Nat Prod Bioprospect
January 2025
The euglenatides are a family of hybrid polyketide-nonribosomal peptides produced by the unicellular algae Euglena gracilis. These compounds have antiproliferative activity against fungal pathogens and mammalian cancer cell lines. Analysis of E.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigate the aging transition in networks of excitable and self-oscillatory units as the fraction of inherently excitable units increases. Two network topologies are considered: a scale-free network with weighted pairwise interactions and a two-dimensional simplicial complex with weighted scale-free pairwise and triadic interactions. Without triadic interactions, the aging transition from collective oscillations to oscillation death (inhomogeneous stationary states) can occur either suddenly or through an intermediate state of partial oscillation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent experimental realizations of bilayer boron materials motivated us to study the structure and properties of α-sheet-based bilayer borophenes with interlayer covalent bonds. As shown here, at least three stacking variations are possible: AA, AB, and [Formula: see text]. The on-top AA-stacking has been obtained experimentally supported on a metallic substrate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj
December 2024
Peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases), a ubiquitously distributed superfamily of enzymes, associated with signal transduction, trafficking, assembly, biofilm formation, stress tolerance, cell cycle regulation, gene expression and tissue regeneration, is a key regulator of metabolic disorders and microbial virulence. This review assumes an integrative approach, to provide a holistic overview of the structural and functional diversity of PPIases, examining their conformational dynamics, cellular distribution, and physiological significance. We explore their intricate involvement in cellular processes and virulence modulation in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synthesis of (iso)quinoline-indole hybrids by reacting (iso)quinoline -oxides with -alkynylanilines in the presence of a combination of copper(II) catalyst and a bidentate 2,2'-bipyridine ligand is described. The utility of this method was demonstrated through site-selective functionalization of the synthesized products. A plausible reaction pathway for site-selective amination followed by annulative indole formation was elucidated by a series of mechanistic investigations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnteric fever is one of the important causes of tropical fever with a prevalence of 11-21 million cases worldwide annually. It encompasses both typhoid and paratyphoid fever. Typhi is the causative organism for typhoid fever, manifesting as an uncomplicated febrile illness to life-threatening sepsis with multiorgan dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis an intestinal nematode. It is widely distributed in the tropics and sub-tropics of the world. It can cause a wide array of illnesses ranging from asymptomatic autoinfection to a severe form of hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe rate of spontaneous action potentials (APs) generated by sinoatrial node cells (SANC) is regulated by local Ca release (LCR) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via Ca release channels (ryanodine receptors, RyRs). LCR events propagate and self-organize within the network of RyR clusters (Ca release units, CRUs) via Ca-induced-Ca-release (CICR) that depends on CRU sizes and locations: While larger CRUs generate stronger release signals, the network's topology governs signal diffusion and propagation. This study used super-resolution structured illumination microscopy to image the 3D network of CRUs in rabbit SANC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTailoring the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics of well-defined metal nanoclusters (MNCs) is highly sought after for numerous practical applications. Studies have primarily focused on assembling AIE-type MNCs using monomorphic molecules. Achieving polymorphic assemblies, with different molecular arrangements could provide valuable insights into the role of external molecular matrices on the photoluminescence (PL) behaviour of these NCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study was to assess fine motor skills and reading proficiency in adults with amblyopia and/or strabismus, and to determine how these relate to clinical measures of vision and self-reported vision-related quality of life.
Methods: Fine motor skills (Manual dexterity - Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency [BOT-2]) and reading performance (International Reading Speed Texts [IReST]) were assessed in 23 adults with non-strabismic amblyopia, 20 with non-amblyopic strabismus, 52 with both amblyopia and strabismus, and 19 with normal visual development. Visual acuity and binocular function score (BFS), obtained from stereoacuity and presence/absence of suppression, were also determined.
The study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of a chitosan-coated fisetin nanoformulation in an experimental Alzheimer's disease (AD) model, focusing on improving fisetin's pharmacokinetics and exploring its impact on both brain and colon pathology. AD was induced in mice by intracerebroventricular administration of Aβ. Mice were treated with either fisetin or a fisetin nanoformulation (5 mg/kg/day, orally) for 21 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe circadian clock plays a vital role in modulating the cellular immune response. However, its role in mediating pro-inflammatory diabetogenic β cell injury remains largely unexplored. Our studies demonstrate that the exposure of β cells to IL-1β-mediated inflammation alters genome-wide DNA binding of core circadian transcription factors BMAL1:CLOCK enriched for genomic sites important for cellular response to inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The primary cause of memory loss is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have shown that natural compounds like apple cider vinegar (ACV) have anti-Alzheimer's capabilities. Essential components of ACV, such as gallic acid and chlorogenic acid, may be in charge of the drug's pharmacological effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEngineered nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively used in the food industry, yet safety concerns remain. The lack of validated methodologies is a bottleneck towards resolving this uncertainty. Hence, the current study aims to compare two cell models by examining the toxicological impacts of two food-relevant NPs (SiO and Ag) on intestinal epithelia using monolayer Caco-2 cells and full-thickness 3D tissue models of human small intestines (EpiIntestinal™).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhase separation within cellular membranes, a critical process underpinning diverse cellular functions, is significantly influenced by transmembrane proteins. Therefore, elucidating the behavior of a transmembrane protein in its phase-separated state is of utmost importance. Our study explores mucin behavior in the cellular milieu, aiming to determine the role of crowder chain length and excluded volume in phase separation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial infections impede wound healing and pose significant challenges in clinical care. There is an immediate need for safe and targeted antivirulence agents to fight bacterial infections effectively. In this regard, bioderived nanovesicles have shown significant promise.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Carbon dots (CDs), by virtue of their electrical and optical properties, emit intense light and fluorescence. They have attributes like photostability, high quantum yield (QY), high emission, and scalability. In the recent past, theranostic-CDs have been widely used in sensing, imaging, and medication administration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSulfur dots (S-QDs) hold promise as a new category of metal-free, luminescent nanomaterials, yet their practical application faces challenges primarily due to a limited understanding of their structure and its impact on their optical properties. Herein, by employing a spectrum of aliphatic and aromatic ligands, we identify the surface structure and composition of S-QDs while delineating the pivotal role of ligands in inducing photoluminescence. Thiol-functionalized ligands, such as 4-mercapto benzoic acid and glutathione, notably promote the formation of both green and blue luminescent S-QDs, boosting a high quantum yield of up to 56%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStimuli-responsive hydrogels (HGs) have shown promise for smart drug delivery applications. Specifically, glucose-responsive HGs having phenylboronic acid (PBA) functional groups are extensively pursued for insulin delivery in hyperglycemia. Current polymeric glucose-responsive HGs are cumbersome to fabricate and show a limited insulin release profile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Infect Microbiol
August 2024
Introduction: The emergence of disinfectant resistance has become a severe threat due to reduced effectiveness. This study was undertaken to determine how bacteria adapt to survive exposure to disinfectants in the busiest section of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi, India.
Methods: Four isolates (two , Kp1 and Kp2; two , Pa1 and Pa2) were obtained from chlorhexidine (CHX)-based handwash during microbiological surveillance of "in-use disinfectants" in hospital.
is a global priority respiratory pathogen that kills over a million people annually. The pore-forming cytotoxin, pneumolysin (PLY) is a major virulence factor. Here, we found that recombinant PLY as well as wild-type pneumococcal strains, but not the isogenic PLY mutant, upregulated the shedding of extracellular vesicles (EVs) harboring membrane-bound toxin from human THP-1 monocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF