Transactions of the British Mycological Society

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is chief plant parasitic nematode of various crops globally. Meanwhile, the negative side effects on human health and environmental concerns associated with haphazard uses of chemical nematicides. Hence, the search for a safe and effective approach is more relevant. The present study was aimed to evaluate the nematicidal potential of Snef1216 (Penicillium chrysogenum) against M. incognita at different concentrations (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and with the nutritious medium. The egg hatching inhibition and mortality of second stage juveniles of M. incognita were assessed after 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h exposure. Results revealed that egg hatching inhibition and percent mortality of M. incognita increased with increasing concentration and exposure time. The highest mortality of juveniles was recorded at 100% conc. i.e., 24.20%, 36%, 66%, 78% and 97.8% at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The highest ovicidal activity was recorded at 100% concentration with 5.20% of eggs hatching. The outcome suggested that Snef1216 (P. chrysogenum) resulted in the lowest LC50 value was recorded as 3718.496 at 6 h exposure period followed by 10479.87, 11186.682, 14838.58 and 24001.430 at 72, 12, 48 and 24 h respectively via ovicidal assay. Whereas, in the larvicidal assay, the lowest LC50 value demonstrated at 72 h being 17.628% exposure period followed by 28.345, 50.490, 215.710 and 482.595% at 48, 24, 12 and 6 h respectively. It is concluded that Snef1216 has potential being used as a biocontrol agent against M. incognita and can serve as a source of a novel nematicidal agent of fungal origin.

/pdf/in-vitro-evaluation-of-penicillium-chrysogenum-snef1216-4lan7tu78i.pdf

In Vitro Evaluation of Penicillium Chrysogenum Snef1216 Against Meloidogyne Incognita (Root-Knot Nematode)

Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. According to medical sources, chemotherapy is still the primary method for curing or treating cancer today and has been a major contributor to the recent decline in cancer mortality. Nanocomposites based on polymers and metal nanoparticles have recently received the attention of researchers. In the current study, a nanocomposite was fabricated based on carboxymethyl cellulose and silver nanoparticles (CMC-AgNPs) and their antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities were evaluated. The antibacterial results revealed that CMC-AgNPs have promising antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus). Moreover, CMC-AgNPs exhibited antifungal activity against filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, and A. terreus. Concerning the HepG2 hepatocellular cancer cell line, the lowest IC50 values (7.9 ± 0.41 µg/mL) were recorded for CMC-AgNPs, suggesting a strong cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells. As a result, our findings suggest that the antitumor effect of these CMC-Ag nanoparticles is due to the induction of apoptosis and necrosis in hepatic cancer cells via increased caspase-8 and -9 activities and diminished levels of VEGFR-2. In conclusion, CMC-AgNPs exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities, which can be used in the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/16/3352/pdf?version=1661251383

Synthesis of Silver Nanocomposite Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose: Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anticancer Activities

There is an increase of pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria globally due to the misuse of antibiotics. Recently, more scientists used metal nanoparticles to counteract antibacterial resistance. In this study, orange peel waste (OPW) was used for selenium nanoparticles’ (Se-NPs) biosynthesis through the green and ecofriendly method, and their applications as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Green biosynthesized Se-NPs were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, and TEM. Characterization results revealed that biosynthesized Se-NPs were highly crystalline, spherical, and polydisperse, and had sizes in the range of 16–95 nm. The biosynthesized Se-NPs were evaluated as antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Results illustrated that Se-NPs exhibited potential antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus ATCC 29213 and biofilm-producing clinical isolates of S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, MDR, biofilm, and quorum-sensing and producing clinical isolates of MDR P. aeruginosa, MDR E. coli, and K. pneumonia). Moreover, results illustrated that S. aureus ATCC 29213 was the most sensitive bacteria to Se-NPs at 1000 µg/mL, where the inhibition zone was 35 mm and MIC was 25 µg/mL. Furthermore, Se-NPs at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC decreased the biofilm significantly. The largest inhibition of biofilm was noticed in MDR K. pneumonia, which was 62% and 92% at 0.25 and 0.5 MIC, respectively. In conclusion, Se-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using OPW through the green method and had promising antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be used later in fighting resistant bacteria.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/6/893/pdf?version=1655277053

Green Biosynthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Using Orange Peel Waste: Characterization, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

The purpose of this study is to create chitosan-stabilized silver nanoparticles (Chi/Ag-NPs) and determine whether they were cytotoxic and also to determine their characteristic antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing activities. Recently, the development of an efficient and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles based on polysaccharides has attracted a lot of interest in the field of nanotechnology. Colloidal Chi/Ag-NPs are prepared by chemical reduction of silver ions in the presence of Chi, giving Chi/Ag-NPs. Physiochemical properties are determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses. TEM pictures indicate that the generated Chi/Ag-NPs are nearly spherical in shape with a thin chitosan covering around the Ag core and had sizes in the range of 9–65 nm. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a resazurin-mediated microtiter plate assay. The highest activity was observed with the lowest concentration of Chi/Ag-NPs, which was 12.5 µg/mL for both bacterial strains. Additionally, Chi/Ag-NPs showed promising antifungal features against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, and Aspergillus niger, where inhibition zones were 22, 29, 20, and 17 mm, respectively. Likewise, Chi/Ag-NPs revealed potential antioxidant activity is 92, 90, and 75% at concentrations of 4000, 2000, and 1000 µg/mL, where the IC50 of Chi/Ag-NPs was 261 µg/mL. Wound healing results illustrated that fibroblasts advanced toward the opening to close the scratch wound by roughly 50.5% after a 24-h exposure to Chi/Ag-NPs, greatly accelerating the wound healing process. In conclusion, a nanocomposite based on AgNPs and chitosan was successfully prepared and exhibited antibacterial, antibiofilm, antifungal, antioxidant, and wound healing activities that can be used in the medical field.

https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/6/612/pdf?version=1654680876

Multifunctional Silver Nanoparticles Based on Chitosan: Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Antifungal, Antioxidant, and Wound-Healing Activities

Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Kei-apple (Dovyalis caffra) fruit and their efficacy against cancer cells and clinical pathogenic microorganisms

Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. are a growing concern for vegetable producers, because chemical nematicides are not effective. Search for novel, environmental friendly alternatives to manage Meloidogyne populations are needed to solve the problem. The effectiveness of different bacterial and fungal genera against M. javanica on eggplant was evaluated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Treatments with Bacillus subtilis, B. thuringiensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Serratia marcescens each alone or in a mixture caused 50.5-90.3% inhibition on M. javanica egg-hatch and 2nd stage juveniles (J2) activity and showed 56.5-86.8% reduction in the number of nematode root galls, egg-masses/root system, number of J2/250 cc soil and 50.9-73.7% increase in the root and shoot dry weights of eggplant. Treatment with Arthrobotrys conoides, A. oligospora, Paecilomyces lilacinus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae caused significant reductions (69.5-89.5%) in the number of nematode root galls, egg-masses/root system and number of J2/250 cc soil and showed 53.7-60.9% increase in root and shoot dry weights of eggplant. The potential of P. lilacinus in colonization M. javanica egg masses and eggs formed on eggplant roots ranged from 45.2- 99.2%, compared to the control treatment. This study can help growers to develop new biocontrol agents, to suppress root-knot nematode populations under field conditions.

/pdf/suppressive-effect-of-some-microbial-agents-on-root-knot-2y6ej61vt5.pdf

Suppressive effect of some microbial agents on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica infected eggplant

Aflatoxins, a worldwide health hazard to humans and animals, are among the most potent mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds known to be produced in nature. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi associated with peanut seeds. Under UV light of 365 nm wavelength, the presence or absence of fluorescence which surrounding the colonies of A. flavus or A. parasiticus isolates was determined and expressed as positive (+) or negative (-) signs. The efficacy of five concentrations of basil and camphor essential oils on growth and aflatoxin production for isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were evaluated under laboratory conditions using UV light. Results indicated that the most prevalent fungi, associated with peanut cvs. were A. flavus and A. parasitica with frequency of occurrence (FO) 22.5- 40.0 %. A. flavus and A. parasiticus showed high bright fluorescence, which expressed as a high potential of aflatoxin production. Treatments with the fungicide Benlate ® and the higher tested concentration of 3.0 μl/ml of basil and camphor essential oils resulted in great inhibitions (73.3-93.3%) in linear growth of both A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Treatments with the three concentrations (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 μl/ml) of either essential oil caused 37.571.1% inhibition, followed by the lowest concentration (1.0 μl/ml), which showed 16.7-33.3% inhibition compared to the check treatment. However, the higher concentrations of 2.5 and 3 μl/ml of the tested essential oils completely inhibited aflatoxin production. This study proved that essential oils of basil and camphor can be used as a protective agent against aflatoxin production by A. flavus and A. parasiticus.

/pdf/antifungal-effects-of-basil-and-camphor-essential-oils-1j6qmnb3de.pdf

Antifungal effects of basil and camphor essential oils against Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus.

https://pharmacophorejournal.com/storage/files/article/c7d7c89b-ded3-4f2f-97bc-00d4cab2fbef-TwDstnHfbraf77gk/pharma-2021-vol13-iss1-nov-dec-91-99-7089.pdf

Phytochemistry Screening, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia inarticulata Schweinf Plant Extract

Inducing hydrolytic enzymes production and antibiosis is an attractive process for industrial applications. The approach can be used to repress pathogenic microorganisms. Using a dual culture of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus, the activities of cellulase, polygalacturonase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanases, protease, xylanase, and β-glucosidase were 1.78, 3.87, 2.98, 2.79, 6.91, 2.89 U, and 1.43 U∙mg-1 of protein. Meanwhile, the activities were 0.87, 2.78, 0.58, 1.69, 4.45, 2.06, and 0.89 U.mg-1 of protein for A. flavus alone and 0.98, 2.98, 0.87, 1.89, 4.98, 2.58, and 0.91 U.mg-1 of protein for A. fumigatus alone. The cellulase, polygalacturonase, and chitinase activities were studied at different temperatures; 40 °C and 50 °C, which were better temperatures than 20 °C in terms of enzymes activity for A. fumigatus and the dual culture compared to A. flavus. The highest antimicromial activity was observed using the dual fungal culture, where the inhibition zones were 3.13, 3.47, 2.27, 1.77, 1.03, and 2 mm compared with A. fumigatus alone or A. flavus alone, against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor circinelloides, and Fusarium moniliforme, respectively.

Induction of hydrolytic enzyme production and antibiosis via a culture of dual fungal species isolated from soil rich with the residues of woody plants in Saudi Arabia

Asmaa Ahmed Alharbi

Papers

Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Kei-apple (Dovyalis caffra) fruit and their efficacy against cancer cells and clinical pathogenic microorganisms

Suppressive effect of some microbial agents on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica infected eggplant

Antifungal effects of basil and camphor essential oils against Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus.

Phytochemistry Screening, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia inarticulata Schweinf Plant Extract

Induction of hydrolytic enzyme production and antibiosis via a culture of dual fungal species isolated from soil rich with the residues of woody plants in Saudi Arabia