Synergistic effect of green synthesis magnesium oxide nanoparticles and seaweed extract on improving water quality, health benefits, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding liquid extract of algae (Hypnea musciformis, Grateloupia acuminata, and Sargassum muticum) (HGS) and Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) using this extract to rear water of Oreochromis niloticus, on improving culture water indices, growth performance, digestive enzyme, hemato-biochemical characters, immune, antioxidative responses, and resistance after challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila with specific refer to the potential role of the mixture in vitro as resistance against three strains bacteria (Aeromonas sobria, Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa) and one parasite (Cichlidogyrus tilapia). The first group represented control, HGS0, whereas the other group, HGS5, HGS10, and HGS15 mL-1 of liquid extract, as well as all groups with 7.5 µg mL-1 MgO-NPs added to culture water of O. niloticus, for 60 days. Data showed that increasing levels at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1 in to-culture water significantly enhanced growth-stimulating digestive enzyme activity and a significantly improved survival rate of O. niloticus after being challenged with A. hydrophila than in the control group. The total viability, coliform, fecal coliform count, and heavy metal in muscle partially decreased at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1 than in the control group. Correspondingly, the highest positive effect on hemato-biochemical indices was noticed at levels HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. Fish noticed an improvement in immune and antioxidant indices compared to control groups partially at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. Interestingly, fish cultured in rearing water with the mixture provided downregulated the related inflammatory genes (HSP70, TNF, IL-1ß, and IL-8) partially at HGS15 mL-1. In vitro, the mixture showed positive efficiency as an antibacterial and partially antiparasitic at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. This study proposes utilizing a mixture of (HGS) and (MgO-NPs) with optimum levels of 10-15 mL-1 in cultured water to improve water indices, growth, health status, and increased resistance of O. niloticus against bacterial and parasitic infection.

Synthesis and characterization of different complexes derived from Schiff base and evaluation as a potential anticancer, antimicrobial, and insecticide agent.

The condensation of (1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) methanamine, with 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde lead to Schiff base ligand (H2L) (1). This was later reacted with metal salts (ZnCl2, CrCl3·6H2O, and MnCl2·4H2O) to afford the corresponding metal complexes. Biological activity findings indicate that the metal complexes have promising activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and modest activity against Aspergillus niger. The in vitro anticancer activities of Zn (II), Cr (III), and Mn (II) complexes were investigated and the best results were observed with Mn (II) complex as the most potent cytotoxic agent toward human cell lines colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT 116, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 with 0.7, 1.1 and 6.7 µg of inhibitory concentration IC50 values respectively. Consequently, the Mn (II) complex and ligand were docked inside the energetic site of ERK2 and exhibited favorable energy for binding. The investigation of biological tests towards mosquito larvae indicates that Cr (III) and Mn (II) complexes manifest strong toxicity against Aedes aegypti larvae with 3.458 and 4.764 ppm values of lethal concentration LC50, respectively.

Varietal susceptibility of certain broad bean seeds to infestation with Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).

Seeds susceptibility of eight broad bean varieties to Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) infestation were studied for the first time in free- and no-choice methods in the laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University. The relation between certain seed physical characteristics and some biological and and infestation parameters of both insects in the two studied methods were evaluated. None of these varieties were resistant to both insects, showing various levels of susceptibility. Biological and infestation parameters were significantly different among varieties except the developmental period. In free- choice method, Giza 3 was the most susceptible variety to both insects, since produced the highest progeny of 246.67 and 75.67 adults and susceptibility index (SI) of 10.25 and 7.42, respectively, while the least susceptible variety was Giza 716. In no- choice method, Nubaria 5 and Sakha 1 were the most susceptible varieties to C. chinensis, while Nubaria 3 and Giza 3 to C. maculatus. Differences between physical characters of varieties were significant. Seed hardness were correlated negatively and seed coat thickness positively with laid eggs, progeny and (SI) of both insects in free-choice method. Also seed coat thickness correlated positively with weight loss and seed damage (%) of C. chinensis and negatively of C. maculatus. To reduce seed losses the cultivation of the least susceptible variety (Giza 716) is encouraged and considered for breeding purposes to avoid insecticide usage.

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic relationships among Rhynchophorus sp. haplotypes in Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region-KSA.

The study aims at detecting and characterizing haplotypes of red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus sp. in the Western region of Saudi Arabia based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence. The results indicated the occurrence of 17 nucleotide substitutions, of which three were nonsynonymous (NS). These three NS substitutions resulted in the variation in amino acid sequence in three positions, out of 133. These amino acids are isoleucine/valine, glycine/serine, and arginine/histidine. Based on the chemical properties of the cytochrome C oxidase (COX) enzyme, it is likely that the change at the first position has no effect, while changes at the other two positions can affect the chemical properties of the enzyme. At the three-dimensional (3D) level, the first two positions exist at the border or inside loop 3-4 of the enzyme, while the third position exists inside loop 4-5. These two loops influence the folding pattern of the enzyme, thus, likely affecting the function of the enzyme. However, it is unlikely that variations in the three positions will affect the binding ability of the heme group, which promotes the action of the COX enzyme in the electron transport chain. Variations in chemical properties and 3D structure of COX enzyme might be an evolutionary process (positive selection) that promotes in-time and in-site adaptation to the insect. In conclusion, this study can be helpful in pest management programs and in tracing RPW geographic spread and migration in Saudi Arabia.

Effects of blood meal sources on the biological characteristics of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae).

Mosquitoes transmit many diseases to humans and animals e.g., malaria, yellow fever, dengue, filariasis and encephalitis. The fundamental target of this search was to study the effect of three different blood meal sources (human; rabbit and pigeon) on some biological and behavioral properties of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens. The results have assured that the females of the mosquito Ae. aegypti that were fed on human blood meal has registered the highest feeding activity from feeding on the blood meal whereas the females of the other mosquito Cx. pipiens have shown the highest feeding activity after being fed on pigeons when compared with its feeding on other factors. The results have shown non-significant variation in the average time necessary to digest the blood meal on both mosquito species Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens that were fed on vertebrate hosts under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, results assured that the difference in blood meal sources has yielded distinct variation in the reproductive capacity and efficiency of both female mosquitoes under investigation where both species Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens already fed on human blood meal have yielded a pronounced distinctive increase in egg production (oviposition) when compared with females that were fed on pigeon or rabbit blood meal respectively. Moreover, feeding of the female mosquitoes under lab conditions on different blood meal sources did not affect the level of the hatching eggs that were laid by both mosquito females.