Gut metagenomic features of frailty.

This study investigates the relationship between frailty severity and gut microbiome characteristics in adults in Kazakhstan. We analyzed 158 participants across four frailty severity (mild to very severe) using metagenomic sequencing of stool samples. Frailty was significantly correlated with age, weight, and functional measures like walking speed and grip strength.

Subinhibitory concentrations of meropenem stimulate membrane vesicle production and modulate immune response in infection.

This study explores an adaptation mechanism of to subinhibitory concentrations of meropenem, characterized by an alteration in the production of membrane vesicles (MVs) and modulation of the host inflammatory response. Using a rat model of infection, we demonstrated a significant increase in the size of MVs accompanied by a nonsignificant increase in their number in the meropenem-treated group compared to the infected control. Both infected groups showed significantly altered hematological parameters and shifts in monocyte on day 8 (average increase of 21.

Accumbal Dopamine Responses Are Distinct between Female Rats with Active and Passive Coping Strategies.

There is a gap in existing knowledge of stress-triggered neurochemical and behavioral adaptations in females. This study was designed to explore the short-term consequences of a single social defeat (SD) on accumbal dopamine (DA) dynamics and related behaviors in female Wistar rats. During the SD procedure, rats demonstrated different stress-handling strategies, which were defined as active and passive coping.

Inflammatory Manifestations Associated With Gut Dysbiosis in Alzheimer's Disease.

Recent studies strongly suggest that gut microbiome can influence brain functions and contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, reported changes in the gut microbiomes in AD patients from different countries are not similar, and more research is needed to reveal the relationships between human microbiomes and AD in diverse ethnic populations. There is also an assumption that microbiome-associated peripheral inflammation might drive the development of sporadic AD.

Impact of urbanization on gut microbiome mosaics across geographic and dietary contexts.

Unlabelled: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of how urban-rural divides influence gut microbial diversity and composition across the distinct geographical landscapes of Kazakhstan, elucidating the intricate interplay between lifestyle, environment, and gut microbiome. In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 651 participants from urban centers and rural settlements across Kazakhstan, following ethical approval and informed consent. Comprehensive demographic, dietary, and stool sample data were collected.

Functional Analysis of the Channelrhodopsin Genes from the Green Algae of the White Sea Basin.

Optogenetics, the method of light-controlled regulation of cellular processes is based on the use of the channelrhodopsins that directly generate photoinduced currents. Most of the channelrhodopsin genes have been identified in the green microalgae Chlorophyta, and the demand for increasing the number of functionally characterized channelrhodopsins and the diversity of their photochemical parameters keeps growing. We performed the expression analysis of cation channelrhodopsin (CCR) genes in natural isolates of microalgae of the genera and from the unique Arctic Circle region.

Gut microbiome-immune interactions and their role in rheumatoid arthritis development.

Objective: The primary objective is to study the impact of gut microbiota and their interactions with diverse immunological markers on the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: This study was performed in Astana, Kazakhstan, and included 77 Kazakh female patients older than 18 years, who met the American College of Rheumatology 2010 classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 113 healthy controls. The DNA was extracted from fecal samples obtained from all study participants for subsequent sequencing at the 16S rRNA gene V1-V3 locus, facilitating the analysis of the gut microbiome.

Gut Microbiome and Cytokine Profiles in Post-COVID Syndrome.

Recent studies highlight the crucial role of the gut microbiome in post-infectious complications, especially in patients recovering from severe COVID-19. Our research aimed to explore the connection between gut microbiome changes and the cytokine profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the composition of the gut microbiome in 60 COVID-19 patients over the course of one year.

Oral Microbiome Stamp in Alzheimer's Disease.

Recent studies have suggested that periodontal disease and alterations in the oral microbiome may be associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. Here, we report a case-control study of oral microbiota diversity in AD patients compared to healthy seniors from Central Asia. We have characterized the bacterial taxonomic composition of the oral microbiome from AD patients (n = 64) compared to the healthy group (n = 71) using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.

Voices: Challenges and opportunities for bioorthogonal chemistry.

Bioorthogonal chemistry was deservedly recognized with the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, having transformed the way chemists and biologists interrogate biological systems in the past twenty years. This Voices piece asks researchers from a range of backgrounds: what are some major challenges and opportunities facing the field in coming years?

The Trajectory of Successful Aging: Insights from Metagenome and Cytokine Profiling.

Introduction: The longevity is influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The specific changes that occur in the gut microbiome during the aging process, and their relationship to longevity and immune function, have not yet been fully understood. The ongoing research of other microbiome based on longevity cohort in Kazakhstan provides preliminary information on longevity-related aging, where cytokine expression is associated with specific microbial communities and microbial functions.

Prednisolone Targets Claudins in Mouse Brain Blood Vessels.

Endothelial cells in brain capillaries are crucial for the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and members of the tight junction protein family of claudins are regarded to be primarily responsible for barrier properties. Thus, the analysis of bioactive substances that can affect the BBB's permeability is of great importance and may be useful for the development of new therapeutic strategies for brain pathologies. In our study, we tested the hypothesis that the application of the glucocorticoid prednisolone affects the murine blood-brain barrier in vivo.

Using a Function-First "Scout Fragment"-Based Approach to Develop Allosteric Covalent Inhibitors of Conformationally Dynamic Helicase Mechanoenzymes.

Helicases, classified into six superfamilies, are mechanoenzymes that utilize energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to remodel DNA and RNA substrates. These enzymes have key roles in diverse cellular processes, such as translation, ribosome assembly, and genome maintenance. Helicases with essential functions in certain cancer cells have been identified, and helicases expressed by many viruses are required for their pathogenicity.

Autoregulatory control of mitochondrial glutathione homeostasis.

Mitochondria must maintain adequate amounts of metabolites for protective and biosynthetic functions. However, how mitochondria sense the abundance of metabolites and regulate metabolic homeostasis is not well understood. In this work, we focused on glutathione (GSH), a critical redox metabolite in mitochondria, and identified a feedback mechanism that controls its abundance through the mitochondrial GSH transporter, SLC25A39.

Using a function-first 'scout fragment'-based approach to develop allosteric covalent inhibitors of conformationally dynamic helicase mechanoenzymes.

Helicases, classified into six superfamilies, are mechanoenzymes that utilize energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to remodel DNA and RNA substrates. These enzymes have key roles in diverse cellular processes, such as genome replication and maintenance, ribosome assembly and translation. Helicases with essential functions only in certain cancer cells have been identified and helicases expressed by certain viruses are required for their pathogenicity.

Phenolic Compounds of the Medicinal Plants in an Anthropogenically Transformed Environment.

In this article, the impact of an anthropogenically transformed environment on the content of pharmaceutically valuable biologically active compounds in medicinal plants is analyzed. The studied biologically active substances included phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and phenolic acids). The number of transmissible forms of heavy metals (HMs), including cadmium, lead, and mercury, were discharged from factories that are present in the soil.

Unraveling Acute and Post-COVID Cytokine Patterns to Anticipate Future Challenges.

The aims of this study were to analyze cytokine profiles in patients with COVID-19, gain insights into the immune response during acute infection, identify cytokines associated with disease severity and post-COVID complications, and explore potential biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic targets. Using a multiplex analysis, we studied the cytokine pattern in 294 acute COVID-19 and post-COVID patients with varying severities of infection. Our findings revealed that disease severity was associated with elevated levels of IL-15, IL-8, and fractalkine.

Compositional and functional variability of the gut microbiome in children with infantile colic.

The inconsolable crying of a child for no apparent reason at an early age is a source of excitement and anxiety for parents. Previous studies have reported that crying may be caused by discomfort associated with the occupation of the intestines of the newborn by microbiota and its vital activity. We conducted a prospective observational study in which 62 newborns and their mothers were recruited.

Synthesis and Evaluation on the Fungicidal Activity of S-Alkyl Substituted Thioglycolurils.

A series of S-alkyl substituted thioglycolurils was prepared through the alkylation of corresponding thioglycolurils with halogenoalkanes and tested for their fungicidal activity against six phytopathogenic fungi from different taxonomic classes: , , , , , and and two pathogenic yeasts: and . A number of S-alkyl substituted thioglycolurils exhibited high activity against and (85-100% mycelium growth inhibition), and moderate activity against other phytopathogens. S-Ethyl substituted thioglycolurils possessed a high activity against .

Chilling Upregulates Expression of the PsbS and LhcSR Genes in the Chloroplasts of the Green Microalga Lobosphaera incisa IPPAS C-2047.

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of excited chlorophyll states is essential for protecting the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) from the excessive light-induced damage in all groups of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. The key component of the NPQ mechanism in green algae and some other groups of algae and mosses is the LhcSR protein of the light harvesting complex (LHC) protein superfamily. In vascular plants, LhcSR is replaced by PsbS, another member of the LHC superfamily and a subunit of photosystem II (PSII).

Effect of Brown Algae and Lichen Extracts on the SCOBY Microbiome and Kombucha Properties.

Kombucha tea was made by the fermentation of SCOBY culture of green tea broth with the addition of algae extract, lichen extract and their mixture. Kombucha was also made without the herbal supplements as a control. After 11 days of fermentation, in addition to the yeast and the bacteria and contained in all of the samples, the yeast and bacteria were detected in the samples with the herbal extracts.