Recombinant Calreticulin Binds Complement Proteins but Does Not Protect from Complement Killing.

is a blood-feeding obligate ectoparasite responsible for transmitting the Lyme disease (LD) agent, . During the feeding process, injects into the host along with its saliva, facilitating the transmission and colonization of the LD agent. Tick calreticulin (CRT) is one of the earliest tick saliva proteins identified and is currently utilized as a biomarker for tick bites.

A tick saliva serpin, IxsS17 inhibits host innate immune system proteases and enhances host colonization by Lyme disease agent.

Lyme disease (LD) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is among the most important human vector borne diseases for which there is no effective prevention method. Identification of tick saliva transmission factors of the LD agent is needed before the highly advocated tick antigen-based vaccine could be developed. We previously reported the highly conserved Ixodes scapularis (Ixs) tick saliva serpin (S) 17 (IxsS17) was highly secreted by B.

Nonphotodynamic Roles of Methylene Blue: Display of Distinct Antimycobacterial and Anticandidal Mode of Actions.

Significance of methylene blue (MB) in photodynamic therapy against microbes is well established. Previously, we have reported the antifungal potential of MB against . The present study attempts to identify additional antimicrobial effect of MB against another prevalent human pathogen, (MTB).

Monoterpenoid perillyl alcohol impairs metabolic flexibility of Candida albicans by inhibiting glyoxylate cycle.

The metabolic pathway such as glyoxylate cycle (GC) enables Candida albicans, to survive under glucose deficient conditions prevalent in the hostile niche. Thus its key enzymes (Isocitrate lyase; ICL and malate synthase; MLS) represent attractive targets against C. albicans.

Insights into the intracellular mechanisms of citronellal in Candida albicans: implications for reactive oxygen species-mediated necrosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage.

Introduction: Citronellal (Cit) possesses antifungal activity and has possible implications for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in Candida albicans. In this study, the effects of Cit on ROS generation and the mechanisms by which Cit exerts anti-Candida effects were examined.

Methods: A 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay was used to assess oxidative damage.

Diabetes Mellitus as Hub for Tuberculosis Infection: A Snapshot.

Tuberculosis (TB) still remains the thorn in the flesh of efficient therapeutics affecting one-third of global population annually. There are several factors that enhance the susceptibility to TB infections including malnutrition, smoking, and immunocompromised conditions such as AIDS. In the recent years, growing body of evidence has gained considerable prominence which suggests that Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is individual risk factor leading to complicated TB infections.

Recent Advancements in Antimycobacterial and Antifungal Drugs: A Patent Perspective.

Background: Infections caused by Mycobacterium and pathogenic fungi have risen drastically over the past few decades. Moreover, with the increase in the number of immunocompromised (burn, organ transplant, chemotherapy, HIV) patients, these bacterial and fungal infections have led to alarming mortality rates. The drugs currently in use have become relatively ineffective due to ever increasing phenomenon of multidrug resistance.

Anticandidal Effect and Mechanisms of Monoterpenoid, Perillyl Alcohol against Candida albicans.

This study explored the antifungal potential of perillyl alcohol (PA), a natural monoterpene alcohol, against most prevalent human fungal pathogen C. albicans, its clinical isolates and four non-albicans species of Candida. To resolve the potential mechanisms, we used whole genome transcriptome analyses of PA treated Candida cells to examine the affected cellular circuitry of this pathogen.

Mechanistic insights into the mode of action of anticandidal sesamol.

Previously we have deciphered the antifungal effect of sesamol (Ses), a phenolic compound obtained from sesame oil, against human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. To gain deeper insights into the possible mechanisms involved, transcription profiling was done in presence of Ses which revealed various targets through which Ses was barricading the growth of C. albicans.

Antifungal Action of Methylene Blue Involves Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Disruption of Redox and Membrane Homeostasis in C. albicans.

Candida albicans is known to cause infections ranging from superficial and systemic in immunocompromised person. In this study, we explored that the antifungal action of Methylene blue (MB) is mediated through mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption of redox and membrane homeostasis against C. albicans.

Sesamol: a natural phenolic compound with promising anticandidal potential.

We investigated the antifungal effects of sesamol (Ses), a natural phenolic compound, and exemplified that it could be mediated through disruption of calcineurin signaling pathway in C. albicans, a human fungal pathogen. The repertoire of antifungal activity not only was limited to C.