A review on medical plants affecting Staphylococcus aureus

Background and aims: Infectious diseases are among the most important causes of mortality around the world and according to the WHO report 10.5 million cases of death were happened due to infections. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogen that its infections are varied from local infections to life threatening infections. With regard to high antibiotic resistance of this agent its control and treatment is a challenge in medicine. The aim of this study was to review the effective medicinal plants against S. aureus with special attention of native plants of Iran. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed on papers that have been published from 2004 till 2016 in data resources such as NCBI, Sciencedirect, Springer, Web of science and as well as local databases such as Irandoc, Islamic science citation (ISC) and magiran with special focus on those that have been reported native medicinal plants in Iran. The selected keywords were Staphylococcus aureus, medicinal plant, natural antibiotic, antibacterial plant and medicinal herbs. Results: Different studies were found that have reported effective medicinal plants against S. aureus and were able to significantly inhibit bacterial growth. As well as different parts of these plants have been investigated for antibacterial activity and found that considerable differences are present among these parts of plants. Conclusion: Based on the reported studies, there are different medicinal plants in Iran that can be regarded as effective source for discovery new antibacterial agents against S. aureus and treatment of resistant strains

Designing a Self-Assembled Peptide Nano-vaccine Against Staphylococcus aureus: An In Silico Approach

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacterium capable of inducing a range of human infections, varying from mild skin infections to more serious diseases like pneumonia and bloodstream infections. Different studies have focused on designing epitope vaccines against S. aureus. Nevertheless, the primary drawback of epitope vaccines is their reduced ability to stimulate an immune response. Recently, self-assembled peptide nanoparticle (SAPN) vaccines have emerged as one of the latest innovations in vaccine design. This arises from their ability to have multiple functions, act as self-adjuvants, exhibit biocompatibility, and closely resemble the size of the pathogen. Therefore, this investigation aimed to design a new SAPN vaccine to combat S. aureus infection effectively through computational approaches. Antigenic proteins ClfA, IsdB, and Hla were selected to design the SAPN vaccine. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from ClfA and IsdB, helper T lymphocytes (HTL) from Hla, and linear B-cell epitopes from ClfA and IsdB were chosen. Subsequently, the chosen epitopes and the oligomeric domains of the pentamer and trimmer were employed as a self-assembled framework fused with suitable linkers. Physicochemical properties, solubility, antigenicity, and allergenic potential of the designed vaccine were examined. The obtained results indicate the SAPN vaccine was antigenic, stable, and non-allergenic. Afterward, the 3D structure of the construct was initially forecasted and subsequently refined and validated to reach the best 3D model. Finally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were conducted between the SAPN vaccine and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The results of molecular dynamic simulation studies demonstrated the stable interactions between the construct and TLR4. In conclusion, we devised an in silico SAPN vaccine, which is anticipated to induce robust cellular and humoral immune responses against S. aureus, making it a noteworthy prospect for subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies related to immunology

Exosomal microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs: as novel biomarkers for endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological inflammatory disorder characterized by the development of endometrial-like cells outside the uterine cavity. This disease is associated with a wide range of clinical presentations, such as debilitating pelvic pain and infertility issues. Endometriosis diagnosis is not easily discovered by ultrasound or clinical examination. Indeed, difficulties in noninvasive endometriosis diagnosis delay the confirmation and management of the disorder, increase symptoms, and place a significant medical and financial burden on patients. So, identifying specific and sensitive biomarkers for this disease should therefore be a top goal. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by most cell types. They transport between cells’ bioactive molecules such as noncoding RNAs and proteins. MicroRNAs and long noncoding RNAs which are key molecules transferred by exosomes have recently been identified to have a significant role in endometriosis by modulating different proteins and their related genes. As a result, the current review focuses on exosomal micro-and-long noncoding RNAs that are involved in endometriosis disease. Furthermore, major molecular mechanisms linking corresponding RNA molecules to endometriosis development will be briefly discussed to better clarify the potential functions of exosomal noncoding RNAs in the therapy and diagnosis of endometriosis

Exosomal lncRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unfortunately, these cancers are diagnosed in advanced metastatic stages due to lack of reliable biomarkers that are sufficiently specific and sensitive in early disease. There has been growing evidence that circulating exosomes can be used to diagnose cancer non-invasively with limited risks and side effects. Furthermore, exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a new class of promising biomarkers in cancer. This review provides an overview of the extraction and detection of exosomal lncRNAs with a focus on their potential role in GI

Nattokinase: Structure, applications and sources

Nattokinase (NK) as a serine protease enzyme has a strong fibrinolytic activity that is found in bacteria. In comparison to other fibrinolytic enzymes (plasmin, urokinase, and t-PA), NK has the advantages of a long lifespan, low cost, and no side effects. As a food supplement, it could be utilized as a substance to treat cardiovascular disease. As a result, NK has high commercial value and therapeutic applications. The current study provides a brief description of the properties of this important enzyme. Also, some of the most notable applications of NK are discussed. Eventually, different microbial, plant and animal sources of this enzyme are summarized in the last par

LncRNAs roles in Chemoresistance of Cancer cells

Cancer is an important health issue worldwide. Cancer therapy is multifaceted, and drug resistance is still the major limiting factor in treatment of patients with this disease. Although the mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance have been broadly investigated, a massive biological signal pathway of Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in this process has not been completely understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a kind of transcripts with a minimum length of 200 nucleotides in size which have a limited potential for coding proteins. The roles of these RNA molecules have been evaluated in relation to several pathological processes including tumor formation and progression. Increasing evidence haverecently reported that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly long non-coding RNAs have significant roles in many cellular and genomic processes, and because of their potential in regulation specific genes, they are also involved in drug resistance. In this review, we review the literature on the features oflncRNA, their regulation roles in the gene expression related to chemoresistance and the potential of these RNAs as targeted therapies for personalized treatment in cancers. Keywords: Drug resistance; Long non-coding RNAs; Non-coding RNAs; cancer; epithelial to mesenchymal transition; personalized treatment

Urinary biomarkers in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a significant consequence of diabetes, is associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal disease as well as mortality. Although microalbuminuria is considered the best non-invasive marker for DN, better predictive markers are needed of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect disease in general and in early disease specifically. Even prior to appearance of microalbuminuria, urinary biomarkers increase in diabetics and can serve as accurate nephropathy biomarkers even in normoalbuminuria. In this review, a number of novel urine biomarkers including those reflecting kidney damage caused by glomerular/podocyte damage, tubular damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activation are discussed. Our review also includes emerging biomarkers such as urinary microRNAs. These short noncoding miRNAs regulate gene expression and could be utilized to identify potential novel biomarkers in DN development and progression

Exosomal microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs: Novel mediators of drug resistance in lung cancer

Lung cancer therapeutic resistance, especially chemoresistance, is a key issue in the management of this malignancy. Despite the development of novel molecularly targeted drugs to promote therapeutic efficacy, 5-year survival of lung cancer patients is still dismal. Molecular studies through the recent years have fortunately presented multiple genes and signaling pathways, which contribute to lung cancer chemoresistance, providing a better perception of the biology of tumor cells, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Among those mechanisms, transfer of extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, between cancer cells and the surrounding noncancerous ones is considered as an emerging route. Exosomes can desirably function as signaling vesicles to transmit multiple molecules from normal cells to cancer cells and their microenvironment, or vice versa. Using this ability, exosomes may affect the cancer cells' chemoresistance/chemosensitivity. Recently, noncoding RNAs (esp. microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs), as key molecules transferred by exosomes, have been reported to play a substantial role in the process of drug resistance, through modulation of various proteins and their corresponding genes. Accordingly, the current review principally aims to highlight exosomal micro- and long noncoding RNAs involved in lung cancer chemoresistance. Moreover, major molecular mechanisms, which connect corresponding RNA molecules to drug resistance, will briefly be addressed, for better clarifying of possible roles of exosomal noncoding RNAs in promoting the effectiveness of lung cancer therapy

Glucose oxidase: Applications, sources, and recombinant production

Glucose oxidase is a subset of oxidoreductase enzymes that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from an oxidant to a reductant. Glucose oxidases use oxygen as an external electron acceptor that releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Glucose oxidase has many applications in commercial processes, including improving the color and taste, increasing the persistence of food materials, removing the glucose from the dried egg, and eliminating the oxygen from different juices and beverages. Moreover, glucose oxidase, along with catalase, is used in glucose testing kits (especially in biosensors) to detect and measure the presence of glucose in industrial and biological solutions (e.g., blood and urine specimens). Hence, glucose oxidase is a valuable enzyme in the industry and medical diagnostics. Therefore, evaluating the structure and function of glucose oxidase is crucial for modifying as well as improving its catalytic properties. Finding different sources of glucose oxidase is an effective way to find the type of enzyme with the desired catalysis. Besides, the recombinant production of glucose oxidase is the best approach to produce sufficient amounts of glucose oxidase for various uses. Accordingly, the study of various aspects of glucose oxidase in biotechnology and bioprocessing is crucial

Insights into the Function of Regulatory RNAs in Bacteria and Archaea

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that comprise about 80% of both mammals and prokaryotes genomes. Recent studies have identified a large number of small regulatory RNAs in Escherichia coli and other bacteria. In prokaryotes, RNA regulators are a diverse group of molecules that modulate a wide range of physiological responses through a variety of mechanisms. Similar to eukaryotes, bacterial microRNAs are an important class of ncRNAs that play an important role in the development and secretion of proteins and in the regulation of gene expression. Similarly, riboswitches are cis-regulatory structured RNA elements capable of directly controlling the expression of downstream genes in response to small molecule ligands. As a result, riboswitches detect and respond to the availability of various metabolic changes within cells. The most extensive and most widely studied set of small RNA regulators act through base pairing with RNAs. These types of RNAs are vital for prokaryotic life, activating or suppressing important physiological processes by modifying transcription or translation. The majority of these small RNAs control responses to changes in environmental conditions. Finally, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) RNAs, a newly discovered RNA regulator group, contains short regions of homology to bacteriophage and plasmid sequences that bacteria use to splice phage DNA as a defense mechanism. The detailed mechanism is still unknown but devoted to target homologous foreign DNAs. Here, we review the known mechanisms and roles of non-coding regulatory RNAs, with particular attention to riboswitches and their functions, briefly introducing translational applications of CRISPR RNAs in mammals