Deciphering the differential expression patterns of yield-related negative regulators in hexaploid wheat cultivars and hybrids at different growth stages.

BACKGROUND: Hexaploid bread wheat underwent a series of polyploidization events through interspecific hybridizations that conferred adaptive plasticity and resulted in duplication and neofunctionalization of major agronomic genes. The genetic architecture of polyploid wheat not only confers adaptive plasticity but also offers huge genetic diversity. However, the contribution of different gene copies (homeologs) encoded from different subgenomes (A, B, D) at different growth stages remained unexplored. METHODS: In this study, hybrid of elite cultivars of wheat were developed via reciprocal crosses (cytoplasm swapping) and phenotypically evaluated. We assessed differential expression profiles of yield-related negative regulators in these cultivars and their F1 hybrids and identified various cis-regulatory signatures by employing bioinformatics tools. Furthermore, the preferential expression patterns of the syntenic triads encoded from A, B, and D subgenomes were assessed to decipher their functional redundancy at six different growth stages. RESULTS: Hybrid progenies showed better heterosis such as up to 17% increase in the average number of grains and up to 50% increase in average thousand grains weight as compared to mid-parents. Based on the expression profiling, our results indicated significant dynamic transcriptional expression patterns, portraying the different homeolog-dominance at the same stage in the different cultivars and their hybrids. Albeit belonging to same syntenic triads, a dynamic trend was observed in the regulatory signatures of these genes that might be influencing their expression profiles. CONCLUSION: These findings can substantially contribute and provide insights for the selective introduction of better cultivars into traditional and hybrid breeding programs which can be harnessed for the improvement of future wheat.

Transcriptome-based biomarker gene screening and evaluation of the extracellular fatty acid-binding protein (Ex-FABP) on immune and angiogenesis-related genes in chicken erythrocytes of tibial dyschondroplasia.

BACKGROUND: Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a bone disorder in which dead chondrocytes accumulate as a result of apoptosis and non-vascularization in the tibial bone of broiler chickens. The pathogenicity of TD is under extensive research but is yet not fully understood. Several studies have linked it to apoptosis and non-vascularization in the tibial growth plate (GP). We conceived the idea to find the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in chicken erythrocytes which vary in expression over time using a likelihood-ratio test (LRT). Thiram was used to induce TD in chickens, and then injected Ex-FABP protein at 0, 20, and 50 µg.kg-1 to evaluate its therapeutic effect on 30 screened immunity and angiogenesis-related genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR). The histopathology was also performed in TD chickens to explore the shape, circularity, arrangements of chondrocytes and blood vessels. RESULTS: Clinical lameness was observed in TD chickens, which decreased with the injection of Ex-FABP. Histopathological findings support Ex-FABP as a therapeutic agent for the morphology and vascularization of affected chondrocytes in TD chickens. qPCR results of 10 immunity (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR15, IL-7, MyD88, MHCII, and TRAF6) and 20 angiogenesis-related genes (ITGAV, ITGA2, ITGB2, ITGB3, ITGA5, IL1R1, TBXA2R, RPL17, F13A1, CLU, RAC2, RAP1B, GIT1, FYN, IQGAP2, PTCH1, NCOR2, VAV-like, PTPN11, MAML3) regulated when Ex-FABP is injected to TD chickens. CONCLUSION: Immunity and angiogenesis-related genes can be responsible for apoptosis of chondrocytes and vascularization in tibial GP. Injection of Ex-FABP protein to thiram induced TD chickens decrease the chondrocytes damage and improves vascularization.

Electrospinning of bovine serum albumin-based nano-fibers: From synthesis to medical prospects; Challenges and future directions.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a globular non-glycoprotein that has gotten a lot of attention because of its unique properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, non-toxicity, and strong resemblance to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Given its robust mechanical properties, such as interfacial tension, conductivity, swelling resistance, and viscoelasticity, it can be concluded that it is an appropriate matrix for producing novel BSA-based nanoconstructs. Thus, simple analytic methods are required for accurately detecting BSA as a model protein in medical sciences and healthcare. Furthermore, the characteristics mentioned above aid BSA in the electrospinning process, which results in fibers conjugated with other polymers. Electrospun synthesis has recently received much attention for its ability to produce stable, biomimicking, highly porous, 3D BSA-derived nano-fibers. As a result, BSA-based nano-fibers have achieved exclusive developments in the medical sector, such as tissue engineering for the remodeling of damaged tissue or organ repair by creating artificial ones. Meanwhile, they could be used as drug delivery systems (DDS) for target-specific drug delivery, wound dressings, and so on. This study illustrates the structural and physicochemical properties of BSA and the determination of BSA using various methods, by citing recent reports and current developments in the medical field. Furthermore, current challenges and future directions are also highlighted.

Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles: Biogenic Synthesis and their Medical Applications; Existing Challenges and Future Prospects.

OBJECTIVE: In the last decade, nanobiotechnology is emerging as a keen prudence area owing to its widespread applications in the medical field. In this context, zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) have garnered tremendous attention attributed to their cheap, non-toxic, excellent paramagnetic nature, extremely reactive surface, and dual oxidation state that makes them excellent antioxidants and free-radical scavengers. Facile biogenic synthesis, in which a biological source is used as a template for the synthesis of NPs, is presumably dominant among other physical and chemical synthetic procedures. The purpose of this review is to elucidate plant-mediated synthesis of nZVI, although they have been successfully fabricated by microbes and other biological entities (such as starch, chitosan, alginate, cashew nut shell, etc.) as well. METHODS: The methodology of the study involved keyword searches of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, NCBI, and Google Scholar (2008-2023). Search terms of the review included 'biogenic synthesis of nZVI', 'plant-mediated synthesis of nZVI', 'medical applications of nZVI', and 'Recent advancements and future prospects of nZVI'. RESULTS: Various articles were identified and reviewed for biogenic fabrication of stable nZVI with the vast majority of studies reporting positive findings. The resultant nanomaterial found great interest for biomedical purposes such as their use as biocompatible anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and albumin binding agents that have not been adequately accessed in previous studies. CONCLUSION: This review shows that there are potential cost savings applications to be made when using biogenic nZVI for medical purposes. However, the encountering challenges concluded later, along with the prospects for sustainable future development.

Biosynthesized Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles CeO2NPs: Recent Progress and Medical Applications.

Currently, nanobiotechnology represents a leading research area that primarily focuses on the safe, eco-friendly synthesis of biocompatible metal oxide nanoparticles. Among these, biosynthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles have particularly received attention in medical science as their unique surface chemistry and dual oxidation state make them excellent antioxidants and freeradical scavengers. Currently, plant extracts are widely explored and employed for the biosynthesis of CeO2NPs. Other biological sources such as marine oyster shell extract, egg-white, biopolymers, e.g., chitosan, agarose, alginate, and others, have also been successfully used for the fabrication of CeO2NPs. This review highlights the recent progress in the biosynthesis of CeO2NPs and the investigation of their medical use as biocompatible anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and wound healing agents. Furthermore, prospects associated with the use of biogenic CeO2NPs in developing novel products in the medical sector are also highlighted.

Comparative Genomics and Pan-Genome Driven Prediction of a Reduced Genome of Akkermansia muciniphila.

Akkermanisia muciniphila imparts important health benefits and is considered a next-generation probiotic. It is imperative to understand the genomic diversity and metabolic potential of the species for safer applications as probiotics. As it resides with both health-promoting and pathogenic bacteria, understanding the evolutionary patterns are crucial, but this area remains largely unexplored. Moreover, pan-genome has previously been established based on only a limited number of strains and without careful strain selection. The pan-genomics have become very important for understanding species diversity and evolution. In the current study, a systematic approach was used to find a refined pan-genome profile of A. muciniphila by excluding too-diverse strains based on average nucleotide identity-based species demarcation. The strains were divided into four phylogroups using a variety of clustering techniques. Horizontal gene transfer and recombination patterns were also elucidated. Evolutionary patterns revealed that different phylogroups were expanding differently. Furthermore, a comparative evaluation of the metabolic potential of the pan-genome and its subsections was performed. Lastly, the study combines functional annotation, persistent genome, and essential genes to devise an approach to determine a minimal genome that can systematically remove unwanted genes, including virulent factors. The selection of one strain to be used as a chassis for the prediction of a reduced genome was very carefully performed by analyzing several genomic parameters, including the number of unique genes and the resistance and pathogenic potential of the strains. The strategy could be applied to other microbes, including human-associated microbiota, towards a common goal of predicting a minimal or a reduced genome.