Influence of Funneliformis mosseae enhanced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) on Phaseolus vulgaris L. under salinity stress

Ameliorating effect of nanoparticles and seeds' heat pre-treatment on soybean plants exposed to sea water salinity

Impairing plant growth and reducing crop production, salinity is considered as major problem in modern agriculture. The current study aimed to investigate the role of seeds' heat pretreatment at 45 °C as well as application of two different nanoparticles nanosilica (N1) and nanoselenium (N2) in reducing salinity stress in three genotypes of Egyptian commercial soybeans (Glycine max L.). Two levels of salt stress using diluted sea water (1/12 and 1/6) were tested either alone or in combination with protective treatments. Obtained results revealed that salinity caused a significant reduction in all tested physiological parameters such as germination rate and membrane stability in soybean plants. A significant reduction in mitotic index and arrest in metaphase were recorded under both tested levels of salinity. It was also revealed that chromosomal abnormalities in soybean plants were positively correlated with the applied salinity concentrations. The fragmentation effect of salinity on the nuclear DNA was investigated and confirmed using Comet assay analysis. Seeds heat pre-treatment (45 °C) and both types of nanoparticles' treatments yielded positive effects on both the salt-stressed and unstressed plants. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis for salt stress responsive marker genes revealed that most studied genes (CAT, APX, DHN2, CAB3, GMPIPL6 and GMSALT3) responded favorably to protective treatments. The modulation in gene expression pattern was associated with improving growth vigor and salinity tolerance in soybean plants. Our results suggest that seeds' heat pretreatment and nanoparticle applications support the recovery against oxidative stresses and represent a promising strategy for alleviating salt stress in soybean genotypes.

Nanotechnology in Food and Plant Science: Challenges and Future Prospects

Globally, food safety and security are receiving a lot of attention to ensure a steady supply of nutrient-rich and safe food. Nanotechnology is used in a wide range of technical processes, including the development of new materials and the enhancement of food safety and security. Nanomaterials are used to improve the protective effects of food and help detect microbial contamination, hazardous chemicals, and pesticides. Nanosensors are used to detect pathogens and allergens in food. Food processing is enhanced further by nanocapsulation, which allows for the delivery of bioactive compounds, increases food bioavailability, and extends food shelf life. Various forms of nanomaterials have been developed to improve food safety and enhance agricultural productivity, including nanometals, nanorods, nanofilms, nanotubes, nanofibers, nanolayers, and nanosheets. Such materials are used for developing nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and nanomaterials to induce plant growth, genome modification, and transgene expression in plants. Nanomaterials have antimicrobial properties, promote plants' innate immunity, and act as delivery agents for active ingredients. Nanocomposites offer good acid-resistance capabilities, effective recyclability, significant thermostability, and enhanced storage stability. Nanomaterials have been extensively used for the targeted delivery and release of genes and proteins into plant cells. In this review article, we discuss the role of nanotechnology in food safety and security. Furthermore, we include a partial literature survey on the use of nanotechnology in food packaging, food safety, food preservation using smart nanocarriers, the detection of food-borne pathogens and allergens using nanosensors, and crop growth and yield improvement; however, extensive research on nanotechnology is warranted.

Nanofertilizers: Types, Delivery and Advantages in Agricultural Sustainability

In an alarming tale of agricultural excess, the relentless overuse of chemical fertilizers in modern farming methods have wreaked havoc on the once-fertile soil, mercilessly depleting its vital nutrients while inflicting irreparable harm on the delicate balance of the surrounding ecosystem. The excessive use of such fertilizers leaves residue on agricultural products, pollutes the environment, upsets agrarian ecosystems, and lowers soil quality. Furthermore, a significant proportion of the nutrient content, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, is lost from the soil (50–70%) before being utilized. Nanofertilizers, on the other hand, use nanoparticles to control the release of nutrients, making them more efficient and cost-effective than traditional fertilizers. Nanofertilizers comprise one or more plant nutrients within nanoparticles where at least 50% of the particles are smaller than 100 nanometers. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, and quantum dots are some examples of the types of nanomaterials used in the production of nanofertilizers. Nanofertilizers are a new generation of fertilizers that utilize advanced nanotechnology to provide an efficient and sustainable method of fertilizing crops. They are designed to deliver plant nutrients in a controlled manner, ensuring that the nutrients are gradually released over an extended period, thus providing a steady supply of essential elements to the plants. The controlled-release system is more efficient than traditional fertilizers, as it reduces the need for frequent application and the amount of fertilizer. These nanomaterials have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, making them ideal for holding and releasing nutrients. Naturally occurring nanoparticles are found in various sources, including volcanic ash, ocean, and biological matter such as viruses and dust. However, regarding large-scale production, relying solely on naturally occurring nanoparticles may not be sufficient or practical. In agriculture, nanotechnology has been primarily used to increase crop production while minimizing losses and activating plant defense mechanisms against pests, insects, and other environmental challenges. Furthermore, nanofertilizers can reduce runoff and nutrient leaching into the environment, improving environmental sustainability. They can also improve fertilizer use efficiency, leading to higher crop yields and reducing the overall cost of fertilizer application. Nanofertilizers are especially beneficial in areas where traditional fertilizers are inefficient or ineffective. Nanofertilizers can provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to fertilize crops while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer application. They are the product of promising new technology that can help to meet the increasing demand for food and improve agricultural sustainability. Currently, nanofertilizers face limitations, including higher costs of production and potential environmental and safety concerns due to the use of nanomaterials, while further research is needed to fully understand their long-term effects on soil health, crop growth, and the environment.

Chitosan-Decorated Copper Oxide Nanocomposite: Investigation of Its Antifungal Activity against Tomato Gray Mold Caused by Botrytis cinerea

Owing to the remarkable antimicrobial potential of these materials, research into the possible use of nanomaterials as alternatives to fungicides in sustainable agriculture is increasingly progressing. Here, we investigated the potential antifungal properties of chitosan-decorated copper oxide nanocomposite (CH@CuO NPs) to control gray mold diseases of tomato caused by Botrytis cinerea throughout in vitro and in vivo trials. The nanocomposite CH@CuO NPs were chemically prepared, and size and shape were determined using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The chemical functional groups responsible for the interaction of the CH NPs with the CuO NPs were detected using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. The TEM images confirmed that CH NPs have a thin and semitransparent network shape, while CuO NPs were spherically shaped. Furthermore, the nanocomposite CH@CuO NPs ex-habited an irregular shape. The size of CH NPs, CuO NPs and CH@CuO NPs as measured through TEM, were approximately 18.28 ± 2.4 nm, 19.34 ± 2.1 nm, and 32.74 ± 2.3 nm, respectively. The antifungal activity of CH@CuO NPs was tested at three concentrations of 50, 100 and 250 mg/L and the fungicide Teldor 50% SC was applied at recommended dose 1.5 mL/L. In vitro experiments revealed that CH@CuO NPs at different concentrations significantly inhibited the reproductive growth process of B. cinerea by suppressing the development of hyphae, spore germination and formation of sclerotia. Interestingly, a significant control efficacy of CH@CuO NPs against tomato gray mold was observed particularly at concentrations 100 and 250 mg/L on both detached leaves (100%) as well as the whole tomato plants (100%) when compared to the conventional chemical fungicide Teldor 50% SC (97%). In addition, the tested concentration 100 mg/L improved to be sufficient to guarantee a complete reduction in the disease's severity (100%) to tomato fruits from gray mold without any morphological toxicity. In comparison, tomato plants treated with the recommended dose 1.5 mL/L of Teldor 50% SC ensured disease reduction up to 80%. Conclusively, this research enhances the concept of agro-nanotechnology by presenting how a nano materials-based fungicide could be used to protect tomato plants from gray mold under greenhouse conditions and during the postharvest stage.

A Review of Sustainable Use of Biogenic Nanoscale Agro-Materials to Enhance Stress Tolerance and Nutritional Value of Plants

Climate change is more likely to have a detrimental effect on the world's productive assets. Several undesirable conditions and practices, including extreme temperature, drought, and uncontrolled use of agrochemicals, result in stresses that strain agriculture. In addition, nutritional inadequacies in food crops are wreaking havoc on human health, especially in rural regions of less developed countries. This could be because plants are unable to absorb the nutrients in conventional fertilizers, or these fertilizers have an inappropriate or unbalanced nutrient composition. Chemical fertilizers have been used for centuries and have considerably increased crop yields. However, they also disrupt soil quality and structure, eventually impacting the entire ecosystem. To address the situation, it is necessary to develop advanced materials that can release nutrients to targeted points in the plant-soil environment or appropriate receptors on the leaf in the case of foliar applications. Recently, nanotechnology-based interventions have been strongly encouraged to meet the world's growing food demand and to promote food security in an environmentally friendly manner. Biological approaches for the synthesis of nanoscale agro-materials have become a promising area of research, with a wide range of product types such as nanopesticides, nanoinsecticides, nanoherbicides, nanobactericides/fungicides, bio-conjugated nanocomplexes, and nanoemulsions emerging therefrom. These materials are more sustainable and target-oriented than conventional agrochemicals. In this paper, we reviewed the literature on major abiotic and biotic stresses that are detrimental to plant growth and productivity. We comprehensively discussed the different forms of nanoscale agro-materials and provided an overview of biological approaches in nano-enabled strategies that can efficiently alleviate plant biotic and abiotic stresses while potentially enhancing the nutritional values of plants.

Olive agroforestry shapes rhizosphere microbiome networks associated with annual crops and impacts the biomass production under low-rainfed conditions

Agroforestry (AF) is a promising land-use system to mitigate water deficiency, particularly in semi-arid areas. However, the belowground microbes associated with crops below trees remain seldom addressed. This study aimed at elucidating the effects of olive AF system intercropped with durum wheat (Dw), barely (Ba), chickpea (Cp), or faba bean (Fb) on crops biomass and their soil-rhizosphere microbial networks as compared to conventional full sun cropping (SC) under rainfed conditions. To test the hypothesis, we compared the prokaryotic and the fungal communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of two cereals and legumes grown either in AF or SC. We determined the most suitable annual crop species in AF under low-rainfed conditions. Moreover, to deepen our understanding of the rhizosphere network dynamics of annual crops under AF and SC systems, we characterized the microbial hubs that are most likely responsible for modifying the microbial community structure and the variability of crop biomass of each species. Herein, we found that cereals produced significantly more above-ground biomass than legumes following in descending order: Ba > Dw > Cp > Fb, suggesting that crop species play a significant role in improving soil water use and that cereals are well-suited to rainfed conditions within both types of agrosystems. The type of agrosystem shapes crop microbiomes with the only marginal influence of host selection. However, more relevant was to unveil those crops recruits specific bacterial and fungal taxa from the olive-belowground communities. Of the selected soil physicochemical properties, organic matter was the principal driver in shaping the soil microbial structure in the AF system. The co-occurrence network analyses indicated that the AF system generates higher ecological stability than the SC system under stressful climate conditions. Furthermore, legumes’ rhizosphere microbiome possessed a higher resilient capacity than cereals. We also identified different fungal keystones involved in litter decomposition and drought tolerance within AF systems facing the water-scarce condition and promoting crop production within the SC system. Overall, we showed that AF reduces cereal and legume rhizosphere microbial diversity, enhances network complexity, and leads to more stable beneficial microbial communities, especially in severe drought, thus providing more accurate predictions to preserve soil diversity under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination, Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.

Co-Application of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improves Essential Oil Quantity and Quality of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) in Drought Stress Conditions

Drought stress is known as a major yield-limiting factor in crop production that threatens food security worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have shown to alleviate the effects of drought stress on plants, but information regarding their co-addition to minimize the effects of drought stress on plants is scant. Here, a two-year field experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 to evaluate the influence of different irrigation regimes and fertilizer sources on the EO quantity and quality of sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The experiment was laid out as a split plot arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The irrigation treatments were 25, 50, and 75% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) percentage of the soil available water as non-stress (MAD₂₅), moderate (MAD₅₀), and severe (MAD₇₅) water stress, respectively. Subplots were four fertilizer sources including no-fertilizer control, TiO₂ nanoparticles (100 mg L^-1), AMF inoculation, and co-addition of TiO₂ and AMF (TiO₂ + AMF). Moderate and severe drought stress decreased sage dry matter yield (DMY) by 30 and 65%, respectively. In contrast, application of TiO₂ + AMF increased DMY and water use efficiency (WUE) by 35 and 35%, respectively, compared to the unfertilized treatment. The highest EO content (1.483%), yield (2.52 g m^-2), and cis-thujone (35.84%, main EO constituent of sage) was obtained in MAD₅₀ fertilized with TiO₂ + AMF. In addition, the net income index increased by 44, 47, and 76% with application of TiO₂ nanoparticles, AMF, and co-addition of TiO₂ + AMF, respectively. Overall, the integrative application of the biofertilizer and nanoparticles (TiO₂ + AMF) can be recommended as a sustainable strategy for increasing net income and improving EO productivity and quality of sage plants in drought stress conditions. Future policy discussions should focus on incentivizing growers for replacing synthetic fertilizers with proven nano and biofertilizers to reduce environmental footprints and enhance the sustainability of sage production, especially in drought conditions.

Smart nanomaterial and nanocomposite with advanced agrochemical activities

Conventional agriculture solely depends upon highly chemical compounds that have negatively ill-affected the health of every living being and the entire ecosystem. Thus, the smart delivery of desired components in a sustainable manner to crop plants is the primary need to maintain soil health in the upcoming years. The premature loss of growth-promoting ingredients and their extended degradation in the soil increases the demand for reliable novel techniques. In this regard, nanotechnology has offered to revolutionize the agrotechnological area that has the imminent potential over conventional agriculture and helps to reform resilient cropping systems withholding prominent food security for the ever-growing world population. Further, in-depth investigation on plant-nanoparticles interactions creates new avenues toward crop improvement via enhanced crop yield, disease resistance, and efficient nutrient utilization. The incorporation of nanomaterial with smart agrochemical activities and establishing a new framework relevant to enhance efficacy ultimately help to address the social acceptance, potential hazards, and management issues in the future. Here, we highlight the role of nanomaterial or nanocomposite as a sustainable as well stable alternative in crop protection and production. Additionally, the information on the controlled released system, role in interaction with soil and microbiome, the promising role of nanocomposite as nanopesticide, nanoherbicide, nanofertilizer, and their limitations in agrochemical activities are discussed in the present review.

Assessment the using of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) biosynthesized from rice husks by Trichoderma harzianum MF780864 as water lead adsorbent for immune status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Rice husks (RHs) was used as a substrate for biosynthesis of high-value Silica nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs). An isolate of Trichoderma harzianum MF780864 (T. harzianum) was isolated and identified based on the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) sequences; it showed the potentiality to induce SiO₂NPs in the process of RHs biotransformation. SiO₂NPs were produced extracellularly and their size was of about 89 nm. SiO₂NPs characterized by oval, rod and cubical particles by using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of various functional groups of biomolecules and capping protein, encapsulating SiO₂NPs. Water and fish samples were collected from private fish farms in El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Lead (Pb) was detected from water and fish samples at its highest concentration at about 0.088 mg/L. The adsorption capacity of Pb by SiO₂NPs was evaluated by testing different concentrations of SiO₂NPs viz. 1, 2, and 3 mg/L, wherein 1 mg/L revealed the highest Pb adsorption efficiency. Within laboratory trials, the results indicated that highest Pb adsorption efficiency revealed through the increasing of SiO₂NPs concentrations until 120 h. In vivo trial that lasted for 8 weeks, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (29.78 ± 0.36 g body weight) supplemented with 0.088 mg/L Pb was divided into four experimental groups having three replicates (15 fish/replicate; 45 fish/group). The results showed that SiO₂NPs supplementation through water revealed significant increase in growth and hematological parameters of O. niloticus. Moreover, enhancement of antioxidant capacity (TAC), and immune related gene expression of IL-1β were increased in the presence of SiO₂NPs compared with the groups of Pb exposure. Moreover, Pb residue level in fish muscles was noticeably decreased in the SiO₂NPs treated groups. Thus, this research opens up other possibilities in the field of using SiO₂NPs as a lead adsorbent for water bioremediation.

Chemical Constitution and Antimicrobial Activity of Kombucha Fermented Beverage

Kombucha is a traditional beverage of sweetened black tea fermented with a symbiotic association of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. In this study, kombucha fermented beverage (KFB) appeared to include nine chemical groups (alcohols, acids, lactones, condensed heterocyclic compounds, antibiotics, esters, aldehydes, fatty acids, and alkaloids) of many bioactive metabolites, as elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and IR spectra. The fermented metabolic components of KFB seem collectively to act in a synergistic action giving rise to the antimicrobial activity. Four types of kombucha preparations (fermented, neutralized, heat-treated and unfermented) were demonstrated with respect to their antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using agar well diffusion assay. KFB exerted the strongest antimicrobial activities when compared with neutralized and heat-treated kombucha beverages (NKB and HKB). Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli ATCC11229 (E. coli) were the organisms most susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of kombucha beverage preparations. Finally, the KFB preparation showed remarkable inhibitory activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria in a brain heart infusion broth and in some Egyptian fruit juices (apple, guava, strawberry, and tomato). These data reveal that kombucha is not only a prophylactic agent, but also appears to be promising as a safe alternative biopreservative, offering protection against pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Antibacterial Peptides Produced by Alcalase from Cowpea Seed Proteins

Cowpea seed protein hydrolysates (CPH) were output from cowpea seeds applying alcalase® from Bacillus licheniformis. CPH with an elevated level of hydrolysis was fractionated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Both CPH and SEC-portions showed to contain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as they inhibited both Gram-positive bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes LMG10470 (L. monocytogenes), Listeria innocua. LMG11387 (L. innocua), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 (S.aureus), and Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC19615 (St.pyogenes), and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella pnemoniae ATCC43816 (K. pnemoniae), Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC26853 (P. aeroginosa), Escherichia coli ATCC25468) (E.coli) and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028 (S. typhimurium).The data exhibited that both CPH and size exclusion chromatography-fraction 1 (SEC-F1) showed high antibacterial efficiency versus almost all the assessed bacteria. The MIC of the AMPs within SEC-F1 and CPHs were (25 µg/mL) against P. aeruginosa, E.coli and St. pyogenes. However, higher MICsof approximately 100-150 µg/mL showed for both CPHs and SEC-F1 against both S. aureus and L. innocua; it was 50 µg/mL of CPH against S.aureus. The Electro-spray-ionization-mass-spectrometry (ESI-MS) of fraction (1) revealed 10 dipeptides with a molecular masses arranged from 184 Da to 364 Da and one Penta peptide with a molecular mass of approximately 659 Da inthe case of positive ions. While the negative ions showed 4 dipeptides with the molecular masses that arranged from 330 Da to 373 Da. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) demonstrated that the SEC-F1 induced changes in the bacterial cells affected. Thus, the results suggested that the hydrolysis of cowpea seed proteins by Alcalase is an uncomplicated appliance to intensify its antibacterial efficiency.

Chemical Constitution and Antimicrobial Activity of Kefir Fermented Beverage

Kefir beverage (KB) is a fermented milk initiated by kefir grains rich with starter probiotics. The KB produced in this study seemed to contain many chemical compounds elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and IR spectra. These compounds could be classified into different chemical groups such as alcohols, phenols, esters, fatty esters, unsaturated fatty esters, steroids, polyalkenes, heterocyclic compounds and aromatic aldehydes. Both KB and neutralized kefir beverage (NKB) inhibited some pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli ATCC11229 (E. coli), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 4957 (L. monocytogenes), Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 (B. cereus), Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 (Sal. typhimurium) as well as some tested fungal strains such as Aspergillus flavus ATCC 16872 (A. flavus) and Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611 (A. niger), but the inhibitory activity of KB was more powerful than that obtained by NKB. It also appeared to contain four lactic acid bacteria species, one acetic acid bacterium and two yeast species. Finally, the KB inhibited distinctively both S. aureus and Sal. typhimurium bacteria in a brain heart infusion broth and in some Egyptian fruit juices, including those made with apples, guava, strawberries and tomatoes.

Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) Biosynthesized by Aspergillus flavus KF946095; their Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

The antimicrobial agents of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been applied a little while back in diverse therapeutic studies. In this analysis, AgNPs were biosynthesized using an ecologically welcomed and cost-effective simple of bio-reduction. An isolate of Aspergillus flavus KF946095 (A. flavus) was found to biosynthesize AgNPs; the size of AgNPs was (56nm) and detected by UV-Vis analysis at (400 nm). The reducing properties for biosynthesis of AgNPs are mainly due to the protein functional surface reactive groups detected by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Whereas, FTIR for AgNPs showed different peaks at 3994.5, 3201.6, 1801.4, 1643.2 and 1604.7 cm-1 that shared with the biosynthesize and stability of AgNPs as protein capping agents. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed the scattering of biosynthesized AgNPs within a sol with oval and round shapes. The antibiotic susceptibility test was studied for some pathogenic bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus DSM 1104 (S. aureus) appeared to be the more resistant strain; it resisted the action of 6 antibiotics out of 8 ones tested. MIC value of AgNPs was 20µg/mL and antibiotic ciprofloxacin was 30µg/mL. Mixture of MIC values or double MIC values distinctively inhibited the multidrug resistant (MDR) S.aureus.

Correction: Influence of Funneliformismosseae enhanced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) on Phaseolus vulgaris L. under salinity stress

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235355.].

Moustafa A, El-Gazzar N. Detection, Purification and Elucidation of Chemical Structure and Antiproliferative Activity of Taxol Produced by Penicillium chrysogenum

Penicillium chrysogenum has been reported as a potent taxol producer based on quantitative analysis by TLC and HPLC. The biosynthetic potency of taxol has been validated from PCR detection of rate-limiting genes of taxol synthesis such as taxadienesynthase and 10-de-acetylbaccatin III-O-acetyltransferase (DBAT), which catalyzes the immediate diterpenoid precursor of the taxol substance, as detected by PCR. Taxol production by P. chrysogenum was assessed by growing the fungus on different media. Potato dextrose broth (PDB) was shown to be the best medium for obtaining the higher amount of taxol (170 µg/L). A stepwise optimization of culture conditions necessary for production of higher amounts of taxol was investigated. The substance taxol was produced optimally after 18 d of incubation at 30 °C in PDB adjusted initially at pH 8.0 with shaking (120 rpm) (250 µg/L). The P. chrysogenum taxol was purified successfully by HPLC. Instrumental analyzes such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, 1HNMR and 13C NMR approved the structural formula of taxol (C47H51NO14), as constructed by ChemDraw. The P. chrysogenum taxol showed promising anticancer activity.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus LC554891 by Moringa oleifera Seed Extract either Singly or in Combination with Antibiotics

Bacterial outbreaks caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are interesting due to the existence of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel ways to control such MDR S. aureus. In this study, some natural agents such as honey bee (HB), extracts of either Moringa oleifera seeds (MSE), or leaves (MLE) and essential oils of garlic, clove, and moringa were studied for their inhibitory activity against this S. aureus pathogen. About 100 food samples including beef luncheon (n = 25), potato chips (n = 50), and corn flakes (n = 25) were investigated for possible pollution with the S. aureus bacteria. The isolated bacteria suspected to belong S. aureus that grew well onto Baird-Parker agar (Oxoid) and shiny halo zones and positive coagulase reaction were selected and identified by API-Kits; all of them that were approved belong to S. aureus (18 strains). The sensitivity of the obtained 18 S. aureus bacterial strains to 12 antibiotics were evaluated; all of them were resistant to ofloxacin; however, other antibiotics tested showed variable results. Interestingly, the S. aureus No. B3 isolated from beef luncheon was resistant to10 antibiotics out of 12 ones tested. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MAR) of this S. aureus strain was about 83.3%. Therefore, its identification was confirmed by sequencing of a 16S rRNA gene which approved a successful biochemical identification carried out by API Kits and such strain was designated S. aureus LC 554891. The genome of such strain appeared to contain mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance; it was found to contain hla, hlb, tsst-1, and finbA that encode α-blood hemolysis, β-blood hemolysis, toxic shock syndrome gene, and fibrinogen-binding protein gene, respectively. In addition, the virulence factors viz. sea; seb; sec encoding enterotoxins were detected in the DNA extracted from S. aureus B3 strain. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera seeds (MSE) showed inhibitory activity against S. aureus LC 554891 better than that obtained by tetracycline, essential oils or HB. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MSE was 20µg/mL. Instrumental analysis of MSE showed 14 bioactive chemical compounds. Combinations of both MSE and tetracycline showed distinctive inhibitory activity against S. aureus LC 554891 than that obtained by either tetracycline or MSE singly.