3 Biotech

Network pharmacology combined with experimental analysis to explore the mechanism of the XinShuaiNing formula on heart failure
Zhao J, Han M, Nie Q, Wen X, Geng H, Zou Y, Li S and Xie W
This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of the Traditional Chinese Medicine XinShuaiNing (XSN) formula in CHF based on network pharmacology. A total of 489 compounds in the XSN formula were screened. These compounds predicted 778 targets. A search of CHF yielded 789 corresponding targets, and 151 intersections between the potential targets of the XSN formula and CHF, involving AKT1, AGT, eNOS, and VEGF. Abdominal aortic coarctation (AAC) was used to establish a CHF rat model, and isoproterenol-induced H9c2 cells to establish a myocardial injury cell model. The results showed that the XSN formula downregulated ET-1, BNP, and Hcy and upregulated the ALB levels and also relieved cardiac histopathological damage. The XSN formula reduced the content of pro-inflammatory factors and inhibited the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In addition, the expression of fibronectin, α-SMA, collagen 1, and collagen 3 was downregulated by XSN formula treatment, and the fibrotic areas of myocardial tissue were reduced. The XSN formula promoted phosphorylation of AKT1-induced VEGF and eNOS signaling and inhibited AGT signaling. Besides, the XSN formula can affect the apoptosis of H9c2 cells by affecting AKT1, AGT, eNOS, and VEGF. The XSN formula regulates inflammatory factors by inducing phosphorylation of AKT1, upregulating eNOS and VEGF, and downregulating AGT to protect cardiomyocytes from apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis to alleviate CHF. In conclusion, this study identified the target of XSN prescription through network pharmacology screening and experimental validation and confirmed its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic effects.
Integrating network pharmacology and in vivo study to explore the anti-Alzheimer's potential of and
Patel Y, Solanki N, Dwivedi PSR, Shah B, Shastry CS, Azad S, Vejpara D, Patel M, Shah U, Patel S and Ahmed S
Amyloid plaque buildup, tau protein tangles, oxidative stress, and neuronal death are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments, this study investigated the neuroprotective potential of (BL) and (NN) against aluminum chloride (AlCl₃)-induced AD. Network pharmacology focused on important biomarker proteins like acetylcholinesterase (AChE), BCL2, and caspase-3 to identify 74 bioactive targets linked to AD. The evaluation of ligand-protein interactions was done using molecular docking. Male Wistar rats were exposed to AlCl₃ to cause AD-like pathology in vivo, and a combination treatment of BL and NN at varying doses was provided. Apoptosis markers (BCL2, caspase-3), biochemical investigations (AChE activity, oxidative stress markers-GSH, SOD, catalase, and lipid peroxidation), behavioral evaluations (elevated plus maze, conditioned avoidance test), and histopathological analyses were investigated. The combination of BL and NN demonstrated substantial neuroprotection in a dose-dependent manner. Reduced AChE levels point out improved cholinergic activity. Oxidative stress indicators showed improvement, with lower levels of malondialdehyde and higher anti-oxidant levels of GSH, SOD, and catalase. Apoptotic markers showed an increase in BCL2 expression and a decrease in caspase-3, suggesting anti-apoptotic effects. Reduced neuronal degeneration in the cortex and hippocampal regions was confirmed by histopathology of the brain. The synergistic potential of BL and NN demonstrated potent neuroprotective effects by modulating AChE activity, reducing oxidative stress, increasing anti-oxidant levels, and inhibiting apoptosis. These findings highlighted the potential of BL and NN as a new therapeutic approach for the AD.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the transcription factor family and its response to abiotic stress in rapeseed ( L.)
Xu X, Zhang X, Fan Y, Zhou H and Pu X
The study used 80 genes ( genes) in rapeseed, which were identified and designated with nomenclature based on their chromosomal locations. A systematic analysis encompassed the evolutionary relationships, classifications, gene structures, motif compositions, chromosome localization, and gene replication events within these genes. These 80 BnTCP proteins were categorized into three subfamilies, with the PCF subfamily showing significant expansion during evolution. Segmental duplications were identified as a major driver of TCP family amplification. To comprehensively assess the evolutionary relationships of the TCP family across diverse plant species, nine comparative genomic maps were constructed, elucidating homologous genes between and representative monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. In the final phase of the study, the gene expression response characteristics of 15 selected genes across various biological processes and stress responses were examined. Noteworthy candidates, including , , and , were identified as potentially crucial in tissue development and environmental stress responses.
Enhancing heme import to synthesize active myoglobin and hemoglobin in
Qian Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Wang Y, Li J, Du G, Zhao X and Chen J
Myoglobin and hemoglobin are both heme-binding proteins that have widespread applications in food processing and medical treatments. is often chosen to produce heterologous hemoproteins. However, due to the insufficient heme supply, the inactive hemoproteins take a large proportion of synthesized products. To overcome this problem, the intracellular heme supply was increased by improving heme uptake efficiency. At first, an efficient method was created for the screen of potential heme importers from various microorganisms by knocking out gene to obtain a deficient strain X33-Δ- (HEMEX) in heme synthesis. Based on the significantly improved cell growth, two effective heterogenous heme importers (Caflc1 and Shu1) were selected when the exogenous heme was supplemented. Finally, the titers of porcine myoglobin (PMB) and soybean hemoglobin (SHB) increased by 112.28% and 5.78-fold, respectively, through the overexpression of heme importers. The applied strategy provides a promising approach to synthesize other valuable hemoproteins in .
Analytical techniques and molecular platforms for detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance: advancements of the past decade
Patnaik A, Rai SK and Dhaked RK
Developing countries have been able to control and minimise the mortality rates caused by pathogenic infections by ensuring affordable access to antibiotics. However, a large number of bacterial ailments are treated with wrong antibiotic prescription due to improper disease diagnosis. Apart from healthcare, antibiotics are also imprudently utilised in crop processing and animal husbandry. This unsupervised usage of antibiotics has propelled the generation of multidrug-resistant species of bacteria. Presently, several traditional antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance tests (AST/ART) are available; however, the accuracy and reproducibility of these tests are often debatable. Rigorous efforts are essential to develop techniques and methods which substantially decrease turnaround time for resistance screening. The present review has comprehensively incorporated the improvements in instrumentation and molecular methods for antimicrobial resistance studies. We have enlisted some innovative takes on conventional techniques such as isothermal calorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and microscopy. The contributions of modern molecular tools such as CRISPR-Cas, aptamers and Oxford-MinION sequencers have also been discussed. Persistent evolution has been observed towards adding innovation in diagnostic platforms for drug resistome screening, with the major attraction being the involvement of non-conventional analytical methods and technological improvements in existing setups. This review highlights these updates and provides a detailed account of principal developments in molecular methods for the testing of drug resistance in bacteria.
Silver/bacterial cellulose/ composite film for packaging application: synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties
Indrianingsih AW, Styaningrum P, Suryani R, Windarsih A, Andriani A, Noviana E and Suwanda NU
This study aimed to develop novel composite films made of Ag, bacterial cellulose (BC), and flower extract for food packaging applications. The films were synthesized using varying concentrations of Ag ion (10-10 M) and flower extract (0-2x10 µg/ml), followed by characterization using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of the films was assessed against five bacteria, including , Typhimurium, , , and . The composite films appeared opaque and slightly dark. A porous network of microfibrils was observed under SEM, and higher Ag concentrations resulted in a rougher film surface. Higher Ag and extract concentrations resulted in higher percentages of Ag deposited on the surface, as confirmed by EDX (up to 34.7% at 2x10 µg/ml extract and 10 M Ag). Ag/BC/ extract combinations generally exhibit higher antibacterial activity than pure BC film. The highest inhibition of Typhimurium, , and was achieved by a composite film made with 10 M Ag and 2x10 µg/ml extract with inhibition values of 7.78 mm, 8.12 mm, and 8.25 mm, respectively. All tested composite films also had lower water vapor sorption capacity (2.31-6.71%, depending on the compositions) than BC (6.93%), enabling better protection of the preserved food from surrounding moisture. The Ag/BC/ extract composite films are promising, sustainable packaging materials for preserving food quality.
Rerouting therapeutic peptides and unlocking their potential against SARS-CoV2
Prashar N, Mohammed SB, Raja NS and Mohideen HS
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of peptide-based therapies as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Our review explores the role of therapeutic peptides in modulating immune responses, inhibiting viral entry, and disrupting replication. Despite challenges such as stability, bioavailability, and the rapid mutation of the virus, ongoing research and clinical trials show that peptide-based treatments are increasingly becoming integral to future viral outbreak responses. Advancements in computational modelling methods in combination with artificial intelligence will enable mass screening of therapeutic peptides and thereby, comprehending a peptide repurposing strategy similar to the small molecule repurposing. These findings suggest that peptide-based therapies play a critical and promising role in future pandemic preparedness and outbreak management.
The transcriptome landscape of Kumrogarh, a unique rice landrace showing the simultaneous presence of and loci for submergence tolerance
Samanta P, Jasrotia RS, Jaiswal S, Iquebal MA and Dey N
To decipher the molecular mechanism behind submergence tolerance in a typical rice genotype (var. Kumrogarh), leaf transcriptome analysis was performed on submerged plant tissue with 7 and 14 days of induced submergence, followed by cataloguing the differentially expressed transcripts. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis identified 5,267 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 2,657 were upregulated and 2,610 were downregulated in four comparative combinations: T7-C7, T14-T7, T14-T7, and C14-C7. A group of 41 co-expressed genes was found across all sets, while 1427, 558 and 83 transcripts were uniquely expressed in the T7-C7, T14-T7, and C14-C7 combinations, respectively. Constructed Ven diagram showed that 1428, 65, and 44 transcripts were commonly expressed in the paired combinations "T7-C7" and "T14-T7", "C14-C7" and "T7-C7", and "C14-C7" and "T14-T7". Gene ontology study functionally categorized the DEGs into molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components. Additionally, nine transcription factor families were identified, including MYB, WRKY, bZIP, bHLH, SET domain, NAC domain, C2H2 zinc finger, E2F, and HSF, along with a set of differentially regulated signalling genes. Twelve genes related to submergence adaptation were selected for final validation through quantitative real-time PCR-based expression analysis, which demonstrated a strong association with a coefficient (  = 0.716) after aligning with the RNA-Seq data. Derived results showed upregulation of gibberellin receptor GID1L2 (LOC_Os02g35940.1), ethylene-responsive element-binding protein (LOC_Os06g08360.1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (LOC_Os04g38600.1), decarboxylase (LOC_Os08g04540.1), sucrose synthase (LOC_Os03g22120.1), aldehyde dehydrogenase (LOC_Os12g07810.1), endonuclease/exonuclease/phosphatase family domain-containing protein (LOC_Os01g08780.1), polygalacturonase inhibitor 1 precursor (LOC_Os07g38130.1), transmembrane amino acid transporter protein (LOC_Os01g41420.1), and SAM-dependent carboxyl methyltransferase (LOC_Os02g48770.1). This study provides a comprehensive profile of leaf transcriptomics in a traditionally tall-type rice landrace containing both submergence-tolerant and alleles, highlighting an area of research that remains largely unexplored. These remarkable findings have driven this investigation to decipher the interplay among these key genetic factors by hypothesizing a model leading to the development of a genetic network associated with improved survival under prolonged deep submergence of such a unique rice genotype.
In silico approaches to identify novel anti-diabetic type 2 agents against dipeptidyl peptidase IV from isoxazole derivatives of usnic acid
Roney M, Uddin MN, Sapari S, Razak FIA, Huq AKMM, Zamri NB and Aluwi MFFM
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious worldwide health issue in the twenty-first century. Additionally, DM, a metabolic endocrine illness that affects the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, has a death rate of 4.9 million individuals globally. This study aims to find anti-diabetic inhibitor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) that inhibits the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) enzyme using in silico methods. From a range of published literature sources, thirty (30) isoxazole derivatives of UA (IDUA) were selected for this study. To ascertain the possible inhibitory effects of IDUA, ADMET, molecular docking, density functional theory analyses, molecular dynamic simulation and MM/PBSA were conducted. Eleven compounds (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 18, 21, 22, 24, and 27) were selected from the ADMET study, which were subjected to perform molecular docking against the DPP-IV enzyme of T2D, and findings indicated two compounds (compound 2 and compound 3) showed comparable binding affinity with the reference compound "Linagliptin". In contrast to the reference molecule, which had a binding affinity of - 8.6 kcal/mol against DPP-IV, compound 2 and compound 3 have binding affinities of - 8.1 and - 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, based on Lipinski's Rule of Five, E, E, band energy gap, drug-likeness and DFT-based studies demonstrated druggability and high reactivity for these compounds. In addition, the molecular dynamic (MD) techniques to confirm that docked complexes remained stable and that the binding orientation obtained during docking tests were accurate. These compounds may be investigated in vitro and in vivo for the development of potential DPP-IV of T2D inhibitors.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of the gene family in sorghum under salt-alkali stress
Zhuang X, Kong L, Lv W, Zhou Y, Guan S, Yang H, Gao J, Kang Y, Chi J, Chai S, Chi X and Dai L
Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) are crucial for plant growth and development. Utilizing whole genome data, this study delineated the number of genes, gene structure, chromosomal localization, protein structure, evolutionary relationships, and Gene Ontology (GO) annotations of the family in sorghum ( L.). In addition, genes' expression in wild-type sorghum (P898012) under salt-alkali stress (SAS) was examined. We identified 26 genes in sorghum. Phylogenetic analysis divided these genes into five subgroups, where members within the same subgroup exhibited extremely similar, though not identical, gene structures. A collinearity analysis of the sorghum genes revealed that does not share a homologous relationship with those in Zea and Arabidopsis, suggesting its uniqueness to sorghum. Promoter element analysis indicated that the genes contain various response elements associated with abiotic stress. GO annotations demonstrated that most FLA proteins are primarily located on the plasma membrane and are involved in diverse biological processes. Transcriptomic data and qRT-PCR analysis under SAS revealed that members of the family responded to stress at different times. These findings provide valuable references for breeding sorghum varieties tolerant to salt-alkali conditions.
Two stage enzymatic pretreatment of rice straw for its valorisation using Silicase and Laccase
Kaur D, Kaur P, Singh A, Mor N, Dalal S and Sharma J
The present study investigated the cumulative effect of pretreatment of rice straw with two enzymes-Silicase (first report) and Laccase as initial stages. The optimal conditions for silicase pretreatment were determined to be a dosage of 100 U/10 g of rice straw, pH 7.0, temperature 40 ºC, and a treatment duration of 30 h. For laccase pretreatment, the ideal parameters were enzyme dose of 40 U/10 g of rice straw, pH 5.0, temperature 50 ºC, and a treatment time of 30 h. At optimized conditions, the silica reduction of ~ 20% was achieved by Silicase pretreatment, whereas the reduction in lignin was upgraded by ~ 29.8% after two stage pretreatment. A reduction of 28.6% in ash content of rice straw and 29.4% in silica was obtained during two stage enzymatic pretreatment. The FTIR studies of the pretreated and untreated straw also depicted the delignification, ash and silica removal of agro-waste. A peak observed at 1542 cm and 1643 cm suggests cyclic stretching in phenolic lignin, while the absorption band at 1419 cm corresponds to the bending (scissoring) of - OCH in the syringyl and guaiacyl units of the phenolic composition. A notable decrease in these vibrations was observed in the silicase + laccase-treated sample, likely resulting from the removal of syringols and guaiacols during the enzymatic pretreatment. Using present outcomes, the study presented that the cumulative impact of Silicase and Laccase was proficient in preparing rice straw for industrial applications and reducing environmental barriers during its conversion.
Ellipticine targets FGFR3 to mediate the RAS/MAPK-P38 signalling pathway to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Ling D, Xiang C, Guolin H, Huisheng S and Xiaohua N
This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of ellipticine on liver cancer cells and predict its anti-liver cancer mechanism through network pharmacology, especially by targeting FGFR3 to regulate the RAS/MAPK-P38 signaling pathway, thereby inducing apoptosis of liver cancer cells. The inhibitory effect of ellipticine on the proliferation of HepG2, Huh-7, SMMC7721, BEL-7402, SK-HEP-1, LX-2, and MHCC97H cells was detected by CCK-8 assay, and the IC value was calculated. The potential targets of ellipticine were predicted by the database, and the intersection analysis with liver cancer-related targets was performed to construct a protein interaction network (PPI), (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking verification. FGFR3 in HepG2 cells was knocked down by siRNA, and the effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ROS levels were observed. The expression changes of FGFR3, RAS, P38, and their phosphorylated forms after ellipticine treatment, as well as the effects of RAS agonist ML-908 and P38 inhibitor PD169316 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, were detected by Western blotting. Ellipticine has an inhibitory effect on all tested liver cancer cell lines, among which HepG2 has the strongest inhibitory effect, with an IC50 of 5.15 ± 0.25 μM. Ellipticine is predicted to have 32 potential targets, and 5 common targets among the 225 targets related to liver cancer, including PDGFRA, KIT, FGFR3, ERBB2, and STAT3. KEGG analysis showed that these targets are mainly involved in cancer pathways. Molecular docking showed that Ellipticine can bind strongly to FGFR3. FGFR3 expression is highest in HepG2 cells. After knocking down FGFR3, the proliferation ability of HepG2 cells is further weakened, and the addition of apoptosis inhibitor ZVAD can partially restore the proliferation ability. ROS levels increase after Ellipticine treatment, and ROS levels further increase after knocking down FGFR3, and ZVAD treatment can reduce ROS levels. After Ellipticine treatment, the expression levels of FGFR3, RAS, and p-P38 decrease. Ellipticine-induced cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis were reversed by RAS agonist ML-908, whereas P38 inhibitor PD169316 exacerbated cell apoptosis and migration inhibition. Ellipticine induces apoptosis of liver cancer cells by targeting FGFR3 and inhibiting the RAS/MAPK-P38 signaling pathway. This discovery provides new mechanistic insights into Ellipticine as a liver cancer treatment and may lay the foundation for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Protective effects of ascorbic acid against anticancer drug-induced oxidative stress and genotoxic damage in
da Mata AMOF, Silva RRE, Braga AL, de Carvalho RM, de Oliveira Santos JV, de Alencar MVOB, Paz MCFJ, Ansari SA, Ansari IA, Islam MT, de Castro E Sousa JM, da Silva FCC, de Carvalho Melo Cavalcante AA and da Silva BB
The widely used dietary antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA) is evident to possess protective effects against many chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AA on oxidative stress and genotoxic damage caused by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), docetaxel (DOCE), and tamoxifen (TAMOX) in two proficient and four isogenic strains. For this, we performed disc diffusion and comet alkaline assay using suitable standard drugs. The results suggest that 5-FU, DOCE, TAMOX, and their combinations induced significant oxidative damage (p < 0.001) in all strains. These anticancer drugs and their combinations also induced genotoxicity (p < 0.05) in the SODWT strain when compared to the negative control group. These drugs and their combinations augmented damage index (ID) and damage frequency (FD) in the comet assay. However, AA alone, as well as when co-treated with these anticancer drugs, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the damaging effects (oxidative stress and genotoxicity) on all test strains. AA showed the highest damage modulation with TAMOX (ID = 51.4% and FD = 50%), followed by 5-FU + DOCE (ID = 43.5% and FD = 42.9%), DOCE (ID = 42.5% and FD = 39.1%), and 5-FU + TAMOX (ID = 37% and FD = 33.6%), respectively. Taken together, AA reduced oxidative stress caused by the inducer hydrogen peroxide and showed anti-genotoxic activities against 5-FU, DOCE, and TAMOX, and their combinations mediated genotoxic effects on strains. Further studies are necessary to understand the molecular interference of AA in cancer therapies.
Genomic and functional insights into the diversity of defensin gene family
Mulla JA, Palod PS, Bhagwat SA, Sonawane AP, Acharya SK, Kulkarni AP and Tamhane VA
Plant defensins are known for their diverse functional roles in development and stress tolerance. We explored the structural and functional diversity of the defensin gene family in C (CanDef) genomes (CM334 and UCD10Xv1.1). A total of 63 unique full-length genes were identified through BLASTn and BLASTp analysis. The CanDefs possessed ~ 46 to 88 amino acids and categorized into four groups based on their length, presence of C-terminal tail and gamma-core region. Their phylogenetic analysis with other plant and invertebrate defensin proteins resulted in seven clades of which 37 CanDefs aligned in the recently diversified clade. Most  localized to chromosome-7. CanDefs contained functional motifs like gamma thionin, knot domain or scorpion toxin domain. Cis-elements and miRNA target sites related to phytohormone signaling, stress responses and development were enriched in the upstream of  and indicated diverse biological functions. In silico RNA-seq analysis revealed unique expression of  in tissues under different stresses. varied their gene expression in stress conditions significantly with , and being the most prominently expressed. In choice assay,  larvae were attracted towards  leaves expressing CanDefs, whereas their growth reduced in the no-choice assay. In conclusion, the genomic, molecular and functional insights on CanDef diversity highlight their significance in plant development and response to biotic/abiotic stresses.
Ecotoxicity of fungal-synthesized silver nanoparticles: mechanisms, impacts, and sustainable mitigation strategies
Jangid H and Kumar G
The review investigates the ecotoxicological implications of fungal-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), focusing on their behavior, transformations, and impacts across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Advanced techniques, such as Single-Particle ICP-MS and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, reveal the persistence and biotransformation of AgNPs, including silver ion (Ag⁺) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The review highlights species-specific bio-accumulation pathways in algae, soil microbes, invertebrates, and vertebrates, along with the limited biomagnification potential within trophic levels. Long-term exposure to AgNPs leads to reduced soil fertility, altered microbial communities, and inhibited plant growth, raising significant ecological concerns. Sustainable mitigation strategies, including bioremediation and advanced filtration systems, are proposed to reduce the environmental risks of AgNPs. This comprehensive analysis provides a framework for future ecological studies and regulatory measures, balancing the technological benefits of fungal-synthesized AgNPs with their environmental safety.
Conventional and cutting-edge advances in plant virus detection: emerging trends and techniques
Singh A, Yasheshwar , Kaushik NK, Kala D, Nagraik R, Gupta S, Kaushal A, Walia Y, Dhir S and Noorani MS
Plant viruses pose a significant threat to global agriculture. For a long time, conventional methods including detection based on visual symptoms, host range investigations, electron microscopy, serological assays (e.g., ELISA, Western blotting), and nucleic acid-based techniques (PCR, RT-PCR) have been used for virus identification. With increased sensitivity, speed, and specificity, new technologies like loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), high-throughput sequencing (HTS), nanotechnology-based biosensors, and CRISPR diagnostics have completely changed the way plant viruses are detected. Recent advances in detection techniques integrate artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time monitoring. Innovations like hyperspectral imaging, deep learning, and cloud-based IoT platforms further support disease identification and surveillance. Nanotechnology-based lateral flow assays and CRISPR-Cas systems provide rapid, field-deployable solutions. Despite these advancements, challenges such as sequence limitations, multiplexing constraints, and environmental concerns remain. Future research should focus on refining portable on-site diagnostic kits, optimizing nanotechnology applications, and enhancing global surveillance systems. Interdisciplinary collaboration across molecular biology, bioinformatics, and engineering is essential to developing scalable, cost-effective solutions for plant virus detection, ensuring agricultural sustainability and ecosystem protection.
Deciphering the interplay: circulating cell-free DNA, signaling pathways, and disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Meshkovska Y, Dzhuraeva B, Godugu C, Pooladanda V and Thatikonda S
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung disease with an unknown etiology and a short survival rate. There is no accurate method of early diagnosis, and it involves computed tomography (CT) or lung biopsy. Since diagnostic methods are not accurate due to their similarity to other lung pathologies, discovering new biomarkers is a key issue for diagnosticians. Currently, the use of ccf-DNA (circulating cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid) is an important focus due to its association with IPF-induced alterations in metabolic pathways, such as amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and lipid metabolism pathways. Other biomarkers associated with metabolic changes have been found, and they are related to changes in type II/type I alveolar epithelial cells (AECs I/II), changes in extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory processes. Currently, IPF pathogenetic treatment remains unknown, and the mortality rates are increasing, and the patients are diagnosed at a late stage. Signaling pathways and metabolic dysfunction have a significant role in the disease occurrence, particularly the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, which plays an essential role. TGF-β, Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), and integrin signaling are the main drivers of fibrosis. These pathways activate the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and tissue remodeling fibrosis. Therapy targeting diverse signaling pathways to slow disease progression is crucial in the treatment of IPF. Two antifibrotic medications, including pirfenidone and nintedanib, are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for treatment. ccf-DNA could become a new biomarker for IPF diagnosis to detect the disease at the early stage, while FDA-approved therapies could help to prevent late conditions from forming and decrease mortality rates.
Directed mutagenesis in fruit crops
Mohanta R, Maiti P, Sharangi AB, Roy S, Hazra S, Chakraborty S and Ghorai S
Fruit crops are rich source of important vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibres. They are essential for global agriculture with respect to nutritional security. Globally, there is a rapid decline in the genetic base of fruit crops warranting breeding strategies to overcome the challenge. Applied mutagenesis has emerged as a viable approach for the focused enhancement of fruit crops utilizing precise genetic alterations to increase a variety of desirable characteristics. However, traditional mutagenesis using physical and chemical mutagens are majorly random in nature. Directed mutagenesis with advancements in genetic engineering and molecular technology allows precise manipulation of genes, which facilitates the efficient and precise knockout of target genes and the targeted insertion or modification of specific DNA sequences within the genome via homologous recombination (HR)-mediated gene replacement. This review presents an in-depth exploration of several directed mutagenesis techniques including CRISPR-Cas9, TILLING, TALEN, MutMap, and MutMap + emphasizing their transformative applications in fruit crops. It also discusses about space mutagenesis. These advanced techniques empower researchers to precisely introduce specific mutations into the genome, skilfully altering gene expression and reshaping protein function with remarkable precision. This review highlights successful examples of directed mutagenesis in a variety of fruit crops such as apples, grapes, citrus, and strawberries and elucidates the impact of directed mutagenesis on traits such as fruit size, colour, flavour, shelf-life, and resistance to diseases and environmental stresses.
Identification and validation of hypoxia-responsive signature pathways in human cardiomyocytes
Sharma D, Karuna , Gupta H, Gupta A, Kumari M, Varshney R and Meena RC
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hypoxia (1% O) for 24 h in human AC16 cells by analyzing alterations in the expression of cardiac markers and signature pathways using immunocytochemistry and next-generation sequencing respectively. The Gene set enrichment analysis and Cytoscape software were used for data analysis and visualization respectively. Sequencing data validation and functional characterization were done using flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, an antibody array, and immunoblotting. The result revealed that the expression levels of troponins decreased; however, the expression levels of VEGF-A and HIF-alpha increased under hypoxia compared with unexposed control. A total of 2120 genes corresponding to 457 gene sets were significantly altered, 153 of which were significantly upregulated and 304 of which were downregulated in hypoxic cardiomyocytes. The significantly altered gene sets corresponded to key cellular and molecular pathways, such as cardiac hypertrophy, transcription factors, microRNAs, mitochondrial abnormalities, RNA processing, cell cycle, and biological oxidation pathways. Thus, this analysis revealed multiple pathways associated with hypoxia which provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying human cardiomyocytes, identifying potential targets for addressing cardiac illnesses induced by hypoxia.
MTCC 12927 laccase: scaleup, purification and its application for dye decolourisation enhanced by water-soluble mediator TEMPOL
Antony GS, Ramkumar M, Sujiritha B, Vikash N, Rajaram K, Ganesan P, Ayyadurai N and Kamini NR
Laccase production from an isolated white rot fungus identified as MTCC 12927 was optimised in flasks, scaled up in 5 and 10 L working volume fermenters and purified to homogeneity. Purified laccase was tested for its decolourisation potential on 3 dyes: Basic Red 46 (azo class), Acid Blue 9 (triarylmethane class) and Reactive Blue 21 (phthalocyanine class). TEMPOL (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl), a less expensive water-soluble hydroxy derivative of mediator TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxidanyl), was tested as a mediator which had not been reported before to our knowledge along with well-known mediators hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) and syringaldehyde (SYD). Laccase in the presence of HBT could decolourise all the 3 dyes. Basic Red 46 and Acid Blue 9 were completely decolourised in 4 and 8 h, respectively. Reactive Blue 21 showed a decolourisation of 70.3% compared to 50.3% with TEMPOL and 20% with the enzyme alone. Laccase + TEMPOL combination was significantly better than HBT in decolourising azo dye Basic Red 46 completely within 30 min compared to 4 h for HBT. Furthermore, laccase TEMPOL and HBT combinations were also tested in azo dye-containing tannery effluent. TEMPOL showed a higher decolourisation rate of 36% compared to 22% for the latter. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis of treated effluent samples showed a COD reduction of 23.2% for laccase + TEMPOL treatment and 19.2% for laccase + HBT compared to 7.8% with laccase alone. TEMPOL showed potential as a low-cost, water-soluble mediator for azo dye decolourisation.
Experimental design for assessing the degradation of tannery azo dyes and real-time effluent
Aarthi P, Hajara MF, Hemalatha S and Begum IF
Tannery wastewater (TWW) is highly complex and is characterised by high contents of organic, inorganic, and nitrogenous compounds, sulphides, chromium, dissolved solids, and suspended solids. Therefore, our novelty lies in identifying the microbes which are used to degrade harmful azo dyes present in tannery effluent. Based upon the rising problems in tannery industries, the untreated effluent is discharged; to achieve zero effluent, the organisms are isolated from tannery effluent identified as (OQ690635) and screened against the degradation potential against the azo dyes and further processed the azo dye-degrading organism for 16S rRNA sequencing. The optimisation was done in various parameters, which resulted in the highest 94% degradation at 37 °C of 7 pH at the 60th hour in 10% of inoculum concentration, which influenced azo dye degradation and confirmed the degradation profile by FT-IR secondary alcohol, alkyne group, alcohol and nitro compounds, isothiocyanate, amine salt, alkyne had been removed and confirmed, also the treated Real-time effluent by novel bacteria which has shown 93% of degradation and also degradation profile by FT-IR and proven toxic free confirmed by GC-MS analysis. Thus, the bacteria isolated in this study can be used as eco-friendly biological expedients for the remediation and detoxification of azo dyes. This could be considered an efficient treatment method for various industrial effluents, as it provides zero sludge disposal during the treatment of industrial effluents.