Natural Infection of Murraya paniculata and Murraya sumatrana with CLas in Java.

The phloem-limited bacterium, 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas), is the putative causal pathogen of the severe Asiatic form of huanglongbing (citrus greening) and is most commonly transmitted by the Asiatic citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri. CLas severely affects many Citrus species and hybrids and has been recorded in the Citrus relative, orange jasmine, Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (syn. M. exotica L.). In this study, 13 accessions of three Murraya species (M. paniculata, M. sumatrana Roxb. and M. lucida (G.Forst.) Mabb,) and the Papuan form of a putative hybrid (M. omphalocarpa Hayata) were identified morphologically and molecularly based on sequence identity of the matK-5'trnK region of the chloroplast genome, and infection on these plants under field conditions was determined by PCR and qPCR on 2-4 occasions over 14 months. CLas was repeatedly detected in leaflet midribs by PCR and qPCR on four and three accessions of M. paniculata and M. sumatrana, respectively. It was not detected in leaflet midribs of single accessions of M. lucida and M. omphalocarpa. The species identification of the CLas-positive accessions was further confirmed using all the molecular taxonomic markers consisting of the six fragments of the maternally inherited chloroplast genome and part of the nuclear-encoded ITS region. The results indicated that natural infection of M. paniculata and M. sumatrana with CLas can occur in Java. This is the first demonstration of the natural infection of M. sumatrana with CLas. Further studies are required to determine if infections persist in the absence of D. citri.

Application of Silica Nanoparticles in Combination with Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus thuringiensis for Anthracnose Disease Control in Shallot.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Anthracnose in shallot contributes to significant losses. To solve this issue, silica nanoparticles, in combination with <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> and <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> were used together. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>In vitro</i> antagonistic test of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> B-27 with <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> was carried out using dual culture and co-culture methods. Treatment in greenhouse experiments was carried out using single application of silica, <i>B. thuringiensis</i>, <i>B. velezensis</i>, a combination of <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i> and a combination of <i>B. thuringiensis</i>, <i>B. velezensis</i> and silica. Detection of <i>B. velezensis</i> in the roots of shallot plants was carried out by PCR using a pair of specific primers. <b>Results:</b> <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> was able to inhibit the growth of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> mycelium <i>in vitro</i>, both in the dual culture and co-culture methods, by 62.8 and 77.17%, respectively. Treatment of <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i>, either individually or in combination with silica, could reduce the intensity of anthracnose disease by 20% each and stimulate the growth of shallot plants. The PCR detection using specific primers on the roots of shallot plants showed that <i>B. velezensis</i> was detected with a DNA band length of ±576 bp. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> can inhibit the growth of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> mycelium <i>in vitro</i>. Applying <i>B. velezensis</i>, <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and silica can reduce the intensity of anthracnose disease, promote plant growth and increase plant productivity. Furthermore, <i>B. velezensis</i> was detected in the roots of shallot plants, revealing that the bacteria are well-established.

Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Bacteria with Antibiotic and Antibiofilm Activities against Drug-Resistant Pathogens.

The search for new antibiotics against drug-resistant microbes has been expanded to marine bacteria. Marine bacteria have been proven to be a prolific source of a myriad of novel compounds with potential biological activities. Therefore, this review highlights novel and bioactive compounds from marine bacteria reported during the period of January 2016 to December 2021. Published articles containing novel marine bacterial secondary metabolites that are active against drug-resistant pathogens were collected. Previously described compounds (prior to January 2016) are not included in this review. Unreported compounds during this period that exhibited activity against pathogenic microbes were discussed and compared in order to find the cue of the structure-bioactivity relationship. The results showed that Streptomyces are the most studied bacteria with undescribed bioactive compounds, followed by other genera in the Actinobacteria. We have categorized the structures of the compounds in the present review into four groups, based on their biosynthetic origins, as polyketide derivatives, amino acid derivatives, terpenoids, as well as compounds with mixed origin. These compounds were active against one or more drug-resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and amphotericin B-resistant Candida albicans. In addition, some of the compounds also showed activity against biofilm formation of the test bacteria. Some previously undescribed compounds, isolated from marine-derived bacteria during this period, could have a good potential as lead compounds for the development of drug candidates to overcome multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Characterization of an Insoluble and Soluble Form of Melanin Produced by Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21, a Sea Cucumber Associated Bacterium.

Melanin is a widely distributed and striking dark-colored pigment produced by countless living organisms. Although a wide range of bioactivities have been recognized, there are still major constraints in using melanin for biotechnological applications such as its fragmentary known chemical structure and its insolubility in inorganic and organic solvents. In this study, a bacterial culture of Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21 produced two distinct forms of melanin: (1) a particulate, insoluble form as well as (2) a rarely observed water-soluble form. The here presented novel, acid-free purification protocol of purified particulate melanin (PPM) and purified dissolved melanin (PDM) represents the basis for an in-depth comparison of their physicochemical and biological properties, which were compared to the traditional acid-based precipitation of melanin (AM) and to a synthetic melanin standard (SM). Our data show that the differences in solubility between PDM and PPM in aqueous solutions may be a result of different adjoining cation species, since the soluble PDM polymer is largely composed of Mg2+ ions and the insoluble PPM is dominated by Ca2+ ions. Furthermore, AM shared most properties with SM, which is likely attributed to a similar, acid-based production protocol. The here presented gentler approach of purifying melanin facilitates a new perspective of an intact form of soluble and insoluble melanin that is less chemical altered and thus closer to its original biological form.

Plant-based Diet and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Sundanese Adolescent Girls at Islamic Boarding Schools in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls are at risk for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) due to the higher demand of iron for growth and the loss of blood during menstruation. Consumption of foods containing iron that have higher bioavailability can reduce the risk of IDA although diets that are largely plant-based, like those consumed by many Sundanese people, may not contain sufficient bioavailable iron. Here, we investigated the correlation between plant-based diets and IDA in adolescent Sundanese girls who were students at Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. METHODS: A total of 176 girls from seven Islamic boarding schools in Tasikmalaya were recruited. Nutritional intake data were obtained using 24-hr dietary recall. Blood samples were analyzed with a Sysmex-XNL instrument to measure several parameters including hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). RESULTS: The prevalence of IDA in the study population was 22.2%. Iron intake was 6.59 mg/day, which was lower than the recommended amount. The molar ratio of phytic acid to iron and vitamin C to iron was 8.72 and 0.03, respectively. There was a correlation between heme iron and both hemoglobin (p=0.009) and hematocrit (p=0.018). Iron from meat, fish, and poultry was correlated with hemoglobin (p=0.009) and hematocrit (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The Sundanese plant-based diet did not affect the IDA status. Instead, IDA was associated with consumption of less animal-based foods that have iron with higher bioavailability. Increased access to an animal-based menu at the school cafeteria could be an approach to prevent IDA in students at Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia.

Marine-Derived Indole Alkaloids and Their Biological and Pharmacological Activities.

Novel secondary metabolites from marine macroorganisms and marine-derived microorganisms have been intensively investigated in the last few decades. Several classes of compounds, especially indole alkaloids, have been a target for evaluating biological and pharmacological activities. As one of the most promising classes of compounds, indole alkaloids possess not only intriguing structural features but also a wide range of biological/pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antiparasitic activities. This review reports the indole alkaloids isolated during the period of 2016-2021 and their relevant biological/pharmacological activities. The marine-derived indole alkaloids reported from 2016 to 2021 were collected from various scientific databases. A total of 186 indole alkaloids from various marine organisms including fungi, bacteria, sponges, bryozoans, mangroves, and algae, are described. Despite the described bioactivities, further evaluation including their mechanisms of action and biological targets is needed to determine which of these indole alkaloids are worth studying to obtain lead compounds for the development of new drugs.

Induced Disease Resistance and Promotion of Shallot Growth by Bacillus velezensis B-27.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Shallot is a vegetable crop with high economic value, but its productivity is still relatively low due to various limitations. One of the most hampering factors is moler disease and purple blotch disease caused by Fusarium sp. and Alternaria porri, respectively. Numerous efforts have been made to control these diseases either using chemical fungicides or through improvement of resistant cultivar. This study aimed to determine moler and purple disease suppression and improvement of plant growth by Bacillus as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on shallot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molecular identification of Bacillus was performed by partial gyrB gene sequencing using universal gyrB-F/gyrB-R primers. Field observation and experiments were performed using completely randomized factorial block design single factor with 3 blocks for replication. RESULTS: The partial gyrB gene sequences showed high similarity between Bacillus isolate B-27 and Bacillus velezensis. The application of Bacillus isolate B-27 to shallots was shown to reduce the intensity of moler and purple blotch diseases by 67%. On top of that, Bacillus isolate B-27 increased the plant height up to 27.12 cm, the number of leaves up to 23 blades, tillers up to 8 bulbs and the tuber weight during harvest time up to 33.64 kg. CONCLUSION: Molecular identification based on partial gyrB gene sequence analysis suggested that Bacillus isolate B-27 has close relationship with Bacillus velezensis. Besides, the application of Bacillus isolate B-27 on shallot could reduce the disease intensity and increase height, number of tillers and plant yield significantly.

Pesticide Poisoning and the Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Indonesian Farmers.

This study aimed to investigate the poisoning symptoms occurring in pesticide-exposed farmers. This study was conducted in a red onion farming center area in Wanasari Subdistrict, Brebes, Indonesia, from May to June 2018. This study was designed as the descriptive study. The significance value of p < 0.005 showed that the variable was correlated with the health problems, including excessive fatigue (p value = 0.041), excessive saliva (p value = 0.006), hard breathing (p value = 0.021), frequent urination (p value = 0.047), blurred vision (p value = 0.059), dizziness (p value = 0.032), and finger pain (p value = 0.007). The significance value (p < 0.005) of 0.000 showed that the use of personal protective equipment was correlated with the health problems. Based on the odds ratio value of 1.137, 95% confidence interval = 0.042-0.444 meant that the personal protective equipment was a risk factor of health problems. The results showed that 89.2% of the farmers who used the personal protective equipment were categorized in the healthy group.

Transcriptomic data of the Musa balbisiana cultivar Kepok inoculated with Ralstonia syzigii subsp. celebesensis and Ralstonia solanacearum.

The increasing production of banana is hampered by the spread of banana plant diseases, one of which is caused by a group of bacteria, including those of causing wilt diseases. In Indonesia, blood disease is one of the important banana wilt diseases since loss due to the infection can reach up to 50%. There are numerous publications on the pathogen identification causing banana blood disease based on the molecular approach, however to date, no detailed molecular data are available for the interaction of banana host plant against the pathogen. Here, we present three raw data sets of the total RNA-seq from the inoculated Musa balbisiana cutivar kepok (ABB genome) inoculated with Ralstonia syzigii subsp. celebesensis, Ralstonia solanacearum and mock. The data provide essential knowledge for differentiating the banana response against pathogen, reveal pathogenesis-related genes and gene functions in the plant system, and research development to design blood disease-resistance of banana as one of the management strategies. Raw reads of RNA-seq data can be found in NCBI's Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database with the accession number of SRR10547839 (RSC), SRR10547840 (RS), and SRR10547841 (Mock).

Secondary metabolites and their biological activities in Indonesian soft coral of the genus Lobophytum

Objective To investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial, antimalarial activities and cytotoxicity of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions from a crude extract of Lobophytum sp. Methods This organism was collected from the Selayar Islands (South Sulawesi). The antioxidant activity was performed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging method. All fractions from the crude extract of Lobophytum sp. were examined for their cytotoxicity using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay and heme polymerization inhibitory activity assay for antimalarial activity. Results It was found that the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions exhibited heme polymerization inhibitory activity with IC

Effects of marmin, a compound isolated from Aegle marmelos Correa, on contraction of the guinea pig-isolated trachea.

Marmin or 7-(6',7'-dihydroxygeranyl-oxy)coumarin is a compound isolated from Aegle marmelos Correa. In the study, we examined the effects of marmin on the contraction of guinea pig-isolated trachea stimulated by several inducers, namely histamine, metacholine, compound 48/80. We also evaluated its action against contraction induced by extracellular or intracellular calcium ion. The possibility of marmin to potentiate the relaxation effect of isoprenaline was also studied. Marmin added in the organ bath at 10 min prior to the agonist inhibited the contraction elicited by histamine and metacholine in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, marmin antagonized the histamine-induced contraction in competitive manner. Marmin mildly potentiated the relaxation effect of isoprenaline. In the study, marmin abrogated the contraction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by compound 48/80, an inducer of histamine release. Besides, marmin successfully inhibited CaCl(2)-induced contraction in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution. Marmin also inhibited two phases of contraction which were consecutively induced by metacholine and CaCl(2) in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution. Based on the results we concluded that marmin could inhibit contraction of the guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle, especially by interfering histamine receptor, inhibiting the histamine release from mast, inhibiting intracellular Ca(2+) release from the intracellular store and the Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels.