Soil Microbial Communities and Mineralization Responses to Penicillin and Tetracycline Loads

ABSTRACT Residual effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics on soil microorganisms and turnover processes have merely been investigated. Therefore, this study explored the possible toxic effects of penicillin and tetracycline on indigenous bacterial communities and nitrogen mineralization in soil. Concentrations of 10 and 100 mg.kg -1 of penicillin and tetracycline antibiotics in soil affected the microbial community. The effect became apparent by a small tolerance increase and change in the phospholipids fatty acid (PLFA) pattern. The PLFA content revealed that most of the microbial groups decreased, while some specific microbial groups, e.g., 18:1ω9c, did not change in the soils even when soils were exposed to high concentrations of penicillin and tetracycline. Both antibiotics reduced the concentration of ammonium significantly, but that of nitrate was affected slightly. It was concluded that even at higher concentration, pharmaceutical antibiotics exert only a temporary pressure on soil microorganisms and selective processes in nitrogen turnover were negatively influenced

Spatio-Temporal Variation in the Phyllospheric Microbial Biodiversity of Alternaria Alternata-Infected Tobacco Foliage

Phyllospheric microbial composition of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is contingent upon certain factors, such as the growth stage of the plant, leaf position, and cultivar and its geographical location, which influence, either directly or indirectly, the growth, overall health, and production of the tobacco plant. To better understand the spatiotemporal variation of the community and the divergence of phyllospheric microflora, procured from healthy and diseased tobacco leaves infected by Alternaria alternata, the current study employed microbe culturing, high-throughput technique, and BIOLOG ECO. Microbe culturing resulted in the isolation of 153 culturable fungal isolates belonging to 33 genera and 99 bacterial isolates belonging to 15 genera. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the phyllosphere of tobacco was dominantly colonized by Ascomycota and Proteobacteria, whereas, the most abundant fungal and bacterial genera were Alternaria and Pseudomonas. The relative abundance of Alternaria increased in the upper and middle healthy groups from the first collection time to the third, whereas, the relative abundance of Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Methylobacterium from the same positions increased during gradual leaf aging. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDs) showed clustering of fungal communities in healthy samples, while bacterial communities of all diseased and healthy groups were found scattered. FUNGuild analysis, from the first collection stage to the third one in both groups, indicated an increase in the relative abundance of Pathotroph-Saprotroph, Pathotroph-Saprotroph-Symbiotroph, and Pathotroph-Symbiotroph. Inclusive of all samples, as per the PICRUSt analysis, the predominant pathway was metabolism function accounting for 50.03%. The average values of omnilog units (OUs) showed relatively higher utilization rates of carbon sources by the microbial flora of healthy leaves. According to the analysis of genus abundances, leaf growth and leaf position were the important drivers of change in structuring the microbial communities. The current findings revealed the complex ecological dynamics that occur in the phyllospheric microbial communities over the course of a spatiotemporal varying environment with the development of tobacco brown spots, highlighting the importance of community succession

Peach–potato aphid myzus persicae : current management strategies, challenges, and proposed solutions

The peach–potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is one of the most important pests of economic crops. It damages the plant directly by consuming nutrients and water and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses. This pest has the unenviable title of having resistance to more insecticides than any other herbivorous insect pest. Due to the development of its resistance to chemical pesticides, it is necessary to find other control options. Consequently, increased efforts worldwide have been undertaken to develop new management approaches for M. persicae. In this review, we highlight the problems associated with the peach–potato aphid, its economic importance, and current management approaches. This review also describes the challenges with current management approaches and their potential solutions, with special focus given to the evolution of insecticidal resistance and sustainable pest management strategies, such as biocontrol agents, entomopathogens, the use of natural plant-derived compounds, and cultural methods. Furthermore, this review provides some successful approaches from the above eco-friendly pest management strategies that show high efficacy against M. persicae.The Sino-Pakistan Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Program, the Research Fund for International Young Scientists, a project of Zhejiang University Excellent Teaching Post B (Professional), the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, China, and the Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Highly Efficient Utilization of Forestry Biomass Resources in Southwest China.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainabilityam2024Zoology and EntomologySDG-02:Zero Hunge

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

Prediction and analysis of metagenomic operons via MetaRon: a pipeline for prediction of Metagenome and whole-genome opeRons

Background: Efficient regulation of bacterial genes in response to the environmental stimulus results in unique gene clusters known as operons. Lack of complete operonic reference and functional information makes the prediction of metagenomic operons a challenging task; thus, opening new perspectives on the interpretation of the host-microbe interactions. Results: In this work, we identified whole-genome and metagenomic operons via MetaRon (Metagenome and whole-genome opeRon prediction pipeline). MetaRon identifies operons without any experimental or functional information. MetaRon was implemented on datasets with different levels of complexity and information. Starting from its application on whole-genome to simulated mixture of three whole-genomes (E. coli MG1655, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and Bacillus subtilis str. 16), E. coli c20 draft genome extracted from chicken gut and finally on 145 whole-metagenome data samples from human gut. MetaRon consistently achieved high operon prediction sensitivity, specificity and accuracy across E. coli whole-genome (97.8, 94.1 and 92.4%), simulated genome (93.7, 75.5 and 88.1%) and E. coli c20 (87, 91 and 88%,), respectively. Finally, we identified 1,232,407 unique operons from 145 paired-end human gut metagenome samples. We also report strong association of type 2 diabetes with Maltose phosphorylase (K00691), 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononate 9-phosphate synthase (K21279) and an uncharacterized protein (K07101). Conclusion: With MetaRon, we were able to remove two notable limitations of existing whole-genome operon prediction methods: (1) generalizability (ability to predict operons in unrelated bacterial genomes), and (2) whole-genome and metagenomic data management. We also demonstrate the use of operons as a subset to represent the trends of secondary metabolites in whole-metagenome data and the role of secondary metabolites in the occurrence of disease condition. Using operonic data from metagenome to study secondary metabolic trends will significantly reduce the data volume to more precise data. Furthermore, the identification of metabolic pathways associated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) also presents another dimension of analyzing the human gut metagenome. Presumably, this study is the first organized effort to predict metagenomic operons and perform a detailed analysis in association with a disease, in this case type 2 diabetes. The application of MetaRon to metagenomic data at diverse scale will be beneficial to understand the gene regulation and therapeutic metagenomics. © 2021, The Author(s).Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Inoculation with the endophyte Piriformospora indica significantly affects mechanisms involved in osmotic stress in rice

Abstract Background Rice is a drought susceptible crop. A symbiotic association between rice and mycorrhizal fungi could effectively protect the plant against sudden or frequent episodes of drought. Due to its extensive network of hyphae, the endophyte is able to deeply explore the soil and transfer water and minerals to the plant, some of them playing an important role in mitigating the effects of drought stress. Moreover, the endophyte could modify the expression of drought responsive genes and regulate antioxidants. Results Three rice genotypes, WC-297 (drought tolerant), Caawa (moderately drought tolerant) and IR-64 (drought susceptible) were inoculated with Piriformospora indica (P. indica), a dynamic endophyte. After 20 days of co-cultivation with the fungus, rice seedlings were subjected to 15% polyethylene glycol-6000 induced osmotic stress. P. indica improved the growth of rice seedlings. It alleviated the destructive effects of the applied osmotic stress. This symbiotic association increased seedling biomass, the uptake of phosphorus and zinc, which are functional elements for rice growth under drought stress. It boosted the chlorophyll fluorescence, increased the production of proline and improved the total antioxidant capacity in leaves. The association with the endophyte also up regulated the activity of the Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), which is critical for the synthesis of proline. Conclusion A mycorrhizal association between P. indica and rice seedlings provided a multifaceted protection to rice plants under osmotic stress (− 0.295 MPa)

Modulation of Key Physio-Biochemical and Ultrastructural Attributes after Synergistic Application of Zinc and Silicon on Rice under Cadmium Stress

Excessive industrialization and the usage of pesticides plague the farming soils with heavy metals, reducing the quality of arable land. Assessing phytoavailability of cadmium (Cd) from growth medium to plant system is crucial and necessitates precise and timely monitoring of Cd to ensure food safety. Zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) have singularly demonstrated the potential to ameliorate Cd toxicity and are important for agricultural production, human health, and environment in general. However, Zn-Si interaction on Cd toxicity alleviation, their effects and underlying mechanisms are still fragmentarily understood. Seven treatments were devised besides control to evaluate the single and combined effects of Zn and Si on the physio-biochemical attributes and ultrastructural fingerprints of Cd-treated rice genotypes, i.e., Cd tolerant “Xiushui-110” and Cd sensitive “HIPJ-1”. Supplementation of both Zn and Si promoted plant biomass, photosynthetic parameters, ionic balance, and improved chloroplast ultrastructure with minimized Cd uptake and malondialdehyde (MDA) content due to the activation of antioxidant enzymes in Cd stressed plants. The combined effects of 10 μM Zn and 15 μM Si on 15 μM Cd displayed a greater reduction in Cd uptake and root-leaf MDA content, while enhancing photosynthetic activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and root-leaf ultrastructure particularly in HIPJ-1, whilst Xiushui-110 had an overall higher leaf catalase (CAT) activity and a higher root length and shoot height was observed in both genotypes compared to the Cd 15 µM treatment. Alone and combined Zn and Si alleviation treatments reduced Cd translocation from the root to the stem for HIPJ-1 but not for Xiushui-110. Our results confer that Zn and Si singularly and in combination are highly effective in reducing tissue Cd content in both genotypes, the mechanism behind which could be the dilution effect of Cd due to improved biomass and competitive nature of Zn and Si, culminating in Cd toxicity alleviation. This study could open new avenues for characterizing interactive effects of simultaneously augmented nutrients in crops and provide a bench mark for crop scientists and farmers to improve Cd tolerance in rice

Comparative Study on the Physio-Biochemical Responses of Spring and Winter Barley Genotypes under Vernalized and Greenhouse Conditions

In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding, heading date is one of the most important agricultural traits that is essential for the completion of its life cycle. Certain endogenous and environmental factors regulate floral transition, morphing the complex genetic mechanism of the heading phase, which could serve as a premise of orchestration for improved yields. To elaborate the network of genetic and environmental signals, a hydroponic experiment was carried out using two spring (i.e., DM65 and DM70) and two winter barley genotypes (i.e., DM269 and DM385). Our results confirmed that the vernalized environment produced a substantial reduction in plant height, biomass and photosynthetic activity compared with the control plants. A noticeable increase in oxidative stress was exhibited by DM65 and DM70 plants compared with their respective controls at 20 °C, while no significant difference was observed for any genotype grown in the greenhouse (25 °C). Simultaneously, increased antioxidant enzyme activity in winter barley genotypes showed a defensive mechanism under vernalized conditions (4 °C). Furthermore, the expression of key regulatory flowering genes revealed that the vernalization gene (HvVRN1) is the key regulator of floral induction after cold exposure, whereas Photoperiod Response Locus 1 (HvPpd-H1) had significantly higher expression under greenhouse conditions, along with Phytochrome C (HvPHY-C), validating their involvement as upstream heading time regulators. These findings contribute to enriching the study of environmental signals that substantially modulate the complex mechanism of barley heading date

Comparative Study on the Physio-Biochemical Responses of Spring and Winter Barley Genotypes under Vernalized and Greenhouse Conditions

In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding, heading date is one of the most important agricultural traits that is essential for the completion of its life cycle. Certain endogenous and environmental factors regulate floral transition, morphing the complex genetic mechanism of the heading phase, which could serve as a premise of orchestration for improved yields. To elaborate the network of genetic and environmental signals, a hydroponic experiment was carried out using two spring (i.e., DM65 and DM70) and two winter barley genotypes (i.e., DM269 and DM385). Our results confirmed that the vernalized environment produced a substantial reduction in plant height, biomass and photosynthetic activity compared with the control plants. A noticeable increase in oxidative stress was exhibited by DM65 and DM70 plants compared with their respective controls at 20 °C, while no significant difference was observed for any genotype grown in the greenhouse (25 °C). Simultaneously, increased antioxidant enzyme activity in winter barley genotypes showed a defensive mechanism under vernalized conditions (4 °C). Furthermore, the expression of key regulatory flowering genes revealed that the vernalization gene (HvVRN1) is the key regulator of floral induction after cold exposure, whereas Photoperiod Response Locus 1 (HvPpd-H1) had significantly higher expression under greenhouse conditions, along with Phytochrome C (HvPHY-C), validating their involvement as upstream heading time regulators. These findings contribute to enriching the study of environmental signals that substantially modulate the complex mechanism of barley heading date

Eco-Efficiency, Environmental and Sustainable Innovation in Recycling Energy and Their Effect on Business Performance: Evidence from European SMEs

This paper examines the influence of adopting resource efficiency actions, saving water, saving energy, using renewable energy, saving materials, minimizing waste, selling scrap, recycling, using durable products, promoting environmental responsibility, and offering green marketing products and services on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, we investigate specific resource efficiency actions and their impact on production costs, investment, the available support for product expansion, and the effect of encountered barriers on SME performance. We develop a theoretical framework based on stakeholder- and resource-based theories to serve as the foundation for this analysis. We use these theories to explain the link between eco-efficiency actions, firm performance, and ecological behavior, along with public policy and innovation. This study uses Flash Eurobarometer survey datasets FL342, FL381, FL426, and FL456, which cover SMEs across time and sectors in 28 EU countries. The data are analyzed through descriptive and ordered logit regression analysis, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the relationship between the above variables and the parameters. In terms of practical implications, these findings are crucial in helping SMEs pursue sustainable development. According to the findings, SMEs lack information on how implementing eco-efficiency action affects their financial health and sustainable innovation. This study can provide valuable insights into how implementing eco-efficiency practices can positively impact a company’s bottom line, good health, and employees’ well-being and how SMEs can use this information to make more informed decisions. Additionally, the findings can help inform policy makers about how to better support SMEs in pursuing sustainable development