Plant growth promoting and antagonistic Enterobacter sp. EPR4 from common bean rhizosphere of garhwal himalayan inhibits a soil-borne pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Plant growth stimulating and antagonistic properties of 7 bacterial isolates of beneficial Enterobacter spp. (EPR1- EPR7) screened from the rhizospheric soil of Phaseolus vulgaris plants growing in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India was studied against soil borne phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes root rots in various crops. Among the isolates, EPR4 showed 64.8% reduction in colony growth of the fungal pathogen in dual culture. All seven isolates are capable of producing Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), but EPR4 also produced cyanogens, solubilized inorganic and organic phosphate, siderophore, ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deamininase, and extracellular enzymes like chitinase which inhibited the phytopathogen. For the EPR4 strain, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was followed by NCBI - BLAST similarity showed the maximum sequence similarity (100%) with the species of Enterobacter (available on NCBI data base), and recognized as Enterobacter sp. EPR4 (GenBank accession number JN225424). The Enterobacter sp. EPR4 has the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent against S. sclerotiorum as well as a good plant growth promoter for common bean and other crops grown in India's Garhwal Himalaya

Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria Bacillus australimaris BLR41 and Enterobacter kobei BLR45 Enhance the Growth of Medicinal Plant Barleria lupulina Lindl.

A total of 50 root colonising bacterial endophytes were identified from a medicinal plant in this investigation (Barleria lupulina), and characterized based on morphologically selected isolates, BLR41 were Gram-negative motile, rod-shaped and BLR45 was Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and light yellow in color. The BLR41 isolate was motile and the BLR45 was positive for indole. The strains BLR41 and BLR45 were positive for citrate, amylase, protease, and lipase. Among all the isolates, BLR41 and BLR45 exhibited higher enzymatic test positive in citrate, amylase lipase, and protease. Furthermore, PGP efficacy as maximum production of zinc in BLR41 isolate and phosphate solubilization in BLR45. Solubilization of the highest zinc (2.80 μg/mL) was obtained by the isolate BLR41, followed by BLR23 and then BLR35. The highest level of phosphate (2.60 μg/mL) was recorded with the BLR45, followed by the BLR07 and BLR18. A consortium of bacterial strains performed better results than individual inoculation. The isolate BLR41 and BLR45 were identified as Bacillus australimaris and Enterobacter kobei following the 16S rRNA sequencing. Among all, seed germination was induced by 93% in consortium BLR41+BLR45, compared to control (T1). An increase in the shoot length by 30% was recorded with the treatment of BLR41+BRL45, BLR41 increase (54%), and BLR45 (35%), respectively. On the other hand, the consortium of mixed cultures, BLR41+BLR45, showed an increased fresh and the weight of dry 65% and 58%. The findings of this study indicate that the consortium of B. australimaris BLR41 and E. kobei BLR45 significantly enhances plant growth in the Pot experiment by zinc and phosphate solubilization properties

A review on the important phytochemicals and their role in psoriasis

Psoriasis may emerge at any stage of life irrespective of age, sex or geographic location. It is identified as a chronic immune-linked inflammatory skin disease that affects all human races. Psoriasis is often more Caucasian than non-Caucasian groups of human races and in geographic areas, like higher latitudes and Western countries. Therefore, attention should be paid to both genetic and environmental causes of psoriasis. Natural products have significantly contributed and encouraged the advances in skin disease treatment like psoriasis. The maximum number of phytochemicals is now being used worldwide, including various plants, herbs, and formulations. In addition, some phytochemicals like psoralen, aloe-emodin, curcumin etc. have also been isolated in pure form and have also shown their efficacy in the management of psoriasis. The presence of such phytochemicals confirms the effectiveness of few herbal therapies. This paper reviews some of the promising phytochemicals and their potential molecular target sites and mechanism of action, which may aid in designing and producing more precise and selective antipsoriatic agents. Exploring and recognizing phytochemicals as to how they function will facilitate more site-specific delivery methods for psoriasis care

Analysis of Air and Soil Quality around Thermal Power Plants and Coal Mines of Singrauli Region, India

Singrauli region is known as the energy capital of India, as it generates nearly 21 GW of electricity, supplied to various parts of the northern India. Many coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) using coal from several nearby coal mines, and numerous industries are set up in this region which has made it as one of the highly polluted regions of India. In the present study, detailed temporal analysis and forecast of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and methane (CH4) concentrations retrieved from satellite data have been carried out for the periods 2005–2020. Based on the classical multiplicative model and using linear regression, the maximum concentration of CO2, NO2, SO2, and CH4 in the year 2025 is found to be 422.59 ppm, 29.28 ppm, 0.23 DU, and 1901.35 ppbv, respectively. Detailed analysis shows that carbon dioxide has a 95% correlation with all other trace gases. We have also carried out the geo-accumulation index for the presence of various contaminants in the soil of this region. The geo-accumulation index shows that soil in and around thermal power plants and coal mines is contaminated by heavy metals. The cumulative index shows that soil around Hindalco industries, Bina coal mines, Khadia coal mines, and coal-based TPPs (Anpara and Vindhayachal) are highly polluted and a threat to human population living in the region

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND IN VIVO ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF TWO POTENTIAL PROBIOTIC ENTEROCOCCUS SPP. ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: In vitro antioxidant activity, in vivo antidiabetic property and intestinal attachment by two potential probiotic bacterial strains, namely, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus hirae were studied using albino rats. Methods: Antioxidant the activity was assessed using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging assay. Alloxan was administered intraperitoneally to induce diabetic conditions in experimental rats. Animals were treated with oral administration of Enterococcus spp., such as E. faecium, and E. hirae isolated from goat and sheep milk. The control animal group received normal saline for the same days. Glibenclamide drug was used as a positive control against probiotic bacterial cells. Results: However, administration of probiotic bacterial strains E. faecium and E. hirae, in albino rats significantly (p&lt;0.05) at varying doses lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic rats as compared to the diabetic control group. Both the species of Enterococcus increased the bodyweight of experimental rats. However, E. faecium was the best antidiabetic strain having the antioxidant activities also in comparison to E. hirae. The attachment of probiotic bacterial cells E. faecium on the rat’s intestine wall against pathogens was examined. Furthermore, E. faecium showed its aggregation with pathogens by attachment of the intestines of albino rats. This showed that both the bacterial strains exhibited in vivo antidiabetic effect. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that probiotic bacteria possess antioxidant, antidiabetic activities, and attachment of intestine

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

Evolution and applications of Next Generation Sequencing and its intricate relations with chromatographic and spectrometric techniques in modern day sciences

Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology offers new opportunities in biological research. In the last few decades, remarkable technological innovations have emerged, allowing the exploration of unexplored areas of functional genomics and biomedical research at a cost-effective and unprecedented scale and speed. Along with such revolutionary advances came new challenges in methodologies and informatics. Despite not being directly engaged in NGS methods, chromatography's inclusion makes the sequencing process less error prone. These advanced technologies offered novel and rapid ways to sequence static genomes as well as entire transcriptomes for expression analysis under different conditions. Utilization of next-generation sequencing has the potential to entirely rewrite how biological research is conducted and chromatography plays a crucial role in this process. New technologies are evolving rapidly, and addressing prospective issues like the amelioration of protocols for generating sequencing libraries, offering new strategies for data analysis, and most importantly, restructuring and revamping experimental design. In this review, the emergence and evolution of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing techniques from the classical Sanger DNA sequencing method to modern next generation technologies are reviewed, and their applications in-conjugation with chromatographic and spectrometric techniques in modern biological studies are discussed

Rhizosphere competent Mesorhizobiumloti MP6 induces root hair curling, inhibits Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and enhances growth of Indian mustard (Brassica campestris) Mesorhizobium loti MP6 rizosférico competente induz encurvamento do pelo daraiz, inibe Sclerotinia sclerotiorum e estimula o crescimento de mostarda indiana (Brassica campestris)

The bacterial strain Mesorhizobium loti MP6, isolated from root nodules of Mimosa pudica induced growth and yield of Brassica campestris. The isolate MP6 secreted hydroxamate type siderophore in Chrom-Azurol Siderophore (CAS) agar medium. Production of hydrocyanic acid (HCN), indole acetic acid (IAA) and phosphate solubilizing ability was also recorded under normal growth conditions. Root hair curling was observed through simple glass-slide technique. In vitro study showed a significant increase in population of M. loti MP6 in rhizosphere due to root exudates of B. campestris. In dual culture technique the strain showed a strong antagonistic effect against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a white rot pathogen of Brassica campestris. The growth of S. sclerotiorum was inhibited by 75% after prolonged incubation. Efficient root colonization of mustard seedlings was confirmed by using a streptomycin-resistant marker M. loti MP6strep+. The M. loti MP6 coated seeds proved enhanced seed germination, early vegetative growth and grain yield as compared to control. Also, a drastic decline (99%) in the incidence of white rot was observed due to application of M. loti MP6.<br>A cepa bacteriana Mesorhizobium loti MP6 isolada de nódulos de raiz de Mimosa pudica induziu o crescimento e o rendimento de Brassica campestris. A cepa MP6 secretou sideróforo do tipo hidroxamato em meio sólido Chrom-Azurol Siderophore (CAS). Em condições normais de crescimento, a cepa foi também capaz de produzir de ácido cianídrico (HCN) e acido indolacético (AIA) e solubilizar fosfato. O encurvamento do pelo da raiz foi observado usando a simples técnica de lâmina e lamínula. Estudos in vitro mostraram um aumento significativo na população de M. loti MP6 na rizosfera devido aos exsudatos de B. campestris. Empregando-se técnica de co-cultura, a cepa mostrou um grande efeito antagônico contra o fungo Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, o patógeno da podridão branca de Brassica campestris. Após incubação prolongada, o crescimento de S. sclerotiorum foi inibido em 75%. Uma eficiente colonização de sementes de mostarda foi confirmada pelo emprego da linhagem M. loti MP6strep+ que contém um marcador de resistência à estreptomicina. As sementes cobertas com M. loti MP6 apresentaram aumento da sua germinação,crescimento vegetativo rápido e melhor rendimento quando comparadas ao controle. Além disso, foi observado um drástico declínio na incidência da podridão branca decorrente da aplicação de M. loti MP6