Aims: Microbiota endogenous to oleaginous plants have attracted special attention in recent years for their biotechnological potentials and applications including the production of biodegradable biopolyester poly(3- hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] as an alternative to thermoplastics. The present study is aimed to screen the endophytic bacteria of selected oleaginous plants such as Arachis hypogaea L., Brassica napus L., Brassica nigra L., Helianthus annuus L., Ricinus communis L. and Sesamum indicum L. for the production of P(3HB). Methodology and results: Bacteria endogenous to the oleaginous plants were isolated from surface sterilized healthy tissues following sterilization with 70% ethanol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and screened for P(3HB) production in mineral salts medium. Nile blue A staining method was used for detection of intracellular P(3HB), while the accumulated biopolyester was quantified spectrophotometrically following chemical conversion to chrotonic acid by treating with sulfuric acid. Five potent P(3HB) accumulating isolates have been selected and identified as Cellulosimicrobium cellulans AHS 01 (KX458038), Beijerinckia fluminensis AHR 02 (KX458039), Exiguobacterium acetylicum BNL 103 (KX458037), Bacillus toyonensis BNS 102 (KX458036) and Bacillus cereus RCL 02 (KX458035) based on morphological, physio-biochemical and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. These endogenously growing bacterial isolates accumulated intracellular biopolyester accounting 43-62% of their cell dry weight (CDW) when grown in mineral salts medium supplemented with yeast extract. Intracellular accumulation of P(3HB) by these isolates have also been confirmed by FTIR spectral analysis of lyophilized cell mass and 1HNMR spectra of the extracted polymer. Conclusion, significance and impact of study These findings, first of its kind point to exploration of endogenous bacterial communities of oil-producing plants as a potential bioresource for production of P(3HB) bioplastics in a sustainable manner.

The occurrence of a second primary cancer in a cancer survivor is well documented. It may be synchronous or metachronous. Incidence of metachronous cancer involving cervix is 0.82% to 1.33%. One such metachronous cancer is that of breast and cervix. We present a case of a woman who received tamoxifen for invasive ductal cancer of breast following a modified radical mastectomy and subsequently developed adenocarcinoma of cervix after six month of tamoxifen therapy. The role of tamoxifen in pathogenesis of cervical cancer and that of human papillomavirus infection in pathogenesis of both cancer of cervix and breast cancer has been well recognized. In our patient, the adenocarcinoma of cervix (rare occurrence) which is likely due to six month of tamoxifen therapy is a perplexing question. Women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer need to be followed up for development of other metachronous gynecological cancers.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Survivors ; Tamoxifen ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms