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.

The potential of plant-based natural compounds in the creation of new molluscicidal and antimicrobial medications has gained attention in recent years. The current study compared the metabolic profiles, antibacterial, and molluscicidal properties of the medicinal plants Calotropis procera (C. procera) and Atriplex halimus (A. halimus). In both plants, 118 metabolites were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Palmitic acid, stigmasterol, and campesterol were the most prevalent constituents. C. procera extract showed stronger antibacterial activity than A. halimus against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Both extracts exhibited molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria alexandrina, with LC₅₀ values of C. procera (135 mg/L) and A. halimus (223.8 mg/L). Survival rates of snails exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (LC₂₅) of C. procera and A. halimus extracts were 5% and 20%, respectively. The hatchability of snail eggs exposed to both extracts has been dramatically reduced. Both extracts significantly decreased the levels of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, total protein, and albumin in snails, as well as causing DNA damage and resulting in numerous hermaphrodite and digestive gland damages and distortions. Molecular docking showed palmitic acid binding with acid, alkaline, and alanine aminotransferases in treated digestive gland snails. In conclusion, C. procera and A. halimus have antibacterial and molluscicidal properties.

Bacterial-associated wound infections are an obstacle for individuals and the medical industry. Developing versatile, antibiotic-free therapies helps heal wounds more quickly and efficiently. In the current study, fungal metabolites were employed as a reducing agent in fabricating selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) for improved antibacterial and wound healing properties. Utilizing UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopic examination, the properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were extensively evaluated. Myco-synthesized SeNPs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.3125 mg/mL, reducing cell number and shape distortion in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. SeNPs’ topical administration significantly reduced wound area and healing time, exhibiting the least bacterial load after six days compared to controls. After six and 11 days of treatment, SeNPs could decrease proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α production. The histopathological investigation showed a healed ulcer with moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells after exposing mice’s skin to SeNPs for six and 11 days. The docking interaction indicated that SeNPs were highly efficient against the IL-6 and TNF-α binding receptors. These findings imply that myco-fabricated SeNPs might be used as topically applied antimicrobial agents for treating skin infections and wounds.

The increased demand for oil and fats to satisfy the ever-increasing human needs has enhanced the research in this field. Single-cell oils or microbial lipids produced by oleaginous microorganisms are being utilized as an alternative to traditional oil sources. Oleaginous yeasts can accumulate lipids above 20% of their biomass when they are grown under controlled conditions. In the present study, sixty-five yeasts were isolated from different sources. Using Sudan Black B staining technique, five yeast isolates were selected. Under nitrogen-limited cultivation conditions, the Co1 isolate was the best lipid accumulation potential of 39.79%. Isolate (Co1) was characterized morphologically and identified using the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers regions (rDNA-ITS) from their genomic DNA. The sequence alignment revealed a 99.2% similarity with Rhodotorula diobovata. Under the optimized conditions, Rhodotorula diobovata accumulated lipids up to 45.85% on a dry biomass basis. R. diobovata, when grown on different raw materials, accumulated lipid up to 46.68% on sugar beet molasses medium, and the lipid had a high degree of monounsaturated fatty acids which gives biodiesel better quality. The data suggest that the potent oleaginous yeast, R. diobovata, together with the use of cheap feedstock raw materials such as sugar beet molasses, can be considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production.

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.