Development of siderophore-based rhizobacterial consortium for the mitigation of biotic and abiotic environmental stresses in tomatoes: An in vitro and in planta approach.

AIM: Tomato-associated plant-growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria were screened for effective antagonistic activity against the fungal vascular wilt pathogens; tolerance to heavy metals; and enhancing the bioavailability of iron for tomato plants through in vitro and in vivo approaches. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among the 121 rhizobacteria screened for siderophores, 25 isolates were observed to be siderophore producers and out of these, seven isolates chelate copper and iron thus exhibiting in vitro antagonism against the virulent strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici MTCC10270 (Fol), Fusarium equiseti MFol and Sarocladium sp. SWL isolated from infected tomatoes. Pseudomonas stutzeri KRP8 was identified to be the most potent strain among the siderophore producers and its siderophores were chemically characterized by mass spectra as metal bound and metal-free forms. Upon bio-inoculation of fortified bacterial consortium (siderozote) into the rhizosphere of vermiculite pot cultured tomatoes supplied with varying concentrations of iron and copper ions, we observed in planta growth improvements, antagonism, enhancement of bioavailability of iron and heavy metal tolerance using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Our rhizobacterial consortium provides an opportunity for soil reclamation through an ecofriendly method for a heavy metal-free agricultural landscape.

Pros and cons in prion diseases abatement: Insights from nanomedicine and transmissibility patterns.

Ample research progress with nanotechnology applications in health and medicine implies precision and accuracy in the scenario of neurodegenerative disorders, for which impending research in ultimate and complete cure has been the vision worldwide. The complexity of prion disease has been unravelled by scientists and demarcated for efficient abatement protocols, but which are still under research and clinical trials. Drug delivery strategies combating prion diseases across the blood brain barrier, the efficacy of drugs and biocompatibility remain a serious question to be thoroughly studied for effective diagnosis and treatment. The present review compiles comprehensively the current treatment modalities against prion diseases and future prospects of nanotechnology addressing diagnosis and treatment of prion diseases with a special emphasis on transmissibility. Further, approaches for anti-prion technology, immunotherapy, and hindrances in vaccine development are discussed.

Green synthesis of anisotropic gold nanoparticles using hordenine and their antibiofilm efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a notorious pathogen that causes biofilm aided infections in patients with cystic fibrosis and burn wounds, resulting in significant mortality in immunocompromised individuals. This study reports a novel one-step biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using phytocompound, hordenine (HD), as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesis of the anisotropic hordenine-fabricated gold nanoparticles (HD-AuNPs) with an average particle size of 136.87 nm was achieved within 12 h of incubation at room temperature. Both HD and HD-AuNPs exhibited significant antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa PAO1, although greater biofilm inhibition was observed for the nanoparticles as compared to hordenine alone. In the microtitre plate assay and tube method, the nanoparticles significantly inhibited the biofilm formation by 73.69 and 78.41%, respectively. The exopolysaccharide production by the test pathogen was arrested by 68.46% on treatment with the nanoparticles. Further, the effect of HD and HD-AuNPs on the biofilm architecture of P. aeruginosa was revealed by light and confocal laser-scanning microscopy micrographs. The overall results of this study suggested the synergistic antibiofilm effect of AuNPs and HD for the treatment of chronic bacterial infections caused by biofilms forming pathogens.

Molecular modelling of urease accessory interaction proteins of Helicobacter Pylori J 99 and predicting an interruption in interaction by Vigna radiata Defensins.

Helicobacter pylori is the major causative agent of Gastric carcinoma. Significance of the urease accessory interaction proteins are emphasized in colonization of human gastric mucosa and efficient infection of H. pylori. Here an attempt is made to explore the structure and properties of urease accessory interaction proteins from Helicobacter pylori J 99. The proteins chosen for the study are ureH, ureI, nikR, groL and flgS based on the interaction map available from STRING database. The above mentioned proteins do not have a comprehensive three dimensional structure. Hence the models were generated using PSI-BLAST (Position Specific Iterative-Blast) and MODELLER 9V8. Physicochemical characterization encompasses pI, EC, AI, II and GRAVY. Secondary structure was predicted using PSI-PRED. Functional characterization was done by SOSUI and DISULFIND Servers and refinement of structure was done using Ramachandran plot analysis. RMS-Z values were calculated using Q-MEAN Server and CHIMERA was used for molecular simulation studies. Plant defensins from Vigna radiata are successfully docked to the modeled structures and thus interaction could be possibly prevented. These results will pave way for further selective inhibition of H. pylori colonization and in vivo survival by employing plant defensins from Vigna radiata (VrD1 & VrD2). The work will prove that plant defensins provides anticancer relief too.