Aims
This study aimed at isolating endophytic fungi from Citrus limon (L.) possessing antioxidative and genoprotective potential.
Methods and Results
Endophytic fungi were screened for antioxidant ...activity using 2,2‐diphenyl,1‐picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging assay and maximum activity (79·70%) was exhibited by culture MP1 identified to be Penicillium oxalicum on the basis of morphological and molecular characteristics. The ethyl acetate extract of MP1 was subjected to silica column chromatography followed by LH 20 column chromatography for purification of active metabolites. The partially purified active fraction of P. oxalicum MP1 possessed good antioxidant activity as detected using various assays. It also exhibited a strong DNA damage protection potential on pUC19 plasmid DNA treated with Fenton reagent. On exposure to active fraction of MP1 significant reduction (P < 0·05) in nuclear deformities (like nuclear buds, micronuclei, nuclear ridges and binucleated cells) was observed in human lymphocytes pretreated with a toxic concentration of H2O2. In vivo genoprotectivity studies were conducted in fresh water fish Channa punctatus pretreated with a damaging compound 4‐nonyl phenol. The active fraction of P. oxalicum MP1 caused a reduction of 94·7 and 66·60% in micronuclei and aberrant cell formation, respectively. A significant reduction (P < 0·05) in tail length and tail DNA parameters was also observed in comet assay.
Conclusion
The endophytic P. oxalicum isolated in this study has the potential to produce metabolites possessing antioxidant and genoprotective activities.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The isolated culture can be exploited in the field of therapeutics by virtue of its in vitro and in vivo genoprotective potential.
Aim
The present study aimed to isolate and screen endophytes from Trachyspermum ammi with the ability to inhibit alpha glucosidase enzyme and evaluate their insecticidal potential.
Methods and ...Results
Endophytic fungi isolated from T. ammi were screened for alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity. Maximum inhibition (96%) was observed in an isolate AZ‐9, identified to be Exophiala spinifera on morphological and molecular basis. Production of fungal metabolites was carried out in malt extract broth followed by extraction with ethyl acetate. Brown coloured gummy residue obtained after evaporation of ethyl acetate was partially soluble in water yielding white precipitates. The precipitate exhibiting α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity was purified by repeated washing and centrifugation. The insecticidal activity of inhibitor was evaluated on Spodoptera litura (Fab.) by feeding this pest on diet amended with inhibitor. It resulted in significant larval mortality as well as deformities in emerging adults. A reduction in vivo digestive enzyme activity was also observed. Nutritional analysis revealed the toxic effect of AZ‐9 inhibitor on various food utilization parameters of S. litura. A significant reduction was recorded in relative growth and consumption rate of S. litura.
Conclusions
This is the first report on production of an alpha glucosidase inhibitor from E. spinifera with insecticidal activity.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The study highlights the importance of endophytes in providing protection against insect pests to the host. It also suggests the insecticidal potential of alpha glucosidase inhibitor from E. spinifera against polyphagous pest S. litura.
Aim
Recent concerns about the possible adverse effects of agricultural chemicals on health and environment have generated a considerable interest in biological alternatives. This study aimed to test ...the insecticidal potential of fungus Aspergillus flavus and revealed its genotoxic and cytotoxic effects using Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) as a model.
Methods and Results
The fungus was isolated from the surface of the dead insect and investigated for its insecticidal potential against S. litura by bioassay studies. Significant increase in mortality, prolonged development period and reduced adult emergence in S. litura were observed in larva fed on diet supplemented with fungal extract. In addition, fungus was also found to cause oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell death. Significantly higher percentages of necrotic cells and DNA damage were observed in larvae treated with fungal extract. Furthermore, DNA repair studies predicted the longevity of toxic effects induced by fungus. Phytochemical and ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography studies revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry indicated it to be a non‐aflatoxin strain of A. flavus. Fungal extract was less toxic to mammalian cell lines as compared to cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (DOX) in the MTT assay.
Conclusion
The study highlights the insecticidal potential of A. flavus by revealing its genotoxicity and cytotoxicity causing potential. This is the first report showing the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the fungus A. flavus on S. litura.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The study provides a useful insight to explore microbial agents as biopesticides in order to reduce various environmental as well as human health problems due to synthetic pesticides.
•This ESO-ESMO ABC 5 Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations for managing advanced breast cancer patients.•It provides updates on managing patients with all breast cancer subtypes, ...LABC, follow-up, palliative and supportive care.•Updated diagnostic and treatment algorithms are also provided.•All recommendations were compiled by a multidisciplinary group of international experts.•Recommendations are based on available clinical evidence and the collective expert opinion of the authors.
Aim
The objectives of the present study were to explore the benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) degradation potential of Bacillus marisflavi RR014 isolated from the tap water of ...public toilet and also to optimize the phthalates degradation process using response surface methodology.
Methods and Results
The minimal salt medium was used for the biodegradation analysis of phthalates. The quantification of phthalates and their intermediate metabolites identification were done by using UHPLC and LC‐MS/MS respectively. The results revealed that B. marisflavi RR014 is capable of degrading both the phthalates under varying pH, temperature and salinity conditions. The formation of phthalic acid from the breakdown of BBP and DMP (500 mg l−1) in the medium was observed after 24 h. After 72 h, 61% of BBP and 98·9% of DMP in the medium was degraded as monitored by UHPLC. The identification of intermediate metabolites by LC‐MS/MS revealed that hydrolysis of BBP and DMP produces phthalic acid.
Conclusions
The degradation rate of both the phthalates was increased as the parameters increased up to an optimum level. The three environmental factors (pH, temperature and salt concentration) strongly affect the rate of degradation of both the phthalates. The maximum degradation rate for both the phthalates was achieved at pH 7, temperature 35°C and salt concentration of 1% as observed from the central composite experimental design.
Significance and Impact of the Study
It is the first report on the phthalates biodegradation potential of B. marisflavi RR014 isolated from the tap water of public toilet. The bacterium is capable of degrading BBP and DMP under varying pH, temperature and salinity, therefore, ideal to treat the phthalate contaminated environments.
Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles has received significant attention worldwide because of their great physical and chemical stability, excellent magnetic properties, and large lattice constant ...values. These properties are predominate in the food science for enhancing the overall quality, shelf life, taste, flavor, process-ability, etc., of the food. Nanoparticles exhibit attractive antibacterial activity due to their increased specific surface area leading to enhanced surface reactivity. When nanoparticles are suspended in the biological culture, they encounter various biological interfaces, resulting from the presence of cellular moieties like DNA, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, etc., which helps antibacterial properties in many ways. This paper reviews different methods used for the synthesis of nanoparticles but is specially focusing on the green synthesis methods owing to its non-toxic nature towards the environment. This review highlights their antibacterial application mainly in the food sector in the form of food-nanosensors, food-packaging, and food-additives. The possible mechanism of nanoparticles for their antibacterial behavior underlying the interaction of nano-particles with bacteria, (i) excessive ROS generation including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), OH− (hydroxyl radicals), and O−22 (peroxide); and (ii) precipitation of nano-particles on the bacterial exterior; which, disrupts the cellular activities, resulting in membranes disturbance. All these phenomena results in the inhibition of bacterial growth. Along with this, their current application and future perspectives in the food sector are also discussed. Nanoparticles help in destroying not only pathogens but also deadly fungi and viruses. Most importantly it is required to focus more on the crop processing and its containment to stop the post-harvesting loss. So, nanoparticles can act as a smart weapon towards the sustainable move.
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•Synthesis of metal nanoparticles via green, chemical and physical synthesis route.•Factors affecting antibacterial activity of the metal NP with their proposed mechanism.•Nanotechnology in the food sector: food additives, food nanosensors and food packaging.•Biodegradable packaging material with embedded nanoparticles.•Migration of nanoprticles in human food-chain and toxicity assesment.
The study was planned to determine the incidence and analyze how various epidemiological factors tend to be associated with delayed adverse donor reactions (ADR).
The prospective observational study ...was conducted in Department of Transfusion Medicine of tertiary care hospital from January to December 2019. Eligible blood donors were observed for any adverse reactions after 15 minutes of removal of phlebotomy needle. Further, telephonic calls were made to each enrolled blood donor on day-2 and day-7 of the whole blood donation. For each day, two calls were made at an interval of 4 hours before declaring the participant to be non-responder.
A total of 1540 (84.1%) blood donors responded on day-2 and 1610 (87.9%) responded on day-7 of follow-up. Total 180 (11.2%) blood donors experienced delayed ADRs. Two donors (1.1%) experienced on-site while 178 (98.89%) reported off-site delayed ADRs when followed-up telephonically. The commonest delayed ADRs reported were bruise (n=72; 30.9%), arm-pain (n=61; 26.2%) and generalised weakness (n=44; 18.9%). Female donors (27.3% vs. 11.2%; P=0.004), first time donors (15.2 vs. 9.9%; P=0.002), donors with low body-weight (range of 45–60kg; 15.9% vs. 11.5% vs. 6.1%; P=0.011) and body mass index<18.5 (24% vs. 12.5% vs. 9.7% vs. 11.3%; P=0.028) experienced more delayed ADRs.
Blood donors do experience delayed ADRs but these are not reported to the blood centers as these are usually mild. However, it is important to capture these delayed adverse donor reactions and report it to National Hemovigilance Program so that strategies can be formulated to prevent their occurrence and recurrence.
In India, due to manpower constraints, patients' family members are often actively involved in healthcare activities of their near and dear ones. They have significant contact with the patient at all ...World Health Organization (WHO) ‘five moments for hand hygiene’. This study analysed the impact of decade-long awareness campaigns on the hand hygiene compliance (HHC) by our patients' carers.
Trained infection control nurses observed the HHC at each of the five moments for patients' attendants in different hospital settings from January 2014 to December 2018. Compliance was calculated as percentage of events divided by total opportunities.
A total of 7302 opportunities were observed with an overall compliance of 46.1% (35.5% in 2014 to 48.2% in 2018, P < 0.0001). Compliance at WHO moments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was 51.0%, 47.4%, 67.6%, 48.8%, and 24.3% respectively. Among family members, mothers of newborns had a much higher HHC (77%) than others (44.5%) (P < 0.0001). Also, the compliance was higher in medical versus surgical wards and in paediatric wards versus adult wards (P < 0.0001 in both).
This is the first study on family members' HHC in a hospital setting in a low- and middle-income country. The study shows that family members, once trained, exhibit fairly good HHC while caring for their patients, especially mothers of newborns. It is worthwhile empowering and educating patient attendants about the importance and process of hand hygiene as it is likely to result in immense benefit for patients.
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