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Background A wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, live in the rhizosphere zone of plants and have an impact on plant development both favorably and adversely. The beneficial outcome is due to the presence of rhizobacteria that promote plant growth (PGPR). Results In this study, a bacterial strain was isolated from lupin rhizosphere and identified genetically as Serratia marcescens (OK482790). Several biochemically and genetically characteristics were confirmed in vitro and in vivo to determine the OK482790 strain ability to be PGPR. The in vitro results revealed production of different lytic enzymes (protease, lipase, cellulase, and catalase), antimicrobial compounds (hydrogen cyanide, and siderophores), ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and its ability to reduce nitrate to nitrite. In silico and in vitro screening proposed possible denitrification-DNRA-nitrification pathway for OK482790 strain. The genome screening indicated the presence of nitrite and nitrate genes encoding Nar membrane bound sensor proteins (NarK, NarQ and NarX). Nitrate and nitrite reductase encoding genes ( NarI, NarJ, NarH, NarG and NapC/NirT ) and ( NirB, NirC , and NirD ) are also found in addition to nitroreductases (NTR) and several oxidoreductases. In vivo results on wheat seedlings confirmed that seedlings growth was significantly improved by soil inoculation of OK482790 strain. Conclusions This study provides evidence for participation of S. marcescens OK482790 in nitrogen cycling via the denitrification-DNRA-nitrification pathway and for its ability to produce several enzymes and compounds that support the beneficial role of plant-microbe interactions to sustain plant growth and development for a safer environment.

Background Persistent lead contamination and the absence of natural remediation elements exacerbate the long-term toxicity of plants. Nevertheless, it has been consistently shown that selenium has a protective effect against heavy metal toxicity in plants. Consequently, it is imperative to identify the metabolic pathways that selenium employs to enhance the resistance of plants to lead stress. This study aimed to investigate the metabolomic alterations induced by selenium priming of Vicia faba seeds to enhance their tolerance to lead stress. Results Selenium seed priming significantly improved the growth parameter and mitigated the adverse growth consequences observed under lead stress. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic analysis identified 58 metabolites in the polar extracts of the shoots, with the metabolites composed of amino acids (40%), carboxylic acids (12%), fatty acids (11%), carbohydrates (5%), alkaloids (5%), and phenols (4%). The addition of Pb facilitated the biosynthesis of unique metabolites, including 2-methylglutarate, 3-methyladipate, and epinephrine, which were absent in control and selenium-treated samples. Conversely, 4-aminobutyrate and 2-methylglutarate were entirely absent in Pb samples. Selenium-treated plants accumulated trigonelline and AMP at levels 1.4 and 6.0 times, respectively, more than the control samples. Selenium-primed plants exposed to lead stress exhibited higher levels of asparagine, tryptophan, and xanthine compared to other treatments. As determined by both enrichment analysis and pathway analysis, the most significantly altered pathways were alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways. Conclusion The results demonstrate the crucial role of selenium priming in enhancing the growth and lead stress resistance of Vicia faba plants by significantly altering the concentrations of key metabolites and metabolic pathways, particularly those involved in amino acid metabolism, offering a promising strategy for improving plant resilience to heavy metal contamination.

Background One of the primary challenges that the expanding population faces is water scarcity. Thus, a global imperative has been established to safeguard extant water resources and optimize their utility through sustainable practices and efficient management. In the present investigation, Azolla pinnata , a pteridophyte (fern), was employed to phytoremediate Cr (VI) from chromium-polluted water. The potential of this treated water for agricultural purposes was verified through the use of Vicia faba plants. Results In vitro, A. pinnata effectively remediates Cr (VI) from an array of liquid concentrations (0.05 to 90 ppm) in a ratio of 25:1 {volume (mL): fresh weight of Azolla (g)} after 2 days incubation period at room temperature. At low concentrations (0.1 ppm), the phytoremediation capacity peaked at 70%, falling to 19.53% at a high concentration (90 ppm). Upon continuous irrigation with Cr-polluted water (0.05 to 50 ppm), the in vivo pot experiment on Vicia faba plants revealed high Cr accumulation in the roots reached 52.5 mg Kg -1 dry weight (Dwt) at the 50 ppm Cr treatment. Nevertheless, a reduced Cr content of 19.5 mg Kg -1 Dwt was observed when the plants were irrigated with 50 ppm Cr-polluted water that had been treated with Azolla . At 50 ppm of Cr, Azolla's  treatment significantly increased shoot length, fresh weight, and Chl a content to 25.25 cm, 3.4 g, and 6.5 mg g -1 Dwt, respectively, up from 10.25, 1.8, and 4.7 in untreated plants. The chromosomal aberrations were significantly induced in the dividing cells of all Cr treatments, with the highest value of 4.8% at 50 ppm. This value was reduced to 2.88% at the same concentration when treated with Azolla . At a concentration of 10 ppm Cr, the mitotic index was significantly improved to 6.99% when combined with Azolla , as opposed to 3.63% when the same concentration was used without Azolla . The DNA degradation assay showed partial DNA degradation at 50 ppm Cr, which the Azolla treatment eliminated. Furthermore, the gene expression levels of both the PM H + -ATPase and the calcium-dependent protein kinase CDPK5 were upregulated in response to Cr, despite the fact that the expression level was altered in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner by Azolla treatment. Conclusion Azolla exhibits substantial potential for reducing the detrimental effects of chromium stress including oxidative stress on plants. It modulates stress-related gene expression, protects DNA integrity, enhances cell mitosis, and reduces chromosomal damage. These results indicate that Azolla has the potential to be a valuable asset in phytoremediation strategies for chromium-contaminated environments, and that it may enhance plant survival and growth under Cr stress conditions. Key message Azolla pinnata can be effectively utilized as an environmentally-friendly method to remediate chromium-contaminated water for agricultural usage. Highlights • A. pinnata remediates Cr(VI) from liquid concentrations with 70% phytoremediation capacity at low concentrations. •  A. pinnata treatment greatly decreased Cr buildup and improved Vicia faba growth under Cr stress. • In Vicia faba , A. pinnata increased mitotic index, reduced Cr-induced chromosomal aberrations, and modulated the expression of genes linked to stress.

Background Enhancing crops’ drought resilience is necessary to maintain productivity levels. Plants interact synergistically with microorganisms like Beauveria bassiana to improve drought tolerance. Therefore, the current study investigates the effects of biopriming with B. bassiana on drought tolerance in Malva parviflora plants grown under regular irrigation (90% water holding capacity (WHC)), mild (60% WHC), and severe drought stress (30% WHC). Results The results showed that drought stress reduced the growth and physiological attributes of M. parviflora . However, those bioprimed with B. bassiana showed higher drought tolerance and enhanced growth, physiological, and biochemical parameters: drought stress enriched malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 contents. Conversely, exposure to B. bassiana reduced stress markers and significantly increased proline and ascorbic acid content under severe drought stress; it enhanced gibberellic acid and reduced ethylene. Bioprimed M. parviflora , under drought conditions, improved antioxidant enzymatic activity and the plant’s nutritional status. Besides, ten Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat primers detected a 25% genetic variation between treatments. Genomic DNA template stability (GTS) decreased slightly and was more noticeable in response to drought stress; however, for drought-stressed plants, biopriming with B. bassiana retained the GTS. Conclusion Under drought conditions, biopriming with B. bassiana enhanced Malva ’s growth and nutritional value. This could attenuate photosynthetic alterations, up-regulate secondary metabolites, activate the antioxidant system, and maintain genome integrity. Highlights Drought exposure altered the physiological and biochemical functioning of M. parviflora plants and results in impaired growth, water status and reduced pigment fractions. Beauveria bassiana bio-priming improves the physiological functioning of M. parviflora plants and drought stress resilience. Drought stress augmented the oxidative stress in plants by over-increasing malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 contents. However, B. bassiana decreased their levels in bioprimed M. parviflora plants. B. bassiana improved drought tolerance through upregulating the production of secondary metabolites, antioxidants, the modulation of phytohormones, maintaining genome template stability and converting unavailable nutrients into available forms and increasing their absorption by M. parviflora plants.

Background: There is a paucity of data on outcomes following four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs), especially the sagittal balance (SB) parameters. Objective: We aimed to review the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes for 41 consecutive patients that underwent instrumented four-level ACDF. Materials and Methods: Records of 27 men and 14 women, aged 40-68 years, who underwent instrumented four-level ACDF and plating at C3-C7 (n = 37) or C4-T1 (n = 4) were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcomes that were assessed were the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, neck disability index (NDI), Odom's criteria, improvement of symptoms, intraoperative and postoperative complications, SB, and need for revision surgery. Results: The mean follow-up was 65 ± 36.3 months. The mean VAS for arm and neck pain significantly improved from 7.7 ± 1.4 to 3.5 ± 1.7 (P < 0.001). The NDI score significantly improved from 31 ± 8.2 to 19.3 ± 8.1 (P < 0.001). Concerning Odom's criteria, the grades were excellent (14), good (17), fair (9), and poor (1). Concerning intraoperative and postoperative complications, 10 cases developed dysphagia, 3 cases developed temporary dysphonia, 2 cases developed a postoperative hematoma, 1 patient developed C5 palsy, 1 vertebral artery (VA) injury, and 1 case had superficial infection. The average length of stay (LOS) was 2.9 ± 3.7 days. Three patients needed another surgery (one adjacent segment and two posterior foraminotomies). Regarding the mean change in SB parameters, Cobb's angle (CA) (C2-C7) was 14° ± 8.3°, fusion angle (FA) was 10.9 ± 10.9°, cervical straight vertical alignment (cSVA) was 0.6 ± 0.5 cm, T1 slope was 2.3° ± 3.4°, and disc height (DH) was 1.3 ± 0.9 mm. Conclusion: Instrumented four-level ACDF is safe with a satisfactory outcome and supplementary posterior fusion was not required in any case.

The impacts of the growing population in Lebanon including Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian refugees, together with the changing climate, are putting the Bekaa Valley’s water resources in a precarious situation. The water resources are under significant stress limiting the water availability and deteriorating the water quality in the Upper Litani River Basin (ULRB) within the Bekaa Valley. Here, the impacts on water balance and water quality for a 2013 baseline and future scenarios are simulated using the Water Evaluation And Planning model, served by the Watershed Modeling System which provides flows throughout the ungauged zones of the Litani River and its tributaries. The output from a General Circulation Model is used to project the future climate up to 2100 under several emissions’ scenarios which shows a critical situation in the high emission scenario where the precipitation will be reduced by about 87 mm from 2013 to 2095. The research highlights the need to reduce the water pollution that limits the availability of usable water, and to minimize the gap between the demand and supply of water within the ULRB to maintain water supply and quality, even after 80 years. This may be achieved by removing encroachments on the river, adding wastewater treatment plants, reducing the amount of lost water in damaged water network, and avoiding the overconsumption of groundwater.

Background Drought stress is a catastrophic abiotic stressor that impedes the worldwide output of commodities and the development of plants. The Utilizing biological antioxidant stimulators, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one example increased the plants' ability to withstand the effects of drought. The symbiotic response of soybean ( Glycine max L.) to AMF inoculation was assessed in the experiment presented herewith at different watering regimes (field capacity of 25, 50, and 90%). The vegetative, physio-biochemical traits, and regulation of genes involved in polyamine synthesis in G. max plants were evaluated. Results The results obtained suggested that AMF inoculation has an advantage over plants that were non-inoculated in terms of their growth and all assessed criteria, which responded to drought stress by showing slower development. It is evident that the gas exchange parameters of the soybean plant were substantially reduced by 36.79 (photosynthetic rate; A ), 60.59 (transpiration rate; E ), and 53.50% (stomatal conductance gs ), respectively, under severe stress of drought in comparison to control; non-stressed treatment. However, the AMF inoculation resulted in a 40.87, 29.89, and 33.65% increase in A , E , and gs levels, respectively, in extremely drought-stressful circumstances, when in contrast to non-AMF one that was grown under well-watered conditions. The drought level was inversely proportional to mycorrhizal colonization. The total antioxidant capacity, protein, and proline contents were all enhanced by AMF inoculation, while the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents were decreased. Polyamine biosynthesis genes expression; Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC2), Spermidine synthase (SPDS) and Spermine synthase (SpS) were upregulated in drought and to even higher level in AMF’s mild drought inoculated plants’ shoots. This implies that AMF plays apart in the enhanced survival of soybean plants stressed by drought and reduced plant membranes damage by limiting the excessive production of oxidative stress generators; ROS. Conclusions In summary, the present investigation demonstrates that inoculation of AMF may be a supportable and environmentally advantageous method for improving the physio-biochemical traits, plant growth, and polyamine biosynthesis genes of soybean plants in the incident of limited water availability.

Water scarcity hampered rice production and jeopardized worldwide food security. Under conditions of water scarcity, this research investigates the effect of four different Allium peels on soil water holding capacity (WHC) and rice seedlings development. Physicochemical analysis of red, yellow onions, and garlic peels was performed, and their application for growing rice in soil irrigated with 50% field capacity compared to the well-irrigated control group was achieved. Garlic peels contained the least sulphur (0.007 g/g), while red onion peels contained the most (0.147 g/g). The contents of crude fiber, ash, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic, and flavonoids varied between species. The application of garlic peel to soil resulted in a 60% increase in the soil WHC, which was directly proportional to the fiber content of each peel. Rice seedlings cultivated in pots supplemented with different peels, especially the garlic peel, exhibited substantial growth when subjected to restricted water regimes. Rice plant pigment fractions and hydration status were drastically reduced due to water constraints; however, the addition of garlic and onion peels supplements mitigated this effect. Most especially, supplementing soil with garlic peels caused an enhancement of 66.7% and 80.22% in length and fresh weight of shoot, 59.9% and 87.3% in chlorophyll a and b. The carotenoids, water content, proline, protein, enzymatic antioxidants, and non-protein thiols were all increased by these peels, while rice leaf oxidative impairment (lipooxygenase, lipid peroxidation, and H 2 O 2 ) was decreased. ISSR analysis detects a positive correlation between genomic profiles of plants cultivated in different peel-amended soils. Agro-waste may support soil management, promote rice growth in conditions of limited irrigation water, and provide solutions for water scarcity and waste management. Water conservation and sustainable agriculture are made possible by this novel method.

Background The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens has stimulated the need for the development of new antimicrobial agents. Epigenetic modulation by suppressing epigenetic inhibitors, such as 5-azacytidine (5-aza), has been shown to activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters within a fungus and causes the production of novel secondary metabolites. This research examined this epigenetic modification strategy in the poorly studied filamentous fungus, Ceratorhiza hydrophila , which may help induce the additional production of bioactive compounds. Results The results from genomic and spectroscopic analyses (ISSR profiling and FTIR spectroscopy) indicated that 50 µM 5-aza produced substantial global DNA demethylation and genomic changes in C. hydrophila with no impact on cell viability. The epigenetic changes associated with the DNA demethylation prompted a notable and selective change in antimicrobial profile to suppress antibacterial activity against strains such as Clostridium sporogenes while also showing a robust induction of antifungal activity against Candida albicans (22 mm inhibition zone). GC-MS was performed for a deep-dive characterization of the metabolic profile which revealed, for example, a dramatic alteration of the profile including production of new secondary metabolites such as a novel indole derivative and diisooctyl phthalate, which did not exist in the untreated control. In silico analyses, such as modelling the promoter and molecular docking opportunities, offered a believable mechanistic rationale for the effects seen, linked to the predicted modulation of primary biosynthetic pathways. Conclusion This study demonstrates that epigenetic modulation can be used to successfully unlock latent biosynthetic capability in C. hydrophila resulting in the production of unique compounds with strong and selective antifungal activity. These results demonstrate the advantages of epigenetic screening of unique fungal sources in the search for new drug leads.

Ringworm is a worldwide distributed contagious disease infecting both man and animals that constitute an economic, zoonotic, and health problem concern all over the world. During the last decade, attention has been directed to vaccination as an ideal approach to the control of such diseases. In the present study, non-adjuvanted polyvalent vaccines were prepared from locally isolated hot and virulent dermatophyte species, namely Trichophyton verrucosum ( T. verrucosum ) , Trichophyton mentagrophytes ( T. mentagrophytes ), and Microsporum canis ( M. canis ) were immunologically evaluated . The prepared vaccine evaluation was focused on the aspects of immunogenicity and protective efficacy using guinea pigs. Both in its living or inactivated forms, the vaccine-induced significant humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and achieve proper protection of guinea pigs against challenging infections with homologous and heterologous dermatophyte strains. On the other hand, investigations on dermatophyte exo-keratinases showed that it was better produced and more expressed in a mineral-based medium containing pure keratin (3 g/L) than in the same medium with human hair supplementation (2.6 g/L). The maximum dermatophyte productivity of exo-keratinases was found to be between 18 and 21 days post-incubation. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), two fractions with molecular weights of 40 kDa (fraction I) and 28 kDa (fraction II) have been identified in the culture filtrate of the three involved dermatophyte species. Both fractions demonstrated keratinolytic activity. The specific activity of the isolated keratinases (number of Keratinase units (KU)/mg protein) was stronger in fraction I, where it reached 18.75, 15.38, and 14 KU/mg protein as compared to 12.9, 8.74, and 12 KU/mg protein in fraction II of T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, and M. canis , respectively. The dermatophyte exo-keratinases proved to be immunogenic as they stimulated high keratinase-specific antibody titers and induced strong delayed skin hypersensitivity reactions in vaccinated animals. Anti-keratinase-specific IgG was detected in sera of guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated or living polyvalent dermatophyte vaccines by a homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using dermatophyte exo-keratinases as coating antigen. The intradermal injection of dermatophyte exo-keratinases induced specific delayed skin reactions in guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated or the living polyvalent dermatophyte vaccines. The intradermal injection of dermatophyte exo-keratinases in the control non-sensitized guinea pigs was associated with itching, swelling, and bloody scar formation, however, no skin indurations were formed. The development of those post-exo-keratinases injection reactions in the control non-sensitized apparently healthy guinea pigs group, suggests an exo-keratinases possible role in the pathogenesis of dermatophytosis.