Background In the field of nanotechnology, the metallic nanoparticles are of remarkable interest because of their unique electronic, magnetic, chemical, and mechanical properties. Purpose: In the present work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using bio-reduction method. Research Design: Silver nitrate was used as metallic precursor and the extract of Moringa oleifera leaves with different concentrations was used as reducing as well capping agent. The extract exhibited strong potential in rapid reduction of silver ions for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Results: The absorption SPR peaks appeared in the range of 415 to 439 nm. SEM analysis exhibited that particles were spherical in shape with size distribution range from 10 nm to 25 nm. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were pure crystalline in nature as confirmed by the XRD spectra with average crystallite size 7 nm. In vitro antibacterial activity of the prepared silver nanoparticles colloidal samples as well the extract was studied using different concentrations of AgNPs (C1 = 100 μg/ml, C2 = 50 μg/ml, C3 = 25 μg/ml) by well diffusion method against Gram negative Escherichia coli. The antibacterial performance was assessed by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI). Conclusions The results suggested that AgNPs prepared by green approach can be considered as an alternative antibacterial agent.

Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum) wilt is one of the destructive disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and lead to 100% yield loss under favorable conditions. This study aims to estimate the potential of biological control agents Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 (SA) and chemical fungicides against cotton wilt pathogen under in-vitro and in-vivo conditions. The in-vitro study revealed that carbendazim showed maximum mycelia growth inhibition with a mean of 91% over control, which was further validated in glasshouse assay. In-vitro dual culture test of biocontrol agents with F. oxysporum determined that SA had a potential to inhibit mycelia growth by 68% compared to control. Further in glasshouse assay, the combination of the SA and carbendazim (10 µg/mL) showed a significant ( p < 0.05) disease control. Moreover, results demonstrated that carbendazim and SA remarkably decreased the disease development up to 83% and subsequently, significant improvement was observed in the plant growth parameters (plant length, root length, and plant weight) compared to untreated plants. Conclusively, exploration and utilization of bioagent for fungal diseases in cotton may provide a better line with maximum efficacy and with lesser adverse effects, which will pave a way toward better consequences in fungal treatments.

Industrial waste is mainly responsible for accumulating Zn (II) in the soil, which needs to be removed to avoid its bioaccumulation and hazardous effects on the environment. In a recent study, the potential of the RY12 strain was evaluated as a biosorbent of Zn (II) ions in an aqueous medium. Different microbiological techniques like biochemical, molecular characterization, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used for the identification of RY12. The impact of different parameters such as the initial zinc ion concentration, pH, temperature, and the removal of other metals such as manganese, lead, cobalt, silver, copper, mercury, and chromium was also evaluated on the reduction of Zn (II). Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was also carried out to investigate the role of cellular surfaces in the sorption of Zn+2 ions. Both biochemical and phylogenetic analyses established that strain RY12 Pseudomonas sp. capable of reducing Zn+2 up to 89% at 28°C (pH = 6.5; initial Zn+2 concentration = 200 mg/L). The FTIR analysis revealed that the bacterial cell wall’s amino, carboxyl, and phosphate groups were involved in the reaction with Zn (II). Our findings suggest that Pseudomonas sp. RY12 is a proficient bacterium for removing zinc from industrial waste and could be a valuable bioremediation agent.

Emergence of plasmid mediated colistin and extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) resistant genes has been impacted the efficacy of colistin and β-lactams drugs like 3rd, 4th generation cephalosporin. Current study was aimed to investigate antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) among Escherichia coli isolates from meat producing commercial broilers in Pakistan. Two hundred (n=200) fecal samples were collected during January-2018 to August-2019. For isolation of E. coli, pink colonies on MacConkey agar were transferred to EMB agar. Metallic sheen color colonies were tested biochemically using API-20E kit. The molecular identification of E. coli (n=153) was targeted by amplification of uid gene through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and different ARGs i.e. gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracycline, colistin, β-lactams drugs, quinolone and ampicillin followed by sequence analysis. Genotypically, followed by phenotypically of resistant ARGs of isolated PCR-confirmed E. coli (153) shoed resistant against gentamicin (aac(3)-IV), streptomycin (aadA1), tetracycline (tetA), colistine (mcr-1), ampicillin (bla-TEM) and bla-CTX-M were 86%, 88%, 86%, 88%, 83% & 77% respectively. 33/38 (86%) of the isolate was positive for quinolone resistance. Colistine (mcr-1), ESBLs (bla-TEM) and (bla-CTX-M) resistance genes were 88%, 83% and 77% respectively. About 33 isolated E. coli harbored the both mcr-1 and ESBLs genes. All of E. coli isolates were found sensitive to ceftriaxone (CTX-30) and imipenem (IMP-10). The Isolated E. coli showed single or multi clade decadency. The E. coli and ARGs sequences showed single or multi clade decadency. This is first comprehensive study from Pakistan that described the molecular evidences of ARGs and their co-existence in single isolates originated from commercial poultry. Commercial chicken (Broilers) can act as melting pot of antibiotic resistance genes for human being. It is alarming situation for surveillance of antibiotic resistance program because of more regulated prescription of antimicrobial agents in Pakistan

Fusarium cotton wilt is a devastating disease of the cotton crop throughout the world, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum (FOV). Chemical control has many side effects, so, biological controls have been widely used for the management of Fusarium wilt. This study aimed to investigate the possible use of an actinomycetes Saccharothrix algeriensis (SA) NRRL B-24137 to control FOV. To access in-vitro anti-Fusarium ability of SA NRRL B-24137, dual culture assay, spore germination and seed germination tests were carried out. Following in-vitro investigations, several pot tests in a greenhouse environment were used to evaluate the biological control potential of SA NRRL B-24137 against FOV. Dual culture assay and spore germination revealed that SA NRRL B-24137 showed significant anti-Fusarium activity.During spore germination 87.77% inhibition of spore germination were observed. In pot experiments, SA NRRL B-24137 primed cotton seeds resulted in a 74.0% reduction in disease incidence. In soil there was a significant reduction in FOV spores in the presence of SA NRRL B-24137. Positive correlation was also observed on different concentrations of SA NRRL B-24137 towards FOV reduction. The results of this study showed that SA NRRL B-24137 has the potential to be employed as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium cotton wilt, improving cotton growth characteristics and yield.