Using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for identification, three strains of Aspergill... more Using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for identification, three strains of Aspergillus terreus were identified and designated AUMC 15760, AUMC 15762, and AUMC 15763 for the Assiut University Mycological Centre culture collection. The ability of the three strains to manufacture lovastatin in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran was assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The most potent strain was strain AUMC 15760, which was chosen to ferment nine types of lignocellulosic waste (barley bran, bean hay, date palm leaves, flax seeds, orange peels, rice straw, soy bean, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat bran), with sugarcane bagasse turning out to be the best substrate. After 10 days at pH 6.0 at 25 °C using sodium nitrate as the nitrogen source and a moisture content of 70%, the lovastatin output reached its maximum quantity (18.2 mg/g substrate). The medication was produced in lactone form as a white powder in its purest form using column chroma...
Drug resistance in filamentous fungus to antifungal medicines is a huge problem in biomedical app... more Drug resistance in filamentous fungus to antifungal medicines is a huge problem in biomedical applications; so, an effective strategy for treating opportunistic fungal infections is needed. Mentha piperita is a very fascinating plant to treat a variety of ailments as home remedies. Eighteen strains of Aspergillus species were used for this study which are having a unique antifungal resistance profile in presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). AgNPs were prepared, using an aqueous extract of M. Piperita and characterized it by various techniques. Structural properties of AgNPs were systematically studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman measurement, which emanate the single-phase fcc structure of silver nanoparticles. The spherical nature and elemental analysis of as-synthesized AgNPs were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, respectively. The optical study has been analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and band gap was calculated as 2.51 eV, using Tauc plot. To analyze and validate the good efficacy of the disc approach, antifungal activity of AgNPs nanoparticles in different concentrations against isolates was achieved in both disc and broth microdilution. The extracellular enzymatic activity of A. fumigatus was found to explore the precise impact of nanoparticles on fungal metabolism. The antifungal efficacy of AgNPs against all fungi was highly successful in disc method. The broth approach underlined the favorable results of the disc method. It provided more precise results in determining the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), as well as the minimum effective concentration (MEC). A. fumigatus (AM6) enzymatic activity was boosted by AgNPs. Also, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase, and ß-glucosidase are necessary enzymes whose activity has been boosted. Consequently, M. piperita AgNPs can play a major and intriguing function against resistant Aspergillus species with a significant shift in the enzymatic activity profile of fungi due to this action.
Nanotechnology and its use in medicine is a rapidly emerging arena of exploration. Various proced... more Nanotechnology and its use in medicine is a rapidly emerging arena of exploration. Various procedures are applied to synthesize materials at the nanoscale. Among such methods, biosynthesis is an eco-friendly approach that has several advantages over conventional methods. In the present report, we have synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using marine fungus Alternaria chlamydospora for the first time at the international level. The materialization of AuNPs was initially observed by means of analysis using UV–Vis spectrophotometry at regular intervals. The role of the natural compounds of fungi in aiding the synthesis process was identified by the FT-IR spectra. Further, the size, shape and nature of such materials were analyzed by adopting procedures that use tools such as XRD, SEM and TEM. Analyses of morphology using electron microscopy disclosed that majority of the synthesized AuNPs were spherical and belonged to the nano-regime. The antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies indicated a dose-dependent response by the AuNPs. Further, the inhibition of DPPH radical by AuNPs was elucidated by analyzing the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (224.97 ± 0.56 µg/mL). The inhibiting effect of AuNPs on the growth of four different bacterial pathogens with increasing concentrations of the nanomaterial was noted by measuring the zone of inhibition. The cytotoxicity of the materials was tested against A549 cell lines via MTT assay to determine their anticancer effect. The IC50 value was 121.79 µg/mL. These significant outcomes of the research specify the potential of AuNPs and identify it to be a good tool for applications in pharmacology.
Environmental contamination is triggered by various anthropogenic activities, such as using pesti... more Environmental contamination is triggered by various anthropogenic activities, such as using pesticides, toxic chemicals, industrial effluents, and metals. Pollution not only affects both lotic and lentic environments but also terrestrial habitats, substantially endangering plants, animals, and human wellbeing. The traditional techniques used to eradicate the pollutants from soil and water are considered expensive, environmentally harmful and, typically, inefficacious. Thus, to abate the detrimental consequences of heavy metals, phytoremediation is one of the sustainable options for pollution remediation. The process involved is simple, effective, and economically efficient with large-scale extensive applicability. This green technology and its byproducts have several other essential utilities. Phytoremediation, in principle, utilizes solar energy and has an extraordinary perspective for abating and assembling heavy metals. The technique of phytoremediation has developed in contempor...
The convenient synthetic strategy for the one-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles capped by tar... more The convenient synthetic strategy for the one-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles capped by tartaric acid with a controlled size is reported here. Their characterization is revealed through spectroscopic protocols, such as UV/Vis and FTIR, while SEM, DLS and a Zetasizer revealed the surface morphology, size distribution and surface charge on the nanoparticles. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band was observed at 406 nm with 1.07 a.u absorbance, the image for SEM shows that the particles were monodispersed and spherical in shape, while the z-average size distribution of AgNPs/TA in a colloidal solution was found to be 79.20 nm and the surface charge was monitored as −28.2 mV. The antibacterial activities of these capped nanoparticles alone and in synergism with selected fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and gemifloxacin) and macrolides (erythromycin and azithromycin) were assessed on selected Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive organisms by employing t...
Synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are abundantly used in agriculture to en... more Synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are abundantly used in agriculture to enhance soil fertility and prevent the occurrence of diseases, respectively. Many studies have reported a negative influence of these chemicals on the soil environment. Natural sources from earthworms and their products, as a result of vermicomposting, may be considered better alternatives. The aim of this review was to reveal the source of antifungal efficiency of vermicompost and its derivatives, such as vermiwash, coelomic fluid, skin secretion of earthworms, and metabolites from decomposer bacteria in vermicompost, in order to highlight their application in agriculture. The synergistic activity of bioactive compounds present in coelomic fluid, mucus, skin secretion, and metabolites from associated bacteria (decomposer) assisted crop plants for effective action against various soil pathogenic fungi, such as Rhizoctoniasolani, Alternaria solani, Aspergillus niger, A.flavus, Fusariumoxysp...
Vermicomposting is used to treat and recycle organic waste to be utilized in agriculture. This pr... more Vermicomposting is used to treat and recycle organic waste to be utilized in agriculture. This project aimed to improve the product of vermicomposting by adding biochar and microalgal biomass to the process. Experiment to vermicompost (60 days) mixed organic waste was carried out preparing 16 different treatments. The best treatment appeared to be the earthworm Eisenia fetida, 6% biochar, and the biomass of the microalgae Navicula sp. amended to the process. The product was mature vermicompost with pH 7, cation exchange capacity 70 cmolc kg−1, and the C:N ratio 9.5. All products were used as seedbeds and tested for the plant growth promotion of the vegetables Solanum lycopersicum, Capsicum annuum, and Solanum melongena. The best vermicomposting product increased plant growth, reduced the disease incidence of the leaves, and improved the disease resistance of the seeds the plants produced. Plant vigor index was highest in the best treatment varying between 4600 and 5000 depending on the plant species. For comparison, the lowest values were under 1000. Disease resistance was low for the best treatment (5%–15%) compared to the high values over 60%. The seeds ripened in the experimental plants had acquired resistance against the experimentally inoculated phytopathogen Pythium sp., known to commonly destroy seeds. In the best treatment, more than 90% of the seeds germinated while in all other treatments less than 56% germinated. In conclusion, the vermicomposting using the earthworm Eisenia fetida, 6% biochar, and the biomass of the microalgae Navicula sp. produced seedbed substate that improved the growth of vegetables and suppressed phytopathogens. The seedbed can be used in sustainable agriculture to reduce the use of fertilizers and chemicals.
In this paper, the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) syn... more In this paper, the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using a biomimetic lipid, N-myristoyltaurine (N14T) was evaluated in common fields. The catalytic effectiveness of AgNPs and AuNPs was studied in the popular nanocatalyst reaction, nitroaromatic reduction, and dye degradation. Both NPs display catalytic activity in the nitroaromatic compound and organic dyes reduction reaction involving sodium borohydride and the rate constant is estimated as 10-3 s-1. Strikingly, the reaction initiation time (t0) and completion time (tc) differ significantly between AgNPs and AuNPs. Analyzing the reaction kinetic profile revealed that the reaction carried out with AuNPs showed a shorter t0 and tc, suggesting a better catalyst than AgNPs. In addition, the efficiency of the NPs was examined in Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In difference to the catalytic study, AuNPs display poor antibacterial activity. Whereas AgNPs kill the tested bacteria at 250 μM via disturbing bacterial membrane integrity and produce excess reactive oxygen species. The toxicology study carried out with zebrafish animal model reveals that both AgNPs and AuNPs are non-toxic. The findings suggest that each nanomaterial possesses unique physicochemical properties irrespective of stabilization with the same molecules.
Wastewater containg proteinaceous ossein effluents are problematic to be treated. We studied the ... more Wastewater containg proteinaceous ossein effluents are problematic to be treated. We studied the possibility to treat ossein effluents with the marine cyanobacterium strain Cylindrospermum stagnale. After optimizing the culture conditions of the bacterium, three different types of ossein effluents were tested: dicalcium phosphate (DCP), high total dissolved solids (HTDS) and low total dissolved (LTDS). The effluents were diluted with sea water at the following ratios 1:1, 2:1 and 3:2. The optimum operating conditions were at 3000 lux light intensity and 37 °C temperature. The highest degradation of ossein effluens by C. stagnale was attained for a dilution ratio of 1:1. However, less diluted ossein effluents reduced the growth of C. stagnale drastically. The degradation was shown by measuring the chlorophyll a content and the dry weight of bacterial cells during a seven-day incubation period degradation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis verified the degradation showing the presence of the degradation products of ossein (i.e. calcium carbonate and calcite) in the culture medium. Lipid composition in fatty acids appeared to be suitable for biofuel production. The results showed that the marine cyanobacterium C. stagnale can be used to treat ossein effluents, and at the same time, to produce biofuel in a sustainable way.
AIM Polymicrobial biofilm encasing cross-kingdom microorganisms are apparent in medicine, which i... more AIM Polymicrobial biofilm encasing cross-kingdom microorganisms are apparent in medicine, which imposes serious resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatment. The objective of the study was to explore Butea monosperma seed lectin (BMSL) conjugated antimicrobial lipid, 2-((N-(2-hydroxyethyl)palmitamido)methyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide (cN16E) to inhibit mixed-species biofilm of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-Candida albicans. METHODS AND RESULTS Antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm of cN16E and cN16E-BMSL conjugate (BcN16E) were analyzed against single- and mixed microbial cultures. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) indicates that the MIC of cN16E-BMSL conjugate (BcN16E) against cohabiting UPEC-C. albicans was eightfold lower than the cN16E. BcN16E affects membrane integrity to elicit antimicrobial activity. BcN16E inhibits the dual-species biofilm even with 16 times lower MIC of cN16E. BcN16E impairs the biofilm-associated virulence factors which include extracellular polysaccharides, cell surface hydrophobicity, swimming, swarming motilities, hyphal filamentous morphology, curli formation, and hemolysin activity. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated BcN16E ability to inhibit dual-species biofilm formation on a urinary catheter. CONCLUSION The study revealed that the BcN16E is better than cN16E in impairing biofilm-associated virulence factors and exerting antimicrobial activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The findings emphasize that phytolectin has the potential to enhance the anti-virulence strategies of antimicrobials against cross-kingdom biofilm-related infections.
Biologically synthesized metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are in focus for their multifarious appl... more Biologically synthesized metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are in focus for their multifarious applications. In the current study, the green synthesis of copper oxide NPs (CuO NPs) is achieved using the fresh biomass of Cylindrospermum stagnale after its molecular characterization. Physical characterization of CuO NPs by several analytical techniques including UV–Vis analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and TEM microscopy revealed spherical shaped crystalline CuO-NPs capped by functional groups of cyanobacterium biomolecules with slight aggregation. CuO NPs were found significantly antimicrobial against pathogens with MICs of 1.5, 2.4, 1.7, 2.5, and 0.6 mM against Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, respectively. Moreover, cyanobacterium-capped CuO NPs were cytotoxic against HepG2 cell line and effective against larvae of Aedes ageypti, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex quinquefasciatus. The synthesized CuO NPs were effective due to their high surface area and fairly small size 12.21 nm. Due to adequate biological activities of cyanobacterium CuO NPs even at lower concentrations, we prospect these NPs for clinical applications.
Drug resistance of filamentous fungi to the commonly used antifungal agents is a major concern in... more Drug resistance of filamentous fungi to the commonly used antifungal agents is a major concern in medicine. Therefore, an effective approach to treat several opportunistic fungal infections is the need of the hour. Mentha piperita is used in home remedies to treat different disorders. Isolates of fungi were taken from hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and identified using molecular tools. Amphotericin B, Voriconazole, and Micafungin were applied to screen the resistance of these isolates using both disc and broth microdilution techniques. An aqueous extract of Mentha piperita was utilized to synthesize AuNPs and the nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, EDAX, and XRD. The AuNPs were tested for antifungal activity against the nosocomial fungal pathogens and the activity of extracellular enzymes of such pathogens were analyzed after treatment with AuNPs. We conclude that AuNPs synthesized using Mentha piperita do not possess especially effective antifungal propert...
Environmental pollution caused by the discharge of raw and partly treated distillery effluent has... more Environmental pollution caused by the discharge of raw and partly treated distillery effluent has become a serious and threatening problem due to its high pollution load. The aim of the present study was to assess the physicochemical load in alcohol distillery effluent before and after biomethanation treatment and the cyto- and genotoxicity effects of refractory pollutants emanated in raw/untreated and biomethanated distillery effluent on the ultrastructural and biochemical responses of Allium cepa root tip cells. Physicochemical analysis revealed high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD: 47840-36651 mg L-1), chemical oxygen demand (COD: 93452-84500 mg L-1) and total dissolved solids (TDS: 64251-74652 mg L-1) in raw and biomethanated effluent along with metal(loid)s (Fe: 456.152-346.26; Zn: 1.654-1.465; Cu: 0.648-0.562; Ni: 1.012-0.951, and Pb: 0.264 mg L-1) which were beyond the safe discharge values prescribed by the environmental regulatory agencies. The UV-Visible and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry analyses confirmed the high levels of organic, inorganic, and mixed contaminants discharged in raw and biomethanated distillery effluents. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis characterised chemical contaminants, such as hexadecanoic acid, butanedioic acid, bis(trimethylsilyl) ester; hexadecane, 2,6,11,15-tetramethyl, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol trimethylsilyl ether that have been reported as androgenic-mutagenic, and endocrine disrupting chemicals by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The cytotoxicity measured by A. cepa showed dose depended inhibition root growth inhibition and simultaneous reduction in mitotic index in tested effluents. The chromosomal aberrations studies resulted in laggard chromosomes, sticky chromosomes, vagrant chromosomes, chromosome loss, c-mitosis, chromosome bridge, abnormal metaphase, and disturbed anaphase as found in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, dose-dependent enhancement in the levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and antioxidative enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were found to be higher in raw effluents treated root cells compared to biomethanated distillery effluent. Analysis of ultrastructural changes in root tip cells by TEM analysis revealed dramatic changes in the morphology of cell organelles and accumulation of metallic elements in and on the surface tissues. The results concluded that the discharged distillery effluents retained certain toxic pollutants which imposed cytotoxic and genotoxic hazards to A. cepa. Thus, for the sake of environmental protection, the raw as well as the disposed biomethanated effluent must be efficiently treated before its dumping into the terrestrial ecosystem.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
COVID-19 disease was announced as a global pandemic in March 2020 by the World health organizatio... more COVID-19 disease was announced as a global pandemic in March 2020 by the World health organization (WHO). Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to enforce restriction measures such as closing schools, remote working, and a travel ban. We aim to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s depression in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey of 1109 participants was conducted during the curfew between 18th of May and 11th of June 2020. An online questionnaire included questions about the commitment to follow the precautionary measures, knowledge on COVID-19, and depression. Depression was assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised method. Females, unmarried individuals, elderly persons, parents of young children, unemployed, and small families were more likely to be depressed. Education level did not explain the differences in depression. However, the more knowledge the participants had about COVID-19 the better they followed the restrictions. A regressio...
<jats:p> e microbial communities associated with desert soils are poorly studied. Molecular... more <jats:p> e microbial communities associated with desert soils are poorly studied. Moleculartechniques have revealed that these communities are more diverse than previously thought. In thisreview, we have assembled and synthesized available literature on microbiological research directedtowards Arabian Desert soils, with primary emphasis on fungi. Recent molecular techniqueshave generated metagenomics data indicating a relatively high diversity of fungi in deserts, includingthe Arabian Desert. However, most publications dealing with Arabian Desert soils have reportedonly fungi that can be cultured, identified either molecularly or morphologically. As such,the fungal communities and their diversity are still largely unknown. Most functional studies in theArabian Desert deal with the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving plants' survival inthe harsh conditions of desert. In addition, desert fungi might be utilized in developing sustainableagriculture and biomedical applications. Because of future challenges related to desertification andclimate change, there is a need for additional studies on heat and drought resistant fungi and thefunctions of these organisms in deserts. </jats:p>
In this work the Auda marsh, which is part of a system of Iraqi marshes, was sampled to assess th... more In this work the Auda marsh, which is part of a system of Iraqi marshes, was sampled to assess the seasonal dynamics and controlling factors of microalgae productivity. The marshes are situated in a hot climate with high seasonal variation near the Arabian Gulf. Physicochemical and biological measurements were taken for water in three areas. Bio-optical models were constructed to describe the primary productivity and chlorophyll-a concentrations in the wet and dry seasons separately and also for the entire area of the Iraqi marshes. The models, as well as almost all measurements, showed high seasonal variation. The mean water temperature was 16 °C in the wet season and 28 °C in the dry season. An almost twofold difference was measured for turbidity and the concentrations of dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a for the two seasons. Chlorophyll-a appeared to be a better indicator of ecosystem conditions than primary productivity or biological oxygen demand, according to the results obta...
Using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for identification, three strains of Aspergill... more Using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for identification, three strains of Aspergillus terreus were identified and designated AUMC 15760, AUMC 15762, and AUMC 15763 for the Assiut University Mycological Centre culture collection. The ability of the three strains to manufacture lovastatin in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran was assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The most potent strain was strain AUMC 15760, which was chosen to ferment nine types of lignocellulosic waste (barley bran, bean hay, date palm leaves, flax seeds, orange peels, rice straw, soy bean, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat bran), with sugarcane bagasse turning out to be the best substrate. After 10 days at pH 6.0 at 25 °C using sodium nitrate as the nitrogen source and a moisture content of 70%, the lovastatin output reached its maximum quantity (18.2 mg/g substrate). The medication was produced in lactone form as a white powder in its purest form using column chroma...
Drug resistance in filamentous fungus to antifungal medicines is a huge problem in biomedical app... more Drug resistance in filamentous fungus to antifungal medicines is a huge problem in biomedical applications; so, an effective strategy for treating opportunistic fungal infections is needed. Mentha piperita is a very fascinating plant to treat a variety of ailments as home remedies. Eighteen strains of Aspergillus species were used for this study which are having a unique antifungal resistance profile in presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). AgNPs were prepared, using an aqueous extract of M. Piperita and characterized it by various techniques. Structural properties of AgNPs were systematically studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman measurement, which emanate the single-phase fcc structure of silver nanoparticles. The spherical nature and elemental analysis of as-synthesized AgNPs were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, respectively. The optical study has been analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and band gap was calculated as 2.51 eV, using Tauc plot. To analyze and validate the good efficacy of the disc approach, antifungal activity of AgNPs nanoparticles in different concentrations against isolates was achieved in both disc and broth microdilution. The extracellular enzymatic activity of A. fumigatus was found to explore the precise impact of nanoparticles on fungal metabolism. The antifungal efficacy of AgNPs against all fungi was highly successful in disc method. The broth approach underlined the favorable results of the disc method. It provided more precise results in determining the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), as well as the minimum effective concentration (MEC). A. fumigatus (AM6) enzymatic activity was boosted by AgNPs. Also, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase, and ß-glucosidase are necessary enzymes whose activity has been boosted. Consequently, M. piperita AgNPs can play a major and intriguing function against resistant Aspergillus species with a significant shift in the enzymatic activity profile of fungi due to this action.
Nanotechnology and its use in medicine is a rapidly emerging arena of exploration. Various proced... more Nanotechnology and its use in medicine is a rapidly emerging arena of exploration. Various procedures are applied to synthesize materials at the nanoscale. Among such methods, biosynthesis is an eco-friendly approach that has several advantages over conventional methods. In the present report, we have synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using marine fungus Alternaria chlamydospora for the first time at the international level. The materialization of AuNPs was initially observed by means of analysis using UV–Vis spectrophotometry at regular intervals. The role of the natural compounds of fungi in aiding the synthesis process was identified by the FT-IR spectra. Further, the size, shape and nature of such materials were analyzed by adopting procedures that use tools such as XRD, SEM and TEM. Analyses of morphology using electron microscopy disclosed that majority of the synthesized AuNPs were spherical and belonged to the nano-regime. The antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies indicated a dose-dependent response by the AuNPs. Further, the inhibition of DPPH radical by AuNPs was elucidated by analyzing the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (224.97 ± 0.56 µg/mL). The inhibiting effect of AuNPs on the growth of four different bacterial pathogens with increasing concentrations of the nanomaterial was noted by measuring the zone of inhibition. The cytotoxicity of the materials was tested against A549 cell lines via MTT assay to determine their anticancer effect. The IC50 value was 121.79 µg/mL. These significant outcomes of the research specify the potential of AuNPs and identify it to be a good tool for applications in pharmacology.
Environmental contamination is triggered by various anthropogenic activities, such as using pesti... more Environmental contamination is triggered by various anthropogenic activities, such as using pesticides, toxic chemicals, industrial effluents, and metals. Pollution not only affects both lotic and lentic environments but also terrestrial habitats, substantially endangering plants, animals, and human wellbeing. The traditional techniques used to eradicate the pollutants from soil and water are considered expensive, environmentally harmful and, typically, inefficacious. Thus, to abate the detrimental consequences of heavy metals, phytoremediation is one of the sustainable options for pollution remediation. The process involved is simple, effective, and economically efficient with large-scale extensive applicability. This green technology and its byproducts have several other essential utilities. Phytoremediation, in principle, utilizes solar energy and has an extraordinary perspective for abating and assembling heavy metals. The technique of phytoremediation has developed in contempor...
The convenient synthetic strategy for the one-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles capped by tar... more The convenient synthetic strategy for the one-pot synthesis of silver nanoparticles capped by tartaric acid with a controlled size is reported here. Their characterization is revealed through spectroscopic protocols, such as UV/Vis and FTIR, while SEM, DLS and a Zetasizer revealed the surface morphology, size distribution and surface charge on the nanoparticles. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band was observed at 406 nm with 1.07 a.u absorbance, the image for SEM shows that the particles were monodispersed and spherical in shape, while the z-average size distribution of AgNPs/TA in a colloidal solution was found to be 79.20 nm and the surface charge was monitored as −28.2 mV. The antibacterial activities of these capped nanoparticles alone and in synergism with selected fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and gemifloxacin) and macrolides (erythromycin and azithromycin) were assessed on selected Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive organisms by employing t...
Synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are abundantly used in agriculture to en... more Synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are abundantly used in agriculture to enhance soil fertility and prevent the occurrence of diseases, respectively. Many studies have reported a negative influence of these chemicals on the soil environment. Natural sources from earthworms and their products, as a result of vermicomposting, may be considered better alternatives. The aim of this review was to reveal the source of antifungal efficiency of vermicompost and its derivatives, such as vermiwash, coelomic fluid, skin secretion of earthworms, and metabolites from decomposer bacteria in vermicompost, in order to highlight their application in agriculture. The synergistic activity of bioactive compounds present in coelomic fluid, mucus, skin secretion, and metabolites from associated bacteria (decomposer) assisted crop plants for effective action against various soil pathogenic fungi, such as Rhizoctoniasolani, Alternaria solani, Aspergillus niger, A.flavus, Fusariumoxysp...
Vermicomposting is used to treat and recycle organic waste to be utilized in agriculture. This pr... more Vermicomposting is used to treat and recycle organic waste to be utilized in agriculture. This project aimed to improve the product of vermicomposting by adding biochar and microalgal biomass to the process. Experiment to vermicompost (60 days) mixed organic waste was carried out preparing 16 different treatments. The best treatment appeared to be the earthworm Eisenia fetida, 6% biochar, and the biomass of the microalgae Navicula sp. amended to the process. The product was mature vermicompost with pH 7, cation exchange capacity 70 cmolc kg−1, and the C:N ratio 9.5. All products were used as seedbeds and tested for the plant growth promotion of the vegetables Solanum lycopersicum, Capsicum annuum, and Solanum melongena. The best vermicomposting product increased plant growth, reduced the disease incidence of the leaves, and improved the disease resistance of the seeds the plants produced. Plant vigor index was highest in the best treatment varying between 4600 and 5000 depending on the plant species. For comparison, the lowest values were under 1000. Disease resistance was low for the best treatment (5%–15%) compared to the high values over 60%. The seeds ripened in the experimental plants had acquired resistance against the experimentally inoculated phytopathogen Pythium sp., known to commonly destroy seeds. In the best treatment, more than 90% of the seeds germinated while in all other treatments less than 56% germinated. In conclusion, the vermicomposting using the earthworm Eisenia fetida, 6% biochar, and the biomass of the microalgae Navicula sp. produced seedbed substate that improved the growth of vegetables and suppressed phytopathogens. The seedbed can be used in sustainable agriculture to reduce the use of fertilizers and chemicals.
In this paper, the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) syn... more In this paper, the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using a biomimetic lipid, N-myristoyltaurine (N14T) was evaluated in common fields. The catalytic effectiveness of AgNPs and AuNPs was studied in the popular nanocatalyst reaction, nitroaromatic reduction, and dye degradation. Both NPs display catalytic activity in the nitroaromatic compound and organic dyes reduction reaction involving sodium borohydride and the rate constant is estimated as 10-3 s-1. Strikingly, the reaction initiation time (t0) and completion time (tc) differ significantly between AgNPs and AuNPs. Analyzing the reaction kinetic profile revealed that the reaction carried out with AuNPs showed a shorter t0 and tc, suggesting a better catalyst than AgNPs. In addition, the efficiency of the NPs was examined in Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In difference to the catalytic study, AuNPs display poor antibacterial activity. Whereas AgNPs kill the tested bacteria at 250 μM via disturbing bacterial membrane integrity and produce excess reactive oxygen species. The toxicology study carried out with zebrafish animal model reveals that both AgNPs and AuNPs are non-toxic. The findings suggest that each nanomaterial possesses unique physicochemical properties irrespective of stabilization with the same molecules.
Wastewater containg proteinaceous ossein effluents are problematic to be treated. We studied the ... more Wastewater containg proteinaceous ossein effluents are problematic to be treated. We studied the possibility to treat ossein effluents with the marine cyanobacterium strain Cylindrospermum stagnale. After optimizing the culture conditions of the bacterium, three different types of ossein effluents were tested: dicalcium phosphate (DCP), high total dissolved solids (HTDS) and low total dissolved (LTDS). The effluents were diluted with sea water at the following ratios 1:1, 2:1 and 3:2. The optimum operating conditions were at 3000 lux light intensity and 37 °C temperature. The highest degradation of ossein effluens by C. stagnale was attained for a dilution ratio of 1:1. However, less diluted ossein effluents reduced the growth of C. stagnale drastically. The degradation was shown by measuring the chlorophyll a content and the dry weight of bacterial cells during a seven-day incubation period degradation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis verified the degradation showing the presence of the degradation products of ossein (i.e. calcium carbonate and calcite) in the culture medium. Lipid composition in fatty acids appeared to be suitable for biofuel production. The results showed that the marine cyanobacterium C. stagnale can be used to treat ossein effluents, and at the same time, to produce biofuel in a sustainable way.
AIM Polymicrobial biofilm encasing cross-kingdom microorganisms are apparent in medicine, which i... more AIM Polymicrobial biofilm encasing cross-kingdom microorganisms are apparent in medicine, which imposes serious resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatment. The objective of the study was to explore Butea monosperma seed lectin (BMSL) conjugated antimicrobial lipid, 2-((N-(2-hydroxyethyl)palmitamido)methyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide (cN16E) to inhibit mixed-species biofilm of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-Candida albicans. METHODS AND RESULTS Antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm of cN16E and cN16E-BMSL conjugate (BcN16E) were analyzed against single- and mixed microbial cultures. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) indicates that the MIC of cN16E-BMSL conjugate (BcN16E) against cohabiting UPEC-C. albicans was eightfold lower than the cN16E. BcN16E affects membrane integrity to elicit antimicrobial activity. BcN16E inhibits the dual-species biofilm even with 16 times lower MIC of cN16E. BcN16E impairs the biofilm-associated virulence factors which include extracellular polysaccharides, cell surface hydrophobicity, swimming, swarming motilities, hyphal filamentous morphology, curli formation, and hemolysin activity. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated BcN16E ability to inhibit dual-species biofilm formation on a urinary catheter. CONCLUSION The study revealed that the BcN16E is better than cN16E in impairing biofilm-associated virulence factors and exerting antimicrobial activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The findings emphasize that phytolectin has the potential to enhance the anti-virulence strategies of antimicrobials against cross-kingdom biofilm-related infections.
Biologically synthesized metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are in focus for their multifarious appl... more Biologically synthesized metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are in focus for their multifarious applications. In the current study, the green synthesis of copper oxide NPs (CuO NPs) is achieved using the fresh biomass of Cylindrospermum stagnale after its molecular characterization. Physical characterization of CuO NPs by several analytical techniques including UV–Vis analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and TEM microscopy revealed spherical shaped crystalline CuO-NPs capped by functional groups of cyanobacterium biomolecules with slight aggregation. CuO NPs were found significantly antimicrobial against pathogens with MICs of 1.5, 2.4, 1.7, 2.5, and 0.6 mM against Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, respectively. Moreover, cyanobacterium-capped CuO NPs were cytotoxic against HepG2 cell line and effective against larvae of Aedes ageypti, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex quinquefasciatus. The synthesized CuO NPs were effective due to their high surface area and fairly small size 12.21 nm. Due to adequate biological activities of cyanobacterium CuO NPs even at lower concentrations, we prospect these NPs for clinical applications.
Drug resistance of filamentous fungi to the commonly used antifungal agents is a major concern in... more Drug resistance of filamentous fungi to the commonly used antifungal agents is a major concern in medicine. Therefore, an effective approach to treat several opportunistic fungal infections is the need of the hour. Mentha piperita is used in home remedies to treat different disorders. Isolates of fungi were taken from hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and identified using molecular tools. Amphotericin B, Voriconazole, and Micafungin were applied to screen the resistance of these isolates using both disc and broth microdilution techniques. An aqueous extract of Mentha piperita was utilized to synthesize AuNPs and the nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, EDAX, and XRD. The AuNPs were tested for antifungal activity against the nosocomial fungal pathogens and the activity of extracellular enzymes of such pathogens were analyzed after treatment with AuNPs. We conclude that AuNPs synthesized using Mentha piperita do not possess especially effective antifungal propert...
Environmental pollution caused by the discharge of raw and partly treated distillery effluent has... more Environmental pollution caused by the discharge of raw and partly treated distillery effluent has become a serious and threatening problem due to its high pollution load. The aim of the present study was to assess the physicochemical load in alcohol distillery effluent before and after biomethanation treatment and the cyto- and genotoxicity effects of refractory pollutants emanated in raw/untreated and biomethanated distillery effluent on the ultrastructural and biochemical responses of Allium cepa root tip cells. Physicochemical analysis revealed high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD: 47840-36651 mg L-1), chemical oxygen demand (COD: 93452-84500 mg L-1) and total dissolved solids (TDS: 64251-74652 mg L-1) in raw and biomethanated effluent along with metal(loid)s (Fe: 456.152-346.26; Zn: 1.654-1.465; Cu: 0.648-0.562; Ni: 1.012-0.951, and Pb: 0.264 mg L-1) which were beyond the safe discharge values prescribed by the environmental regulatory agencies. The UV-Visible and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry analyses confirmed the high levels of organic, inorganic, and mixed contaminants discharged in raw and biomethanated distillery effluents. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis characterised chemical contaminants, such as hexadecanoic acid, butanedioic acid, bis(trimethylsilyl) ester; hexadecane, 2,6,11,15-tetramethyl, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol trimethylsilyl ether that have been reported as androgenic-mutagenic, and endocrine disrupting chemicals by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The cytotoxicity measured by A. cepa showed dose depended inhibition root growth inhibition and simultaneous reduction in mitotic index in tested effluents. The chromosomal aberrations studies resulted in laggard chromosomes, sticky chromosomes, vagrant chromosomes, chromosome loss, c-mitosis, chromosome bridge, abnormal metaphase, and disturbed anaphase as found in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, dose-dependent enhancement in the levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and antioxidative enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were found to be higher in raw effluents treated root cells compared to biomethanated distillery effluent. Analysis of ultrastructural changes in root tip cells by TEM analysis revealed dramatic changes in the morphology of cell organelles and accumulation of metallic elements in and on the surface tissues. The results concluded that the discharged distillery effluents retained certain toxic pollutants which imposed cytotoxic and genotoxic hazards to A. cepa. Thus, for the sake of environmental protection, the raw as well as the disposed biomethanated effluent must be efficiently treated before its dumping into the terrestrial ecosystem.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
COVID-19 disease was announced as a global pandemic in March 2020 by the World health organizatio... more COVID-19 disease was announced as a global pandemic in March 2020 by the World health organization (WHO). Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to enforce restriction measures such as closing schools, remote working, and a travel ban. We aim to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s depression in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey of 1109 participants was conducted during the curfew between 18th of May and 11th of June 2020. An online questionnaire included questions about the commitment to follow the precautionary measures, knowledge on COVID-19, and depression. Depression was assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised method. Females, unmarried individuals, elderly persons, parents of young children, unemployed, and small families were more likely to be depressed. Education level did not explain the differences in depression. However, the more knowledge the participants had about COVID-19 the better they followed the restrictions. A regressio...
<jats:p> e microbial communities associated with desert soils are poorly studied. Molecular... more <jats:p> e microbial communities associated with desert soils are poorly studied. Moleculartechniques have revealed that these communities are more diverse than previously thought. In thisreview, we have assembled and synthesized available literature on microbiological research directedtowards Arabian Desert soils, with primary emphasis on fungi. Recent molecular techniqueshave generated metagenomics data indicating a relatively high diversity of fungi in deserts, includingthe Arabian Desert. However, most publications dealing with Arabian Desert soils have reportedonly fungi that can be cultured, identified either molecularly or morphologically. As such,the fungal communities and their diversity are still largely unknown. Most functional studies in theArabian Desert deal with the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving plants' survival inthe harsh conditions of desert. In addition, desert fungi might be utilized in developing sustainableagriculture and biomedical applications. Because of future challenges related to desertification andclimate change, there is a need for additional studies on heat and drought resistant fungi and thefunctions of these organisms in deserts. </jats:p>
In this work the Auda marsh, which is part of a system of Iraqi marshes, was sampled to assess th... more In this work the Auda marsh, which is part of a system of Iraqi marshes, was sampled to assess the seasonal dynamics and controlling factors of microalgae productivity. The marshes are situated in a hot climate with high seasonal variation near the Arabian Gulf. Physicochemical and biological measurements were taken for water in three areas. Bio-optical models were constructed to describe the primary productivity and chlorophyll-a concentrations in the wet and dry seasons separately and also for the entire area of the Iraqi marshes. The models, as well as almost all measurements, showed high seasonal variation. The mean water temperature was 16 °C in the wet season and 28 °C in the dry season. An almost twofold difference was measured for turbidity and the concentrations of dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a for the two seasons. Chlorophyll-a appeared to be a better indicator of ecosystem conditions than primary productivity or biological oxygen demand, according to the results obta...
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