Engineer RNA-protein nanowires as light-responsive biomaterials

RNA molecules have emerged as increasingly attractive biomaterials with important applications such as RNA interference (RNAi) for cancer treatment and mRNA vaccines against infectious diseases. However, it remains challenging to engineer RNA biomaterials with sophisticated functions such as non-covalent light-switching ability. Herein, light-responsive RNA-protein nanowires are engineered to have such functions. It first demonstrates that the high affinity of RNA aptamer enables the formation of long RNA-protein nanowires through designing a dimeric RNA aptamer and an engineered green fluorescence protein (GFP) that contains two TAT-derived peptides at N- and C- termini. GFP is then replaced with an optogenetic protein pair system, LOV2 (light–oxygen–voltage) protein and its binding partner ZDK (Z subunit of protein A), to confer blue light-controlled photo-switching ability. The light-responsive nanowires are long (>500 nm) in the dark, but small (20–30 nm) when exposed to light. Importantly, the co-assembly of this RNA-protein hybrid biomaterial does not rely on the photochemistry commonly used for light-responsive biomaterials, such as bond formation, cleavage, and isomerization, and is thus reversible. These RNA-protein structures can serve as a new class of light-controlled biocompatible frameworks for incorporating versatile elements such as RNA, DNA, and enzymes

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in poultry- an emerging concern related to future epidemic

Methicillin resistant – Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an organism responsible for causing deadly infections in man, poultry and several other animal species. Ever since the discovery of MRSA in decade of 1960’s, it has been isolated and reported in live poultry birds and their meat products worldwide. Strikingly, MRSA recovered from poultry share a common ancestry with MRSA isolates of human and animal origin. Furthermore, MRSA colonizes the skin and mucous membranes of both man and poultry. This colonizing ability of MRSA is not only a cause of non-responsive infections in poultry but it can also be transferred to the humans handling birds at farms and slaughter houses. Moreover, the consumers of poultry meat can also acquire its infection. The cases of cross infections of MRSA between poultry and human has been reported. However, the most important difficulty to control MRSA and its interspecies transmission is the irrational use of antimicrobial drugs and inadequate biosecurity measures. Therefore, rational usage of antimicrobials and good biosecurity measures need to be adopted for prevention and control of zoonotic MRSA infections. This paper reviews the existing status of MRSA in poultry as a possible threat of zoonosis

Aging Mechanisms: Linking oxidative stress, obesity and inflammation

Aging cannot be defeated in anyway in the world even having new and advanced technology. But molecular mechanism is a successful method to control aging. Many complex and multifunctional factors are the main cause of aging. It is evident that the studies regarding cellular, genetic, and pathological and biochemical changes are exploring more and more pathways linking various diverse mechanism explaining aging. Implications of basic mechanisms of aging for improving both longevity and quality of life in human needs a clear understanding and takes a long time. However, reactive oxygen species (ROS) indicate a growing body even in the presence of fundamental mechanisms. According to oxidative stress theory, advanced and permanent addition of oxidative damage on critical aspects of aging process instigated by ROS influences. Telomeres theory is another, new aging theory that holds many promising possibilities for the field of anti-aging medicine. The theory was originated from the surge of technological breakthroughs in genetics and genetic engineering. Telomeres have also been found related to obesity. Obesity also leads to accelerated cellular processes. A “causative agent in aging” is considered inflammation that underlies a mechanism showing that for survival acute inflammatory response is necessary but long term exposure to different antigens than predicted by evolution cause low-grade inflammatory status which intern contributes to age-associated illness and death. The condition known as “inflammaging”

Polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs) production by using canola oil as carbon source from bacteria isolated near paper pulp industry

Samples were taken from paper pulp and mixed organic wastes of an industry for isolation of PHA producing bacterial strains. Quantitative analysis for PHA for bacterial strains was carried out by direct addition of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) method. High PHA production ability was found in six strains belonging to Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Escherichia genera. The PHA production optimization of these six stains was done at various (NH4)2SO4 concentrations (0.2 %, 0.4 %, and 0.6%), pH (5, 6, and 7) and temperatures (4oC, 37oC, 45oC). Strain WC20 belonging to Pseudomonas sp. was found to be a potential PHA producer at 37 oC, at 0.2 % of (NH4)2SO4, using glucose as carbon source (PHA % ~28.35) and Canola Oil (PHA % ~16.06). PCR amplification of the phaC gene was also performed.</p

Antioxidant activity, metabolic profiling, in-silico molecular docking and ADMET analysis of nano selenium treated sesame seed bioactive compounds as potential novel drug targets against cardiovascular disease related receptors

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is abundant in a diverse range of lignans, including sesamin, and γ-tocopherol, constituting a cluster of bioactive phenolic compound used for food and medicinal purposes. Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading global health challenge, demanding vigilant prevention and innovative treatments. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of plant mediated SeNPs on sesame metabolic profile and to screen and check the effect bioactive compounds against CVD via molecular drug docking technique. Three sesame germplasms TS-5, TH-6 and Till-18 were treated with varying concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm) of plant-mediated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). There were three groups of treatments group-1 got only seed pretreatments of SeNPs, Group-2 with only foliar applications of SeNPs and Group-3 with both seed pretreatments and foliar applications of SeNPs. It was found that plants treated with 40 ppm of SeNPS in group 3 exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content. Total phenolic content at T4 was highest for TS-5 (134%), TH-6 (132%), and Till-18 (112%). LCMS analysis revealed a total of 276 metabolites, with phenolics, flavonoids, and free fatty acids being most abundant. KEGG analysis indicated enrichment in free fatty acid and phenylalanine tryptophan pathways. ADMET analysis and virtual screening resulted in total of five metabolic compounds as a potential ligand against Hemoglobin beta subunit. Lowest binding energy was achieved by Delta-Tocopherol (−6.98) followed by Lactoflavin (−6.20) and Sesamin (−5.00). Lipinski rule of five revealed that all the compounds completely safe to be used as drug against CVD and specifically for HBB. It was concluded that bioactive compounds from sesame could be an alternative source of drug for CVD related problems and especially for HBB