Highly sensitive fluorescence turn-OFF and reversible chemical sensor for Hg2+ ion based on pyrene appended 2-thiohydantoin.

A novel fluorometric chemical sensor (PY-2TH) based on 2-thiohydantoin (2TH) in conjugation with pyrene (PY) was designed by facile one-pot Knoevenagel condensation reaction and explored for the sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ ion in solution and solid state methods. Different analytical techniques like NMR and LC-MS concomitantly confirmed the structure of PY-2TH. Absorption and emission studies demonstrate positive solvatochromic effects indicating intramolecular charge transfer in polar solvents. PY-2TH exhibits unprecedented selectivity for detecting Hg2+ ions in tetrahydrofuran (THF) through turn-OFF fluorescence with 90% decrease in the emission intensity with a limit of detection (LOD) of ∼4.4 ppb. The mechanistic investigation through NMR and optical studies confirm the formation of a 2:1 complex between PY-2TH and Hg2+. Thin films of PY-2TH exhibits the J-aggregate formation in the solid state leading to a shift in the emission towards the near-infrared region. Further, we have demonstrated the applicability of PY-2TH for detection of Hg2+ ions and fluorescence imaging in live Zebrafish larvae and the toxicological effects are explored. Cytotoxic evaluation on Zebrafish larval cells revealed that PY-2TH is found to be non-toxic. Detailed analysis demonstrate the potential of PY-2TH for ultra-sensitive Hg2+ ion detection and removal in aqueous environments, highlighting its applicability for identification of metal contamination in live organisms and environmental toxicity.

In vivo toxicological assessment of silver nanoparticle in edible fish, Oreochromis mossambicus.

Silver nanoparticles are the extensively utilized among all nanoparticles due to their antibacterial and wound healing properties making them highly suitable for medical and pharmaceutical applications. The field of nanoparticle toxicity is an emerging field and the present study aims to assess the biochemical, hematological and genotoxicity in Oreochromis mossambicus exposed to different concentrations of silver nanoparticles for 7 and 14 days. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by reduction of silver nitrate using trisodium citrate and was characterized using X-ray diffraction, SEM, HRTEM and DLS. Hematological parameters like RBC, WBC, Hb, HCT and MCV and for biochemical analysis, antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPX and serum enzymes AST, ALT, ACP, ALP and LDH were analyzed. Genotoxicity was studied using comet assay. Results obtained showed decrease in erythrocytes, HCT, Hb and MCV while an increase was noted in WBC on day 7 and 14. The antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPx showed a decrease and the lipid peroxidation product MDA was elevated. The serum enzymes AST, ALT, ACP ALP and LDH showed an increased activity when compared to control. DNA damage was evident by an increase in % TDNA. The results indicate hematological, biochemical and genotoxicity of silver nanoparticles that might be mediated through ROS generation in O. mossambicus.

Genomic investigation unveils high-risk ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae within a rural environmental water body.

Antimicrobial resistance is regarded as a global threat to public health, animals, and the environment, emerging in response to extensive utilization of antimicrobials. The determinants of antimicrobial resistance are transported to susceptible bacterial populations through genetic recombination or through gene transfer, mediated by bacteriophages, plasmids, transposons, and insertion sequences. To determine the penetration of antimicrobial resistance into the bacterial population of the Thiruvandarkoil Lake, a water body located in the rural settings of Puducherry, India, culture-based microbiological and genomic approaches were used. Resistant bacterial isolates obtained from microbiological screening were subjected to whole genome sequencing and the genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance were identified using in silico genomic tools. Cephalosporin-resistant isolates were found to produce extended spectrum beta lactamases, encoded by blaVEB-6 (in Proteus mirabilis PS01), blaSHV-12 and ompK36 mutation (in Klebsiella quasipneumoniae PS02) and blaSHV-12, blaACT-16, blaCTX-M and blaNDM-1 in (Enterobacter hormaechei PS03). Genes encoding heavy metal resistance, virulence and resistance to detergents were also detected in these resistant isolates. Among ESBL-producing organisms, one mcr-9-positive Enterobacter hormaechei was also identified in this study. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-9 carrying bacterium in the environment in India. This study seeks the immediate attention of policy makers, researchers, government officials and environmental activists in India, to develop surveillance programs to monitor the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

A comprehensive review on methane's dual role: effects in climate change and potential as a carbon-neutral energy source.

The unprecedented population and anthropogenic activity rise have challenged the future look up for shifts in global temperature and climate patterns. Anthropogenic activities such as land fillings, building dams, wetlands converting to lands, combustion of biomass, deforestation, mining, and the gas and coal industries have directly or indirectly increased catastrophic methane (CH4) emissions at an alarming rate. Methane is 25 times more potent trapping heat when compared to carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. A rise in atmospheric methane, on a 20-year time scale, has an impact of 80 times greater than that of CO2. With increased population growth, waste generation is rising and is predicted to reach 6 Mt by 2025. CH4 emitted from landfills is a significant source that accounts for 40% of overall global methane emissions. Various mitigation and emissions reduction strategies could significantly reduce the global CH4 burden at a cost comparable to the parallel and necessary CO2 reduction measures, reversing the CH4 burden to pathways that achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. CH4 mitigation directly benefits climate change, has collateral impacts on the economy, human health, and agriculture, and considerably supports CO2 mitigation. Utilizing the CO2 from the environment, methanogens produce methane and lower their carbon footprint. NGOs and the general public should act on time to overcome atmospheric methane emissions by utilizing the raw source for producing carbon-neutral fuel. However, more research potential is required for green energy production and to consider investigating the untapped potential of methanogens for dependable energy generation.

Exploring the impact of antibiotics, microplastics, nanoparticles, and pesticides on zebrafish gut microbiomes: Insights into composition, interactions, and health implications.

This review addresses the impact of various chemical entities like pesticides, antibiotics, nanoparticles and microplastic on gut microbiota of zebrafish. Gut microbiota plays a vital role in metabolic regulation in every organism. As majority of metabolic pathways coordinated by microbiota, small alterations associated with mild to serious outcomes. Because of their unstoppable usage in day-to-day life, the present-day research on gut microbiota is mostly comprising aforementioned chemicals. It is better to understand how gut microbiome is dysbiosed by various environmental factors, to keep our microbiota safe. We tried to delineate the natural flora of zebrafish gut microbiome and the metabolic and other pathways associated and what are the common flora that was dysbiosed during the treatment. Based on the existing literature, we reviewed pesticides like Imazalil, Difenoconazole, Chlorpyrifos, Metamifop, Carbendazim, Imidacloprid, Phoxim, Niclosamide, Dieldrin, and antibiotics like Oxytetracycline, Enrofloxacin, Florfenicol, Sulfamethoxazole, Tetracycline, Streptomycin, Doxycycline, and in the category of nanoparticles, Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2), Abalone viscera hydrolysates decorated silver nanoparticles (AVH-AgNPs), Lead-halide perovskite nanoparticles (LHP NPs), Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and microplastic types like polyethylene and polystyrene microplastic. Other studies with miscellaneous chemical entities on zebrafish gut microbiome include Ferulic acid, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Cadmium, Disinfection by-products, Triclosan, microcystin-LR, Fluoride, and Amitriptyline.

Plant biomass extracted eco-friendly natural surfactant enhanced bio-electrokinetic remediation of crude oil contaminated soil.

The current work investigates bioremediation (BIO) and electrokinetic (EK) remediation of crude oil hydrocarbons utilizing the biomass-electrokinetic (BIO-EK) approaches. The use of natural surfactants derived from plant biomass may improve remediation capacity by enhancing the solubility of organic pollutants. Sapindus mukorossi, a natural surfactant producer, was extracted from plant biomass in this study. The crude oil biodegradation efficiency was reported to be 98 %. In nature, FTIR confirms that plant biomass is lipopeptide. GCMS revealed that the crude oil (C7 - C23) was efficiently bio-degraded from lower to higher molecular weight. The application of natural surfactants in electokinetic remediation increased the plant biomass degradation of crude oil polluted soil by 98% compared to electrokinetic 55% in 2 days. Natural surfactant improves hydrocarbon solubilization and accelerates hydrocarbon electro migration to the anodic compartment, as confirmed by the presence of greater total organic content than the electrokinetic. This study proves that BIO-EK compared with a natural surfactant derived from plant biomass may be utilized to improve in situ bioremediation of crude oil polluted soils.

Genomic insights into plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance in the bacterium Bhargavaea beijingensis strain PS04.

The dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria through environment is a major health concern for public health. Pathogenic bacteria in natural environment can mediate the transfer of antimicrobial-resistant genes via horizontal gene transfer to naturally occurring bacteria in the soil. Bhargavaea beijingensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is commonly found in soil and water. In recent years, there has been an emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of environmental bacteria, which pose a significant threat to human health. One mechanism of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is through the acquisition of plasmids, which can carry genes that confer resistance to various antibiotics. In this study, a novel plasmid of repUS12 replicon type was identified in the strain PS04 of B. beijingensis, which carried the ermT and tet(L) genes, encoding resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, and tetracycline. The plasmid was found to be the first of its kind in B. beijingensis and was thought to have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer. The emergence of plasmid-mediated resistance in B. beijingensis highlights the need for continued surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria.

The genome of Symbiodiniaceae-associated Stutzerimonas frequens CAM01 reveals a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance genes indicating anthropogenic drift in the Palk Bay coral reef of south-eastern India.

An increase in antibiotic pollution in reef areas will lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leading to ecological disturbances in the sensitive coral holobiont. This study provides insights into the genome of antibiotics-resistant Stutzerimonas frequens CAM01, isolated from Favites-associated Symbiodiniaceae of a near-shore polluted reef of Palk Bay, India. The draft genome contains 4.67 Mbp in size with 52 contigs. Further genome analysis revealed the presence of four antibiotic-resistant genes, namely, adeF, rsmA, APH (3")-Ib, and APH (6)-Id that provide resistance by encoding resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) antibiotic efflux pump and aminoglycoside phosphotransferase. The isolate showed resistance against 73% of the antibiotics tested, concurrent with the predicted AMR genes. Four secondary metabolites, namely Aryl polyene, NRPS-independent-siderophore, terpenes, and ectoine were detected in the isolate, which may play a role in virulence and pathogenicity adaptation in microbes. This study provides key insights into the genome of Stutzerimonas frequens CAM01 and highlights the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in coral reef ecosystems.

Fluoranthene-terminated terpyridine ensemble for fluorescence light up and ratiometric chemical sensor for multi toxic metals.

A novel π-electron rich fluoranthene embellished with a phenyl spacer and coupled with terpyridine (TS1) was developed through Diels-Alder reaction. Single crystal X-ray structure evidences the variations in dihedral angles between the fluoranthene and the phenyl unit responsible for development of non-coplanar interactions and stabilized by a wave-like molecular packing in the crystal lattice with weak π-π interaction of 4.125 Å. The peripheral terpyridine of TS1 endows an efficient binding with multiple metal ions by colorimetric and fluorometric methods. TS1 exhibits a ratiometric fluorescence response from sky blue to yellow colour upon the addition of Zn2+ ions with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 ppm. The other metal ions such as Cu2+, Co2+ and Fe2+ demonstrate fluorescence quenching behaviour with LODs of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 ppm, respectively. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) shows the variation in TS1 emission behaviour upon metal ions interaction and quantitatively discriminates the metal ion concentrations. TS1 conferred a visual colorimetric change from colourless to magenta, enabling naked-eye detection of Fe2+ and showing clear discrimination between Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions for the real-time water samples. Furthermore, we have investigated the effect of TS1 in Zebrafish larvae/embryos and cytotoxicity in human urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma cells (UM-UC-3).

An antimicrobial metabolite n- hexadecenoic acid from marine sponge-associated bacteria Bacillus subtilis effectively inhibited biofilm forming multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.

Effective drug candidates to obstruct the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens have become a major concern. A potent antimicrobial producer was isolated from a marine sponge designated as MSI38 and was identified as Bacillus subtilis by 16SrDNA sequencing. The active antimicrobial fraction was purified, and the metabolite was identified as n-hexadecanoic acid by spectroscopic analysis. The fish-borne pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa FP012 was found to be multidrug-resistant and poses a risk of disease to food handlers and consumers in general. The compound showed a potent bactericidal effect against P. aeruginosa FP012 with a MIC of 31.33 ± 5.67 mg L-1 and MBC of 36.66 ± 5.17 mg L-1. The time-based biofilm inhibitory potential of MSI38 and ciprofloxacin was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. A synergistic effect of MSI38 and ciprofloxacin on biofilm showed 85% inhibition.

Microbiome Interconnectedness throughout Environments with Major Consequences for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet.

Microbiomes have highly important roles for ecosystem functioning and carry out key functions that support planetary health, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and water filtration. Microbiomes are also intimately associated with complex multicellular organisms such as humans, other animals, plants, and insects and perform crucial roles for the health of their hosts. Although we are starting to understand that microbiomes in different systems are interconnected, there is still a poor understanding of microbiome transfer and connectivity. In this review we show how microbiomes are connected within and transferred between different habitats and discuss the functional consequences of these connections. Microbiome transfer occurs between and within abiotic (e.g., air, soil, and water) and biotic environments, and can either be mediated through different vectors (e.g., insects or food) or direct interactions. Such transfer processes may also include the transmission of pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes. However, here, we highlight the fact that microbiome transmission can have positive effects on planetary and human health, where transmitted microorganisms potentially providing novel functions may be important for the adaptation of ecosystems.

Control and prevention of microbially influenced corrosion using cephalopod chitosan and its derivatives: A review.

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) of metals is an important industrial problem, causing 300-500 billion dollars of economic loss worldwide each year. It is very challenging to prevent or control the MIC in the marine environment. Eco-friendly coatings embedded with corrosion inhibitors developed from natural products may be a successful approach for MIC prevention or control. As a natural renewable resource, cephalopod chitosan has a number of unique biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal and non-toxicity effects, which attract scientific and industrial interests for potential applications. Chitosan is a positively charged molecule, and the negatively charged bacterial cell wall is the target of its antimicrobial action. Chitosan binds to the bacterial cell wall and disrupts the normal functions of the membrane by, for example, facilitating the leakage of intracellular components and impeding the transport of nutrients into the cells. Interestingly, chitosan is an excellent film-forming polymer. Chitosan may be applied as an antimicrobial coating substance for the prevention or control of MIC. Furthermore, the antimicrobial chitosan coating can serve as a basal matrix, in which other antimicrobial or anticorrosive substances like chitosan nanoparticles, chitosan silver nanoparticles, quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI) or the combination of these compounds, can be embedded to achieve synergistic anticorrosive effects. A combination of field and laboratory experiments will be conducted to test this hypothesis for preventing or controlling MIC in the marine environment. Thus, the proposed review will identify new eco-friendly MIC inhibitors and will assay their potential in future applications in the anti-corrosion industry.

Advances in solid-phase extraction techniques: Role of nanosorbents for the enrichment of antibiotics for analytical quantification.

Antibiotics are life-saving medications for treating bacterial infections; however it has been discovered that resistance developed by bacteria against these incredible agents is the primary contributing factor to rising global mortality rates. The fundamental cause of the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is the presence of antibiotic residues in various environmental matrices. Although antibiotics are present in diluted form in environmental matrices like water, consistent exposure of bacteria to these minute levels is enough for the resistance to develop. So, identifying these tiny concentrations of numerous antibiotics in various and complicated matrices will be a crucial step in controlling their disposal in those matrices. Solid phase extraction, a popular and customizable extraction technology, was developed according to the aspirations of the researchers. It is a unique alternative technique that could be implemented either alone or in combination with other approaches at different stages because of the multitude of sorbent varieties and techniques. Initially, sorbents are utilized for extraction in their natural state. The basic sorbent has been modified over time with nanoparticles and multilayer sorbents, which have indeed helped to accomplish the desired extraction efficiencies. Among the current traditional extraction techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, protein precipitation, and salting out techniques, solid-phase extractions (SPE) with nanosorbents are most productive because, they can be automated, selective, and can be integrated with other extraction techniques. This review aims to provide a broad overview of advancements and developments in sorbents with a specific emphasis on the applications of SPE techniques used for antibiotic detection and quantification in various matrices in the last two decades.

Effective utilization of wheat gluten by lipopeptide biosurfactant in the formulation of cookies.

BACKGROUND: Gluten-free food products are in demand due to the gluten sensitivity of individuals around the globe. Lipopeptide biosurfactants are widely used in food formulations for wetting, foaming, emulsion stabilization, anti-adhesive and anti-microbial properties. Lipopeptide biosurfactants can be used for gluten utilization and the formulation of food products. RESULTS: The strain Bacillus licheniformis MS48 was isolated from the marine sponge associated bacteria and found to be the ideal biosurfactant producer with an emulsification activity of 70%. Biosurfactant production was optimized using lactose, yeast extract, and sodium chloride (NaCl). The 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was found to increase with an increase in the concentration of biosurfactant. The conformation changes in the gluten  due to the treatment of lipopeptide biosurfactant was identified by thiol quantification and scanning electron microscopy. With the addition of lipopeptide MS48 to cookie dough, cookies with softer and smooth textures were developed. The conformation changes in the gluten   in the lipopeptide incorporated  cookie dough was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. The lipopeptide biosurfactant incorporation in cookie dough causes appropriate changes in the structural network of gluten. The lipopeptide-incorporated cookies had improved the spread factor and texture. CONCLUSION: Lipopeptide biosurfactant with effective radical scavenging activity aided in the utilization of gluten. Incorporating lipopeptide in cookie dough assisted in the production of cookies with improved textural and sensory properties. This study is a novel approach to the application of lipopeptide biosurfactant in gluten utilization for the development of cookies. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synthesis, antitubercular evaluation, and molecular docking studies of hybrid pyridinium salts derived from isoniazid.

In the quest to develop potent inhibitors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, novel isoniazid-based pyridinium salts were designed, synthesized, and tested for their antimycobacterial activities against the H37 Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using rifampicin as a standard. The pyridinium salts 4k, 4l, and 7d showed exceptional antimycobacterial activities with MIC90 at 1 µg/mL. The in vitro cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics profiles of these compounds were established for the identification of a lead molecule using in vivo efficacy proof-of-concept studies and found that the lead compound 4k possesses LC50 value at 25 µg/mL. The in vitro antimycobacterial activity results were further supported by in silico studies with good binding affinities ranging from -9.8 to -11.6 kcal/mol for 4k, 4l, and 7d with the target oxidoreductase DprE1 enzyme. These results demonstrate that pyridinium salts derived from isoniazid can be a potentially promising pharmacophore for the development of novel antitubercular candidates.

The menace of colistin resistance across globe: Obstacles and opportunities in curbing its spread.

Colistin-resistance in bacteria is a big concern for public health, since it is a last resort antibiotic to treat infectious diseases of multidrug resistant and carbapenem resistant Gram-negative pathogens in clinical settings. The emergence of colistin resistance in aquaculture and poultry settings has escalated the risks associated with colistin resistance in environment as well. The staggering number of reports pertaining to the rise of colistin resistance in bacteria from clinical and non-clinical settings is disconcerting. The co-existence of colistin resistant genes with other antibiotic resistant genes introduces new challenges in combatting antimicrobial resistance. Some countries have banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of colistin and its formulations for food producing animals. However, to tackle the issue of antimicrobial resistance, a one health approach initiative, inclusive of human, animal, and environmental health needs to be developed. Herein, we review the recent reports in colistin resistance in bacteria of clinical and non-clinical settings, deliberating on the new findings obtained regarding the development of colistin resistance. This review also discusses the initiatives implemented globally in mitigating colistin resistance, their strength and weakness.

Draft genome sequences of Bacillus pumilus 36R ATNSAL and B. safensis 13L LOBSAL, two potential candidate probiotic strains for shrimp aquaculture.

OBJECTIVES: This work aimed to isolate bacterial strains with antagonist activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VPAHPND) that was isolated from outbreaks in Mexico. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two antagonistic strains, isolated from saline sediment in Sonora, Mexico. METHODS: Cross-streak and well diffusion tests were employed to find the bacterial strains with higher inhibitory activity against VPAHPND. The whole genomes of B. pumilus 36R ATNSAL and B. safensis 13L LOBSAL were sequenced using Ion TorrentTM (PGM) and Illumina MiseqTM platforms, respectively. Annotation was performed using the RAST server, and the genes involved in the biosynthesis of bacterial secondary metabolites were predicted using antiSMASH. RESULTS: Two bacterial isolates, B. safensis 13L LOBSAL and B. pumilus 36R ATNSAL, were chosen based on their strong antagonistic profiles. The genome of 36R ATNSAL was 3.94 Mbp in length and contained 3824 genes and a total of 4116 coding sequences (CDSs); the genome of 13L LOBSAL was 3.68 Mbp and contained 3619 genes and 3688 CDSs. Twenty-eight and 32 biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for putative antimicrobial metabolite production were identified in 36R ATNSAL and 13L LOBSAL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The two strains 13L LOBSAL and 36R ATNSAL showed excellent probiotic profiles in vitro. The genome sequences will help with the mining and reconstruction of metabolic pathways in Bacillus strains. Genome sequence-guided strain improvement could augment the probiotic potential of Bacillus strains for applications in shrimp aquaculture.

Microbiome Research as an Effective Driver of Success Stories in Agrifood Systems - A Selection of Case Studies.

Increasing knowledge of the microbiome has led to significant advancements in the agrifood system. Case studies based on microbiome applications have been reported worldwide and, in this review, we have selected 14 success stories that showcase the importance of microbiome research in advancing the agrifood system. The selected case studies describe products, methodologies, applications, tools, and processes that created an economic and societal impact. Additionally, they cover a broad range of fields within the agrifood chain: the management of diseases and putative pathogens; the use of microorganism as soil fertilizers and plant strengtheners; the investigation of the microbial dynamics occurring during food fermentation; the presence of microorganisms and/or genes associated with hazards for animal and human health (e.g., mycotoxins, spoilage agents, or pathogens) in feeds, foods, and their processing environments; applications to improve HACCP systems; and the identification of novel probiotics and prebiotics to improve the animal gut microbiome or to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases in humans (e.g., obesity complications). The microbiomes of soil, plants, and animals are pivotal for ensuring human and environmental health and this review highlights the impact that microbiome applications have with this regard.

Bifidobacterium Is Enriched in Gut Microbiome of Kashmiri Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine condition in women in India. Gut microbiome alterations were shown to be involved in PCOS, yet it is remarkably understudied in Indian women who have a higher incidence of PCOS as compared to other ethnic populations. During the regional PCOS screening program among young women, we recruited 19 drug naive women with PCOS and 20 control women at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Kashmir, North India. We profiled the gut microbiome in faecal samples by 16S rRNA sequencing and included 40/58 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected in at least 1/3 of the subjects with relative abundance (RA) ≥ 0.1%. We compared the RAs at a family/genus level in PCOS/non-PCOS groups and their correlation with 33 metabolic and hormonal factors, and corrected for multiple testing, while taking the variation in day of menstrual cycle at sample collection, age and BMI into account. Five genera were significantly enriched in PCOS cases: Sarcina, Megasphaera, and previously reported for PCOS Bifidobacterium, Collinsella and Paraprevotella confirmed by different statistical models. At the family level, the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae was enriched, whereas Peptococcaceae was decreased among cases. We observed increased relative abundance of Collinsella and Paraprevotella with higher fasting blood glucose levels, and Paraprevotella and Alkalibacterium with larger hip, waist circumference, weight, and Peptococcaceae with lower prolactin levels. We also detected a novel association between Eubacterium and follicle-stimulating hormone levels and between Bifidobacterium and alkaline phosphatase, independently of the BMI of the participants. Our report supports that there is a relationship between gut microbiome composition and PCOS with links to specific reproductive health metabolic and hormonal predictors in Indian women.

Identification and characterization of the novel bioactive compounds from microalgae and cyanobacteria for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Microalgae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are used as food by humans. They have gained a lot of attention in recent years because of their potential applications in biotechnology. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are good sources of many valuable compounds, including important biologically active compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Under optimal growth condition and stress factors, algal biomass produce varieties of potential bioactive compounds. In the current review, bioactive compounds production and their remarkable applications such as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications along with processes involved in identification and characterization of the novel bioactive compounds are discussed. Comprehensive knowledge about the exploration, extraction, screening, and trading of bioactive products from microalgae and cyanobacteria and their pharmaceutical and other applications will open up new avenues for drug discovery and bioprospecting.