Hydroxyethylamine based analog targets microtubule assembly: an in silico study for anti-cancerous drug development.

Microtubules are dynamic cytoskeletal structures essential for cell architecture, cellular transport, cell motility, and cell division. Due to their dynamic nature, known as dynamic instability, microtubules can spontaneously switch between phases of growth and shortening. Disruptions in microtubule functions have been implicated in several diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and birth defects.

Harnessing bacterial metabolites for enhanced cancer chemotherapy: unveiling unique therapeutic potentials.

Cancer poses a serious threat to health globally, with millions diagnosed every year. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2024, about 20 million new cases were reported in 2022, and 9.7 million people worldwide died of this condition.

Alterations in Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Physical Activity in COVID-19: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Lessons for the Future.

Although the world is acquitting from the throes of COVID-19 and returning to the regularity of life, its effects on physical and mental health are prominently evident in the post-pandemic era. The pandemic subjected us to inadequate sleep and physical activities, stress, irregular eating patterns, and work hours beyond the regular rest-activity cycle. Thus, perturbing the synchrony of the regular circadian clock functions led to chronic psychiatric and neurological disorders and poor immunological response in several COVID-19 survivors.

Arylcoumarin perturbs SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis by targeting the S-protein/ACE2 interaction.

The vaccination drive against COVID-19 worldwide was quite successful. However, the second wave of infections was even more disastrous. There was a rapid increase in reinfections and human deaths due to the appearance of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Combining SARS-CoV-2 Proofreading Exonuclease and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitors as a Strategy to Combat COVID-19: A High-Throughput Screening.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide. Currently, many clinical trials in search of effective COVID-19 drugs are underway. Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) remains the target of choice for prophylactic or curative treatment of COVID-19.

Essential functional molecules associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: Potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19.

The whole world is still suffering substantially from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Several protein-based molecules that are associated with the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which are essential for its functionality, survival, and pathogenesis have been identified and are considered as potential therapeutic targets. These protein-based molecules are either structural/non-structural components of SARS-CoV-2 or host factors, which play a crucial role in this infection.

Nucleic acid-based therapy for coronavirus disease 2019.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic that originated in China has already spread into more than 190 countries, resulting in huge loss of human life and many more are at the stake of losing it; if not intervened with the best therapeutics to contain the disease. For that aspect, various scientific groups are continuously involved in the development of an effective line of treatment to control the novel coronavirus from spreading rapidly. Worldwide scientists are evaluating various biomolecules and synthetic inhibitors against COVID-19; where the nucleic acid-based molecules may be considered as potential drug candidates.

An Intimate Alliance of DNA-Damage Response Network with Cell-Cycle Checkpoints Amid Events of Uncontrolled Cellular Proliferation: A Mini- Review.

There is close interdependence between cell survival, cell senescence, events of the cell cycle, apoptosis, malignancy development, and tumor responses to cancer treatment. Intensive studies and elaborate researches have been conducted on the functional aspects of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, apoptotic genes, and members guiding cell cycle regulation. These disquisitions have put forward the existence of a highly organized response pathway termed as a DNA-damage response network.

Convalescent plasma therapy: a promising coronavirus disease 2019 treatment strategy.

The world is passing through a very difficult phase due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has disrupted almost all spheres of life. Globally, according to the latest World Health Organization report (10 August 2020), COVID-19 has affected nearly 20 million lives, causing 728 013 deaths. Due to the lack of specific therapeutic drugs and vaccines, the outbreak of disease has spawned a corpus of contagious infection all over the world, day by day, without control.

BCG vaccination strategy implemented to reduce the impact of COVID-19: Hype or Hope?

The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG vaccine) designed to prevent tuberculosis in children has been shown to induce a adaptive immune response in the body to fight against bacteria as well as other parasites and viruses. This knowledge has been reciprocated to generate the idea that this vaccine can also offer protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2). Some recent pre-print articles have highlighted that countries with mass BCG immunizations seems to have a lower incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to those without BCG immunization.

Targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein of COVID-19 with naturally occurring phytochemicals: an study for drug development.

Spike glycoprotein, a class I fusion protein harboring the surface of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2S), plays a seminal role in the viral infection starting from recognition of the host cell surface receptor, attachment to the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cells. Spike glycoprotein engages host Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors for entry into host cells, where the receptor recognition and attachment of spike glycoprotein to the ACE2 receptors is a prerequisite step and key determinant of the host cell and tissue tropism. Binding of spike glycoprotein to the ACE2 receptor triggers a cascade of structural transitions, including transition from a metastable pre-fusion to a post-fusion form, thereby allowing membrane fusion and internalization of the virus.

Targeting virus-host interaction by novel pyrimidine derivative: an approach towards discovery of potential drug against COVID-19.

The entire human population over the globe is currently facing appalling conditions due to the spread of infection from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) present on the surface of the virion mediates the virus entry into the host cells and therefore is targeted by several scientific groups as a novel drug target site. The spike glycoprotein binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hACE2) cell surface receptor abundantly expressed in lung tissues, and this binding phenomenon is a primary determinant of cell tropism and pathogenesis.

Combating COVID-19 with mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

The COVID-19 disease is caused by a positive stranded RNA virus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus mainly targets the pulmonary epithelial cells as it's initial site of infection by letting its surface spike protein interact and bind to the host ACE2 receptor. The internalization and gradual replication of the virus results in an exaggerated immune response triggering release of many pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Regulation of Streptococcus pneumoniae FtsZ assembly by divalent cations: paradoxical effects of Ca on the nucleation and bundling of FtsZ polymers.

The assembly and disassembly of the FtsZ ring drives the division of bacteria cells, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia and meningitis. In contrast to FtsZ from other bacterial species, Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) FtsZ contains two tryptophan residues. Here, we demonstrate that the assembly and disassembly of Streptococcus pneumoniae FtsZ (SpnFtsZ) monomers can be monitored by the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of FtsZ.

BT-benzo-29 inhibits bacterial cell proliferation by perturbing FtsZ assembly.

We have identified a potent antibacterial agent N-(4-sec-butylphenyl)-2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4-carboxamide (BT-benzo-29) from a library of benzimidazole derivatives that stalled bacterial division by inhibiting FtsZ assembly. A short (5 min) exposure of BT-benzo-29 disassembled the cytokinetic Z-ring in Bacillus subtilis cells without affecting the cell length and nucleoids. BT-benzo-29 also perturbed the localization of early and late division proteins such as FtsA, ZapA and SepF at the mid-cell.

Antimicrobial peptide CRAMP (16-33) stalls bacterial cytokinesis by inhibiting FtsZ assembly.

A cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) of 37 amino acid residues is thought to regulate innate immunity and provide a host defense mechanism in mammals. Here, a part of the CRAMP peptide, CRAMP (16-33) (GEKLKKIGQKIKNFFQKL), was found to bind to FtsZ and to inhibit the assembly and GTPase activity of FtsZ in vitro. A computational analysis indicated that CRAMP (16-33) binds in the cavity of the T7 loop of FtsZ.

GTP regulates the interaction between MciZ and FtsZ: a possible role of MciZ in bacterial cell division.

MciZ, a peptide with 40 amino acid residues, has been shown to be expressed during bacterial sporulation, to inhibit Z-ring formation in bacteria, and to inhibit the assembly of FtsZ in vitro. Here, MciZ was found to bind to FtsZ in vitro with a dissociation constant of 0.3 ± 0.