Whole-genome sequencing of marine water-derived Curvularia verruculosa KHW-7: a pioneering study.

Marine microorganisms are renowned for being a rich source of new secondary metabolites that are significant to humans. The fungi strain KHW-7 was isolated from the seawater collected from the Gulf of Khambhat, India, and identified as Curvularia verruculosa KHW-7. On a next-generation sequencing platform, C. verruculosa KHW-7's whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and gene annotation were carried out using several bioinformatic methods. The 31.59 MB genome size, 52.3% GC, and 158 bp mean read length were discovered using WGS. This genome also contained 9,745 protein-coding genes, including 852 secreted proteins and 2048 transmembrane proteins. The antiSMASH algorithm used to analyze genomes found 25 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are abundant in terpene, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), and polyketides type 1 (T1PKS). To our knowledge, this is the first whole-genome sequence report of C. verruculosa. The WGS analysis of C. verruculosa KHW-7 indicated that this marine-derived fungus could be an efficient generator of bioactive secondary metabolites and an important industrial enzyme, both of which demand further investigation and development.

Synergistic effects of boron and saponin in mitigating salinity stress to enhance sweet potato growth.

Salinity stress significantly hinders plant growth by disrupting osmotic balance and inhibiting nutrient uptake, leading to reduced biomass and stunted development. Using saponin (SAP) and boron (B) can effectively overcome this issue. Boron decreases salinity stress by stabilizing cell walls and membranes, regulating ion balance, activating antioxidant enzymes, and enhancing water uptake. SAP are bioactive compounds that have the potential to alleviate salinity stress by improving nutrient uptake, modulating plant hormone levels, promoting root growth, and stimulating antioxidant activity. That's why the current study was planned to use a combination of SAP and boron as amendments to mitigate salinity stress in sweet potatoes. Four levels of SAP (0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.20%) and B (control, 5, 10, and 20 mg/L B) were applied in 4 replications following a completely randomized design. Results illustrated that 0.15% SAP with 20 mg/L B caused significant enhancement in sweet potato vine length (13.12%), vine weight (12.86%), root weight (8.31%), over control under salinity stress. A significant improvement in sweet potato chlorophyll a (9.84%), chlorophyll b (20.20%), total chlorophyll (13.94%), photosynthetic rate (17.69%), transpiration rate (16.03%), and stomatal conductance (17.59%) contrast to control under salinity stress prove the effectiveness of 0.15% SAP + 20 mg/L B treatment. In conclusion, 0.15% SAP + 20 mg/L B is recommended to mitigate salinity stress in sweet potatoes.

An investigation on the conversion of infertile soil into fertile soil using crop waste as a remedial (compost) approach and its influence on Vigna mungo biometric and biomolecule profile.

The sustainable management of huge volume of agricultural waste in India can be resolved through composting and used as soil amendment. Agriculture waste compost amendments can optimistically alter the physicochemical (pH, C, N, & P) as well as biological nature (microbial activity/biomass and enzymatic activity) of infertile soil. Hence this study, the agriculture wastes such as sugarcane trash, corn stover, and pearl millet stalks were converted to composite through decomposition pit. Interestingly, test crops residues individual composites and their mixed form contained considerable quantity of vital elements like TC, TN, TP, TK, and C:N ratio and can effectively convert infertile soil to fertile soil. These test crop composites also had a significant impact on MBN (42.3 µg g-1), MBC (198.4 µg g-1), and MBP (196.4 µg g-1) in test soil, as well as dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity. However, the mixed composite effects are significantly greater than the individual test crop composite effects. Furthermore, it effectively remediates/converts infertile soil to fertile soil, and it ultimately demonstrated positive effects on Vigna mungo biometric (SH, RH, WB, and DB) and biomolecule (total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, and total proteins) profiles, followed by individual test crop composites. According to the findings of this study, the incorporation of crop residue-based mixed composite significantly transforms infertile soil into fertile soil and promotes the growth of V. mungo.

Vegetable and fruit wastes: Valuable source for organic fertilizer for effective growth of short-term crops: Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annum.

Agriculture plays a vital role in the food security and economies of Asian countries. Annually, numerous metric tons of vegetable and fruit wastes are disposed of. This research aimed to convert the food wastes encompassing the vegetable and fruit wastes into solid and liquid organic fertilizer and to evaluate their influence on the growth (germination, phytochemicals, and biomolecules) of Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annum. Solanum lycopersicum, known as tomato, and Capsicum annum, known as bell pepper or chili pepper, are globally significant crops valued for their medicinal properties and economic importance. The pot experiment was performed with organic fertilizers (solid and liquid organic fertilizer) and compared with the influence of chemical fertilizer and control soil without fertilizers. Interestingly, the liquid organic fertilizer effectively enhanced the biometric profile and chlorophyll content of S. lycopersicum and C. annum Viz., 1.23 mg g-1 and 0.89 mg g-1, respectively. The results of a 30-days pot experiment with various fertilizer treatments showed significant influence of liquid organic fertilizer on the fresh and dry weight biomass of both S. lycopersicum and C. annum. Subsequently, the solid organic fertilizer showed considerable influence on test crops, and the influence of these organic fertilizers was more significant than the chemical fertilizer on crop growth in 30-days experiment. These results suggest that the sustainable approach can effectively convert vegetables and fruit waste into valuable organic fertilizer enriched with plant growth supporting essential nutritional elements.

Compositional profiling and sensory analysis of cauliflower by-products-enriched muffins.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) by-products (leaves, stems, stalks) (CBP) were successfully utilized in muffins as a model system and their feasibility of incorporation was investigated. CBP powder-based muffin formulations were made by the progressive replacement of wheat flour (WF) with 10%, 20%, and 30% of CBP. The physicochemical, pasting properties, antioxidant potential, textural characteristics, and sensorial attributes were analyzed. Substitution of CBP significantly (p < .05) resulted in an upsurge in crude protein, crude fiber, minerals, total phenolics, and total flavonoid contents, as well as total antioxidant activity values of muffins. The pasting properties were influenced by monitoring an increase in peak, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities. Although the addition of an increasing amount of CBP improved the nutritional characteristics, however, the increased level of replacement (>10%) had significant adverse effects on baking and physical characteristics. The specific loaf volume of the developed muffins decreased the crumb color which became darker, and enriched muffins were hardened in texture. Furthermore, sensory evaluation confirmed the positive effects of CBP incorporation only up to 10%. Overall, present results highlighted that supplementation of wheat muffins with 10% CBP is a beneficial approach to enrich them with nutrients and intensify their antioxidant potential.

Effect of storage on physicochemical attributes of ice cream enriched with microencapsulated anthocyanins from black carrot.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of storage on quality attributes of microencapsulated black carrot anthocyanins-enriched ice cream. Purposely, black carrot anthocyanins were obtained using ethanolic extraction. Later on, extracts were acidified and microencapsulated with gum arabic and maltodextrin (1:1). Results showed that anthocyanin contents for T3 (9% microencapsulated anthocyanins powder-enriched ice cream) had highest anthocyanin contents in the range of 143.21 ± 1.14 mg/100 g. However, during the storage, it was revealed that there was a slight decline in constituents concentration reasoned to oxygen exposure and interaction with other food ingredients. Similarly, for total phenolic content, the highest amount was found in T3 as 545.38 ± 4.34 mg GAE/100 g. The quality attributes of prepared ice cream treatments were also found acceptable till the end of the study (60 days). Conclusively, the addition of microencapsulated anthocyanins powder in ice cream proved to stabilize black carrot anthocyanins and contributed positively to the sensory characteristics of ice cream.

Uncovering the impact of AM fungi on wheat nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense under salinity stress.

The growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) is constrained by soil salinity, although some fungal species have been shown to enhance production in saline environments. The yield of grain crops is affected by salt stress, and this study aimed to investigate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) mitigates salt stress. An experiment was conducted to assess the impact of AMF on wheat growth and yield in conditions of 200 mM salt stress. Wheat seeds were coated with AMF at a rate of 0.1 g (108 spores) during sowing. The results of the experiment demonstrated that AMF inoculation led to a significant improvement in the growth attributes of wheat, including root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot. Furthermore, a significant increase in chlorophyll a, b, total, and carotenoids was observed in the S2 AMF treatment, validating the effectiveness of AMF in enhancing wheat growth under salt stress conditions. Additionally, AMF application reduced the negative effects of salinity stress by increasing the uptake of micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn while regulating the uptake of Na (decrease) and K (increase) under salinity stress. In conclusion, this study confirms that AMF is a successful strategy for reducing the negative effects of salt stress on wheat growth and yield. However, further investigations are recommended at the field level under different cereal crops to establish AMF as a more effective amendment for the alleviation of salinity stress in wheat.

Synergism and toxicity of iron nanoparticles derived from Trigonella foenum-graecum against pyrethriod treatment in S. litura and H. armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura and cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are important pests of various agricultural crops that cause sevier economic loses throughout the world. Indiscriminate and frequent use of insecticide may lead to development of resistance in these pests. Nanotechnology has given an alternative to manage and overcome insecticide resistance for pest management strategies. In the present study the iron nanoparticles derived from Trigonella foenum-graecum leaf extract (FeNPs) was investigated for its ecofriendly management of pyrethroid resistance in two lepidopteron pest species at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post treatment. The result showed high mortality (92.83% and 91.41%) of S. litura and H. armigera at 72 h treatment upon FeNPs and fenvalerate (Fen + FeNPs) teratment. Probit analysis revealed high LC50 upon Fen + FeNPs treatment (130.31 and 89.32 mg/L) with a synergism ratio of 1.38 and 1.36. Antifeedant activity of six dofferent concentration of FeNPs revelaed increased antifeedant activity with respect to increasing concentration of nanoparticles ranging from 10 to 90% and 20-95% againt both insects (p<0.05). Detoxification activity of carboxylesterase was elevated at 630 µmol/mg protein/min (p<0.05) in fenvalerate treatment, whereas decreased activity was found (392umole/mg protein/min) in FeNPs and Fen + FeNPs treatment (P<0.001). GST and P450 activity was also increased in fenvalerate treatment, whereas decreased activity was observed in FeNPs and Fen + FeNPs. Esterase isoenzyme banding pattern revealed four bands in fenvalerate treatment and two bans (E3 and E4) in Fen + FeNPs combination. Hence the present study concludes that T. foenum-graecum synthesized iron nanoparticles could be an effective alternate for ecofriendly management of S. litura and H. armigera.

Organic gelatin-coated ZnNPs for the production of biodegradable biopolymer films.

Petroleum-based polymers have raised significant environmental concerns. It is critical to create compostable, good biocompatibility, and nontoxic polymers to replace petroleum-based polymers. Thus, this research was performed to extract the gelatin from fish waste cartilage and coated it over the surface of spherical shaped pre-synthesized ZnNPs along with a suitable plasticizer to produce the biodegradable film. The presence of gelatin on the surface of ZnNPs was first confirmed using UV-visible spectrophotometers, as well as the characteristic functional groups involved in the coating were investigated using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological appearance of gelatin coated ZnNPs was ranged from 41.43 to 52.31 nm, the shape was found as platonic to pentagonal shape, and the fabricated film was observed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The thickness, density, and tensile strength of fabricated film were found to be 0.04-0.10 mm, 0.10-0.27 g/cm3, and 31.7 kPa. These results imply that the fish waste cartilage gelatin coated ZnNPs-based nanocomposite can be used for film preparation as well as a wrapper for food and pharmaceutical packaging.

Mixed pollutants adsorption potential of Eichhornia crassipes biochar on Manihot esculenta processing industry effluents.

The starch is one of the most essential food stuff and serves as a raw material for number of food products for the welfare of human. During the production process enormous volume of effluents are being released into the environment. In this regard, this study was performed to evaluate the physicochemical traits of Manihot esculenta processing effluent and possible sustainable approach to treat this issue using Eichhornia crassipes based biochar. The standard physicochemical properties analysis revealed that the most the parameters (EC was recorded as 4143.17 ± 67.12 mhom-1, TDS: 5825.62 ± 72.14 mg L-1, TS: 7489.21 ± 165.24 mg L-1, DO: 2.12 ± 0.21 mg L-1, BOD 2673.74 ± 153.53 mg L-1, COD: 6672.66 ± 131.21 mg L-1, and so on) were beyond the permissible limits and which can facilitate eutrophication. Notably, the DO level was considerably poor and thus can support the eutrophication. The trouble causing E. crassipes biomass was used as raw material for biochar preparation through pyrolysis process. The temperature ranging from 250 to 350 °C with residence time of 20-60 min were found as suitable temperature to provide high yield (56-33%). Furthermore, 10 g L-1 concentration of biochar showed maximum pollutant adsorption than other concentrations (5 g L-1 and 15 g L-1) from 1 L of effluent. The suitable temperature required to remediate the pollutants from the effluent by biochar was found as 45 °C and 35 °C at 10 g L-1 concentration. These results conclude that at such optimized condition, the E. crassipes effectively adsorbed most of the pollutants from the M. esculenta processing effluent. Furthermore, such pollutants adsorption pattern on biochar was confirmed by SEM analysis.

Eichhornia crassipes biochar aided pollutants sorption competence of multi-metal tolerant fungi species on South Pennar river.

The number of studies about the use of efficient techniques to treat contaminated water bodies has increased in recent years. The use of bioremediation method for the reduction of contaminants from aqueous system is receiving a lot of attention. Thus, this study was designed to assess the Eichhornia crassipes biochar amended pollutants sorption competence of multi-metal tolerant Aspergillus flavus on South Pennar River. The physicochemical characteristics declared that the, half of the parameters (turbidity, TDS, BOD, COD, Ca, Mg, Fe, free NH3, Cl-, and F-) of South Pennar River were beyond the permissible limits. Furthermore, the lab-scale bioremediation investigation with different treatment groups (group I, II, and III) revealed that the group III (E. crassipes biochar and A. flavus mycelial biomass) showed considerable remediation efficiency on South Pennar River water in 10 days of treatment. The metals adsorbed on the surface of E. crassipes biochar and A. flavus mycelial biomass was also affirmed by SEM analysis. Hence such findings, E. crassipes biochar amended A. flavus mycelial biomass could be a sustainable method of remediating contaminated South Pennar River water.

Valorization of pineapple peel waste for fungal pigment production using Talaromyces albobiverticillius: Insights into antibacterial, antioxidant and textile dyeing properties.

The present study explores natural pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes. Due to their therapeutic applications and easy production, fungal pigments have gained attention. However, data on pigment production using solid-state fermentation and optimization is limited. Milk whey was used to grow Talaromyces sp., followed by an evaluation of pigment production in solid and liquid media. Pineapple peels were used as a cost-effective substrate for pigment production, and a one-factor-at-a-time approach was used to enhance pigment production. Pineapple peel-based media produced 0.523 ± 0.231 mg/g of pigment after eight days of incubation. The crude pigment had promising antibacterial and significant antioxidant properties. The extraction fungal pigment's possible use as an eco-friendly textile dye was assessed through fabric dyeing experiments with different mordants. This work contributes to the valorization of agricultural waste and provides insight into using fungal pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes.

Optimization parameters for the production of dimer of epicatechin from an endophytic fungus Curvularia australiensis FC2AP using response surface methodology (RSM).

The search for natural therapeutic agents has intensified due to their potential to treat various diseases. Bioactive secondary metabolites from endophytes offer high therapeutic profiles and can be mass-produced after optimizing medium parameters and purification. This investigation aimed to maximize crude pigmented secondary metabolite (CPSM) production from Curvularia australiensis FC2AP by optimizing fermentation conditions statistically. The endophytic fungus produced a maximum yield of 8.81 UL/g from biomass using Sabouraud's Dextrose Broth. After screening essential factors, the Plackett-Burman design was used for factorial optimization, and the Box Behnken design was employed to investigate three significant factors. The final CPSM yield was 12.3 UL/g, approximately 4-fold higher than the preliminary growth medium. Chromatographic purification using a gradient solvent system resulted in six fractions, with the fourth fraction demonstrating the highest bioactivity profile. Structural characterization confirmed this fraction to be a dimer of epicatechin, which has anti-cancer properties, as confirmed through in vivo studies on Sprague Dawley rats. This is the first report of a epicatechin dimer produced from C. australiensis.

Anti-diabetic efficacy and selective inhibition of methyl glyoxal, intervention with biogenic Zinc oxide nanoparticle.

Non-enzymatic glycation of biomolecules results in advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are responsible for secondary complications in diabetes. Inhibiting methyl glyoxal (MGO) induced advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation is the only way to alleviate diabetic complications. This study aimed to look into the abilities of herbal extract Kigelia africana and K. africana synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to inhibit the emergence of MG-derived AGEs. The study intended to determine antioxidant and AGE inhibition of the plant extract and ZnONPs. ZnONPs were tested for the efficiency of anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wister rats. We discovered that the MGO-trapping effects on the prevention of AGE production were mediated by the downregulation of the amplification of MGO-trapping impacts on the hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic mechanisms of ZnONPs. According to histological findings, the treatment with ZnONPs also successfully lowers inflammation in the hepatic and renal tissues. Overall, future mechanistic research could establish ZnONPs potential anti-diabetic properties.

Evaluation of the anti-diabetic effect of biogenic silver nanoparticles and intervention in PPARγ gene regulation.

The current study demonstrated a green, friendly, low-cost biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Kigelia africana leaves (Lam.) Benth. extract (KAE) as both a major capping and reducing agent. The produced AgNPs were characterized using a variety of analytical methods, like the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), HRTEM, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The formation of AgNPs with maximum absorbance at max = 435 nm was endorsed by surface plasmon resonance. FTIR analysis revealed that biological macromolecules of KAE were involved in the stabilization and synthesis of AgNPs. At the same time, HRTEM images revealed that the average particle size of the spherical AgNPs ranged from about 25 nm to 35 nm. Further, cytotoxicity assessment of AgNPs was done using the RINm5F insulinoma cell line with an MTT assay. Followed by, the RINm5F insulinoma cells treated with AgNPs and KAE, the expression of the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) gene was accessed. The results showed gene expression was upregulated in the RINm5F insulinoma cell line thus confirming AgNPs and KAE anti-diabetic efficacy. Furthermore, the findings show that nanotechnology has enhanced the effectiveness of current methodologies in gene expression and regulation which has contributed to the emergence of different forms of advanced regulatory systems.

Degradation of Azithromycin from aqueous solution using Chlorine-ferrous- oxidation: ANN-GA modeling and Daphnia magna biotoxicity test assessment.

Azithromycin (AZM), an antibacterial considered one of the most consumed drugs, especially during the period against the Covid 19 pandemic, and it is one of the persistent contaminants that can be released into aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a Fenton-like process (chlorine/iron) for the degradation of AZM in an aqueous medium by determining the impact of several factors (the initial concentration of (FeSO4, NaClO, pollutant), and the initial pH) on the degradation rate. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Wilson design as well as the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling combined with a genetic algorithm (GA) approaches were used to determine the optimal levels of the selected variables and the optimal rate of degradation. The quadratic model of multi-linear regression developed indicated that the optimal conditions were a concentration of chlorine of 600 µM, the concentration of AZM is 32.8 mg/L, the mass of the catalyst FeSO4 is 3.5 mg and a pH of 2.5, these optimal values gave a predicted and experimental yield of 64.05% and 70% respectively, the lack of fit test in RSM modeling (F0 = 3.31 which is inferior to Fcritic (0.05, 10.4) = 5.96) indicates that the true regression function is not linear therefore, the ANN-GA modeling as non-linear regression indicated that the optimal conditions were a concentration of chlorine of 256 µM, the concentration of AZM is 5 mg/L, the mass of the catalyst FeSO4 is 9.5 mg and a pH of 2.8, these optimal values gave a predicted and experimental yield of 79.69% and close to 80% respectively, Furthermore, biotoxicity tests were conducted to confirm the performance of our process using bio-indicators called daphnia (Daphnia magna), which demonstrated the efficacy of the like-Fenton process after 4 h of degradation.

Synergistic Effect of Azotobacter nigricans and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Fertilizer on Agronomic and Yieldtraits of Maize (Zea mays L.).

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Azotobacter spp. is the most promising bacteria among all microorganisms. It is an aerobic, free-living, and N2-fixing bacterium that commonly lives in soil, water, and sediments. It can be used as a biofertilizer for plant growth and nutrient utilization efficiency. Maize is the highly consumed cereal food crop of the cosmopolitan population, and the sustainable maize productivity achieved by applying bacteria in combination with nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK) is promising. In the present study, a bacterial isolate (PR19). Azotobacter nigricans, obtained from the soil of an organic farm was evaluated for its plant growth promoting potential alone and in combination with an inorganic fertilizer (NPK) included. The bacterial cultue (PR19) was screened for its morphological, biochemical, and plant growth-promoting characteristics, sequenced by the 16S rDNA method, and submitted to NCBI for the confirmation of strain identification. Further, the inoculation effect of the bacterial culture (PR19) in combination with NPK on growth and yield parameters of maize under pot were analyzed. Based on phenotypic and molecular characteristics, PR19 was identified as Azotobacter nigricans it was submitted to NCBI genbank under the accession No. KP966496. The bacterial isolate possessed multiple plant growth-promoting (MPGP) traits such as the production of ammonia, siderophore, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ACC Deaminase (ACCD). It showed phosphate solubilization activity and tolerance to 20% salt, wide range of pH 5-9, higher levels of trace elements and heavy metals, and resistance to multiple antibiotics. PR19 expressed significantly increased (p < 0.001) antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GSH) under the abiotic stress of salinity and pH. In vitro condition, inoculation of maize with the PR19 showed a significant increase in seed germination and enhancement in elongation of root and shoot compared to untreated control. The combined application of the PR19 and NPK treatments showed similar significant results in all growth and yield parameters of maize variety SHIATS-M S2. This study is the first report on the beneficial effects of organic farm isolated PR19-NPK treatment combinations on sustainable maize productivity.

Effect of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Rich Pomegranate Peel Based Edible Coatings on Quality and Functional Properties of Chicken Nuggets.

The current study evaluated the effect of pomegranate peel-based edible coating on chicken nuggets in order to develop a functional and safe product, high in nutritional value. For this purpose, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total phenolic content (TPC) assays were performed to check the potential antioxidant activity of chicken nuggets; microbial control, including total aerobic count and coliforms population, was performed for quality and safety purposes; and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (POV) were performed to determine the oxidative stability of chicken nuggets. Different treatments were applied at different storage periods (0th, 7th, 14th and 21st day). The higher value of total aerobic count (5.09 ± 0.05 log CFU/g) and coliforms (3.91 ± 0.06 log CFU/g) were obtained for the uncoated samples, while the lower population was enumerated in the combination of sodium alginate (SA) and pomegranate peel powder (PPP). However, DPPH (64.65 ± 2.15%) and TPC (135.66 ± 3.07 GAE/100 g) values were higher in the coated chicken nuggets (SA (1.5%) and PPP (1.5%)) and lowest in the control samples. The higher value of TBARS (1.62 ± 0.03 MDA/kg) and POV (0.92 ± 0.03 meq peroxide/kg) were observed in the uncoated chicken nuggets. In the Hunter color system, L*, a*, and b* peak values were determined in the coated chicken nuggets with SA (1.5%) + PPP (1.5%) at the 21st day of storage. The uncoated chicken nuggets had different sensory characteristics (appearance, color, taste, texture, and overall acceptability) compared to the coated samples. Conclusively, coating based on the combination of SA (1.5%) and PPP (1.5%) increased the quality, safety, and nutritional properties of chicken nuggets.

Predicting the Growth of F. proliferatum and F. culmorum and the Growth of Mycotoxin Using Machine Learning Approach.

In distinct parts of the food web, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium preserving the relationship can germinate and grow zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins (FUM), accordingly. Antimicrobial drugs used to combat these fungi and toxic metabolites raise the risk of hazardous residue in food products, as well as the development of fungus tolerance. For modeling fungal growth and pathogenicity under separate water action (a q ) (0.96 and 0.99) and surface temp (20 and 28°C) tyrannies, several machine learning (ML) methodologies (artificial neural, regression trees, and extreme rise enhanced trees) and multiple regression model (MLR) were used also especially in comparison. GR and mycotoxin levels inside the environment often reduced as EOC concentrations grew, although some treatment in association with specific a q and temperature values caused ZEA production. In terms of predicting the growth rate of F. culmorum and F. maintaining the relationship and the production of ZEA and FUM, random forest techniques outperformed neural network models and extreme gradient boosted trees. The MLR option was the most inefficient. It is the first research to look at the ML potential of bio EVOH products containing EOCs and ambient variables of F. culmorum and F. proliferatum development, as well as the generation of zearalenone and fumonisins. The findings show that these entire novel wrapping technologies, in tandem using machine learning techniques, could be useful in predicting and controlling the dangers connected with fungal species or biotoxins in foodstuff.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antibiofilm Potential of Eicosane Against Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungus in humans, producing infections ranging from mucosal to systemic. C. albicans colonizes mucosal surfaces asymptomatically as commensal, but, if the host environment is disrupted, or if the host immune system is compromised, C. albicans can multiply and infect almost all places in the host. The present study was aimed to identify a promising antibiofilm agent against Candida albicans biofilm. Through the molecular docking approach, it was identified that Eicosane was the top hit among the alkanes screened. Furthermore, in vitro analysis revealed that Eicosane at 100 µg/mL was able to inhibit 60% of C. albicans biofilm without inhibiting the growth. Moreover, light microscopic investigation unveiled the significant reduction in the adhesion and colonization of yeast cells to the matrix on Eicosane-treated samples. The CLSM images showing a reduction in biomass and thickness of C. albicans biofilm in the presence of Eicosane were validated using COMSTAT. The results were well corroborated with SEM micrograph in which a pellucid gap between the cells was observed and colonization was considerably reduced. Further from qPCR analysis, the genes responsible for biofilm formation and hyphal growth were found to be downregulated in the presence of Eicosane. Similarly, Eicosane at BIC was able to significantly inhibit the adhesion and colonization of yeast cells on the chorion of the zebrafish embryos. Moreover, the binding ability of Eicosane to ALS3 was revealed through docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies.