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Background: There is high incidence of nosocomial in developing countries and the bacteria responsible are becoming more resistant to commercially available antibiotics, hence, the need for this research. Methods: Isolation and identification of microorganisms from different wards of Ilara-Mokin health centers was done using standard methods. The bacteria isolated were identified and subjected to susceptibility test using four extracts and standard antibiotics for comparative study. Results: A high bacterial load of 52.00 ± 3.46 cfu/ml obtained was from the toilet in maternity ward, while the least bacterial load of 2.67 ± 0.67 cfu/ml was obtained from the floor of the male ward. A total of twelve (12) bacteria were isolated and identified, while nine (9) fungi were equally isolated and identified. The susceptibility of the bacteria isolates to ethanol extracts of castor, garlic, beniseed and bitter cola showed that garlic extract is most effective on the isolates having the highest diameter of zone of inhibition, Bacillus licheniformis with a diameter of 18.20±2.05 mm. Conclusion: The garlic ethanol extract was the most effective on the isolates while Pseudomonas was the most unsusceptible to all the extracts. The extracts tested in this work comparatively exceeded the potency of antibiotics, however, the Gram-negative bacteria are not very susceptible to the extracts. Therefore, these extracts can be used in development of novel antibiotics, especially to help curb resistance of pathogenic microorganisms implicated in nosocomial infections.

Inoculations of plant roots with arbuscular mycorrhizae can reduce Verticillium wilt severity. In present research, the effect of inoculation of Verticillium dahliae (Vd) and three species of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis and Claroideoglomus tunicate were studied on the activity of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the root of Ahmad Aghaei and Badami Zarand pistachio rootstocks. The roots of the pistachio seedlings were inoculated with 100 propagules per gram of three species arbuscular mycorrhizae and two months later, Verticillium dahliae was inoculated. Measurement of enzyme activity was done after V. dahliae inoculation at 11 different times. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with 5 replications. The results showed that in Vd treatment, the specific activity of enzymes in Ahmad Aghaei decreased after an increasing period in days 8 to 12 after vd inoculation, then decreased less than AM inoculations, but in Badami Zarand, the activity of enzymes increased in a (days 8-16) and after that, despite the decreasing trend, it was still higher than AM treatment. In AM+Vd treatment, enzyme activity increased faster in both pistachio rootstocks compared to other treatments. In Badami Zarand, the time of the enzymes, peak activity was longer than in Ahmad Aghaei rootstocks. In general, the results of the present research indicated that increasing antioxidant enzyme activity can reduce the severity of Verticillium wilt in pistachio seedlings.

Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, also known as yellow rust, is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens in wheat-growing areas. Controlling this disease requires various techniques, such as chemical applications or developing resistant genotypes. The selection process of the lines is one of the most important steps in wheat breeding programs. Slow-rusting parameters are good indicators of resistance to rust and are useful in the selection of the genotypes with rust resistance. In this study, 787 durum and bread wheat genotypes were evaluated in the seedling stage and adult plant trials in the field during three growing seasons. They were evaluated through two slow rusting components: final rust severity (FRS), area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC).. Based on the seedling stage reactions, 575 genotypes were sown in the field to assess their adult plant reactions in 2021. Of these genotypes, 5.39% (31 genotype) were found to be very resistant, resistant, or moderately resistant. Thirty onegenotypes were screened under field conditions during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons for verification. Fifteen genotypes (48.38%) have shown a high slow yellow rusting rate in both seasons. Results from this study will help breeders in developing yellow rust-resistant genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus, a conifer, dominates the world's forest ecosystems. But it is seriously infected with pine wood nematode (PWN). Transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators in regulating plant resistance. However, the molecular mechanism of TFs remains thus far unresolved in P. thunbergii inoculated with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Here, we used RNA-seq technology to identify differentially expressed TFs in resistant and susceptible pines. The results show that a total of 186 differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs), including 99 upregulated and 87 downregulated genes were identified. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment showed that the highly enriched differentially expressed TFs were responsible for secondary biosynthetic processes. According to KEGG pathway analysis, the differentially expressed TFs were related to chaperones and folding catalysts, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Many TFs such as NAC, LBD, MYB, bHLH, and WRKY were determined to be quite abundant in the DETFs. Moreover, the NAC transcription factor PtNAC9 was upregulated in PWN-resistant and susceptible P. thunbergii and especially distinctly upregulated in resistant pines. By purifying recombinant PtNAC9 protein in vitro, we found that overexpression of PtNAC9 at the early stage of B. xylophilus infection could reduce the degree of disease. We also demonstrated the content of salicylic acid (SA) and the related genes were increased in the PtNAC9 protein-treated plants. These results could be helpful in enhancing our understanding of the resistance mechanism underlying different resistant pine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional effectiveness of the treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen with intravitreal (IV) aflibercept treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients who responded anatomically poorly after three doses of IV bevacizumab injection. Methods: This observational, single-center, real-life study included adults aged at least 50 years with treatment-naïve nAMD and a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between 25 and 75 Early Treatment of Diabetes Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter scores. Three loading doses of IV bevacizumab were administered to all patients, and patients with an anatomical poor response after three loading doses were included in the study. All patients received three doses of IV aflibercept and treatment was continued with the TAE regimen. The primary endpoint was the mean change in BCVA from baseline to week 52. Results: Thirty-six (48.6%) women and 38 (51.4%) men participated in this study, and the average age was 74.4±8.4 years. ETDRS letter gains were 5.5, 9.6, and 13.8 at weeks 12, 24, and 52, respectively. At week 52, a gain of 15 letters or more was detected in 34 of the patients (45.9%). The anatomical gains were 72.3 µm, 94.3 µm, and 116.7 µm at 12, 24, and 52 weeks, respectively. The mean number of injections performed was 8.2. The mean final interval was 8.8 weeks. The proportion of patients with 12 weeks or more between treatments was 16/74 (21.6%). Conclusion: In treatment-naïve nAMD patients refractory to bevacizumab, IV aflibercept administered using the TAE regimen improved and maintained functional and anatomical outcomes for 52 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is high incidence of nosocomial in developing countries and the bacteria responsible are becoming more resistant to commercially available antibiotics, hence, the need for this research. Methods: Isolation and identification of microorganisms from different wards of Ilara-Mokin health centers was done using standard methods. The bacteria isolated were identified and subjected to susceptibility test using four extracts and standard antibiotics for comparative study. Results: A high bacterial load of 52.00 ± 3.46 cfu/ml obtained was from the toilet in maternity ward, while the least bacterial load of 2.67 ± 0.67 cfu/ml was obtained from the floor of the male ward. A total of twelve (12) bacteria were isolated and identified, while nine (9) fungi were equally isolated and identified. The susceptibility of the bacteria isolates to ethanol extracts of castor, garlic, beniseed and bitter cola showed that garlic extract is most effective on the isolates having the highest diameter of zone of inhibition, Bacillus licheniformis with a diameter of 18.20±2.05 mm. Conclusion: The garlic ethanol extract was the most effective on the isolates while Pseudomonas was the most unsusceptible to all the extracts. The extracts tested in this work comparatively exceeded the potency of antibiotics, however, the Gram-negative bacteria are not very susceptible to the extracts. Therefore, these extracts can be used in development of novel antibiotics, especially to help curb resistance of pathogenic microorganisms implicated in nosocomial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background “Regeneration time” (RT) denotes the time required to obtain a stable mortality rate for mosquitoes exposed to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) after three consecutive washes of a net in a day. The RT informs the wash interval used to artificially age ITNs to simulate their lifetime performance under user conditions (20 washes). RT was estimated following World Health Organization (WHO) longitudinal method (LM) procedures. Longitudinal evaluation may introduce heterogeneity due to mosquito batch variability, complicating RT determination. To overcome this, nets at each stage of regeneration (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days post wash) were prepared in advance and refrigerated; then, a complete regeneration series was tested with a single mosquito batch on 1 testing day, completing four series over 4 days. This study compared the complete series method (CSM) against the LM. Methods The overall heterogeneity in the methods for estimating RT of one incorporated alpha-cypermethrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and one incorporated permethrin with PBO ITNs was determined using laboratory-reared resistant Anopheles arabiensis under standard laboratory conditions. LM methods and CSM were compared in two experiments with refrigerated nets acclimated for (i) 2 h (test 1) and (ii) 3 h (test 2). Four regeneration replicates per day were tested per ITN product with 50 mosquitoes exposed per replicate (equivalent sample size to LM). The heterogeneity from these methods was compared descriptively. Results The intra-method variability for unwashed pieces was minimal, with variance of 1.26 for CSM and 1.18 for LM. For unwashed nets, LM had substantially greater variance and ratio of LM:CSM was 2.66 in test 1 and 2.49 in test 2. The magnitude of mortality measured in bioassays depended on sample acclimation after refrigeration. Conclusions The CSM is a convenient method for determining the regeneration times. ITNs are prepared in advance, reducing pressure to prepare all samples to start on a single day. A complete regeneration series of samples is removed from the refrigerator, defrosted and evaluated on a single day with one mosquito batch reducing the influence of mosquito batch heterogeneity on results. Replicates can be conducted over several days but do not have to be conducted on consecutive days, allowing easy facility scheduling. Graphical Abstract

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rapeseed Brassica napus is one of the oilseed plants of interest to farmers in Iran. Cabbage waxy aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is one of the important pests of rapeseed all of the world and one of the main methods to protect plants against aphids is using resistant genotypes. In order to evaluate the resistance of twenty-one canola genotypes to cabbage waxy aphid, a study was conducted (at 27.5 ± 2ºC, 60 ± 10% RH, 14L: 10D) under greenhouse conditions. To evaluate canola genotypes antibiosis, the genotypes were planted in pots in 10 replications based on a completely random design. Net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic increase rate (rm), finite increase rate (λ), mean generation time (T), doubling time (D) of the cabbage waxy aphid, and pre-mature period length were calculated in greenhouse conditions. The results of the variance analysis of studied data showed statistically significant difference at least at the probability level of five percentage (P ≤0.05). The intrinsic increase rate of cabbage aphid population on Geronimo and Okapi genotypes had the highest and lowest values of 0.287 and 0.215 (female/female/day), respectively. Okapi and Geronimo genotypes had the lowest (16.5 female/female/generation) and the highest net reproductive rate of cabbage aphid (36.75 female/female/generation), respectively. In this experiment, Geronimo was observed as the most sensitive and Opera and Okapi as the most resistant genotypes in comparison with other experimental genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is poor for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a paclitaxel and ifosfamide (TI) regimen in patients with R/M HNSCC whose disease had progressed following platinum-based therapy. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 53 patients with R/M HNSCC who underwent at least one cycle of TI-based therapy, post platinum failure, between February 2020 and August 2023. Some patients received the TI regimen in combination with immunotherapy and/or cetuximab. Key metrics assessed included the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate, and progression-free as well as overall survival. Results: The study observed an ORR of 15.8% and a disease control rate of 36.8%. The median progression-free survival for the entire cohort was 3.3 months, and the median overall survival was 9.6 months. Notably, the combination of TI with immunotherapy yielded a higher ORR of 30.8%, compared to 14.3% with TI alone. The most prevalent grade 1-2 adverse events were anemia (81%), weight loss (68%) and hypernatremia (55%). Conclusion: The TI-based regimen demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profile in treating R/M HNSCC. Enhanced outcomes may be attainable when combining it with immunotherapy. This study suggests that TI-based therapy could serve as a potential salvage option for this specific patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agri: Journal of the Turkish Society of Algology / Türk Algoloji (Ağrı) Derneği'nin Yayın Organıdır is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the physical, chemical, technological, and digestibility of three sorghum cultivars (Mucuvea, Otela, and Tocole) and compared them to a Local variety (criola) grown in Mozambique. Thousand‐grain weight, hectolitre weight, and colour were determined in the grains. Proximal composition, antinutritional factors, starch and protein digestibility, and antioxidant activity were analysed in flours; starch was isolated and characterised by its physical, chemical, morphological, and digestibility properties. The grain characterisation varied among the cultivars compared to the Local variety, but not between the cultivars. The cultivars showed lower amounts of protein, lipids, free phenolics, tannin, soluble protein, digestibility of starch flour and proteins, and higher flavonoids and antioxidant activity. A high content of amylose (~37%), glycaemic index (~82), Tp (64.83 °C), and resistant starch (57.73%) were verified in all cultivars. The peak viscosity of Local variety was higher (343.25 RVU) than the other cultivars, while the breakdown (less than 106.54 RVU) of the cultivars was significantly lower than Local (182.25 RVU). Such data suggest great potential use of Local variety in bakery products and the cultivars in products that require greater viscosity. These results will reinforce the research, production, and manufacture of new products in Africa, especially in sorghum‐producing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Regeneration time" (RT) denotes the time required to obtain a stable mortality rate for mosquitoes exposed to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) after three consecutive washes of a net in a day. The RT informs the wash interval used to artificially age ITNs to simulate their lifetime performance under user conditions (20 washes). RT was estimated following World Health Organization (WHO) longitudinal method (LM) procedures. Longitudinal evaluation may introduce heterogeneity due to mosquito batch variability, complicating RT determination. To overcome this, nets at each stage of regeneration (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days post wash) were prepared in advance and refrigerated; then, a complete regeneration series was tested with a single mosquito batch on 1 testing day, completing four series over 4 days. This study compared the complete series method (CSM) against the LM. Methods: The overall heterogeneity in the methods for estimating RT of one incorporated alpha-cypermethrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and one incorporated permethrin with PBO ITNs was determined using laboratory-reared resistant Anopheles arabiensis under standard laboratory conditions. LM methods and CSM were compared in two experiments with refrigerated nets acclimated for (i) 2 h (test 1) and (ii) 3 h (test 2). Four regeneration replicates per day were tested per ITN product with 50 mosquitoes exposed per replicate (equivalent sample size to LM). The heterogeneity from these methods was compared descriptively. Results: The intra-method variability for unwashed pieces was minimal, with variance of 1.26 for CSM and 1.18 for LM. For unwashed nets, LM had substantially greater variance and ratio of LM:CSM was 2.66 in test 1 and 2.49 in test 2. The magnitude of mortality measured in bioassays depended on sample acclimation after refrigeration. Conclusions: The CSM is a convenient method for determining the regeneration times. ITNs are prepared in advance, reducing pressure to prepare all samples to start on a single day. A complete regeneration series of samples is removed from the refrigerator, defrosted and evaluated on a single day with one mosquito batch reducing the influence of mosquito batch heterogeneity on results. Replicates can be conducted over several days but do not have to be conducted on consecutive days, allowing easy facility scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to study the adaptive ability to drought of collection varieties of cotton of the species G.hirsutum L. and G.barbadense L. with subsequent assessment of the technological properties of the fiber. An analysis of stress-depression of seed germination in a sucrose solution was used as an indicator of plant resistance to drought. The technological properties of the fiber were analyzed using the HVI (High Volume Instrument) electronic system in accordance with the unified international classification. It was established that, with the same intensity of the extreme factor, varieties of the same type of cotton differed significantly in the amplitude of changes in the physiological indicator, which made it possible to identify drought-resistant samples. Varieties Agdash-3, Ganja-2, AF-16, Karabakh-11, Zafar, Akala 1517 of the species G.hirsutum L. and varieties S-6002, 5230-V, Aspero, S-6022, AP-154, Agdash-21, Termez-74 of the species G. barbadense L. were characterized by drought resistance. All drought-resistant varieties of the species G. barbadense L. are characterized by a complex of positive fiber quality indicators. The variety Zafar within the species G.hirsutum L. was superior to other genotypes in this indicator. These cotton varieties are recommended to breeders for use in various breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Antimicrobial resistance increasingly impacts paediatric mortality, particularly in resource-constrained settings. We aimed to evaluate the susceptibility profiles of bacteria causing infections in children from the Western Pacific region. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of bacteria responsible for common infections in children. We included studies published from January 2011 to December 2023 (PROSPERO CRD42021248722). Pooled susceptibilities were evaluated against empiric antibiotics recommended to treat common clinical syndromes. Findings: Fifty-one papers met inclusion criteria, incorporating 18,330 bacterial isolates. Of available published data, only six countries from the region were represented. Escherichia coli revealed a pooled susceptibility to ampicillin of 17% (95% CI 12–23%, n = 3292), gentamicin 63% (95% CI 59–67%, n = 3956), and third-generation cephalosporins 59% (95% CI 49–69%, n = 3585). Susceptibility of Klebsiella spp. to gentamicin was 71% (95% CI 61–80%, n = 2323), third-generation cephalosporins 35% (95% CI 22–49%, n = 2076), and carbapenems 89% (95% CI 78–97%, n = 2080). Pooled susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to flucloxacillin was 72% (95% CI 58–83%, n = 1666), and susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis isolates to ampicillin was 26% (95% CI 11–44%, n = 375), and 63% (95% CI 40–84%, n = 246) to third-generation cephalosporins. Interpretation: The burden of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria responsible for common infections in children across the Western Pacific region is significant, and the currently recommended World Health Organization antibiotics to treat these infections may be inefficacious. Strategies to improve the availability of high-quality data to understand the burden of antimicrobial resistance in the region are necessary. Funding: The study was supported by an Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant. This research was funded in part by the Wellcome Trust [220211/Z/20/Z]. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.

Edwardsiella tarda is frequently isolated from aquatic animals and environments. While human infections caused by E. tarda are rare, some extraintestinal infections can be severe. This case report describes a patient with cellulitis of the right upper extremity of unknown origin. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) indicated that the patient was infected with E. tarda. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolate was resistant to quinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The isolate, positive for four virulence genes (fimA, gadB, mukF, and sodB), was confirmed to be virulent using the Galleria mellonella larvae model. Following early pus drainage and a 9-day course of imipenem, the patient ultimately recovered. This case report aimed to illustrate the presentation, diagnosis, and management of uncommon cellulitis caused by drug-resistant, virulent E. tarda.

Background and Objectives: The capability to cause invasive infection, multi-drug resistance, and health care-associated outbreaks of Candida auris have made it a pathogen of great concern. Estimating how many patients in our intensive care unit had C. auris colonization and what characteristics put patients at risk for having Candida spp. colonization were the primary goals of the study. Materials and Methods: Swabs from axilla and groin were collected from 229 patients getting admitted to the ICU. Samples were inoculated into CHROMagarTM Candida Plus medium. Colonies presumptively identified as C. auris by the presence of light blue with blue halo and were confirmed by VITEK-2. Results: Our study showed that only one patient was colonized with C. auris. A total of 47 (20.5%) patients were colonized with Candida spp., of which Candida parapislosis was the predominant organism. History of antibiotic use and cerebrovascular accident were independent risk factors in Candida colonization. Conclusion: Active screening for Candida auris in all patients is not required in our hospital as the prevalence was very low and not cost-effective. Therefore we plan to modify our screening strategy and use risk factors based surveillance strategy as it may serve as an ideal strategy.

The increasing use of antibiotics in food animal production systems has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant zoonotic bacteria that are transmissible to humans via the food chain. Infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria has a negative effect on public health due to the increasing frequency of treatment failure and severity of disease. The development of resistant bacteria in food animals can come through chromosomal changes, but is more frequently related with the horizontal transmission of resistance determinants carried by mobile genetic elements. Food may constitute a dynamic habitat for the continued transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants among bacteria.Existing food preservation strategies that rely on a combination of environmental factors to inhibit bacterial growth may exacerbate the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance among food-borne pathogens, resulting in treatment failure, increased mortality as well as increased treatment costs, decreased infection control efficacy, and the spread of resistant infections in the community.The rise of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has made the rising use of antibiotics a global concern. Food-producing animals are regarded reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and residual antibiotics that travel from the farm to the consumer's plate.Antibiotic resistance can develop in bacteria if leftover antibiotics are allowed to build up in the environment. Consequently, the possible impact of antibiotic usage in food-producing animals on food safety, as well as the risk of carrying and spreading antibiotic resistance through the food chain, is assessed in this review.This review also provides an in-depth analysis of possible antibiotic alternatives, including natural antibiotics, nano-antibiotics, lactic acid bacteria, bacteriocin, cyclopeptide, bacteriophage, synthetic biology, and predatory bacteria.

Abstract Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a widespread fungal pathogen responsible for significant crop losses across the globe. The challenge of breeding resistant varieties is exacerbated by the fungus's sophisticated pathogenic mechanisms. A pivotal factor in the host-pathogen interaction is the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within both the fungi and the host plants. However, there is currently no efficient strategy to leverage this interaction mechanism for developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Here, we introduce an engineered ROS scavenging system designated as syn-ROS for impairing ROS neutralization in S. sclerotiorum while concurrently fortifying it in the host. The syn-ROS system comprises gene silencing constructs targeting the S. sclerotiorum Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SsSOD) and its copper chaperone (SsCCS), alongside overexpression constructs for the Arabidopsis thaliana AtSOD1 and AtCCS. Transgenic plants carrying the syn-ROS system demonstrated a marked enhancement in resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Upon infection, the expression of SsSOD and SsCCS was reduced, while the expression of AtSOD1 and AtCCS was enhanced in syn-ROS transgenic plants. Moreover, the infected syn-ROS plants showed decreased Cu/Zn SOD enzyme activity and elevated ROS concentrations within the fungal cells. In contrast, the cells of A. thaliana manifested increased Cu/Zn SOD enzyme activity and lowered ROS levels. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel and promising approach for contriving plants with robust resistance by synthetically manipulating ROS scavenging activities in the interaction between the host and S. sclerotiorum.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a widespread fungal pathogen responsible for significant crop losses across the globe. The challenge of breeding resistant varieties is exacerbated by the fungus's sophisticated pathogenic mechanisms. A pivotal factor in the host-pathogen interaction is the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within both the fungi and the host plants. However, there is currently no efficient strategy to leverage this interaction mechanism for developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Here, we introduce an engineered ROS scavenging system designated as syn-ROS for impairing ROS neutralization in S. sclerotiorum while concurrently fortifying it in the host. The syn-ROS system comprises gene silencing constructs targeting the S. sclerotiorum Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SsSOD) and its copper chaperone (SsCCS), alongside overexpression constructs for the Arabidopsis thaliana AtSOD1 and AtCCS. Transgenic plants carrying the syn-ROS system demonstrated a marked enhancement in resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Upon infection, the expression of SsSOD and SsCCS was reduced, while the expression of AtSOD1 and AtCCS was enhanced in syn-ROS transgenic plants. Moreover, the infected syn-ROS plants showed decreased Cu/Zn SOD enzyme activity and elevated ROS concentrations within the fungal cells. In contrast, the cells of A. thaliana manifested increased Cu/Zn SOD enzyme activity and lowered ROS levels. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel and promising approach for contriving plants with robust resistance by synthetically manipulating ROS scavenging activities in the interaction between the host and S. sclerotiorum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combination of chidamide and anti‐PD‐L1 inhibitor produce synergistic anti‐tumor effect in advanced NSCLC patients resistant to anti‐PD‐1 treatment. However, the effect of chidamide plus envafolimab has not been reported. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chidamide plus envafolimab in advanced NSCLC patients resistant toanti‐PD‐1 treatment. Materials and Methods: Eligible advanced NSCLC patients after resistant to anti‐PD‐1 therapy received chidamide and envafolimab. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). The secondary end points included disease control rate (DCR), progression‐free survival (PFS), and safety. The expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), PD‐L1, and blood TMB (bTMB) was also analyzed. Results: After a median follow‐up of 8.1 (range: 7.6–9.2) months, only two patients achieved partial response. The ORR was 6.7% (2/30), DCR was 50% (15/30), and median PFS (mPFS) was 3.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.9–5.5) months. Biomarker analysis revealed that patients with high‐level HDAC2 expression had numerically superior ORR (4.3% vs. 0), DCR (52.2% vs. 0) and mPFS (3.7 vs. 1.4m). Patients with negative PD‐L1 had numerically superior DCR (52.2% vs. 33.3%) and mPFS (3.7m vs. 1.8m), so were those with low‐level bTMB (DCR: 59.1% vs. 16.7%, mPFS: 3.8 vs.1.9m). Overall safety was controllable. Discussion: High HDAC2patients showed better ORR, DCR, and PFS. In addition, patient with negative PD‐L1 and low‐level bTMB had better DCR and PFS. This may be related to the epigenetic function of chidamide. However, the sample size was not big enough, so it is necessary to increase sample size to confirm the conclusion. Conclusion: Combination of chidamide and envafolimab showed efficacy signals in certain NSCLC patients. But further identification of beneficial population is necessary for precision treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The dramatic increase in in-vitro resistance of antimicrobial agents, particularly beta-lactams and macrolides, makes pneumococcal infections difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to describe the drug resistance rate, assess the prevalence of macrolide- resistant genes and review the clinical complications of pneumococcal infections among patients presented to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. All S. pneumoniae isolates collected from clinical specimens within a 1-year period were subjected to selected antimicrobial susceptibility testing using E-test strips. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was conducted to detect macrolide-resistant determinants. The patient's clinical data were obtained from clinical notes. Results: A total of 113 patients with a positive growth of S. pneumoniae were included in the study. The most common predisposing factors among them were bronchopulmonary diseases (15.9%). The penicillin-resistant rate was 7.1%, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 0.012 µg/mL and >32 µg/mL, and the erythromycin-resistant rate was 26.5%, with a MIC range of 0.03 µg/mL--> 256 µg/mL. Most of the erythromycin-resistant isolates were found to have the mef(A) gene (50.4%) and the erm(B) gene (20%); 16.7% had a combination of genes mef(A) and erm(B), and 13.3% had none of the two genes. Community-acquired pneumonia is the predominant type of pneumococcal infection. There was no significant association between the presence of macrolide resistance determinants and mortality (P = 0.837) or complications (P > 0.999 for empyema and cardiac complication; P = 0.135 for subdural abscess). Conclusion: The majority of erythromycin-resistant isolates were found to have the mef(A) gene, followed by the erm(B) gene and a combination of genes mef(A) and erm(B). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascochyta rabiei. (aka. Ascochyta blight of chickpea) is among the most devastating fungal pathogens in chickpea-growing areas. One of the main goals of the breeding programs is to improve the resistance of newly developed commercial cultivars to this pathogen. The resistance of 18 chickpea cultivars and 27 chickpea lines (developed under the chickpea breeding program in Turkey) was evaluated against Pathotype IV of Ascochyta rabiei, the most aggressive pathotype found in Turkey. All genotypes were tested under greenhouse conditions. Significant differences were found among the genotypes (α = 0.05). The response of the genotypes were grouped as resistant, moderately resistant, susceptible and highly susceptible with the percentage of 31.2%, 37.7%, 20% and 11.1%, respectively. The outputs of this study could be used for the development of new chickpea cultivars and varieties through breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Resistant keratitis is a difficult situation faced every day in ophthalmology clinics. Resistance to healing may be attributed to many factors. Many adjunctive agents are widely used in a trial to accelerate healing and to prevent resistance to eliminate the chance of development of disabling complications. Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topical insulin, autologous serum, and honey-based eye drops as adjunctive therapies in resistant corneal ulcers. Patients and methods This prospective study investigated 45 eyes of infected keratitis not responding to culture-based medical treatment for 2 weeks. The eyes were divided into three groups each of 15 eyes. The insulin group was treated with topical insulin drops, the serum group with autologous serum drops, and the honey group with honey-based drops. Culture-based medical treatment was also continued in the three groups till complete healing was achieved. The results of the three groups were compared regarding the time needed for healing and best-corrected visual acuity outcome. Results Best-corrected visual acuity improved by one or more lines in 11 (73.33%) cases in the insulin group, in 10 (66.67%) cases in the serum group, and in nine (60%) cases in the honey group, with no statistically significant difference (χ2=1.525, P=0.822). Healing occurred in 14–28 days in 12 (80%) cases in the insulin group, in 13 (86.67%) cases in the serum group, and in 10 (66.67%) cases in the honey group, with no statistically significant difference (χ2=1.8, P=0.407). The remaining cases in each group required amniotic membrane transplantation due to thinning. Conclusion The effects of topical insulin, autologous serum, and honey-based eye drops, when used as adjunctive methods added to the culture-based medical therapy in the management of resistant corneal ulcers, were comparable. Autologous serum gave slightly higher effect than topical insulin and honey-based eye drops but the difference was statistically insignificant.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation are increasingly significant public health concerns. This study aimed to examine the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of carbon dots (C-dots) alone and in combination with antibiotics against biofilm-forming isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: The antibacterial property of C-dots was investigated by broth microdilution method against ATCC PAO1 and P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. The antibacterial effect of the C-dots and ciprofloxacin combination was investigated using the checkerboard method. The antibiofilm effect of the C-dots alone and its combination with ciprofloxacin was evaluated using the microtiter plate method. Subsequently, the toxicity of each agent was tested on L929 fibroblast cells. In the end, the effects of C-dots on the expression levels of pslA, pelA, and ppyR genes were determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: The combination of C-dots and ciprofloxacin exhibited a synergistic effect. Additionally, this compound substantially decreased bacterial growth (P < 0.0001) and inhibited biofilm formation at MIC (96 µg/mL) and sub-MIC (48 µg/mL) concentrations (P < 0.0053, P < 0.01). After being exposed to C-dots at a concentration of 1mg/mL for 24 hours, the survival rate of L929 cells was 87.3%. The expression of genes pslA, pelA, and ppyR, associated with biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa, was significantly reduced upon exposure to C-dots (P < 0.0023). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate a promising new treatment method for infections. Furthermore, reducing the dosage of antibiotics can lead to an improvement in the toxic effects caused by dose-dependent antibiotics and antimicrobial activity.

ABSTRACT: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) has spread worldwide and causes serious problems in the cattle industry owing to the lack of effective treatments and vaccines. Bovine leukemia virus is transmitted via horizontal and vertical infection, and cattle with high BLV proviral load (PVL), which is a useful index for estimating disease progression and transmission risk, are considered major infectious sources within herds. The PVL strongly correlates with highly polymorphic bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3 alleles. The BoLA-DRB3*015:01 and *012:01 alleles are known susceptibility-associated markers related to high PVL, and cattle with susceptible alleles may be at a high risk of BLV transmission via direct contact with healthy cows. In contrast, the BoLA-DRB3*009:02 and *014:01:01 alleles comprise resistant markers associated with the development of low PVL, and cattle with resistant alleles may be low-risk spreaders for BLV transmission and disrupt the BLV transmission chain. However, whether polymorphisms in BoLA-DRB3 are useful for BLV eradication in farms remains unknown. Here, we conducted a validation trial of the integrated BLV eradication strategy to prevent new infection by resistant cattle and actively eliminate susceptible cattle in addition to conventional BLV eradication strategies to maximally reduce the BLV prevalence and PVL using a total of 342 cattle at 4 stall-barn farms in Japan from 2017 to 2019. First, we placed the resistant milking cattle between the BLV-positive and BLV-negative milking cattle in a stall barn for 3 yr. Interestingly, the resistant cattle proved to be an effective biological barrier to successfully block the new BLV infections in the stall-barn system among all 4 farms. Concomitantly, we actively eliminated cattle with high PVL, especially susceptible cattle. Indeed, 39 of the 60 susceptible cattle (65%), 76 of the 140 neutral cattle (54%), and 20 of the 41 resistant cattle (48.8%) were culled on 4 farms for 3 years. Consequently, BLV prevalence and mean PVL decreased in all 4 farms. In particular, one farm achieved BLV-free status in May 2020. By decreasing the number of BLV-positive animals, the revenue-enhancing effect was estimated to be ¥5,839,262 ($39,292.39) for the 4 farms over 3 yr. Our results suggest that an integrated BLV eradication program utilization of resistant cattle as a biological barrier and the preferential elimination of susceptible cattle are useful for BLV infection control.

Abstract Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that has been linked to global disease outbreaks. These diseases include hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. It is vital to know the features that make this strain pathogenic to understand the development of disease outbreaks. In the current study, a comparative genomic analysis was carried out to determine the presence of structural and functional features of O157:H7 strains obtained from 115 National Center for Biotechnology Information database. These strains of interest were analysed in the following programs: BLAST Ring Image Generator, PlasmidFinder, ResFinder, VirulenceFinder, IslandViewer 4 and PHASTER. Five strains (ECP19–198, ECP19–798, F7508, F8952, H2495) demonstrated a great homology with Sakai because of a few regions missing. Five resistant genes were identified, however, Macrolide-associated resistance gene mdf(A) was commonly found in all genomes. Majority of the strains (97%) were positive for 15 of the virulent genes (espA, espB, espF, espJ, gad, chuA, eae, iss, nleA, nleB, nleC, ompT, tccP, terC and tir). The plasmid analysis demonstrated that the IncF group was the most prevalent in the strains analysed. The prophage and genomic island analysis showed a distribution of bacteriophages and genomic islands respectively. The results indicated that structural and functional features of the many O157:H7 strains differ and may be a result of obtaining mobile genetic elements via horizontal gene transfer. Understanding the evolution of O157:H7 strains pathogenicity in terms of their structural and functional features will enable the development of detection and control of transmission strategies.

Abstract Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), a valuable widely cultivated fruit, faces significant economic losses due to black spot disease caused by Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Keissl. Trihelix transcription factors (TFs) are crucial in regulating plant defense and autoimmunity. This study aimed to analyze the trihelix transcription factor (GT) genes within pear through genome-wide identification, phylogenetic, gene structure, synteny, and cis-acting elements analyses. Among the 31 trihelix genes, 28 were on 12 known chromosomes, while the remaining 3 were located on unknown chromosomes. These genes were categorized into five clades: SIP1, GTγ, GT1, GT2 and SH4, containing 7, 2, 9, 11 and 2 genes, respectively. Synteny analysis indicated eight duplicated gene pairs. Based on the expression pattern of PbGT genes in seven tissues from the database, the PbGT genes of the GT2 clade were selected for further investigation. The quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction confirmed that PbrGT5, PbrGT6, PbrGT15 and PbrGT16 correlated with black spot disease resistance. Notably, the salicylic acid (SA) treatment significantly upregulated the expression levels of PbrGT10, PbrGT13, PbrGT15 and PbrGT23. Among these, PbrGT15 showed the highest induction to both SA and black spot infection. Subcellular localization demonstrated that PbrGT15 functions as a nuclear protein. Virus-induced gene silencing of PbrGT15 increased pear plants' susceptibility to black spot disease, indicating its pivotal role in enhancing resistance. These results indicated that PbrGT15 positively regulated black spot disease resistance in pears.

Background: Resistant hypertension (HTN) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular complications. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of patients with resistant HTN. Methods: We screened 4340 consecutive cardiovascular patients hospitalized in our clinic and identified 3762 with HTN. Of them, 128 fulfilled criteria for resistant HTN and were included in our study. We matched these patients to 128 hospitalized patients with controlled HTN. Results: Resistant HTN patients comprised 3.4% of all hypertensive individuals. Most of these patients (67.2%) were at high or very high cardiovascular risk compared to controlled HTN patients (40.6%); p < 0001. Resistant HTN patients more commonly had concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) (60.9%), overweight/obesity (52.3%), dyslipidemias (35.2%), smoking (27.3%), and diabetes (21.9%) compared to controlled HTN patients (37.5%, 29.7%, 28.1%, 14.1%, and 7.8%, respectively); p < 0.001. Regression analysis showed the strongest association of resistant HTN with CKD (OR 6.64), stage III HTN (OR 3.07), and obesity/overweight (OR 2.60). In contrast, single-pill combinations (SPCs) were associated with a lower likelihood of uncontrolled HTN (OR 0.58). Conclusions: Resistant HTN represented a small proportion of all hypertensives in our study, but it was characterized by high/very high cardiovascular risk. Optimized therapy including increased use of SPCs could improve blood pressure control and long-term prognosis for these patients.

Sarah L Becker,1,&ast; Rose Velasco,2,&ast; Alex G Ortega-Loayza1 1Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; 2University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Alex G Ortega-Loayza, Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 S Bond Ave Building 1, 16th Floor, Portland, OR, 97239, USA, Tel +1 503-418-3376, Fax +1 503-494-6968, Email ortegalo@ohsu.eduAbstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, autoinflammatory disease leading to aseptic ulcers which carries a significant disease burden and is often difficult to treat, with many patients failing first-line treatment and requiring additional therapies. Such cases are typically referred to in the literature as “recalcitrant”, “refractory”, or “resistant”, though little is known about the clinical characteristics of such cases. We performed a narrative literature review to characterize patient demographics and clinical course associated with difficult to treat pyoderma gangrenosum cases in order to identify trends to guide future clinical management and therapeutic innovation. We identified 148 cases with clinical manifestations and associated patient demographics stratified by ulcer and patient features. Consistent with previous work, a greater prevalence of PG was observed among female patients and those with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, however interestingly despite an aggressive course to their PG, few patients had comorbidities complicating their disease course. Additionally, despite the requirement of three or more treatments for most patients’ disease to resolve, the majority healed within the typical window observed in previous clinical studies with low rates of recurrence. Biologics were the most common medication patients were on at time of remission. Collectively, our results suggest a potential benefit for a reduced threshold for biologic initiation in PG patients and a need for standardization of language in the field to facilitate treatment outcomes comparisons and interventions.Keywords: pyoderma gangrenosum, recalcitrant, refractory, resistant, biologics

Mohammed S Almuhayawi,1 Mohammed H Alruhaili,1,2 Hattan S Gattan,2,3 Mohanned Talal Alharbi,4 Mohammed Nagshabandi,4 Soad Al Jaouni,5,6 Samy Selim,7 Awadh Alanazi,7 Yasir Alruwaili,7 Osama Ahmed Faried,8 Mohamed E Elnosary9 1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Hematology/Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 6Yousef Abdulatif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; 8Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; 9Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammed S Almuhayawi; Samy Selim, Email msalmuhayawi@kau.edu.sa; sabdulsalam@ju.edu.saBackground: Wound infection is a prevalent concern in the medical field, being is a multi-step process involving several biological processes. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) infections often occur in areas of damaged skin, such as abrasions and open wounds.Methods: This research aims to light the incidence of MRSA and VRSA in wound swabs, the antimicrobial susceptibility configuration of isolated S. aureus patterns in pus/wound samples collected from Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital. The cross section study, β- lactamase detection, VRSA genotyping, MAR index, D-test and VRSA genotyping are methods, which used for completed this research.Results: Patients of several ages and genders delivered specimens from two hospitals in the Al jouf area, in the northern province of Saudi Arabia. S. aureus was found in 188 (34.7%) of the 542 wounds. The traumatized wounds provided 71 isolates (38.8%), surgical wound provided 49 isolates (26.8%) and abscess were represented 16 by isolates (8.7%). In the study, 123 (65.4%) out of 188 were MRSA, 60 (31.9%) were MSSA, and five (2.7%) were VRSA. Linezolid and rifampin were found to be the most effective antimicrobials with 100% in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus isolates. The Multiple antimicrobials resistance (MAR) index revealed 73 isolates (38.9%) with a MAR index greater than 0.2, and 115 (61.1%) less than 0.2. The D-test showed that of MLSb phenotypes among S. aureus, 22 (11.7%) strains were D-test positive (MLSbi phenotype), 53 (28.2%) strains were constitutive MLSc phenotypes, and 17 (9%) strains were shown to have MSb phenotypes. All VRSA isolates (n=5) were found to be positive for vanA, and no vanB positive isolates were detected in the study.Conclusion: Regular monitoring and an antimicrobials stewardship program should be in place to provide critical information that can be utilized for empirical therapy and future prevention strategies.Keywords: methicillin, vancomycin, resistant, Staphylococcus aureus, emergence, virulent, wound infection, MAR index, D-test, tertiary hospital, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Osimertinib is a standard treatment for patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Although some osimertinib resistance mechanisms have been identified, nearly 50% of the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study was aimed at identifying non-genetic mechanisms underlying osimertinib resistance. Methods: We established two osimertinib-resistant cell lines from EGFR mutation-positive PC-9 and HCC827 NSCLC cell lines (PC-9OR and HCC827OR, respectively) using a stepwise method. We compared the phosphoproteomic profiles of the osimertinib-resistant and parental cells using mass spectrometry. Upstream kinases were identified using the application Kinase Enrichment Analysis version 3. Results: Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed 80 phosphorylation sites that were mutually up-regulated in PC-9OR and HCC827OR cells. The Kinase Enrichment Analysis version 3 analysis identified focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (Src) as upstream kinases of these up-regulated phosphoproteins. The small-interfering RNA–mediated knockdown of FAK reduced Src phosphorylation and that of Src reduced FAK phosphorylation in both cell lines. Furthermore, FAK- or Src-specific small-interfering RNA treatments restored EGFR phosphorylation in PC-9OR and HCC827OR cells. The combination of FAK and Src inhibitors inhibited PC-9OR and HCC827OR cell proliferation in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Immunohistochemistry of tumors from patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC suggested that phosphorylated FAK and Src are involved in initial and acquired resistance to osimertinib. Conclusions: Phosphoproteomic analysis may help elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to molecular-targeted therapies in lung cancer. Mutual phosphorylation of FAK and Src is involved in osimertinib resistance. Thus, FAK and Src inhibition may be novel treatment strategies for osimertinib-resistant NSCLC.

Enterococcus faecium is an opportunistic pathogen able to colonize the intestines of hospitalized patients. This initial colonization is an important step in the downstream pathogenesis, which includes outgrowth of the intestinal microbiota and potential infection of the host. The impact of intestinal overgrowth on host–enterococcal interactions is not well understood. We therefore applied a RNAseq approach in order to unravel the transcriptional dynamics of E. faecium upon co-culturing with human derived colonic epithelium. Co-cultures of colonic epithelium with a hospital-associated vancomycin resistant (vanA-type) E. faecium (VRE) showed that VRE resided on top of the colonic epithelium when analyzed by microscopy. RNAseq revealed that exposure to the colonic epithelium resulted in upregulation of 238 VRE genes compared to the control condition, including genes implicated in pili expression, conjugation (plasmid_2), genes related to sugar uptake, and biofilm formation (chromosome). In total, 260 were downregulated, including the vanA operon located on plasmid_3. Pathway analysis revealed an overall switch in metabolism to amino acid scavenging and reduction. In summary, our study demonstrates that co-culturing of VRE with human colonic epithelium promotes an elaborate gene response in VRE, enhancing our insight in host– E. faecium interactions, which might facilitate the design of novel anti-infectivity strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, phytopathological assessment of oidium infection of grape varieties and forms was carried out based on I.N. Naydenova evaluation method. In the Absheron Scientific-Research Base, a phytopathological assessment of oidium infection of 77 grape varieties and forms was carried out in the natural background. Cluster analysis was constructed according to the Euclidean distance index of the UPGMA method by using PAST statistical software package. The studied genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters according to their resistance. In the first cluster, 3 genotypes were highly resistant with 1- 1,5 points of infection, in the second cluster 22 genotypes were high susceptible with 5 points of infection and in the third cluster there were 29 genotypes with 4-4,5 points of susceptible samples. The fourth cluster grouped 6 genotypes that showed resistance to oidium, which were selected as resistant genotypes with 2-2,5 points of infection. 17 genotypes were grouped in the last cluster of the dendrogram, which showed tolerant with 3-3.5 points of infection. At result of evaluation Ag Khalili, Arayatli gara uzum, Qara uzum are determined as high resistant forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the breeding value of a new sunflower source with complex resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides and downy mildew. Methods. In the research process, field (hybridization, line testing, individual selection, line evaluation), visual (phenological observations), laboratory (immunological evaluation of resistance to DM), vegetation (evaluation of resistance to herbicides) and mathematical and statistical (processing of experimental data and determination of reliability of research results) methods were used. Results. During 2020-2023, new self-pollinated sunflower lines were studied in the cross-pollination and breeding department of the Plant Breeding & Genetics Institute - National Center of Seeds and Cultivar Investigation (PBGI - NCSCI). Based on the results of the work, 33 self-pollinated sunflower lines with complex resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides and downy mildew (DM) were created and evaluated. The lines were created using domestic breeding populations that were able to reach their full genetic potential in various conditions. These populations were adapted to cultivation in the southern steppe of Ukraine and were resistant to a complex of diseases and pests. Additionally, they had increased seed yield and plasticity. The new source material obtained is constant, stably productive lines used in the subsequent breeding programme. According to the results of the trials, almost all the hybrids obtained (F1) showed a yield of more than 1.0 t/ha. Lines with the highest level of combining ability in terms of yield (heterozygous hybrid progeny with increased viability for the main economic and valuable traits) will be selected for further research and will be involved in the creation of new hybrids resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides and DM. Conclusions. Research showed that traits such as sulfonylurea herbicide resistance and downy mildew resistance can be combined in one line. Herbicide resistance in sunflowers is easy to control in the field, while downy mildew resistance needs to be controlled in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that has been linked to global disease outbreaks. These diseases include hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. It is vital to know the features that make this strain pathogenic to understand the development of disease outbreaks. In the current study, a comparative genomic analysis was carried out to determine the presence of structural and functional features of O157:H7 strains obtained from 115 National Center for Biotechnology Information database. These strains of interest were analysed in the following programs: BLAST Ring Image Generator, PlasmidFinder, ResFinder, VirulenceFinder, IslandViewer 4 and PHASTER. Five strains (ECP19–198, ECP19–798, F7508, F8952, H2495) demonstrated a great homology with Sakai because of a few regions missing. Five resistant genes were identified, however, Macrolide-associated resistance gene mdf(A) was commonly found in all genomes. Majority of the strains (97%) were positive for 15 of the virulent genes (espA, espB, espF, espJ, gad, chuA, eae, iss, nleA, nleB, nleC, ompT, tccP, terC and tir). The plasmid analysis demonstrated that the IncF group was the most prevalent in the strains analysed. The prophage and genomic island analysis showed a distribution of bacteriophages and genomic islands respectively. The results indicated that structural and functional features of the many O157:H7 strains differ and may be a result of obtaining mobile genetic elements via horizontal gene transfer. Understanding the evolution of O157:H7 strains pathogenicity in terms of their structural and functional features will enable the development of detection and control of transmission strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of IoT devices has influenced end users in several aspects. Yottabytes (YB) of information are being produced in the IoT environs because of the ever-increasing utilization capacity of the Internet. Since sensitive information, as well as privacy problems, always seem to be an unsolved problem, even with best-in-class in-formation governance standards, it is difficult to bolster defensive security capabilities. Secure data sharing across disparate systems is made possible by blockchain technology, which operates on a decentralized computing paradigm. In the ever-changing IoT environments, blockchain technology provides irreversibility (immutability) usage across a wide range of services and use cases. Therefore, blockchain technology can be leveraged to securely hold private information, even in the dynamicity context of the IoT. However, as the rate of change in IoT networks accelerates, every potential weak point in the system is exposed, making it more challenging to keep sensitive data se-cure. In this study, we adopted a Multi-level Blockchain-based Secured Framework (M-BSF) to provide multi-level protection for sensitive data in the face of threats to IoT-based networking systems. The envisioned M-BSF framework incorporates edge-level, fog-level, and cloud-level security. At edge- and fog-level security, baby kyber and scaling kyber cryptosystems are applied to ensure data preservation. Kyber is a cryptosystem scheme that adopts public-key encryption and private-key decryption processes. Each block of the blockchain uses the cloud-based Argon-2di hashing method for cloud-level data storage, providing the highest level of confidentiality. Argon-2di is a stable hashing algorithm that uses a hybrid approach to access the memory that relied on dependent and independent memory features. Based on the attack-resistant rate (> 96%), computational cost (in time), and other main metrics, the proposed M-BSF security architecture appears to be an acceptable alternative to the current methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precarious potato disease known as late blight (LB), which is brought on by Phytophthora infestans, quickly decimates crops and economically detriment growers. The pathogen prefers relatively cold temperatures and that usually prevails in northern Bangladesh. To decrease the number of fungicide sprays with the changing climate, it is necessary to identify potato varieties that are most resistant to late blight. This study aims to assess the growth and production performance of late blight-tolerant potato varieties in the northern part of Bangladesh. The field study was conducted in the crop-growing years of 2017–18 and 2018–19. In this study, three exotic potato varieties [(BARI Alu-90 (Alouette), BARI Alu-91 (Carolus), and BARI Alu-77 (Sarpomira)] and two check varieties [BARI Alu‑8 (Cardinal) and BARI Alu-25 (Asterix)] were used. Compared with the two cultivated varieties BARI Alu‑8 (Cardinal) and BARI Alu-25 (Asterix), the BARI Alu-90 (Alouette) with the highest level of late blight resistance based on AUDPC scoring (late blight estimated mean value of 5.9). The result showed that the majority of the evaluated variety BARI Alu-90 (Alouette) and BARI Alu-91 (Carolus) were highly resistant and BARI Alu-77 (Sarpomira) is moderately resistant. In contrast, the check varieties were susceptible to late blight. The yield and shelf life (or storage) quality of BARI Alu-90 (Alouette) was also good compared with the other varieties. Considering the yield, yield contributing characters, shelf-life data and disease resistance level BARI Alu-90 (Alouette) can be grown in northern Bangladesh without chemical protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data on diuretic treatment in nephrotic syndrome (NS) are scarce. Our goal was to assess the non-inferiority of the combined oral diuretics (furosemide/hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride) compared to intravenous (i.v.) furosemide in patients with NS and resistant edema. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized trial on 22 patients with resistant nephrotic edema (RNE), defined as hypervolemia and a FENa < 0.2%. Based on a computer-generated 1:1 randomization, we assigned patients to receive either intravenous furosemide (40 mg bolus and then continuous administration of 5 mg/h) or oral furosemide (40 mg/day) and hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride (50/5 mg/day) for a period of 5 days. Clinical and laboratory measurements were performed daily. Hydration status was assessed by bioimpedance on day 1 and at the end of day 5 after treatment initiation. The primary endpoint was weight change from baseline to day 5. Secondary endpoints were hydration status change measured by bioimpedance and safety outcomes (low blood pressure, severe electrolyte disturbances, acute kidney injury and worsening hypervolemia). Results: Primary endpoint analysis showed that after 5 days of treatment, there was a significant difference in weight change from baseline between groups [adjusted mean difference: −3.33 kg (95% CI: −6.34 to −0.31), p = 0.03], with a higher mean weight change in the oral diuretic treatment group [−7.10 kg (95% CI: −18.30 to −4.30) vs. −4.55 kg (95%CI: −6.73 to −2.36)]. Secondary endpoint analysis showed that there was no significant difference between groups regarding hydration status change [adjusted mean difference: −0.05 L (95% CI: −2.6 to 2.6), p = 0.96], with a mean hydration status change in the oral diuretic treatment group of −4.71 L (95% CI: −6.87 to −2.54) and −3.91 L (95% CI: −5.69 to −2.13) in the i.v. diuretic treatment group. We observed a significant decrease in adjusted mean serum sodium of −2.15 mmol/L [(95% CI: −4.25 to −0.05), p = 0.04]), favored by the combined oral diuretic treatment [−2.70 mmol/L (95% CI: −4.89 to −0.50) vs. −0.10 mmol/L (95%CI: −1.30 to 1.10)]. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of adverse events. Conclusions: A combination of oral diuretics based on furosemide, amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide is non-inferior to i.v. furosemide in weight control of patients with RNE and a similar safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pyogenic infections that occur can be caused by direct bacterial contamination of the wound, such as infection in a post-surgical wound or infection after trauma. Efforts to control infection can be done with the use of antibiotics. Purpose: To determine the profile of bacteria and antibiotic sensitivity in wound culture in hospitalized patients in Hajj General Hospital Surabaya, East Java in 2021. Method: This study used the Chi-square test and descriptive analysis in the form of distribution tables and percentages using secondary data based on the results of examination of pus culture at the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in Hajj General Hospital Surabaya, East Java in 2021. Result: The results of research on wound culture samples showed as many as 113 patients (56.22%) with positive culture results, which were predominantly female as many as 59 patients (50.9%) and the highest age category namely at the age of 46-55 years as many as 39 patients (33.6%). Based on bacteria, the most dominant type of bacteria in the Gram-negative group was Escherichia coli ESBL with 21 isolates (26.6%), while Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, was found in 16 isolates (43.3). The results of antibiotic sensitivity on Gram-negative bacteria were Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Meropenem, and on Gram-positive bacteria Vancomycin and Linezolid were obtained. Conclusion: E. coli and S. aureus are the most important causes of wound infections and the suppressor organisms in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of all isolates showed that the antibiotics amikacin and meropenem were sensitive to Gram-negative bacteria especially ESBL-producing bacteria, and the antibiotics vancomycin and linezolid were sensitive to Gram-positive bacteria especially MRSA.

Vibrio species are zoonotic pathogens that can affect humans by different routes such as ingestion or contact causing gastrointestinal diseases and wound infection. This study aimed to detect V. cholera and V. parahaemolyticus in Nile Tilapia fish collected from Aswan Governorate, Egypt. A total of 52 muscle samples were collected from Tilapia fish and were subjected to microbiological and molecular characterization. Alkaline peptone water media was used for the enrichment of the samples then followed by inoculation onto thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar media for the isolation of Vibrio species, biochemical tests were performed to identify V. cholera and V. parahaemolyticus, and then they were confirmed by Vibrio genus-specific gene and virulence genes by PCR . Out of 52 fish muscle samples (Nile Tilapia) 32 appeared as yellow colonies, 2 samples showed green colonies and 18 samples showed mixed yellow and green on TCBS agar. Only 40 samples show biochemically positive for Vibrio species. 15 random samples were amplified to 16srRNA gene by PCR technique for more accurate identification resulting in 14 isolates being positive to 16srRNA, 8 isolates positive for sodB gene-specific of V. cholera, and 6 isolates positive for toxR gene-specific of V. parahaemolyticus. Out of 8 V. cholera isolates were found high resistance rate to amoxiclav (87.5%), gentamicin (75%), chloramphenicol (50 %) and ampicillin (50 %). Conversely, (50 %) sensitive to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and, trimethoprimsulphamethoxazole, and the average MRA of V. cholera was 0.48. On the other hand, all 6 V. parahaemolyticus isolates were resistant to amoxiclav (100%), tetracycline (100%), gentamicin (100%) and chloramphenicol (100%) However, all isolates sensitive to trimethoprimsulphamethazole (100%) but half of them sensitive to ciprofloxacin (50%) and ampicillin (50%), and the average MRA of V. parahaemolyticus was 0.59. In conclusion, this study showed that V. cholera is the most dominant pathogenic one then followed by V. parahaemolyticus in Nile tilapia fish resulting in economic losses and causing public health problems.

This study was conducted to investigate the resistance of 4 wild eggplant species (Solanum aethiopium group Aculeatum, S. incanum, S. macrocarpon, S. linnaeanum), 3 cultivated eggplant varieties ('Anamur F1', 'Pala', 'Yamula'), 1 eggplant rootstock (Köksal F1) and 34 interspecific hybrids to Verticillium dahliae Kleb. and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melongenae. Disease resistance of eggplant genotypes was determined by the pathogenicity test. The disease severity values varied between 0-80% for Verticillium and between 0-100% for Fusarium. Among the 42 genotypes, 18 genotypes were found to be moderately resistant and 1 genotype was found to be highly resistant to Verticillium. At the same time, 2 of the 42 genotypes were found to be moderately resistant and 22 of the 42 genotypes were found to be highly resistant to Fusarium. All hybrids with S. integrifollium, Solanum aethiopicum group Gilo as father were found to be highly resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melongenae. Solanum linnaeanum did not exhibit any disease symptoms and was found to be highly resistant to both disease agents. Present interspecific hybrid eggplant genotypes with known resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt are expected to have significant contributions in developing new eggplant rootstocks and hybrid eggplant cultivars in the future.

Introduction: The aim of this study is the isolation and primary identification of isolated bioaerosols sampled from different locations, as well as determining their antibiotic resistance profile for the selected bacteria. Materials and Methods: The air samples were collected from 35 stations in 17 buildings (bank, public, healthcare and industrial). An air-sampling pump (Flite3-SKC) with a flow rate of 14.1 l/min was used for five minutes at the respiratory height. The total bacterial count and primary identification were carried out, then the antibiotic susceptibility tests for ten selected antibiotics were conducted by the disk diffusion method. Results: The bacterial population varied at a range of 128-5503 CFU/m3, and the fruit and vegetable bazaar of Zanjan showed the highest population of bioaerosols. The bioaerosols population among industrial samples was high. Most isolates were determined as gram-positive Cocci (> 70%) and Bacillus spp, respectively. The most antibiotic-resistant bacteria were related to manufacturing activities, showing resistance to Chloramphenicol and Trimethoprim/ Sulfamethoxazole (72%). Conclusion: The type of activity affects the bacterial population and antibiotic resistance in industrial uses. The increase of multi-drug resistant bacteria, especially in medical settings, is known as a community health challenge and needs more attention.

Exserohilum turcicum is a fungus that causes northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) and has deleterious effects on maize production globally. Therefore, it is prudent to mitigate the effects of NCLB using genetic diversity. The objective of this research was to assess the severity of NCLB disease on the growth and yield of various maize genotypes. A randomized complete block design field experiment, replicated three times, was conducted to evaluate the effect of E. turcicum on 10 maize hybrids. Percent disease index, plant height, and leaf area were recorded at the silk stage. Cob weight, grain fresh weight, and grain yields were determined at harvest maturity. All measured parameters were significantly different (P0.05) and high, maize growth and yield parameters had negative correlations with disease incidence, except for grain fresh weight. Therefore, DKC80-40BR may be selected for cultivation in areas prone to NCLB to reduce maize susceptibility to the disease, while DKC74-74BR may improve crop performance. These hybrids could be considered as potential sources of resistance or tolerance to NCLB for further validation by plant breeders.

Abstract Purpose Adriamycin is a novel chemotherapeutic agent of great benefit for treating breast cancer. However, adriamycin ‐resistance remains a major obstacle. The vital Glutathione transferase P1 (GSTPi) inhibitor 6‐(7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazol‐4‐ylthio) hexanol (NBDHEX) has recently shown antitumor activity in various cancers. In this study, we analyzed the effect of NBDHEX and adriamycin combination against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Methods CCK‐8 assay was performed to test cell viability. The location and expression level of GSTpi was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot in cells and immunohistochemistry staining in tissues. The enzyme activity test was applied to detect the effect of NBDHEX on the activity of GSTpi. The apoptosis related proteins' expression was tested using Western blot. The phosphorylation sites of GSTpi were detected by mass spectrometry. Antitumor effects of single treatment or co‐administration of adriamycin and NBDHEX were evaluated in nude mice. Results NBDHEX treatment inhibited GSTpi enzyme activity and co‐administration of adriamycin and NBDHEX promoted apoptosis of adriamycin‐resistance breast cancer cell. Moreover, drug combination of NBDHEX and adriamycin significantly enhanced tumor growth inhibition compared with single agent. Conclusion NBDHEX serves as a good candidate for combination with adriamycin, offering new insights for breast cancer treatment.