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Glucose isomerase (GI), an enzyme with deserved high potential in the world market. GI plays a major role in high Fructose Corn Syrup Production (HFCS). HFCS is used as a sweetener in food and pharmaceutical industries. Streptomyces are well-known producers of various industrially valuable enzymes, including Glucose isomerase. Currently, recombinant strains have been available for the production of various enzymes, but it has limitation in the large scale production. Therefore, identifying effective streptomyces strains have emerged. The current study, the novel S. lividans RSU26 was isolated from a marine source and optimized its potential to produce glucose isomerase at different physical and chemical conditions. The optimum pH and temperature for GI and biomass production were 7.5 and 35 °C, respectively at 96 h. Characterization study revealed that the approximate molar mass of GI was 43 kDa for monomeric and 170 kDa for tetrameric forms. Kinetic behavior exhibits Km, and Vmax values for the conversion of fructose to glucose conversion were 48.8 mM and 2.54 U mg−1 at 50 °C and glucose to fructose were 29.4 mM and 2.38 U mg−1 at 65 °C protein, respectively. Therefore, the present study suggested that the wild–type S. lividans RSU26 has strong potential to produce glucose isomerase for various industrial applications. Keywords: Streptomyces, Glucose isomerase, Optimization, Purification, Kinetics

The present study aimed to explore the anticancer potentials of the gold nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by green synthesis method using an endophytic strain Fusarium solani ATLOY – 8 has been isolated from the plant Chonemorpha fragrans. The formation of the NPs was analyzed by UV, FTIR, SEM and XRD. The synthesized NPs showed pink-ruby red colors and high peak plasmon band was observed between 510 and 560 nm. It is observed that intensity of absorption steadily increases the wavelength and band stabilizes at 551 nm. The XRD pattern revealed the angles at 19, 38.32, 46.16, 57.50, and 76.81° respectively. Interestingly, the FTIR band absorption noted at 1413 cm−1, 1041 cm−1 and 690 cm−1 ascribed the presence of amine II bands of protein, C-N and C-H stretching vibrations of the nanoparticles. SEM analysis indicated that the average diameter of the synthesized nanoparticles was between 40 and 45 nm. These NPs showed cytotoxicity on cervical cancer cells (He La) and against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and the NPs exhibited dose dependent cytotoxic effect. IC50 value was 0.8 ± 0.5 μg/mL on MCF-7 cell line and was found to be 1.3 ± 0.5 μg/mL on MCF-7 cell lines. The synthesized NPs induced apoptosis on these cancer cell lines. The accumulation of apoptotic cells decreased in sub G0 and G1 phase of cell cycle in the MCF-7 cancer cells were found to be 55.13%, 52.11% and 51.10% after 12 h exposure to different concentrations. The results altogether provide an apparent and versatile biomedical application for safer chemotherapeutic agent with little systemic toxicity. Keywords: Chonemorpha fragrans, Camptothecin, Fusarium solani, Cytotoxicity, Cell cycle, DAPI staining

Environmental challenges like drought, salinity, heavy metals and pesticides directly/indirectly influence the environment and decreased the agricultural output. During its long developmental stages, cereal crops including wheat is exposed to a variety of abiotic/biotic stressors. Certain beneficial soil bacteria that can ameliorate environmental stresses can be exploited as crop growth promoters/enhancers under adverse situations. In this study, Beijerinckia fluminensis BFC-33 (accession no. MT672580) isolated from potato rhizosphere tolerated variousabiotic (drought, salinity, temperature, heavy metals, and fungicides) stresses. Strain BFC-33 demonstrated multifarious plant-growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics, such as the production of indole-3-acetic acid, P-solubilization, ACC deaminase, ammonia, siderophore, HCN, EPS, and extracellular enzymes. The antagonistic potential of BFC-33 against major fungal pathogens was ranked: Alternaria alternata (79.2%)Rhizoctonia solani (69%)Fusarium oxysporum (23.5%)Ustilaginoidea virens (17%). Furthermore, bacterization of wheat seeds witha multi-stress-tolerant strain revealed B. fluminensis as a plant growth enhancer and biocontrol agent. For instance, increase in root length (cm) in BFC-33 inoculated wheat exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses at the seedling stage was ranked: B. fluminensis (24.2)B. fluminensis + 100μgTBZLmL

The present study describes the enhanced photodegradation of organic pollutant dyes, congo red (CR) and rhodamine B (RhB) dyes under visible light irradiation. AgIO

Bali is a world tourist destination and has many natural resources that need to be developed to support the tourism sector. One of the local Bali resources that has the potential to be developed to support tourism and food is the local red Bali rice. This local Balinese rice is a characteristic of the ecotourism area of the Jatiluwih village of Tabanan, Bali. Balinese rice is grown with inorganic pesticides and there is an urgent need to develop organic pesticides as a sustainable approach to rice farming. In this regard, extracts of piper plants can serve as the best and greenest biopesticides as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and compost functions as organic fertilizer. The present research aimed to evaluate PGPR, compost, and the synergistic biopesticidal effects of extracts of three piper plants, namely Piper caninum, Piper betle var. Nigra, and Piper betle, against blast disease in Bali red rice plants. The results showed that the synergistic action of PGPR, compost, and crude extract of piper plant provided an inhibitory activity against blast disease in rice plants where the greatest inhibition was found in a mixture of the three extracts with an inhibition of 50 cm. This shows that the mixed compounds of the three piper extracts work synergistically in suppressing blast disease, in addition, PGPR also exhibited a positive impact on the growth of red rice because PGPR produce growth hormones and various antifungal metabolites that help the plant growth and induce systemic resistance against phytopathogens. The active principles were identified as citronella, trans-geraniol, and 4.6-dipropyl-nonan-5-one. A combination of these extracts with compost and PGPR showed potential antifungal activity against blast disease at a concentration of 2%. This application also promoted the growth of Bali red rice. There is a significant increase in the number of leaves and the number of tillers, where the height is inversely proportional to the higher the extract up to 2%, as the height of the red Bali rice plant decreases. This is good because it reduces the red Bali rice stalks’ possibility of falling during small production. The piper extract mixture at a concentration of 2% had the highest effect on grain production/tonne (6.59 tonne/ha) compared to the control at only 3.21–3.41 tonnes/ ha. The 2% concentration of the extracts from the mixture of the three pipers has the highest effect on growth and red Bali rice production, and provides the greatest obstacle to the intensity of blast disease in red Bali rice.

A strain of Lysinibacillus, isolated from spoiled fruits and vegetable wastes, was found having an inhibitory effect against foodborne pathogens. Subjected to study of different physico-chemical parameters followed by characterization based on the 16S rRNA gene, it was found exhibiting resemblance to L. boronitolerans (99%), L. xylanilyticus (98%) and L. macroides (97%) respectively. The isolate was annotated as Lysinibacillus JX402121 and found that the production capacity of the specific product recognized as bacteriocin during growth in medium the bacteriocin was further purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by gel filtration chromatography. MALDI-TOF/MS analysis of the substance revealed it to be a 51 kDa bacteriocin, showing greater resemblance with a catalytic bacterial protein, uracil-5-methyl transferase. Based on the physico-chemical characteristics and N-terminal (IKKAPVQKNENYEV) sequence, this novel bacteriocin was found representing a class III bacteriocin. This was found highly active against foodborne bacterial pathogens, Bacillus pumilus (MIC-22 μg/mL), which is responsible for pumilacidins like food toxin. Having great potential against foodborne pathogens, Lysinibacillus JX402121 isolate will be utilized in the production of bacteriocin that acts as a bio-preservative agent against different food-borne pathogens.

The present study was aimed to test cholesterol reduction and vitamin B12 production abilities of the isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Three LAB isolates, namely, Enterococcus faecium (EF), Enterococcus faecium (Chole1), and Lactobacillus pentosus (7MP), having probiotic potential, were isolated from yoghurt. These isolates were screened for bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, cholesterol reduction property in MRS broth, and the production of vitamin B12. The present study revealed that the isolate 7MP possesses the highest potential of (48%) cholesterol reduction compared to the other isolates. The isolates EF and Chole1 produced a good amount of (1 ng/mL) vitamin B12. These isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and confirmed by MALD_TOF analysis. Thus, the use of these LAB isolates for yoghurt-making can offer the value addition of lowering cholesterol and vitamin B12 fortification in fermented food.

Due to the presence of various organic contaminants, improper disposal of pulp-paper wastewater poses harm to the environment and human health. In this work, pulp-paper sludge (PPS) after secondary treatment were collected from M/s Century Pulp-paper Mills in India, the chemical nature of the organic pollutants was determined after solvent extraction. All the isolates were able to produce lipase (6.34–3.93 U ml− 1) which could account for the different fatty acids detected in the PPS. The dominant strains were in the classes of α and γ Proteobacteria followed by Firmicutes. The Shannon-Weiner diversity indexes for phylotype richness for the culturable and non-culturable bacterial community were 2.01 and 3.01, respectively, indicating the non- culturable bacterial strains has higher species richness and diversity compared to the culturable bacterial strains. However, the culturable strains had higher species evenness (0.94 vs 0.90). Results suggested only a few isolated strains were resistant to the POPs in the PPS, whereas non-cultural bacteria survived by entering viable but non-cultural state. The isolated strains (Brevundimonas diminuta, Aeromonas punctata, Enterobacter hormaechei, Citrobacter braakii, Bacillus pumilus and Brevundimonas terrae) are known for their multidrug resistance but their tolerance to POPs have not previously been reported and deserved further investigation. The findings of this research established the presence of POPs which influence the microbial population. Tertiary treatment is recommended prior to the safe disposal of pulp paper mill waste into the environment.

Expanding applications of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and increased environmental deposition of NPs followed by their interactions with edible crops threaten yields. This study demonstrates the effects of aging (45 days in soil) of four NPs (ZnO, CuO, Al2O3, TiO2; 3.9–34 nm) and their corresponding metal oxide bulk particles (BPs; 144–586 nm) on cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivated in sandy-clay-loam field soil and compares these with the phytotoxic effects of readily soluble metal salts (Zn2+, Cu2+, and Al3+). Data revealed the cell-to-cell translocations of NPs, their attachments to outer and inner cell surfaces, nuclear membranes, and vacuoles, and their upward movements to aerial parts. Metal bioaccumulations in cucumbers were found in the order: (i) ZnO-NPs > ZnO-BPs > Zn2+, (ii) CuO-NPs > CuO-BPs > Cu2+, (iii) Al3+> Al2O3-NPs > Al2O3-BPs and (iv) TiO2-NPs > TiO2-BPs. Aging of NPs in soil for 45 days significantly enhanced metal uptake (P ≤ 0.05), for instance aged ZnO-NPs at 1 g kg−1 increased the uptake by 20.7 % over non-aged ZnO-NPs. Metal uptakes inhibited root (RDW) and shoot (SDW) dry weight accumulations. For Cu species, maximum negative impact (%) was exhibited by Cu2+ (RDW:SDW = 94:65) followed by CuO-NPs (RDW:SDW = 78:34) and CuO-BPs (RDW:SDW = 27:22). Aging of NPs/BPs at 1–4 g kg−1 further enhanced the toxic impact of tested materials on biomass accumulations and chlorophyll formation. NPs also induced membrane damage of root tissues and enhanced levels of antioxidant enzymes. The results of this study suggest that care is required when aged metal-oxide NPs of both essential (Zn and Cu) and non-essential (Al and Ti) metals interact with cucumber plants, especially, when they are used for agricultural purposes.

Expanding applications of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in industry and agriculture have influenced agro-ecosystems. However, relatively little is known about the bioaccumulation, distribution, and phytotoxicity of ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, ZnO-bulk, CuO-bulk, Zn2+, or Cu2+ in maize. Plants were exposed to 0.05-2 mg ml-1 or g-1 of six tested materials in agar (7 days) in hydroponic medium (20 days), or sandy-clay-loam soil (20 or 40 days). Seed germination, emergence and lengths of plumules, principal and seminal roots were significantly inhibited by ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, Zn2+, and Cu2+. Toxicity was more pronounced in hydroponic culture than in soil, and perceptible alterations in biomolecules were evident. ICP-MS analysis exhibited progressive uptake of metals while morphological, elemental, and surface/deeper scanning showed translocation and distribution of NPs in tissues. Tested materials induced enhanced superoxide radical production, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes and proline levels. Exposure significantly reduced P-accumulation, photosynthesis, and protein production. Zn2+ and Cu2+ were found to be more toxic than NPs. Compared to 20 days exposure in soil, toxicity slightly increased after 40 days. ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs increased apoptotic sub-G1 population by 22.4% and 38%, respectively. These results provide a better understanding of the mechanistic aspects responsible for the nanotoxicities of ZnO- and CuO-NPs in maize.

In the present work, CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid was synthesized by sono-chemical method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and BET surface area analyzer were used to characterize the structure and optical properties of CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid. The HRTEM image represents the formation of CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid with clear facets and narrow size range. The XRD results showed that CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid composed of combined phases of CaWO4 and Ag2MoO4. A red-shift was observed in the optical absorption of nanohybrid after loading Ag2MoO4 on CaWO4. The photodegradation of MB by CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid (91.4%) showed excellent performance when compared with the pure Ag2MoO4 (59.6%) and CaWO4 (14.3%) under visible light. The scavenging test revealed that the key species responsible for the degradation of MB dye was hydroxide radical (•OH). The degradation of MB was well fitted to the pseudo-first-order kinetics with a high regression coefficient value (R2 > 0.95). The photostability and reusability of the nanohybrid was studied and the nanohybrid showed almost same degradation efficiency even at 6th cycle. The nanohybrid showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, CaWO4/Ag2MoO4 nanohybrid photocatalyst can be used as an effective candidate for environmental remediation through photocatalysis and bactericidal applications.

The unreported Bi6Cr2O15-Co3O4 nano-photocatalyst was prepared via facile sono-chemical route for the fabrication of a binary heterojunction. HRTEM analysis represents the spherical and rod-like morphology of Bi6Cr2O15-Co3O4. UV–vis DRS showed bandgap shift from 1.95 eV (Bi6Cr2O15) and 2.67 eV (Co3O4) to 2.25 eV for Bi6Cr2O15-Co3O4 with visible-light sensitization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the chemical states (Co2p, Cr2p, Bi4f and O1s). The dye degradation efficiency of Bi6Cr2O15-Co3O4 was highly boosted up to 3.8–8.8 times and the kinetic rate constant was 0.0062 min−1 compared with pristine counter parts (Bi6Cr2O15 = 0.0016 min−1; Co3O4 = 0.0007 min−1). The remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to its higher specific surface area (27.118 m2/g) and the existence of a synergic effect between pristine counter parts that resulted in suitable bandgap and reduced recombination of e-/h+ pairs. The Bi2CrO6-Co3O4 showed only negligible reduction in degradation performance after six recycles showing its excellent stability and resistance to photo-corrosion. The ·OH and h+ were the key species involved in dye degradation. The Bi6Cr2O15-Co3O4 exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, Bi6Cr2O15 decorated Co3O4 nano-photocatalyst can be used as an effective candidate for environmental remediation through photocatalysis and for bactericidal applications.

Novel CoS/Ag2WO4 photocatalyst have been synthesized successfully by facile chemical precipitation method under normal pressure. The prepared nano photocatalysts were characterized with UV–vis DRS, TEM, XRD, PL, Raman spectroscopy, EDAX, N2 adsorption-desorption, XPS and FT-IR. The present work describes the enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of CoS/Ag2WO4 nanocomposites (NCs). The K value for MB degradation was 0.089 min−1 by CoS/Ag2WO4 which was 8.9 and 3.1 times greater when compared with 0.01 min−1 by Ag2WO4 and 0.028 min−1 by CoS respectively. The broad-spectrum antibacterial property was exhibited by NCs against gram-ve (E. coli) and gram +ve (B. subtilis) bacteria. The NCs showed enhanced photostability and reusability even after six cycles. The scavenging test confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (OH•) were the major species involved in photocatalytic degradation process under visible light irradiation. The results of the present study can be applied in practical application in the area of photocatalysis and antimicrobial applications.

The biochar is a solid carbon-rich, porous material produced by the thermochemical conversion of a diverse range of biomass feedstocks under an inert atmosphere (i.e., in the absence of oxygen). We can produce the biochar at all likely scales, ranging from the industrial to the domestic level and even at individual farms, thus, the biochar industry is leading as a most appropriate at different socioeconomic settings. The possibility of sustainable biochar production practices and multi-functionality features make it a promising candidate to fulfill an increasing demand in the fields of soil amendment, agricultural sustainability, environmental protection, cutting-edge materials, and to achieve circular bioeconomy and mitigation of climate change. An available fraction of waste biomass (agroforestry waste, biomass crops, agricultural residues, mill residues, and animal manure, and many more) can be used efficiently in pyrolysis and converted into desired biochar materials, besides this alternative energy products, such as syngas, bio-oil, electricity generation, and process heat. This report emphasizes the fate of biomass composition, pyrolysis mechanisms, and applications of modern analytical and characterization techniques that are being adopted, applied, and standardized to improve understandings of molecular, structural, and surface properties characteristics of biochar. To achieve precisely designed biochar, there is a need to understand the latest advances in biochar materialization mechanisms and structure-application relationships to speed up their agronomic applications and to achieve a zero-waste dream. This report also summarizes a wide range of literature published on feedstocks, pyrolysis, and biochar and suggests several practical recommendations appropriate to implement and bring together specific details on the thermochemical conversion of biomass, desired biochar properties, organic and inorganic phases, and the significance to the agronomic applications.

Glucose encapsulated cadmium oxide nanoparticles (G-CdO NPs) were synthesized by a sol-gel method. An array of different physical methods was used to characterize G-CdO NPs, including ultra violet-visible spectroscopy (λMax - 275 nm), transmission electron microscopy (TEM; 17 ± 1 nm), and zeta potential (−8.24 ± 0.4 mV) analyses. The NPs were active against HeLa cells (IC50 - 31.58 μg/mL) and Saos-2 cells (IC50 - 12.51 μg/mL) by preventing glycation (early, 95%; late, 65%). G-CdO NPs were effective anti-glycating agents and were highly effective against advanced glycation end products in particular. Localization of G-CdO NPs in the mitochondria and nuclei of cells was confirmed by TEM. Reactive oxygen species generated in the treated cells (confirmed by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate based assay) caused disintegration of mitochondrial cristae, disruption of the membrane integrity, and condensation and degradation of the nuclei. The LD50 of G-CdO NPs on Swiss Albino mice was 1.432 mg/kg of body weight. The results indicate the potential therapeutic value of G-CdO NPs.