Development of the fish invitrome for animal-free environmental risk assessment of chemicals.

Given the need to reduce animal testing for environmental risk assessment, we aim to develop a fish invitrome, an alternative fish modular framework capable of predicting chemical toxicity in fish without the use of animals. The central module of the framework is the validated RTgill-W1 cell line assay that predicts fish acute toxicity of chemicals (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Test Guideline (OECD TG) 249). Expanding towards prediction of chronic toxicity, the fish invitrome includes two other well-advanced modules for chemical bioaccumulation/biotransformation and inhibition of fish growth.

Neurotoxic Effects and Cognitive Decline Induced by Aniline Blue Dye in an In-Vivo Zebrafish Model.

Aniline Blue is a synthetic dye extensively used in various industries, including textiles, plastics, and biological research due to its effective staining properties. However, its environmental and health impacts, particularly its neurotoxic effects, are poorly understood. While the dye has been associated with carcinogenicity and organ toxicity, the neurobehavioral consequences of Aniline Blue exposure remain underexplored.

Long non coding RNA function in epigenetic memory with a particular emphasis on genomic imprinting and X chromosome inactivation.

Cells preserve and convey certain gene expression patterns to their progeny through the mechanism called epigenetic memory. Epigenetic memory, encoded by epigenetic markers and components, determines germline inheritance, genomic imprinting, and X chromosome inactivation. First discovered long non coding RNAs were implicated in genomic imprinting and X-inactivation and these two phenomena clearly demonstrate the role of lncRNAs in epigenetic memory regulation.

SCoT and ISSR based conservation genetics of Calligonum polygonoides Linn.: An endangered species of Thar desert.

Calligonum polygonoides, an endangered species of desert due to poor regeneration and overexploitation, which requires immediate conservation attention. Genetic diversity analysis is crucial for effective conservation and management initiatives, for elite genotypes. Therefore, in the present study, SCoT (start codon target) and ISSR (inter simple sequence repeat) markers were used to investigate the genetic variability in 120 individuals of Calligonum polygonoides.

Promoting caproate production using anaerobically digested sludge-derived biochar: Performances, mechanisms, and environmental impacts.

Carbon chain elongation offers a promising pathway for converting waste resources into caproate. However, challenges in yield and selectivity have limited its broader application. To address these limitations, anaerobically digested sludge-derived biochar (ADS-B) was incorporated into the carbon chain elongation process.

Optimising medium chain carboxylate production in xylan mixed-culture monofermentation.

This work investigates the optimization of medium-chain carboxylate (MCC) production through xylan mixed-culture monofermentation. The pH screening in batch assays showed that the hydrolysis stage and selectivity towards MCC precursors were optimised at pH 6. Subsequently, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) were operated at different Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT), revealing that the SBR at HRT 2 days yielded the highest caproic acid since lactic acid availability and chain elongation process were balanced.

Additive manufacturing in spatial patterning for spinal cord injury treatment.

Combinatorial treatments integrating cells and biomolecules within scaffolds have been investigated to address the multifactorial nature of spinal cord injury (SCI). Current regenerative treatments have been ineffective as they do not consider the spatial positions of various cell types to effectively form functional neural pathways. Emulating the complex heterogeneity of cells in the native spinal cord requires translating the existing biological understanding of spatial patterning in neural development, as well as the influence of biomolecule and mechanical patterning on regional specification and axonal regeneration, to engineer a scaffold for spinal cord regeneration.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Caused by TLL1 Gain-of-Function Mutation.

Background: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac valvular anomaly that can be caused by mutations in genes of various biological pathways. Individuals of three generations of a kindred presented with apparently dominant heredity of isolated MVP.

Methods: Clinical evaluation and echocardiography for all complying family members (n=13).

Bridging the Gap: Phage Manufacturing Processes from Laboratory to Agri-Food Industry.

Interest in bacteriophages (phages) as sustainable biocontrol agents in the agri-food industry has increased because of growing worries about food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The phage manufacturing process is examined in this review, with particular attention paid to the crucial upstream and downstream processes needed for large-scale production. Achieving large phage yields requires upstream procedures, including fermentation and phage amplification.

Alkalinity exposure induced growth inhibition, intestinal histopathological changes, and down-regulated nutrient transporter expression in Nile Tilapia: The ameliorative role of dietary camel whey protein hydrolysates.

Alkaline stress impairs fish productivity and performance and, therefore, is considered one of the major challenges facing aquaculture. In this work, the effects of supplementing diets with camel whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) on growth, digestion, antioxidant capacity, and gene expression were investigated in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under alkaline stress. A total of 160 fish (16.

Multifunctional quaternary ammonium-modified TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers and MIL-100 with encapsulated laccase for efficient removal of anionic arund cationic dyes in wastewater.

The increasing prevalence of micropollutants like cationic and anionic dyes in wastewater creates an influential environmental challenge, mainly due to their toxic effects and persistence. Current methods often lack the efficiency and versatility to cope with a wide variety of contaminants. This study explores the modification of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) using (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) to enhance their cationic properties.

The neuroprotective effect of human umbilical cord MSCs-derived secretome against α-synuclein aggregates on the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized network that maintains central nervous system homeostasis. Disruption of the BBB can lead to neuronal damage and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD), characterized by alpha-synuclein (αSN) aggregation, which forms intracellular inclusions. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promise in alleviating the severity of neurological diseases through their paracrine secretions.

Synthesis and evaluation of KX-01 analogs with an exploration of linker attachment points for antibody-drug conjugates.

KX-01 (tirbanibulin, Klisyri®) is a recently FDA-approved drug for treating actinic keratosis, with a distinct dual mechanism of action combining microtubule disruption and non-ATP-competitive Src inhibition. This unique mechanism and novel chemotype highlight KX-01's potential as a payload for antibody-drug conjugates. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated KX-01 derivatives to enhance anticancer potency and explore functional groups suitable for antibody conjugation.

Cadmium-cardiolipin disruption of respirasome assembly and redox balance through mitochondrial membrane rigidification.

The environmental pollutant cadmium (Cd) poses a threat to human health through consumption of contaminated foodstuffs culminating in chronic nephrotoxicity. Mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key to Cd cellular toxicity. Cd-lipid interactions have been less considered.

LG1 promotes preligule band formation through directly activating ZmPIN1 genes in maize.

Increasing plant density is an effective strategy for enhancing crop yield per unit land area. A key architectural trait for crops adapting to high planting density is smaller leaf angle (LA). Previous studies have demonstrated that LG1, a SQUAMOSA BINDING PROTEIN (SBP) transcription factor, plays a critical role in LA establishment.

Whole genome sequencing revealed high occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria isolated from poultry manure.

Global demand for food has driven expansion and intensification of livestock production, particularly in developing nations where antibiotic use is often routine. Waste from poultry production, including manure, is commonly utilized as fertilizers in agroecosystems, risking environmental contamination with potentially zoonotic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Here, 33 bacterial isolates were recovered from broiler (n=17) and layer (n=16) chicken manure by aerobic culture using Luria Bertani agar.

A conserved chaperone protein is required for the formation of a non-canonical type VI secretion system spike tip complex.

Type VI secretion systems (T6SS) are dynamic protein nanomachines found in Gram-negative bacteria that deliver toxic effector proteins into target cells in a contact-dependent manner. Prior to secretion, many T6SS effector proteins require chaperones and/or accessory proteins for proper loading onto the structural components of the T6SS apparatus. However, despite their established importance, the precise molecular function of several T6SS accessory protein families remains unclear.

PathwayPilot: A User-Friendly Tool for Visualizing and Navigating Metabolic Pathways.

Metaproteomics, the study of collective proteomes in environmental communities, plays a crucial role in understanding microbial functionalities affecting ecosystems and human health. Pathway analysis offers structured insights into the biochemical processes within these communities. However, no existing tool effectively combines pathway analysis with peptide- or protein-level data.

Effect on viability and yield on Pleurotus pulmonarius and Ganoderma lucidum after 3 years of cryopreservation without cryoprotectants.

Due to their importance in various fields such biotechnology, medicine, food science, preserving microorganisms effectively is essential. This study investigated cryopreservation of the edible fungus Pleurotus pulmonarius and the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, for three years at -80°C in sorghum grains without cryoprotectants. We compared viability, growth, and yields with strains maintained on agar media at 5°C.

Adult bi-paternal offspring generated through direct modification of imprinted genes in mammals.

Imprinting abnormalities pose a significant challenge in applications involving embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and animal cloning, with no universal correction method owing to their complexity and stochastic nature. In this study, we targeted these defects at their source-embryos from same-sex parents-aiming to establish a stable, maintainable imprinting pattern de novo in mammalian cells. Using bi-paternal mouse embryos, which exhibit severe imprinting defects and are typically non-viable, we introduced frameshift mutations, gene deletions, and regulatory edits at 20 key imprinted loci, ultimately achieving the development of fully adult animals, albeit with a relatively low survival rate.

The rate of glucose metabolism sets the cell morphology across yeast strains and species.

Yeasts are a diverse group of unicellular fungi that have developed a wide array of phenotypes and traits over 400 million years of evolution. However, we still lack an understanding of the biological principles governing the range of cell morphologies, metabolic modes, and reproductive strategies yeasts display. In this study, we explored the relationship between cell morphology and metabolism in sixteen yeast strains across eleven species.

Design, synthesis, and antiviral activity of fragmented-lapatinib aminoquinazoline analogs towards SARS-CoV-2 inhibition.

The severe impact of COVID-19 on global health and economies highlights the critical need for innovative treatments. Recently, lapatinib, a drug initially used for breast cancer, has been identified as a potential inhibitor of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, meriting further investigation. Utilizing rational design strategies and guided by MD simulations, we developed novel aminoquinazoline analogs based on fragmented lapatinib's structure.

On the formation and stability mechanisms of diverse lipid-based nanostructures for drug delivery.

In the evolving landscape of nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals, lipid nanostructures have emerged as pivotal areas of research due to their unique ability to mimic biological membranes and encapsulate active molecules. These nanostructures offer promising avenues for drug delivery, vaccine development, and diagnostic applications. This comprehensive review explores the complex mechanisms underlying the formation and stability of various lipid nanostructures, including lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles and solid lipid nanoparticles.

Elucidating the impact of S-adenosylmethionine and histamine binding on N-methyltransferase conformational dynamics: Insights from an in silico study.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) is a crucial enzyme involved in histamine methylation, playing an important role in the epigenetic modification of biology. It entails the addition of methyl groups to histamine molecules, thereby regulating gene expression, cellular signal transduction, and other biological processes. Therefore, gaining a profound understanding of the detailed mechanism underlying HNMT-mediated methylation reactions is instrumental in elucidating the role of histamine methylation in biology.