Unexplored microbial diversity from 2,500 food metagenomes and links with the human microbiome.

Complex microbiomes are part of the food we eat and influence our own microbiome, but their diversity remains largely unexplored. Here, we generated the open access curatedFoodMetagenomicData (cFMD) resource by integrating 1,950 newly sequenced and 583 public food metagenomes. We produced 10,899 metagenome-assembled genomes spanning 1,036 prokaryotic and 108 eukaryotic species-level genome bins (SGBs), including 320 previously undescribed taxa.

Regulation of Syntaxin3B-Mediated Membrane Fusion by T14, Munc18, and Complexin.

Retinal neurons that form ribbon-style synapses operate over a wide dynamic range, continuously relaying visual information to their downstream targets. The remarkable signaling abilities of these neurons are supported by specialized presynaptic machinery, one component of which is syntaxin3B. Syntaxin3B is an essential t-SNARE protein of photoreceptors and bipolar cells that is required for neurotransmitter release.

Identification of potential circadian genes and associated pathways in colorectal cancer progression and prognosis using microarray gene expression analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is third cancer causing death in the world. CRC is associated with disrupting the circadian rhythm (CR), closely associating the CRC progression and the dysregulation of genes involved in the biological clock. In this study, we aimed to understand the circadian rhythm changes in patients diagnosed with CRC.

A review on radionuclide pollution in global soils with environmental and health hazards evaluation.

Human populations are being exposed to a wide spectrum of radiation from soils as a result of the availability of radiation sources. Assessing the ecological and health effects of radionuclides in soils is crucial to support the optimal soil management practices but large-scale studies are limited. This study compiled data on radionuclides (Ra, Th, K, U, and Cs) in soils located across the world (44 countries and 159 places) between 2008 and 2022 and applied radiological hazards indices and several multivariate statistical approaches.

Integrated gene network analysis sheds light on understanding the progression of Osteosarcoma.

Introduction: Osteosarcoma is a rare disorder among cancer, but the most frequently occurring among sarcomas in children and adolescents. It has been reported to possess the relapsing capability as well as accompanying collateral adverse effects which hinder the development process of an effective treatment plan. Using networks of omics data to identify cancer biomarkers could revolutionize the field in understanding the cancer.

Elucidating the mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using gene interaction networks.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms is an urgent global health threat. AMR of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is of great importance to underpin the resistance pathways involved in the mechanisms of AMR and identify the genes that are directly involved in AMR.

Outer Membrane Integrity-Dependent Fluorescence of the Japanese Eel UnaG Protein in Live Cells.

Reporter genes are important tools in many biological disciplines. The discovery of novel reporter genes is relatively rare. However, known reporter genes are constantly applied to novel applications.

Investigation of tetrasubstituted heterocycles reveals hydantoins as a promising scaffold for development of novel antimicrobials with membranolytic properties.

Mimics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as a promising class of antimicrobial agents. We report the analysis of five tetrasubstituted, cationic, amphipathic heterocycles as potential AMP mimics. The analysis showed that the heterocyclic scaffold had a strong influence on the haemolytic activity of the compounds, and the hydantoin scaffold was identified as a promising template for drug lead development.

Source-oriented risks apportionment of toxic metals in river sediments of Bangladesh: a national wide application of PMF model and pollution indices.

Intense human activities, particularly industrial and agricultural output, has enriched metal(loid)s in riverine sediment and endangered aquatic ecosystems and human health. Promoting proper river management requires an assessment of the possible ecological hazards and pollution posed by metal(loid)s in sediments. However, there are limited large-scale risk assessments of metal(loid)s contamination in riverine sediment in heavily populated nations like Bangladesh.

A review on toxic metal pollution and source-oriented risk apportionment in road dust of a highly polluted megacity in Bangladesh.

Heavy metal enrichment in road dust has resulted from intensive anthropogenic activity, particularly urbanization, industrial activities and traffic emission, posing a hazard to urban ecosystems and human health. To promote optimal road dust management in urban environments, it is necessary to assess the possible ecological and health impact of toxic elements in road dust. In a heavily populated megacity like Dhaka, Bangladesh, large-scale risk assessments of contamination in road dust with heavy metals are limited.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Short Analogues of the Marine Antimicrobial Peptide Turgencin A: Effects of SAR Optimizations, Cys-Cys Cyclization and Lipopeptide Modifications.

We have synthesised short analogues of the marine antimicrobial peptide Turgencin A from the colonial Arctic ascidian In this study, we focused on a central, cationic 12-residue Cys-Cys loop region within the sequence. Modified (tryptophan- and arginine-enriched) linear peptides were compared with Cys-Cys cyclic derivatives, and both linear and Cys-cyclic peptides were N-terminally acylated with octanoic acid (C), decanoic acid (C) or dodecanoic acid (C). The highest antimicrobial potency was achieved by introducing dodecanoic acid to a cyclic Turgencin A analogue with low intrinsic hydrophobicity, and by introducing octanoic acid to a cyclic analogue displaying a higher intrinsic hydrophobicity.

An integrated gene network analysis to decode the multi-drug resistance mechanism in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among microorganisms has become one of the worldwide concerns of this century and continues to challenge us. To properly understand this problem, it is essential to know the genes that cause AMR and their resistance mechanisms. Our present study focused on Klebsiella pneumoniae, which possesses AMR genes conferring resistance against multiple antibiotics.

A concise SAR-analysis of antimicrobial cationic amphipathic barbiturates for an improved activity-toxicity profile.

An amphipathic barbiturate mimic of the marine eusynstyelamides is reported as a promising class of antimicrobial agents. We hereby report a detailed analysis of the structure-activity relationship for cationic amphipathic N,N'-dialkylated-5,5-disubstituted barbiturates. The influence of various cationic groups, hydrocarbon linkers and lipophilic side chains on the compounds' antimicrobial potency and haemolytic activity was studied.

Realization of a Model-Free Pathway for Quantum Dot-Protein Interaction Beyond Classical Protein Corona or Protein Complex.

Although in recent times nanoparticles (NPs) are being used in various biological applications, their mechanism of binding interactions still remains hazy. Usually, the binding mechanism is perceived to be mediated through either the protein corona (PC) or protein complex (PCx). Herein, we report that the nanoparticle (NP)-protein interaction can also proceed via a different pathway without forming the commonly observed PC or PCx.

Assessing Silicon-Mediated Growth Performances in Contrasting Rice Cultivars under Salt Stress.

Silicon (Si) application has great potential to improve salt tolerance in a variety of crop plants. However, it is unclear how Si influences the responses of contrasting rice cultivars when exposed to excessive salt. Here, we investigated the functions of Si in alleviating the negative effects of salt stress on two contrasting rice cultivars, namely BRRI dhan48 (salt-sensitive) and Binadhan-10 (salt-tolerant).

Complement activation induces excessive T cell cytotoxicity in severe COVID-19.

Severe COVID-19 is linked to both dysfunctional immune response and unrestrained immunopathology, and it remains unclear whether T cells contribute to disease pathology. Here, we combined single-cell transcriptomics and single-cell proteomics with mechanistic studies to assess pathogenic T cell functions and inducing signals. We identified highly activated CD16 T cells with increased cytotoxic functions in severe COVID-19.

Cardiolipin targets a dynamin-related protein to the nuclear membrane.

Dynamins are targeted to specific cellular membranes that they remodel via membrane fusion or fission. The molecular basis of conferring specificity to dynamins for their target membrane selection is not known. Here, we report a mechanism of nuclear membrane recruitment of Drp6, a dynamin member in .

Highly efficient energy transfer from a water soluble zinc silver indium sulphide quantum dot to organic J-aggregates.

The present work has been carried out with the aim to design and develop an efficient light harvesting inorganic-organic hybrid nanoscale material by employing a less toxic, environment friendly inorganic substance and also to understand the mechanism of inter-particle electronic interaction between the inorganic and organic components of the nanomaterial. Specifically, the inorganic-organic hybrid associate has been made by integrating water soluble semiconductor (zinc-silver-indium-sulfide (ZAIS)) QDs and organic J-aggregates of a cyanine dye (S2165). The fabrication of the present nano-hybrid system has been achieved via electrostatically driven self-assembly of organic dyes over ZAIS QDs.

NarAB Is an ABC-Type Transporter That Confers Resistance to the Polyether Ionophores Narasin, Salinomycin, and Maduramicin, but Not Monensin.

Polyether ionophores are antimicrobial compounds used as feed additives in poultry feed to control diseases caused by coccidia. In addition to the anticoccidial activity of these compounds, polyether ionophores also contain antibacterial properties. Resistance to the polyether ionophore narasin was recently shown to exist on mobile plasmids in and the resistance mechanism was suggested to be associated with a two-gene operon encoding an ABC-type transporter.

Tetrahymena dynamin-related protein 6 self-assembles independent of membrane association.

Self-assembly on target membranes is one of the important properties of all dynamin family proteins. Drp6, a dynaminrelated protein in Tetrahymena, controls nuclear remodelling and undergoes cycles of assembly/disassembly on the nuclear envelope. To elucidate the mechanism of Drp6 function, we have characterized its biochemical and biophysical properties using size exclusion chromatography, chemical cross-linking and electron microscopy.

Regulation of dynamin family proteins by post-translational modifications.

Dynamin superfamily proteins comprising classical dynamins and related proteins are membrane remodelling agents involved in several biological processes such as endocytosis, maintenance of organelle morphology and viral resistance. These large GTPases couple GTP hydrolysis with membrane alterations such as fission, fusion or tubulation by undergoing repeated cycles of self-assembly/disassembly. The functions of these proteins are regulated by various post-translational modifications that affect their GTPase activity, multimerization or membrane association.

Spin-orbit torque-assisted switching in magnetic insulator thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

As an in-plane charge current flows in a heavy metal film with spin-orbit coupling, it produces a torque on and thereby switches the magnetization in a neighbouring ferromagnetic metal film. Such spin-orbit torque (SOT)-induced switching has been studied extensively in recent years and has shown higher efficiency than switching using conventional spin-transfer torque. Here we report the SOT-assisted switching in heavy metal/magnetic insulator systems.

Exchange coupling between laterally adjacent nanomagnets.

We experimentally demonstrate exchange-coupling between laterally adjacent nanomagnets. Our results show that two neighboring nanomagnets that are each antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to a common ferromagnetic bottom layer can be brought into strong ferromagnetic interaction. Simulations show that interlayer exchange coupling effectively promotes ferromagnetic alignment between the two nanomagnets, as opposed to antiferromagnetic alignment due to dipole-coupling.