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Abstract Background This research explores the efficacy of mutagenesis, specifically using sodium azide (SA) and hydrazine hydrate (HZ) treatments, to introduce genetic diversity and enhance traits in three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. The experiment entails subjecting the seeds to different doses of SA and HZ and cultivating them in the field for two consecutive generations: M1 (first generation) and M2 (second generation). We then employed selective breeding techniques with Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers to select traits within the wheat gene pool. Also, the correlation between SCoT markers and specific agronomic traits provides insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying mutagenesis-induced changes in wheat. Results In the study, eleven genotypes were derived from parent varieties Sids1, Sids12, and Giza 168, and eight mutant genotypes were selected from the M1 generation and further cultivated to establish the M2 generation. The results revealed that various morphological and agronomical characteristics, such as plant height, spikes per plant, spike length, spikelet per spike, grains per spikelet, and 100-grain weight, showed increases in different genotypes from M1 to M2. SCoT markers were employed to assess genetic diversity among the eleven genotypes. The bioinformatics analysis identified a correlation between SCoT markers and the transcription factors ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and VIVIPAROUS1 (VP1), crucial for plant development, growth, and stress adaptation. A comprehensive examination of genetic distance and the function identification of gene-associated SCoT markers may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms by which SA and HZ act as mutagens, enhancing wheat agronomic qualities. Conclusions This study demonstrates the effective use of SA and HZ treatments to induce gene diversity through mutagenesis in the wheat gene pool, resulting in the enhancement of agronomic traits, as revealed by SCoT markers. The significant improvements in morphological and agronomical characteristics highlight the potential of mutagenesis techniques for crop improvement. These findings offer valuable information for breeders to develop effective breeding programs to enhance wheat quality and resilience through increased genetic diversity.

Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for complicated UTIs and exhibits high antibiotic resistance, leading to increased mortality rates, especially in cases of multidrug-resistant strains. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genomic characterization of XDR strains identified in end-stage liver disease patients who underwent liver transplants. Methods In this study, a number of 30 individuals who underwent liver transplants were registered. Ninety urine and 60 wound site swab samples were collected and processed for culturing, identification, and antimicrobial sensitivity. Extensively drug-resistant strain EMARA01 was confirmed through Sanger sequencing and was then processed for whole genome sequencing to characterize the genomic pattern. Sequencing data were processed for de novo assembly using various tools and databases, including genome annotation, serotype identification, virulence factor genes, and antimicrobial resistance gene. Pangenome analysis of randomly selected 147 reference strains and EMAR01 sequenced strain was performed using the Bacterial Pan Genome Analysis (BPGA) software. Results Of these total examined samples, nosocomial infection due to P. aeruginosa was detected in twelve patients’ samples. AST analysis showed that P. aeruginosa strains exhibit resistance to tobramycin, erythromycin, and gentamicin, followed by piperacillin and ofloxacin, and no strains exhibit resistance to meropenem and imipenem. The CARD database identified 59 AMR genes similar to the EMAR01 strain genome and mostly belong to the family involved in the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) antibiotic efflux pump. Five genes; nalC, nalD, MexR, MexA, and MexB, exhibit resistance to 14 classes of antibiotics, while two AMR; CpxR, and OprM, exhibit resistance to 15 classes of drugs. Pangenome analysis revealed that the pan-genome remained open, suggesting the potential for acquiring accessory and unique genes. Notably, the genes predominantly involved in amino acid transport metabolism were identified using the KEGG database. Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into the antimicrobial resistance profile, genetic features, and genomic evolution of P. aeruginosa strains causing UTIs in liver transplant patients. The findings emphasize the significance of comprehending AMR mechanisms and genetic diversity in P. aeruginosa for developing effective treatment strategies and infection control measures.

IntroductionCarbohydrate compounds serve multifaceted roles, from energy sources to stress protectants, found across diverse organisms including bacteria, fungi, and plants. Despite this broad importance, the molecular genetic framework underlying carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways, such as starch, sucrose, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis in Salvia guaranitica, remains largely unexplored.MethodsIn this study, the Illumina-HiSeq 2500 platform was used to sequence the transcripts of S. guaranitica leaves, generating approximately 8.2 Gb of raw data. After filtering and removing adapter sequences, 38 million reads comprising 210 million high-quality nucleotide bases were obtained. De novo assembly resulted in 75,100 unigenes, which were annotated to establish a comprehensive database for investigating starch, sucrose, and glycolysis biosynthesis. Functional analyses of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (SgGPI), trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/phosphatase (SgT6PS), and sucrose synthase (SgSUS) were performed using transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.ResultsAmong the unigenes, 410 were identified as putatively involved in these metabolic pathways, including 175 related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and 235 to starch and sucrose biosynthesis. Overexpression of SgGPI, SgT6PS, and SgSUS in transgenic A. thaliana enhanced leaf area, accelerated flower formation, and promoted overall growth compared to wild-type plants.DiscussionThese findings lay a foundation for understanding the roles of starch, sucrose, and glycolysis biosynthesis genes in S. guaranitica, offering insights into future metabolic engineering strategies for enhancing the production of valuable carbohydrate compounds in S. guaranitica or other plants.

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have a unique mode of action as antibacterial agents in addition to their anticancer and antioxidant properties. In this study, microbial nanotechnology is employed to synthesize Ag-NPs using the cell filtrate of Streptomyces enissocaesilis BS1. The synthesized Ag-NPs are confirmed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, the effects of different factors on Ag-NPs synthesis were evaluated to set the optimum synthesis conditions. Also, the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anticancer activity of Ag-NPs was assessed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the sample and validated that the crystal structure under consideration is a face-centered cubic (FCC) pattern. The TEM examination displayed the spherical particles of the Ag-NPs and their average size, which is 32.2 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed significant changes in functionality after silver nanoparticle dispersion, which could be attributed to the potency of the cell filtrate of Streptomyces enissocaesilis BS1 to act as both a reducing agent and a capping agent. The bioactivity tests showed that our synthesized Ag-NPs exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against different pathogenic strains. Also, when the preformed biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Salmonella typhi ATCC 12023, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6598 were exposed to Ag NPs 50 mg/ml for 24 hours, the biofilm biomass was reduced by 10.7, 34.6, 34.75, and 39.08%, respectively. Furthermore, the Ag-NPs showed in vitro cancer-specific sensitivity against human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines and colon cancer cell line Caco-2, and the IC50 was 0.160 mg/mL and 0.156 mg/mL, respectively. The results of this study prove the ease and efficiency of the synthesis of Ag-NPs using actinomycetes and demonstrate the significant potential of these Ag-NPs as anticancer and antibacterial agents.

Salvia guaranitica is considered one of the most significant medicinal and aromatic herbs in terms of nutritional and medical benefits due to its wealth of important active components. Among these compounds, terpenoids are the most prominent and abundant, particularly monoterpenes (C10), sesquiterpenes (C15), and diterpenes (C20). They are biologically advantageous to plants and perform a multitude of functions. The current study aimed to clone the S. guaranitica gene that encodes for geranyllinalool synthases (SgGES, EC: 4.2.3.144), with consideration for these features. The open reading frame of the 867-amino-acid protein encoded by SgGES consists of 2.721 base pairs. In addition, the SgGES protein has five domains that belong to the terpene synthase family, which are related to the terpene and terpenoid synthase domains. We manipulated and overexpressed the SgGES gene in Nicotiana tabacum to explore its function. When compared to the GUS control, the transgenic N. tabacum plants displayed an increase in leaf production and diameter when compared with the wild-type plants. Finally, analysis of transgenic plants using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that SgGES is responsible for producing various terpene species, especially diterpenes.

Abstract Background Since the root nodules formation is regulated by specific and complex interactions of legume and rhizobial genes, there are still too many questions to be answered about the role of the genes involved in the regulation of the nodulation signaling pathway. Results The genetic and biological roles of the isoflavone-7-O-beta-glucoside 6″-O-malonyltransferase gene GsIMaT2 from wild soybean (Glycine soja) in the regulation of nodule and root growth in soybean (Glycine max) were examined in this work. The effect of overexpressing GsIMaT2 from G. soja on the soybean nodulation signaling system and strigolactone production was investigated. We discovered that the GsIMaT2 increased nodule numbers, fresh nodule weight, root weight, and root length by boosting strigolactone formation. Furthermore, we examined the isoflavone concentration of transgenic G. max hairy roots 10 and 20 days after rhizobial inoculation. Malonyldaidzin, malonylgenistin, daidzein, and glycitein levels were considerably higher in GsMaT2-OE hairy roots after 10- and 20-days of Bradyrhizobium japonicum infection compared to the control. These findings suggest that isoflavones and their biosynthetic genes play unique functions in the nodulation signaling system in G. max. Conclusions Finally, our results indicate the potential effects of the GsIMaT2 gene on soybean root growth and nodulation. This study provides novel insights for understanding the epistatic relationship between isoflavones, root development, and nodulation in soybean. Highlights * Cloning and Characterization of 7-O-beta-glucoside 6″-O-malonyltransferase (GsIMaT2) gene from wild soybean (G. soja). * The role of GsIMaT2 gene in the regulation of root nodule development. *Overexpression of GsMaT2 gene increases the accumulation of isoflavonoid in transgenic soybean hairy roots. * This gene could be used for metabolic engineering of useful isoflavonoid production.

Salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces the seed germination and productivity of wheat. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of irrigation with magnetically treated seawater on the germination, growth, certain physiological and anatomical parameters, and production attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Sakha 93 plants. Experiments were conducted in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Egypt, during two consecutive winter seasons. Pot experiments involved ten treatments with non-magnetized and magnetized water with various degrees of salinity. Plant samples were taken 95 days after sowing. Irrigation with magnetically treated seawater was found to have beneficial effects on plant growth, water relations, biochemical characteristics, and yield components compared with untreated plants. The germination of wheat seeds increased 13% when treated with magnetic seawater. On the yield scale, the spike length was increased by 40% in season one, and 82% in season two when compared to the control, while the weight of 100 grains increased by 148% and 171%, in each season, respectively, when treated with magnetic water. The anatomical leaf and stem parameters of the plants were markedly improved by watering with magnetically treated seawater at 10 dS m−1 compared to the control. However, the leaf water deficit, transpiration rate, and abscisic acid content in the plant shoots decreased significantly (p

Diseases and epidemics in the current days need new types of antibiotics in order to be able to eliminate them. The goal of this research is to use metagenomics to identify isolated utilitarian gene (s) as antimicrobial specialists. Collection of diverse locations from sea sediment samples from Alexandria and extraction of total DNA, restriction enzyme fragmentation, cloning into pUC19 vector, and expression of the isolated gene(s) in E. coli DH5α were all part of the process. Characterization of Antimicrobial agent was done for the best clone for antimicrobial agent's production to detect efficiency, optimum pH, thermal stability, pH stability, effect of different compounds on antimicrobial activity, and residual activity of product after preservation in room temperature. Amino acid sequence of RSMM C3 gene (1250 bp) was 72% identity with Herbaspirillum sp. The ideal temperature level of the RSMM C3 antimicrobial agent production was 36 °C. The antimicrobial agent RSMM C3′s stability was stable at -20 °Celsius for up to two months without thawing. The antibacterial agent RSMM C3 was stable at 4 °C for 14 days without loss in activity. The ideal pH level of the RSMM C3 antimicrobial agent was 6. Remain activity was gradually decreased at pH 5, 6, 6.5 and 7 (86.1, 96.9, 97.2 and 94.9%, respectively). On the other hand, residual activity was (92 and 84%) at (pH 7.5 and 8) for 8 days. The tested antimicrobial RSMM C3 was stable against 1 mM of different compounds (DMSO, Glycerol, NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, ZnCl2, FeSO4, MnSO4 and CuSO4). The research provides for the Metagenomics technique that has the ability for the production of novel antimicrobial agents produced by clone RSMM C3 which has a wide spectrum activity towards different microorganisms comparing to other antibiotics as Ampicillin and Tetracycline.

Inorganic structures with functionalized polymers play essential roles in diverse biological trends. Herein, thermal and CO2 dual-stimuli nanomaterials composed of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) anchored with two grafted copolymers: poly(3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane) “PMPS” & poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) “PDMAEMA” were synthesized via one-step reaction and characterized by BET as well as BJH methods to estimate pore sizes, pore volumes, and surface areas. The smart PDMAEMA acted as an active gatekeeper to adjust the loading or in vitro release processes of a fungicidal drug-loaded inside the mesopores by altering temperature or CO2 of the tested environment. Furthermore, treating the nanomaterials by CO2 for a few minutes was found to have a bactericidal effect with promising results as indicated by the disk diffusion technique. In general, the positive biological activity against selected strains of bacteria and fungi indicates that these particles may be helpful for engineering more efficient antifungal or antibacterial agents for pharmaceutical applications.

Lake Mariout is Egypt’s degraded coastal marine habitat that encompasses a variety of wastes. The biodiversity and hard environmental conditions allow the co-existence of organisms with high resistance and rich metabolism, making them potential candidates for screening and isolating novel microbial strains. A bacterial isolate (BF202) cultured from the marine sediments of Alexandria’s Mariout Lake (Egypt) was tested for its antimicrobial and anticancer potential. The phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strain’s 16S rDNA and gyrB revealed that BF202 belongs to Brevibacillus laterosporus (B. laterosporus). Antibiosis of B. laterosporus was confirmed against microbial pathogens including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus. The highest antibacterial activity was detected on glucose peptone medium after 18 h of incubation at 35 °C, and at pH of 7.0 in the presence of mannose and ammonium carbonate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract against breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal Vero cell lines, using the MTT test, revealed IC50 values of 7.93 and 23.79 µg/mL, respectively. To identify apoptotic and necrotic cells, a flow cytometric analysis using annexin V-FITC/PI dual-labeling was utilized and recorded a higher number of necrotic cells compared to apoptotic ones. Similarly, the cell cycle S-phase arrest was reported. The LC-MS-MS investigation of B. laterosporus extract and the molecular networking database analysis demonstrated five strategic diketopiperazine compounds with antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Taken together, this research shows that the crude extract of B. laterosporus might be an effective agent against drug-resistant bacteria and malignant disorders due to its richness in diketopiperazines.

Remorins (REMs) are plant-specific proteins that play an essential role in plant–microbe interactions. However, their roles in vernalization and abiotic stress responses remain speculative. Most remorins have a variable proline-rich -half and a more conserved -half that is predicted to form coils. A search of the wheat ( L.) database revealed the existence of 20 different genes, which we classified into six groups on the basis of whether they shared a common phylogenetic and structural origin. Analysis of the physical genomic distributions demonstrated that genes are dispersed in the wheat genome and have one to seven introns. Promoter analysis of genes revealed the presence of putative -elements related to diverse functions like development, hormonal regulation, and biotic and abiotic stress responsiveness. Expression levels of genes were measured in plants grown under field and controlled conditions and in response to hormone treatment. Our analyses revealed that 12 members of the REM family are regulated during cold acclimation in wheat in four different tissues (roots, crowns, stems, and leaves), with the highest expression in roots. Differential gene expression was found between wheat cultivars with contrasting degrees of cold tolerance, suggesting the implication of genes in cold response and tolerance. Additionally, eight genes were induced in response to abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate treatment. This genome-wide analysis of genes provides valuable resources for functional analysis aimed at understanding their role in stress adaptation.