Decoding antimicrobial resistance: unraveling molecular mechanisms and targeted strategies.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat, necessitating innovative approaches for combatting it. This review explores various mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance observed in various strains of bacteria. We examine various strategies, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), novel antimicrobial materials, drug delivery systems, vaccines, antibody therapies, and non-traditional antibiotic treatments.

Prospects of probiotics in beekeeping: a review for sustainable approach to boost honeybee health.

Honeybees are vital for global crop pollination, making indispensable contributions to agricultural productivity. However, these vital insects are currently facing escalating colony losses on a global scale, primarily attributed to parasitic and pathogenic attacks. The prevalent response to combat these infections may involve the use of antibiotics.

Polyamidoamine dendrimer decorated graphene oxide as a pH-sensitive nanocarrier for the delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drug quercetin: a remedy for breast cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer decorated graphene oxide (GO) based nanocarrier for targeted delivery of a hydrophobic anticancer drug, quercetin (QSR).

Methods: GO-PAMAM was successfully synthesized by covalent bonding between GO and NH2-terminated PAMAM dendrimer (zero generation). To investigate drug loading performance, QSR was loaded on the surface of GO as well as GO-PAMAM.

Deciphering the growth stage specific bioactive diversity patterns in (L.) Spreng. using multivariate data analysis.

The study was undertaken to characterize the total phenolics, flavonoids, essential oils, quinones, tannins and antioxidant activity of 15 samples of wild (L.) Spreng. (MK) leaves obtained from different locations of Himachal Pradesh at various growth stages.

Dual Drug Loaded Potassium-contained Graphene Oxide as a Nanocarrier in Cocktailed Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Human Breast Cancer.

Background: The combinatorial use of anticancer drugs, dual or multiple, with a specific nanocarrier is one of the most promising attempts in drug delivery. The current work reports potassium contained graphene oxide (K-GO) as a nanocarrier in the drug delivery system of two anticancer drugs, gefitinib (GEF) and camptothecin (CPT), simultaneously.

Methods: To characterize K-GO, K-GO-related single and combined drug systems, different techniques have been performed and studied using the following spectroscopic tools, such as Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA 4000), UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide as a potential nanocarrier for pH-responsive delivery of sparingly soluble quercetin against breast cancer cells.

In this work, polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide (GO-PVP-FeO) was successfully synthesized for efficient delivery of anticancer drug. Firstly, GO was functionalized with the hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and then grafted with magnetic nanoparticles (FeO) through an easy and effective chemical co-precipitation method. Quercetin (QSR) as an anticancer drug was loaded onto the surface of GO-PVP-FeO non-covalent interactions.

Precise measurement of the fitness effects of spontaneous mutations by droplet digital PCR in Burkholderia cenocepacia.

Understanding how mutations affect survivability is a key component to knowing how organisms and complex traits evolve. However, most mutations have a minor effect on fitness and these effects are difficult to resolve using traditional molecular techniques. Therefore, there is a dire need for more accurate and precise fitness measurements methods.

Recent Advancements in Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles for Improvement of Bioactivities: A Review.

Natural products have widely been used in applications ranging from antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and various other medicinal applications. The use of these natural products was recognized way before the establishment of basic chemistry behind the disease and the chemistry of plant metabo-lites. After the establishment of plant chemistry, various new horizons evolved, and the application of natural products breached the orthodox limitations.

Functionalized graphene oxide as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging applications.

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted tremendous attention as a most promising nanomaterial among the carbon family since it emerged as a polynomial functional tool with rational applications in diverse fields such as biomedical engineering, electrocatalysis, biosensing, energy conversion, and storage devices. Despite having certain limitations due to its irreversible aggregation performance owing largely to the strong van der Waals interactions, efforts have been made to smartly engineer its surface chemistry for realistic multimodal applications. The use of such GO-based engineered devices has increased rapidly in the last few years, principally due to its excellent properties, such as huge surface area, honeycomb-like structure allowing vacant interstitial space to accommodate compounds, sp2 hybridized carbon, improved biocompatibility and cell surface penetration due to electronic interactions.

Age-Related Expression of Human AT1R Variants and Associated Renal Dysfunction in Transgenic Mice.

Background: The contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms in transcriptional regulation of the human angiotensin receptor type I (hAT1R) gene in age-related chronic pathologies such as hypertension and associated renal disorders is not well known. The hAT1R gene has single nucleotide polymorphisms in its promoter that forms 2 haplotypes (Hap), Hap-I and Hap-II. Hap-I of AT1R gene is associated with hypertension in Caucasians.

Metabolic Syndrome Induces Over Expression of the Human AT1R: A Haplotype-Dependent Effect With Implications on Cardio-Renal Function.

Background: The transcriptional regulation of the human angiotensin receptor subtype 1 (AT1R) gene in pathophysiologies, like the metabolic syndrome, is poorly understood. The human AT1R gene has polymorphisms in its promoter that can be arranged in 2 haplotypes. Variants -810T, -713T, -214A, and -153A always occur together (Hap-I) and variants -810A, -713G, -214C, and -153G form Hap-II.

The transcriptional regulation of the human angiotensinogen gene after high-fat diet is haplotype-dependent: Novel insights into the gene-regulatory networks and implications for human hypertension.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human angiotensinogen (hAGT) gene may modulate its transcription and affect the regulation of blood pressure via activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS). In this regard, we have identified polymorphisms in the 2.5 Kb promoter of the hAGT gene that form two haplotype (Hap) blocks: -6A/G (-1670A/G, -1562C/T, -1561T/C) and -217A/G (-532T/C, -793A/G, -1074T/C & -1178G/A).

Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Human Angiotensin I Receptor Gene Are Susceptible to Stroke Injury.

Hypertension is one of the co-morbid conditions for stroke and profoundly increases its incidence. Angiotensin II (AngII) is shown to be at the center stage in driving the renin angiotensin system via activation of angiotensin 1 receptor (AT1R). This makes the AT1R gene one of the candidates whose differential regulation leads to the predisposition to disorders associated with hypertension.

Dexamethasone promotes hypertension by allele-specific regulation of the human angiotensinogen gene.

The human angiotensinogen (hAGT) gene has polymorphisms in its 2.5-kb promoter that form two haplotype (Hap) blocks: -6A/G (-1670A/G, -1562C/T, and -1561T/C) and -217A/G (-532T/C, -793A/G, -1074T/C, and -1178G/A). Hap -6A/-217A is associated with human hypertension, whereas Hap -6G/-217G reduces cardiovascular risk.

Variable transcriptional regulation of the human aldosterone synthase gene causes salt-dependent high blood pressure in transgenic mice.

Background: Aldosterone, synthesized in the adrenal cortex by the enzyme CYP11B2, induces positive sodium balance and predisposes to hypertension. Various investigators, using genomic DNA analyses, have linked -344T polymorphism in the human CYP11B2 (hCYP11B2) gene to human hypertension. hCYP11B2 gene promoter has 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in linkage disequilibrium: T/A at -663, T/C at -470, and C/T at -344.

HSV-1 as well as HSV-2 is frequent in oral mucosal lesions of children on chemotherapy.

Purpose: Prevalence data of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in oral mucositis in children on treatment for cancer is limited. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been seldom utilized for detection of HSV-1/2 in oral mucosa.

Methods: Children on treatment for cancer with oral mucositis were enrolled as cases and healthy children as controls.

A haplotype of angiotensin receptor type 1 associated with human hypertension increases blood pressure in transgenic mice.

The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure via angiotensin II and the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R). Human AT1R gene promoter has four SNPs: T/A at -777, T/G at -680, A/C at -214, and A/G at -119, that are in linkage disequilibrium. Variants -777T, -680T, -214A, and -119A almost always occur together (named haplotype I), and variants -777A, -680G, -214C, and -119G almost always occur together (named haplotype II) in Caucasian subjects.

A comparative proteomic study of sera in paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients and in healthy controls using MALDI-TOF-TOF and LC MS-A pilot study.

Background: Paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) exhibits an aggressive clinical phenotype with severe complications and overall poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyse differential expression of low molecular weight (LMW) serum protein molecules of pSLE patients with active disease in comparison to sera of healthy age matched controls. Further, some of the differential expressed spots were characterised and identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC-MS).

Impact of environmental changes on the reproductive biology in Pyrostegia venusta Presl.

Local environment (temperature and relative humidity) affects reproductive biology in Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) growing at Agra and Mysore. At Agra, the species flowers profusely during December to March, but fails to bear fruits. At Mysore, on the other hand it flowers during November to February and produces well developed fruits with winged seeds.

Study of low-density lipoprotein receptor regulation by oral (steroid) contraceptives: desogestrel, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in JEG-3 cell line and placental tissue.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare in vitro the role of two oral contraceptives, desogestrel (a less androgenic derivative of levonorgestrel) and levonorgestrel--alone and in combination with ethinyl estradiol--on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor regulation by assessing receptor protein expression and functional effectiveness.

Study Design: Placental tissue and cultured placental cells (JEG-3) were used to study the expression and endocytotic activity of LDL receptor protein. The expression of the receptor was assessed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblot assays with and without contraceptive challenge.

Impact of air pollution on floral morphology of Cassia siamea Lamk.

Cassia siamea plants growing at two different sites (polluted and non-polluted) on two important roads of Agra city exhibited significant differences in their flowering phenology and floral morphology. The flowering in plants growing at polluted site is delayed and there was a marked reduction in flowering density, flowering period, size of floral parts, pollen fertility, fruit and seed-set. SEM observations revealed the presence of well developed glandular structures and reduction in the number and size of large stomata on the anther surface at polluted site.