Potential Therapeutic Target and Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus has become the most interesting virus for scientists because of the recently emerging deadly SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to understand the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 through the comparative genomic analysis with the closest one among the seven species of coronavirus that infect humans. The genomes of coronavirus species that infect humans were retrieved from NCBI, and then subjected to comparative genomic analysis using different bioinformatics tools. The study revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is the most similar to SARS-CoV among the coronavirus species. The core genes were shared by the two genomes, but there were some genes, found in one of them but not in both, such as ORF8, which is found in SARS-CoV-2. The ORF8 protein of SARS-CoV-2 could be considered as a good therapeutic target for stopping viral transmission, as it was predicted to be a transmembrane protein, which is responsible for interspecies transmission. This is supported by the molecular interaction of ORF8 with both the ORF7 protein, which contains a transmembrane domain that is essential to retaining the protein in the Golgi compartment, and the S protein, which facilitates the entry of the coronavirus into host cells. ORF1ab, ORF1a, ORF8, and S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 could be immunogenic and capable of evoking an immune response, which means that these four proteins could be considered a potential vaccine source. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 is most related to SARS-CoV. ORF8 could be considered a potential therapeutic target for stopping viral transmission, and ORF1ab, ORF1a, ORF8, and the S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 could be utilized as a potential vaccine source.

Detection of Nonsynonymous Single Variants in Human HLA-DRB1 Exon 2 Associated with Renal Transplant Rejection.

Background: HLA-DRB1 is the most polymorphic gene in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, and exon 2 is critical because it encodes antigen-binding sites. This study aimed to detect functional or marker genetic variants of HLA-DRB1 exon 2 in renal transplant recipients (acceptance and rejection) using Sanger sequencing. Methods: This hospital-based case-control study collected samples from two hospitals over seven months. The 60 participants were equally divided into three groups: rejection, acceptance, and control. The target regions were amplified and sequenced by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Several bioinformatics tools have been used to assess the impact of non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants (nsSNVs) on protein function and structure. The sequences data that support the findings of this study with accession numbers (OQ747803-OQ747862) are available in National Center for Biotechnology Information (GenBank database). Results: Seven SNVs were identified, two of which were novel (chr6(GRCh38.p12): 32584356C>A (K41N) and 32584113C>A (R122R)). Three of the seven SNVs were non-synonymous and found in the rejection group (chr6(GRCh38.p12): 32584356C>A (K41N), 32584304A>G (Y59H), and 32584152T>A (R109S)). The nsSNVs had varying effects on protein function, structure, and physicochemical parameters and could play a role in renal transplant rejection. The chr6(GRCh38.p12):32584152T>A variant showed the greatest impact. This is because of its conserved nature, main domain location, and pathogenic effects on protein structure, function, and stability. Finally, no significant markers were identified in the acceptance samples. Conclusion: Pathogenic variants can affect intramolecular/intermolecular interactions of amino acid residues, protein function/structure, and disease risk. HLA typing based on functional SNVs could be a comprehensive, accurate, and low-cost method for covering all HLA genes while shedding light on previously unknown causes in many graft rejection cases.

In Silico Analysis: HLA-DRB1 Gene's Variants and Their Clinical Impact.

The HLA-DRB1 gene encodes a protein that is essential for the immune system. This gene is important in organ transplant rejection and acceptance, as well as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, caries susceptibility, and Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. The following Homo sapiens variants were investigated: single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), multi-nucleotide variants (MNVs), and small insertions-deletions (Indels) in the HLA-DRB1 gene via coding and untranslated regions. The current study sought to identify functional variants that could affect gene expression and protein product function/structure. ALL target variants available until April 14, 2022, were obtained from the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism database (dbSNP). Out of all the variants in the coding region, 91 nsSNVs were considered highly deleterious by seven prediction tools and instability index; 25 of them are evolutionary conserved and located in domain regions. Furthermore, 31 indels were predicted as harmful, potentially affecting a few amino acids or even the entire protein. Last, within the coding sequence (CDS), 23 stop-gain variants (SNVs/indels) were predicted as high impact. High impact refers to the assumption that the variant will have a significant (disruptive) effect on the protein, likely leading to protein truncation or loss of function. For untranslated regions, functional 55 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and 16 indels located within microRNA binding sites, furthermore, 10 functionally verified SNPs were predicted at transcription factor-binding sites. The findings demonstrate that employing in silico methods in biomedical research is extremely successful and has a major influence on the capacity to identify the source of genetic variation in diverse disorders. In conclusion, these previously functional identified variants could lead to gene alteration, which may directly or indirectly contribute to the occurrence of many diseases. The study's results could be an important guide in the research of potential diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that require experimental mutational validation and large-scale clinical trials.

Exploring the effects of palm kernel meal feeding on the meat quality and rumen microorganisms of Qinghai Tibetan sheep.

Palm kernel meal (PKM) has been shown to be a high-quality protein source in ruminant feeds. This study focused on the effects of feed, supplemented with different amounts of PKM (ZL-0 as blank group, and ZL-15, ZL-18, and ZL-21 as treatment group), on the quality and flavor profile of Tibetan sheep meat. Furthermore, the deposition of beneficial metabolites in Tibetan sheep and the composition of rumen microorganisms on underlying regulatory mechanisms of meat quality were studied based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. The results of the study showed that Tibetan sheep in the ZL-18 group exhibited superior eating quality and flavor profile while depositing more protein and fat relative to the other groups. The ZL-18 group also changed significantly in terms of the concentration and metabolic pathways of meat metabolites, as revealed by metabolomics. Metabolomics and correlation analyses finally showed that PKM feed mainly affected carbohydrate metabolism in muscle, which in turn affects meat pH, tenderness, and flavor. In addition, 18% of PKM increased the abundance of Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-013, Lachnospiraceae UCG-002, and Family XIII AD3011 group in the rumen but decreased the abundance of Prevotella 1; the above bacteria groups regulate meat quality by regulating rumen metabolites (succinic acid, DL-glutamic acid, etc.). Overall, the addition of PKM may improve the quality and flavor of the meat by affecting muscle metabolism and microorganisms in the rumen.

Identification and biodiversity patterns of Aspergillus species isolated from some soil invertebrates at high altitude using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses.

Background: The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of aflatoxin contamination, are common in the environment and spread easily to many different types of food. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of fungi associated with three soil invertebrates in Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates and explore mycotoxins formation. Methods: In total, 114 fungal isolates were collected from various soil invertebrates (millipedes, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio laevis) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, among them, 22 isolates were identified as Aspergillus spp. based on morphological and molecular characteristics followed by both Fusarium and Penicillium. Results: The sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 4 were utilized. Using bootstrap analysis, phylogenetic tree was split into two distinct clusters. Five sub clusters were included inside the first major cluster, and their bootstrap value was 99%. While, there were two small clusters in the second major cluster. All the tested Aspergillus strains were able to have a single PCR fragment amplified using the primer AspTef. TEF-1 DNA sequence bootstrap analysis with 1,000 replicates revealed two distinct groups. Additionally, the Aspergillus isolates were grouped into two different clusters with about 65% genetic similarity using ISSR-PCR analysis. The standard polymerase chain reaction was used to effectively amplify the Aopks, afl-A and omt-A genes in aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Four Aspergillus strains used in this investigation were shown to generate aflatoxin B1. While, three Aspergillus stains showed ochratoxin genes. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results indicate significant differences in the fungal community between ecoregions and soil invertebrates. Moreover, mycotoxin detection and identification among Aspergillus isolates were elucidated. This study could shed light on the risk of mycotoxin contamination along the supply chain.

The Antibacterial Activity of Rhazya stricta Extracts against Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Some Soil Invertebrates at High Altitudes.

Klebsiella is a common dangerous pathogen for humans and animals and is widely present in the digestive system. The genus Klebsiella is ubiquitous, as it is endemic to surface water, soil, and sewage. In this study, 70 samples were obtained from soil-dwelling invertebrates from September 2021 to March 2022 from Taif and Shafa in different altitudinal regions of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of these samples were identified as Klebsiella spp. The Klebsiella isolates were genetically identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae using rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the Klebsiella isolates was determined. Amplification of virulence genes was performed using PCR. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing showed a similarity from 98% to 100% with related K. pneumonia from the NCBI database, and the sequences were deposited in the NCBI GenBank under accession numbers ON077036 to ON077050. The growth inhibition properties of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta's leaves against K. pneumoniae strains using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method and disc diffusion were evaluated. In addition, the biofilm inhibitory potential of these extracts was investigated using crystal violet. HPLC analysis identified 19 components divided into 6 flavonoids, 11 phenolic acids, stilbene (resveratrol), and quinol, and revealed variations in the number of components and their quantities between extracts. Both extracts demonstrated interesting antibacterial properties against K. pneumoniae isolates. The 2 extracts also showed strong biofilm inhibitory activities, with percentages of inhibition extending from 81.5% to 98.7% and from 35.1% to 85.8% for the ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively. Rhazya stricta leaf extract revealed powerful antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against K. pneumoniae isolates and could be a good candidate for the treatment or prevention of K. pneumonia-related infections.

Load-Balancing Strategy: Employing a Capsule Algorithm for Cutting Down Energy Consumption in Cloud Data Centers for Next Generation Wireless Systems.

Per-user pricing is possible with cloud computing, a relatively new technology. It provides remote testing and commissioning services through the web, and it utilizes virtualization to make available computing resources. In order to host and store firm data, cloud computing relies on data centers. Data centers are made up of networked computers, cables, power supplies, and other components. Cloud data centers have always had to prioritise high performance over energy efficiency. The biggest obstacle is finding a happy medium between system performance and energy consumption, namely, lowering energy use without compromising system performance or service quality. These results were obtained using the PlanetLab dataset. In order to implement the strategy we recommend, it is crucial to get a complete picture of how energy is being consumed in the cloud. Using proper optimization criteria and guided by energy consumption models, this article offers the Capsule Significance Level of Energy Consumption (CSLEC) pattern, which demonstrates how to conserve more energy in cloud data centers. Capsule optimization's prediction phase F1-score of 96.7 percent and 97 percent data accuracy allow for more precise projections of future value.

Biochemical characterization and insights into the potency of the acidic Aspergillus niger NRC114 purified α-galactosidase in removing raffinose family oligosaccharides from soymilk yogurt.

BACKGROUND: Because humans lack α-galactosidase, foods containing certain oligosaccharides from the raffinose family, such as soybeans and other legumes, may disrupt digestion and cause flatulence. RESULTS: Aspergillus niger NRC114 α-galactosidase was purified using protein precipitation, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography steps, which resulted in a 123-fold purification. The purified enzyme was found to be 64 kDa using the SDS-PAGE approach. The optimum pH and temperature of the purified α-galactosidase were detected at pH 3.5 and 60 ºC, respectively. The pure enzyme exhibited potent acidic pH stability at pH 3.0 and pH 4.0 for 2 h, and it retained its full activity at 50 ºC and 60 ºC for 120 min and 90 min, respectively. The enzyme was activated using 2.5 mM of K+, Mg2+, Co2+, or Zn2+ by 14%, 23%, 28%, and 11%, respectively. The Km and Vmax values of the purified enzyme were calculated to be 0.401 µM and 14.65 µmol min-1, respectively. The soymilk yogurt showed an increase in its total phenolic content and total flavonoids after enzyme treatment, as well as several volatile compounds that were detected and identified using GC-MS analysis. HPLC analysis clarified the enzymatic action in the hydrolysis of raffinose family oligosaccharides. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the importance of A. niger NRC114 α-galactosidase enzyme for future studies, especially its applications in a variety of biological fields.

Determination of the relationship between class IV sirtuin genes and growth traits in Chinese black Tibetan sheep.

Class IV sirtuin (SIRT6 and SIRT7) played essential roles in biometabolism processes via deacetylating specific transcription factors. The present study was conducted to search for mutations in SIRT6/7 and determine their associations with growth traits in black Tibetan sheep. Via DNA sequencing methods, three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in 427 ewes, including a mutation (g.3724C > T) in the intron 1 of SIRT6 and two mutations (g.3668G > T and g.4223C > G) in SIRT7 intron 6 and 8, respectively. Based on the χ2 test, both g.3724C > T and g.4223C > G loci fitted with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). Compared with animals with genotype TT, the CC genotype at g.3724C > T locus (SIRT6) exhibited the highest mean for body weight (p < 0.05) and heart girth (p < 0.05). At g.3668G > T locus (SIRT7), individuals carrying the GG genotype tended to have heavier body weight than those of TT genotype (p < 0.05). With the exception of body weight, body measurement traits not affected by combinative genotype (p > 0.05). Our results could be used as genetic markers for marker-assisted selection and maybe guide sheep breeding in economic traits.

Efficiency of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.

The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) (Coleoptera, Dryophthoridae) is a well-known palm tree pest that has caused enormous economic damage all over the globe. Insecticides are still the primary method of controlling this pest at this period. However, field populations of RPW have been shown to be resistant to pesticides. Using Bacillus spp. might be one of the options for controlling R. ferruginous. In this study, 23 species of Bacillus spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of date palm trees in Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. The isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. R. ferrugineus larvae and adults were tested on sugarcane pieces that were treated with the B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 and B. cereus strains (PDC-AHSAA2, PDC-AHSA3 and PDC-AHSA4). The LC50 values for larvae and adults were quite low when they were compared with those of the other isolated strains. The B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 was more effective against both the larvae and adults. The determined LC50 values for B. thuringiensis ranged from 4.19 × 107-3.78 × 109. After 21 days, the data on larval mortality and body weight were evaluated. The surviving larvae that were treated with the bacterial isolates did not acquire a substantial weight. For the RPW larvae and adults, the mortality and corrected mortality death rates were increased by increasing the concentration of B. thuringiensis. In conclusion, Bacillus-treated diets negatively influenced the growth and development of the RPW. This research reported on the interaction between the RPW and the rhizosphere Bacillus spp. and highlighted the tremendous potential for the development of microbial resource-based control strategies for this pest.

Synthesis, Structural Determination, and Antioxidant Activities of Acyclic and Substituted Heterocyclic Phosphonates Linearly Linked 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone.

The chemical reactivity of 3-[(E)-3-(dimethylamino)-2-propenoyl]-4-hydroxy-1-methy-2(1H)-quinolinone (1) towards some phosphorus reagents was studied. The enaminone 1 was cyclized into pyranoquinolinylphosphonate 2 via treatment with diethyl phosphite in basic medium. However, its reaction with triethoxy phosphonoacetate gave the substituted oxopyranylphosphonate 3. Using the same reaction conditions, both thioxopyridinylphosphonate 4 and oxopyranylphosphonate 5 were produced via a reaction of enaminone 1 with both diethyl 2-amino-2-thioxoethylphosphonate and diethyl vinylphosphonate, respectively, in low yields. In addition, the two novel oxopyridinylphosphonates 6 and 7 were obtained by treatment of enaminone 1 with a diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate reagent. Two oaxathiaphosphininyl derivatives, 8 and 9, were obtained by treatment of the enaminone 1 with O, O-diethyl dithiophosphoric acid under different reaction conditions. Diazaphosphininyl 11 and oxazaphosphininyl 12 derivatives were obtained in excellent yields using a P-phenylphosphonic diamide reagent under different reaction conditions. The treatment of the enaminone 1 with phosphorus pentasulfide produced the non-phosphorylated product thioxothiopyranoquinolinone 13. Finally, the enaminone was turned into oxathiaphosphininyl 14 using Lawesson's reagent. The possible reaction mechanisms of the formation of these products were discussed. The structures of newly isolated products were established by elemental analysis and spectral tools. The compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activities.

Characterization of salt tolerant wheat genotypes by using morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis.

Food security is facing a major threat from salinity and there is a need to develop salt tolerant crop varieties to ensure that the demand for food from the world's increasing population is met. Salinity mostly occurs in arid and semi-arid regions. It may cause many adverse physiological effects on plants, i.e., toxic ion accumulation, disturbed osmotic potential, and decreased crop yield. The present study aimed to investigate the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic parameters of wheat genotypes under salt stress. Six wheat genotypes were screened for salt tolerance at the seedling and maturity stage. Seeds were sown at 0 and 150 mM of salinity level. Biochemical traits, i.e., shoot/root fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a/b and total chlorophyll contents, shoot nitrogen, shoot phosphorus, proline, and carbohydrates were measured. Wheat genotypes showed a significant increase in free amino acids, shoot nitrogen, and total soluble proteins under saline conditions. Higher Na+/K+ ratio and free amino acids were estimated under 150 mM NaCl treatment in Pasban-90 and found to be the most salt-tolerant genotype. By contrast, reduced proline, total chlorophyll, and Na+/K+ ratio were found in Kohistan-97 marking it to be sensitive to stress. Expression analysis of HKTs genes was performed to validate the results of two contrasting genotypes. The differential expression of HKT2; 1 and HKT2; 3 explained the tissue and genotype specific epigenetic variations. Our findings indicated that these selected genotypes can be further used for molecular studies to find out QTLs/genes related to salinity. This suggests that, in contrasting wheat genotypes, there is a differentially induced defense response to salt stress, indicating a functional correlation between salt stress tolerance and differential expression pattern in wheat.

Assessing the Synergistic Activity of Clarithromycin and Therapeutic Oils Encapsulated in Sodium Alginate Based Floating Microbeads.

We developed alginate-based floating microbeads of clarithromycin with therapeutic oils for the possible eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections by enhancing the residence time of the carrier at the site of infection. In pursuit of this endeavor, the alginate was blended with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) as an interpenetrating polymer to develop beads by ionotropic gelation using calcium carbonate as a gas generating agent. The developed microbeads remained buoyant under gastric conditions for 24 h. These microbeads initially swelled and afterwards decreased in size, possibly due to the erosion of the polymer. Furthermore, swelling was also affected by the type of encapsulated oil, i.e., swelling decreased with increasing concentrations of eucalyptus oil and increased with increasing concentrations of oleic acid. Antibacterial assays of the formulations showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli); these assays also showed synergistic activity between clarithromycin and therapeutic oils as evident from the higher zone of inhibition of the microbeads as compared to the pure drug and oils. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a smoother surface for oleic acid containing the formulation as compared to eucalyptus oil containing the formulation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the development of a stable formulation, while Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) studies did not reveal any interaction between the polymers and the active ingredients. Optimized formulations (CLM3 and CLM6) were designed to release the drug in a controlled manner in gastric media by Fickian diffusion. Conclusively, the developed microbeads are a promising carrier to overcome the narrow therapeutic index and low bioavailability of clarithromycin, while the presence of therapeutic oils will produce synergistic effects with the drug to eradicate infection effectively.

Harnessing the Potential of Bacillus altitudinis MT422188 for Copper Bioremediation.

The contamination of heavy metals is a cause of environmental concern across the globe, as their increasing levels can pose a significant risk to our natural ecosystems and public health. The present study was aimed to evaluate the ability of a copper (Cu)-resistant bacterium, characterized as Bacillus altitudinis MT422188, to remove Cu from contaminated industrial wastewater. Optimum growth was observed at 37°C, pH 7, and 1 mm phosphate, respectively. Effective concentration 50 (EC50), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and cross-heavy metal resistance pattern were observed at 5.56 mm, 20 mm, and Ni > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ag > Hg, respectively. Biosorption of Cu by live and dead bacterial cells in its presence and inhibitors 1 and 2 (DNP and DCCD) was suggestive of an ATP-independent efflux system. B. altitudinis MT422188 was also able to remove 73 mg/l and 82 mg/l of Cu at 4th and 8th day intervals from wastewater, respectively. The presence of Cu resulted in increased GR (0.004 ± 0.002 Ug-1FW), SOD (0.160 ± 0.005 Ug-1FW), and POX (0.061 ± 0.004 Ug-1FW) activity. Positive motility (swimming, swarming, twitching) and chemotactic behavior demonstrated Cu as a chemoattractant for the cells. Metallothionein (MT) expression in the presence of Cu was also observed by SDS-PAGE. Adsorption isotherm and pseudo-kinetic-order studies suggested Cu biosorption to follow Freundlich isotherm as well as second-order kinetic model, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (∆G°), change in enthalpy (∆H° = 10.431 kJ/mol), and entropy (∆S° = 0.0006 kJ/mol/K) depicted the biosorption process to a feasible, endothermic reaction. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analyses revealed the physiochemical and morphological changes in the bacterial cell after biosorption, indicating interaction of Cu ions with its functional groups. Therefore, these features suggest the potentially effective role of B. altitudinis MT422188 in Cu bioremediation.

Comparison and Advanced Antimicrobial Strategies of Silver and Copper Nanodrug-Loaded Glass Ionomer Cement against Dental Caries Microbes.

Caries lesions during cement repairs are a severe issue, and developing a unique antimicrobial restorative biomaterial can help to reduce necrotic lesion recurrence. As a result, Thymus vulgaris extract was used to biosynthesize copper nanoparticles (TVE-CuNPs) exhibiting different characteristics (TVE). Along with TVE-CuNPs, commercial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and metronidazole were combined with glass ionomer cement (GIC) to test its antibacterial efficacy and compressive strength. FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and TEM were applied to characterize the TVE-CuNPs. Additionally, AgNPs and TVE-CuNPs were also combined with metronidazole and GIC. The modified GIC samples were divided into six groups, where groups 1 and 2 included conventional GIC and GIC with 1.5% metromidazole, respectively; group 3 had GIC with 0.5% TVE-CuNPs, while group 4 had 0.5% TVE-CuNPs with metronidazole in 1.5%; group 5 had GIC with 0.5% AgNPs, and group 6 had 0.5% AgNPs with metronidazole at 1.5%. An antimicrobial test was performed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) by the disc diffusion method and the modified direct contact test (MDCT). GIC groups 4 and 6 demonstrated a greater antimicrobial efficiency against the two tested strains than the other groups. In GIC groups 4 and 6, the combination of GIC with two antimicrobial agents, 1.5% metronidazole and 0.5% TVE-CuNPs or AgNPs, enhanced the antimicrobial efficiency when compared to that of the other groups with or without a single agent. GIC group specimens combined with nanosilver and nanocopper had similar mean compressive strengths when compared to the other GIC groups. Finally, the better antimicrobial efficacy of GIC boosted by metronidazole and the tested nanoparticles against the tested strains may be relevant for the future creation of more efficient and modified restorations to reduce dental caries lesions.

Potential Therapeutic Candidates against Chlamydia pneumonia Discovered and Developed In Silico Using Core Proteomics and Molecular Docking and Simulation-Based Approaches.

Chlamydia pneumonia, a species of the family Chlamydiacea, is a leading cause of pneumonia. Failure to eradicate C. pneumoniae can lead to chronic infection, which is why it is also considered responsible for chronic inflammatory disorders such as asthma, arthritis, etc. There is an urgent need to tackle the major concerns arising due to persistent infections caused by C. pneumoniae as no FDA-approved drug is available against this chronic infection. In the present study, an approach named subtractive proteomics was employed to the core proteomes of five strains of C. pneumonia using various bioinformatic tools, servers, and software. However, 958 non-redundant proteins were predicted from the 4754 core proteins of the core proteome. BLASTp was used to analyze the non-redundant genes against the proteome of humans, and the number of potential genes was reduced to 681. Furthermore, based on subcellular localization prediction, 313 proteins with cytoplasmic localization were selected for metabolic pathway analysis. Upon subsequent analysis, only three cytoplasmic proteins, namely 30S ribosomal protein S4, 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase subunit C, and oligopeptide binding protein, were identified, which have the potential to be novel drug target candidates. The Swiss Model server was used to predict the target proteins' three-dimensional (3D) structure. The molecular docking technique was employed using MOE software for the virtual screening of a library of 15,000 phytochemicals against the interacting residues of the target proteins. Molecular docking experiments were also evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations and the widely used MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA binding free energy techniques. The findings revealed a promising candidate as a novel target against C. pneumonia infections.

Resistance of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae to Lytic Phage X2 by Spontaneous Mutation of Lipopolysaccharide Synthesis-Related Glycosyltransferase.

Phage therapy is a promising biocontrol management on plant diseases caused by bacterial pathogens due to its specificity, efficiency and environmental friendliness. The emergence of natural phage-resistant bacteria hinders the application of phage therapy. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is the causal agent of the devastating bacterial leaf blight disease of rice. Here, we obtained a spontaneous mutant C2R of an Xoo strain C2 showing strong resistance to the lytic phage X2. Analysis of the C2R genome found that the CDS2289 gene encoding glycosyltransferase acquired a frameshift mutation at the 180th nucleotide site, which also leads to a premature stop mutation at the 142nd amino acid. This mutation confers the inhibition of phage adsorption through the changes in lipopolysaccharide production and structure and bacterial surface morphology. Interestingly, glycosyltransferase-deficient C2R and an insertional mutant k2289 also showed reduced virulence, suggesting the trade-off costs of phage resistance. In summary, this study highlights the role of glycosyltransferase in interactions among pathogenic bacteria, phages and plant hosts, which provide insights into balanced coevolution from environmental perspectives.

Taify Pomegranate Juice (TPJ) Abrogates Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress Through the Regulation of Antioxidant Activity, Inflammation, and Apoptosis-Associated Genes.

Acrylamide (ACR) has various effects on biological systems, including oxidative stress and its associated metabolic disorders. Previous research reports that plants growing at high altitude have a different profile of antioxidants. In the current report, the Taify pomegranate juice (TPJ) of the Taify pomegranate growing at the Taif region (high altitude), Saudi Arabia, was investigated for its protective activity from ACR-induced oxidative stress. Rats were treated with ACR, TPJ, or TPJ+ACR, and various assays, including blood chemistry, liver function biomarkers, gene expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress regulatory genes, inflammation biomarkers, and apoptosis, were estimated using biochemical, real-time PCR, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analysis. TPJ showed a protective function of ACR-induced alteration of AST, ALT, GGT, urea, total proteins, albumin, MDA, and NO. It also increased the level of the endogenous antioxidative enzymes, including SOD, catalase, and GSH. It showed anti-inflammatory activity by reduction the TNF-α, IL-6 secretion and the enhancing of IL-10 levels. At the gene expression level, TPJ upregulated the expression of endogenous antioxidant genes (SOD and catalase) and of antioxidant-regulating genes Nrf2 and HO-1; downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes TGF-ß1, COX2, and the apoptotic gene caspase-3; and upregulated the expression of antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. At the histological level, TPJ showed a protective effect from the ACR-induced hepatic histological damage. Results of this study conclude that TPJ has a protective effect from ACR-induced oxidative stress and its associated metabolic alterations through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Influence of organic manures on soil nutrient content, microbial population, yield and quality parameters of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa.

During the last era in India, the use of chemical fertilizer has increased tremendously. The excessive use of these chemicals leads to the degradation of soil quality, health, as well as nutritional status. These are also causing a degradation of human health. This experiment was conducted during Mrig Bahar (July to December) during two consecutive years (2019-2020)in a randomized block design with three replications in which six-year-old 42 pomegranate plants were tested with 14 treatments of different organic manures. Findings showed that in the various treatments, the organic combination T13-Jeevamrut 16.08 L plant-1 + Vermicompost 24.79 kg plant-1 had a significant effect on the nutritional status (available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) and microbial population (fungi, bacterial, and actinomycetes count). In addition, T13-Jeevamrut 16.08 L plant-1 + Vermicompost 24.79 kg plant-1 found a significant effect on fruit yield characteristics like fruit plant-1 (122.00), fruit yield (17.38 kg plant-1), fruit weight (192.50 g) and fruit quality characteristics such as fruit juice percent (52.92%), and total sugar (11.92%).

Induction of Systemic Resistance against Sheath Blight in Rice by Different Pseudomonas Isolates.

Sheath blight disease is a fungal pathogen that causes leaf blight in rice plants, resulting in significant yield losses throughout the growing season. Pseudomonas spp. have long been used as biocontrol agents for a variety of plant diseases. Four Pseudomonas isolates were tested for their ability to promote rice growth and generate systemic resistance to Rhizoctonia solani, the causal pathogen of sheath blight disease. In vitro, Pseudomonas isolates produced the growth hormone indole acetic acid (0.82-1.82 mg L-1). Additionally, seed treatment with Pseudomonas putida suspension outperformed P. brassicacearum, P. aeruginosa and P. resinovorans in terms of germination and vigor evaluation. The maximum seed germination of 89% was recorded after seed treatments with a fresh suspension of P. putida, followed by 87% germination in P. aeruginosa treatment, compared with only 74% germination in the untreated controls. When compared with the infected control plants, all Pseudomonas isolates were non-pathogenic to rice and their co-inoculation considerably enhanced plant growth and health by reducing the disease index to 37% and improving plant height (26%), fresh weight (140%) and dry weight (100%). All Pseudomonas isolates effectively reduced sheath blight disease incidence, as well as the fungicide carbendazim, which is recommended for field management of R. solani. In comparison to untreated control seedlings, treatment with Pseudomonas isolates enhanced the production of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes and the expression of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and NPR1 genes, which could be involved in disease incidence reduction. In conclusion, the use of Pseudomonas spp. has been demonstrated to improve rice growth and resistance to R. solani while also providing an environmentally acceptable option to the agroecosystems.