Mechanistic Cooperation of the Two Pore-Forming Transmembrane Motifs Regulates the β-Barrel Pore Formation by Listeriolysin O.

Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a potent membrane-damaging pore-forming toxin (PFT) secreted by the bacterial pathogen . LLO belongs to the family of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs), which specifically target cholesterol-containing cell membranes to form oligomeric pores and induce membrane damage. CDCs, including LLO, harbor designated pore-forming motifs.

Current Applications and Future Directions for Vascular Stents with Stem Cells in the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Mini-Review.

Vascular stents and stem cells have been used in high-acuity cases for many decades, particularly in cardiology. Providing the physician with another avenue of treatment, they have had a reasonable amount of success. However, there has been very little research conducted on seeding vascular stents with stem cells when treating intracranial aneurysms.

Influence of Magnesium Ions and Crowding Agents on Structure and Stability of RNA Aptamers.

Aptamers bind to their targets with exceptional affinity and specificity. However, their intracellular application is hampered by the lack of knowledge about the effect of the cellular milieu on the RNA structure/stability. In this study, cellular crowding was mimicked using polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the crucial role of Mg ions in stabilizing the structure of an RNA aptamer was investigated.

Evaluation of gum odina/carbopol composite mucoadhesive hydrogel on pharmaceutical performance: Focusing on potential periodontal treatment.

Antimicrobial buccal hydrogel made of polymers have gained tremendous utilisation in biomedical field. Dual drug loaded, porous materials are important areas of research for medical and pharmaceutical industries. In this regard, a series of hydrogels (F1, F2, F3) were prepared with gum odina and carbopol 940 in aqueous solution with calcium chloride as the cross linker and glycerol as plasticizer by ionotropic gelation method.

Energy conservation or expense? A possible dilemma under combined stresses of salinity and submergence in rice.

Salinity and flooding are two major production impediments affecting rice cultivation in coastal agro-ecosystems. We investigated how rice plants use two contrasting strategies such as energy conservation (for submergence tolerance) and energy expenditure (for ion exclusion) to adapt to the combined stresses of saline water submergence (SWS). Pot and hydroponic experiments were conducted using four selected rice genotypes carrying Sub1 (Submergence1) and/or Saltol (Salinity tolerance) QTLs in their genetic background and exposed them to salinity and submergence stresses individually and combined under controlled experimental conditions.

Time delay and evidence profiles forming clinical recommendations of US surgical society guidelines.

Introduction: Surgical society guidelines facilitate implementation of up-to-date, evidence-based care, but concerns regarding the contemporality and quality of evidence can hinder adherence. We aimed to evaluate the time gap between evidence publication and their inclusion within clinical guidelines-the publication-to-guideline delay-and characterize the quality of evidence within contemporary surgical society guidelines.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study analyzed guidelines published by U.

Cholesterol-driven modulation of membrane-membrane interactions by an antimicrobial peptide, NK-2, in phospholipid vesicles.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of the innate immune system, demonstrating their antimicrobial effects primarily through the creation of transmembrane pores that result in membrane disruption. Cholesterol within the membrane can significantly affect the interaction between AMPs and the membrane, as it is known to alter both the permeability and elastic properties of the membrane. In this study, we have investigated the influence of cholesterol on the interaction of the AMP, NK-2 with phospholipid vesicles.

Pyroptotic executioner pore-forming protein gasdermin D forms oligomeric assembly and exhibits amyloid-like attributes that could contribute for its pore-forming function.

Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is the chief executioner of inflammatory cell death or pyroptosis. During pyroptosis, proteolytic processing of GSDMD releases its N-terminal domain (NTD), which then forms large oligomeric pores in the plasma membranes. Membrane pore-formation by NTD allows the release of inflammatory cytokines and causes membrane damage to induce cell death.

Leishmania protein KMP-11 modulates cholesterol transport and membrane fluidity to facilitate host cell invasion.

The first step of successful infection by any intracellular pathogen relies on its ability to invade its host cell membrane. However, the detailed structural and molecular understanding underlying lipid membrane modification during pathogenic invasion remains unclear. In this study, we show that a specific Leishmania donovani (LD) protein, KMP-11, forms oligomers that bridge LD and host macrophage (MΦ) membranes.

Studies of Protein Phase Separation Using Leishmania Kinetoplastid Membrane Protein-11.

Despite the significant understanding of phase separation in proteins with intrinsically disordered regions, a considerable percentage of proteins without such regions also undergo phase separation, presenting an intriguing area for ongoing research across all kingdoms of life. Using a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, we report here for the first time that a low temperature and low pH can trigger the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of a parasitic protein, kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11). Electrostatic and hydrophobic forces are found to be essential for the formation and stability of phase-separated protein assemblies.

The multifaceted role of different SnRK gene family members in regulating multiple abiotic stresses in plants.

Abiotic stresses are a major constraint for agricultural productivity and food security in today's era of climate change. Plants can experience different types of abiotic stresses, either individually or in combination. Sometimes, more than one stress event may occur simultaneously or one after another during the lifecycle of the plant.

Entangling roles of cholesterol-dependent interaction and cholesterol-mediated lipid phase heterogeneity in regulating listeriolysin O pore-formation.

Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are the distinct class of β-barrel pore-forming toxins (β-PFTs) that attack eukaryotic cell membranes, and form large, oligomeric, transmembrane β-barrel pores. Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a prominent member in the CDC family. As documented for the other CDCs, membrane cholesterol is essential for the pore-forming functionality of LLO.

Can Ayurveda medicine supplement modern medical treatments in chronic disease management?

The editorial highlights the fact that there is limited communication between healthcare providers and patients about complementary and integrative medicine (TCI) like Ayurveda. To address this, healthcare professionals need better education on Ayurveda. Additionally, international collaborations can enhance research and credible information, ensuring safe and effective patient care.

Strong light-matter interaction and non-linear effects in organic semiconducting CuPc nanotubes: realization of all-optical diode and switching applications.

Spatial self-phase modulation based on the optical Kerr effect has gained momentum in recent years to analyse the nonlinear optical properties of 2D inorganic nanomaterials. In the present work, we investigate the strong light-matter interaction of organic semiconducting materials based on SSPM, by developing Cu-phthalocyanine (CuPc) nanotubes a solvothermal technique. The low bandgap of CuPc facilitates the study of its nonlinear optical properties for a broad spectrum range from 671 nm to 405 nm.

Fabrication of thiosemicarbazone-based Pd(II) complexes: structural elucidations, catalytic activity towards Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction and antitumor activity against TNBC cells.

Currently, there are many uses of metal complexes, especially in the fields of medicinal chemistry and catalysis. Thus, fabrication of new complexes which perform as a catalyst and chemotherapeutic drug is always a beneficial addition to the literature. Herein, we report three heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone-based Pd(II) complexes [Pd(HL1)Cl] (C1), [Pd(L2)(PPh)] (C2) and [Pd(L3)(PPh)]Cl (C3) having coligands Cl and PPh.

Key characteristics of effective yoga interventions for managing osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review aimed to synthesise the content, structure, and delivery characteristics of effective yoga interventions for managing osteoarthritis symptoms, including joint pain and joint function. JBI guidelines were followed. 17 databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing yoga's effectiveness on osteoarthritis symptoms.

Conformational Switch of a Peptide Provides a Novel Strategy to Design Peptide Loaded Porous Organic Polymer for Pyroptosis Pathway Mediated Cancer Therapy.

While peptide-based drug development is extensively explored, this strategy has limitations due to rapid excretion from the body (or shorter half-life in the body) and vulnerability to protease-mediated degradation. To overcome these limitations, a novel strategy for the development of a peptide-based anticancer agent is introduced, utilizing the conformation switch property of a chameleon sequence stretch (PEP1) derived from a mycobacterium secretory protein, MPT63. The selected peptide is then loaded into a new porous organic polymer (PG-DFC-POP) synthesized using phloroglucinol and a cresol derivative via a condensation reaction to deliver the peptide selectively to cancer cells.

Effectiveness and safety of self-management interventions for improving glycemic control and health-related quality of life among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this review was to assess and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and safety of self-management interventions for improving glycemic control and health-related quality of life among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: There has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of T2DM in sub-Saharan Africa. Lifestyle-related risk factors require self-management strategies, and these must be tailored to the context.

Elucidating photocycle in large Stokes shift red fluorescent proteins: Focus on mKeima.

Large Stokes shift red fluorescent proteins (LSS-RFPs) are genetically encoded and exhibit a significant difference of a few hundreds of nanometers between their excitation and emission peak maxima (i.e., the Stokes shift).

The Western giants of the neuroanatomical past: an ode to yesterday - Part II.

"The history of the world is the biography of the great man. And I said: the great man always acts like a thunder. He storms the skies, while others are waiting to be stormed," said Thomas Carlyle.