Subtractive Proteomics and Reverse-Vaccinology Approaches for Novel Drug Target Identification and Chimeric Vaccine Development against Strain Houston-1.

is a Gram-negative bacterium causing a variety of clinical symptoms, ranging from cat-scratch disease to severe systemic infections, and it is primarily transmitted by infected fleas. Its status as an emerging zoonotic pathogen and its capacity to persist within host erythrocytes and endothelial cells emphasize its clinical significance. Despite progress in understanding its pathogenesis, limited knowledge exists about the virulence factors and regulatory mechanisms specific to the strain Houston-1.

Nanoparticles in plant resistance against bacterial pathogens: current status and future prospects.

Nanoparticles (NPs) serve immense roles in various fields of science. They have vastly upgraded conventional methods in the fields of agriculture and food sciences to eliminate growing threats of crop damage and disease, caused by various phytopathogens including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and some insects. Bacterial diseases resulted in mass damage of crops by adopting antibacterial resistance, which has proved to be a major threat leading to food scarcity.

Association of IL-17F rs2397084 (E126G), rs11465553 (V155I) and rs763780 (H161R) variants with rheumatoid arthritis and their effects on the stability of protein.

Interleukin-17F (IL-17F), considered a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been shown to contribute to skeletal tissue degradation and hence chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we utilized bioinformatics tools to analyze the effect of three exonic SNPs (rs2397084, rs11465553, and rs763780) on the structure and function of the IL-17F gene, and evaluated their association with RA in Pakistani patients. The predicted deleterious and damaging effects of identified genetic variants were assessed through the utilization of multiple bioinformatics tools including PROVEAN, SNP&GO, SIFT, and PolyPhen2.

Molecular detection of spp. in ticks (Ixodidae and Argasidae) infesting domestic and wild animals: with notes on the epidemiology of tick-borne in Asia.

Tick-borne spp. are emerging in novel regions infecting different hosts, but information regarding their occurrence is limited. The purpose of this study was the molecular screening of spp.

Exploring the Associations and Molecular Impacts of miR-146a/rs2910164 and miR-196a2/rs185070757 with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Pakistani Population.

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a new class of molecules that participate in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and hence have been reported to have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to investigate the association of miR-146a rs2910164 (G/C) and miR-196a2 rs185070757 (T/G) with RA susceptibility in Pakistani patients and to bioinformatically predict the molecular function of these miRNAs.

Methods: A case-control study on 600 individuals was conducted, including 300 RA patients and 300 matching healthy controls.

Study of Correlation of Bone Mineral Density with Severity of Liver Cirrhosis.

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is a common ailment that is widely prevalent in our country and across the world. There are several manifestations of this disease. Metabolic bone disease also has an association with cirrhosis.

MIR149 rs2292832 and MIR499 rs3746444 Genetic Variants Associated with the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a key role in post-transcriptional modulation of individual genes' expression. Several miRNA variants from different populations are known to be associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Aim: This study was undertaken with the aim to investigate the association of single nucleotide variants; namely, rs2292832, rs3746444, rs11614913, rs1044165, and rs767649 of MIR149, MIR499, MIR196, MIR223, and MIR155, respectively, with RA in the Pakistani population.

Phylogenetic Position of and , with Notes on spp.

Despite high diversity in the Oriental region, ticks of the genus have been neglected regarding their genetic data and vector potential. This study aimed to genetically characterize three species of the genus : , and infesting goats and sheep, and spp. associated with these tick species in the Hindu Kush Himalayan range of Pakistan.

Vaginal Reconstruction in Patients with vaginal agenesis: Options and Outcome: A single-center experience.

Objectives: To assess the postoperative functional, anatomical outcome and complications of various surgical procedures of vaginoplasty performed for patients with vaginal agenesis at our institution.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 14 patients (age range 17-40 years), who underwent vaginoplasty at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan between January 2008 to December 2018. We aimed to assess the anatomical outcomes in terms of vaginal depth, axis and functional outcome as painless and satisfactory vaginal intercourse.

Association analysis of miRNA-146a and miRNA-499 polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control and trio-family study.

Single nucleotide polymorphism is known to alter the expression and processing of miRNAs leading to a variety of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, disagreement is present up to date regarding the association of miRNA-146a and miRNA-499 polymorphisms with RA. The goal of this study was to assess the association of polymorphisms at miRNA-146a and miRNA-499 with the pathogenesis of RA in patients originating from Pakistan.

New records of Amblyomma gervaisi from Pakistan, with detection of a reptile-associated Borrelia sp.

Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites of terrestrial and semi-aquatic vertebrates that may transmit microorganisms to their hosts. Spirochetes of the genus Borrelia are common in ticks and an incipient group has been identified in association with reptiles and their tick parasites. To overcome the knowledge deficit, this study aimed to morphologically and molecularly identify ticks infesting wild lizards and to molecularly assess Borrelia spp.

Phytochemicals-based Therapeutics against Alzheimer's Disease: An Update.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the main healthcare challenges of the twenty-first century, not only affecting millions of people's quality of life but also increasing the burden on the medical community, families, and society. It is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by learning and cognitive dysfunction, behavioral turbulence, and memory loss and is a major cause of dementia, contributing to 50-60 % of dementia cases in patients above the age of 65. The major pathophysiological changes include accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques (Aβ), highly phosphorylated tau protein, neuroinflammation, GABA neurotransmission disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuronal damage due to free radicals, and decreased concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) and butyrylcholine (BCh).

Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Infection.

is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.

Phytochemistry, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potentials of Allium consanguineum Kunth.

Aim: The study was planned to investigate the phytochemicals, antidiabetic and antioxidant studies of A. consanguineum.

Methods: The preliminary studies were performed on crude extract and different solvent fractions.

Micro-synteny conservation analysis revealed the evolutionary history of bacterial biphenyl degradation pathway.

Phenolic compounds have been enlisted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the European Union (EU) as pollutants of priority concern. The biphenyl degradation pathway plays an essential role in prokaryote polychlorinated biphenyls degradation. Our understanding of prokaryotic pathways and their evolution has dramatically increased in recent years with the advancements in prokaryotic genome sequencing and analysis tools.

Omics analysis coupled with gene editing revealed potential transporters and regulators related to levoglucosan metabolism efficiency of the engineered Escherichia coli.

Background: Bioconversion of levoglucosan, a promising sugar derived from the pyrolysis of lignocellulose, into biofuels and chemicals can reduce our dependence on fossil-based raw materials. However, this bioconversion process in microbial strains is challenging due to the lack of catalytic enzyme relevant to levoglucosan metabolism, narrow production ranges of the native strains, poor cellular transport rate of levoglucosan, and inhibition of levoglucosan metabolism by other sugars co-existing in the lignocellulose pyrolysate. The heterologous expression of eukaryotic levoglucosan kinase gene in suitable microbial hosts like Escherichia coli could overcome the first two challenges to some extent; however, no research has been dedicated to resolving the last two issues till now.

Effect of Aeration Intensity on Performance of Lab-Scale Quorum-Quenching Membrane Bioreactor.

Biofouling is one of the main drawbacks of membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Among the different methods, the quorum-quenching (QQ) technique is a novel method as it delays biofilm formation on the membrane surface through disruption of bacterial cell-to-cell communication and thus effectively mitigates membrane biofouling. QQ bacteria require a certain concentration of dissolved oxygen to show their best activities.

Green Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles using Kunth Aqueous Extract, Their Characterization, and Investigation of Its Antioxidative, Antimicrobial, Insecticidal, and Cytotoxic Activities.

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized via green synthesis approach using Kunth aqueous extract. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy and Furrier Transformer Infra-Red spectroscopy to justify the reduction and stabilization of AgNPs from its precursors. AgNPs characteristic absorption peak was observed at 420 nm in the UV-visible spectrum.

Inhibitor tolerance and bioethanol fermentability of levoglucosan-utilizing were enhanced by overexpression of stress-responsive gene : The proteomics-guided metabolic engineering.

Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is crucial for the release of biofermentable sugars for biofuels production, which could greatly alleviate the burgeoning environment and energy crisis caused by the massive usage of traditional fossil fuels. Pyrolysis is a cost-saving pretreatment process that can readily decompose biomass into levoglucosan, a promising anhydrosugar; however, many undesired toxic compounds inhibitory to downstream microbial fermentation are also generated during the pyrolysis, immensely impeding the bioconversion of levoglucosan-containing pyrolysate. Here, we took the first insight into the proteomic responses of a levoglucosan-utilizing and ethanol-producing to three representative biomass-derived inhibitors, identifying large amounts of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that could guide the downstream metabolic engineering for the development of inhibitor-resistant strains.

Green synthesis of Zno@GO nanocomposite and its' efficient antibacterial activity.

Nanotechnologyapplications in the field of biomedicine like drug delivery, cell labeling, and bacterial inhibition are growing . New nano-materials having less toxicity and excellent antibacterial activity attract research interest. In the current study, while taking advantage of green synthesis we have decorated zinc oxide on the surface of grephene oxide forming Zno@GO nanocomposite.

Characterization of Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk-Associated SNPs and Identification of Novel Therapeutic Sites Using an Approach.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are reported to be associated with many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), about 152 SNPs are reported to account for ~15% of its heritability. These SNPs may result in the alteration of gene expression and may also affect the stability of mRNA, resulting in diseased protein.

Association of Gene Polymorphism rs10865035 with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study on a Pakistani Cohort.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the complex diseases with the involvement of the genetic as well as environmental factors in its onset and severity. Different genome-wide association and candidate gene studies have shown the role of several genetic variants in multiple loci/genes with ethnical and geographical variations. This study was designed to detect the association of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10865035 in the gene with the genetic background of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Pakistani cohort.