Expression of CDR1, a multidrug resistance gene of Candida albicans: transcriptional activation by heat shock, drugs and human steroid hormones

We have examined the expression of CDR1 (Candida drug resistance gene) in different stress conditions. There was a significant but transient enhancement of CDR1 expression associated with elevated temperatures. Most noteworthy transcriptional activation was observed with miconazole and vinblastine. Interestingly, β-estradiol and progesterone were also able to enhance CDR1 expression. Elevated levels of CDR1 and CDR2 (a homologue of CDR1) mRNA were found in some azole-resistant clinical isolates of C. albicans. CaMDR1 (benomyl-resistant) expression, however, did not differ among all the resistant isolates. Our results confirm the existence of multiple mechanisms of azole resistance in C. albicans

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-IN">Identification of a 75 kDa highly immunodominant antigen from <i>Mycobacterium smegmatis </i>and cross-reactivity with other species</span>

255-262Three monospecific antibodies MSAb 1, MSAb 2 and MSAb 3 were raised in BALB/C mice against respective antigens. M. smegmatis whole cell lysate was first separated on SDS-PAGE and randomly chosen bands were cut and then used for immunization. Antibodies were collected as ascites by injecting mice with myeloma cell line P3X63 Ag 658.4. All the three antibodies showed high reactivity with denatured antigens compared to native. Different extent of cross-reactivity was observed as evident from ELISA. MSAb 1 recognized a 75 kDa immunodominant antigen from M. smegmatis and 66 kDa from M. tuberculosis (H37Ra), respectively. An apparently similar molecular weight antigen shown to be present in M. tuberculosis (H37Ra) an avirulent strain and BCG, but not recognized by MSAb1. The 75 kDa antigen has a stimulatory effect on T-cell proliferation.</span

Unravelling Metagenomics Approach for Microbial Biofuel Production

Renewable biofuels, such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and biobutanol, serve as long-term solutions to fossil fuel depletion. A sustainable approach feedstock for their production is plant biomass, which is degraded to sugars with the aid of microbes-derived enzymes, followed by microbial conversion of those sugars to biofuels. Considering their global demand, additional efforts have been made for their large-scale production, which is ultimately leading breakthrough research in biomass energy. Metagenomics is a powerful tool allowing for functional gene analysis and new enzyme discovery. Thus, the present article summarizes the revolutionary advances of metagenomics in the biofuel industry and enlightens the importance of unexplored habitats for novel gene or enzyme mining. Moreover, it also accentuates metagenomics potentials to explore uncultivable microbiomes as well as enzymes associated with them

Transforming recalcitrant wastes into biodiesel by oleaginous yeast: An insight into the metabolic pathways and multi-omics landscape

The escalating challenge of waste disposal and the potential threat to global energy supply have sparked renewed interest in repurposing waste materials for the production of sustainable and renewable fuels. In line with this objective, there has been a growing focus on biodiesel production from oleaginous yeast through the valorization of waste. While numerous reports have been published on this subject, only a limited number of studies provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements. To address this gap and the economic viability challenges associated with yeast-derived biodiesel production, the present review aims to highlight the opportunities offered by various recalcitrant wastes as a renewable feedstock for oleaginous yeast cultivation. The review also delves into extensive knowledge about the metabolic pathways that facilitate the conversion of different recalcitrant wastes into single-cell oil (SCO), which has not been extensively covered in a single platform before. Moreover, the most promising species of oleaginous yeast are described, taking into consideration economic aspects and the sustainability of the overall process. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the application of omics techniques to advance waste bioconversion into lipids for the purpose of commercialization. In summary, this study contributes to expanding our current understanding of the topic and facilitates the future upscaling and commercialization of biodiesel derived from oleaginous yeasts.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-10-16 (hanlid);Funder: CSIR-NET-fellowship, Government of India (09/143(0918)2018-EMR-I)Green and sustainable approach to valorise high saline and oily fish processing effluents for production of nutraceutical

In Vitro Anti-Biofilm Activities of Citral and Thymol Against <em>Candida Tropicalis</em>

Candida tropicalis is an emerging non-albicans Candida species which is pathogenic to the immune-compromised humans, especially in tropical countries, including India. The acquired resistance of Candida species towards antifungal therapies is of major concern. Moreover, limited efficacy and dosage constraint of synthetic drugs have indicated the prerequisite of finding new and natural drugs for treatment. In the present study, we have compared the influence of citral and thymol on C. tropicalis and its biofilm along with expression levels of certain antifungal tolerance genes. The antifungal and anti-biofilm activities of the both were studied using 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide sodium salt (XTT) reduction assay, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Citral and thymol have damaged the cells with distorted surface and less viability. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed augmented expression of the cell membrane biosynthesis genes including ERG11/CYT450 against citral and the cell wall related tolerance genes involving CNB1 against thymol thus, depicting their differential mode of actions

Multidrug resistance: an emerging threat

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been the main cause of failure of cancer chemotherapy where it is defined as the tendency of tumour cells to exhibit simultaneous resistance to unrelated chemotherapeutic agents. MDR has been mainly associated with the overexpression of an ATP binding cassette (ABC) protein, P-glycoprotein. Research in the past decade has revealed that the MDR phenomenon is not restricted to mammalian cells but rather occurs throughout the evolutionary scale. Thus over hundred ABC proteins have been characterized in mammals, bacteria and yeast. This review briefly describes the advancement in this field and identifies the problems which have emerged due to MDR

Binding-induced thermal stabilization of mosR and ndhA G-quadruplex comprising genes by emodin leads to downregulation and growth inhibition in Mtb: Potential as anti-tuberculosis drug

Non-canonical G-quadruplex (G4) DNAs in genome of living organisms are involved in regulation of several cellular activities. Understanding of G-quadruplex interaction with anthraquinones is significant, in the continuing search for an effective therapeutic target against tuberculosis disease causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulent strains. Emodin interacts with G4 DNA forming genes, mosR and ndhA, that are essential in ATP synthesis and hypoxic growth of bacterial strains inside host cell. The observed hypochromism, red shift ∼ 6–11 nm, fluorescence quenching, shortening of fluorescence lifetime and appearance of negative induced circular dichroism band during interaction suggest binding of emodin to grooves/loops and end stacking with guanine quartets. The thermodynamically favorable reaction, involving non-intercalative binding mechanism in two distinct modes, is enthalpy driven with affinity constant ∼ 6 × 104 M−1. Inhibition of bacterial growth, Taq polymerase enzyme and significant downregulation of mosR and ndhA genes (2–4 orders) by emodin may be attributed to binding-induced thermal stabilization, ΔTm ∼ 23 and 14 °C in ndhA and mosR G4 DNA complexes, respectively. The studies demonstrate G4 DNA as promising pharmacological targets for developing effective anti-tuberculosis treatments and therapeutic potential of emodin in targeting pathogen persistence genes, particularly in view of emerging multi drug resistant deadly strains

Recognition of entamoeba histolytica lipophosphoglycan by a strain-specific monoclonal antibody and human immune sera

Western blot analysis showed that the monoclonal antibody 2D7.10 recognized lipophosphoglycan (LPG) from Entamoeba histolytica HM-1:IMSS. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) pattern of [3H]galactose-labeled LPG and western blot analysis of total lysate of E. histolytica with 2D7.10 revealed patterns similar to that of LPG with 2D7.10. This antibody could also immunoprecipitate purified LPG from the strain HM-1:IMSS after biosynthetically labeling with [3H]galactose and [32P]orthophosphate. However, no immunoprecipitation was observed when 2D7.10 was incubated with [32P]orthophosphate-labeled purified LPG from strain 200:NIH. Sera from patients suffering from invasive amoebiasis also immunoprecipitated 32P-labeled, purified LPG and could immunostain this molecule in Western blots. The human immune sera recognized carbohydrate epitopes but not the associated polypeptides of LPG, as evidenced by sensitivity to periodate digestion, mild acid hydrolysis but not to pronase treatment. It was earlier shown that 2D7.10 binds a carbohydrate epitope in a subset of axenized pathogenic strains of E. histolytica and that this epitope undergoes changes when cultured along with bacteria. These observations suggest that the E. histolytica LPG contains a strain-specific, variable epitope and that LPG is immunogenic in human