Differential Transcriptional Landscape of Vero Cells During Dengue Virus 2 Infection in the Presence of Sinococuline.

Dengue virus (DENV) is transmitted by genus mosquitoes and is responsible for dengue fever (DF) and other severe diseases, posing a significant challenge to the global health system. Currently, anti-dengue pharmacological treatment options are not available. Earlier, we demonstrated that Sinococuline has potent anti-dengue activity and prevents virus infection.

BBBper: A Machine Learning-based Online Tool for Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Permeability Prediction.

Aims: Neuronal disorders have affected more than 15% of the world's population, signifying the importance of continued design and development of drugs that can cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB).

Background: BBB limits the permeability of external compounds by 98% to maintain and regulate brain homeostasis. Hence, BBB permeability prediction is vital to predict the activity of a drug-like substance.

Advancements in peptide-based antimicrobials: A possible option for emerging drug-resistant infections.

In recent years, multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms (MDROs) have emerged as a severe threat to human health, exhibiting robust resistance to traditional antibiotics. This has created a formidable challenge in modern medicine as we grapple with limited options to combat these resilient bacteria. Despite extensive efforts by scientists to develop new antibiotics targeting these pathogens, the quest for novel antibacterial molecules has become increasingly arduous.

Expression of major facilitator superfamily protein in transporters - Δ identifies a drug transporter.

To assess the functional relevance of a putative Major Facilitator Superfamily protein (PF3D7_0210300; 'MFSDT') as a drug transporter, using for orthologous protein expression. Complementary Determining Sequence encoding MFSDT was integrated into the genome of genetically engineered strain MSY8 via homologous recombination, followed by assessing its functional relevance as a drug transporter. The modified strain exhibited plasma membrane localization of MFSDT and characteristics of an Major Facilitator Superfamily transporter, conferring resistance to antifungals, ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Arsenic transport, detoxification, and recent technologies for mitigation: A systemic review.

Arsenic (As) is an acute toxic metalloid that affects plant growth and development. As is found in the environment in organic and inorganic forms, but arsenite As(III) and arsenate As(V) are the most prevalent forms that negatively impact the plants. Roots exposed to As can easily absorb it mainly through transporters that carry vital mineral nutrients.

The threat of increased transmission of non- zoonotic malaria in humans: a systematic review.

Of the 5 human malarial parasites, and are the most prevalent species globally, while and are less prevalent and typically occur as mixed-infections. , previously considered a non-human primate (NHP) infecting species, is now a cause of human malaria in Malaysia. The other NHP species, , , , , and cause malaria in primates, which are mainly reported in southeast Asia and South America.

Nanoparticles in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.

The use of tailored medication delivery in cancer treatment has the potential to increase efficacy while decreasing unfavourable side effects. For researchers looking to improve clinical outcomes, chemotherapy for cancer continues to be the most challenging topic. Cancer is one of the worst illnesses despite the limits of current cancer therapies.

National Institute of Malaria Research-Malaria Dashboard (NIMR-MDB): A digital platform for analysis and visualization of epidemiological data.

Background: A digital dashboard can be an invaluable resource for the research community and can help analyze and visualize data as per the inputs provided by the user. In India, large data sets on malaria are available though presently no digital dashboard is being used to monitor and analyze the malaria data.

Methods: We have developed a dashboard (National Institute of Malaria Research-Malaria Dashboard (NIMR-MDB)) in R software using 19 different packages within which shiny and ggplot2 are used more intensively.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus: An Update on the Potential Antivirals and Vaccines.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the causal agent behind Japanese encephalitis (JE), a potentially severe brain infection that spreads through mosquito bites. JE is predominant over the Asia-Pacific Region and has the potential to spread globally with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Efforts have been made to identify and select various target molecules essential in JEV's progression, but until now, no licensed anti-JEV drug has been available.

Detecting temporal and spatial malaria patterns from first antenatal care visits.

Pregnant women attending first antenatal care (ANC) visits represent a promising malaria surveillance target in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we assessed the spatio-temporal relationship between malaria at ANC (n=6,471), in children at the community(n=9,362) and at health facilities (n=15,467) in southern Mozambique (2016-2019). ANC rates detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction mirrored rates in children, regardless of gravidity and HIV status (Pearson correlation coefficient [PCC]>0.

Conformationally restricted, dipeptide-based, self-assembled nanoparticles for efficient vancomycin delivery.

Emergence of vancomycin (Van) resistance, and usage of its higher dose and short half-life are posing a serious concern. Slow and sustained release of Van using a nanodelivery system may overcome these problems. Arginine-α,β-dehydrophenylalanine (RΔF) was synthesized using solution-phase synthesis which self-assembled into nanospheres.

Ultrashort Peptide-Based Hydrogel for the Healing of Critical Bone Defects in Rabbits.

The use of hydrogels as scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) cell growth is an active area of research in tissue engineering. Herein, we report the self-assembly of an ultrashort peptide, a tetrapeptide, Asp-Leu-IIe-IIe, the shortest peptide sequence from a highly fibrillogenic protein TDP-43, into the hydrogel. The hydrogel was mechanically strong and highly stable, with storage modulus values in MPa ranges.

A Genotype-Independent, Simple, Effective and Efficient in Planta -Mediated Genetic Transformation Protocol.

Crop improvement under changing climatic conditions is required to feed the growing global population. The development of transgenic crops is an attractive and conceivably the most effective approach for crop improvement with desired traits in varying climatic situations. Here, we describe a simple, efficient and robust in planta -mediated genetic transformation method that can be used in most crops, including rice, wheat and cotton, and particularly in tissue culture recalcitrant crops, such as chickpea and pigeon pea.

MGIT sensitivity testing and genotyping of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Mizoram, Northeast India.

Purpose: Tuberculosis, a crucial infectious disease is still a health concern globally. India is among the countries with high MDR-TB burden. Currently, sputum smear microscopy using Ziehl Neelsen stain and GeneXpert are the only diagnostic means in Mizoram.

Concurrent dengue infections: Epidemiology & clinical implications.

Multiple dengue virus (DENV) serotypes circulating in a geographical area most often lead to simultaneous infection of two or more serotypes in a single individual. The occurrence of such concurrent infections ranges from 2.5 to 30 per cent, reaching as high as 40-50 per cent in certain dengue hyper-endemic areas.

Biopolymer: A Sustainable Material for Food and Medical Applications.

Biopolymers are a leading class of functional material suitable for high-value applications and are of great interest to researchers and professionals across various disciplines. Interdisciplinary research is important to understand the basic and applied aspects of biopolymers to address several complex problems associated with good health and well-being. To reduce the environmental impact and dependence on fossil fuels, a lot of effort has gone into replacing synthetic polymers with biodegradable materials, especially those derived from natural resources.

The Immunomodulatory CEA Cell Adhesion Molecule 6 (CEACAM6/CD66c) Is a Protein Receptor for the Influenza a Virus.

To establish a productive infection in host cells, viruses often use one or multiple host membrane glycoproteins as their receptors. For Influenza A virus (IAV) such a glycoprotein receptor has not been described, to date. Here we show that IAV is using the host membrane glycoprotein CD66c as a receptor for entry into human epithelial lung cells.

Combating multi-drug resistant malaria parasite by inhibiting falcipain-2 and heme-polymerization: Artemisinin-peptidyl vinyl phosphonate hybrid molecules as new antimalarials.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been able to reduce the clinical and pathological malaria cases in endemic areas around the globe. However, recent reports have shown a progressive decline in malaria parasite clearance in South-east Asia after ACT treatment, thus envisaging a need for new artemisinin (ART) derivatives and combinations. To address the emergence of drug resistance to current antimalarials, here we report the synthesis of artemisinin-peptidyl vinyl phosphonate hybrid molecules that show superior efficacy than artemisinin alone against chloroquine-resistant as well as multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains with EC in pico-molar ranges.

Recent advances in the fabrication and bio-medical applications of self-assembled dipeptide nanostructures.

Molecular self-assembly is a widespread natural phenomenon and has inspired several researchers to synthesize a compendium of nano/microstructures with widespread applications. Biomolecules like proteins, peptides and lipids are used as building blocks to fabricate various nanomaterials. Supramolecular peptide self-assembly continue to play a significant role in forming diverse nanostructures with numerous biomedical applications; however, dipeptides offer distinctive supremacy in their ability to self-assemble and produce a variety of nanostructures.

Double-Antigen Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Detection of Anti-HIV-1 and -2 Antibodies Using Upconverting Nanoparticle Reporters.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are often used for the detection of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies in remote locations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) with low or limited access to central laboratories. The typical format of an RDT is a lateral flow assay (LFA) with visual interpretation prone to subjectivity. This risk of misinterpretation can be overcome with luminescent upconverting nanoparticle reporters (UCNPs) measured with a miniaturized easy-to-use reader instrument.

Upconverting nanoparticle reporter-based highly sensitive rapid lateral flow immunoassay for hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

Detection of hepatitis B Virus surface antigen (HBsAg) is an established method for diagnosing both acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In addition to enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are available for the detection of HBsAg in resource-poor settings. However, the available RDTs have inadequate sensitivity and therefore are not suitable for diagnosis of patients with low levels of HBsAg and for blood screening.