Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yixin He, Guining Wei, Bingran Tang, Muhammad Salam, Ai Shen, Yanyan Wei, Xin Zhou, Mengzi Liu, Yongchuan Yang, Hong Li, Yufeng Mao
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between microplastics (MPs), toxins, and biofilm in water environments. The results show that MPs can adsorb toxic substances and be colonized by microorganisms, leading to the reduction of toxins in water. The colonization of microorganisms on MPs enhances the bio-adsorption of toxins, while certain bacteria in the biofilm facilitate the biodegradation of toxins. These findings provide new insights into the ecological risks of microplastics.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunhan Jiang, Ying Liu, Jian Zhang
Summary: Mixed antibiotics can stimulate the growth and microcystin synthesis of Microcystis aeruginosa by activating photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and other pathways to enhance resistance to oxidative stress. This study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the hormetic stimulation of harmful cyanobacterial blooms by antibiotic contaminants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Jiajia Zhang, Jia wei, Isaac Yaw Massey, Tangjian Peng, Fei Yang
Summary: This review article discusses various carriers and methods for microbial immobilization and the application of bacterial immobilization technology for the treatment of MCs-contaminated water. Biodegradation is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method for removing MCs, and immobilization of bacteria using carriers has advantages over free bacterial cells. The article highlights the potential of microbial immobilization technology in the bioremediation of MC-polluted environments.
Review
Toxicology
Zorica Svircev, Liang Chen, Kinga Santha, Damjana Drobac Backovic, Stamenko Susak, Aleksandra Vulin, Tamara Palanacki Malesevic, Geoffrey A. Codd, Jussi Meriluoto
Summary: The toxicity of cyanotoxins on the cardiovascular system has been extensively studied. While there is potential for negative effects, the risk to cardiovascular health under normal environmental conditions is considered low.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carlos J. Pestana, Diana S. Moura, Jose Capelo-Neto, Christine Edwards, Domenic Dreisbach, Bernhard Spengler, Linda A. Lawton
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of microplastics to act as carriers for microcystins, achieving toxin concentration 28 times higher on plastic than in water. The experimental results show that adsorption of microcystins onto microplastics is a multifactorial process, dependent on various factors. The study also stresses the limitations of exclusively investigating microcystin-LR.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jason Dexter, Alistair J. McCormick, Pengcheng Fu, Dariusz Dziga
Summary: Microcystinase (MlrA) is the most efficient and specific enzymatic process in microcystin detoxification, providing valuable genetic and biochemical information for technological development. There is a growing interest in sustainable, biologically inspired alternatives, with MlrA showing potential in biotechnological applications.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shulian Wang, Yiying Jiao, Zhi Rao
Summary: This paper reviews recent advancements in research on the selective oxidation and adsorption of cyanotoxins in water bodies, discussing the potential and challenges of selective removal methods in addressing cyanotoxins, while also examining the prospects of cyanotoxin control and in situ selective elimination approaches. It is aimed to provide useful reference and direction for future pilot-scale applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Halima Abdullahi, Yahuza Tanimu, Suwebat Ayanronke Akinyemi, Maria Do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira, Mathias Ahii Chia
Summary: This study investigated the presence of microcystins in an irrigation water source and found low levels of toxins in the water but higher levels in irrigated vegetables. These results highlight a severe public health problem in Nigeria.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rong Zhu, Huan Wang, Hong Shen, Xuwei Deng, Jun Chen
Summary: Extracellular MC concentrations lag behind intracellular MCs in Lake Erhai; intracellular MCs are positively influenced by MC-producing cyanobacterial biomass, water temperature, pH, and conductivity; extracellular MCs show little correlation with cyanobacterial abundances and intracellular MC concentrations, but significant negative correlations with water temperature, pH, and conductivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, Aleksandar Vojvodic, Jake P. Violi, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study presents a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and major MCs using RP LC-MS/MS. The application of this method on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB and MC-YR. The study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of these cyanotoxins in natural environmental samples.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Junhui Teng, Meijie Song, Qianqian Xu, Qianwen Zou, Haiyang Zhang, Chunhua Yin, Xiaolu Liu, Yang Liu, Hai Yan
Summary: The purification and activity of linearized microcystinase (MlrB) were investigated, and the results showed that purified recombinant MlrB could remove the linearized products generated by 12.5 mg/L MC-LR and MC-RR within 30 minutes at a protein concentration of 1 mg/L. This indicates that MlrB has high catalytic activity, laying the foundation for further studies on the properties and mechanism of microcystin biodegradation enzymes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jia Wei, Zhou Pengji, Jiajia Zhang, Tangjian Peng, Jiayou Luo, Fei Yang
Summary: A bacterial strain called Sphingopyxis sp. YF1 has been found to efficiently degrade microcystins (MCs) and their key bioactive moiety, Adda. The degradation pathways of Adda were investigated through multi-omics analysis and mass spectrometry, revealing the involvement of fatty acid degradation pathway.
Article
Agronomy
Zakaria Mohamed, Asmaa Bakr, Alexandre Campos, Vitor Vasconcelos, Shereen Abdel-Mohsen Nasr
Summary: This study investigated the effects of irrigation water containing the toxic cyanobacterium Chroococcus minutus on the growth, physiological parameters, and microcystin accumulation in Phaseolus vulgaris plants. The results showed that treated plants exhibited reduced growth and physiological parameters, with microcystin concentrations exceeding the daily intake guidelines for human consumption.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Darren Garland, Frances Lucy, Nicolas Touzet
Summary: This study investigated cyanobacterial diversity and associated environmental factors in a lake in north-west Ireland that had previously been affected by algal blooms. The results showed spatial heterogeneity in photosynthetic pigment concentrations, which became more homogeneous towards the end of the survey. Temperature and photosynthetic pigments were found to be correlated with an increase in cyanobacterial richness. PCR-DGGE analysis also identified patterns in community composition, including the presence of toxigenic species similar to Microcystis sp.
Article
Environmental Sciences
P. Zuccarello, M. Manganelli, G. Oliveri Conti, C. Copat, A. Grasso, A. Cristaldi, G. De Angelis, E. Testai, M. Stefanelli, S. Vichi, M. Fiore, M. Ferrante
Summary: The increasing demand for freshwater in urban areas throughout Europe, due to population growth, urbanization, and economic development, is being affected by climate change, eutrophication, and pollution. On Sicily, a significant drought and water shortage are impacting water supply, with reports of cyanobacteria blooms and the presence of microcystins in freshwater reservoirs. A study was conducted to identify cyanobacterial species, determine growth-favoring parameters, and develop a model for continuous monitoring of reservoirs to ensure water safety.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zeeshan Ahmad, Shujaul Mulk Khan, Sue Page, Saad Alamri, Mohamed Hashem
Summary: This study evaluated and analyzed the vegetation of subtropical mineral mines in northern Pakistan, and found that specific plant species and species assemblages can indicate the presence of mineral deposits. The study also proposed methods for identifying these indicator species.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Nivien A. Nafady, Raoof Sultan, Aida M. El-Zawahry, Yasser S. Mostafa, Saad Alamri, Radwa G. Mostafa, Mohamed Hashem, Elhagag A. Hassan
Summary: The study demonstrated the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma harzianum and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi against tomato root-knot nematodes, reducing nematode population, penetration rate, and improving plant growth and resistance. Wood mold and mycorrhizal fungi could increase nutritional content and stimulate plants' systematic resistance against nematode parasitism.
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. Hashem, M. S. Al-Qahtani, S. A. Alamri, Y. S. Moustafa, G. Lyberatos, I. Ntaikou
Summary: In this study, non-conventional yeast strains were selected and adapted to efficiently produce single-cell protein (SCP) from wasted date molasses (WDM). The experiment showed that certain yeast strains, such as H. guilliermondii and I. orientalis, have the highest biomass production and protein content, indicating their potential in industrial production for animal feed.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Su Zameer, M. Ali, A. Sajjad, S. Saeed, A. Matloob, Muhammad Amjad Bashir, Reem A. Alajmi, Billy M. Hargis, Mohamed Hashem, Saad Alamri, Sagheer Atta
Summary: Bumblebees play an important role in tomato pollination under greenhouse conditions, and three visits per flower are sufficient to achieve optimal production and desirable physical and biochemical properties.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ubaid AFZA, Imran KHAN, Muhammad U. CHATTHA, Rizwan MAQBOOL, Muhammad B. CHATTHA, Ambreen NAZ, Mohamed HASHEM, Saad ALAMRI, Haifa A. S. ALHAITHLOUL, Sabry HASSAN, Muhammad A. BHATTI, Muhammad U. HASSAN, Sameer H. QARI
Summary: Salinity stress is a major abiotic stress that negatively affects plant growth and productivity. This study investigated the impact of different organic amendments on the growth, physiology, and antioxidant activities of maize plants under salinity stress. The results showed that salinity stress reduced growth and biomass production, while organic amendments significantly improved the growth of maize under salinity stress. Sugarcane pressmud application increased growth and biomass production by enhancing antioxidant activities and reducing lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage.
NOTULAE BOTANICAE HORTI AGROBOTANICI CLUJ-NAPOCA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amir Khan, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Mohtaram Danish, Mohammad Shariq, Mohd. Farhan Khan, Moh Sajid Ansari, Mohamed Hashem, Saad Alamri, Faheem Ahmad
Summary: This study investigated the antagonistic activity of CuONPs synthesized from physic nut leaves against the root-knot nematode infesting chickpea. The results showed that CuONPs had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the nematode, with higher concentrations leading to increased mortality. Pot experiments demonstrated that CuONPs significantly reduced root infection and improved the growth and physiological attributes of chickpea plants.
GREEN CHEMISTRY LETTERS AND REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Manzoor Ahmad, Muhammad Ishaq, Wajid Ali Shah, Muhammad Adnan, Shah Fahad, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Fahim Ullah Khan, Maria Mussarat, Shadman Khan, Baber Ali, Yasser S. Mostafa, Saad Alamri, Mohamed Hashem
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of different organic and inorganic phosphorus sources on wheat productivity in calcareous soils. The results showed that applying 10 tons of organic manure and SSP or 100% acidulated RP can improve wheat yield and phosphorus use efficiency under calcareous soil conditions.
Article
Agronomy
Imran Khan, Sajid Hussan, Muhammad Umer Chattha, Rizwan Maqbool, Athar Mahmood, Muqarrab Ali, Maha Aljabri, Mohamed Hashem, Sally Negm, Mahmoud Moustafa, Muhammad Umair Hassan, Sameer H. Qari
Summary: The present study aimed to determine the effect of acetic acid (AA) on growth, yield, ionic homeostasis, physiology, hormonal crosstalk, and antioxidant activities of wheat crop grown under salinity stress (SS). The results indicated that SS stress negatively affected the growth and yield of wheat crop, but foliar application of AA significantly improved the growth and yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Umair Hassan, Muhammad Nawaz, Adnan Noor Shah, Ali Raza, Lorenzo Barbanti, Milan Skalicky, Mohamed Hashem, Marian Brestic, Saurabh Pandey, Saad Alamri, Yasser S. Mostafa, Ayman E. L. Sabagh, Sameer H. Qari
Summary: Plant abiotic stresses pose a threat to crop production and food security. Trehalose, a non-reducing sugar, acts as an osmo-protectant and is involved in various mechanisms to enhance plant stress tolerance. Trehalose supplementation can up-regulate stress response genes and induce the accumulation of other osmolytes, improving stress tolerance in plants.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Adnan Rasheed, Long Zhao, Ali Raza, Athar Mahmood, Hucheng Xing, Xueying Lv, Hamza Saeed, Fatmah M. Alqahtani, Mohamed Hashem, Muhammad Umair Hassan, Syed Faheem Anjum Gillani, Yucheng Jie
Summary: Drought stress is a challenging factor in plant production, affecting various aspects of plant functions. Understanding the molecular factors governing stress-responsive pathways is crucial in breeding for drought tolerance. Cotton breeders have employed molecular tools such as QTL mapping and genetic engineering to elucidate the mechanisms and improve drought tolerance in cotton.
Article
Plant Sciences
Imran Khan, Sikandar Mahmood, Muhammad Umer Chattha, Muhammad Bilal Chattha, Shahbaz Ahmad, Masood Iqbal Awan, Fatmah M. Alqahtani, Mohamed Hashem, Haifa Abdulaziz Sakit Alhaithloul, Sameer H. Qari, Faisal Mahmood, Muhammad Umair Hassan
Summary: Salinity stress is a major limitation to crop production worldwide. The application of organic amendments can mitigate the negative effects of salinity and improve the growth, yield, and grain quality of crops. In this study, the impacts of farmyard manure (FYM) and press mud (PM) on rice crop under salinity stress were investigated. The results showed that salinity stress had deleterious effects on the growth, yield, and grain quality of rice, but the application of organic amendments effectively offset these effects and improved the crop performance. The combined application of FYM and PM further enhanced the growth, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice. Therefore, the use of FYM and PM can be considered as a good practice for better rice production in salt-affected soils.
Article
Immunology
Maryam M. Alomran, Ali Noman, Muhammad Aqeel, Noreen Khalid, Muhammad Faisal Maqsood, Noreen Akhter, Muhammad Arshad, Fatmah M. Alqahtani, Fahad Mohammed Alzuaibr, Mohamed Hashem, Talaat Habeeb, Omar Mahmoud Al-Zoubi, Modhi O. Alotaibi
Summary: This study evaluated the inherent immunity of five commercial cucumber varieties to powdery mildew and studied their physiological and biochemical responses to pathogen infection. Different varieties showed differential responses in terms of chlorophyll, anthocyanin, flavonoid, phenolics, ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activity. These findings are important for utilizing these cucumber varieties in disease management and defense responses.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sadia Mustafa, Faisal Mahmood, Usman Shafqat, Sabir Hussain, Muhammad Shahid, Fatima Batool, Rehab O. Elnour, Mohamed Hashem, Tahani A. Y. Asseri, Tanvir Shahzad
Summary: In this study, nickel oxide nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized and used to degrade azo dyes in industrial wastewater. The treatment with NiO-NPs showed significant improvements in the quality of the wastewater.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ansa Aouz, Imran Khan, Muhammad Bilal Chattha, Shahbaz Ahmad, Muqarrab Ali, Iftikhar Ali, Abid Ali, Fatmah M. M. Alqahtani, Mohamed Hashem, Tasahil S. S. Albishi, Sameer H. H. Qari, Muhammad Umer Chatta, Muhammad Umair Hassan
Summary: Modern agriculture faces the challenges of salinity and heat stresses, which seriously threaten crop productivity and global food security. The present study investigates the role of silicon (Si) in mitigating the adverse impacts of these stresses on wheat crops.
Review
Plant Sciences
Jinhua Shao, Wei Tang, Kai Huang, Can Ding, Haocheng Wang, Wenlong Zhang, Ronghui Li, Muhammad Aamer, Muhammad Umair Hassan, Rehab O. Elnour, Mohamed Hashem, Guoqin Huang, Sameer H. Qari
Summary: Salinity stress negatively affects agricultural productivity, but the application of zinc has been found to mitigate its adverse effects. Zinc improves various growth and stress response processes in plants, including seed germination, water uptake, nutrient absorption, and antioxidant activity. Additionally, zinc application increases the synthesis of secondary metabolites and the expression of stress responsive genes. This review article fills knowledge gaps regarding the role of zinc in mitigating salinity stress.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.