Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ahmed H. E. Hassan, Waleed A. Bayoumi, Selwan M. El-Sayed, Trong-Nhat Phan, Yeon Ju Kim, Chae Hyeon Lee, Soo Bin Cho, Taegeun Oh, Gyeongpyo Ham, Kazem Mahmoud, Joo Hwan No, Yong Sup Lee
Summary: A series of chromone-peptidyl hybrids was synthesized and repurposed for the identification of potential antileishmanial compounds against visceral leishmaniasis. Compounds 7c, 7n, and 7h showed potential IC50 values (9.8, 10, and 12 μM, respectively) comparable to erufosine but lower potency than miltefosine. Cytotoxicity assessment using human THP-1 cells revealed that compounds 7c and 7n were non-cytotoxic up to 100 μM, while erufosine and miltefosine exhibited cytotoxicity. In silico studies identified specific substituents on the chromone-peptidyl hybrids as crucial for binding to LdCALP. These findings suggest that compounds 7c and 7n could be potential non-cytotoxic antileishmanial agents for the development of treatment against visceral leishmaniasis.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pedro J. Alcolea, Ana Alonso, Francisco Garcia-Tabares, Jaime Larraga, Luis T. C. Martins, Franciso J. Loayza, Silvia Ruiz-Garcia, Vicente Larraga
Summary: This study investigates the protein levels during the differentiation process of Leishmania donovani promastigotes and identifies proteins associated with parasite survival and immunostimulation. These proteins may serve as potential candidates for disease control and vaccine development.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jyoti Pant, Marie Samanovic, Maria T. Nelson, Mert K. Keceli, Joseph Verdi, Stephen M. Beverley, Jayne Raper
Summary: TLF is a primate-specific high-density lipoprotein complex that provides innate immunity against kinetoplastid parasites. TLF was shown to bind to the surface of metacyclic promastigotes of L. major, reducing the parasite burden, but this effect was lost in neutrophil-depleted mice.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carlos M. Restrepo, Alejandro Llanes, Lizzi Herrera, Esteban Ellis, Ricardo Lleonart, Patricia L. Fernandez
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites, with different mouse strains exhibiting varying responses to Leishmania infection. By studying gene expression differences in macrophages, it was found that C57BL/6 macrophages display a classical activation pattern associated with disease resolution, whereas BALB/c macrophages show an intermediate activation pattern favoring parasite persistence. The intermediate pattern observed in BALB/c macrophages resembles the pattern seen in human infections with L. panamensis, supporting BALB/c as a preferred model for studying L. panamensis infection.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fernanda V. Cabral, Michela Cerone, Saydulla Persheyev, Cheng Lian, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Martha S. Ribeiro, Terry K. Smith
Summary: The emergence of drug resistance in cutaneous leishmaniasis has become a major problem. Photodynamic therapy has shown effectiveness against drug-resistant strains and may be an attractive strategy for treatment.
Article
Immunology
Sheetal Saini, Bharat Singh, Anuradha Dube, Amogh Anant Sahasrabuddhe, Ambak Kumar Rai
Summary: In this study, the parasite burden and mRNA expression levels of a panel of Th-2 and Th-1 type immune markers were quantified in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and mesenteric lymph node of hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani. The results showed that IFN-gamma, IL-10, T-bet, GATA-3, SOCS-5, and SOCS-3 were the major players in this immune response.
PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Michael A. Mandell, Wandy L. Beatty, Stephen M. Beverley
Summary: Leishmania parasites undergo a transformation from motile stage to non-motile stage upon infecting mammalian host cells. This process, known as amastigogenesis, is characterized by several landmark events. The expression of a virulence factor called LPG varies in different host cell types, indicating its role in promoting infectivity.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dimitri Bulte, Lieselotte Van Bockstal, Laura Dirkx, Magali Van den Kerkhof, Carl De Trez, Jean-Pierre Timmermans, Sarah Hendrickx, Louis Maes, Guy Caljon
Summary: The study found that MIL-R parasites induce a strong innate immune response, leading to compromised infectivity in the host, but MIL can partially restore their infectivity. Additionally, MIL may exacerbate infections with resistant parasites by reducing innate immune recognition.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manjay Kumar, Sushmita Das, Abhik Sen, Kumar Abhishek, Md Taj Shafi, Tanvir Bamra, Ajay Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Ashish Kumar, Rimi Mukharjee, Manas R. Dikhit, Krishna Pandey, Pradeep Das
Summary: This study demonstrates that LdHemAC maintains an alternative pool of cAMP, which regulates antioxidant gene expression to rescue Leishmania parasites from oxidative stress.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sneha Ratnapriya, Keerti, Narendra Kumar Yadav, Anuradha Dube, Amogh Anant Sahasrabuddhe
Summary: The study focused on generating a recombinant chimeric antigen using two immunodominant Leishmania (L.) donovani antigens, with the aim of developing an effective multivalent antigen vaccine against lethal leishmaniasis. The resulting chimeric protein showed high immunogenicity and immunotherapeutic efficacy when combined with a Th1 stimulating adjuvant BCG, inhibiting splenic parasitic multiplication by 70% and boosting a Th1 dominant immune response in hamsters.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vikas Kushwaha, Sukhbir Kaur
Summary: This study demonstrates that immunization with cross-reactive molecule HSP60 of filarial parasite B. malayi in BALB/c mice enhances the immune response, resulting in a significant decrease in parasite burden, and a strong Th1 immune response which protects the host from Visceral Leishmaniasis.
Article
Immunology
Srija Moulik, Joyshree Karmakar, Sumit Joshi, Anuradha Dube, Chitra Mandal, Mitali Chatterjee
Summary: The mRNA expression of IL-4- and IL-10-driven markers was enhanced in both experimental models of visceral leishmaniasis, demonstrating an increased expression of these markers in the presence of Leishmania donovani infection. However, only in the hamster model, a positive correlation between IL-10-driven markers and parasite load was observed in splenic tissues.
PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sneha Ratnapriya, Keerti, Narendra Kumar Yadav, Anuradha Dube, Amogh Anant Sahasrabuddhe
Summary: The study focused on generating a recombinant chimeric antigen using two immunodominant Leishmania (L.) donovani antigens, with the aim of developing an effective multivalent antigen vaccine against lethal leishmaniasis. The resulting chimeric protein showed high immunogenicity and immunotherapeutic efficacy when combined with a Th1 stimulating adjuvant BCG, inhibiting splenic parasitic multiplication by 70% and boosting a Th1 dominant immune response in hamsters.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Mukesh Samant, Utkarsha Sahu, Satish Chandra Pandey, Prashant Khare
Summary: Cytokines play a crucial role in the immune response to VL, affecting the formation of protective and non-protective immunities during infection. Understanding the interaction between cytokine response and various immune cells is essential for developing appropriate immunotherapies against VL. Different cytokines have varying effects on disease progression or host protection in different animal models and humans, influencing the clinical outcomes and potential diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for VL.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veni Pande, Tushar Joshi, Satish Chandra Pandey, Diksha Sati, Shalini Mathpal, Veena Pande, Subhash Chandra, Mukesh Samant
Summary: By utilizing molecular docking, this research identifies three dyes that show stable interaction with laccase, indicating the potential role of laccase in degrading these toxic dyes. The study provides a molecular understanding of the expression of laccase and its bioremediation function in degrading pigments red 23, fuchsin base, and Sudan IV.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shobha Upreti, Satish Chandra Pandey, Ila Bisht, Mukesh Samant
Summary: Cancer is a fatal disease with chemotherapy being a popular treatment approach, but it comes with various side effects and puts patients under extreme stress. Plant-derived compounds are being explored as alternative treatments due to their potential in providing safer and more efficient options for cancer therapy.
MOLECULAR DIVERSITY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Diksha Sati, Veni Pande, Satish Chandra Pandey, Mukesh Samant
Summary: Increased severity of droughts, due to anthropogenic activities and global warming, has posed a severe threat to agricultural productivity. The application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be a beneficial and environmentally sustainable solution, enhancing drought resistance and promoting plant growth.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Diksha Sati, Tushar Joshi, Satish Chandra Pandey, Veni Pande, Shalini Mathpal, Subhash Chandra, Mukesh Samant
Summary: This study investigates the communication mechanism between plants and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) through computational analysis. It finds that two root exudates, saponarin and 2-BOA, effectively bind to the PsoR protein and may play a role in cross-kingdom interactions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shobha Upreti, Mukesh Samant
Summary: This review comprehensively discusses the immune response and prophylactic efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing the importance of in-depth research on vaccine efficacy and immune control mechanisms.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anoop Kumar, Utkarsha Sahu, Pratima Kumari, Anshuman Dixit, Prashant Khare
Summary: This study presents the design of a multi-epitope chimeric vaccine against HPV infection for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Computational analysis and molecular dynamics simulation validate the stability and immunogenicity of the vaccine construct.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Surbhi Jain, Utkarsha Sahu, Awanish Kumar, Prashant Khare
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by a protozoan parasite transmitted via sandflies, with current treatment relying on costly and toxic chemotherapy. Drug resistance is a significant issue, highlighting the urgent need for novel anti-leishmanial drugs. Drug repurposing presents a valuable approach for targeting potential new drug targets and accelerating drug development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Komal Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Fareha Umam, Prerna Kapoor, Sudhir Sinha, Amita Aggarwal
Summary: This study identifies B cell responses that distinguish between latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active TB disease. The results suggest that the ratio of IgM to IgG antibodies, antibody binding to specific antigens, and the frequency of memory B cell subsets could indicate the protective or pathogenic immune responses following primary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).
Review
Parasitology
Vinita Gouri, Shobha Upreti, Mukesh Samant
Summary: The article discusses the unique metabolic pathways and drug targets of Leishmania, highlighting the importance of natural products as an alternative for anti-leishmaniasis drugs.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sudhir Sinha, Shashikant Kumar, Komal Singh, Fareha Umam, Vinita Agrawal, Amita Aggarwal, Barbara Imperiali
Summary: Styrene maleic acid lipid particles (SMALPs) were utilized to prepare and characterize membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). These nanoparticles contained inner membrane protein PRA, membrane-associated proteins PstS1, LpqH and Ag85, and lipoglycan LAM. Peripheral membrane proteins Acr and PspA were excluded. Additionally, immune responses indicated that only MtM-SMALPs could induce the production of TNF-alpha.
Article
Oncology
Shobha Upreti, Kartik Muduli, Jagannath Pradhan, Selvakumar Elangovan, Mukesh Samant
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women globally, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form due to the lack of usual targets. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway shows promise in anticancer drug discovery, and extracts from Urtica plants exhibit significant anticancer activity.
Review
Microbiology
Bijina J. Mathew, Ashish Kumar Vyas, Prashant Khare, Sudheer Gupta, Ram Kumar Nema, Shashwati Nema, Sudipti Gupta, Shivendra K. Chaurasiya, Debasis Biswas, Anirudh K. Singh
Summary: The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented, with rapid spread and high numbers of infections and deaths. The key strategy to control the pandemic is early diagnosis and isolation of infected individuals, with various diagnostic methods such as molecular and immunological assays being utilized. This review aims to provide updates on current diagnostic modalities and challenges associated with them in the rapidly evolving landscape of COVID-19 testing.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
