Bacillus tequilensis influences metabolite production in tomato and restores soil microbial diversity during Fusarium oxysporum infection.

This study evaluates cellular damage, metabolite profiling, and defence-related gene expression in tomato plants and soil microflora during Fusarium wilt disease after treatment with B. tequilensis PBE-1. Histochemical analysis showed that PBE-1 was the primary line of defence through lignin deposition and reduced cell damage. GC-MS revealed that PBE-1 treatment ameliorated stress caused by F. oxysporum infection. PBE-1 also improved transpiration, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance in tomato. qRT-PCR suggested that the defence-related genes FLS2, SERK, NOS, WRKYT, NHO, SAUR, and MYC2, which spread infection, were highly upregulated during F. oxysporum infection, but either downregulated or expressed normally in PBE-1 + P treated plants. This indicates that the plant not only perceives the bio-control agent as a non-pathogen entity but its presence in normal metabolism and gene expression within the host plant is maintained. The study further corroborated findings that application of PBE-1 does not cause ecological disturbances in the rhizosphere. Activity of soil microflora across four treatments, measured by Average Well Colour Development (AWCD), showed continuous increases from weeks 1 to 4 post-pathogen infection, with distinct substrate usage patterns like tannic and fumaric acids impacting microbial energy source utilization and diversity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and diversity indices like McIntosh, Shannon, and Simpson further illustrated significant microbial community shifts over the study period. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that B. tequilensis PBE-1 is an ideal bio-agent for field application during Fusarium wilt disease management in tomato.

Exogenous GABA supplementation to facilitate Cr (III) tolerance and lipid biosynthesis in Chlorella sorokiniana.

Microalgae possess the prospective to be efficiently involved in bioremediation and biodiesel generation. However, conditions of stress often restrict their growth and diminish different metabolic processes. The current study evaluates the potential of GABA to improve the growth of the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana under Cr (III) stress through the exogenous administration of GABA. The research also investigates the concurrent impact of GABA and Cr (III) stress on various metabolic and biochemical pathways of the microalgae. In addition to the control, cultures treated with Cr (III), GABA, and both Cr (III) and GABA treated were assessed for accurately analysing the influence of GABA. The outcomes illustrated that GABA significantly promoted growth of the microalgae, resulting in higher biomass productivity (19.14 mg/L/day), lipid productivity (3.445 mg/L/day) and lipid content (18%) when compared with the cultures under Cr (III) treatment only. GABA also enhanced Chl a content (5.992 µg/ml) and percentage of protein (23.75%). FAMEs analysis by GC-MS and total lipid profile revealed that GABA treatment can boost the production of SFA and lower the level of PUFA, a distribution ideal for improving biodiesel quality. ICP-MS analysis revealed that GABA supplementation could extend Cr (III) mitigation level up to 97.7%, suggesting a potential strategy for bioremediation. This novel study demonstrates the merits of incorporating GABA in C. sorokiniana cultures under Cr (III) stress, in terms of its potential in bioremediation and biodiesel production without disrupting the pathways of photosynthesis and protein production.

Development of yeast and microalgae consortium biofilm growth system for biofuel production.

Background: The current study aimed to develop a laboratory-scale biofilm photobioreactor system for biofuel production. Scope & Approach: During the investigation, Jute was discovered to be the best, cheap, hairy, open-pored supporting material for biofilm formation. Microalgae & yeast consortium was used in this study for biofilm formation. Conclusion: The study identified microalgae and yeast consortium as a promising choice and ideal partners for biofilm formation with the highest biomass yield (47.63 ± 0.93 g/m2), biomass productivity (4.39 ± 0.29 to 7.77 ± 0.05 g/m2/day) and lipid content (36%) over 28 days cultivation period, resulting in a more sustainable and environmentally benign fuel that could become a reality in the near future.

Bio-oil and biochar production from Ageratum conyzoides using triple-stage hydrothermal liquefaction and utilization of biochar in removal of multiple heavy metals from water.

Production of low-cost biomass and its utilization for producing cost effective and eco-friendly bioenergy as well as for removing heavy metals from water can be explored as an approach to meet the sustainable development goals. In light of the above-mentioned study, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of Billy goat weed (BGW; Ageratum conyzoides) was carried out to produce bio-oil. In addition, the residual biochar from the HTL process was activated to obtain Act-BC and was further modified to produce MnO2-loaded biochar (Act-BC@MnO2-25%). The HTL of BGW was done at three different temperatures, i.e., 250 °C, 350 °C and 450 °C in a high-pressure batch reactor to maximize the bio-oil yield. Also, two different HTL methods i.e., single-stage HTL and triple-stage HTL of BGW were compared and discussed in detail. The bio-oil obtained via the triple-stage HTL was rich in carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. It also showed a higher heating value (HHV) and bio-oil yield (46%) than the single-stage. The residual biochar obtained at 450 °C (Act-BC) and MnO2 modified (Act-BC@MnO2-25%) were then tested to adsorb multiple heavy metal (i.e., Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II)) from water. The kinetics data obtained from the adsorption experiment with Act-BC@MnO2-25% were well fitted to PSO kinetics model. The isotherm data were well aligned with the Langmuir model; the adsorption capacity of Act-BC@MnO2-25% was estimated to be 198.70 ± 11.40 mg g-1, 93.70 ± 6.60 mg g-1, 78.90 ± 7.20 mg g-1 and 30.50 ± 2.10 mg g-1 for Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II), respectively. Furthermore, Act-BC@MnO2-25% remained active for metal ions absorption even after six consecutive uses. The result obtained from this study clearly demonstrates that the triple-stage HTL of BGW is a promising technology to achieve both remediation of metal-contaminated water and production of bioenergy.

Heavy metal tolerance in microalgae: Detoxification mechanisms and applications.

The proficiency of microalgae to resist heavy metals has potential to be beneficial in resolving various environmental challenges. Global situations such as the need for cost-effective and ecological ways of remediation of contaminated water and for the development of bioenergy sources could employ microalgae. In a medium with the presence of heavy metals, microalgae utilize different mechanisms to uptake the metal and further detoxify it. Biosorption and the next process of bioaccumulation are two such major steps and they also include the assistance of different transporters at different stages of heavy metal tolerance. This capability has also proved to be efficient in eradicating many heavy metals like Chromium, Copper, Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, Nickel and Cadmium from the environment they are present in. This indicates the possibility of the application of microalgae as a biological way of remediating contaminated water. Heavy metal resistance quality also allows various microalgal species to contribute in the generation of biofuels like biodiesel and biohydrogen. Many research works have also explored the capacity of microalgae in nanotechnology for the formation of nanoparticles due to its relevant characteristics. Various studies have also revealed that biochar deduced from microalgae or a combination of biochar and microalgae can have wide applications specially in deprivation of heavy metals from an environment. This review focuses on the strategies adopted by microalgae, various transporters involved in the process of tolerating heavy metals and the applications where microalgae can participate owing to its ability to resist metals.

Dermoscopy of skin parasitoses, bites and stings: a systematic review of the literature.

Besides classic applications, dermoscopy has gained significant appreciation also for non-tumoral dermatoses (general dermatology). In this field, skin parasitoses (infestations), bites and stings have been reported among the conditions that may benefit most from dermoscopic examination. However, published data on this topic are sparse and often lack a standardized analytical approach. In this systematic review of the literature, we sought to summarize available data on dermoscopy of cutaneous parasitoses, bites and stings, analysing dermoscopic features and used setting (polarization or not/magnification), pathological correlation and level of evidence of published studies as well as trying to align dermoscopic terminology of reported findings following a standardized methodology. A total of 150 publications addressing 29 different dermatoses and reporting 96 different dermoscopic findings were included in the analysis. Most of them displayed a level of evidence of V (113 single case reports and 36 case series), with only one study featuring a level of evidence of IV (case-control study). Additionally, our analysis also displayed poor uniformity in the terminology used in published articles (even for the same dermatosis). Therefore, albeit promising, dermoscopy of cutaneous parasitoses, bites and stings needs future systematized studies for a better characterization.

Development of a protocol for the elimination of Cyrtanthus elatus virus-A from Narcissus tazetta by in vitro chemotherapy in combination with electrotherapy.

Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) is a bulbous ornamental plant propagated vegetatively from bulbs. The Cyrtanthus elatus virus-A (CyEV-A) had been reported to cause a severe mosaic and yellow stripe disease in narcissus. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a protocol for the elimination of CyEV-A from infected bulblets by in vitro chemotherapy (30-50 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) and electrotherapy (10-30 mA for 20 min), individually and in combination, to produce virus-free plants. The regenerated plants obtained from these treatments were screened for the absence of the CyEV-A by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays using a set of degenerate primers specific for a potyvirus coat protein gene. The results showed that in vitro chemotherapy (30 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) alone produced 46.0 % (14/30) of virus-free plants, while electrotherapy (20 mA for 20 min) alone produced 40.0 % (12/30) of virus-free plants. In comparison, a combination of chemotherapy (30 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) and electrotherapy (20 mA for 20 min) produced 50.0 % (15/30) of virus-free plants. The virus-free plants obtained from this combination treatment exhibited better growth and produced more bulbs compared to the other treatments and control. The protocol may be used for the control of the virus disease in narcissus.

Design, development and performance evaluation of transportation container for sapota fruit.

A transportation container was developed to minimize transportation losses of sapota fruit. The container was made of corrugated polypropylene (PP) sheet. The container is completely foldable, reusable and enclosed condition for protecting produce from adverse climate. The adjustable cells were made to enhance the safety of fruits. Separation sheets were provided in a container to support the fruits. Perforation was provided for proper respiration of the fruits. Velcro feature was provided to erect and fold the container. Freshly harvested and uniformly matured and graded sapota fruits were transported in seven types of containers or bags with 10 kg capacity stacked in six layers viz.; gunny bag, gunny bag lined with bubble sheet, perforated PP bag, foldable plastic container, egg tray in corrugated fiberboard box (CFB) carton, plastic crate and CFB carton. The fruits were transported from Junagadh to Jamnagar and returned from Jamnagar to Junagadh by road approximately 350 km in goods rickshaw. Effect of different containers on quality parameters of sapota fruits viz., hardness (30.09 kg/cm2), firmness (12.63 kgf) and rupture force (100.2 kgf) were found maximum and weight loss (1.01%), deformation (10.9 mm) and total soluble solids (16.40°Brix) were found minimum in the fruits transported in foldable plastic container. Bruising, cracking and impact damage were not observed on the fruits transported in foldable plastic container. Maximum marketable fruits (98.37%) were observed in foldable plastic container. Transportation losses of sapota fruits in foldable plastic container were minimized 8.65% and 2.85% as compared to gunny bag and plastic crate, respectively.

Seasonal dynamics and impact factors of atmospheric CO2 concentration over subtropical forest canopies: observation from eddy covariance tower and OCO-2 satellite in Northwest Himalaya, India.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the key atmospheric gas that controls the earth's greenhouse effect, and forests play a major role in abating the atmospheric CO2 by storing carbon as biomass. Therefore, it is vital to understand the role of different forests in regulating the spatiotemporal dynamics of atmospheric CO2 concentration. In this study, we have used eddy covariance (EC) tower-based atmospheric CO2 concentration measurements and satellite-retrieved column average CO2 concentration of 2018 to understand the diurnal and seasonal dynamics of atmospheric CO2 concentration over the sub-tropical forest in the foothills of northwest Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. EC study revealed that the CO2 concentration over the forest canopy peaks during mid-night to early morning and drop to a minimum during the afternoon. On a monthly scale, peak atmospheric CO2 concentration was observed during July in both the sites, which was a result of more release of CO2 by the forest ecosystem through ecosystem respiration and microbial decomposition. Enhanced photosynthetic activities during the late monsoon and post-monsoon resulted in the decrease of atmospheric CO2 concentration over the forest ecosystem. Among the meteorological variables, rainfall was found to have the highest control over the seasonal variability of the atmospheric CO2 concentration. Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite-retrieved column average CO2 (XCO2) was also examined to comprehend its reliability on an ecosystem scale. The OCO-2 retrieved XCO2 value was higher than the EC carbon flux tower-measured atmospheric CO2 concentration, which might be due to differences in the vertical resolution of the CO2 column and scale difference. However, the monthly atmospheric XCO2 retrieved from OCO-2 strongly adheres with the ground-measured monthly pattern. Our study highlights that forests with varying functional traits within the same climatic conditions show variability in the regulation of atmospheric CO2 concentration.

SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Gingival Crevicular Fluid.

Understanding the pathophysiology of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains a significant challenge of our times. The gingival crevicular fluid being representative of systemic status and having a proven track record of detecting viruses and biomarkers forms a logical basis for evaluating the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The study aimed to assess gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in 33 patients who were deemed to be COVID-19 positive upon nasopharyngeal sampling. An attempt was also made to comparatively evaluate it with saliva in terms of its sensitivity, as a diagnostic fluid for SARS-CoV-2. GCF and saliva samples were collected from 33 COVID-19-confirmed patients. Total RNA was extracted using NucliSENS easyMAG (bioMérieux) and eluted in the elution buffer. Envelope gene (E gene) of SARS-CoV-2 and human RNase P gene as internal control were detected in GCF samples by using the TRUPCR SARS-CoV-2 RT qPCR kit V-2.0 (I) in an Applied Biosystems 7500 real-time machine. A significant majority of both asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients exhibited the presence of the novel coronavirus in their GCF samples. Considering the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the nasopharyngeal swab sampling as gold standard, the sensitivity of GCF and saliva, respectively, was 63.64% (confidence interval [CI], 45.1% to 79.60%) and 64.52% (CI, 45.37% to 80.77%). GCF was found to be comparable to saliva in terms of its sensitivity to detect SARS-CoV-2. Saliva samples tested positive in 3 of the 12 patients whose GCF tested negative, and likewise GCF tested positive for 2 of the 11 patients whose saliva tested negative on real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results establish GCF as a possible mode of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which is the first such report in the literature, and also provide the first quantifiable evidence pointing toward a link between the COVID-19 infection and oral health.

Peptidoglycan-treated tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells impart complete resistance against tumor rechallenge.

Solid tumors elicit suppressive T cell responses which impair antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions. Such immune suppression results in uncontrolled tumor growth and mortality. Addressing APC dysfunction, dendritic cell (DC)-mediated anti-tumor vaccination was extensively investigated in both mice and humans. These studies never achieved full resistance to tumor relapse. Herein, we describe a repetitive RM-1 murine tumor rechallenge model for recurrence in humans. Using this newly developed model, we show that priming with tumor antigen-pulsed, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 ligand-activated DCs elicits a host-protective anti-tumor immune response in C57BL/6 mice. Upon stimulation with the TLR2 ligand peptidoglycan (PGN), the tumor antigen-pulsed DCs induce complete resistance to repetitive tumor challenges. Intra-tumoral injection of PGN reduces tumor growth. The tumor resistance is accompanied by increased expression of interleukin (IL)-27, T-box transcription factor TBX21 (T-bet), IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ, along with heightened cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) functions. Mice primed four times with PGN-stimulated tumor antigen-pulsed DCs remain entirely resistant to repeat challenges with RM-1 tumor cells, suggesting complete prevention of relapse and recurrence of tumor. Adoptive transfer of T cells from these mice, which were fully protected from RM-1 rechallenge, confers anti-tumor immunity to syngeneic naive recipient mice upon RM-1 challenge. These observations indicate that PGN-activated DCs induce robust host-protective anti-tumor T cells that completely resist tumor growth and recurrence.

Small-scale phyco-mitigation of raw urban wastewater integrated with biodiesel production and its utilization for aquaculture.

A low-cost small-scale high-rate algal pond (HRAP) was constructed to investigate the synergistic potential of a novel oleaginous microalga, Chlorella sorokiniana for phyco-mitigation, and biodiesel production using raw urban wastewater. An enhanced nutrient removal (97%), total organic carbon (74%), alkalinity (70%) and hardness (75%) from the wastewater was obtained. The microalga dominated in the HRAP as ~90% increase in the dissolved oxygen with high biomass (1.13 g/L) was noted. The microalga biomass showed sufficient lipid content (~31% of dry cell weight) as compared to control (Bold's Basal media). The total lipid profiling of the microalga cultivated in wastewater showed augmentation in the levels of both storage and neutral lipids with good quality fatty acids composition. Moreover, the sucker fishes grew healthy in the treated wastewater with an increase in body weight.

Complete genome sequence analysis of Narcissus yellow stripe virus infecting Narcissus tazetta in India.

The complete genome sequence of Narcissus yellow stripe potyvirus (NYSV) isolated from Narcissus tazetta cv. Paperwhite exhibiting leaf chlorotic stripe symptoms was determined for the first time from India. The viral genome sequence contained 9650 nucleotides that encode a large polyprotein (372.36 kDa) of 3103 amino acids. The comparison of the NYSV genome sequences with corresponding sequences of other potyviruses revealed 90-97% identities and closest phylogenetic relationships with NYSV-Zhangzhou-1 and -ZZ-2 isolates infecting N. tazetta reported from China. Therefore, the NYSV isolate understudy was considered as a new member of NYSV and designated as NYSV-NAR2.

Low-temperature catalyst based Hydrothermal liquefaction of harmful Macroalgal blooms, and aqueous phase nutrient recycling by microalgae.

The present study investigates the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of harmful green macroalgal blooms at a temperature of 270 °C with, and without a catalyst with a holding time of 45 min. The effect of different catalysts on the HTL product yield was also studied. Two separation methods were used for recovering the biocrude oil yield from the solid phase. On comparision with other catalyst, Na2CO3 was found to produce higher yiled of bio-oil. The total bio-oil yield was 20.10% with Na2CO3, 18.74% with TiO2, 17.37% with CaO, and 14.6% without a catalyst. The aqueous phase was analyzed for TOC, COD, TN, and TP to determine the nutrient enrichment of water phase for microalgae cultivation. Growth of four microalgae strains viz., Chlorella Minutissima, Chlorella sorokiniana UUIND6, Chlorella singularis UUIND5 and Scenedesmus abundans in the aqueous phase were studied, and compared with a standard growth medium. The results indicate that harmful macroalgal blooms are a suitable feedstock for HTL, and its aqueous phase offers a promising nutrient source for microalgae.

Detoxification mechanism of organophosphorus pesticide via carboxylestrase pathway that triggers de novo TAG biosynthesis in oleaginous microalgae.

Organophosphorus compounds exhibit a wide range of toxicity to mammals. In this study the effect of malathion on the growth and biochemical parameters of microalgae was evaluated. Three microalgae (Micractinium pusillum UUIND2, Chlorella singulari UUIND5 and Chlorella sorokiniana UUIND6) were used in this study. Among the three algal strains tested, Chlorella sorokiniana UUIND6 was able to tolerate 100 ppm of malathion. The photosynthetic pigments, the protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents of microalgal cells were also analyzed. About 90% degradation was recorded in 25 ppm, 50 ppm and 70% was recorded in 100 ppm of malathion by Chlorella sorokiniana. A mechanism of degradation of malathion by Chlorella sorokiniana is proposed in this study. Activity of carboxylesterase was increased in algal cells cultivated in malathion containing medium which confirmed that malathion degraded into phosphate. Increased amount of Malondialdehye (MDA) indicate the development of free radicals under the stress of malathion which substantialy increase de novo TAG biosynthesis, while increased level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) suggested their association in scavenging of free radical.

Impact of pyrometallurgical slags on sunflower growth, metal accumulation and rhizosphere microbial communities.

Metallurgical exploitation originates metal-rich by-products termed slags, which are often disposed in the environment being a source of heavy metal pollution. Despite the environmental risk that this may pose for living organisms, little is known about the impact of slags on biotic components of the ecosystem like plants and rhizosphere microbial communities. In this study, metal-rich (Cu, Pb, Zn) granulated slags (GS) derived from Cu production process, were used for a leaching test in the presence of the soil pore solution, showing that soil solution enhanced the release of Cu from GS. A pot experiment was conducted using as growing substrate for sunflower (Helianthus annuus) a 50% w/w mix of an agricultural soil and GS. Bioavailability of metals in soil was, in increasing order: Pb < Zn < Cu. Sunflower was able to grow in the presence of GS and accumulated metals preferentially in above-ground tissues. Microbial diversity was assessed in rhizosphere and bulk soil using community level physiological profiling (CLPP) and 16S rRNA gene based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses, which demonstrated a shift in the diversity of microbial communities induced by GS. Overall, these results suggest that metallurgical wastes should not be considered inert when dumped in the soil. Implications from this study are expected to contribute to the development of sustainable practices for the management of pyrometallurgical slags, possibly involving a phytomanagement approach.

Full-length genome sequence of Cyrtanthus elatus virus-A isolated from Narcissus tazetta in India.

Narcissus tazetta L. is a bulbous ornamental plant popular for its notable fragrant flowers which make it the plant of high importance. In spite of its economic value, narcissus is found to be susceptible for a number of diseases borne by fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses. A potyvirus, Cyrtanthus elatus virus-A isolate NBRI16 (CEVA-NBRI16), associated with leaf chlorotic stripe disease of N. tazetta cv. Paperwhite was reported for first time in India from our laboratory based on the partial coat protein gene sequence. In present study, the full-length genomic sequence of CEVA-NBRI16 is determined which consists of 9942 nucleotides, excluding the polyA tail, and encodes a single large polyprotein of 3102 amino acids with the genomic features typical of a potyvirus. It shares highest 93% nucleotide sequence identity and closest phylogenetic relationship with sequences of CEVA-Marijiniup7-1 and CEVA-Marijiniup7-2, both reported from Australia on Cyrtanthus elatus host. The full-length genomic sequence of CEVA from narcissus plant is being reported for the first time from India.