Combinatorial targeting of telomerase and DNA-PK induces synergistic apoptotic effects against Pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Background: Due to the high demand for novel approaches for leukemia-targeted therapy, this study investigates the impact of DNA-PK inhibitor NU7441 on the sensitivity of pre-B ALL cells to the telomerase inhibitor MST-312.

Methods: The study involved NALM-6 cells treated with MST-312 and NU7441, assessing their viability and metabolic activity using trypan blue and MTT assays. The study also evaluated apoptosis, gene expression changes, and DNA damage using flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and micronucleus assays.

Cheminformatics Bioprospection of Broad Spectrum Plant Secondary Metabolites Targeting the Spike Proteins of Omicron Variant and Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2.

The spike protein (SP) of SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) is susceptible to high mutation and has contributed to the multiple waves of COVID-19 being experienced. Hence, targeting the SP remains a logical approach in the development of potent therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. Here, a computational technique was adopted to identify broad-spectrum plant secondary metabolites with indigenous relevance in the management of respiratory infections against the SPs of the SC-2 wild- type (SC-2WT) and omicron variants.

Astaxanthin-Mediated Bacterial Lethality: Evidence from Oxidative Stress Contribution and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

The involvement of cellular oxidative stress in antibacterial therapy has remained a topical issue over the years. In this study, the contribution of oxidative stress to astaxanthin-mediated bacterial lethality was evaluated and . For the analysis, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of astaxanthin was lower than that of novobiocin against but generally higher than those of the reference antibiotics against other test organisms.