The present study investigates ameliorative effect of nitric oxide (NO) against zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) phytotoxicity in wheat seedlings. ZnONPs exposure hampered growth of wheat seedlings which was coincided with reduced photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm and qP) due to increased accumulation of zinc (Zn) in xylem and phloem saps. However, SNP supplementation has partially mitigated the ZnONPs-mediated toxicity by modulation of photosynthetic activity and Zn accumulation in xylem and phloem sap. Further, the results reveal that ZnONPs treatments enhanced level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hence lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde; MDA) due to severely inhibited activities of the ascorbate-glutatione cycle (AsA-GSH) enzymes: ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and its associated metabolites: reduced ascorbate and glutathione. In contrast to this, the addition of SNP together with ZnONPs maintained the cellular functioning of the AsA-GSH cycle properly, hence lesser damage was noticed in comparison to ZnONPs treatments alone. The protective effect of SNP against ZnONPs toxicity on fresh weight (growth) can be reversed by 2-(4carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl- imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, a NO scavenger, suggesting role of NO released from SNP in ameliorating ZnONPs toxicity. Overall the results of the present study have shown about implication of NO in the reducing ZnONPs toxicity through the regulation of accumulation of Zn, and functioning of the AsA-GSH cycle.

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Nitric Oxide Ameliorates Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Phytotoxicity in Wheat Seedlings: Implication of the Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle.

Polymeric materials with antimicrobial activity

Nanotechnology monitors a leading agricultural controlling process, especially by its miniature dimension. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is resonant increased encumbrance because of the potential benefits ranging from enhanced food quality, safety to reduced agricultural inputs and enriched absorbing nanoscale nutrients from the soil. Agriculture, food and natural resources are a part of those challenges like sustainability, susceptibility, human health and healthy life. The ambition of nanomaterials in agriculture is to reduce the amount of spread chemicals, minimize nutrient losses in fertilization and increased yield through pest and nutrient management. Nanotechnology has the prospective to improve the agriculture and food industry with novel nanotools for the controlling of rapid disease diagnostic, enhancing the capacity of plants to absorb nutrients among others. The significant interest of using nanotechnology in agriculture includes specific applications like nanofertilizers and nanopesticides to trail products and nutrients levels to increase the productivity without decontamination of soils, waters and protection against several insect pest and microbial diseases. Nanotechnology may act as sensors for monitoring soil quality of agricultural field and thus it maintain the health of agricultural plants.This study provides a review of the current challenges of sustainability, food security and climate change that are exploring by the researchers in the area of nanotechnology in the improvement of agriculture.

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Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives.

Algae-bacteria interactions: Evolution, ecology and emerging applications.

A review on dark fermentative biohydrogen production from organic biomass: Process parameters and use of by-products

Background C-type lectin-like molecule-1 is a transmembrane receptor expressed on myeloid cells, acute myeloid leukemia blasts and leukemic stem cells. To validate the potential of this receptor as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia, we generated a series of monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular domain of C-type lectin-like molecule-1 and used them to extend the expression profile analysis of acute myeloid leukemia cells and to select cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies against acute myeloid leukemia cells in preclinical models.Design and Methods C-type lectin-like molecule-1 expression was analyzed in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, and in myeloid derived cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia and healthy donors. Anti-C-type lectin-like molecule-1 antibody-mediated in vitro cytotoxic activity against acute myeloid leukemia blasts/cell lines and in vivo anti-cancer activity in a mouse xenograft model were assessed. Internalization of C-type lectin-like molecule-1 monoclonal antibodies upon receptor ligation was also investigated.Results C-type lectin-like molecule-1 was expressed in 86.5% (45/52) of cases of acute myeloid leukemia, in 54.5% (12/22) of acute myeloid leukemia CD34+/CD38− stem cells, but not in acute lymphoblastic leukemia blasts (n=5). Selected anti-C-type lectin-like molecule-1 monoclonal antibodies mediated dose-dependent complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity specifically against acute myeloid leukemia-derived cell lines. Exogenous expression of the transmembrane receptor in HEK293 cells rendered the cells susceptible to antibody-mediated killing by monoclonal antibodies to the receptor. Furthermore, these monoclonal antibodies demonstrated strong complement-dependent cytotoxicity against freshly isolated acute myeloid leukemia blasts (15/16 cases; 94%). The monoclonal antibodies were efficiently internalized upon binding to C-type lectin-like molecule-1 in HL-60 cells. Moreover, a lead chimeric C-type lectin-like molecule-1 monoclonal antibody reduced the tumor size in xenograft mice implanted with HL-60 cells.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that targeting C-type lectin-like molecule-1 with specific cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies is an attractive approach which could lead to novel therapies for acute myeloid leukemia.

Targeting C-type lectin-like molecule-1 for antibody-mediated immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia

Biohydrogen production from sugarcane bagasse by integrating dark- and photo-fermentation.

Cyanobacterial blooms, dominated by Microcystis sp. and associated microcystin variants, have been implicated in illnesses of humans and animals. Little is known regarding the formation of blooms and the presence of cyanotoxin variants in water bodies. Furthermore, the role played by ecological parameters, in regulating Microcystis blooms is complicate and diverse. Local authorities responsible for water management are often faced with the challenging task of dealing with cyanobacterial blooms. Therefore, the development of suitable monitoring approaches to characterize cyanobacterial blooms is an important goal. Currently, various biological, biochemical and physicochemical methods/approaches are being used to monitor cyanobacterial blooms and detect microcystins in freshwater bodies. Because these methods can vary as to the information they provide, no single approach seemed to be sufficient to accurately monitor blooms. For example, immunosensors are more suited for monitoring the presence of toxins in clear water bodies while molecular methods are more suited to detect potentially toxic strains. Thus, monitoring approaches should be tailored for specific water bodies using methods based on economic feasibility, speed, sensitivity and field applicability. This review critically evaluates monitoring approaches that are applicable to cyanobacterial blooms, especially those that focus on the presence of Microcystis, in freshwater bodies. Further, they were characterized and ranked according to their cost, speed, sensitivity and selectivity. Suggested improvements were offered as well as future research endeavors to accommodate anticipated environmental changes.

Shweta Singh

Papers

Targeting C-type lectin-like molecule-1 for antibody-mediated immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia

Biohydrogen production from sugarcane bagasse by integrating dark- and photo-fermentation.

Monitoring Approaches for a Toxic Cyanobacterial Bloom

Recent trends in development of biosensors for detection of microcystin.

Effects of Nano-Materials on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth: Striking the Slight Balance Between the Concepts and Controversies