Department of Biological Sciences

The mutants resistant to ethylene are helpful in deciphering the role of ethylene in plant development. We isolated an ethylene-resistant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant by screening for acetylene-resistant (atr-1) seedlings. The atr-1 mutant displayed resistance to kinetin, suggesting attenuation of the ethylene sensing response. atr-1 also exhibited resistance to ABA- and glucose-mediated inhibition of seed germination. Unlike the Never-ripe (Nr) mutant seedlings that were hypersensitive to glucose, atr-1 seedlings were resistant to glucose, indicating ethylene sensing in atr-1 is compromised in a manner distinct from Nr. Metabolically, atr-1 seedlings had lower levels of amino acids but higher levels of several phytohormones, including ABA. atr-1 plants grew faster and produced more flowers, leading to a higher fruit set. However, the atr-1 fruits took a longer duration to reach the red-ripe (RR) stage. The ripened atr-1 fruits retained high ?-carotene and lycopene levels post-RR stage and had longer on-vine longevity. The metabolome profiles of post-RR stage atr-1 fruits revealed increased levels of sugars. The atr-1 had a P279L mutation in the GAF domain of the ETR4, a key ethylene receptor regulating tomato ripening. The atr-1 exhibits phenotypic traits distinct from the Sletr4-1 (G154S) mutant, thus represents a new ETR4 allele named Sletr4-2. Our study highlights that novel alleles in ethylene receptors may aid in enhancing the nutritional quality of tomato.

Eurybiomic big cats are facing significant threats from poaching, which is driven by recreation, taxidermy and wildlife trade. Species identification and age estimation are important for effective conservation management and enforcement of wildlife protection regulations. In this study, we present novel comprehensive morphometric methods for species identification and age estimation in leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) using canine and claw, the major trade articles. The study included 42 canines and 135 claw samples from five known age groups collected during post-mortem examination from all over the state of Tamil Nadu in south India. The samples were visually examined, and key morphological traits were accurately examined. Radiographic assessment of canines revealed the chronological age estimation, and tooth wear observation afforded supportive insight and evidence for the standards. Micro-feature observations of canine and claw samples using a scanning electron microscope ascertained the credibility of the samples. Multi-dimensional assessment of species and age of the samples by morphometric method led to the development of a reliable and accessible tool for dealing with confiscated specimens or samples with limited DNA quality. Notably, our novel methodology demonstrates efficacy in identifying illegally traded leopard canines and claws without causing any damage to the sample, thereby fortifying legal efforts against wildlife trafficking. In conclusion, this research introduces a sophisticated framework for species discrimination and age stratification in Panthera pardus fusca, merging cutting-edge technologies with classical morphometric analyses. The derived insights not only advance our understanding of leopard ecology but also furnish critical tools for conservationists and law enforcement agencies combating the illicit wildlife trade

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

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

Bacteriophages are the most genetically diverse biological entities in nature. Our current understanding of phage biology primarily stems from studies on a limited number of model bacteriophages. Jumbo phages, characterized by their exceptionally large genomes, are less frequently isolated and studied. Some jumbo phages exhibit remarkable genetic diversity, unique infection mechanisms, and therapeutic potential.MethodsIn this study, we describe the isolation of Sharanji, a novel Escherichia coli jumbo phage, isolated from chicken feces. The phage genome was sequenced and analyzed extensively through gene annotation and phylogenetic analysis. The jumbo phage was phenotypically characterized through electron microscopy, host range analysis, and survival at different pH and temperatures, and one-step growth curve assay. Finally, Sharanji mediated infection of E. coli is studied through fluorescence microscopy, to analyze its mechanism of infection compared to well-studied nucleus-forming jumbo phages.ResultsWhole genome sequencing reveals that Sharanji has a genome size of 350,079 bp and is a phage encompassing 593 ORFs. Genomic analysis indicates that the phage belongs to the Asteriusvirus genus and is related to E. coli jumbo phages PBECO4 and 121Q. Phenotypic analysis of isolated phage Sharanji, indicates that the phage size is 245.3 nm, and it is a narrow-spectrum phage infecting E. coli K12 strains, but not other bacteria including avian pathogenic E. coli. Infection analysis using microscopy shows that Sharanji infection causes cell filamentation. Furthermore, intracellular phage nucleus-like structures were not observed in Sharanji-infected cells, in contrast to infection by ?KZ-like jumbo phages.ConclusionsOur study reports the isolation and characterization of Sharanji, one of the large E. coli jumbo phages. Both genotypic and phenotypic analyses suggest that Sharanji serves as a unique model system for studying phage-bacteria interactions, particularly within the context of non-nucleus-forming jumbo phages. Further exploration of jumbo phages holds promise for uncovering new paradigms in the study of microbial viruses

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

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

Mitochondrial signalling plays a fundamental role in orchestrating essential intracellular functions, including cellular respiration, proliferation, nucleic acid synthesis, and oxidative stress management. The activation of calpain, a group of Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases, by ROS-induced oxidative stress is linked to cancer progression. Calpain can be activated by ROS either through intracellular Ca2+ elevation or via oxidative modifications of the protease, altering protein susceptibility to calpain cleavage. In tumour cell biology, ROS-activated calpains influence cell survival, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasiveness. Several studies report unusual calpain expression in cancer cells. Various anticancer drugs induce cytotoxicity by activating calpain, significantly impacting cancer treatment strategies. This unique review explores the perspective of ROS-induced calpain activation and its pivotal role in cancer progression and therapeutics

This study investigates the extraction of partially purified sulphated polysaccharides from marine bivalves through enzymatic digestion followed by sequential deproteinization and evaluates their anti-gastric cancer activity. Chemical analysis confirmed high uronic acid and sulfate content, with FT-IR validating characteristic functional groups. Donax variabilis polysaccharide demonstrated significant, dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects against AGS cells. Mechanistic studies revealed morphological changes, ROS generation, LDH release, and mitochondrial membrane disruption, leading to apoptosis. Flow cytometry confirmed G0/G1 phase arrest. These findings suggest that D. variabilis sulphated polysaccharides exhibit potent anti-gastric cancer properties, likely through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, warranting further investigation for therapeutic applications.

Plastic is a cornerstone of modern industry and scientific research, serving as a crucial material in fields ranging from cutting-edge medical technologies to advanced engineering applications. In 2024, approximately 506.22 million t of plastic was produced, with approximately 408.56 million t ending up as waste. (1) Alarmingly, only 42.91 million t of this plastic is effectively recycled, while 202.38 million t is disposed of in landfills, 87.52 million t is mismanaged, and 75.75 million t is incinerated. (2) Research laboratories, despite their role in advancing sustainability efforts, generate an estimated 2–3% of global plastic waste. (3) Disposable plastic items such as pipette tips, centrifuge tubes, and Petri dishes dominate lab spaces, often replacing reusable alternatives due to sterility and convenience concerns. This shift has profound environmental consequences, demanding urgent action. Figure 1 provides a schematic illustration of the various kinds of plastics used in laboratories along with their trending recycling strategies. Reduce, reuse, and recycle is the transition needed: to reduce, maintain proper indent, take support of AI tools to sort them, and put a check on their procurement; to reuse, wash, and sterilize them using UV, autoclave, and chemical treatments; and to recycle them and transform them into valuable products such as pellets, bricks, and clothes

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.

The field of drug delivery has undergone a transformative paradigm shift with the advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This chapter explores the fundamentals of nano-based drug delivery systems, shedding insights into the innovative approaches and key principles that underpin their design and application in the realm of biomedicine. Beginning with a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology, this chapter delves into the unique properties of nanomaterials that make them ideal for drug theragnostics. Various forms of nanocarriers, including plasmonic nanoparticles, polymeric liposomes, micelles, vesicles, and dendrimers, are discussed, emphasizing their structures, fabrication methods, and the inherent advantages they offer in optimizing imaging, diagnostics, and drug delivery. The chapter also addresses the critical role of surface modifications and targeting strategies employed to enhance the specificity and efficacy of nano-based drug carriers. Ultimately, this chapter serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers and clinicians, illustrating the clinically approved nano-based formulations for clinical purposes, fostering the realization of more effective and targeted therapeutic interventions

Nanomedicine has been emerging as a promising frontier for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, offering innovative approaches to enhance drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes. This chapter explores the pros and cons of nanomedicine strategies specifically tailored for targeting inflammatory conditions. On the positive side, nanocarriers enable targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents, minimizing off-target effects and enhancing drug bioavailability. Additionally, nanomedicine platforms provide opportunities for sustained release, prolonged circulation, and improved tissue penetration, addressing the challenges associated with conventional therapies. However, the use of nanomedicine in the context of inflammatory disorders is not without its challenges. Concerns such as biocompatibility, potential toxicity, and long-term safety implications necessitate careful consideration. This chapter critically evaluates recent advancements in nanomedicine for inflammatory diseases, shedding light on the potential benefits and drawbacks. It emphasizes the importance of a balanced perspective, taking into account the dual nature of nanomedicine, wherein its strengths can be harnessed for targeted therapy while actively mitigating associated risks. As the field continues to evolve, a nuanced understanding of the odds and evens of nanomedicine in inflammatory diseases is essential for guiding future research endeavours and ultimately advancing the translation of these innovative technologies into clinical practice

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

Highly crystalline hematite (?-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. ?-Fe2O3 NSs with various shapes are examined to reveal the intrinsic relationship between the shape anisotropy and magnetic properties. Herein, different morphologies of ?-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 ?-Fe2O3 NSs, such as magnetic saturation (Ms), coercivity (Hc), and remanent magnetization (Mr), are measured. Careful analysis of magnetic data reveals Morin transition around 200K for cubic, plate-like, and rhombohedral samples, whereas the spherical and hexagonal bipyramid samples illustrate the superparamagnetic behavior in the temperature range of 150–300K. 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.

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

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One of the major constituents of mitochondrial membranes is the phospholipids, which play a key role in maintaining the structure and the functions of the mitochondria. However, mitochondria do not synthesize most of the phospholipids in situ, necessitating the presence of phospholipid import pathways. Even for the phospholipids, which are synthesized within the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), the phospholipid precursors must be imported from outside the mitochondria. Therefore, the mitochondria heavily rely on the phospholipid transport pathways for its proper functioning. Since, mitochondria are not part of a vesicular trafficking network, the molecular mechanisms of how mitochondria receive its phospholipids remain a relevant question. One of the major ways that hydrophobic phospholipids can cross the aqueous barrier of inter or intraorganellar spaces is by apposing membranes, thereby decreasing the distance of transport, or by being sequestered by lipid transport proteins (LTPs). Therefore, with the discovery of LTPs and membrane contact sites (MCSs), we are beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms of phospholipid transport pathways in the mitochondria. In this review, we will present a brief overview of the recent findings on the molecular architecture and the importance of the MCSs, both the intraorganellar and interorganellar contact sites, in facilitating the mitochondrial phospholipid transport. In addition, we will also discuss the role of LTPs for trafficking phospholipids through the intermembrane space (IMS) of the mitochondria. Mechanistic insights into different phospholipid transport pathways of mitochondria could be exploited to vary the composition of membrane phospholipids and gain a better understanding of their precise role in membrane homeostasis and mitochondrial bioenergetics.