Biohydrogen production from microalgae is a potential alternative energy source that is now intensively being researched. The complex natures of the biological processes involved have afflicted the accuracy of traditional modelling and optimization, besides being costly. Accordingly, machine learning algorithms have been employed to overcome setbacks, as these approaches have the capability to predict nonlinear interactions and handle multivariate data from microalgal biohydrogen studies. Thus, the review focuses on revealing the recent applications of machine learning techniques in microalgal biohydrogen production. The working principles of random forests, artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and regression algorithms are covered. The applications of these techniques are analyzed and compared for their effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages in the relationship studies, classification of results, and prediction of microalgal hydrogen production. These techniques have shown great performance despite limited data sets that are complex and nonlinear. However, the current techniques are still susceptible to overfitting, which could potentially reduce prediction performance. These could be potentially resolved or mitigated by comparing the methods, should the input data be limited.

Considering the harmful effects and high spread of drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, many researchers have been trying to produce new antibacterial agents to combat the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of this bacterium. Recent progress in the nanomedicine field has provided opportunities for synthesizing unique nanoagents to battle MDR bacteria by targeting virulence and resistance signalling. The biocidal effects of 14.9 nm silver nanoparticles fabricated using Nostoc sp. Bahar M (N-SNPs) and AgNO₃ were examined against drug-resistant K. pneumoniae using the agar well diffusion method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to detect the ultrastructural changes caused by N-SNPs and AgNO₃. To address the mode of action of N-SNPs and AgNO₃, CAT, GPx, LDH and ATPase levels were assessed. The toxicity of N-SNPs and AgNO₃ was evaluated against the mfD, flu, hly, 23S, hns, hcp-1, VgrG-1 and VgrG-3 genes as well as cellular proteins. N-SNPs showed the greatest inhibitory activity against K. pneumoniae, with MIC and MBC values of 0.9 and 1.2 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, N-SNPs and AgNO₃ induced apoptotic features, including cell shrinkage and cell atrophy. N-SNPs were more potent bactericidal compounds than AgNO₃, causing increased leakage of LDH and GPx activities and depletion of ATPase and CAT activities, resulting in induced oxidative stress and metabolic toxicity. Compared to AgNO₃, N-SNPs exhibited the highest toxicity towards the selected genes and the greatest damage to bacterial proteins. N-SNPs were the most potent agents that induced bacterial membrane damage, oxidative stress and disruption of biomolecules such as DNA and proteins. N-SNPs may be used as effective nanodrugs against MDR bacteria.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a zoonotic pathogen and a common cause of gastroenteritis in humans. The species is composed of six diverse phylogroups, of which strains of phylogroup 1 are considered non-pathogenic to mammals due to the lack of the major virulence plasmid pYV, and their lack of virulence in a mouse infection model. In the present report we present data examining the pathogenicity of strains of Y. enterocolitica across all six phylogroups in a Galleria mellonellla model. We have demonstrated that in this model strains of phylogroup 1 exhibit severe pathogenesis with a lethal dose of as low as 10 c.f.u., that this virulence is an active process and that flagella play a major role in the virulence phenotype. We have also demonstrated that the complete lack of virulence in Galleria of the mammalian pathogenic phylogroups is not due to carriage of the pYV virulence plasmid. Our data suggest that all Y. enterocolitica can be pathogenic, which may be a reflection of the true natural habitat of the species, and that we may need to reconsider the eco-evo perspective of this important bacterial species.

Ilimaquinone (IQ), a metabolite found in marine sponges, has been reported to have a number of biological properties, including potential anticancer activity against colon cancer. However, no clear understanding of the precise mechanism involved is known. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism by which IQ acts on HCT-116 cells. The anticancer activity of IQ was investigated by means of a cell viability assay followed by the determination of induction of apoptosis by means of the use of acridine orange–ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, Annexin V/PI double staining, DNA fragmentation assays, and TUNEL assays. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected using the JC-1 staining technique, and the apoptosis-associated proteins were analyzed using real-time qRT-PCR. A molecular docking study of IQ with apoptosis-associated proteins was also conducted in order to assess the interaction between IQ and them. Our results suggest that IQ significantly suppressed the viability of HCT-116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation and the TUNEL assay in treated cells demonstrated apoptotic death mode. As an additional confirmation of apoptosis, the increased level of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression and the downregulation of Bcl-2 and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in HCT-116 cells after treatment with IQ, which was accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Overall, the results of our studies demonstrate that IQ could trigger mitochondria-mediated apoptosis as demonstrated by a decrease in ΔΨm, activation of caspase-9/-3, damage of DNA and a decrease in the proportion of Bcl-2 through the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway.

Prebiotics are fibers that promote beneficial gut bacteria and play a pivotal role in enhancing host health. This study delves into the impact of various levels of prebiotics, specifically fructooligosaccharides and β-1,3 glucan (Fβ), on the growth performance, biochemical, hematological parameters, gene expression, histological variations in the internal organs, and disease resistance to Fusarium oxysporum in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two hundred forty Nile tilapia, initially weighing 34.0 ± 0.1 g, were distributed into four groups and given a commercial diet with varying Fβ treatments: control (0 g/kg) (C), T1 (0.5 g/kg), T2 (1.0 g/kg), and T3 (1.5 g/kg) for 70 days. The study revealed significant improvement of the biochemical, hematological, and digestive enzyme activities, as well as histological changes in hepatopancreatic, intestine, and spleen sections with the use of Fβ. Moreover, the expression of innate humoral genes significantly increased (P < 0.05) in tilapia at the 1.5 g/kg Fβ group compared to the control. Notably, challenging with F. oxysporum exhibited lower mortality rates in the three treatments supplemented with additive prebiotics (P < 0.05). Consequently, the feed additives utilized in this study emerge as a viable alternative to enhance growth performance, biochemical and hematological parameters, gene expression, histological variations in internal organs, and disease resistance in fish farming on a large scale.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen responsible for 90–100% of mucosal and nosocomial infections worldwide. The emergence of drug-resistant strains has resulted in adverse consequences for human health, including numerous deaths. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and develop new antimicrobial drugs to counter these effects. Antimicrobial nanoagents have shown potent inhibitory activity against a number of pathogens through targeting their defense systems, such as biofilm formation. Here, we investigated the anticandidal activity of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized by the cyanobacterial strains Desertifilum sp. IPPAS B-1220 and Nostoc Bahar_M (D-SNPs and N-SNPs, respectively), along with that of silver nitrate (AgNO₃), and examined the mechanisms underlying their lethal effects. For this, we performed agar well diffusion and enzyme activity assays (lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and undertook morphological examinations using transmission electron microscopy. The effects of the three treatments on Hwp1 and CDR1 gene expression and protein patterns were assessed using qRT-PCR and SDS–PAGE assays, respectively. All of the three treatments inhibited C. albicans growth; disrupted membrane integrity, metabolic function, and antioxidant activity; induced ultrastructural changes in the cell envelope; and disrupted cytoplasmic and nuclear contents. Of the three agents, D-SNPs showed the greatest biocidal activity against C. albicans. Additionally, the D-SNP treatment significantly reduced the gene expression of Hwp1 and CDR1, suggestive of negative effects on biofilm formation ability and resistance potential of C. albicans, and promoted protein degradation. The mechanism involved in the biocidal effects of both D-SNPs and N-SNPs against C. albicans could be attributed to their ability to interfere with fungal cell structures and/or stimulate oxidative stress, enabling them to be used as a robust antimycotic agent.