Imran Tipu
This study explored the role of genetics in determining the severity of COVID-19. Previous research had suggested that certain genes, like HLA-B*15:01, might be linked to asymptomatic infections. However, this study found no strong evidence to support this idea.we analyzed genetic data from a large number of people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, both those who had no symptoms and those who had more severe illness. They looked for associations between specific genes and the severity of the infection. The results indicate that while genetics likely play a role in COVID-19 severity, the specific genes involved are more complex than previously thought. The study suggests that other factors, such as environmental exposures and individual immune responses, may also contribute to the wide range of outcomes seen in COVID-19 infections.
DOI: https://DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2024.100300
This study aimed to create a plan to help people with prehypertension, a condition where blood pressure is slightly elevated but not yet high enough for full-blown hypertension. This plan focuses on lifestyle changes like healthy eating and regular exercise to prevent serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. The goal is to provide a comprehensive and effective approach to managing prehypertension, reducing the need for medication and improving overall health.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311766
This study found that some children hospitalized with severe COVID-19 had antibodies that mistakenly attacked their own immune system proteins called type I interferons. These proteins are crucial for fighting off viral infections. The children with these autoantibodies were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The study also found that the severity of the illness was linked to the strength of the autoantibodies.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20231353
Globally, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), is becoming more and more of an issue for expectant mothers and their children.The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and identify the risk factors associated with GDM among pregnant women. The cross-sectional research was carried out between January–December 2023 at the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar. In order to gather data, comprehensive questionnaires including demographics, obstetric and medical history, family history of diabetes, and lifestyle variables were given out during normal prenatal appointments. To find independent determinants of GDM, statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression, prevalence calculation, bivariate analysis, and descriptive statistics.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/ks.v12i5.3203
Nabiha Naeem
The exploration of genetic diversity among Echinococcus granulosus strains in Pakistani livestock is pivotal for understanding the intricate dynamics of cystic echinococcosis. This section provides an overview of the significance of the study, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of the parasite's genetic landscape. The introduction highlights the potential implications for disease transmission and zoonotic spillover, setting the stage for the detailed exploration of genetic markers and their association with livestock environments.The utilization of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to identify genetic markers is detailed, along with the statistical analyses conducted, including the Chi-Square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The methodology provides a transparent and replicable framework for the identification of genetic diversity, tracking prevalence, and assessing the association with specific livestock environments.Our results showcasing the identified genetic markers, prevalence patterns, and their association with diverse farming and slaughterhouse settings. The statistically significant differences uncovered through ANOVA and the Chi-Square test offer a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors influencing Echinococcus granulosus transmission. The results highlight the multifaceted nature of the genetic diversity and prevalence patterns observed in Pakistani livestock.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.53555/jptcp.v31i6.6859
Iftikhar Ali
Polyhydroxyalkanoates are renewable, and biocompatible plastics having physiochemical properties similar to petrochemical plastics, and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Two bacterial strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis were selected to produce the PHA. The standard carbon source was glucose while molasses and banana peels were cheaper carbon substrates used in a medium to grow the bacterial strains. Sudan black B and Nile blue A staining were used to confirm the PHA production via spread plate assay. PHA granules were observed inside the bacterial cell microscopically, using Sudan stain. The carbohydrate concentration was estimated in molasses (29.4mg/mL) and banana peel extract (9.8mg/mL) by the Phenol-sulfuric acid test. In batch fermentation, time profiles of PHA production and growth of microbial strains for every 3hrs were performed up to incubation of 48hrs at 150rpm. PHA was extracted by sodium dodecyl sulfate digestion and chloroform extraction method. PHA production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 1.120g/L (66.82%) and 0.380g/L (44.60%) while in Bacillus subtilis was 0.476g/L (53.84%) and 0.288g/L (39.18%) utilizing molasses and banana peels, respectively after 48hrs. FTIR characterized the PHA monomer as polyhydroxybutyrate having a C=O bond at 1697.8cm-1 and 1750.0cm-1 and a CH3 group at 1395.9cm-1 and 1458.3cm-1. A statistical significance between the PHA productions was calculated by applying an unpaired t-test, for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a significant difference was observed between glucose with both substrates, while for Bacillus subtilis, a significant difference was noted only between glucose and peel extract.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-2024230082
Ghadir Ali
The protein Bcl-2, well-known for its anti-apoptotic properties, has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis. Identifying the primary gene responsible for promoting improved cell survival and development has provided compelling evidence for preventing cellular death in the progression of malignancies. Numerous research studies have provided evidence that the abundance of Bcl-2 is higher in malignant cells, suggesting that suppressing Bcl-2 expression could be a viable therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. In this study, we acquired a compound collection using a database that includes constituents from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Initially, we established a pharmacophore model and utilized it to search the TCM database for potential compounds. Compounds with a fitness score exceeding 0.75 were selected for further analysis. The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) analysis identified six compounds with favorable therapeutic characteristics. The compounds that successfully passed the initial screening process based on the pharmacodynamic model were subjected to further evaluation. Extra-precision (XP) docking was employed to identify the compounds with the most favorable XP docking scores. Further analysis using the Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) method to calculate the overall free binding energy. The binding energy between the prospective ligand molecule and the target protein Bcl-2 was assessed by a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation for curcumin and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The findings of this investigation demonstrate the identification of a molecular structure that effectively inhibits the functionality of the Bcl-2 when bound to the ligand EGCG. Consequently, this finding presents a novel avenue for the development of pharmaceuticals capable of effectively addressing both inflammatory and tumorous conditions.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-024-01868-9
The present study focuses on the isolation of bacterial pathogens from waste disposal sites, and examination of their efficiencies for degrading various plastics. Seven bacterial isolates such as E. coli, Corynebacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., Azotobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Bacillus spp. were identified. Bacillus spp. exhibited the highest percentage reduction in black plastic weight (47.46 %), while Corynebacterium spp., and E. coli achieved a maximum reduction of 45.76 and 46.42 % for pink plastic respectively. Pseudomonas spp. and Micrococcus spp. demonstrated notable reductions of 46.43 % and 56.60 % in white and Canteen Stores Department (CSD) biodegradable plastics, respectively. Optical density (OD) measurements revealed that bacterial isolates achieved maximum OD values with CSD plastics, emphasizing their proficiency in plastic degradation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the degradation process, with a decrease in the peak value from 2916 to 2914 cm? 1 for pink plastic, signifying alkane, and alkene presence. Three new peaks at 1398, 1371, and 1361 cm? 1 in the FTIR spectrum of CSD plastic indicated presence of alcohol. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) micrographs illustrated bacterial colonization, cracks, and spots on plastic surfaces, while Xray Diffraction (XRD) spectra showed peaks at 4.083, 3.705, 3.020, and 1.909, suggesting plastic degradation. In conclusion, soil of waste disposal site harbored diverse microbial species, and have highlighted their effectiveness in mitigating environmental pollution by degrading hazardous plastic waste.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100323
Muhammad Akram
The current study explains the complex landscape of rifampicin (RIF) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis through a detailed comparison of molecular and phenotypic drug susceptibility tests (DSTs) against whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The study highlighted the significant discordances by examining 25 WGS isolates with varying DST outcomes, particularly emphasizing the diagnostic challenges in detecting RIF resistance. Key findings include the identification of novel mutations associated with RIF resistance, underscoring the genetic diversity of resistant strains, and pinpointing compensatory mutations in non-rpoB genes (ponA1 and ponA2) that may influence resistance phenotypes. The study contributes significantly to the field by providing a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms underpinning RIF resistance, which is crucial for refining diagnostic tests and treatment strategies. The breadth of interest spans clinical microbiology, infectious disease management and public health, offering critical insights for improving tuberculosis control programmes. This study represents a significant step beyond conventional DST to incorporate WGS for a more accurate assessment of drug resistance. The findings underscore the importance of integrating genomic data into tuberculosis diagnostics and of focusing on the evolutionary dynamics of drug resistance, enhancing the global efforts in tuberculosis control.
https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001884
Many viral diseases affect the poultry industry worldwide and pose a devastating economic impact in terms of morbidity and mortality. Generally, there is no treatment for these viral infections, but vaccines are used to control these diseases as prophylaxis. The CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPRassociated protein9), a novel and cost-effective gene editing technique, has recently opened new horizons to find new treatments for viral infections by altering the genome of the host or virus. Moreover, this approach can be used to characterize host-virus affinity, elucidate the role of the viral genome, develop recombinant viral vaccines, modify the viral genome to discover antiviral therapies, and disease resistance. The development of several innovative vaccines against viral infections has been made possible by successful CRISPR/Cas9 editing of viral genomes. However, this gene-editing method has some side effects, one of which is off-target mutations. This manuscript summarizes the ability of CRISPR/Cas9 to prevent and treat viral diseases in birds using recombinant vaccines and antiviral approaches.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2024.2344124
Nelumbo nucifera (lotus plant) is an important member of the Nelumbonaceae family. This review summarizes the studies conducted on it since the past 15 years to provide an understanding on future areas of focus. Different parts of this plant, that is, leaves, roots, and seeds, have been used as food and for the treatment of various diseases. Polysaccharides have been extracted from different parts using different methods. The manuscript reviews the methods of extraction of polysaccharides used for leaves, roots, and seeds, along with their yield. Some methods can provide better yield while some provide better biological activity with low yield. The composition and structure of extracted polysaccharides have been determined in some studies. Although monosaccharide composition has been determined in various studies, too little information about the structure of polysaccharides from N. nucifera is available in the current literature. Different useful biological activities have been explored using in vivo and in vitro methods, which include antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, anti-osteoporotic, immunomodulatory, and prebiotic activities. Antitumor activity from polysaccharides of lotus leaves is yet to be explored, besides lotus root has been underexplored as compared to other parts (leaves and seeds) according to our literature survey. Studies dedicated to the successful use of combination of extraction methods can be conducted in future. The plant provides a therapeutic as well as nutraceutical potential; however, antimicrobial activity and synergistic relationships of polysaccharides from different parts of the plant need further exploration.
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3376
Qurat ul Ain Hanif
Indicine cattle, also referred to as zebu (Bos taurus indicus), play a central role in pastoral communities across a wide range of agro-ecosystems, from extremely hot semiarid regions to hot humid tropical regions. However, their adaptive genetic changes following their dispersal into East Asia from the Indian subcontinent have remained poorly documented. Here, we characterize their global genetic diversity using high-quality whole-genome sequencing data from 354 indicine cattle of 57 breeds/populations, including major indicine phylogeographic groups worldwide. We reveal their probable migration into East Asia was along a coastal route rather than inland routes and we detected introgression from other bovine species. Genomic regions carrying morphology-, immune-, and heat-tolerance-related genes underwent divergent selection according to Asian agro-ecologies. We identify distinct sets of loci that contain promising candidate variants for adaptation to hot semi-arid and hot humid tropical ecosystems. Our results indicate that the rapid and successful adaptation of East Asian indicine cattle to hot humid environments was promoted by localized introgression from banteng and/or gaur. Our findings provide insights into the history and environmental adaptation of indicine cattle.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43626-z
The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variations (CNVs) are two major genomic variants, which play crucial roles in evolutionary and phenotypic diversity.
In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis to explore the genetic variations (SNPs and CNVs) of high sperm motility (HSM) and poor sperm motility (PSM) Simmental bulls using the high-coverage (25×) short-read next generation sequencing and single-molecule long reads sequencing data. A total of ~ 15 million SNPs and 2,944 CNV regions (CNVRs) were detected in Simmental bulls, and a set of positive selected genes (PSGs) and CNVRs were found to be overlapped with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involving immunity, muscle development, reproduction, etc. In addition, we detected two new variants in LEPR, which may be related to the artificial breeding to improve important economic traits. Moreover, a set of genes and pathways functionally related to male fertility were identified. Remarkably, a CNV on SPAG16 (chr2:101,427,468 − 101,429,883) was completely deleted in all poor sperm motility (PSM) bulls and half of the bulls in high sperm motility (HSM), which may play a crucial role in the bull-fertility.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09248-x
Ear size is a classical model for hot climate adaptation following evolution, but the genetic basis of the traits associated with ear size remains to be elucidated. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study on 158 cattle to explain the genetic mechanism of ear size. The most significant locus (P = 1.30 × 10-8) was a missense mutation (T250I) on the seventh exon of integrin-binding sialoprotein (IBSP), which had an allele substitution effect of 23.46 cm2 for ear size. Furthermore, this mutation will cause changes in the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Results suggested that IBSP was under positive selection among four breeds with relatively large ear sizes. The expression levels of IBSP in ear tissues of large- and small-ear cattle were significantly different. These findings have important theoretical importance for the exploration of major genes associated with ear size and provide important molecular markers for the identification of cattle germplasm resources.
doi: 10.1038/s41437-023-00614-9
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