This study extends our knowledge of the diversity of marine fungi from Saudi Arabia, which is virtually unknown. Thirty-seven fungi (28 ascomycetes, eight asexual fungi, and one basidiomycete) were recorded from 457 samples of driftwood and intertidal decayed wood of Avicennia marina collected from three sites along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The three sites include two mangrove sites, namely: Yanbu and Farasan Island, while the third site is a sandy shore nearby Yanbu city. Thirty-one fungi were new records for Saudi Arabia. Swampomyces triseptatus is the only species common to the three sites. The recorded marine fungi were latitudinally distributed with fungi recorded from Yanbu (subtropical site) largely different from those at Farasan Island mangrove (tropical site) with only six common fungi recorded. Amarenographium solium was the most common fungus at Yanbu mangrove, while Lineolata rhizophorae dominated the fungal community at Farasan Island mangrove. Swampomyces armeniacus was commonly recorded at the two mangrove sites. Torpedospora radiata was the most common species recorded from driftwood samples collected at Yanbu beach. A new collection of Diatrypasimilis australiensis enabled us to make a detailed morphological study of the fungus. Mycelia with chlamydospores were isolated from the samples and subsequently sequenced, and they grouped in the Corollospora clade with various degrees of confidence, but did not sporulate on natural material or in culture.
Upon screening for novel and potential biocompounds with larvicidal activities, we successfully isolated hamisonine (HMSN) a limonoid compound from endophytic fungi Penicillium oxalicum LA-1 of Limonia acidissima. The extracted compound structure was elucidated by spectral studies such as UV-vis spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, FTIR, LC-ESI-MS, H NMR, andC NMR upon comparing with the spectral data available in the literature. Further, the isolated HMSN was tested against III and IV instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The outcome of this study clearly emphasize that the extracted compound HMSN possesses a stupendous larvicidal activity in a dose-dependent manner with the LC and LC values of 1.779 and 7.685 ppm against III instar larvae and 3.031 and 28.498 ppm against IV instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. Interestingly, the histological studies evidently showing the damage of peritrophic membrane and epithelial cells of testing mosquito larvae.
In this study, an eco-friendly biosynthesis of stable gold nanoparticles (T-GNPs) was carried out using different concentrations of tomato juice (nutraceuticals) as a reducing agent and tetrachloroauric acid as a metal precursor to explore their potential application in cancer therapeutics. The synthesis of T-GNPs was monitored by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, which unveiled their formation by exhibiting the typical surface plasmon absorption maxima at 522 nm. The size of T-GNPs was found to be 10.86 ± 0.6 nm. T-GNPs were characterised by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. T-GNPs were further investigated for their anti-cancer activity against human lung carcinoma cell line (A 549) and human cervical cancer cell line wherein the IC 50 values were found to be 0.286 and 0.200 mM, respectively. T-GNPs inhibited the growth of cancer cells by generating ROS and inducing apoptosis. T-GNPs were found highly effective by virtue of their size, metallic property and capping molecules. Thus, this study opens up the prospects of using nutraceutical (tomato juice) as nutratherapeutic agent (T-GNPs) against critical diseases like lung cancer and cervical cancer.
The adaptations that halophilic microorganisms have developed due to their extreme habitat, promote the production of active natural compounds with the potential to control microorganisms causing infections associated with health care. The prime purpose of this study was to isolate and identify extremophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii from intertidal decayed leaves of Avicennia marina located on the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the crude extract against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic strains. Three new H. werneckii strains with distinguished morphological features, MF135, MF140 and MF141, were isolated and were placed in a monophyletic clade through phylogenetic analysis based on the large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (LSU rRNA). The ethyl acetate crude extract active fractions of these strains possessed significant activities against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella typhimurium. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the active fractions revealed the presence of antimicrobial-related biochemicals, i.e. 4-Acetoxy-2-azetidinone, sec-Butyl nitrite and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). This is the first detailed report of black yeast detected with potential antibacterial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. These results promise potential and interesting biotechnological tools to overcome the staggering problem of emerging antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria.
Background: Faba beans (Vicia faba L.) are important grain legumes but, as with many crops, these are also susceptible to water deficit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield components of twenty faba bean genotypes grown under water deficit.Methods: Three water treatments were applied, 25%, 50% and 100% of field capacity. A split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replicates was used.Result: The faba genotypes Gazira2, Kamline, L4, Cairo7 and Giza402 reached flowering earlier than other genotypes through stress-escape mechanisms. Genotypes L4, Gazira1, Kamline, X.735 and Gazira2 had the highest seed yield under water-deficit conditions. Genotypes L4, X.735, 989/309/95, Kamline and Gazira1 exhibited the highest levels of biological yield. Finally, the genotypes Kamline and L.4 had higher yields and yield components under water-deficit stress. Consequently, they should be considered for use in breeding programs aimed at developing new cultivars that are better adapted to harsh environmental conditions.
During an ongoing study of marine fungi in Saudi Arabia, two undescribed Kallichroma species were recorded from decayed intertidal wood of Avicennia marina from two mangrove stands along the Red Sea coast and the Arabian Gulf coast in Saudi Arabia. Kallichroma asperum sp. nov. is characterized by rough ascospores cell walls surrounded by a granular sheath. Kallichroma ellipsoideum sp. nov. is characterized by its small sized hyaline ascomata, asci and ascospores. Both new species have 3 or 8-spored asci and perithecoid or confluent ascomata with large, globose papillae. Phylogenetic analyses of the combined SSU and LSU rDNA sequences placed the two new species in the family Bionectriaceae.
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