Synergistic effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue liraglutide and ZnO on the antibacterial, hemostatic, and wound healing properties of nanofibrous dressings

Bacterial infections and poor vascularization delay wound healing, thus necessitating alternative strategies for functional wound dressings. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been shown to exert a potent antibacterial effect against bacterial species. Similarly, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue liraglutide (LG) has been shown to promote vascularization and improve wound healing. The objective of this research was to investigate the synergistic effect of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and LG to simultaneously induce antibacterial, hemostatic, and vascularization effects for infected wound healing. Electrospun poly (l-lactide-co-glycolide)/gelatin (PLGA/Gel) membranes containing ZnO-NPs and LG displayed good biocompatibility and hemostatic ability. Both, ZnO-NPs and LG exhibited synergistic antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as improved the migration and tubule-like network formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Once evaluated in a bacterial-infected wound model in rats, the membranes loaded with ZnO-NPs and LG effectively promoted wound healing causing significant reduction in wound area and scar-like tissue formation. Therefore, ZnO-NPs/LG synergism may offer an invaluable solution for the treatment of poorly healing infected wounds.

Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Categorization Using PET Neuroimaging Modality and Convolutional Neural Networks in the 2D and 3D Domains

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a health apprehension of significant proportions that is negatively impacting the ageing population globally. It is characterized by neuronal loss and the formation of structures such as neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques in the early as well as later stages of the disease. Neuroimaging modalities are routinely used in clinical practice to capture brain alterations associated with AD. On the other hand, deep learning methods are routinely used to recognize patterns in underlying data distributions effectively. This work uses Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures in both 2D and 3D domains to classify the initial stages of AD into AD, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Normal Control (NC) classes using the positron emission tomography neuroimaging modality deploying data augmentation in a random zoomed in/out scheme. We used novel concepts such as the blurring before subsampling principle and distant domain transfer learning to build 2D CNN architectures. We performed three binaries, that is, AD/NC, AD/MCI, MCI/NC and one multiclass classification task AD/NC/MCI. The statistical comparison revealed that 3D-CNN architecture performed the best achieving an accuracy of 89.21% on AD/NC, 71.70% on AD/MCI, 62.25% on NC/MCI and 59.73% on AD/NC/MCI classification tasks using a five-fold cross-validation hyperparameter selection approach. Data augmentation helps in achieving superior performance on the multiclass classification task. The obtained results support the application of deep learning models towards early recognition of AD.

Composite Superelastic Aerogel Scaffolds Containing Flexible SiO2 Nanofibers Promote Bone Regeneration

Repairing irregular-shaped bone defects poses enormous challenges. Scaffolds that can fully fit the defect site and simultaneously induce osteogenesis and angiogenesis hold great promise for bone defect healing. This study aimed to produce superelastic organic/inorganic composite aerogel scaffolds by blending silica nanofibers (SiO₂ ) and poly (lactic acid)/gelatin (PLA/gel) nanofibers; the content of SiO₂ nanofibers were varied from 0-60 wt% (e.g., PLA/gel, PLA/gel/SiO₂ -L, PLA/gel/SiO₂ -M, and PLA/gel/SiO₂ -H for 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of SiO₂ nanofibers, respectively) to produce a range of scaffolds. The PLA/gel/SiO₂ -M scaffold had excellent elasticity and good mechanical properties. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the silicon ions released from PLA/gel/SiO₂ -M scaffolds could promote the differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) into osteoblasts, thereby enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity and bone-related genes expressions. Meanwhile, the released silicon ions also promoted the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors, thereby promoting angiogenesis. The assessment of these scaffolds in a calvarial defect model in rats showed good potential of PLA/gel/SiO₂ -M to induce bone regeneration as well as promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Overall, these superelastic scaffolds containing flexible SiO₂ nanofibers can simultaneously induce osteogenesis and angiogenesis, which may have broad applications for tissue engineering applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Nrf2 Activation and NF-Kb & caspase/bax signaling inhibition by sodium butyrate alleviates LPS-induced cell injury in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland, is a complex disease that affects the health of dairy cows worldwide. Sodium butyrate (SB) is a short-chain fatty acid that has recently been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potential in various cells types, although its role in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) has not been comprehensively reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of sodium butyrate on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis model in vitro and to elucidate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vitro mastitis model was designed to investigate the regulatory effect of SB on LPS-induced inflammatory conditions in bMECs, with particular emphasis on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The results showed that SB co-treatment markedly prevented LPS-induced death of bMECs in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, SB attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress (OS) (Increased Intracellular ROS, MDA, and decreased SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activity), thereby reduced inflammation (increased expression of IL-6, IL-Iβ, and TNF-α), and apoptosis (Increased the expression of caspases and Bax and decreased Bcl-2) via inhibiting NF-kB and caspase/bax signaling pathways. Furthermore, the protective effect of SB was also associated with the activation of endogenous antioxidant system (Nrf2, Keap1, NQO-1 and HO-1). Nrf2 silencing significantly abolished the protective effect of SB on bMECs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SB has a significant protective effect on LPS-induced OS, inflammatory responses and apoptosis by activating Nrf2 and inhibiting NF-kB and ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. These results propose that SB may be an important regulator of OS and its subsequent inflammatory responses, and thus could be used as a therapeutic agent for bovine mastitis.

Role of composted tannery solid waste and its autochthonous microbes in enhancing phytoextraction of toxic metals and stress abatement in sunflower

The excessive concentration of multiple heavy metals in the tannery solid waste (TSW) needs integrated process solutions for its decontamination. This study is aimed at deriving TSW compost and autochthonous microbe synergies for improving phytoextraction potential of sunflower. In-vessel composting of TSW was carried out by using fruit waste as an inoculum to achieve the optimized conditions. Autochthonous strains of Trichoderma viride and Bacilllus sp. isolated from TSW were utilized individually as well as in combination with TSWC amendments of 2.5, 5 and 10% (w/w) prepared in our pilot scale experiment. Analyses of TSW compost based on FTIR and SEM illustrated the wide range of functionality and porosity along the mesh of fungal hyphae and inorganic moieties present on the compost surface. Plant biomass and TMs uptake (Cr 540 mg kg^-1 > Cd 330 mg kg^-1 > Pb 285 mg kg^-1) were significantly pronounced in shoots of sunflower under combined treatments at 10% TSWC amended soils. However, in seeds, TMs were found below detection limit (BDL) through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Biochemical assays of sunflower including total chlorophyll content (18%), total soluble protein (45%), superoxide dismutase (80%) and catalase (75%) activities were also increased significantly at higher level of amendment in combination with microbes than in the control. Despite being high in TMs, high biomass in sunflower and associated elevation in biochemical products demonstrate the potential of TSW for valorization.Novelty statement: This study identifies the cost-effective management of multi metal contaminated tannery solid waste through deriving its compost along with autochthonous microbes as phytoextraction assistants by yielding higher plant biomass. This study suggests the use of composted TSW inoculated with selected autochthonous fungi and bacteria for enhancing sunflower's biomass and enhancing the bioavailable fractions of toxic metals for phytoextraction.

A new approach based on CXCR4-targeted combination liposomes for the treatment of liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis results from excessive extracellular matrix accumulation due to injury and leads to cirrhosis, cancer, and death. Herein, we propose a chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-targeted combination (CTC) liposomal therapy to treat carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis in a mouse model. This study aims to combine small molecules such as pirfenidone and AMD3100 in a single nanoplatform to investigate their synergistic antifibrotic effects in a setting of CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. CTC liposomes (CTC lipo) were prepared using the thin-film hydration method. CTC lipo exhibited a spherical shape, and the particle size was recorded at the nanoscale which confirms its appropriateness for in vitro and in vivo applications. CTC lipo had good storage and serum stability. The entrapped drugs in CTC lipo showed reduced toxicity at higher concentrations. CTC lipo displayed CXCR4 mediated cell uptake and were internalized by caveolae-mediated endocytosis. CTC lipo showed CXCR4 targeting and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF1-α)/CXCR4 axis blocking activity. CTC lipo reduced the elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and hydroxyproline (HYP) levels. The histological studies showed improved liver architecture and reduced collagen deposition after treatment. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I were elevated by CCl₄ in comparison with the Sham. Upon CTC liposomal treatment, the quantitative score for the elevated fibrotic proteins such as TGFβ, α-SMA, and collagen I was normalized. CTC lipo displayed significant downregulation of the upregulated TGFβ, α-SMA, collagen I, and P-p38 expressions at the molecular level. The CXCR4 targeted liposomes showed prolonged biodistribution at 24 h. Our findings indicated that CTC lipo might be an alternative antifibrotic therapy that may offer new access to research and development. In a nutshell, the present study suggests that systemic administration of CTC lipo has efficient antifibrotic potential and deserves to be investigated for further clinical applications.

Match-Level Fusion of Finger-Knuckle Print and Iris for Human Identity Validation Using Neuro-Fuzzy Classifier

Biometrics is the term for measuring human characteristics. If the term is divided into two parts, bio means life, and metric means measurement. The measurement of humans through different computational methods is performed to authorize a person. This measurement can be performed via a single biometric or by using a combination of different biometric traits. The combination of multiple biometrics is termed biometric fusion. It provides a reliable and secure authentication of a person at a higher accuracy. It has been introduced in the UIDIA framework in India (AADHAR: Association for Development and Health Action in Rural) and in different nations to figure out which biometric characteristics are suitable enough to authenticate the human identity. Fusion in biometric frameworks, especially FKP (finger-knuckle print) and iris, demonstrated to be a solid multimodal as a secure framework. The proposed approach demonstrates a proficient and strong multimodal biometric framework that utilizes FKP and iris as biometric modalities for authentication, utilizing scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and speeded up robust features (SURF). Log Gabor wavelet is utilized to extricate the iris feature set. From the extracted region, features are computed using principal component analysis (PCA). Both biometric modalities, FKP and iris, are combined at the match score level. The matching is performed using a neuro-fuzzy neural network classifier. The execution and accuracy of the proposed framework are tested on the open database Poly-U, CASIA, and an accuracy of 99.68% is achieved. The accuracy is higher compared to a single biometric. The neuro-fuzzy approach is also tested in comparison to other classifiers, and the accuracy is 98%. Therefore, the fusion mechanism implemented using a neuro-fuzzy classifier provides the best accuracy compared to other classifiers. The framework is implemented in MATLAB 7.10.

Enumeration of citrus endophytic bacterial communities based on illumine metagenomics technique

Citrus is a valuable crop in Pakistan. It is rich in vitamin C, other nutrients and antioxidants. Huanglongbing (HLB) caused by a bacterium “Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas), africanus and americanus has an influence on citrus production around the world. Beside HLB there exist several other bacterial species in citrus groves in Pakistan. The structure and diversity of bacterial species in various ecosystems can be quickly examined using NGS. This approach is considerably quicker and more precise than outdated methods. Healthy or citrus greening infected leaf samples of Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), C. aurantifolia, and C. reticulata Blanco were used for diversity analysis. In this study high throughput, NGS technique was used to access the population of both cultivable and non-cultivable bacterial endophytes from citrus leaves, by using PCR amplicons of 16S rDNA sequences (V5–V7 regions) with Illumina Hi seq. As a result, a total number of 68,722 sequences were produced from the test samples. According to the NGS-based diversity classification, the most common genera of exploited bacterial endophytes were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria. C. aurantifolia and C. paradisi showed almost equal diversity, whereas C. reticulata Blanco had a higher proportion of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria in their leaves. To determine alpha diversity (AD), additional data was analyzed using statistical indices such as Shannon, Chao1, and Simpson. According to the inverse Simpson diversity index, the abundance of the microbial population in six different citrus samples was 0.48, 0.567, and 0.163, respectively. The metagenomics of microbiota in plant tissues was successfully recorded by NGS technology, which can help us learn more about the interactions between plants and microbes. This research is the first step toward a better understanding of 16SrRNA-based metagenomics from citrus in Pakistan using Illumina (Hi seq) Technology.

Microfluidics-Assisted Engineering of pH/Enzyme Dual-Activatable ZIF@Polymer Nanosystem for Co-Delivery of Proteins and Chemotherapeutics with Enhanced Deep-Tumor Penetration

The impermeable barriers of solid tumors restrict the co-delivery of protein-based drugs and chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment. Therefore, we developed a ZIF-DOX/RA@DG nanosystem that encapsulates ribonuclease A (RA) and doxorubicin (DOX) in a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) core, with a dextran-based coating (DG). The nanosystem exhibits dual-responsiveness due to γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-activatable cationization and acidic microenvironment-triggered degradation. The DG-coating process was achieved using a microfluidic approach, which stabilized the polymer responsiveness, ZIF-8-based structure, and bioactivity of the encapsulated therapeutics. In vivo results confirmed that the nanosystem could co-deliver RA and DOX to deep impermeable lesions with a synergistic anticancer therapeutic effects. Such a multi-drug delivery system based on an intelligent-responsive design and a microfluidics-assisted synthesis strategy shows great clinical prospects.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetate functionalized MgFe layered double hydroxide/biochar composites for highly efficient adsorptive removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions

The application of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of MgFe and its composites with biochar of Eucalyptus camdulensis (Eb) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was explored in a batch study to mitigate toxic lead ions (Pb²⁺) from synthetic wastewater solutions. SEM images revealed that MgFe/LDH composites with Eb were successfully formed, while FTIR spectra confirmed the successful adsorption of Pb²⁺ onto the MgFe/LDH and composite adsorbents. Batch equilibrium was attained after 60 min, then the adsorption capacity gradually increased. An increase in adsorption capacity (and a 60% decrease in the percentage removal) was observed by increasing the initial Pb²⁺ concentration, and the highest value was 136 mg g^-1 for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA. A 50–60% increase in both the adsorption capacities and percent removal was seen in the pH range of 2–6. The second-order kinetic model had a nearly perfect fitting, suggesting that chemisorption was the mechanism controlling adsorption. The Langmuir isotherm model best presented the adsorption data, suggesting that the Pb²⁺ adsorption was monolayer, and predicted a better affinity between the adsorbent surface and absorbed Pb²⁺ for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA in comparison to the other two adsorbents. The D–R isotherm suggested that the adsorption system was physical based on E values for all three adsorbents, while the Temkin isotherm model suggested that Pb²⁺ adsorption was heterogeneous. Finally, the Sips and R–P isotherms predicted that the adsorption of Pb²⁺ on the surface of the adsorbents was homogeneous and heterogeneous.

Assessing growth performance, morphometric traits, meat chemical composition and cholesterol content in four phenotypes of naked neck chicken

The present study was conducted to assess the growth performance, morphometric traits, muscle chemical composition and cholesterol content in four phenotypes of naked neck chicken (black, white-black, light brown and dark brown). A total of 320-day-old chicks, 80 from each phenotype, were randomly stratified into 20 replicates (16/replicate), according to a completely randomized design. The results showed higher final body weight, weight gain, and better FCR in both light brown and dark brown phenotypes whereas time of gains was found to be greater in dark brown phenotype. Keel length and shank circumference were greater in dark brown whereas wing spread was found to be higher in light brown phenotype. Drumstick circumference and body length did not show any significant differences (P > 0.05) across the phenotypes. Dry matter was found to be higher in white black, crude protein in black, white black and dark brown, moisture in light brown, and cholesterol content in black whereas ether extract and ash content were found to be greater in black and white black phenotypes. In conclusion, both light brown and dark brown phenotypes showed superior growth performance and morphometric traits. Similarly, from a health point of view, the dark brown and light brown phenotypes seem superior because their cholesterol content was low. Thus, it is strongly recommended that there should be a conscious effort to improve economically important traits of the light and dark brown birds to be used as dual-purpose slow growing chicken, especially in developing countries.

Exploring the potential of curry leaves on mercury-induced hepatorenal toxicity in an animal model

Herbal drugs play an imperative role in healthcare programs in developing countries. Curry leaves have wide medicinal importance and are used to treat various diseases traditionally. The current study was carried out to estimate the extent of mercury toxicity and the potential effect of curry leaves against defined toxicity. The study group comprised 24 rats weighing between 130 and150 g. Group 1 was kept normal, and group 2 was exposed to mercury at 0.4 mg/kg of body weight in the form of mercuric chloride (HgCl2). The group 3 animals were treated with curry leaves with a dosage of 300 mg/kg of body weight. Group 4 was treated with curry leaves along with mercury with a dosage of 300 and 0.4 mg/kg consecutively. After 28 days, the rats were killed. Blood sample of all groups were evaluated separately to determine the results of different parameters. The results show that ALP, AST, ALT, urea, bilirubin, and creatinine increased with mercury application and decreased with curry leaf exposure. SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR of the liver as well as the kidney depleted on mercury exposure whereas they increased with curry leaf application. HDL increased with curry leaf application and decreased with mercury treatment, while LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol decreased with curry leaves and increased with mercury exposure. Organ index in mercury along with curry leaf application got close to normal.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Based Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Applications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), acting as essential mediators in biological system, play important roles in the physiologic and pathologic processes, including cellular signal transductions and cell homeostasis interference. Aberrant expression of ROS in tissue microenvironment can be caused by the internal/external stimuli and tissue injury, which may leads to an elevated level of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cellular damage as well as disruption in the tissue repair process. To prevent the formation of excess ROS around the injury site, advanced biomaterials can be remodeled or instructed to release their payloads in an injury microenvironment-responsive fashion to regulate the elevated levels of the ROS, which may also help downregulate the oxidative stress and promote tissue regeneration. A multitude of scaffolds and bioactive cues have been reported to promote the regeneration of damaged tissues based on the scavenging of free radicals and reactive species that confer high protection to the cellular activity and tissue function. In this review, we outline the underlying mechanism of ROS generation in the tissue microenvironment and present a comprehensive review of ROS-scavenging biomaterials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications, including soft tissues regeneration, bone and cartilage repair as well as wound healing. Additionally, we highlight the strategies for the regulation of ROS by scaffold design and processing technology. Taken together, developing ROS-based biomaterials may not only help develop advanced platforms for improving injury microenvironment but also accelerate tissue regeneration.

Morphological and physiological response of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedlings to the inoculation of taxonomically characterized bacterial endophytes

Entophytic bacteria (EBs) are very diverse and found in virtually all plant species studied. These natural EBs live insides the host plant and can be used to maximize crop and fruit yield by exploiting their potential. In this paper, EBs characterization from various citrus genotypes and their influence on the morphological and physiological functioning of sour orange (Citrus aurantium) seedlings are described. To assess the influence of 10 distinct EBs, three different techniques (injection, soil mix, and spray) were applied for single and mixed inoculation on sour orange (C. aurantium) seedlings. The selected strains were identified as firmicutes (Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus safensis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Brevibacillus borstelensis & Staphylococcus haemolyticus), and gamma Proteobacteria (Enterobacter hormachaei, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, & Pseudomonas sp.) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. To investigate the influence of these EBs on host plant morphology, different parameters (morphometric) were recorded after five WOI (weeks of inoculation), including shoot/root length, shoot/root fresh and dry biomass, and biophysical analyses i.e., relative water content (RLWC). Physiological markers such as chlorophyll & carotenoid content, protein content, proline content, phenolics, and flavonoids were also analyzed to determine the influence of endophytes on sour orange seedlings. Five strains such as SM-34, SM-20, SM-36, SM-68, and SM-56 significantly improved the development and physiology of sour orange seedlings. Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced the best outcomes in terms of plant growth. The relative quantification of bacterial inoculums was determined using real-time PCR. A rise in the number of bacterial cells in inoculated treatment suggests that bacterial strains survived and colonized successfully, and also shown their competitiveness with native bacterial community structure. As per the results of inoculation methods, soil mixing, and injection methods were determined to be effective for bacterial inoculation to plants but a variable trend was found for different parameters with test bacterial strains. After testing their impact on field conditions, these strains can be applied as fertilizers as an alternative to conventional chemical fertilizer, although in the context of mixed inoculation of bacterial strains, 5 M and 6 M performed best and enhanced plant growth-promoting activity.

Antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida isolated from cutaneous candidiasis patients in eastern Guangdong region: A retrospective study of the past 10 years

Cutaneous candidiasis is one of the most prevalent mycotic infections caused by Candida species. The severity of infection mounts faster when the species shows antifungal resistance. In the current retrospective study, we aimed to analyze the occurrence, causes of cutaneous candidiasis, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida isolates from Skin and Venereal Diseases Prevention and Control Hospital of Shantou, located in eastern Guangdong, China. The laboratory data of all patients (n = 3,113) suffering from various skin and venereal infections during January 2012 to December 2021 was analyzed through Excel and GraphPad prism. Our analysis indicate that cutaneous candidiasis was 22.29% (n = 694), of which 78.53% (n = 554) of patients were males and 21.47% (n = 149) of patients were females. The median age of patients with cutaneous candidiasis was 38-year [interquartile range (30-48)]. Most cases occurred in the adult age group (19-50  years). Regarding the species type, the Candida albicans were prominently detected (n = 664, 95.68%), while non-C. albicans were found only in 30 (4.32%) patients, which were C. glabrata (n = 18), C. krusei (n = 8), C. tropicalis (n = 3), and C. parapsilosis (n = 1). The C. albicans susceptibility rate for terbinafine, miconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, nystatin, 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B were 10.83, 29.32, 59.39, 78.53, 85.28, 87.75, 99.59, 99.41, and 100%, respectively. Finally, all C. glabrata isolates were found susceptible to all tested azole drugs with exception to miconazole against which 8.33% of isolates showed resistance. The findings of this study will help healthcare officials to establish better antifungal stewardship in the region.

Genomic diversity of resistant and virulent factors of Burkholderia pseudomallei clinical strains recovered from Guangdong using whole genome sequencing

BACKGROUND

Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) is a highly infectious agent and causes melioidosis, in both humans and animals, which is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine the molecular epidemiology, resistant determinants, and genomic diversity of the clinical isolates of B. pseudomallei to further elucidate the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of the strains with those in other endemic regions.

METHODS

In this study, we obtained eight clinical B. pseudomallei isolates from Guangdong province from 2018 to 2019. All the isolates were sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. The draft genomes of B. pseudomallei were further used to find antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), virulence factors, and gene mutations. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis were performed to characterize the diversity and epidemiology of the strains.

RESULTS

All isolates were susceptible to antibiotics commonly used for melioidosis treatment. Class D beta-lactamases genes OXA-57 and OXA-59, as well as various mutation factors such as amrA, amrB, omp38, gyrA, and ceoB were identified. MLST analysis of the B. pseudomallei strains identified eight different sequence types (STs): ST1774, ST1775, ST271, ST562, ST46, ST830, ST1325, and ST10. Phylogenetic analysis found that the strains used in this study showed high genetic diversity. We also report 165 virulence factors among B. pseudomallei strains responsible for different neurological disorders, pneumonia, skin lesions, and abscesses. All strains recovered in this study were susceptible to commonly used antibiotics. However, high genetic diversity exists among the isolates. The surveillance, diagnosis, and clinical features of melioidosis varied in different geographical locations. These regional differences in the clinical manifestations have implications for the practical management of the disease.

CONCLUSION

The present study reports the identification of different mutation and virulence factors among B. pseudomallei strains responsible for different neurological disorders, pneumonia, skin lesions, and abscesses.

Interaction between bacterial endophytes and host plants

Endophytic bacteria are mainly present in the plant's root systems. Endophytic bacteria improve plant health and are sometimes necessary to fight against adverse conditions. There is an increasing trend for the use of bacterial endophytes as bio-fertilizers. However, new challenges are also arising regarding the management of these newly discovered bacterial endophytes. Plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes exist in a wide host range as part of their microbiome, and are proven to exhibit positive effects on plant growth. Endophytic bacterial communities within plant hosts are dynamic and affected by abiotic/biotic factors such as soil conditions, geographical distribution, climate, plant species, and plant-microbe interaction at a large scale. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the mechanism of bacterial endophytes' interaction with plants under field conditions before their application. Bacterial endophytes have both beneficial and harmful impacts on plants but the exact mechanism of interaction is poorly understood. A basic approach to exploit the potential genetic elements involved in an endophytic lifestyle is to compare the genomes of rhizospheric plant growth-promoting bacteria with endophytic bacteria. In this mini-review, we will be focused to characterize the genetic diversity and dynamics of endophyte interaction in different host plants.

Genotypic characterization of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolates reveals co-existence of ESBL- and carbapenemase- encoding genes linked to ISCR1

Antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals has not yet judiciously been reported from Pakistan. Here, we report on the isolation rate of poultry-associated multidrug resistant extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) -producing Escherichia coli in Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 200 samples, 50 from retail-poultry meat, 50 from sick birds, 50 from the boiler farm-environment, and 50 from human beings working on or exposed to poultry were analyzed for isolation of ESBL -producing E. coli, ESBL -encoding genes and antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 81 E. coli isolates [(50.0% Phylogroup-A, 33.3% D and 16.7% phylogroup B2)], were recovered, 36 (44.4%) of them were found to be ESBL -producers. PCR revealed that blaCTXM was the most prevalent (14/36 = 38.9%) ESBL -encoding gene followed by blaSHV2 (9/36 = 25%). Strikingly, co-occurrence of multiple ESBL - and/or carbapenemase-encoding genes in a single isolate was observed, and combination of blaCTXM + blaSHV2 was the most predominant (19.4%) followed by blaCTXM + blaNDM1 + blaOXA-48 (11.1%) and blaCTXM + blaOXA-48 (8.8%). All these ESBL producers were found to be multidrug resistant (MDR) and were carrying either integron 1 (48.5%) or 2 (51.5%). Finally, 14 of the 36 isolates were also found positive for variable region and insertion sequence common region 1, which was found linked to ESBL/carbapenemase encoding genes in 5/14 isolates suggesting its role in dissemination.

Improving Gander Reproductive Efficacy in the Context of Globally Sustainable Goose Production

The goose is a popular poultry species, and in the past two decades the goose industry has become highly profitable across the globe. Ganders low reproductive performance remains a barrier to achieving high fertility and hatchability in subsequent flocks. To address the global demand for cheaper animal protein, various methodologies for improving avian (re)production should be explored. A large amount of literature is available on reproduction traits and techniques for commercial chicken breeder flocks, while research on improved reproduction in ganders has been carried out to a lesser extent. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive literature overview focusing on recent advancements/techniques used in improving gander reproductive efficacy in the context of ensuring a globally sustainable goose industry.

Mechanobiological Strategies to Enhance Stem Cell Functionality for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

Stem cells have been extensively used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering; however, they often lose their functionality because of the inflammatory microenvironment. This leads to their poor survival, retention, and engraftment at transplantation sites. Considering the rapid loss of transplanted cells due to poor cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions during transplantation, it has been reasoned that stem cells mainly mediate reparative responses via paracrine mechanisms, including the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Ameliorating poor cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions may obviate the limitations associated with the poor retention and engraftment of transplanted cells and enable them to mediate tissue repair through the sustained and localized presentation of secreted bioactive cues. Biomaterial-mediated strategies may be leveraged to confer stem cells enhanced immunomodulatory properties, as well as better engraftment and retention at the target site. In these approaches, biomaterials have been exploited to spatiotemporally present bioactive cues to stem cell-laden platforms (e.g., aggregates, microtissues, and tissue-engineered constructs). An array of biomaterials, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and scaffolds, has been exploited to facilitate stem cells function at the target site. Additionally, biomaterials can be harnessed to suppress the inflammatory microenvironment to induce enhanced tissue repair. In this review, we summarize biomaterial-based platforms that impact stem cell function for better tissue repair that may have broader implications for the treatment of various diseases as well as tissue regeneration.

A critical review of the environmental impacts of manufactured nano-objects on earthworm species

The presence of manufactured nano-objects (MNOs) in various consumer or their (future large-scale) use as nanoagrochemical have increased with the rapid development of nanotechnology and therefore, concerns associated with its possible ecotoxicological effects are also arising. MNOs are releasing along the product life cycle, consequently accumulating in soils and other environmental matrices, and potentially leading to adverse effects on soil biota and their associated processes. Earthworms, of the group of Oligochaetes, are an ecologically significant group of organisms and play an important role in soil remediation, as well as acting as a potential vector for trophic transfer of MNOs through the food chain. This review presents a comprehensive and critical overview of toxic effects of MNOs on earthworms in soil system. We reviewed pathways of MNOs in agriculture soil environment with its expected production, release, and bioaccumulation. Furthermore, we thoroughly examined scientific literature from last ten years and critically evaluated the potential ecotoxicity of 16 different metal oxide or carbon-based MNO types. Various adverse effects on the different earthworm life stages have been reported, including reduction in growth rate, changes in biochemical and molecular markers, reproduction and survival rate. Importantly, this literature review reveals the scarcity of long-term toxicological data needed to actually characterize MNOs risks, as well as an understanding of mechanisms causing toxicity to earthworm species. This review sheds light on this knowledge gap as investigating bio-nano interplay in soil environment improves our major understanding for safer applications of MNOs in the agriculture environment.