Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease with socioeconomic problems. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of myco-synthesized nano-selenium (SeNPs) as a molluscicide on Biomphlaria alexandrina snails, with the goal of reducing disease spread via non-toxic routes. In this study, Penicillium chrysogenum culture filtrate metabolites were used as a reductant for selenium ions to form nano-selenium. The SeNPs were characterized via UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Myco-synthesized SeNPs had a significant molluscicidal effect on B. alexandrina snails after 96 h of exposure at a concentration of 5.96 mg/L. SeNPs also had miracidicidal and cercaricidal properties against S. mansoni. Some alterations were observed in the hemocytes of snails exposed to SeNPs, including the formation of pseudopodia and an increasing number of granules. Furthermore, lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione s-transferase (GST) increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased. The comet assay revealed that myco-synthesized SeNPs could cause breaks in the DNA levels. In silico study revealed that SeNPs had promising antioxidant properties. In conclusion, myco-synthesized SeNPs have the potential to be used as molluscicides and larvicides.

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is one of many interesting pentacyclic triterpenoids showing significant anticancer activity by triggering apoptosis in tumor cell lines. This study deals with the design and synthesis of new glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)–amino acid peptides and peptide ester derivatives. The structures of the new derivatives were established through various spectral and microanalytical data. The novel compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activity. The evaluation results showed that the new peptides produced promising cytotoxic activity against the human breast MCF-7 cancer cell line while comparing to doxorubicin. On the other hand, only compounds 3, 5, and 7 produced potent activity against human colon HCT-116 cancer cell line. The human liver cancer (HepG-2) cell line represented a higher sensitivity to peptide 7 (IC50; 3.30 μg/mL), while it appeared insensitive to the rest of the tested peptides. Furthermore, compounds 1, 3, and 5 exhibited a promising safety profile against human normal skin fibroblasts cell line BJ-1. In order to investigate the mode of action, compound 5 was selected as a representative example to study its in vitro effect against the apoptotic parameters and Bax/BCL-2/p53/caspase-7/caspase-3/tubulin, and DNA fragmentation to investigate beta (TUBb). Additionally, all the new analogues were subjected to antimicrobial assay against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast candida Albicans. All the tested GA analogues 1–8 exhibited more antibacterial effect against Micrococcus Luteus than gentamicin, but they exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against the tested bacterial and yeast strains. Molecular docking studies were also simulated for compound 5 to give better rationalization and put insight to the features of its structure.

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Purpose The objective of our work was to prepare a potent and safe antimicrobial and anticancer agents, through synthesis of several peptides and examine their biological activities, namely as, cytotoxically potent and antimicrobial and antifungal agents. Introduction Multidrug-resistant microbial strains have arisen against all antibiotics in clinical use. Infections caused by these bacteria threaten global public health and are associated with high mortality rates. Methods The main backbone structure for the novel synthesized linear peptide is Nα-1, 3-benzenedicarbonyl-bis-(Amino acids)-X, ( 3–11 ). A computational docking study against DNA gyrase was performed to formulate a mode of action of the small compounds as antimicrobial agents. Results The peptide-bearing methionine-ester ( 4 ) exhibited potent antimicrobial activity compared to the other synthesized compounds, while, peptide ( 8 ), which had methionine-hydrazide fragment was the most potent as antifungal agent against Aspergillus niger with 100% inhibition percent. Compounds ( 6 and 7 ) showed the highest potency against breast human tumor cell line “MCF-7” with 95.1% and 79.8% of cell inhibition, respectively. The nine compounds possessed weak to moderate antiproliferative effect over colon tumor cell line. The docking results suggest good fitting through different hydrogen bond interactions with the protein residues. In silico ADMET study also evaluated and suggested that these compounds had promising oral bioavailability features. Conclusion The tested compounds need further modification to have significant antimicrobial and antitumor efficacy compared to the reference drugs.

Background The discovery of potential, new cost-effective drug resources in the form of bioactive compounds from mushrooms is one way to control the resistant pathogens. In the present research, the fruiting bodies of five wild mushrooms were collected from Egypt and identified using internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the rRNA encoding gene and their phylogenetic relationships, antimicrobial activities, and biochemical and phenolic compounds were evaluated. Results The sequences revealed identity to Bjerkandera adusta, Cyclocybe cylindracea, Agrocybe aegerita, Chlorophyllum molybdites, and Lentinus squarrosulus in which Cyclocybe cylindracea and Agrocybe aegerita were closely related, while Chlorophyllum molybdites was far distant. Cyclocybe cylindracea and Agrocybe aegerita showed 100% similarity based on the sequenced ITS-rDNA fragment and dissimilar antimicrobial activities and chemical composition were detected. Bjerkandera adusta and Cyclocybe cylindracea showed strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. This activity could be attributed to the detected phenolic and related compounds’ contents. Conclusion Our finding provides a quick and robust implement for mushroom identification that would facilitate mushroom domestication and characterization for human benefit.

This study aimed to evaluate appropriate water sources to improve Solea aegyptiaca aquaculture from larval to the juvenile stage using two water sources (Eastern Harbour (EH) and MaxWell (MW)). Firstly, four microalgae's nutritional value (Nannochloropsis salina, N. oculata, Chlorella salina and Tetraselmis chuii) was assessed in both water sources. MW of high nitrate content enhanced the algal biomass and biochemical composition of all species compared to EH. MW-N. salina showed the highest growth and biochemical contents among the investigated species and yielded Artemia franciscana with a considerable amount of arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared to EH. Secondly, Artemia enriched MW-N salina was used to improve S. aegyptiaca quality in both water sources from 10-48 days posthatch at a density of 15 larvae L −1. The MW-S. aegyptiaca exhibited a significant increase in morphometric parameters, albino percentages and recorded the highest ARA, EPA and DHA content (35.9, 6.1 and 15.9 µg g −1 , respectively) compared to that reared on EH. The study reports evidence of albinism of MW-S. aegyptiaca due to high dietary and ARA content. Overall, the seawater source has a significant impact on the whole food chain quality from microalgae to S. aegyptiaca.

Cadmium, present in the environment, accumulates in different organs of animals and humans, and has deleterious effects on the kidney. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of the methanolic extract of Pleurotus ostreatus in comparison with silymarin on renal function in cadmium-intoxicated rats for fi ve days.Rats intraperitoneally injected with cadmium chloride (1 mg/kg). These rats were treated with either P. ostreatus extract (200 mg/kg) or silymarin to investigate the protective effects of the extract. Cadmium treatment induced signifi cant histopathological impairments and increased cadmium levels, DNA fragmentation, and renal oxidative stress. However, treatment with P. ostreatus extract or silymarin improved the pathology, reduced the level of cadmium in renal tissue, and restored DNA fragmentation. In addition, a signifi cant reduction in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species levels, and a signifi cant increase in the levels of glutathione and catalase activity were observed. Thus, protective effects of P. ostreatus extract to its components. Chromatographic analysis of the P. ostreatus confi rmed the presence of fi ve phenolics (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, propyl gallate, and cinnamic acid) that exhibit strong antioxidant properties as free radical scavengers. Therefore, our fi ndings demonstrate that treatment with P. ostreatus extract protects against cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats.

During this study, 20 % mortality was recorded in Dicentrarchus labrax brood stock in marine hatchery of National Institute of Oceanography and Fishery at Alexandria province. Observed clinical signs were decrease appetite, off-food, skin ulcerations and tail erosions. The main post mortem lesion was enlarged liver with presence of hemorrhagic foci. Seven bacterial isolates were recovered by initial isolation on typtic soy agar media from topical lesions (skin, musculature and tail) and from internal organs (heart, liver, spleen and posterior kidney). No growth was detected on specific media including Rimler-Shotts, Pseudomonas selective agar, Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose agar and Edwards media that indicate absence of major fish pathogens. Identification of the causative agents was performed using VITEK 2 automated biochemical identification system. Four Staphylococcus epidermidis, two Bacillus cereus and one Pseudomonas stutzeri isolates were identified as the causative agents responsible for mortalities in diseased Dicentrarchus labrax. Stress factors induced by hatchery conditions could be the predisposing caused of such infection.