The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developments in fabrication of advanced protective equipment. This study investigates the potential of using multifunctional electrospun poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles (PMMA/ZnO–Ag NFs) in protective mats. Herein, the PMMA/ZnO–Ag NFs with an average diameter of 450 nm were simply prepared on a nonwoven fabric by directly electrospinning from solutions containing PMMA, ZnO nanorods, and Ag nanoparticles. The novel material showed high performance with four functionalities (i) antibacterial agent for killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, (ii) antiviral agent for inhibition of corona and influenza viruses, (iii) photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants, enabling a self-cleaning protective mat, and (iv) reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for quantitative analysis of trace pollutants on the nanofiber. This multi-functional material has high potential for use in protective clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways together with sensing capabilities.

No abstract

IntroductionPlum pox virus (PPV) is considered to be the most devastating disease of Prunus spp. (Cambra et al., 2006), and it is one of the 10 most studied plant viruses in molecular plant pathology (Scholthof et al., 2011). PPV is a member of the genus Potyvirus, which encompasses approximately 30% of the currently known plant viruses (Gibbs et al., 2008). The virus causes reduced fruit quality and premature fruit drop in susceptible stone fruit crops (peach, apricot, plum, and Japanese plum). After the onset of the viral infection, controlling the virus has been very difficult in stone fruit-producing regions (Cambra et al., 2006).PPV has a single molecule of a positive, single-sense, RNA genome, approximately 9.7 kb. RNA viruses exhibit rapid evolution and have high mutation rates with large population sizes, resulting in high genetic diversity within the virus populations (Domingo and Holland, 1997). Like other RNA viruses, PPV shows high variability, with nine strains identified to date: Ancestor Marcus (An), Cherry (C), Cherry Russian (CR), Dideron (D), Marcus (M), El Amar (EA), Recombinant (Rec), Turkey (T), and Winona (W). This large number of strains is greater than for any other Potyvirus (Garcia et al., 2014). Among the nine strains, PPV-M and PPV-D are considered the two most prevalent groups (Candresse et al., 1998). PPV-M prevalence has been reported throughout southern, eastern, and central Europe (Myrta et al., 2001;Capote et al., 2010). PPV-M identification with reliable sequence analysis was not reported outside of Europe (Garcia et al., 2014). PPV-D is the most prevalent strain in Europe and worldwide and it has been reported in more than 40 countries (Garcia and Cambra, 2007;James et al., 2013). PPV-Rec is a recombination product of the M and D strains, carrying mostly a PPV-D-like genome and known to be present in central and south-central Europe (Cervera

No abstract

No abstract

Microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses pose a serious threat to human health and society. Surfaces are one of the major pathways for the transmission of infectious diseases. Therefore, imparting antipathogenic properties to these surfaces is significant. Here, we present a rapid, one-step approach for practical fabrication of antimicrobial and antifungal surfaces using an eco-friendly and low-cost reducing agent, the extract of Cedrus libani . Copper oxide nanoparticles were grown in situ on the surface of print paper and fabric in the presence of the copper salt and extract, without the use of any additional chemicals. The morphology and composition of the grown nanoparticles were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The analysis revealed that the grown particles consist of mainly spherical CuO nanoparticles with an average size of ∼14 nm and its clusters with an average size of ∼700 nm. The in situ growth process enables strong bonding of the nanoparticles to the surface, resulting in enhanced durability against wear and tear. Moreover, the fabricated surface shows excellent growth inhibition ability and bactericidal activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , as well as antifungal activity against Candida albicans , a common pathogenic fungus. The ability to grow copper oxide nanoparticles on different surfaces paves the way for a range of applications in wound dressings, masks, and protective medical equipment.

Very limited information is available on the origin, diversity and evolution of Plum pox virus (PPV) 'Turkey' (T) strain. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of 421 isolates and complete genome sequences of 57 isolates, representing the geographical distribution of PPV-T in Turkey, revealed the existence of several monophyletic and, in some cases, geographically limited groups within the PPV-T strain (Ankara-Konya1-Kayseri, Ankara-Balkan, Istanbul, Konya2 and Balkan). PPV-T diversity (0.018%) was found to be greater than that of PPV strains D and Rec but lower than that of the M strain when including the newly described and divergent M-Istanbul isolates, suggesting a long evolutionary history for PPV-T. The European part of Turkey in the Balkans, close to Bulgaria where PPV was identified for the first time, appears as a likely centre of origin for PPV-T isolates. The colonization of various parts of Turkey by diverse isolates from that region, followed by secondary local spread, is the most likely scenario for the diffusion of PPV-T in Turkey.

Access to clean water is a pressing challenge affecting millions of lives and the aquatic body of the Earth. Sensitive detection of pollutants such as pesticides is particularly important to address this challenge. This study reports eco-friendly preparation of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for machine learning-assisted detection of pesticides in water. The proposed SERS platform was prepared on a copy paper by reducing a silver salt using the extract of a natural plant, Cedrus libani. The fabricated SERS platform was characterized in detail using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The high-density formation of silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of 41 nm on the surface of the paper enabled detection of analytes with a nanomolar level sensitivity. This SERS capability was used to collect Raman signals of four different pesticides in water: myclobutanil, phosmet, thiram, and abamectin. Raman spectra of the pesticides are highly complex, challenging accurate determination of the pesticide type. To overcome this challenge and distinguish pesticides, machine learning (ML) approach was used. The ML-mediated detection of harmful pesticides on a versatile, green, and inexpensive SERS platform appears to be promising for environmental applications.