Retraction notice to "Green synthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Pouteria campechiana and larvicidal and pupicidal activity on Aedes aegypti" [Environ. Res. 200 (2021) 111333].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

Antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck collected from Iraq: Bioassay-guided isolation of sinensetin as the anti-MRSA compound.

Infections caused by antibiotic-drug-resistant microorganisms are a major global health concern, and they result in millions of deaths every year. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of such drug-resistant microbial strains, and new and effective antimicrobial agents are desperately needed to combat infections caused by MRSA. In the search for effective anti-MRSA agents, the leaves of Citrus grandis (Rutaceae), also known as C.

Recent advances in the synthesis and application of biomolecular condensates.

Biomolecular condensates (BMCs) represent a group of organized and programmed systems that participate in gene transcription, chromosome organization, cell division, tumorigenesis, and aging. However, the understanding of BMCs in terms of internal organizations and external regulations remains at an early stage. Recently, novel approaches such as synthetic biology have been used for de novo synthesis of BMCs.

Mutational interference with oligomerization properties of OCP-related apo- and holoproteins studied by analytical ultracentrifugation.

In this study, the oligomerization pattern of apo- and holoforms of the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) was examined under different conditions such as photoactivation state, concentration, and carotenoid embedment using analytical ultracentrifugation. Furthermore, studies were conducted on OCP constructs carrying point mutations of amino acid residues affecting OCP oligomerization. Our findings reveal that the concentration-dependent dimerization of dark-adapted OCP holoprotein from Synechocystis sp.

The structural organisation of pentraxin-3 and its interactions with heavy chains of inter-α-inhibitor regulate crosslinking of the hyaluronan matrix.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an octameric protein, comprised of eight identical protomers, that has diverse functions in reproductive biology, innate immunity and cancer. PTX3 interacts with the large polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) to which heavy chains (HCs) of the inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) family of proteoglycans are covalently attached, playing a key role in the (non-covalent) crosslinking of HC•HA complexes. These interactions stabilise the cumulus matrix, essential for ovulation and fertilisation in mammals, and are also implicated in the formation of pathogenic matrices in the context of viral lung infections.

Structure-guided mining of stereoselective reductive aminases for biocatalytic stereodivergent synthesis of chiral piperidinamine and derivatives.

Chiral azacyclic amine derivatives occupy a vital role of nitrogen-containing compounds, due to serve as foundational motifs in numerous pharmaceuticals and bioactive substances. Novel complementary enantioselective reductive aminases IRED9 and IRED11 were unveiled through comprehensive gene mining from Streptomyces viridochromogenes and Micromonospora echinaurantiaca, respectively, which both demonstrated enantiomeric excess (ee) values and conversion ratio up to 99% towards N-Boc-3-pyridinone (NBPO) and cyclopropylamine. IRED9 exhibited the highest activity at pH 8.

Electrode functional microorganisms in bioelectrochemical systems and its regulation: A review.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) as environmental remediation biotechnologies have boomed in the last two decades. Although BESs combined technologies with electro-chemistry, -biology, and -physics, microorganisms and biofilms remain at their core. In this review, various functional microorganisms in BESs for CO reduction, dehalogenation, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate reduction, metal removal, and volatile organic compound oxidation are summarized and compared in detail.

Cell-free biocatalysis for co-production of nicotinamide mononucleotide and ethanol from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and recombinant Escherichia coli.

Cell-free enzyme systems have emerged as a promising approach for producing various biometabolites, offering several advantages over traditional whole-cell systems. This study presents an approach to producing nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) by combining a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell-free enzyme with a recombinant Escherichia coli cell-free enzyme. The system leverages the ATP generated by yeast during ethanol fermentation to produce NMN in the presence of nicotinamide (NAM) as a substrate.

1,8-Cineole reduces pulmonary vascular remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension by restoring intercellular communication and inhibiting angiogenesis.

Background: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodelling, often associated with disruption of BMPR2/Smad1/5 and BMPR2/PPAR-γ signalling pathways that ultimately lead to right ventricle failure. Disruption of intercellular junctions and communication and a pro-angiogenic environment are also characteristic features of PAH. Although, current therapies improve pulmonary vascular tone, they fail to tackle other key pathological features that could prevent disease progression.

From Taxus to paclitaxel: Opportunities and challenges for urban agriculture to promote human health.

Conifers of the genus Taxus are environmentally friendly plants with significant medicinal and ecological value, contributing to the enhancement of urban living environments. Paclitaxel, a compound found in Taxus, has garnered particular research interest owing to its potent anti-cancer effects. However, traditional methods of extracting paclitaxel from Taxus are not only inefficient, but also destructive and unsustainable, posing the major risk of Taxus extinction.

Kisspeptin and Neurokinin B: roles in reproductive health.

Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) play a key role in several physiological processes including in puberty, adult reproductive function including the menstrual cycle, as well as mediating the symptoms of menopause. Infundibular kisspeptin neurons, which co-express NKB, regulate the activity of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, and thus the physiological pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. Outside of their hypothalamic reproductive roles, these peptides are implicated in several physiological functions including sexual behavior and attraction, placental function, and bone health.

Identification and management of Bipolaris sorokiniana in wheat and barley in Southeast Kazakhstan.

Wheat and barley serve as significant nutrient-rich staples that are extensively grown on a global scale, spanning over 219 million hectares. The annual combined global yield is 760.9 million tons, with Kazakhstan contributing 14.

Development and optimization of a new competitive ELISA using recombinant (rPSA D15 and rCag11) antigens for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

H. pylori (Hp) is highly causative agent of chronic gastritis, gastric cancer and human death worldwide. To address the challenge of H.

Dual modes of DNA N-methyladenine maintenance by distinct methyltransferase complexes.

Stable inheritance of DNA N-methyladenine (6mA) is crucial for its biological functions in eukaryotes. Here, we identify two distinct methyltransferase (MTase) complexes, both sharing the catalytic subunit AMT1, but featuring AMT6 and AMT7 as their unique components, respectively. While the two complexes are jointly responsible for 6mA maintenance methylation, they exhibit distinct enzymology, DNA/chromatin affinity, genomic distribution, and knockout phenotypes.

Direct lysine dimethylation of IRF3 by the methyltransferase SMYD3 attenuates antiviral innate immunity.

Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is the key transcription factor in the type I IFN signaling pathway, whose activation is regulated by multiple posttranslational modifications. Here, we identify SMYD3, a lysine methyltransferase, as a negative regulator of IRF3. SMYD3 interacts with IRF3 and catalyzes the dimethylation of IRF3 at lysine 39.

Design, Synthesis, and Unprecedented Interactions of Covalent Dipeptide-Based Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Its Variants Displaying Potent Antiviral Activity.

The main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 is a key drug target for the development of antiviral therapeutics. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of small-molecule peptidomimetics with various cysteine-reactive electrophiles. Several compounds were identified as potent SARS-CoV-2 M inhibitors, including compounds (IC = 0.

A novel broad-spectrum bacteriophage cocktail against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Isolation, characterization, and therapeutic potential in a mastitis mouse model.

Bovine mastitis is a considerable challenge within the dairy industry, causing significant financial losses and threatening public health. The increased occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has provoked difficulties in managing bovine mastitis. Bacteriophage therapy presents a novel treatment strategy to combat MRSA infections, emerging as a possible substitute for antibiotics.

In Silico Structural Insights into a Glucanase from Clostridium perfringens and Prediction of Structural Stability Improvement Through Hydrophobic Interaction Network and Aromatic Interaction.

Glucanases are widely applied in industrial applications such as brewing, biomass conversion, food, and animal feed. Glucanases catalyze the hydrolysis of glucan to produce the sugar hemiacetal through hydrolytic cleavage of glycosidic bonds. Current study aimed to investigate structural insights of a glucanase from Clostridium perfringens through blind molecular docking, site-specific molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and binding energy calculation.

Quantitative Lipidomics of Biological Samples Using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.

Lipidomics has attracted attention in the discovery of unknown biomolecules and for capturing the changes in metabolism caused by genetic and environmental factors in an unbiased manner. However, obtaining reliable lipidomics data, including structural diversity and quantification data, is still challenging. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a suitable technique for separating lipid molecules with high throughput and separation efficiency.

Discovery of novel 'sugarcane totivirus 1' from Saccharum officinarum by high-throughput sequencing.

Background: Sugarcane is cultivated globally and affected by more than 125 pathogens, which lead to various plant diseases. In recent years, high-throughput sequencing (HTS)-based genome analyses have been broadly adopted for the discovery of both characterized and un-characterized viruses from plant samples. In this study, the HTS data of sugarcane pooled sample retrieved from sequence read archive (SRA) were de novo re-assembled using CLC Genomic Workbench.

Nisin A Treatment to Protect Honey Bee Larvae from European Foulbrood Disease.

European foulbrood (EFB) is a bee larvae-specific infectious disease and the causative pathogen is Melissococcus plutonius. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have classically been used in many countries to control the pathogens; however, their use in apiaries was discontinued in several countries due to concerns regarding the health of bees and humans. Therefore, the development of alternative treatments for use in apiaries that are safe for bees and humans is essential.

Innovative nomogram approach to enhance the prediction of Helicobacter pylori infection in children via magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy.

Unlabelled: Early detection and intervention are crucial in managing Helicobacter pylori (HP) infections, which are associated with various gastrointestinal diseases in children. The traditional Kyoto gastritis scoring system, though effective, requires adaptation for non-invasive techniques like magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy to enhance early diagnosis and improve patient comfort. This retrospective study involved 474 pediatric patients who underwent magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy coupled with a C urea breath test at the Children's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January to December 2023.

Longitudinal qualitative assessment of meaningful symptoms and relevance of WATCH-PD digital measures for people with early Parkinson's.

Background: Longitudinal qualitative data on what matters to people with Parkinson's disease are lacking and needed to guide patient-centered clinical care and development of outcome measures.

Objective: To evaluate change over time in symptoms, impacts, and relevance of digital measures to monitor disease progression in early Parkinson's.

Methods: In-depth, online symptom mapping interviews were conducted with 33 people with early Parkinson's at baseline and 1 year later to evaluate (A) symptoms, (B) impacts, and (C) relevance of digital measures to monitor personally relevant symptoms.

Impact of Nutrition on the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and by the anomalous accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates into Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Research suggests 2 distinct subtypes of PD: the brain-first subtype if the pathology arises from the brain and then spreads to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the body-first subtype, where the pathological process begins in the PNS and then spreads to the central nervous system. This review primarily focuses on the body-first subtype.

Modular Engineering of Lysostaphin with Significantly Improved Stability and Bioavailability for Treating MRSA Infections.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a refractory pneumonia-causing pathogen due to the antibiotic resistance and the characteristics of persisting inside its host cell. Lysostaphin is a typical bacteriolytic enzyme for degrading bacterial cell walls via hydrolysis of pentaglycine cross-links, showing potential to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, there are still grand challenges for native lysostaphin because of its poor shelf stability and limited bioavailability.