The natural characteristics of protein/polysaccharide-based hydrogels, as a potential drug delivery platform, have attracted extensive attention. Probiotics have attracted renewed interest in drug research because of their beneficial effects on host health. The idea of using probiotics loaded on protein/polysaccharide-based hydrogels as potential drugs to treat different diseases has been put forward and shows great prospects. Based on this, in this review, we highlight the design strategy of hydrogels loaded probiotic-mediated therapy systems and review the potential diseases that have been proved to be treatable in the laboratory, including promoting wound healing and improving intestinal health and vaginal health, and discuss the challenges existing in the current design.

Polysaccharide-based packaging has been directed toward the development of technologies for the generation of packaging with biodegradable materials that can serve as substitutes for conventional packaging. Polysaccharides are reliable sources of edible packaging materials with excellent renewability, biodegradability, and bio-compatibility as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Apart from these properties, packaging film developed from a single polysaccharide has various disadvantages due to undesirable properties. Thus, to overcome these problems, researchers focused on ternary blend-based bio-packaging instead of the primary and binary complex to improve their characteristics and properties. The review emphasizes the extraction of polysaccharides and their combination with other polymers to provide desirable characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of the biodegradable film which will upgrade the green packaging technology in the future generation This review also explores the advancement of ternary blend-based biodegradable film and their application in foods with different requirements and the future aspects for developing advanced biodegradable film. Moreover, the review concludes that cellulose, modified starch, and another plant-based polysaccharide film mostly provides good gas barrier property and better tensile strength, which can be used as a safeguard of perishable and semi-perishable foods which brings them closer to replacing commercial synthetic packaging.

Crataegus, is a genus within the Rosaceae family. It is recognized as a valuable plant with both medicinal and edible qualities, earning it the epithet of the "nutritious fruit" owing to its abundant bioactive compounds. Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers linked by glycosidic bonds, one of the crucial bioactive ingredients of Crataegus spp. Recently, Crataegus spp. polysaccharides (CPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their diverse range of bioactivities, including prebiotic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunobiological properties. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent research on CPs. The analysis revealed that CPs exhibited a broad molecular weight distribution, ranging from 5.70 Da to 4.76 × 108 Da, and are composed of various monosaccharide constituents such as mannose, rhamnose, and arabinose. Structure-activity relationships demonstrated that the biological function of CPs is closely associated with their molecular weight, galacturonic acid content, and chemical modifications. Additionally, CPs have excellent bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make them promising candidates for applications in the food, medicine, and cosmetic industries. The article also scrutinized the potential development and future research directions of CPs. Overall, this article provides comprehensive knowledge and underpinnings of CPs for future research and development as therapeutic agents and multifunctional food additives.

Adipogenesis is a complex biological process. However, the regulatory mechanism of circRNAs in adipogenesis is still unclear. In this study, we identified a novel circRNA, circBTBD7, which was highly expressed in adipose tissue and peaked at two days after differentiation in bovine primary adipocytes. When circBTBD7 was knocked down in bovine primary adipocytes, the lipid droplets accumulation was significantly increased. Furthermore, the expression of adipocyte differentiation markers (PPARγ and C/EBPα) and lipogenic genes (FABP4, FASN and ACCα) were significantly upregulated. Moreover, circBTBD7 was mainly located in the cytoplasm, which indicated it was probably to act as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Subsequently, the dual luciferase reporter assay showed that circBTBD7 could bind to miR-183. Further, miR-183 promoted adipogenesis by inhibiting SMAD4. What's more, the rescue assays showed that circBTBD7 attenuated the inhibition of SMAD4 expression by sponging miR-183. In summary, these results suggested that circBTBD7 inhibited adipogenesis via the miR-183/SMAD4 axis.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons which deteriorates the brain functions. An early detection of the onset of NDs is utmost important, as it will provide the fast treatment strategies to prevent further progression of the disease. Conventionally, accurate diagnosis of the brain related disorders is difficult in their early phase. To solve this problem, nanotechnology based neurofunctional imaging and biomarker detection techniques have been developed which allows high specificity and sensitivity towards screening and diagnosis of NDs. Another challenge to treat the brain related disorders is to overcome the complex integrity of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) for the delivery of theranostic agents. Fortunately, utilization of nanomaterials has been pursued as promising strategy to address this challenge. Herein, we critically highlighted the recent improvements in the field of neurodiagnostic and therapeutic approaches involving innovative strategies for diagnosis, and inhibition of protein aggregates. We have provided particular emphasis on the use of nanotechnology which can push forward the blooming research growth in this field to win the battle against devastating NDs.

The first reported reaction mechanism of a DNAzyme, i.e. 9DB1, by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations includes some ambiguities. We try to overcome some of these ambiguous aspects such as the role of mono and divalent metal ions and observed metal rescue effects by surveying the role of functional groups of original 9DB1 and a variety of its rate conserving and rate decreasing mutations via MD simulations. Conformational differences of these two distinct groups are responsible for their opposite rate trends. Blocking of the OH3' of acceptor nucleotide from effective attack by its hydrogen bond to O4' of donor nucleotide is observed in rate decreasing mutations. Our simulations manifest the role of Na+ and Mg2+ ions in bringing close to each other the ligated atoms. These findings along with observed conformational changes explain carefully the reported metal rescue effects for some phosphate groups.

RNA methylation, an epigenetic modification that does not alter gene sequence, may be important to diverse biological processes. Protein regulators of RNA methylation include "writers," "erasers," and "readers," which respectively deposit, remove, and recognize methylated RNA. RNA methylation, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), N3-methylcytosine (m3C), N1-methyladenosine (m1A) and N7-methylguanosine (m7G), has been suggested as disease therapeutic targets. Despite advances in the structure and pharmacology of RNA methylation regulators that have improved drug discovery, regulating these proteins by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) has received little attention. PTM modifies protein structure and function, affecting all aspects of normal biology and pathogenesis, including immunology, cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, and tumors. It is becoming evident that RNA methylation regulators are also regulated by diverse PTMs. PTM of RNA methylation regulators induces their covalent linkage to new functional groups, hence modifying their activity and function. Mass spectrometry has identified many PTMs on protein regulators of RNA methylation. In this review, we describe the functions and PTM of protein regulators of RNA methylation and summarize the recent advances in the regulatory mode of human disease and its underlying mechanisms.

Teichoic acid (TA) is a weakly anionic polymer present in the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria. It can be classified into wall teichoic acid (WTA) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) based on its localization in the cell wall. The structure and biosynthetic pathway of TAs are strain-specific and have a significant role in maintaining cell wall stability. TAs have various beneficial functions, such as immunomodulatory, anticancer and antioxidant activities. However, the purity and yield of TAs are generally not high, and different isolation methods may even affect their structural integrity, which limits the research progress on the probiotic functions of TA. This paper reviews an overview of the structure and biosynthetic pathway of TAs in different strains, as well as the research progress of the isolation and purification methods of TAs. Furthermore, this review also highlights the current research status on the biological functions of TAs. Through a comprehensive understanding of this review, it is expected to pave the way for advancements in isolating and purifying high-quality TAs and, in turn, lay a foundation for contributing to the development of targeted probiotic therapies.

The elongation factor TFIIS interacts with Paf1C complex to facilitate processive transcription by Pol II. We here determined the crystal structure of the trypanosoma TFIIS LW domain in a complex with the LFG motif of Leo1, as well as the structures of apo-form TFIIS LW domains from trypanosoma, yeast and human. We revealed that all three TFIIS LW domains possess a conserved hydrophobic core that mediates their interactions with Leo1. Intriguingly, the structural study revealed that trypanosoma Leo1 binding induces the TFIIS LW domain to undergo a conformational change reflected in the length and orientation of α6 helix that is absent in the yeast and human counterparts. These differences explain the higher binding affinity of the TFIIS LW domain interacting with Leo1 in trypanosoma than in yeast and human, and indicate species-specific variations in the interactions. Importantly, the interactions between the TFIIS LW domain and an LFG motif of Leo1 were found to be critical for TFIIS to anchor the entire Paf1C complex. Thus, in addition to revealing a detailed structural basis for the TFIIS-Paf1C interaction, our studies also shed light on the origin and evolution of the roles of TFIIS and Paf1C complex in regulation of transcription elongation.

The current processes for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are costly, owing to the high cost of cultivation feedstocks, and the need to sterilise the growth medium, which is energy-intensive. PHA has been identified as a promising biomaterial with a wide range of potential applications and its functionalization from waste streams has made significant advances recently, which can help foster the growth of a circular economy and waste reduction. Recent developments and novel approaches in the functionalization of PHAs derived from various waste streams offer opportunities for addressing these issues. This study focuses on the development of sustainable, efficient, and cutting-edge methods, such as advanced bioprocess engineering, novel catalysts, and advances in materials science. Chemical techniques, such as epoxidation, oxidation, and esterification, have been employed for PHA functionalization, while enzymatic and microbial methods have indicated promise. PHB/polylactic acid blends with cellulose fibers showed improved tensile strength by 24.45-32.08 % and decreased water vapor and oxygen transmission rates while PHB/Polycaprolactone blends with a 1:1 ratio demonstrated an elongation at break four to six times higher than pure PHB, without altering tensile strength or elastic modulus. Moreover, PHB films blended with both polyethylene glycol and esterified sodium alginate showed improvements in crystallinity and decreased hydrophobicity.

The alternative splicing and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications occurring during porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infections remain poorly understood. Transcriptome and MeRIP-seq analyses were performed to identify the gene expression changes, splicing and m6A modifications in the lungs of PRRSV-infected pigs. In total, 1624 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed between PRRSV-infected and uninfected pigs. We observed significant alterations in alternative splicing (54,367 events) and m6A modifications (2265 DASEs) in numerous genes, including LMO7, SLC25A27, ZNF185, and ECM1, during PRRSV infection. LMO7 and ZNF185 exhibited alternative splicing variants and reduced mRNA expression levels following PRRSV infection. Notably, LMO7 inhibited c-JUN, SMAD3, and FAK expression, whereas ZNF185 affected the expression of FAK, CDH1, and GSK3β downstream. Additionally, ECM1 influenced FAK expression by targeting ITGB3 and AKT2, suggesting its involvement in extracellular matrix accumulation through the ITGB3-AKT2/FAK pathway. These changes may facilitate viral invasion and replication by modulating the expression of genes and proteins participating in crucial cellular processes associated with immunity and the extracellular matrix. We highlight the importance of these genes and their associated pathways in PRRSV infections and suggest that targeting these may be a promising therapeutic approach for treating viral infections.

A novel co-hybrid nano-apatite (n-HA) by introducing lignin derivatives (LDs) and alendronate (ALE) was designed to reinforce poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). The effect of different addition methods and contents of LDs, lignin derivatives sorts of lignosulfonate (LS), alkali lignin (AL) and carboxymethyl lignin (CML), and the addition order of ALE on the dispersion of hybrid n-HA, and reinforce effective for PLGA were investigated by FTIR, XRD, TEM, TGA, XPS, N2 adsorption/desorption, zeta potential, dispersion experiments, universal testing machine, SEM, DSC and POM. The results showed that the addition order could regulate the growth of n-HA crystal planes by binding with Ca2+, and co-hybrid HA by LDs and ALE possessed better dispersion owing to the synergistic effect. Moreover, 10 wt% LS-ALE-n-HA displayed the best reinforce effect, and the tensile strength of composite was 24.43 % higher than that of PLGA, even 15 wt% LS-ALE-n-HA was added, it still exhibited reinforce effect for PLGA. In vitro soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) results indicated that LS-ALE-n-HA delayed tensile strength reduce of PLGA and promoted bone-like apatite deposition. The cell proliferation results demonstrated that the hybrid n-HA by the introduction of ALE endowed PLGA with better cell adhesion and proliferation.

The current research in tumor immunotherapy indicates that blocking the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between PD-1 and its ligand, PD-L1, may be one of the most effective treatments for cancer patients. The α-helix is a common elements of protein secondary structure and is often involved in protein interaction. Thus, α-helix-based peptides could mimic proteins involved in such interactions and are also capable of modulating PPI in vivo. In this study, starting from a potential α-helix-rich protein, we designed a series of α-helix-based peptide candidates to block PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. These candidates were first screened using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, and then their capacities to inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 interactions and to restore antitumor immune activities were investigated using the HTRF assay, SPR assay, cellular co-culture experiments and animal model experiments. Two peptides exhibited the best anti-tumor effects and the strong ability to restore the immunity of tumor-infiltrating T-cells. Further D-amino acid substitution was employed to improve the serum stability of peptide candidate, making the intravenous administration easier while maintaining the therapeutic efficacy. The resultant peptides showed promise as checkpoint inhibitors for application in tumor immunotherapy. These findings suggested that our strategy for developing peptides starting from an α-helical structure could be used in the design of bioactive inhibitors to potential block protein-protein interactions.

Pea protein isolate (PPI) is a popular plant-based ingredient, typically produced through alkaline-isoelectric precipitation and thermal drying. However, high temperatures and long drying times encountered in thermal drying can denature PPI and cause loss of functionality. This study investigated the use of an innovative ultrasonic dryer (US-D) at 30 °C for drying PPI suspensions, compared to conventional hot air drying (HA-D) at 60 °C. US-D led to an increase in the drying rate and correspondingly reduced the drying time by 55 %, when compared to HA-D. The average effective moisture diffusivity in the US-D process was 325 % higher than that in the HA-D process. The resulting PPI exhibited higher solubility, emulsification, and foaming properties than HA-D PPI, with a unique surface morphology and higher surface area. This study demonstrated that drying with acoustic energy is a promising approach for producing dried plant protein ingredients with improved functional properties, reduced processing time, and increased production efficiency.

Despite being famous as 'the king' of the snake world, the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has remained a mysterious species, particularly with respect to its venom ecology. In contrast, venom research has largely focussed on the 'big four' snakes that are greatly responsible for the burden of snakebite in the Indian subcontinent. This study aims to bridge the current void in our understanding of the O. hannah venom by investigating its proteomic, biochemical, pharmacological, and toxinological profiles via interdisciplinary approaches. Considering their physical resemblance, the king cobra is often compared to the spectacled cobra (Naja naja). Comparative venomics of O. hannah and N. naja in this study provided interesting insights into their venom compositions, activities, and potencies. Our findings suggest that the O. hannah venom, despite being relatively less complex than the N. naja venom, is equally potent. Finally, our in vitro and in vivo assays revealed that both Indian polyvalent and Thai Red Cross monovalent antivenoms completely fail to neutralise the O. hannah venom. Our findings provide guidelines for the management of bites from this clinically important yet neglected snake species in India.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), the primary curcuminoid in turmeric rhizome, has been acknowledged as a bioactive compound for numerous pharmacological activities. Nonetheless, the hydrophobic nature, rapid metabolism, and physicochemical and biological instability of this phenolic compound correspond to its poor bioavailability. So, recent scientific advances have found many components and strategies for enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin with the inclusion of biotechnology and nanotechnology to address its existing limitations. Therefore, In this study, copolymerized aqua-gel was synthesized by graft polymerization of poly-acrylic acid (P-AA) on cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), after that Curcuma longa (Cur) was incorporated as dopant (5, 10, 15, and 25 mg) in hydrogel (Cur/C-P) as a stabilizing agent for evaluation of bacterial potential and sewage treatment. The antioxidant tendency of 25 mg Cur/C-P was much higher (72.21 %) than other samples and displayed a catalytic activity of up to 93.89 % in acidic conditions and optimized bactericidal inclinations toward gram-positive bacterial strains. Furthermore, ligand binding was conducted against targeted protein enoyl-[acylcarrier-protein] reductase (FabI) enzyme to comprehend the putative mechanism of microbicidal action of CNC-PAA (CP), Cur/C-P, and curcumin. Our outcomes suggest that 25 mg Cur/C-P hydrogels are plausible sources for hybrid, multifunctional biological activity.

The effects of the L-hisdine (L-His)-assisted ultrasound on physicochemical characteristics and conformation of myofibrillar protein (MP) under reduced-salt condition were investigated using spectroscopic analysis, and the binding mechanism between L-His and MP was further elucidated through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. UV second derivative spectra and intrinsic Try fluorescence spectra revealed that L-His formed a complex with MP and altered the microenvironment of MP. After L-His-assisted ultrasound treatment, MP showed smaller particle size, higher solubility, and more uniform atomic force microscopy image due to the decrease of α-helix content and the subsequent increase in zeta potential, active sulfhydryl content, and surface hydrophobicity. Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated the optimal docking pose (minimum binding affinity of -6.78 kcal/mol) and revealed hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds as the main interaction forces between L-His and MP, with several residues (ILE-464, ILE-480, THR-483, ASN-484, GLY-466, ASP-463, PHE-246) identified as binding sites.

Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 (PVT1) is a long non-coding RNA located at 8q24.21 immediately downstream of MYC. Both the linear and circular PVT1 transcripts contribute to cancer pathogenesis by binding microRNAs. However, little is known about their roles in B-cell lymphoma. Here we studied their expression patterns, role in growth, and ability to bind miRNAs in B-cell lymphoma. Linear PVT1 transcripts were downregulated in B-cell cell lymphoma lines compared to germinal center B cells, while circPVT1 levels were increased. Two Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines had a homozygous deletion including the 5' region of the PVT1 locus, resulting in a complete lack of circPVT1 and 5' linear PVT1 transcripts. Inhibition of both linear and circular PVT1 decreased growth of Burkitt lymphoma, while the effects on Hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma were less pronounced. Overexpression of circPVT1 promoted growth of B-cell lymphoma lacking or having low endogenous circPVT1 levels. Contrary to other types of cancer, linear and circular PVT1 transcripts did not interact with miRNAs in B-cell lymphoma. Overall, we showed an opposite expression pattern of linear and circular PVT1 in B-cell lymphoma. Their effect on growth was independent of their ability to bind miRNAs.

Biotemplates provide a facile, rapid, and environmentally benign route for synthesizing various nanostructured materials. Herein, Locust Bean Gum (LBG), a galactomannan polysaccharide, has been used as a biotemplate for synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) for the first time. The composition, structure, morphology, and bandgap of ZnO were investigated by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. XRD data showed single-phase crystalline hexagonal NPs. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of M-O bonding in the sample. At a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL the NPs can degrade Rhodamine B under sunlight, displaying excellent photocatalytic activity. These NPs exhibited antimicrobial activity in both Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Significant cell death was observed at 500 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL, 125 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL of NP in breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer cell lines. Wound healing assay showed that the NPs significantly blocked the cell migration at a concentration as low as 62.5 μg/mL in all three cell lines. Further optimization of the nanostructure properties will make it a promising candidate in the field of nano-biotechnology and bioengineering owing to its wide range of potential applications.

This study designed a novel co-electrospun cellulose acetate (CA)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) photodynamic helical fiber antibacterial membrane as a potential environmentally friendly medical protective material. A central combined design method (CCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze essential variables' influence. The optimized parameters for CCD were TPU (wt%) 11.68 %, CA (wt%) 13.89 %, DMAc/ACE volume ratio 0.147, LiCl (wt%) 1.39 %, and voltage (kV) 14.43 V. Pitch and pitch diameter were the response process as the critical output variable. The membranes were characterized by SEM, TG, FT-IR, and molecular structure analysis. The results showed that the photodynamic helical fiber antimicrobial membrane exhibited synergistic effects of the antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) and antimicrobial agent under average daylight irradiation. The release rate of -OH was 98.22 %, and H2O2 was 88.36 % under the action of 20 min of light. The bactericidal rates of S. aureus and E. coli reached 99.9 % and 99.7 %, respectively. The fiber helical structure can increase the light absorption rate, thus increasing the release rate and amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) species, increasing the antibacterial rate. After washing five times, the antibacterial membrane has excellent antibacterial performance and a dark antibacterial effect.