Outcome of early detection approach in control of breast, cervical, and oral cancer: Experience from a rural cancer center in India.

In low- and middle-income countries most of the cancer patients attend the hospital at a late stage and treatment completion of these cases is challenging. The early detection program (EDP), in rural areas of Punjab state, India was initiated to identify breast, cervical, and oral cancer at an early stage by raising awareness and providing easy access to diagnosis and treatment. A total of 361 health education programs and 99 early detection clinics were organized. The symptomatic and self-interested (non-symptomatic individuals who opted for screening) cases visited the detection clinic. They were screened for breast, cervical, and/or oral cancer. Further diagnosis and treatment of screen-positive cases were carried out at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur. Community leaders and healthcare workers were involved in all the activities. The EDP, Sangrur removed barriers between cancer diagnosis and treatment with the help of project staff. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 221,317 populations were covered. Symptomatic and self-interested individuals attended the breast (1627), cervical (1601), and oral (1111) examinations. 46 breast (in situ-4.3%; localized-52.2%), 9 cervical (localized-77.8%), and 12 oral (localized-66.7%) cancer cases were detected, and treatment completion was 82.6%, 77.8%, and 50.0%, respectively. We compared cancer staging and treatment completion of cases detected through EDP with the cases attended HBCH from Sangrur district in 2018; the difference between two groups is statistically significant. Due to the early detection approach, there is disease down-staging and improvement in treatment completion. This approach is feasible and can be implemented to control these cancers in low- and middle-income countries.

Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of QTLs Associated with Root Traits and Implications for Maize Breeding.

Root system architecture (RSA), also known as root morphology, is critical in plant acquisition of soil resources, plant growth, and yield formation. Many QTLs associated with RSA or root traits in maize have been identified using several bi-parental populations, particularly in response to various environmental factors. In the present study, a meta-analysis of QTLs associated with root traits was performed in maize using 917 QTLs retrieved from 43 mapping studies published from 1998 to 2020. A total of 631 QTLs were projected onto a consensus map involving 19,714 markers, which led to the prediction of 68 meta-QTLs (MQTLs). Among these 68 MQTLs, 36 MQTLs were validated with the marker-trait associations available from previous genome-wide association studies for root traits. The use of comparative genomics approaches revealed several gene models conserved among the maize, sorghum, and rice genomes. Among the conserved genomic regions, the ortho-MQTL analysis uncovered 20 maize MQTLs syntenic to 27 rice MQTLs for root traits. Functional analysis of some high-confidence MQTL regions revealed 442 gene models, which were then subjected to in silico expression analysis, yielding 235 gene models with significant expression in various tissues. Furthermore, 16 known genes viz., DXS2, PHT, RTP1, TUA4, YUC3, YUC6, RTCS1, NSA1, EIN2, NHX1, CPPS4, BIGE1, RCP1, SKUS13, YUC5, and AW330564 associated with various root traits were present within or near the MQTL regions. These results could aid in QTL cloning and pyramiding in developing new maize varieties with specific root architecture for proper plant growth and development under optimum and abiotic stress conditions.

A genomic analysis of Mycobacterium immunogenum strain CD11_6 and its potential role in the activation of T cells against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is a mounting problem worldwide. The only available vaccine BCG protects the childhood but not adulthood form of TB. Therefore, efforts are made continuously to improve the efficacy of BCG by supplementing it with other therapies. Consequently, we explored the possibility of employing Mycobacterium immunogenum (Mi) to improve BCG potential to protect against Mtb. RESULTS: We report here the genome mining, comparative genomics, immunological and protection studies employing strain CD11_6 of Mi. Mycobacterium immunogenum was isolated from duodenal mucosa of a celiac disease patient. The strain was whole genome sequenced and annotated for identification of virulent genes and other traits that may make it suitable as a potential vaccine candidate. Virulence profile of Mi was mapped and compared with two other reference genomes i.e. virulent Mtb strain H37Rv and vaccine strain Mycobacterium bovis (Mb) AFF2122/97. This comparative analysis revealed that Mi is less virulent, as compared to Mb and Mtb, and contains comparable number of genes encoding for the antigenic proteins that predict it as a probable vaccine candidate. Interestingly, the animals vaccinated with Mi showed significant augmentation in the generation of memory T cells and reduction in the Mtb burden. CONCLUSION: The study signifies that Mi has a potential to protect against Mtb and therefore can be a future vaccine candidate against TB.

Neonatal Acute Liver Failure Associated with Angioinvasive Hepatic Zygomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal acute liver failure (NALF) is often a fatal condition. Zygomycosis is a fungal infection that is often fatal in both adults and infants. Only a few cases of hepatic zygomycosis are reported in the literature and they are invariably associated with immunosuppression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Post-mortem liver biopsy from a 14-day old neonate demonstrated confluent panacinar necrosis with angioinvasive zygomycosis. The limited work-up could not rule out an underlying immunodeficiency. CONCLUSION: Angioinvasive hepatic zygomycosis can present in the neonatal period as NALF.

Bacillus maritimus sp. nov., a novel member of the genus Bacillus isolated from marine sediment.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, strain KS16-9T, isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from Kovalam, Kanyakumari coastal region of the Indian Ocean, India, was analysed by a polyphasic approach. Strain KS16-9T had typical phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic features (menaquinones, fatty acids and lipids) that were consistent with the genus Bacillus. omparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain with previously published Bacillus type strains confirmed that it belongs to the genus Bacillus and is moderately related to Bacillus persicus B48T (98.42 % similarity), followed by Bacillus foraminis CV53T (97.67 %) and Bacillus rigiliprofundi (97.61 %). Other species in the genus Bacillusshared <97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain KS16-9T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as major fatty acids, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain KS16-9T was 45.4 mol%. Based on data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain KS16-9T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus maritimus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KS16-9T (=MTCC 12305T=DSM 100413T=KCTC 33834T).

Brachybacterium aquaticum sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from seawater.

A pale-yellowish bacterium, strain KWS-1T, was isolated from seawater during a study of the bacterial diversity of the marine environment of the Kanyakumari coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, India, and was studied by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain KWS-1T had morphological and chemotaxonomic properties (cell-wall diamino acid, menaquinone and fatty acid profile) consistent with its classification in the genus Brachybacterium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain KWS-1T was related most closely to Brachybacterium paraconglomeratum JCM 17781T, followed by Brachybacterium saurashtrense DSM 23186T, Brachybacterium gingengisoli JCM 19356T, Brachybacterium faecium JCM 11609T and Brachybacterium conglomeratum JCM 11608T (98.45, 98.24, 98.12, 98.10 and 98.10 % similarity, respectively), whereas the sequence similarity values with respect to the other Brachybacterium species with validly published names were between 97.4 and 94.2 %. However, the DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain KWS-1T and the five most closely related species were less than the threshold value for species discrimination. The major lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine and the major quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The DNA G+C content of strain KWS-1T was 71.8 mol%. The above data in combination with the phenotypic distinctiveness of strain KWS-1T from other reference strains clearly indicate that the strain represents a novel species, for which the name Brachybacterium aquaticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KWS-1T (=MTCC 11836T=DSM 28796T=JCM 30059T).

Microbacterium aureliae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from Aurelia aurita, the moon jellyfish.

The taxonomic position of a lemon-yellow-pigmented actinobacterium, strain JF-6T, isolated from Aurelia aurita, the moon jellyfish, collected from the Bay of Bengal coast, Kanyakumari, India, was determined using a polyphasic approach. The strain had phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties that were consistent with its classification in the genus Microbacterium. Alignment of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JF-6T with sequences from Microbacterium arthrosphaerae CC-VM-YT, Microbacterium yannicii G72T, Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum IFO 15077T, Microbacterium flavescens DSM 20643T, Microbacterium insulae DS-66T, Microbacterium resistens DMMZ 1710T and Microbacterium thalassium IFO 16060T revealed similarities of 98.95, 98.76, 98.43, 98.41, 98.41, 98.26 and 98.22 %, respectively. However, the levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with its closest phylogenetic neighbours confirmed that it represents a novel species within the genus. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown glycolipid. The major menaquinones detected for strain JF-6T were MK-13 and MK-12. The diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ornithine and the peptidoglycan was type B2ß (Glu/Hyg-Gly-d-Orn). The DNA G+C content was 69.4 mol%. Based on these differences, strain JF-6T (=MTCC 11843T=JCM 30060T=KCTC 39828T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species of Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium aureliae sp. nov. is proposed.

Isolation and characterization of a novel Gram-negative bacterium Chromobacterium alkanivorans sp. nov., strain IITR-71T degrading halogenated alkanes.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain negative, non-violaceinpigmented bacterium isolated from an insecticide-contaminated site was characterized by a polyphasic approach. The bacterium was able to grow on three different halogenated compounds namely 1-hlorobutane, 1-hloropropane and 1,2-ichloroethane. As a critical step in the degradation of these haloalkanes, stoichiometric amounts of dechlorination were estimated. Based on selective enrichment method for three months, using a highly contaminated mixed chemical soil, a bacterium was obtained and designated as IITR-71T. Its versatility and novelty led us to further characterize it by polyphasic taxonomy. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1446 bases) comparison showed highest similarity with those of members of the genus Chromobacterium with the most closely related species to strain IITR-71T being Chromobacterium aquaticum (99.3 %) followed by Chromobacterium haemolyticum (98.6 %) and Chromobacterium piscinae (97.1 %). The major ubiquinone was Q-8. Predominant polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG). The DNA G+C content of IITR-71T was estimated to be 61.2 mol%. The genotypic and phenotypic distinctiveness of IITR-71T and its phylogenetic relationships indicate that IITR-71T represents a novel species, for which the name Chromobacterium alkanivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IITR-71T (=MTCC 11059T=JCM 30068T=KCTC 52433T).

Taxonomic description and genome sequence of Salinicoccus sediminis sp. nov., a halotolerant bacterium isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-staining-positive, coccoid, halotolerant bacterial strain, designated SV-16T, was isolated from marine sediment and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The strain exhibited phenotypic properties that included chemotaxonomic characteristics consistent with its classification in the genus Salinicoccus. Growth occurred at temperatures in the range 25-37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 7.0-11.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and at NaCl concentrations of up to 25.0% (optimum 15.0%). The highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was with Salinicoccus carnicancri CrmT (98.6%) followed by Salinicoccus halodurans W24T (96.6%). The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The draft genome of strain SV-16T consisted of 2,591,284 bp with a DNA G+C content of 48.7 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics and genotypic distinctiveness of strain SV-16T, it should be classified within a novel species of the genus Salinicoccus, for which the name Salinicoccus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SV-16T ( = MTCC 11832T = DSM 28797T).

Taxonomic description and genome sequence of Bacillus campisalis sp. nov., a member of the genus Bacillus isolated from a solar saltern.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain positive bacterium isolated from a solar saltern sample collected from Kanyakumari, coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, India, was analysed by using a polyphasic approach. The isolated strain, designated SA2-6T, had phenotypic characteristics that matched those of the genus Bacillus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1493 bases) of the novel strain was compared with those of previously studied Bacillus type strains and confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Bacillus and was moderately closely related to the type strain of Bacillus foraminis at 97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, followed by those of Bacillus thioparans (96.9 %), Bacillus subterraneus (96.8 %), Bacillus jeotgali (96.6 %), Bacillus selenatarsenatis (96.6 %) and Bacillus boroniphilus (96.6 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain SA2-6T differs from all other species of the genus Bacillus by at least 2.5 %. It contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid, and iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as major fatty acids. Major lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Based on data from this polyphasic study, strain SA2-6T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus campisalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SA2-6T ( = MTCC 11848T = DSM 28801T). The draft genome of strain SA2-6T consisted of 5 183 363 bp with G+C content of 45.44 mol%, 5352 predicted coding sequences, 191 RNAs and 479 subsystems.

Taxonomic description and genome sequence of Rheinheimera mesophila sp. nov., isolated from an industrial waste site.

A novel Gram-staining-negative gammaproteobacterium, designated IITR-13T, was isolated from a pesticide-contaminated soil and characterized using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain showed the closest similarity (98.7 %) to Rheinheimera tangshanensis JA3-B52T followed by Rheinheimera texasensis A62-14BT (97.7 %) and Rheinheimera soli BD-d46T (97.3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the novel strain to other members of the genus Rheinheimera was < 97.3 %. However, DNA-DNA hybridization between strain IITR-13T and the type strains of R. tangshanensis, R. texasensis and R. soli was 47.5 ± 0.6, 42.4 ± 0.4 and 39.8 ± 0.3 %, respectively; these values are less than 70 %, a threshold value for delineation of a novel species. The strain had C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c) and C18 : 1ω6c as the major fatty acids. The major isoprenoid quinones detected for strain IITR-13T were ubiquinone Q-8 and menaquinone MK-7.The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and seven unknown phospholipids. Based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the novel strain should be assigned to a novel species, for which the name Rheinheimera mesophila sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain IITR-13T ( = MTCC 12064T = DSM 29723T). Also, we report the draft genome sequence of Rheinheimera mesophila IITR-13T; the draft genome sequence includes 3 749 903 bases and comprises 3449 predicted coding sequences, with a G+C content of 47.8 %. It consists of 102 contigs (>1000 bp).

Bacillus mesophilum sp. nov., strain IITR-54T, a novel 4-chlorobiphenyl dechlorinating bacterium.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from soil sample collected from an industrial site was analyzed by a polyphasic approach. The strain designated as IITR-54T matched most of the phenotypic and chemical characteristics of the genus Bacillus and represents a novel species. It was found to biodegrade 4-chlorobiphenyl through dechlorination and was isolated through enrichment procedure from an aged polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil. Both resting cell assay and growth under aerobic liquid conditions using 4-chlorobiphenyl as sole source of carbon along with 0.01% yeast extract, formation of chloride ions was measured. 16S rRNA (1,489 bases) nucleotide sequence of isolated strain was compared with those of closely related Bacillus type strains and confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Bacillus. Strain IITR-54T differs from all other species of Bacillus by at least 2.1% at the 16S rRNA level, and the moderately related species are Bacillus oceanisediminis (97.9%) followed by Bacillus infantis (97.7%), Bacillus firmus (97.4%), Bacillus drentensis (97.3%), Bacillus circulans (97.2%), Bacillus soli (97.1%), Bacillus horneckiae (97.1%), Bacillus pocheonensis (97.1%) and Bacillus bataviensis (97.1%), respectively. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Major fatty acids are iso-C15:0 (32.4%) and anteiso-C15:0 (27.4%). Predominant polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic distinctiveness of strain IITR-54T with its phylogenetic relatives and suggest that the strain IITR-54T should be recognized as a novel species, for which the name Bacillus mesophilum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IITR-54T (=MTCC 11060T=JCM 19208T).

Isoptericola rhizophila sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil.

A Gram-positive, yellow pigmented strain, BKS 3-46(T) was isolated from a soil sample collected from the rhizosphere of Ficus benghalensis (banyan tree) in Bhitarkanika mangrove forest, in the Indian state of Odisha, and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic study. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain was determined and the sequence analysis showed that strain BKS 3-46(T) should be assigned to the genus Isoptericola. The chemotaxonomic data supported this taxonomic placement i.e. presence of menaquinone MK-9(H4); major fatty acids anteiso C15:0 and iso-C15:0; and phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as major polar lipids. Further phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that the strain BKS 3-46(T) belongs to the genus Isoptericola and is closely related to Isoptericola halotolerans MTCC 11265(T) (98.6 %) followed by Isoptericola nanjingensis MTCC 11633(T) (98.4 %) and Isoptericola chiayiensis MTCC 11634(T) (98.1 %). However, the DNA-DNA hybridization values obtained between strain BKS 3-46(T) and other related strains were well below the threshold that is required for the proposal of a novel species. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 70.4 mol%. The phenotypic and genotypic data showed that the strain BKS 3-46(T) merits the recognition as a representative of a novel species of the genus Isoptericola. It is proposed that the isolate should be classified in the genus Isoptericola as a novel species, Isoptericola rhizophila sp. nov. The type strain is BKS 3-46(T) (=MTCC 11080(T)=JCM 19252(T)).

Exploring the unusual: a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor.

Ovarian steroid cell tumors are rare, representing less than 0.1% of all ovarian neoplasms. Among the myriad causes of hirsutism, ovarian tumors account for 1% of the reported cases. We present the case of a 49-year-old parous postmenopausal woman who sought medical attention for hirsutism for 2 years. This case illustrates the unusual and interesting connection between rare ovarian pathology and the clinical manifestation of hirsutism in a postmenopausal patient. Her ultrasonography and MRI showed a right adnexal mass of solid-cystic consistency with thin septations. Her laboratory workup revealed high levels of total testosterone of 256 ng/ml (8.4-48.1ng/ml) and free testosterone of 7.36 pg/ml (0.2-4.1 pg/ml), while DHEAS - 234 µg/dl (35.4-256 µg/dl) and CA125 - 15.8U/L (0.0-35 U/L) were in the normal range. She underwent exploratory laparotomy with a total abdominal hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry conclusively established the presence of a steroid cell tumor, specifically classified as "Not Otherwise Specified"(NOS), in the right ovary.

Defining genomic landscape for identification of potential candidate resistance genes associated with major rice diseases through MetaQTL analysis.

Rice production is severely affected by various diseases such as bacterial leaf blight (BLB), brown spot (BS), false smut (FS), foot rot (FR), rice blast (RB), and sheath blight (SB). In recent years, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) studies involving different populations have been carried out, resulting in the identification of hundreds of resistance QTLs for each disease. These QTLs can be integrated and analyzed using meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis for better understanding of the genetic architecture underlying multiple disease resistance (MDR). This study involved an MQTL analysis on 661 QTLs (378, 161, 21, 41, 44, and 16 QTLs for SB, RB, BLB, BS, FS, and FR, respectively) retrieved from 50 individual studies published from 1995 to 2021. Of these, 503 QTLs were projected finally onto the consensus map saturated with 6,275 markers, resulting in 73 MQTLs, including 27 MDR-MQTLs conferring resistance to three or more diseases. Forty-seven MQTLs were validated using marker-trait associations identified in published genome-wide association studies. A total of 3,310 genes, including both R and defense genes, were also identified within some selected high-confidence MQTL regions that were investigated further for the syntenic relationship with barley, wheat, and maize genomes. Thirty-nine high-confidence candidate genes were selected based on their expression patterns and recommended for future studies involving functional validation, genetic engineering, and gene editing. Nineteen MQTLs were co-localized with 39 known R genes for BLB and RB diseases. These results could pave the way to utilize candidate genes in a marker-assisted breeding program for MDR in rice.

Comprehensive genome-wide identification and transferability of chromosome-specific highly variable microsatellite markers from citrus species.

Citrus species among the most important and widely consumed fruit in the world due to Vitamin C, essential oil glands, and flavonoids. Highly variable simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers are one of the most informative and versatile molecular markers used in perennial tree genetic research. SSR survey of Citrus sinensis and Citrus maxima were identified perfect SSRs spanning nine chromosomes. Furthermore, we categorized all SSR motifs into three major classes based on their tract lengths. We designed and validated a class I SSRs in the C. sinensis and C. maxima genome through electronic polymerase chain reaction (ePCR) and found 83.89% in C. sinensis and 78.52% in C. maxima SSRs producing a single amplicon. Then, we selected extremely variable SSRs (> 40 nt) from the ePCR-verified class I SSRs and in silico validated across seven draft genomes of citrus, which provided us a subset of 84.74% in C. sinensis and 77.53% in C. maxima highly polymorphic SSRs. Out of these, 129 primers were validated on 24 citrus genotypes through wet-lab experiment. We found 127 (98.45%) polymorphic HvSSRs on 24 genotypes. The utility of the developed HvSSRs was demonstrated by analysing genetic diversity of 181 citrus genotypes using 17 HvSSRs spanning nine citrus chromosomes and were divided into 11 main groups through 17 HvSSRs. These chromosome-specific SSRs will serve as a powerful genomic tool used for future QTL mapping, molecular breeding, investigation of population genetic diversity, comparative mapping, and evolutionary studies among citrus and other relative genera/species.

Interaction of TiO2 nanoparticles with soil: Effect on microbiological and chemical traits.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are the most widely used nanomaterials and their expanding use raises concerns about their impacts on soil ecosystems and functioning. The present study evaluates the potential impacts of TiO2 NPs applied at low doses (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg L-1) on soil chemical properties including the macro and micronutrient contents, microbial population and enzyme activities in rhizosphere soil of mung bean crop at different time intervals (7, 14, 28 and 56 days). A quantitative RT-PCR study was also performed to study the relative change in the gene expression of ammonia oxidizer and nitrogen fixers upon TiO2 NP supplementation. An increase in soil nutrient content viz., available N, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, nitrate-N and ammonical-N was observed with NP application except available K and Zn content. The TiO2 NPs stimulated the growth of soil microflora at low concentrations while an inhibitory effect was recorded at high concentrations. The soil fungi and actinobacteria emerged as the most sensitive groups of soil microbes towards TiO2 NP exposure exhibiting detrimental impacts on their growth at all concentrations. Similarly, the soil enzyme activities enhanced till TiO2 NPs (10.0 mg L-1) which was followed by decrease at higher concentrations. The qRT-PCR study showed that the ammonia oxidizers were more affected by TiO2 NPs application than nitrogen fixers. These findings suggest that TiO2 NPs can be used as stimulators of soil nutrients and soil microbial dynamics at low concentrations.