS. Unlike previously characterised cAT domains, the LtbA cAT domain uses glucinol as an offloading substrate to release the product from the HR-PKS. Furthermore, the PKS methyltransferase (MT) domain is capable of catalysing gem -dimethylation of the 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylocta-4,6-dienoic acid intermediate, without requiring reversible product release and recapture by the cAT domain. This study expands the repertoire of polyketide modifications known to be catalysed by cAT domains and highlights the potential of mining fungal genomes for this subclass of fungal PKSs to discover new structurally diverse secondary metabolites., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The purpose of this research was to evaluate how much the people in the Jazan region know about the care and healing of surgical wounds. Proper care of surgical wounds is very important to achieve the best treatment outcomes and to avoid negative consequences. However, factors like obesity, diabetes, and certain medications can impair wound healing, with surgical site infections being a major problem in the healthcare system. Therefore, this study aimed to determine public awareness and perceptions of surgical wound care to help improve education and raise awareness of the importance of proper wound care for better results. We run an observational cross-sectional study among adults above 18 years in the Jazan region. An online self-administered questionnaire was used in the collection of data. Simple random sampling was the used technique and 384 participants were calculated. The study used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis and employed descriptive statistics, independent t test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation, and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with knowledge of surgical site infection and wound care. This study analyzed 599 participants' knowledge, attitude, and practice about surgical site infection and wound management. While participants had a strong general understanding of surgical wounds, only 17% had a high degree of knowledge about surgical site infection and wound management. Medical students had the highest degree of knowledge, and being a medical student was the only significant predictor of having a high level of knowledge about surgical site infection (SSI) and wound care. The study emphasizes the necessity of enhanced patient education and investment in medical education quality. The participants in this study had high overall knowledge regarding surgical wounds but lacked particular knowledge concerning surgical site infection and wound management. Medical education was discovered to be a strong predictor of having a high level of knowledge about surgical site infection and wound management. Healthcare professionals should take the lead in giving accurate and reliable information regarding wound care techniques to patients, and legislators should invest in enhancing medical education quality., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Objectives : Bariatric surgery has been proposed as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes, but there is limited research on its efficacy and the use of standardized outcome measures. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bariatric surgery in managing type 2 diabetes and to assess the BAROS protocol postoperatively. Material and Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Saudi Arabia, involving 346 bariatric surgery patients aged 18-60. This study collected data through an electronic questionnaire distributed via a Telegram group and Twitter hashtag. Anthropometric data, postoperative complications, and the evolution of obesity-related comorbidities were collected. The quality of life was evaluated using the Moorehead-Ardelt questionnaire of the BAROS protocol. The total BAROS score was classified as "Insufficient", "Moderate", "Good", "Very good", or "Excellent", considering the presence of comorbidities. The data were analyzed using SPSS software ver.23. Results : The mean age of the participants was 30.97 ± 8.49 years, and 70.81% were female. Sleeve Vertical Gastrectomy was the most common surgical technique used ( n = 336). The excess weight loss percentage (EWL%) was 70.55 ± 22.57%, and 27.75% of participants achieved complete remission of type 2 diabetes. The total BAROS score was "Excellent" for 40.17% of participants and "Moderate" for 27.16%. The presence of comorbidities was negatively correlated with the BAROS score (r = -0.651, p < 0.001). Conclusions : Bariatric surgery effectively manages type 2 diabetes with a high rate of EWL% and complete remission. The BAROS protocol is a valuable tool for assessing the quality of life postoperatively, with most participants achieving a "Moderate" to "Excellent" score. Comorbidities negatively impact the BAROS score, highlighting the importance of managing these conditions postoperatively.

Background: The use of the robotic platform in bariatric surgery remains controversial because of lack of level I evidence to support its superiority compared to the laparoscopic approach and because of cost concerns. Recently, an extended use program (EUP) for robotic instruments was also introduced at our institution to help reduce the associated direct medical costs of robotic surgery., Objectives:  To evaluate the direct medical costs of a robotic sleeve gastrectomy (R-SG) and compare it to a standard laparoscopic approach (L-SG)., Setting:  Academic, tertiary care center., Methods:  The analysis included the last 50 R-SG performed at our institution between June 1st 2019 and October 31st 2020. Those cases were compared to the L-SG cases (29 cases) performed in the same time period. All revisions or conversions were then excluded which resulted in a total of 74 primary SG (R-SG = 45 and L-SG = 29). Direct medical costs included operating room cost, instrument cost, miscellaneous cost, and cost of hospital stay. Direct cost data was generated using the StrataJazz reporting module, which is fed daily from EPIC, our electronic health record system. Patients who underwent a primary SG or a primary SG with a concomitant Paraesophageal Hernia Repair (PEH) were analyzed separately using Mann-Whitney rank sum tests and Student's t tests. An additional analysis and subanalysis of the groups was also performed after applying the potential savings of the Extended Use Program (EUP)., Results:  Overall, the direct medical cost of R-SG was comparable to L-SG ($6330.77 vs $6804.12 respectively, p = 0.07). The direct medical cost of patients undergoing SG alone without PEH was significantly lower in the R-group compared to the L-group ($5927.08 vs $6508.01, respectively, p = 0.04). When applying the EUP savings to our data, the predicted direct medical cost of R-SG becomes significantly lower than L-SG ($6145.77 vs $6804.12 respectively, p = 0.01)., Conclusion:  At our academic medical center, we found no difference in direct medical costs between R-SG and L-SG. With the application of the EUP, direct medical costs of R-SG can be significantly lowered compared to L-SG. It is important to consider that cost data are largely dependent upon the academic medical center of interest, and surgeons need to collect their own cost data to evaluate whether robotic surgery is feasible at their institution., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Currently, nanoparticles and nanomaterials are widely used for biomedical applications. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully biosynthesized using a cell-free extract (CFE) of Bacillus thuringiensis MAE 6 through a green and ecofriendly method. The size of the biosynthesized AgNPs was 32.7 nm, and their crystalline nature was confirmed by XRD, according to characterization results. A surface plasmon resonance spectrum of AgNPs was obtained at 420 nm. Nanoparticles were further characterized using DLS and FTIR analyses, which provided information on their size, stability, and functional groups. AgNPs revealed less cytotoxicity against normal Vero cell line [IC 50 = 155 μg/mL]. Moreover, the biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited promising antifungal activity against four most common Aspergillus , including Aspergillus niger , A. terreus , A. flavus , and A. fumigatus at concentrations of 500 μg/mL where inhibition zones were 16, 20, 26, and 19 mm, respectively. In addition, MICs of AgNPs against A. niger , A. terreus , A. flavus , and A. fumigatus were 125, 62.5, 15.62, and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ultrastructural study confirmed the antifungal effect of AgNPs, where the cell wall's integrity and homogeneity were lost; the cell membrane had separated from the cell wall and had intruded into the cytoplasm. In conclusion, the biosynthesized AgNPs using a CFE of B. thuringiensis can be used as a promising antifungal agent against Aspergillus species causing Aspergillosis.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most harmful phytopathogens. It causes big problems for potatoes and other important crops around the world. Nanoclays have been extensively studied for various biomedical applications. However, reports on their interactions with phytopathogens, particularly viral infections, are still limited. In this study, the protective activity of Egyptian nanoclay (CE) and standard nanoclay (CS) against PVY was evaluated on potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. Their physicochemical and morphological properties were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). SEM and TEM analyses revealed that CE has a spherical and hexagonal structure ranging from 20 to 80 nm in size, while CS has boulder-like and tubular structures of about 320 nm in size. FTIR and EDS showed that both nanoclay types have different functional groups and contain many vital plant nutrients that are necessary for every stage and process of the plant, including development, productivity, and metabolism. Under greenhouse conditions, a 1% nanoclay foliar application enhanced potato growth, reduced disease symptoms, and reduced PVY accumulation levels compared with non-treated plants. Significant increases in levels of antioxidant enzymes (PPO and POX) and considerable decreases in oxidative stress markers (MDA and H 2 O 2 ) were also reported. Moreover, a significant increase in the transcriptional levels of defense-related genes ( PAL-1 , PR-5 , and CHI-2 ) was observed. All experiment and analysis results indicate that the CE type is more effective than the CS type against PVY infection. Based on these results, the foliar applications of nanoclay could be used to manage plant viral infections in a way that is both effective and environmentally friendly. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antiviral activity of the foliar application of nanoclay against PVY infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the globally significant plant pathogens that infect a wide host range of economically important plants. A study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that an avirulent strain of R. solanacearum can act as a biocontrol mediator for managing potato bacterial wilt. Virulent R. solanacearum was isolated and identified (GenBank accession number; OP180100). The avirulent strain was obtained from the virulent strain through storage for 3 weeks until the development of deep red colonies. The virulent strain had higher lytic activity than the avirulent strain. Tubers' treatments by the avirulent strain of R. solanacearum , (supernatant, boiled supernatant, and dead cells) significantly reduced plant disease rating and increased the growth, physiological activities, and biomass of potato compared to the untreated, infected control. The major components detected by GC-MS in the supernatant revealed 10.86% palmitic acid (virulent), and 18.03% 1,3-dioxolane, 2,4,5-trimethyl- (avirulent), whereas the major component in the boiled supernatant was 2-hydroxy-gamma-butyrolactone in the virulent (21.17%) and avirulent (27.78%) strains. This is the first research that assessed the influence of boiled supernatant and dead cells of virulent and avirulent R. solanacearum strains in controlling bacterial wilt disease. Additional work is encouraged for further elucidation of such a topic., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates are associated with various diseases ranged from mild superficial impairments to invasive infections. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods namely, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the coa gene and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), to determine the genetic diversity of MRSA isolates. Materials and Methods: A total of 37 MRSA isolates were conventionally identified depending on their biochemical and microbiological culture characteristics. Genotypic confirmation was based on detection of the associated mecA gene. The genetic variation amongst MRSA isolates was evaluated following the coa gene-based RFLP and RAPD fingerprints. Results: Results illustrated that, the species specific coa gene was detected in all MRSA isolates. The irregular bands intensity, number, and molecular sizes of the PCR amplicons demonstrated the coa gene polymorphism. The incompatible AluI digestion patterns of these amplicons classified the tested MRSA isolates into 20 RFLP patterns which confirm the coa gene polymorphism. Additionally, the PCR-based RAPD analysis showed variable bands number with size range of approximately 130 bp to 4 kbp, which indicated the genetic variation of the tested MRSA isolates as it created 36 variable RAPD banding profiles. Conclusions: coa gene AluI enzymatic restriction sites, amongst the tested MRSA isolates, certify their genetic variation on the basis of the accurate but complicated and relatively expensive coa gene-based RFLP. Conversely, the results verified the excellent ability of the simple and cost-effective PCR-based RAPD analysis to discriminate between MRSA isolates without any preface data about the genome.

Root rot is one of the most significant soil and seed-borne fungal diseases, limiting the cultivation of fenugreek plants. Endophytic bacteria and their natural bioproducts have emerged as growth promoters and disease suppressors in the current era. Despite limited research, seeds are a good funder of endophytic microbiomes, which are transmitted from them to other seedling parts, thereby providing a shield against biotic and abiotic anxiety and promoting the growth at early germination and later stages. The current study evaluated the hypothesis that seed endophytic bacteria and their lytic enzymes, growth promotors, and antifungal molecules can induce growth, and inhibit root rot disease development at the same time. The isolation trial from fenugreek seeds revealed a lytic Achromobacter sp., which produces indole acetic acid, has antifungal compounds (e.g., 2-Butanol, 3,3'-oxybis-), and reduces the growth of Rhizoctonia solani by 43.75%. Under the greenhouse and natural field conditions, bacterial cells and/or supernatant improved the growth, physiology, and yield performance of fenugreek plants, and effectively suppressed the progress of root rot disease; this is the first extensive study that uses a new seed-borne endophytic bacterium as a plant-growth-promoting, and biocontrol tool against the sclerotia-forming; R. solani ; the causative of fenugreek root rot.

Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. According to medical sources, chemotherapy is still the primary method for curing or treating cancer today and has been a major contributor to the recent decline in cancer mortality. Nanocomposites based on polymers and metal nanoparticles have recently received the attention of researchers. In the current study, a nanocomposite was fabricated based on carboxymethyl cellulose and silver nanoparticles (CMC-AgNPs) and their antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities were evaluated. The antibacterial results revealed that CMC-AgNPs have promising antibacterial activity against Gram-negative ( Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli ) and Gram-positive bacteria ( Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus ). Moreover, CMC-AgNPs exhibited antifungal activity against filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus , A. niger , and A. terreus. Concerning the HepG2 hepatocellular cancer cell line, the lowest IC 50 values (7.9 ± 0.41 µg/mL) were recorded for CMC-AgNPs, suggesting a strong cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells. As a result, our findings suggest that the antitumor effect of these CMC-Ag nanoparticles is due to the induction of apoptosis and necrosis in hepatic cancer cells via increased caspase-8 and -9 activities and diminished levels of VEGFR-2. In conclusion, CMC-AgNPs exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities, which can be used in the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials (NMs) are now widely used in a variety of applications, including medicine, solar energy, drug delivery, water treatment, and pollution detection. Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles (Hem-NPs) were manufactured in this work by utilizing a cost-effective and ecofriendly approach that included a biomass filtrate of A. niger AH1 as a bio-reducer. The structural and optical properties of Hem-NPs were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The results revealed that all of the studied parameters, as well as their interactions, had a significant impact on the crystallite size. The average diameter size of the biosynthesized Hem-NPs ranged between 60 and 80 nm. The antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities of Hem-NPs were investigated. The antimicrobial results of Hem-NPs revealed that Hem-NPs exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli , B. subtilis , and S. mutans with MICs of 125, 31.25, and 15.62 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, Hem-NPs exhibited antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. fumigatus , where the MICs were 2000 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively. The efficiency of biosynthesized Hem-NPs was determined for the rapid biodegradation of crystal violet (CV) dye, reaching up to 97 percent after 150 min. Furthermore, Hem-NPs were successfully used more than once for biodegradation and that was regarded as its efficacy. In conclusion, Hem-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using A. niger AH1 and demonstrated both antimicrobial activity and photocatalytic activity against CV dye.

Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) improve plant health and resist plant pathogens. The present study was carried out to biocontrol tomato Fusarium wilt using PGPF through antifungal activity and enhance tomato plant immune response. Four PGPF were identified genetically as Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus niger , Mucor circinelloides and Pencillium oxalicum . In vitro antagonistic activity assay of PGPF against Fusarium oxysporum was evaluated, where it exhibited promising antifungal activity where MIC was in the range 0.25-0.5 mg/mL. Physiological markers of defense in a plant as a response to stimulation of induced systemic resistance (ISR) were recorded. Our results revealed that A. niger , M. circinelloides , A. flavus and P. oxalicum strains significantly reduced percentages of disease severity by 16.60% and 20.83% and 37.50% and 45.83 %, respectively. In addition, they exhibited relatively high protection percentages of 86.35%, 76.87%, 56.87% and 59.06 %, respectively. With concern to the control, it is evident that the percentage of disease severity was about 87.50%. Moreover, the application of M. circinelloides , P. oxalicum , A. niger and A. flavus successfully recovered the damage to morphological traits, photosynthetic pigments' total carbohydrate and total soluble protein of infected plants. Moreover, the application of tested PGPF enhanced the growth of healthy and infected tomato plants.

There is an increase of pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria globally due to the misuse of antibiotics. Recently, more scientists used metal nanoparticles to counteract antibacterial resistance. In this study, orange peel waste (OPW) was used for selenium nanoparticles' (Se-NPs) biosynthesis through the green and ecofriendly method, and their applications as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Green biosynthesized Se-NPs were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, and TEM. Characterization results revealed that biosynthesized Se-NPs were highly crystalline, spherical, and polydisperse, and had sizes in the range of 16-95 nm. The biosynthesized Se-NPs were evaluated as antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Results illustrated that Se-NPs exhibited potential antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria ( S. aureus ATCC 29213 and biofilm-producing clinical isolates of S. aureus ) and Gram-negative bacteria ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, MDR, biofilm, and quorum-sensing and producing clinical isolates of MDR P. aeruginosa, MDR E. coli , and K. pneumonia ). Moreover, results illustrated that S. aureus ATCC 29213 was the most sensitive bacteria to Se-NPs at 1000 µg/mL, where the inhibition zone was 35 mm and MIC was 25 µg/mL. Furthermore, Se-NPs at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC decreased the biofilm significantly. The largest inhibition of biofilm was noticed in MDR K. pneumonia , which was 62% and 92% at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC, respectively. In conclusion, Se-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using OPW through the green method and had promising antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be used later in fighting resistant bacteria.

Pepper is vulnerable to soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum . The potential of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms to control R. solani and F. oxysporum f.sp. capsici was evaluated in pepper plants. Paenibacillus polymyxa and Trichoderma longibrachiatum were isolated from rhizospheric soil samples of healthy pepper plants. In vitro, both isolates caused clear reductions in the radial growth of root rot and wilt pathogens. Scanning electron microscopy displayed lysis and abnormal shape of the pathogens in dual cultures with P. polymyxa and T. longibrachiatum . The incidence and severity of root rot and wilt diseases were significantly reduced in pepper plants treated with the growth-promoting fungi (PGPF isolates; Fusarium equiseti GF19-1, Fusarium equiseti GF18-3, and Phoma sp. GS8-3), P. polymyxa , or T. longibrachiatum in comparison to the control. Moreover, the induction treatments led to increased pepper growth compared with their control. The defense related gene ( CaPR4 ) expression was shown to be significantly higher in the treated plants than in the control plants. In conclusion, the antagonistic isolates ( P. polymyxa and T. longibrachiatum ) and PGPF isolates have a clear impact on the prevention of root rot and wilt diseases in pepper plants incited by R. solani and F. oxysporum f.sp. capsici. The expression of the CaPR4 gene added to the evidence that PGPF isolates generate systemic resistance to pathogen infections.

Plant residuals comprise the natural habitat of the plant pathogen; therefore, attention is currently focusing on biological-based bioprocessing of biomass residuals into benefit substances. The current study focused on the biodegradation of peanut plant residual (PNR) into citric acid (CA) through a mathematical modeling strategy. Novel endophytic Trichoderma longibrachiatum WKA55 (GenBank accession number: MZ014020.1), having lytic (cellulase, protease, and polygalacturonase) activity, and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilization ability were isolated from peanut seeds and used during the fermentation process. As reported by HPLC, the maximum CA (5505.1 μg/g PNR) was obtained after 9 days in the presence of 15.49 mg TCP, and 15.68 mg glucose. GC-MS analysis showed other bioactive metabolites in the filtrate of the fermented PNR. Practically, the crude product (40%) fully inhibited (100%) the growth and spore germination of three mycotoxinogenic fungi. On peanuts, it improved the seed germination (91%), seedling features, and vigor index (70.45%) with a reduction of abnormal seedlings (9.33%). The current study presents the fundamentals for large-scale production in the industry for the sustainable development of PNR biomass as a natural source of bioactive metabolites, and safe consumption of lignocellulosic-proteinaceous biomass, as well. T. longibrachiatum WKA55 was also introduced as a novel CA producer specified on PNR. Application of the resulting metabolite is encouraged on a large scale., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Al-Askar, Rashad, Moussa, Ghoneem, Mostafa, Al-Otibi, Arishi and Saber.)

Trichoderma hamatum strain Th23, isolated from tomato roots, was molecularly identified using phylogenetic analysis based on ITS , tef1 , and rpb2 gene sequences and evaluated for its efficiency in suppressing tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection for the first time. Under greenhouse conditions, the application of Th23 promoted tomato growth with significant increases in shoot and root parameters as well as improved total chlorophyll content. Compared to the nontreated tomato plants, the soil pretreatment of tomato plants 48 h before TMV inoculation produced a significant reduction in the TMV accumulation level by 84.69% and enhanced different growth parameters. In contrast, TMV had a deleterious impact on fresh and dry matter accumulation and inhibited photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, the protective activity of Th23 was associated with a significant increase in reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes (PPO, CAT, and SOD) as well as decreased nonenzymatic oxidative stress markers (H 2 O 2 and MDA) compared to the TMV treatment at 15 days post-viral inoculation (dpi). In addition, considerable increases in the transcriptional levels of polyphenolic genes ( HQT and CHS ) and pathogenesis-related proteins ( PR-1 and PR-7 ) were shown to induce systemic resistance against TMV. Consequently, the ability of T. hamatum strain Th23 to promote plant growth, induce systemic resistance, and boost innate immunity against TMV infestation supported the incorporation of Th23 as a potential biocontrol agent for managing plant viral infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the antiviral activity of T. hamatum against plant viral infection.