The association between sociodemographic, hormonal, tubo-ovarian factors and bacterial count in Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections with infertility

AbstractAim: To determine if there is an association between the Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections with socio-demographic and clinical factors, and also with infertility. Methods: We conducted a study on 100 infertile married women and 100 control group, and collected data on the socio-demographic, hormonal and tubo-ovarian factors. The results of the endocervical swabs were analyzed for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infection, the bacterial counts were also determined. Results: The percentage positivity to infection was significantly more among the infertile group compared to the control group, and also significantly more among the age group <30years old. The positivity for infection with Chlamydia and/or Mycoplasma was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion. Further sub-analysis of the infertile group showed that positivity to Chlamydia and/or Mycoplasma infection was significantly correlated to hormonal factors, ovarian factors, irregular menstruation, and previous abortion. Regression analysis showed that hormonal, ovarian factors, and irregular menstruation were the most significant factors in the positivity to Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection. Bacterial count was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion. Conclusion: Infection to Chlamydia and Mycoplasma is associated to younger age (⩽30years old), and occurs in the infertile women. There is an interplay between infection in younger women, irregular menstruation, hormonal, and tubo-ovarian factors with infertility. Bacterial count was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion

Comparative plasticity responses of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), Ion homeostasis and yield attributes in barley exposed to saline environment

Salinity is a major threat to agricultural productivity worldwide. The selection and evaluation of crop varieties that can tolerate salt stress are the main components for the rehabilitation of salt-degraded marginal soils. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate salinity tolerance potential, growth performance, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N), intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), harvest index, and yield stability attributes in six barley genotypes (113/1B, 59/3A, N1-10, N1-29, Barjouj, Alanda01) at three salinity levels (0, 7, and 14 dS m−1). The number of spikes m−2 was highest in Alanda01 (620.8) while the lowest (556.2) was exhibited by Barjouj. Alanda01 produced the highest grain yield (3.96 t ha−1), while the lowest yield was obtained in 59/3A (2.31 t ha−1). Genotypes 113/1B, Barjouj, and Alanda01 demonstrate the highest negative δ13C values (−27.10‰, −26.49‰, −26.45‰), while the lowest values were obtained in N1-29 (−21.63‰) under salt stress. The δ15N was increased (4.93‰ and 4.59‰) after 7 and 14 dS m−1 as compared to control (3.12‰). The iWUE was higher in N1-29 (144.5) and N1-10 (131.8), while lowest in Barjouj (81.4). Grain protein contents were higher in 113/1B and Barjouj than other genotypes. We concluded that salt tolerant barley genotypes can be cultivated in saline marginal soils for food and nutrition security and can help in the rehabilitation of marginal lands.King Saud University | Ref. RSP-2021/19

Antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and chemical composition of seaweeds collected from Saudi Arabia (Red Sea and Arabian Gulf)

AbstractThe present study demonstrates the antibacterial activity of selected brown and green marine algae collected from Saudi Arabia Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The methanolic and acetone extracts were tested against gram positive, gram negative bacteria and Candida albicans in an attempt to be used as an alternative to commonly used antibiotics. Both brown seaweed species Sargassum latifolium B and Sargassum platycarpum A methanolic extracts were found to be active against gram positive than gram negative; however, S. latifolium acetone extract gave the highest inhibitory activity against Salmonella sp. On the other hand, Cladophorasocialis organic extract demonstrated higher antibacterial activity than the fresh extract but both C. socialis extracts revealed decreased activity compared to Sargassum extracts. Cladophora methanolic extract showed an obvious effect on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The present work shows a comparable therapeutic potency of the tested seaweed members Sargassum and Cladophora extracts in treating human microbial pathogens to synthetic chemical antibiotics. A remarkable higher antioxidant DPPH free radical scavenging effect was recorded with Sargassum sp. compared to Cladophora sp.FTIR Infrared Spectrometer analysis together with the high performance liquid chromatography provided a detailed description of the possible functional constituents and the major chemical components present in marine macroalgae particularly in brown seaweeds to be mainly of phenolic nature to which the potent antimicrobial activity is being attributed

Characterization of Phytoconstituents from Alcoholic Extracts of Four Woody Species and Their Potential Uses for Management of Six Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Identified from Some Plant Hosts

Background: Trees are good sources of bioactive compounds as antifungal and antioxidant activities. Methods: Management of six molecularly identified Fusarium oxysporum isolates (F. oxy 1, F. oxy 2, F. oxy 3, F. oxy 4, F. oxy 5 and F. oxy 6, under the accession numbers MW854648, MW854649, MW854650, MW854651, and MW854652, respectively) was assayed using four extracts from Conium maculatum leaves, Acacia saligna bark, Schinus terebinthifolius wood and Ficus eriobotryoides leaves. All the extracts were analyzed using HPLC-VWD for phenolic and flavonoid compounds and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid (BCB) bleaching assays. Results: In mg/kg extract, the highest amounts of polyphenolic compounds p-hydroxy benzoic, benzoic, gallic, and rosmarinic acids, with 444.37, 342.16, 311.32 and 117.87, respectively, were observed in C. maculatum leaf extract; gallic and benzoic acids with 2551.02, 1580.32, respectively, in A. saligna bark extract; quinol, naringenin, rutin, catechol, and benzoic acid with 2530.22, 1224.904, 798.29, 732.28, and 697.73, respectively, in S. terebinthifolius wood extract; and rutin, o-coumaric acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, resveratrol, and rosmarinic acid with 9168.03, 2016.93, 1009.20, 1156.99, and 574.907, respectively, in F. eriobotryoides leaf extract. At the extract concentration of 1250 mg/L, the antifungal activity against the growth of F. oxysporum strains showed that A. saligna bark followed by C. maculatum leaf extracts had the highest inhibition percentage of fungal growth (IPFG%) against F. oxy 1 with 80% and 79.5%, F. oxy 2 with 86.44% and 78.9%, F. oxy 3 with 86.4% and 84.2%, F. oxy 4 with 84.2, and 82.1%, F. oxy 5 with 88.4% and 86.9%, and F. oxy 6 with 88.9, and 87.1%, respectively. For the antioxidant activity, ethanolic extract from C. maculatum leaves showed the lowest concentration that inhibited 50% of DPPH free radical (3.4 μg/mL). Additionally, the same extract observed the lowest concentration (4.5 μg/mL) that inhibited BCB bleaching. Conclusions: Extracts from A. saligna bark and C. maculatum leaves are considered potential candidates against the growth of F. oxysporum isolates—a wilt pathogen—and C. maculatum leaf as a potent antioxidant agent

Biodegradation mechanism of phenanthrene by halophilic hortaea sp. B15

This aim of the study is to investigate a halophilic bacterium Hortaea sp. B15, isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil for biodegradation of phenanthrene. Hortaea sp. B15 has the ability to completely degrade phenanthrene (100 mg/L) under salinity 10% within 1-week incubation. The metabolitic product of phenanthrene was identified and assayed by using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and mass spectral analysis. Result revealed that Hortaea sp. B15 metabolized phenanthrene to form 9,10-phenanthrene quinone, salicylic acid, and gentisic acid. Hortaea sp. B15 has an efficient utilization of phenanthrene in high-saline liquid medium. All the results indicated that the fungus has a promising application for the study of high-molecular-weight PAH biodegradation and contaminated saline-alkali soil bioremediation

Facile Synthesis, Characterization, Anti-Microbial and Anti-Oxidant Properties of Alkylamine Functionalized Dumb-Bell Shaped Copper-Silver Nanostructures

Admirable studies have been established on the utilization of ligand-materials as bimetallic nanoparticles in the field of nanoscience and biotechnology. UV-Vis, XRD, HR-TEM, STEM-HAADF, EDS, FTIR, and DPPH analyses characterized the optical, structural, compositional morphological, and antioxidant properties of synthesized Cu-Ag nanostructures. The spectrum of UV-Vis exhibited absorption bands at 590 and 413 nm, which reflects the surface plasmon resonance of copper-silver nanostructures. Herein, our exploration of alkylamine stabilized copper/silver nanostructures while using hexadecylamine as capping material and their primary biomedical investigation on antimicrobial and antioxidant studies is reported. Cu-Ag bimetallic nanostructures were more effective against gram-negative bacteria E. coli and Klebsiella when compared to gram-positive bacteria. The antioxidant activity of Cu-Ag nanoparticles was comparable with Ascorbic acid

Effects of humic acid fertilizer on the growth and microbial network stability of Panax notoginseng from the forest understorey

Abstract Humic acid (HA) can substantially enhance plant growth and improve soil health. Currently, the impacts of HA concentrations variation on the development and soil quality of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) from the forest understorey are still unclear. In this study, exogenous HA was administered to the roots of Sanqi at varying concentrations (2, 4, and 6 ml/L). Subsequently, the diversity and community structure of bacteria and fungi were assessed through high-throughput sequencing technology. The investigation further involved analyzing the interplay among the growth of sanqi, soil edaphic factors, and the microbial network stability. Our finding revealed that moderate concentrations (4 ml/L) of HA improved the fresh/dry weight of Sanqi and NO3 -−N levels. Compared with control, the moderate concentrations of HA had a notable impact on the bacterial and fungal communities compositions. However, there was no significant difference in the α and β diversity of bacteria and fungi. Moreover, the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bradyrhizobium) and harmful bacteria (Xanthobacteraceae) increased and decreased at 4 ml/L HA, respectively, while the bacterial and fungal network stability were enhanced. Structural equation model (SEM) revealed that the fresh weight of Sanqi and bacterial and fungal communities were the factors that directly affected the microbial network stability at moderate concentrations of HA. In conclusion, 4 ml/L of HA is beneficial for promoting Sanqi growth and soil quality. Our study provides a reference for increasing the yield of Sanqi and sustainable development of the Sanqi-pine agroforestry system

Bioinspired Green Synthesis of Bimetallic Iron and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Mushroom Extract and Use against <i>Aspergillus niger</i>; The Most Devastating Fungi of the Green World

In the current study, a macro fungus was collected and identified by using morphological and molecular tools to study the ITS region, which has been described as a universal barcode marker during molecular investigation for the identification of fungi. Based on morphology and molecular evidence, the collected fungus was identified as Daedalea Mushroom. The identified fungus was used for the synthesis of Iron and ZnO nanoparticles as an eco-friendly agent for nanoparticle synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticles were confirmed by, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM). All these characterizations revealed the synthesis of Iron and ZnO NPs with an irregular shape and a size of 16.8 nm. The zinc oxide nanoparticles had a size in the range of 18.53 nm. Daedalea Mushroom was used for the first time to synthesize Iron and zinc nanoparticles. The mycosynthesized Iron and ZnO NPs were assessed as control agents at various dosage rates against the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger, which was isolated from an apple and identified using its morphology. At higher concentrations (0.75 mg/mL), the iron nanoparticles inhibited fungal growth by 72%, whereas at lower concentrations (0.25 mg/mL), they inhibited fungal growth by 60%. ZnO NPs showed good antifungal activity at different concentrations including growth inhibition at 0.25 mg/mL (88%), 1.0 mg/mL (68%), 0.75 mg/mL (75%), and 0.5 mg/mL (70%) concentrations of ZnO NPs. However, the maximum growth inhibition of ZnO NPs was observed at 0.25 mg/mL (88%) concentration and minimum growth inhibition at 0.1 mg/mL (22%). The current study concludes that Daedalea Mushroom works as a novel and eco-friendly source for the synthesis of Iron and ZnO NPs with prominent antifungal activities that can be further applied in different fields