The phylum Actinobacteria stands out in the symbiotic relationship between plant and microorganism, due to its diversity of hydrolases, important in the colonization and, in the production of molecules that help the host, as phytohormones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the endophytic and rhizosphere actinobacteria in terms of their ability to promote plant growth. A total of 9 actinobacterial strains, 4 from sugarcane rhizosphere and 5 endophytes of field mallow and Neem, were tested to produce indole acetic acid (IAA), solubilization of phosphate and zinc, ammonia and hydrocyanic acid production, production of cellulases, antagonism activity against phytopathogen Fusarium moliniforme and the capacity to grow under nitrogen absence. Three isolates, NIM3, FA9K1 and FA8K4, showed the best results in the assays and were identified as Streptomyces sp. Therewith, the results were promising in the search of actinobacterial inoculants.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance Surveillance (AMR) of frequently isolated bacterial pathogens causing severe infections is of great importance. Thus, this study aims to identify the prevalence of common bacterial isolates and β lactamases producing resistant strains and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of these isolates from patients attending Rural medical college and hospital which will help in framing institutional policy and better patient management. Material and methods: This study includes a total of 3675 bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections (UTIs), Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), Blood stream infections (BSIs), Skin and soft tissue infections (SSIs) from January 2018 to December 2018. All the study isolates were characterised up to species level, antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined. Gram negative bacteria were screened for β lactamases production. Results: Among 3675 isolates collected, E.coli (n= 1062) and Klebsiella spp(n= 745) are most common followed by S.aureus (n= 645), Pseudomonas spp (n= 511), Acinetobacter spp (n= 197) and other bacteria s(n= 515). E.coli and Klebsiella spp. were predominant pathogen isolated from UTI and LRTI respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was predominant pathogen isolated in BSI and SSI. Among the antimicrobials tested against Gram negative organisms, Colistin and Imipenem were the most active, followed by Amikacin and Piperacillin- Tazobactam. Moderate activity was noted for fluoroquinolones. Resistance to cephalosporins was high. ESBL Production is highest in Klebsiella spp(65%) and E.coli(60%) followed by Pseudomonas spp(37%) and Acinetobacter spp(30%) whereas Acinetobacter spp (51%) shows highest Ampc production followed by E.coli (40%), Klebsiella spp,(30%) and Pseudomonas spp(25%).The major MBL producer were Acinetobacter spp (28%) and Klebsiella spp(25%) followed by Pseudomonas spp(20%) and E.coli(12%). Among the antimicrobials tested against S.aureus, Vancomycin and Linezolid having no resistance, followed by Clindamycin and Gentamycin having Moderate activity. Resistance to fluoroquinolones and Cotrimoxazole was relatively high. The prevalence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) was 39%. Conclusion: Increasing rates of β lactamases producers emphasizes the need for their early detection which can help in providing an appropriate antimicrobial therapy and in avoiding the development and the dissemination of these multidrug resistant strains. Need of hour is that every health care institute must have own AMR Surveillance data which will helps to develop antimicrobial stewardship program. Antimicrobial stewardship program along with Preventive measures like continuous surveillance of wards/ICUs and strict implementation of infection control practices can go long way in containing the menace of drug resistance.

Rice (Oryza sativa) being the staple food crop in most of the countries under varying climate condition. Domestication of this crop invited many diseases and disorders incited by biotic and abiotic factors. Amongst the biotic factors, false smut of rice emerges in the seventies under influence of high yielding nutrition responsive varieties needed to get it managed by the application of different group of fungicides in proper dose at appropriate time. Kresoxyme methyl, Propiconazole and Carbendazim proved themselves well at all concentrations in inhibition of mycelial growth of Ustilaginoidea virens in vitro. Standardised dose of test fungicides were validated in the field at appropriate critical stages of crop growth. Kresoxyme methyl treated paddy plot showed least percent spikelet and panicle infection as 1.62 and 2.58 respectively with a severity of 3.08 percent yielded maximum yield of 49.50 q/ha followed by Propiconazole, Carbendazim and Mancozeb. Moreover, treatment of Mancozeb, Chlorothalonil and copper oxychloride showed nonsignificant reduction in percent infection of panicle, percent infected spikelet per panicle and disease severity as well as increase in yield over control.

Hand hygiene is considered to be of prime importance to resist various hygiene related diseases like typhoid, cholera, jaundice etc. This study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Dettol and Lifebuoy hand sanitizers among college students. Ten volunteers without any clinical signs of infection were included in the study. Sterile cotton swab sticks were used to take swabs from both hands, both before and after the use of hand sanitizers and after incubation colony forming units count were taken to calculate the percentage reduction in bacterial count. Transient micro flora on hand was isolated and characterised by gram staining and biochemical tests. Antibacterial efficacy of both the hand sanitizers was evaluated by agar-well diffusion assay against the identified isolates of transient micro flora. Dettol hand sanitizer showed 87 to 99% bacterial reduction while Lifebuoy showed 77 to 99.9% bacterial reduction. A total of six isolates of transient microflora were identified as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus lactis, Bacillus cereus, Alcaligenes faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the basis of results of Gram staining and biochemical tests (IMViC). Zone of inhibition of 1 to 9mm was observed for Dettol while 0.7 to 4mm was observed for Lifebuoy in agar-well diffusion assay. These results indicate that both the hand sanitizers were effective in their antibacterial properties and can be used as an alternative approach to hand hygiene by washing.

Biochemical reactions are the important nutrient transformation processes in organic and inorganic substance in soil environment through the catalytic activity of biomolecules called enzymes. Long term manures and fertilizer applications and continuous cropping of rice monoculture have a significant impact on soil enzymatic activities in a soil system. The investigation assessed the effect of long term manure and fertilizer usage on soil enzyme activities through organic manures viz., FYM, GLM and UC @ 12.5 t ha-1 and omission of N, P, K and addition of NPK with recommended dose of 150:50:50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. Combined application of manures GLM @ 12.5 t ha-1 along with NPK application was significantly increased the urease (20.61 %), phosphatase (15.21%) and dehydrogenase (24.17%) over control in tillering stage of rice monoculture. Regarding soil available nutrients in post harvest soil, application of GLM @ 12.5 t ha-1 along with NPK fertilizers increased the soil available KMnO4–N (10%), Olsen-P (43.31%) and NNH4OAc-K (35.97%) over control. Continuous addition of N alone did not influence available N, instead reduced available N when compared to NPK treatments. INM is the best way of improving soil available nutrients and soil enzymatic activities for sustainable soil health.

Macrofungal laccases are versatile group of metalloenzymes that oxidize both phenolic and non-phenolic compounds with simultaneous four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. The practical applications of laccases have led to a search for sources of the enzyme from macrofungi of North Eastern (NE) region, India. In this study, thirty previously collected macrofungal strains were screened for laccase activity, of which only nine strains tested laccase positive. Detectable amount of laccase production was observed in all the nine macrofungal strains from 2nd day till 10th day of inoculation. Among the nine strains, it was observed that Trametes versicolor (1), Ganoderma lucidum and Trametes coccinea produced maximum enzyme on 6th day; Trametes versicolor (2), Pleurotus pulmonarius, Leiotrametes lactinea and Panus lecomtei on 8th day whereas Trametes cubensis and Trametes sanguinea showed maximal production on 10th day after inoculation. The partially purified macrofungal laccases exhibited pH optima in acidic pH range (pH 2.5 - 4.5) and were able to resist high temperature ranging from 50 ºC to 70ºC. Zymogram analysis showed significant differences typifying the diversity of macrofungal laccases. All the nine macrofungal strains were capable of oxidizing different ortho- substituted aromatic substrates to varying degrees. Among the nine strains tested, a remarkably high laccase activity was observed by Panus lecomtei (7511 U/L) when ABTS was used as asubstrate.