Acta Biologica Szegediensis

ADMET and in silico profiling: predicting lead compounds targeting Mycobacterium abscessus isocitrate lyase

2026-01-07T19:45:11+00:00

Mycobacterium abscessus infections exacerbate lung conditions in individuals with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or low immunity. The existing treatment options are unreliable, owing to the high antibiotic resistance of the bacterium. Isocitrate lyase is an important enzyme in mycobacteria linked with the glyoxylate cycle, facilitating persistent infections within the host. Isocitrate lyase is considered a promising drug target because its inhibition diminishes mycobacterial growth and persistence. The dearth of effective treatment highlighted the need for in silico screening for antimicrobials with improved efficacy and safety. Through literature review, ADMET profiling, and molecular docking, eight natural products were shortlisted based on drug-like properties and Lipinski’s rule. AlphaFold generated high-quality structures of isocitrate lyase. Subsequently, the docking of the eight compounds with the 3D structures of isocitrate lyase was carried out. Binding energies ranged from –5.2 to –8.8 kcal/mol, with bonianic acid A and demethoxycurcumin showing the strongest affinities (–8.8 and –8 kcal/mol) against M. abscessus subsp. bolletii BD and M. abscessus subsp. abscessus ATCC 19977. Bisdemethoxycurcumin exhibited a –7.9 kcal/mol binding energy with M. abscessus subsp. abscessus ATCC 19977. Normal mode analysis confirmed their robustness. These findings support further exploration of bonianic acid A, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin targeting isocitrate lyase, paving the way for future in vitro and in vivo studies.

Effects of salt stress on yield and quality traits of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) genotypes

2026-01-07T19:55:08+00:00

Over 30% of the coastal cultivable land in Bangladesh is affected by salinity, necessitating the introduction of salt-tolerant crops to enhance food security and climate resilience. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a facultative halophyte, can thrive under saline conditions. This study evaluated yield and quality traits of six quinoa genotypes, including two released varieties, under long-term salt stress to identify promising materials for cultivation in Bangladesh. A pot-culture experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments: control (EC 0 dS m-¹), moderate (EC 15 dS m-¹), and strong salinity (EC 20 dS m-¹). ANOVA revealed significant genotypic differences in key agronomic traits, including days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), panicle weight (PW), aboveground biomass (AGB), thousand-seed weight (TSW), yield per plant (YP), and harvest index (HI). Salinity stress reduced all yield-related traits. However, GPBQ-3, GPBQ-1, and SAU Quinoa-1 maintained comparatively higher yield stability under severe salinity, as supported by stress-tolerance indices. Yield per plant showed a strong positive association with PW under both control and saline conditions. A PCA biplot indicated that GPBQ-1, GPBQ-3, and SAU Quinoa-1 were the most divergent genotypes. Considering all traits under salinity, SAU Quinoa-1, GPBQ-1, and GPBQ-3 emerge as the most promising salt-tolerant genotypes for further testing and deployment.

Leaf anatomical study of Onosma (Section Onosma, Subsection Haplotricha) Boraginaceae in Iran

2026-01-07T20:03:38+00:00

The genus Onosma (Boraginaceae) comprises a diverse group of species with significant taxonomic complexity. In this study, the leaf anatomical characteristics of 11 species from the Onosma section, Haplotricha subsection in Iran were examined to identify diagnostic traits that contribute to their classification. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical features were statistically analyzed. Multivariate statistical analyses, such as cluster analysis and principal component analysis, were used to determine species relationships based on the variations in the anatomical traits. The results revealed distinct variations among species, with O. assadii and O. sabalanica showing the highest divergence. Factor analysis indicated that mesophyll structure, midrib thickness, and trichome characteristics were key differentiating features. These findings support the significance of leaf anatomical traits in the systematic study of Onosma and contribute to a more refined taxonomic framework for the genus.

The pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR-1) gene in rice (Oryza sativa): isolation, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis

2026-01-07T20:17:16+00:00

Pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) proteins constitute an important gene family that participates in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The aim of this study was to isolate and sequence a PR1 gene from rice (Oryza sativa) and to characterize the encoded protein using bioinformatics tools. Sequencing revealed a 441-bp exon encoding a 147-amino-acid protein. OsPR1 contained a PF00188 cysteine-rich secretory protein (CAP) domain and a 21-amino-acid signal peptide. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that OsPR1 is clustered with PR1 proteins from Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays within the monocot clade. Protein–protein interaction predictions suggested putative functional associations of OsPR1 with enzymes involved in nitrogen and purine metabolism. Structural modeling and comparison with Arabidopsis thaliana PR1 (AtPR1) revealed a high degree of three-dimensional conservation. These data provide experimental confirmation of a rice PR1 gene and offer a framework for future functional studies on PR1-mediated stress responses in rice.

Endophytic bacteria from Jatropha curcas suppress Meloidogyne spp. and promote eggplant growth under greenhouse conditions

2026-01-07T20:24:29+00:00

In recent years, pesticide use has increased, posing risks to humans, the environment, and other life forms. This study evaluated the potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from Jatropha curcas L. to promote growth and suppress Meloidogyne spp. in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under greenhouse conditions. Three isolates, FJS23 (Pseudomonas sp.), SJS54 (Micrococcus sp.), and RJS175 (Pseudomonas sp.), were selected based on biosafety and biochemical screening and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Before application, bacterial suspensions were adjusted to OD₆₀₀ = 1.0 and applied as root dips followed by soil drenching, either singly or in two- and three-isolate combinations. Plant growth and nematode parameters were assessed 40 days after nematode inoculation. All treatments significantly enhanced plant growth compared with the control (DMRT, α = 0.05; n = 7). Isolate SJS54 (Micrococcus sp.) produced the tallest plants (60.10 cm), while the combination FJS23 (Pseudomonas sp.) + SJS54 (Micrococcus sp.) resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (93.30 g), dry weight (17.91 g), and leaf number (20.5). Nematode infestation and root galling were markedly reduced by all treatments compared with the control (131.5 galls root-¹ and 3.046 galls g-¹ root). Notably, SJS54 (Micrococcus sp.) reduced gall formation to 1.25 galls root-¹ and 0.015 galls g-¹ root, representing a >99% reduction relative to the control (DMRT, α = 0.05; n = 7). These results demonstrate that J. curcas-derived endophytes, particularly SJS54 (Micrococcus sp.) and its combinations, can effectively promote plant growth and suppress root-knot nematodes, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical nematicides for eggplant production.

PhD abstracts

2026-01-07T20:38:01+00:00

Abstracts of the Annual Conference of Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged – 2025.