Cyanotoxins, biosynthetic gene clusters, and factors modulating cyanotoxin biosynthesis.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) are a global environmental concern that encompasses public health issues, water availability, and water quality owing to the production of various secondary metabolites (SMs), including cyanotoxins in freshwater, brackish water, and marine ecosystems. The frequency, extent, magnitude, and duration of CHABs are increasing globally. Cyanobacterial species traits and changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic pressure, eutrophication, and global climate change, together allow cyanobacteria to thrive. The cyanotoxins include a diverse range of low molecular weight compounds with varying biochemical properties and modes of action. With the application of modern molecular biology techniques, many important aspects of cyanobacteria are being elucidated, including aspects of their diversity, gene-environment interactions, and genes that express cyanotoxins. The toxicological, environmental, and economic impacts of CHABs strongly advocate the need for continuing, extensive efforts to monitor cyanobacterial growth and to understand the mechanisms regulating species composition and cyanotoxin biosynthesis. In this review, we critically examined the genomic organization of some cyanobacterial species that lead to the production of cyanotoxins and their characteristic properties discovered to date.

SERPINA1 Hepatocyte-Specific Promoter Polymorphism Associate with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Study of Kashmiri Ancestry Individuals.

PURPOSE: Different mutations in coding and non-coding sequences of the SERPINA1 gene have been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, - 10T/C mutation in the hepatocyte-directed promoter region has not been associated with COPD pathogenesis so far. Here, we report an increased frequency of - 10C genotype that is associated with decreased levels of serum alpha1-antitrypsin (α1AT) in COPD patients. METHODS: The quantification of serum α1AT was done by ELISA, the phenol-chloroform method was used for DNA extraction, PCR products were directly sequenced. The IBM SPSS Statistics v21 software was used for statistical analyses of the data. RESULTS: The mean serum α1AT level was found to be 1.203+0.239 and 3.162+0.160 g/L in COPD cases and in control, respectively. The - 10C allele is associated with an increased risk of COPD [OR, 3.50 (95%CI, 1.86-6.58); p < 0.001]. The combined variant genotype (TT+CC) was significantly found associated with an increased risk of COPD [OR, 3.20 (95% CI, 1.47-6.96); p = 0.003]. A significant association of the family history with COPD (overall p value= 0.0331) suggests that genetics may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. CONCLUSION: The polymorphism associated with hepatocyte-specific promoter region (- 10T/C) is likely to be associated with the pathogenesis of COPD. It is quite possible that the change of the base in the hepatocyte-specific promoter of the SERPINA1 gene can modulate its strength, thereby driving the reduced expression of α1AT.

Emerging tale of UPR and cancer: an essentiality for malignancy.

A set of cellular response to counter any alteration in homeostasis of a cell originating at endoplasmic reticulum is collectively termed as unfolded protein response (UPR). It initially is adaptive in nature as to restore cellular normalcy failing in course often activates pro-apoptotic signaling pathway resulting in cell death. UPR has emerged as an essential adaptation mechanism that cross talk with various cellular processes for cancer pathogenesis. Interestingly, it plays diverse role in plethora of signaling pathways instrumental in transformation, cell invasion, cell migration, metastasis, neovascularization, proliferation, and maintenance of energy metabolism of cancerous cells. In cancerous cells, it is triggered by change in microenvironment of a cell usually driven by hypoxia, acidosis, and nutrient deprivation, which often leads to positive selection pressure involving the reprogramming of energy metabolism which promotes channelization of limited metabolites into the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). Substantial evidences suggest the role of UPR in oncogene (Myc, mTOR, RAS, HER2) driven cancer transformation and progression. In this review, we have comprehensively underlined the role played by UPR in adaptation, transformation, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancerous cells.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, inflammation, and immunity: the fire within human gut.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an identified proinflammatory autochthonous bacterium implicated in human colorectal cancer. It is also abundantly found in patients suffering from chronic gut inflammation (inflammatory bowel disease), consequently contributing to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Majority of the studies have reported that colorectal tumors/colorectal adenocarcinomas are highly enriched with F. nucleatum compared to noninvolved adjacent colonic tissue. During the course of multistep development of colorectal cancer, tumors have evolved many mechanisms to resist the antitumor immune response. One of such favorite ploy is providing access to pathogenic bacteria, especially F. nucleatum in the colorectal tumor microenvironment, wherein both (colorectal tumors and F. nucleatum) exert profound effect on each other, consequently attracting tumor-permissive myeloid-derived suppressor cells, suppressing cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and inhibiting NK cell-mediated cancer cell killing. In this review, we have primarily focused on how this bug modulates the immune response, consequently rendering the antitumor immune cells inactive.

SARS-CoV-2 S protein harbors furin cleavage site located in a short loop between antiparallel ß-strand.

Furin cleavage site (FCS) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which connects the S1/S2 junction, is essential for facilitating fusion with the host cells. Wild-type (Wt) SARS-CoV-2 S protein, PDB ID: 6yvb, lacks a sequence of amino acid residues, including the FCS that links the S1/S2 junction. For the first time, we demonstrated that a stretch of 14 amino acid residues (677QTNSPRRARSVASQ689) forms an antiparallel ß-sheet comprising of PRRAR sequence in the FCS within a short loop. Upon comparing the loop content of the S1/S2 junction with that of Wt SARS-CoV-2 containing PRRAR in the FCS, we observed a decrease in antiparallel ß-sheet content and an increase in loop content in the B.1.1.7 variant with HRRAR in the FCS. This short loop within antiparallel ß-sheet can serve as a docking site for various proteases, including TMPRSS2 and α1AT. We performed a 300-ns simulation of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) using several antibacterial and antiviral ligands commonly used to treat various infections. Our findings indicate that the receptor binding domain (RBD) comprising the receptor binding motif (RBM) utilizes ß6 and a significant portion of the loop to bind with ligands, suggesting its potential for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.

The Bcl-2 family protein bid interacts with the ER stress sensor IRE1 to differentially modulate its RNase activity.

IRE1 is a transmembrane signalling protein that activates the unfolded protein response under endoplasmic reticulum stress. IRE1 is endowed with kinase and endoribonuclease activities. The ribonuclease activity of IRE1 can switch substrate specificities to carry out atypical splicing of Xbp1 mRNA or trigger the degradation of specific mRNAs. The mechanisms regulating the distinct ribonuclease activities of IRE1 have yet to be fully understood. Here, we report the Bcl-2 family protein Bid as a novel recruit of the IRE1 complex, which directly interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of IRE1. Bid binding to IRE1 leads to a decrease in IRE1 phosphorylation in a way that it can only perform Xbp1 splicing while mRNA degradation activity is repressed. The RNase outputs of IRE1 have been found to regulate the homeostatic-apoptotic switch. This study, thus, provides insight into IRE1-mediated cell survival.

Evaluation of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine in India.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) was reported for the first time in India in 2019 and since then, it has become endemic. Since a homologous (LSD-virus based) vaccine was not available in the country, goatpox virus (GPV)-based heterologous vaccine was authorized for mass immunization to induce protection against LSD in cattle. This study describes the evaluation of safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated LSD vaccine developed by using an Indian field strain, isolated in 2019 from cattle. The virus was attenuated by continuous passage (P = 50) in Vero cells. The vaccine (50th LSDV passage in Vero cells, named as Lumpi-ProVacInd) did not induce any local or systemic reaction upon its experimental inoculation in calves (n = 10). At day 30 post-vaccination (pv), the vaccinated animals were shown to develop antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses and exhibited complete protection upon virulent LSDV challenge. A minimum Neethling response (0.018% animals; 5 out of 26,940 animals) of the vaccine was observed in the field trials conducted in 26,940 animals. There was no significant reduction in the milk yield in lactating animals (n = 10108), besides there was no abortion or any other reproductive disorder in the pregnant animals (n = 2889). Sero-conversion was observed in 85.18% animals in the field by day 30 pv.

The molecular mechanism and functional diversity of UPR signaling sensor IRE1.

The endoplasmic reticulum is primarily responsible for protein folding and maturation. However, the organelle is subject to varied stress conditions from time to time, which lead to the activation of a signaling program known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway. This pathway, upon sensing any disturbance in the protein-folding milieu sends signals to the nucleus and cytoplasm in order to restore homeostasis. One of the prime UPR signaling sensors is Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1); an ER membrane embedded protein with dual enzyme activities, kinase and endoribonuclease. The ribonuclease activity of IRE1 results in Xbp1 splicing in mammals or Hac1 splicing in yeast. However, IRE1 can switch its substrate specificity to the mRNAs that are co-transnationally transported to the ER, a phenomenon known as Regulated IRE1 Dependent Decay (RIDD). IRE1 is also reported to act as a principal molecule that coordinates with other proteins and signaling pathways, which in turn might be responsible for its regulation. The current review highlights studies on IRE1 explaining the structural features and molecular mechanism behind its ribonuclease outputs. The emphasis is also laid on the molecular effectors, which directly or indirectly interact with IRE1 to either modulate its function or connect it to other pathways. This is important in understanding the functional pleiotropy of IRE1, by which it can switch its activity from pro-survival to pro-apoptotic, thus determining the fate of cells.

Aggregation of M3 (E376D) variant of alpha1- antitrypsin.

Alpha1-antitrypsin (α1AT) is an abundant serine-protease inhibitor in circulation. It has an important role in neutralizing the neutrophil elastase activity. Different pathogenic point mutations like Z(E342K)-α1AT have been implicated in the development of liver cirrhosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the latter being a cluster of progressive lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. M3-α1AT (376Glu > Asp) is another variant of α1AT which so far is largely being considered as normal though increased frequency of the variant has been reported in many human diseases including COPD. We also observed increased frequency of M3-α1AT in COPD cases in Kashmiri population. The frequency of heterozygous (AC) genotype in cases and controls was 58.57% and 27.61% (odds-ratio 6.53 (2.27-15.21); p < 0.0001) respectively, while homozygous CC genotype was found to be 21.42% and 6.66% (odds-ratio 10.56 (3.63-18.64); p < 0.0001) respectively. Comparative in vitro investigations that include trypsin‒antitrypsin assay, Circular Dichroism spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering performed on wild-type (M-α1AT), M3-α1AT, and Z-α1AT proteins along with the molecular dynamics simulations revealed that M3-α1AT has properties similar to Z-α1AT capable of forming aggregates of varied size. Our maiden observations suggest that M3-α1AT may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD and other disorders by mechanisms that warrant further investigations.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: Genetic variations, clinical manifestations and therapeutic interventions.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is an acute phase secretory glycoprotein that inhibits neutrophil proteases like elastase and is considered as the archetype of a family of structurally related serine-protease inhibitors termed serpins. Serum AAT predominantly originates from liver and increases three to five fold during host response to tissue injury and inflammation. The AAT deficiency is unique among the protein-misfolding diseases in that it causes target organ injury by both loss-of-function and gain-of-toxic function mechanisms. Lack of its antiprotease activity is associated with premature development of pulmonary emphysema and loss-of-function due to accumulation of resultant aggregates in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This' in turn' markedly reduces the amount of AAT that is available to protect lungs against proteolytic attack by the enzyme neutrophil elastase. The coalescence of AAT deficiency, its reduced efficacy, and cigarette smoking or poor ventilation conditions have devastating effect on lung function. On the other hand, the accumulation of retained mutant proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes in a polymerized form rather than secreted into the blood in its monomeric form is associated with chronic liver disease and predisposition to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by gain- of- toxic function. Liver injury resulting from this gain-of-toxic function mechanism in which mutant AAT retained in the ER initiates a series of pathologic events, eventually culminating at liver cirrhosis and HCC. Here in this review, we underline the structural, genetic, polymorphic, biochemical and pathological advances made in the field of AAT deficiency and further comprehensively emphasize on the therapeutic interventions available for the patient.

Natural osmolytes alleviate GRP78 and ATF-4 levels: Corroboration for potential modulators of unfolded protein response.

AIMS: Osmolytes are small organic molecules which play a significant role in maintaining functional homeostasis of proteins under extreme hostile stresses. Any imbalance to cell homeostasis leads to Endoplasmic Reticulum stress (ER-stress) to which a set of cellular responses both at transcriptional and translational level are initialed for restoration of cellular homeostasis called Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). In the present study we evaluated the role of Sarcosine, Betaine, Hydroxyectoine and Ectoine as potential modulators of UPR. ER-stress was induced by Tunicamycin, a prototypic experimental ER-stress inducer. MAIN METHODS: The endogenous cellular levels of UPR markers Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78) and Activating Transcription Factor-4 (ATF-4) were evaluated in presence and absence of these osmolytes after inducing UPR with tunicamycin. As a prelude to this, IC50 values of these osmolytes were determined by using cell viability assays like MTT and Trypan Blue exclusion assay. KEY FINDINGS: We found that these osmolytes in a dose-dependent manner increased the rate of restoration of homeostasis as was evident by the decreased endogenous levels of GRP78 and ATF-4. SIGNIFICANCE: These natural osmolytes can thus be useful in therapeutic intervention to mitigate the pathophysiological state resulting from ER-stress.

Novel variants of SERPIN1A gene: Interplay between alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) is one of the major circulating anti-protease whose levels in circulation are raised during excessive amount of proteases, especially neutrophil elastase (NE) released during the course of inflammation. Proteolytic attack of NE on peripheral organs, more exclusively on lung parenchyma has severe consequence that may precipitate pulmonary emphysema. Normally, human body has its own molecular and physiological mechanisms to synthesize and regulate the production of anti-protease like AAT to mitigate the extent of inflammatory damage. AAT coded by serine-protease inhibitor (SERPINA1) is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and to some extent by macrophages, monocytes, lung tissue etc. The observation that persons with AAT deficiency developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early-onset of emphysema proposed a role for pathways connecting AAT in pathogenesis. Extensive studies have been done till now to bridge a connection between numerous genetic polymorphisms of SERPINA1 gene and the early onset of COPD. Here in this review, we have comprehensively discussed some of the variants of SERPINA1 gene discovered till date and their association with the exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fusobacterium nucleatum: an emerging bug in colorectal tumorigenesis.

The human intestinal microbiota is a plethora of diverse microbial species, wherein certain bacteria considered as driver bacteria with procarcinogenic features contribute directly toward colonic epithelium cell damage to initiate colorectal carcinogenesis. However, some bacteria, in particular Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is otherwise a normal resident of the oral microflora and a relatively poor colonizer of the healthy gut, have also been considered to play a role in the development of colorectal cancer. Many studies have reported that F. nucleatum is associated with colorectal adenomas and advanced-stage colorectal cancer, but its precise role in the early stages of colorectal tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here, we review some of the important features of F. nucleatum, its association with inflammatory bowel disease, modulation of the tumor-immune microenvironment, and E-cadherin/ß-catenin signaling.