Subtractive genome mining in Xanthomonas citri pv. citri strain 306 for identifying novel drug target proteins coupled with in-depth protein-protein interaction and coevolution analysis - A leap towards prospective drug design.

Citrus canker poses a serious threat to a highly significant citrus fruit crop, this disease caused by one of the most destructive bacterial plant pathogens Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc). Bacterial plant diseases significantly reduce crop yields worldwide, making it more difficult to supply the growing food demand.

Exploring aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a target for Bisphenol-A (BPA)-induced pancreatic islet toxicity and impaired glucose homeostasis: Protective efficacy of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica.

The estrogenic impact of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a widely recognized endocrine disruptor, causes disruption of pancreatic β-cell function through estrogen receptors (ERs). While BPA's binding affinity for ERs is significantly lower than that of its natural counterpart, estrogen, recent observations of BPA's affinity for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in specific cellular contexts have sparked a specific question: does AhR play a role in BPA's toxicological effects within the endocrine pancreas? To explore this question, we investigated BPA's (10 and 100 μg/ kg body weight/day for 21 days) potential to activate AhR within pancreatic islets and assessed the protective role of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica (CA) (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight/day for 21 days) against BPA-mediated toxicity in mouse model. Our results indicate that BPA effectively triggers the activation of AhR and modulates its target genes within pancreatic islets.

Antibacterial potency of cytocompatible chitosan-decorated biogenic silver nanoparticles and molecular insights towards cell-particle interaction.

In the study, leaf extract of Carica papaya was utilized for the biogenic fabrication process of chitosan functionalized silver nanoparticles (Ag-Chito NPs). HRTEM analysis revealed that the fabricated Ag-Chito NPs was spherical in shape, with an average particle size of 13.31 (±0.

Development of a Virus-Induced Gene Silencing System for Dioecious Coccinia grandis.

Coccinia grandis is an interesting model system to understand dioecy in Cucurbitaceae family. Recent transcriptomics and proteomics studies carried out to understand the sex expression in C. grandis have resulted in identification of many candidate sex-biased genes.

Flower bud proteome reveals modulation of sex-biased proteins potentially associated with sex expression and modification in dioecious Coccinia grandis.

Background: Dioecy is an important sexual system wherein, male and female flowers are borne on separate unisexual plants. Knowledge of sex-related differences can enhance our understanding in molecular and developmental processes leading to unisexual flower development. Coccinia grandis is a dioecious species belonging to Cucurbitaceae, a family well-known for diverse sexual forms.

De novo transcriptome assembly from flower buds of dioecious, gynomonoecious and chemically masculinized female Coccinia grandis reveals genes associated with sex expression and modification.

Background: Coccinia grandis (ivy gourd), is a dioecious member of Cucurbitaceae having heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Chromosome constitution of male and female plants of C. grandis is 22A + XY and 22A + XX respectively.

Flower development, pollen fertility and sex expression analyses of three sexual phenotypes of Coccinia grandis.

Background: Coccinia grandis is a dioecious species of Cucurbitaceae having heteromorphic sex chromosomes. The chromosome constitution of male and female plants is 22 + XY and 22 + XX respectively. Y chromosome of male sex is conspicuously large and plays a decisive role in determining maleness.

Brevibacillus sp. KUMAs2, a bacterial isolate for possible bioremediation of arsenic in rhizosphere.

Arsenic (As) contamination of soil and water has been considered as a major global environmental issue during last few decades. Among the various methods so far reported for reclamation of As contaminated rhizosphere soil, bioremediation using bacteria has been found to be most promising. An As resistant bacterial isolate Brevibacillus sp.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa KUCD1, a possible candidate for cadmium bioremediation.

A cadmium (8 mM) resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain KUCd1 exhibiting high Cd accumulation under in vitro aerobic condition has been reported. The isolate showed a significant ability to remove more than 75% and 89% of the soluble cadmium during the active growth phase from the growth medium and from Cd-amended industrial wastewater under growth supportive condition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) suggest the presence of Cd in the cells from mid stationary phase.

Isolation and characterization of a Cr(VI) reducing Bacillus firmus strain from industrial effluents.

A chromium resistant bacterial strain KUCr1 exhibiting potential Cr(VI) reducing ability under in vitro aerobic condition is reported. The bacterial strain showed varied degree of resistance to different heavy metals. The MIC of chromium to this strain was found to be 950 mM under aerobic culture condition in complex medium.

Cadmium-induced siderophore production by a high Cd-resistant bacterial strain relieved Cd toxicity in plants through root colonization.

This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of a high cadmium (Cd)-resistant bacterial strain, and possible exploitation of its Cd-accumulation and Cd-induced siderophore production property to improve plant growth in cadmium-contaminated soil through root colonization. The bacterial strain could tolerate up to 8 mM of Cd and could accumulate Cd intracellularly. The strain showed Cd-induced siderophore production maximally at 1.