Antimicrobial resistance research in a post-pandemic world: Insights on antimicrobial resistance research in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antimicrobial resistance must be recognised as a global societal priority - even in the face of the worldwide challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has illustrated the vulnerability of our healthcare systems in co-managing multiple infectious disease threats as resources for monitoring and detecting, and conducting research on antimicrobial resistance have been compromised during the pandemic. The increased awareness of the importance of infectious diseases, clinical microbiology and infection control and lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic should be exploited to ensure that emergence of future infectious disease threats, including those related to AMR, are minimised.

The gut microbiota influences skeletal muscle mass and function in mice.

The functional interactions between the gut microbiota and the host are important for host physiology, homeostasis, and sustained health. We compared the skeletal muscle of germ-free mice that lacked a gut microbiota to the skeletal muscle of pathogen-free mice that had a gut microbiota. Compared to pathogen-free mouse skeletal muscle, germ-free mouse skeletal muscle showed atrophy, decreased expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, and reduced transcription of genes associated with skeletal muscle growth and mitochondrial function.

Bidirectional communication between the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) and the microbiome tunes host metabolism.

The ligand-induced transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is known for its capacity to tune adaptive immunity and xenobiotic metabolism-biological properties subject to regulation by the indigenous microbiome. The objective of this study was to probe the postulated microbiome-AhR crosstalk and whether such an axis could influence metabolic homeostasis of the host. Utilising a systems-biology approach combining in-depth H-NMR-based metabonomics (plasma, liver and skeletal muscle) with microbiome profiling (small intestine, colon and faeces) of AhR knockout (AhR) and wild-type (AhR) mice, we assessed AhR function in host metabolism.

PPARβ/δ affects pancreatic β cell mass and insulin secretion in mice.

PPARβ/δ protects against obesity by reducing dyslipidemia and insulin resistance via effects in muscle, adipose tissue, and liver. However, its function in pancreas remains ill defined. To gain insight into its hypothesized role in β cell function, we specifically deleted Pparb/d in the epithelial compartment of the mouse pancreas.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ: a master regulator of metabolic pathways in skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle is considered to be a major site of energy expenditure and thus is important in regulating events affecting metabolic disorders. Over the years, both in vitro and in vivo approaches have established the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-β/δ (PPARβ/δ) in fatty acid metabolism and energy expenditure in skeletal muscles. Pharmacological activation of PPARβ/δ by specific ligands regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid use, triglyceride hydrolysis, fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure, and lipid efflux in muscles, in turn resulting in decreased body fat mass and enhanced insulin sensitivity.

Involvement of glucocorticoid receptor and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma in pioglitazone mediated chronic gastric ulcer healing in rats.

Evidences suggest Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligand, pioglitazone results in the attenuation of gastric mucosal injury. But the molecular mechanism through which these agonists actually elicit gastroprotection through modulating inflammatory responses has not yet been established. Chronic gastric ulcer induced in rats by intraluminal application of acetic acid resulted in elevation of proinflammatory cytokines gene expression, such as, TNF-alpha (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha), IL-1beta (Interleukin-1beta) and the protein levels of nuclear p65 subunit of NF-kappaB (Nuclear Factor-kappaB) but decreased levels of PPAR-gamma gene expression.

Melatonin protects against experimental reflux esophagitis.

Reflux esophagitis (RE), a major gastrointestinal disorder results from excess exposure of the esophageal mucosa to acidic gastric juice or bile-containing duodenal contents refluxed via an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter. Recent studies implicated oxygen derived free radicals in RE induced esophageal mucosal damage resulting in mucosal inflammation. Thus, control over free radical generation and modulation of inflammatory responses might offer better therapeutic effects to counteract the severity of RE.

An insight on the neuropharmacological activity of Telescopium telescopium--a mollusc from the Sunderban mangrove.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the biological properties of the tissue extract of a marine snail Telescopium telescopium, collected from the coastal regions of West Bengal India. On extensive pharmacological screening, it was found that the biological extract of T. telescopium (TTE) produced significant central nervous system (CNS)-depressant activity as observed from the reduced spontaneous motility, potentiation of pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, hypothermia and respiratory depression with transient apnoea.

Involvement of monoamines and proinflammatory cytokines in mediating the anti-stress effects of Panax quinquefolium.

Panax quinquefolium (PQ) is well acclaimed in literature for its effects on central and peripheral nervous system. The present study explores the effects of PQ on stress induced changes of corticosterone level in plasma, monoamines (NA, DA and 5-HT) and interleukin (IL-2 and IL-6) levels in cortex and hippocampus regions of brain and also indicate their possible roles in modulating stress. Mice subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS, for 7 days) showed significant increase in plasma corticosterone level and depletion of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in cortex and hippocampal regions along with an increased level of IL-2 and IL-6 in the same areas.