Phytoremediation using an indigenous crop plant (wheat): The uptake of methyl parathion and metabolism of P-nitrophenol

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology for degradation of organophosphate pesticides. Rhizofiltration, soil microorganisms and rhizosphere play an important role in phytoremediation. For this purpose, experiments were carried out to analyze the pesticide uptake by plants and residue in the soil under controlled and experimental conditions. Organophosphate pesticide binds to both organic matter and antibiotic streptomycin. Streptomycin inhibits the activity of the enzyme (p-nitrophenol 4-hydroxylase) extracted from root and shoot. The results obtained from UVvisible spectrophotometer were confirmed by HPLC analysis. Wheat plants enhanced uptake/degradation of methyl parathion, p-nitrophenol and hydroquinone in unsterilized soil by 64.85%, 94.7% and 55.8% respectively. Methyl parathion hydrolyzes to p-nitrophenol, which is further metabolized to hydroquinone with nitrite release. The enzyme pnitrophenol 4-hydroxylase is active as evidenced by release of nitrite by leaf and root extracts and also by the appearance of hydroquinone in the reaction mixture

Future Resources: Microalgal Biotechnology

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A rare occurrence of Serratia rubidaea in a patient with ear discharge

Serratia species are not as frequent as with more virulent members of the Enterobacteriaceae. However, when infections do arise, they are largely associated with Serratia marcescens. Presently, about 10 species of Serratia are recognized and infections caused by the remaining Serratia species are seldom recorded in literature, as they are not often isolated from clinical specimens. This is a case report of Serratia rubidaea isolated from ear discharge of a 35-year old female patient with no co-morbidities and with known history of chronic otomastoiditis for which the patient had undergone left modified radical mastoidectomy. Isolation of this bacterium from clinical specimens is rare; however, it can be an etiological agent for infections in patients who have undergone invasive procedures. The patient was managed with antibiotics and on otoendoscopy at follow-up, no discharge was observed

Ear infection in a child due to Kodamaea ohmeri, an emerging pathogen: A rare case report from South India

This is a report of Kodamaea ohmeri isolated from a 2-year-old febrile child with stable vitals. Frank discharge of pus was present. Microbial culture testing revealed the presence of K. ohmeri. Antifungal susceptibility was performed along with intravenous antibiotic administration and antifungal ear drops in view of the discharge

Efficacy of phytochemical-functionalized silver nanoparticles to control Flacherie and Sappe silkworm diseases in Bombyx mori L. larvae

Plant extracts comprise a complex mixture of numerous phytochemicals including important alkaloids and polyphenols that can reduce metal ions, and comprise unsaturated compounds such as α-linolenic and carboxylic acid that acts as stabilizing agents in the greener assembly of nanomaterials. The present study demonstrates the role of phytoconstituents from flowers of Tridax trilobata (T. trilobata) in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that investigates their effects on the growth and development of the silkworm Bombyx mori L. besides controlling the occurrence of Flacherie and Sappe microbial diseases. FTIR and 13C NMR spectral studies confirmed the in situ role of phytochemicals from the flower extract responsible for the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs with crystalline structure, which is confirmed by XRD analysis. Compared to pure alkaloids and polyphenols, AgNPs synthesized with crude flower extract displayed synergistic antibacterial activity against Flacherie and Sappe microbial strains such as B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, B. cereus, Aerobactercloacae, and S. typhi. Furthermore, AgNPs prevented the growth of biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner and an increase in inhibition is observed with concentration augmentation from 0 to 50 µg/mL. In addition, the biosynthesized AgNPs increased the feeding efficiency and improved the body weight and shell weight of Bombyx mori L. larvae, pupae, and cocoons. Overall, this integrated study found that AgNPs were effective in reducing Flacherie and Sappe disease caused by the consumption of bacterially contaminated mulberry leaves, thus improving the survival rate of Bombyx mori L. and eventually improving the crop yield through insights into the anti-biofilm activity of phytochemical-adorned AgNPs

Associations between endogenous sex hormone levels and adipokine levels in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BackgroundDifferences in sex hormone levels contribute to differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Adipokines play a role in cardiometabolic pathways and have differing associations with CVD. Adipokine levels differ by sex; however, the association between sex hormone profiles and adipokines is not well established. We hypothesized that a more androgenic sex hormone profile would be associated with higher leptin and resistin and lower adiponectin levels among postmenopausal women, with the opposite associations in men.MethodsWe performed an analysis of 1,811 adults in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had both sex hormones and adipokines measured an average of 2.6 years apart. Sex hormones [Testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] were measured at exam 1; free T was estimated. Serum adipokines (leptin, resistin, adiponectin) were measured at exams 2 or 3. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the cross-sectional associations between sex hormones and adipokines.ResultsThe mean (SD) age was 63 (10) years, 48% were women; 59% non-White participants. For leptin, after adjusting for demographics only, higher free T and lower SHBG, were associated with higher leptin in women; this association was attenuated after further covariate adjustment. However in men, higher free T and lower SHBG were associated with greater leptin levels in fully adjusted models. For adiponectin, lower free T and higher SHBG were associated with greater adiponectin in both women and men after adjustment for CVD risk factors. For resistin, no significant association was found women, but an inverse association with total T and bioT was seen in men.ConclusionOverall, these results further suggest a more androgenic sex profile (higher free T and lower SHBG) is associated with a less favorable adipokine pattern. These findings may provide mechanistic insight into the interplay between sex hormones, adipokines, and CVD risk

Adipokines and incident venous thromboembolism: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background: Obesity leads to adipocyte hypertrophy and adipokine dysregulation and is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the association between adipokines and VTE is not well established. Objectives: To examine whether adipokines are associated with increased risk of incident VTE. Methods: We studied 1888 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort who were initially free of VTE and had adipokine (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) levels measured at either examination 2 or 3 (2002-2004 or 2004-2005, respectively). During follow-ups, VTE was ascertained through hospitalization records and death certificates by using ICD-9 and 10 codes. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the association between 1 standard deviation (SD) log-transformed increments in adipokines and incident VTE. Results: The mean ± SD age was 64.7 ± 9.6 years, and 49.8% of participants were women. Medians (interquartile range) of adiponectin, leptin, and resistin were 17.3 (11.8-26.2) mcg/mL, 13.5 (5.6-28.2) ng/mL, and 15.0 (11.9-19.0) ng/mL, respectively. There were 78 incident cases of VTE after a median of 9.7 (5.0-12.4) years of follow-up. After adjusting for sociodemographics, smoking, and physical activity, the hazard ratios (95% CIs) per 1 SD increment of adiponectin, leptin, and resistin were 1.14 (0.90-1.44), 1.29 (1.00-1.66), and 1.38 (1.09-1.74), respectively. The association for resistin persisted after further adjustments for body mass index and computed tomography-derived total visceral adipose tissue area. Conclusion: Higher resistin levels were independently associated with greater risk of incident VTE. Larger prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm this association

Higher Leptin Levels Are Associated with Coronary Artery Calcium Progression: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

BackgroundAdipokines play a role in cardiometabolic pathways. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression prognosticates cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the association of adipokines with CAC progression is not well established. We examined the association of adipokines with CAC progression in a multi-ethnic cohort free of CVD at baseline.MethodsWe included 1,904 randomly-selected adults enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had both adipokine levels [leptin, resistin, adiponectin] and CAC by CT measured at either exam 2 (2002-2004) or exam 3 (2004-2005). CAC was previously measured at exam 1 (2000-2002) and a subset (n=566) had CAC measured at exam 5 (2010-2012). We used logistic regression to examine odds of CAC progression between exam 1 and 2/3 (defined as >0 Agatston units of change/year). We used linear mixed effect models to examine CAC progression from exam 2/3 to 5.ResultsAt exam 2/3, the mean age was 65(10) yrs; 50% women. In models adjusted for sociodemographic factors and BMI, the highest tertile of leptin, compared to lowest, was associated with an increased odds of CAC progression over the preceding 2.6yrs [OR 1.60 (95% CI: 1.10-2.33)]. In models further adjusted for visceral fat and CVD risk factors, the highest tertile of leptin was statistically significantly associated with a 4% (1-7%) greater CAC progression over an average of 7yrs. No associations were seen for resistin and adiponectin.ConclusionsHigher leptin levels were independently, but modestly, associated with CAC progression. Atherosclerosis progression may be one mechanism through which leptin confers increased CVD risk