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Nocardia infection is rare and requires early diagnosis, extended use of sulfonamides for good prognosis, and prevention of recurrence. It is crucial to suspect nocardiosis in cases of atypical pneumonias or unexplained visceral organ dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterioruberin (BR) is a fat-soluble, dipolar, reddish pigment predominantly found in halophilic archaea. BR is a rare C50 carotenoid from the xanthophyll family, and it has been extensively studied for its potent antioxidant properties, such as its ability to protect cells from oxidative stress. In addition, several studies have shown that BR-rich extracts and its derivatives exhibit significant antiviral, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects, making them ideal candidates for the development of novel therapeutic interventions against various diseases. Although it possesses remarkable biological properties, studies related to the regulatory aspects of biosynthesis, in vitro and in vivo studies of purified BR have been rare. However, investigations are needed to explore the potential application of BR in various industries. Additionally, optimization of the culture conditions of BR-producing haloarchaea could pave the way for their sustainable production and utilization. The current review provides comprehensive information on BR, which includes the sources of this compound and its bioproduction, extraction, stability, toxicity, and biological activities in relation to its commercial applications. This review also discusses the potential challenges and limitations associated with BR bioproduction and its utilization in various industries. In addition, this treatise highlights the need for further research to optimize production and extraction methods and explore avenues for novel applications of BR in various sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics.Graphical Abstract: Bacterioruberin (BR) is a fat-soluble, dipolar, reddish pigment predominantly found in halophilic archaea. BR is a rare C50 carotenoid from the xanthophyll family, and it has been extensively studied for its potent antioxidant properties, such as its ability to protect cells from oxidative stress. In addition, several studies have shown that BR-rich extracts and its derivatives exhibit significant antiviral, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects, making them ideal candidates for the development of novel therapeutic interventions against various diseases. Although it possesses remarkable biological properties, studies related to the regulatory aspects of biosynthesis, in vitro and in vivo studies of purified BR have been rare. However, investigations are needed to explore the potential application of BR in various industries. Additionally, optimization of the culture conditions of BR-producing haloarchaea could pave the way for their sustainable production and utilization. The current review provides comprehensive information on BR, which includes the sources of this compound and its bioproduction, extraction, stability, toxicity, and biological activities in relation to its commercial applications. This review also discusses the potential challenges and limitations associated with BR bioproduction and its utilization in various industries. In addition, this treatise highlights the need for further research to optimize production and extraction methods and explore avenues for novel applications of BR in various sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica juncea BjCHI1 is a plant chitinase with two chitin-binding domains. Its expression, induced in response to wounding, methyl jasmonate treatment, Aspergillus niger infection, and caterpillar Pieris rapae feeding, suggests that it plays a role in defence. In this study, to investigate the potential of using BjCHI1 in agriculture, Pichia-expressed BjCHI1 and its deletion derivatives that lack one or both chitin-binding domains were tested against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. Transplastomic tobacco expressing BjCHI1 was also generated and its extracts assessed. In radial growth-inhibition assays, BjCHI1 and its derivative with one chitin-binding domain showed anti-fungal activities against phytopathogens, Colletotrichum truncatum, C. acutatum, Botrytis cinerea, and Ascochyta rabiei. BjCHI1 also inhibited spore germination of C. truncatum. Furthermore, BjCHI1, but not its derivatives lacking one or both domains, inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) more effectively than Gram-positive bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus megaterium), indicating that the duplicated chitin-binding domain, uncommon in chitinases, is essential for bacterial agglutination. Galactose, glucose, and lactose relieved agglutination, suggesting that BjCHI1 interacts with the carbohydrate components of the Gram-negative bacterial cell wall. Retention of chitinase and bacterial agglutination activities in transplastomic tobacco extracts implicates that BjCHI1 is potentially useful against both fungal and bacterial phytopathogens in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two highly human pathogenic coronaviruses outbreak in the beginning of 21st century i.e. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2002 and 2012 respectively caused high pathogenicity and fatality rates in human populations. Recently, a new coronavirus named as SARS-CoV-2 or nCoV-2019 was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 which is responsible for an acute human respiratory illness referred as Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is the third known highly pathogenic virus affecting human population. This virus spread globally within few weeks of first identification and nearly 5.52 million confirmed cases with more than 3,47,000 deaths reported as of May 25, 2020. Till date, there are no specific anti-viral drugs, therapies or vaccines to contain and prevent this infectious pathogen outbreak. The global spread of this virus to over 210 countries resulted in both human and economic losses, highlighting the need for an immediate imperative research exploration on prophylactic and therapeutic measures. Current knowledge and understanding of the pathogenesis of similar coronavirus SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV might be helpful for the rapid development of treatment strategies to prevent the further spread of this virus. In this review, we recapitulate the topical understanding on the structure, pathogenesis and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 that has emerged as a major health concern worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two highly human pathogenic coronaviruses outbreak in the beginning of 21st century i.e. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2002 and 2012 respectively caused high pathogenicity and fatality rates in human populations. Recently, a new coronavirus named as SARS-CoV-2 or nCoV-2019 was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 which is responsible for an acute human respiratory illness referred as Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is the third known highly pathogenic virus affecting human population. This virus spread globally within few weeks of first identification and nearly 5.52 million confirmed cases with more than 3,47,000 deaths reported as of May 25, 2020. Till date, there are no specific anti-viral drugs, therapies or vaccines to contain and prevent this infectious pathogen outbreak. The global spread of this virus to over 210 countries resulted in both human and economic losses, highlighting the need for an immediate imperative research exploration on prophylactic and therapeutic measures. Current knowledge and understanding of the pathogenesis of similar coronavirus SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV might be helpful for the rapid development of treatment strategies to prevent the further spread of this virus. In this review, we recapitulate the topical understanding on the structure, pathogenesis and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 that has emerged as a major health concern worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient protocol developed for plantlet regeneration through in vitro somatic embryogenesis in three ornamental bananas. In vitro propagation, especially somatic embryogenesis has been a method of choice to obtain homogenous planting material in ornamental bananas. In the present investigation, true-to-type plants via somatic embryogenesis were achieved in three ornamental bananas viz. Musa laterita, Musa beccarii and Musa velutina using immature male flower bud as explants. The evaluation was carried out at two stages of somatic embryogenesis, induction, and maturation of somatic embryos. Embryogenic calli desiccated up to 2 h at 25 ± 1 °C resulted in higher frequencies of embryo induction and maturation compared to non-desiccated embryos. The plantlets generated were hardened, and the genetic fidelity of the plantlets was confirmed using SRAP markers. It was observed that banana plants derived via somatic embryogenesis displayed normal phenotype as that of plants grown from a single elite mother plant. In the present study, the successful establishment of plants from male flower bud was achieved in 6 to 7 months which is a relatively short duration compared to other reports involving different species of banana. The protocol developed could be useful for large-scale micropropagation studies in these commercially important ornamental bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purple acid phosphatase (PAP) family genes play a crucial role in the phosphorus (P) foraging and recycling. There are 25 putative Jatropha curcas PAP genes (JcrPAP) were identified and classified into three groups based on their molecular weights. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that most of the JcrPAPs were localized to secretory pathway. Several PAPs possess signal peptide motifs and varied numbers of N -glycosylation and transmembrane helix motifs. JcrPAP proteins have 3–5 active pocket sites comprising 1 to 11 binding residues which interact with different ligands such as iron (Fe), N -acetyl l - d -Glucosamine (NAG), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). The core structure of the predicted JcrPap28 was similar to the Ipomoea batatas Pap protein. Most of the JcrPAP genes showed higher expression in the root tissues compared to stem and leaf tissues. Several JcrPAP genes were upregulated under low phosphorus conditions. JcrPAP genes such as JcrPap26b , JcrPap27b , and JcrPap28 have shown multifold induction in low phosphorus treated plants which suggest that these genes might be involved in phosphorus metabolism. The present study provided the structural variations and expression regulation of JcrPAP genes in the economically viable biodiesel crop and it would be helpful for the crop improvement under phosphorus limiting conditions. Highlights • This study provides the first evidence of a genome-wide analysis of PAP gene family in J. curcas • There are 25 PAP genes were identified in the Jatropha genome • PAP genes exhibit variation in the transcript accumulation in a tissue-specific manner • Several JcrPAP genes were induced under low phosphorus conditions. • The active binding site residues in the JcrPAP genes were determined using the structure prediction tool [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilling Tolerant Divergence 1 (COLD1) gene consists of Golgi pH Receptor (GPHR) as well as Abscisic Acid-linked G Protein-Coupled Receptor (ABA_GPCR), which are the major transmembrane proteins in plants. This gene expression has been found to be differentially regulated, under various stress conditions, in wild Saccharum-related genera, Erianthus arundinaceus, compared to commercial sugarcane variety. In this study, Rapid Amplification of Genomic Ends (RAGE) technique was employed to isolate the 5′ upstream region of COLD1 gene to gain knowledge about the underlying stress regulatory mechanism. The current study established the cis-acting elements, main promoter regions, and Transcriptional Start Site (TSS) present within the isolated 5′ upstream region (Cold1P) of COLD1, with the help of specific bioinformatics techniques. Phylogenetic analysis results revealed that the isolated Cold1P promoter is closely related to the species, Sorghum bicolor. Cold1P promoter-GUS gene construct was generated in pCAMBIA 1305.1 vector that displayed a constitutive expression of the GUS reporter gene in both monocot as well as dicot plants. The histochemical GUS assay outcomes confirmed that Cold1P can drive expression in both monocot as well as dicot plants. Cold1P's activities under several abiotic stresses such as cold, heat, salt, and drought, revealed its differential expression profile in commercial sugarcane variety. The highest activity of the GUS gene was found after 24 h of cold stress, driven by the isolated Cold1P promoter. The outcomes from GUS fluorimetric assay correlated with that of the GUS expression findings. This is the first report on Cold1P isolated from the species, E. arundinaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant tissue culture system is one of the important facets of plant biology and various biotechnological applications and great advances have been coupled with the plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures. Technological advances in in vitro systems have paved the way for great strides in crop improvement, germplasm conservation, commercial-scale micropropagation, genetic manipulation, and metabolite production. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor has recently been used most widely in various plant tissue culture and propagation systems owing to its growth-promoting activities. The cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanism by which SNP brings about growth, differentiation, and development in plants is not well understood. However, in the past decade, the use of SNP as a novel molecule to promote plant growth and development has opened up new avenues in in vitro plant biology research resulting in evolving defined protocols for various in vitro responses. Positive effects of SNP have been reported concerning callus induction, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, genetic transformation, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review highlights the application of SNP as a potent plant growth modulator in various plant tissue culture protocols to work out desirable in vitro responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) plays a vital role in normalizing cell division in actively growing tissues. The ODC is a key precursor enzyme for nicotine and nornicotine biosynthesis in plants. ODCs are widely present in many plant families but have not been functionally validated and characterized at the molecular level. In the present study, 58 plant ODCs were identified and were found to contain two putative regulatory motifs, specifically PLP (Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate) and Orn/DAP/Arg decarboxylase family 2 pyridoxal-phosphate, that are highly conserved among diverse plant species. Further, the cis -regulatory elements and interacting partners of the gene revealed the importance of O DC in various metabolic pathways. The qRT-PCR revealed highest relative expression of ODC in floral meristem and roots. Our results suggest that ODC can be effectively used as an ideal candidate for engineering polyamine biosynthesis and would be crucial for developing ultra-low nicotine content tobacco lines via genome editing. • In silico validation of 58 plant ODCs revealed existence of two signature motifs. • Eleven cis -regulatory elements in the promoter sequence were identified. • Relative gene expression analysis showed ODC ubiquitously transcribed in roots and floral meristems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glyoxalase pathway is a check point to monitor the elevation of methylglyoxal (MG) level in plants and is mediated by glyoxalase I (Gly I) and glyoxalase II (Gly II) enzymes in the presence of glutathione. Recent studies established the presence of unique DJ-1/PfpI domain containing protein named glyoxalase III (Gly III) in prokaryotes, involved in the detoxification of MG into D-lactic acid through a single step process. In the present study, eleven transgenic sugarcane events overexpressing EaGly III were assessed for salinity stress (100 mM and 200 mM NaCl) tolerance. Lipid peroxidation as well as cell membrane injury remained very minimal in all the transgenic events indicating reduced oxidative damage. Transgenic events exhibited significantly higher plant water status, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and proline content, total soluble sugars, SOD and POD activity compared to wild type (WT) under salinity stress. Histological studies by taking the cross section showed a highly stable root system in transgenic events upon exposure to salinity stress. Results of the present study indicate that transgenic sugarcane events overexpressing EaGly III performed well and exhibited improved salinity stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a very popular traditional medicinal plant used since ancient times to treat numerous ailments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, non-coding, short RNA molecules that play important regulatory roles in plant development and metabolism. In this study, deploying a high stringent genome-wide computational-based approach and following a set of strict filtering norms a total of 44 potential conserved neem miRNAs belonging to 21 families and their corresponding 48 potential target transcripts were identified. Important targets include Squamosa promoter binding protein-like proteins, NAC, Scarecrow proteins, Auxin response factor, and F-box proteins. A biological network has also been developed to understand the miRNA-mediated gene regulation using the minimum free energy (MFE) values of the miRNA-target interaction. Moreover, six selected miRNAs were reported to be involved in secondary metabolism in other plant species (miR156a, miR156l, miR160, miR164, miR171, miR395) were validated by qPCR and their tissue-specific differential expression pattern was observed in leaves and stem. Except for ain-miR395, all the other miRNAs were found overexpressed in the stem as compared to leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of neem miRNAs and we believe the finding of the present study will be useful for the functional genomic study of medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Sugarcane transgenic overexpressingEaGly IIIfromErianthus arundinaceusshowed enhanced water deficit stress tolerance. Methylglyoxal (MG), an α-ketoaldehyde formed from either glycolysis or TCA cycle, is capable of causing total cellular damage via the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and nucleic acid degradation. Glyoxalase pathway is a ubiquitous pathway known for detoxification of MG, involving key enzymes glyoxalase I (Gly I) and glyoxalase II (Gly II). Recently, a novel and an additional enzyme in glyoxalase pathway, viz., glyoxalase III (Gly III), has been discovered which possesses DJ-1/PfpI domain recognized for detoxifying MG in a single step process without requirement of any coenzyme. In the present study, a Gly III gene isolated from Erianthus arundinaceus, a wild relative of sugarcane, overexpressed in commercially cultivated sugarcane hybrid Co 86032 was assessed for drought tolerance. Morphometric observations revealed that transgenic sugarcane overexpressing EaGly III acquired drought tolerance trait. Oxidative damage caused by triggering generation of ROS has been determined to be low in transgenic plants as compared to wild type (WT). Transgenics resulted in higher relative water content, chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, proline content and soluble sugars upon water deficit stress. In addition, higher and stable level of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities were observed along with minimal lipid peroxidation during drought stress signifying the tolerance mechanism exhibited by transgenic events. There was no significant structural change observed in the root anatomy of transgenic plants. Altogether, EaGly III gene could be considered as a potential candidate for conferring water deficit stress tolerance for sugarcane and other agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, I Agrobacterium i -mediated transformation of I Indica i rice ASD16 with two genes involved in tocopherol biosynthesis, I viz i ., I TC i and I HPT, i was carried out and the transgenic plants were analysed for the vitamin E ( -tocopherol) content. Keywords: Agrobacterium; rice; vitamin E; HPLC EN Agrobacterium rice vitamin E HPLC 1083 1085 3 06/15/21 20210601 NES 210601 Micronutrient deficiency results in malnutrition, which is prevalent all over the world and may lead to premature death in women and children (White and Broadley, 2009). [Extracted from the article]

Pulses are a very important part of a human diet providing all nutritional and physiological beneficial effects on human health. Pulses are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fibre, and a rich source of other bioactive components, and their consumption extends worldwide. Pulses are dried legumes that consist of various varieties of beans, lentils, peas, green gram, black gram, horse gram, and chickpeas. Protein-rich pulses are considered a staple food for a large portion of the Indian population, which satisfies everyone's protein and energy demands. Pulses are good sources of dietary fibre and are low in fat, which helps in the maintenance of body weight and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, there are various potential health benefits due to the phytochemicals, such as phenolics, flavonoids, phytates, lectins, tannins, saponins, oxalates, enzyme inhibitors, phytosterols, and antimicrobial peptides, present in pulses. These phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-ulcerative effects. In addition, pulses are also rich in vitamins [folate, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3)] and minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron). Due to their high protein content and low cost, pulses are referred to as 'poor people's meat'. In this review, we discuss the chemical composition, nutritional value, phytochemical components, health benefits, availability, and agricultural productivity of pulses based on worldwide food composition databases. In addition, the present status and future prospects of pulses are also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out to establish a simple and efficient in vitro method for rapid propagation of Daucus carota L for different applications. Root, stem, leaf and seed explants were tested to induce callus on Gamborg medium supplemented with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for cell suspension culture establishment. The leaf, stem, seed explants induced calluses were more embryogenic and viable when compared to callus derived from tap root explants. Plant regeneration potential of embryogenic callus from tap root showed very slow response producing only fewer shoots, whereas the response of other explants derived calluses like stem, leaves and seeds exhibited rapid multiple shoot formation within three weeks' time. Tap root derived suspension culture showed more clumps with less viable embryogenic cells, in contrast to the stem and seed derived suspension cultures, where cells were more embryogenic and proliferative. Explant, concentration of carbohydrates, 2,4-D and amino acids were tested for embryo induction response and it was found that 3% sucrose, 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D and amino acid alanine had great influence on embryo induction. The somatic embryos were subjected to desiccation prior to plating on the regeneration medium. It was found that 1 h desiccation increased the regeneration percentage of the embryos and the conversion frequency of embryos to plants decreased on increased desiccation time. These optimized conditions will be very useful for studies involving genetic transformation, cell cycle, cell proliferation, synthetic seed production and other physiological studies of D. carota species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chloroplast loci matK, rbcL, atpB, rpoC1, plastid spacer region psbA- trnH and nuclear internal transcribed spacer loci ITS sequences were evaluated for its discriminating ability among the closely related medicinal plant species of Apocynaceae. Our main criteria for ranking these barcodes were based on levels of inter and intra-specific divergence. Twenty-one medicinal plants were sequenced for matK, rbcL, atpB, rpoC1, psbA- trnH and ITS. Additionally sequences collected from GenBank were also included in this study. Altogether, 1,876 DNA sequences were used that included 525 sequences belonging to 110 genera of matK, 390 sequences belonging to 68 genera of rbcL, 90 sequences belonging to 13 genera of atpB, 38 sequences belonging to 16 genera of rpoC1, 32 sequences belonging to 27 genera of psbA- trnH and 780 sequences belonging to 70 genera of ITS region. The analyses of inter-specific and intra-specific divergence using the cpDNA spacer region psbA- trnH showed 0.3-0.5 and 0.04-0.2 %, whereas matK showed 0.8-1 and 0.07-0.1 % inter-specific and intra-specific divergence, respectively. Likewise rbcL showed 0.4-0.5 % inter-specific divergence and 0.2-0.1 % intra-specific divergence. The gene rpoC1 showed 0.2-0.3 % inter-specific divergence and 0.02-0.01 % intra-specific divergence, respectively. Similarly a tpB showed 0.1-0.4 % inter-specific divergence and 0.09-0.04 % of intra-specific divergence. The nrDNA ITS (ITS1 and ITS2) were analyzed and the results indicated that ITS2 showed better discriminating ability, as it resulted in considerable variation at the generic and species level. The inter-specific divergence in ITS2 ranged from 1 to 9 % with an average of 8 % and the intra-specific divergence ranged from 0.4 to 6 % with an average of 4 %. Thus, ITS2 successfully identified the species and genera at the rate of 91 and 98 %, respectively. The cpDNA spacer psbA- trnH exhibited an identification percentage of 40 and 36 % at the genus and species level, respectively. Additionally ITS2 was also used to authenticate the herbal medicinal species of the genus Caralluma, Rauwolfia and Hoodia. Overall, our data suggest that nuclear ITS2 is the ideal barcode loci to identify/discriminate the large plant family Apocynaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular Pharming, the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals through plant biotechnology, has the potential to transform the biologics sector of the pharmaceutical industry. More fascinating however, is how it might be used to improve access to modern medicines, and improve health of the poor in developing countries and emerging economies. Although improving global health through molecular pharming has been discussed for at least two decades, little progress has actually been made. In this manuscript, a four point plan is described to maximise the opportunity for molecular pharming to provide solutions. These are (i) to identify and prioritise important drug targets that are relevant to the poor; (ii) to support research and development partners in low to middle income countries to develop local expertise, transfer technology and build capacity; (iii) to increase collaboration between regulatory bodies to enable national regulatory frameworks to be developed in low to middle income countries; and (iv) to promote intellectual property management approaches that include socially responsible licensing. An existing case study is described to illustrate how this might be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alarming presence of hazardous halo-organic pollutants in wastewater and soils generated by industrial growth, pharmaceutical and agricultural activities is a major environmental concern that has drawn the attention of scientists. Unfortunately, the application of conventional technologies within hazardous materials remediation processes has radically failed due to their high cost and ineffectiveness. Consequently, the design of innovative and sustainable techniques to remove halo-organic contaminants from wastewater and soils is crucial. Altogether, these aspects have led to the search for safe and efficient alternatives for the treatment of contaminated matrices. In fact, over the last decades, the efficacy of immobilized oxidoreductases has been explored to achieve the removal of halo-organic pollutants from diverse tainted media. Several reports have indicated that these enzymatic constructs possess unique properties, such as high removal rates, improved stability, and excellent reusability, making them promising candidates for green remediation processes. Hence, in this current review, we present an insight of green remediation approaches based on the use of immobilized constructs of phenoloxidases (e.g., laccase and tyrosinase) and peroxidases (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, chloroperoxidase, and manganese peroxidase) for sustainable decontamination of wastewater and soil matrices from halo-organic pollutants, including 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, diclofenac, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, among others. [Display omitted] • Immobilized oxidoreductases can mitigate pollutants to clean the environment. • Halo-organic pollutants are hazardous and needs robust decontamination. • Halo-organic pollutants are being persisted in environmental matrices. • Immobilized oxidoreductases are efficient and own high stability and reusability. • Bioremediation based on immobilized oxidoreductases is harmless and cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal products available to consumers in the marketplace may be contaminated or substituted with alternative plant species and fillers that are not listed on the labels. According to the World Health Organization, the adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety. Our research aimed to investigate herbal product integrity and authenticity with the goal of protecting consumers from health risks associated with product substitution and contamination. Methods: We used DNA barcoding to conduct a blind test of the authenticity for (i) 44 herbal products representing 12 companies and 30 different species of herbs, and (ii) 50 leaf samples collected from 42 herbal species. Our laboratory also assembled the first standard reference material (SRM) herbal barcode library from 100 herbal species of known provenance that were used to identify the unknown herbal products and leaf samples. Results: We recovered DNA barcodes from most herbal products (91%) and all leaf samples (100%), with 95% species resolution using a tiered approach (rbcL + ITS2). Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels. Although we were able to authenticate almost half (48%) of the products, one-third of these also contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label. Product substitution occurred in 30/44 of the products tested and only 2/12 companies had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers. Some of the contaminants we found pose serious health risks to consumers. Conclusions: Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. We suggest that the herbal industry should embrace DNA barcoding for authenticating herbal products through testing of raw materials used in manufacturing products. The use of an SRM DNA herbal barcode library for testing bulk materials could provide a method for 'best practices' in the manufacturing of herbal products. This would provide consumers with safe, high quality herbal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium is a hazardous heavy metal; its presence in the agricultural soil constrains the crop productivity and restricts crop plants from reaching their full genetic potential. In the present study, two Brassica juncea cultivars (Pusa Bold and Pusa Jaikisan), were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) as cadmium chloride (CdCl2) (50 μM, 100 μM, 150 μM, and 200 μM). The effect of cadmium on seed germination ratio, changes in the root and shoot length, plant dry weight, moisture content, metal tolerance index, antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation were studied. The consequence of cadmium stress at the molecular level was studied using a key gene Phytochelatin Synthase (PCS). The results of our study suggested that, exposure of cadmium affected the seed germination, growth rate, biomass content and antioxidant enzyme activities in the root, shoot and leaves of both the cultivars. Transcript expression of PCS was increased with increasing CdCl2 concentration in both the cultivars. Based on the results, it was concluded that, Brassica juncea Cv Pusa Jaikisan is more tolerant to cadmium toxicity than the Pusa Bold. These findings could be used to develop heavy metal stress tolerant plants and more importantly, detoxification of heavy metals in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the case report "Daptomycin-Induced Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia: An Emerging Clinical Entity" by Priyesh Mehta and colleagues is presented.

The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant potential of phytochemicals present in 15 commercially important tomato genotypes specifically developed for growing in different geographical regions (high altitude and plain). Antioxidant components of tomatoes, namely lycopene, anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, quenching capacity of free radicals, and titratable acidity were analyzed in skin, pulp and seed fractions of the tomato fruits. Results of our study revealed that the antioxidant potency of tomato fruit fractions were in the order of Skin>Pulp>Seeds. Lycopene, anthocyanin content and free radical quenching ability was higher in the high altitude cultivars, whereas total phenolics, ascorbic acid and titratable acidity were seen higher in the plain region cultivars. In general, the outcome of this study showed that, the high altitude cultivars (Sindhu and Shalimar) were superior in antioxidant capacities. In conclusion, with this study it could be established that genetic factors play an important role in determining the antioxidants level and activity of the tomato genotypes and hence it is very important to select the right genotype to get the maximum health benefit. Practical Application: Phytochemicals present in the tomatoes are the major determinants of antioxidant potency of the fruits. To study the effect of genotype, it is necessary to grow the cultivars in ideal condition to assess the antioxidants level and activity, to select the right genotype for human consumption that gives better physiological benefit to the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitous occurrence, toxicological influence, and bioaccumulation of toxic entities, e.g., pesticides and toxic elements in the environment, biota, and humans, directly or indirectly, are posing severe social, ecological, and human health concerns. Much attention has been given to the rising bioaccumulation of toxins and their adverse impact on various environmental matrices. For example, the inappropriate and exacerbated use of xenobiotics and related hazardous substances have caused the deterioration of the agricultural environment, e.g., fertile soils where plants are grown. Moreover, the harmful toxins have negatively impacted human health through the trophic chains. However, the analytical and regulatory considerations to effectively monitor and mitigate any or many pesticides and toxic elements from environmental matrices are still lacking in the existing literature. For decades, the scientific community has overseen the consequences caused by pollutants, however, the improvement of analytical detection methods and regulatory considerations are not yet fully covered. This review covers the notable literature gap by stressing the development and deployment of robust analytical and regulatory considerations for an efficient abatement of hazardous substances. Following detailed information on occurrence, toxicological influence, and bioaccumulation of pesticides and toxic elements, the most relevant analytical detection tools and regulatory measures are given herein, with suitable examples, to mitigate or reduce the damage caused by these pollutants. [Display omitted] • Analytical and regulatory considerations are given to abate hazardous substances • Ubiquitous occurrence and toxicity of pesticides and toxic elements are reviewed • Pollution is a critical issue that requires joint efforts to green the environment • Sustainable mitigation strategies for highly hazardous toxins are given [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Arabidopsis thaliana, a family of six genes encodes acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs) that show conservation at the acyl-CoA-binding domain. They are the membrane-associated ACBP1 and ACBP2, extracellularly targeted ACBP3, kelch-motif-containing ACBP4 and ACBP5, and 10-kDa ACBP6. The acyl-CoA domain in each of ACBP1 to ACBP6 binds long-chain acyl-CoA esters in vitro, suggestive of possible roles in plant lipid metabolism. We addressed here the use of Arabidopsis ACBPs in conferring lead [Pb(II)] tolerance in transgenic plants because the 10-kDa human ACBP has been identified as a molecular target for Pb(II) in vivo. We investigated the effect of Pb(II) stress on the expression of genes encoding Arabidopsis ACBP1, ACBP2 and ACBP6. We showed that the expression of ACBP1 and ACBP2, but not ACBP6, in root is induced by Pb(II) nitrate treatment. In vitro Pb(II)-binding assays indicated that ACBP1 binds Pb(II) comparatively better, and ACBP1 was therefore selected for further investigations. When grown on Pb(II)-containing medium, transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing ACBP1 were more tolerant to Pb(II)-induced stress than the wild type. Accumulation of Pb(II) in shoots of the ACBP1-overepxressing plants was significantly higher than wild type. The acbp1 mutant showed enhanced sensitivity to Pb(II) when germinated and grown in the presence of Pb(II) nitrate and tolerance was restored upon complementation using an ACBP1 cDNA. Our results suggest that ACBP1 is involved in mediating Pb(II) tolerance in Arabidopsis with accumulation of Pb(II) in shoots. Such observations of Pb(II) accumulation, rather than Pb(II) extrusion, in the ACBP1-overexpressing plants implicate possible use of ACBP1 in Pb(II) phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warfarin has been utilized for decades as an effective anticoagulant in patients with a history of strong risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Established adverse effects include bleeding, skin necrosis, teratogenicity during pregnancy, cholesterol embolization, and nephropathy. One of the lesser-known long-term side effects of warfarin is an increase in systemic arterial calcification. This is significant due to the association between vascular calcification and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have gained prominence in recent years, as they require less frequent monitoring and have a superior side effect profile to warfarin, specifically in relation to major bleeding. The cost and lack of data for DOACs in some disease processes have precluded universal use. Within the last four years, retrospective cohort studies, observational studies, and randomized trials have shown, through different imaging modalities, that multiple DOACs are associated with slower progression of vascular calcification than warfarin. This review highlights the pathophysiology and mechanisms behind vascular calcification due to warfarin and compares the effect of warfarin and DOACs on systemic vasculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phanerochaete chrysosporium (Pc) is the primary fungal source for Lignin degrading enzymes (LDEs). A comprehensive in silico and gene expression analysis was carried out for one of the most important LDEs called manganese peroxidases (PcMnPs). We have identified five PcMnPs in BLAST genomic survey, which are putatively glycosylated extracellular proteins (39–40 kDa). These contain putative regulatory motifs for various factors, like, stress, metal ions, and nutrient components, peroxidase and ligninase motifs, and secretory signal peptides. PcMnPs also exhibit potent variation in transcript accumulation in time and stress-specific manner. Interestingly, PcMnPs were significantly expressed at later growth stages (144 h) and also found to be induced by different stresses and cofactors, such as, MnSO 4 , H 2 O 2 and heat stress. Particularly, PcMnP1 , PcMnP3 , and PcMnP4 showed elevated expression in different time intervals and also under different concentration of nutritional components and stress treatments. In addition, molecular modeling and gene expression results indicate that PcMnP1 might serve as a potential candidate for lignin biodegradation. The present study revealed the structural variations and functioning of different modes of regulation of expression of the PcMnPs, which would be useful for the improvement of biodegradation of lignocelluloses and other recalcitrant wastes. Image 1 • PcMnPs exhibit potent variation in transcript accumulation in a time and stress specific manner. • Molecular modeling & expression results indicate PcMnP1 might be ideal for lignin degradation. • In silico and gene expression study outcome suggests its active application in Lignin biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to have adverse inflammatory effects on lung anatomy and physiology. We investigated the impact of DM on COPD patient outcomes during inpatient hospitalization. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) over the years 2002–2014. Three groups, COPD without diabetes, COPD with diabetes but no complication, and COPD with DM and complication, were analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 7,498,577 were COPD hospitalization; of those, 1,799,637 had DM without complications, and 483,467 had DM with complications. After adjusting for clinical, demographic, and comorbidities, the odds of increased LOS in the COPD/DM with complication were 1.37 (confidence interval (CI): 1.326–1.368), and those of DM without complication were 1.061 (1.052–1.070) when compared with COPD alone. The odds of pneumonia, respiratory failure, stroke, and acute kidney injury were also higher in COPD hospitalizations with DM. Both DM with complication (odds ratio (OR): 0.751 (CI 0.727–0.777)) and DM without complication (OR: 0.635 (CI: 0.596–0.675)) have lesser odds of mortality during hospitalization than with COPD alone. (4) Conclusions: There is a considerable inpatient burden among COPD patients with DM in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in various domestic products and their usage is constantly increasing which in turn can raise several environmental health issues. Like other abiotic stresses, nanomaterials also affect the growth of crop plants. Solanum melongena is a common vegetable crop grown in the tropics and subtropics regions with medicinal properties. In this study, S. melongena was analyzed for its response to three commercially important metallic nanoparticles, namely NiO, CuO, and ZnO, at four different concentrations (100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L). The growth of the eggplant seedlings was suppressed by all the NPs in a concentration-dependent manner and among them, NiO was shown to be more toxic as it suppressed the root and shoot growth effectively. Total chlorophyll contents were decreased in the NP-treated plants compared to control plants. Significant changes were found in the secondary metabolites such as anthocyanins, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the NP-treated plants. A dose-dependent increase in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was noticed in the NP-treated plants which are evidenced by the 4-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 3,3′-diamiobenzidine (DAB) histochemical staining. The DNA damage imposed by the NP in the seedlings of eggplants may be due to the elevated ROS and MDA (malondialdehyde) production. NiO NP was found to be more toxic comparable to CuO and ZnO NPs in the present study. Apart from the toxic effects, nanoparticles also showed profound effects on the production of important secondary metabolites such as phenolics and flavonoid compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal products available to consumers in the marketplace may be contaminated or substituted with alternative plant species and fillers that are not listed on the labels. According to the World Health Organization, the adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety. Our research aimed to investigate herbal product integrity and authenticity with the goal of protecting consumers from health risks associated with product substitution and contamination.Methods: We used DNA barcoding to conduct a blind test of the authenticity for (i) 44 herbal products representing 12 companies and 30 different species of herbs, and (ii) 50 leaf samples collected from 42 herbal species. Our laboratory also assembled the first standard reference material (SRM) herbal barcode library from 100 herbal species of known provenance that were used to identify the unknown herbal products and leaf samples.Results: We recovered DNA barcodes from most herbal products (91%) and all leaf samples (100%), with 95% species resolution using a tiered approach (rbcL + ITS2). Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels. Although we were able to authenticate almost half (48%) of the products, one-third of these also contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label. Product substitution occurred in 30/44 of the products tested and only 2/12 companies had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers. Some of the contaminants we found pose serious health risks to consumers.Conclusions: Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. We suggest that the herbal industry should embrace DNA barcoding for authenticating herbal products through testing of raw materials used in manufacturing products. The use of an SRM DNA herbal barcode library for testing bulk materials could provide a method for 'best practices? in the manufacturing of herbal products. This would provide consumers with safe, high quality herbal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]