Potentially probiotic NPL 1334 strain of Enterococcus durans benefits rats with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose: To study the potential of a candidate probiotic strain belonging to the Enterococcus durans species in alleviating hypercholesterolemia and improving the microbial milieu of rat gut.

Methods: A previously isolated and characterized E. durans strain NPL 1334 was further screened in vitro for its bile salt hydrolyzation and cholesterol assimilation ability.

Diversity and functional traits based indigenous rhizosphere associated phosphate solubilizing bacteria for sustainable production of rice.

Introduction: Rice, particularly Basmati rice, holds significant global importance as a staple food. The indiscriminate use of phosphate-based fertilizers during rice production has led to high residual levels of these chemicals in soil, impacting soil health and fertility. This study aimed to address this challenge by investigating the potential of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in improving soil fertility and boosting the growth of Basmati rice.

Studying Salt-Induced Shifts in Gene Expression Patterns of Glucosinolate Transporters and Glucosinolate Accumulation in Two Contrasting Species.

crops are well known for the accumulation of glucosinolates-secondary metabolites crucial for plants' adaptation to various stresses. Glucosinolates also functioning as defence compounds pose challenges to food quality due to their goitrogenic properties. Their disruption leaves plants susceptible to insect pests and diseases.

Assessment of Genomic Diversity and Selective Pressures in Crossbred Dairy Cattle of Pakistan.

Improving the low productivity levels of native cattle breeds in smallholder farming systems is a pressing concern in Pakistan. Crossbreeding high milk-yielding holstein friesian (HF) breed with the adaptability and heat tolerance of Sahiwal cattle has resulted in offspring that are well-suited to local conditions and exhibit improved milk yield. The exploration of how desirable traits in crossbred dairy cattle are selected has not yet been investigated.

Genome Editing in Brassica juncea Using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology.

Modern genome editing tools particularly CRISPR/Cas9 have revolutionized plant genome manipulation for engineering resilience against changing climatic conditions, disease infestation, as well as functional genomic studies. CRISPR-mediated genome editing allows for editing at a single as well as multiple locations in the genome simultaneously, making it an effective tool for polyploid species too. However, still, its applications are limited to the model crops only.

Halophilic Plant-Associated Bacteria with Plant-Growth-Promoting Potential.

The salinization of soils is a growing agricultural concern worldwide. Irrigation practices, drought, and climate change are leading to elevated salinity levels in many regions, resulting in reduced crop yields. However, there is potential for a solution in the microbiome of halophytes, which are naturally salt-tolerant plants.

Molecular distribution of biocide resistance genes and susceptibility to biocides among vancomycin resistant (VRSA) isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) of cardiac hospital- A first report from Pakistan.

Background: The study was conducted with the aim to investigate the VRSA isolates in terms of their susceptibility to routinely used biocides influenced by the co-occurrence of biocide resistant gene (BRGs) and efflux pumps genes.

Methodology: Frequently touched surfaces within intensive care unit (ICU) of cardiac hospital were classified into three primary sites i.e.

Mechanism of the antidiabetic action of and Thymoquinone: a review.

Introduction: Long used in traditional medicine, (NS; Ranunculaceae) has shown significant efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM) management by improving glucose tolerance, decreasing hepatic gluconeogenesis, normalizing blood sugar and lipid imbalance, and stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic cells. In this review, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of NS as a herbal diabetes medication are examined in depth, demonstrating how it counteracts oxidative stress and the onset and progression of DM.

Methods: This literature review drew on databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed and various gray literature sources using search terms like the etiology of diabetes, conventional versus herbal therapy, subclinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, physiology, behavior, and clinical outcomes.

Genetic insights into crossbred dairy cattle of Pakistan: exploring allele frequency, linkage disequilibrium, and effective population size at a genome-wide scale.

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) affects genomic studies accuracy. High-density genotyping platforms identify SNPs across animal genomes, increasing LD evaluation resolution for accurate analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the decay and magnitude of LD in a cohort of 81 crossbred dairy cattle using the GGP_HDv3_C Bead Chip.

Salt-Induced Modulation of Ion Transport and PSII Photoprotection Determine the Salinity Tolerance of Amphidiploid Brassicas.

species show varying levels of resistance to salt stress. To understand the genetics underlying these differential stress tolerance patterns in Brassicas, we exposed two widely cultivated amphidiploid species having different genomes, (AABB, = 18) and (AACC, = 19), to elevated levels of NaCl concentration (300 mM, half the salinity of seawater). produced more biomass, an increased chlorophyll content, and fewer accumulated sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) ions in its photosynthesizing tissues.

Genetic Investigation of Consanguineous Pakistani Families Segregating Rare Spinocerebellar Disorders.

Spinocerebellar disorders are a vast group of rare neurogenetic conditions, generally characterized by overlapping clinical symptoms including progressive cerebellar ataxia, spastic paraparesis, cognitive deficiencies, skeletal/muscular and ocular abnormalities. The objective of the present study is to identify the underlying genetic causes of the rare spinocerebellar disorders in the Pakistani population. Herein, nine consanguineous families presenting different spinocerebellar phenotypes have been investigated using whole exome sequencing.

Insights from metagenome-assembled genomes on the genetic stability and safety of over-the-counter probiotic products.

The demand for and acceptance of probiotics is determined by their quality and safety. Illumina NGS sequencing and analytics were used to examine eight marketed probiotics. Up to the species level, sequenced DNA was taxonomically identified, and relative abundances were determined using Kaiju.

Probiotic profiling of bifidobacteria indigenous to the human intestinal mucosa shows alleviation of dysbiosis-associated pathogen biofilms.

The present study was undertaken to isolate bifidobacterial probiotics and characterize the biodiversity of mucosal bacteria in the human distal gut through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Bifidobacterial strains obtained by selective culturing were investigated for biofilms and probiotic characteristics. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches revealed substantial microbial diversity.

Potentially probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri from human milk strengthens the gut barrier in T84 cells and a murine enteroid model.

Aims: At conception, the infant gut barrier is immature, gradually developing with regular intake of maternal milk. This study addressed whether the barrier-strengthening effect of breast feeding might be attributable, at least in part, to autochthonous beneficial human milk bacteria.

Methods And Results: Twelve bacterial strains from the breast milk of Pakistani mothers who underwent cesarean delivery (NPL-88, NPL-157, NPL-179, NPL-181, NPL-388 (Limosilactobacillus reuteri), NPL-76, NPL-495, NPL-504 (Limosilactobacillus fermentum), NPL-415 (Lactobacillus pentosus), NPL-412, NPL-416 (Lactiplantibacilllus plantarum) and NPL-374 (Bifidobacterium longum) were shortlisted based on their tolerance to acidic pH (2.

Improving editing efficiency of prime editor in plants.

Prime editing creates targeted insertions or deletions in the genome without double-stranded breaks (DSBs). However, prime-editing efficiency in plants is low, thereby limiting its utilization. A recent study by Zong et al.

A Novel Nonsense Variant in Causes Autosomal Recessive Spinocerebellar Ataxia 13 in a Consanguineous Pakistani Family.

Autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia-13 (SCAR13) is an ultra-rare disorder characterized by slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, cognitive deficiencies, and skeletal and oculomotor abnormalities. The objective of this case report is to expand the clinical and molecular spectrum of SCAR13. We investigated a consanguineous Pakistani family with four patients partially presenting with clinical features of SCAR13 using whole exome sequencing.

Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel variant causing cockayne syndrome type I in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Background: Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired neurological functions, cachectic dwarfism, microcephaly and photosensitivity. Complementation assays identify two groups of this disorder, CS type I (CSA) and CS type II (CSB), caused by mutations in ERCC8 and ERCC6, respectively.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of a consanguineous Pakistani family with three affected individuals presenting with typical clinical symptoms of CS.

Compositional Quality and Possible Gastrointestinal Performance of Marketed Probiotic Supplements.

The local pharmacies and shops are brimming with various probiotic products that herald a range of health benefits. The poor quality of probiotic products in both dosage and species is symptomatic of this multi-billion-dollar market making it difficult for consumers to single out reliable ones. This study aims to fill the potential gap in the labeling accuracy of probiotic products intended for human consumption.

A potentially probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecalis from human milk that is avirulent, antibiotic sensitive, and nonbreaching of the gut barrier.

Human milk is a key source of promising probiotic lactic acid bacteria. The Enterococcus species, because of their dual commensal and pathogenic nature, demand critical safety analysis to establish them as probiotic candidates. In this study, eighteen E.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized bacterial cellulose as an efficient healing material for diabetic wounds.

The unique pool of features makes bacterial cellulose (BC) a robust platform to tailor its functionalities. Herein, the BC matrix was reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to control infection and accelerate the healing process of diabetic wounds. The prepared BC-MWCNT composite film was characterized and antibacterial activity was assessed.

A recurrent rare intronic variant in CAPN3 alters mRNA splicing and causes autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-1 in three Pakistani pedigrees.

Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-1 (LGMDR1) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive weakness of the proximal limb and girdle muscles. Biallelic mutations in CAPN3 are reported frequently to cause LGMDR1. Here, we describe 11 individuals from three unrelated consanguineous families that present with typical features of LGMDR1 that include proximal muscle wasting, weakness of the upper and lower limbs, and elevated serum creatine kinase.

Aggrandizement of fermented cucumber through the action of autochthonous probiotic cum starter strains of and .

Purpose: Cucumber fermentation is traditionally done using lactic acid bacteria. The involvement of probiotic cultures in food fermentation guarantees enhanced organoleptic properties and protects food from spoilage.

Methods: Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria were isolated from spontaneously fermented cucumber and identified to species level.

Surveillance of Patulin in Apple, Grapes, Juices and Value-Added Products for Sale in Pakistan.

The prime objective of the current study was to investigate the occurrence of mycotoxin patulin (PAT) in apples, grapes and their value added products. PAT was determined by a validated method based on HPLC with UV detector. A total of 381 samples comprising apple and grape fruits ( = 133 each), apple-based products ( = 76, juice, puree, jam) and grape juice ( = 39) were analyzed.