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Abstract Aporosa cardiosperma is a plant species majorly found in the Indian Western Ghats that belongs to the phyllanthaceae family with ethnobotanical importance. Using a Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) for evaluating leaf extracts of A. cardiosperma, significant functional groups and metabolite constituents were determined, and its total flavonoid, phenol, and tannin content were quantified. Further, its antibacterial efficacy was investigated against microorganisms that cause fish and human disease and are resistant to common antibiotics, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Regarding the outcomes of GC–MS analysis, the primary metabolites in the A. cardiosperma leaf extracts were heneicosane (57.06%), silane (13.60%), 1-heptadecene (10.09%), 3-hexadecene (9.99%), and pentadecane (9.54%). In comparison to other solvents, methanolic extract of A. cardiosperma leaves had increased phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content; these findings are consistent with in vitro antioxidant potential and obtained that the methanolic extract (100 µg/mL) exhibited the higher percentage of inhibition in DPPH (82.35%), FRAP (86.20%), metal chelating (72.32%), and ABTS (86.06%) antioxidant assays respectively. Similar findings were found regarding the antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria. Comparatively, to other extracts, methanolic extracts showed more significant antibacterial activity at a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (250 µg/mL), whilst ethyl acetate and hexane solvent extracts of A. cardiosperma leaves had higher MIC values 500 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL respectively. The antimicrobial potential was validated by investigating bacterial growth through the extracts acquired MICs and sub-MICs range. Bacterial growth was completely inhibited at the determined MIC range. In conclusion, A. cardiosperma leaf extract's phytochemical fingerprint has been determined, and its potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities were discovered. These findings of the current study will pave the way for developing herbal treatments from A. cardiosperma for various fish and human diseases.

Abstract A serious environmental problem that threatens soil quality, agricultural productivity, and food safety is heavy metal pollution in water sources. Heavy metal pollution is the main problem in tehsil Pasrur, Sialkot, Pakistan. Present study was arranged to notice the heavy metals in water, soil, forages and buffalo milk. There are seven sites that were used for this experiment. Highest malondialdehyde (MDA) contents (3.00 ± 0.01) were noticed in barseem roots at site 7. Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX) was reached at its peak (1.93 ± 0.01) at site 7 in the fresh barseem. Maximum protein contents (0.36 ± 0.01) were observed in fresh plant samples at site 2. Site 3's buffalo milk samples had the highest Ni content (7.22 ± 0.33 ppm), while Site 3's soil samples had the lowest Cr content (8.89 ± 0.56 ppm), Site 1's plant shoots had the lowest Cr content (27.75 ± 1.98 ppm), and Site 3's water had the highest Cr content (40.07 ± 0.49 ppm). The maximum fat content (5.38 ± 2.32%) was found in the milk of the animals at site 7. The highest density (31.88 ± 6.501%), protein content (3.64 ± 0.33%), lactose content (5.54 ± 0.320%), salt content (0.66 ± 0.1673%), and freezing point (− 0.5814 ± 0.1827 °C) were also observed in the milk from animals at site 7, whereas site 5 displayed the highest water content (0.66 ± 0.1673%) and peak pH value (11.64 ± 0.09). In selected samples, the pollution load index for Ni (which ranged from 0.01 to 1.03 mg/kg) was greater than 1. Site 7 has the highest conductivity value (5.48 ± 0.48). Values for the health risk index varied from 0.000151 to 1.00010 mg/kg, suggesting that eating tainted animal feed may pose health concerns. Significant health concerns arise from metal deposition in the food chain from soil to feed, with nickel having the highest health risk index.

Background: Pakistan’s economy largely depends on citrus cultivation, and citrus fruits generate significant foreign exchange. Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc) is the primary cause of citrus canker (CC), which poses a significant threat to the industry. The management of disease is made more difficult by the lack of resistant variants against different Xcc races. Understanding and addressing Xcc are critical for maintaining the industry given the economic reliance on citrus. Methods: In order to isolate Xcc in a lab, a thorough survey was conducted in the districts of Bahawalpur, Multan, and Dera Ghazi Khan to collect samples showing canker symptoms. Gram-negative bacteria were identified in the isolates by biochemical analysis, and Koch’s postulates confirmed Xcc as the CC causing agent. DNA extraction and sequencing were used in the molecular characterization, which confirmed the phylogenetic relationship with Xcc. Using the disc sensitivity method, nine antibiotics were tested at 300, 500, and 700 ppm concentrations to evaluate CC management. Amoxicillin was found to be highly effective in inhibiting the growth of Xcc colonies. Results: The study provided morphogenetic insights and established Xcc as the causal agent of CC. All strains matched Xcc in molecular characterization, but antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed inconsistent efficacy. Amoxicillin proved to be very effective at stopping the growth of Xcc colonies at every tested dosage. Conclusion: This study makes an important contribution to our understanding of XCC and helps the citrus industry develop better disease control plans. Future interventions against citrus canker can benefit greatly from the understanding provided by morphogenetic characterization and antibiotic sensitivity profiles. The discovery of amoxicillin’s high efficacy highlights the drug’s potential for treating diseases linked to Xcc. These results help to protect citrus growing, maintaining the viability of an important industry in Pakistan’s agricultural landscape.

In this study, we employed supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) treatment under varying conditions: low-pressure treatment at 30 MPa and high temperature at 80°C (LPHT group) and high-pressure treatment at 60 MPa and low temperature at 50°C (HPLT group) for nanocellulose isolation. The scCO2 treatment resulted in smaller particle sizes and enhanced crystallinity. Notably, HPLT exhibited superior efficiency compared to LPHT treatment. Utilizing temperatures and pressures above the critical point effectively penetrated natural fibers, reducing nanocellulose particle sizes. Moreover, high-pressure and low-temperature nanocellulose demonstrated the highest crystallinity and negative zeta potential values (78.2% and –32.4±4.01 mV), surpassing those of the low-pressure and high-temperature group (77.9% and 26.0±2.34 mV) and control (77.3% and 25.9±3.13 mV). The concentration of nanocellulose significantly impacted the porosity, pore size, and water absorption of the bioaerogel scaffolds, indicating the potential for sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches in material fabrication for diverse applications.

Abstract Background Water stress is a major danger to crop yield, hence new approaches to strengthen plant resilience must be developed. To lessen the negative effects of water stress on wheat plants, present study was arranged to investigate the role of synergistic effects of biochar, trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR), and Azospirillum brasilense on soil improvement and enzymatic activity in water-stressed wheat. Results In a three-replication experiment comprising of four treatments (T0: Control, T1: Drought stress (DS), T2: DS + t-ZR with biochar, T3: DS + A. brasilense with biochar), we observed notable improvements in soil quality and enzymatic activities in water-stressed wheat plants with the application of t-ZR and A. brasilense with biochar. In drought stress, Treatment having the application of A. brasilense with biochar performs best as compared to the other and significant increased the enzymatic activities such as peroxidase (7.36%), catalase (8.53%), superoxide dismutase (6.01%), polyphenol oxidase (14.14%), and amylase (16.36%) in wheat plants. Different enzymatic activities showed different trends of results. Soil organic C, dissolved organic C, dissolved organic N also enhanced 29.46%, 8.59%, 22.70% respectively with the application of A. brasilense with biochar under drought stress condition. Conclusions The synergistic action of A. brasilense and biochar creates an effective microbiological environment that supports essential plant physiological processes during drought stress. This enhancement is attributed to improved soil fertility and increased organic matter content, highlighting the potential of these novel strategies in mitigating water stress effects and enhancing crop resilience.

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs), as a novel source of Nano fertilizers in crop production. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) also have the potential to improve plant growth, but their effect on the wheat crop is not studied enough. Nothing is known about that how nTiO2 specifically effect on wheat crops especially with soil microbes and how much its dose is effective. Azospirillum brasilense is a promising bio-fertilizer that can be applied in combination with nano-fertilizers to increase crop productivity and can enhance the efficiency of other fertilizers. Methods: The present study was planned to investigate the role of different doses of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) with Azospirillum brasilense on the growth and physiology of wheat, having three replications. Eleven treatments were planned in the field condition (T0 = Control (No A. brasilense and No nTiO2), T1 = nTiO2 @20 mg/L, T2 = nTiO2 @20 mg/L + A. brasilense, T3 = nTiO2 @30 mg/L, T4 = nTiO2 @30 mg/L + A. brasilense, T5 = nTiO2 @40 mg/L, T6 = nTiO2 @40 mg/L + A. brasilense, T7 = nTiO2 @50 mg/L, T8 = nTiO2 @50 mg/L + A. brasilense, T9 = nTiO2 @60 mg/L, T10 = nTiO2 @60 mg/L + A. brasilense) having randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results: Results revealed that the individual application of A. brasilense showed significantly higher results in all treatments, but nTiO2 application shows a positive impact on wheat growth, yield, and physiological parameters when used in a lower concentration. nTiO2 @30 mg/L with A. brasilense gives the highest results as compared to all other treatments with the production of higher antioxidant enzymes, nutrient uptake, higher leaf area index, and photosynthesis. Use of nTiO2 @40 mg/L or with the higher dose negatively affects wheat crops, but with the A. brasilense application its negative effect control up to a certain level. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential advantages of combining A. brasilense with nTiO2, for the growth of wheat crops. While A. brasilense alone consistently produced favorable results, lesser doses of nTiO2 also showed promising results but with the combination of nTiO2 and A. brasilense @ 30 mg/L producing the greatest outcomes. The detrimental effects of excessive nanoscale titanium dioxide on plant growth and development, which may result in stress and physiological abnormalities in the plants, are probably the cause of the decrease in crop output at greater nTiO2 concentrations. However, care should be used while utilizing larger nTiO2 concentrations since they could harm wheat crop growth and yield.

ABSTRACTIn the current study, taro starch was extracted and used for the encapsulation of probiotics to prolong their viability under stressed conditions. Taro starch and sodium alginate were used as wall materials for the encapsulation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Probiotic bacteria were encapsulated by the extrusion method, and obtained microbeads were subjected to various morphological, molecular, and structural characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ;(FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Furthermore, the viability of free and encapsulated probiotics was also accessed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and in the food model (cheddar cheese). Average size microcapsules ranged from 6.16 ± 0.05 mm to 5.28 ± 0.03 mm. The encapsulation efficiency for taro and sodium alginate was recorded as 86.27% log CFU/g and 81.78% log CFU/g respectively. SEM micrographs exhibited entrapment of probiotics in wall materials. The surface of capsules was-irregular spherical structure FTIR spectra revealed broad characteristic peaks at 815 cm1, 1320 cm1, 1130 cm1, and ~ 1610 cm1. XRD images showed loss of crystalline structure following encapsulation. Higher probiotic viability was recorded under simulated gastrointestinal conditions for encapsulated probiotics compared to free probiotics. Likewise, a high probiotic count was observed in cheese fortified with encapsulated probiotics. Conclusively, taro starch wall material showed overall best results regarding the viability of probiotics under stressed conditions.

ABSTRACTFood fortification processes are used to improve the functional and dietary characteristics of the final product. The basic aim of the current study was to evaluate the ginger (Zingiber officinalis, Roscoe) fortification in yogurt and to improve its functionality. For this purpose, ginger at different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) was added to yogurt. The results showed a significant influence (p

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the iron-rich Nutri bar’s effect on iron-deficient females. Iron-rich Nutri-bars made with spinach powder and chickpea flour. The physicochemical profile of the bars was measured. Socioeconomic status and anthropometric data were taken for the effectiveness of the research. This effectiveness trial included 20 girls ages 20 to 25. After that, biochemical tests, including hemoglobin, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were conducted. Results showed that the iron-rich Nutri-bars (T3, 6.60) had more moisture than other treatments. T3 protein and fiber composition was 16.90% and 4.30%. In T3, crude fat and ash content were the lowest. All the proximate analyses of incorporated spinach powder and chickpea flour indicated a significant correlation (P > .005). A jury gave treatment T3 the highest score in overall acceptability. Iron and zinc concentrations were 13.2 and 5.9 mg/100 g in T3. Post-assessment height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) indicated a very significant (P > .005) connection compared to pre-assessment (P > .005). Selected young females' hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity were tested biochemically. After the intervention, the experimental group’s mean hemoglobin (HB) was 12.21 ± 1.14 g/dl (P > .005). Increasing patterns support the current study’s iron improvement. Serum ferritin exhibited similarly substantial outcomes. TIBC dropped when iron status increased. Conclusively, iron-rich nutri-bars supplemented with spinach leaf powder and chickpea flour increased iron status in young females.

The present study highlights the metal ions and existing drug ampicillin-loaded nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) coated on 316 stainless steel alloy (316LSS) using the electrodeposition method. In addition, the sample phase purity and crystallinity of the HAp composite coatings on 316LSS were analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy using the KBr pellet method. The coating microstructure/morphology was characterized using a scanning electron microscope, which showed a flower-like morphology with the attachment of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to confirm the major element groups in the synthesized sample. The TGA results showed that weight loss occurred in the temperature range of up to 800 °C for oxidation and reduction reactions. Additionally, the beat-optimized nanomaterial showed promising in vitro bioactivity against disease-causing microorganisms, displaying a significant zone of inhibition. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assessment using the MTT assay demonstrated that the synthesized samples effectively inhibited cell proliferation in human osteosarcoma cell lines (Saos-2). AO/EB double staining performed under a fluorescence microscope indicated changes in the morphology of the apoptotic cell nuclei. In addition, the relationship between ROS and nanomaterial-induced apoptosis in Saos-2 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. MMP (ΔѰmt) profiling showed that the HAp composite increased the effective mitochondrial membrane damage or depolarization in the human osteosarcoma cell line. Moreover, the TUNEL assay suggested that treated nanomaterial with Saos-2 cells showed enhanced green fluorescence intensity, indicating terminal DNA damage. The obtained results meet the recommended physiological standard for synthesized 316LSS HAp composites to guide bone tissue regeneration.

Abstract This study explores the fabrication of nanofibers using different types of gelatins, including bovine, porcine, and fish gelatins. The gelatins exhibited distinct molecular weights and apparent viscosity values, leading to different entanglement behavior and nanofiber production. The electrospinning technique produced nanofibers with diameters from 47 to 274 nm. The electrospinning process induced conformational changes, reducing the overall crystallinity of the gelatin samples. However, porcine gelatin nanofibers exhibited enhanced molecular ordering. These findings highlight the potential of different gelatin types to produce nanofibers with distinct physicochemical properties. Overall, this study sheds light on the relationship between gelatin properties, electrospinning process conditions, and the resulting nanofiber characteristics, providing insights for tailored applications in various fields.

The aim of the study is to develop an environmentally friendly development of isolating silver nanoparticles using Argyreia nervosa plant leaves and examine their potential pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. Various analytical techniques were employed to examine the isolated silver nanoparticles, encompassing UV spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, zeta potential measurement, and particle size determination. Furthermore, Argyreia nervosa-mediated silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, and good anti-diabetic activity. Argyreia nervosa-mediated nanoparticles showed a significant antibacterial activity against selected pathogens. The findings indicate that Argyreia nervosa demonstrates encouraging pharmacological properties. However, additional in vivo research focusing on molecular-level investigations is necessary to substantiate these findings and explore the potential of Argyreia nervosa-mediated silver nanoparticles as a viable drug for antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic purposes.

A change in the composition and dopant content of selective atoms in a material leads to their new desired properties by altering the structure, which can significantly improve the performance of relevant devices. By acknowledging this, we focused on characterizing the optoelectronic and structural properties of cadmium-substituted zinc selenide (Zn1-xCdxSe; 0 ≤ X ≤ 1) semiconductors using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), EV-GGA, and mBJ approximations. The results proved the cubic symmetry of the investigated materials at all Cd concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1). Although a linear surge in the lattice constant is observed with the change in Cd content, the bulk modulus exhibits a reverse trend. These materials are observed to be direct bandgap semiconductors at all Cd concentrations, with a decrease in electronic bandgap from 2.76 eV to 1.87 eV, and have isotropic optical properties, showing their potential applicability as a blue-to-red display. The fundamental optical properties of the materials, such as optical conductivity, reflectance, refractive index, absorption, and extinction coefficient, are also discussed. These outcomes provide a computational understanding of the diverse applications of Zn1-xCdxSe semiconductors in optoelectronic, photonic, and photovoltaic devices, particularly for a visible-range display.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most typical form of liver cancer. Apart from modern therapies, various natural chemical constituents have been tested for the treatment of HCC. However, the usage of the latter has declined due to their low bioavailability and stability. Objectives: Considering the above drawback’s, in this study, we describe a gelatin-syringic acid/ zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite for liver cancer treatment, which showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Methods: The hydrothermal method was used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticle and it was encapsulated with gelatin-syringic acid by coacervation technique. The nanocomposites were characterized by UV spec, FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDX, and DLS. The drug release profile of nanocomposite was studied by dialysis bag method, which exhibits a sustained drug release. Results: The antioxidant ability of nano-composite was studied by performing an ABTS and DPPH assay and the IC50 was recorded as 76.5 and 47.63 µg/mL, respectively. The anti-inflammatory potential was studied by assessing the ability of nanocomposite on denaturation of protein and the results exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition. The acute toxicity of nanocomposite tested on zebrafish liver and heart showed that it is non-toxic. Moreover, the nanocomposite inhibits the Hep G2 cell viability with an increasing concentration and it increases oxidative stress caused by the mitochondrial damage, which leads to cell death. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, gelatin-syringic acid/ZnO nanocomposite has been shown to possess antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus can be used against HCC.

Bupropion (Bup) belongs to the norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) class and it is the only FDA-approved drug of its class for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), sold under the name of Wellbutrin. Although bupropion is effective in suppressing the symptoms, its regular use and overdose might lead to seizures and liver failure. Thus, we aimed to nanoformulate bupropion onto a niosomal vesicle to improve its efficacy and achieve the same therapeutic effect at lower scheduled doses. A thin film hydration method was adopted to synthesize and optimize Bup entrapped niosomes using three different surfactants of the sorbitan ester series (Span 20, 40, and 60) in combination with cholesterol. The optimization data determined that the niosome formulated with a cholesterol-to-surfactant ratio of 1:1.5 is the most stable system, with the Bup entrapped niosomes containing Span 20 (Bup@N20C) exhibiting minimal in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and demonstrating the sustained release of Bup in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). The Bup@N20C formulation showed increased exploration activity and reduced irregular movements in reserpine-induced depression in the adult zebrafish model, suggesting the potential for mood improvement through the suppression of depression-like behavior which was established by statistical analysis and trajectory data. The Bup@N20C-treated group even surpasses the treatment effect of the positive control group and is comparable to the control group. Hence, it can be inferred that niosomal formulations of Bup represent a promising delivery system capable of achieving the brain delivery of the cargo by bypassing the blood–brain barrier facilitated by their small architectural structure.

BackgroundMicronutrient deficiencies including vitamin A, vitamin D, and zinc are highly prevalent in children below 5 years of age in low and –middle-income countries. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ready-to-use Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement—Medium Quantity (LNS-MQ) local name “Wawa-mum” on plasma micronutrient status, hemoglobin concentration and anthropometric measurements.MethodsA community-based non-randomized trial was conducted in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from January 2018 to June 2019. A total of 110 children aged 6 to 23 months old were recruited and allocated to the intervention and control arm of the study. A total of 57 children in the intervention arm received a daily ration of 50 g of Wawa-mum, for one year. To assess the impact of the intervention on primary outcome measures, i.e., serum vitamin A, D concentration, plasma zinc, and hemoglobin concentration. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after one year following the intervention. The vitamins concentration in serum were assessed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and plasma zinc by atomic absorption spectrometry. The hemoglobin concentration was measured by an automated hematology analyzer. A 24-h dietary recall interview was used to assess the nutrient intake adequacy. Multivariate Linear regression models were used to analyze the outcomes while controlling for potential confounders.ResultsIn the intervention arm, children had on average 6.2 μg/dL (95% CI 3.0–9.3, value of p

Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of twenty (20) duck samples were brought up for four months and 13 days on the banks of the river, with no food intake outside the river. When they reached an average weight of 2.41 ± 0.53 kg, all samples were sacrificed, dissected, and transported in an ice box to the laboratory for further analysis. After sample preparation, such as digestion with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), density separation, filtration, and identification, the MP content was counted. A total of 2033 MP particles were recovered from 20 ducks with a mean value of 44.6 ± 15.8 MPs/crop and 57.05 ± 18.7 MPs/gizzard. MPs detected in surface water were 31.2 ± 15.5 MPs/L. The major shape types of MPs recovered were fragments in crop (67%) and gizzard (58%) samples and fibers in surface water (56%). Other types of particles recovered were fibers, sheets, and foams. The majority of these detected MP particles were in the size range of 300–500 µm (63%) in crops, and 50–150 µm (55%) in gizzards, while in water samples the most detected particles were in the range of 150–300 µm (61%). Chemical characterization by FTIR found six types of polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) had the greatest polymer detection rate (39.2%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (28.3%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (22.7%), polystyrene (6.6%), co-polymerized polypropylene (2.5%), and polypropylene homopolymer (0.7%). This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the crops and gizzards of ducks, as well as in river surface water. The results revealed the significant and pervasive occurrence of microplastics in both the avian digestive systems and the surrounding water environment. These findings highlight the potential threat of microplastic pollution to wildlife and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies to address this pressing environmental concern.

In the current study, whey protein-based nanofibers were fabricated to encapsulate Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Purposely, different ratios of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) and WPI (whey protein isolate) were blended to fabricate nanofibers. Nanofiber mats were characterized in terms of particle size, diameter, tensile strength, elongation at break, and loading efficiency. Morphological and molecular characterizations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Moreover, in vitro viability under simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and thermal stability were also assessed. The results reveal that by increasing the PVA concentration, the conductivity increased while the viscosity decreased. SEM micrographs showed that probiotics were successfully loaded within the nanofiber. The FTIR spectra show strong bonding between the encapsulating materials with the addition of probiotics. In vitro and thermal analyses revealed that the survival of encapsulated probiotics significantly (p < 0.05) improved. In a nutshell, PVA–WPI composite nanofibers have promising potential when used to enhance the viability and stability of probiotics under adverse conditions.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most dreadful pathogens relevant in community and nosocomial-related infections around the world. Resensitising MRSA to antibiotics, once it became resistant, was a tough choice due to the high adaptability of this bacteria to savage conditions. This study aimed to create a chimeric enzybiotic against MRSA and test its efficiency, either individually or in combination with antibiotics. The novel enzybiotic BAC100 was constructed by fusing the catalytic domain from the bacteriocin BacL1 from Enterococcus faecalis with the cell-wall-binding domain from protein P17 of Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage ϕ44AHJD. Apart from its partial lone activity, BAC100 was found to resensitise the MRSA strain to traditional antibiotics, including ampicillin and tetracycline. Both drugs were able to reduce live MRSA cells by 85 and 90%, respectively, within 60 min of treatment together with BAC100. However, no significant activity was observed against MRSA when these drugs were tested independently, pointing to the inherent resistance of MRSA against these conventional antibiotics. To our knowledge, this is one of the first instances where an engineered enzybiotic was found to resensitise MRSA to conventional antibiotics. This study will pave the way for the development of similar peptides that can be used together with antibiotics against gruesome pathogens of clinical importance.

This study seeks to enhance bilayer membranes using a combination of chitosan and sodium alginate (CS/SA) with phytochemical compounds extracted from olive leaves (CS/SA-OLE), intended for use as a skin dressing. Olive leaf extracts (OLE) were sustainably obtained and showed a phenolic composition of 114.49 mgGAE·g−1 and antioxidant activity of 94.25%. CS/AS and CS/SA-OLE were prepared using the casting method. The results showed that the addition of OLE improved the mechanical and barrier properties of the membranes. The elongation at break increased from 9.99 to 14.68%, and the water transmission rate reduced from 2207.78 to 2094.33 (g·m−2·24 h−1) after the addition of OLE. The FTIR spectra showed functional groups of phenolic compounds, and the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of OLE improved the thermal stability of the membranes. In addition, the CS/SA-OLE membranes showed active potential with inhibition halos (12.19 mm) against the microorganism Escherichia coli. The membranes generated in this research, particularly those with the addition of natural extracts, exhibit significant promise for utilization as wound dressings.

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are on the rise around the world. Chronic infections caused by these pathogens through biofilm mediation often complicate the situation. In natural settings, biofilms are often formed with different species of bacteria existing synergistically or antagonistically. Biofilms on diabetic foot ulcers are formed predominantly by two opportunistic pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Bacteriophages and phage-based proteins, including endolysins, have been found to be active against biofilms. In this study, we evaluated the activity of two engineered enzybiotics either by themselves or as a combination against a dual biofilm formed by S. aureus and E. faecalis in an inert glass surface. An additive effect in rapidly disrupting the preformed dual biofilm was observed with the cocktail of proteins, in comparison with mono treatment. The cocktail-treated biofilms were dispersed by more than 90% within 3 h of treatment. Apart from biofilm disruption, bacterial cells embedded in the biofilm matrix were also effectively reduced by more than 90% within 3 h of treatment. This is the first instance where a cocktail of engineered enzybiotics has been effectively used to impede the structural integrity of a dual biofilm.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci is a great concern encountered worldwide. Almost all enterococci exhibit significant levels of resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, semi-synthetic penicillin and most cephalosporins, primarily due to the expression of low-affinity penicillin-binding proteins. The development of new and novel antibacterial agents against enterococci is a significant need of the hour. In this research, we have constructed a modular peptide against Enterococcus faecalis. The enzymatic domain of the constructed peptide BP404 is from the bacteriocin BacL1 and the cell wall binding domain from endolysin PlyV12 of phage ϕ1. The protein BP404 was found to be active against two tested strains of Enterococcus faecalis, with a reduction in cell density amounting to 85% and 65%. The cell wall binding assay confirms the binding of the protein to Enterococcus faecalis, which was not seen towards the control strain Escherichia coli, invariably pointing to the specificity of BP404. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first instances of the development of a chimeric peptide against Enterococcus faecalis. This study points out that novel proteins can be genetically engineered against clinically relevant enterococci.

Camptothetin (CPT) is a quinoline alkaloid originally isolated from the Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata Decne. CPT was found to have anticancerous and antiviral properties. Derivatives of natural CPT, including topothecan and irinotecan are used clinically to treat a variety of cancers. Apart from Camptotheca acuminata Decne, CPT production was also found in the perennial plant Ophiorrhiza mungos. In this study we attempted the immobilization of the tissue culture grown callus of Ophiorrhiza mungos for the continuous production of a higher concentration of CPT. As evident from previous studies about the antiviral effects of CPT, we wanted to bioinformatically analyze the binding potential of CPT towards two important proteins of SARS-CoV-2, protease (Mpro) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Further docking analysis of the CPT against the exterior spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 was also done to determine their potential interaction. The immobilized callus of Ophiorrhiza mungos produced CPT at a concentration of 420 µg/l by the end of 12 days of growth. The HPLC analysis was done to determine the purity of the CPT synthesized by the immobilization technique. The bioinformatic analysis revealed a higher binding efficiency of CPT and its derivatives, toptecan and irinotecan against Mpro and RdRp. The docking analysis of CPT against the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 showed hydrogen bonding with the amino acids at K466 with a bond distance of 2.56A° and K355 with a bond distance of 2.40A°. This finding was of particular importance that other compounds including hydroxychloroquine sulphate, lopinavir and ivermectin could bind with the spike protein only by weak Vander wall bonds and no hydrogen bond formation was noticed. Our studies hence evaluate the efficiency of CPT against SARS-CoV-2, by potentially blocking the interaction of the spike glycoprotein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor found on host cells.

Objective: The current study designed to investigate the protective efficacy of maslinic acid (MA) and gallic acid (GA) against isoproterenol (ISO) administered cardiac toxicity in rats by exploring in vivo and in silico approaches. Methods: The animals were divided into five different groups. The individual animal groups were orally pretreated with MA (15 mg/kg) and GA ((15 mg/kg) for 7 days and ISO administered subcutaneously on 8th and 9th days to induce MI. Blood, heart and liver were collected from sacrificed animals and used for biochemical analysis. Results: The results represented significant decrease in the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein lipase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase whereas significant increase in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and HMG-CoA reductase in ISO (85 mg/kg) treated rats. However, pretreatment of ISO treated rats with MA and GA markedly brought all the parameters such as lipids, lipoproteins and lipid metabolic marker enzymes to near normal level indicating the ameliorating effect of MA and GA against MI. Further, the investigation extended to in silico analysis to study the interaction of MA and GA with the key lipid metabolizing enzymes by using Gold 3.0.1 software. The molecular docking studies revealed that HMG-CoA reductase, LPL and LCAT formed strong enzyme ligand complexes with MA and GA. Conclusions: MA and GA exhibited protective efficacy against ISO administered cardiotoxicity and the results further supported by molecular docking studies.

The transition metal-based catalysts for the elimination of greenhouse gases via methane reforming using carbon dioxide are directly or indirectly associated with their distinguishing characteristics such as well-dispersed metal nanoparticles, a higher number of reducible species, suitable metal–support interaction, and high specific surface area. This work presents the insight into catalytic performance as well as catalyst stability of CexSr1−xNiO3 (x = 0.6–1) nanocrystalline perovskites for the production of hydrogen via methane reforming using carbon dioxide. Strontium incorporation enhances specific surface area, the number of reducible species, and nickel dispersion. The catalytic performance results show that CeNiO3 demonstrated higher initial CH4 (54.3%) and CO2 (64.8%) conversions, which dropped down to 13.1 and 19.2% (CH4 conversions) and 26.3 and 32.5% (CO2 conversions) for Ce0.8Sr0.2NiO3 and Ce0.6Sr0.4NiO3, respectively. This drop in catalytic conversions post strontium addition is concomitant with strontium carbonate covering nickel active sites. Moreover, from the durability results, it is obvious that CeNiO3 exhibited deactivation, whereas no deactivation was observed for Ce0.8Sr0.2NiO3 and Ce0.6Sr0.4NiO3. Carbon deposition during the reaction is mainly responsible for catalyst deactivation, and this is further established by characterizing spent catalysts.

Development of multidrug antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a predicament encountered worldwide. Researchers are in a constant hunt to develop effective antimicrobial agents to counter these dreadful pathogenic bacteria. Here we describe a chimerically engineered multimodular enzybiotic to treat a clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The cell wall binding domain of phage ϕ11 endolysin was replaced with a truncated and more potent cell wall binding domain from a completely unrelated protein from a different phage. The engineered enzybiotic showed strong activity against clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In spite of a multimodular peptidoglycan cleaving catalytic domain, the engineered enzybiotic could not exhibit its activity against a veterinary isolate of S. aureus. Our studies point out that novel antimicrobial proteins can be genetically engineered. Moreover, the cell wall binding domain of the engineered protein is indispensable for a strong binding and stability of the proteins.

In order to establish the effective application of materials in a particular area, it is important to first investigate the physical and chemical properties, such as the crystallinity, structure, and the optical and surface properties. The objective of the present study is to fabricate thermally stable pyrochlore oxides, namely, lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7, LZ) and Ni-doped lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr1.5Ni0.5O7, LZN) by the solid-state and sol-gel methods. The effects of the preparation and substitution of Zr4+ by Ni2+ for the resulting nanocrystalline samples were characterized in terms of structure, purity, porosity, the thermal and optical properties, and photoluminescence by different techniques: XRD, FT-IR, BET, EDS, TG-DTG, UV-Vis-DRS, and PL. The XRD results confirm that the pyrochlores prepared via the sol-gel method (LZ-sg and LZN-sg) had a cubic unit-cell lattice, whereas the solid-state method (LZ-s and LZN-s) had impurities of the oxides. The XRD patterns, LZ-sg and LZN-sg, were further treated with the Rietveld technique. The textural measurements reveal that LZ-sg had a higher BET surface area compared to LZN-sg. In addition, the substitution of Zr4+ by the Ni2+ ion provides rational evidence for the improvement in the oxygen mobility, as well as the optical and photoluminescence properties through the lowering of the optical band energy and the electron–hole pairs.

The development of a transition-metal-based catalyst with concomitant high activity and stability due to its distinguishing characteristics, yielding an abundance of active sites, is considered to be the bottleneck for the dry reforming of methane (DRM). This work presents the catalytic activity and durability of SrNiO3 and CeNiO3 perovskites for syngas production via DRM. CeNiO3 exhibits a higher specific surface area, pore volume, number of reducible species, and nickel dispersion when compared to SrNiO3. The catalytic activity results demonstrate higher CH4 (54.3%) and CO2 (64.8%) conversions for CeNiO3, compared to 22% (CH4 conversion) and 34.7% (CO2 conversion) for SrNiO3. The decrease in catalytic activity after replacing cerium with strontium is attributed to a decrease in specific surface area and pore volume, and nickel active sites covered with strontium carbonate. The stability results reveal the deactivation of both the catalysts (SrNiO3 and CeNiO3) but SrNiO3 showed more deactivation than CeNiO3, as demonstrated by deactivation factors. The catalyst deactivation is mainly attributed to carbon deposition and these findings are verified by characterizing the spent catalysts.

Recent studies identified a 5´ to 3´ exoribonuclease termed Sso-RNase J in the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso), which has been reclassified to the aCPSF2 (archaeal cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 2) group of β-CASP proteins. In this study, the Sso-aCPSF2 orthologue of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (Saci-aCPSF2) was functionally characterized. Like Sso-aCPSF2, Saci-aCPSF2 degrades RNA with 5´ to 3´ directionality in vitro. To address the biological significance of Saci-aCPSF2, a deletion mutant was constructed, and the influence of Saci-aCPSF2 on the transcriptome profile was assessed employing high throughput RNA sequencing. This analysis revealed 560 genes with differential transcript abundance, suggesting a considerable role of this enzyme in RNA metabolism. In addition, bioinformatic analyses revealed several transcripts that are preferentially degraded at the 5´ end. This was exemplarily verified for two transcripts by Northern-blot analyses, showing for the first time that aCPSF2 proteins play a role in 5' to 3' directional mRNA decay in the crenarchaeal clade of Archaea.

Despite of the high resolution structure available for the E. coli ribosome, hitherto the structure and localization of the essential ribosomal protein S1 on the 30 S subunit still remains to be elucidated. It was previously reported that protein S1 binds to the ribosome via protein-protein interaction at the two N-terminal domains. Moreover, protein S2 was shown to be required for binding of protein S1 to the ribosome. Here, we present evidence that the N-terminal domain of S1 (amino acids 1-106; S1(106)) is necessary and sufficient for the interaction with protein S2 as well as for ribosome binding. We show that over production of protein S1(106) affects E. coli growth by displacing native protein S1 from its binding pocket on the ribosome. In addition, our data reveal that the coiled-coil domain of protein S2 (S2α(2)) is sufficient to allow protein S1 to bind to the ribosome. Taken together, these data uncover the crucial elements required for the S1/S2 interaction, which is pivotal for translation initiation on canonical mRNAs in gram-negative bacteria. The results are discussed in terms of a model wherein the S1/S2 interaction surface could represent a possible target to modulate the selectivity of the translational machinery and thereby alter the translational program under distinct conditions.