Isolation and preliminary characterization of a bacteriocin-producer Bacillus strain inhibiting methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In a multivalent approach to discover new antimicrobial substance, a total of 160 Bacilli were isolated from termitarium soil, characterized on the basis of their morphological and physiological characters and screened for their antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion method against certain drug resistant pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and common food contaminating bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. After preliminary screening, sixteen isolates showed inhibitory activity against test pathogens. Among them Bacillus isolate TSH58 exhibited maximum inhibitory activity against MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Based on morphological, physiological, biochemical and 16S rDNA characteristics isolate TSH58 was identified as a member of the Bacillus cereus species group. Various nutrient sources and culture conditions were optimized, the partially purified antimicrobial metabolite was subjected to various treatments such as heat, pH and proteolytic enzymes. Complete loss in the activity observed when the crude metabolite was treated with proteolytic enzymes suggesting its proteinaceous nature and termed as bacteriocin like inhibitory substance (BLIS). Minimal inhibitory concentration of the partially purified bacteriocin determined by microtiter plate assay was 80 μg/ml for MRSA and 40 μg/ml for L. monocytogenes. Tricine SDS PAGE analysis revealed that the partially purified bacteriocin produced by the Bacillus strain TSH58 had an apparent molecular weight of about 4.0 KDa

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Characterization of a plant-growth-promoting non-nodulating endophytic bacterium (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) from the root nodules of Mucuna utilis var. capitata L. (Safed Kaunch)

Nonrhizobial root nodule endophytic bacteria are known to have beneficial effects on host plants and are also considered contaminants or opportunists. They grow either individually or as a co-occupant of the root nodules of legumes. In this study, a nonrhizobial endophytic bacterial strain was isolated from the root nodules of the medicinal legume Mucuna utilis var. capitata L.; phenotypic, genotypic, and agricultural characterization was performed using a HiMedia kit and 16S rRNA sequencing. This strain showed tremendous seedling growth potential (30%), compared with the control, as well as a strong antagonistic nature against the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium udum when plant growth parameters were analyzed. The strain, identified by 16S rRNA as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, showed a multitude of plant-growth-promoting attributes both direct (IAA, phosphate solubilization) and indirect (ACC deaminase, siderophore) and enhanced the growth of host plant in field trials. This is the first report of the plant-growth-promoting potential of this endophytic bacterium from the nodules of M. utilis var. capitata L.; hence, it has potential for use in various biotechnological applications in various industries.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Antibacterial effect of butyryl alkannin from <i>Arnebia euchroma</i> against vancomycin-resistant pathogens of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> causing urinary tract infections

<div><p>This study was carried out to investigate the biomedicinal potential of a bioactive marker component, butyryl alkannin, isolated from <i>n</i>-hexane root extract of <i>Arnebia euchroma</i> against various vancomycin-resistant <i>Enterococcus</i> (VRE) isolates of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> causing urinary tract infections. As a result, butyryl alkannin showed significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant <i>E. faecalis</i> pathogens of VRE as minimum inhibitory concentration values which were found in the range of 3.13 to 6.26 μg ml^− 1. The findings of this study justify biological and biomedicinal potential of butyryl alkannin compound as confirmed by its higher and significant antibacterial efficacy against VRE isolates of <i>E. faecalis</i> as compared to standard antibiotic vancomycin.</p></div

Combined effects of rhizo-competitive rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere Bacillus in plant growth promotion and yield improvement of Eleusine coracana (Ragi)

This study emphasizes the beneficial role of rhizo-competitive Bacillus spp. isolated from rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil in plant growth promotion and yield improvement via nitrogen fixation and biocontrol of Sclerotium rolfsii causing foot rot disease in Eleusine coracana (Ragi). The selection of potent rhizobacteria was based on plant-growth-promoting attributes using Venn set diagram and Bonitur scale. Bacillus pumilus MSTA8 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MSTD26 were selected because they were effective in root colonization, rhizosphere competence, and biofilm formation using root exudates of E. coracana L. rich with carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids. The relative chemotaxis index of the isolates expressed the invasive behavior of the rhizosphere. During pot and field trials, the consortium of the rhizobacteria in a vermiculite carrier increased the grain yield by 37.87%, with a significant harvest index of 16.45. Soil analysis after the field trial revealed soil reclamation potentials to manage soil nutrition and fertility. Both indexes ensured crop protection and production in eco-safe ways and herald commercialization of Bacillus bio-inoculant for improvement in crop production and disease management of E. coracana.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION AND SPACE UTILIZATION: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Land use optimization is a major concern as the world\u27s population grows at an exponential rate. Surface land is already being depleted at an alarming pace. As a result, buildings can be constructed safely underground, allowing for more productive land use. The primary goal of this paper is to perform a bibliometric review of the literature related to Underground Construction in order to determine the growth of Underground Construction as a method of energy or land optimization in recent years. Between 1975 and 2020 is the time span considered for this survey. The results of the Scopus database are the primary subject of bibliometric research in this article. External tools such as iMapBuilder and VOSviewer are used to visualise data. The research is intended to show the need for Underground Construction in the modern world. The study\u27s findings highlight the scarcity of underground construction research and the need for additional research. The findings of this study are made possible by a method for systematic research in underground construction