Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation, 2016
Global modernization is responsible for industrialization, urbanization and several other anthrop... more Global modernization is responsible for industrialization, urbanization and several other anthropogenic activities, which involves the huge application of heavy metals. Heavy metals containing products during process and after disposal, release various heavy metals and ions in surrounding atmosphere which severely affect the soil and water quality. Heavy metals contaminated soils in general are nutrient deficient and are likely to become barren in future. If heavy metal polluted soil is used for crop cultivation then the heavy metals deposited in soil enter into food chain and at higher concentration create severe human health problems. On the contrary, at permissible limit, metals are important for enzymatic activity and genetic material integrity in biological system. To understand the importance and risk associated with heavy metals, a genuine attempt is made to present different aspects of metal contamination in soils. Furthermore, nutritive value of heavy metals and toxicity to bacteria and plants is discussed. Finally, different strategies adopted by biological systems to detoxify heavy metals are critically highlighted. This review is likely to help to better understand the over does risk of heavy metals and its biological detoxification strategies. deficiency levels in Indian soils were: 49 Zn, 33 B, 12 Fe, 11 Mo, 5 Mn and 3 Cu [12]. Thereby, identifying the elements of soil nutrient pools and their consequential effect on both microbes and plants are necessary for enhancing crop production and plant nutritional value.
Phosphorus occurs in both organic and inorganic forms in soil and is a vital nutrient for plants ... more Phosphorus occurs in both organic and inorganic forms in soil and is a vital nutrient for plants and microorganisms. . Most of the soil phosphorus is in unavailable form, which is converted to readily available form by different soil microorganisms (Rokade and Patil 1992). The efficient P solubilizers posses the ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate and also can mineralize organic phosphatic compounds. The effect of combined inoculations with N2 fixers and P-solubilizers on yield, nitrogen ~d phosphorus accumulation in plants has been found to be more significant than the effect of either organism used alone. The present work deals with the. synergistic interactions of N2-fixing organisms with phosphllte-solubilizing microorganisms and their effect on greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.). The phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms , and Nl fixers were isolated from the rhizosperic soils of greengram, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller nom. cons.), garlic (Allium sativum L.) and onion (A. cepa L.) grown in garden soil of Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Institute of Agricultural Sciences, AMU, Aligarh. Bradyrhizobium sp and Azotobacter chroococcum Beijerinck were isolated using yest-extract mannitol agar (YMA) and Ashby's agar medium respectively. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms were isolated by enrichment culture technique using Pikovskaya's broth (Pikovskaya 1948). Proteus vulgaris was procured from the lARI, New Delhi. The P-solubilizing efficiency of the isolated strains was investigated using tricalcium phosphate (TCP) .at different incubation periods. The amonut of phosphate solubilized Was estimated by colorimetric method of King (1932). The bacterial and fungal strains showing better solubilization were selected for crop inoculation experiments. .
Microbial Strategies for Vegetable Production, 2017
The production of quality vegetables is a crucial issue worldwide due to consistently deteriorati... more The production of quality vegetables is a crucial issue worldwide due to consistently deteriorating soil health. Plants including vegetables absorb a number of metals from soil, some of which have no biological function, but some are toxic at low concentrations, while others are required at low concentration but are toxic at higher concentrations. As vegetables constitute a major source of nutrition and are an important dietary constituent, the heavy metal uptake and bioaccumulation in vegetables is important since it disrupts production and quality of vegetables and consequently affects human health via food chain. Considering the serious threat of metals to vegetables, an attempt in this chapter is made to highlight the effects of certain metals on vegetables grown in different agroclimatic regions of the world. Also, the bioremediation strategies adopted to clean up the metal-contaminated soil is discussed. The results of different studies conducted across the globe on metal toxicity and bioremediation strategies presented in this chapter are likely to help vegetable growers to produce fresh and contaminant-free vegetables.
This is to certify that the work embodied in this thesis entitled "Studies on Microbes Associated... more This is to certify that the work embodied in this thesis entitled "Studies on Microbes Associated Bioremediation and Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals to Certain Legume Crops" has been carded out by Mr. Mohammad Oves, under my supervision. The work included in this thesis is original and has not been submitted for any'other.degree..The work is suitable for the award of Ph. D. degree in (Ag.
Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a highly productive, gluten-free cereal crop plant... more Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a highly productive, gluten-free cereal crop plant that can be used as an alternative energy resource, human food, and livestock feed or for biofuel-ethanol production. Phosphate fertilization is a common practice to optimize sorghum yield but because of high cost, environmental hazards, and soil fertility reduction, the use of chemical P fertilizer is discouraged. Due to this, the impetus to search for an inexpensive and eco-friendly microbiome as an alternative to chemical P biofertilizer has been increased. Microbial formulations, especially phosphate solubilizing microbiome (PSM) either alone or in synergism with other rhizobacteria, modify the soil nutrient pool and augment the growth, P nutrition, and yield of sorghum. The use of PSM in sorghum disease management reduces the dependence on pesticides employed to control the phytopathogens damage. The role of PSM in the sorghum cultivation system is, however, relatively unresearched...
Dot immunablot assay was used for determination of nodules produced on soybean. french bean. pige... more Dot immunablot assay was used for determination of nodules produced on soybean. french bean. pigeon pea and urdbean by Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum USDA-I 10; R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli FB-77 and N-3; Rhizobium sp. A-3 and U-I. respectively. Nodule occupancy by inoculated strains as determined by the test ranged between 73 to 93 %. Replica inmrunoblot assay reduced the time required for enumeration of rhizobia and was suitable for strain specific enumeration of Rhizobium strains in nodules .. Correlation between ~mmunoblot and traditional plate counts was ~0. 96 for five rhizobial strains tested.
Constantly increasing human population requires that the crop production including those of legum... more Constantly increasing human population requires that the crop production including those of legumes be enhanced rapidly to fulfill the food demands across the globe. In order to optimize pulse production, growers generally apply agrochemicals including fertilizers and pesticides. However, the excessive and uncontrolled use of such chemicals has resulted in reduced crop production besides their adverse impact on environment. In order to protect losses in soil fertility and to preserve environmental quality, the use of inexpensive and eco-friendly microbial preparations (biofertilizers) has been exploited in farming practices with remarkable success. Among various plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), the associative nitrogen-fixing PGPR, belonging to the genus Azospirillum, has long been employed as microbial inoculant worldwide to promote legume production. Azospirillum, when used as inoculant, increase the production of root hairs and root growth which in effect benefit plan...
Journal of Food Technology & Nutrition Sciences, 2021
Childhood, overweight and obesity are increasingly significant problems, and ones that are likely... more Childhood, overweight and obesity are increasingly significant problems, and ones that are likely to endure and to have long term adverse influences on the health of individuals and populations unless action is taken to reverse the trend. A number of factors have been suggested as contributing to the development of childhood obesity. These include genetic factors, decreasing levels of physical activity, increased time spent in sedentary behavior and changes in diet. In addition, lifestyle factors, including family influences, changes in society and media advertising, have been associated with the increasing incidence of obesity and overweight in childhood. To address the problem, health care professionals should incorporate appropriate screening in their child practice. Comprehensive assessment of children who are, or who are at risk of becoming, obese is also necessary
The nitrogen cycle is greatly influenced by soil microbes through their transformation of differe... more The nitrogen cycle is greatly influenced by soil microbes through their transformation of different nitrogen compounds. Additionally, microbial diversity is profoundly modified by plant root exudates in the rhizosphere. Hence, root exudates indirectly control different processes in the nitrogen cycle by modifying the microbial community in the rhizosphere. We are beginning to understand more about the roles of plant root exudates in nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), nitrate reduction, nitrogen mineralization, and, finally, nitrogen uptake in the rhizosphere. Root exudates release chemoattractant compounds (flavonoids) into the rhizosphere; as a result, rhizobia move toward legume roots for colonization through a chemotactic process. The rhizobium–legume interaction is a very complex process involving root exudates, nod genes, and other compounds released from rhizobia and legume plants. Moreover, after nodulation, atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed and transformed into ammonia through biological processes involving the nitrogenase enzyme. Root exudates are also used as a carbon energy source by different microbial communities involved in asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and the DNRA and anammox processes. Chemical fertilizers, including synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, are also used for improving crop yields of different cereals and other vegetables in modern agricultural practices. Excess ammonia is further oxidized and converted into nitrite by Nitrosomonas, and, finally, nitrate is formed by Nitrobacter in a nitrification process in freshwater and soil ecosystems. In contrast, anammox, which is a two-step process, operates mainly in marine ecosystems and sediments. Better knowledge of these processes is needed so that urgent attention can be paid to optimizing the use of nitrogen fertilizers and minimizing their contributions to climate change and nitrogen pollution.
Microbial Strategies for Vegetable Production, 2017
Tomato is an important horticultural product with a high content of bioactive compounds such as f... more Tomato is an important horticultural product with a high content of bioactive compounds such as folate, ascorbate, polyphenols, and carotenoids and many other essential nutrients. Due to these, tomatoes are considered extremely valuable to human health. To optimize tomato production, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are frequently used. These chemicals are however, destructive for both crops and soil ecosystems. A reduction of these detrimental practices is therefore urgently required to protect both tomato and environments from damaging effects of agrochemicals. In this context, microbial inoculation especially those consisting of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be used to replace chemical fertilizers/pesticides. Also, PGPR can be integrated with such chemical practices to reduce their application in tomato cultivation. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that naturally inhabit the rhizosphere stimulate the growth and development of tomato plants directly or indirectly via availability of many essential plant nutrients, phytohormones, or through suppression/destruction of plant diseases. A better understanding of the plant growth-promotion activity of these bacterial strains is likely to enhance the production of safe, fresh, and high-quality tomatoes while reducing chemical inputs in different agronomic setups.
Beneficial soil bacteria including Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia, cepacia, Azotobacter vi... more Beneficial soil bacteria including Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia, cepacia, Azotobacter vinelandii, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Bradyrhizobium japonicum identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis tolerated maximum concentrations of glyphosate (herbicide) and kitazin (fungicide). Pesticides declined the phytohormone-synthesizing ability of PGPR strains. As an example, the higher (3X) level of kitazin reduced maximally IAA synthesizing ability of PGPR strains PS3, PSBB1, AZ2, RP1 and RV9 by 51, 28, 82, 35 and 59%, respectively, than control. Impact of different concentrations of glyphosate and kitazin on bacterial proteins differed considerably (p < 0.05). For instance, total protein content each of PS3 (111.3 μg mL −1), PSBB1 (80.2 μg mL −1), AZ2 (76.3 μg mL −1), RP1 (94.2 μg mL −1) and RV9 (62 μg mL −1) was maximally decreased by 34, 45, 85, 34 and 80%, respectively, at 3X doses of kitazin. Also, total whole-cell bacterial proteins revealed by SDS-PAGE declined in a concentration-dependent manner. As glyphosate and kitazin concentrations increased, protein bands were either decreased/disappeared or induced the formation of some new bands. For example, 400, 800 and 1200 μgmL −1 of kitazin-treated extract of P. fluorescens PS3 showed some new bands of around 200, 125, 90 and 70 kDa, whereas protein bands of 250, 150, 100, 75 and 50 kDa were vanished/disappeared. This study indicates that both glyphosate and kitazin are inhibitory to phytohormone production and bacterial protein synthesis mechanism and hence, provides baseline data that warrant use of pesticides in soil/rhizosphere where such bacterial communities are used as microbial inoculants. Keywords Beneficial microbes • 16S rRNA partial gene sequencing • Pesticides • SDS-PAGE • Protein profiling Significance statement This present study highlighted the toxic/inhibitory impacts of varying concentrations of two pesticides; glyphosate (herbicide) and kitazin (fungicide) on synthesis of phytohormone (IAA) and protein profiling of some beneficial soil microbiota such as P. fluorescens, B. cepacia, A. vinelandii, R. leguminosarum and B. japonicum. The present findings clearly suggested that pesticides invariably affected the phytohormone production, protein metabolism and provides baseline data that warrant the use of pesticides in soil/ rhizosphere where such bacterial communities are used as microbial inoculants. Therefore, the application of pesticides in agricultural practices should be critically monitored. Keeping in mind the safety of beneficial microbes which indeed play critical roles in the production of crops even in stressed situations.
Expanding applications of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and increased environmental deposition ... more Expanding applications of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and increased environmental deposition of NPs followed by their interactions with edible crops threaten yields. This study demonstrates the effects of aging (45 days in soil) of four NPs (ZnO, CuO, Al2O3, TiO2; 3.9-34 nm) and their corresponding metal oxide bulk particles (BPs; 144-586 nm) on cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivated in sandy-clay-loam field soil and compares these with the phytotoxic effects of readily soluble metal salts (Zn2+, Cu2+, and Al3+). Data revealed the cell-to-cell translocations of NPs, their attachments to outer and inner cell surfaces, nuclear membranes, and vacuoles, and their upward movements to aerial parts. Metal bioaccumulations in cucumbers were found in the order: (i) ZnO-NPs > ZnO-BPs > Zn2+, (ii) CuO-NPs > CuO-BPs > Cu2+, (iii) Al3+> Al2O3-NPs > Al2O3-BPs and (iv) TiO2-NPs > TiO2-BPs. Aging of NPs in soil for 45 days significantly enhanced metal uptake (P ≤ 0.05), for instance aged ZnO-NPs at 1 g kg-1 increased the uptake by 20.7 % over non-aged ZnO-NPs. Metal uptakes inhibited root (RDW) and shoot (SDW) dry weight accumulations. For Cu species, maximum negative impact (%) was exhibited by Cu2+ (RDW:SDW = 94:65) followed by CuO-NPs (RDW:SDW = 78:34) and CuO-BPs (RDW:SDW = 27:22). Aging of NPs/BPs at 1-4 g kg-1 further enhanced the toxic impact of tested materials on biomass accumulations and chlorophyll formation. NPs also induced membrane damage of root tissues and enhanced levels of antioxidant enzymes. The results of this study suggest that care is required when aged metal-oxide NPs of both essential (Zn and Cu) and non-essential (Al and Ti) metals interact with cucumber plants, especially, when they are used for agricultural purposes.
BackgroundInadequate numbers of trained health care providers (HCPs) contribute to poor pediatric... more BackgroundInadequate numbers of trained health care providers (HCPs) contribute to poor pediatric oncology (PO) outcomes, particularly in low‐ and lower middle–income countries (L/LMICs). An understanding of the characteristics of the workforce challenges is vital for addressing these problems.MethodsThe Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) Group surveyed PO centers in countries of North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, and Indian subcontinent on infrastructure and workforce capacity, service availability, and training opportunities for HCPs. Participating centers were categorized by the World Bank income levels for their countries and correlated with services, workload and staffing characteristics, and training needs.ResultsFifty of 82 member centers (61%) from 21 countries responded to the survey. Two hundred ninety‐nine pediatric oncologists and 1176 nurses treated 12 496 new PO patients/year, with a 1451‐bed utilization. The majority (71%) of new cases occurred in ...
Osmotic fragilities of red blood cells of three freshwater fish species,Ophicephalus punctatus (B... more Osmotic fragilities of red blood cells of three freshwater fish species,Ophicephalus punctatus (Bloch),O. striatus (Bloch), andClarias batrachus (L.) were studied under standard conditions in hypotonic solutions of sodium chloride. The fragility curves of the fishes were found to be of normal sigmoid type similar to those of marine fishes and mammalian erythrocytes. The differences between the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF)
Expanding applications of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in industry and agriculture have influe... more Expanding applications of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in industry and agriculture have influenced agro-ecosystems. However, relatively little is known about the bioaccumulation, distribution, and phytotoxicity of ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, ZnO-bulk, CuO-bulk, Zn2+, or Cu2+ in maize. Plants were exposed to 0.05-2 mg ml-1 or g-1 of six tested materials in agar (7 days) in hydroponic medium (20 days), or sandy-clay-loam soil (20 or 40 days). Seed germination, emergence and lengths of plumules, principal and seminal roots were significantly inhibited by ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, Zn2+, and Cu2+. Toxicity was more pronounced in hydroponic culture than in soil, and perceptible alterations in biomolecules were evident. ICP-MS analysis exhibited progressive uptake of metals while morphological, elemental, and surface/deeper scanning showed translocation and distribution of NPs in tissues. Tested materials induced enhanced superoxide radical production, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes and proline levels. Exposure significantly reduced P-accumulation, photosynthesis, and protein production. Zn2+ and Cu2+ were found to be more toxic than NPs. Compared to 20 days exposure in soil, toxicity slightly increased after 40 days. ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs increased apoptotic sub-G1 population by 22.4% and 38%, respectively. These results provide a better understanding of the mechanistic aspects responsible for the nanotoxicities of ZnO- and CuO-NPs in maize.
Objectives: 1:To determine outcome of first relapse of Hodgkin Lymphoma with standard dose chemot... more Objectives: 1:To determine outcome of first relapse of Hodgkin Lymphoma with standard dose chemotherapy. 2: To identify the prognostic factors predicting survival outcome in pediatric relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 43 patients with HL who relapsed at least 3 months after completion of initial treatment from January 2001 to December 2010. Probabilities of OS, EFS and cumulative incidence were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Log rank tests were used to compare survival curves and p-value<0.05 was considered significant Results: Median age at relapse was 11± 3.3 years. In 72% of patients EPIC chemotherapy was employed. Median follow up of this cohort was 62 months (range 4-187 months). OS and EFS at 10 years was 54% and 35% respectively. On univariate analysis; initial disease stage (p=0.021), stage at relapse (p=0.003), treatment protocol (p=0.005), treatment responsiveness at initial two cycles of salvage chemotherapy (p=0.002) and at t...
Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation, 2016
Global modernization is responsible for industrialization, urbanization and several other anthrop... more Global modernization is responsible for industrialization, urbanization and several other anthropogenic activities, which involves the huge application of heavy metals. Heavy metals containing products during process and after disposal, release various heavy metals and ions in surrounding atmosphere which severely affect the soil and water quality. Heavy metals contaminated soils in general are nutrient deficient and are likely to become barren in future. If heavy metal polluted soil is used for crop cultivation then the heavy metals deposited in soil enter into food chain and at higher concentration create severe human health problems. On the contrary, at permissible limit, metals are important for enzymatic activity and genetic material integrity in biological system. To understand the importance and risk associated with heavy metals, a genuine attempt is made to present different aspects of metal contamination in soils. Furthermore, nutritive value of heavy metals and toxicity to bacteria and plants is discussed. Finally, different strategies adopted by biological systems to detoxify heavy metals are critically highlighted. This review is likely to help to better understand the over does risk of heavy metals and its biological detoxification strategies. deficiency levels in Indian soils were: 49 Zn, 33 B, 12 Fe, 11 Mo, 5 Mn and 3 Cu [12]. Thereby, identifying the elements of soil nutrient pools and their consequential effect on both microbes and plants are necessary for enhancing crop production and plant nutritional value.
Phosphorus occurs in both organic and inorganic forms in soil and is a vital nutrient for plants ... more Phosphorus occurs in both organic and inorganic forms in soil and is a vital nutrient for plants and microorganisms. . Most of the soil phosphorus is in unavailable form, which is converted to readily available form by different soil microorganisms (Rokade and Patil 1992). The efficient P solubilizers posses the ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate and also can mineralize organic phosphatic compounds. The effect of combined inoculations with N2 fixers and P-solubilizers on yield, nitrogen ~d phosphorus accumulation in plants has been found to be more significant than the effect of either organism used alone. The present work deals with the. synergistic interactions of N2-fixing organisms with phosphllte-solubilizing microorganisms and their effect on greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.). The phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms , and Nl fixers were isolated from the rhizosperic soils of greengram, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller nom. cons.), garlic (Allium sativum L.) and onion (A. cepa L.) grown in garden soil of Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Institute of Agricultural Sciences, AMU, Aligarh. Bradyrhizobium sp and Azotobacter chroococcum Beijerinck were isolated using yest-extract mannitol agar (YMA) and Ashby's agar medium respectively. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms were isolated by enrichment culture technique using Pikovskaya's broth (Pikovskaya 1948). Proteus vulgaris was procured from the lARI, New Delhi. The P-solubilizing efficiency of the isolated strains was investigated using tricalcium phosphate (TCP) .at different incubation periods. The amonut of phosphate solubilized Was estimated by colorimetric method of King (1932). The bacterial and fungal strains showing better solubilization were selected for crop inoculation experiments. .
Microbial Strategies for Vegetable Production, 2017
The production of quality vegetables is a crucial issue worldwide due to consistently deteriorati... more The production of quality vegetables is a crucial issue worldwide due to consistently deteriorating soil health. Plants including vegetables absorb a number of metals from soil, some of which have no biological function, but some are toxic at low concentrations, while others are required at low concentration but are toxic at higher concentrations. As vegetables constitute a major source of nutrition and are an important dietary constituent, the heavy metal uptake and bioaccumulation in vegetables is important since it disrupts production and quality of vegetables and consequently affects human health via food chain. Considering the serious threat of metals to vegetables, an attempt in this chapter is made to highlight the effects of certain metals on vegetables grown in different agroclimatic regions of the world. Also, the bioremediation strategies adopted to clean up the metal-contaminated soil is discussed. The results of different studies conducted across the globe on metal toxicity and bioremediation strategies presented in this chapter are likely to help vegetable growers to produce fresh and contaminant-free vegetables.
This is to certify that the work embodied in this thesis entitled "Studies on Microbes Associated... more This is to certify that the work embodied in this thesis entitled "Studies on Microbes Associated Bioremediation and Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals to Certain Legume Crops" has been carded out by Mr. Mohammad Oves, under my supervision. The work included in this thesis is original and has not been submitted for any'other.degree..The work is suitable for the award of Ph. D. degree in (Ag.
Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a highly productive, gluten-free cereal crop plant... more Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a highly productive, gluten-free cereal crop plant that can be used as an alternative energy resource, human food, and livestock feed or for biofuel-ethanol production. Phosphate fertilization is a common practice to optimize sorghum yield but because of high cost, environmental hazards, and soil fertility reduction, the use of chemical P fertilizer is discouraged. Due to this, the impetus to search for an inexpensive and eco-friendly microbiome as an alternative to chemical P biofertilizer has been increased. Microbial formulations, especially phosphate solubilizing microbiome (PSM) either alone or in synergism with other rhizobacteria, modify the soil nutrient pool and augment the growth, P nutrition, and yield of sorghum. The use of PSM in sorghum disease management reduces the dependence on pesticides employed to control the phytopathogens damage. The role of PSM in the sorghum cultivation system is, however, relatively unresearched...
Dot immunablot assay was used for determination of nodules produced on soybean. french bean. pige... more Dot immunablot assay was used for determination of nodules produced on soybean. french bean. pigeon pea and urdbean by Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum USDA-I 10; R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli FB-77 and N-3; Rhizobium sp. A-3 and U-I. respectively. Nodule occupancy by inoculated strains as determined by the test ranged between 73 to 93 %. Replica inmrunoblot assay reduced the time required for enumeration of rhizobia and was suitable for strain specific enumeration of Rhizobium strains in nodules .. Correlation between ~mmunoblot and traditional plate counts was ~0. 96 for five rhizobial strains tested.
Constantly increasing human population requires that the crop production including those of legum... more Constantly increasing human population requires that the crop production including those of legumes be enhanced rapidly to fulfill the food demands across the globe. In order to optimize pulse production, growers generally apply agrochemicals including fertilizers and pesticides. However, the excessive and uncontrolled use of such chemicals has resulted in reduced crop production besides their adverse impact on environment. In order to protect losses in soil fertility and to preserve environmental quality, the use of inexpensive and eco-friendly microbial preparations (biofertilizers) has been exploited in farming practices with remarkable success. Among various plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), the associative nitrogen-fixing PGPR, belonging to the genus Azospirillum, has long been employed as microbial inoculant worldwide to promote legume production. Azospirillum, when used as inoculant, increase the production of root hairs and root growth which in effect benefit plan...
Journal of Food Technology & Nutrition Sciences, 2021
Childhood, overweight and obesity are increasingly significant problems, and ones that are likely... more Childhood, overweight and obesity are increasingly significant problems, and ones that are likely to endure and to have long term adverse influences on the health of individuals and populations unless action is taken to reverse the trend. A number of factors have been suggested as contributing to the development of childhood obesity. These include genetic factors, decreasing levels of physical activity, increased time spent in sedentary behavior and changes in diet. In addition, lifestyle factors, including family influences, changes in society and media advertising, have been associated with the increasing incidence of obesity and overweight in childhood. To address the problem, health care professionals should incorporate appropriate screening in their child practice. Comprehensive assessment of children who are, or who are at risk of becoming, obese is also necessary
The nitrogen cycle is greatly influenced by soil microbes through their transformation of differe... more The nitrogen cycle is greatly influenced by soil microbes through their transformation of different nitrogen compounds. Additionally, microbial diversity is profoundly modified by plant root exudates in the rhizosphere. Hence, root exudates indirectly control different processes in the nitrogen cycle by modifying the microbial community in the rhizosphere. We are beginning to understand more about the roles of plant root exudates in nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), nitrate reduction, nitrogen mineralization, and, finally, nitrogen uptake in the rhizosphere. Root exudates release chemoattractant compounds (flavonoids) into the rhizosphere; as a result, rhizobia move toward legume roots for colonization through a chemotactic process. The rhizobium–legume interaction is a very complex process involving root exudates, nod genes, and other compounds released from rhizobia and legume plants. Moreover, after nodulation, atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed and transformed into ammonia through biological processes involving the nitrogenase enzyme. Root exudates are also used as a carbon energy source by different microbial communities involved in asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and the DNRA and anammox processes. Chemical fertilizers, including synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, are also used for improving crop yields of different cereals and other vegetables in modern agricultural practices. Excess ammonia is further oxidized and converted into nitrite by Nitrosomonas, and, finally, nitrate is formed by Nitrobacter in a nitrification process in freshwater and soil ecosystems. In contrast, anammox, which is a two-step process, operates mainly in marine ecosystems and sediments. Better knowledge of these processes is needed so that urgent attention can be paid to optimizing the use of nitrogen fertilizers and minimizing their contributions to climate change and nitrogen pollution.
Microbial Strategies for Vegetable Production, 2017
Tomato is an important horticultural product with a high content of bioactive compounds such as f... more Tomato is an important horticultural product with a high content of bioactive compounds such as folate, ascorbate, polyphenols, and carotenoids and many other essential nutrients. Due to these, tomatoes are considered extremely valuable to human health. To optimize tomato production, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are frequently used. These chemicals are however, destructive for both crops and soil ecosystems. A reduction of these detrimental practices is therefore urgently required to protect both tomato and environments from damaging effects of agrochemicals. In this context, microbial inoculation especially those consisting of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be used to replace chemical fertilizers/pesticides. Also, PGPR can be integrated with such chemical practices to reduce their application in tomato cultivation. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that naturally inhabit the rhizosphere stimulate the growth and development of tomato plants directly or indirectly via availability of many essential plant nutrients, phytohormones, or through suppression/destruction of plant diseases. A better understanding of the plant growth-promotion activity of these bacterial strains is likely to enhance the production of safe, fresh, and high-quality tomatoes while reducing chemical inputs in different agronomic setups.
Beneficial soil bacteria including Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia, cepacia, Azotobacter vi... more Beneficial soil bacteria including Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia, cepacia, Azotobacter vinelandii, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Bradyrhizobium japonicum identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis tolerated maximum concentrations of glyphosate (herbicide) and kitazin (fungicide). Pesticides declined the phytohormone-synthesizing ability of PGPR strains. As an example, the higher (3X) level of kitazin reduced maximally IAA synthesizing ability of PGPR strains PS3, PSBB1, AZ2, RP1 and RV9 by 51, 28, 82, 35 and 59%, respectively, than control. Impact of different concentrations of glyphosate and kitazin on bacterial proteins differed considerably (p < 0.05). For instance, total protein content each of PS3 (111.3 μg mL −1), PSBB1 (80.2 μg mL −1), AZ2 (76.3 μg mL −1), RP1 (94.2 μg mL −1) and RV9 (62 μg mL −1) was maximally decreased by 34, 45, 85, 34 and 80%, respectively, at 3X doses of kitazin. Also, total whole-cell bacterial proteins revealed by SDS-PAGE declined in a concentration-dependent manner. As glyphosate and kitazin concentrations increased, protein bands were either decreased/disappeared or induced the formation of some new bands. For example, 400, 800 and 1200 μgmL −1 of kitazin-treated extract of P. fluorescens PS3 showed some new bands of around 200, 125, 90 and 70 kDa, whereas protein bands of 250, 150, 100, 75 and 50 kDa were vanished/disappeared. This study indicates that both glyphosate and kitazin are inhibitory to phytohormone production and bacterial protein synthesis mechanism and hence, provides baseline data that warrant use of pesticides in soil/rhizosphere where such bacterial communities are used as microbial inoculants. Keywords Beneficial microbes • 16S rRNA partial gene sequencing • Pesticides • SDS-PAGE • Protein profiling Significance statement This present study highlighted the toxic/inhibitory impacts of varying concentrations of two pesticides; glyphosate (herbicide) and kitazin (fungicide) on synthesis of phytohormone (IAA) and protein profiling of some beneficial soil microbiota such as P. fluorescens, B. cepacia, A. vinelandii, R. leguminosarum and B. japonicum. The present findings clearly suggested that pesticides invariably affected the phytohormone production, protein metabolism and provides baseline data that warrant the use of pesticides in soil/ rhizosphere where such bacterial communities are used as microbial inoculants. Therefore, the application of pesticides in agricultural practices should be critically monitored. Keeping in mind the safety of beneficial microbes which indeed play critical roles in the production of crops even in stressed situations.
Expanding applications of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and increased environmental deposition ... more Expanding applications of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and increased environmental deposition of NPs followed by their interactions with edible crops threaten yields. This study demonstrates the effects of aging (45 days in soil) of four NPs (ZnO, CuO, Al2O3, TiO2; 3.9-34 nm) and their corresponding metal oxide bulk particles (BPs; 144-586 nm) on cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivated in sandy-clay-loam field soil and compares these with the phytotoxic effects of readily soluble metal salts (Zn2+, Cu2+, and Al3+). Data revealed the cell-to-cell translocations of NPs, their attachments to outer and inner cell surfaces, nuclear membranes, and vacuoles, and their upward movements to aerial parts. Metal bioaccumulations in cucumbers were found in the order: (i) ZnO-NPs > ZnO-BPs > Zn2+, (ii) CuO-NPs > CuO-BPs > Cu2+, (iii) Al3+> Al2O3-NPs > Al2O3-BPs and (iv) TiO2-NPs > TiO2-BPs. Aging of NPs in soil for 45 days significantly enhanced metal uptake (P ≤ 0.05), for instance aged ZnO-NPs at 1 g kg-1 increased the uptake by 20.7 % over non-aged ZnO-NPs. Metal uptakes inhibited root (RDW) and shoot (SDW) dry weight accumulations. For Cu species, maximum negative impact (%) was exhibited by Cu2+ (RDW:SDW = 94:65) followed by CuO-NPs (RDW:SDW = 78:34) and CuO-BPs (RDW:SDW = 27:22). Aging of NPs/BPs at 1-4 g kg-1 further enhanced the toxic impact of tested materials on biomass accumulations and chlorophyll formation. NPs also induced membrane damage of root tissues and enhanced levels of antioxidant enzymes. The results of this study suggest that care is required when aged metal-oxide NPs of both essential (Zn and Cu) and non-essential (Al and Ti) metals interact with cucumber plants, especially, when they are used for agricultural purposes.
BackgroundInadequate numbers of trained health care providers (HCPs) contribute to poor pediatric... more BackgroundInadequate numbers of trained health care providers (HCPs) contribute to poor pediatric oncology (PO) outcomes, particularly in low‐ and lower middle–income countries (L/LMICs). An understanding of the characteristics of the workforce challenges is vital for addressing these problems.MethodsThe Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) Group surveyed PO centers in countries of North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, and Indian subcontinent on infrastructure and workforce capacity, service availability, and training opportunities for HCPs. Participating centers were categorized by the World Bank income levels for their countries and correlated with services, workload and staffing characteristics, and training needs.ResultsFifty of 82 member centers (61%) from 21 countries responded to the survey. Two hundred ninety‐nine pediatric oncologists and 1176 nurses treated 12 496 new PO patients/year, with a 1451‐bed utilization. The majority (71%) of new cases occurred in ...
Osmotic fragilities of red blood cells of three freshwater fish species,Ophicephalus punctatus (B... more Osmotic fragilities of red blood cells of three freshwater fish species,Ophicephalus punctatus (Bloch),O. striatus (Bloch), andClarias batrachus (L.) were studied under standard conditions in hypotonic solutions of sodium chloride. The fragility curves of the fishes were found to be of normal sigmoid type similar to those of marine fishes and mammalian erythrocytes. The differences between the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF)
Expanding applications of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in industry and agriculture have influe... more Expanding applications of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in industry and agriculture have influenced agro-ecosystems. However, relatively little is known about the bioaccumulation, distribution, and phytotoxicity of ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, ZnO-bulk, CuO-bulk, Zn2+, or Cu2+ in maize. Plants were exposed to 0.05-2 mg ml-1 or g-1 of six tested materials in agar (7 days) in hydroponic medium (20 days), or sandy-clay-loam soil (20 or 40 days). Seed germination, emergence and lengths of plumules, principal and seminal roots were significantly inhibited by ZnO-NPs, CuO-NPs, Zn2+, and Cu2+. Toxicity was more pronounced in hydroponic culture than in soil, and perceptible alterations in biomolecules were evident. ICP-MS analysis exhibited progressive uptake of metals while morphological, elemental, and surface/deeper scanning showed translocation and distribution of NPs in tissues. Tested materials induced enhanced superoxide radical production, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes and proline levels. Exposure significantly reduced P-accumulation, photosynthesis, and protein production. Zn2+ and Cu2+ were found to be more toxic than NPs. Compared to 20 days exposure in soil, toxicity slightly increased after 40 days. ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs increased apoptotic sub-G1 population by 22.4% and 38%, respectively. These results provide a better understanding of the mechanistic aspects responsible for the nanotoxicities of ZnO- and CuO-NPs in maize.
Objectives: 1:To determine outcome of first relapse of Hodgkin Lymphoma with standard dose chemot... more Objectives: 1:To determine outcome of first relapse of Hodgkin Lymphoma with standard dose chemotherapy. 2: To identify the prognostic factors predicting survival outcome in pediatric relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 43 patients with HL who relapsed at least 3 months after completion of initial treatment from January 2001 to December 2010. Probabilities of OS, EFS and cumulative incidence were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Log rank tests were used to compare survival curves and p-value<0.05 was considered significant Results: Median age at relapse was 11± 3.3 years. In 72% of patients EPIC chemotherapy was employed. Median follow up of this cohort was 62 months (range 4-187 months). OS and EFS at 10 years was 54% and 35% respectively. On univariate analysis; initial disease stage (p=0.021), stage at relapse (p=0.003), treatment protocol (p=0.005), treatment responsiveness at initial two cycles of salvage chemotherapy (p=0.002) and at t...
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Papers by Saghir Khan