IgY antibodies: The promising potential to overcome antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing threat to global health security. Whilst the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon, it is also driven by antibiotic exposure in health care, agriculture, and the environment. Antibiotic pressure and inappropriate use of antibiotics are important factors which drive resistance. Apart from their use to treat bacterial infections in humans, antibiotics also play an important role in animal husbandry. With limited antibiotic options, alternate strategies are required to overcome AMR. Passive immunization through oral, nasal and topical administration of egg yolk-derived IgY antibodies from immunized chickens were recently shown to be effective for treating bacterial infections in animals and humans. Immunization of chickens with specific antigens offers the possibility of creating specific antibodies targeting a wide range of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this review, we describe the growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance and highlight the promising potential of the use of egg yolk IgY antibodies for the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly those listed in the World Health Organization priority list

Analysis of varietal response to bakanae infection Fusarium fujikuroi and gibberellic acid through morphological, anatomical and hormonal changes in three rice varieties

Fusarium fujikuroi, the causal organism of bakanae disease, is mainly seed borne pathogen on rice. The response of different rice varieties have more concern to understand pathogenesis process and host pathogen interaction complex. Therefore, the present study had some objectives: to determine response of some rice genotypes to bakanae infection and Gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment through morphological, anatomical and plant hormones changes. The highly virulent isolate no. 10 of F. Fujikuroi was used in evaluation of three rice cultivars; Sakha 101, Giza 179 and promising line GZ 10101-5-1-1-1. Changes in all morphological, anatomical traits and plant hormones activities Gibberellic acid (GA3), Indol Acetic acid (IAA) and Abscisic Acid (ABA) with bakanae infection and GA3 treatment were assessed from 15-60 days after inoculation and GA3 treatment during season 2018. Results indicated that bakanae infection caused severe morphological changes as abnormal elongation, degradation of chlorophyll and seedling death. Morphological changes were associated with wide anatomical changes of leaf as deformation of motor cell, mesophyll layer. For stem, infection and GA3 induced significant increase in the No. of aerenchyma and their diameter and increase pith diameter, and stem elongation. As well as, anatomical changes in roots were significant increase in diameter of epidermis, cortex layers, vascular cylinder, and reduction in diameter of xylem vessels. Out of anatomical results, Fusarium fujikuroi prefer to grow in aerenchyma, pith, cortex, vascular bundle of both sheath and stem. There is a significant increase in plant hormones Gibberellic acid (GA3), Indol Acetic acid (IAA) and Abscisic Acid (ABA) with bakanae infection and GA3 treatment combined with bakanae infection and GA3 treatment. GZ 10101-5-1-1-1 was recorded the lowest response to GA3 treatment with the lowest infection % and stem elongation%. While Sakha 101 and Giza 179 were the highly susceptible cultivars to bakanae with the highest infection %, stem elongation% and response to GA3.  The fast and highest stem elongation %, No. of nodes and internode length was considered as remarkable phenotypic markers it can be used as valuable and early selection marker of susceptibility in breeding program to bakanae disease. GZ 10101-5-1-1-1 as new promising line and high tolerant to bakanae and low response to GA3 could be used as a good source in bakanae resistance breeding program.

Simultaneous Removal of Calconcarboxylic Acid, NH4+ and PO43− from Pharmaceutical Effluent Using Iron Oxide-Biochar Nanocomposite Loaded with Pseudomonas putida

In the current study, the Fe2O3/biochar nanocomposite was synthesized through a self-assembly method, followed by the immobilization of Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) on its surface to produce the P. putida/Fe2O3/biochar magnetic innovative nanocomposite. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using different techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Then, the efficiencies of this material to remove calconcarboxylic acid (CCA) organic dye, ammonium ions (NH4+), and phosphate ions (PO43−) from industrial wastewater were analyzed. The removal rates of up to 82%, 95%, and 85% were achieved for CCA dye, PO43−, NH4+, respectively, by the synthesized composite. Interestingly, even after 5 cycles of reuse, the prepared nanocomposite remains efficient in the removal of pollutants. Therefore, the P. putida/Fe3O4/biochar composite was found to be an actual talented nanocomposite for industrial wastewater bioremediation

Design and analysis of a three-phase brushless flux switching generator for aircraft ground power units

This study proposes a new three-phase dual-rotor middle-stator brushless flux switching generator for 400Hz diesel-driven aircraft ground power units. For the proposed machine, both field and armature windings are hosted in the stator in such a way that not only fulfils brushless structure, but also realises the flux switching function. Moreover, both windings have non-overlapping concentrated windings to shorten the end-windings and reduce the copper losses. In the meantime, the rotor has only slots without any active parts. First, the machine detailed design is provided, and its performance is analysed using finite element method. Also, a selection topology of both stator and rotor pole arcs is carried out, targeting maximum generated electromotive force, minimum harmonic content, and minimum cogging torque. Then, a prototype is implemented and experimented to confirm the feasibility of the proposed machine

Iron Oxide/Chitosan Magnetic Nanocomposite Immobilized Manganese Peroxidase for Decolorization of Textile Wastewater

Because of its effectiveness in organic pollutant degradation, manganese peroxidase (MnP) enzyme has attracted significant attention in recent years regarding its use for wastewater treatment. Herein, MnP was extracted from Anthracophyllum discolor fungi and immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanocomposite Fe3O4/chitosan. The prepared nanocomposite offered a high surface area for MnP immobilization. The influence of several environmental factors like temperature, pH, as well as storage duration on the activity of the extracted enzyme has been studied. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques were used for the characterization of the prepared MnP/Fe3O4/chitosan nanocomposite. The efficiencies of the prepared MnP/Fe3O4/chitosan nanocomposite for the elimination of reactive orange 16 (RO 16) and methylene blue (MB) industrial dyes were determined. According to the results, the immobilization of MnP on Fe3O4/chitosan nanocomposite increases its capacity to decolorize MB and RO 16. This nanocomposite allowed the removal of 96% ± 2% and 98% ± 2% of MB and RO 16, respectively. The reusability of the synthesized nanocomposite was studied for five successive cycles showing the ability to retain its efficiency even after five cycles. Thus, the prepared MnP/Fe3O4/chitosan nanocomposite has potential to be a promising material for textile wastewater bioremediation

Effective Heavy Metals Removal from Water Using Nanomaterials: A Review

The discharge of toxic heavy metals including zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) in water above the permissible limits causes high threat to the surrounding environment. Because of their toxicity, heavy metals greatly affect the human health and the environment. Recently, better remediation techniques were offered using the nanotechnology and nanomaterials. The attentions were directed toward cost-effective and new fabricated nanomaterials for the application in water/wastewater remediation, such as zeolite, carbonaceous, polymer based, chitosan, ferrite, magnetic, metal oxide, bimetallic, metallic, etc. This review focused on the synthesis and capacity of various nanoadsorbent materials for the elimination of different toxic ions, with discussion of the effect of their functionalization on the adsorption capacity and separation process. Additionally, the effect of various experimental physicochemical factors on heavy metals adsorption, such as ionic strength, initial ion concentration, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dose, and pH was discussed

The Application of Nanomaterials for the Electrochemical Detection of Antibiotics: A Review

Antibiotics can accumulate through food metabolism in the human body which may have a significant effect on human safety and health. It is therefore highly beneficial to establish easy and sensitive approaches for rapid assessment of antibiotic amounts. In the development of next-generation biosensors, nanomaterials (NMs) with outstanding thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties have been identified as one of the most hopeful materials for opening new gates. This study discusses the latest developments in the identification of antibiotics by nanomaterial-constructed biosensors. The construction of biosensors for electrochemical signal-transducing mechanisms has been utilized in various types of nanomaterials, including quantum dots (QDs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), metal nanomaterials, and carbon nanomaterials. To provide an outline for future study directions, the existing problems and future opportunities in this area are also included. The current review, therefore, summarizes an in-depth assessment of the nanostructured electrochemical sensing method for residues of antibiotics in different systems

Transcranial Doppler study in patients with cluster headache

Background: Hemodynamic changes occur in the cerebral blood flow during cluster headache. Objective: The aim of the present work was to study the middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities and vasoreactivity in cluster headache patients as baseline values and after administration of 100% oxygen during the cluster period. Materials and methods: Three groups were studied. The 1st consisted of 12 patients with cluster headache, the 2nd consisted of 12 patients with unilateral migraine, and the 3rd one was healthy controls. The three groups had baseline velocity measurement of the MCA bilaterally by transcranial Doppler at standard conditions and after inhalation of 100% O2. Then breath-holding was allowed to calculate the breath holding index. Results: The breath holding index following administration of oxygen (BHI-O2) was higher in the cluster group compared to the migraine group and the difference was statistically significant (t = 2.811 when P = 0.010). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the severity of the cluster attacks and the breath holding index (r = 0.750 when P = 0.005). Conclusion: Cerebral vessels are more reactive to stimuli after O2 inhalation in patients with cluster headache. Cerebrovascular reactivity may be one of the future predictors of good response to O2 therapy in patients with cluster headache. KEYWORDS: Transcranial Doppler, Cluster headache, Vasoreactivit

Thermal Study of the Phase Transitions in Potassium Hydrogen Sulphate KHSO4\text{}_{4}

We report on some thermal properties (specific heat capacity C$\text{}_{p}$, thermal conductivity λ, and thermal diffusivity σ) in addition to the differential thermal analysis thermogram and thermogravimetric analysis for potassium hydrogen sulphate (KHS), KHSO$\text{}_{4}$. The accurate measurements of the above-mentioned parameters as functions of temperature revealed that the compound undergoes two structural phase transitions around 100°C and 175°C. It seems also likely that the compound behaves as a poorly conducting material and hence the maul mechanism of the heat transfer is due to phonons. The data are correlated to the crystal structure including the two different HSO¯$\text{}_{4}$ ions