The present study was intended to investigate the biodegradation of acephate in aqueous media in the presence and in the absence of metal ions [Fe(III) and Cu(II)], and humic acid (HA). Biodegradations were performed using PS-5 (PS-5) isolated from the heavy metal polluted site. Biodegradations were monitored by UV-Visible, FTIR, and electron spray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analyses. ESI-MS analysis revealed that PS-5 degraded acephate to two metabolites showing intense ions at mass-to-charge ratios (/) 62 and 97. The observed kinetic was the pseudo-first order, and half-life periods () were 2.79 d (of PS-5 + acephate), 3.45 d [of PS-5 + acephate + Fe(III)], 3.16 d [of PS-5 + acephate + Cu(II)], and 5.54 d (of PS-5 + acephate + HA). A significant decrease in degradation rate of acephate was noticed in the presence of HA, and the same was confirmed by UV-Visible and TGA analyses. Strong aggregation behavior of acephate with humic acid in aqueous media was the major cause behind the slow degradation rate of acephate . New results on acephate metabolism by strain PS-5 in the presence and in the absence of metal ions [Fe(III) and Cu(II)] and humic acid were obtained. Results confirmed that strain PS-5 was capable of mineralization of the acephate without formation of toxic metabolite methamidophos. More significantly, the strain PS-5 could be useful as potential biological agents in effective bioremediation campaign for multi-polluted environments.

Many bacteria have the potential to use specific pesticides as a source of carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur. Acephate degradation by microbes is considered to be a safe and effective method. The overall aim of the present study was to identify acephate biodegrading microorganisms and to investigate the degradation rates of acephate under the stress of humic acid and most common metal ions Fe(III) and copper Cu(II). Pseudomonas azotoformanss strain ACP1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ACP2, and Pseudomonas putida ACP3 were isolated from acephate contaminated soils. Acephate of concentration 100 ppm was incubated with separate strain inoculums and periodic samples were drawn for UV—visible, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and MS (Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Methamidophos, S-methyl O-hydrogen phosphorothioamidate, phosphenothioic S-acid, and phosphenamide were the major metabolites formed during the degradation of acephate. The rate of degradation was applied using pseudo-first-order kinetics to calculate the half-life (t1/2) values, which were 14.33–16.72 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate), 18.81–21.50 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate + Cu(II)), 20.06 –23.15 d−1 (strain(s) + acephate + Fe(II)), and 15.05–17.70 d−1 (strains + acephate + HA). The biodegradation efficiency of the three bacterial strains can be ordered as P. aeruginosa > P. putida > P. azotoformans. The present study illustrated the decomposition mechanism of acephate under different conditions, and the same may be applied to the removal of other xenobiotic compounds.

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Keratitis is an inflammatory condition, characterized by involvement of corneal tissues. Most recurrent challenge of keratitis is infection. Bacteria, virus, fungus and parasitic organism have potential to cause infection. TLR are an important class of protein which has a major role in innate immune response to combat with pathogens. In last past years, extensive research efforts have provided considerable abundance information regarding the role of TLR in various types of keratitis. This paper focuses to review the recent literature illustrating amoebic, bacterial, fungal and viral keratitis associated with Toll-like receptor molecules and summarize existing thoughts on pathogenesis and treatment besides future probabilities for prevention against TLR-associated keratitis.

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