Conservation of Endangered Cordyceps sinensis Through Artificial Cultivation Strategies of C. militaris, an Alternate.

Cordyceps, an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the Ascomycota phylum, is a familiar remedial mushroom that is extensively used in the traditional medicinal system, especially in South Asian nations. The significance of this genus' members in a range of therapeutic and biotechnological applications has long been acknowledged. The exceedingly valuable fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps sinensis) is found in the alpine meadows of Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, and India, where it is severely harvested.

Oro-Respiratory Dysbiosis and Its Modulatory Effect on Lung Mucosal Toxicity during Exposure or Co-Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Cigarette Smoke.

The oro-respiratory microbiome is impacted by inhalable exposures such as smoking and has been associated with respiratory health conditions. However, the effect of emerging toxicants, particularly engineered nanoparticles, alone or in co-exposure with smoking, is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of sub-chronic exposure to carbon nanotube (CNT) particles, cigarette smoke extract (CSE), and their combination.

Crosstalk between gut microbiota and lung inflammation in murine toxicity models of respiratory exposure or co-exposure to carbon nanotube particles and cigarette smoke extract.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are emerging environmental and occupational toxicants known to induce lung immunotoxicity. While the underlying mechanisms are evolving, it is yet unknown whether inhaled CNTs would cause abnormalities in gut microbiota (dysbiosis), and if such microbiota alteration plays a role in the modulation of CNT-induced lung immunotoxicity. It is also unknown whether co-exposure to tobacco smoke will modulate CNT effects.

Microbial P450 Enzymes in Bioremediation and Drug Discovery: Emerging Potentials and Challenges.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are a structurally conserved but functionally diverse group of heme-containing mixed function oxidases found across both prokaryotic and eukaryotic forms of the microbial world. Microbial P450s are known to perform diverse functions ranging from the synthesis of cell wall components to xenobiotic/drug metabolism to biodegradation of environmental chemicals. Conventionally, many microbial systems have been reported to mimic mammalian P450-like activation of drugs and were proposed as the in-vitro models of mammalian drug metabolism.

Clinical Presentation of Inadvertent Intrathecal Vincristine Masquerading Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Vincristine, a potent chemotherapeutic agent, is highly neurotoxic. If given intrathecally by accident it is almost always fatal. We are reporting a 6 year old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in complete remission, who was given inadvertent intrathecal Vincristine instead of Methotrexate.

Comparative Genomics of Early-Diverging Mushroom-Forming Fungi Provides Insights into the Origins of Lignocellulose Decay Capabilities.

Evolution of lignocellulose decomposition was one of the most ecologically important innovations in fungi. White-rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes (mushrooms and relatives) are the most effective microorganisms in degrading both cellulose and lignin components of woody plant cell walls (PCW). However, the precise evolutionary origins of lignocellulose decomposition are poorly understood, largely because certain early-diverging clades of Agaricomycetes and its sister group, the Dacrymycetes, have yet to be sampled, or have been undersampled, in comparative genomic studies.

The role of interleukin-10 and hyaluronan in murine fetal fibroblast function in vitro: implications for recapitulating fetal regenerative wound healing.

Background: Mid-gestation fetal cutaneous wounds heal scarlessly and this has been attributed in part to abundant hyaluronan (HA) in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and a unique fibroblast phenotype. We recently reported a novel role for interleukin 10 (IL-10) as a regulator of HA synthesis in the fetal ECM, as well as the ability of the fetal fibroblast to produce an HA-rich pericellular matrix (PCM). We hypothesized that IL-10-mediated HA synthesis was essential to the fetal fibroblast functional phenotype and, moreover, that this phenotype could be recapitulated in adult fibroblasts via supplementation with IL-10 via an HA dependent process.

Comparison of interleukin 10 homologs on dermal wound healing using a novel human skin ex vivo organ culture model.

Background: Anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 has been shown to induce regenerative healing in postnatal wounds. A viral homolog of IL-10 produced by human cytomegalovirus (CMV IL-10) similarly generates potent immunoregulatory effects, but its effects on wound healing have not been investigated. Currently, there are limited cost-effective methods of screening vulnerary therapeutics.

Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of insulin-like growth factor 1 enhances wound healing and induces angiogenesis.

Background: Chronic wounds are characterized by a wound healing and neovascularization deficit. Strategies to increase neovascularization can significantly improve chronic wound healing. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 is reported to be a keratinocyte mitogen and is believed to induce angiogenesis via a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent pathway.

Optimization of laccase production using response surface methodology coupled with differential evolution.

In the present study, laccase production from a locally isolated hyperactive strain of Pleurotus sp. under solid state fermentation (SSF) was carried out and the interactions between different parameters of fermentation were studied using response surface methodology. The saddle shaped response surface plots depicting dual conditions for the enhanced production indicated the presence of isozymes with production optima at different conditions which was verified experimentally.