Homeotic transformation of tail to limbs: A novel morphogenesis in the framework of self-organization and reprogramming of cell fate during appendage regeneration.

Homeotic transformation of tail to hindlimbs in anuran tadpoles is a manifestation of the reprogramming of positional information in the event of tail regeneration. Such discovery of homeosis is of particular interest considering its occurrence in a vertebrate under the influence of a morphogen which represents a self-organizing system in the context of developmental and regenerative studies. This article reviews homeotic transformation of tail to hindlimbs including pelvic girdles induced by retinoic acid (RA) /vitamin A palmitate during tail regeneration under the scope of self-organization and the role of blastema as an organizer.

Dark or light? Preference of anuran tadpoles to background illumination in response to food and predators.

Background illumination and its intensity are crucial factors in visual interaction among organisms. In the present study, we used tadpoles of eight sympatric anuran species () to examine species-specific responses towards background illumination (shade and light), combined with four treatments [without food and predator (F-P-), with food and without predator (F+P-), without food and with predator (F-P+), and with food and with predator (F+P+)], with four coloured backgrounds (green, red, brown, and black) during different hours of a day (early morning, late morning, noon, and afternoon). Anuran tadpoles choose shaded sides over lighter sides, as such microhabitats are used as an effective means of camouflage, but most of the tadpoles preferred the opposite.

Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Do They Matter to Aquatic Ecosystems?

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals with an aliphatic fluorinated carbon chain. Due to their durability, bioaccumulation potential, and negative impacts on living organisms, these compounds have drawn lots of attention across the world. The negative impacts of PFASs on aquatic ecosystems are becoming a major concern due to their widespread use in increasing concentrations and constant leakage into the aquatic environment.

Essential Oils as Novel Anthelmintic Drug Candidates.

Helminths, with an estimated 1.5 billion annual global infections, are one of the major health challenges worldwide. The current strategy of the World Health Organization to prevent helminth infection includes increasing hygienic awareness, providing better sanitation and preventative anthelmintic drug therapy in vulnerable populations.

Anticancer Activities of Mushrooms: A Neglected Source for Drug Discovery.

Approximately 270 species of mushrooms have been reported as potentially useful for human health. However, few mushrooms have been studied for bioactive compounds that can be helpful in treating various diseases. Like other natural regimens, the mushroom treatment appears safe, as could be expected from their long culinary and medicinal use.

Disease Burden and Current Therapeutical Status of Leprosy with Special Emphasis on Phytochemicals.

Background: Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people globally. The combined formulations of dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine (multidrug therapy, MDT) is only supportive in the early stage of detection, while "reemergence" is a significant problem. Thus, there is still a need to develop newer antileprosy molecules either of natural or semi-synthetic origin.

King or royal family? Testing for species boundaries in the King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), using morphology and multilocus DNA analyses.

In widespread species, the diverse ecological conditions in which the populations occur, and the presence of many potential geographical barriers through their range are expected to have created ample opportunities for the evolution of distinct, often cryptic lineages. In this work, we tested for species boundaries in one such widespread species, the king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), a largely tropical elapid snake distributed across the Oriental realm. Based on extensive geographical sampling across most of the range of the species, we initially tested for candidate species (CS) using Maximum-Likelihood analysis of mitochondrial genes.

Antimicrobial Peptides Derived From Insects Offer a Novel Therapeutic Option to Combat Biofilm: A Review.

Biofilms form a complex layer with defined structures, that attach on biotic or abiotic surfaces, are tough to eradicate and tend to cause some resistance against most antibiotics. Several studies confirmed that biofilm-producing bacteria exhibit higher resistance compared to the planktonic form of the same species. Antibiotic resistance factors are well understood in planktonic bacteria which is not so in case of biofilm producing forms.

Antibiotic susceptibility of cultivable aerobic microbiota from the oral cavity of Echis carinatus from Odisha (India).

During a snake bite, the microbes may get transferred to the bite site and may cause secondary infection along with envenomation. The knowledge on the oral bacterial flora of snakes constitutes information important for snake bite management. The inadequately studied oral microflora of snakes differ geographically, temporally and among the members of the same species.

Evaluation of cultivable aerobic bacterial flora from Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) oral cavity.

Snake mouths contain a wide range of bacteria. Identifying these bacteria in snakes is very important to obtain an understanding of the etiological agents of secondary infections that may result from accidents during handling and/or snake bites. The present study aims to determine the pattern of oral bacterial flora of nine healthy Russell's vipers (Daboia russelii), and their susceptibility to common antibiotics.

Oral bacterial flora of Indian cobra () and their antibiotic susceptibilities.

Objectives: The objective of the present work was to examine the bacterial flora associated with the oral cavity of Indian cobra and to study their antibiogram.

Methods: Oral swabs, collected from six healthy (4 males and 2 females) adult cobra, were subjected to microbiological examination through differential media. A total of 74 isolates which demonstrated noticeable colony characters were studied with different biochemical tests.