Functional (re)annotation of proteome using integrative sequence and AI-based structural approaches.

Functional annotation of proteins is crucial in understanding the basic biology of organisms. In the context of pathogens, it can provide valuable insights towards its functional landscape contributing to understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and survival. In this study, we explored the applications of sequence and AI-driven structure-based methods to functionally (re)annotate (MAB).

Subtractive Proteomic Approaches to Identify Drug Targets: An Analysis on Hypothetical Proteins of Multidrug-Resistant .

is a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections. The exploration of novel therapeutic targets within its proteome is essential for developing successful therapies for combating infections caused by this organism. Employing in silico approaches, this study aims to identify drug targets from hypothetical proteins of .

Lipid Nanoparticles for the Delivery of mRNA.

The development of lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) has significantly advanced the field of drug delivery, particularly for nucleic acids, such as mRNA being clinically used in the vaccines against COVID-19. This chapter explores the structural composition and functional properties of LNPs, including key components, such as ionizable cationic lipids, neutral/helper phospholipids, cholesterol, and lipid-anchored polyethylene glycol (PEG) constructs. The discussion includes the role of these components in improving the stability, biocompatibility, and delivery efficiency of LNPs.

Streptomyces lothianensis sp. nov., an Antibiotic-Producing Strain Isolated From the Indian Sundarbans Mangrove Forest.

Strain KLOTTS4A1 was isolated from the soil sediment of the mangrove forest of Lothian Island, Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. The chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics of the strain indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the strain was most closely related to the strains Streptomyces indicus IH32-1 (97.

The role of amino acid composition in the antibacterial activity of laterosporulin analogs.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial activity of the structural analogs of a class IId bacteriocin, laterosporulin.

Methods And Results: The antimicrobial peptide laterosporulin3 (LS3), produced by a Brevibacillus sp. strain SKR3, showed 96% identity to earlier described laterosporulin (LS) and 60% to laterosporulin10 (LS10) in amino acid composition.

Characterization and genome analysis of a novel lytic phage vB_ntSalS-cftriSP11 infecting Salmonella typhimurium.

Background: In response to rising antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage application is gaining renewed attention, marking a paradigm shift in managing bacterial infections, especially foodborne pathogens. Non-typhoidal salmonellosis remains a major global health burden. In this context, a novel lytic bacteriophage targeting Salmonella typhimurium was isolated and characterized.

The impact of educational interventions on food label comprehension and food choices among adolescents: a scoping review.

Background: Over the past few years, there has been a global shift in the food consumption pattern from traditional home cooked meals to ultra-processed packaged foods (UPFs). Adolescents are the most avid consumers of UPFs, with these foods comprising nearly 16.2% of total daily energy intake among Indian adolescents.

Differentiating α-synuclein aggregates using charge-sensitive gold nanoclusters.

The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in the brain is associated with Parkinson's disease, making it a promising biomarker for understanding the disease's pathogenesis. Distinguishing between oligomeric forms of amyloidogenic proteins is crucial, as their toxicity depends on conformation. This study leverages surface charge differences to distinguish α-syn monomers from amyloids.

Genomic and Functional Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant : Insights into Resistome, Virulome, and Signaling Systems.

Genetic plasticity and adaptive camouflage in critical pathogens have contributed to the global surge in multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, posing a serious threat to public health and therapeutic efficacy. Antimicrobial resistance, now a leading cause of global mortality, demands urgent action through diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research's surveillance network identifies as a major cause of urinary tract infections, with increasing prevalence in human gut microbiomes, highlighting its significance across One Health domains.

Gut dysbiosis influences the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis: A case-control study from North India.

Background And Objectives: Alterations in gut microbiota have been linked to pathophysiology of immune-mediated diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). This study was undertaken to characterise the gut microbiome profile in North Indian MS patients and to evaluate gut health using biomarkers like zonulin (intestinal permeability) and calprotectin (intestinal inflammation).

Methods: 84 Patients with relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS) of 18-75 years of age with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score less than or equal to 5.

A dual-function probe for inhibition and rapid detection of .

We introduce a dual-purpose solvatochromic naphthalimide-benzothiazinone (BTZ) conjugate with theranostic potential that enables specific and rapid detection of by targeting the DprE1 enzyme, while also exhibiting antimicrobial activity. The photoinduced electron transfer (PeT)-based fluorophore incorporates into the mycobacterial cell wall, producing detectable fluorescence within 15 minutes and thus, highlighting its suitability for rapid, point-of-care TB detection in low-resource settings.

Metformin induces iron deprivation and enhances mitochondrial ROS in macrophages creating a hostile environment for survival of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB). Though several factors, including immune system dysfunction, have been linked to this sensitivity the exact reasons have yet to be fully elucidated. Although metformin, a diabetic medication, has been suggested as a potential supplementary for host-directed therapy of tuberculosis, the mechanisms of its anti-TB effects remain unclear.

Impact of IMT-P8 on the Efficacy of Conventional Antibiotics for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant and Intracellular .

Addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance is of the utmost importance on a global scale. We are in dire need of innovative methods and alternatives to new antibiotic discovery in order to address the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of cell-penetrating peptide (IMT-P8) as an adjuvant to enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics against multidrug-resistant and intracellular in vitro and in vivo IMT-P8 potentiates various antibiotics belonging to different classes.

Identification of SARS-CoV-2-binding lectins on a commercial lectin array.

The Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is the major target for vaccines and therapeutics. Spike glycosylation is critical for ACE2 binding and subsequent viral fusion and entry. Here, we studied lectins for their ability to bind to SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein and SARS-CoV-2 virions by employing an array of 95 lectins, for 68 of which we predicted glycan-binding specificities using publically available glycan array data and MotifFinder software.

Identification of prochlorperazine dimaleate as a Sortase A inhibitor from FDA libraries for MRSA infection treatment.

is acknowledged as an essential contributor to global disease burden, particularly with the emergence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) strains. This study employs a systematic computational and experimental strategy to screen and validate FDA-approved drugs to target Sortase A, an essential enzyme involved in MRSA virulence. Herein, we have identified six molecules exhibiting antimicrobial potency against MRSA and reduced biofilm formation.

Genome wide analysis of Priestia aryabhattai_OP, an endobacterium, modulating growth, development and biochemical compositions of sporophores in edible oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (MTCC 1802).

The increasing global interest in the consuming and producing of edible oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) is driven by their well-documented nutritional and health benefits. The metagenomic analysis of fruiting body revealed a distinct microbial composition in P.

Genomic insights into novel predatory myxobacteria isolated from human feces.

Myxobacteria are Gram-negative, spore-forming predatory bacteria isolated from diverse environmental samples that feed on other microbes for their survival and growth. However, no reports of cultured representatives from the human gut have been published to date, although previous investigations have revealed the presence of myxobacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in skin and fecal samples. In this study, three myxobacterial strains designated as O35, O15, and Y35 were isolated and purified from fecal samples of two inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Identification of NRPS and type II PKS biosynthetic gene cluster (s) encoding decaplanin and kigamicin from Amycolatopsis regifaucium DSM 45072T.

Amycolatopsis regifaucium, a Gram-positive actinomycete, is a prolific source of biologically active compounds, including polyphenol antibiotics like kigamicins. This study presents the draft genome of A. regifaucium DSM 45072T (= GY080T), which spans 8.

Enzymatic degradation of PET by hydrolase from Brucella intermedia IITR130 and its genomic insights.

Plastic pollution, particularly from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has become a significant environmental concern, necessitating innovative and sustainable degradation strategies. The present study provides valuable perspectives on the genomic and functional characteristics of Brucella intermedia IITR130, a bacterium capable of degrading PET. Hybrid genome sequencing of IITR130 resulted in identification of two chromosomes combining 4.

In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations into the Potential of Quinazoline and Quinoline Derivatives as NorA Efflux Pump Inhibitors Against Resistant Strains.

is a highly lethal Gram-positive bacterium that is responsible for over one million deaths annually. As a member of the ESKAPE pathogens, its methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) are prevalent worldwide and exhibit significant antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bacterial efflux pumps play a pivotal role in the development of AMR by facilitating the expulsion of a range of antimicrobial agents.

Strategic Design and Optimization of Umifenovir Analogues: Balancing Antiviral Efficacy and hERG Toxicity against SARS-CoV-2.

Arbidol (ARB, Umifenovir), a broad-spectrum antiviral from Russia, lacks Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval due to insufficient clinical data and undocumented toxicity concerns. Its indole scaffold, with six unique substitutions, enables optimization for improved efficacy. This study optimized ARB's antiviral potency and safety by modifying the N1, C2, C3, and C4 positions.

Impact of altitudinal variations on plant growth dynamics, nutritional composition, and free living rhizospheric N fixing bacterial community of Eruca sativa.

High-altitude environments present unique abiotic stresses, yet their impact on the growth, nutritional quality, and rhizospheric interactions of E. sativa remains underexplored. Here, we investigate the altitudinal variations in growth dynamics, nutritional composition, and rhizospheric free-living N-fixing bacteria (NFBs) of E.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Protein-Protein Interaction Among SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid, Host SFPQ, and hnRNP U and Its Potential Role in Virus Replication.

SARS-CoV-2 has led to significant global health and economic challenges and caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of the virus to replicate adeptly within host cells is critical for its pathogenicity. The structural nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 packages newly synthesized viral RNA with the association of various host proteins that may contribute to different functions in maintaining a productive viral life cycle.

Iron sensing, signalling and acquisition by microbes and plants under environmental stress: Use of iron-solubilizing bacteria in crop biofortification for sustainable agriculture.

Iron is very crucial micronutrient prerequisite for growth of all cellular organisms including plants, microbes, animals and humans. Though iron (Fe) is present in abundance in earth's crust, but most of its forms present in soil are biologically unavailable, thus putting a constraint to utilize it. Plants and microorganisms maintain iron homeostasis to balance the supply of enough Fe for metabolism from their surrounding environments and to avoid excessive toxic levels.