First insights into salt tolerance improvement of Stevia by plant growth-promoting Streptomyces species.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to improve the salt stress and alleviate its impact on Stevia crop plant under different levels of salt concentration. Two Streptomyces spp. isolated from the rhizosphere of halophytic plants (Cucumis sativus L. and Salicornia europaea L.) have shown potential for plant growth promotion in Stevia plant. The streptomycetes isolates were identified by classical microbiological techniques and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA gene as Streptomyces variabilis (4NC) and S. fradiae (8PK). The results have shown that inoculation of Stevia plant by these isolates has enhanced plant growth parameters under applied salt stress. Moreover, total cellular proteins were extracted from the two Streptomyces isolates and SDS-PAGE technique was conducted. Mass spectrometric analysis has identified unique polypeptide of the elongation factor thermos unstable (EF-Tu) indicating the elevation of ribosomal RNA and ribosomal protein genes transcription. On the same context, alleviation of salt stress in Stevia plants inoculated with the two Streptomyces isolates has potentially promoted the accumulation of the major pronounced RuBisCO large subunit protein band detected approximately at 53 kDa. These results may give novel insights and accretion our understanding of salinity tolerance mechanisms using PGP streptomycetes to develop resistant sugar crops of highly important economic value. This study has presented the integration of microbiological, biochemical, and molecular techniques to evaluate the effect of salt stress and to assess the level of stress amelioration using PGPR on proteostasis of sugar crops in Egypt.

Development of an antimicrobial inorganic polymer based on fly ash and metakaolin incorporated by nano-TiO2 for reactive dye removal.

Advanced and eco-friendly construction materials are being developed to reduce pollution and improve wastewater treatment efficiency. One such material is a photocatalytic nanocomposite that uses industrial wastes and natural substances to eliminate pollution. A recent study explored using an inorganic polymer composite (FM) made from a mixture of 70% fly ash and 30% metakaolin, with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as an alkali activator. The study evaluated the mechanical and hydration characteristics of the FM composite after 28 days in 100% humidity at room temperature. The study also examined the effect of adding 2.5 wt.% of Nano-TiO2 to FM composite and how it affects its properties. Results indicate that adding Nano-TiO2 to FM composite enhances its mechanical, antibacterial, and photocatalytic capabilities. Specifically, FM-TiO2 composite showed 90% removal of reactive blue 19 dye effluent in sunlight after 90 min, making it an excellent choice for sustainable wastewater treatment. This study presents a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution to wastewater treatment, with added antimicrobial properties from Nano-TiO2.

Immobilization Approach as a Creative Strategy to Remove Reactive Dye Red 195 and Cu2+ Ions from Wastewater Using Environmentally Benign Geopolymer Cement.

Water is a resource that is essential to almost all phases of industrial and manufacturing operations globally. It is important to handle the wastewater generated professionally. The textile industry is one of the major global polluters, with textile producers responsible for one-fifth of all industrial water pollution worldwide. In contrast, heavy metal contamination has developed into a critical, expanding global environmental problem. Geopolymer is a cementitious constituent of amorphous aluminosilicates derived from natural or industrial wastes. It is produced using the polymerization of aluminosilicate raw ingredients in an alkaline atmosphere. The aim of this study is to evaluate the application of eco-friendly geopolymer cement in the immobilization technique for the treatment of wastewater including heavy metals and dyes. Geopolymer cement pastes were organized using slag and fly ash as an aluminosilicate source, (1:1) sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide 15 wt.% as an alkali activator in the presence of organic dye pollutant reactive red 195, and Cu2+ ions (700 ppm) at different hydration times for up to 28 days. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the prepared geopolymer cement mixes were further examined in relation to reactive dye pollutant and Cu2+ ions. The hydration characteristic was examined using the compressive strength and % of total porosity tests, as well as FTIR and XRD studies. Our findings support the 100% immobilization of both Cu2+ ions and organic dye pollutants in prepared geopolymer pastes for up to 28 days of hydration. Additionally, adding both Cu2+ ions and dye pollutants to the prepared geopolymer paste improves its mechanical properties, which is also supported by FTIR data. XRD and FTIR studies showed that the Cu2+ ions and dying bath effluent addition have no influence on the kind of hydration products that are produced. On the other hand, the geopolymerization process is negatively impacted by the presence of Cu2+ ions alone in the geopolymer paste.

Green Synthesis of the Effectively Environmentally Safe Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer for the Removal of Hazardous Industrial Wastes Using Two Different Methods.

Untreated wastewater pollution causes environmental degradation, health issues, and ecosystem disruption. Geopolymers offer sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cement-based materials for wastewater solidification and removal. In this study, we investigate how wastewater containing organic and inorganic pollutants can be removed using geopolymer mixes based on metakaolin incorporation with cement kiln dust as an eco-friendly material. The present investigation compares the efficacy of two different techniques (solidification and adsorption) for reducing dye contaminants and heavy metals from wastewater using a geopolymer based on metakaolin incorporation with cement kiln dust. This study investigated the adsorption capacity of a geopolymer based on metakaolin incorporating two different ratios (20% and 40% by weight) of cement kiln dust (MC1 and MC2) for the reactive black 5 dyeing bath effluent (RBD) only and in a combination of 1200 mg/L of Pb2+ and Cd2+, each separately, in aqueous solutions under different adsorption parameters. The results of the adsorption technique for the two prepared geopolymer mixes, MC1 and MC2, show that MC1 has a higher adsorption activity than MC2 toward the reactive black 5 dyeing bath effluent both alone and in combination with Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions separately. The study also looked at using MC1 mix to stabilize and solidify both the dyeing bath effluent alone and its combination with 1200 mg/L of each heavy metal individually inside the geopolymer matrix for different time intervals up to 60 days of water curing at room temperature. The geopolymer matrix formed during the process was analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and XRD techniques to examine the phases of hydration products formed. The results showed that MC1 effectively adsorbs, stabilizes, and solidifies the dying bath effluent for up to 60 days, even with high heavy metal concentrations. On the other hand, geopolymer mixes showed an increase in mechanical properties when hydration time was increased to 60 days. According to our findings, the type of geopolymer developed from metakaolin and 20 wt.% cement kiln dust has the potential to be employed in the treatment of wastewater because it has good adsorption and solidification activity for the reactive black 5 dye effluent alone and for a mixture of dye pollutants with both Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions separately. Our results have significant implications for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation efforts, as they offer a sustainable solution for managing hazardous waste materials.

Giardiasis Pattern among Different Age Categories: Childhood Assemblage B Proclaim Endemicity.

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis is one of the commonest intestinal parasitic diseases that affects wide range of age groups. We aimed to detect the pattern of Giardia intestinalis assemblages among symptomatic patients at the age of 2 up to 40 years. METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 278 patients and examined microscopically and genetically for giardiasis. Giardia was diagnosed using wet mount examination and subjected to molecular assays targeting three genes, glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) using semi-nested PCR (nPCR), ß-giardin (bg) and triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) using nPCR. Amplified products were subjected to genotyping using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeting gdh and bg genes. RESULTS: Among 48 samples positive by microscopy and by a minimum of one of the three used genes, genotyping was successful among 23 samples (47.9%). Assemblage B was more prevalent (16/23, 69.6%), than assemblage A (4/23, 17.4%) and 3 (13%) isolates were identified as assemblage B at gdh locus which later were identified as assemblage A at bg locus. Sub-assemblage AII (3/4, 75%) and sub-assemblage BIII (12/15, 66.7%) were predominate at gdh locus. Age groups was an estimated risk factor for infection with assemblage B with a peak (87.5%) during 6 to 12 years (P< 0.05), diarrhea and abdominal pain (OR (95%CI) = .654 (.094, .963); .201 (.048, 1.009), respectively) were significantly associated with assemblage B. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to suspect infection with giardiasis assemblage B by physicians during late childhood presenting with diarrhea and abdominal pain.

GIARDIA INTESTINALIS AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI CO-INFECTION: ESTIMATED RISKS AND PREDICTIVE FACTORS IN EGYPT.

Giardia intestinalis (G. intestinalis) and Helicobacter pylori (Hpylori) are two intestinal pathogens sharing the same mode of infection. This study determines the prevalence of G. intestinalis and H pylori co-infection estimated risks and predictive factors for susceptibility to co-infection. Stool samples were collected from 801 patients suffering gastrointestinal symptoms and living in Greater Cairo. They were subjected to coproscopic examination for detection of intestinal parasites and copro PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing targeting the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene for Giardia. Positive samples for gidrdiasis were further subjected to copro- immunoassay to detect H pylori coprontigen. Among 63 cases of giardiasis by both microscopy and PCR (84.1 % as-semblage B and 15.9% AII), 52.5% were coinfected with H pylori. Co-infection was more frequent with assemblage B (50.9%) than assemblage A (40%). Among studied variables of assemblage type, gender, or harboring more than one parasite (polyparasitism), only school age children, was signifi-cantly associated (P value: 0.02) with Giardia and H pylori co-infection. Physicians in Egypt must consider G. intestinalis and H pylori as prevailing intestinal pathogens with predominance of Giardia assemblage B. Giardia and H pylori co-infection is common in school aged children and modulates gastrointestinal manifestations. Intestinal parasitism and H pylori association is complex and necessitates further genomic studies for a better understanding of the epidemiological and clinical impact of co-infection, as well as possible strategies for their treatment and control.

Synthesis, characterization, fluorescence and catalytic activity of some new complexes of unsymmetrical Schiff base of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with 2,6-diaminopyridine.

The Schiff base, 2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)amino]-6-aminopyridine (L) was synthesized by 1:1 condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and 2,6-diaminopyridine. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by different physicochemical studies. The analytical and spectroscopic tools indicated that the synthesized complexes have the general formulae: [M(L)Cl2]·2H2O (M=Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II)), [La(L)3](NO3)3·3H2O and [Sm(L)(ClO4)3]·3H2O. Vibrational spectra indicated the coordination of L to metal ions through its pyridyl and azomethine nitrogen atoms. The presence of water molecules in all reported complexes has been supported by TG/DTA studies. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed using Coats and Redfern method. The prepared ligand and its complexes exhibited intraligand (π-π∗) fluorescence and can potentially serve as photoactive materials. The catalytic activity of the complexes toward the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was investigated. Both the ligand and its complexes have been screened for antibacterial activities.