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Probiotics or bacteriotherapy is today's hot issue for public entities (Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization) as well as health and food industries since Metchnikoff and his colleagues hypothesized the correlation between probiotic consumption and human's health. They contribute to the newest and highly efficient arena of promising biotherapeutics. These are usually attractive in biomedical applications such as gut-related diseases like irritable bowel disease, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, fungal infections, various allergies, parasitic and bacterial infections, viral diseases, and intestinal inflammation, and are also worth immunomodulation. The useful impact of probiotics is not limited to gut-related diseases alone. Still, these have proven benefits in various acute and chronic infectious diseases, like cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diseases, and high serum cholesterol. Recently, different researchers have paid special attention to investigating biomedical applications of probiotics, but consolidated data regarding bacteriotherapy with a detailed mechanistically applied approach is scarce and controversial. The present article reviews the bio-interface of probiotic strains, mainly (i) why the demand for probiotics?, (ii) the current status of probiotics, (iii) an alternative to antibiotics, (iv) the potential applications towards disease management, (v) probiotics and industrialization, and (vi) futuristic approach., (© 2024. Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i.)

Scorpion envenomation is a widespread issue in tropical and subtropical countries. In the present study epidemiology of scorpion sting cases and potential treatment options in district Hafizabad, Pakistan are documented. Hafizabad city and the adjacent villages were selected for the data collection. Age, gender, time, site of scorpion sting on the body, scorpion sting symptoms, number of patients obtaining medical attention and the number of fatalities (if any) were noted. Data showed that scorpion envenomation often occurs in people between the ages of 16-47 years. There were more female victims (55%) and most of the scorpion sting incidences (55.49%) occurred between 07 PM and 02 AM Among body parts, both the hands (41.71%) and feet (48.57%) were more vulnerable to scorpion stings. In rural areas, the incidences of scorpion stings were higher (68.57%). The reported symptoms of scorpion stings include pain, hypertension, nausea and allergy. Out of all the victims, only 56.05% sought treatment from health care units as well as traditional medicine practitioners. However, others (43.94%) fully healed on their own without any treatment. People were using different types of plant-based materials and dead scorpions with mustard oil as a potent remedy against scorpion stings. Moreover, in the health care units there was no antivenom available and medical staff usually used common pain killers such as Xylocain and Lignocain for the treatment of scorpion sting., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as 7, 12-dimethylbenzneanthracene (DMBA), due to long-term bioaccumulation cause serious physiological processes and behavioral dysfunctions such as cancer, ageing, and hypertension. Silk sericin (SS) is instrumental in cancer applications due to presence of flavonoids and carotenoids which are natural pigments, present in the layer of sericin that has antioxidant and antityrosinase activity. It reduces oxidative stress and suppresses cancer cytokines while interacting with reactive oxygen species (ROS) to stand against lipid peroxidation. Recent research was focused to calculate the pharmacological intervention of sericin-conjugated silver nanoparticles (S-AgNO 3 NPs) against DMBA-induced toxicity. For this purpose, SS protein was extracted from silkworm cocoons by degumming process and the prepared S-AgNO 3 NPs via a green synthesis. In female albino mice, a total of 50 mg/kg oral administration of DMBA was used for the induction of toxicity which required almost 8 to 10 weeks approximately. After 60 days of experimentation, mice were dissected, blood samples were collected for further hematological and biochemical analysis and were euthanized via cervical dislocation. There was a significant rise in the level of red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin at the highest applied concentration of sericin and its nanoparticles. Similarly, a reasonable decline was observed in the level of white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes as compared to the cancer-inducing group. The level of glutathione, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase as well as immunoglobulins such as immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were significantly reduced in all treatment groups as compared to the DMBA-induced group. Substantial effects were demonstrated in response to S-AgNO 3 NPs II (T) at the highest concentrations (200 mg/kg, BW) as follows: glutathione (2.42 ± 0.26 μmol/L), lactate dehydrogenase (493.6 ± 5.78 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (158.4 ± 6.35 U/L), IgA (4.22 ± 0.19 g/L), IgG (70 ± 1.70 g/L), and IgM (4.76 ± 0.12). The histopathological study of the liver, kidneys, and brain revealed that the DMBA-induced group showed cytotoxic effects against all selected organs of mice that were recovered by treatment of selective compounds but highly effective recovery was seen in S-AgNO 3 NPs II (T). These results concluded that silk S-AgNO 3 NPs showed significant pharmacological potential against cancer-inducing toxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The need for biocompatible drug carriers has been significantly increased from the past few years. Researchers show great interest in the development of more versatile and sophisticated biomaterials based drug carriers. Hydrogels are beneficial drug carriers and easily release the controlled amount of drug at target site due to its tunable structure. The hydrogels made-up of potent biological macromolecules including collagen, gelatin, fibrin, elastin, fibroin, chitosan, starch, alginate, agarose and carrageenan have been proven as versatile biomaterials. These are three-dimensional polymeric networks, synthesized by crosslinking of hydrophilic polymers. The biological macromolecules based hydrogels containing therapeutic substances are used in a wide range of biomedical applications including wound healing, tissue engineering, cosmetics and contact lenses. However, many aspects related to hydrogels such as the mechanism of cross-linking and molecular entanglement are not clear. So, there is a need to do more research and exploration toward the extensive and cost-effective use of hydrogels. The present review article elaborately discusses the biomolecules based hydrogels and their possible biomedical applications in different fields., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The demand for silk has been increasing day by day but the average silk production is not enough to meet its demand. In this study, we investigated the effect of amino acid supplemented mulberry feed on the biological and commercial traits of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera; Bombycidae). The silkworm larvae at 5th instar stage were taken and fed with fresh and healthy mulberry leaves coated with Alanine, Glycine and Serine in fourteen different combinations. Results of the current study revealed that the average weight of silkworm larvae and the % ratio of silk gland to body weight on day 7 was significantly (P˂0.05) higher in the group fed with amino acid fortified leaves as compared to the control. The commercial traits of larvae fed with amino acid fortified leaves also improved significantly. The larvae fed with Alanine (1 %) treated mulberry leaves showed the maximum cocoon weight, cocoon length, cocoon width, cocoon shell ratio and fibroin content as compared to the control group. It is evident from the results that the amino acid (particularly alanine) coated mulberry leaves have a positive effect on the commercial and biological traits of Bombyx mori (L.)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Fabrication, characterization and evaluation of the larvicidal potential of novel silk protein (sericin)-based silver nanoparticles (Se-AgNPs) were the prime motives of the designed study. Furthermore, investigation of the sericin as natural reducing or stabilizing agent was another objective behind this study. Se-AgNPs were synthesized using sonication and heat. Fabricated Se-AgNPs were characterized using particle size analyzer, UV spectrophotometry, FTIR and SEM which confirmed the fabrication of the Se-AgNPs. Size of sonication-mediated Se-AgNPs was smaller (7.49 nm) than heat-assisted Se-AgNPs (53.6 nm). Being smallest in size, sonication-assisted Se-AgNPs revealed the significantly highest (F 4,10  = 39.20, p = .00) larvicidal activity against fourth instar lab and field larvae (F 4,10  = 1864, p = .00) of dengue vector (Aedes aegypti) followed by heat-assisted Se-AgNPs and positive control (temephos). Non-significant larvicidal activity was showed by silver (without sericin) which made the temperature stability of silver, debatable. Furthermore, findings of biochemical assays (glutathione-S transferase, esterase, and acetylcholinesterase) showed the levels of resistance in field strain larvae. Aforementioned findings of the study suggests the sonication as the best method for synthesis of Se-AgNPs while the larvicidal activity is inversely proportional to the size of Se-AgNPs, i.e., smallest the size, highest the larvicidal activity. Conclusively, status of the sericin as a natural reducing/stabilizing agent has been endorsed by the findings of this study. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Incorporation of biocompatible and inexpensive sericin as a capping/reducing agent for synthesis of Se-AgNPs. A novel sonication method was used for the fabrication of Se-AgNPs which were thoroughly characterized by particle size analyzer, UV-visible spectrophotometry, SEM and FTIR. Analysis of enzymatic (GSTs, ESTs) levels in field and lab strains of Aedes aegypti larvae for evaluation of insecticides resistance., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Present study was aimed to assess the bactericidal potential of sericin-capped silver nanoparticles (Se-AgNPs) synthesized by heat, light, and sonication. Se-AgNPs were characterized by size analyzer, UV spectrophotometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Average size of Se-AgNPs synthesized by heat, light and sonication was 53.60, 78.12, and 7.49 nm, respectively. All (10) bacterial strains were exposed to Se-AgNPs prepared from different methods to compare their antibacterial potentials. Largest zone of inhibition (13 ± 1.15 mm) was observed for sonication-based nanoparticles (NPs) against Klebseilla pneumoniae while the smallest zone of light assisted NPs against Serratia rubidaea (5 ± 1 mm). Bacterial strains were also exposed to different concentrations (0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.6%) of Se-AgNPs which showed largest zone (12 ± 1 mm) of inhibition for 0.4% of Se-AgNPs against Protius mirabilis and smallest zone (5 ± 1.154 mm) for 0.3% of Se-AgNPs against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, effect of different temperatures (5°C, 37°C, and 60°C) and pH (3, 7, and 12) on the efficacy and stability of Se-AgNPs was also evaluated against different bacterial strains. Sonication mediated NPs showed highest bactericidal results against K. pneumoniae (F 3,8  = 6.154; p = 0.018) with smallest size NPs (7.49 nm) while lowest bactericidal results against S. rubidaea (5 ± 1 mm) were shown with largest size (78.12 nm) NPs prepared by natural light. These variations of bactericidal activities of NPs with difference size endorse that the Se-AgNPs with smallest size have highest antibacterial activity than larger size NPs. Moreover, Se-AgNPs maintain their bactericidal potency at wide range of temperature and pH, hence seemed stable., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The present study was aimed to prepare the potent silk sericin-based hydrogels in combination with plant extracts (curcumin and banana peel powder) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to accelerate the acute wound healing process. Experimental excision wounds were created in mice by biopsy puncture, and the wound healing potential of silk sericin (2%)-based hydrogel and its combinations with curcumin (2%), banana peel powder (2%), and AgNPs (2%) was estimated by calculating the percent wound contraction, healing time, histology of skin tissues, and different biochemical tests. The results showed that the mice treated with sericin-based hydrogels showed significantly ( P < 0.001) high percent wound contraction as compared to negative control, and wounds were healed in 11 days. The histological evaluation also showed that wounds covered with hydrogels were healed more than the uncovered wounds. Furthermore, the results of biochemical tests revealed that the treatment groups showed a significant ( P < 0.001) decrease in the serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6). A significant ( P < 0.001) increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and anti-oxidant enzymes was observed in treatment groups. The highest wound healing potential was observed by sericin-based hydrogel containing banana peel powder, leaving behind the commercially available ointment polyfax (positive control). It can be concluded that the silk sericin-based hydrogels in combination with plant extract and AgNPs can be used as natural biomaterials in wound dressing for the rapid healing of acute wounds., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Breast cancer has become the most prevalent and noxious type of malignancy around the globe (Giaquinto et al., 2022). Multiple clinical strategies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy have been in practice to manage breast cancer. Besides the protective roles of conventional remedial approaches, and non-reversible and deteriorative impacts like healthy cell damage, organ failure, etc., the world scientific community is in a continuous struggle to find some alternative biocompatible and comparatively safe solutions. Among novel breast cancer management/treatment options, the role of probiotics has become immensely important. The current review encompasses the prevalence statistics of breast cancer across the globe concerning developed and undeveloped counties, intestinal microbiota linkage with breast cancer, and association of breast microbiome with breast carcinoma. Furthermore, this review also narrates the role of probiotics against breast cancer and their mode of action. In Vivo and In Vitro studies under breast cancer research regarding probiotics are mechanistically explained. The current review systematically explains the immunomodulatory role of probiotics to prevent breast cancer. Last, but not the least, current review concludes the use of probiotics in the treatment of breast cancer through various mechanisms and future recommendations for molecular basis studies., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The complications associated with diabetic wounds make their healing process prolonged. Hydrogels could be ideal wound dressings therefore present research was conducted to prepare silk sericin (an adhesive protein polymer) based hydrogels in combination with plant extracts and to evaluate its effectiveness against wound healing process in mice with alloxan induced diabetes. Excision wounds were formed via a biopsy puncture (6 mm). Experimental hydrogels were prepared and applied topically on the diabetic wounds. All the hydrogel treatment groups showed significantly higher (P < 0.001) percent wound contraction from day 3 to day 11 as compared to the negative diabetic control group. The serum level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-10) and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase (TIMP) was significantly higher (P < 0.001), while the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin-6) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in hydrogels treatment groups as compared to diabetic control group. Although all the hydrogels showed effective results, however the best results were shown by 4 % sericin+4 % banyan+4 % onion based hydrogel. It can be concluded that Sericin based hydrogel enriched with banyan and onion extracts can be used as an effective remedy for the treatment of diabetic wounds due to their high healing and regenerative properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised knowledge of the proper antibiotic dosage for treating childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). In order to ensure proper antibiotic usage and prevent the establishment of illnesses that is antibiotic-resistant during the COVID-19 pandemic, parental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviour surrounding antibiotic use for URTIs in children are essential. The goal of this study was to find out the parental attitude, knowledge, and practices regarding the usage of antibiotics for URTIs in children during the COVID-19 epidemic., Methodology: This cross-sectional was conducted in the Department of Paediatric Medicine, Central Hospital, Ganesh Nagar, New Delhi, India from September 2022 to February 2023. The study analysed a total of 500. All the children had URTIs. A structured questionnaire was randomly distributed among parents. Socio-demographic information like gender, age, occupation, monthly family income, and age of the children were noted at the time of enrollment. Outcomes were recorded in terms of responses to questions regarding attitude, knowledge, and practices regarding the use of antibiotics for URTIs in children during the COVID-19 epidemic.  Results: Of a total of 500 parents, 380 (76.0%) were male. The mean age was 39.9±8.3 years while 280 (56.0%) participants were aged between 31 to 45 years. Relatively older age (p<0.0001) and occupational status as unemployed (p<0.0001) were found to have a significant association with response to "virus being the cause of COVID-19". Females (p=0.0004) and increasing age (p<0.0001) were found to have significant associations with incorrect responses to "antibiotics are essential for managing the symptoms in children with COVID-19". Incorrect responses to "without the use of antibiotics, children usually suffer from greater periods of sickness" were associated with females and increasing age (p<0.0001). Incorrect responses to "not using antibiotics will prove beneficial for the children suffering from COVID-19" were significantly associated with female gender (p=0.0016) and increasing age (p<0.0001). The incorrect responses to "how often are antibiotics being prescribed to the COVID-19 children" was significantly linked with females and relatively older age (p<0.0001)., Conclusions: Parental attitude, knowledge, and practices regarding the usage of antibiotics for URTIs in children during the COVID-19 epidemic showed variations. Parental attitude, knowledge, and practices were associated with gender, age, and socio-economic status., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Chand et al.)

Present study was carried out to investigate the variation in web architecture of Larinia chloris (Audouin 1826) in relation to seasonal differences and the biotic factors of the environment. In addition, relative abundance, behavior, and predatory potential of L. chloris were also recorded. For this purpose, 100 orb-webs of L. chloris were observed in rice fields (August-October, 2022) from 3 districts of Punjab (Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Kasur). Percent abundance of L. chloriswas found to be highest in rice fields from Barki road, Lahore (39.53%). All the webs of L. chloris were vertical at height equal to the height of vegetation (115.2 ± 9.7 cm). Time required to complete the web was 45 ± 5 min. There was positive correlation between web architecture and vegetation height. Web capture area and average mesh height of L. chloris also showed positive correlation with carapace length. There was a significant difference in various web parameters (number of spirals, number of radii, capture area, average mesh height, upper radii, lower radii, left radii, and right radii) among different trapping months. A total of 1,326 insects were recorded from the 100 webs of L. chloris. The prey abundance was found to be highest in the fields from Barki Road, Lahore. The majority of the prey collected from webs of L. chloris belonged to order Diptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. However, prey items recorded during different growth stages (from vegetative to ripening) varied significantly. This is the first ever report describing the ecology of L. chloris in rice fields from Punjab, Pakistan., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

The antibacterial activity of synthetic antimicrobial agents is well known, but most of them have several side effects and are effective against selective microbes. Recently, major concern for the microbiologists is to investigate for some stable, non-toxic, cheap, and eco-friendly antimicrobial agents with a wide range of bactericidal potential. A cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternate has been proposed in the form of green synthesized nanoparticles. The Present study was designed to fabricate sericin-coated silver nanoparticles (S-AgNPs) using sericin as stabilizer and reductant of silver ions and their antibacterial potential was evaluated at various concentrations and temperatures (8, 40, and 50°C). Antimicrobial activities were assessed by the agar well diffusion method. Antibacterial activity of S-AgNPs was measured at different concentrations (1-6 mg/ml) whereas; antifungal activity was tested at 5-20 mg/ml of S-AgNPs. Nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. These nanoparticles significantly subdued the growth of Clostridium difficile (18.7 ± 0.9 mm), Proteus mirabilis (12.3 ± 0.3 mm) and Bacillus licheniformis (10.7 ± 0.9 mm) and Aspergillus flavus (18.7 ± 2.0 mm), Mucor mycetes (13 .0 ± 1.5 mm), Candida albicans (15.3 ± 0.3 mm) and Aspergillus niger (10.0 ± 0.6 mm). S-AgNPs were stable at all temperatures and the maximum growth inhibition was found at 8°C for all pathogenic strains. We concluded that the S-AgNPs could be a potential candidate to inhibit the growth of bacterial and fungal pathogens at a wide range of environmental conditions like temperature. In various biomedical applications including antimicrobial and wound dressings, S-AgNPs can be used in the future to treat various bacterial and fungal infections., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Inflammation-related diseases are recognized as the major cause of morbidity around the globe. In this study, the anti-inflammatory potential of sericin, curcumin, and their mixture was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Edema was induced via 1% carrageenan and then sericin (0.03, 0.06, 0.09 mg/ml), curcumin (1%, 2%, 3%), and their mixture doses were applied topically. The paw circumference and thickness were measured after 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-hour post-carrageenan injection. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were measured from the serum. In mice fibroblast cells, sericin (20, 40, 60 μg/ml), curcumin (5, 10, 20 μM), and mixture concentrations were applied and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Afterward, the cells were used for the analysis of gene expression, and the supernatant was collected for protein expression of IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10. Our results demonstrated that sericin and curcumin caused a dose-dependent reduction in edema, whereas the mixture-treated group reduced the paw thickness and circumference most significantly (p = .0001). Furthermore, the mixture treatment of carrageenan-inflicted group increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 (650.87 pg/ml) and IL-10 (183.14 pg/ml), in comparison to the carrageenan control. The in vitro data revealed that among all the treatment doses, the mixture-treated group has effectively reduced the gene (1.13-fold) and protein (51.9 pg/ml) expression of IL-1β in comparison to McCoy cells stimulated with LPS. Moreover, mixture treatment elevated the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 at genes (4.3-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively) and protein levels (169.33 and 141.83 pg/ml, respectively). The current study reports the enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of the mixture of curcumin and sericin through modulating expressions of interleukins in vitro and in vivo. Thus, natural products (curcumin and sericin)-based formulations have greater potential for clinical investigations., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Burns wounds are one of the most health-threatening problems worldwide. Sericin is a natural protein synthesized by the silkworm Bombyx mori L. It is a natural biomaterial that helps in the management of wounds by promoting the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Jasminum grandiflorum L leaves contain high mucilage content and have been used to cure various dermal wounds in ancient times. The present study was aimed to investigate the individual and synergetic effect of sericin and J. grandiflorum leaves extract on burn injury in mice. Ten-week-old mice weighing 22 g ± 5 g were randomly divided into eight groups, each group containing 10 mice. Burn injury in mice was induced by using a hot metal rod. Wounds were evaluated morphologically and histologically. In comparison with controls, 4% sericin + jasmine (S + J) expressively improved wound contraction area. Restoration of the epidermis was also faster in S + J 4% group (P ≤ .01) than in other groups. Histopathological analysis also verified the efficacy of the 4% S + J cream. It is concluded that a mixture of sericin and jasmine leaves effectively improved the healing process of skin burns., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

A novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment is to target altered tumor metabolism. Glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) has been recently discovered to be implicated in apoptosis and angiogenesis, making it an excellent target in cancer treatment. The current study aimed to screen the plant extracts library to find potent hits against G6PD through enzymatic assay. Protein expression was induced by IPTG and purified using Ni-NTA columns after transformation of the pET-24a-HmG6PD plasmid into E. coli BL21-DE3 strain. An enzymatic assay was established by using purified rG6PD protein, for the screening of G6PD inhibitors. Out of 46 plant extracts screened, the sixteen plant extracts have shown inhibitory activity against the G6PD enzyme. At doses from 1 to 4 µg/ml, this extract demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of G6PD with an IC 50 value of I.397 µg/ml. Moreover, the anticancer activity evaluation against HepG2 cells determined Smilax china as a potent inhibitor of cancer cells (IC 50 value of 16.017 μg/ml). The acute and subacute toxicities were not observed in mice with various concentrations (50, 100, 200 and 2000 mg/kg). Furthermore, to identify the compounds from Smilax china as G6PD inhibitors, a literature-based phytochemical investigation of Smilax china was conducted, and sixty compounds were docked against the NADP+ and G6P binding sites of G6PD. The results of this study showed that three compounds were Scirpusin A, Smilachinin and Daucosterol with MolDock Score of -156.832, -148.215, and -145.733 respectively, against NADP+ binding site of G6PD. Conclusively, Smilax china root extract could be a safer drug candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Although Pakistan has rich biodiversity, many groups are poorly known, particularly insects. To address this gap, we employed DNA barcoding to survey its insect diversity. Specimens obtained through diverse collecting methods at 1,858 sites across Pakistan from 2010-2019 were examined for sequence variation in the 658 bp barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene. Sequences from nearly 49,000 specimens were assigned to 6,590 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), a proxy for species, and most (88%) also possessed a representative image on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). By coupling morphological inspections with barcode matches on BOLD, every BIN was assigned to an order (19) and most (99.8%) were placed to a family (362). However, just 40% of the BINs were assigned to a genus (1,375) and 21% to a species (1,364). Five orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera) accounted for 92% of the specimens and BINs. More than half of the BINs (59%) are so far only known from Pakistan, but others have also been reported from Bangladesh (13%), India (12%), and China (8%). Representing the first DNA barcode survey of the insect fauna in any South Asian country, this study provides the foundation for a complete inventory of the insect fauna in Pakistan while also contributing to the global DNA barcode reference library., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Ashfaq et al.)

Lactobacilli are commonly found in raw and fermented foods. These bacteria are of common interest because of their capability of bacteriocin production. Bacteriocins are compounds that may be used as natural preservatives in place of chemical additives. In the present study five different samples of poultry, meat and pickle were used to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by using the MRS culture medium. Antibacterial activity was checked against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Five strains from the poultry meat and six strains from pickle had shown antibacterial activity out of eight strains against pathogenic bacteria. Three strains of poultry meat i.e. M3, M7, M11, had shown antibacterial activity against all three indicator strains. While one strain M1 was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli but it was found not to be active against Staphylococcus aureus. E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were not susceptible to M2. In the case of pickle strains H1, H2, NAT1, NAT2, were found to be active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli but Staphylococcus aureus was not susceptible to bacteriocins of these strains. NAT3 and SHZa strains showed antibacterial activity against all the three used pathogens. The highest activity (6 mm) had shown by the lNAT3 strain of pickle against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The least antimicrobial activity had shown by SHZa strain. M3 had an inhibition zone of 5 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. M11 had an inhibition zone of 5 mm against E. coli. Bacteriocins of all isolates were sensitive towards enzyme pepsin showing their proteinaceous nature. Detection of the bacteriocin gene by PCR the strains M2, M7 were amplified for Curvacin and plantaricin genes. From current study, it is concluded that different species of Lactobacilli can be used as antibacterial tool against common bacterial pathogens.

Different plants are used medically and thofese therapeutic plants have great importance for healing contagious wounds. This herbal treatment is actually also a substitute of different antibiotics and having less side effects on intestinal systems of animals. The foremost concern of this study was to observe the antibacterial activity of Cinnamum zeylanicum and Acacia nilotica. Pathogenic bacteria obtained from wound samples and later identified by biochemical and molecular characterization. Methanol (an organic solvent) was used to extract Cinnamum zeylanicum and Acacia nilotica to check their antimicrobial exertion by using agar diffusion method. Different antibiotics such as, ampicillin, oflaxocin, ticarcillin and cefexime, showed their susceptibility toward antibiotics. The zone of inhibitions for antibiotic and plant extracts' antibacterial activity were measured. Pathogenic bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenesby molecular characterization. These bacteria showed susceptibility to antibiotics and also the plant extracts. Antibiotic oflaxocin showed maximum activity against these two pathogens (12.25 ± 0.44 and 12.375 ± 0.47) while antibiotic cefixime showed minimum effect (1.25 ± 0.28 and 0.625 ± 0.25). Plant extracts showed significant antibacterial activity with maximum activity (14 ± 0.9 by Acacia nilotica and 12 ± 0.5 by Cinnamum zeylanicum) in 100% solution. It can be concluded thatmethanolic extract of traditional therapeutic plants proved to be a promising source of antimicrobial agents against antibiotic resistant bacteria. Cinnamum zeylanicum and Acacia nilotica were observed to be competent as antibacterial tool against pathogenic bacterial strains.

Background: Thalassemia is an inherited hematological disorder categorized by a decrease or absence of one or more of the globin chains synthesis. Beta-thalassemia is caused by one or more mutations in the beta-globin gene. The absence or reduced amount of beta-globin chains causes ineffective erythropoiesis which leads to anemia., Methods: Beta-thalassemia has been further divided into three main forms: thalassemia major, intermedia, and minor/silent carrier. A more severe form among these is thalassemia major in which individuals depend upon blood transfusion for survival. The high level of iron deposition occurs due to regular blood transfusion therapy., Results: Overloaded iron raises the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are noxious and prompting the injury to the hepatic, endocrine, and vascular system. Thalassemia can be analyzed and diagnosed via prenatal testing (genetic testing of amniotic fluid), blood smear, complete blood count, and DNA analysis (genetic testing). Treatment of thalassemia intermediate is symptomatic; however; it can also be accomplished by folic supplementation and splenectomy., Conclusion: Thalassemia major can be cured through regular transfusion of blood, transplantation of bone marrow, iron chelation management, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, stimulation of fetal hemoglobin production, and gene therapy., (© 2021 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aging and age-related disorders have become one of the prominent issue of world. Oxidative stress due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species is the most significant cause of aging. The aim of literature compilation was to elucidate the therapeutic effect of vitamin C against oxidative stress. Various mediators with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties might be probable competitors of vitamin C for the improvement of innovative anti-aging treatments. More attention has been paid to vitamin C due to its anti-oxidant property and potentially beneficial biological activities for inhibiting aging.Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant agent and free radical scavenger that can protect the cell from oxidative stress, disorganization of chromatin, telomere attrition, and prolong the lifetime. This review emphasizes mechanism of aging and various biomarkers that are directly related to aging and also focuses on the therapeutic aspect of vitamin C against oxidative stress and age-related disorders., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is a major vector responsible for dengue transmission. Insecticides are being used as the most effective tool to control vector populations in Lahore, Pakistan. Control of Ae. aegypti is threatened by the development of resistance against insecticides. The current status of insecticide resistance was evaluated against pyrethroids (deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin) in different populations of Lahore (Model Town, Mishri Shah, Sadar Cantt, Walton, and Valencia). The susceptibility of the larval and adult populations was tested following the standard WHO guidelines. Moderate to high levels of resistance were found against pyrethroids in the larval (RR50: 3.6-27.2 and RR90: 5-90) and adult populations (percentage mortality < 98%). Biochemical assays revealed a statistically significant increase in the enzyme level in all field populations compared to the laboratory strain. The value of esterase was one-fold higher, monooxygenase was 3.9- to 4.7-fold higher, and glutathione S-transferases was 1.9- to 2.6-fold higher in field populations compared to the laboratory strain. These results depict the presence of resistance against deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin in field populations of Lahore mediated by metabolic enzymes i.e. esterases, monooxygenases, and glutathione S-transferase., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cadmium is a heavy metal and a non-biodegradable environmental contaminant, and its omnipresence ensures its recurrent exposure to humans and animals. Its intake by chicks leads to fatal implications. Cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) because of its bio-accumulative nature is an emerging threat to the poultry industry as well as to the humans which consumes these cadmium-intoxicated chickens. In the current study, the target was to elucidate the toxic effects of CdCl 2 on body weight, hematological, and biochemical parameters as well as its bioaccumulation in different organs of broiler chicks. Various concentrations of CdCl 2 (0, 12, 24, 38, and 48 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to five groups (A, B, C, D, and E) of broiler chicks, respectively. The biometric screening of the exposed birds was carried out by hematological parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total protein, white blood cells (WBC), and hemoglobin (Hb), as well as biochemical parameters superoxide dismutase (SOD), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with commercially available kits. Metal accumulation in different organs was detected using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The compound exposure produced a varied impact on broiler birds. Hematological parameters showed a significant decrease except for WBC. Biochemical parameters also decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. However, it was revealed that the body weight of chickens was not affected considerably after CdCl 2 exposure. A direct relationship was detected between the accumulation of metal within tissues (lungs, heart, and flesh) and exposure frequency. It can be deduced that an increase in Cd deposition in tissues may lead to an alteration in hematological-biochemical markers which may significantly contribute to systemic toxicity in broilers.

Amylase is amongst the most indispensable enzymes that have a large number of applications in laboratories and industries. Mostly, α-amylase is synthesized from microbes such as bacteria, fungi and yeast. Due to the high demand for α-amylase, its synthesis can be enhanced using recombinant DNA technology, different fermentation methods, less expensive and good carbon and nitrogen sources, and optimizing the various parameters during fermentation, e.g., temperature, pH and fermentation duration. Various methods are used to measure the production and activity of synthesized α-amylase like iodine, DNS, NS and dextrinizing methods. The activity of crude α-amylase can be elevated to the maximum level by optimizing the temperature and pH. Some metals also interact with α-amylase and increase its activity like K + , Na + , Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ . Some industries such as starch conversion, food, detergent, paper, textile industries and fuel alcohol production extensively utilize α-amylase for their various purposes.

Background: The present study aimed to prepare effective silk derived formulations in combination with plant extract ( Aloe vera gel) to speed up the wound healing process in diabetic mice., Methods: Diabetes was induced in albino mice by using alloxan monohydrate. After successful induction of diabetes in mice, excision wounds were created via biopsy puncture (6 mm). Wound healing effect of silk sericin (5%) and silk fibroin (5%) individually and in combination with 5% Aloe vera gel was evaluated by determining the percent wound contraction, healing time and histological analysis., Results: The results indicated that the best biocompatible silk combination was of 5% silk fibroin and 5% Aloe vera gel in which wounds were healed in 13 days with wound contraction: 98.33 ± 0.80%. In contrast, the wound of the control group (polyfax) healed in 19 day shaving 98.5 ± 0.67% contraction. Histological analysis revealed that the wounds which were treated with silk formulations exhibited an increased growth of blood vessels, collagen fibers, and much reduced inflammation., Conclusion: It can be concluded that a combination of Bombyx mori silk and Aloe vera gel is a natural biomaterial that can be utilized in wound dressings and to prepare more innovative silk based formulations for speedy recovery of chronic wounds., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2021 Tariq et al.)

Mercury and cadmium are highly dangerous metals that can lead to disastrous effects in animals and humans. The aim of the current research was to elucidate the poisonous effects of mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride individually and in combination on biochemical profiles of plasma and their accumulation in heart. The therapeutic effect of vitamin C against these metals in rabbits was also studied. Mercuric chloride (1.2 μg/g), cadmium chloride (1.5 μg/g), and vitamin C (150 μg/g of body weight) were orally given to treatment groups of the rabbits (1-control; 2-vitamin; 3-CdCl 2 ; 4-HgCl 2 ; 5-vitamin + CdCl 2 ; 6-vitamin + HgCl 2 ; 7-CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 , and 8-vitamin + CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 . After the biometric determination of all intoxicated rabbits, biochemical parameters, viz low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), cholesterol, creatine kinase, and troponin T (TnT) were analyzed using available kits. Levels of cholesterol (0.7 ± 0.1 mmol/l), creatine kinase (2985.2 ± 11 IU/L), LDL (20.35 ± 1.31 mg/dl), and troponin T (1.22 ± 0.03 μg/l) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased. HDL (84.78 ± 4.30 mg/dl) was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased, while supplementation of vitamin C decreased the adverse effects of CdCl 2 and HgCl 2 on biochemical parameters in all metal-exposed groups. A similar trend was also seen in rabbits treated with CdCl 2 + vitamin and vitamin + CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 . Accumulation of Cd and Hg was higher in heart tissues. This study, therefore, provides awareness on the cardiac toxicity of mercury and cadmium chlorides in the rabbits and the possible protective role of vitamin C against the perturbations induced by metals.

Lead is one of the utmost contaminated and dangerous heavy metals. This toxicant ultimately enters into the human body through the food chain and accumulated in the body because the animal/human body has not an appropriate mechanism to excrete it from the body. The main objective of the present research was to assess the toxicological effects of lead on body weights, biochemical, and hematological parameters of chickens and also to measure its bioaccumulation in the brain. Lead acetate was administrated orally at doses of 0, 71, 142, 213, and 284 mg/kg of body weight of chicken for groups A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Along with determination of biometry of all experimental chicks, hematological [hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total erythrocyte count (TEC), white blood cells (WBCs), leukocyte differential count (LDC)] and biochemical [low density lipoprotein (LDL), total protein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] parameters were measured. The present study showed that the bodyweight of chickens was not affected significantly by lead acetate exposure. The levels of MCHC, PCV, TEC, Hb, LDL, HDL, and total protein were found to be significantly decreased while WBC, LDC, and ALT profile were enhanced due to administration of lead acetate. Bioaccumulation of lead acetate was found to be higher in the brain. We conclude that the chronic administration of lead acetate affected the blood and biochemical profile of exposed chicken. These effects might be due to the accumulation of the chemical in certain vital organ(s). However, further studies in the future are suggested to refine such findings.

Due to industrial and urban sewage, the metal contaminations in aquatic and terrestrial environments are increasing day by day, especially in developing countries. Despite the study of several years, we are inert far away from an actual medication for prolonged toxicity of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium etc. Lead is one of the most common heavy metals that possess toxicological effects on numerous tissues of animals as well as humans. Several toxic effects of lead on reproductive organs, renal system, central nervous system, liver, lungs, blood parameters, and bones have been reported. On the other hand, several reports depicted that garlic is operative in declining the absorption of lead in bones as well as soft tissues. A combination of vitamin C and vitamin E enhances the biological recovery induced by lead and mobilize the heavy metal such as lead from intra-cellular positions. This review provides therapeutic approaches such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and extract of garlic to treat the detrimental effects caused after the exposure of lead. These therapeutic strategies are beneficial for both the prevention and alleviation of lead noxiousness.

More than 2.1 billion people worldwide are deprived of safe drinking water at homes. The situation is strikingly worse in a developing country like Pakistan where over 69% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water. The present study evaluated a perenial herb, Typha angustata (TA), to purify the spring water. For this purpose, 25 water samples were collected. Majority of samples (20/25) were highly contaminated with microbes ranging colony forming units (CFU) per millileter per Petri dish ranged from 85 to 279 with an average of 136.4. Microbial inhibition of water samples treated with the nonmodified plant extract was observed to be better with the average of 55.5% compared to the treatment with NaOH chemically modified plant where average 46.4% inhibition of microbial load was observed. Four species of microbes such as Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas otitidis, and Streptococcus agalactiae were identified after sequencing. We concluded that T. angustata extract may be used as an antibacterial agent/biosorbent for the purification of drinking water to provide safe drinking water to billions of humans. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Spring water samples were collected from 25 different springs. Spring water samples were analyzed for physiochemical parameters. Spring water samples were found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, that is, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas otitidis, and Streptococcus agalactiae. Pathogenic bacteria in spring water samples were treated with extract of Typha angustata. Extract of Typha angustata was found as a potential antibacterial agent against pathogenic bacteria., (© 2019 Water Environment Federation.)

In the present study, DNA barcoding was used to assess the percentage accuracy of morphological base identification of spiders from the agriculture fields of district Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 872 spiders were captured from June to August of 2017. All the collected spiders were brought to molecular laboratory at GC University Lahore, preserved in 95% ethanol and stored at -20 °C until the DNA extraction. Spiders were evaluated morphologically on the basis of different identification Keys and Catalogs. Morphological identification revealed the presence of 12 families, 29 genra and 49 species. To evaluate the authenticity of morphological identification, tissue samples of 96 specimens were sent to Canadian Center for Biodiversity and Genomics, University of Guelph, Canada. A 658-base pair sequence of COI (Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I) of 90 specimens was retrieved successfully, which confirmed the presence of 11 families, 25 genra and 47 species. On the basis of molecular results, all the misidentified specimens were then allotted the correct taxon. Overall accuracy of morphological based identification was 88%. It is concluded from the present study that morphological investigations to identify a spider, are satisfactory but to enhance the accuracy, pace and credibility of results, molecular technique like DNA barcoding is considerable. Furthermore, to magnify authenticity of evaluation of spiders, integrated barcoding- combination of molecular methods and conventional taxonomy- is compulsory., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

The present study was carried out to determine the influence of 2% aqueous honey (Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793 [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) on larval growth and silk cocoon yield of fifth-instar larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). The larvae of silkworms (Chinese HUAKAND2) were divided into a control and an experimental groups (n = 20 in each group). Control group was fed with plain mulberry leaves throughout the fifth instar, whereas the experimental group was offered mulberry leaves dipped in 2% aqueous solution of honey every other day for 4 d (days 1, 3, 5, and 7). On the other days (days 2, 4, 6, and 8), plain mulberry leaves were offered to larvae. Results showed that the average weight gain in larvae of the experimental group was 348.23 and 204.54% in case of the control group. Uneaten mulberry leaves were weighed; the control group left 34.05% of their leaves and the treated group 28.54%. The cocoon formation in the honey-treated larvae was more uniform in shape than the control group. Furthermore, honey-treated larvae began to form cocoons 7.8 ± 0.23 h earlier than the control group. We also recorded an increase of 15.34% in average weight of cocoons of the experimental group when compared with the control. Average shell percentage of fresh silk cocoons of the control and experimental groups was 20.5 and 23.5%, respectively. It is concluded from the study that 2% aqueous honey has positive impact on the larval growth and cocoon yield of B. mori., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

Cadmium and mercury are non-biodegradable toxic metals that may cause many detrimental effects to the thyroid gland and blood. Vitamin C has been found to be a significant chain-breaking antioxidant and enzyme co-factor against metal toxicity and thus make them less available for animals. The current study was performed to find the effect of individual metals (cadmium and mercury), their co-administration, and the ameliorative effects of vitamin C on some of the parameters that indicate oxidative stress and thyroid dysfunction. Cadmium chloride (1.5 mg/kg), mercuric chloride (1.2 mg/kg), and vitamin C (150 mg/kg of body weight) were orally administered to eight treatment groups of the rabbits (1. control; 2. Vit C; 3. CdCl 2 ; 4. HgCl 2 ; 5. Vit C + CdCl 2 ; 6. Vit C + HgCl 2 ; 7. CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 , and 8. Vit C + CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 ). After the biometric measurements of all experimental rabbits, biochemical parameters viz. triidothyronine (T 3 ), thyroxine (T 4 ), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and triglycerides were measured using commercially available kits. The results exhibited significant decline (p < 0.05) in mean hemoglobin, corpuscular hemoglobin, packed cell volume, T 3 (0.4 ± 0.0 ng/ml), and T 4 (26.3 ± 1.6 ng/ml) concentration. While, TSH (0.23 ± 0.01 nmol/l) and triglyceride (4.42 ± 0.18 nmol/l) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased but chemo-treatment with Vit C reduces the effects of Cd, Hg, and their co-administration but not regained the values similar to those of controls. This indicates that Vit C had a shielding effect on the possible metal toxicity. The Cd and Hg also found to accumulate in vital organs when measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The metal concentration trend was observed as follows: kidney > liver > heart > lungs. It was concluded that Cd and Hg are toxic and tended to bioaccumulate in different organs and their toxic action can be subdued by vitamin C in biological systems.

Morphological study of 1,795 spiders from sites across Pakistan placed these specimens in 27 families and 202 putative species. COI sequences >400 bp recovered from 1,782 specimens were analyzed using neighbor-joining trees, Bayesian inference, barcode gap, and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). Specimens of 109 morphological species were assigned to 123 BINs with ten species showing BIN splits, while 93 interim species included representatives of 98 BINs. Maximum conspecific divergences ranged from 0-5.3% while congeneric distances varied from 2.8-23.2%. Excepting one species pair (Oxyopes azhari-Oxyopes oryzae), the maximum intraspecific distance was always less than the nearest-neighbor (NN) distance. Intraspecific divergence values were not significantly correlated with geographic distance. Most (75%) BINs detected in this study were new to science, while those shared with other nations mainly derived from India. The discovery of many new, potentially endemic species and the low level of BIN overlap with other nations highlight the importance of constructing regional DNA barcode reference libraries., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Chronic infections caused by gram negative bacteria are the mains reasons to have morbidity and death in patients, despite using high doses of antibiotics applied to cure diseases producing by them. This study was designed to identify the role of flagella in biofilm formation Ten pure strains were collected from our lab. Morphological variation and motility assays led us to study two strains in detail. They were characterized biochemically, physiologically and genetically. Biofilm formation analysis was performed using test tube assay, congo red assay and liquid-interface coverslip assay. In order to disrupt flagella of studied strains, blending was induced for 5, 10 and 15 minutes followed by centrifugation and observing motility using motility test. Biofilm quantification of wild type (parental) and blended strains was done using test tube and liquid interface coverslip assays. 16S rRNA sequencing identified strains as Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Enterobacter cloacae. Significant biofilm formation (p>0.05) by was observed after 72 and 18 hours using test tube and liquid-interface coverslip assays respectively. Flagellar disruption showed that 15 minutes blending caused significant reduction in both strains, hence demonstrated that flagellar mediated motility could be a potent strategy to stabilize aggregate and invest resources for biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa and E. cloacae.

Purpose: Wearing contact lens requires awareness about possible contaminants, the causative agents of multiple complications. The present study focused on identification of potential pathogens and presence of virulence associated markers in contact lens associated bacteria., Methods: Bacterial contaminants were isolated from contact lenses or cleaning solutions collected from University students. Isolates were identified using conventional methods followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and screened for the presence of virulence factors which included capsular presence, adhesion, serum resistance, iron chelation, haemagglutination and hemolysis. Moreover, antibiotic resistance profile was also monitored., Results: Contamination was observed in 79% (45 of 57) of lenses. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing Bacillus sp. was found to be most abundant (26%). The presence of at least three pathogenic characteristics was recorded in 75.8% isolates. Among the pathogenic characteristics, capsule presence was found to be the most prevalent character (73%) followed by hemolysin production (65%), serum resistance (61%), haemagglutination (56%), iron chelation (50%) and polystyrene adherence (42%). Multiple antibiotic resistance was recorded in 66.13% isolates. Cluster analysis on the basis of virulence markers separated all isolates in two groups. Potential pathogens and non-pathogens were found to be equally frequent among contaminants of contact lens cases., Conclusion: The present work provides evidence that pathogenic bacteria can adhere and survive in contact lens or lens solution. It highlights the need for the development of new methods to protect contact lenses and lens care accessories. Drugs targeting capsule formation may offer a good option for treatment or use in cleaning solution., (Copyright © 2018 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study was designed to record the effect of λ-cyhalothrin, Bifenthrin, and Glyphosate on the mortality, avoidance behavior, foraging activity, and activity of Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and Carboxylesterase (CarE) in Neoscona theisi (Walckenaer, 1841). Highest mortality (70%) in N. theisi was recorded against λ-cyhalothrin. However, Glyphosate was found to be least toxic. Spider spent less time on insecticides/herbicide-treated surfaces. Insecticides/herbicide-treated N. theisi consumed less prey than untreated control spiders. Similarly, when N. theisi were offered insecticide/herbicide-treated prey, they consumed significantly less. Increased AChE and CarE activities were recorded in insecticides/herbicide-treated spiders as compared to control group. Total protein contents were less in insecticides/herbicide-treated spiders than control group. The results revealed that λ-cyhalothrin is more harmful to spiders as compared to Bifenthrin and Glyphosate. It is suggested that the effect of all pesticides used in agro-ecosystem on beneficial insects should be evaluated before using them in the fields., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

Cadmium and mercury are among the most toxic and dangerous environmental pollutants that may cause fatal implications. Vitamin C is an important chain-breaking antioxidant and enzyme co-factor against heavy metals. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of cadmium chloride, mercuric chloride, and their co-administration on biochemical parameters of blood serum and metal bioaccumulation in kidneys and also to elucidate the protective effect of vitamin C in rabbits against these metals. In the current research, cadmium chloride (1.5 mg/kg), mercuric chloride(1.2 mg/kg), and vitamin C (150 mg/kg of body weight) were orally administered to eight treatment groups of the rabbits (1, control; 2, vitamin; 3, CdCl 2 ; 4, HgCl 2 ; 5, vitamin + CdCl 2 ; 6, vitamin + HgCl 2 ; 7, CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 , and 8, vitamin + CdCl 2 + HgCl 2 ). After the biometric measurements of all experimental rabbits, biochemical parameters viz. creatinine, cystatin C, uric acid, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and metal bioaccumulation were determined using commercially available kits and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. The levels of creatinine (28.3 ± 1.1 μmol/l), cystatin C (1932.5 ± 38.5 ηg/ml), uric acid (4.8 ± 0.1 mg/day), and ALP (51.6 ± 1.1 IU/l) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased due to administration of mercuric chloride but in the presence of vitamin C, the effects of mercuric chloride on creatinine (21.9 ± 1.4 μmol/l), cystatin C (1676.2 ± 42.2 ηg/ml), uric acid (3.9 ± 0.1 mg/day), and ALP (43.3 ± 0.8 IU/l) were less as compared to metal-exposed specimens. Similar results were found in rabbits treated with cadmium chloride and vitamin C and also with co-administration of both metals and vitamin C. Because of the bio-accumulative nature of cadmium chloride and mercuric chloride, these metals were accumulated in kidneys of rabbits, which might lead to deleterious effects. The results of the present study provide an insight into the toxicity of the cadmium chloride, mercuric chloride, and/or their combination on biochemical parameters as well as kidneys of the rabbits and the ameliorating potential of vitamin C against these metals is also evaluated.

Accurate identification of agricultural pests is key requirement for the successful integrated pest management (IPM) program. However, due to limitations of conventional morphological methods, other molecular method like DNA barcoding is used. The current study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of morphological identification of insect pests using DNA barcoding. Morphologically, a total of 247 insect pests, representing 10 families, 18 genera, 22 species were identified. However, molecular identifications confirmed the presence of 11 families, 16 genera, and 20 species of agricultural pests. A total of 59 specimens were processed for DNA barcoding but genomic sequences of mt COI gene up to 600 bp were revived from 48 samples. Specimens that were misidentified through morphological studies were placed to their appropriate taxon, using this molecular approach. Results revealed the existence of clear barcode gap for different pest species. Moreover, the values of distance with the nearest neighbour recorded were higher than the maximum intra-sequence divergences for all species. It is concluded that DNA barcoding is a reliable technique for identification of agricultural pests, especially for immature stages when morphometric studies are ambiguous and will be helpful in the development of more effective pest management options for regulating pest species., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

In the present study, two common buthid scorpions, i.e., Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and Hottentota tamulus (Fabricus, 1798) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), were maintained in the laboratory for venom recovery. The aim of study was to compare the quantity and quality of venom extracted from scorpions by manual and electrical method. We also recorded the effect of diet and temperature on venom production. Results of our study revealed that electrical method yielded good quality and higher quantity of venom as compared to manual method. The quantity of venom by two studied species differed statistically. We recorded the effect of food on venom production by providing different prey items to the scorpions and found that grasshopper nymphs and adults were the best diet for the scorpions to get maximum yield of venom as compared to other prey types (house crickets, house flies, and moths). Production of venom and activity of scorpions was found to be associated with temperature. During winter season, venom recovery was comparatively low as compared to the hottest part of year; when venom milking and activity of scorpions both were increased.

Essential oils are produced as secondary metabolites by aromatic plants, predominantly belonging to families Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. The family Rutaceae has great economic importance for its numerous edible fruits and essential oils. In the present study, essential oils of seven plants of family Rutaceae, Aegle marmelos , Murraya koenigii , Citrus reticulata Blanco, Zanthoxylum armatum , Skimmia laureola , Murraya paniculata , and Boenninghausenia albiflora , were used for their toxicological assessment. Seven groups of selected essential oils-treated Wistar rats were established against control group ( n = 5) that received water for 14 days; animals were offered feed and water ad libitum and treated with essential oils at 400 mg/kg body weight. Hematological studies revealed significant elevation in TEC in animals treated with essential oils of M. koenigii , S. laureola , and B. albiflora , while an elevation in PCV and depletion in MCV were observed in animals treated with M. paniculata and B. albiflora , respectively. Serological investigations demonstrated significant depletion in triglycerides and elevation in blood sodium level in animals treated with essential oils of A. marmelos and C. reticulata Blanco . Boenninghausenia albiflora affected many markers including RBC, MCV, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, urea, and sodium. In conclusion, all oils except B. albiflora can be considered safe for internal use.

In recent years, DNA barcoding has become quite popular for molecular identification of species because it is simple, quick and an affordable method. Present study was conducted to identify spiders of most abundant families, i.e. Salticidae and Lycosidae from citrus orchards in Sargodha district using DNA barcoding. A total of 160 specimens were subjected to DNA barcoding but, sequences up to 600 bp were recovered for 156 specimens. This molecular approach proved helpful to assign the exact taxon to those specimens which were misidentified through morphological characters in the study. We were succeeded to discriminate six species of Lycosidae and nine species of Salticidae through DNA barcoding. Results revealed the presence of clear barcode gap (discontinuity in intra- and inter-specific divergences) for members of both families. Furthermore, the maximum intra-specific divergence was less than NN (nearest neighbour) distance for all species. This suggested the reliability of DNA barcoding for spider's identification up to species level. We got 98% success in our study. It is concluded from present study that DNA barcoding is more reliable tool especially for immature spiders, when morphological characters are ambiguous.

Genetic diversity in cytochrome c oxidase I (coxI) among 7 species of Anopheles mosquitoes from Pakistan, and 37 species from different geographical regions of the world, was recorded. Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) analysis revealed a clear gap between intraspecific and interspecific distances of 7 species from Pakistan. However, genetic distances of 37 Anopheles species failed to adequately differentiate species in a global context. Intraspecific and interspecific divergences for 7 Anopheles species of Pakistan varied from 0.0% to 2.5% (mean = 0.49%) and 8% to 22.3% (mean = 12.77%), respectively. Similarly, intraspecific distances for 37 species from different parts of world ranged from 0.0% to 11.2% (mean = 0.65%) while values of interspecific divergences ranged from 3.4% to 35% (mean = 11.75%). Although phylogenetic tree revealed separate clades for 7 Anopheles species of Pakistan, it failed to produce separate clades for 37 species of the world. It is concluded that although standard barcode region is helpful for identifying Anopheles mosquitoes, combination of multi-locus approaches and morphology may be required to accurately identify species in this genus.

Elevated levels of insecticides detoxifying enzymes, such as esterases, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, act in the resistance mechanisms in insects. In the present study, levels of these enzymes in the insecticide-resistant ground spider Pardosa sumatrana (Thorell, 1890) were compared with a susceptible population (control) of the same species. Standard protocols were used for biochemical estimation of enzymes. The results showed significantly higher levels of nonspecific esterases and monooxygenases in resistant spiders compared to controls. The activity of GSTs was lower in the resistant spiders. Elevated levels of nonspecific esterases and monooxygenases suggest their role in metabolic resistance in P. sumatrana. The reduced levels of total protein contents revealed its possible consumption to meet energy demands., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The genetic diversity of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito based on the standard barcode region of cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene fragment was studied in the present study. The COI gene sequences of Cx. quinquefasciatus were also compared with four other species of Genus Culex (i.e. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. pipiens, and Cx. theileri). Our data set included sequences of Culex mosquitoes from 16 different countries of world. The average intraspecific and interspecific divergences recorded were 0.67% and 8.27%, respectively. The clades for five species were clearly separated except Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pipiens. It is concluded that the DNA barcoding is effective and reliable tool for the identification of selected Culex species but create little problem in case of sister species.

The impact of elevated blood lead level on some haematological parameters was studied in the field force of Lahore traffic police, in Pakistan. The blood samples were tested for total leucocytes count (TLC) and differential leucocytes count in the persons with high and low blood lead levels. The TLC and percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils were observed as being significantly elevated in the policemen. No significant change was observed in the percentage of lymphocytes, while the percentage of monocytes was observed as being significantly less in the field force of traffic police., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

Background: Prescription of antimalarial drugs in the absence of malarial disease is a common practice in countries where malaria is endemic. However, unwarranted use of such drugs can cause side effects in some people and is a financial drain on local economies. In this study, we surveyed the prevalence of malaria parasites in humans, and the prevalence of the malaria transmitting mosquito vectors in the study area. We also investigated the use of antimalarial drugs in the local people. We focused on randomly selected rural areas of eastern Pakistan where no malaria cases had been reported since May 2004., Methods: Mass blood surveys, active case detection, passive case detection, and vector density surveys were carried out in selected areas of Sargodha district from September 2008 to August 2009. Data pertaining to the quantities and types of antimalarial drugs used in these areas were collected from health centers, pharmacies, and the district CDC program of the Health Department of the Government of the Punjab., Results: Seven hundred and forty four blood samples were examined, resulting in a Blood Examination Rate (BER) of 3.18; microscopic analysis of blood smears showed that none of the samples were positive for malaria parasites. Investigation of the mosquito vector density in 43 living rooms (bedrooms or rooms used for sleeping), 23 stores, and 32 animal sheds, revealed no vectors capable of transmitting malaria in these locations. In contrast, the density of Culex mosquitoes was high. Substantial consumption of a variety of antimalarial tablets, syrups, capsules and injections costing around 1000 US$, was documented for the region., Conclusion: Use of antimalarial drugs in the absence of malarial infection or the vectors that transmit the disease was common in the study area. Continuous use of such drugs, not only in Pakistan, but in other parts of the world, may lead to drug-induced side effects amongst users. Better training of health care professionals is needed to ensure accurate diagnoses of malaria and appropriate prescription of antimalarial drugs delivered to communities.