Growth Promotion Research Articles

Identification and performance of endophytic actinobacteria Ahn65 with functions of growth promotion and disease resistance for rice

With positive effects on growth and disease resistance of plants, endophytes play a key role in effective crop production. In this study, actinobacteria resources with functions of growth promotion and disease resistance for rice were explored, and endophytic actinobacteria were isolated from rice. Then, growth promotion and disease resistance of the isolated endophytic actinobacteria were investigated, followed by analysis of phenotype and cultivation characteristics, as well as molecular identification. Additionally, the functions of growth promotion and disease resistance for rice of isolated endophytic actinobacteria were explored. Ahn65, a strain of endophytic actinobacteria, was isolated from rice and purified. It exhibited various growth-promoting functions, including nitrogen fixation, iron carrier generation, potassium solubilization and secretion of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and could significantly inhibit the mycelium growth of Magnaporthe oryzae(M.oryzae). It grew well under 26–34 °C, pH 5–9, and salt concentration of 0–5%, and the optimized conditions were as follows: temperature 28 °C, pH 9, salt concentration of 1 %. The results of stress test revealed good UV resistance of Ahn65. Both hydroponics and pot experiment indicated that Ahn65 had significantly positive effects on seed germination, root development and stem growth of rice, wherein the seed germination rate was enhanced by 27.87 %. After 21-day culture, root length, stem length and number of lateral roots of the treated group were 39.50 %, 15.80 % and 11.54 % higher than those of the control group, respectively. In pot experiment, after 60-day culture, root length, stem length and tiller number of the treated group were 12.01 %, 18.00 % and 16.00 % higher than those of the control group, respectively; rice yield at maturation stage of the treated group was 12.18 % higher than that of the control group; application of spore suspension of Ahn65 can effectively reduce the incidence rate of rice neck blast, with a biological prevention efficacy of 36.12 %. Overall, Ahn65 is highly promising as it exhibited significant functions of growth promotion and disease resistance for rice.

Unlocking the Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Exploring Role in Plant Growth Promotion, Nutrient Uptake Mechanisms, Biotic Stress Alleviation, and Sustaining Agricultural Production Systems

Unlocking the Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Exploring Role in Plant Growth Promotion, Nutrient Uptake Mechanisms, Biotic Stress Alleviation, and Sustaining Agricultural Production Systems

Growth of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BG112 in Batch and Continuous Culture with Camellia sinensis as Prebiotic

This work aimed to study the effect of Camellia sinensis extract (CSExt) as a particular growth promoter of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) in batch and continuous production processes. Growth conditions were 1% (v/v) inoculum, pHC = 6.5, 1% of dissolved oxygen (D.O.), 37 °C, and 150 rpm in a 0.2 L bioreactor using a commercial MRS broth (de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe) and 1% (v/v) or 10% (v/v) CSExt according to the experimental design. In batch experiments, the maximum specific growth rate and the affinity constant increased with the increase in CSExt. In continuous culture, biomass production increased significantly with the addition of 1% (w/v) CSExt at 0.15 (1/h). Kinetic parameters adjusted were similar to those reported in the literature. Substrate affinity and the specific growth rate increased significantly in the presence of CSExt in batch and continuous cultures. Based on the results, prebiotics from plant extracts may function as growth promoters in specific physiological stages. This is the first report showing the change in kinetic parameters of a probiotic strain growing in crude plant extracts.

In situ Single-Pass Perfused Rabbit Intestinal Study sample Analysis of Ractopamine by UPLC

In recent years, the prediction of oral drug absorption in humans has been a challenge for researchers and many techniques for permeability studies have been developed for several purposes, including biowaiver processes. The Single-Pass Intestinal Perfusion (SPIP) method performed in rats can provide permeability results closest to in vivo condition. he use of SPIP in rats and calculations for absorption prediction in humans may indicate the transport mechanisms and/or pre-systemic metabolism involved on permeation processes of drugs, since this model is the closest to in vivo conditions. Ractopamine hydrochloride is a commercial beta-adrenergic agonist commonly used as a dietary supplement in cattle production for improved feed efficiency and growth promotion. Currently, regulatory target tissues (as approved in the New Animal Drug Application with Food and Drug Administration) for ractopamine residue testing are muscle and liver. The aim of the study is to develop and validate an UPLC assay method to determine whether detectable and quantifiable levels of perfused ractopamine in small intestine of cattle or not. The separation is carried on Acquity UPLC BEH C18 (150mm x 2.1mm, 1.7 µm) reversed phase column using acetonitrile and 0.01M ammonium formate as the mobile phase in gradient mode at flow rate of 0.5mL/min. The precision, accuracy, extraction recovery, matrix effect, and stability meet the requirements of the guiding principles. In order to verify the sensitivity and selectivity of the method in a real-time situation, the developed method is successfully applied to a perfusion study in small intestine of rabbit and the samples were analyzed by Empower software.

Halotolerant Enterobacter asburiae A103 isolated from the halophyte Salix linearistipularis: Genomic analysis and growth-promoting effects on Medicago sativa under alkali stress

Soil salinization negatively affects plant growth and threatens food security. Halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can alleviate salt stress in plants via diverse mechanisms. In the present study, we isolated salt-tolerant bacteria with phosphate-solubilizing abilities from the rhizosphere of Salix linearistipularis, a halophyte distributed in saline-alkali soils. Strain A103 showed high phosphate solubilization activity and was identified as Enterobacter asburiae based on genome analysis. In addition, it can produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. Genome mining has also revealed the presence of several functional genes involved in the promotion of plant growth. Inoculation with A103 markedly improved alfalfa growth in the presence of 100 mM NaHCO3. Under alkali stress, the shoot and root dry weights after bacterial inoculation improved by 42.9 % and 21.9 %, respectively. Meanwhile, there was a 35.9–37.1 % increase in the shoot and root lengths after treatment with A103 compared to the NaHCO3-treated group. Soluble sugar content, peroxidase and catalase activities increased in A103-inoculated alfalfa under alkaline stress. A significant decrease in the malondialdehyde content was observed after treatment with strain A103. Metabolomic analysis indicated that strain A103 positively regulated alkali tolerance in alfalfa through the accumulation of metabolites, such as homocarnosine, panthenol, and sorbitol, which could reduce oxidative damage and act as osmolytes. These results suggest that halophytes are valuable resources for bioprospecting halotolerant beneficial bacteria and that the application of halotolerant growth-promoting bacteria is a natural and efficient strategy for developing sustainable agriculture.

Exploring microalgae and endophyte as biostimulants: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Cannabis sativa L. sprouts under standard and enrichment conditions

Sprouts from germinated seeds of edible herbaceous plants are richer in bioactive compounds and micronutrients than mature plants. In recent years, the consumption of sprouted seeds in diets and the interest in exploring vegetable sprout's potential beneficial effects on human health has increased. In this work, the five-day-old sprouts of Cannabis sativa L. cultivar “Futura 75” were investigated and characterized. Hemp sprouts were obtained by germination tests under standard and enrichment conditions using the microalgal strain Chlorella sp. C2 and the bacterium Sphingomonas sp. Can_S11. The biochemical properties of hemp sprouts were analyzed for total polyphenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC, and Fe2+-chelating activity) by in vitro assays. A significant increase in phenolic compounds and greater antioxidant and anti-radical activities were observed for hemp sprouts obtained under enrichment conditions (dry microalgal biomass C2 and the bacterium Can_S11). Additionally, these sprouts and C. sativa seeds demonstrated enhanced protective effects on inflamed A549 cells, effectively mitigating the TNF-α induced changes and reducing the expression of IL-8 and COX-2. Overall, PGP (Plant Growth Promoting) microorganisms and microalgae represent a good strategy to promote the development of hemp sprouts and increase their phytochemical content, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Mechanism of microbial action of the inoculated nitrogen-fixing bacterium for growth promotion and yield enhancement in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The use of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in agriculture is increasingly recognized as a sustainable method to boost crop yields, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and improve soil health. However, the microbial mechanisms by which inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria enhance rice production remain unclear. In this study, rice seedlings were inoculated with the nitrogen-fixing bacterium R3 (Herbaspirillum) at the rhizosphere during the seedling stage in a pot experiment using paddy soil. We investigated the effects of such inoculation on nutrient content in the rhizosphere soil, plant growth, and the nitrogen-fixing microbial communities within the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere. The findings showed that inoculation with the R3 strain considerably increased the amounts of nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the rhizosphere by 14.77%, 27.83%, and 22.67%, respectively, in comparison to the control (CK). Additionally, the theoretical yield of rice was enhanced by 8.81% due to this inoculation, primarily through a 10.24% increase in the effective number of rice panicles and a 4.14% increase in the seed setting rate. Further analysis revealed that the structure of the native nitrogen-fixing microbial communities within the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere were altered by inoculation with the R3 strain, significantly increasing the α-diversity of the communities. The relative abundance of key nitrogen-fixing genera such as Ralstonia, Azotobacter, Geobacter, Streptomyces, and Pseudomonas were increased, enhancing the quantity and community stability of the nitrogen-fixing community. Consequently, the nitrogen-fixing capacity and sustained activity of the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil were strengthened. Additionally, the expression levels of the nitrogen absorption and transport-related genes OsNRT1 and OsPTR9 in rice roots were upregulated by inoculation with the R3 strain, potentially contributing to the increased rice yield. Our study has revealed the potential microbial mechanisms through which inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria enhances rice yield. This finding provides a scientific basis for subsequent agricultural practices and is of critical importance for increasing rice production and enhancing the ecosystem services of rice fields.

Insights on mining the pangenome of Sphingobacterium thalpophilum NMS02 S296 from the resistant banana cultivar Pisang lilin confirms the antifungal action against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), poses a significant global threat to banana cultivation. Conventional methods of disease management are increasingly challenged, thus making it necessary to explore alternative strategies. Bacterial endophytes, particularly from resistant genotypes, are gaining attention as potential biocontrol agents. Sphingobacterium thalpophilum, isolated from the resistant banana cultivar Pisang lilin (JALHSB010000001-JALHSB010000029), presents an intriguing prospect for combating Fusarium wilt. However, its underlying biocontrol mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the antifungal efficacy of S. thalpophilum NMS02 S296 against Foc and explore its biocontrol mechanisms at the genomic level. Whole genome sequencing of S. thalpophilum NMS02 S296 was conducted using next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify genes associated with antifungal properties. In vitro assays were used to assess the inhibitory effects of the bacterial isolate on the mycelial growth of Foc. To explore the biomolecules responsible for the observed antagonistic activity, metabolites diffused into the agar at the zone of inhibition between Foc S16 and S. thalpophilum NMS02 S296 were extracted and identified. Whole genome sequencing revealed an array of genes encoding antifungal enzymes and secondary metabolites in S. thalpophilum NMS02 S296. In vitro experiments demonstrated significant inhibition of Foc mycelial growth by the bacterial endophyte. Comparative genomic analysis highlighted unique genomic features in S. thalpophilum linked to its biocontrol potential, setting it apart from other bacterial species. The study underscores the remarkable antifungal efficacy of S. thalpophilum NMS02 S296 against Fusarium wilt. The genetic basis for its biocontrol potential was elucidated through whole genome sequencing, shedding light on the mechanisms behind its antifungal activity. This study advanced our understanding of bacterial endophytes as biocontrol agents and offers a promising avenue for plant growth promotion towards sustainable strategies to mitigate Fusarium wilt in banana cultivation.

Plant growth promotion of crops using phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains derived from insects

The aim of this study was to investigate insect derived bacteria for the ability to dissolve insoluble soil phosphate to release soluble phosphorus compounds, available to plants. Bacterial isolates were obtained from Diabrotica virgifera, Hermetia illucens, Oulema melanopus, and Ostrinia nubilalis. An in vitro evaluation of phosphate solubilization ability on Pikovskaya’s medium was done and the phosphate solubilizing index (PSI) was calculated for each isolate. Bacteria were tested in a greenhouse experiment on seeds of oats, wheat, triticale, barley and soybeans. After incubation, the weight and length of their aerial plant parts were measured. The highest increase in the weight of aerial parts was recorded for oats after using strain Om046 for inoculation (88.98%), then, wheat (Dv097, 31.43%), soybean (strain 96, 53.79%), and triticale (bacterial consortium, 36.9%). Bacteria used were identified as Lactococcus lactis (strains Om030 and Om046), Acinetobacter sp. (Dv123), Lactococcus garvieae (Dv097) and Rothia kristinae (strains 90 and 96). We showed that a successful application of insect derived bacteria for phosphate solubilization in soil, to promote plant growth, is possible. Innovative agriculture requires constant improvements in increasing crop growth. Thus, new sources of bacterial strains effectively promoting plant growth, are needed. We described a new source of plant growth-promoting bacteria that can be used in agriculture.

Potential of Trichoderma strains to positively modulate plant growth processes and bulb yield in Rabi onion

The use of beneficial microbes is hitherto known and constantly increasing in agriculture due to their positive impact on crop growth and yield, and their minimal negative impact on the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of eight Trichoderma strains of diverse origin on crop growth and yield of onion under field conditions. The identity of the strains used in the current study was confirmed by ITS and Tef1 gene sequencing. Field experiments were conducted in the Rabi season for 2 years (2020–21, and 2022–23) to evaluate the effect of the application of eight different Trichoderma strains that were applied individually and separately as eight different treatments (T1–T8) in experimental plots. In the plant growth promotion assay conducted in vitro, all strains showed the ability to produce IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), with levels ranging from 23.52 μg/mL (T6) to 45.54 μg/mL (T3). Our results revealed that Trichoderma treated experimental plots displayed better growth indices (plant height, pseudostem diameter), RWC (Relative water content), leaf chlorophyll content, and yield-attributing features like biomass (bulb and root dry mass), bulb diameter, and harvested bulb yield compared to the untreated control plants. In terms of yield, the T2 strain exhibited the highest bulb yield consistently for both the years (2020–21 and 2022–23) followed by T3 being statistically at par with T5. Among all the evaluated Trichoderma strains, the strain T2 (OGRDT2) and T3 (GRDT1), taxonomically identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum, registered bulb yield of 32.24 t/ha and 30.76 t/ha, respectively while T5 (GRDT3), identified as Trichoderma asperellum, registered 30.55 t/ha average yield for 2 years compared to 24.08 t/ha average yield recorded for untreated control plants with an increase of 34, 28 and 27%, respectively. Based on our findings, it is concluded that the T. longibrachiatum strains OGRDT2 (T2) and GRDT1 (T3), T. asperellum strain GRDT3 (T5) are the best inducers of the onion crop growth and yield in the Rabi season and would be explored further for its commercial application in onion farming.

Sodium alginate improves phytase stability and enhances soil phosphorous utilization

A plant growth-promoting endophytic strain Bacillus sp. WR11 produces high-level phytase. Phytase degrades phytate, which is the major form of organic phosphate in soils that cannot be readily utilized by plants. To strengthen the strain or its phytase for cost-efficient biodegradation of phytate, we compared the impacts of different chemical additives on phytase production and preservation. Phytate degradation ability in soils and growth promotion effect in wheat were evaluated. To ensure safe application, potential pathogenicity of the strain was also predicted. Phytase activity assay suggests that sodium alginate (SA) significantly improves phytase production to as higher as 2.21-fold, but has little influence on the growth of WR11 during liquid fermentation. During liquid storage of cell-free supernatant (CFS) at room temperature, SA maintains 68% phytase activity indicating significantly improved stability within four weeks. Determination of water-soluble P and phytate-P indicates Bacillus sp. WR11 and CFS effectively degrade 20.17–38.55% phytate in soils. Quantification of biomass, phosphorus and iron contents shows positive effect of WR11 and its CFS on wheat growth. Particularly, the degradation ability (63.2%) and growth promoting effect of CFS is much stronger in the presence of 0.8% SA. Genomic prediction demonstrates strain WR11 has a large number of genes in the databases of Pathogen-Host Interactions, Virulence Factors of pathogenic bacteria, Antibiotic Resistance Genes, and the Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database, respectively. In conclusion, SA significantly improves phytase production and phytate degradation. Phytase accompanied with SA may be an alternative strategy for phytate degradation and plant growth promotion, when microorganisms have safety issues.

Fast and Simple Extraction for LCMSMS Analysis of Oxytetracycline Residue in Pork

Pork is very popular as an animal-base protein source of peoples in the Lao PDR. The pig growth promotion, treatment and prevention of diseases frequently relies on the use of antibiotics. In terms of food safety, the analysis of antibiotic residue in pork would be therefore important. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is one of antibiotics used in the pig husbandry. In this study, a fast and simple extraction and analysis method for determining OTC residue in pork was developed. Briefly, 1.0 g of homogenized pork sample in a 50mL-centrifµge tube was extracted with 10 mL of CH3OH: H2O mixture (9:1 ratio) assisted with vortex for 10 min, treated with QuEChERS salt and subjected to centrifugation at 5000 rpm. The methanolic extract (1.5 mL) was then cleaned up with 2mL-dSPE tube (containing MgSO4, PSA, and C18), filtered through syringe filter 0.45 micron and analyzed with ESI-LCMS/MS optimized and operated in MRM positive mode. Calibration was prepared with OTC standard solutions (5-100 ng/g). The analytical method was validated with triplicated recovery tests at a spiked level of 50 ng/g. The results unveiled that the method gave very good recovery of 88.7±3.24%. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were achieved with 0.36 ± 0.02 and 1.19 ±0.04 ng/g. In consequence, the developed method would be suitable for OTC determination in pork samples.

Solubilization and enhanced degradation of benzene phenolic derivatives-Bisphenol A/Triclosan using a biosurfactant producing white rot fungus Hypocrea lixii S5 with plant growth promoting traits.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as benzene phenolic derivatives being hydrophobic partition to organic matter in sludge/soil sediments and show slow degradation rate owing to poor bioavailability to microbes. In the present study, the potential of a versatile white rot fungal isolate S5 identified as Hypocrea lixii was monitored to degrade bisphenol A (BPA)/triclosan (TCS) under shake flask conditions with concomitant production of lipopeptide biosurfactant (BS) and plant growth promotion. Sufficient growth of WRF for 5 days before supplementation of 50 ppm EDC (BPA/TCS) in set B showed an increase in degradation rates by 23% and 29% with corresponding increase in secretion of lignin-modifying enzymes compared to set A wherein almost 84% and 97% inhibition in fungal growth was observed when BPA/TCS were added at time of fungal inoculation. Further in set B, EDC concentration stimulated expression of laccase and lignin peroxidase (Lip) with 24.44 U/L of laccase and 281.69 U/L of Lip in 100 ppm BPA and 344 U/L Lip in 50 ppm TCS supplemented medium compared to their respective controls (without EDC). Biodegradation was also found to be correlated with lowering of surface tension from 57.02 mN/m (uninoculated control) to 44.16 mN/m in case of BPA and 38.49 mN/m in TCS, indicative of biosurfactant (BS) production. FTIR, GC-MS, and LC-ESI/MSMS confirmed the presence of surfactin lipopeptide isoforms. The WRF also displayed positive plant growth promoting traits as production of ammonia, indole acetic acid, siderophores, Zn solubilization, and 1-1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, reflecting its soil restoration ability. The combined traits of biosurfactant production, EDC degradation and plant growth promotion displayed by WRF will help in emulsifying the hydrophobic pollutants favoring their fast degradation along with restoration of contaminated soil in natural conditions.

Dietary secoisolariciresinol diglucoside crude extract improves growth through modulating rumen bacterial community and epithelial development in lambs.

Flaxseed lignans, types of polyphenolic compounds, primarily consist of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). Natural plant extracts are becoming increasingly important as feed for ruminant animals. An underutilized plant bioactive component, SDG shows promising benefits for young ruminant production. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of SDG on rumen fermentation using an in vitro rumen simulation technology. Additionally, we tested the effects of SDG (0.20 g kg-1 body weight) on rumen development and production performance of lambs in a production setting. The in vitro addition of 100 mg L-1 SDG demonstrated significant regulatory effects, with a notable decrease in the acetate/propionate ratio (P < 0.05). Feeding trials revealed that SDG significantly increased average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain (P < 0.05), and reduced the acetate/propionate ratio (P < 0.05). This led to a significant increase in the relative abundance of Eubacterium ruminantium (P = 0.038) and Butyrivibrio (P = 0.002). Furthermore, it promoted rumen development and upregulated the relative expression of mRNA of Cyclin E1 and CDK2 in rumen epithelial cells (P < 0.05). The SDG extract optimizes the composition of rumen microbiota and the development of rumen epithelial cells, promoting the growth of pre-weaning lambs. The SDG additive exhibits potential as a novel growth promoter for ruminant animals, offering a promising solution for sustainable livestock production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Potential of kaempferol and caffeic acid to mitigate salinity stress and improving potato growth

Salinity stress adversely affects plant growth by disrupting water uptake, inducing ion toxicity, initiating osmotic stress, impairing growth, leaf scorching, and reducing crop yield. To mitigate this issue, the application of kaempferol (KP), caffeic acid (CA), and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) emerges as a promising technology. Kaempferol, a flavonoid, protects plants from oxidative stress, while caffeic acid, a plant-derived compound, promotes growth by regulating physiological processes. PGPR enhances plant health and productivity through growth promotion, nutrient uptake, and stress mitigation, providing a sustainable solution. However, combining these compounds against drought requires further scientific justification. That’s why the current study was conducted using 4 treatments, i.e., 0, 20 µM KP, 30 μM CA, and 20 µM KP + 30 μM CA without and with PGPR (Bacillus altitudinis). There were 4 replications following a completely randomized design. Results showed that 20 µM KP + 30 μM CA with PGPR caused significant enhancement in potato stem length (14.32%), shoot root, and leaf dry weight (16.52%, 11.04%, 67.23%), than the control. The enrichment in potato chlorophyll a, b, and total (31.86%, 46.05%, and 35.52%) was observed over the control, validating the potential of 20 µM KP + 30 μM CA + PGPR. Enhancement in shoot N, P, K, and Ca concentration validated the effective functioning of 20 µM KP + 30 μM CA with PGPR evaluated to control. In conclusion, 20 µM KP + 30 μM CA with PGPR is the recommended amendment to alleviate salinity stress in potatoes.

Use and impact of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi: Their potential in the context of agricultural sustainability

The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) as endophytes is an environmentally friendly alternative for sustainable food production, given that the current paradigm in crop protection is based on the use of organosynthetic pesticides, with more than two million tons per year worldwide. For these reasons, EF have the ability to live within plant tissues as endophytes acting as biopesticides. Under this scenario, this review analyzes and discusses the global status of the endophytic entomopathogenic fungi (EEF), their potential in plant protection against plant diseases and insect pests and as plant growth promoters. Successes and failures, and prospects for field application are examined. More than 7000 studies on EEF have been published, with important success cases. However, it is necessary to understand that the agricultural production is based on the use of external inputs, mainly pesticides. While progressive changes occur, it is fundamental to investigate the effect of these substances on the efficacy and persistence of EEF, without neglecting that the lack of knowledge of the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on EEF is an important cause of failures. Future studies should be focused on clarifying aspects such as: application strategies, endophytic persistence and transmission routes to improve the sustainability of agricultural production.

Y-box binding protein 1/cyclin A1 axis specifically promotes cell cycle progression at G2/M phase in ovarian cancer

Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) promotes oncogenic transformation and tumor growth. YBX1 plays a role in regulation of cell cycle promotion via upregulation of cell cycle-related genes. In ovarian cancer, YBX1 also promotes tumor growth, but the mechanisms of YBX1 in cell growth and cell cycle in ovarian cancer remain not to be fully understood. Here, we investigated whether YBX1-dependent cancer cell proliferation was specifically associated with expression of cell cycle related genes in ovarian cancer. Protein and mRNA expression levels of YBX1 and cell cycle-related genes in ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues were determined by western blot analysis, immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Luciferase assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were used to investigate a transcriptional function of YBX1. YBX1 silencing induced marked growth suppression in 4 cell lines (group A), moderate suppression in 5 cell lines (group B), and no suppression in 3 cell lines (group C) among 12 ovarian cancer cell lines in culture. The YBX1 silencing induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and suppressed expression of cyclin A1 gene in group A and B cell lines, but not in group C cell lines. Cyclin A1 silencing specifically suppressed cell proliferation in group A cell lines and partially in group B cell lines, but not at all in group C cell lines. YBX1 mRNA levels were significantly correlated with cyclin A1 mRNA levels in patients with high-grade serous carcinoma. Augmented YBX1 expression plays a key role in tumor growth promotion in ovarian cancer in its close association with cyclin A1.

The effects of a high-flavonoid corn cultivar on the gastrointestinal tract microbiota in chickens undergoing necrotic enteritis.

The search for alternative therapies to antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) in poultry production has gained momentum in the past years because of consumer preference and government restrictions on the use of AGP in animal production. Flavonoids are plant-derived metabolites that have been studied for their health-promoting properties that could potentially be used as an alternative to AGP in poultry. In a previous study, we showed that the inclusion of a flavonoid-rich corn cultivar (PennHFD1) in the diet improved the health of broilers undergoing necrotic enteritis. However, the mechanisms of action by which the PennHFD1-based diet ameliorated necrotic enteritis are unknown. This study describes the microbial diversity and composition of the jejunum and ileum of chickens co-infected with Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens and treated with a high-flavonoid corn-based diet. Luminal content and mucosal samples from the jejunum and ileum were collected for DNA extraction, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and data analyses. The infection model and the dietary treatments significantly changed the alfa diversity indices (Mucosal samples: ASVs, P = 0.04; Luminal content samples: ASVs, P = 0.03), and beta diversities (Mucosal samples: P < 0.01, Luminal content: P < 0.01) of the ileal samples but not those of the jejunal samples. The microbial composition revealed that birds fed the high-flavonoid corn diet had a lower relative abundance of C. perfringens compared to birds fed the commercial corn diet. The treatments also changed the relative abundance of other bacteria that are related to gut health, such as Lactobacillus. We concluded that both the infection model and the dietary high-flavonoid corn changed the broilers' gut microbial diversity and composition. In addition, the decrease in the relative abundance of C. perfringens corroborates with a decrease in mortality and intestinal lesions due to necrotic enteritis. Collecting different segments and sample types provided a broader understanding of the changes in the gut microbiota among treatments.

A new strategy integrating peroxymonosulfate oxidation and soil amendments in contaminated soil: Bensulfuron methyl degradation, soil quality improvement and maize growth promotion

Bensulfuron methyl (BSM) residues have caused serious yield reductions of sensitive crops. Chemical oxidation is an effective remediation technology, while it affects soil quality and subsequent agricultural activity, necessitating approriate improvement measures. So Fe2O3-Mn3O4 with excellent bimetallic synergistic effect was synthesized to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for BSM degradation. The catalytic activity and influencing factors were systematically predetermined in water in view of soil remediation. Results showed Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS oxidized 99.3 % BSM within 60 min with the help of multi-reactive species and electron transfer. Meanwhile, Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS treatment exhibited technical feasibility in soil that 97.6 % BSM was degraded in 5 days under the low usages of Fe2O3-Mn3O4 (0.8 %) and PMS (0.15 %). Although Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS decreased BSM phytotoxicity and improved maize growth, a few gaps existed between the remediated group and uncontaminated group, including biomass, length, available potassium, organic matters, pH, redox potential (Eh) and sulfate content. The introductions of biochar and chitosan in remediated soils promoted growth, increased organic matters content, improved soil resistance to acidification and decreased Eh, alleviating the negative effects of Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS. Overall, the study provided new insights into the combination of Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS and biochar and chitosan in BSM-contaminated soil, achieving BSM degradation and improvements of soil quality and plant growth.

Impact of a Potent Strain of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB), Bacillus subtilis S1 on Bacterial Community Composition, Enzymatic Activity, and Nitrogen Content in Cucumber Rhizosphere Soils.

Antagonistic bacterial strains from Bacillus spp. have been widely studied and utilized in the biocontrol of phytopathogens and the promotion of plant growth, but their impacts on the rhizosphere microecology when applied to crop plants are unclear. Herein, the effects of applying the antagonistic bacterium Bacillus subtilis S1 as a biofertilizer on the rhizosphere microecology of cucumbers were investigated. In a pot experiment on cucumber seedlings inoculated with S1, 3124 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the rhizosphere soils using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and the most abundant phylum was Proteobacteria that accounted for 49.48% in the bacterial community. S1 treatment significantly reduced the abundances of soil bacterial taxa during a period of approximately 30days but did not affect bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soils of cucumbers. The enzymatic activities of soil nitrite reductase (S-Nir) and dehydrogenase (S-DHA) were significantly increased after S1 fertilization. However, the activities of soil urease (S-UE), cellulase (S-CL), and sucrase (S-SC) were significantly reduced compared to the control group. Additionally, the ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen contents of S1-treated soil samples were significantly lower than those of the control group. S1 fertilization reshaped the rhizosphere soil bacterial community of cucumber plants. The S-CL activity and nitrate-nitrogen content in rhizosphere soil affected by S1 inoculation play important roles in altering the abundance of rhizosphere soil microbiota.