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Endophytic fungi are very prolific organisms associated with a wide range of host plants. Although they contribute to tolerance of their hosts against environmental stress, their role in response of plants to metal toxicity has not been thoroughly illuminated. Therefore, in this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from Convolvulus arvensis and their potential to bioremediate heavy metals from liquid media was assessed. Furthermore, the effect of the endophytic fungi on heavy metal tolerance, accumulation, and translocation by host plants were evaluated. The results revealed that Fusarium falciforme (MW898136) and Fusarium sp. (MW898137) possess a significant ability for bio-removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions as their tolerance indexes were >1. The bioaccumulation capacity reached 276.5 and 101.6 μg/g with bioremediation percentages of 82.4% and 76.5%, respectively. Fusarium falciforme (MW898136) filtrates, in the presence of cadmium, stimulated the growth of Triticum aestivum, and dramatically decreased cadmium bioaccumulation from 30.18 to 7.06 μg/g. The presence of F. falciforme (MW898136) in cadmium-stressed soil assisted Phaseolus vulgaris to produce more biomass, uptake higher amounts of cadmium by roots, and decreased the translocation of cadmium from roots to shoots. These results suggest that F. falciforme (MW898136) has the ability to immobilize cadmium and decrease its bioavailability in both liquid media and soil through absorption and/or accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality animal protein, vitamins B1, B6, and B12, as well as minerals like zinc, selenium, and iron, can all be found in buffalo meat and milk. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely utilized for many years because of their long duration of action, low cost, and toxicity against a variety of pests. Despite being outlawed everywhere, OCPs are still being used illegally. One of the main responsibilities of the food safety and public health sectors is to guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of such food products before they are made available to the public. In order to determine the residual OCP contents in retailed buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese, this study was conducted. The obtained results in the current investigation revealed the detection of OCPs at 75%, 40%, 25%, 60%, and 80% in the examined buffalo raw milk, kariesh cheese, meat, kidneys, and liver. Different OCPs were detected at variable concentrations; however, such concentrations were within the established permissible limits in Egypt. In conclusion, OCPs are still in use in Egyptian agricultural activities and residual concentrations can be detected in the meat, offal, and dairies. Therefore, it is highly advised to continuously check for OCP residues in foods with both animal and plant origins. Additionally, it is strongly advised that farmers become more aware of the negative consequences of OCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study targeted developing a novel Zinc oxide with alpha hematite nanoflowers (NFs)-loaded bee venom (Bv) (Bv-ZnO@αFe2O3 NFs) as a bio-natural product from bees to combine both the advantages of combination magnetic properties and the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties on isolated coliform bacteria from the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. About 24 isolates of treated wastewater isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). The phylogenetic grouping of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia) showed that the largest group was Group A, followed by Group B2 and Group B1. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), The X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM− EDX) validated the coating operation's contact with Bv onto ZnO@αFe2O3 NFs. According to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), pattern analyses for prepared nanoformulations exhibited a spherical shape of αFe2O3 (~9–15 nm), and floral needle shapes with uniform distribution of size with aggregation of ZnOαFe2O3 and Bv-ZnO@αFe2O3 NFs around (~100–200 nm). The toxicity of Bv-ZnO@αFe2O3 NFs was comparable up to 125 µg mL−1, when it reached 64.79% (IC50, 107.18 µg mL−1). The antibacterial activity showed different zones of inhibition against different isolates. The biofilm inhibitory activity of NPs and NFs showed a highly significant reduction (p < 0.001) in treated biofilms with ZnO@αFe2O3 and Bv-ZnO@αFe2O3. In essence, ZnO@αFe2O3 and Bv-ZnO@αFe2O3 NFs are promising antimicrobials for inhibiting the growth and biofilm of MDR E. coli and K. pneumonia isolates, thereby, biocontrol of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella is one of the most common foodborne pathogens causing diseases in humans and animals. Increased resistance to antibiotics necessitates the need for an alternative control strategy. This study aimed to screen, isolate and evaluate the bacteriophage characteristics for biocontrol of pathogenic Salmonella serovars. Twelve Salmonella isolates, including different Salmonella enterica serovars, were obtained from different sources of poultry farms. All isolates were screened for antibiotic sensitivity and showed multiple antibiotic resistance. Two lytic bacteriophages, vB_SalSph_WW1, and vB_SalM_WW2, were isolated from the sewage and characterized against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Morphological analysis by transmission electron microscopy revealed that the vB_SalSph_WW1 phage belonged to the family Siphoviridae while the vB_SalM_WW2 phage belonged to the family Myoviridae. Both phages showed a broad host range within the Salmonella genus. Phages vB_SalSph_WW1 and vB_SalM_WW2 had a lytic effect on 3 (25%) and 4 (33.3%) of the 12 Salmonella isolates, respectively. The lytic cycle of each phage was determined by a onestep growth curve and both phages had the same short latent period (15 min). WW1 phage gave a burst size of 90 PFU/infected cell, while the vB_SalM_WW2 phage gave a higher burst size of 150 PFU/infected cell. The stability test revealed that vB_SalSph_WW1 and vB_SalM_WW2 phages were stable at pH 4-9 and pH 4-10, respectively. Both Phages exhibited high degrees of thermal tolerance with active titer as high as 42°C. However, they lost their stability and the titers declined when heated at 50°C for 30 min. This study revealed that vB_SalSph_WW1 and vB_SalM_WW2 phages have the potency to be used as an alternative strategy to control the infection of Salmonella in poultry farms and to prevent transmission of Salmonella infection to humans and spread of the pathogen into environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in the retailed meat and dairy products in Egypt was estimated. Calculation of estimated weekly intake (EWI) and health risks was followed. Results revealed detection of tested metals in all samples at variable concentrations with higher Pb and Cd than maximum permissible limits. However, the calculated EWI did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake established by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, calculation of the hazard ratio and index for mixed metal contaminants did not exceed one, indication that products consumption would not pose adverse effects on consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This work aimed to determine the occurrence, virulence, antibiogram, carbapenem resistance genes and susceptibility to disinfectants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from animals, environment and workers in intensive farms. Methods and Results: A total of 610 samples from intensive beef cattle and sheep farms in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt were screened for the presence of P. aeruginosa using bacteriological assays. The isolates were characterized by PCR and tested for susceptibility to antibiotics using disk diffusion method and disinfectants by quantitative suspension test. In all, 60 P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered in this study and all isolates harboured at least one of the virulence genes tested. Human P. aeruginosa isolates were highly resistant to cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, aminoglycosides, carbapenems and penicillins+β‐lactamase inhibitors than non‐human isolates. Colistin resistance was higher in non‐human than human P. aeruginosa isolates, whereas low resistance to aztreonam was observed in non‐human and human isolates. Carbapenem‐resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) strains were recovered from workers (56.5%), sheep (8.3%) and cattle (8.3%). All CRPA harboured at least one of the carbapenem resistance genes tested and most of them showed multidrug resistance (MDR) or extensive drug resistance (XDR) phenotypes. Glutaraldehyde 1% and hydrogen peroxide 3% eliminated P. aeruginosa completely in the absence and presence of organic matter within short contact time compared with other disinfectants. Conclusions: This study reported the occurrence of CRPA in animals and workers in intensive farms. Glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide were the most effective disinfectants against P. aeruginosa. Significance and Impact of the Study: The occurrence of CRPA in intensive livestock farms is a serious challenge that threatens animal and human health and increases the risk of P. aeruginosa infection in the community. Therefore, it is vital to control the spread of CRPA by banning or restricting the use of antibiotics and applying proper cleaning and disinfection protocols in livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study targeting the characterization of new lytic phages and studying their impact on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and growth in milk. Two lytic phages (vB_SauM_ME18 & vB_SauM_ME126) were isolated using 40 Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) S. aureus isolates. Four isolates (10%) were susceptible to phages. Phages were related to Family Myoviridae, had icosahedral heads and long contractile tails. The genome size is 20 kbp for both phages and DNA was digested with hinf I, hind III and hae III. Phages had a latent period (~15 min), rise period (~30 min) and burst size (114 PFU/infected cell for ME18 and 140 PFU/infected cell for ME126). There was a significant reduction in biofilm formation and reduction in the established biofilm biomass in phage treated S. aureus compared with controls (P < 0.05). Phages showed high activity and eliminated MDR S. aureus from ultra-heat-temperature treated milk at 25 °C. However, at 37 °C, ME126 (MOI10) eradicated S. aureus and ME18 (MOI10) reduced the CFU/ml by 87.2% compared with controls (P < 0.05). In essence, lytic phages are promising natural antimicrobials for inhibiting the growth and biofilm of MDR S. aureus in milk, thereby, biocontrol of foodborne pathogens. • Lytic S. aureus phages with short latent period and high burst size were isolated. • Phages significantly reduced biofilm formation and the established biofilm biomass. • Both phages reduced S. aureus growth in UHT whole milk after 2–6 h incubation. • Phages are promising for controlling MDR S. aureus biofilm on food-contact surfaces. • Phages are valuable antibiotics alternatives for biocontrol of foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]