Search

Background and Aim: Children under five years are susceptible to being infected by Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) pathogens. Therefore, the main objective of the present research is to study the epidemiology and the etiology of AGE among children in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, multiplex PCR was used to detect the gastroenteric viruses, including RoVA (Rotavirus A), NoVGI (Norovirus Group I), NoVGII (Norovirus Group II), HAstV (Human Astrovirus), EAdV (Enteric Adenovirus), and HEV (Human Enterovirus) in 92 stool samples collected from pediatric children aged ≤7 admitted to hospitals in Al-Ahsa province in Saudi Arabia, during December 2021 to June 2022. Results: Out of the 92 samples tested, 63 (68.4%) showed positive results, indicating the presence of at least one gastroenteric virus infection. RoV group A was the most detected virus at 54%, followed by HAstV at 27%, EAdV at 22.2%, NoVGI at 9.5%, and HEV at 6.3%. Gastroenteric virus mono-infection was much higher than co-infection, at 79.3%. Children in the age group (1Y-2Y) were the most infected with viral AGE at 41.3% compared with other groups. Male children were more infected than females at 38%. The main viral AGE symptoms revealed in all positive children were diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever, with rates of 100%, 95.2%, 92.1%, and 81%, respectively. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that the prevalence of gastroenteric infections among children is relevant and should be considered by the national health authority. This study is the first work conducted in the province of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia. It could improve epidemiological and etiological data on children's AGE in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water of the Lake Nasser is safe for use in terms of human consumption, agricultural utilization and public sanitation. The concentration of heavy metals in fish muscles and livers meet the specifications stipulated by international limits. [Display omitted] Heavy metals cause deleterious effects on human health and drastically alter the biogeochemical cycles within freshwater habitats. The main human activities leading to heavy metal contamination of various aquatic ecosystems comprise the industry, agriculture, urbanization, transport and mining. Lake Nasser is the main freshwater source in Egypt, usually polluted from upstream human activities from the hydrographic basin of the River Nile. The current study surveyed the impact of heavy metals contamination (i.e., Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu) in water, sediment and two Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish organs (liver and muscles) at six sampling sites along Lake Nasser. Additionally, the effects of heavy metals bioaccumulation in the aquatic ecosystem, via water, sediments and fish organs were investigated. The conclusion is that the water of Lake Nasser is safe for use in terms of human consumption, agricultural utilization and public sanitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to assess the impact and efficiency of the bioaugmentation as a bioremediation technique in annoying effects of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (phenanthrene) on a community of free-living nematodes from Bizerte bay (Tunisia). For this purpose, closed microcosms were exposed to three doses of phananthrene (0.1 μg kg−1, 1 μg kg−1 and 10 μg kg−1), in combination or not with a strain of Shewanella oneidensis. After 40 days of the exposure, results were obtained at the numerical, taxonomic and feeding levels. The results of univariate analyses revealed significant decreases in most univariate indices for phenanthrene treated communities compared to controls, with a discernible increase in the proportion of epistrate feeders. After bioaugmentation, similar patterns were observed for univariate and multivariate analyses, with the exception of the highest treatment, which showed no difference from the controls. The results obtained showed that the bioaugmentation with Shewanellea oneidensis was highly effective in reducing the negative impact of the highest dose of phenanthrene (10 μg kg−1 Dry Weight) tested on meiobenthic nematodes. Furthermore, a combination of Shewanellea oneidensis and four omnivore-carnivore nematode taxa could be suggested as an effective method in the bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated sediment. [Display omitted] • Univariate indices of meiobenthic nematodes decreased after exposure to phenanthrene. • Chromadorella and Mesacanthion are negative bioindicative taxa to phenanthrene. • Proportions of carnivores-omnivores decreased after exposure to phenanthrene. • Bioaugmentation with Shewanellea oneidensis was efficient to remediate 10 μg phenanthrene.kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater resources are a natural blessing and vital to life. Water is required in many aspects of life due to its importance in the economy. A Floppy sprinkler system (FSS) is an innovative and unique method for pressurizing irrigation. This method has multiple applications other than traditional methods, which can overcome farmer's issues to adopt the high-efficiency irrigation system. The performance evaluation of two types of floppy sprinklers (imported and indigenous) was the primary objective of this research. Three parameters, application efficiency of the low quarter (AELQ), distribution uniformity (DU), and uniformity coefficient (CU), were evaluated under different levels of riser height and operating pressures. A portable testing bench was designed to determine these parameters and the overall performance of FSS in the agriculture field. The system operated at a different pressure range from 1.5 to 4 bar and riser heights 10ft, 12ft, and 15f for both sprinklers. The results revealed that the system achieved maximum CU, DU, and AELQ at the operating pressure of 2.5 bar and riser height of 10 ft for both types of floppy sprinklers. The corresponding values of CU, DU, and AELQ were 84.5%, 70.7%, and 87.0 % for imported and 82.2%, 67.7%, and 82.5% for indigenous FSS. An overlap simulation model was used to achieve a high percentage of system performance. The results declared that the overlapping between sprinklers should be more than 65% to avoid water losses and minimize the overall system cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc oxide-zirconium dioxide (ZnO-ZrO2) heterojunction was prepared by a green method using rubber leaves as reducing and capping agents. Various physicochemical techniques were used to study the chemical composition and the structural and optical properties of the synthesized nanocomposite. The nature of the heterojunction was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and the average sizes of ZnO and ZrO2 crystallites were found to be 70 and 24 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic potential of the ZnO-ZrO2 heterojunction was examined against rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), and 97.30 percent of the dye was degraded due to the synergistic effect of the light and the catalyst. The commercial ZnO nanopowder was used as a reference catalyst and 86.32 percent degradation was noted under the same reaction conditions. The in vitro antioxidant activity was also performed to scavenge the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals, where the activity of the ZnO-ZrO2 heterojunction was found to be higher than the ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The drivers of the occurrence of European Turtle-dove are yet not assessed in coastal Mediterranean oases. • Monitoring is conducted in 11 coastal Tunisian oases. • Industrial landscape interacts with microhabitat to predict European Turtle-dove occurrence in the Gabès region. • A high Turtle-dove occurrence is recorded in the presence of very weak cover of urban areas. • Unstalling industrial complex, protecting southern oases and enhancing habitat quality may help conserving this species. The assessment of the impact of urban and industrial landscapes on the occurrence of vulnerable species is one key step in the view to maintaining them in environments that are becoming urbanised. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to the vulnerable European Turtle Dove (TD) (Streptopelia turtur) in the coastal Mediterranean oases. Here, we used data on a series of variables, including microhabitat and urban-industrial landscapes, to identify the best predictors that cause variation in the probability of TD occurrence by means of generalized linear mixed models. The results revealed a significant interaction between the distance to the industrial complex and coverage of fruit trees at the microhabitat scale in explaining this probability (Adj. R 2 = 22%; P = 0.001). This probability becomes higher than 0.50 when the distance from the industrial complex is more than 8 km and the cover of fruit trees is above 30%. A high probability of TD occurrence is also recorded in the presence of a very weak cover of urban areas. In the Gabès region, the highest probability of TD occurrence was recorded in the southern oases, thus highlighting their central role in conserving this Columbidae. For the species' conservation, it is imperative to (i) uninstall the Gabès industrial complex from this coastal Mediterranean area, (ii) protect the southern oases, which constitute important breeding areas for the species in the south-east of Tunisia, (iii) enhance habitat quality in the farthest oases from the industrial complex, and (iv) set up a monitoring system aiming to quantify the impact of urban growth on this North African TD population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study was carried out to determine the effects of the enrichment of sediments by endocrine perturbators on free-living nematodes from the Ghar El Melh lagoon, Tunisia. For 30 days, four concentrations of Estradiol Benzoate (hereafter EB) (0.43, 4.3, 8.6 and 12.9 ng l−1). The average nematode abundances showed a significant increase after the introduction of EB in their close environment. In contrast, the taxonomic examination has shown a decrease in species diversity of nematodes. The ordination of treatments according to the nMDS showed a clear structural separation of the enriched replicates with EB from controls based on species lists, in particular for concentrations EB3 and EB4. Indeed, under such conditions, the nematofauna exhibited a more remarkable presence of a new record for Science Theristus n. sp. and a decrease in relative abundances of Paracomesoma dubium. On feeding level, a predominance of non-selective deposit-feeders and a decline in proportions of epistrate feeders and carnivorous omnivores was observed with increasing concentrations of EB. Furthermore, in treated replicates with EB, females discernibly showed an increase compared to controls. Overall, EB affect significantly features of meiobenthic nematodes starting from the concentration of 4.3 ng l−1. [Display omitted] • Nematodes are the best bioindicators of Estradiol Benzoate (EB) within the meiofauna. • EB induced a decrease in diversity of nematodes and an increase in their abundance. • Theristus n. sp. is a positive bioindicative nematode species to EB. • Paracomesoma dubium is a negative bioindicative nematode species to EB. Estradiol benzoate affect significantly the abundance and diversity of meiobenthic nematodes starting from the concentration of 4.3 ng l−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scientific literature is presented in complex language, most frequently in English, and includes technical jargon that represents a challenge to comprehension of an English as a foreign language (EFL) nursing student. Yet scientific literature is a powerful and trustworthy source of evidence to guide nursing practice. Purpose: The aim is to examine two reading interventions (Translation vs Synthesization) and to determine which one produces long-term sustainability effects in scientific research reading comprehension. Method: A two-group posttest-only randomized comparative design was used in which 120 participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Several instruments were used to collect the data. Results: Study findings showed that the synthesization group significantly produced better results when compared with the translation group on both the immediate (p = 0.01) and the delayed (p = 0.013) reading comprehension tests. It shows also that gender differences have a significant impact on reading comprehension with a favor to males in the long-term reading comprehension outcome (p = 0.038) of synthesization and females in the short-term reading comprehension outcome (p = 0.015) of translation. English proficiency was significant with determination, metacognitive, and social skills in the synthesization group (p = 0.00, p = 0.01, p = 0.007 respectively). Conclusion: The results suggested that synthesization could be an effective reading approach in improving EFL nursing students' reading comprehension of scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 2020, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was recommended as a treatment for COVID-19 high risk patients. Following the massive and widespread use of HCQ worldwide, a discernible high quantity is anticipated to end-up through the sewage systems in marine coastal areas. A closed microcosm study was undertaken herein for 30 days where meiobenthic nematodes were exposed to a range of HCQ concentrations (3.162, 31.62 and 63.24 μg.ml−1). After one month of exposure in HCQ, the total abundances and Shannon-Wiener index of the assemblages decreased, whereas the individual mass and the Trophic Diversity Index increased at the highest concentrations. Overall, a numerical negative impact was observed for the epistrate feeders and non-selective deposit feeders, however, this benefited to the omnivores-carnivores, and particularly to the Oncholaimids. Such responses of the nematodes 2B and the corresponding taxa are bioindicative of current- or post-COVID-19 crisis risks in relation with the bioaccumulation of HCQ in seafood. • Nematode abundance and diversity decreased under hydroxychloroquine contamination. • Individual mass increased at the highest hydroxychloroquine concentrations. • Exposure to hydroxychloroquine benefited to the omnivores-carnivore Oncholaimids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological synthesis of nanoparticles is a growing research trend because it has numerous applications in pharmaceutics and biomedicine. The aim of this study was to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Bacillus sp. KFU36, a marine strain, and to assess its anticancer activity. The supernatant of Bacillus sp. KFU36 was supplemented with silver nitrate and the nanoparticles obtained were characterized spectrophotometrically and microscopically. A band of surface plasmon resonance was appeared at 430 nm, as revealed by UV–vis spectrophotometry. X-ray diffraction spectrum and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy confirmed the crystalline and metallic structure of the AgNPs, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the shape of the synthesized AgNPs were spherical and the size extended between 5 and 15 nm. The AgNPs were investigated for their potential anticancer effects on the cell viability, migration and apoptosis using MTT and wound-healing assays, and flow cytometry, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of these nanoparticles were evidenced by the decreasing the cell viability (as 15% at 50 μg/ml), cell density, adhesion capacity and losing the normal shape and size, and inducing the apoptosis on MCF-7 by 61% at 50 μg/ml. These findings confirm that the synthesized AgNPs exhibited superior anticancer activities and therefore could be exploited as a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally benign strategy in treating this disease in future. • Synthesis of nanoparticles (NP) can be achieved using various physical, chemical and biological methods. • Green synthesis of AgNPs was mediated by the supernatant of the Bacillus sp. KFU36. • AgNPs-mediated cytotoxicity is more likely to be attributed to the release of reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to isolate, characterize, and assess the plant growth-promoting traits of bacterial isolates inhabiting the rhizosphere of the Ocimum basilicum (basil plant) in the Al-Ahsa region. Five bacterial isolates were isolated from the rhizosphere of the basil, and characterized morphologically, biochemically, and genotypically. Our isolates displayed multiple plant growth-stimulating features, such as nitrogen fixation, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, and production of phytohormones, ammonia, and acetoin. All bacterial isolates were able to grow under elevated NaCl concentrations of up to 3 %. Only FPW14 grew at 10% NaCl. Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that FPM11 and FPI13 belonged to Pseudomonas alcaliphila and Pseudomonas hunanensis , respectively, to which they showed 98.66% and 97.36% homology, respectively. Strains FCL6, FPK12, and FPW14 showed 16S rRNA gene sequences with 97.21%, 98.08%, and 98.37% identities with those of Streptomyces laurentii, Sinorhizobium sp., and Bacillus safensis , respectively. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree constructed using the 16S rRNA gene sequences clustered the bacterial isolates with their corresponding recognized bacterial species, providing robustness to the taxonomic affiliation of our strains. Bacterial inoculation significantly enhanced the root growth parameters of Phaseolus vulgaris L. In conclusion, all isolates belong to plant growth-promoting bacteria and can be used as biofertilizers to increase soil fertility and plant productivity in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief experimental analysis (BEA) is a systematic process used to quickly examine the effects of multiple interventions on an academic skill or subskill performance of students who are not making adequate progress with core instruction in a specific area. BEA has been mostly applied as a way of identifying intensive individualized interventions at Tier 3 in multi-tier systems of support and implemented primarily with elementary aged students, with most studies conducted in the area of reading. This study utilized BEA to efficiently identify an effective individualized math intervention for improving multiplication fact proficiency for four middle-school-aged Hispanic students, three of whom were English language learners. Results of the BEAs specified an effective intervention that produced both performance gains across three distinct multiplication fact sets in a multiple baseline across fact sets design and maintenance of effects over time in all but two fact sets for one of the participants. In addition, near (untaught inverse multiplication facts) and far (untaught related division facts) generalization of the effects of the intervention were measured for each participant with mixed results across participants. The current investigation extends the literature on the use of BEA to identify effective math interventions for improving multiplication fluency among middle-school-aged Hispanic students who are English language learners. In addition, implications of expecting the effects to generalize to untaught facts and math operations without use of explicit strategies to promote generalization are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza A/H1N1 is widely considered to be a very evolutionary virus causing major public health problems. Since the pandemic of 2009, there has been a rapid rise in human Influenza virus characterization. However, little data is available in Tunisia regarding its genetic evolution. In light of this fact, our paper aim is to genetically characterize the Neuraminidase, known as the target of antiviral inhibitors, in Tunisian isolates circulating in Monastir region during 2017–2018. In total of 31 positive Influenza A/H1N1 detected by multiplex real-time PCR, RT-PCR of neuraminidase was performed. Among the 31 positive samples, 7 samples representing fatal and most severe cases were conducted for sequencing and genetic analysis. The results thus obtained showed genetic evolution of the A/H1N1 neuraminidase between 2009 and 2010 and 2018–2019 outbreaks. All Tunisian isolates were genetically related to the recommended vaccine strain with a specific evolution. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that France and especially Italian strains were the major related strains. Interestingly, our results revealed a specific cluster of Tunisian isolates where two intragroup were evolved in correlation with the severity and the fatalities cases. From the outcome of our investigation, this study confirms the genetic evolution of the Influenza A virus circulating in Tunisia and gives a preliminary analysis for a better comprehension of new emerging Tunisian strain's virulence and thus, a more appropriate monitoring of Influenza virus A/H1N1 during each round of outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quail, one of the most important sources of meat and eggs, can aid in the reduction of the meat crisis if they are raised and cared for by small farmers. The current study investigated the impact of eggshell color variety on egg quality traits and hatching parameters of Japanese quail Coturnix japonica eggs. Therefore, 1,075 eggs were collected from female quails when they were 10-wk old. These eggs were distributed based on the color of their eggshells into 5 different classifications: eggshell with color type 1, very dark distributed brown spots on brown eggshell; eggshell with color type 2, small black spots on a white eggshell; eggshell with color type 3, widespread brown spots on brown eggshell; eggshell with color type 4, bubble egg, pin dotted on grayish brown color eggshell; and eggshell with color type 5, small brown spots on very clearly white eggshell. The characteristics of hatchability, internal and external egg quality, and the rate of embryonic death were then determined. The results showed that the percentage of fertility and commercial and scientific hatchability was greatly affected by eggshell color. There were also variations in the percentage of hatched chicks', early mortality rates, and late mortality rates based on eggshell color. According to the results of the current study, eggshell color has a significant impact on egg weight, egg width, and percentages of eggshell, yolk, and albumen but has no effect on shape index, egg length, or egg elongation. Based on the results, eggshells with color types 2 and 3 were recommended for use in hatching procedures due to their high levels of fertility (92.01 and 91.63%, respectively), scientific hatchability (82.92 and 83.93%, respectively), commercial hatchability (76.56 and 77.32%, respectively), and hatched chick (5.50 and 6.70, respectively). In addition, the late embryonic mortality rate was 0.00% for eggshells with color type 3. Therefore, the color of the eggshell can be employed as a key factor in guiding the eggs that are produced, whether they are going to be consumed at the table or used for hatching, to make breeding easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: IN our present review, the main goal was to determine the factors that influence the time of CT in diagnosis of SAH in emergency department, since the ED physicians are the first who are approaches to the patients, awareness and attitude of those physicians are very important for the benefit of SAH patients. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search using following databases; PUBMED, EMBASE, SCOPUS of studies that involving data on the roles and time of CT in diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in ED patients with acute headache, published in English language up to 2017. Conclusion: CT within 6 hours might be considered enough to rule out SAH in the following circumstances: a neurologically regular patient, a thunderclap headache presentation, a clear time of beginning, and a modernday CT scan carried out within 6 hours of beginning read by a going to radiologist. Time from headache beginning to imaging is reasonably associated with favorable imaging for SAH. Postpone to health center presentation represent the biggest portion of time to imaging, especially those without SAH. These findings recommend restricted opportunity to minimize lumbar puncture rates merely by accelerating in-hospital processes when imaging hold-ups are under 2 hours, as diagnostic yield of imaging decreases beyond the 6-hour imaging window from headache beginning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of this study was to highlight the diagnostic methods and approaches toward most devastating cardiac disorders which are cardiac arrhythmias, MI and hypertensive. Methods: We searched thorough electronic databases as, MEDLINE, EMBASE using the following terms individually and/or in combination: 'Cardiac arrhythmias', 'myocardial infarction (MI)', 'hypertension', 'ventricular arrhythmias' and 'diagnosis', to look for the most important and relevant articles concerning with the diagnostic approaches of hypertension, MI, and arrhythmias in general. Conclusion: Some ideal cardiac biochemical markers need to have not only high level of sensitivity but additionally high specificity to coronary infarction. The creatine kinase-MB, a reasonably certain cardiac marker, could be elevated in situations other than acute myocardial infarction. The ECG continues to be a cornerstone in the diagnosis of MI as well as need to be regularly duplicated, particularly if the first ECG is not analysis of MI. The diagnosing high blood pressure consist of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as well as self-home) BP surveillance (SBPM) as optional methods for determining hypertensive patients. None of the current standards have actually yet consisted of ABPM or SBPM as essential devices for detecting hypertension, preferring instead to depend on standard workplace analyses tape-recorded by mercury sphygmomanometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of terns, which breed on the Arabian Peninsula, were examined for head chewing lice of the genus Saemundssonia in four different islands around the coasts of Saudi Arabia, both in the Red Sea and in the Arabian Gulf. Four louse species were collected: Saemundssonia laticaudata, Saemundssonia melanocephalus, Saemundssonia meridiana and Saemundssonia sternae, of which three are recorded for the first time from this region. Also, we record three new host-louse associations for the world- Saemundssonia laticaudata and Saemundssonia sternae from white-cheeked terns and Saemundssonia melanocephalus from Saunders's terns-including a host-switch event of Saemundssonia laticaudata on white-cheeked terns in the Karan Island population. Gene bank data for the COI gene from seven species of Saemundssonia that infest marine birds were used to propose evolutionary trees using two different statistical methods: maximum parsimony (MP) and neighbour joining (NJ). The result indicated that the tree which was produced by NJ is likely to be more accurate as it appeared more compatible with hosts' phylogeny. The trees indicate relationships between tern Saemundssonia and congeneric species from other marine birds, especially from gulls. An ANOVA was also conducted to test the mean parasite load for each tern species studied, and results indicate that there is a relation between louse loads and colonization behaviour of the hosts. Data from lice examined and illustrations of lice and their hosts are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecotoxicological effects of beta-blockers (i.e. Diltiazem and Bisoprolol) and their interactions with the microplastic polyvinyl chloride on marine meiofauna were tested in laboratory microcosms. An experimental factorial design was applied, using meiobenthic fauna collected from the Old Harbor of Bizerte (NE Tunisia), but with a main focus on the nematode communities. The meiobenthic invertebrates were exposed to two concentrations of Diltiazem and Bisoprolol, of 1.8 µg.L-1 and 1.8 mg.L-1, respectively, and one concentration of polyvinyl chloride (i.e. 20 mg.kg-1), separately and mixed. The overall meiofauna abundance was significantly reduced in all treatments, mainly that of polychaetes and amphipods. Moreover, the juveniles-gravid female ratios of the nematode communities were the lowest in the 1.8 µg.L-1 Bisoprolol treatment and for the 1.8 mg.L-1 mixture of Diltiazem and microplastics, suggesting that different dosages influence the maturity status of the examined species. The demographic results were also supported by in silico approach. The simulation of molecular interactions revealed acceptable binding affinities (up to −8.1 kcal/mol) and interactions with key residues in the germ line development protein 3 and sex-determining protein from Coenorhabditis elegans. Overall, the experimental outcome strongly indicates synergistic interactions among the beta-blockers Diltiazem and Bisoprolol and the microplastic polyvinyl chloride on marine nematode communities. [Display omitted] • Diltiazem and Bisoprolol were more toxic for nematodes than microplastics. • Mixtures of beta-blockers and microplastics induced high toxicity for nematodes. • 2B nematodes with clavate tails and cp4 life history are less present under stress. • Prochromadorella longicaudata seem to be a positive bioindicator of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging is a constant threat to crop productivity and ecological biodiversity. Plants face multiple challenges during waterlogging stress like metabolic reprogramming, hypoxia, nutritional depletion, reduction in gaseous exchange, pH modifications, microbiome alterations and disease promotion all of which threaten plants survival. Due to global warming and climatic change, the occurrence, frequency and severity of flooding has dramatically increased posing a severe threat to food security. Thus, developing innovative crop management technologies is critical for ensuring food security under changing climatic conditions. At present, the top priority among scientists is to find nature-based solutions to tackle abiotic or biotic stressors in sustainable agriculture in order to reduce climate change hazards to the environment. In this regard, utilizing plant beneficial microbiome is one of the viable nature based remedial tool for mitigating abiotic stressors like waterlogging. Beneficial microbiota provides plants multifaceted benefits which improves their growth and stress resilience. Plants recruit unique microbial communities to shield themselves against the deleterious effects of biotic and abiotic stress. In comparison to other stressors, there has been limited studies on how waterlogging stress affects plant microbiome structure and their functional traits. Therefore, it is important to understand and explore how waterlogging alters plant microbiome structure and its implications on plant survival. Here, we discussed the effect of waterlogging stress in plants and its microbiome. We also highlighted how waterlogging stress promotes pathogen occurrence and disease development in plants. Finally, we highlight the knowledge gaps and areas for future research directions on unwiring how waterlogging affects plant microbiome and its functional traits. This will pave the way for identifying resilient microbiota that can be engineered to promote their positive interactions with plants during waterlogging stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Tyagi, Ali, Mir, Sharma, Arpita, Almalki and Mir.)

Plants are an important source of essential bioactive compounds that not only have a beneficial role in human health and nutrition but also act as drivers for shaping gut microbiome. However, the mechanism of their functional attributes is not fully understood despite their significance. One such important plant is Crocus sativus , also known as saffron, which possesses huge medicinal, nutritional, and industrial applications like food and cosmetics. The importance of this plant is grossly attributed to its incredible bioactive constituents such as crocins, crocetin, safranal, picrocrocin, and glycosides. These bioactive compounds possess a wide range of therapeutic activities against multiple human ailments. Since a huge number of studies have revealed negative unwanted side effects of modern-day drugs, the scientific communities at the global level are investigating a large number of medicinal plants to explore natural products as the best alternatives. Taken into consideration, the available research findings indicate that saffron has a huge scope to be further explored to establish alternative natural-product-based drugs for health benefits. In this review, we are providing an update on the role of bioactive compounds of saffron as therapeutic agents (human disorders and antimicrobial activity) and its nutritional values. We also highlighted the role of omics and metabolic engineering tools for increasing the content of key saffron bioactive molecules for its mass production. Finally, pre-clinical and clinical studies seem to be necessary to establish its therapeutic potential against human diseases.

Nowadays, viruses are not only seen as causative agents of viral infectious diseases but also as valuable research materials for various biomedical purposes, including recombinant protein production. When expressed in living or cell-free expression systems, viral structural proteins self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). Mimicking the native form and size of viruses and lacking the genetic material, VLPs are safe and highly immunogenic and thus can be exploited to develop antiviral vaccines. Some vaccines based on VLPs against various infectious pathogens have already been licenced for human use and are available in the commercial market, the latest of which is a VLP-based vaccine to protect against the novel Coronavirus. Despite the success and popularity of VLP subunit vaccines, many more VLPs are still in different stages of design, production, and approval. There are still many challenges that require to be addressed in the future before this surface display system can be widely used as an effective vaccine strategy in combating infectious diseases. In this review, we highlight the use of structural viral proteins to produce VLPs, emphasising their intrinsic properties, structural classification, and main expression host systems. We also compiled the recent scientific literature about VLP-based vaccines to underline the recent advances in their application as a vaccine strategy for preventing and fighting virulent human pathogens. Finally, we presented the key challenges and possible solutions for VLP-based vaccine production., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a principal causative agent of viral myocarditis, meningitis and pancreatitis. There is no vaccine available for clinical use. It has been demonstrated that the primary molecular determinant of virulence phenotype is located in the 5' UTR of the viral genome. Translation initiation of CVB3 RNA is directed by the IRES element situated in the 5'UTR. In the present study, we analyse the effects of single point mutations introduced in different positions in the domain V of the IRES RNA of CVB3 wild type. We characterize in vitro virus replicative capacitiy and translation efficiency and we test in vivo virulence of different CVB3 mutants produced by the introduction of different mutations in the domain V of IRES by site-directed mutagenesis to abolish its structure. Our results demonstrate that all RNA mutants display different levels of decreased replication and translation initiation efficiency in vitro. The translation defect was correlated with significant reduced viral titer of mutant particles in comparison with the wild type. When inoculated in mice, mutant viruses were checked for inflammation and necrosis.In vitro and in vivo Findings strongly suggest that the most attenuated mutant strain could be considered a candidate for live-attenuated CVB3 vaccine., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) is suspected to be an environmental factor that has the intrinsic capacity to damage the pancreatic beta cells and therefore causes insulitis and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although vaccination against CV-B4 could reduce the incidence of this chronic auto-immune disease, there is currently no therapeutic reagent or vaccine in clinical use. By the employment of the Bac-to-Bac® vector system to express the major viral capsid protein, we contributed towards the development of a CV-B4 vaccine by producing CV-B4 virus-like particles (VLPs) from recombinant baculovirus in infected insect cells. In fact Western blot and Immunofluorescence analysis detected the viral protein 1 (VP1) in the cells resulting from the construction of a recombinant bacmid DNA carrying the key immunogenic protein then transfected in the insect cells. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation fractions of the infected cell lysates contained the recombinant protein and the electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of VLPs in these sucrose fractions. This study clearly shows for the first time the expression of CVB4 VP1 structure protein alone can form VLPs in the baculovirus-infected insect cell keeping conserved both characteristics and morphology.

Background: Natural products derived from marine microbes have more potential toward to treatment of various diseases. Among the microbes, the secondary metabolites recovered from the marine actinomycetes were more added values., Objective: A promising antimicrobial metabolite producing filamentous actinomycete SCA-7 recovered from Alkhobar marine region was investigated for its potential to inhibit Gram positive Enterococcus sp. In addition to the chemical characterization, the polyketide gene cluster of the actinomycete SCA-7 was sequenced., Results: Among the 8 actinomycetes isolated from the marine sample, the isolate SCA-7 produced significant antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus sp. The biochemical, physiological and morphological characteristics and fermentation assimilation pattern confirmed that the isolate belonged to the genus Streptomyces. The 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing results showed 99% sequence similarity to Streptomyces felleus. The antimicrobial activity of the crude ethyl acetate extract was performed by disc diffusion method. The spectral characterization was done by 13 C NMR and 1 H NMR. The compound was polyketide in nature. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the polyketide compound against Enterococcus sp. was 25μg/mL. Among the agro-industrial waste materials, wheat bran showed increased secondary metabolite production. Antibacterial activity was found to be high when the isolate SCA-7 was grown in wheat bran substrate and maximum zone of inhibition (22mm) was recorded in it. Among the carbon and nitrogen sources, lactose enhanced the production of secondary metabolites and the zone of inhibition against Enterococcus sp. was 25mm. The amplification and sequencing of the ketoacyl synthase gene clearly indicated that it was type I polyketide synthase (PKS) gene of Streptomyces species., Conclusion: Overall, the therapeutic drug molecule isolated from the marine Streptomyces species might be used for the treatment of disease causing microbial clinical pathogen., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through biological route plays an important role in their applications in the medical field, especially in the prevention of disease causing microbial pathogens and arresting the propagation of cancer cells. The stable, green synthesis of AgNPs is very much welcomed in the medical field because of their low toxicity. Therefore, the demands of AgNPs synthesised biologically is on the rise. The present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial mechanisms and anticancer properties of the AgNPs synthesized using the seed extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. The AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis, SEM, XRD, FTIR and EDAX analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the AgNPs were determined by the broth micro dilution method., Results: The formation of brownish red color indicated the formation NPs with the absorption maximum at 420 nm. The average size was found to be 33.93 nm and sphere shaped. The FTIR spectrum revealed the absorption bands at 3340 cm -1 and 1635 cm -1 indicated the presence of -OH or -COOH and amide group stretching in the AgNPs. The X-ray diffraction report confirmed the presence of strong peak values of 2θ within the angle of 37.1°. The lowest MIC of the AgNPs against Staphylococcus aureus was 62.5 μg mL -1 . MIC values against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, were 125 and 250 μg mL -1 respectively. The MIC of the AgNPs against Aspergillus flavus , Trichophyton rubrum and Trichoderma viridiae were each 250 μg mL -1 , respectively. The extracellular protein concentration, levels of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphtase enzyme in the AgNPs treated bacterial pathogens demonstrated greater antimicrobial mechanism. Additionally, the AgNPs exhibited significant anticancer activity against the MCF7 and Vero cell lines., Conclusion: The synthesized AgNPs could be further evaluated in large scale as a botanical antimicrobial agent.

Methanotrophic bacteria have a unique ability to utilize methane as their carbon and energy sources. Therefore, methanotrophs play a key role in suppressing methane emissions from different ecosystems and hence in alleviating the global climate change. Despite methanotrophs having many ecological, economical and biotechnological applications, little is known about this group of bacteria in Al-Ahsa. Therefore, the main objective of the current work was to expand our understanding of methane oxidizing bacteria in Al-Ahsa region. The specific aim was to describe a methanotrophic strain isolated from Al-Bohyriya well, Al-Ahsa using phenotypic, genotypic (such as 16S rRNA and pmoA gene sequencing) and phylogenetic characterization. The results indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Methylomonas that belongs to Gammaproteobacteria as revealed by the comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and pmoA genes. There is a general agreement in the profile of the phylogenetic trees based on the sequences of 16srRNA and pmoA genes of the strain BOH1 indicating that both genes are efficient taxonomic marker in methanotrophic phylogeny. The strain possesses the particulate but not the soluble methane monooxygenase as a key enzyme for methane metabolism. Further investigation such as DNA:DNA hybridization is needed to assign the strain as a novel species of the genus Methyomonas and this will open the door to explore the talents of the strain for its potential role in alleviating global warming and biotechnological applications in Saudi Arabia such as bioremediation of toxic by-products released in oil industry. In addition, the strain enhances our knowledge of methanotrophic bacteria and their adaptation to desert ecosystems.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the endophytic bacterial strain designated MSR1 that was isolated from inside the non-nodulating roots of Medicago sativa after surface-sterilization. MSR1 was identified as Enterobacter cloacae using both 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis and API20E biochemical identification system (Biomerieux, France). Furthermore, this bacterium was characterized using API50CH kit (Biomerieux, France) and tested for antibacterial activities against some food borne pathogens. The results showed that E. cloacae consumed certain carbohydrates such as glycerol, d-xylose, d-maltose and esculin melibiose as a sole carbon source and certain amino acids such as arginine, tryptophan ornithine as nitrogen source. Furthermore, MSR1 possessed multiple plant-growth promoting characteristics; phosphate solubility, production of phytohormones acetoin and bioactive compounds. Inoculation of Pisum sativum with MSR1 significantly improved the growth parameters (the length and dry weight) of this economically important grain legume compared to the non-treated plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report addressing E. cloacae which exist in roots of alfalfa growing in Al-Ahsaa region. The results confirmed that E. cloacae exhibited traits for plant growth promoting and could be developed as an eco-friendly biofertilizer for P. sativum and probably for other important plant species in future.