This review delves into the mesmerizing technology of nano-agrochemicals, specifically pesticides and herbicides, and their potential to aid in the achievement of UN SDG 17, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty globally. The global market for conventional pesticides and herbicides is expected to reach USD 82.9 billion by 2027, growing 2.7% annually, with North America, Europe, and the Asia–Pacific region being the biggest markets. However, the extensive use of chemical pesticides has proven adverse effects on human health as well as the ecosystem. Therefore, the efficacy, mechanisms, and environmental impacts of conventional pesticides require sustainable alternatives for effective pest management. Undoubtedly, nano-agrochemicals have the potential to completely transform agriculture by increasing crop yields with reduced environmental contamination. The present review discusses the effectiveness and environmental impact of nanopesticides as promising strategies for sustainable agriculture. It provides a concise overview of green nano-agrochemical synthesis and agricultural applications, and the efficacy of nano-agrochemicals against pests including insects and weeds. Nano-agrochemical pesticides are investigated due to their unique size and exceptional performance advantages over conventional ones. Here, we have focused on the environmental risks and current state of nano-agrochemicals, emphasizing the need for further investigations. The review also draws the attention of agriculturists and stakeholders to the current trends of nanomaterial use in agriculture especially for reducing plant diseases and pests. A discussion of the pros and cons of nano-agrochemicals is paramount for their application in sustainable agriculture.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a predominant human pathogen with high morbidity that is listed in the WHO high priority pathogen list. Being a primary cause of persistent human infections, biofilm forming ability of S. aureus plays a pivotal role in the development of antibiotic resistance. Hence, targeting biofilm is an alternative strategy to fight bacterial infections. The present study for the first time demonstrates the non-antibacterial biofilm inhibitory efficacy of 5-Dodecanolide (DD) against ATCC strain and clinical isolates of S. aureus. In addition, DD is able to inhibit adherence of MRSA on human plasma coated Titanium surface. Further, treatment with DD significantly reduced the eDNA synthesis, autoaggregation, staphyloxanthin biosynthesis and ring biofilm formation. Reduction in staphyloxanthin in turn increased the susceptibility of MRSA to healthy human blood and H₂O₂ exposure. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed the induced expression of agrA and agrC upon DD treatment. This resulted down regulation of genes involved in biofilm formation such as fnbA and fnbB and up regulation of RNAIII, hld, psmα and genes involved in biofilm matrix degradation such as aur and nuc. Inefficacy of DD on the biofilm formation of agr mutant further validated the agr mediated antibiofilm potential of DD. Notably, DD was efficient in reducing the in vivo colonization of MRSA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results of gene expression studies and physiological assays unveiled the agr mediated antibiofilm efficacy of DD.

Serratia marcescensis one of the important nosocomial pathogens which rely on quorum sensing (QS) to regulate the production of biofilm and several virulence factors. Hence, blocking of QS has become a promising approach to quench the virulence ofS. marcescens. For the first time, QS inhibitory (QSI) and antibiofilm potential ofActinidia deliciosahave been explored againstS. marcescensclinical isolate (CI).A. deliciosapulp extract significantly inhibited the virulence and biofilm production without any deleterious effect on the growth. Vanillic acid was identified as an active lead responsible for the QSI activity. Addition of vanillic acid to the growth medium significantly affected the QS regulated production of biofilm and virulence factors in a concentration dependent mode inS. marcescensCI, ATCC 14756 and MG1. Furthermore vanillic acid increased the survival ofCaenorhabditis elegansuponS. marcescensinfection. Proteomic analysis and mass spectrometric identification of differentially expressed proteins revealed the ability of vanillic acid to modulate the expression of proteins involved in S-layers, histidine, flagellin and fatty acid production. QSI potential of the vanillic acid observed in the current study paves the way for exploring it as a potential therapeutic candidate to treatS. marcescensinfections.

In the present study, the antibiofilm, antipathogenic and anticarotenogenic potential of L-ascorbyl 2,6-dipalmitate (ADP) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been evaluated. ADP inhibited biofilm formation by MRSA in a concentration-dependent manner. Light and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses further confirmed the potent antibiofilm activity of ADP. Furthermore, ADP treatment inhibited virulence factors without any influence on the growth/metabolic activity of MRSA. ADP treatment also affected the survival of MRSA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, methylene blue and whole blood, and modulated the expression of genes involved in biofilm formation and virulence. The combination of ADP with antibiotics efficiently protects Caenorhabditis elegans from MRSA infection. Compounds that inhibit staphyloxanthin synthesis are known to inhibit triglyceride accumulation in eukaryotes. Hence in the current study, the anti-obesity potential of ADP was also evaluated using the model nematode C. elegans. The results revealed the ability of ADP to mitigate triacylglyceride accumulation without affecting food consumption or reproduction. FTIR analysis also confirmed the reduction of fat accumulation. qPCR analysis revealed the ability of ADP to interfere with the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and insulin signalling. In addition, molecular docking analysis predicted the ability of ADP to interact with proteins involved in staphyloxanthin and oleic acid biosynthesis and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 in MRSA, C. elegans and humans, respectively. The results obtained in the present study suggest that ADP could be utilized as a potent antipathogenic and anti-obesity agent.