Morphology, biology and phylogeny of Xenos gadagkari sp.nov. (Strepsiptera: Xenidae): an endoparasite of Polistes wattii (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

We report the morphology, biology and phylogeny of a new strepsipteran endoparasitic species: Xenos gadagkari, which stylopises the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes wattii from Punjab, India. We report a high abundance of the endoparasite in P. wattii population of our study area and provide the morphological description of adult males, male puparium and neotenic females.

Review Article on Molecular Basis of Zinc and Copper Interactions in Cancer Physiology.

Various clinical manifestations associated with measurable abnormalities of Zn and Cu in serum and tissue were determined in Cancer-Patients (CP), and therefore, these two metals are drawing more and more attention presently than ever before. Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled-abnormal-cell-division with invasion-potential which was exhibited to occur due to dys-regulation/dys-homeostasis of fundamental-biological-pathways (FBP) including antioxidant-enzyme-defense-system, anti-inflammatory and immune-systems, and DNA-damage-repair-system in the human-body resulting in generation of chronic-oxidative-stress induced DNA-damage and gene-mutations, inflammation and compromised immune-system, tumor-induced increased angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis processes. Zn and Cu were recognized to be the most crucial components of FBP and imbalance in Zn/Cu ratios in CP asserted to generate chronic toxicity in human body through various mechanisms including increased chronic oxidative stress linked compromised DNA integrity and gene mutations due to malfunctioning of DNA damage repair enzymes; increased angiogenesis process due to Zn- and Cu-binding proteins metallothionein and ceruloplasmin-induced enhanced expression of tumor growth factors; and elevation in inflammatory response which was further shown to down/upregulate gene expression of multiple Zn transporter proteins leading to dys-homeostasis of intracellular Zn concentrations, and it was determined to disturb the equilibrium between cell growth and division, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis processes which lead to cancer progression.

Investigation into how Odontotermes obesus maintains a predominantly Termitomyces monoculture in their fungus combs suggests a potential partnership with both fungi and bacteria.

Fungus-growing termites, like Odontotermes obesus, cultivate Termitomyces as their sole food source on fungus combs which are continuously maintained with foraged plant materials. This necessary augmentation also increases the threat of introducing non-specific fungi capable of displacing Termitomyces. The magnitude of this threat and how termites prevent the invasion of such fungi remain largely unknown.

Dietary mung bean as promising food for human health: gut microbiota modulation and insight into factors, regulation, mechanisms and therapeutics-an update.

Plant-based functional foods have gained wider attention in current scenario with mung bean harboring several bioactive compounds with promising gut health benefits and pharmacological importance. Consumption of mung bean has a positive impact on beneficial gut microbes and microbial metabolite production. The effects of dietary mung bean on gut microbial homeostasis and the management of gut-related diseases along with the possible mechanism of action, have been highlighted through this review paving a way for a promising role of dietary mung bean as a functional food in the management of gut-related diseases for example mung bean peptides can help not only in treating prediabetes but also delaying the aging process by targeting the intestinal microflora.

Targeting long non-coding RNAs in cancer therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 technology: A novel paradigm for precision oncology.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, despite recent advances in its identification and management. To improve cancer patient diagnosis and care, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers and molecular targets. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have surfaced as important contributors to various cellular activities, with growing proof indicating their substantial role in the genesis, development, and spread of cancer.

Hepatoprotective effects of natural drugs: Current trends, scope, relevance and future perspectives.

Background: The liver is a well-known player in the metabolism and removal of drugs. Drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver detoxify drugs and xenobiotics, ultimately leading to the acquisition of homeostasis. However, liver toxicity and cell damage are not only related to the nature and dosage of a particular drug but are also influenced by other factors such as aging, immune status, environmental contaminants, microbial metabolites, gender, obesity, and expression of individual genes Furthermore, factors such as drugs, alcohol, and environmental contaminants could induce oxidative stress, thereby impairing the regenerative potential of the liver and causing several diseases.

Layered double hydroxides and their tailored hybrids/composites: Progressive trends for delivery of natural/synthetic-drug/cosmetic biomolecules.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are well-known and important class of hydrotalcite-type anionic clays (HTs) materials that are cost-effective with additional advantages of facile synthesis, composition, tenability, and reusability. These convincing characteristics are liable for their applications in various fields related to energy, environment, catalysis, biomedical, and biotechnology. HTs/LDHs are generally synthesized from low cost abundantly available chemical precursors through the aqueous synthetic pathways under mild reaction conditions.

Mung bean as a potent emerging functional food having anticancer therapeutic potential: Mechanistic insight and recent updates.

Cancer is still a major challenge for humans. In recent years, researchers have focused on plant-based metabolites as a safe, efficient, alternative or combinatorial, as well as cost-effective preventive strategy against carcinogenesis. Mung bean is an important nutritious legume, and known for providing various health benefits due to various bioactive phytochemicals and easily digestible proteins.

Review Article on Molecular Mechanism of Regulation of Hypertension by Macro-elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg), Micro-elements/Trace Metals (Zn and Cu) and Toxic Elements (Pb and As).

Hypertension (HT) is a medical condition arising due to increase in blood pressure (BP) prevalent worldwide. The balanced dietary intakes of macro-elements and micro-elements including Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu have been described to maintain BP in humans by regulating the osmolarity of blood, cells/tissues, prevention of generation of oxidative and nitrosative stress (OANS), and endothelial damage through their functioning as important components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), antioxidant enzyme defense system, and maintenance of blood vascular-endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) functions. However, inadequate/excess dietary intakes of Na/K, Ca/Mg, and Zn/Cu along with higher Pb and As exposures recognized to induce HT through common mechanisms including the followings: endothelial dysfunctions due to impairment of vasodilatation, increased vasoconstriction and arterial stiffness, blood clotting, inflammation, modification of sympathetic activity and higher catecholamine release, increased peripheral vascular resistance, and cardiac output; increased OANS due to reduced and elevated activities of extracellular superoxide dismutase and NAD(P)H oxidase, less nitric oxide bioavailability, decrease in cGMP and guanylate cyclase activity, increase in intracellular Ca ions in VSMCs, and higher pro-inflammatory cytokines; higher parathyroid and calcitriol hormones; activation/suppression of RAAS resulting imbalance in blood Na, K, and water regulated by renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone through affecting natriuresis/kaliuresis/diuresis; elevation in serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, decrease in HDL cholesterol due to defect in lipoprotein metabolism.

An insight into microbial sources, classification, and industrial applications of xylanases: A rapid review.

Endo 1,4-β-d-xylanases (EC3.2.1.

Pectinases as promising green biocatalysts having broad-spectrum applications: Recent trends, scope, and relevance.

Pectinases are a collection of multiple enzymes that have a common substrate, that is, pectin. They can act on different parts of pectin due to the structural heterogeneity of pectin. Therefore, they have been placed in different groups, such as protopectinases, polygalacturonases, polymethylesterases, pectin lyases, and pectate lyases.

Prediction Models based on miRNA-disease Relationship: Diagnostic Relevance to Multiple Diseases Including COVID-19.

Background: Small, non-coding microRNAs, usually of 20-25 nucleotides, are known to regulate the post-transcriptional gene expression, which has a significant role in human biological processes, including immune-biogenesis, homeostasis and infection control as differential expression of such miRNAs is responsible for fine-tuning the organismic development.

Methods: A search of bibliographic databases was carried out with a focused question on microRNA- Disease Prediction. A deductive qualitative content analysis approach was employed to assess the research's overall outcomes, review articles on prediction tools in miRNA-Diseases, and analyse the interventions.

Bacterial supergroup-specific "cost" of infections in .

The maternally inherited endosymbiont, , is known to alter the reproductive biology of its arthropod hosts for its own benefit and can induce both positive and negative fitness effects in many hosts. Here, we describe the effects of the maintenance of two distinct infections, one each from supergroups A and B, on the parasitoid host . We compare the effect of infections on various traits between the uninfected, single A-infected, single B-infected, and double-infected lines with their cured versions.

Coping with the 'Indian summer': unique nesting cycle and nest architecture of the paper wasp, Polistes wattii.

Polistes is one of the most widely distributed and extensively studied primitively eusocial wasps. Based on where they are found, there are two established nesting cycles in this genus. The temperate wasps follow an annual cycle with diapause in winter while the tropical wasps of South America can initiate nests any time of the year and do not hibernate.

Targeting mitochondrial bioenergetics as a promising therapeutic strategy in metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mitochondria are the organelles that generate energy for the cells and act as biosynthetic and bioenergetic factories, vital for normal cell functioning and human health. Mitochondrial bioenergetics is considered an important measure to assess the pathogenesis of various diseases. Dysfunctional mitochondria affect or cause several conditions involving the most energy-intensive organs, including the brain, muscles, heart, and liver.

Oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and related complications: Current therapeutics strategies and future perspectives.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a persistent metabolic disorder rising rapidly worldwide. It is characterized by pancreatic insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Hyperglycemia induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress are correlated with the pathogenesis and progression of this metabolic disease.

Strain-induced enhancement in the electronic and thermal transport properties of the tin sulphide bilayer.

The enhancement in the thermoelectric figure of merit () of a material is limited by the interplay between the electronic transport coefficients. Here we report the greatly enhanced thermoelectric performance of the SnS bilayer with the application of isotropic strain, due to the simultaneous increase in the Seebeck coefficient and low lattice thermal conductivities. Based on first-principles calculations combined with Boltzmann transport theory, we predict that the band structure of the SnS bilayer can be effectively tuned using the strain, and the Seebeck coefficient is significantly improved for the tensile strain.

Multifaceted antiviral therapeutic potential of dietary flavonoids: Emerging trends and future perspectives.

Phytochemicals are the natural biomolecules produced by plants via primary or secondary metabolism, which have been known to have many potential health benefits to human beings. Flavonoids or phytoestrogens constitute a major group of such phytochemicals widely available in variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, tea, and so forth, implicated in a variety of bio-pharmacological and biochemical activities against diseases including bacterial, viral, cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders. More recently, these natural biomolecules have been shown to have effective antiviral properties via therapeutically active ingredients within them, acting at different stages of infection.

In Vitro Studies Reveal that Pseudomonas, from Odontotermes obesus Colonies, can Function as a Defensive Mutualist as it Prevents the Weedy Fungus While Keeping the Crop Fungus Unaffected.

Insects that farm monocultures of fungi are canonical examples of nutritional symbiosis as well as independent evolution of agriculture in non-human animals. But just like in human agriculture, these fungal crops face constant threat of invasion by weeds which, if unchecked, take over the crop fungus. In fungus-growing termites, the crop fungus (Termitomyces) faces such challenges from the weedy fungus Pseudoxylaria.

Heavy metals controlling cardiovascular diseases risk factors in myocardial infarction patients in critically environmentally heavy metal-polluted steel industrial town Mandi-Gobindgarh (India).

Heavy metals (HMs) have a very significant clinical role in the pathogenesis, progression and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The prevalence of CVDs was reported to be higher in critically environmentally HM-polluted (EHMP) steel industrial town Mandi-Gobindgarh (India) for the last more than a decade. To ascertain the role of HMs in the onset of CVDs, the present study was chosen to investigate HMs content in myocardial infarction (MI) patients from EHMP steel industrial town Mandi-Gobindgarh.

A comparative molecular dynamic simulation study on potent ligands targeting mTOR/FRB domain for breast cancer therapy.

Our study aimed to develop and find out the best drug candidate against the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR/FRB) domain having a critical role in the aetiology of breast cancer. The FKBP12-rapamycin-binding (FRB) domain in the essential phosphoinositide 3 kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway has been a vital player in the disease progression in breast cancer. By using structure-based drug designing , the best possible targets have been identified and developed.

Exceptionally high open circuit thermoelectric figure of merit in two-dimensional tin sulphide.

Thermoelectric materials with high values of power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit () are in great demand to make efficient thermoelectric devices. In this work, we explore the thermoelectric transport properties of layered tin sulphide (SnS) using first-principles method combined with Boltzmann transport theory. Our calculations show that the two-dimensional (2D) SnS materials have exceptionally high charge carrier mobilities and low lattice thermal conductivities as compared to other 2D materials such as graphene, phosphorene, MoS, etc.

Emerging role of non-coding RNA in health and disease.

Human diseases have always been a significant turf of concern since the origin of mankind. It is cardinal to know the cause, treatment, and cure for every disease condition. With the advent and advancement in technology, the molecular arena at the microscopic level to study the mechanism, progression, and therapy is more rational and authentic pave than a macroscopic approach.