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Background: Plastics are the most flexible products developed with a wide range of applications. They have been incorporated into almost every aspect of daily life due to their strength and low weight. However, widespread use and inadequate waste management have resulted in the accumulation of tiny plastic particles throughout the environment. Main text: Microplastics are found in oceans, rivers, sediments, sewers, soil, and agricultural products, even in table salts. Human beings are affected by microplastics through food ingestion and inhalation. Incorporated microplastics may accrue within the body and affect gastrointestinal, immune, endocrine, brain, and respiratory systems. It also interferes with the functions of major organs and causes chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusion: Addressing the issue of micro and nanoplastics requires interdisciplinary research, sustainable solutions, and improved waste management systems. The main focus of this review is to cover the harmful effects and impact of microplastics on human health and stress the need for combating strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSmall RNAs are bacterial counterparts of noncoding RNAs. Increasing evidence being added in the literature indicates that these small RNAs play major roles in prokaryotes both at the transcriptome and proteome levels. Based on comparative genomic studies, we present manually curated small RNA regions in 25 recently completed genomes from Enterobacteriaceae. The study is a continuation of our earlier work that uses the presence of small RNAs sandwiched between specific conserved flanking genes retaining genomic backbone and gene synteny. Based on this study, a total of 931 identified sRNA/sRNA regions are reported. This data contains 498 small RNA homologs, 80 putative small RNA regions containing partial stretches of homologous sequences, and 353 putative nonhomologous sRNA regions. This homologs/partial homologs includes, 84 putative small RNA homologous regions retaining at least one of the conserved flanking genes pair which may possibly act as hotspots for genetic pool insertion/deletion in genomes. Nonhomologous CsrBsRNA region reported by us in Yersinia pseudotuberculosisIP32953 has been experimentally confirmed by Kulkarni's group and sraHand ryeEsRNAs from Erwinia carotovorasubsp. atroseptica SCRI1043 recently added to the Rfam database are indicative proof of our positive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 The present study demonstrated that gynoecism is incomplete dominant over monoecism. 2 The use of MAS in early backcross generations (BC1F3 and BC2F2) resulted in a quick recovery of the RP genome. 3 The four IBLs chosen have stable gynoecism in different seasons, and producing desi-type fruits with higher lateral branches. Indian cucumber cultivars are basically monoecious and vigorous in nature with many lateral branches but they are poor in productivity. The present study was aimed to introgress gynoecious trait (F locus) from pickling cucumber line (Gy14) into elite Indian cultivar Pusa Uday using marker assisted backcross breeding. Based on allelic diversity analysis, the allele numbers per locus ranged from 2 to 3 in BC 1 F 3 and the observed heterozygosity (Ho) was ranged from 0.01 to 0.55. The heterozygosity expected (He) mean was 0.28 (range 0.03 to 0.50) which was higher than mean Ho (0.18) and mean polymorphic information content (PIC) for 87 markers was 0.23. Whereas the allele numbers per locus was 2 in BC 2 F 2 and the observed heterozygosity (Ho) was ranged from 0.01 to 0.56. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.24 which was higher than mean Ho (0.17) and the mean PIC value was 0.19. The gynoecism (F locus) was introgressed in the Indian slicing cucumber cv. Pusa Uday though backcross breeding accompanied by foreground and background selections. The foreground selection was performed with one dominant SCAR marker, and 3 SSR markers (SSR 00233, SSR 15516 and SSR13251). A total of 87 polymorphic markers spanning genetic distance of 1031 cM with an average distance of 12.9 cM between adjacent markers were used for background selection. The genome recovery of the individuals in BC 1 F 3 population was ranged from 62.64% to 93.10% while among BC 2 F 2 plants it was ranged from 89.66% to 95.40%. Four inbred backcross lines (IBL) were selected from backcross populations (BC 1 F 4 and BC 2 F 3) those were purely gynoecious even at 45°C with more than 5 lateral branches. Hence, marker assisted backcross breeding served as a potential approach for precise introgression of the gynoecy (F locus) from picking cucumber to Indian slicing cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is a major public health concern, which has accounted for >1.7 million deaths across the world. A surge in the case fatality ratio as compared with the infection ratio has been observed in most of the countries. The novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 shares the most common sequence with SARS-CoV, but it has a higher rate of transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is initiated by the binding of viral spike protein with the target receptor Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) facilitating virus internalization within host cells. SARS-CoV-2 mainly causes alveolar damage ranging from mild to severe clinical respiratory manifestations. Most of the cases have revealed the association of Coronavirus disease with patients having earlier comorbidities like Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, and Cerebrovascular diseases. Pharmacological investigation of the SARS-Cov-2 patients has revealed the frequent use of drugs belongs to Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and/or Angiotensin II type I receptor blockers (ARBs). Interestingly, a significant increase in ACE2 expression was noticed in patients routinely treated with the above group of drugs were also reported. To date, the association of ACEi and/or ARBs with the up-regulation of ACE2 expression has not been defined distinctively. The proposed review will focus on the pathways which are responsible for the upregulation of ACE2 and its impact on gravity of SARS-CoV-2 disease. • Attempts to study the pathways associated with the overexpression of ACE2. • Protective effects of ACE2 in countering the deleterious effects of comorbidities are explained. • Spinoff effects of routine ARB/ACEi drugs were illustrated. • Significance of studying ACE2 levels of the individual is explained and correlated with the gravity of COVID19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania parasite which resides in the infected sand flies. Control of Leishmaniasis remains a source of grave concern worldwide. Studies on Leishmaniasis triggered because of its outbreak in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, East Africa and South America. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic interventions such as vaccine and new drug targets as it develops resistance towards the available drugs. Quercetin, a derivative of polyphenolic flavonoid exhibits various biological activities by interacting with proteins and nucleic acids. In this study, computational analysis was performed to identify the potential drug target of Quercetin in Leishmania species by molecular docking. The newly predicted targets were subjected for subcellular localization prediction and determined the protein-protein interaction networks that would aid in the development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. This study helps in the identification of targets and development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled drug delivery technology represents one of the most rapidly advancing areas of science. They offer numerous advantages compared to conventional dosage forms including improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, improved patient compliance and convenience. Over the past several decades, many delivery tools or methods were developed such as viral vector, liposome-based delivery system, polymer-based delivery system, and intelligent delivery system. Recently, nonviral vectors, especially those based on biodegradable polymers, have been widely investigated as vectors. Unlike the other polymers tested, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been intensively investigated as a family of biodegradable and biocompatible materials for in vivo applications as implantable tissue engineering material as well as release vectors for various drugs. On the other hand, the direct use of these polyesters has been hampered by their hydrophobic character and some physical shortcomings, while its random copolymers fulfilled the expectation of biomedical researchers by exhibiting significant mechanical and thermal properties. This paper reviews the strategies adapted to make functional polymer to be utilized as delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]