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Human health is threatened worldwide by microbial infections. Antibiotic overuse and misuse have resulted in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. To battle such resistant microbes, we are looking for safe and alternative antimicrobial treatments, and the advent of nanotechnology holds promise in this regard. Metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as a promising alternative source for combating bacteria resistant to various antibiotics over the last two decades. Due to their diverse physicochemical characteristics, metal oxide nanoparticles can operate as antibacterial agents through various methods. In the present research, six types of metal oxide NPs were synthesized and characterized (XRD, FTIR, SEM with EDAX, and TEM) from different plants such as Hydrangea paniculata (for NiO NP synthesis), Plectranthus amboinicus (for ZnO-NP synthesis), and Andrographis paniculata (V2O5 NPs). On the other hand, drug-resistant pathogens were isolated from clinical samples, those who suffered from foodborne illness. V2O5 NPs produced from Andrographis paniculata plant extract have much higher bactericidal efficacy than other metal oxide NPs against all three bacterial strains. Sensitive bacteria included S. aureus and E. coli, followed by K. pneumoniae. As a result, structural characterization was used to further screen V2O5 NPs. The orthorhombic structure of the crystallites was confirmed by XRD, with an average crystallite size of 20 nm. The absorbance spectrum and functional groups were identified using UV-visible spectral analysis and FTIR. SEM and EDX identified spherical-shaped NPs, and particle size (58 nm) was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As a result, we hypothesized that bioinspired V2O5-NPs could be employed as a possible antibacterial agent against drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria to replace currently existing inefficient antibacterial drugs.

In the present study, thirty two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fermented Indian herbal medicine. In comparison to other strains, MNL5 had stronger bile salt hydrolase (BSH) and cholesterol-lowering properties. Furthermore, it can withstand the extreme conditions found in the GI tract, due to, e.g., pepsin, bile salts, pancreatin, and acids.

The face mask introduction in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation, one of the precautionary measure to reduce the rate of transmission of infection from person to person. There are many type of of face masks enter into our global market with various size and designs. Among those, surgical mask belongs to secure an important place and this aimed to evaluate the degrading efficiency disposable face masks (single use face masks). The present study dealt with, biodegradation of face masks which is made of polypropylene with the help of bacterial strainPesudomonasaeruginosaisolated from the plastic waste dumping sites in an around the Tiruchirappalli, India. The bacteriacould degrade PP mask via the formation of biofilm on a solid medium. To degrade the PP, the mask pieces were incubated with the culture of P. aeruginosain three different solid and liquid medium (nutrient agar, Bushnell Haas agar and mineral salt medium) for 30 days at 37ᵒC. The microbial degradation(up to 33% of weight reduction of PP films within 30 days) was proved by surface changes along with the variation in the intensity of functional groups as well as carbonyl index variations using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. These results suggested that P.aeruginosa strain can prove to be a suitable candidate for polypropylene mask biodegradation without causing any impairment to our health or environment.

Filamentous fungi are a major source of industrial biotechnology due to their applicability in productions of primary and secondary metabolites, enzymes, and recombinant proteins. Trichoderma strains are widely used in various agricultural and industrial applications. Recent development in molecular tools is capable of modifying the genetic material of the fungus to increase the primary production of metabolites. Therefore, understanding of the genetic pathways involved in the metabolites synthesis significantly related to the expression of the genome clusters in Trichoderma. The regulation of genome through using the current molecular techniques can trigger higher production of targeted metabolites. Hence, this book chapter reviews the genomic regulation for functional genes of metabolites and enzymes in Trichoderma.

Worldwide, the phenomenal antimicrobial resistance with its consequences of fatal diseases has been alerted; it is because the morbidity and mortality at a shocking rate. Therefore, there is an urgent quest of innovative antimicrobials agents; it is that communicable disease is a worldwide trouble as of the growth and wideness of drug-resistant pathogens. As for the aim of the research, it is widely investigative to the prevalence of Gram-negative pathogens of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in different age groups, gender along with the identification of ESBL-producing pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. The present research was conceded out in Microbiology Department of Doctor’s Diagnostic Centre-Tiruchirappalli for a period of 6 months. The pus, tracheal secretion, urine, blood, sputum, stool, semen, oral secretion, vaginal swab, tissue material, wound swab, throat swab, oral candida swab, suction tip and CVC line from femoral samples were collected for the Extended Spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) isolation. During the study period, 856 β-lactamases producing bacteria were isolated. Among that, 25 patients were infected with Amp-c type, 81 patients were infected with CTX-M type, 724 patients were infected with unclassified ESBL, 2 patients were infected with MBL, 24 patients were infected with MRSA. Selected strains were molecularly characterized. A required accession numbers were received after the gene sequence submission to the GenBank. The isolated ESBL strains were observed in the male more than the female patients. The research results give insights for a maximized number of ESBL strains isolated from the clinical samples like urine and pus. Clinically, ESBL pathogens are associated with high morbidity and mortality. These pathogens are resistant to many key drugs due to the indiscriminate use of carbapenames, which may lead to significant therapeutic problems in the future.

Endophytic fungi are highly potential for the production of pharmaceutically valuable compounds such as anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and industrial enzymes, etc. Today human faces a lot of challenges for existence due to the appearance of new diseases, infections, drug resistances and imbalances in the ecosystems. Here endophytes were the potential sources for the new remedies. Endophytes are contemplated as a treasury for bioprospecting, and they assist in many forms to conquer many complications. Among the various endophytic microbes, fungi have been found most potential microorganisms which are a reservoir of largely untapped bioactive metabolites. In the future we need to seek for endophytes for their bioactive compounds.

Avicennia marina (Tamil: Alai-atti): Avicennia marina is the dominant mangrove species in Muthupet and accounts for about 95% of the vegetation cover. Endophytic fungus is an endosymbiont which colonize healthy plant without causing any harm. These are relatively unexplored producers of metabolites useful to pharmaceutical industries (Petrini et al., 1992). Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous and have been found in all species of plant (Arnold et al., 2000). The Maraakadu RF Extn. BitI was created as per Govt. Ir.no.56675/ FR-III/ 86-9, dt 20.8.87 with an area of 134.05. ha. The Maravakadu RF is located in pattukottai taluk of Thanjavur district. Endophytic fungus is an endosymbiont which colonize healthy plant without causing any harm. Avicennia marina leaves and rhizosphere soil of the plant was collected during four seasons, premonsoon, monsoon, postmonsoon and summer. Phoma sp, Aspergillus sp and Penicillium sp were most frequently isolated .