Genome-wide in silico characterization, validation, and cross-species transferability of microsatellite markers in Mallard and Muscovy ducks.

BACKGROUND: Microsatellites are important markers for livestock including ducks. The development of microsatellites is expensive and labor-intensive. Meanwhile, the in silico approach for mining for microsatellites became a practicable alternative. Therefore, the current study aimed at comparing whole-genome and chromosome-wise microsatellite mining approaches in Muscovy and Mallard ducks and testing the transferability of markers between them. The GMATA software was used for the in silico study, and validation was performed using 26 primers. RESULTS: The total number of the detected microsatellites using chromosome-wise was 250,053 and 226,417 loci compared to 260,059 and 238,462 loci using whole genome in Mallards and Muscovies. The frequencies of different motifs had similar patterns using the two approaches. Dinucleotide motifs were predominant (> 50%) in both Mallards and Muscovies. The amplification of the genomes revealed an average number of alleles of 5.08 and 4.96 in Mallards and Muscovies. One locus was monographic in Mallards, and two were monomorphic in Muscovies. The average expected heterozygosity was higher in Muscovy than in Mallards (0.45 vs. 0.43) with no significant difference between the two primer sets, which indicated the usefulness of cross-species amplification of different primers. CONCLUSION: The current study developed a whole-genome SSR panel for ducks for the first time, and the results could prove that using chromosome-wise mining did not generate different results compared to the whole-genome approach.

Complexity-to-Diversity and Pseudo-Natural Product Strategies as Powerful Platforms for Deciphering Next-Generation Therapeutics.

Stereochemical and skeletal complexity are particularly important vis-à-vis the cross-talks between a small molecule and a complementary active site of a biological target. This intricate harmony is known to increase selectivity, reduce toxicity, and increase the success rate in clinical trials. Therefore, the development of novel strategies for establishing underrepresented chemical space that is rich in stereochemical and skeletal diversity is an important milestone in a drug discovery campaign. In this review, we discuss the evolution of interdisciplinary synthetic methodologies utilized in chemical biology and drug discovery that has revolutionized the discovery of first-in-class molecules over the last decade with an emphasis on complexity-to-diversity and pseudo-natural product strategies as a remarkable toolbox for deciphering next-generation therapeutics. We also report how these approaches dramatically revolutionized the discovery of novel chemical probes that target underrepresented biological space. We also highlight selected applications and discuss key opportunities offered by these tools and important synthetic strategies used for the construction of chemical spaces that are rich in skeletal and stereochemical diversity. We also provide insight on how the integration of these protocols has the promise of changing the drug discovery landscape.

From HIV to COVID-19, Molecular mechanisms of pathogens' trade-off and persistence in the community, potential targets for new drug development.

Background: On the staggering emergence of the Omicron variant, numerous questions arose about the evolution of virulence and transmissibility in microbes. Main body of the abstract: The trade-off hypothesis has long speculated the exchange of virulence for the sake of superior transmissibility in a wide array of pathogens. While this certainly applies to the case of the Omicron variant, along with influenza virus, various reports have been allocated for an array of pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and tuberculosis (TB). The latter abide to another form of trade-off, the invasion-persistence trade-off. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanisms and mutations of different obligate intracellular pathogens that attenuated their more morbid characters, virulence in acute infections and invasion in chronic infections. Short conclusion: Recognizing the mutations that attenuate the most morbid characters of pathogens such as virulence or persistence can help in tailoring new therapies for such pathogens. Targeting macrophage tropism of HIV by carbohydrate-binding agents, or targeting the TMPRSS2 receptors to prevent pulmonary infiltrates of COVID-19 is an example of how important is to recognize such genetic mechanisms.