Corrigendum: Exploring the antibacterial and dermatitis-mitigating properties of chicken egg white-synthesized zinc oxide nano whiskers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1295593.].

Harnessing the power of bacterial laccases for xenobiotic degradation in water: A 10-year overview.

Industrialization and population growth are leading to the production of significant amounts of sewage containing hazardous xenobiotic compounds. These compounds pose a threat to human and animal health, as well as the overall ecosystem. To combat this issue, chemical, physical, and biological techniques have been used to remove these contaminants from water bodies affected by human activity. Biotechnological methods have proven effective in utilizing microorganisms and enzymes, particularly laccases, to address this problem. Laccases possess versatile enzymatic characteristics and have shown promise in degrading different xenobiotic compounds found in municipal, industrial, and medical wastewater. Both free enzymes and crude enzyme extracts have demonstrated success in the biotransformation of these compounds. Despite these advancements, the widespread use of laccases for bioremediation and wastewater treatment faces challenges due to the complex composition, high salt concentration, and extreme pH often present in contaminated media. These factors negatively impact protein stability, recovery, and recycling processes, hindering their large-scale application. These issues can be addressed by focusing on large-scale production, resolving operation problems, and utilizing cutting-edge genetic and protein engineering techniques. Additionally, finding novel sources of laccases, understanding their biochemical properties, enhancing their catalytic activity and thermostability, and improving their production processes are crucial steps towards overcoming these limitations. By doing so, enzyme-based biological degradation processes can be improved, resulting in more efficient removal of xenobiotics from water systems. This review summarizes the latest research on bacterial laccases over the past decade. It covers the advancements in identifying their structures, characterizing their biochemical properties, exploring their modes of action, and discovering their potential applications in the biotransformation and bioremediation of xenobiotic pollutants commonly present in water sources.

Identification of the myxobacterial secondary metabolites Aurachin A and Soraphinol A as promising inhibitors of thymidylate kinase of the Monkeypox virus.

Thymidylate kinase (TMPK) of monkeypox virus (MPXV) has emerged as a promising target for potential therapeutics due to its significant role in pyrimidine metabolism. While smallpox drugs are advised for treating monkeypox, the European Medicine Agency has sanctioned Tecovirimat due to its potent nanomolar activity. Nonetheless, there is a need for monkeypox-specific therapeutic options. In this work, we employed docking-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify myxobacterial secondary metabolites as promising anti-viral natural compounds capable of inhibiting thymidylate kinase. The computational pharmacokinetics and manual curation of top-scoring compounds identified six lead compounds that were compared in terms of protein-ligand contacts and protein-essential dynamics. The study shows that among the six candidates, Aurachin A and the Soraphinol analogues such as Soraphinol A and Soraphinol C remain very stable compared to other compounds, enabling the active site integrity via a stable dynamics pattern. We also show that other compounds such as Phenoxan, Phenylnannolone C, and 8E-Aurafuron B remain unstable and have a negative impact on the active site integrity and may not be suitable binders for TMPK protein. Analyzing the Aurachin A and Soraphinol A binding, the established hydrogen bonds with Arg93 and the conserved hydrophobic interaction with Tyr101 are consistent with previous experimental interactions. Additionally, a deeper insight into the indole and the aromatic ring interaction through π-π stacking and π-cation interactions, as well as the background of Aurachin A and Soraphinol A as a bioactive compound, has significant implications not only for its potential as a promising drug but also for directing future drug discovery efforts targeting the TMPK protein.

Exploring the antibacterial and dermatitis-mitigating properties of chicken egg white-synthesized zinc oxide nano whiskers.

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have garnered considerable interest in biomedical research primarily owing to their prospective therapeutic implications in combatting pathogenic diseases and microbial infections. The primary objective of this study was to examine the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanowhiskers (ZnO-NWs) using chicken egg white (albumin) as a bio-template. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the potential biomedical applications of ZnO NWs in the context of infectious diseases. Methods: The NWs synthesized through biological processes were observed using electron microscopy, which allowed for detailed examination of their characteristics. The results of these investigations indicated that the NWs exhibited a size distribution ranging from approximately 10 to 100 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) mapping analyses successfully corroborated the size, dimensions, and presence of biological constituents during their formation. In this study, XTT assay and confocal imaging were employed to provide evidence of the efficacy of ZnO-NWs in the eradication of bacterial biofilms. The target bacterial strains were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we sought to address pertinent concerns regarding the biocompatibility of the ZnO-NWs. This was achieved through comprehensive evaluation of the absence of cytotoxicity in normal HEK-293T and erythrocytes. Results: The findings of this investigation unequivocally confirmed the biocompatibility of the ZnO-NWs. The biosynthesized ZnO-NWs demonstrated a noteworthy capacity to mitigate the dermatitis-induced consequences induced by Staphylococcus aureus in murine models after a therapeutic intervention lasting for one week. Discussion: This study presents a comprehensive examination of the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanowhiskers (ZnO-NWs) derived from chicken egg whites. These findings highlight the considerable potential of biosynthesized ZnO-NWs as a viable option for the development of therapeutic agents targeting infectious diseases. The antibacterial efficacy of ZnO-NWs against both susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, as well as their ability to eradicate biofilms, suggests their promising role in combating infectious diseases. Furthermore, the confirmed biocompatibility of ZnO-NWs opens avenues for their safe use in biomedical applications. Overall, this research underscores the therapeutic promise of ZnO-NWs and their potential significance in future biomedical advancements.

Feedback Modulation between Human INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Complex and miR-372 in HCT116 Cells.

Human INO80 chromatin remodeling complex (INO80 complex) as a transcription cofactor is widely involved in gene transcription regulation and is frequently highly expressed in tumor cells. However, few reports exist on the mutual regulatory mechanism between INO80 complex and non-coding microRNAs. Herein, we showed evidence that the INO80 complex transcriptionally controls microRNA-372 (miR-372) expression through RNA-Seq analysis and a series of biological experiments. Knocking down multiple subunits in the INO80 complex, including the INO80 catalytic subunit, YY1, Ies2, and Arp8, can significantly increase the expression level of miR-372. Interestingly, mimicking miR-372 expression in HCT116 cells, in turn, post-transcriptionally suppressed INO80 and Arp8 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, indicating the existence of a mutual regulatory mechanism between the INO80 complex and miR-372. The target relationship between miR-372 and INO80 complex was verified using luciferase assays in HCT116 colon cancer cells. As expected, miR-372 mimics significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of pMIR-luc/INO80 and pMIR-luc/Arp8 3'-UTR in cells. In contrast, the miR-372 target sites in the 3'-UTRs linked to the luciferase reporter were mutagenized, and both mutant sites lost their response to miR-372. Furthermore, the mutual modulation between the INO80 complex and miR-372 was involved in cell proliferation and the p53/p21 signaling pathway, suggesting the synergistic anti-tumor role of the INO80 complex and miR372. Our results will provide a solid theoretical basis for exploring miR-372 as a biological marker of tumorigenesis.

CRISPR-Cas9-Based Technology and Its Relevance to Gene Editing in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and other chronic and debilitating neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) impose a substantial medical, emotional, and financial burden on individuals and society. The origin of PD is unknown due to a complex combination of hereditary and environmental risk factors. However, over the last several decades, a significant amount of available data from clinical and experimental studies has implicated neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, dysregulated protein degradation, and mitochondrial dysfunction as the primary causes of PD neurodegeneration. The new gene-editing techniques hold great promise for research and therapy of NDs, such as PD, for which there are currently no effective disease-modifying treatments. As a result, gene therapy may offer new treatment options, transforming our ability to treat this disease. We present a detailed overview of novel gene-editing delivery vehicles, which is essential for their successful implementation in both cutting-edge research and prospective therapeutics. Moreover, we review the most recent advancements in CRISPR-based applications and gene therapies for a better understanding of treating PD. We explore the benefits and drawbacks of using them for a range of gene-editing applications in the brain, emphasizing some fascinating possibilities.

MiR-372-3p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Colon Cancer by Targeting MAP3K2.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small non-coding RNA transcripts bind their complementary sequences in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to regulate their expression. It is known that miR-372 belongs to the miR-371-373 gene cluster and has been found to be abnormally expressed in a variety of cancers, but its precise mechanism in cancer remains to be discovered. In this study, miR-372-3p expression was assessed in 153 frozen tissue samples, including primary diagnosed colon cancer and matched normal and adjacent tissues, using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). An analysis of qPCR data revealed a significant reduction in miR-372-3p expression (by >2-fold) in colon cancer tissues in 51.5% (34/66) of patients. Consistent with this, mimicking the increased miR-372-3p levels in SW480 colon cancer cells significantly suppressed cell growth and proliferation. Although no direct correlation was found between the low level of miR-372-3p and certain tumor-related factors, such as p53, HRE-2, PMS2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, HDAC4, p21, and Wee1, in colon cancer tissues, an inverse relationship between miR-372-3p and Ki67 (a marker of proliferation) or miR-372-3p and MAP3K2(MEKK2), which plays a critical role in the MAPK signaling pathways, was confirmed using tissue samples. The target relationship between miR-372-3p and MAP3K2 was verified using luciferase assays in SW480 colon cancer cells. As expected, miR-372-3p mimics significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of pMIR-luc/MAP3K2 3'-UTR in cells, suggesting that miR-372-3p modulates the expression of MAP3K2 by directly targeting its 3'-UTR. Overall, the results obtained herein suggest that miR-372-3p may function as a tumor-suppressor miRNA in colon cancer by targeting MAP3K2.

Clinical and functional outcomes of displaced proximal humerus fractures treated with PHILOS plate system and autologous bone graft.

This retrospective case series analyses the clinical and radiological outcomes of displaced proximal humerus fractures treated with PHILOS plate system and iliac crest bone autograft. Twenty-six patients with displaced fractures of proximal humerus, who were treated with PHILOS plate and autologous iliac crest bone grafts from January 2015 to September 2020, were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were proximal humerus fractures with displacement of more than 1cm and angulation of more than 45 degrees. The functional outcomes were evaluated using DASH and constant score. Radiological outcomes were measured by calculating the fracture union. The average age of the cohort was 47.28±13.69 years. Over all, the mean DASH score was 10.25 and constant score was 77.65 at three-year follow-up. The PHILOS plate with iliac crest bone autologous graft provides good radiological and functional outcomes, especially for the cases with bone defects and poor-bone stock.

Endolysin, a Promising Solution against Antimicrobial Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global crisis for human public health which threatens the effective prevention and control of ever-increasing infectious diseases. The advent of pandrug-resistant bacteria makes most, if not all, available antibiotics invalid. Meanwhile, the pipeline of novel antibiotics development stagnates, which prompts scientists and pharmacists to develop unconventional antimicrobials. Bacteriophage-derived endolysins are cell wall hydrolases which could hydrolyze the peptidoglycan layer from within and outside of bacterial pathogens. With high specificity, rapid action, high efficiency, and low risk of resistance development, endolysins are believed to be among the best alternative therapeutic agents to treat multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. As of now, endolysins have been applied to diverse aspects. In this review, we comprehensively introduce the structures and activities of endolysins and summarize the latest application progress of recombinant endolysins in the fields of medical treatment, pathogen diagnosis, food safety, and agriculture.

Potential Biomarkers of miR-371-373 Gene Cluster in Tumorigenesis.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA transcripts (20-24 nucleotides) that bind to their complementary sequences in the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of targeted genes to negatively or positively regulate their expression. miRNAs affect the expression of genes in cells, thereby contributing to several important biological processes, including tumorigenesis. Identifying the miRNA cluster as a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-specific miRNAs initially led to the identification of miR-371, miR-372, miR-373, and miR-373*, which can ultimately be translated into mature miRNAs. Recent evidence suggests that miR-371-373 genes are abnormally expressed in various cancers and act either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, indicating they may be suitable as molecular biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prevention. In this article, we summarize recent studies linking miR-371-373 functions to tumorigenesis and speculate on the potential applications of miR-371-373 as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Evaluation of Patient Perception and Satisfaction Toward the Use of Telemedicine During Pandemic of Novel Coronavirus in Pakistan.

Background:The trend of telemedicine is exponentially increasing worldwide due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, patient satisfaction is always a concern regarding the use of telemedicine.Introduction:The aim of this study is to evaluate the perception and satisfaction level of patients toward the use of telemedicine during the pandemic of COVID-19 among Pakistani population.Materials and Methods:The survey questionnaires were distributed to 251 patients who received telemedicine consultation in any of three specializations: orthopedic, ophthalmology, and general medicine. The questionnaire contains 15 questions that covered four categories of patient satisfaction: interpersonal communication, caring, care delivery, and proficiency. Descriptive and analytical statistics were obtained by analyzing data using SPSS software version 20.Results:A total of 251 patients responded to the telemedicine questionnaire. Overall, 61.35% patients reported that they did not need any support for using technology during consultation and 96.41% of the patient population reported that telemedicine saved their travel time. It was found that gender, education, and age were significantly associated with the ease in technology with the p-value 0.012, 0.004 and <0.001, respectively, whereas the use of telemedicine again in future is found to be significantly associated with only education and age p-value <0.001. The statistically significant difference was found in three specialized consultation regarding the overall satisfaction, χ2 = 5.83, p-value = 0.05, with a mean rank in orthopedic is 133.6, 134.4 in ophthalmology, and 113.6 in internal medicine.Conclusion:Telemedicine is convenient and satisfactory way to provide health care services during pandemic. Although a considerable number of participants reported good response for telemedicine, there is a need of establishing local telemedicine guidelines, training of consultants and advancement in technology.

Histological and cellular evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) demonstrates a great healing response after initial trauma and has competent cells leading to the healing but differs in its response based on the type of tear and duration of injury. This study aimed to evaluate the histological and cellular responses to the injured ACL. METHODS: Fifty-two tissue samples from the ACL were harvested from patients undergoing arthroscopy. Detailed histological and cellular examinations were performed for ligament angiogenesis, fibrocytes, and synovial tissue infiltration. We compared the cellular response to injury in partially and completely ruptured ACLs. The duration of ACL injury and its response to cellular characteristics were also examined. Immunohistochemical studies using cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) staining was used to evaluate endothelial cells and fibrocytes. RESULTS: We found a significantly higher density of synovial and ligament angiogenesis and fibrocytes at the torn end of ACL (Mann-Whitney, P < 0.050). Numerous fibrocytes were identified in complete ACL tears versus partial tears (Mann-Whitney = 0.020). Increased cellular proliferation was identified at the ruptured end of ACL remnant (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.050). The cellular proliferation of ruptured ACL decreased after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings of the time-dependent decrease in the cellular response at the torn ends of the ACL, we recommend early intervention, preservation of the ACL remnant, and primary ACL repair or augmented reconstruction.

O-GlcNAc-Modification of NSL3 at Thr755 Site Maintains the Holoenzyme Activity of MOF/NSL Histone Acetyltransfease Complex.

Both OGT1 (O-linked ß-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase isoform 1) and NSL3 (nonspecific lethal protein 3) are crucial components of the MOF (males absent on the first)/NSL histone acetyltransferase complex. We previously described how global histone H4 acetylation levels were modulated by OGT1/O-GlcNAcylation-mediated NSL3 stability. However, the specific modification site of NSL3 and its molecular mechanism of protein stability remain unknown. Here, we present evidence from biochemical experiments arguing that O-GlcNAcylation of NSL3 at Thr755 is tightly associated with holoenzyme activity of the MOF/NSL complex. Using in vitro O-GlcNAc-transferase assays combined with mass spectrometry, we suppose that the residue Thr755 on NSL3 C-terminus is the major site O-GlcNAc-modified by OGT1. Importantly, O-GlcNAcylation of this site is involved in the regulation of the ubiquitin-degradation of NSL3, because this site mutation (T755A) promotes the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of NSL3. Further in-depth research found that ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 S (UBE2S) accelerated the degradation of NSL3 via direct binding to it. Interestingly, OGT1 and UBE2S competitively bind to NSL3, suggesting the coordination of OGT1-UBE2S in regulating NSL3 stability. Furthermore, O-GlcNAcylation of NSL3 Thr755 site regulates the histone H4 acetylation levels at lysine 5, 8, and 16, suggesting that the O-GlcNAcylation of NSL3 at Thr755 is required for maintaining the integrity and holoenzyme activity of the MOF/NSL complex. In colony formation assays, we found that the integrity of the complex impacts the proliferation of the lung carcinoma type II epithelium-like A549 cells. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of the MOF/NSL complex.

'O-GlcNAc Code' Mediated Biological Functions of Downstream Proteins.

As one of the post-translational modifications, O-linked ß-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification (O-GlcNAcylation) often occurs on serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) residues of specific substrate cellular proteins via the addition of O-GlcNAc group by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). Maintenance of normal intracellular levels of O-GlcNAcylation is controlled by OGT and glycoside hydrolase O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Unbalanced O-GlcNAcylation levels have been involved in many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. Recent research data reveal that O-GlcNAcylation at histones or non-histone proteins may provide recognition platforms for subsequent protein recruitment and further initiate intracellular biological processes. Here, we review the current understanding of the 'O-GlcNAc code' mediated intracellular biological functions of downstream proteins.

The chromatin remodeling protein INO80 contributes to the removal of H2A.Z at the p53-binding site of the p21 gene in response to doxorubicin.

Transcriptional activation of p21 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A) due to DNA damage often alters the distribution of histone variant H2A.Z at the p21 gene. However, whether the human INO80 complex regulates changes in H2A.Z at the p21 promoter is unclear. We show here that activation of p21 expression by doxorubicin (Doxo) in U2OS cells is required for removal of H2A.Z by INO80 at the p53-binding site proximal region (-2.2 kb) of the p21 promoter. A purified INO80 complex, but not the INO80E653Q mutant-complex, which lost DNA-sliding activity, is mainly responsible for removing H2A.Z from reconstituted nucleosomes in vitro. This activity was enhanced with MOF-mediated histone acetylation, suggesting that INO80 more readily removes H2A.Z from loosened nucleosomes. Also, co-occupancy of INO80 and H2A.Z -2.2 kb upstream of the p21 transcriptional start site (TSS) was observed. H2A.Z at this region was removed in a short time after Doxo treatment and activated p21 expression. However, p21 induction was inhibited by INO80 knockdown by delaying H2A.Z removal, indicating the need for INO80. Moreover, shMOF-mediated histone acetylation reduced recruitment of INO80 -2.2 kb upstream of p21 TSS and inhibited the removal of H2A.Z in Doxo-treated cells. These data provide new insights into the transcriptional regulation of p21 by the INO80 complex.