Development of ecofriendly and reliable processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles has attracted considerable interest in nanotechnology because of its tremendous impetus in modulating metals into nanosize to their potential use for human benefits. In this study an endophytic fungus, Penicillium sp., isolated from healthy leaves of Curcuma longa (turmeric) was subjected to extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) and their activity against MDR E. coli and S. aureus. The biosynthesized AgNps optimization was studied and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Then produced AgNps were tested against MDR E. coli and S. aureus. The endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. from healthy leaves of C. longa (turmeric) was found to be a good producer of AgNps. Parametric optimization showed maximum absorbance of 420–425 nm at pH-7, 25°C with 1 mM AgNO3 concentration and 15–20 g of wet biomass. Further TEM revealed the formation of spherical, well-dispersed nanoparticles with size ranging between 25 and 30 nm and FTIR shows the bands at 1644 and 1538 cm−1 corresponding to the binding vibrations of amide I and II bands of proteins, respectively. Antibacterial activity against MDR E. coli and S. aureus showed good results showing maximum zone of inhibition of 17 mm and 16 mm, respectively, at 80 µL of AgNps.

Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), the real silver bullet, are known to have good antibacterial properties against pathogenic microorganisms. In the present study AgNPs were prepared from extracellular filtrate of Aspergillus niger. Characterization of AgNPs by UV-Vis spectrum reveals specific surface plasmon resonance at peak 416 nm; TEM photographs revealed the size of the AgNPs to be 20–55 nm. Average diameter of the produced AgNPs was found to be 73 nm with a zeta potential that was −24 mV using Malvern Zetasizer. SEM micrographs showed AgNPs to be spherical with smooth morphology. EDS revealed the presence of pure metallic AgNPs along with carbon and oxygen signatures. Of the different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 μg/mL) used 10 μg/mL were sufficient to inhibit 107 CFU/mL of E. coli. ROS production was measured using DCFH-DA method and the the free radical generation effect of AgNPs on bacterial growth inhibition was investigated by ESR spectroscopy. This paper not only deals with the damage inflicted on microorganisms by AgNPs but also induces cell death through the production of ROS released by AgNPs and also growth kinetics of E. coli supplemented with AgNPs produced by A. niger.

The olfactory function of 6 patients whose parkinsonism was the result of intravenous administration of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was compared to that of 12 age‐matched patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and 10 age‐matched normal control subjects. Unlike their PD counterparts, the olfactory test scores of patients with MPTP‐induced parkinsonism, did not differ significantly from those of control subjects. These findings suggest that MPTP induced parkinsonism, unlike idiopathic PD, is unaccompanied, on average, by major alterations in the ability to smell.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidases (NOX/DUOX) provide antimicrobial defense, redox signaling, and gut barrier maintenance. Inactivating NOX variants are associated with comorbid intestinal inflammation in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD; NOX2) and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; NOX1); however Nox-deficient mice do not reflect human disease susceptibility. Here we assessed if a hypomorphic patient-relevant CGD mutation will increase the risk for intestinal inflammation in mice. Cyba (p22 phox) mutant mice generated low intestinal ROS, while maintaining Nox4 function. The Cyba variant caused profound mucus layer disruption with bacterial penetration into crypts, dysbiosis, and a compromised innate immune response to invading microbes, leading to mortality. Approaches used in treatment-resistant CGD or pediatric IBD such as bone marrow transplantation or oral antibiotic treatment ameliorated or prevented disease in mice. The Cyba mutant mouse phenotype implicates loss of both mucus barrier and efficient innate immune defense in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation due to ROS deficiency, supporting a combined-hit model where a single disease variant compromises different cellular functions in interdependent compartments.