Department of Biological Sciences

Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and children worldwide. The study is hospital-based surveillance of rotavirus diarrhea in children from Imphal, Manipur, India conducted from December 2015 to March 2019. The positivity rate was found to be high ∼69.25% (358/517) and proportion of diarrhea cases and rotavirus diarrhea was peak in winter months and mostly in children from 6 to 24 months. G3 (43%) was the most widely circulating genotype in Imphal followed by G1 (16%), G2 (8%), G9 (5%), G8 (3%), G10 (1%), and G4 (1%), while G12 (0.26%) was rarely detected. Among P-types, P[6] (22%) accounted for the highest prevalence followed by P[8] (11%) and P[4] (4%), P[11] (4%), P[10] (3%), P-type mixed infection 3%, while 53% were untypeable. In G/P combinations, we detected 22 different rotavirus strains at varying frequencies. Globally distributed G3P[8] and G1P[8] strains were observed in the study. G3P[6] emerged as the most predominant rotavirus strain followed by G3P[8], G1P[6], G1P[8], and G9P[6]. The common rotavirus strains distributed across the region namely G3P[8], G1P[8], G2P[4], G9P[4], G1P[4], G1P[6], and G9P[6] were also observed. Interestingly, our study has observed a high percentage of unusual strains namely G9P[4], G1P[11], G2P[11], G3P[10], G3P[11], G4P[11], G9P[10], G9P[11],G10P[6], and G10P[8]. Of note, the high frequency of non-typeable rotavirus P-types (56%) are suggestive of point mutations that might have accumulated in the primer-binding region of VP4 gene. The findings of the present study revealed the hospital-based prevalence of rotavirus disease and the circulating genotypes during the pre-vaccination period and highlights the need for continuous surveillance of rotavirus infection post-rotavac vaccine introduction in the state of Manipur, India.

Ultra-stable and biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are essential for targeted nanomedicine, facilitating extended circulation, minimal immunogenicity, and efficient cellular uptake. Despite its status as a gold standard for attaining biocompatibility and stability, polyethylene glycol (PEG) faces increasing scrutiny due to its physiology-associated accelerated blood clearance, immunogenicity, and restricted nuclear access, prompting an urgent shift toward alternative surface engineering strategies. This is an extension of our previous study where we fabricated ultra-stable AuNPs using base-etched fish scales, exhibiting PEG-Au comparable physicochemical, mechanical and biofluidic stability. Herein, through integrated surface characterization studies, MALDI-TOF, LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics profiling, we elucidate the shielding oligopeptide consortium that modulates the particles’ biomolecular interactions while preserving biofluidic integrity and colloidal stability. Cytotoxicity assays and mechanistic studies of cellular uptake confirmed that the oligopeptylated-AuNPs are non-toxic and are endocytosed via clathrin- and scavenger-mediated receptors. Remarkably, ultra-microtome-assisted HR-TEM revealed that our nanocargos could successfully get imported into the nucleus, a rare and highly significant phenomenon, for such non-viral delivery systems. Collectively, our findings position our sustainably bioengineered oligopeptylated-AuNPs as next-generation nanocargos that uniquely integrate biocompatibility, stealth properties and nuclear-targeting capability, offering a versatile and promising platform to enable precision delivery of therapeutic payloads at subcellular resolutions.

Despite a decade of research and exploitation of fish scales for several applications, there is no report on fabricating supported catalysts for catalysis. Herein, simply by exploiting the metal binding and reductive potential of fish scales we autogenically bioengineered golden supported catalysts of ∼1.5 ± 0.4 cm2, sustainably. Providentially, the catalyst acquired mechanical sturdiness (∼65 ± 9 MPa), durability, flexibility, absorbency, and stability against diverse physicochemical barriers. Uniquely, these remarkable characteristics enabled the catalyst for reaction suitable fixative-batch or continuous flow catalysis, a rare compatibility. This was validated by performing large-volume (5 L) degradation of the textile sewage dye 4-nitrophenol (30 mg/L) at a (k) of 0.07 min-1, parallelly generating gram-scale quantities of 4-AP with a turnover frequency of 108 h-1. The continuous flow reactor was operable at a high flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, accommodating a high reduction of 4-NP of over 94%. Most importantly, the wide area of our catalyst made it feasible to hand-retrieve or exchange the catalyst for recycling and monitoring the reaction kinetics without the need for energy intensive processes. Finally, the collagenous biological nature of the support permitted ∼74 ± 5% recovery of gold by etching in Aqua-Regia. Overall, our biowaste-valued, cost-efficient, hand-retrievable, mechanically sturdy, and resilient catalyst with a highly flexible and durable nature can be generalized for reactor specific practical implementation of large scale heterogeneous catalysis.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pose significant environmental and biological risks due to their stability and bioaccumulation in the food chain, often facilitated by contamination from sewage water. Monitoring POPs is crucial for assessing their detrimental environmental impacts and preventing related health issues. Conventional analytical techniques for detecting POPs typically require labeling, energy-intensive, and cost-effective equipment, can be time-consuming, and may alter the properties of analytes. In this study, we demonstrate a label-free biosensing approach utilizing spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPP) for the rapid and sensitive detection of commonly encountered POPs (including textile and paper dyes, worn-out antibiotics, and herbicides) in sewage water. Inspired by plasmonic, our results show that SSPP biosensors exhibit excellent sensitivity and selectivity for POPs in sewage water samples as small as 0.634 mL. Additionally, we validate the performance of our biosensors using real-time sewage water samples spiked with widely prevalent and harmful POPs, showcasing their practical utility in complex environmental matrices. This study underscores the potential of SSPP-based biosensing as a powerful tool for the label-free detection of POPs in sewage water, offering a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective solution for monitoring environmental pollutants. Our findings contribute to water quality assessment efforts and the development of effective pollution mitigation strategies.

This article reports facile fabrication of a multifunctional smart surface having superhydrophobic self-cleaning property, superoleophilicity, and antimicrobial property. These smart surfaces have been synthesized using the stereolithography (SLA) method of the additive manufacturing technique. SLA is a fast additive manufacturing technique used to create complex parts with intricate geometries. A wide variety of materials and high-resolution techniques can be utilized to create functional parts such as superhydrophobic surfaces. Various materials have been studied to improve the functionality of 3D printing. However, the fabrication of such materials is not easy, as it is quite expensive. In this work, we used a commercially available SLA printer and its photopolymer resin to create various micropatterned surfaces. Additionally, we applied a low surface energy coating with ZnO nanoparticles and tetraethyl orthosilicate to create hierarchical roughness. The wettability studies of created superhydrophobic surfaces were evaluated by means of static contact angle using the sessile drop method and rolling angle measurements. The effects of various factors, including different concentrations of coating mixture, drying temperatures, patterns (pyramids, pillars, and eggbeater structures), and pillar spacing, were studied in relation to contact angles. Subsequently, all the functional properties (i.e., self-cleaning, oleophilicity, and antibacterial properties) of the as-obtained surfaces were demonstrated using data, images, and supporting videos. This inexpensive and scalable process can be easily replicated with an SLA 3D printer and photopolymer resin for many applications such as self-cleaning, oil-water separation, channel-less microfluidics, antibacterial coating, etc.

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have found wide range of applications in environmental, chemical and health sectors as sensors, catalytic agents and theranostic molecules, respectively, due to their ultrasmall size and excellent optical properties. However, a comprehensive battery of bioassays of Au NCs were lacking on a well-established biological model system, which would enhance its potential to be used as an optical probe with application in theranostics. The current investigation aims to address the in vivo compatibility of Au NCs to improve their design, evaluate their biological impact, and validate their potential for bioimaging applications. We have used the Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism in our present study due to their short life cycle facilitating evaluation of drug effects in reasonable time frame and transparent body framework suitable for in vivo imaging. These features facilitate accurate information regarding the uptake and biodistribution of Au NCs inside the tissues and body parts. Additionally, different nanotoxicological studies such as biodistribution of NCs and its subsequent impact on the health span, brood size, pharyngeal pumping and tail thrashing of C. elegans were observed as a measure of the Au NCs biocompatibility. Our results strongly demonstrate that the human serum albumin (HSA)-bound Au NCs are non-toxic, biocompatible and do not exhibit any adverse effect on the physiology and survival of the C. elegans. This study, employing a comprehensive battery of bioassays, is the first to systematically evaluate the long-term biocompatibility and non-toxicity of Au NCs across the entire lifespan of an organism, measured through multiple physiological parameters. These findings underscore the potential of Au NCs as safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents for medical and clinical applications.

In this study, tiny sized (∼2 nm) copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) were synthesized with strong optical response, where red/green emitting features were observed using protein/amino acid as surfactant molecules. The photocatalytic water splitting reactions for both ligand-mediated Cu NCs were carried out in a photochemical reactor under solar simulator for 12 h. Interestingly, protein mediated red colour emitting Cu NCs produced stable H2 ∼ 256 mmol g−1 and the solar to hydrogen efficiency (STH) is approximately ∼ 0.5% while comparing with green emitting Cu NCs with 86 mmol g−1 and STH of 0.08%. These interesting results were achieved due to their longer lifetime, strong colloidal stability, high quantum yield and rich surface functionalization features. These were further confirmed through absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence, zeta potential, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analytical techniques. Thus, these inexpensive Cu NCs could be used as alternate photocatalysts for H2 production than obviating the usage of precious noble metal platinum-based ones.

Highly crystalline hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures (NSs) with distinct morphology hold vital significance, not only for fundamental knowledge of magnetic properties but also offering potential applications from biomedical to data storage to semiconductor industry, etc. α-Fe2O3 NSs with various shapes are examined to reveal the intrinsic relationship between the shape anisotropy and magnetic properties. Herein, different morphologies of α-Fe2O3 NSs, such as spherical, cubic, plate-like, rhombohedral, and hexagonal bipyramid are synthesized, by controlled hydrothermal method. The impact of shape and size on the optical and structural characteristics through UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction is analyzed. Advanced nanomaterial techniques such as transmission electron microscopy are utilized to explore and confirm the morphology and size of NSs. Subsequently magnetic properties of the α-Fe2O3 NSs, such as magnetic saturation (Ms), coercivity (Hc), and remanent magnetization (Mr), are measured. Careful analysis of magnetic data reveals Morin transition around 200 K for cubic, plate-like, and rhombohedral samples, whereas the spherical and hexagonal bipyramid samples illustrate the superparamagnetic behavior in the temperature range of 150–300 K. Finally, the antibacterial characteristics of NSs against Escherichia coli using a microplate reader for monitoring the bacterial growth are investigated.

The authors regret the oversight in one of the author's (Manjunatha Thondamal) affiliation details occurred during the final proof reading. The affiliation detail for the author-Manjunatha Thondamal is: d Department of Biotechnology, School of Technology, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530045, India. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Natural materials with anomalous molecular machinery and hierarchies are gaining tremendous recognition in the pursuit of environmentally friendly, sustainable supports via noble metal anchoring for the analysis of organic pollutants. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the in situ biofabrication of AuNPs stringently tethered within snipped human nails, materialised by the hydroxy amino acids structured within the collagenous nail, which exhibit high reductive potential and Au affinity. Material characterization revealed a firm assemblage of large truncated AuNPs, including triangles, pentagons, hexagons and octagons of sizes between ∼80 and 150 nm, embedded within the highly rigid and compact three-dimensional nail, ensuring durability, shelf-life and stability against diverse physicochemical environments. Furthermore, large truncated AuNPs with sharp edges can intensify localized electromagnetic fields as “hotspots” for the direct SERS detection of organic analytes. This is validated by exposing real dye adulterants at nanomolar regimes, detecting acid orange at concentrations of 0.173-0.206 ppm in red chillies (spice) and 0.087-0.140 ppm of malachite green in green peas (pulse) collected from three distantly far vegetable markets in a radius of ∼37.28 miles. Overall, we present a highly stable, human nail waste biofabricated Au bio-substrate as a sustainable and generalized sensing technique for the identification and quantification of unsafe molecular adulterants in food samples using SERS.

Nanomedicine is increasingly being utilized in addressing various eye ailments and holds immense potential in rectifying ocular diseases; however, the interactions between nanomedicines and their route of administration via tear fluid remain poorly understood. When nanoparticles are introduced into the tear fluid, a layer of protein corona is formed on their surface that not only influences the properties and biological fate of nanoparticles but also potentially interferes with the function of endogenous proteins. To investigate the interactions between gold nanoaprticles (AuNPs) and tear fluid, focusing on the physicochemical changes of the particles, and to quantitatively and qualitatively identify the key proteins involved in the corona formation, we employed label-free techniques for material and biophysical characterizations along with proteomic analyses and mass spectrometry. The AuNPs remained stable without forming aggregates, showing only an ∼31 nm increase in hydrodynamic diameter after interacting with tear fluid. Notably, their overall zeta potential increased significantly from −12 to −23 eV due to the supplemented charge by the adsorbed proteins. Proteomic analysis and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 31 proteins that were bound with the nanoparticles from a total of 174 proteins that were detected in the tear fluid. Bioinformatic classification revealed an enrichment of specific proteins essential for ocular health; proteins such as clusterin, lactotransferrin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, lysozyme, alpha enolase, keratin, apolipoprotein, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with pivotal roles in anti-inflammatory, immune response, cell adhesion, cellular organization, plasminogen activation, cell signaling, stress response, and corneal epithelial homeostasis. Overall, our study provides an unresolved comprehensive map of the tear protein corona landscape and its impact on nanoparticle behavior in the tear fluid. These insights must be considered and are valuable for designing safer and more effective nanomedicines for the treatment of various eye diseases.

We highlight the importance of plastic waste management in research laboratories for practicing sustainable development goals.

Mitochondria are a cell's powerhouse and also have a vital part in cellular processes. The emerging role of mitochondria in several crucial processes highlights their cellular and physiological importance. Mitochondrial homeostasis mechanisms, including proteostasis pathways, are vital for mitochondrial health. Failure of these processes has an important role in establishment of numerous complex disease conditions, such as neurodegeneration and imperfect ageing. However, details of mitochondrial impairments and their contribution to the pathology of neurodegeneration are poorly understood. This review systematically discusses the involvement of mitochondrial homeostasis mechanisms and their role in rejuvenating cellular health and fitness. We also focus on various cellular protein quality control mechanisms essential for mitochondrial proteostasis and how their failure leads to mitochondrial functional disturbances observed in disease conditions. We discuss recent findings based on mitostasis-associated chaperones, mitoproteases, and autophagy responses, which can lead to emergence of new possible therapeutic interventions against complex diseases. (Figure presented.).

Annexins are a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved group of Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins. They are a family of less numerous and more varied proteins that form a unique monophyletic group. They play an important role in various abiotic and biotic stress responses through Ca2+-mediated signaling. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most widely grown legume crops in the world. In recent years, intensive research has been carried out to identify and elucidate genes and molecular pathways that control stress responses in plants. The availability of the chickpea genome has hastened the functional genomics of chickpea. In the current study, we attempted Genome-wide identification and in silico analysis of Annexins in chickpea. Thirteen annexin sequences have been identified in the chickpea genome. Four conserved annexin domains were found in ten annexin members, while three annexins CaAnn5, CaAnn12, and CaAnn13, showed three, two, and one conserved domain, respectively. The gene structure analysis showed the presence of multiple exons in all thirteen annexins. Most Annexin genes are composed of 3–5 introns. Their chromosomal locations showed that out of thirteen genes, ten could be mapped on four chromosomes. Three genes were placed on the scaffold regions. The promoter sequence analysis of all thirteen annexins showed the presence of various elements related to growth and development and response to different phytohormones and abiotic stress. The gene expression data of different annexins in various tissues like leaf, shoot, root, flower bud, and young pod showed their differential expression. Analysis of expression data of roots in drought stress showed their differential expression with the different stages of plant growth. Overall, the current findings show the possible role of CaAnns in different stages of plant growth and development in normal and stressful conditions. Moreover, these findings will be helpful in the further characterization of CaAnn genes and their promoters.

Plants produce a vast array of metabolites, far more than those produced by most other organisms. Large-scale metabolite profiling assays now provide unmatched access to global data sets of metabolites and their correspond ing pathways, greatly enhancing our understanding of plant biology. High-throughput metabolome analysis platforms have accelerated the discovery of diverse biochemical metabolites and new pathways while enhancing our understanding of existing ones. Despite many metabolites remaining unidentified, metabolomics has signifi cantly advanced our comprehension of plant physiology and biology through the study of these small molecules. As well as the latest advancements in analytical techniques, the integration of metabolomics with other omics will greatly enhance our understanding of biological systems. In this chapter, we briefly describe the latest developments in the field of analytical techniques and their application in plant metabolomics.

Data help generate knowledge, and more data mean more opportunities to generate knowledge. Advancements in science and technology lead to giant leaps in developing automated and sophisticated high-throughput data generation techniques. All these data are hiding crucial information in plain sight, and they can only be unraveled by asking the right questions. Humans are smart and intelligent creatures; we do have certain limitations when it comes to exploring massive amounts of data. Computers, on the contrary, are relentless. What if we can train these machines to become sensible and intelligent like humans and explore the data? This aspiration of scientists paved the path to the creation of computational tools and AI, integrating human excellence with the untiring computer power to explore the data in possible perspectives. In this chapter we will explore many such approaches and success stories in different domains of synthetic biology that helped further health care.

The stability and dispersity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) against diverse biological, physicochemical, and physiological transformations while retaining biocompatibility are fundamental for their myriad utilization in various theragnostic applications. This comprehensive review provides a comprehensive analysis of the principles governing the colloidal stability of AuNPs and the factors influencing their physicochemical, chemical, and biological stability. Key parameters such as resistance to aggregation in aqueous and biological medium, stability under physiological pH and ionic conditions, and the impact of protein corona formation on nanoparticle functionality are illustrated in detail. Diverse surface engineering strategies that are employed for achieving ultra-stable AuNPs, including electrostatic and steric stabilization methods are explored. Attention is also given to the widely used polymers like polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylenimine, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), and polydopamine, which have demonstrated significant efficacy in enhancing nanoparticle stability under physiological conditions along with their controversies and negative impacts. Alternatively, the emergence of safe bioconjugation strategies using proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids that offer promising pathways to improve biocompatibility and facilitate targeted applications are discussed. We also highlight the emerging sustainable approaches for AuNP stabilization using resilient biomolecules such as glycans, lipids, and plant-derived phytochemicals. Innovations like fish-scale-derived proteins and glycan-based coatings showcase the potential of biogenic methodologies to provide ultra-stable nanoparticles with minimal environmental impact. By advancing sustainable and innovative surface engineering strategies, this review underscores the potential for ultra-stable, biocompatible AuNPs to drive safer, more effective solutions in nanomedicine while reducing the ecological footprint of their production. The objective of this review is to systematically present both conventional and emerging strategies for stabilizing AuNPs, with a particular focus on sustainable, biocompatible, and high-performance approaches that support safer and more effective applications in nanomedicine. Unlike existing reviews that primarily focus on classical polymer-based stabilization or biomedical applications alone, this work uniquely integrates a critical evaluation of conventional polymers with a comprehensive overview of innovative, eco-friendly biogenic alternatives. It emphasizes the dual imperative of performance and sustainability, offering a forward-looking framework for designing next-generation AuNPs with minimal ecological impact.

The development of efficient and reusable supported catalysts is key to promoting eco-friendly catalytic processes in both research and industry. In this work, we present a bioengineered golden sponge catalyst, created by leveraging the natural metal-binding and reducing abilities of dried loofah (Luffa aegyptiaca) sponge. This sustainable, sponge-like catalyst can be easily cut into various sizes (up to 15 × 4 cm2), making it convenient for use, removal, and reuse. Thanks to its high absorptivity (~ 4.29 mL/g) and open fibrous structure (~ 0.5 ± 0.1 cm2), a single piece of this catalyst can rapidly process up to 2 L of 4-nitrophenol solution (15 mg/L), achieving a high reaction rate of 0.41 min⁻1. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are strongly anchored to the loofah fibers, combining with their natural mechanical strength to provide excellent chemical stability, efficient adsorption, and compatibility with real-time reaction monitoring and intermediate analysis. Even after use, the loofah's carbon-rich nature allows for effective gold recovery (~ 85.5 ± 8%) using Aqua Regia, making the system both cost-effective and sustainable. This study demonstrates the promise of natural, bio-derived materials as resilient, scalable, and hand-exchangeable catalysts for detoxifying harmful effluents.

Cancer remains one of the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century, with rising global incidence underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Despite significant advances in biotechnology, curative outcomes remain limited, prompting interest in integrative approaches. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, suggests a holistic therapeutic framework that is now gaining molecular validation in oncology. In this review, the literature was systematically collected and analyzed from major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, encompassing studies across ethnopharmacology, biochemistry, and cancer biology. The analysis focused on Ayurvedic phytochemicals that modulate ADP-ribosylation (ADPr), a dynamic post-translational modification central to DNA repair, chromatin organization, and cellular stress responses, with particular emphasis on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-mediated pathways and their oncological relevance. We have also explored the role of p53, a key stress-response regulator intricately linked to ADPr dynamics, which acts as a downstream effector integrating these molecular events with cell fate decisions. Evidence indicates that several Ayurvedic compounds, including curcumin, resveratrol, and withaferin A, influence PARP–p53 signaling networks, thereby modulating DNA repair fidelity, apoptosis, and tumor adaptation. The review further addresses challenges related to the poor solubility of these phytochemicals and highlights recent advances in Phyto-nanomedicine-based delivery systems that enhance their stability and therapeutic efficacy. Overall, the synthesis of Ayurvedic pharmacology with molecular oncology reveals mechanistic insights that may inform the rational development of novel, mechanism-driven cancer therapeutics.

Despite advances in medicine, cancer remains one of the foremost global health concerns. Conventional treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have advanced with the emergence of targeted and immunotherapy approaches. However, therapeutic resistance and relapse remain major barriers to long-term success in cancer treatment, often driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs). These rare, resilient cells can survive therapy and drive tumour regrowth, urging deeper investigation into the mechanisms underlying their persistence. CSCs express ion channels typical of excitable tissues, which, beyond electrophysiology, critically regulate CSC fate. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of these channels in CSCs remain largely unexplored and poorly understood. Nevertheless, the therapeutic potential of targeting CSC ion channels is immense, as it offers a powerful strategy to disrupt vital signalling pathways involved in numerous pathological conditions. In this review, we explore the diverse repertoire of ion channels expressed in CSCs and highlight recent mechanistic insights into how these channels modulate CSC behaviours, dynamics, and functions. We present a concise overview of ion channel-mediated CSC regulation, emphasizing their potential as novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, and identifying key areas for future research.