Beyond Fang's fury: a computational study of the enzyme-membrane interaction and catalytic pathway of the snake venom phospholipase A toxin.

Snake venom-secreted phospholipases A (svPLAs) are critical, highly toxic enzymes present in almost all snake venoms. Upon snakebite envenomation, svPLAs hydrolyze cell membrane phospholipids and induce pathological effects such as paralysis, myonecrosis, inflammation, or pain. Despite its central importance in envenomation, the chemical mechanism of svPLAs is poorly understood, with detrimental consequences for the design of small-molecule snakebite antidotes, which is highly undesirable given the gravity of the epidemiological data that ranks snakebite as the deadliest neglected tropical disease.

Telomere length sensitive regulation of interleukin receptor 1 type 1 (IL1R1) by the shelterin protein TRF2 modulates immune signalling in the tumour microenvironment.

Telomeres are crucial for cancer progression. Immune signalling in the tumour microenvironment has been shown to be very important in cancer prognosis. However, the mechanisms by which telomeres might affect tumour immune response remain poorly understood.

Corrigendum to "Computational analysis to comprehend the structure-function properties of fibrinolytic enzymes from spp for their efficient integration into industrial applications" [Heliyon 10(13), July 2024, e33895].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Advancements in diagnostic techniques for scorpion venom identification: A comprehensive review.

Scorpion envenomation's ignored public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries is alarming. Particularly dangerous for small children and the elderly, it can cause severe problems and even death. Recent studies have proposed the creation of rapid, easy, species-specific, and sensitive detection kits as an alternative to the methods currently used to identify scorpions.

Garcinol enriched fraction of Garcinia morella (Gaertn.) Desr. fruit rind improves gut health and reduces the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating PCK1/ACC/SREBP1/FASn pathway in a mouse model.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a fast-emerging global burden, is an umbrella term for several liver manifestations that result in excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. NAFLD leads to gut microbiome dysbiosis, loss in gut epithelia, increased gut permeability, etc. The limited availability of registered drugs for NAFLD highlights the urgent need to focus on understanding its pathogenesis and discovering new treatments, including the potential exploration of herbal therapies for managing the condition.

Macrophage foam cell-derived mediator promotes spontaneous fat lipolysis in atherosclerosis models.

Ectopic lipid accumulation in macrophages is responsible for the formation of macrophage foam cells (MFCs) which are involved in the crosstalk with the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) of the vascular wall that plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis. However, the interrelationship between MFCs and PVAT implementing adipocyte dysfunction during atherosclerosis has not yet been established. We hypothesized that MFC-secreted mediator(s) is causally linked with PVAT dysfunction and the succession of atherosclerosis.

Interleukin-35: A key player managing pre-diabetes and chronic inflammatory type 1 autoimmune diabetes.

Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a novel protein comprising IL-12α and IL-27β chains. The IL12A and genes are responsible for its production. The study of IL-35 has experienced a substantial increase in interest in recent years, as demonstrated by many research papers.

Supplementation of polyclonal antibodies, developed against epitope-string toxin-specific peptide immunogens, to commercial polyvalent antivenom, shows improved neutralization of Indian Big Four and snake venoms.

Snakebites profoundly impact the rural population of tropical nations, leading to significant socio-economic repercussions. Polyvalent antivenom (PAV) therapy faces several limitations, including intra-specific variations and poor efficacy against some major toxins and low molecular mass, poorly immunogenic toxins, which contribute to increased mortality and morbidity rates. Innovative strategies for developing novel antivenoms are continuously explored to address these challenges.

Mechanism of betterment towards growth and induction of defense in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by biopriming with bacterial endophytes isolated from wild rice.

Utilizing beneficial microorganisms associated with plants, particularly endophytes, is becoming more and more prevalent since it supports the physiological health and evolutionary adaption of the host. The range of enhanced endophytic bacteria found in wild rice makes it a promising resource for sustainable agriculture. Current study focused on benefits of bacterial endophytes isolated from tissues of wild rice plants' roots, stems, and leaves for managing the health and development of rice (Oryza sativa L.

Development of a gold nanoparticle-based novel diagnostic prototype for detection of Indian red scorpion () venom.

Indian red scorpion is responsible for substantial mortality in India and Sri Lanka; however, no specific diagnostic method is available to detect the venom of this scorpion in envenomed plasma or body fluid. Therefore, we have proposed a novel, simple, and rapid method for detecting venom (MTV) in the plasma of envenomed animals using polyclonal antibodies (PAb) raised against three modified custom peptides representing the antigenic epitopes of K (Tamapin) and Na (α-neurotoxin) channel toxins, the two major MTV toxins identified by proteomic analysis. The optimum PAb formulation containing PAb 1, 2, and 3 in proportion (1:1:1, w/w/w) acted synergistically, demonstrating significantly higher immunological recognition of MTV than anti-scorpion antivenom (developed against native toxins) and individual antibodies against peptide immunogens.

Neurotrophin peptidomimetics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, play an essential role in the survival of neurons. However, incorporating better features can increase their therapeutic efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Peptidomimetics, which mimic these neurotrophins, show potential for treating NDs.

Studies on in vivo antithrombotic activity of quercetin, a natural flavonoid isolated from a traditional medicinal plant, African eggplant (Solanum indicum).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Every year, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for about 17.9 million deaths, making them the primary cause of both morbidity and mortality. Conventional drugs, which are often prescribed to treat cardiovascular diseases, are costly and have adverse effects.

Composition, pharmacology, and pathophysiology of the venom of monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)- a medically crucial venomous snake of southeast Asia: An updated review.

The Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia), a category one medically significant snake from the Elapidae family, inflicts severe envenomation in South and Southeast Asian countries. N. kaouthia is distributed throughout the eastern and northeastern parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and southwestern China.

Probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MKTJ24 isolated from an artisanal fermented fish of North-east India.

The study aimed to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria from various traditional fermented fish products from North East India, including Xindol, Hentak, and Ngari, which hold significant dietary importance for the indigenous tribes. Additionally, the study sought to examine their untargeted metabolomic profiles. A total of 43 strains of Bacillus, Priestia, Staphylococcus, Pediococcus, and Lactiplantibacillus were isolated, characterized by 16 S rRNA gene and tested for probiotic properties.

Heat-killed probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis MKAK9 and its exopolysaccharide promote longevity by modulating aging hallmarks and enhancing immune responses in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background: Proteostasis is a critical aging hallmark responsible for removing damaged or misfolded proteins and their aggregates by improving proteasomal degradation through the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Research on the impact of heat-killed probiotic bacteria and their structural components on aging hallmarks and innate immune responses is scarce, yet enhancing these effects could potentially delay age-related diseases.

Results: This study introduces a novel heat-killed Levilactobacillus brevis strain MKAK9 (HK MKAK9), along with its exopolysaccharide (EPS), demonstrating their ability to extend longevity by improving proteostasis and immune responses in wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans.

Computational analysis to comprehend the structure-function properties of fibrinolytic enzymes from spp for their efficient integration into industrial applications.

Background: The fibrinolytic enzymes from sp. are proposed as therapeutics in preventing thrombosis. Computational-based analyses of these enzymes' amino acid composition, basic physiological properties, presence of functional domain and motifs, and secondary and tertiary structure analyses can lead to developing a specific enzyme with improved catalytic activity and other properties that may increase their therapeutic potential.

Breakthroughs in road mapping IL-35 mediated immunotherapy for type-1 and autoimmune diabetes mellitus.

IL-35 is a recently discovered protein made up of IL-12α and IL-27β chains. It is encoded by IL12A and EBI3 genes. Interest in researching IL-35 has significantly increased in recent years, as evidenced by numerous scientific publications.

Phytomedicine for neurodegenerative diseases: The road ahead.

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are among the most common causes of death across the globe. NDs are characterized by progressive damage to CNS neurons, leading to defects in specific brain functions such as memory, cognition, and movement. The most common NDs are Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Exploring genetic divergence and marker-trait associations for leaffolder (Guenee) resistance in rice landraces.

Rice production faces a significant threat from the rice leaffolder, . To address this challenge, growing resistant varieties stands out as a sustainable and eco-friendly pest management strategy. This necessitates identifying resistant sources and understanding their inheritance patterns through employing DNA markers for marker-assisted resistance breeding.

A Correlation Study to Comprehend the SAR-CoV-2 Viral Load, Antiviral Antibody Titer, and Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms Post-infection Amongst the Vaccinated Population in Kamrup District of As sam, Northeast India.

Background: As per the recommendation of the United States Food and Drug Administration, more research is needed to determine the antibody titer against COVID-19 vaccination.

Objective: The study aimed to understand the relationship between the antibody titer to the demographics, infection severity, and cycle threshold (CT) values of confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Initially, we obtained consent from 185 populations and included sixty RT-PCRpositive COVID-19 patients from Kamrup District in the Northeast State of Assam, India.

A single dietary factor, daily consumption of a fermented beverage, can modulate the gut bacteria and fecal metabolites within the same ethnic community.

Our study investigated how a traditional drink called Apong, made from fermented rice, affects the gut and health of the Mishing community in India. We compared two groups of people who drink Apong to a group of people who do not drink it. To accomplish this, we studied the gut bacteria, fecal metabolites, and blood samples of the participants.