Neuroprotective potential of Epigenetic modulators, its regulation and therapeutic approaches for the management of Parkinson's disease.

The progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain leads to a deficiency of dopamine and, ultimately, the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD). Since there is currently no cure for PD, patients all around the world are dealing with symptomatic management. PD progression is influenced by multiple elements, such as environmental, biological, chemical, genetic, and epigenetic factors.

In silico and in vitro evaluation of the immunogenic potential of Leishmania donovani ascorbate peroxidase and its derived peptides.

The control and eradication of any infectious disease is only possible with a potential vaccine, which has not been accomplished for human visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The lack of vaccines may increase the risk of VL outbreaks periodically in endemic zones. Identifying a reliable vaccine candidate for Leishmania is a major challenge.

Novel Gene Therapy Approaches for Targeting Neurodegenerative Disorders: Focusing on Delivering Neurotrophic Genes.

Neurodegenerative illnesses (NDDs) like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and Huntington's disease have demonstrated considerable potential for gene therapy as a viable therapeutic intervention. NDDs are marked by the decline of neurons, resulting in changes in both behavior and pathology within the body. Strikingly, only symptomatic management is available without a cure for the NDDs.

A review of non-invasive samples and tools in kala-azar diagnosis and test of cure.

The recurrence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also called kala-azar (KA), in endemic regions of tropical countries like India, is primarily attributed to asymptomatic VL, post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. To effectively manage VL cases and elimination targets, an early and rapid diagnosis as well as accurate field surveillance is highly essential. The traditional sampling methods like bone marrow (BM), spleen, and lymph node (LN) tissue aspirations are invasive, painful, tedious, and prone to nosocomial infections, require skilled persons and hospital facilities, and are not feasible in rural areas.

In vitro antileishmanial activity of thioridazine on amphotericin B unresponsive/ sensitive Leishmania donovani promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes.

The recent increase in the drug (liposomal amphotericin-B) unresponsive cases becomes hostile for the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination target. The quest for new antileishmanial drugs is on the way and may demand more time. Meanwhile, drug repurposing is a quite promising option to explore further.

Pharmacokinetics and toxicity considerations for antibody-drug conjugates: an overview.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is one of the fastest-growing drug-delivery systems. It involves a monoclonal antibody conjugated with payload via a ligand that directly targets the expressive protein of diseased cell. Hence, it reduces systemic exposure and provides site-specific delivery along with reduced toxicity.

Brain insulin resistance linked Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease pathology: An undying implication of epigenetic and autophagy modulation.

In metabolic syndrome, dysregulated signalling activity of the insulin receptor pathway in the brain due to persistent insulin resistance (IR) condition in the periphery may lead to brain IR (BIR) development. BIR causes an upsurge in the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, increased amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation, hyperphosphorylation of tau, aggravated formation of Aβ oligomers and simultaneously neurofibrillary tangle formation, all of which are believed to be direct contributors in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology. Likewise, for Parkinson's Disease (PD), BIR is associated with alpha-synuclein alterations, dopamine loss in brain areas which ultimately succumbs towards the appearance of classical motor symptoms corresponding to the typical PD phenotype.

Comprehensive Review on Potential Signaling Pathways Involving the Transfer of α-Synuclein from the Gut to the Brain That Leads to Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurological disease after Alzheimer's. Primarily, old age males are more affected than females. The aggregates of oligomeric forms of α-synuclein cause the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta.

Amphotericin B: A drug of choice for Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis or Kala-azar is a vector-borne disease caused by an intracellular parasite of the genus leishmania. In India, Amphotericin B (AmB) is a first-line medication for treating leishmaniasis. After a large-scale resistance to pentavalent antimony therapy developed in Bihar state, it was rediscovered as an effective treatment for Leishmania donovani infection.

Neuroprotective Effect of Lentivirus-Mediated FGF21 Gene Delivery in Experimental Alzheimer's Disease is Augmented when Concerted with Rapamycin.

Alzheimer type of dementia is accompanied with progressive loss of cognitive function that directly correlates with accumulation of amyloid beta plaques. It is known that Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a metabolic hormone, with strong neuroprotective potential, is induced during oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, FGF21 cross-talks with autophagy, a mechanism involved in the clearance of abnormal protein aggregate.

Uncovering the structure-function aspects of an archaeal CsaA protein.

CsaA is known to function as a protein secretion chaperone in bacteria. Homologs of CsaA are also found in archaea while they are absent in eukaryotes. This paper presents the biophysical, biochemical analysis and crystallographic structure determination of CsaA from a thermoacidophilic archaeon Picrophilus torridus (PtCsaA).

Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization of Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex of and Elucidation of Its Interacting Partners.

Nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is a ribosome-associated molecular chaperone which is present only in archaea and eukaryotes. The primary function of NAC is to shield the newly synthesized polypeptide chains from inappropriate interactions with the cytosolic factors. Besides that, NAC has been implicated in diverse biological functions, which suggest that it might be a multifunctional protein.

Folding and structural polymorphism of p53 C-terminal domain: One peptide with many conformations.

Proteins of the p53 family are best known for their role in the regulation of cell cycle. The p53 protein, as a model system, has been extensively explored in numerous cancer-related studies. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of p53 is an intrinsically disordered region that gains multiple different conformations at interaction with different binding partners.

General obesity and Cardiovascular diseases among Gaur Brahmin population of NCR/Delhi.

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among human beings. The presence of endemic Cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors differ from population to population. The Cardiovascular diseases associated risk factors are sub-categorised into two forms, one is traditional and the other is non-traditional risk factors.

High Resolution X-ray Diffraction Dataset for Bacillus licheniformis Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase-acivicin complex: SUMO-Tag Renders High Expression and Solubility.

Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, (GGT) is a ubiquitous protein which plays a central role in glutathione metabolism and has myriad clinical implications. It has been shown to be a virulence factor for pathogenic bacteria, inhibition of which results in reduced colonization potential. However, existing inhibitors are effective but toxic and therefore search is on for novel inhibitors, which makes it imperative to understand the interactions of various inhibitors with the protein in substantial detail.

Beneficial role of D allele in controlling ACE levels: a study among Brahmins of north India.

India being a country with vast diversity is expected to have different dietary and life style patterns which in turn may lead to population-specific environmental risk factors. Further, the interaction of these risk factors with the genetic makeup of population makes it either susceptible or resistant to cardiovascular disease. One such candidate gene is angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) for various cardiovascular mechanisms.