Novel insights on perils and promises of miRNA in understanding colon cancer metastasis and progression.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third highest frequent malignancy and ultimate critical source of cancer-associated mortality around the world. Regardless of latest advances in molecular and surgical targeted medicines that have increased remedial effects in CRC patients, the 5-year mortality rate for CRC patients remains dismally low. Evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) execute an essential part in the development and spread of CRC. The miRNAs are a type of short non-coding RNA that exhibited to control the appearance of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. miRNA expression profiling is already being utilized in clinical practice as analytical and prognostic biomarkers to evaluate cancer patients' tumor genesis, advancement, and counteraction to drugs. By modulating their target genes, dysregulated miRNAs are linked to malignant characteristics (e.g., improved proliferative and invasive capabilities, cell cycle aberration, evasion of apoptosis, and promotion of angiogenesis). This review presents an updated summary of circulatory miRNAs, tumor-suppressive and oncogenic miRNAs, and the potential reasons for dysregulated miRNAs in CRC. Further we will explore the critical role of miRNAs in CRC drug resistance.

Conservation genetics of endangered Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don - A pharmaceutically prized medicinal plant from the Himalaya and implications for species recovery.

Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of pharmaceutically important endangered plant species is crucial for their conservation and sustainable use. Despite the continuous population decline in Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don, a highly prized medicinal plant endemic to the Himalaya, information regarding its conservation genetics has been lacking. Here, we employed a conservation genetics approach to investigate how drastically declining populations in natural habitats impact population genetic diversity and structure of this endangered species across the Kashmir Himalaya. We used Start codon targeted (SCoT) and Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to assess the intra- and inter-population genetic variation in seven sites across the study region. Based on these markers, we found a very low genetic diversity in T. govanianum populations. Very low levels of observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.000) and that expected (He = 0.064) in the populations indicate high heterozygote deficiency and high levels of inbreeding depression (FIS = 1.000). A high genetic differentiation was observed among the populations for both SCoT (Gst = 0.719) and SSR (Fst = 0.707) markers. Both the markers showed low gene flow, SCoT (Nm = 0.195) and SSR (Nm = 0.119), depicting high among-population variation than within-population variation. Analysis of molecular variance also indicated a higher genetic variation between the populations than within populations. We also observed a significant positive correlation between genetic divergence and geographical distance, indicating that genetic differentiation in T. govanianum follows a pattern of isolation by distance. Bayesian structure and cluster analysis grouped the populations according to their geographical proximity. Further, redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed the presence of one polymorphic locus for each marker with high discriminatory power. Overall, our findings reveal a very low genetic diversity, high levels of inbreeding, and high genetic differentiation among the populations; likely resulting from habitat fragmentation, population isolation, bottleneck effect, low gene flow, and predominantly asexual reproduction currently operative in the species. Finally, based on the insights gained, we discuss the potential implications of our findings in guiding species recovery and habitat rehabilitation of T. govanianum in the Himalaya with conservation lessons for elsewhere in the world.

Unravelling diversity, drivers, and indicators of soil microbiome of Trillium govanianum, an endangered plant species of the Himalaya.

In an era of global environmental change, conservation of threatened biodiversity and ecosystem restoration are formidable ecological challenges. The forest understory strata and the belowground soil environment including rhizospheric microbial communities, which are crucial for ecosystem functioning and overall forest biodiversity maintenance, have remained understudied. Here, we investigate the soil microbiome of Trillium govanianum - an endangered Himalayan Forest herb, to unravel the underground diversity, drivers, and potential indicators of the microbial community. We collected rhizospheric and bulk soil samples for microbiome and physicochemical analysis at three sites along an elevation gradient (2500-3300 m) in Kashmir Himalaya. Amplicon sequencing of 16 S rRNA and ITS was used to identify the bacterial and fungal soil microorganisms. We found significant differences in the structure and diversity of microbial community (bacterial and fungal) between the rhizosphere and bulk soil along the altitudinal gradient, and noticeable shifts in the nutrient level in dominant microbial phyla associated with T. govanianum. A significant difference between soil physicochemical parameters and increasing altitude suggests that microbial community structure is determined by altitude and soil type. Similarly, the microbial communities showed a significant (P < 0.05) correlation with soil physicochemical variables along the altitudinal gradient. The moisture content in bacterial and total organic carbon in fungal communities showed the most substantial impact on the physiochemical drivers. We also identify potential bacterial and fungal plant growth promoter indicator species in the soil microbiome of T. govanianum. Overall, our findings provide novel research insights that can be pivotal in designing integrated species recovery programs and long-term restoration plans for T. govanianum, with learnings for biodiversity conservation elsewhere.

Nanogel-based Transdermal Drug Delivery System: A Therapeutic Strategy with Under Discussed Potential.

The application of nanoparticles in medication delivery has revolutionized the field of therapeutic biology. To improve medical efficacy, currently, drug nanocarriers are employed to control the release and stability, expand its circulation time, or protect it from cell clearance or premature breakdown. A crosslinked polymeric framework is used to crosslink the hydrogel nanoparticle dispersions for safer and stable delivery on target sites. Nanogels have developed in the last two decades as potential biomaterials with a wide variety of applications. Later attributes of nanogels are mainly due to large surface areas, retention of molecules, size flexibility, and water-based formulations that have made them popular as drug delivery vehicles, as seen by several in vivo uses. The gel matrix containing the nanoparticle drug demonstrated a considerable increase in drug penetration in transdermal drug and topical delivery methods. This review aims to understand why and how nanogels are considered so innovative as a drug delivery method. It also examines their preparation methods and applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields and discusses the benefits of nanogels, including swelling capacity and stimulus stimuli sensitivity. Nanogels, on the other hand, have recently been investigated for applications outside the field of biomedicine. Since there are many possible uses for nanogels, we have comprehensively reviewed the current state of the art for all feasible nanogel applications and manufacturing methods.

The role of plant-associated rhizobacteria in plant growth, biocontrol and abiotic stress management.

The rhizosphere is the region around the plant roots where maximum microbial activities occur. In the rhizosphere, microorganisms' beneficial and harmful activities affect plant growth and development. The mutualistic rhizospheric bacteria which improve plant growth and health are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). They are very important due to their ability to help the plant in diverse ways. PGPR such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Arthrobacter, Achromobacter, Micrococcus, Enterobacter, Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Pantoea and Serratia are now very well known. Rhizomicrobiome plays critical roles in nutrient acquisition and assimilation, improved soil texture, secreting and modulating extracellular molecules such as hormones, secondary metabolites, antibiotics and various signal compounds, all leading to the enhancement of plant growth and development. The microbes and compounds they secrete constitute valuable biostimulants and play pivotal roles in modulating plant stress responses. In this review, we highlight the rhizobacteria diversity and cutting-edge findings focusing on the role of a PGPR in plant growth and development. We also discussed the role of PGPR in resisting the adverse effects arising from various abiotic (drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals) stresses.

Microbiome dysbiosis and epigenetic modulations in lung cancer: From pathogenesis to therapy.

The lung microbiome plays an essential role in maintaining healthy lung function, including host immune homeostasis. Lung microbial dysbiosis or disruption of the gut-lung axis can contribute to lung carcinogenesis by causing DNA damage, inducing genomic instability, or altering the host's susceptibility to carcinogenic insults. Thus far, most studies have reported the association of microbial composition in lung cancer. Mechanistic studies describing host-microbe interactions in promoting lung carcinogenesis are limited. Considering cancer as a multifaceted disease where epigenetic dysregulation plays a critical role, epigenetic modifying potentials of microbial metabolites and toxins and their roles in lung tumorigenesis are not well studied. The current review explains microbial dysbiosis and epigenetic aberrations in lung cancer and potential therapeutic opportunities.

Insights into decontamination of soils by phytoremediation: A detailed account on heavy metal toxicity and mitigation strategies.

In the current era of rapid industrialization, the foremost challenge is the management of industrial wastes. Activities such as mining and industrialization spill over a large quantity of toxic waste that pollutes soil, water, and air. This poses a major environmental and health challenge. The toxic heavy metals present in the soil and water are entering the food chain, which in turn causes severe health hazards. Environmental clean-up and reclamation of heavy metal contaminated soil and water are very important, and it necessitates efforts of environmentalists, industrialists, scientists, and policymakers. Phytoremediation is a plant-based approach to remediate heavy metal/organic pollutant contaminated soil and water in an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and permanent way. This review covers the effect of heavy metal toxicity on plant growth and physiological process, the concept of heavy metal accumulation, detoxification, and the mechanisms of tolerance in plants. Based on plants' ability to uptake heavy metals and metabolize them within tissues, phytoremediation techniques have been classified into six types: phytoextraction, phytoimmobilization, phytovolatilization, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration, and rhizodegradation. The development of research in this area led to the identification of metal hyper-accumulators, which could be utilized for reclamation of contaminated soil through phytomining. Concurrently, breeding and biotechnological approaches can enhance the remediation efficiency. Phytoremediation technology, combined with other reclamation technologies/practices, can provide clean soil and water to the ecosystem.